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!

These sermon notes are from the opening minutes of this weekend’s message. If you would like to hear the entire message, click on the link above.

Recent Sermon Notes

Strategies of Deceit | Mac Hammond

we were blessed to have Pastor Mac back in the pulpit with a brand-new series entitled, “Strategies of Deceit.” Over the years, believers have expressed their frustration that their lives are filled with bad, and sometimes evil, things. Even though they pray and live their lives by faith, they can’t seem to make an end of the bad things. They don’t know how to deal with the situation in which they find themselves. Pastor Mac explains the hard truth that the enemy cannot just arbitrarily bring death and cursing into your life. There’s a reason why the enemy has access into your life!

Finding Your Voice in Prayer | Ken Olson

Pastor Ken Olson shared with us a message on “Finding Your Voice in Prayer.” Noting that our nation’s Declaration of Independence declares that we, as citizens, have the right to pursue life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. He further added, “There’s nothing more empowering, more enabling to pursue life, liberty, and happiness and so many other things that God has planned for our lives than a pursuit of a lifelong relationship through prayer with our Heavenly Father.” Heaven isn’t just a place. Heaven is a divine flow!

Dr. James Tan | Power and Fire, Part 3

Dr. James Tan was our special guest speaker. He spoke about the supernatural power people receive when they experience the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Entitled, “Power and Fire,” Dr. James taught all three weekend services on the basic fundamental truths concerning a believer’s encounter with Holy Ghost power! He stressed how important it is for all believers to have their own personal encounters with God the Holy Ghost for themselves. “You can’t live off someone else’s testimony,” he said. “You have to get your own experiences about encountering the power of the Holy Spirit for yourself.”

GRACE UNVEILED, #37: Tongues: The Fire Is Still Burning | Jim Hammond

Have you ever been in a place in your life where you don’t know how to pray or what to pray… where you don’t have the words to express to God what you need from Him? It’s a place in which all born again believers have found themselves. This is the subject matter Pastor Jim taught us in his 37th installment of his ongoing series on the book of Romans—“Grace Unveiled.” It is the Holy Spirit that makes intercession for us with groanings that cannot be uttered in articulate language. About tongues, Pastor Jim said, “I do this for myself. You should pray in tongues for yourself. It’s a mistake not to!”

When Grace Sprinted | Jim Hammond

When Jesus walked the earth, one of His missions was to reveal the Father God’s love for us. And one of the ways He did that was through the telling of the Parable of the Prodigal Son. When teaching on this parable, most preachers focus all their attention on the Prodigal Son, and how he repented. However, the whole point of this parable is to reveal the Father’s love. Pastor Jim said, “This may be one of the most-preached messages in history. And I know you think you know what this parable is all about… Well, we shall see.”