INVISIBLE VOLUME RECAP

During the Invisible Volume, truths were dropped on the rhythm night stage. The invisible things were revealed after Gina redirected our aim to the things that are truly significant. For the past weeks, we've been talking about how we look at the external things in order to fix the monsters hidden on the inside. In this Volume, we learned that there’s a power living within us that defeats the lies coming from the outside. Keep reading so that these words can nourish your spirit like the daily bread our Father provides to nourish our bodies. 

Invisible inc.

Have you ever felt like there’s a monster under your bed or hiding in the closet? And all of the sudden you start feeling terrified by something you cannot even see. Well, as Gina said, “the most terrifying monsters are the ones that we cannot see.” Those shadows in the middle of the night or those the dark thoughts that keep repeating in our minds, are the invisible things that we are giving too much power to. 

The world is filled with monsters of pride and of sin,  that are trying to bring problems, fear, and doubts into our lives to scare us. Just because you don’t see it physically does not mean it is not there, maybe it’s coming out with how you treat others or how you react to different situations in your life. You might be wondering, “how do I make sure that those invisible monsters don’t end up controlling my life?”  To cope with it, you should first comprehend what it means.  Sin was a term used in archery meaning "to miss the mark.” However, Gina said, “Sin is not only missing the right mark, it is also hitting the wrong mark. It’s one thing to take aim at something you know you shouldn’t miss, but a whole other thing to hit at the thing you think is the right target, and then find out that you have been aiming at the wrong thing all along.” 

Sometimes, you have good intentions but your aim is bad. You're probably dealing with insecurities, but instead of coming to Egroup, you're scrolling through Instagram; you take it out on your mother instead of taking a deep breath. A lot of our sin results from a failure to hit the right mark, and invisible sins are dangerous, because first they start as invisible and then manifest into visible actions! “[Therefore,  just like David] you will have to pick up a sling and stone, then sling, aim, and do not miss.” With faith and passion, you have the power to slay giants that will free generations to come.  Maybe, you feel like those monsters are too big to give to God, but remember that He is also invisible and God is always working in the background even if you don’t see it. Nothing you go through is ever invisible to God. “He has not only seen it, but already conquered it.” We serve an INVINCIBLE GOD, nothing can defeat Him. 

Committed to Confidence.

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” -Matthew 7:24.

“He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.” The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!” -Matthew 8:23-27.

The disciples knew all this and still lost confidence when they faced the storm! Likely,  we are very confident in the promise of God until, all of the sudden, a wave hits and we begin to feel unstable and scattered. 

During the message, Bryce Mallete (Youth Director at Elevation Columbia) defined two types of storm: 

-The storms that come in your life out of nowhere.

-The storms that we create. 

The storm will come. Having confidence in the Word of God does not mean that the storm won't come, it means that when it does, you'll be standing at the end. We need to remember that “following Jesus is not a magical road, it is not a secret formula,  this is a daily decision.”

“Drippin’ On The Outside, Trippin’ On The Inside.”

We tend to reach for stuff externally in order to find stability on the inside. The good news is that, “God works from the inside out, while the world tries to get everything outside in.” Jesus made sure that the disciples were aware of what was on the inside of them. Think about it, what’s within your power to eliminate? Because,  “sometimes we are too distracted by what's going on around us that we forget of a greater truth that's stored deep inside of us.”  Confidence is not something that you will obtain, is someone to commit to. Someone higher, someone who is powerful enough to calm the storms in your life. God wants you to remember who you are in the boat with, and you do not have to be afraid. 

Fact check 

Numbers 14:1-4 That night all the members of the community raised their voices and wept aloud.  All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and the whole assembly said to them, “If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this wilderness! Why is the Lord bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword? Our wives and children will be taken as plunder. Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt?” And they said to each other, “We should choose a leader and go back to Egypt.”

“Sometimes we feel like God brings us to a point in our lives and leaves us hanging. We are reading our bible, volunteering, showing up to egroup, tuning in to rhythm night, [etc]. You try to do everything in God’s way and you feel like you have nothing to show for it. There are going to be times in your life that the promises of God are invisible because you have to wait. There are other seasons where God is invisible, but is because of our choices.” Jon Rush (Youth Director at Elevation Ballantyne) dropped fire on the stage!

What we see is a result of what first was built on the inside of our minds. So, who are you listening to? Some of the people that you're letting grade your life are not qualified to put a report out on who you are, who God says you are, and the talents you have. You’re going to have to have to learn how to cancel the voices that pull you away from the promise of God and amplify the voices that pull you into the plan of God.  Don’t let their voice block God’s vision in your life! 

Start canceling out the wrong voices and amplifying the right voice! “You've got to develop the spiritual discipline of fact checking. Don't give those voices so much time in your head, check with the truth that comes from the Word of God.”  Sometimes the promise is only invisible because we didn’t listen to Jesus. You can listen and obey the voice of Life. "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me," Jesus once said, using the shepherd metaphor (John 10:27). 

Food for thought:

-What are you not addressing in your life and how is it hurting? 

-Is there a place you’ve been escaping to that now enslaves you? 

-What thing you know God is calling you to but you know you’re gonna have to fight for it? 

-What have you believed about your life based on what someone else said?

-What are some voices you know that you have to block out right now?