Pastor Kirk McCormick

Friday, August 20, 2021

Lessons from the Wilderness - Week 1

“Lessons about Following God”

Exodus 13

Lesson #1 – God makes his way clear so we can follow.

Exodus 13:21 – “By day the LORD went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night.”
Point: With God in the lead, our way is secure.

Lesson #2 – God makes our way memorable when we are following him.

Exodus 13:8 – “On that day tell your son, ‘I do this because of what the LORD did for me when I came out of Egypt.’”
Psalm 50:23 – “Those who bring thanksgiving as their sacrifice honor me; to those who go the right way I will show the salvation of God.”
Point: Remembering God’s faithfulness keeps us focused on the real purpose for our journey...to honor God as we travel to the Promised Land.

Lesson #3 – God will have his way.

Exodus 13:15 – “When Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the LORD killed every firstborn in Egypt, both man and animal.”
Job 23:13 – “But he stands alone and who can dissuade him? What he desires, that he does.”
Point: As we follow, we have confidence that God’s plans for us cannot be delayed or denied.

Lesson #4 – The quicker we follow, the quicker we enjoy God’s reward.

Exodus 13:5 – “When the LORD brings you into the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Hivites and Jebusites – the land he swore to your forefathers to give you, a land flowing with milk and honey – you are to observe this ceremony in this month.”
Isaiah 35:8 – “A highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Holy Way; the unclean shall not travel on it, but it shall be for God's people; no traveler, not even fools, shall go astray.”
Point: God wants us to enjoy the oasis in the midst of the desert as well as at the end of our journey.

Lesson #5 – God does not always give us the easiest path to follow.

Alexander Chase – “People, like sheep, tend to follow a leader- occasionally in the right direction.” (Perspectives, 1966)
NOTE: The right direction is not always the easiest direction... but it is always the right direction.
Exodus 13:18 – “So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea. The Israelites went up out of Egypt armed for battle. ”
Point: Do not regret the wilderness... learn IN it.

“Jesus confronted people directly about the choice to become a follower. He came with the gracious announcement that it is now possible to live in the presence and under the reign of God – that was his Good News.”

- Pastor John Ortberg

(The Life You’ve Always Wanted)

Kirk McCormick · Lessons about Following God

Friday, June 4, 2021

The HHOPE of Restoration - Genesis 43:15-45:15

The HHOPE of Restoration

Genesis 43:15-45:15

** Relationships are Worth Restoring

“I’ll put it as urgently as I can: You must get along with each other.” - 1 Corinthians 1:10 (MSG)
Jesus said, “God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God.” - Matthew
5:9 (NLT)
“You are only hurting yourself with your anger.” - Job 18:4 (TEV)

“God has called us to settle our relationships with each other.” - 2 Corinthians 5:18 (MSG)

General Prerequisites for Restoration

Prerequisite 1 – Repentance by the offender.

“Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away.”(Acts 3:19 - NLT)
Jesus said, “No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”(Luke 13:3)

Prerequisite 2 – Own your part of the conflict.

Jesus said, “First get rid of the log from your own eye; then perhaps you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.” (Matthew 7:5 – NLT)
“If we claim that we’re free of sin, we’re only fooling ourselves.” (1 John 1:8 – MSG)

Prerequisite 3 – Be Prepared to “G.I.V.E.”

“G” = Gentle “I” = Interested “V” = Validate “E” = Easy Manner

“A gentle response defuses anger, but a sharp tongue kindles a temper fire.”
(Proverbs 15:1 – MSG)
“A wise, mature person is known for his understanding. The more pleasant his words, the more persuasive he is.”(Proverbs 16:21 – TEV)
Point: Attack the problem, not the person.

Keys to the “HHOPE” of Restoration

Key 1 – Honesty and Humility...the non-negotiables.

C.S. Lewis – “A moderately bad man knows he is not very good; a thoroughly bad man thinks he is all right.” (Mere Christianity)
Genesis 44:33-34 – Judah said, “Now therefore, please let your servant remain instead of the boy as a servant to my lord, and let the boy go back with his brothers. For how can I go back to my father if the boy is not with me? I fear to see the evil that would find my father.”
Ephesians 4:15 – “Speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ.”
Point: No lasting, healthy relationship is founded on deceit and lies.

Key 2 – Observe...the patterns and practices of those who offend.

Will Rogers – “People’s minds are changed through observations and not through argument.”
Genesis 45:5 – “And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life.”
Point: Observation takes time.

Key 3 – Perspective...seeing the situation as God sees it.

Wally Carter – “When Goliath came against the Israelites, the soldiers all thought, ‘He’s so big we can never kill him.’ But David looked at the same giant and thought, ‘He’s so big, I can’t miss.’”
Genesis 45:7- “God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. So it was not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt.”
Point: Heaven looks different than earth.

Key 4 – Encourage...engaging the outcome of God’s choice.

Billy Sunday – “Try encouraging your wife even if it frightens her at first.”
Genesis 45:13-15 – “‘You must tell my father of all my honor in Egypt, and of all that you have seen. Hurry and bring my father down here.’ Then he fell upon his brother Benjamin’s neck and wept, and Benjamin wept upon his neck. And he kissed all his brothers and wept upon them. After that his brothers talked with him.”
Point: Be bold to practice the ways of God.

Monday, May 24, 2021

The Habits of Surprise - Genesis 42:29-15

(Listen to message below)

The Habits of Surprise

Genesis 42:29-43:15

5 Common Human Reactions to Surprises

Reaction 1 – We see the negative rather than the opportunity.

Genesis 42:35-36 – “As they were emptying their sacks, there in each man’s sack was his pouch of silver! When they and their father saw the money pouches, they were frightened. Their father Jacob said to them, ‘You have deprived me of my children. Joseph is no more and Simeon is no more, and now you want to take Benjamin. Everything is against me!’”

Point: Beware of Thought Traps.

Reaction 2 – Expecting the worst.

Genesis 42:38 - “My son will not go down there with you; his brother is dead and he is the only one left. If harm comes to him on the journey you are taking, you will bring my gray head down to the grave in sorrow.”

Point: With God on your side why do you expect the worst?

Reaction 3 – We throw ourselves a Pity Party.

Genesis 43:6 – “Israel asked, ‘Why did you bring this trouble on me by telling the man you had another brother?’”

Point: Surprises often happen to draw attention to God, not us.

Reaction 4 – We negotiate for comfort.

“If it must be, then do this: Put some of the best products of the land in your bags and take them down to the man as a gift – a little balm and a little honey, some spices and myrrh, some pistachio nuts and almonds. 12 Take double the amount of silver with you, for you must return the silver that was put back into the mouths of your sacks. Perhaps it was a mistake. 13 Take your brother also and go back to the man at once.” – Genesis 43:11-13

Point: Sometimes the answer comes from Above and not from within.

Reaction 5 – We give up.

Genesis 43:14 – “And may God Almighty grant you mercy before the man so that he will let your other brother and Benjamin come back with you. As for me, if I am bereaved, I am bereaved.”

Point: It’s easy to give up on the situation when we have given up on God.

Responding to the Surprises of Life

Response 1 – Recognize your predisposition.

Romans 12:3 – “For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.”

Point: Change begins with honesty. Recognize, realize, admit your predisposition.

Response 2 – Go immediately “Vertical” and not “Horizontal”.

Matthew 6:33 – “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

...but do you know the verse right after?

Matthew 6:34 – “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

...or how about the verses before?

Matthew 6:27 – “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?”
Matthew 6:31-32 – “Do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.”
Point: I have never seen a habit just lie down, surrender, and die; we have to make a conscious effort to commit them to God if we want lasting change.

Response 3 – Do not Retreat...just wait.

Isaiah 40:31 – “...but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”
Point: Remember...God’s timing is not always my timing.

Faith Fellowship Boca · Faith Fellowship - 5.18.21

When Evil Enters the Room - Genesis 42:1-28

When Evil Enters the Room

Genesis 42:1-28

When You’re the Perpetrator

Step 1 - Confess the evil.

Susan Wise Bauer – “An apology is an expression of regret: I am sorry. A confession is an admission of fault: I am sorry because I did wrong. I sinned.”
Genesis 42:21a - They said to one another, “Surely we are being punished because of our brother.”

** They knew they had done wrong and had, for 20 years, carried the guilt and shame of their actions...almost EXPECTING to be punished by God for their evil.
Point: Confession is a gift from God as it is often the beginning of healing.
James 5:16 – “Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.”
1 John 1:9 – “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

Step 2 – Take Responsibility.

Point: Taking responsibility is healthy. Without it relationships become polluted and begin to stink. With it, the air is clear.
Galatians 6:5, 7 – “We are each responsible for our own conduct. 7 Don’t be misled – you cannot mock God. You will always reap what you sow.”
Genesis 42:21b – “We saw how distressed he was when he pleaded with us for his life, but we would not listen; that’s why this distress has come upon us.”

Step 3 – Do not pass the buck.

Genesis 42:22 – Reuben replied, “Didn’t I tell you not to sin against the boy? But you wouldn’t listen! Now we must give an accounting for his blood.”
Genesis 42:28b – “Their hearts sank and they turned to each other trembling and said, “What is this that God has done to us?”
Point: The passing of time does not ease the pain of a guilt or shame. Honesty does!

Application: How to Respond to Evil

Response 1 – Do not keep a hit list.

Romans 12:17 – “Do not repay anyone evil for evil.” What’s the Alternative?
Alternative 1 – Stay alert.
Philippians 3:2 – “Watch out for those dogs, those men who do evil, those mutilators of the flesh.”
Alternative 2 – Draw on spiritual wisdom through prayer.
2 Thessalonians 3:2 – “Pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men, for not everyone has faith.”
Alternative 3 – Love Jesus more.

Truth: Your energies will go somewhere.
Jesus said (John 3:20) – “Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.”
1 Corinthians 13:6 – “Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.”

Response 2 – Wait attentively for your “God moment.”

Point: Waiting attentively; not just knowing the promises of God makes the difference.

Genesis 41:8 – “Although Joseph recognized his brothers, they did not recognize him. 9 Then he remembered his dreams about them...”
Lamentations 3:25-26 – “The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. 26 It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.”

Response 3 – Remain centered in God’s promises.

Isaiah 55:10-11 – “As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”
James 1:12 – “Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.”
Hebrews 10:36 – “Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.” (NLT)
Point: Evil does not last...God’s promises are eternal.