Tree of Life Church - New Braunfels

The Gift Within The Gift Numbers 13:1-3 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Send men to spy out the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the children of Israel; from each tribe of their fathers you shall send a man, every one a leader among them.” 3 So Moses sent them from the Wilderness of Paran according to the command of the Lord, all of them men who were heads of the children of Israel. Think on this: Something inside you gravitates toward growth. - You have the instinct for improvement. - You were created for expansion. - Simply put, you were born to eat grapes. Remember: The person of Jesus creates your peace; the principles of Jesus creates your prosperity. 6 Gates to Help Us Obtain the Grapes: 1. The Gate of Obedience. Deuteronomy 28:1 “…if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God…” Remember: Obedience simply means doing what you learned to do. It means living up to the knowledge you have received. Think on this: Whatever God tells you to do, do it. Only a fool negotiates with a gift-giver. 2. The Gate of Knowledge. Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; Because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children. Remember: What you currently don’t know, concerning God’s Word, is keeping you defeated. - Information is God’s business. - All of heaven is involved in distributing information. - The Bible is literally the “Winner’s Digest,” informing us about God, His Power, Nature and His thoughts. A key to the gate of knowledge: You have to believe you have a right to the grapes. Romans 8:16-17 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. Remember: You cannot take hold of the grace and blessings of God unless you have knowledge of what He has provided for you. You have to open the gate of knowledge so you know what belongs to you. 3. The Gate of Visualization. Romans 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Remember: Your mind is a powerful force. Your mind is a force that affects everything else in your life. - If you do not see the grapes in your mind, you will not see them in your future. 4. The Gate of Forgiveness. Isaiah 43:18 “… remember not the former things.” Forgiveness defined: The transferal of the right to judge and penalize. It means you give up your position on God’s vengeance team. Remember: Forgiveness is not the removal of information – it is the removal of the pain of it. 5. The Gate of Persistence. Galatians 6:9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Persistence defined: Simply make up your mind, regardless of how far away the grapes appear, to push on for the blessing. Remember: Every man or woman who has ever achieved anything had to persist. MAKE UP YOU MIND – then go after it! 6. The Gate of Sowing. Ephesians 6:8 …knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free. Remember: If you want to taste grapes, you have to distribute grapes. - Bless others to receive God’s blessing. - Make happen for others what you want God to make happen for you. - Blessings follow the blesser.