Embracing God's Push for Abundant Living

Summary

In today's message, we explored the concept of living a "ten x" life, a life that is exponentially more abundant and fulfilling than we might imagine. This idea is rooted in the parable of the sower from Matthew 13, where Jesus speaks of the seed that falls on good soil and yields a hundredfold. This parable illustrates that when we truly hear and understand God's word, we are called to live a life that bears abundant fruit. Contrary to the belief that God wants to keep us in our place, He desires to push us beyond our self-imposed limitations and into a life of greater purpose and fulfillment.

The key to this ten x life is hearing from God, which requires us to be open to His push. This push is not about being crushed or constrained but about being propelled towards His promises. We often resist this push due to fear, preferring the comfort of the known and the safe. However, the Bible is filled with stories of individuals who were pushed by God into extraordinary lives, from the disciples who left everything to follow Jesus to the Israelites who were led into the Promised Land.

We also discussed the importance of understanding God's language, much like learning a new language in a relationship. Just as we learn to understand our spouses beyond their words, we must learn to understand God's voice and His push. Jesus was a God of action, frequently urging His followers to "go" and make disciples, emphasizing movement and growth over stagnation.

In our current context, this push is towards a spiritual revival, a personal awakening that can lead to a broader national awakening. We are called to let God push us, to step out of our comfort zones, and to engage fully in the journey He has for us. This involves not just hearing His word but allowing it to transform us, to bring dead things to life, and to sustain us in ways we cannot imagine.

Key Takeaways:

- God's Push Towards Abundance: God desires to push us beyond our comfort zones into a life of abundance and purpose. This push is not about being constrained but about being propelled towards His promises. When we hear and understand His word, we are called to live a life that bears abundant fruit. [01:15]

- Understanding God's Language: Just as we learn to understand our spouses beyond their words, we must learn to understand God's voice and His push. Jesus frequently urged His followers to "go," emphasizing movement and growth over stagnation. [05:59]

- Overcoming Fear with Faith: Fear often inflates the danger and keeps us passive. However, God's push is always towards His promise, and we must choose to listen to His voice over the voice of fear. Our lives are limited in the places we refuse to be pushed. [11:55]

- Revival Begins with Personal Awakening: Every national awakening begins with personal revival. We are called to let God push us, to step out of our comfort zones, and to engage fully in the journey He has for us. This involves not just hearing His word but allowing it to transform us. [30:12]

- The Power of God's Word: God's word is not just an opinion or suggestion; it has the power to create life and sustain us. When He speaks, reality changes, and dead things come to life. We must be open to His push and allow His word to bring us into a life of unimaginable abundance. [36:34]

Youtube Chapters:

- [0:00] - Welcome
- [01:15] - The Ten X Life
- [02:15] - Learning God's Language
- [05:59] - Jesus, the Pushy God of Go
- [07:23] - Lambs Among Wolves
- [08:36] - The Language of Push
- [09:22] - The Story of Exodus
- [11:55] - The Voice of Fear
- [13:39] - Be Strong and Courageous
- [14:35] - The Need for Revival
- [30:12] - History of Awakenings
- [32:58] - God's Word Creates Life
- [36:34] - The Power of God's Word
- [38:24] - Interruptions and Choices
- [41:06] - The Choice to Be Pushed

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
1. Matthew 13:23 - "As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty."
2. Matthew 28:18-19 - "And Jesus came and said to them, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations...'"
3. Ephesians 3:20 - "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us."

#### Observation Questions
1. What does the parable of the sower in Matthew 13:23 suggest about the potential of a life that truly hears and understands God's word?
2. How does Jesus' command in Matthew 28:18-19 reflect His push for movement and growth in the lives of His followers? [05:59]
3. In what ways does the sermon describe God's push as being different from being constrained or crushed? [08:36]
4. How does the sermon illustrate the concept of fear inflating danger and keeping us passive? [11:55]

#### Interpretation Questions
1. How might the parable of the sower challenge common perceptions about the limitations of our lives and the abundance God offers? [01:15]
2. What does the sermon suggest about the relationship between understanding God's language and being open to His push? [02:15]
3. How does the story of the Israelites in the Promised Land illustrate the consequences of choosing passivity over God's push? [11:04]
4. In what ways does the sermon connect personal revival with broader spiritual awakenings? [30:12]

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt God pushing you out of your comfort zone. How did you respond, and what was the outcome? [08:36]
2. What are some specific fears that might be inflating the danger in your life, preventing you from embracing God's push? How can you confront these fears with faith? [11:55]
3. Consider the areas in your life where you might be settling for less than what God has for you. What steps can you take to allow God to push you towards His promises? [09:22]
4. How can you actively learn to understand God's language in your daily life, similar to how one learns a new language in a relationship? [02:15]
5. Identify a specific area in your life where you feel called to "go" and make disciples. What practical steps can you take this week to act on this calling? [05:59]
6. How can you contribute to a personal revival that might lead to a broader awakening in your community or nation? [30:12]
7. Reflect on the concept of a "ten x" life. What would a tenfold increase in peace, joy, or purpose look like for you, and how can you pursue it? [41:46]

Devotional

Day 1: Embracing God's Push Towards Abundance
God desires to propel us beyond our comfort zones into a life of abundance and purpose. This push is not about being constrained but about being propelled towards His promises. When we hear and understand His word, we are called to live a life that bears abundant fruit. The parable of the sower in Matthew 13 illustrates this beautifully, showing that when seeds fall on good soil, they yield a hundredfold. This is a metaphor for our lives when we are receptive to God's word and His push. We often resist this push due to fear, preferring the comfort of the known and the safe. However, the Bible is filled with stories of individuals who were pushed by God into extraordinary lives, from the disciples who left everything to follow Jesus to the Israelites who were led into the Promised Land. [01:15]

Isaiah 54:2-3 (ESV): "Enlarge the place of your tent, and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out; do not hold back; lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes. For you will spread abroad to the right and to the left, and your offspring will possess the nations and will people the desolate cities."

Reflection: What is one area in your life where you feel God is pushing you beyond your comfort zone? How can you take a step of faith in that area today?

Day 2: Learning to Understand God's Language
Just as we learn to understand our spouses beyond their words, we must learn to understand God's voice and His push. Jesus frequently urged His followers to "go," emphasizing movement and growth over stagnation. Understanding God's language involves being attuned to His voice and recognizing His guidance in our lives. It requires us to be open to His push, which is not about being crushed or constrained but about being propelled towards His promises. This understanding is crucial for living a life that bears abundant fruit and fulfills God's purpose for us. [05:59]

1 Kings 19:11-12 (ESV): "And he said, 'Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord.' And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper."

Reflection: How can you create space in your daily routine to better hear and understand God's voice? What distractions might you need to eliminate to do so?

Day 3: Overcoming Fear with Faith
Fear often inflates the danger and keeps us passive. However, God's push is always towards His promise, and we must choose to listen to His voice over the voice of fear. Our lives are limited in the places we refuse to be pushed. The Bible is filled with stories of individuals who overcame fear with faith, trusting in God's promises and stepping out in obedience. This requires us to confront our fears and choose faith, believing that God's plans for us are good and that He will lead us into a life of abundance and purpose. [11:55]

Joshua 1:9 (ESV): "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."

Reflection: Identify a fear that is holding you back from pursuing God's promises. How can you take a step of faith to overcome that fear today?

Day 4: Revival Begins with Personal Awakening
Every national awakening begins with personal revival. We are called to let God push us, to step out of our comfort zones, and to engage fully in the journey He has for us. This involves not just hearing His word but allowing it to transform us. Personal revival is the catalyst for broader change, as it ignites a passion for God and His purposes in our lives. When we experience personal revival, we become agents of change in our communities and beyond, leading to a broader national awakening. [30:12]

Ezekiel 36:26-27 (ESV): "And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules."

Reflection: What steps can you take to invite personal revival in your life? How can you allow God's word to transform you from the inside out?

Day 5: The Power of God's Word
God's word is not just an opinion or suggestion; it has the power to create life and sustain us. When He speaks, reality changes, and dead things come to life. We must be open to His push and allow His word to bring us into a life of unimaginable abundance. The Bible is filled with examples of God's word bringing life and transformation, from creation to the resurrection of Jesus. As we engage with God's word, we are invited to experience its transformative power in our own lives, leading us into a life of purpose and fulfillment. [36:34]

Hebrews 4:12 (ESV): "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart."

Reflection: How can you make God's word a more integral part of your daily life? What specific steps can you take to engage with it more deeply and allow it to transform you?

Quotes

1) "See, Jesus says, when you actually hear my voice, if you actually could hear me, what you would hear me saying is, go for it. I have a hundredfold lies for you. And so we think ten acts in ten years is a good place to start. And that's the good news. If you ever felt like if God were to talk to you, he would just put you back in your place, let me just remove that lie from your brain right now. No, he wouldn't. He wants to push you out of the place you put yourself in and give you more life than you ever thought was possible." [01:15] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2) "The point is this. If you haven't been pushed by God, you have never heard him. It's the language he speaks. There isn't any other language. And you might be like, well, Kyle, isn't God a loving father? Yeah, he is. He doesn't push you down. I think that's the misperception of God, is that he's trying to crush you down and put you in your spot. He's trying to push you down. No, he's trying to push you out of the places where you've settled for less than what he has for you. He's not the Wwe wrestler jumping off the top rope, doing a moonsault, just elbow dropping to the mat. He's not that. He wants to pick you up and push you to more. See, his push is one direction. His push is always towards his promise. Always, never anything. Always towards his promise." [08:36] (53 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3) "Your life is and always will be limited in the places you refuse to be pushed. It just will. So if you listen to me, don't listen to fear. Don't listen to the voice of fear. Listen to God and let him push you to a place you could never imagine on your own. You know, none of those people who had that bad report, none of the people who decided to stay passive ever got the promise. None of them did. They wait till they all die off. And then the two guys, the two spies who said, no, I think we can take him, Joshua and Caleb, they lead the people of Israel into the promised land, and God gives them this charge. As they're getting ready to go, Joshua one nine says, have I not commanded you be strong and of good courage? Do not be afraid nor be dismayed, for the Lord, your God is with you." [13:39] (52 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4) "Every national awakening begins with personal revival. Now. Okay? Why would we spend all that time making that video and all that time having you watch it? Why would we do that? Because too many of us believe that can't happen. Too many of us think that can never. America's too far gone. Most Christians that I hear, that's how we talk about our country, all right? We're too far gone. We're just, you know, just kind of get rid of it. There's actually a movement, by the way, in the church where instead of going after people, the wisdom says actually be a fortress church, just kind of close your walls and kind of hunker down and try to preserve and protect. But the problem is, that's not the story of the Bible. And what history says is it's happened before. Why can't it happen again? Why not us and why not now? That's what we're saying. What would happen in your life if you let God push you? What would happen in our nation? What would happen in your family? Let him push you." [30:12] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5) "The push, all this pushing, right? All this pushing. Our goal is not actually for you to hear from us. Not the goal. Our goal is to push you to hear from God. That's the goal. Now, there's a fundraising playbook. You may not know this playbook. There's a fundraising playbook. It's called the thermometer method. Now, in the thermometer method, when you have a goal to raise funds, what you do is you set the goal right. Maybe you've seen this outside of a firehouse or somewhere. Somewhere raising money. And you make the thermometer, and then as people give money, you put red paint on there, the mercury hit the goal, whatever that is. It's how you raise money, and you go around to people who are your donors, and you give them a fair share checklist. You go, hey, you know, we're trying to raise whatever it is. And so we're kind of hoping and thinking that maybe you could give us this much money. That's the actual playbook. That's not what we're doing. What we're doing is the thermostat. We're saying, what would happen if we let God grab hold of each of our hearts and just push that temperature higher? What would happen? And the way that happens, by the way, is that we hear from him." [32:12] (70 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6) "The reason that I have such strong faith and I don't worry, which people tell me they're like, Kyle, it's weird to how much stress you don't have. You know, they're like, do you really not get stressed out? And I go, no, not really. I really don't. And the reason is because of the past financial campaigns that I've gone through at crossroads. I let God push me financially. And what I found at the end of it was God has so much more. He's so much more abundant and kind and amazing that I don't have to worry about anything. And so I don't. There's a verse in the Bible where Jesus actually says, he says, do not worry. And I know that can be very frustrating, right? Do not worry. Gosh, I wish it was that easy. Well, it's a command that you won't understand unless you've allowed God to push you and you've seen his ridiculous, abundant provision. But when you do, you're like, I get it now." [40:20] (55 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7) "You can have a push free life. You really can. That's an option. You can totally have a push free life. You can stay where it's comfortable, where it's known, where it's safe, where everything's predictable. You can totally have a push free life. Just don't expect to go very far, that's all. On the other hand, if you choose to lean in, I believe God has more for you, and not just a little bit like at least a ten x amount of him. Ten x more peace. Do you want that? If it were available, would you want ten x more joy if you could have it? Would you want ten x more sense of purpose? If you could? Ten x more sense of his pleasure and his affirmation? If you could have that, would you want it? Because that's the stakes. That's what's on the line." [41:46] (44 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8) "Listen, that's not your real objection. How do I know that? Because it's really easy to find out. That's not true. We do an independent audit every year. We spend our money as prodigiously as we can to make it go as far as possible for ministry. We don't have big fat savings account. We do everything, everything we say we're going to do. You can see it happen. That's not a real objection. Take you five minutes to correct that one. See, if you don't choose to engage, just be honest with yourself. It's because you're scared that if you actually hear God's voice, he's going to push you. And if he pushes you, it's going to be uncomfortable. And if you feel that way, man, so much empathy, so much grace, please hear that from me. And let me just tell you, by the way, that what you're thinking is 100% true. He will show up, he will push you and it will be uncomfortable. But do you know what's on the other side of uncomfortable, the unimaginable life. God has a life for you that you can't. Your brain can't stretch to ten x." [43:12] (62 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip | )

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Transcript

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