Catalyst Church of Carrollton

Pain Has Its Place

Pain has a purpose. 

In the same way I will not cause pain without allowing something new to be born,” says the Lord….‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭66:9‬ ‭NCV‬‬ 

Anxiety/Depression/Crisis has a purpose. 

We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. 2 Corinthians‬ ‭1:8-9‬ ‭NIV

Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

‭‭James‬ ‭1:2-4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Mistakes/Guilt has a purpose. 

I am not sorry that I sent that severe letter to you, though I was sorry at first, for I know it was painful to you for a little while. Now I am glad I sent it, not because it hurt you, but because the pain caused you to repent and change your ways. It was the kind of sorrow God wants his people to have, so you were not harmed by us in any way. For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death. 2 Corinthians‬ ‭7:8-10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Injustice has a purpose. 

“You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.” Genesis‬ ‭50:20‬ ‭NLT‬‬

 

All of it has a purpose. 

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Romans‬ ‭8:28-32‬ ‭NIV‬‬

 

We have small troubles for a while now, but they are helping us gain an eternal glory that is much greater than the troubles. ‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭4:17‬ ‭NCV

It’s Not All Toxic

You lose yourself in the toxic when you throw out the timeless.

“With all these things in mind, dear brothers and sisters, stand firm and keep a strong grip on the teaching we passed on to you both in person and by letter.” ‭‭2 Thessalonians‬ ‭2:15‬ ‭NLT

““Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5:3-10‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.” Ephesians‬ ‭4:15‬ ‭NLT‬‬

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!” ‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5:22-23‬ ‭NLT

“Make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands, just as we instructed you before. Then people who are not believers will respect the way you live, and you will not need to depend on others.” ‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭4:11-12‬ ‭NLT

“For this reason, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous person is powerful in what it can achieve.” ‭‭James‬ ‭5:16‬ ‭CEB‬‬

 

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.”

‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭5:6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

 

“But if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from everything we’ve done wrong.” 1 John‬ ‭1:9‬ ‭CEB‬‬

 

“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah‬ ‭29:13‬ ‭NIV

 

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” Proverbs‬ ‭3:5-6‬ ‭NLT

 

Embrace the timeless or you’ll become the toxic. 

 

“If I rebuild what I destroyed, then I really would be a lawbreaker. Galatians 2:18 NLT

Settle For Shallow

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.  Romans 12:2 NLT 

“When an evil spirit leaves a person, it goes into the desert, seeking rest but finding none. Then it says, ‘I will return to the person I came from.’ So it returns and finds its former home empty, swept, and in order. Then the spirit finds seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they all enter the person and live there. And so that person is worse off than before.”‭‭Matthew‬ ‭12:43-45‬ ‭NLT‬‬ 

You settle for shallow-

You have a lot of information, but not as much revelation. 

“So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.”  ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭23:3‬ NLT 

Your faith is more flaky than faithful.

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”  ‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5:1‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.”  ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭16:8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Your faith is shallow.

“I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth! You say, ‘I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!’ And you don’t realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.” ‭‭Revelation‬ ‭3:15-17‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”  ‭‭John‬ ‭20:22‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.” Ezekiel‬ ‭36:26‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭145:16‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“You don’t have enough faith,” Jesus told them. “I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.”” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭17:20‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Fear It Or Face It

Don’t fake it till you make it. Face it till you make it. 

4 Then the people of Israel set out from Mount Hor, taking the road to the Red Sea to go around the land of Edom. But the people grew impatient with the long journey, 5 and they began to speak against God and Moses. “Why have you brought us out of Egypt to die here in the wilderness?” they complained. “There is nothing to eat here and nothing to drink. And we hate this horrible manna!” 6 So the Lord sent poisonous snakes among the people, and many were bitten and died. 7 Then the people came to Moses and cried out, “We have sinned by speaking against the Lord and against you. Pray that the Lord will take away the snakes.” So Moses prayed for the people.8 Then the Lord told him, “Make a replica of a poisonous snake and attach it to a pole. All who are bitten will live if they simply look at it!” 9 So Moses made a snake out of bronze and attached it to a pole. Then anyone who was bitten by a snake could look at the bronze snake and be healed! -Numbers 21:4-9 NLT

You’re gonna spend your life running from snakes, afraid of snakes, and being a snake until you face your snakes. 

“The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” -John‬ ‭1:29‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“And as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life.” -John‬ ‭3:14-15‬ ‭NLT‬‬

"And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.” -John‬ ‭12:32‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Living Scared

But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest. Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all. ‭‭Mark‬ ‭9:34-35‬ ‭NIV‬‬

However, we don’t want to offend them, so go down to the lake and throw in a line. Open the mouth of the first fish you catch, and you will find a large silver coin. Take it and pay the tax for both of us.Matthew‬ ‭17:27‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him. John‬ ‭13:3-5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Living scared will cause you to stand up when you should stand down.

Why don’t you talk to me?” Pilate demanded. “Don’t you realize that I have the power to release you or crucify you?” Then Jesus said, “You would have no power over me at all unless it were given to you from above. John‬ ‭19:10-11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil… ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭23:5‬ ‭NIV

When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer. Then Pilate asked him, “Don’t you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?” But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge—to the great amazement of the governor. ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭27:12-14‬ ‭NIV

You’re louder when you’re living scared.

But the mob shouted louder and louder, demanding that Jesus be crucified, and their voices prevailed. Luke‬ ‭23:23‬ ‭NLT 

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. ‭‭James‬ ‭1:19-20‬ ‭NIV

You are able to be still when you’re living in the Spirit. 

The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.

‭‭Exodus‬ ‭14:14‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Don’t let what scares you stop you.

Grow What You Got

“The kingdom of heaven is like a man who was going to another place for a visit. Before he left, he called for his servants and told them to take care of his things while he was gone. He gave one servant five bags of gold, another servant two bags of gold, and a third servant one bag of gold, to each one as much as he could handle. Then he left. The servant who got five bags went quickly to invest the money and earned five more bags. In the same way, the servant who had two bags invested them and earned two more. But the servant who got one bag went out and dug a hole in the ground and hid the master’s money. “After a long time the master came home and asked the servants what they did with his money. The servant who was given five bags of gold brought five more bags to the master and said, ‘Master, you trusted me to care for five bags of gold, so I used your five bags to earn five more.’ The master answered, ‘You did well. You are a good and loyal servant. Because you were loyal with small things, I will let you care for much greater things. Come and share my joy with me.’ “Then the servant who had been given two bags of gold came to the master and said, ‘Master, you gave me two bags of gold to care for, so I used your two bags to earn two more.’ The master answered, ‘You did well. You are a good and loyal servant. Because you were loyal with small things, I will let you care for much greater things. Come and share my joy with me.’ “Then the servant who had been given one bag of gold came to the master and said, ‘Master, I knew that you were a hard man. You harvest things you did not plant. You gather crops where you did not sow any seed. So I was afraid and went and hid your money in the ground. Here is your bag of gold.’ The master answered, ‘You are a wicked and lazy servant! You say you knew that I harvest things I did not plant and that I gather crops where I did not sow any seed. So you should have put my gold in the bank. Then, when I came home, I would have received my gold back with interest.’ “So the master told his other servants, ‘Take the bag of gold from that servant and give it to the servant who has ten bags of gold. Those who have much will get more, and they will have much more than they need. But those who do not have much will have everything taken away from them.’ Then the master said, ‘Throw that useless servant outside, into the darkness where people will cry and grind their teeth with pain.” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭25:14-30‬ ‭NCV‬‬ 

YOUR MONEY.

“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.””

‭‭Luke‬ ‭6:38‬ ‭NIV‬‬

YOUR TIME/FOCUS.

“Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!” ‭‭1 Chronicles‬ ‭16:11‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭5:16‬ ‭NIV‬‬

YOUR ABILITY/ALL OF IT. 

“God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.” ‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭4:10‬ ‭NLT

Better Moves

It takes maturity and security to make better moves. 

Make Better Moves Simple-

WATCH/LISTEN.

Listen and hear my voice; pay attention and hear what I say. -Isaiah‬ ‭28:23‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Whoever listens to what is taught will succeed, and whoever trusts the Lord will be happy. -Proverbs‬ ‭16:20‬ ‭NCV‬‬

Keep a close watch on how you live and on your teaching. Stay true to what is right for the sake of your own salvation and the salvation of those who hear you.‭‭ -1 Timothy‬ ‭4:16‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Keep your eyes focused on what is right, and look straight ahead to what is good. ‭‭-Proverbs‬ ‭4:25‬ ‭NCV‬‬

LEARN.

 

Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity… -Hebrews‬ ‭6:1‬ ‭NIV‬‬

So we must be more careful to follow what we were taught. Then we will not stray away from the truth. -Hebrews‬ ‭2:1‬ ‭NCV‬‬

There is much more we would like to say about this, but it is difficult to explain, especially since you are spiritually dull and don’t seem to listen. You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food. For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn’t know how to do what is right. Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong. -Hebrews‬ ‭5:11-14‬ ‭NLT‬‬

 

DO.

 

I will show you what it’s like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then follows it. It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built. But anyone who hears and doesn’t obey is like a person who builds a house right on the ground, without a foundation. When the floods sweep down against that house, it will collapse into a heap of ruins. -‭‭Luke‬ ‭6:47-49‬ ‭NLT‬‬ 

 

Jesus replied, “But even more blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice. ‭‭-Luke‬ ‭11:28‬ ‭NLT‬‬

 

Benjamin is a ravenous wolf; in the morning he devours the prey, in the evening he divides the plunder. -Genesis‬ ‭49:27‬ ‭NIV‬‬

My Jesus

Kicking over sacred cows.

 

God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted. God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth. God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied. God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy. God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God. God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God. God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. “God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way. -Matthew‬ ‭5:3-12‬ ‭NLT‬‬

 

Back door guests are best.

“Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.” -Luke‬ ‭5:31‬ ‭NIV‬‬

 

Jesus was an Alpha.

 

I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. -Revelation‬ ‭22:13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables.” -John‬ ‭2:15‬ ‭NIV‬‬

John 8:4-10

 

Religion has taught us that we have to take what life and the enemy throws at us and accept. This is a scared cow - Take this junk and take it nicely.

The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.  -John‬ ‭10:10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The Awkward Stuff

“Again he said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.” Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” -John‬ ‭20:21-22‬ ‭NLT‬‬

 

Supernatural Power Comes From God’s Presence and God’s Word. 

 

Jesus replied, “Your mistake is that you don’t know the Scriptures, and you don’t know the power of God.” ‭‭-Matthew‬ ‭22:29‬ ‭NLT‬‬

 

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you…" -Acts ‭1:8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

 

“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.” -‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭4:20‬ ‭NIV‬‬

 

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” -Romans‬ ‭15:13‬ ‭NIV‬‬

 

“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,” ‭‭-Ephesians‬ ‭3:20‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

 

Normal Isn’t The Goal In The Kingdom Of God.

 

“Then he spit on the ground, made mud with the saliva, and spread the mud over the blind man’s eyes. He told him, “Go wash yourself in the pool of Siloam” (Siloam means “sent”). So the man went and washed and came back seeing!” -John‬ ‭9:6-7‬ ‭NLT‬‬

 

“On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place. Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.” -Acts‬ ‭2:1-4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

 

"They stood there amazed and perplexed. 'What can this mean?' they asked each other. But others in the crowd ridiculed them, saying, 'They’re just drunk, that’s all!'" -Acts‬ ‭2:1-13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

 

Being Hungry For More Of Him Opens Your Heart To More Of Him. 

“I, the Lord, am your God, who brought you out of Egypt. Open your mouth and I will feed you.” ‭‭-Psalms‬ ‭81:10‬ ‭NCV‬‬

“They answered, “Show us a miraculous sign if you want us to believe in you. What can you do? After all, our ancestors ate manna while they journeyed through the wilderness! The Scriptures say, ‘Moses gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, Moses didn’t give you bread from heaven. My Father did. And now he offers you the true bread from heaven. The true bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” “Sir,” they said, “give us that bread every day.” Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” ‭‭-John‬ ‭6:30-35‬ ‭NLT‬‬ 

“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you. No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you.” -‭‭John‬ ‭14:16-18‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Awkward Isn't Always Bad.

“For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit. I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.” -1 Corinthians‬ ‭14:2, 18-19‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.” -Romans‬ ‭8:26‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.” -Ephesians‬ ‭6:18‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The S Word(s)

Jesus saved your life. You choose to change it. 

 

SIN

 

Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death. -James‬ ‭1:14-15‬ ‭NLT‬‬

 

All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are profitable. “All things are lawful for me,” but not all things build up. -1 Corinthians‬ ‭10:23‬ ‭WEB‬‬

 

For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever. -1 John‬ ‭2:16-17‬ ‭NIV‬‬

 

Jesus raised up again and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one judged you guilty?” She answered, “No one, sir.” Then Jesus said, “I also don’t judge you guilty. You may go now, but don’t sin anymore.” ‭‭-John‬ ‭8:10-11‬ ‭NCV‬‬

 

Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away. Then times of refreshment will come from the presence of the Lord, and he will again send you Jesus, your appointed Messiah. -Acts ‭3:19-20‬ ‭NLT‬

 

SELFISHNESS 

 

And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.” -Matthew‬ ‭3:9‬ ‭NIV‬‬

 

For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.  -James‬ ‭3:16‬ ‭NIV‬‬

 

When you do things, do not let selfishness or pride be your guide. Instead, be humble and give more honor to others than to yourselves. Do not be interested only in your own life, but be interested in the lives of others. -Philippians‬ ‭2:3-4‬ ‭NCV‬‬

 

SHAME

 

But you, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head. -‭‭Psalm‬ ‭3:3‬ ‭ESV‬‬

 

So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. -Romans‬ ‭8:1‬ ‭NLT‬‬

 

As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” -Romans‬ ‭10:11‬ ‭NIV‬‬

 

The Lord says, “Come, let us talk about these things. Though your sins are like scarlet, they can be as white as snow. Though your sins are deep red, they can be white like wool." ‭‭-Isaiah‬ ‭1:18‬ ‭NCV