Come Holy Spirit fill the hearts of the

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of the faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And you shall renew the face of the earth. O God, Who by the light of the Holy Spirit did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by that same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise, and ever enjoy Your consolations through Christ our Lord. Amen.

The American President (1995) • Did you see this movie? • A savvy, brisk political operative, Sydney Ellen Wade, played by Annette Bening, has charged the White House with being weak of the Environment. She wants the Reduction of Fossil Fuels Bill passed before the teeth are taken out of it. • Instead of being rebuffed as a crazy lobbiest, something else happens.

An Offer is Made • The President, Andrew Shepherd, played by Michael Douglas, is immensely popular with an approval rating of 63%. • Instead of attacking or ignoring Miss Wade, the President asks her out on a date. • He is lonely since his wife died 3 years ago. • Now think about the scene when they are dancing at the State Dinner in the White House.

She asks him…How do you do it? • He jokes, “It’s Arthur Murray’s Six Lessons. ” • “That’s not what I mean. 200 pairs of eyes are focused on you with two questions. ‘Who is this woman? ’ and ‘Why is the President dancing with her? ’” • “First of all the 200 pairs of eyes are not focused on me. They are focused on you. And the answers are, ‘Sydney Ellen Wade’ because she said, ‘YES. ’”

Saying “YES” • A lot of good things can happen when you say, Yes. • (Think about it. ) • Imagine saying, “YES, ” to these questions.

• Can I SUPERSIZE that for you ?

• Would you like some M&M’s?

An Offer is Made • We have a full ride scholarship here, but it is only available for someone extremely smart and very HOT. We want to give it to you. Would that be OKAY?

Not All YESES are Equal • “Would you please take out the trash? ” • “Did you know you were speeding? ” • “Does this dead pair of gym socks belong to you? ” • “Have you been in pain long? ” • “Was that your mother peeking at us? ”

How about saying “YES? ” • “Would you come to a Chrysalis and spend the weekend seeking God? ” • “It may be a little scary, but would you come with me fully into this Chrysalis experience? ”

An Offer is Made • God is giving you an offer this weekend. • Will you take it? • This talk is about your saying, “YES!”

Hello, I’m Randy Williams And the title of my talk is GOD LOVES YOU!!

Now What Evidence? • • How can you identify that God loves you? Have you thought about it? How are you blessed? I talked to an Army Captain in the Minneapolis Airport recently. He was in his white cammo bu’s and newly back from Baghdad. I asked him at the Starbuck’s how he was doing. “I am great. I’m six feet up and that’s very good!”

Good or Bad? • We evaluate days as good or bad because of all kinds of things. Our attitudes, how much sleep we received the night before, the weather, whether it is too hot, too cold, rainy and wet, whatever, whether our boss likes our work or if we are making the grade, if we got the look we wanted from the one we love. • But you know what I am learning? Every day I can decide to have a good day. • I can decide to have a GREAT DAY!

What you focus on increases!

What you focus on increases!! • You can decide what you think about. • You are in control of your mind - think about it! • You can purge your mind of idle thoughts or even dangerous ones.

Consider Mohammed Ali

Ali had a technique. • When he was out at a party or somewhere and found himself tempted to be unfaithful he would. . .

Strike a match

And put out the flame with his fingers. • The pain warned him about the pain being unfaithful would cause. • The burn was nothing compared to the hurt he would bring to his loved ones and to himself.

You can control what you think about! Think about it!

Think about. . . Wayne Huizenga, Jr.

Wayne Huizenga, Jr. • Owns the Miami Dolphins • He and his dad turned Waste Management into a Fortune 500 Business and sold it. • Then Blockbuster and sold it. • Now they own Auto. Nation USA.

Wayne Huizenga, Jr. • At a Peoria Leaders Prayer Breakfast he said something like, “The only reason you are listening to me today is because I’ve made a lot of money. But I’m here to talk about how I was still empty inside until I formed a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. ”

Wayne Huizenga, Jr. • His housekeeper from Guatemala (I believe) told him something she had received that she thought was a word from the Lord for him. • She had him take 2 Quarters out of his pocket and hold them up.

2 Quarters • Held at his arms length away, she asked him, “Can you see me? ” Yes • “Now hold them right in from of your eyes. Can you still see me? ” • The word from God was his money was okay for him to have as long as he didn’t focus on it.

Whatever you focus on INCREASES sometimes to the point you can’t see anything else.

Paul gave some great advice. • In Philippians 4: 8 -9, Paul instructs the Philippians to control what they think about. He says that they should think about good things and do what they saw Paul do and this will give them peace. Read it with me. . .

Finally, sisters and brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me do and the God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4: 8 -9)

When Paul writes the Philippians • • He is in jail for his faith. He is facing a death sentence. He expects to die. 40 Men outside have pledged they won’t eat until they have killed him. • And he tells the Philippians to Rejoice the Lord is near! Rejoice in the Lord always. Wow!

Paul Realized. . . • • Even in jail, expecting to die, he was blessed. Even in jail, expecting to die, he rejoiced. Even in jail, expecting to die, he worshipped. Even in jail, expecting to die, he could write and believe Phil. 4: 13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. ” • Even in jail, expecting to die, Paul understood he was loved and we are loved. • Even in jail, expecting to die, Paul knew Jesus is Lord!

The Evidence • Whether you notice it or not the evidence is all around you. • In John 12: 29 we have God speaking to Jesus from Heaven and some of those there thought it was just thunder and dismissed it as though they could make it thunder.

You and I can see. . . • We can see things happen and miss that they are from God. • Coincidence is when God acts anonymously. • The more our eyes are opened, the more our eyes are open.

Tuning the Radio • Do young people still use radios? • The better tuned in the radio is to the station, the better you hear? • God is always broadcasting to us. Are we going to be tuned in or not? • Have you ever noticed the closer you are to the radio the better you hear?

God loves us. • God loves us and still we can miss it. • Ignorance, Fear, and Doubt cause this blindness to God’s love. • Ignorance is when we haven’t been told. We don’t know on our own and if no one shows us we can miss it. • We’ve got to know and then tell others.

People are dying. • People are literally dying without this knowledge. • We’ve got to get this story out. • We’ve got to give this story away. • But we can’t give away what we don’t have.

Saying “YES. ” • This weekend is about your saying, “Yes, ” and because of you say “Yes, ” others you influence can say “Yes, ” too. • And everyone said, “WOW!” • Then they said it backwards, “WOW!”

Consider the Church • Imagine the Church through the ages as one giant tree.

The American President (1995)

Those who come before us • Imagine the roots representing those who have come before us in the faith. They are the ones who have keep the GOSPEL going, they are our Spiritual Heritage.

The American President (1995) Heritage

We are a branch • We are nourished by the roots and we pass on nourishment to the new leaves.

The American President (1995) US Heritage

Those New in Christ • When we pass on our faith to others they become our Spiritual LEGACY!

The American President. Legacy (1995) US Heritage

Imagine. . . • Imagine for a minute the Spiritual Legacy God may use you to build. You can’t do it by yourself. With God’s help you can’t fail.

The Apostle Paul says it like this in An Offer is Made I Corinthians 11: 23 -24 • The President, Andrew Shepherd played by For I received from the Lord what I Michael Douglas is immensely popular also you, that the Lord withdelivered an approval to rating of 63%. • Instead attacking ignoringhe Miss Wade, Jesus onofthe nightorwhen was the President asks her out on a date? He is betrayed took bread, and when he lonely. Since his wife died three years ago had thanks, he broke it, and he given has remained single. said, is Imy is for • Now"This the scene wantbody you to which think about is when they are dancing. you. Do this in remembrance of me. "

Romeo & Juliet were Stupid! • Suicide is garbage. It is a terrible permanent solution to a temporary problem that we face without God. Facing Problems without God is stupid! Thus Romeo & Juliet were stupid. • Fear-Based behaviors are always wrong. • Burger King Shooting - one threatened another and in fear the other who carried a gun and used it.

• Anger is a masking emotion - it hides fear. Next time you get angry ask yourself, “Of what am I afraid? ” • Whenever we let fear drive where we go is no place to be. • How many babies have been unintentionally conceived by either their mother or their father or both acting out driven by the fear that no one loved them. • God loves you big time and you don’t need to fear. You are safe with God regardless of what happens.

When You Worry. . . • Worry is fantasizing about your fears. • Fear, worry, anger and doubt are the quadruplets that will beat you up every time you let them. • A guy broke his arm in 5 places. Lesson: Stay out of them places. • And you control what you think about, think about it.

Negative Emotions • Fear, worry, anger and doubt are just some of the negative emotions. They have many cousins and all of them come from one source and that source isn’t JESUS, is it? • I John 4: 18 -- “Perfect Love Casts Out Fear” & we are perfectly loved. • Tell the story of walking the parking lot with Theresa.

Closing Yourself Off • Ignorance of God’s love, being closed off to God, or saying, “No, ” to the Lord result in trauma, tension, pain, loneliness, acting out, hurt, guilt, loss of self-control and thereby loss of self-esteem. • But do you know what’s better than self esteem? God-esteem! Because God loves you -- you matter, you’re important, you are very valuable.

God loves You • One morning about 18 years ago I was back on a visit…coffee with Mother, Uncle Bill’s Cake…and suddenly she said, “Now Tommy, Tommy was planned” • Whether your parents planned you or not, you were no accident. God designed you. God planned you and God loves you.

CONNECTIONS • If you are not, you need to get connected to God • Stay connected to God. • Daily Quiet Time is a key way of staying connected.

Quiet Time Guide • • Pray to hear God’s voice as you study Read 3 Chapters a Day 2 Old Testament 1 New testament Be Quiet and Listen Write What You Hear and Think Pray

Why We Exist! • Add the 2 Great Commandments Matthew 22: 37 -40 and the Great Commission Matthew 28: 19 -20 and it gives us 5 Reasons to Exist.

We Exist to • Love God • Let God Love Us • Love Ourselves • Love All Others • Lead Others to Jesus

Accountability is a matter of asking the RIGHT QUESTIONS

The Right Questions • Have you been a positive testimony to the greatness of Jesus Christ with both your words and your other actions this week? • Have you been exposed to sexually alluring material or allowed your mind to entertain inappropriate sexual thoughts about another this week? • Have you lacked integrity in your dealings or coveted something that does not belong to you this week? • Have you been honoring, understanding, and generous in your important relationships this week? • Have you damaged others by your words, either to their faces or behind their backs this week? • Have you given in to an addictive behavior this week? Explain.

More Right Questions • Have you continued to remain angry toward another? • Have you secretly wished for another’s misfortune? • (Personalized Accountability Question) • Did you finish your Bible reading and hear from God? What action will you take as a result? • Have you been completely honest with me just now?

Saying YES to Jesus • • • Yes -- Jesus is my SAVIOR! Yes -- Jesus in my LORD! Yes -- I belong to Jesus! Yes -- I will seek to honor Him 24 x 7 x 365 x as long as I’m alive! Fly with Christ!