Give to Israel

Pastor Mac Hammond | February 20, 2022

Recap:
Disappointment can be deadly. That’s why Pastor Mac took time away from his current series to preach a message entitled “Managing the Deadly Force of Disappointment.” Too many people allow disappointment to steal their faith. They know that God can heal, but when experience doesn’t align with what they believe, they are disappointed—and if they don’t deal with that disappointment well, they will slide toward discouragement and eventually despair. That’s one reason why we must learn to keep our focus more on God’s Word than on outward circumstances.

Dive Deeper:
The enemy is after your faith. He will do whatever he can to get you to waver from your belief in God and His Word. That means if he can’t get you to stop reading the Word, he will work to ensure that disappointment is ever-present in your life. He will make sure that you are disappointed through people and negative circumstances time and again.

He knows that repeated disappointment that is left unmanaged will eventually become negative expectation. Negative expectation that is not properly dealt with will become discouragement and soulish weariness. Discouragement unmanaged will become hopelessness and despair.

You can, however, change this slide. When disappointment comes your way, don’t focus on it. Turn your attention back to the Word. Keep focused on who you are in Christ and what the Word says about the circumstance you are facing.

Do as the apostle Paul recommended in Philippians chapter 3: forget those things that are behind and press forward to what lies ahead. When you keep God as your focus and delight, He will give you desires that align with His will in your life. He will lay out for you His high calling on your life. Make maximum sustainable effort in that direction.

Know that you can’t do this on your own. Stay connected with the church family that God has placed you with, for encouragement is vital as we leave disappointment behind and stir our faith in Jesus!

Read More:
Hebrews 11:1 KJV
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Proverbs 23:18 KJV
For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off.

Philippians 3:13–14 KJV
Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Hebrews 10:24–25 Amp.
And let us consider and give attentive, continuous care to watching over one another, studying how we may stir up (stimulate and incite) to love and helpful deeds and noble activities, not forsaking or neglecting to assemble together [as believers], as is the habit of some people, but admonishing (warning, urging, and encouraging) one another, and all the more faithfully as you see the day approaching.

Discussion Questions:
1. Have you ever had your expectation frustrated?
2. When you are weary, what do you do to stir up your faith?
3. How does redirecting our attention to the Word of God stir up positive expectation?
4. Why is church so important?
5. What is your favorite thing about church?

Rewatch or catch up on the full sermon with the link below!
Watch Now
Share
Share
Share

Recent Sermon Notes

Grace Unveiled, #10: Credited to Your Account | Jim Hammond

May 21, 2024

Pastor Jim preached the 10th installment of his series entitled, “Grace Unveiled,” a study of the book of Romans. This message subtitled, “Credited to Your Account,” finishes up the study of the sin problem and then begins a study of the solution to man’s sin problem—which is Romans 3:21–22, “…faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe.” Pastor Jim said, “The reason why Paul spent so much time talking about the sin problem is because you can’t understand the solution if you don’t understand the problem.”

At Wit’s End | Jim Hammond

May 12, 2024

Have you ever been “at your wit’s end?” When you’ve exhausted all your emotional and physical resources and have nothing left to give, what do you do? When the Apostle Paul was at his wit’s end, the Lord gave him direction saying, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Pastor Jim went on to expound on when we are at our wit’s end, how we can lean on His grace.

Grace Unveiled, #9: Established in the Gift of Righteousness | Jim Hammond

May 4, 2024

This past weekend, Pastor Jim taught his 9th installment in his series on the book of Romans entitled, “Grace Unveiled.” The first three and a half chapters of Romans, Paul talked extensively, driving home the point, on how no one can make himself righteous in God’s eyes. The Apostle Paul didn’t leave anyone out. He listed the Pagans in the secular world, people just trying to do good, and the zealous disciplined Jews… he made sure they knew that none of them measured up in God’s eyes. No matter what they did, they would never be able to escape God’s wrath… unless there is something that appeases that judgment. That was Paul’s way of working up to a point. Paul then introduced the righteousness of God through Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection.

The Principle of Connection | Mac Hammond

Apr 28, 2024

Pastor Mac taught a message entitled, “The Principle of Connection.” Oftentimes, we struggle with obedience to the Word, where our obedience to the Word is not done in faith but out of legalism. We don’t do it from our heart, but we do it out of obligation. However, as Pastor Mac pointed out, if the Word is going to work for you, it has to come from our heart. There is a remedy that puts an end to legalistic obedience: once you understand the principle behind a particular mandate, obedience to the Word becomes exciting. Pastor Mac goes on to discuss the Principle of Connection.

A Faith-Building Weekend With Nancy Dufresne

Apr 21, 2024

What a weekend we had with guest minister Nancy Dufresne. She shared on the power of faith and reminded us that God and the Holy Spirit should always remain our focus. That means when we face difficulty, listening to the Holy Spirit, our guide on the inside, is the best thing that we can do. You can walk in faith toward your miracle!