07/23/2023 Church service

周日礼拜

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(don’t be afraid to)
ASK FOR HELP
Mark 11:24
A day at work that changed everything Don’t’ be afraid to ask for help

"Every day we are given chances to become a little wiser than before."

“In all your getting…”

Embrace this new week by letting it be a fresh start for you.

Wake-Up Calls: When you get sick & tired of being sick & tired…
you gotta take new steps of faith – and you gotta be willing to ask for help.

Divine Wake-Up Calls: I believe these are a gift that comes from God
2 Tim 2:25: if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth…

Sometimes people even ask me for help – and when I pray with people about change – I usually include prayers for new people and influences to enter their life.

We have to participate in our own recovery/rescue
We get what we tolerate (including what we tolerate in ourselves)

Don’t delay the change any longer - The New Day starts NOW

Mark 11:24 - "Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours."





? What needs to change?

You first have to break free of the weak, limited mindset that says, “You can never change.”

MK: “There is a Hope and a new Happiness that comes when we recognize Change is indeed possible.”

"As hard as it seems, journey on.
For though you may not yet know it can be done, it can be done.”

My purpose for this message is to tell you: “God loves YOU so much He wants to give you the help you need for a fresh new start in life. Yes, YOU!”
Has God spoken things to your heart that haven't come to pass yet? Sometimes when we are believing for things, it’s easy to become discouraged when it doesn’t happen according to our timetable. But when you make the choice to receive your promise by picturing it in your mind's eye and declaring it with the words of your mouth, your faith becomes stronger. You begin to have joy and peace because you know God is working behind the scenes on your behalf.

What are you believing for God to do in your life? See it in your mind's eye. See yourself healed. See yourself walking in freedom from… ( )
See yourself paying off that last debt. Allow God's thoughts to become your thoughts and receive His promises by faith.

from Life’s Healing Choices:
“Consciously choose to commit your life and will to Christ’s care and control.”

We can get stuck trying to keep it all together while our world is falling apart.

We get stuck, and we cannot get un-stuck in our own power – so despair sets in.
de•spair : the complete loss or absence of hope.

Our behavior leads us to guilt. We wish we could get out of our mess, but we can’t.

We may eventually get angry – “I should be able to change. I ought to be able to get out of this.. I know the harm it’s causing.”

Our anger turns into fear that things are never going to change.

We slowly begin to realize our hurts, hang-ups and habits are controlling us, and our fear eventually turns into depression.
We start feeling sorry for ourselves and we become filled with even more guilt.

Finally we give up and we say, “I can’t change. I quit!” – and the cycle of despair starts all over again.

So – how do we break this cycle of despair?
? Have you asked for help? Have you gone to the right sources?
“Seek and Ye Shall Find”
It’s a time for letting go –
-a time to consciously commit all your life and will to Christ’s care and control.

Maybe for you that means your first time to actually give your heart to Jesus Christ – to turn from your old way of doing things and choose to live for Him.
To truly accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.
“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.”

Jesus says, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest.
Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you.
Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

For others, this choice will mean a renewed commitment to let go of your life and give it over to Christ’s care and control. …and to reach out for help from others.

? So, what’s holding you back from making this choice?
? What is delaying your decision to surrender your problems and life to the care and control of Christ?

“Choices determine circumstances and our decisions determine our destiny.”
Can the downward spiral be reversed?

“Consciously choose to commit your life and will to Christ’s care and control.”

12 Steps: “Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God”

There are things that can hold us back from reaching out for help.
Pride – Guilt – or Doubt

Pride: I already know everything – and I am never wrong.

“Pride first, then the crash, but humility is precursor to honor.”
“The wise are glad to be instructed, but babbling fools fall flat on their faces.”

How low do we go before our pride is consumed in disaster?

Jesus said: “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.”

Guilt: Maybe you’ve tried to escape your problems before, and you promised God that if He’d help you this one time you’d never do it again – and then you “backslide?” ( )

1 John 3:19-24 (read)
God knows everything about you – including your short-comings.
He wants to forgive all your of your guilt. That’s why Jesus went to the cross!

Isaiah 44:22 - I have swept away your sins like a cloud. I have scattered your offenses like the morning mist. Oh, return to me, for I have paid the price to set you free.”

I have swept away your wrongdoing, as wind sweeps a cloud from the sky: I have cleared you of your sins, as the sun clears the morning mist. I have rescued you; come back to Me.

- So, what are you afraid of?
- Where is it you find difficulty in asking for help?
- What are you now holding on to that makes you think, “I can’t let go?”
- What are the images that keep replaying in your soul?

Maybe you could just start by praying, “God, I don’t even know what I don’t want to give up. I just know I don’t want to live this way anymore, and I know I want my life to be under Your control. God – take back the reigns of this runaway life.”

All you have to do is trust Him. He will take care of the rest. (Only Trust Him)

Doubt: Have you ever thought, “I want to believe, but my faith is too small?”

"I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!"
Jesus told Jairus, "Don't be afraid. Just have faith…”
(doubt and fear are close cousins)
Power – Love – Self-Discipline

Your decision must be, “I open my life to the care and control of Christ. I don’t know how it’s all going to be worked out, but I know it’s the right thing to do. So I’m just going to do it.”

Are you worried that in this battle of life you won’t be able to hold on?
Don’t worry – it’s not your job to hold on.
GOD will do the holding – and He won’t ever let go.

Eph 1:13, 14: And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession--to the praise of his glory.

Hillside United Methodist Church
3739 US 80
Phenix City  AL  36870
United States
Pastor: Mike J Koger

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