Abundant Life Church - Springfield, Mo

Pastor Jared & Natalie's Testimony

“All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations shall worship before you. For kingship belongs to the Lord, and he rules over the nations. All the prosperous of the earth eat and worship; before him shall bow all who go down to the dust, even the one who could not keep himself alive. Posterity shall serve him; it shall be told of the Lord to the coming generation;” ‭‭- Psalm‬ ‭22:27-30‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“But you, O Lord, do not be far off! O you my help, come quickly to my aid! Deliver my soul from the sword, my precious life from the power of the dog! Save me from the mouth of the lion! You have rescued me from the horns of the wild oxen! I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will praise you:” ‭‭- Psalm‬ ‭22:19-22‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by the people. All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads; “He trusts in the Lord; let him deliver him; let him rescue him, for he delights in him!” Yet you are he who took me from the womb; you made me trust you at my mother’s breasts. On you was I cast from my birth, and from my mother’s womb you have been my God.” - ‭‭Psalm‬ ‭22:6-10‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest. Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. In you our fathers trusted; they trusted, and you delivered them.” ‭‭ - Psalm‬ ‭22:1-4‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble....Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.” - James 4:6;10 Application: This weekend, come to church and humble yourself before the Lord. Raise your hands in worship, takes notes in the message, respond at the altar call, and God will lift you up.

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” - James 4:7 ESV Application:  If you lack clarity, submit to God, then resist the devil.  The devil will run and the fog will clear.

“Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” - James 4:8 ESV Application: Do you have an area you became double-minded about? Purify your heart and you will get more clarity from the Lord.

“Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners..." - James 4:8 ESV Application: Name a way your hands have gotten dirty (eg. Political battles), then wash them in the blood of Jesus for more clarity/focus today.

“Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you..." - James 4:8 ESV Application: Make a commitment today to draw near to God and He will draw near to you and give you clarity/focus today.

Application: Name a 5-fold gift in your church. What is one behavior they taught you that grieves the HS? “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” - Ephesians 4:30-32 ESV

Application: Name a 5-fold minister in your local church. Can you name 1 thing they have taught you to say? If not, repent and start receiving. “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.” - Ephesians 4:29 ESV

Application: Name 5-fold gift in your church that is equipping people to prosper. Are you letting that person influence you? “Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.” - Ephesians 4:28 ESV

Application: Repent from being a devil worshipper by letting a 5-fold gift help you overcome him through forgiveness. “Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil.” - Ephesians 4:26-27 ESV

Application: Repent from being a devil worshipper by letting a 5-fold gift help you overcome him through forgiveness “Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.” - Ephesians 4:25 ESV