13th March Sermon Discussion - "Quick Feet"

Bible Scripture: 1 Chronicles 12:8

Ice-breaker: Cat & Mouse

Sit around in a circle of at least 8 people; prepare 2 objects (e.g. water bottle or bible). One object will represent a ‘Cat’, and the other a ‘Mouse’. Moving in a clockwise direction, the ‘Cat’ will be passed from person to person by having the object go 1 round around the waist of the person, before passing on to the next person. The ‘Mouse’ will be passed in a similar fashion except that it needs to go 2 rounds around the waist of the person. The objective of this game is for the ‘Cat’ to catch the ‘Mouse’. Start the game with the ‘Cat’ and ‘Mouse’ at opposite sides of the circle and you will see the ‘Cat’ catching the ‘Mouse’ soon!

Introduction:

In the ice-breaker, why was the ‘Cat’ always able to catch the ‘Mouse’? The answer is simple; it moves from person to person faster. In short, it has quicker feet!

God has destined great things for our lives and our church, represented by the ‘Mouse’. For us to claim them, we need to be just like the ‘Cat’, we need to have quicker feet. Just like in the ice-breaker, when we chase God’s purposes for our lives wholeheartedly, we will always be able to catch them. That is God’s divine will!

1 Chronicles 12:8 (NASB) “From the Gadites there came over to David in the stronghold in the wilderness, mighty men of valor, men trained for war, who could handle shield and spear, and whose faces were like the faces of lions, and they were as swift as the gazelles on the mountains.” Just like David’s mighty men had quick feet, God calls us to be well-trained and have quick feet too.

How To Have Quick Feet:

1. We Must Have The Right Spirit

Jeremiah 17:9 tells us that our hearts can deceive us. What this means is that we can easily harden our hearts and not even realize it! The only way we can always be in the right spirit is to always be in the presence of God, Philippians 4:8-9 shows us how – our daily devotion of reading God’s word will bring His presence into our lives!

Philippians 4:8-9 (NIV) “8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”

One sign of a hardened heart/wrong spirit is the unwillingness to learn or grow anymore. Check our hearts: are you someone who would choose to do things the easy way, laze around, find some excuse to do less for God or are you someone who pays attention to the things of God and pay the price to obey Him?

Will you make a choice today to put God in the highest place in your life? You can do so by stepping out of your comfort zone and joining in the 24/7 prayer at TC Chapel this week or joining in the G12 conference looking forward to hearing God speak to you.

2. We Must Guard Our Hearts

Proverbs 4:23 (MSG) “Keep vigilant watch over your heart; that's where life starts.” When need to guard our hearts because issues of life flows from our hearts. If we do not guard our hearts, we get wounded easily. ‘Injuries’ in our hearts such as resentment, un-forgiveness, pain, anger or bitterness, weighs us down and can create insecurities. King Saul became envious of David’s success in battle instead of being proud of his fellow man’s victory, 1 Samuel 21:11.

Paul and Silas showed us an example of guarding their hearts in the midst of imprisonment in Acts 16:22-26. They experienced spiritual attack in their relationship with God when they were caught, emotional hurt when they were put to shame when their robes were torn off and physical pain of being beaten. Yet at about 12 midnight, they were praying and singing hymns to God. Evidently, they guarded their hearts and did not allow circumstances to cause them to focus on their hurt. Like Paul, we can stay focused on God and His calling to win the unsaved instead of the hurt and pain suffered. Don’t live with the victim mentality but rather, have a secure, victorious mentality!

What are some negative emotions that affect you usually? Envy, anger, resentment, worries? Identify and learn to be on your guard against these emotions.

3. We Must Renew Our Minds

Our minds can receive the truths and revelations of God because we have the mind of Christ, 1 Cor 2:16 (NIV) "For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ.” God also pours new wine (His revelations) into new wineskins (our renewed minds), Luke 5:37.

To have Quick Feet for God, we need to let God transform us by the constant renewing of our mind, Romans 12:2 (NIV) “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

One way to be transformed by the renewing of our mind is to have the positive attitude of wanting to learn and staying teachable. Your feet will become quicker when you want to learn. God will pour into you His fresh anointing and revelation. Let us make an effort to learn new things every day, so that we are trained to run faster for God.

What are some new truths / revelations God has shown you recently?

4. We Must Have Vision

God always completes what He has begun, Psalms 138:8 & Philippians 1:6 (NIV) “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” God’s plans for your life will be completed if you know the vision and choose to follow after it.

Bartimaeus was blind and begging before he received sight from Jesus, Mark 10:46, 51-52. When God gives you vision, you will have passion because you have a reason to live.

To find out more about God’s vision for your life, come to the G12 conference ready to receive God’s Word. Don’t think of yourself as being too young and cannot relate to God’s plans for your life. Prepare your heart and ask God speak to you! The G12 vision has transformed so many lives all around the world, it can change yours too!

If you have not already done so in response to the sermon from last Sat / Sun, would you decide right now to have Quick Feet?