Catalyst Church of Carrollton

Unlocking Answers for Our Mysteries

Ask God into your life and show you who he really is!

Romans 10:9 (NIV) If we declare with your mouths that “Jesus is Lord”, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Ask God to baptize you and fill you with the Holy Ghost and power!

Luke 24:49 (NLT) and now I will send the Holy Spirit just as my father promised but stay here until the Holy Spirit comes, and fills you with power from heaven!

Acts 2:1-4 (NIV)   1When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 2And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. 4And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.

Use the tools he’s shown us in the Word!

Mark 11:23-24 (NIV) “Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them.”

Romans 4:17 As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.”[a] He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not.

References :
Romans 10:17
2 Corinthians 5:17
Joel 3:10
Matt 8:10
Mark 5:28
John 4
Matt 4:4
Rev 12:11
John 8:32

Come Get You Some

The Presence/Power of God. 

“But I tell you the truth, it is better for you that I go away. When I go away, I will send the Helper to you. If I do not go away, the Helper will not come.” John‬ ‭16:7‬ ‭NCV‬‬

“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father.” ‭‭John‬ ‭14:12‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit…”Acts ‭2:4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.” Galatians‬ ‭5:16‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!” 2 Timothy‬ ‭3:5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Obedience. 

“Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to OBEY all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭28:19-20‬ ‭NLT

Faith/Faithfulness.

TAKE YOURS BACK

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies…‭‭ Psalms‬ ‭23:5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

GET YOURSELF TOGETHER. 

“Joab was told that the king was crying and mourning Absalom. So the victory that day was turned into mourning for all the troops because they heard that day that the king was grieving for his son. So that day the troops crept back into the city like soldiers creep back ashamed after they’ve fled from battle. The king covered his face and cried out in a loud voice, “Oh, my son Absalom! Oh, Absalom, my son! My son!” Joab came to the king inside and said, “Today you have humiliated all your servants who have saved your life today, not to mention the lives of your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your secondary wives, by loving those who hate you and hating those who love you! Today you have announced that the commanders and their soldiers are nothing to you, because I know that if Absalom were alive today and the rest of us dead, that would be perfectly fine with you! Now get up! Go out and encourage your followers! I swear to the LORD that if you don’t go out there, not one man will stick with you tonight—and that will be more trouble for you than all the trouble that you’ve faced from your youth until now.” So the king went and sat down in the city gate. All the troops were told that the king was sitting in the gate, so they came before the king. 2 Samuel‬ ‭19:1-8‬ ‭CEB‬‬

GET YOURSELF UP. 

Then David rose from the ground, bathed, anointed himself, and changed his clothes. He entered the LORD’s house and bowed down. Then he entered his own house. He requested food, which was brought to him, and he ate. “Why are you acting this way?” his servants asked. “When the child was alive, you fasted and cried and kept watch, but now that the child is dead, you get up and eat food!” David replied, “While the child was alive I fasted and wept because I thought, Who knows? The LORD may have mercy on me and let the child live. But he is dead now. Why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? No. I am going where he is, but he won’t come back to me.”

‭‭2 Samuel‬ ‭12:16-23‬ ‭CEB‬‬

TAKE YOUR PEACE BACK. 

“And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.” 1 Samuel‬ ‭30:6‬ ‭KJV‬‬ 

TAKE YOUR FREEDOM/FAITH BACK.

“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

King Me

You must not have any other god but me. “You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. You must not bow down to them or worship them…Exodus‬ ‭20:3-5‬ ‭NLT‬‬ 

God Will Let You Wear Yourself Out. 

“Look,” they told him, “you are now old, and your sons are not like you. Give us a king to judge us like all the other nations have.” Samuel was displeased with their request and went to the Lord for guidance. “Do everything they say to you,” the Lord replied, “for they are rejecting me, not you. They don’t want me to be their king any longer. Ever since I brought them from Egypt they have continually abandoned me and followed other gods. And now they are giving you the same treatment. Do as they ask, but solemnly warn them about the way a king will reign over them.” 1 Samuel‬ ‭8:5-9‬ ‭NLT‬‬

You Throw Spears. 

“This was their song: “Saul has killed his thousands, and David his ten thousands!” This made Saul very angry. “What’s this?” he said. “They credit David with ten thousands and me with only thousands. Next they’ll be making him their king!” So from that time on Saul kept a jealous eye on David. The very next day a tormenting spirit from God overwhelmed Saul, and he began to rave in his house like a madman. David was playing the harp, as he did each day. But Saul had a spear in his hand, and he suddenly hurled it at David, intending to pin him to the wall. But David escaped him twice. Saul was then afraid of David, for the Lord was with David and had turned away from Saul.” ‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭18:7-12‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“But one day when Saul was sitting at home, with spear in hand, the tormenting spirit from the Lord suddenly came upon him again. As David played his harp, Saul hurled his spear at David. But David dodged out of the way, and leaving the spear stuck in the wall, he fled and escaped into the night.” 1 Samuel‬ ‭19:9-10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

God Won’t Bless It When It’s About You. 

“Then King David went in and sat before the Lord and prayed, “Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? And now, O God, in addition to everything else, you speak of giving your servant a lasting dynasty! You speak as though I were someone very great, O Lord God! “What more can I say to you about the way you have honored me? You know what your servant is really like. For the sake of your servant, O Lord, and according to your will, you have done all these great things and have made them known. And now, it has pleased you to bless the house of your servant, so that it will continue forever before you. For when you grant a blessing, O Lord, it is an eternal blessing!” ‭‭1 Chronicles‬ ‭17:16-19, 27‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” Matthew‬ ‭11:28-30‬ ‭MSG‬‬

It’s Your Season To Get Up

Acts 3:1-10 KJV

1 Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.

2 And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;

3 Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.

4 And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.

5 And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.

6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.

7 And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.

8 And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.

9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God:

10 And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him.

Missing Out

Then Peter began to speak up. “We’ve given up everything to follow you,” he said. “Yes,” Jesus replied, “and I assure you that everyone who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or property, for my sake and for the Good News, will receive now in return a hundred times as many houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and property—along with persecution. And in the world to come that person will have eternal life. But many who are the greatest now will be least important then, and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then.”” ‭‭Mark‬ ‭10:17-31‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Surrender sets you up/apart.

“The teaching about the cross is foolishness to those who are being lost, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. It is written in the Scriptures: “I will cause the wise to lose their wisdom; I will make the wise unable to understand.” Where is the wise person? Where is the educated person? Where is the skilled talker of this world? God has made the wisdom of the world foolish. In the wisdom of God the world did not know God through its own wisdom. So God chose to use the message that sounds foolish to save those who believe. The Jews ask for miracles, and the Greeks want wisdom.” ‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭1:18-22‬ ‭NCV‬‬ 

Surrender keeps you safe/keeps you from straying. 

“Those who go to God Most High for safety will be protected by the Almighty.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭91:1‬ ‭NCV‬‬ 

“The name of the Lord is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe.” ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭18:10‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Surrender supplies you peace/strength. 

“You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.” ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭26:3‬ ‭NKJV

You either step out of your comfort zone or you’ll never grow out of your comfort zone.

“He then said, “God’s word: Dig ditches all over this valley. Here’s what will happen—you won’t hear the wind, you won’t see the rain, but this valley is going to fill up with water and your army and your animals will drink their fill…. ‭‭2 Kings‬ ‭3:16‬ ‭MSG‬‬

Missing Opportunities

Opportunities to Surrender-

Everyday.

“Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me.” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭9:23‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Stressed. 

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” ‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭5:6-7‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Short.

“And don’t be concerned about what to eat and what to drink. Don’t worry about such things. These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers all over the world, but your Father already knows your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need. “So don’t be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom.” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭12:29-32‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The Impossible. 

“Jesus replied, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.” Luke‬ ‭18:27‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Risks. 

“Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” Acts‬ ‭9:10‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Hurt.

Then Job replied to the Lord: “I know that you can do anything, and no one can stop you. You asked, ‘Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorance?’ It is I—and I was talking about things I knew nothing about, things far too wonderful for me. You said, ‘Listen and I will speak! I have some questions for you, and you must answer them.’ I had only heard about you before, but now I have seen you with my own eyes. I take back everything I said, and I sit in dust and ashes to show my repentance.”
‭‭Job‬ ‭42:1-6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Sin.

“If we say we have no sin, we are fooling ourselves, and the truth is not in us. But if we confess our sins, he will forgive our sins, because we can trust God to do what is right. He will cleanse us from all the wrongs we have done. If we say we have not sinned, we make God a liar, and we do not accept God’s teaching.” ‭‭1 John‬ ‭1:8-10‬ ‭NCV

Victories.

“Every good gift, every perfect gift, comes from above. These gifts come down from the Father, the creator of the heavenly lights, in whose character there is no change at all.” James‬ ‭1:17‬ ‭CEB‬‬

Your Greatest Blessings.

“Some time later, God tested Abraham’s faith. “Abraham!” God called. “Yes,” he replied. “Here I am.” “Take your son, your only son—yes, Isaac, whom you love so much—and go to the land of Moriah. Go and sacrifice him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you.” Genesis‬ ‭22:1-2‬ ‭NLT‬‬ 

Yourself. 

“Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Father, I give you my life.” After Jesus said this, he died.” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭23:46‬ ‭NCV‬‬‬‬

Missing The Point

“Then Jesus told this story to some who had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned everyone else: “Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘I thank you, God, that I am not like other people—cheaters, sinners, adulterers. I’m certainly not like that tax collector! I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.’ “But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’ I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.””

‭‭Luke‬ ‭18:9-14‬ ‭NLT 

“He must become greater; I must become less.” ‭‭John‬ ‭3:30‬ ‭NIV‬‬ 

We Like It Messy

Jesus was messy! We are too!

We Don’t Focus On Unnecessary OR Secondary Issues.

“Accept other believers who are weak in faith, and don’t argue with them about what they think is right or wrong. For instance, one person believes it’s all right to eat anything. But another believer with a sensitive conscience will eat only vegetables. Those who feel free to eat anything must not look down on those who don’t. And those who don’t eat certain foods must not condemn those who do, for God has accepted them. Who are you to condemn someone else’s servants? Their own master will judge whether they stand or fall. And with the Lord’s help, they will stand and receive his approval. In the same way, some think one day is more holy than another day, while others think every day is alike. You should each be fully convinced that whichever day you choose is acceptable.” Romans‬ ‭14:1-5‬ ‭NLT

We Aren’t Afraid Of The Messy Stuff. (Our Stuff)

“What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy—full of greed and self-indulgence! You blind Pharisee! First wash the inside of the cup and the dish, and then the outside will become clean, too. “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs—beautiful on the outside but filled on the inside with dead people’s bones and all sorts of impurity. Outwardly you look like righteous people, but inwardly your hearts are filled with hypocrisy and lawlessness.” Matthew‬ ‭23:25-28‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“Then his disciples remembered this prophecy from the Scriptures: “Passion for God’s house will consume me.” ‭‭John‬ ‭2:17‬ ‭NLT‬‬

We Do What We Can When We Can’t Do What We Want. 

“What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless. Now someone may argue, “Some people have faith; others have good deeds.” But I say, “How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds.” You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror. How foolish! Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless?” ‭‭James‬ ‭2:14-20‬ ‭NLT‬ 

“...You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!" ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭25:23‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“But someone who does not know, and then does something wrong, will be punished only lightly. When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭12:48‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I Love The Church

And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.  Romans 12:1

We give ourselves to God because of what He has done…not so that He will do

Our sacrifice is ongoing, set apart. This is what is acceptable

This is the only logical response to God’s grace

2 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. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Romans12:2

We are set apart from the world. We are in the world, but no longer of the world

18 So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image. 2 Cor. 3:18

Our purpose is to reflect the glory of God

We should think differently than the world

3 Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us. Romans 12:3

The gospel is our standard of measurement now

4 Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, 5 so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other. Romans 12:4-5

We belong to each other

6 In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. 7 If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. 8 If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly. Romans12:6-8

We use our gifts to love one another, as we reflect God’s glory.

What does “loving one another” look like?

Love is committed
Love sacrifices self
Love is patient
Love does
What does “loving the world” look like?

Love forgives and refuses to retaliate
Love engages our enemies
Love does

13 Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. Romans 13:1

7 Give to everyone what you owe them: Pay your taxes and government fees to those who collect them, and give respect and honor to those who are in authority. Romans 13:7

8 Owe nothing to anyone—except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law. Romans 13:8

11 This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.  Romans 13:11

14 Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires. Romans 13:14

Does your life reflect the urgency of the mission?