Pastor Mac Hammond | August 15, 2021

Recap:
Our imagination is significant, for our imagination creates momentum that will push us toward whatever we focus on. When we focus on daily circumstance and the negativity in this world, we will have a difficult time believing and expecting the Word of God can become a reality for us. However, if we base our imaginations on the Word of God and picture our life lived according to the Word of God, we’ll find our life will be rooted well, able to provide strong, spiritual growth for our life.

Dive Deeper:
Since thoughts are such a regular part of life, many people don’t think about what they are thinking about. They let cares and worries take over their mind, and don’t think about it again. However, it’s important that we learn to manage our thoughts well.

You see, what you think about it is what you will become. If you want to be filled with fear and worry, then don’t worry about changing your thought patterns. The circumstances of life will often push you in the direction of fear and concern. On the other hand, if you want to bear fruit in God’s kingdom, your imagination can create a strong root system in your life that will prepare you to become a tree by the rivers of water bearing much fruit.

This means that you don’t have to use past experience to determine future probability. You can use the Bible as the basis for your expectation of the future. In fact, God says that He will give you an expected end. If you want to increase your expectation to align with the Word of God, then build positive expectation through your imagination.  The more you focus your mind on picturing the Word of God as true, the more you’ll generate momentum in that direction.

Your imagination has procreative power. It will produce what it thinks about. Imagine the power that it will generate when your imagination is focused on the Word of God and what it will produce in your life!

Read More:
Mark 4:16-17 KJV
And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; and have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended.

Psalm 1:2-3 KJV
But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

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

Romans 12:2 KJV
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Jeremiah 29:11 KJV
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

Philippians 3:13 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.

Philippians 1:20 KJV
According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.

1 Peter 1:13 KJV
Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

Discussion Questions:
1. What do you find your imagination focusing on throughout each day?

2. What’s one way you can deliberately move your imagination more toward God’s Word?

3. What do you expect God to do in your life? What do you expect God to do for your family?

4. How can you change your expectations to align with God’s Word?

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

Recent Sermon Notes

FOCUS FOR EFFECT: Love | Mac Hammond

Pastor Mac taught the third installment of his series entitled, “Focus on Effect,” based upon 2nd Corinthians 4:17, “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” The apostle Paul said the hardships in our lives can be light and momentary. It all depends on what we place our focus upon. Paul says we are to focus our attention on what is eternal, rather than what is temporal. There are three things that are eternal: faith, hope, and love. We are to focus on that.

FOCUS FOR EFFECT: Hope | Mac Hammond

This series is all about focus, meaning where do you give your attention. This is important because whatever you give your attention to will determine how hard or difficult your life will be. And conversely, it will determine how easy and carefree it will be. Teaching on 1st Corinthians 13:13, Pastor Mac says you can gain the clarity you need to succeed in your life by focusing on matters of faith, hope, and love.

Focus on Effect | Mac Hammond

Pastor Mac began a new series entitled, “Focus on Effect.” He started off by telling us the topic of the new series is something we probably think we already know about, but in fact, we don’t know enough about it as we probably should. The scriptural reference was 2nd Corinthians 4:17–18: “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” Though Pastor Mac has taught on this passage before, he said he’s “gotten a glimpse of a different side of this mountain. And I’m seeing it from a perspective that has really impacted me in a positive way.” He added, “And I want it to be that way for you all as well.”

Are We in the Days of Noah? | Jim Hammond

Jesus’ disciples asked Him what the signs will be of His coming. Jesus said it will be like it was in the days of Noah: “But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.” Fellow believers, we are in the days of Noah. All they thought about in the days of Noah was eating and drinking and the like. They were not thinking about the flood that was coming. So it is today!

A Deception of Palestine | Jim Hammond

This past weekend, Pastor Jim ministered a special God-directed message for the congregation entitled, “A Deception of Palestine.” He talked about how there is a division in the body of Christ worldwide, where believers are allowing themselves to become deceived when it comes to the present and ongoing deception regarding the Jewish people and Israel. It’s important that Christians do not allow themselves to be persuaded by worldly and ungodly leaders and news systems. It’s important they know what the Word of God says and exalt it as God’s truth.