Your Time to Shine: Performing Awe-Inspiring Deeds (Psalm 45)
This sermon encourages listeners to see themselves as God sees them, full of potential for extraordinary accomplishments. It explores how believing in this divine identity empowers individuals to overcome challenges and fulfill their unique purpose.
This sermon encourages listeners to recognize their inherent greatness and divine anointing, stepping out in faith to accomplish awe-inspiring deeds and mighty exploits, even when facing immense challenges.
Overview
The sermon opens by asserting that God created everyone to leave their mark, not to live an ordinary life. It challenges the common tendency to view oneself as average or limited, instead emphasizing the truth from Psalm 45 that believers are "glorious" and "mighty warriors" destined for "awe-inspiring deeds."
Listeners are encouraged to understand their identity: created in God's image, possessing His DNA, powerful, favored, and blessed. This divine nature enables them to overcome obstacles, defeat giants, and achieve dreams that seem impossible in the natural. It stresses that mighty exploits require God's anointing, as they are beyond human ability alone.
The sermon illustrates this through biblical figures like David, Nehemiah, and Esther, as well as a contemporary example of building a hospital in Congo. These stories highlight how individuals, despite humble beginnings or overwhelming odds, performed extraordinary acts by trusting God and taking bold steps of faith.
Ultimately, the message is a call to "arise and shine," recognizing that God's glory is upon them *now*. By not shrinking back from fear or intimidation, but by embracing their identity as favored and anointed, believers can unlock their destiny and witness God doing "unusual, uncommon" things in their lives.
Key points
- God created you with greatness to leave your mark, not to live an ordinary life.
- Psalm 45 declares believers are "glorious" and "mighty warriors" destined for "awe-inspiring deeds."
- Recognizing your identity in God (His DNA, power, favor) is crucial for overcoming limitations.
- Mighty exploits are often bigger than what you can accomplish alone, requiring God's anointing and faith.
- Biblical figures like David, Nehemiah, and Esther exemplify performing great deeds despite overwhelming odds.
- God empowers those who "arise" and take steps of faith, changing circumstances and fighting battles.
- Even in "darkness," believers are called to "arise and shine" to demonstrate God's glory.
In Joel Osteen's words
“You have greatness in you.”
“The glory of God is on you right now. But if you're going to see it, you have to arise.”
Outline
- I. You Were Created for Greatness
- A. Don't shrink back; recognize your true identity.
- B. You are glorious and a mighty warrior (Psalm 45).
- C. You have God's DNA and are destined for awe-inspiring deeds.
- II. Activating Your God-Given Potential
- A. Stir up your faith and run toward challenges, not from them.
- B. Mighty exploits require God's anointing, not just human ability.
- C. God will do things that leave you "aruck."
- III. Examples of Awe-Inspiring Deeds
- A. David defeating Goliath, despite being just a boy.
- B. Joel's experience acquiring the Compaq Center for the church.
- C. Nehemiah rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem against all odds.
- D. Esther risking her life to save her people.
- E. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego surviving the fiery furnace.
- F. Dimbe Matumbo building a hospital in the Congo.
- IV. Arise and Shine (Isaiah 60:1-2)
- A. The glory of God is on you *right now*.
- B. Take risks and step out of your comfort zone.
- C. God will cause you to shine brighter in challenging times.
- V. Conclusion: Get Ready for Mighty Exploits
Scripture references
1 My heart is inditing a good matter: I speak of the things which I have made touching the king: my tongue is the pen of a ready writer.
2 Thou art fairer than the children of men: grace is poured into thy lips: therefore God hath blessed thee for ever.
1 Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.
2 For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.
Insights
Your ordinary self often hides the greatness God placed within you.
God's anointing empowers you to accomplish things beyond your natural ability.
Facing a giant can be a setup for a mighty exploit.
Questions & answers
What is the main message of this sermon?
The sermon's main message is that every person is created with inherent greatness and divine anointing, called to perform 'awe-inspiring deeds' by stepping out in faith and refusing to be limited by ordinary thinking or circumstances.
What does the sermon mean by 'awe-inspiring deeds'?
Awe-inspiring deeds are extraordinary accomplishments that seem impossible in the natural, such as defeating overwhelming challenges or fulfilling big dreams, where God's power is evident in the outcome.
How does Psalm 45 relate to the sermon's message?
Psalm 45 is referenced to emphasize that God sees individuals as 'glorious' and 'mighty warriors' whom He has blessed and anointed, thus challenging the listener's self-perception of being ordinary.
What role does faith play in performing 'mighty exploits'?
Faith is essential for 'mighty exploits' because these accomplishments are often beyond one's natural ability. It involves believing God's promises, praying bold prayers, and daring to take steps into the unknown, allowing God to intervene.
What practical application does the sermon offer?
The sermon encourages listeners to 'arise and shine,' stir up their faith, pray bold prayers, and take steps toward their God-given dreams, tuning out doubt and external negativity, and embracing their identity as favored and powerful.
How does the sermon use the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego?
The story illustrates that even when thrown into the 'fire' for honoring God, He can make you 'fireproof,' bringing you through challenges without harm, serving as an example of His goodness to others.
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