How do we move past the road blocks that try to stop our faith? Listen in to this next message in our Change Your City series – “Faith Blocks”. Follow along to find out…

What happens you face an obstacle, a roadblock, or a barrier? Do you shut down? Get frustrated? Avoid or walk away?

Matthew 17:24-27 24 On their arrival in Capernaum, the collectors of the Temple tax[a] came to Peter and asked him, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the Temple tax?”25 “Yes, he does,” Peter replied. Then he went into the house. But before he had a chance to speak, Jesus asked him, “What do you think, Peter?[b] Do kings tax their own people or the people they have conquered?[c]” 26 “They tax the people they have conquered,” Peter replied. “Well, then,” Jesus said, “the citizens are free! 27 However, we don’t want to offend them, so go down to the lake and throw in a line. Open the mouth of the first fish you catch, and you will find a large silver coin. Take it and pay the tax for both of us.”

IXTHUS – “Jesus Christ, God’s Son, the Savior.”

1. Faith Block of “Not Enough”

Believers can fail to act in the kingdom of God when they feel …

• they can feel like they are not enough so they fail to even try –
• they can feel like they don’t have enough resources, finances, or understanding…. and don’t try

26 “They tax the people they have conquered,” Peter replied. “Well, then,” Jesus said, “the citizens are free! 27 However, we don’t want to offend them, so go down to the lake and throw in a line. Open the mouth of the first fish you catch, and you will find a large silver coin. Take it and pay the tax for both of us.”

To move past the faith block of not enough – go to Jesus first in what you lack.

Jesus will speak to you in action – It will be something hard, or tough, and very personal.

**But Jesus is testing / stretching you so that you stop focusing on what’s missing and focusing on what Jesus is providing.**

2. Faith Block of “Doubt” –

• Do you doubt Jesus is speaking to you? –
• Do you doubt He has chosen you to participate in the growth of this Kingdom?

Most people do not fully understand what Jesus is speaking to them about so they shut down. They fail to comprehend what Jesus is speaking because they fail to spend time listening.

The sermon last week – Peters mother in law was touched by Jesus then immediately started using her skill for the kingdom. We all were touched by the Jesus last week; but did you immediately start using your skill for the kingdom?

The Holy Spirit revealed to us Monday, that most people did not because there was a Spiritual Blockage. And most would say it was lack of understanding, or knowing…

**The Spiritual blockage of doubt prevents movement in the kingdom of God.**

Luke 24 41 Still they stood there in disbelief, filled with joy and wonder. Then he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he ate it as they watched.44 Then he said, “When I was with you before, I told you that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and in the Psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.

**The Spiritual blockage of doubt is broken through what you give to Jesus.**

vs 45…. then he opened their minds…

Doing Life Together –

What does luke 24:41-45 mean to you? What are you going to do this week that is different than weeks prior? Be accountable to each other. If someone says something get their number and check up.

3.Faith Block of “changing your city”

Changing your city is not a sermon series….. it’s a LIFESTYLE that every believer is enrolled in the moment they call Jesus Lord. We are all called to change our own city.

15 That evening the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away so they can go to the villages and buy food for themselves.”16 But Jesus said, “That isn’t necessary—you feed them.” 17 “But we have only five loaves of bread and two fish!” they answered. 18 “Bring them here,” he said. 19 Then he told the people to sit down on the grass. Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and blessed them. Then, breaking the loaves into pieces, he gave the bread to the disciples, who distributed it to the people. 20 They all ate as much as they wanted, and afterward, the disciples picked up twelve baskets of leftovers.

• Jesus is Jesus…
• Disciples are all believers…
• the crowd is our different cities…
• the bread and fish are what we have to offer. It’s not enough without Jesus.

We will change our cities if we are willing to participate and be involved in the group project known as vision.

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Next Steps – Seek the Lord. Jesus will reward you with what you need to change your city. Hold someone else accountable. Check in. See how they are doing in seeking the Lord in the coming weeks.

Ever walked away from that dream purchase because of sticker shock? What if the real cost is not the advertised cost? What if you could have got it at manufacturers cost rather than retail; and all you had to do was ask? As believers, the cost of faith in our minds may feel or seem like one thing; but have we checked with the manufacturer…. Jesus? This is the next message in our Faith Check series – Cost of Faith. We are looking deeply at the book of Jeremiah and how the church in exile was able to grow their Faith through all circumstances.

Nike Store 

Jeremiah 1:4

NIV – “The word of the Lord came to me, saying,”

Message – “This is what God said”

As your pastor I’m wondering….have you checked your faith yet? Or are you being like Samuel.

1 Samuel 3:1-11

1The boy Samuel ministered before the Lord under Eli. In those days the word of the Lord was rare; there were not many visions. 2 One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place. 3 The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the house of the Lord, where the ark of God was. 4 Then the Lord called Samuel.

Samuel answered, “Here I am.” 5 And he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”

But Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.” So he went and lay down.

6 Again the Lord called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”

“My son,” Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.”

7 Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord: The word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him.

8 A third time the Lord called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”

Then Eli realized that the Lord was calling the boy. 9 So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

10 The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!”

Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”

11 And the Lord said to Samuel: “See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make the ears of everyone who hears about it tingle.

• Samuel lived in the church
• Served in the church
• Was a church leader

AND didn’t know how to listen to God. Didn’t know the sound of Gods voice. Thought the only way to hear the voice of God was through the lead pastor. 

The pivotal moment in Samuels life and Jeremiahs life was hearing God and acting on what they heard.

We keep bringing up “Next Steps” as actions based on hearing the Word of God.

Our Church’s goal is 2 parts – 

• Help you gain a desire to hear God and take action on it. Be like Samuel and Jeremiah after being able to hear God and act on it – Next Steps.
• Help you gain a desire to bring the living God into your spheres of influence. What we call doing life together.

The next season of our church has a very specific vision. – Reach Your City.

We may live in the same area code but our cities are different. My city is board game nerds, website visionaries, and digital artists. My city is comic book stores, my city is online video games.

In preparation for the day we open on the front lawn (which is soon)…

Be praying and fasting for the vision to be caught by yourself and others. 

That we all would have a desire to hear God through reading His word, prayer time, and the messages. That we would desire to apply it to our lives. That we would gain the confidence to speak life into people in our spheres of influence (our cities).

Todays message is Cost of Faith…. which is desire

• Do you desire to hear from God and act on it?
• Do you desire to bring Jesus to people that you do life with?

Boys and their games.

Everything is competing for your desire. 

Jeremiah 1:4-9

4 The Lord gave me this message:

5 “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb.

Before you were born I set you apart

and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.”

6 “O Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I can’t speak for you! I’m too young!”

7 The Lord replied, “Don’t say, ‘I’m too young,’ for you must go wherever I send you and say whatever I tell you. 8 And don’t be afraid of the people, for I will be with you and will protect you. I, the Lord, have spoken!” 9 Then the Lord reached out and touched my mouth and said,

“Look, I have put my words in your mouth!

The Holy Spirit will handle all excuses and problems. But you gotta handle the desire to hear the voice of the Lord and act on it.

Identity is like a fingerprint from God – no finger print matches. Every single one is unique. And that is your identity from God. Divinely unique.

God ordained YOU to be good enough to deliver His words.

Your inexperience, your age, how long you’ve been a believer doesn’t matter to God. In fact He rebukes it, and says you go where I send you, and you say whatever I tell you. And don’t be afraid of the people!

Doing life in the comments – 

What is an excuse you need to let the Holy Spirit deal with?

Luke 6:46-49

46 “So why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord!’ when you don’t do what I say? 47 I will show you what it’s like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then follows it. 48 It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built. 49 But anyone who hears and doesn’t obey is like a person who builds a house right on the ground, without a foundation. When the floods sweep down against that house, it will collapse into a heap of ruins.”

Your NEXT STEPS this week…. 

1. Fast and pray to hear the voice of the Lord. 
2. Act on it in your life and 
3. Share it in the spheres of influence (YOUR CITY) around you. 

We are headed to our next season – “Reach your City” we need to begin now.