ACTIVATING THE “EXCEEDING ABUNDANTLY ABOVE” HARVEST
ACTS….THIS BOOK ORIGINALLY HAD NO NAME…IT WAS WRITTEN BY LUKE AS A SECOND VOLUME FOLLOW UP TO THE GOSPEL THAT BEARS HIS NAME.
BUT THE NAME (ACTS) IS A PERFECT DESCRIPTION
FOR THE BOOK….ACTS IS A RECORD OF THE SUPERNATURAL ACTS OF GOD THROUGH ORDINARY BELIEVERS JUST LIKE YOU AND ME.
GODS DESIRE IS TO MAKE ALL OF US SUPERNATURALLY EMPOWERED….ACTS CHRISTIANS…
THE BOOK COULD HAVE BEEN CALLED THE BOOK OF ACTION
THIS MORNING I WANT YOU TO THINK OF IT AS THE BOOK OF ACTIVATE….
I REMEMBER WHEN I RECEIVED MY FIRST CREDIT CARD IN THE MAIL…ALL YOU LADIES REMEMBER THAT DAY IM SURE….
I KNEW HOW MUCH CREDIT I HAD ON THAT CARD….I KNEW IT HAD MY NAME ON IT…
I KNEW HOW MUCH INTEREST I WOULD BE PAYING….I COULDN’T WAIT AS A TWENTY TWO YEAR OLD PRO FOOTBALL PLAYER TO USE MY CARD….BUT WHEN I USED IT THE FIRST TIME IT WAS DECLINED….NOW IT HAD MY NAME ON IT….I HAD ACCESS TO THE FUNDS…BUT I HAD OVERLOOKED THE FACT THAT THE CARD HAD TO BE ACTIVATED…I HAD TO PERSONALLY CALL VISA AND ACTIVATE THE CARD BEFORE I COULD ACCESS THE AVAILABLE FUNDS.
EVERYTHING IN THE BOOK OF ACTS BELONGS TO YOU….THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT….THE MIRACLES….THE ADVENTURE….THE PROVISION OF THE CROSS ,THE EMPTY TOMB,THE UPPER ROOM.. BUT YOU HAVE TO ACTIVATE.
THAT POWER, PROVISION, AND PURPOSE TO HAVE ACCESS TO WHAT BELONGS TO YOU.
I HAVE BEEN A FOOTBALL COACH FOR 40 YEARS ….AND I BELIEVE IN TEACHING FUNDAMENTALS….WHETHER IM ON THE FIELD WITH A SEVENTEEN YEAR OLD QUARTERBACK OR SPEAKING IN A CORPORATE SETTING OR IN A GREAT CHURCH ON SUNDAY MORNING…. I WANT PEOPLE TO LEAVE WITH TOOLS THEY CAN USE…FOR A FEW MINUTES TODAY I WANT TO GIVE YOU SOME COACHING POINTS FROM THE BOOK OF ACTS ON ACTIVATING THE “EXCEEDING ABUNDANTLY ABOVE…..HOW TO ADD GODS SUPER TO YOUR NATURAL.”
EPHESIANS 3:20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that is at work in us.
THE BIBLE LITERALLY SAYS…. IF YOU CAN ASK IT…GOD CAN EXCEED IT….IF YOU CAN DREAM IT, GOD CAN EXCEED IT…. IF YOU CAN THINK IT GOD CAN EXCEED IT….
HE CAN DO…REPEAT AFTER ME…..
EXCEEDING, ABUNDANTLY, ABOVE ALL WE CAN ASK OR THINK….
BUT SOMETIMES WE MISS THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THIS VERSE WHEN IT COMES TO ACTIVATING THIS SUPERNATURAL POWER OF GOD.
LETS SAY IT ALL TOGETHER ONE MORE TIME;
….ONE MORE TIME….OUR GOD IS ABLE TO DO EXCEEDINGLY, ABUNDANTLY, ABOVE ALL THAT WE ARE ABLE TO ASK OR THINK ACCORDING TO THE POWER THAT IS AT WORK IN US.
GOD CANNOT DO EXCEEDINGLY ABUNDANTLY ABOVE UNTIL YOU TAKE THE FIRST STEP AND GIVE HIM SOMETHING TO EXCEED
I’LL EXCEED WHAT YOU ASK BUT YOU MUST ASK.
I’LL EXCEED WHAT YOU THINK BUT YOU MUST THINK, DREAM, BELIEVE.
1. WE ACTIVATE THE EXCEEDING ABUNDANTLY ABOVE POWER OF GOD BY BEING INSTANT IN PRAYER.
Acts 3:1-9 Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.
2 And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;
3 Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.
4 And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.
5 And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.
6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.
7 And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.
8 And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.
9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God.
YOU KNOW… IT IS POSSIBLE THAT PETER AND JOHN HAD PASSED THIS MAN HUNDREDS OF TIMES… THEY MAY HAVE KNOWN HIM BY NAME…. AND THE MAN MAY HAVE ASKED THEM FOR MONEY BEFORE…. MAYBE HE KNEW THEY NORMALLY DROPPED SOMETHING IN HIS TIN CUP.”
BUT ON THIS DAY…. PETER AND JOHN WERE LOOKING AT THIS MAN THROUGH DIFFERENT LENS…. THEY HAD JUST COME FROM BEING WITH THE RESURECTED LORD AND BEING FILLED WITH POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT….
NOTICE THEY DIDN’T JUST SAY “WE’RE GOING TO BE PRAYING FOR YOU OR WE WILL HAVE OUR SMALL GROUP REMEMBER YOU IN PRAYER NEXT TUESDAY…..THEY WERE INSTANT IN PRAYER…”
ROMANS 12:12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, INSTANT in prayer.
PETER AND JOHN INSTANTLY TOOK THE MANS HAND AND PRAYED “IN THE NAME OF JESUS OF NAZARETH RISE UP AND WALK.”
IT WASN’T A LONG PRAYER, A POLISHED PRAYER, AN IMPRESSIVE PRAYER, IT WAS SHORT AND TO THE POINT.
BUT THAT 5 SECOND PRAYER ACTIVATED GIDS EXCEEDING ABUNDANTLY ABOVE…. GOD ADDED HIS SUPER TO THEIR NATURAL AND THE LAME MAN STOOD UP ON HIS FEET FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HIS LIFE.
MY FIRST COACHING POINT IS SIMPLE; BE INSTANT IN PRAYER
SAY THIS WITH ME, “MAY I PRAY FOR YOU RIGHT NOW?”
SOME OF YOU SO DESPERATELY WANT TO BE USED OF GOD TO SEE HIS POWER IN THE LIVES OF THOSE YOU ENCOUNTER….THIS IS IT!!!
I HAVE BEEN ASKED…WHY DO PEOPLE OVERSEAS SEE SO MANY MIRACLES.
- *BLIND EYES OPENED
- *PEOPLE GETTING OUT IF WHEELCHAIRS
- *CANCEROUS TUMORS VISIBLY SHRINKING
MY QUESTION IS; HOW MANY OF US ARE GIVING GOD A CHANCE TO DO THE MIRACULOUS?
When we send teams to Africa …THEY WILL COME BACK WITH STORIES OF THE SUPERNATURAL POWER OF GOD… MOST OF THOSE STORIES WILL BEGIN WITH THE ACCOUNT OF SOMEBODY BEING INSTANT IN PRAYER.
IF YOU PRAY FOR SOMEONE THEY MAY GET HEALED.
IF YOU DO NOT THEY WONT.
WE MUST GIVE GOD A CHANCE…. WE HAVE TO ACTIVATE THE EXCEEDING ABUNDANTLY ABOVE THROUGH BEING INSTANT IN PRAYER.
2. ACTIVATE THE EXCEEDING ABUNDANTLY, ABOVE PROSPERITY OF GOD BY PUTTING GOD FIRST.
ACTS 4:33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all 34 that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them,brought the money from the sales 35 and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.
NOW HISTORIANS TELL US THESE BELIEVERS WHO SOLD PROPERTIES AND BROUGHT MONEY WERE PROBABLY PRACTICING A SCRIPTURAL PRINCIPLE CALLED FIRST FRUITS OR THE TITHE.
THESE ACTS CHRISTIANS BELIEVED THAT GODS EXCEEDING ABUNDANTLY ABOVE WAS ACTIVATED WHEN THEY PUT GOD FIRST.
GOD KNOWS WE ALL NEED THINGS TO LIVE IN THIS WORLD… WE NEED FOOD, SHELTER, CLOTHING… OUR KIDS NEED TO GO TO COLLEGE, SOME OF YOU NEED TO PAY OFF COLLEGE DEBT.
WE NEED TO HAVE ENOUGH TO MEET OUR NEEDS AND ENOUGH LEFT OVER TO HELP SOMEBODY ELSE… WE HAVE NEEDS AND WE NEED GOD TO GET INVOLVED.
MATTHEW 6:33 “SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS AND ALL OF THESE OTHER THINGS SHALL BE ADDED UNTO YOU.”
Luke 6:38 “Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full–pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.”
THE BIBLE ALSO MAKES THIS PROMISE
2 Corinthians 9:10 For God is the one who provides seed for the sower and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you.
HOW IMPORTANT IS YOUR MONEY?
YOUR MONEY REPRESENTS YOUR LIFE….IT ENCOMPASSES SO MUCH:
- THE YEARS YOU SPENT IN SCHOOL OR TRAINING TO PREPARE TO EARN THAT MONEY
- THE SALARY HOURS, DAYS, WEEKS, AND MONTHS YOU ACTUALLY WORKED TO EARN THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY .
- THE STRESS OF PUTTING UP WITH IRREGULAR WORK SCHEDULES, DIFFICULT BOSSES, AND CO-WORKERS TO EARN THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY.
MONEY IS IMPORTANT… SO GOD DOESNT TAKE IT LIGHTLY WHEN YOU GIVE HIM THIS REPRESENTATION OF YOUR BLOOD, SWEAT AND TEARS.
AND WHEN YOU PUT HIM FIRST IN GIVING YOUR HARD EARNED MONEY…. IT ALWAYS ACTIVATES HIS EXCEEDING ABUNDANTLY ABOVE IN YOUR FINANCES….I’VE WATCHED IT OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
WE ARE SIMPLY ACTIVATING THE EXCEEDING ABUNDANTLY ABOVE BY DOING EXACTLY WHAT HIS WORD SAYS.
3. ACTIVATE THE EXCEEDING ABUNDANTLY ABOVE PURPOSE OF GOD BY FOLLOWING YOUR FLOW OF CONCERN!
ACTS 8:26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” 27 So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Kandake (which means “queen of the Ethiopians”). This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, 28 and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the Book of Isaiah the prophet. 29 The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.”
HE WAS TRANSLATED SUPERNATURALLY TO THE LOCATION… BUT THE FLOW OF CONCERN CREATED THE ATMOSPHERE FOR THE EXCEEDING ABUNDANTLY ABOVE.
TODAY THE NATION OF ETHIOPIA HAS 56 MILLION BELIEVERS IN JESUS CHRIST… AND IT ALL STARTED WITH ONE MAN FOLLOWING A FLOW OF CONCERN!
4. WE ACTIVATE THE EXCEEDING ABUNDANTLY ABOVE VISION OF GOD BY REFUSING TO QUIT
Acts 5:41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.
2 Corinthians 11:23-28 Paul provides a detailed account of his sufferings: “Are they servants of Christ? I am speaking like I am out of my mind, but I am so much more: in harder labor, in more imprisonments, in worse beatings, in frequent danger of death. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea; in my frequent journeys, I have been in danger from rivers and from bandits, in danger from my countrymen and from the Gentiles; in danger in the city and in the country, in danger on the sea and among false brothers; in labor and toil and often without sleep, in hunger and thirst and often without food, in cold and exposure. Apart from these external trials, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.