Rise to the Occasion

Matthew 8:5-13

Context: Jesus has gone to the wilderness and has been tempted by Satan. He's started his first series of sermons and preaching with authority.

Preaching a message that's radically different than what they've heard - noticing there's something different about Jesus.

He is challenging their norms and philosophies.

Beginning to move into demonstrations.

Matthew 8:5-7

"Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him asking for help.

And Jesus said to him, "Shall I come and heal him?"

He was willing to do what others would not do in order to meet a need.

Repurposing things out of their original intention.

What can you do with what you have left? How can you be repurposed?

God doesn't change His purpose just because you had an experience.

Purpose comes before creation.

Genesis 1:11 - Stating the purpose before His creation

"Let the earth bring forth grass.."

What has happened cannot stop what God has spoken over me.

Don't get trapped in your experiences.

You have to have enough capacity to receive what God has spoken over you.

He created the purpose our job is to tap into that Word.

I'm trying to live out the Word that brought me into existence.

How do I tap into who God called me to be?

The Holy Spirit is on assignment to help you live out the Word that brought you into existence.

• Knows how to get you to what God spoke over you.

• You're going to need His spirit to tap into it.

About to step into the unknown.

I Corinthians 2:9

No eye has never seen, no ear has heard and no human mind has conceived..

I Corinthians 2:10

But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.

You don't have to stay in the dark or live in mystery.

Sometimes we're just waiting for the world to catch up to see what we've already seen and heard in heaven.

Spirit tells you first and the rest of the world catches up later.

Hasn't entered into the heart of man but it's entered the heart of me.

God wants to give you strategy, insight, prophecy and provision.

• Revealing who you need to be in this season.

Listen to God closely in this season.

You've been praying but, have you been listening?

Allow Him to reveal the strategy in this season.

• Ask God to open your eyes and ears so the Spirit can reveal the strategy for your identity in this season.

I Corinthians 2:11

"For who knows a person's thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God."

If you want to be made in the image of God, you have to pursue the Spirit of God.

The spirit of God transforms you into the image of God.

Find a way to live out the Word God spoke over you - need His spirit to do it.

The enemy comes after the Word spoken over you because he understands the power that's in the Word.

Genesis 1:26-28

Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness so that they may rule... God created man and female in his own image. Be fruitful and multiply.

States the purpose then brings it into existence.

Questioning is how the enemy steals your Word.

It starts with a question.

When God speaks a Word over you, it has everything in it to help you.

There's protection, provision and courage in that Word.

Everything that God needs you to do is connected to the Word that is spoken over you.

There's a boldness, power and authority that comes with the Word.

Isaiah 55:11

"My word shall not return unto me void."

This time, step into it and become it.

God's about to speak again.

This time when He speaks, He needs you to move.

He's not done speaking.

If you're still here, there's still a Word for you to step into.

The purpose of your life cannot be stopped by the pain of your life.

Your purpose has been set in stone.

When we don't hang onto our Word, we end up under the authority of it.

• Sometimes fear has authority over me.

• Sometimes it keeps me from moving into the things of God.

That's what happens when I lose my Word.

My job is to hide His Word in my heart.

2 Timothy 1:7

"For God has not given us the spirit of fear but of power, love and a sound mind"

The enemy knows if he can get it, you won't have power.

Recognize warfare and rebuke the devil.

You have authority over the enemy - speak the Word of God.

Learn to prophesize over this season and know where your help comes from.

It's now or never.

When are you going to rise to the occasion?

Darkness is on the loose but God said Greater is He that is in me.

Need people willing to pay the cost to walk with power and authority

Do whatever it takes to break that chain - it's messing with your authority.

We have work to do and a generation to save.

Your worship and praise builds a wall of protection around the Word.

Your Word only exists in certain atmospheres. Protect it.

Jesus is so good.

He was willing to break all cultural rules to go to this centurion's house. He was willing to rise to the occasion.

Rising to the occasion meant coming down to the level of the need.

We serve a God who will get on your level.

He'll come to where you are.

Matthew 8:8

The centurion replied, "Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word and my servant will be healed."

The centurion man only asked for Him to speak a Word.

His faith has risen to the level of who Jesus is.

Some of us have gotten too comfortable letting Jesus come to where we are meeting us in our safe place.

Ask God, how can i stretch my faith to meet you where you are?

How can I believe in such a way that I rise to the occasion of what you're doing now?

God is on the brink of doing something new in the earth.

In this text, Jesus and his ministry is going to be something they have never seen before and very few people will be able to catch this move.

There is a fresh move happening in the spirit. This fresh move of God will be carried by those willing to rise to the occasion.

The centurion man demonstrates faith and the authority of God's Word.

We're getting ready to step into what God foreknew would be a season amongst the church.

Your effectiveness is directly corelated to the faith that you have in what He said.

It's about who you become in the process of it.

Say goodbye to old patterns and ways of thinking.

The more you let go, the higher you float.

Soar to the next height.

Your rise is directly connected to the weights that you drop.

You have been called to move.

Matthew 8:13

"Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you." And his servant was healed that same hour.

It is possible to reach a stage of belief where Jesus can trust you to live out His word because you have believed.

God can trust you now.

Trust the transformation taking place on the inside of you.

The purpose ahead of you is clear and the path has been made straight.

God's will is intended to stretch you outside of your comfort zone. 🤍