Do Not Hold Back!

February 4, 2007
Isaiah 54:1-5
Dr. Roger Ferguson, Sr. Pastor

THEME: These are exciting days around us. God is calling FBCO to an adventure of trusting Him and seeing His promises and glory. As we value the vision, lives will be changed and people will know how great is our God.

I. We cannot hold back because Jesus sends us to love people and share the good news.
(Isaiah 54:1-3)

1. People without Christ are lost and God works through His church to reach and love people.

"and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it."
Matthew 16:18

II. A faith-filled people follow a faithful God.
(Isaiah 54:4)

1. "Value the Vision" is eliminating the mortgage so we can devote resources to ministry.

"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me."
John 17:20-21

III. Value the Vision will prove how awesome God is.
(Isaiah 54:5)

1. God knows the need and can meet it.

2. If I seek God He will show me what part of the need He wants to meet through me.

3. What God lays on my heart will require me to depend on Him.

4. When I give as God leads, I get the joy and He gets the glory.

"These have come so that your faith-of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire-may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls."
I Peter 1:7-9

Make it practical:
1. Use your prayer guide and pray daily for "Value the Vision".
2. Have you asked Christ to forgive your sin and be the Leader of your
life?
3. Thank God that He will use us to love and reach people for Christ.