So What Are You Going To Do About It?

Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin…”

-Zechariah 4:10 (NKJV)

Most people struggle with getting started because the starting point can begin slowly and seem small. But Zachariah 4:10 implies that God greatly enjoys watching us get started and watching the process develop. We should not despise our small beginnings.

Pastor Eric recently read this truth, and shared it in this message, "So What Are You Going To Do About It?" When it comes to making a positive difference in the world, change occurs when someone, somewhere takes responsibility for changing himself or herself and takes action to help others change too. Without the actions of some person, somewhere change does not happen.

This is a powerful truth, because we all can identify problems in our lives. Maybe you’ve noticed a problem in your community, your family, or your church. Oftentimes after identifying the problem we have the thought "Someone should do something about this!" But I wonder if you've ever asked God what He would like you to do about it?

So what are you going to do about it?

“You will never be who you ought to be until you start doing what you ought to be doing.” -Pastor Eric Gilbert

Good intentions aren’t enough. Potential isn’t enough. We need to be people that do something and take action because God loves doers. You might remember this from last week's message, Hope Helpers, if we want to make a difference we have to begin doing things that make a difference.

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. -James 1:22 (NKJV)

As Christians, we have divine help in making something happen! Why? Because of 1 John 4:4, Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world. The force that is within us is greater than the force that is against us! We should not be discouraged by the enemy. He’s just a bully! We have the power to create change and influence change! We have the empowerment and the enabling of the Holy Spirit within us to begin to change our sphere of influence!

Pastor Eric encouraged us to start applying these 3 Starting Points to our lives TODAY to create change not only in our own lives but the lives of others:

• Start Sharing Your Faith

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. -Acts 1:8 (KJV)

• Start Being Generous

A man’s gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men. -Proverb 18:16 (NKJV)

• Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can. Trust God to do what you can’t, because God is able.

“When you feel a sense of conviction about an issue, start moving in the direction you believe it should go even when you are uncertain.” -John Maxwell

God does not subscribe to the ideology that we’ve paid our dues, and there is no final destination in this life. God wants to take us from glory to glory! Don’t get stuck on the question “What can I do about it?” Just start moving in the right direction. You can take what you’ve learned and the experiences you’ve gained and impact change!

That is what the Scriptures mean when God told him, “I have made you the father of many nations.” This happened because Abraham believed in the God who brings the dead back to life and who creates new things out of nothing. Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping- believing that he would become the father of many nations. For God had said to him, “that’s how many descendants you will have!” And Abraham's faith did not weaken, even though, at about 100 years of age, he figured his body was as good as dead-and so was Sarah's womb. Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this, he brought glory to God. He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises. -Romans 4:17-21 (NLT)

Abraham never lost hope and believed in God’s promise. His faith only grew stronger and he brought glory to God. Isn’t this what we all want our life's testimony to be? That at the end of the day we brought glory to God because we knew that He was able! God is able! He will help us create and influence change.

Pastor Eric had some very encouraging reminders for us if we plan to live lives that bring God glory and avoid discouragement along the way:

• God Enjoys Small Beginnings

Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin…” - Zechariah 4:10 NKJV

• Keep Hoping Like Abraham

• God is Able. Nothing is impossible when God gets involved.

The blessing of Abraham is available to anyone who believes. Check out this message, How to Receive & Respond to the Blessing of Abraham, to learn more about the promises of Abraham! Change may start slow and small, but if we keep hoping, God is able, and we will walk in a level of blessing greater than we can imagine or comprehend! Find hope in the fact that you are a child of the Most High God and you are blessed coming and going!

Many people will seek change, but never realize that they are empowered to be the change. Greater is He that is in you than He that is in the world.

You have the power and God is able.

So what are you going to do about it?

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How We Can Discover What is at the Center of Our Life

Behold, children are a gift of the LORD. The fruit of the womb is a reward. (Psalm 127:3 NASB)

Children are a gift! Parenting is a true gift from God, and He gives us children to enjoy. But it is possible to fall into the trap of enduring a child’s behavior issues rather than genuinely enjoying the child as a gift from Heaven.

It brings us to a fundamental question: How do you raise children you enjoy?

We must start with the heart. The Bible tells us that everything flows from the heart. Think of it this way: Your child's heart is upstream, and anything flowing out of them is downstream, such as characteristics and behaviors.

As Christian parents, it is essential to deposit the correct teachings into our children's hearts so they learn and develop self-control. I have come to believe that one of the most crucial elements of parenting is to embrace this truth:

The purpose of parenting is not to control the child but to teach the child self-control.

This principle becomes increasingly important in present times because whether we choose to realize it or not, every time our child scrolls through social media or launches a playlist on YouTube or Apple Music, the world teaches them lifestyle philosophies. And, unfortunately, most of those philosophies are centered in darkness. It seems we are raising our children in a spiritual Babylon, similar to the culture in the Book of Daniel. As a result, when it comes to any unholy ideology that culture may be using to take our kids captive, our sons and daughters must be raised in such a way that they can respond with uncompromising attitudes like Daniel, Shadrach, Meschach, and Abendago.

What are you teaching and developing in your child? Because the most important disciple you will ever make is your child. And… Making a disciple comes down to helping people get centered.

We as parents must be the ones to sow seeds of godliness into our children and center them in Christ so that anything transpiring around them externally will not affect what is inside of them. Because if our children are centered correctly, that which flows from their hearts will be of God, and they will have the power within them to defeat any attack the enemy forms against them!

What is your family's center? What is your child’s center? How do we evaluate our priorities to make sure we are centered correctly?

These are essential questions to answer as parents. I invite you to watch this crucial message, How to Lead Your Family Well, as I walk through the significance of centering our families in the things that matter most.

It's our responsibility to plant the correct seeds within our children's hearts and keep them centered. We are blessed with the opportunity to make our children into disciples!

“But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” (Joshua 24:15 NKJV)

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Two Things Are Going to Happen

But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. (2 Timothy 3:14-17 KJV)

Have you ever walked into a completely unfurnished house? Do you remember sensing an empty feeling or like the house was lacking the most essential things, the things that made it a comfortable and perfect home? It can be a long process to take an empty house and turn it into a thoroughly furnished and functional home.

God desires every man and woman of God to go through a process of becoming perfect. We are to become who God truly created us to be.

That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. (2 Timothy 3:17 KJV)

God has planned good works for you to complete! He has a plan for you! There is hope and a future for you! God desires to use you to impact other people and be a blessing! And He will furnish you for every good work He has asked you to complete. He will place everything you need inside of you so that you can facilitate and complete EVERYTHING He has planned for you to do, every good work.

Why is this important? Why must we comprehend that we are thoroughly furnished and equipped to complete all good works?

Yea and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. (2 Timothy 3:12-13 KJV)

Because 2 Timothy 3:12-13 is just as relevant today as when Paul conveyed it to his spiritual son Timothy. We can be guaranteed two things, those who live godly will be persecuted, and evil people will become worse and worse.

But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. (2 Timothy 3:1-7 NKJV)

The above Scriptures come incredibly close to describing the current culture we live in today. No one wants to be persecuted, and no one wants to witness others becoming worse and worse, but these things will happen. So what can you do?

I invite you to watch this message, Two Things Are Going to Happen, and be encouraged to live a powerful life devoted to God and His Word. It is through the Word of God that you become thoroughly furnished, and only then can you begin to help future generations become thoroughly furnished and equipped to walk in the lives God has planned for them!

All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. (2 Timothy 3:16-17 KJV)

WATCH IT | DISCUSSION GUIDE | NOTES MESSAGE

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