April 23 2017 God Can Use Anybody

GOD CAN USE ANYBODY!

The Miracle of Mercy – Part 2

Romans 6:13 (LB/TEV)“. . . Give yourselves completely to God – every part of you – because you’ve been brought from death to life, and now you want to be used by God for good, and for his righteous purposes.”

PAUL’S SECRETS OF STAYING USABLE

2 CORINTHIANS 4:1-18

1. Never forget it’s all because of God’s mercy!

2 Corinthians 4:1 “God IN HIS MERCY has given us this ministry and work to do. That’s why we do not become discouraged and never give up!”

MERCY: undeserved forgiveness & unearned kindness

Galatians 1:13+15 (NLT)“You know what I was like . . . how I violently persecuted Christians. I did my best to get rid of them! . . . But then something happened! For it pleased God in his kindness to choose me and all me, even before I was born! What UNDESERVED MERCY!”

Every saint has a past and very sinner has a future!

Ephesians 2:10 (LB) “It is God himself who has made us what we are and given us new lives from Christ Jesus; and long ages ago he planned that we should spend these lives in helping others.”

2. Be real.

2 Corinthians 4:2 (NLT/NCV) “We don’t try to trick anyone, and we don’t twist the word of God. Instead we teach the truth plainly, showing everyone WHO WE REALLY ARE. Then they can know in their hearts what kind of people we are in God’s sight.”

Romans 8:15 (NCV) “The Spirit we received does not make us slaves again to fear; it makes us children of God!”

3. Remember it’s not about me!

2 Corinthians 4:5 (GW) “Our message is not about ourselves. It is about Jesus Christ as the Lord. We are merely your servants for Jesus’ sake.”

2 Corinthians 4:7 (CEV) “We are like clay jars in which this treasure is stored. The real power comes from God and not from us.”

4. Use my pain to help others.

2 Corinthians 4:8-9 (CEV) “We often suffer, but we are never crushed. Even when we don’t know what to do, we never give up. In times of trouble, God is with us, and when we are knocked down, we get up again.”

2 Corinthians 4:15 (LB) “All of these sufferings of ours are for your benefit. And the more of you who are won to Christ, the more there are to thank Him for his great mercy, and the more God gets glory!”

2 Corinthians 4:16-17 (NLT) “This is why we never give up! Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are quite small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us an immeasurably great glory that will last forever!”

5. Stay focused on eternity.

Memory Verse: 2 Corinthians 4:17 (CEV) “These little troubles are getting us ready for an eternal glory that will make all our troubles seem like nothing.”

2 Corinthians 4:18 (NLT) “So we don’t look at the troubles we can see right now; rather, we look forward to what we have not yet seen. For the troubles we see will soon be over, but the joys to come will last forever.”

The Key to Staying Focused: Small Groups

Ecclesiastes 4:12 (NLT) “A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. And three people are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.”

Matthew 18:20 (NIV) Jesus: “For wherever two or three come together in my name, I will be there with them.” Do you want your life to be used by God? Are you ready to experience the Miracle of Mercy?

September 25 2016 Winning Through Persistence

WINNING THROUGH PERSISTENCE

2 Corinthians 4:1-18

One of the most essential qualities for success is persistence.  Paul was a man of incredible endurance.  In this passage, Paul shares his …….

Seven Secrets For Persistence

1. Remember that God loves you.

Verse 1 – Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart.

1 Corinthians 15:10 – Talks about God’s grace.

Grace says:

• I don’t have to prove my worth.
• Gives energy to start over when we fail.

2. Maintain a clear conscience.

Verse 2 – Rather we have renounced secret and shameful ways, we do not use deception, nor do we distort the Word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly, we commend ourselves to every man’s conscience.

1 Timothy 1:19 – Holding on to faith and a good conscience, some have rejected those and so have shipwrecked their faith.

Proverbs 10:9 – The man of integrity walks securely.

3. Have the right motivation.

Verse 5 – For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.

Verse 11 – For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake.

Colossians 3:23 – Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for man.

4. I must accept my limitations.

Verse 7 – But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.

Exodus 23:29-30 – Drove enemy out little by little.

Hebrews 12:1 – Let us run with patience the race that is set before us.

5. Love other people.

Verse 15 – All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.

6. Take time to recharge.

Verse 16 – Therefore, we do not lose heart.  Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.

List The Things That Can Renew You:

• A place to dump your worries.
• A time to play with family.
• Physical exercise.
• Bible reading and prayer.
• A strategy for daily renewal.

Psalm 119:50 – Your promise renews my life.

7. Keep your eye on the goal.

Verses 17-18 – For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us eternal glory that far outweighs them all.  So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.  For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Galatians 6:9 – Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

March 2 2014 Seeing What God Wants Me To See

Seeing What God Wants Me To See 

Illumination: Letting the Holy Spirit show me the meaning of God’s Word and how it applies to my life.

John 14:26 “Jesus said, ‘The Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.’”

John 14:17 “He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth.”

John 16:15 “…The Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you.”

Ephesians 1:17 “I ask the glorious Father and God of our Lord Jesus Christ to give you his Spirit. The Spirit will make you wise and let you understand what it means to know God.”

Ephesians 1:18-19 “I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.”

What actually happens when God opens my spiritual eyes?

1. I see the barrier to my progress.

Numbers 22:22-27 But God was furious that Balaam was going, so he sent the angel of the Lord to stand in the road to block his way… Balaam’s donkey suddenly saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand and the donkey bolted off the road into a field, but Balaam beat the donkey and turned it back on the road. Then the angel of the Lord stood at a place where the road narrowed between two vineyard walls. When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing there, it tried to squeeze by and crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall. So Balaam beat the donkey again. Then the angel of the Lord moved farther down the road and stood in a place so narrow that the donkey could not get by at all. This time when the donkey saw the angel, it lay down under Balaam. In a fit of rage Balaam beat it again with his staff.

verse 31 “Then the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes, He saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with his sword drawn.So He bowed low and fell facedown.”

2. I see how God is walking with me.

Luke 24:15-31 “Suddenly, Jesus himself came along and joined them and began walking beside them. But they didn’t know who he was, because God kept them from recognizing him. Jesus said, ‘You seem to be in a deep discussion about something, what are you so concerned about?’ They stopped short, sadness written on their faces. Then Cleopas said, ‘You must be the only person in Jerusalem who hasn’t heard about all the things that have happened in the last few days.’ Jesus said, ‘What things?’ And thedisciples said, ‘The things that happened to Jesus, the man from Nazareth,’ they said. ‘He was a prophet who did wonderful miracles. He was a mighty teacher, highly regarded by both God and all the people. But our leading priests and other religious leaders arrested him and handed him over to be condemned to death, and they crucified him. We had thought he was the Messiah. who had come to rescue Israel. That all happened three days ago,’ they continued. ‘Then some women were at his tomb early this morning, and came backwith an amazing report. They said his body was missing, and that they had seen angels who told them Jesus is alive! Some of our men ran out to see, and sure enough, Jesus’ body was gone, just as the women had said.’” “Then Jesus said, ‘You are such foolish people. You find it so hard to believe all that the prophets wrote in the Scriptures. Wasn’t it clearly predicted by the prophets that the Messiah would have to suffer all these things before entering into his time of glory?’ Then Jesus quoted passages from the writings of Moses and all of the prophets, explaining what all the Scriptures said about him.”

“By this time they were nearing Emmaus and the end of their journey. Jesus would have gone on, but they begged him to stay the night with them, since it was getting late. So he [Jesus] went home with them. As they sat down to eat, Jesus took a small loaf of bread, asked God’s blessing on it,, broke it, then gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him and he disappears from their sight.”

Three things to cooperate with the Holy Spirit

1. I must begin a relationship with Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 2: 14 “The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.” .

2 Corinthians 4:4 “The devil who rules this world has blinded the minds of those who do not believe. They cannot see the light of the Good News…”

John 3:3 “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God] until he is born again.”

2. I cleanse my heart of sin and conflict.

Matthew 5:8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.”

1 John 2:11 “Whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and he walks around in the darkness. He does not know where he’s going because the darkness has blinded him.”

3. I commit in advance to do what God says.

Psalm 119:33-34 “Teach me, O Lord, to follow your decrees; then I will keep them. Give me understanding, and I will keep your law and obey it with all my heart.”

Memory Verse: James 1:22 “Do not merely listen to the word and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”

January 6 2013 How To Know The Real God

HOW TO KNOW THE REAL GOD
Exodus 20:4-5

The second commandment is a natural extension of the first.  Once you understand that God is to have first place in your life, the natural question is:  What kind of god is God?  What is He really like?

Step two to the Better Life in 2013:
“You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything, you shall not bow down to it or worship it.”

The principle things are to be used, but not loved.

I.  What happens when we turn things into “gods?”

3 Consequences

1.  Things will disappoint you.
Jeremiah 10:14 - Those who make idols are disillusioned because the gods they make are false and lifeless.

Hebrews 2:8 - What’s the use of an idol?  It’s only something that a man has made.  What good does it do for its maker to trust it?

2.  Things will deceive you and lead you astray.
Ezekiel 14:3 - They have given their hearts to idols and are letting idols lead them into sin.

3.  Things will begin to dominate you.
Psalm 115:8 - Those who make idols will become like them, and so will those who trust them.
Jeremiah 2:5 - They worshiped worthless things and became worthless themselves.

II.  How to know the real God.

Isaiah 40:18 - To whom, then, will you compare God?  What image will you compare Him to?

Acts 17:29 -  We should not think that the Divine Being is like gold or silver or stone, an image made by man’s design and skill.

2 Corinthians. 4:4 - Christ is the exact likeness of God.

Colossians 1:15 - Christ is the visible image of the invisible God.

Benefits of Worshiping the Real God

1.  There is fulfillment.
Romans 10:11 - Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.

Psalm 37:4 - Seek your happiness in the Lord and He will give you your heart’s desire.

2.  There is freedom.
John 8:31-32 - Jesus said, “You will know the truth and the truth will set you free.”

Galatians 5:22 - The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy and peace.

3.  You become like God.
2 Corinthians 3:18 - As the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like Him.