Faith Scripture:

Romans 1:16-17 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

As we follow Jesus and walk in "Everyday Faith," this series is designed to help you get free and walk in life more abundantly.

John 10:10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”

The Everyday Faith Steps:

• Born-again – Saved
• Water Baptized
• Holy Spirit Activated
• Healed and Set Free
• In Community
• Contributing
• Personal Growth
• Reproducing

Revelation 12:11 “And they have conquered (overcome) him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.”

CRISIS...

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services:

Scholars now know that boys and girls who grow up with an involved Father and an involved Mother have stronger cognitive and motor skills, enjoy higher levels of physical and mental health, become better problem-solvers, and are more competent, curious, and empathetic. They also show greater moral sensitivity and self-control. As they grow, well-fathered children are less likely to be sexually involved at an early age, have babies out of wedlock, or be involved in criminal and violent behavior. They are much more likely to stay in school, do well there, and go to college."

• 65% of youth suicides are from fatherless homes

• 90% of all homeless and runaway youths are from fatherless homes

• 85% of children who exhibit behavioral disorders are from fatherless homes

• 71% of High School dropouts are from fatherless homes

• 70% of youths in State Institutions are from fatherless homes

• 75% of adolescent patients in substance abuse centers are from fatherless homes

• 85% of rapists are motivated by displaced anger and are from fatherless homes

U.S. Census Bureau

• 13.7 million single parents in America.

• 22 million children are raised by single parents (more than 1/4 of all children).

• 82.2% of custodial parents are mothers.

• 36.8% of custodial mothers have never been married.

• 76% of single mothers have full-time jobs.

• 30.4% of custodial mothers and their children live below the poverty line.

These stats do not include absent dads or children raised by grandparents.

So these are the positive numbers: Children may be 25% of our population, but they are 100% of our future!

Genesis 26:1 “1Now there was a famine in the land, besides the former famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went to Gerar to Abimelech king of the Philistines.”

Genesis 26:12 “12 And Isaac sowed in that land and reaped in the same year a hundredfold. The Lord blessed him,”

For anything to grow, it requires dirt. Where the world sees Dirt, Jesus sees a Harvest. What are you looking for?

Matthew 9:35-38

35 And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38 therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”

How many of you have ever felt like dirt, have been treated like dirt, or made some dirty decisions? If you will submit that dirty season to Jesus, he can create a harvest!

Get ready, because the reason others have counted you out is the reason God is counting on.

Romans 8:28 “28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

What are you doing with the dirt?

What are you teaching your kids to do with the dirt?

Many people choose to curse the dirt rather than cultivate it. Some of you have been walked on, trampled down, and kicked aside because of the dirt in your life. When you live by those feelings, you're teaching your kids how to be victims rather than walk in Victory.

Don't be mad at people who walked on you; be mad that you haven't been cultivating the dirt of your past.

• That promotion you got pasted up for.
• That house loan you didn’t get.
• Getting bullied in the bathroom.
• The "Mean Girls" club that made fun of you, which you secretly wanted to be part of.

Whenever a seed starts growing, it decides that the seed in me is greater than the dirt on top of me. The seed starts pushing dirt! Decide right now, “The seed in me is greater than the dirt on top of me.”

Have you ever prayed, "God, when is it going to be my turn?"

Isaac had a problem, well, actually 2 problems.

1. There was a lot of dirt.

2. There was a famine.

He made a decision in the midst of adversity to sow physically. Notice, I said, sow physically not naturally.

• It is not natural to sow in a famine.
• It is not natural to sow in soil that is so dry that nothing will produce.\
• It is not natural to put effort into a marriage that is already dry and dead.

Some of you are praying for "World Changer Kids," but won't pray in front of your kids at the dinner table. He did something physically but supernaturally. We all pray supernaturally, but God says start pushing dirt physically. Don’t bury your kids.

We want to be Cool Dads and Super Moms, but God called us to be Godly Dads and Spiritual Moms.

• "Cool Dads" & "Super Moms" will give up everything for their child. “
• “Godly Dad’s” & “Spiritual Mom” will become everything for their child.

Romans 11:29 “For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.”

It is not your job to "give up" everything (including you) for your child; it is your job to become everything for your child.

We must give our kids something to aspire to become! Live out your calling before them, do not give up your calling because of them.

Many parents instill a spirit of defeat in their child without even knowing it. We give up on God, His dreams, His desires, and who he has called us to be. In the end, we have sacrificed our kids rather than teaching them how to live. Do not dig with the dread of the dirt but inspired by the dream of the harvest.

What changes do you need to make today to help 25% of our population become 100% of our future?

Step 1: Be Born Again

Step 2: Bring your dirt to the only one who can change it into a harvest.