Mark Batterson, Pastor or National Community Church in Washington D.C. said, this, “Show me your convictions and I will show you your future!” That is good! Your convictions are the values you have in life that you are wholeheartedly committed to! They are more than just good ideas! Your convictions guide your life! Your convictions are things you are willing to go ALL IN for. Most of us want our lives to matter…right? Do you want your life to matter? Is that a conviction or a nice idea? What are you are willing to go ALL IN for that will make your life matter? You see…your convictions determine your difficult choices and many of your day to day choices. What convictions do you have that says that you are making a difference? That says that your life matters? I know that many of you have convictions about marriage, about serving God, giving your tithes and Life Changer offerings, serving God by serving in this church, and convictions about your family responsibilities!

Did you notice it? Did you hear it? V 66…many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.! WOW! All I can think of is WHY? Why did those who had been following him…leave…why did they turn back? And more importantly…WHY did the 12 choose to follow him? That is our focus this morning…WHY did the 12 disciples continue to follow him…and WHY would they ultimately deny themselves…take up their crosses daily…and follow Him? This morning, I want to share with you 3 reasons from the book of John in chapters…1-6! There are more…in the rest of the book of John as well as the rest of the N.T.…but I just want to share with you 3 reasons…WHY the disciples followed him! And why they choose to deny themselves, take up their crosses daily, and follow HIM!?

This series will challenge you to see Jesus in a fresh way! It will change you! If your walk with God has grown stale or stagnant…this series…WILL change it…to where you can LIVE in revival! Maybe you are thinking to yourself…pastor is that is a bold claim! Yes, it is! Here is what I know…I know that the Word of God is powerful and has the power to change you! I know that the Holy Spirit has the power to encourage you, to convict you…and to transform you!

Now, let me talk to you about the title of this message. Divine Direction: GO or NO? The question is Go or No? Here is the big idea of this message is. It is our mindset in the way we approach the will of God… or receiving Divine Direction! I have observed many, people who love God…yet...they have a “NO” mindset when it comes to receiving DIVINE DIRECTION. What is a NO mindset? It is when we automatically assume that God is telling us NO! That God’s first answer is NO! God…should I change jobs? NO! Should I get married? NO! Should I go on a mission trip? NO! Should I teach a class? NO! Should I serve in a ministry? NO! Here is the problem…it is very subtle…if God does not give us a clear and definite yes…then we won’t do anything. As a matter of fact…most people use two phrases that imply a NO mindset…and most are not even aware of it. What are the two phrases? (1) God is not calling me…or is God calling you? (2) God is not leading me…is God leading you…or “I don’t feel led.” We say things like I don’t feel called or I don’t feel led. God is not leading me to…teach, change jobs, get involved…you fill in the blank…with your situation! Now…what if we approached it from a GO mindset? What if I said…God…I am going to change jobs…unless I hear a no! I am going to teach a class…unless I hear a no! I am going on a mission trip…UNLESS you tell me no! Wow! Wow! Wow! Just think of what would be done for the Lord…if we developed a Go mindset…instead of a NO mindset!