This is the second message of Pastor Chuck Bernal's new series TRACTION. This message discusses how we can get "unstuck" from the things that keep us from moving forward. Using the nation of Israel as a case study, Pastor Chuck reveals 6 principles that will lead us to seize the future God has planned for each of us. This message was delivered on Sunday, January 17, 2016

1. Pastor Chuck Bernal – Part 2 – January 17, 2016
HELP, I’M STUCK AND I NEED SOME TRACTION!
. . . you were mired in that old stagnant life . . . You let the world, which doesn't know the first
thing about living, tell you how to live . . . We all did it, all of us doing what we felt like doing,
when we felt like doing it, all of us in the same boat.
(Ephesians 2:1, 3 – Msg)
NEGATIVITY:Icould___________________ change!
GUILT:I don’t ____________________ any better!
FEAR:I ‘m__________________________ I might fail!
BLAME: It’stheir________________________!
A CASE STUDY IN “STUCK” _________________________________________
It takes eleven days to travel from Horeb to Kadesh Barnea following the Mount Seir route. It
was on the first day of the eleventh month of the fortieth year when Moses addressed the
people telling them everything GOD had commanded him concerning them . . . Back at
Horeb, GOD spoke to us: "You've stayed long enough at this mountain. On your way now. Get
moving . . . I've given you this land. Now go in and take it . . . Then we set out from Horeb . . .
GOD has placed this land as a gift before you. Go ahead and take it now . . . Don't be afraid.
Don't lose heart." . . . But you weren't willing to go up. You rebelled against God's plain word.
“How can we go up? We're trapped in a dead end. Our brothers took all the wind out of our
sails, telling us, 'The people are bigger and stronger than we are; their cities are huge, their
defenses massive—we even saw giants there!' . . . now that you're here, you won't trust GOD . .
. (Deuteronomy 1:2-3, 6,8, 19, 21, 26, 28, 33 – Msg)
The Lord said to Joshua, “Jericho, its king & all its mighty warriors are already defeated, for I
have given them to you! Your entire army is to walk around the city once a day for six days,
followed by seven priests walking ahead of the Ark, each carrying a trumpet made from a ram’s
horn. On the seventh day you are to walk around the city seven times, with the priests blowing
their trumpets. When they give one long, loud blast, the people are to give a mighty shout, and
the walls of the city will fall down; then move in upon the city from every direction.” (Joshua
6:2-5 – LB)
Being “stuck”isneverGod’s _________________________
Getting“unstuck”isalwaysmy ______________________
It is God who givesme the _____________ I needto change

2. We saw how powerless we were to help ourselves; but that was good, for then we put
everything into the hands of God, who alone could save us . . .
(2 Corinthians 1:9 - LB)
I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ’s
strength moving in on my weakness. Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer,
these limitation that cut me down to size - abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks, I just let
Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become. (2 Corinthians 12:9-10 -
Msg)
WHEN YOU CHOOSE ACTION YOU GAIN TRACTION
Christ has set us free to live a free life . . . Never again let anyone put a harness of slavery on
you . . . I suspect you would never intend this, but this is what happens. When you attempt to
live by your own religious plans and projects, you are cut off from Christ, you fall out of grace . .
. It is absolutely clear that God has called you to a free life. . . Since this is the kind of life we
have chosen, the life of the Spirit, let us make sure that we do not just hold it as an idea in our
heads or a sentiment in our hearts, but work out its implications in every detail of our lives.
(Galatians 5:1, 4, 13, 16-18 -26, 22-23, 25-26 – Msg)
Jesus turned to the Jews who had claimed to believe in him. "If you stick with this, living out
what I tell you . . . then you will experience for yourselves the truth, and the truth will free you. .
. I tell you most solemnly that anyone who chooses a life of sin is trapped in a dead-end life and
is, in fact, a slave . . . if the Son sets you free, you are free through and through. (John 8:32, 34,
36 – Msg)
____________________________ - Ownup tothe fact that youare “stuck”
____________________________ - Make the commitmenttoget “unstuck”
_________________________________________ - AskGod for some traction
____________________________ - Do whateverit takestomake it happen
_____________________ - Everyday believe that Godwillbe there for you
_______________________ - Rememberthat change isanongoing process
I can do everything through Christ who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13- GW)
“No chance at all if you think you can pull it off by yourself.
Every chance in the world if you trust God to do it. (Luke 18:27- Msg)