Message Action Plan
Talk It Over
Diving Deeper…The Lord lifts up those who are weighed down… Psalm 146:8 (NLT)
- BY FAITH YOU STEP OUT
By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. Hebrews 11:8 (NIV)
- Look at the FIRST STEP, not the whole journey.
- Look at GOD, not yourself.
Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from beginning to end. Hebrews 12:2 (TEV)
ACTION PLAN: Reflect on where you are in your journey with the Lord. Despite wanting to know the destination, ask Him to show you what your next step is. Keeping your eyes on Jesus, take that step. It may be as simple as joining a small group or committing to attend church. Ask Him to help you in this step of obedience.
- BY FAITH YOU STAY
By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. Hebrews 11:9-10 (NIV)
Build your PRESENT on the foundations of the FUTURE
ACTION PLAN: Nurture your relationship with the Lord by developing the habit of a daily quiet time. CLASS 201 will provide you with tools to strengthen your prayer life and study of the Bible. If your quiet time needs a boost, consider taking the online retreat taught by Pastor Buddy called "Deeper Devotions".
- BY FAITH YOU SUCCEED
By faith Abraham, even though he was past age--and Sarah herself was barren--was enabled to become a father because he considered him faithful who had made the promise. And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore. Hebrews 11:11-12
3 sons are mentioned in Abraham's life:
- Eliezer – Genesis 15
- Ishmael – Genesis 16
- Isaac – Genesis 21
3 ways we react when we must wait for God's promise:
- Eliezer: I'll have to settle for less
He took Abram outside and said, "Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them." Then he said to him, "So shall your offspring be." Genesis 15:5 (NIV)
- Ishmael: I'll have to get it myself
- Isaac: I'll choose to trust in God
ACTION PLAN: Take 5 minutes today and talk to God about how you tend to respond in the waiting. Do you settle for less? Do you try to get things moving by yourself? Do you respond some other way…with anger, apathy, or anxiety? Ask Him to build your trust and show you His character in the waiting.
- BY FAITH YOU SACRIFICE
By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had embraced the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, even though God had said to him, "It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned." Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead, and so in a manner of speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death. Hebrews 11:17-19 (NIV)
God sent Christ to be our sacrifice. Christ offered his life's blood, so by faith in him we could come to God. Romans 3:25 (CEV)
Be full of love for others, following the example of Christ who loved you and gave himself to God as a sacrifice to take away your sins… Ephesians 5:2 (TLB)
