Union Chapel Ministries

1. God will make a way. Ezra 1:1-4 | The Story, Pg. 263 2. Things need to be different. Ezra 3:3 | The Story, Pg. 264 3. Stay alert to the enemy’s schemes. Ezra 4:3 | The Story, Pg. 265 “If we put first things first, we get the second things thrown in; but if we put second things first, we lose both the first and second things.” C.S. Lewis Happiness is like a butterfly; the more you chase it, the more it will elude you. But if you turn your attention to other things, it will come and sit softly. C.S. Lewis 4. Remain open to correction. Haggai 1:3-11 | The Story, Pgs. 266-267 If you want to be a winner in life, you have to find a way to humble yourself and take tough news to heart.

I. Outstanding Character Dare to be Daniel / Dare to stand alone / Dare to have purpose firm / Dare to make it known. Philip Bliss II. Overcoming Courage 1. Death to Self-will. 2. Joy Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, “Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?” They replied, “Certainly, Your Majesty.” He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.” Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!” So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them. Daniel 3:24-27 III. Ongoing Commitment to be a positive inf

2 Kings 21:1-9 2 Chronicles 33:10-11 3 Phrases You Might Say if You are Choosing Your Way: 1. I don’t need to pray about this, I can do this. 2. Is this really that bad? Justification is the first step away from God. 3. I know the Bible says_______ BUT…… 2 Chronicles 33:12-13 2 Chronicles 33:21-23 Jeremiah 1:4-5 5 Scriptures to Speak and Pray Over this Generation: Provers 3:7-8, Romans 12:2, Ephesians 6:11-12, Philippians 2:3-4, Acts 1:8 Jeremiah 1:6-8 2 Chronicles 7:13-16 If we want to see healing in our county and world it must first start with brokenness and repentance within the Church.

I. Isaiah saw God. In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke. ​​​​​​Isaiah 6:1-4 II. Isaiah saw himself. “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.” Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.” ​​​​​​Isaiah 6:5-7 III. Isaiah saw the world. Then I h

Who or what we worship is the most important choice we make in life. God invites us to enjoy all his gifts but to worship him only. There was never anyone like Ahab, who sold himself to do evil in the eyes of the LORD, urged on by Jezebel his wife. He behaved in the vilest manner by going after idols, like the Amorites the LORD drove out before Israel. 1 Kings 21:25-26 “As the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word.” 1 Kings 17:1 Elijah went before the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.” But the people said nothing. I Kings 18:21 “Shout louder” he said. “Surely he is a god! Perhaps he is deep in thought, or busy, or traveling. Maybe he is sleeping and must be awakened.” So they shouted louder and slashed themselves with swords and spears, as was their custom, until their blood flowed. Midday passed, and they continued their frant

“Your father Solomon put a heavy yoke, burden on us, now if you lighten our load, lighten the harsh labor and the heavy yoke he put on us, we will follow you forever” 1 Kings 12:4 (Paraphrase) If You Lighten Their Load “It’s Not About You” It’s All About You Train up a child in accordance to their own way and when they are old they will not depart. Proverbs 22:6 Jesus' First Miracle- Water to Wine Do What Ever He Tells You To Do His Yoke Is Easy His Burden Is Light Jesus Will Lighten Your Load Broken crayons still color

Now all has been heard;
 here is the conclusion of the matter: 
Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. Ecclesiastes 12:13 1. The Early Years The king went to Gibeon to offer sacrifices, for that was the most important high place, and Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.” Solomon answered, “You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day. “Now, Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your p

In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, David sent Joab out with the king’s men and the whole Israelite army. They destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained in Jerusalem. 2 Samuel 11:1 After the time of mourning was over, David had her brought to his house, and she became his wife and bore him a son. But the thing David had done displeased the Lord. 2 Samuel 11:27 Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit. When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy on me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. Psalm 32:1-4 The Lord sent Nathan to David. When he came to him, he said, “There were two men in a certain town, one rich and the other poor. The rich man had a very large number of sheep and cattle, but the poor man had nothing except one little ewe lamb he had bought. H

Matthew 28:1-10 I. He Descended a. Temptation He was tempted in every way that we were and yet without sin. Hebrews 4:15 b. Pain c. Rejection d. God-forsakenness He who knew no sin became sin on our behalf. II Corinthians 5:21 e. Cursedness Cursed is he that hangs on a tree. Galatians 3:13 II. He Ascended Therefore he is able to save completely (to the uttermost) those who come to God through him. Hebrews 7:25 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raise imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: Death has been swallowed up in victory. Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting? The sting of death is sin

God will do things in your life that, in the moment, will resonate with you. You will feel it and know it to be God. God has made contact with you BUT it could take years for the fulfillment of the implication of that contact. The lesson: Be patient. Wait on the Lord. Promotion comes from the Lord. 1. Saul Loyalty to the people of God. Loyalty to the God of the people. 2. Goliath The person who simply does what is right, with an innocent heart, will look manipulative, scheming and self-centered to those who are cynical. When somebody hates you unreasonably (jealous, envious, hateful), the better you act the more they will hate you. 3. Michal Women…you will never become a wife unless you stop becoming a daughter. You will never become a queen if you cannot stop being a princess. 4. Jonathan Jonathan is a good and loyal friend who is not confused by divided loyalties or selfish ambition.

1 Samuel 1-3 1 Samuel 1:25-27 The Lord can be trusted with whatever he has entrusted to you. 1 Samuel 2:1-2 We must resist the urge to receive and secure. Instead, we must be a people of receive and release. Our young people need our help in realizing the voice and activity of God in their lives. 1 Samuel 3:1-10,19 How to Position our Lives and Families to Encounter Jesus: People: Relationships that are hungry for Jesus and point you to loving Jesus more. Make a list of these people in your life. Places: Rooms or experiences where the Holy Spirit rests. Make a list of these places in your life. Things: Activities that point us to Jesus and his movement in the Earth. Make a list of these things (activities) in your life.

Setting the Stage: Ruth 1:1-5 Elimelek: Patriarch from Bethlehem Naomi: Wife of Elimelek Mahlon: Son of Elimelek and marries Orpah a Moabite Kilion: Son of Elimelek and marries Ruth a Moabite God’s Provision: Ruth 2:10-16 God’s hand of provision and care never grow tired. There is no limit or restraint to his goodness. He is always working. Family Guardian-Kinsman Redeemer: Ruth 3-4 To be a Kinsman Redeemer: 1. Had to share bloodline. Philippians 2:6-8 2. Must have the resources and power to redeem. Romans 8:1-4 3. Must be willing to take on the full burden of those they redeem. Romans 8:9-17 Jesus is our Kingsman Redeemer. Jesus’ Redemptive Genealogy: Matthew 1 Tamar: Dressed as prostitute and tricked father-in-law Judah, to sleep with her. Rahab: Canaanite living in Jericho who helped hide Israelites. Mother of Boaz. Ruth: Moabite Widow-Redeemed by Boaz, Great-grandmother to King David Bathsheba: Uriah’s wife who King David committed adulty with. Mary: Virgin mother of Jesus

After that whole generation had been gathered to their ancestors, another generation grew up, who knew neither the Lord nor what He had done for Israel. Judges 2:10, The Story Pg. 103 Disobedience LEADS TO punishment, FOLLOWED BY repentance, which LEADS TO Deliverance! Deborah was a woman of influence. Now Deborah, a prophet, the wife of Lappidoth, was leading Israel at that time. She held court under the Palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites went up to her to have their disputes decided. Judges 4:1-5 NIV, The Story Pg. 105 Deborah had a close walk with the Lord. For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. 2 Chronicles 16:9 Gideon was a man of courage. The angel of the LORD came and sat down under the oak in Ophrah that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, where his son Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress to keep it from the Midianites. Judges 6:

After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide: “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites. I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Mediterranean Sea in the west. No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. Joshua 1:1-6 I. Courage Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; medita

So they set out from the mount of the Lord three days journey with the ark of the covenant of the Lord going before them three days journey, to seek out a resting place for them, the cloud of the Lord being over them by day when they set out from camp. Numbers 10:33-34 (NRSV) Now when the people complained in the hearing of the Lord about their misfortunes, the Lord heard it and his anger was kindled. Numbers 11: 1 (NRSV) Bondage to Freedom Anxiety to Rest Cravings to Nourishment Scarcity to Abundance Free But Not Formed Free But Not Informed Free But Not Grateful Free But Not Trusting

Union Chapel is honored to have welcomed Nick Vujicic, founder of Life Without Limbs, who came and shared an inspiring message about finding hope in Jesus Christ despite impossible odds and challenging circumstances.

I. Guidelines for life together. Exodus 19:1-8 "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:30-31 NIV II. A place for God to dwell. III. Sin must be atoned for. Hebrews 10:1-4 NIV IV. The presence of God with us. Exodus 33:14-16 NIV | Pg. 67

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
 neither are your ways my ways,” 
declares the Lord.
 “As the heavens are higher than the earth,
 so are my ways higher than your ways
 and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9 “I will make you into a great nation, 
and I will bless you;
I will make your name great,
 and you will be a blessing. Genesis 12:2 (To Abraham) Stay in this land for a while, and I will be with you and will bless you. For to you and your descendants I will give all these lands and will confirm the oath I swore to your father Abraham. Genesis 26:3 (To Isaac) Jacob left Beersheba and set out for Harran. When he reached a certain place, he stopped for the night because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones there, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep. He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. There above it stood the Lord, and he said: “I am the Lord, the God of

Clue: Where your deep passion, the core desire of your best self, where it connects with the pain and need of the world – there you will find your destiny. Truth: You have been born with a destiny. God has called you with a purpose, plan, will, destiny and a life of service in mind. I. Joseph is sold into slavery by his jealous brothers: Genesis 37 II. Joseph is put into prison while in Egypt. Genesis 39-41 III. Joseph is promoted to Deputy Pharaoh in Egypt. Genesis 41 The power of a dream. Destiny is mostly about who you are and not what you do. God never elevates a person above their character. God is in the dreams and with the dreamer. Adversity is part of the will of God for your lives. IV. Joseph is reunited with and forgives his brothers. Genesis 42-50

The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you. I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse. And all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Haran. Page 13 | Genesis 12:1-4 By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. Page 14 | Hebrews 11:8 Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver t