RUT TO REVIVAL - YOU'VE BEEN THERE LONG ENOUGH

May 8

We trust today’s message encouraged and guided you in your journey of following Jesus. These notes are meant to help you remember and reflect on the message, help you go deeper into study on the subject, or be used for a sermon group discussion. CLICK HERE to find a discussion group. Enjoy!

Sermon Title: YOU’VE BEEN THERE LONG ENOUGH

Main Scripture: Deuteronomy 1:1-8; Ephesians 2:1-10; John 10:10

If you’re going through this discussion with a community group this week consider taking the time to read the provided scripture to catch everyone up!

Summary:

Pastor Ryan shared his first message in this series challenging the mental and spiritual rut that we can’t change. This was a very important rut to confront because if we believe this to be true then how will we ever get out of other ruts, even the “I can’t change” rut the devil wants us to stay in? God made us for more, God made us for revival life, not “barely-getting-by” life. Pastor Ryan taught us that God’s intention for setting us free from sin didn’t stop at salvation, there was more and always will be more because God’s love, life, and power for us to live, thrive, and overcome any obstacle is unending! We were encouraged today to quit trying to walk back into the grave we came from. Quit trying to put on our grave clothes and start walking in our grace clothes! We have received freedom through the work of the cross and the resurrection of Christ. We rebuke the lie that has become a belief and rut that we can’t change. The gospel of Jesus Christ is exactly that, anyone can be changed and transformed by the love and power of God!

Notes:

Rut Definition: (Let me add to the definition of a rut that Pastor Jody gave us so far.)

A rut is an obstacle in your life keeping you from experiencing God and growing into all He has for you and through you. (Ruts are getting stuck in places of not growing, not thriving, not living, not experiencing the life God saved us for.)

Main Scripture: Deuteronomy 1:1-8

Context:

In real-time, during this portion of the Bible, the Israelites had been in the wilderness for 40 plus years. They are located East of the Jordan River and poised to enter the promised land on the other side of the Jordan. Moses begins Deuteronomy looking back, doing a review of where they had come from and all that they went through. It was time to take the promised land. It was time to follow God out of this 40+ year rut. This was their second chance, the chance for redemption!
Those who didn’t trust God to take the land the first time had died, fulfilling the promise that they would never see the promised land. Later, Moses was not allowed because He disobeyed God when given instructions to speak to a rock for drinking water and took credit for providing the water (Numbers 20; Deuteronomy 32:51-52). Moses was permitted to see it from a distance but it was now Joshua’s turn to be strong, and courageous and lead the people into the promised land.

Lessons from this scripture:

God’s will wasn’t just freedom from slavery but a land where they could thrive and prosper by the favor of God and through a loving relationship with Him.
God says, “You’ve stayed at this mountain long enough…” It’s time to possess the more that I have for you…but they didn’t. They didn’t trust God. They were young in their faith and trust in God and so a season and journey of growth had to take place in the desert.
The lesson for us today is spiritual and physical. God rescued us from the slavery and bondage of sin through His son’s death and resurrection. God gives us a new life that overcomes the power of sin and death through a relationship of faith in Christ. We shouldn’t cross the line at salvation and stay there. There’s more to our new lives. We are meant to have life and life more abundantly. We are meant to do great things for the Lord. Ruts and challenges will come and go, but we can overcome and we are more than conquerors because of Christ and through Christ, every time!

Ephesians 2:1-10; John 10:10

Takeaway: We don’t have to settle for our spiritual ruts, God saved us for revival.

You have revival in you because the Holy Spirit lives in you. The same power that raised Christ from the dead lives in us (Ephesians 1:19-20; Romans 8:10-11).
God has saved us for more than mediocre, status quo spirituality. God didn’t save us to continue living in bondage to the things of this world.
God’s love, life, and power are unending and give us life, victory, and purpose here on earth. We’re revived from being dead in our sins to alive in Christ (Ephesians 2:1-10) because God has prepared good works for us in advance. Jesus even told the disciples that they will do even greater things for the kingdom of God (John 14:12).

Takeaway: Put down the GRAVE clothes and walk in the GRACE clothes of Christ! We revert back to the old life we had but we have new life in Christ. We’ve been set free so let’s live like we are free!

Have you ever tried to wear clothes that aren’t your style? It’s just not me, right? Have you ever tried to live like the world again after putting your faith in Christ? It doesn’t feel right, does it?
The obvious sinful lifestyle is one thing but what about those subtle things we accept as normal but we shouldn’t? Living in fear, living defeated, living depressed, living angry, living with no self-control, living with bitterness, living hopeless…the list goes on…You may experience it but you were meant to be filled with the fruit of Christ.
Even when we do change sometimes our faith and minds take time to catch up to the reality that our circumstances have changed. The transformation happened, healing and breakthrough happened but we still see ourselves in the old nature or waiting for it to come back. We’ve gotten so used to it being normal we don’t know how to live without it. But you can and that’s part of walking forward and growing in your faith with God.

HOW DO WE GET INTO RUTS? “How did I get here?”

Doing the same thing over and over again. Believe it or not, spiritual routines that become rote and heartless can form ruts.
Distractions
Disobedience
Disconnection/Distance
Doubt that turns to unbelief
Deception (from the Devil)

THE “I CAN’T CHANGE” RUT

I want to confront one spiritual rut in our lives today before we leave because it needs to be confronted in order for us to overcome and move forward.

This is the rut that makes you believe you are doomed to remain stuck in whatever rut you are in forever. This is not true and did not come from God.
This is a rut that has infiltrated your mind which makes it very dangerous because it will determine what you believe and yet it’s the opposite of what scripture teaches.
This rut is dangerous because if you believe that lie then how will you overcome other spiritual ruts? The lie that you can’t change and you can’t get out of the rut is a spiritual rut because it is antithetical to the message of the Gospel. The gospel is all about transforming our lives.
It's a lie from Satan to keep you in bondage, weak, immature and ineffective for the kingdom of God. It’s spiritual warfare.
If we settle with the belief that “this is just going to be the way it is” then we get comfortable with our struggle and never try to get out or through it.
Do not be seduced by normality. Do not get comfortable with the status quo. Do not settle with the notion, "that's just the way life is..."
I’ve heard and seen the statement: “It’s okay to not be okay.” That’s true and a great first step. Notice and be willing to admit you’re not okay…but be careful you’re not seduced into the defeated, slave to bondage mentality that I’ll never be okay. Assess that you’re not okay with where you are but now get with God and His people to help you get to where you are meant to be!

I rebuke the lie that has become your belief and rut that you can’t change!

Our God is the great transformer of lives, hearts, and minds! God changed you and saved you from the pit of death. God has much more for you than being stuck in a rut. God continues to transform us as we follow His instructions and Spirit!

Look at the cross and the grave. Look at what Jesus overcame for you. You’re no longer there. Get out of that mindset and out of your rut. You’ve been there long enough!

Ask God to help you walk in the freedom He has already given you!

Discussion:

What stuck out to you from the scriptures we read?
What did you take away from the sermon?
Why is the “I can’t change” rut so dangerous and important to demolish in our lives?
What have you believe can’t change in your life?
How can this message help you or a friend you’re discipling get out of a rut?

The most important decision you will ever make!

Are you ready to experience salvation and be transformed we encourage you to say a simple prayer like this from your heart: Dear God, I acknowledge and admit I have sinned. I see my need for Jesus Christ. I believe in Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I believe I am forgiven and cleansed of my sin by His death. I also believe I have eternal life because of His resurrection from the dead. I repent, I turn away from my old ways and I choose to live my life to worship you and follow Jesus, amen!

We would love to know if you made the decision to accept this wonderful gift from God. Let us know here.

Pray Together

We hoped you found this AFTER THE SERMON discussion helpful for your walk with Jesus. We pray you can find ways to apply it this week!

Calvary Church