Pastor Dave Martin ~ Cross Creek Community Church ~ March 8, 2020
LIVING GOD’S DREAM DESPITE PAST POOR DECISIONS
Time to Dream: Trusting God to Open Doors – Part 2
“We all stumble in many ways.” James 3:2
RECOVERING GOD’S ORIGINAL DREAM FOR ME
ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR MY POOR CHOICES
4 COMMON CAUSES
Seen in Peter’s Betrayal of Jesus
PRIDE
Peter: “Everyone else may stumble in their faith, but I won’t!” Mark 14:29
FATIGUE
Jesus: “Could you not stay awake with me for just one hour?” Mark 14:37
FEAR OF DISAPPROVAL
“Peter followed Jesus at a distance…” Mark 14:54a
SHORT-TERM PLEASURE
“Peter then sat with the guards and warmed himself at the fire.” Mark 14:54b
“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat. 32 But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.” Luke 22:31-32
David: Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me… I know you love complete honesty from my heart so help me see what’s deep inside me… Then create a new, pure heart in me and renew my spirit with the right desires and restore the joy of your salvation! Then I’ll help bring others back to you too.” Psalm 51:1-3, 6-13
GRATEFULLY ACCEPT GOD’S AMAZING GRACE!
“Christ sacrificed his life’s blood (on the Cross) to set us free, which means that ALL our sins are now forgiven! God did this because of his generous grace to us.” Ephesians 1:7
“So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus!” Romans 8:1
JESUS ALREADY PAID FOR ALL MY SINS!
“He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.” 1 John 2:2
GOD’S GOODNESS ISN’T BASED ON MY PERFORMANCE
“He saved us, not because of the good things we did, but because of his mercy.” Titus 3:5
GOD’S CALLING & GIFTS ARE GIVEN UNCONDITIONALLY
“For God’s gifts and his call can never be withdrawn; he will never go back on his promises.”
Romans 11:29
GENEROUSLY FORGIVE THOSE WHO’VE HURT ME
“If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.” Matthew 6:14-15
COURAGEOUSLY FACE THE FUTURE WITH FAITH
So let us come near to God with a sincere heart and a sure faith, with hearts that have been purified from a guilty conscience and with bodies washed with clean water. 23 Let us hold on firmly to the hope we profess, because we can trust God to keep his promise.
Hebrews 10:22-23
“Forget the former thing and do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it is springing up; do you not perceive it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness and I will create streams where there has been wasteland!” Isaiah 43:18-19
LifeGroup video lesson #2: “The 2nd Open Door: The Door To Authentic Relationships”
“There is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus.” Rom. 8:1
