January 14, 2025 • 39 mins
Join Chris Schlotterbeck as he discusses surrender, explains consecration, and reviews the story of Joshua.
To get connected or to give online, you can go to connect.hcv.church or give.hcv.church. If at anytime during this message you feel called to make a change in your life, text "change me" to 970-00.
Come As You Are ...
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Episode Transcript
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Welcome to Hub City Vineyard.
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To get connected or to give online go to connect.hcv.church or give.hcv.church.
If at any point during this message you feel called to make a change in your life, text
change me to 970-00.
Thank you and enjoy the message.
Hey good morning everyone.
Was that Derrick Henry putting that offering in?
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Like was he slam dunking that offer?
Oh sorry that was just me next.
Welcome to HCV everyone.
Is there a lot of Steelers fans here or something?
Sorry.
If you're joining us from home, hopefully you're loud and excited like I am.
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Thank you for welcoming us into your space and shout out to HHC.
We love you and appreciate worshiping with you.
So good morning.
I want to start off by sharing a few photos with you.
If you take a look at these photos you might recognize something that we just built.
Check that out.
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So as you look through these photos you're going to see that the kitchen that we raised
money for, remember a few months ago we said hey I want to build a kitchen in Kenya.
We need ten grand and we got it in a month.
Well that kitchen is built, it's beautiful and the people are excited to use it.
Let me just say and make you realize and put it in perspective.
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That kitchen is the equivalent of a $50,000 kitchen here in the U.S.
We gave them the best.
The cool thing is we are changing lives all around the world.
Isn't that awesome?
So you are doing it HCV.
We're excited about that and we're grateful for all that you give.
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Now I've had several people ask me about the fires in Southern California and the tragedy
that's happening out there.
Watch this short video and then I'll tell you how we're going to respond.
Everything inside the Convoy of Hope Distribution Center in Sacramento has been donated.
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And everything they're loading up Thursday afternoon is headed to Southern California.
Water, food and hygiene immediately.
This is one of about half a dozen truckloads the nonprofit has sent to Los Angeles County
hoping to fill a need.
You've got a family, you've got children and you're just running for your life.
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We send down those essential relief supplies.
Ryan Allen, a convoy nation representative, says with disasters like the wildfires in
Los Angeles, getting supplies to those who really need them can present a challenge.
One of the hard things about this disaster is that fires, people kind of scatter.
They go wherever they can go.
No one really goes to a central place.
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So their trucks go to churches and other organizations in the area where they know people will be.
And from there, they start distributing essentials to anyone who needs them.
They're upside down.
The world's been changed dramatically and forever.
It'll never be the same.
And if all we can do is help them have a sense of peace and a little bit of hope that somebody
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on the other side cares and we're here to help, that means the world sometimes.
In a time when these fires have left so many with nothing, that help can mean everything.
And we asked just how many truckloads they'll be sending down to Los Angeles County.
They say they don't have an exact number right now, but they'll send them as long as they're
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needed.
It's great to see what they're doing there.
So we are going to partner again with Convoy of Hope.
And as you can see there, they're on the ground.
They're meeting needs.
They're making a difference in people's lives with the name of Jesus.
So if you feel compelled to give, you can give in your offering envelopes and just mark
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fires or you could go online to hcv.churchgive.
And there's on our drop down selection, you can select wildfires.
And all of that money that you feel compelled to give will be given to Convoy of Hope and
will be sent directly to California to make a difference.
That's how we will be responding.
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Okay?
So if you feel compelled, please do so.
So last week we kicked off our yearly series, 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting.
At the start of every new year for the last five years, we've set aside the first 21 days
to focus on Jesus and to prioritize our relationship with Him as a means of growth.
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And what does it mean?
Some of you may be thinking, what does it mean to fast?
Well, just to give you an example, this year as Jess and I prayed about what to give up,
we are fasting dumb TV.
Okay?
And when you say, well, it's dumb TV.
Dumb TV is the TV that we watch after we put Phoenix to bed.
You know that show that you just kind of turn on and it's mindless and it just happens
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and it's a series or whatever it may be.
It may be compelling, but here's the reality.
It's a waste of time.
So what we did, we've chosen to replace that time with reading, meditation, prayer, and
conversations.
Okay?
And that in no way means that we're more spiritual than you.
Okay?
It doesn't mean that.
It just means that we're using time that we typically waste and have now replaced it with
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God and His purposes for us.
That's fasting.
It doesn't have to be food.
It could be food.
It doesn't have to be, you know, lunchtime.
You give up your lunch and then you pray and fast.
It could be though.
It's whatever God puts on your heart to replace with Him.
And if you've missed the start of our fast, the big deal start today.
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Right?
Join our community of faith and growing closer to Jesus in 2025.
And then set aside one morning this coming week, Monday through Saturday, show up here
at 6 a.m. and join many others in praying for our church, the tri-state area, our nation,
and the world.
And that will happen for 21 days.
You don't have to show up to all of them.
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You don't have to feel like you have to have perfect attendance.
If you want to do it, go for it.
God bless you.
But if you don't, it's a little too early for you.
Show up to one or two.
And what you'll discover is God is moving in that place.
Now, our series in Yearly Focus for 2025 is found in Mark 1123 and it reads this.
And Jesus said to his disciples, have faith in God.
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I tell you the truth.
You can say to this mountain, may you be lifted up and thrown into the sea and it will happen.
But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart.
And we kicked off our series with a discussion on how a fresh anointing moves mountains.
And we are challenged to pray, right, with that little, little mustard seed of faith.
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And here's the reality.
We all have mountains.
You know, the unavoidable and overwhelming obstacles that come at us every single day
in life.
It may be a mountain in your marriage.
You don't see how you're going to stay together.
It may be a mountain in your finances, right?
It doesn't look like you'll ever get out of debt.
Maybe it's a mountain in your health.
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The doctors say you're never going to get well.
Maybe it's a mountain of addiction that can't be broken.
Maybe there's a mountain in your relationship with God like doubt or fear or sin or temptation.
Right?
Well, prayer is how you write history before it happens.
Prayer is how you write history for yourself and your family before it even happens.
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As we pray, as we believe in miracles that will happen over the next days, weeks, months,
even this year, I believe it can all be traced back to these 21 days of prayer.
Last week we said you may only have a little mustard seed of faith, but planted together
with other seeds that are watered in prayer, it brings breakthrough from God that can impact
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generations.
Think about that.
Generations from now, even after you die, could be impacted from these 21 days.
Because if we press into the presence of God like never before, we will experience God
like never before.
It's not coincidence.
It's an expectation that the more we pray, the more God will break in and make a difference.
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So it's a great way to start the new year.
But friends, let me warn you.
These next 21 days, this next month, it won't be easy.
And we need to have our shield of faith ready and in hand because spiritual opposition is
going to come.
Any time in the spiritual realm that a follower of Jesus takes a step of faith to possess
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a promise from God, the enemy is not happy.
And he's going to come right at you.
But if we pray through, we will believe that God is going to break through.
And today God challenged me to share with you what it looks like to be strong and courageous
in our prayer life.
And we're going to jump into the book of Joshua, which is in the Old Testament.
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It's the sixth book of the Bible, a little backstory before we begin reading.
After Moses died, Joshua is the hand-picked leader by God to lead God's chosen people
into the promised land.
And in Joshua chapter one, we read this.
After the death of Moses, the Lord's servant, the Lord spoke to Joshua, son of Nun, Moses'
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assistant.
He said, Moses, my servant is dead.
Therefore the time has come for you to lead these people, the Israelites, across the Jordan
River into the land that I am giving them.
Now I just want to pause here for a second and put this into context.
Remember the nation of Israel, God's chosen people, they had just suffered in Egypt for
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over 400 years as slaves.
They experienced tremendous trauma and generational pain until the Bible tells us that God stepped
in and raised up Moses to lead an Exodus out of Egypt.
Now as Pharaoh pursues the people, God used Moses to perform the miracle, the parting
of the Red Sea.
And as he raised his staff, the people of God walked through on dry land with walls
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of water on each side.
God rescued his people.
They were free, but then they wander in the wilderness for 40 years.
Think about that because the people constantly complained, doubted, and were easily drawn
to worship idols.
They didn't follow God's command to conquer the land of Cana, the promised land that God
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wanted the people to occupy.
Because of their doubt and their unbelief, an entire generation of people would die in
the wilderness, including Moses.
So upon Moses' death, Joshua was raised up and listened to this promise that God gives
Joshua in verse 3.
I promise you what I promised Moses.
Wherever you set foot, you will be on land I have given you.
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No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live.
For I will be with you as I was with Moses.
I will not fail you or abandon you.
And here it is again, listen, be strong and courageous.
For you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors
that I would give them.
Be strong and very courageous.
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Be careful to obey the instructions Moses gave you.
Do not deviate from them, turning either right or left.
Then you will be successful in everything you do.
Study this book of instruction continually.
Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it.
Only then will you prosper and exceed in all you do.
This is my command again, the fourth time.
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Be strong and courageous.
Do not be afraid or discouraged for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.
And I believe God has a promise for each and every one of your lives.
It's not coincidence that you are sitting in these seats today.
It's not coincidence that you are watching online.
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You have a calling from God on your life.
And as you step into these promises, Jesus declares this.
I will be with you.
I want you to look at your neighbor and tell them God is with them.
Now look at the other neighbor, the one you don't like very much.
Give them a wink and say God is with you.
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That's funny isn't it?
Now listen, as we step out in faith over this next month remember we are declaring mountains
to move.
Struggles.
You know this unsurmountable problem that we have in our life allow these words to encourage
you.
No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live for I will be with you as
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I was with Moses.
I will not fail you or abandon you.
See as we press in and get closer to God and become more like Jesus praying boldly for
God's promises over our families, our careers, our marriages, our finances, our health, our
struggles.
Listen, God is going to move and it may take some time and you may have a few setbacks
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but Jesus promises I am with you every step of the way.
So what I want to do this morning is just highlight some simple practices that Joshua
put in his life and led God's people into.
And I'm believing that for many of us after these 21 days we are going to find these practices,
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these principles throughout our lives every single day that we pray which leads us to
our first thought, Joshua consecrated himself to God.
So Israel is camped on the eastern bank of the Jordan River and the people they need
to cross the river but before crossing notice what God commands the people in Joshua 3,
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5.
Joshua told the people, consecrate yourselves for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things
among you.
Consecrate yourselves.
Now by show of hands, humor me.
How many of you want to see God do amazing things in your life?
How many?
Come on.
It should be 100% right?
It's 100%.
God I want you to do amazing things in my life but notice the first step in experiencing
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amazing things is consecration.
We have to consecrate ourselves to God as Joshua told the people.
Now what does that mean some of you are thinking Chris?
What in the world does that mean?
I may have never heard that term or the only time I saw that term was when I was reading
the Bible or when you were talking about it.
Consecration simply means this.
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To set yourself apart and to be fully devoted to God.
That's what it means.
To be fully devoted to God that you are set apart.
Jesus says it this way in Matthew 22.
You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul and all your mind.
In other words, God I'm giving you everything.
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My mind and all its thoughts.
My body and its strength.
My spirit and soul are yours God.
I desire to be a living sacrifice devoted to worshiping you and serving you.
Now this week I was reading about church movements and revivals in Outreach magazine and Dr.
Edwin Orr wrote these words.
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History is silent about revivals that do not begin with prayer.
History is silent about revivals that do not begin with prayer.
The article went on to share how Dr. Orr was a professor and he took a group of college
students to England to visit the childhood home of John Wesley.
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John Wesley was the founder of the Methodist Revival and Movement and in Wesley's bedroom
the students saw two indentations on the floor side by side.
Dr. Orr pointed out the indentations and asked the students if they knew what these indentations
were.
With no response from the students, Dr. Orr kneeled down into the groove marks in the
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floor and said this, John Wesley knelt in prayer every morning from the age of 18 until
he died for two hours.
Wesley was consecrated himself every day for two hours in the morning asking God to use
him in a powerful way.
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Now many of the students they took photos of the indentations returned to the bus.
Dr. Orr began to take a head count before leaving.
He didn't want to leave anyone behind but he noticed one of the students was missing
and as he went back upstairs into Wesley's home he found a young man named Billy kneeling
in those kneel holes praying God do it again, do it again in me.
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That student was Billy Graham and he was consecrated himself before God and would go on to become
one of the greatest evangelists this world has ever seen.
Consecration is complete and total surrender to the lordship of Jesus.
Some of you are thinking what?
See you have to understand Jesus he's not just our savior.
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He's also our lord which means he has control in everything that is part of our lives.
And the first step in moving mountains and claiming the promise of God over our lives
is getting down on our knees and devoting ourselves completely to God by saying God
my life is yours, my home is yours, my career is yours, my education is yours, my finances
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are yours, everything in my life God is yours.
I want it to bring glory and honor.
See consecration puts us in a position for God to literally light us on fire.
It's the first step in claiming God's promises over your life.
It's a sign of humility.
It's a sign of releasing control that all of us have we're control freaks.
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And typically when I begin to pray first in my life I seek forgiveness.
I say God search my heart if there's anything in my mind in my heart that's not from you
forgive me.
I don't want to be separated from you.
Then I invite the Holy Spirit to come.
God fill me.
God give me wisdom and direction.
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I give my desires my needs to you.
I'm committed to following you.
Change me God.
Then I move on to my requests.
See Joshua told the people consecrate yourselves for tomorrow God will do amazing things.
And notice if we want God to do amazing things tomorrow what do we have to do today?
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We have to consecrate ourselves.
So I want to challenge you tomorrow morning when you begin your day begin it in prayer.
And don't pray about that mountain that has to move.
Don't pray about what you need.
Get right with God.
Clear your heart and mind.
Then pray for God's will and plan to be done in your life so that others see God working
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in us using us to impact and change lives.
That's how Jesus prayed in the garden when Jesus was facing the greatest mountain in
his life.
Death on the cross he fell to his knees and prayed these words.
He went a little further bowed his face to the ground praying my father if it is possible
let this cup of suffering be taken away from me.
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And notice his words I want your will be done not mine.
That my friends is consecration.
It's giving God authority in our lives.
It's giving God the ability to use us to change us.
That's how mountains begin to move which leads us to our next stop.
Victory begins to surrender.
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Victory begins to surrender.
Mark 11 then Jesus said to his disciples have faith in God.
I tell you the truth you can say to this mountain may you be lifted up and thrown into the sea
and it will happen.
But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart.
Now I want everybody to notice that word doubt.
If you're in your outline circle it.
If there is doubt there is no surrender.
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If there is doubt there is no surrender.
Because when we lay ourselves down when we consecrate ourselves in prayer we give God
the authority we give God the ability to move the mountain as he desires.
Not as I wanted to move.
And not as how I believe it should.
And that is why Jesus challenges us with these words Matthew 6 33 seek the kingdom of God
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above all else live righteously and he will give you everything you.
I'm sorry.
Need.
Need.
Notice that doesn't say anything about wants.
He'll give you everything you need.
A prayer that I've been praying for more than a year now is God I need healing.
God I need this disk in my back to be totally healed bring it back into alignment.
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God restore this nerve so that I can once again feel my right foot so I can return to
all the activity that I love to do.
God use these doctors use these physical therapists God use these needles to bring relief and
healing.
But I've been learning.
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Over the course of the last 15 months.
That if it's your desire that I remain this way physically may your will be done.
That if it's your desire that I have this numbness in my foot.
That's your will see we have to be careful not just to want our agenda and not just to
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have our prayers met the way we want them to.
We can't go before Jesus with a list of needs in our life.
That we have to be focused on what God wants to do in us.
We have to get in God's presence and allow him to reveal his agenda to us.
Yes we pray with passion we do not doubt but we also have to surrender the outcome to God
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and trust that his plan is perfect for our lives.
See the goal of 21 days of prayer and fasting is to not get everything we want.
It's to figure out what God wants to do in our lives.
Please understand.
Your answered prayer may be very different than what you initially prayed for and thought
that your mountain would be moved.
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And why would it be different?
Well because Isaiah 55 tells us that God's thoughts are nothing like our thoughts.
And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine for just as the heavens are higher
than the earth so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts are higher than
your thoughts.
See when we pray we are asking for God's plan to be revealed in our lives.
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So young people when you pray for God to open a door to get into the college of your dreams
and instead you get offered a scholarship from a school lower on your list are you surrendered
enough to accept God's plan for your life?
When you are praying for your marriage to thrive and blossom for communication to improve
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and the opportunity arises to be a part of the marriage course here at HCV are you surrendered
enough to get rid of your pride and grow your marriage?
See the point is the plans of God are only revealed in the presence of God.
Over the years I've learned that I may be praying for something only to realize that
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something was answered in a very different way that I didn't expect.
And until we surrender our mountains to God and their outcomes and how they should come
to be we are not fully devoted.
We have to surrender them both because our hearts are not pure.
Our motives believe it or not can be very selfish.
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There's a jealousy and a greed effect in us.
You know that desire to be rich and famous because Jeremiah 17 tells us the human heart
is the most deceitful of all things desperately wicked.
Who really knows how bad it is and God searches our hearts and examines our motives and that
is why we first have to seek God to purify our heart and mind our selfish desires and
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let his outcome bring glory to him not us.
Every prayer for a mountain to move should begin with God's will be done and end with
God let your glory reign.
Surrender is inviting God to reveal all the selfish desires within us so that our prayer
life is about God not us.
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God's not a genie in a bottle friends.
He's our creator and he desires an intimate relationship with us.
He desires for us to walk in his plans for our lives and this happens when we surrender
and we allow him to move as he wants.
Remember his ways are higher than our ways.
His thoughts are higher than our thoughts.
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If we want an amazing tomorrow we have to go all in with God today which leads us to
our next thought.
Joshua took a step of faith.
See to move mountains we can't just pray like it depends on God.
Yes we pray with passion and believe God's in it but then we have to take a step of faith
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because faith is an action verb we have to step out.
Remember Joshua and the people they were on the eastern side of the Jordan River and they
had to cross over the river to walk into the promise.
Seems like no big deal right?
We can wade through the Potomac River no big deal but then we read in Joshua 3.15 it was
the harvest season and the Jordan was overflowing its banks.
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A little detail that many of us read through and just let it go by but the events that
the Israelites are facing that Joshua is facing is taking place in the spring and the Jordan
River was at flood stage.
Flood season on the Jordan River means the river is raging right?
Take white water rapids okay?
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Think the raft that you're on and you're getting tossed out and the river widens to more than
200 feet.
And then we read this in Joshua 3.7-8.
The Lord told Joshua today I will begin to make you a great leader in the eyes of all
the Israelites.
They will know I am with you just as I was with Moses give this command to the priests
who carry the Ark of the Covenant.
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When you reach the banks of the Jordan River take a few steps into the river and stop there.
The only thing between Joshua the people and God's promise is a raging river that has to
be crossed and God just wants me to walk into it.
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I'm sure the people wanted to build a bridge.
I'm sure they were looking for a boat.
They tie a zip line to the tree but God says if you want to receive my promise you've got
to get your feet wet.
If you're going to trust me in my power in your life friends you have to realize that
we have to take a step of faith and we see this in the New Testament when it comes to
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Peter in Matthew 14.
Then Peter called to him Lord if it's really you tell me to come to you walking on the
water yes come Jesus said.
And Jesus is inviting some of you to come today.
So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus.
See faith is taking the first step before God reveals the second.
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Taking the first step before God reveals the second.
Today listen is baptism Sunday.
After our third gathering our next gathering we will be celebrating the more than 50 people
that have signed up to be baptized.
I didn't stutter 50 people.
But it doesn't stop there as I was preparing this morning I heard God speak this to me.
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There are fathers in this gathering and watching online that need to take a step of faith and
get baptized for your family.
You hear that dads?
Maybe it's time to turn things around.
I also heard God say there will be people in this gathering that need to take a step
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of faith and get baptized.
Because when you get baptized your addiction will be destroyed.
Is that you?
See there are two parts to mountain moving prayer.
First you give yourselves to God.
We consecrate.
We surrender.
But there comes a moment when we have to put feet to our faith.
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Most miracles begin with a step of faith.
For example maybe you're praying for a loved one to be physically healed.
That's your mountain.
That's what you're praying for.
Maybe God now is challenging you to take a step of faith, visit them, lay hands on them
and believe in that healing.
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There's a big difference.
Maybe you're praying for freedom in your finances to get out of debt.
That's my mountain God.
Help me.
You know what taking a step of faith is?
Joining financial peace this winter.
Do something about it.
Maybe your prayer is for a relationship in your family to be healed.
Maybe you have a broken relationship with your mom or your dad or your kids.
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And you're praying for it.
But God is now challenging you to take a step of faith, reach out and seek restoration.
Someone's got to take the first step.
Maybe you're here this morning and you're a young person or not so young person.
I have no idea.
And you desire to be married.
You're tired of being lonely.
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And you're praying boldly for God to bring someone into your life.
What if your step of faith is actually asking them out on a date and not using the internet?
Because that don't count.
Look around.
There's a lot of people in here.
No better place to meet your significant other than face to face in a gathering at a church.
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Right?
The internet don't work.
So ask someone out.
Maybe you'll become best friends.
Maybe you'll be married.
Let's continue with Joshua 3, 15 through 17.
It was the harvest season.
The Jordan was overflowing its banks.
But as soon as the feet of the priests who were carrying the ark touched the water at
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the river's ends, the water above that point backed up.
The water below that point flowed down to the Dead Sea.
Then all the people crossed near, crossed over the river near the town of Jericho.
Meanwhile, the priests who were carrying the ark of the Lord's covenant stood on dry ground.
Isn't that amazing?
In the middle of the riverbed as some people passed by, they waited there until the whole
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nation of Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.
And this was not like the miracle they were expecting.
You know, they're thinking parting of the seas, staff.
No, the priests had to get wet.
I mean, that's a step of faith.
But here's the reality.
What we can learn, God desires that we all live that way.
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That yet we pray first and then we act.
We step out and believe that God is going to use us.
And I get it.
Listen, stepping out in faith is scary.
But we must remember what God told Joshua.
What did he say?
You're the leader now.
This is my command.
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Be strong and courageous.
Do not be discouraged for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.
How many times did he speak that over Joshua?
Four.
Four times.
In chapter one.
And I believe God is saying to us this morning, the miraculous happens when you take a step
of faith.
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Step out because on the other side, Jesus is waiting for you.
You're like, what?
See, after Joshua and the people step out in faith and they cross the Jordan River, look
at the final thought.
A step of faith causes God to respond.
Joshua five, 13 to 15, when Joshua was near the town of Jericho, he looked up.
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He saw a man standing in front of him with a sword in his hand.
Joshua went up to him and demanded, are you friend or foe?
Neither one, he replied.
I'm the commander of the Lord's army.
At this, Joshua fell with his face to the ground in reverence.
I am at your command, Joshua said.
What do you want your servant to do?
The commander of the Lord's army replied, take off your sandals for the place where
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you're standing is holy.
And Joshua did as he was told.
Now that commander of the angel armies with a sword in his hand, many Old Testament scholars
believe is Jesus Christ.
Is Jesus making a rare Old Testament appearance as the son of God?
And Joshua sees him with this sword.
He falls on his face out of reverence and fear.
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Some of you say, what's the fear of the Lord?
That's the fear of the Lord.
It's reverence that God is going to fight our battles, right?
He doesn't take sides.
Like God doesn't just get behind you, he takes over.
He leads the way.
That is where we find our strength.
And when we give our entire lives to Jesus and we step out in faith, right?
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Then that's when God is invited into the battle, into the mountain moving business.
And I believe that many of us are going to have life altering encounters over this next
month.
You're going to see mountains move.
You're going to see lives changed.
But notice what Jesus said to Joshua.
Take off your shoes.
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Why?
Because God is now involved and that requires reverence.
The plans of God are revealed in the presence of God.
And friends, God is always with us.
Look at John 14.
And I will ask the father and he will give you another advocate who will never leave
you.
He is the Holy Spirit who leads you into all truth.
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The world can't receive him because he isn't looking for him and doesn't recognize him.
But you know him because he lives in you now and later will be in you.
I'm sorry.
He lives with you now and later will be in you.
Now I will not abandon you as orphans.
I will come to you.
Which leads us to our action step.
Church, we're called to surrender.
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We are called to surrender.
In Galatians 2.20 my old self has been crucified with Christ.
It is no longer I who live but Christ lives in me so I live in this earthly body by trusting
the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me.
And this morning I was prompted by God to invite our community of faith to surrender.
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I want to invite you to see the miraculous and to see the Holy Spirit invade your life.
So if you stand with me.
Alright I'm going to ask you something that's a little uncomfortable and I'm going to do
it anyway because I did it during the first gathering.
If you can and you're physically able I want to invite you to kneel with me this morning.
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If you get out of your seats and kneel with me.
And if you say Chris I'm not physically able to kneel.
Take your shoes off.
Take them off.
Come Holy Spirit.
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Alright now everybody look up here.
Here's what I want you to do.
As a community of faith as a church community as we kneel in reverence before God.
I want you to put your hands out clenched fists like this.
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Holy Spirit come.
God forgive me for anything that's not of you.
Forgive me for my negative thoughts.
My outlook.
My sin.
My struggles.
My temptation.
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I give them now to you.
Now open your right hand and give them to God.
God I bring my mountain to you.
But be specific whatever it is in the quietness of your heart speak it out.
Marriage.
Finances.
Career.
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Whatever it is.
Speak it out to Jesus.
Jesus I give it to you.
Work in my life.
Teach me.
Work a miracle.
Whether it be in my family.
My marriage.
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My sin.
Now open your left hand and give it to God.
I'll say these words.
God.
I give all of myself to you.
I lay down all my wants.
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All my needs.
To you.
Use me God.
Powerfully.
To see others come in a relationship with you.
In Jesus name.
Amen.
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Now I'm going to pray a simple prayer because I believe that God brings people into our
midst that are far, distant or have walked away from God.
Every single gathering that we meet here.
And we're all going to pray it together and if that's you we're not going to point you
out.
We're not going to make you raise your hand but we're going to pray with you and celebrate
what God is going to do in your life.
Amen.
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Jesus.
I'm broken.
I'm full of doubt.
Shame.
Regret.
Sin.
Change me.
I believe you're God's son.
I believe you died for me.
Make me new.
Set me free.
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Fill me with your spirit.
Help me God.
To serve others.
In Jesus name.
Amen.
There's no impossible.
I believe that you are working now.
Pour it out.
Oh pour it out.
Welcome to Hub City Vineyard.
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To get connected or to give online go to connect.hcv.church or give.hcv.church.
If at any point during this message you feel called to make a change in your life, text
change me to 970-00.
Thank you and enjoy the message.
Hey good morning everyone.
Was that Derrick Henry putting that offering in?
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Like was he slam dunking that offer?
Oh sorry that was just me next.
Welcome to HCV everyone.
Is there a lot of Steelers fans here or something?
Sorry.
If you're joining us from home, hopefully you're loud and excited like I am.
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Thank you for welcoming us into your space and shout out to HHC.
We love you and appreciate worshiping with you.
So good morning.
I want to start off by sharing a few photos with you.
If you take a look at these photos you might recognize something that we just built.
Check that out.
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So as you look through these photos you're going to see that the kitchen that we raised
money for, remember a few months ago we said hey I want to build a kitchen in Kenya.
We need ten grand and we got it in a month.
Well that kitchen is built, it's beautiful and the people are excited to use it.
Let me just say and make you realize and put it in perspective.
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That kitchen is the equivalent of a $50,000 kitchen here in the U.S.
We gave them the best.
The cool thing is we are changing lives all around the world.
Isn't that awesome?
So you are doing it HCV.
We're excited about that and we're grateful for all that you give.
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Now I've had several people ask me about the fires in Southern California and the tragedy
that's happening out there.
Watch this short video and then I'll tell you how we're going to respond.
Everything inside the Convoy of Hope Distribution Center in Sacramento has been donated.
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And everything they're loading up Thursday afternoon is headed to Southern California.
Water, food and hygiene immediately.
This is one of about half a dozen truckloads the nonprofit has sent to Los Angeles County
hoping to fill a need.
You've got a family, you've got children and you're just running for your life.
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We send down those essential relief supplies.
Ryan Allen, a convoy nation representative, says with disasters like the wildfires in
Los Angeles, getting supplies to those who really need them can present a challenge.
One of the hard things about this disaster is that fires, people kind of scatter.
They go wherever they can go.
No one really goes to a central place.
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So their trucks go to churches and other organizations in the area where they know people will be.
And from there, they start distributing essentials to anyone who needs them.
They're upside down.
The world's been changed dramatically and forever.
It'll never be the same.
And if all we can do is help them have a sense of peace and a little bit of hope that somebody
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on the other side cares and we're here to help, that means the world sometimes.
In a time when these fires have left so many with nothing, that help can mean everything.
And we asked just how many truckloads they'll be sending down to Los Angeles County.
They say they don't have an exact number right now, but they'll send them as long as they're
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needed.
It's great to see what they're doing there.
So we are going to partner again with Convoy of Hope.
And as you can see there, they're on the ground.
They're meeting needs.
They're making a difference in people's lives with the name of Jesus.
So if you feel compelled to give, you can give in your offering envelopes and just mark
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fires or you could go online to hcv.churchgive.
And there's on our drop down selection, you can select wildfires.
And all of that money that you feel compelled to give will be given to Convoy of Hope and
will be sent directly to California to make a difference.
That's how we will be responding.
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Okay?
So if you feel compelled, please do so.
So last week we kicked off our yearly series, 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting.
At the start of every new year for the last five years, we've set aside the first 21 days
to focus on Jesus and to prioritize our relationship with Him as a means of growth.
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And what does it mean?
Some of you may be thinking, what does it mean to fast?
Well, just to give you an example, this year as Jess and I prayed about what to give up,
we are fasting dumb TV.
Okay?
And when you say, well, it's dumb TV.
Dumb TV is the TV that we watch after we put Phoenix to bed.
You know that show that you just kind of turn on and it's mindless and it just happens
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and it's a series or whatever it may be.
It may be compelling, but here's the reality.
It's a waste of time.
So what we did, we've chosen to replace that time with reading, meditation, prayer, and
conversations.
Okay?
And that in no way means that we're more spiritual than you.
Okay?
It doesn't mean that.
It just means that we're using time that we typically waste and have now replaced it with
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God and His purposes for us.
That's fasting.
It doesn't have to be food.
It could be food.
It doesn't have to be, you know, lunchtime.
You give up your lunch and then you pray and fast.
It could be though.
It's whatever God puts on your heart to replace with Him.
And if you've missed the start of our fast, the big deal start today.
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Right?
Join our community of faith and growing closer to Jesus in 2025.
And then set aside one morning this coming week, Monday through Saturday, show up here
at 6 a.m. and join many others in praying for our church, the tri-state area, our nation,
and the world.
And that will happen for 21 days.
You don't have to show up to all of them.
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You don't have to feel like you have to have perfect attendance.
If you want to do it, go for it.
God bless you.
But if you don't, it's a little too early for you.
Show up to one or two.
And what you'll discover is God is moving in that place.
Now, our series in Yearly Focus for 2025 is found in Mark 1123 and it reads this.
And Jesus said to his disciples, have faith in God.
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I tell you the truth.
You can say to this mountain, may you be lifted up and thrown into the sea and it will happen.
But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart.
And we kicked off our series with a discussion on how a fresh anointing moves mountains.
And we are challenged to pray, right, with that little, little mustard seed of faith.
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And here's the reality.
We all have mountains.
You know, the unavoidable and overwhelming obstacles that come at us every single day
in life.
It may be a mountain in your marriage.
You don't see how you're going to stay together.
It may be a mountain in your finances, right?
It doesn't look like you'll ever get out of debt.
Maybe it's a mountain in your health.
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The doctors say you're never going to get well.
Maybe it's a mountain of addiction that can't be broken.
Maybe there's a mountain in your relationship with God like doubt or fear or sin or temptation.
Right?
Well, prayer is how you write history before it happens.
Prayer is how you write history for yourself and your family before it even happens.
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As we pray, as we believe in miracles that will happen over the next days, weeks, months,
even this year, I believe it can all be traced back to these 21 days of prayer.
Last week we said you may only have a little mustard seed of faith, but planted together
with other seeds that are watered in prayer, it brings breakthrough from God that can impact
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generations.
Think about that.
Generations from now, even after you die, could be impacted from these 21 days.
Because if we press into the presence of God like never before, we will experience God
like never before.
It's not coincidence.
It's an expectation that the more we pray, the more God will break in and make a difference.
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So it's a great way to start the new year.
But friends, let me warn you.
These next 21 days, this next month, it won't be easy.
And we need to have our shield of faith ready and in hand because spiritual opposition is
going to come.
Any time in the spiritual realm that a follower of Jesus takes a step of faith to possess
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a promise from God, the enemy is not happy.
And he's going to come right at you.
But if we pray through, we will believe that God is going to break through.
And today God challenged me to share with you what it looks like to be strong and courageous
in our prayer life.
And we're going to jump into the book of Joshua, which is in the Old Testament.
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It's the sixth book of the Bible, a little backstory before we begin reading.
After Moses died, Joshua is the hand-picked leader by God to lead God's chosen people
into the promised land.
And in Joshua chapter one, we read this.
After the death of Moses, the Lord's servant, the Lord spoke to Joshua, son of Nun, Moses'
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assistant.
He said, Moses, my servant is dead.
Therefore the time has come for you to lead these people, the Israelites, across the Jordan
River into the land that I am giving them.
Now I just want to pause here for a second and put this into context.
Remember the nation of Israel, God's chosen people, they had just suffered in Egypt for
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over 400 years as slaves.
They experienced tremendous trauma and generational pain until the Bible tells us that God stepped
in and raised up Moses to lead an Exodus out of Egypt.
Now as Pharaoh pursues the people, God used Moses to perform the miracle, the parting
of the Red Sea.
And as he raised his staff, the people of God walked through on dry land with walls
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of water on each side.
God rescued his people.
They were free, but then they wander in the wilderness for 40 years.
Think about that because the people constantly complained, doubted, and were easily drawn
to worship idols.
They didn't follow God's command to conquer the land of Cana, the promised land that God
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wanted the people to occupy.
Because of their doubt and their unbelief, an entire generation of people would die in
the wilderness, including Moses.
So upon Moses' death, Joshua was raised up and listened to this promise that God gives
Joshua in verse 3.
I promise you what I promised Moses.
Wherever you set foot, you will be on land I have given you.
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No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live.
For I will be with you as I was with Moses.
I will not fail you or abandon you.
And here it is again, listen, be strong and courageous.
For you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors
that I would give them.
Be strong and very courageous.
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Be careful to obey the instructions Moses gave you.
Do not deviate from them, turning either right or left.
Then you will be successful in everything you do.
Study this book of instruction continually.
Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it.
Only then will you prosper and exceed in all you do.
This is my command again, the fourth time.
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Be strong and courageous.
Do not be afraid or discouraged for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.
And I believe God has a promise for each and every one of your lives.
It's not coincidence that you are sitting in these seats today.
It's not coincidence that you are watching online.
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You have a calling from God on your life.
And as you step into these promises, Jesus declares this.
I will be with you.
I want you to look at your neighbor and tell them God is with them.
Now look at the other neighbor, the one you don't like very much.
Give them a wink and say God is with you.
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That's funny isn't it?
Now listen, as we step out in faith over this next month remember we are declaring mountains
to move.
Struggles.
You know this unsurmountable problem that we have in our life allow these words to encourage
you.
No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live for I will be with you as
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I was with Moses.
I will not fail you or abandon you.
See as we press in and get closer to God and become more like Jesus praying boldly for
God's promises over our families, our careers, our marriages, our finances, our health, our
struggles.
Listen, God is going to move and it may take some time and you may have a few setbacks
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but Jesus promises I am with you every step of the way.
So what I want to do this morning is just highlight some simple practices that Joshua
put in his life and led God's people into.
And I'm believing that for many of us after these 21 days we are going to find these practices,
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these principles throughout our lives every single day that we pray which leads us to
our first thought, Joshua consecrated himself to God.
So Israel is camped on the eastern bank of the Jordan River and the people they need
to cross the river but before crossing notice what God commands the people in Joshua 3,
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5.
Joshua told the people, consecrate yourselves for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things
among you.
Consecrate yourselves.
Now by show of hands, humor me.
How many of you want to see God do amazing things in your life?
How many?
Come on.
It should be 100% right?
It's 100%.
God I want you to do amazing things in my life but notice the first step in experiencing
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amazing things is consecration.
We have to consecrate ourselves to God as Joshua told the people.
Now what does that mean some of you are thinking Chris?
What in the world does that mean?
I may have never heard that term or the only time I saw that term was when I was reading
the Bible or when you were talking about it.
Consecration simply means this.
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To set yourself apart and to be fully devoted to God.
That's what it means.
To be fully devoted to God that you are set apart.
Jesus says it this way in Matthew 22.
You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul and all your mind.
In other words, God I'm giving you everything.
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My mind and all its thoughts.
My body and its strength.
My spirit and soul are yours God.
I desire to be a living sacrifice devoted to worshiping you and serving you.
Now this week I was reading about church movements and revivals in Outreach magazine and Dr.
Edwin Orr wrote these words.
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History is silent about revivals that do not begin with prayer.
History is silent about revivals that do not begin with prayer.
The article went on to share how Dr. Orr was a professor and he took a group of college
students to England to visit the childhood home of John Wesley.
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John Wesley was the founder of the Methodist Revival and Movement and in Wesley's bedroom
the students saw two indentations on the floor side by side.
Dr. Orr pointed out the indentations and asked the students if they knew what these indentations
were.
With no response from the students, Dr. Orr kneeled down into the groove marks in the
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floor and said this, John Wesley knelt in prayer every morning from the age of 18 until
he died for two hours.
Wesley was consecrated himself every day for two hours in the morning asking God to use
him in a powerful way.
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Now many of the students they took photos of the indentations returned to the bus.
Dr. Orr began to take a head count before leaving.
He didn't want to leave anyone behind but he noticed one of the students was missing
and as he went back upstairs into Wesley's home he found a young man named Billy kneeling
in those kneel holes praying God do it again, do it again in me.
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That student was Billy Graham and he was consecrated himself before God and would go on to become
one of the greatest evangelists this world has ever seen.
Consecration is complete and total surrender to the lordship of Jesus.
Some of you are thinking what?
See you have to understand Jesus he's not just our savior.
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He's also our lord which means he has control in everything that is part of our lives.
And the first step in moving mountains and claiming the promise of God over our lives
is getting down on our knees and devoting ourselves completely to God by saying God
my life is yours, my home is yours, my career is yours, my education is yours, my finances
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are yours, everything in my life God is yours.
I want it to bring glory and honor.
See consecration puts us in a position for God to literally light us on fire.
It's the first step in claiming God's promises over your life.
It's a sign of humility.
It's a sign of releasing control that all of us have we're control freaks.
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And typically when I begin to pray first in my life I seek forgiveness.
I say God search my heart if there's anything in my mind in my heart that's not from you
forgive me.
I don't want to be separated from you.
Then I invite the Holy Spirit to come.
God fill me.
God give me wisdom and direction.
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I give my desires my needs to you.
I'm committed to following you.
Change me God.
Then I move on to my requests.
See Joshua told the people consecrate yourselves for tomorrow God will do amazing things.
And notice if we want God to do amazing things tomorrow what do we have to do today?
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We have to consecrate ourselves.
So I want to challenge you tomorrow morning when you begin your day begin it in prayer.
And don't pray about that mountain that has to move.
Don't pray about what you need.
Get right with God.
Clear your heart and mind.
Then pray for God's will and plan to be done in your life so that others see God working
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in us using us to impact and change lives.
That's how Jesus prayed in the garden when Jesus was facing the greatest mountain in
his life.
Death on the cross he fell to his knees and prayed these words.
He went a little further bowed his face to the ground praying my father if it is possible
let this cup of suffering be taken away from me.
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And notice his words I want your will be done not mine.
That my friends is consecration.
It's giving God authority in our lives.
It's giving God the ability to use us to change us.
That's how mountains begin to move which leads us to our next stop.
Victory begins to surrender.
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Victory begins to surrender.
Mark 11 then Jesus said to his disciples have faith in God.
I tell you the truth you can say to this mountain may you be lifted up and thrown into the sea
and it will happen.
But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart.
Now I want everybody to notice that word doubt.
If you're in your outline circle it.
If there is doubt there is no surrender.
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If there is doubt there is no surrender.
Because when we lay ourselves down when we consecrate ourselves in prayer we give God
the authority we give God the ability to move the mountain as he desires.
Not as I wanted to move.
And not as how I believe it should.
And that is why Jesus challenges us with these words Matthew 6 33 seek the kingdom of God
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above all else live righteously and he will give you everything you.
I'm sorry.
Need.
Need.
Notice that doesn't say anything about wants.
He'll give you everything you need.
A prayer that I've been praying for more than a year now is God I need healing.
God I need this disk in my back to be totally healed bring it back into alignment.
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God restore this nerve so that I can once again feel my right foot so I can return to
all the activity that I love to do.
God use these doctors use these physical therapists God use these needles to bring relief and
healing.
But I've been learning.
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Over the course of the last 15 months.
That if it's your desire that I remain this way physically may your will be done.
That if it's your desire that I have this numbness in my foot.
That's your will see we have to be careful not just to want our agenda and not just to
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have our prayers met the way we want them to.
We can't go before Jesus with a list of needs in our life.
That we have to be focused on what God wants to do in us.
We have to get in God's presence and allow him to reveal his agenda to us.
Yes we pray with passion we do not doubt but we also have to surrender the outcome to God
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and trust that his plan is perfect for our lives.
See the goal of 21 days of prayer and fasting is to not get everything we want.
It's to figure out what God wants to do in our lives.
Please understand.
Your answered prayer may be very different than what you initially prayed for and thought
that your mountain would be moved.
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And why would it be different?
Well because Isaiah 55 tells us that God's thoughts are nothing like our thoughts.
And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine for just as the heavens are higher
than the earth so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts are higher than
your thoughts.
See when we pray we are asking for God's plan to be revealed in our lives.
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So young people when you pray for God to open a door to get into the college of your dreams
and instead you get offered a scholarship from a school lower on your list are you surrendered
enough to accept God's plan for your life?
When you are praying for your marriage to thrive and blossom for communication to improve
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and the opportunity arises to be a part of the marriage course here at HCV are you surrendered
enough to get rid of your pride and grow your marriage?
See the point is the plans of God are only revealed in the presence of God.
Over the years I've learned that I may be praying for something only to realize that
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something was answered in a very different way that I didn't expect.
And until we surrender our mountains to God and their outcomes and how they should come
to be we are not fully devoted.
We have to surrender them both because our hearts are not pure.
Our motives believe it or not can be very selfish.
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There's a jealousy and a greed effect in us.
You know that desire to be rich and famous because Jeremiah 17 tells us the human heart
is the most deceitful of all things desperately wicked.
Who really knows how bad it is and God searches our hearts and examines our motives and that
is why we first have to seek God to purify our heart and mind our selfish desires and
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let his outcome bring glory to him not us.
Every prayer for a mountain to move should begin with God's will be done and end with
God let your glory reign.
Surrender is inviting God to reveal all the selfish desires within us so that our prayer
life is about God not us.
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God's not a genie in a bottle friends.
He's our creator and he desires an intimate relationship with us.
He desires for us to walk in his plans for our lives and this happens when we surrender
and we allow him to move as he wants.
Remember his ways are higher than our ways.
His thoughts are higher than our thoughts.
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If we want an amazing tomorrow we have to go all in with God today which leads us to
our next thought.
Joshua took a step of faith.
See to move mountains we can't just pray like it depends on God.
Yes we pray with passion and believe God's in it but then we have to take a step of faith
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because faith is an action verb we have to step out.
Remember Joshua and the people they were on the eastern side of the Jordan River and they
had to cross over the river to walk into the promise.
Seems like no big deal right?
We can wade through the Potomac River no big deal but then we read in Joshua 3.15 it was
the harvest season and the Jordan was overflowing its banks.
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A little detail that many of us read through and just let it go by but the events that
the Israelites are facing that Joshua is facing is taking place in the spring and the Jordan
River was at flood stage.
Flood season on the Jordan River means the river is raging right?
Take white water rapids okay?
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Think the raft that you're on and you're getting tossed out and the river widens to more than
200 feet.
And then we read this in Joshua 3.7-8.
The Lord told Joshua today I will begin to make you a great leader in the eyes of all
the Israelites.
They will know I am with you just as I was with Moses give this command to the priests
who carry the Ark of the Covenant.
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When you reach the banks of the Jordan River take a few steps into the river and stop there.
The only thing between Joshua the people and God's promise is a raging river that has to
be crossed and God just wants me to walk into it.
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I'm sure the people wanted to build a bridge.
I'm sure they were looking for a boat.
They tie a zip line to the tree but God says if you want to receive my promise you've got
to get your feet wet.
If you're going to trust me in my power in your life friends you have to realize that
we have to take a step of faith and we see this in the New Testament when it comes to
(28:02):
Peter in Matthew 14.
Then Peter called to him Lord if it's really you tell me to come to you walking on the
water yes come Jesus said.
And Jesus is inviting some of you to come today.
So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus.
See faith is taking the first step before God reveals the second.
(28:23):
Taking the first step before God reveals the second.
Today listen is baptism Sunday.
After our third gathering our next gathering we will be celebrating the more than 50 people
that have signed up to be baptized.
I didn't stutter 50 people.
But it doesn't stop there as I was preparing this morning I heard God speak this to me.
(28:48):
There are fathers in this gathering and watching online that need to take a step of faith and
get baptized for your family.
You hear that dads?
Maybe it's time to turn things around.
I also heard God say there will be people in this gathering that need to take a step
(29:09):
of faith and get baptized.
Because when you get baptized your addiction will be destroyed.
Is that you?
See there are two parts to mountain moving prayer.
First you give yourselves to God.
We consecrate.
We surrender.
But there comes a moment when we have to put feet to our faith.
(29:32):
Most miracles begin with a step of faith.
For example maybe you're praying for a loved one to be physically healed.
That's your mountain.
That's what you're praying for.
Maybe God now is challenging you to take a step of faith, visit them, lay hands on them
and believe in that healing.
(29:52):
There's a big difference.
Maybe you're praying for freedom in your finances to get out of debt.
That's my mountain God.
Help me.
You know what taking a step of faith is?
Joining financial peace this winter.
Do something about it.
Maybe your prayer is for a relationship in your family to be healed.
Maybe you have a broken relationship with your mom or your dad or your kids.
(30:15):
And you're praying for it.
But God is now challenging you to take a step of faith, reach out and seek restoration.
Someone's got to take the first step.
Maybe you're here this morning and you're a young person or not so young person.
I have no idea.
And you desire to be married.
You're tired of being lonely.
(30:35):
And you're praying boldly for God to bring someone into your life.
What if your step of faith is actually asking them out on a date and not using the internet?
Because that don't count.
Look around.
There's a lot of people in here.
No better place to meet your significant other than face to face in a gathering at a church.
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Right?
The internet don't work.
So ask someone out.
Maybe you'll become best friends.
Maybe you'll be married.
Let's continue with Joshua 3, 15 through 17.
It was the harvest season.
The Jordan was overflowing its banks.
But as soon as the feet of the priests who were carrying the ark touched the water at
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the river's ends, the water above that point backed up.
The water below that point flowed down to the Dead Sea.
Then all the people crossed near, crossed over the river near the town of Jericho.
Meanwhile, the priests who were carrying the ark of the Lord's covenant stood on dry ground.
Isn't that amazing?
In the middle of the riverbed as some people passed by, they waited there until the whole
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nation of Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.
And this was not like the miracle they were expecting.
You know, they're thinking parting of the seas, staff.
No, the priests had to get wet.
I mean, that's a step of faith.
But here's the reality.
What we can learn, God desires that we all live that way.
(32:04):
That yet we pray first and then we act.
We step out and believe that God is going to use us.
And I get it.
Listen, stepping out in faith is scary.
But we must remember what God told Joshua.
What did he say?
You're the leader now.
This is my command.
(32:25):
Be strong and courageous.
Do not be discouraged for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.
How many times did he speak that over Joshua?
Four.
Four times.
In chapter one.
And I believe God is saying to us this morning, the miraculous happens when you take a step
of faith.
(32:46):
Step out because on the other side, Jesus is waiting for you.
You're like, what?
See, after Joshua and the people step out in faith and they cross the Jordan River, look
at the final thought.
A step of faith causes God to respond.
Joshua five, 13 to 15, when Joshua was near the town of Jericho, he looked up.
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He saw a man standing in front of him with a sword in his hand.
Joshua went up to him and demanded, are you friend or foe?
Neither one, he replied.
I'm the commander of the Lord's army.
At this, Joshua fell with his face to the ground in reverence.
I am at your command, Joshua said.
What do you want your servant to do?
The commander of the Lord's army replied, take off your sandals for the place where
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you're standing is holy.
And Joshua did as he was told.
Now that commander of the angel armies with a sword in his hand, many Old Testament scholars
believe is Jesus Christ.
Is Jesus making a rare Old Testament appearance as the son of God?
And Joshua sees him with this sword.
He falls on his face out of reverence and fear.
(33:52):
Some of you say, what's the fear of the Lord?
That's the fear of the Lord.
It's reverence that God is going to fight our battles, right?
He doesn't take sides.
Like God doesn't just get behind you, he takes over.
He leads the way.
That is where we find our strength.
And when we give our entire lives to Jesus and we step out in faith, right?
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Then that's when God is invited into the battle, into the mountain moving business.
And I believe that many of us are going to have life altering encounters over this next
month.
You're going to see mountains move.
You're going to see lives changed.
But notice what Jesus said to Joshua.
Take off your shoes.
(34:38):
Why?
Because God is now involved and that requires reverence.
The plans of God are revealed in the presence of God.
And friends, God is always with us.
Look at John 14.
And I will ask the father and he will give you another advocate who will never leave
you.
He is the Holy Spirit who leads you into all truth.
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The world can't receive him because he isn't looking for him and doesn't recognize him.
But you know him because he lives in you now and later will be in you.
I'm sorry.
He lives with you now and later will be in you.
Now I will not abandon you as orphans.
I will come to you.
Which leads us to our action step.
Church, we're called to surrender.
(35:22):
We are called to surrender.
In Galatians 2.20 my old self has been crucified with Christ.
It is no longer I who live but Christ lives in me so I live in this earthly body by trusting
the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me.
And this morning I was prompted by God to invite our community of faith to surrender.
(35:44):
I want to invite you to see the miraculous and to see the Holy Spirit invade your life.
So if you stand with me.
Alright I'm going to ask you something that's a little uncomfortable and I'm going to do
it anyway because I did it during the first gathering.
If you can and you're physically able I want to invite you to kneel with me this morning.
(36:05):
If you get out of your seats and kneel with me.
And if you say Chris I'm not physically able to kneel.
Take your shoes off.
Take them off.
Come Holy Spirit.
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Alright now everybody look up here.
Here's what I want you to do.
As a community of faith as a church community as we kneel in reverence before God.
I want you to put your hands out clenched fists like this.
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Holy Spirit come.
God forgive me for anything that's not of you.
Forgive me for my negative thoughts.
My outlook.
My sin.
My struggles.
My temptation.
(37:07):
I give them now to you.
Now open your right hand and give them to God.
God I bring my mountain to you.
But be specific whatever it is in the quietness of your heart speak it out.
Marriage.
Finances.
Career.
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Whatever it is.
Speak it out to Jesus.
Jesus I give it to you.
Work in my life.
Teach me.
Work a miracle.
Whether it be in my family.
My marriage.
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My sin.
Now open your left hand and give it to God.
I'll say these words.
God.
I give all of myself to you.
I lay down all my wants.
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All my needs.
To you.
Use me God.
Powerfully.
To see others come in a relationship with you.
In Jesus name.
Amen.
(38:37):
Now I'm going to pray a simple prayer because I believe that God brings people into our
midst that are far, distant or have walked away from God.
Every single gathering that we meet here.
And we're all going to pray it together and if that's you we're not going to point you
out.
We're not going to make you raise your hand but we're going to pray with you and celebrate
what God is going to do in your life.
Amen.
(38:57):
Jesus.
I'm broken.
I'm full of doubt.
Shame.
Regret.
Sin.
Change me.
I believe you're God's son.
I believe you died for me.
Make me new.
Set me free.
(39:17):
Fill me with your spirit.
Help me God.
To serve others.
In Jesus name.
Amen.
There's no impossible.
I believe that you are working now.
Pour it out.
Oh pour it out.
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