Empowered for Mission – March 21, 2021

Link to sermon on Facebook

Preached by Pastor Damola Alabi

Genesies 13:14 – 17 

1. Introduction 
   • Sometimes God needs to start us off, and release (fear of standing by himself) 
   • We are empowered for a purpose 
     • (setting the Israelites free from Egypt) 
     • Moses panicked initially and gave excuses, then God showed Him what He could do through him 
     • Joseph faced challenges with his siblings, then God endowed him with special talents for vision and raised him up for a purpose.  Though you meant it for evil, God has turned it around for me.
   • Journey of life is a purpose 
     • Why are are there
     • What we are meant to do
     • Sometimes we stumble on opportunities
     • Many simply follow the traffic without bothering to know whether God has a purpose for them there or where they are to go.
     • There is a place meant and an idea for each person.  We need revelation.
     • Revelation brings divine knowledge of what the purpose of God is for our life
     • Difference between success and failure is the information we have access to and the value we can deduce from that information.
       • Increase, multiply, prosper and make a difference (Hosea 4:6) “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” (NKJV)
2. Introduction (continued)
   • Knowledge is critical
   • Psalm 1- God wants us to be righteous
     • Element of “doing” in the knowledge of God
     • Don’t ignore those silent moments of God when He is telling us what to do.  Receive your inspiration from him
     • Act based not knowledge of God; Be conscientious and diligent. (Ecclesiastes 9:10) “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.” (KJV)
   • Lots of wasted talents and opportunities; takes the grace of God to advance us forward;  Lack opportunity for expression
   • God make all those things a reality
   • Race is not for the swift.  Time and chance happeneth for them all.  – Ecclesiastes 9: 11 “I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all” (KJV)
     • It takes God’s grace for the seed that has been planted to germinate.  Divine influence is require
3. Why is this conversation important 
   • Decision of where to go is influenced by what we see
   • We often follow examples of other people
   • God has a plan and purpose for your life – Message of DESTINY 
   • Psalm 90:5 – 12 – “5 Thou carriest them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep: in the morning they are like grass which groweth up. 6 In the morning it flourisheth, and groweth up; in the evening it is cut down, and withereth. 7 For we are consumed by thine anger, and by thy wrath are we troubled. 8 Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the light of thy countenance. 9 For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told. 10 The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away. 11 Who knoweth the power of thine anger? even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath. 12 So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom” (NKJV)
   • Wisdom of God is empowerment 
   • Vision triggers wisdom – see beyond the ordinary
   • Vision gives mission
4. Strategies for Empowerment 
   • Faith 
     • Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen
     • Faith cometh by hearing and hearing from the word of God
     • Read God’s Word and be inspired by it, and you will see the difference
     • God knows where the solution is
     • Declare God’s word on your situation; May God give us the right word for the right situation
     • Part of God what God can do is to answer your prayers
     • God gets helpers of destiny to help at the right time
     • What is the attitude of mission and faith that I must follow?  What must I do?
     • “Lord, separate me from unbelief and increase my faith”
   • Vision 
     • Function of what we see; sometimes we see in part, and don’t see the big picture
     • When God gives you revelation or vision, you see the bigger picture
       • The rich young ruler (what you have in this world will not go with you) – Mark 10:17 – 27
     • Beyond what we see is spiritual intelligence (God sees the end before the beginning)
     • Tendency is to give excuses by giving into perceived limitations 
       • Joseph was a minority in Egypt.  He could have complained, but it was in the same Egypt (unpleasant, challenging situation) that he found favour with God and became a prime minister
       • Joseph impacted lives positively
       • Psalm 62:11 “God has spoken once, Twice I have heard this:That power belongs to God.” (NKJV)
     • Plan of God for our life may challenge social order; you can challenge the status quo and succeed in Jesus’ name
       • Male children were supposed to die when Moses was born
       • Male children were supposed to be destroyed when Jesus was born
       • When the enemy sees there is a promise for your life, he begins attack through
         • people around you
     • Receive the light of God to receive clarity of your target and where you want to go
     • John 10:10:  “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” (NKJV).
     • Power of resurrection
5. Conclusion
   • Develop the character and attitude for faith – you will make a difference
   • You are a Seed of God, planted by the river of water; designed to make exploits in your due season.
   • Prayer:  “As your seed gravitates toward the light, help me to grow and increase in the Light of Your Glory; let there be Light upon me, my household, as a people.  Turn our darkness to light.”