ALTAR DAY “My One Word” 2017 2 Kings 13:14-20

WHAT IS A “ONE WORD” ALTAR? 

THE ARROW THAT PREDICTS MY FUTURE. 

2 Kings 13:14-17
When Elisha became sick with the illness of which he was to die, Joash the king of Israel came down to him and wept over him and said, “My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” 15And Elisha said to him, “Take a bow and arrows.” So he took a bow and arrows. 16Then he said to the king of Israel, “Put your hand on the bow.” And he put his hand on it, then Elisha laid his hands on the king’s hands. 17And he said, “Open the window toward the east,” and he opened it. Then Elisha said, “Shoot!” And he shot. And he said, “The LORD’s arrow of victory, even the arrow of victory over Aram; for you shall defeat the Arameans at Aphek until you have destroyed them.” 

The Four Predictive Principles Of “My One Word.”
#1: Every Story Of TRANSFORMATION Begins With A WORD From God.

#2: Do SOMETHING About ONE THING Instead Of NOTHING About Everything.  

#3: My One Word is a LENS through which you will SEE, not a PROMISE which you must keep.

#4: Keep Your “Word From God” In FRONT of you so you won’t FORGET God’s Voice.

THE POINT I KEEP STRIKING THE GROUND. 

2 Kings 13:18-20

Then he said, “Take the arrows,” and he took them. And he said to the king of Israel, “Strike the ground,” and he struck it three times and stopped. 19So the man of God was angry with him and said, “You should have struck five or six times, then you would have struck Aram until you would have destroyed it. But now you shall strike Aram only three times.” 20And Elisha died, and they buried him. 

THE PLOW AND OXEN I BURN. 

1 Kings 19:19, 21 
So he departed from there and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, while he was plowing with twelve pairs of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth. And Elijah passed over to him and threw his mantle on him. 21So he returned from following him, and took the pair of oxen and sacrificed them and boiled their flesh with the implements of the oxen, and gave it to the people and they ate. Then he arose and followed Elijah and ministered to him.

EVERYBODY WANTS TO CHANGE:

It is expected that 90 million Americans make New Year’s Resolutions.

It is expected that 75% abandon them by February.

---

One thing I have asked from the LORD, that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life. Psalm 27:4

---

4 PRINCIPLES: Why “MY ONE WORD” ?

I. Every Story Of TRANSFORMATION Begins With A WORD From God. Yours Will Come A Year In Advance.

II. Do Something About ONE THING, Instead Of Nothing About EVERYTHING.

III. A LENS Through Which You SEE, Not A PROMISE You Must Keep.

IV. Keep Your “Word From God” In FRONT of you so you won’t FORGET God’s Voice.

    A Symbol Of Your Personal, Private… ALTAR!  

 

---

NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS:

• They Are Too Vague:

“I want to be in better shape!”

Does this mean touching your toes or running a marathon?

• They Are Too Shallow:

“I want to be a better person!”

Better than who?     Looking Around = Comparison     Looking Inside = Character!

• There Are Too Many:

“The one who aims at everything hits nothing.”	What one thing If you only had one month to live?
This comes from the three ugly sisters of guilt, fear, and pride.	What one word on your tombstone?

---

The Power Of My One Word Is The Power Of The Bible. Your Word Is A Word From God’s Word Illuminated In Your Heart.

JAMES 1:19-25

19Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.

20Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires.

21So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives,

and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts,

for it has the power to save your souls.

22But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.

23For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror.

24You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like.

25But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.

---

FINDING YOUR WORD: 

Get Specific: 

• What did God do through “My One Word” in your life during 2016? Do you have a testimony to share?

• What kind of person do you hope to be by the end of 2017?

• Search the Bible for God’s Word for you. Describe the characteristics of that person and the condition of their heart!  Write every word down. Group and order them.

• List 10-15 words, then narrow it down to just one. What impact will each ‘word’ have on the way you see your life?

Resist Regret:

This year’s resolutions are often last year’s regrets.

Don’t promise not to be what you’ve always been.

Stay Future Focused:

• Stay focused on the vision of the person you believe God is calling you to be.

• There is no need to rush.

• Pray 21 Days – Create your list and narrow down that list into your One Word for 2016.

• Our Altar Day – We will begin by picking our words and symbols together on Sunday January, 29th 2017.

---

The Word “Confession” In Greek = Homo Logeo: Same-Speak:

Speak The Same As God / Agree With God

A One Word Prophecy. A Confession Spoken In Agreement With God About My Life!

BOOKS NEXT WEEK – My One Word – By Mike Ashcraft. Cost $20

January 29th – ALTAR DAY!

REAL CHANGE STARTS WITH NEW LIFE, NOT JUST A NEW LEAF.

“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation; old things have passed away, and look, new things have come” (2 Corinthians 5:17) 

In the Old Testament, we see how this cycle played out in the life of Solomon. He tried to change through human ingenuity when he needed divine intervention. And he was the smartest person – ever. (Ecclesiastes 1:12-18)

Jesus calls it being “born again.” (John 3:3)

REAL CHANGE IS A PROCESS, NOT A DESTINATION.

“I am sure of this, that He who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6)

“By these He has given us very great and precious promises, so that through them you may share in the divine nature, escaping the corruption that is in the world because of evil desires” (2 Peter 1:4)

“We all, with unveiled faces, are reflecting the glory of the Lord and are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory; this is from the Lord who is the Spirit” (2 Corinthians 3:18)

REAL CHANGE IS LETTING GO AND GRABBING HOLD.

“Throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. 23Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. 24Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.” (Ephesians 4:22-24 NLT)

Here are some of the reasons why change is difficult:

a. Because we are stubborn

b. Because we are trapped

c. Because we are comfortable

d. Because we are afraid

d. Because change hurts

e. Because we lack knowledge

f. Because we lack power

“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing greatness of the power may be of God and not from ourselves;” “Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.” (2 Corinthians 4:7, 16 NASB77)