Published: May 19, 2015, 2:37 a.m.

b'

Message Title:\\xa0 \\u201cIt\\u2019s Already Written\\u201d

\\n

\\xa0

\\n

(Paul \\u2013 Philippians \\u2013 Jail)

\\n

\\xa0

\\n

\\u2026Whatever things are true, whatever things\\xa0are\\xa0noble, whatever things are\\xa0just, whatever things\\xa0are\\xa0pure, whatever things\\xa0are\\xa0lovely, whatever things\\xa0are\\xa0of good report, if\\xa0there is\\xa0any virtue and if\\xa0there is\\xa0anything praiseworthy\\u2014meditate on these things.\\xa0^9\\xa0The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:8-9 (NKJV)

\\n

\\xa0

\\n

Good Report\\u2026 There are a lot of bad reports. (Examples)

\\n

\\xa0

\\n

I want a good report\\u2026 (People who only bring problems\\u2026)

\\n

\\xa0

\\n

Surely the righteous will never be shaken; they will be remembered\\xa0forever. ^7\\xa0They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast,\\xa0trusting in the\\xa0Lord.

\\n

^8\\xa0Their hearts are secure, they will have no fear;\\xa0in the end they will look in triumph on their foes. Psalm 112:6-8New International Version (NIV)

\\n

\\xa0

\\n

It is possible (in fact it\\u2019s God\\u2019s plan for us), to be people who are not shaken\\u2026 not driven by our emotions.

\\n

\\xa0

\\n

The fear of bad news \\u2013 Parents of driving teenagers, emails, church volunteers, report cards,

\\n

Wives \\u2013 \\u201cWe need to talk.\\u201d

\\n

\\xa0

\\n

Transition:\\xa0 We all want a \\u201cGOOD REPORT\\u201d But bad reports are inevitable\\u2026What do we do with bad news?

\\n

\\xa0

\\n

When Moses sent them to explore Canaan,\\xa0he said, \\u201cGo up through the Negev\\xa0and on into the hill country.\\xa0^18\\xa0See what the land is like and whether the people who live there are strong or weak, few or many.\\xa0^19\\xa0What kind of land do they live in? Is it good or bad? What kind of towns do they live in? Are they unwalled or fortified?\\xa0^20\\xa0How is the soil? Is it fertile or poor? Are there trees in it or not? Do your best to bring back some of the fruit of the land.\\u201d (It was the season for the first ripe grapes.)

\\n

\\xa0

\\n

^23\\xa0When they reached the Valley of Eshkol,\\xa0they cut off a branch bearing a single cluster of grapes. Two of them carried it on a pole between them, along with some pomegranates\\xa0and figs.\\xa0^24\\xa0That place was called the Valley of Eshkol because of the cluster of grapes the Israelites cut off there.\\xa0^25\\xa0At the end of forty days\\xa0they returned from exploring the land.

\\n

^\\xa0

\\n

^26\\xa0They came back to Moses and Aaron and the whole Israelite community at Kadesh\\xa0in the Desert of Paran.\\xa0There they reported to them\\xa0and to the whole assembly and showed them the fruit of the land.\\xa0^27\\xa0They gave Moses this account: \\u201cWe went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey!\\xa0Here is its fruit.\\xa0²⁸But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large.\\xa0We even saw descendants of Anak\\xa0there.\\xa0^29\\xa0The Amalekites\\xa0live in the Negev; the Hittites,\\xa0Jebusites\\xa0and Amorites\\xa0live in the hill country;\\xa0and the Canaanites\\xa0live near the sea and along the Jordan.\\u201d

\\n

\\xa0

\\n

^30\\xa0Then Caleb\\xa0silenced the people before Moses and said, \\u201cWe should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.\\u201d

\\n

\\xa0

\\n

^31\\xa0But the men who had gone up with him said, \\u201cWe can\\u2019t attack those people; they are stronger than we are.\\u201d\\xa0^32\\xa0And they spread among the Israelites a bad report\\xa0about the land they had explored. They said, \\u201cThe land we explored devours\\xa0those living in it. All the people we saw there are of great size. Numbers 13:17-32 (NIV)

\\n

\\xa0

\\n

(What happened next\\u2026)

\\n

\\xa0

\\n

Transition: I believe that there are times in our life that we are missing out on what God wants to do in our life\\u2026 because we don\\u2019t have the courage to trust God when the bad report comes.\\xa0

\\n

\\xa0

\\n

When you receive a bad report\\u2026 there are 3 questions you need to ask yourself:

\\n

\\xa0

\\n

1.\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 What Has Already Been Promised?

\\n

\\xa0

\\n

God\\u2019s word is FULL of incredible promises\\u2026 (Not a distant God\\u2026 but active in out life)

\\n

\\xa0

\\n

Examples \\u2013 ( Peace, close to the broken hearted, our sin was buried, a new mind, healing\\u2026)

\\n

\\xa0

\\n

For all of God\\u2019s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding \\u201cYes!\\u201d\\xa02 Corinthians 1:20 (NLT)

\\n

\\xa0

\\n

Some of us hear the bad report\\u2026 and immediately forget what God has promised.

\\n

The\\xa0Lord\\xa0said, \\u201cI have indeed seen\\xa0the misery\\xa0of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned\\xa0about their suffering.\\xa0^8\\xa0So I have come down\\xa0to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land,\\xa0a land flowing with milk and honey\\u2014the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites\\xa0and Jebusites. Exodus 3:7-8 (NIV)

\\n

\\xa0

\\n

Over 170 times \\u2013 \\u201cThe Land I HAVE given you.\\u201d

\\n

\\xa0

\\n

The thing they were scared of\\u2026 is the thing that God had already promised victory over.

\\n

\\xa0

\\n

There are things in our life that happen\\u2026 that we can\\u2019t control\\u2026 that don\\u2019t make sense\\u2026 and we allow them to steal from us what God has already promised.

\\n

\\xa0

\\n

Stories that are \\u201cAlready Written\\u201d (Pastor / West Wing)

\\n

\\xa0

\\n

Some of us approach our day\\u2026 situation\\u2026 with a story that is already written\\u2026 based on what we believe about God. (Heart \\u2013 Thoughts)

\\n

\\xa0

\\n

He tells them to size up their situation\\u2026 not THEIR ability to handle it. \\xa0(Explain)

\\n

\\xa0

\\n

It\\u2019s ok to size up your SITUATION, but don\\u2019t try to size up your to handle it.

\\n

\\xa0

\\n

If it\\u2019s your situation\\u2026 you CAN handle it.

\\n

\\xa0

\\n

The\\xa0Lord\\xa0is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. \\xa0I burst out in songs of thanksgiving. ^8\\xa0The\\xa0Lord\\xa0gives his people strength. Psalm 28:7-8 (NLT)

\\n

\\xa0

\\n

The\\xa0Lord\\xa0is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection.\\xa0 He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety. Psalm 18:2NLT)

\\n

\\xa0

\\n

2.\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 What is My Reality?

\\n

\\xa0

\\n

^27\\xa0They gave Moses this account: \\u201cWe went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey!\\xa0Here is its fruit.\\xa0

\\n

\\xa0

\\n

²⁸But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large.\\xa0Numbers 13:27-28

\\n

\\xa0

\\n

Reality = things as they actually exist

\\n

\\xa0

\\n

That makes sense\\u2026 but many of us don\\u2019t SEE things as they actually exist!

\\n

\\xa0

\\n

Grapes = reality (Look at the blessing\\u2026 look at what God wants to give us\\u2026)

\\n

Report = perspective

\\n

\\xa0

\\n

We don\\u2019t experience our REALITY\\u2026 we experience our PERSPECTIVE.

\\n

\\xa0

\\n

Remember\\u2026 WE can control the environment of our heart\\u2026 WE can think different\\u2026 which will alter our perspective.

\\n

\\xa0

\\n

You can be staring at the reality of God\\u2019s faithfulness in your life\\u2026 but so afraid of the giants that you never experience the blessing.

\\n

\\xa0

\\n

The news is the issue\\u2026 the report is your interpretation.

\\n

\\xa0

\\n

Fear can turn good news into a bad report.

\\n

\\xa0

\\n

There were 12 people.\\xa0 Same reality. Different perspective.

\\n

\\xa0

\\n

I would if I could.\\xa0 NO you could if you would!

\\n

\\xa0

\\n

You can claim what God has given you\\u2026 but still have to fight for it.

\\n

\\xa0

\\n

There is STILL action involved on our part\\u2026 but when we choose to see HIS reality and not OUR perspective\\u2026 we will take hold of the blessings He has for us!

\\n

\\xa0

\\n

\\u201cFor my thoughts\\xa0are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,\\u201d declares the\\xa0Lord. ^9\\xa0\\u201cAs the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.\\u201d\\xa0 Isaiah 55:8-9 (NIV)

\\n

\\xa0

\\n

3.\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 What Report Will I Believe?

\\n

\\xa0

\\n

^30\\xa0Then Caleb\\xa0silenced the people before Moses and said, \\u201cWe should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.\\u201d

\\n

\\xa0

\\n

^31\\xa0But the men who had gone up with him said, \\u201cWe can\\u2019t attack those people; they are stronger than we are.\\u201d\\xa0Numbers 13:30-31

\\n

\\xa0

\\n

All 12 saw the same reality\\u20262 believed a different report.

\\n

\\xa0

\\n

The report you BELIEVE is more important than the news you RECEIVE. \\xa0

\\n

\\xa0

\\n

There will be all kinds of reports\\u2026 from all kinds of people\\u2026 sources\\u2026 opinions\\u2026 what will you believe?

\\n

\\xa0

\\n

We don\\u2019t have to have good NEWS to believe a good REPORT.

\\n

\\xa0

\\n

Hope this will change the way you look at your situation\\u2026 YOU CAN WRITE the report\\u2026 before the news comes.

\\n

\\xa0

\\n

\\u2026The\\xa0Lord\\xa0has anointed\\xa0me\\xa0to proclaim good news\\xa0to the poor. He has sent me to bind up\\xa0the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom\\xa0for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners\\u2026

\\n

^2\\xa0to proclaim the year of the\\xa0Lord\\u2019s favor and the day of vengeance\\xa0of our God,
to comfort\\xa0all who mourn, ^3\\xa0and provide for those who grieve in Zion\\u2014to bestow on them a crown\\xa0of beauty instead of ashes, the oil\\xa0of joy\\xa0instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.

\\n

They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting\\xa0of the\\xa0Lord for the display of his splendor. ^4\\xa0They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated;
they will renew the ruined cities\\xa0that have been devastated for generations. Isaiah 61:1-4 (NIV)

\\n

\\xa0

\\n

\\xa0\\u201cWhat is impossible with man is possible with God.\\u201d Luke 18:27 (NIV)

'