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But I just can't wait to see you all here on campus when we can worship together in person, but I'm grateful that we are able to do this. so thank you for being with us this morning as usual. sign in. let us know you're here. Let us know where you're watching from today we're actually beginning a new series that's going to take us all the way up through Pentecost Sunday, which is May 30 -first. -first If If you you don't don't know know know what what what what Pentecost is. Pentecost Pentecost Pentecost is is is or or or Pentecost. or Pentecost Pentecost Pentecost Sunday Sunday, the word basically means fifth. And it's 50 days after Easter Sunday and it's the day we commemorate the acts two experience when the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples. So today we start a series that will take us all the way up to and through that Sunday, we're gonna begin by looking at our theme Scripture verse. I encourage you to memorize this cuz this will be our verse for the next seven weeks, Ephesians Ephesians 320 320 320 from from from the the the the new New New New Living living. Living Living Translation, Translation. Translation, Translation, says says says this. this. this now all. To God, who is able through his mighty power at work within us to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think infinitely more. That is the title of our series these seven weeks over the next seven weeks, we will follow the journey of Jesus will follow his teachings, his miracles and his declarations. We will discover God's ultimate plan for you. And me to live a spirit filled life and experience infinitely more. Let's begin with prayer. Would you bow your heads with me? Father, You are faithful. You are good and you are always with us. We love you. We celebrate you today. We remember your grace. We remember your sacrifice and I pray right now over my brothers and sisters who are watching this father, I pray that you would. Our spiritual eyes that you would open our hearts and that we would be prepared and ready for infinitely more in you in Jesus name, I pray Amen. today we look at beginnings. We're gonna go all the way back to Genesis and God always starts with the end in mind. I want you to remember that I want you to know that he always has a plan. he always has the answer. No you and I live in a world. Wear a lot of things revolve around plans. We make lots of plans. We plan our budgets. We plan our meals. We plan our schedules. We plan school pickup and drop off for our kids. We plan everything and when one unexpected moments happen happens, it can throw off all of our plans. It can ruin everything it could be as simple as your son can't find his shoe while you're on the way out the door. So now you're gonna be late late and and it it messes messes messes up up up your your your plans plans plans for for for for the the the the day day day day it it it it it could could could could. could be be be be a a a a medical medical medical. medical emergency. emergency. emergency. It could be a traffic jam or it could be a deadly virus you and I are living this right now. we're seeing this we all had plans whether it's work whether it's personal, we had plans and the world's plans have literally been put on hold because of this unexpected virus that has attacked our world. you know there are weddings that have had to be postponed. Many high school seniors aren't going to be able to have their. Graduating ceremonies this year, I had a trip planned to the States the end of this month, and that will not be happening. Many of you had trips scheduled and planned, and that's not happening work schedule has changed plans have been disrupted. God had a plan from the very beginning to be with you and me when we look in Genesis, we created Adam and Eve, and he placed them in a beautiful garden and he walked with them and he talked with him. It was paradise, but he had given them one can. And that was do not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil or you will die and then in Genesis three, we get our first glimpse of sin now to stay away from the tree would have been to say God is enough. He has provided everything I need to eat from it would say God is not enough. I need to provide something better for myself you and I know, Adam and Eve they both ate the fruit they became aware of their naked. And their sin immediately, and as a result were kicked out of the garden of Eden receiving the curse of sin. It's a story that most of us are very familiar with but along with the curse also came a promise because you see God had a plan to deal with sin before it even happened, I've told you before River Church that God is sovereign and that this virus that nothing has taken him by surprise and. Moment of sin in Genesis three did not take God by surprise he already had a plan to deal with sin before it happened. We're gonna look at Genesis 315 reading from the NVC version, and this is God speaking to the serpent really or to the devil and he says, and I will put in Mattie between you and the woman and between your offspring and hers, he will crush your head. And you will strike his heel God promises that evil have a child that will crush the head of the snake. breaking the curse of death and separation. now what's incredible to me here is that only three chapters into the Bible and we already see Jesus. We already see the promise of God's plan to save the world through Jesus Jesus is in Genesis if you think that Jesus is. Not in the Old Testament, if you avoid the Old Testament because you only wanna know about Jesus, my friend, you are mistaken. Jesus is all over the Old Testament and we can see this in Genesis chapter three through the cross Jesus not only reversed the curse, but he also gave us a way to conquer sin in our own lives and that is the gospel truth We fight sin by trusting that Jesus is. That he has done enough that he's provided enough and will always be enough. You can stop trying to earn it because God's plan leads us to the cross God's plan leads us leads you and I to the cross Jesus was at the foundation of the world. you guys, the cross wasn't a need jerk reaction to sin it was. A rescue that had been planned from the very beginning it did not take God by surprise and we can look through the Old Testament and we see images or we see foreshadowing of God's plan to redeem mankind through Christ sacrifice. we can see it in Genesis seven with Noah, the story of no one in the arch often times we tell this to our children a lot. It's actually quite a dark story but no I lived in. A time when the world was extremely wicked and perverse and the Bible actually says that the Lord's heart was grieved that he had made man and he had a plan to destroy the Earth with a flood, but no all the one man being found righteous God told him to build an arc and take his family and a male and female of every animal upon the ark and they were spared and they were saved during the flood and Noah points us to a Savior who will rescue us and help us. From spiritual destruction, we also if we look a few chapters further in Genesis 20 - two, we see Abraham being tested to sacrifice his son Isaac, now if you are familiar with the story of Abraham and Sarah, let me give you a review here. Abraham and Sarah Abraham was the one the Lord had spoken to and had promised to build a great nation through him and his seed and we know that today to be But the problem was the dilemma was Abraham and Sarah were not able to have children and they were getting older in years and and if you're familiar with the story, Sarah tried to find a different way to make things happen and guys it never works when we try to interfere with God's plans, Let's just trust him and trust what he says. But Abraham and Sarah waited and waited and they were too old to have children. But then God provided a son, Isaac and Isaac will. Loved greatly by Abraham and Sarah. He was the one and only son that they had and in the Lord tested Abraham by asking him to sacrifice his son and Abraham being faithful took his son out prepared the sacrifice and it was all ready to kill holding up the knife literally for the sacrifice when the Lord spoke and told him to stop and he looked over in the bushes and there was a Ram and he sacrificed a ram instead of his son and it was God reply. Providing that substitute and this points us to a father who is more than willing to send his son as a sacrifice for sin, what God did not require of Abraham, he required of himself and Jesus was the son through whom all Nations would be blessed and God's plan would be revealed. and then we'll go a little bit further down the Exodus Chapter 12, and we talked about this last week The Passover you know it was. Children of Israel, who'd been in slavery for over 400 years and God had raised up Moses as a deliverer, which is also kind of a foreshadowing of a Christ figure, and he raised up Moses as a deliver and Moses went to Pharaoh saying, let my people go and Farrell the Lord had hardened his heart and he wouldn't allow the the children of Israel to go free and so the Lord sent 10 plagues and the tenth tenth and and final final plague plague plague was was was the the the the death death death death. angel. angel, angel, but but but he he he had. had had instructed instructed the the children. children of Israel to sacrifice. a lamb. And to put the blood of the lamb around the door post and that is the death angel came when it saw the blood on the door post it would pass over those homes and this being the Passover the lambs blood. It's so obviously here points to Jesus, the perfect lamb whose blood would be shed for each of us and would protect us from from spiritual spiritual spiritual death. death. death. Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus is is. is is death death. death was was the the fulfillment of. The lambs Sling to save the people of Israel and if we look into the New Testament, John the Baptist had the unique privilege of introducing Jesus and God's plan in the New Testament. John 120 - nine to 30 - four in the New Living Translation, says this the next day, John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, look the lamb of God who takes away the sin of One I was talking about when I said a man is coming after me who is far greater than I am for. he existed long before me, I did not recognize him as the Messiah, but I have been baptizing with water so that he might be revealed to Israel, Then John testified I saw the Holy Spirit descending like a dove from heaven and resting upon him. I did not know he was the one but when God sent me. Baptize Baptize with with water, water, he he told told me me the the one one on on whom whom you you see see the the spirit spirit descend descend and and rest rest is is the the one one who who will will baptize baptize with with the the Holy Holy Spirit. Spirit. I I saw saw this this happen happen to to Jesus, Jesus, so so I I testify testify that that he he is is the the chosen chosen one one of of God God God's God's plan plan leads leads us us to to the the cross cross where where Jesus Jesus removes removes our our sin sin and and restores restores our our lost lost relationship relationship with with God God that. that is. Incredible life-changing truth that changes everything for you and I that Jesus removes our sin and restores our lost relationship with God. This was God's plan from the very beginning. Let's look at Romans five verses eight to 11 in the New Living Translation, but God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners and since we have been made. In God's sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God's condemnation for since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his son. While we were still enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his son. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our lord Jesus Christ has made made us us friends friends friends of of of God. God God God's God's. plan. Leading us to the cross was only the beginning you guys. it was just the beginning. He didn't just lead us to the cross, but God's plan leads us through the cross. He has so much more for us, He has infinitely more for you and for me this morning, let's look back at the words of John the Baptist one more time John 130. 30 - four again the new living translation I didn't know he was the one, but when God sent me to baptize with water, he told me the one on whom you see the spirit descend and rest is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit. I saw this happen to Jesus, so I testify that he is the chosen one of God even before Jesus began his Ministry his plan to send you The Holy Spirit had already been in place his plan is to empower you and to accomplish infinitely more through his holy Spirit. God always begins with the end in mind. God's plan led us to the cross and now it leads us through the cross with his promised holy and Spirit and the promise promise of of infinitely infinitely infinitely infinitely more more more more for for for for you you you you and and and and I. I I. I I. I. Was blessed in that I grew up in a Christian home, My brothers and I thanks to my parents. We went to church back then Sunday morning Sunday night Wednesday night and everything in between anytime there were special services. We were there and we always sat on the second row and I hated it at the same way that most of you when you're here, you fill up the back rows first, but every time the church was open, I was there and from a very young. Age as a very, very little girl as a preschooler, you know, and that's why it's so important with our kids here in Children's Church that we're teaching them the stories of Jesus but as a preschooler at that early age hearing the stories of Jesus hearing the stories of the Old Testament growing up in the faith, always knowing of Jesus and I am grateful for that. I know how blessed I was, but at the same time, there comes a point in each one of our lives lives when when when we we we have have have to to to choose choose choose for for for ourselves. ourselves. ourselves. We're We're not not Christians Christians. because mom and dad. Christian. We're not Christians because that's our culture or because that's our family in the same way you're not Buddhist because that's what your parents were. There comes a point in life where you and I have to make a decision for ourselves where you and I have to choose we have to make a choice and I remember when I was very young, maybe eight years old. It was a Sunday night and after church, you know we had what what you called puzzles in our church and I remember our pastor. He always ended the service service with with prayer prayer time time and and people people would would find find their their spot spot in in. the. And they would just spend time praying and during the time I walked up to my pastor is a little girl and just said Pastor Clark. I I wanna ask Jesus in my heart and we found a puny meltdown with me and prayed with me and I asked Jesus into my life and I made the decision for myself and then through the years as I got older, more decisions were made and my faith deepened and my faith grew because Christ God's plan led me to the cross and I say. All of that today because today really for this series is a preparation for what's coming. It's a laying of a foundation for the following weeks and if you're watching today and you've not made a decision to follow Christ if you've not made that decision within you, if you've not asked for forgiveness of your sins, if you've not asked to be made new in Christ, then I wanna pray with you as I close in prayer today, I wanna I wanna pray that prayer over you today. And if you need anything if we can help you further, please don't hesitate to Email. you'll see my email at the end of the program today or you can message us on Facebook. please reach out but then beyond that today I wanna pray for those of you. Maybe you're listening to this today. you're hearing this and when I read that scripture about infinitely more than you can think or ask and something in you says. Oh, I want that I want infinitely. I I want want more more of of God, God, I I want want more more of of his his holy holy spirit. spirit. I I want want more more if if you you have have this this stirring stirring in in your your spirit spirit of of God, God, there's there's something something more more that that you you have have and and I I want want it. it. God. God. I I want want everything everything you you have. have. if if that's that's you you then then I I wanna wanna pray pray over over you you as as well well today today because because I I don't don't want want us us here here at at River River Church Church to to miss miss out out on on anything anything that that God God has. has. I I want want infinitely infinitely more. more. I I want want everything everything the the Lord Lord has has for for us us as as a a church. church. I I want want when when we we gather gather together together online online or or in in person, person I I want want his his presence presence to. to be so. Thick and so real to us each week, so as I pray over you right now I challenge you and encourage you this week to make this your prayer as well that God would repair our hearts and our lives to experience infinitely more over these next six weeks, Let's pray father. Oh father, we want all that you have. We don't wanna get caught up with things that are unimportant. We want everything that you have for us. We want life abundantly. We want that infinitely more than your word tells us about. We want your holy spirit to be living and active in this church in our hearts and our lives. So father first, I pray for those who are watching who who are realizing today that they need to make that decision to follow you. I pray over them right now as I know you are with them and I ask. You would forgive them Lord and you begin to speak to them and begin to work in their hearts and in their lives today and father, I pray for those who in their spirit think and are saying God I want more. I want more. I want infinitely more. I wanna be closer to you. I want more of your word more of your spirit. I pray for them this week that that you you would would begin begin to to open open open their their their spiritual spiritual spiritual spiritual eyes eyes eyes eyes. that that that you you you would would would would begin begin begin begin to to to. to open open open their their their hearts. hearts hearts and. and you begin to stir. Speak and just fan into flame the gifts that you've placed in them. Lord gotta here at River Church. We want infinitely more father. I submit myself to you as pastor Amen. I submit the church to you and I just I say it is we are yours. Lord. We are yours and we want your kingdom purposes here and and we we want want infinitely infinitely infinitely more more more more of of of of you you you you. infinitely infinitely infinitely infinitely more more more more of of of of. your your your holy holy holy spirit. spirit. spirit. Your work in US Lord speak to the deepest parts of us over these next few weeks in Jesus name I pray Amen. Amen guys be praying that this week today was just a foundation. God's plan leads us to the cross, but then it leads us through the cross to so much more. It doesn't end there. It doesn't end with Easter. There's so much more that is coming. I wanna read this verse over you one more time before we end. Now all glory to God who is able through his mighty power at work within us to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think let's believe that for River Church, let's believe that for our individual lives today, infinitely more God bless you may the lord bless you miss face shine upon you please please reach reach out out if if you you need need anything anything we we are are here. here for you. We are praying for you and I would also ask in closing that if you would continue to be faithful with your ties and your offerings. if you'd like to do a Bank transfer, you can simply email me as to how to do that or you can give online if you would prefer, we still have to pay the rent here. There are still continued needs, but thank you for your faithful. giving thank you for your prayers. I love you and we'll see you all next Sunday. God bless you.