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It is not by force nor strength but by my Spirit, says the Lord - Zechariah 4:6

Zerubbabel oversaw the reconstruction of the Jerusalem Temple

Over a period of 16 years, the people's enthusiasm for the project waned, leaving it unfinished

Zerubbabel felt a deep sense of discouragement over the stalled work

Zechariah came with a vital message - Don't depend on your own strength. depend on God and his ability to empower you for the task

Zerubbabel's faith was renewed - He had a renewed sense of enthusiasm, united the people, and got back to work

No worthy project is about human force or strength, it must be about his mighty Spirit

Do you think that you or someone else has the key to success?

Do you genuinely believe that God's Spirit holds the key to your success?

Full of the Holy Spirit, Stephen gazed steadily into heaven and saw the glory of God - Acts 7:55

Nothing prompts change likea man's courage in the face of potential personal loss. Stephen had that kind of courage.

Religous leaders hoped persecuting Christians would put a stop to this new religious movement, exactly the opposite happened

Stephen willingly died for what he believed in and he contributed greatly to the spread of the gospel message

At the scene of Stephen's murder stood a young Pharisee named Saul - the same Saul God miraculously converted

Stephen's courage and faith in the face of death apparently made a lasting impression

Pauls bold preaching would change the world forever - Acts 22:19-20

Lamps do not talk, but they do shine. Is your lamp shining today?

You have abandoned me, so I am abandoning you to Shishak - 2 Chronicles 12:5

The Bible includes many examples of God sending men to free his people from their sin and rebellion

Shemaiah to a message of freedom to his people - All that was required was for them to turn to God

It was difficult message for Shemaiah to give such a message to his home country of Judah

Shemaiah's willingness to speak God's message made a difference:

• The leaders listened
• Judah humbled themselves
• God relented on his plan to destroy Judah - 2 Chronicles 12:6-8

When you have the courage to give a difficult message to hear, you can make a difference in your world

Listen carefully to these decrees and regulations, obey them so that you may live - Deuteronomy 4:1

Each of us naturally tends to think we have the right to adopt our our set of morals, standards, and spirituality

Beleivers in Christ must reject such a belief

Moses delivered an uncompromising message of strict obedience of God with no tolerance for sin

He understood the importance of setting righteous standards for the people

Moses faithfully walked this (not sinless) despite being labeled as:

• Inflexable
• Intolerant
• Judgemental

Do you have the courage to risk anger, resentment, oppositon, or insults to follow God?

God does not ask for perfection but a spirit-empowered obedience

Jesus sat wearily beside the well; soon a Samaritan woman came to draw water - John 4:6-7

Jesus understood the importance of making the best use of every opportunity to preach and teach his message

He was ready for the opportunity to share his message with the people of Samaria via the woman he jusr meet

Jesus' words made a lasting impression on the woman, her neighbors - John 4:39

They were stunned that she meet the Messiah

Life will present you with opportunities to serve God through serving others

Go away for now; When it is more convenient, I'll call for you again - Acts 24:25

Procrastination is a great enemy of accomplishment

It prevents you from being all that God wants you to be

Felix had an opportunity to repsond to the message of salvation but he allowed his fears to drive him away from Christ instead of toward him

Tragically, the "more convenient" time never came

King Darius sent a message - everyone throughout my kingdom should tremble with fear before thr God of Daniel - Daniel 6:25-26

How you live and how you demonstrate your faith can make a big impression

Opponents of Daniel duped Darius into sending the prophet into a den of lions

King Dairus wanted to see the power of Daniel's God put on display - that is exactly what happened

Daniel came out without a scratch - it was a miracle and Darius praise the name of Daniel's God

Our world is filled with men like Darius who see to see God power demonstrated in our lives

Many people talk about the terrible things this man has done to the believers - Acts 9:13-14

God had geiven Ananias an assignmen that mad him very uncomfortable

Saul's sole purpose in coming to Damascus had been to persecute him and the other believers

Ananias remined God of the terrible things Saul had done but God did not relent

He intended for Saul to take his message of salvation to both Gentiles and Jews - Acts 9:15

Ananias weighed the risks and knew that the benefits of obedience far outwieghted anything he feared

Because he obeyed, he was able to play a supporting role in God's plan to spread the gospel throughout the world

Are you the Messiah we've been expecting? - Matthew 11:3

John the Baptist was courageous man of faith who saw Jesus up close

• He preclaimed him as the Lamb of God - John 1:29
• He baptized him and heard God's voice - Matthew 3:17

John sat in a prison cell and began to doubt Jesus' identity

Jesus sent back a message of reassurance

John did not wallow in doubt, he went to the source to find assurance

Where do you turn when you suffer moments of doubt?

Whay are you doing this? We are merely human beings - just like you! - Acts 14:15

Paul and his missionary companion Barnabas demonstrated an attitude of humility and tolerance as they faced sin in the city of Lystra

When they healed a cripped man, Paul and Barnabas watched in horror as the people began to worship them

They did respond to the people in anger or disgust - rather they continued to love these sinners them even though they hated the sin

Paul and Barnabas sent a message that they were no better than anyone else - all of them together were sinners saved by God's grace

What kind of message are you sending to those around you?

Amos is hatching a plot against you right - Amos 7:10

In an attempt to quiet Amos and his message, Amaziah accused him of treason against Israel

Amzaiah had put his own spin on Amos' words about the death of Jeroboam and Zechariah

Some will always attempt to spin the words and actions of godly people and their unpopular message

Amos knew he was preaching an unpopular message and Amaziah would go to great lengths to stop him

I'm not a professional prophet but the Lord called me away from my flock and told me, 'Go and prophesy to my people in Israel' - Amos 7:14-15

Willingness may not impress some personnel managers but it is exactly God looks for in a servant

Amos was a humble shepherd who also tended a grove of sycamore-fig trees

He had something God values about professional credentials - willingness to follow and obey

God gave him a message to preach and he preached it with enthusiasm

Most people believe that they need training credentials to minister to others

God cares most about your willingness to faithfully serve him

May your money be destroyed with you for thinking God's gift can be bought - Acts 8:20

Intense self-examination is needed to know if we are doing things for the right reasons

Simon the Sorcerer had a big problem with inappropriate motivation:

1. Heard the apostles' preach
2. Accepted their message
3. Been baptized
4. Still missing something

He had some very real power - people called him "the Great One - the Power of God" - Acts 8:10

Simon approached Peter and offered him money in exchange for the power to lay hands on people and give them the Holy Spirit

He appeared to want God's power to make a profit

Peter scolded him for believing money had anything to do with God power

We are akk here waiting before God to hear the message the Lord has given you - Acts 10:33

People tend to honor those who first do something of note

Roman military officer Cornelius broke a few barriers of his own when place his faith in Jesus

When Peter visited Cornelius, the apostle explained everything to him and he accepted his words

They saw that God intended salvation through Jesus for the Jews and Gentiles - Acts 10:44-45

Jesus' death and resurrection broken down the long standing barrier between God and man and between the Jews and Gentiles

We decided to leave for Macedonia at once, having concluded that God was calling us to preach the Good News there - Acts 16:10

In Acts 16, Luke's language changed from third person to first person as he took an active part of the ministry

We decided to leave for Macedonia at once - Acts 16:11

Luke was not content to just sit back and observe other people's experiences of faith

He became an integal part:

• Doing the same work
• Taking the same risks
• Preaching the same message
• Reaping the same rewards

Christian growthis throwing yourself into the work of the KIngdom

Take this young man to the commander. He has something important to tell him - Acts 23:17

Bible counsels us to alert and ready to move when God gives us a message of blessing, teching, or warning

Paul's nephew saved his life because he remained alert and ready to act on what he knew

Paul was chosen to speak his message of salvation to "the Gentiles and to kings" - Acts 9:!5

As Paul waited in jail for his opportunity to speak to Caesar, his nephew alerted him and his guards of a plot against his life

When you remain alert and step out in faith at the opportune time, the Lord can use you to alter the course of history

I had no idea that they were planning to kill me - Jeremiah 11:18

Jeremiah was alone and the only one living a godly life

He had an unpleasant message of God's judgement upon their stubborn unfaithfulness - they did not recieve the message well

He grieved for their plans to kill him and maybe more so that no one listened to the message

Jeremiah had days he wanted to give up - Jeremiah 20:8-9

Every time he felt that way, he place his eyes on the One who promised to never abandon him - Jeremiah 1:8

These prophets are telling lies in my name. I did not send them or tell them to speak - Jeremiah 14:14

During the prophet Jeremiah's ministry, "prophets of God" contradicted Jeremiah's warning about coming divine judgement.

They insisted that everything was all right and God had not really given Jeremiah a message of wrath

The people did not want to hear the truth choosing comfort over conviction

We have plent of false prophets with comforting thoughts today with some even having good intentions

The real question is wheather or not their words match up with God's word

While I was with you I would forget everything expcet Jesus Christ - 1 Corinthians 2:2

People who encoutered Paul understood what was most important to him: Christ sin-defeating death and grave-defeating life

He spent most of his life observing the Jewish laws and traditions but now everything was about Christ

Paul made it a point to forget everything else besides Christ:

• Impressive Education
• Impeccable religious pedigree
• Personal wisdom

Paul had more education and experiences more than anyone but chose to focus on one simple message of faith and love

Does your life convey the simple message that Jesus loves them?

Crowds listened intently to Philip because they were eager to hear his message and see tje miraculous signs he did - Acts 8:5-8

Philip was among the first generation believers who fled the city to the other area because of persecution

He didn't hide out but preached the gospel wherever he went

Philip create a stir in Samaria when people eagerly listened to his message and watched in amazement as people were healed

He did not focus on his own preservation but the needs of other people

No one enjoys hardship and persecution but we can not let them quash our spirits

We serve a God who enables us to thrive even in adversity

When they heard the words of the prophet Haggai the people feared the Lord- Haggai 1:12

Setting priorities is a key to doing anything well

Haggai believed strongly in setting the right priorities and enourging others to do the same

The people of Jerusalem had a problem with priorities

They had settled nicely into their homes with the Temple was left unfinished after 16 years

Why are living in luxurious houses while God's house lies in ruins? - Haggai 1:4

The people of Jerusalem hadn't finished the Temple because it wasn't at the top of their to-do list

Haggai preached the right message at the right time

Their sense of priorities got straighten out and they got busy

Do you give to a ministry that God has put on your heart? If not, it is time to rearrange your priorities

They did not believe he had truely become a believer - Acts 9:26

After his conversion, Saul endured skepticism from the early Christians

Saul's encounter with Jesus changed the direction of his life but some who hear his message could not believer their ears

Wasn't this the same Saul who violently persecuted Christians? Yes and No

Saul was transformed - Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person - 2 Corinthians 5:17

In an instant, Saul transformed from a hateful, enemy of Jesus to his most vocal follower

I am the one who needs to be baptized by you - Matthew 3:14

The most famous best supporting actor in the New Testament is John the Baptist

Men in the Old Testament said he would prepare the way for the Messiah's coming

John preached the message of God had given him and welcomes the star of the show, Jesus Christ

John repeated had to set the record straight about his own identity

He demonstrated further humility when Jesus approached him to be baptized

John initally protested that he not Jesus should be baptized but he obeyed Jesus request

What if God asked you to play a similar role to a colleage at work or church leader?

I am willing to endure anything if it will bring salvation and eternal glory in Christ Jesus to those God has chosen - 2 Timothy 2:9-10

Paul freely chose to suffer for Christ

Despite opponents he faces, pain and suffering, he gladly continued to speak the name of Jesus

Was he a masochist? No, he did not enjoy the pain but tried to move on where ever he could - Acts 26:29

Paul enjoyed anything that would help to get the gospel message preached to those who needed to hear it

Everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution - 2 Timothy 3:12

"Trust in God" can seem easy at times but when trouble hits, justice seems dead and love seems to vanish, many are appalled nature's "heartlessness" and "indifference"
And came to the conculsion that God either does not know or does not care

Jesus saw these same situations as evidences of God's love, his long-suffering patience, and willing to allow the lost to find him
Century after century, God has sent the world prophets, apostles, heros and saints to proclaim the message of heaven to bewildered and sinful man

Countless people trusted God only to discover when evil fotune came, that trust was not as strong enough to stand the shock

Trust shapes perpective

Many things can blot out our trust in God:

• Disappointment
• A dream that has come to nothing
• Central ambition may fail
• Persecution
• Misunderstanding/misrepresentation of men
• Overcome with failure

Jesus had all of the dark experiences it is possible to have

He has a message to commicate that would drive away gloom and woe the world to him

Jesus trust was unbroken despite many rejections and even his own men forsaking him

His death appeared to be a heart-breaking failure, but rather a victorious outcome for us