April 24 2016 Your Inadequacy And God's Advice

YOUR INADEQUACY AND GOD’S ADVICE

1 Corinthians 2:3 - I came to you in weakness, timid and trembling.

2 Timothy 1:7 - For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

1.  Decide to be a good example.

1 Timothy 4:12 - Do not let anyone treat you as if you are unimportant because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith, in purity.

Your words: The way you talk.

Your life: The way you act.

Your love: The way you run your relationships.

Your faith: You keep believing.

Your example: You lead a pure life.

2 Corinthians 11:1 - And you should follow my example, just as I follow Christ’s.

2.  Depend on God.

2 Corinthians 3:5 - Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God.

Philippians 4:13 - I can do all things through Christ, because He gives me strength.

3.  Use God’s gifts.

2 Timothy 1:6 - I remind you to keep using the gift that God gave you when I laid my hands on you, now let it grow, as a small flame grows into a fire.

1 Timothy 4:14 - Do not neglect your gift.

1 Peter 4:10 - Each one would use whatever gift he has received to serve others.

4.  Decide to grow.

2 Peter 3:18 - Grow in spiritual strength and become better acquainted with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

1 Timothy 4:15 - Cultivate these things.  Immerse yourself in them.  The people will see you mature right before their eyes.

Ephesians 3:20 - With God’s power working in us, God can do much, much more than anything we can ask or imagine.

March 13 2016 Daring To Go In Faith

DARING TO GO IN FAITH

Daring Faith: The Key To Miracles – Part 9

Two of the words that summarize Jesus’ message are: come & go

Matthew 11:28-30 (CEV) Jesus: “If you are tired from carrying heavy burdens, COME TO ME and I will give you rest. Take the yoke I give you. Put it on your shoulders and learn from me. I am gentle and humble, and you will find rest. My yoke is easy to bear, and my burden is light.” 

Luke 7:50 Jesus said, “Your faith has saved you. NOW GO!”

Memory Verse: James 2:17 “Any faith that doesn’t lead us to GO INTO ACTON with good deeds is worthless, dead and useless!”

DARING FAITH IS ABOUT A PARTY THAT WILL LAST FOREVER:

Luke 14:16-20"A very powerful and generous man prepared a great banquet and invited many prominent guests. When it was ready he sent his servant to GO AND TELL those invited to ‘COME, for everything is now ready!’ But they all began to make excuses. The first said, ‘I’ve just bought a field, and I must go see it. Please excuse me.’ Another said, ‘I’ve just acquired five pair of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.’ Still another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’ When the servant reported this, the Owner of the Estate became angry and told his servant, ‘GO QUICKLY into the streets and alleys of our city and BRING IN the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame as my guests!’ The servant said, ‘Master, we’ve already done this, but there is STILL ROOM FOR MORE in your banquet!’ The Master said, ‘Then now GO OUT OF OUR CITY to the roads and country lane, GO EVERYWHERE and INVITE EVERYONE TO COME so that my house will be full! I promise you this: not one of those people who ignored my invitation will ever get to taste what I had prepared for them!’" 

I must GO. . .to obey GOd. . . to do GOod. . . to live the GOspel. . .to become GOdly. . . to reach my GOals . . . to share the GOod News!

WHERE ARE WE GOING?

1. WE ARE GOING TO  GO TO GOD FOR HELP

1 Chronicles 16:11 (TEV) “GO TO THE LORD for help, and worship him continually.” 

Psalm 34:10 (ICB) “Those who GO TO THE LORD for help will have every good thing.” 

Psalm 37:40 (TEV) “God helps them and rescues them and saves them from the wicked, because they

2. WE ARE GOING TO GO TOGETHER FOR SUPPORT

Acts 14:22“(Paul & Barnabas) strengthened the disciples and encouraged them to remain true to the faith, reminding them that we must GO THROUGH many hardships to enter the kingdom of God." 

Philippians 1:27 - 2:2 (NLT) “ . . . I want to hear that you are working together and that you are struggling side by side to get others to believe the good news . . . Don’t be intimidated by those who oppose you . . .You have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him. We are in this fight TOGETHER . . . (so keep on) loving one another, and working together with one

3. WE ARE GOING TO GO ON TO MATURITY

Hebrews 6:1 (NIV) “Let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and GO ON TO MATURITY . . .”

2 Peter 1:8 (LB) “The more you GO ON in this way, the more you will GROW STRONG spiritually and become fruitful and useful to our Lord Jesus.”

2 Peter 1:9 (LB) “Anyone who fails to GO AFTER these additions to faith is blind, or very shortsighted and has forgotten that God delivered us from the old life of sin so that now we can live a strong, good life

4. WE ARE GOING TO TO GO TELL THE GOOD NEWS 

Romans 10:13-15 (ICB) "Anyone who asks the Lord for help will be saved. But before people can trust in the Lord, they must believe in him. And before they can believe in him, they must hear about him. And to hear about him someone must GO AND TELL them! And before someone can go and tell them, he must be sent. It is written, ‘How beautiful is the person who comes to bring good news.’ " 

Acts 1:8 “When the Holy Spirit comes upon you, you’ll be given my power, and you are to GO AND BE MY WITNESSES in Jerusalem, and in all of Judea and in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." 

Luke 9:60 Jesus said, "Let people who are dead bury the dead. Your job is to GO AND TELL OTHERS about God’s kingdom.”

MY DARING FAITH COVENANT

In gratitude for all that Christ has done for me, and out of a deep desire to grow in my faith, and in obedience to Christ’s command that I “store up treasure in Heaven,” I make a covenant today with my brothers and sisters of Great Plains Church to use the next 2 years growing, sowing, and going in daring faith. ...I commit to showing and sharing God’s love with those closest to me and serving God by serving others in our community. Also, because I want someone to be in Heaven because I cared, I am asking God to give me the privilege of bringing ONE person to Jesus in the next 2 years and see them be baptized and become a part of the fellowship of our church family. I know I cannot do this on my own power but I will trust God in daring faith to see it happen.

January 31 2016 Daring To Give God My Best

DARING TO GIVE GOD MY BEST

Daring Faith: The Key To Miracles – Part 5

2 Peter 1:5­8 (CEV) "DO YOUR BEST to improve your faith. You can do this by adding goodness, understanding, self­control, patience, devotion to God, concern for others, and love. If you keep growing in this way, it will show that . . . Christ has made your lives useful and meaningful."

Proverbs 3:9-­10 "Honor God with everything you own; give him the first and the BEST part of everything. If you do this, your barns will fill with grain and your barrels will overflow with wine."

HOW DO I GIVE MY BEST TO GOD?

2 Timothy 2:3­7 – A Soldier, An Athlete, A Farmer

"Endure hardship with us like a GOOD SOLDIER of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets tied up in civilian af airs—he wants to please his commanding of icer. Similarly, if anyone competes as AN ATHLETE, he does not receive the victor’s crown unless he competes according to the rules. And the HARDWORKING FARMER should be the first to receive a share of the crops. Think about these three illustrations, and the Lord will help you to understand how they apply to you." 2 Timothy 2:3­7 (NIV/LB)

LESSONS FROM THE MILITARY

LIKE AN EFFECTIVE SOLDIER, I MUST . . .

1. I MUST DEFINE WHAT I’D DIE FOR

John 15:13 (LB) "The greatest love is shown when a person lays down his life

2. I MUST SACRIFICE MY COMFORT

2 Timothy 2:3 "Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus."

Ephesians 5:2 "Live a life of sacrificial love just like Christ loved us and gave himself as an of ering and sacrifice for us."

3. I MUST ELIMINATE DISTRACTIONS

2 Timothy 2:4 (NIV/NLT)"As Christ’s soldier, do not let yourself become entangled in the af airs of this life, wasting time, for then you can’t please your commanding of icer who enlisted you in his army."

LESSONS FROM SPORTS

1 Corinthians 9:24-­27 (LB/NCV) "In a race everyone runs, but only one person wins the prize. So run your race to win. TO WIN the contest YOU MUST DENY YOURSELVES many things that would keep you from DOING YOUR BEST.

An athlete goes to all this trouble just to win a ribbon or medal that won’t last, but we do it for an eternal reward that will last forever! So I run straight to the goal with purpose in every step. I fight to win. I’m not just shadow­boxing or playing around. Like an athlete I discipline myself, making sacrifices and training my body to do what it should, not what it wants to do. Otherwise I fear I might be disqualified from the race."

TO WIN THE PRIZE, I MUST . . .

1. I MUST INTEND TO WIN

1 Corinthians 9:24 (LB) "In a race everyone runs, but only one person wins the prize. So run your race to win!"

1 Timothy 6:12 (TEV)"Run YOUR BEST in the RACE OF FAITH, and win eternal life for yourself; for this is the life that God called you to when you professed your faith before many witnesses."

2. I MUST DISCIPLINE MYSELF

Hebrews 12:2 (Mes)"Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that joyful finish with God in heaven —he could put up with anything along the way: cross, shame, whatever. And now he's there, in the place of honor, right alongside God."

2 Timothy 2:5 (NAS) "If anyone competes as an athlete, he cannot receive the victor’s crown unless he competes according to the rules."

1 Corinthians 9:25+27 (LB/NLT)"To win the contest you must deny yourself many things that would keep you from DOING YOUR BEST. An athlete goes into strict training just to win a ribbon or medal that won’t last, but we do it for an eternal reward that will last forever! . . . So I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should."

3. I MUST STAY FOCUSED ON THE REWARD

1 Corinthians 9:26 (LB )"I run straight to the goal with purpose in every step! I fight to win. I’m not just shadow­boxing or playing around."

Matthew 13:24 (NLT) Jesus: "The Kingdom of Heaven is like a farmer who planted good seed in his field."

LESSONS FROM FARMING

2 Corinthians 9:6­-13 (NLT) "Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. You must each make up your own mind as to how much you should give. Don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. For God loves the person who gives cheerfully. Then God will generously provide all you need, and you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others . . . For God is the one who gives seed to the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will give you many opportunities to do good, and he will produce a great harvest of generosity in you! Yes, you will be enriched SO THAT you can give even more generously! . . . You will be glorifying God through your generous gifts, AND your generosity will prove you are obedient to the Good News of Christ!"

TO REAP A GREAT HARVEST, I MUST . . .PLANT GENEROUSLY IN FAITH

_______________________________

2 PROMISES OF JESUS

Luke 6:38 (ICB) "Give, and it will be given back to you. You will be given much. It will be poured into your hands—more than you can hold. You will be given so much that it will spill into your lap. The way you give to others is the way God will give to you."

Mark 10:29-­30 Jesus said, "I guarantee you this: Anyone who gives up anything for my sake and the Good News—whether a home or a family member or property—will get MORE THAN THAT BACK, multiplied a HUNDREDFOLD, and in the world to come they will be given life forever!"

January 24 2016 Daring To Imagine

DARING TO IMAGINE

Daring Faith: The Key To Miracles – Part 3

Three Categories in the Bible

Some things we shouldn’t imagine

Some things we can’t imagine

Some things we should imagine

WHY DREAM?

1. My imagination shapes my life.

Proverbs 23:7 (KJV)" . . . For as a man thinks in his heart, so he is."

Proverbs 4:23 (TEV)"Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts."

Genesis 11:6 (Amp) The Lord said, "Now that they are one people speaking one language, this is only the beginning of what they will do. Now nothing they have IMAGINED they can do will be impossible for them!"

2. Imagining is essential to living by faith.

Hebrews 11:1 (NLT) "What is faith? It is the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen. It is the evidence of things we cannot yet see."

2 Corinthians 4:18 (NCV)"We set our eyes not on what we see but on what we cannot see. What we see will last only a short time, but what we cannot see will last forever."

3. Great lives are built around great dreams.

Ephesians 1:18 (NJB) "May God enlighten the eyes of your mind so that you can see the hope that his calling holds for you."

Proverbs 29:18 (KJV)"Where there is no vision, the people perish . . ."

4. God’s dream for my life is bigger than my dream.

Ephesians 3:20 (Mes)"God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever IMAGINE or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by his Spirit working deeply and gently within us." 

Let the size of my God, determine the size of my goals

5. Doubt is the enemy of imagination.

James 1:5­7 "If you need wisdom, just ask God for it, because He is generous and enjoys giving to everyone. But when you ask God, you must believe in faith and not doubt. For a doubtful mind is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is driven back and forth, and tossed about by the wind. Such doubters cannot decide about anything they do, so they should not imagine receiving anything from the Lord."

Mark 9:22­24 (NLT) "The man said, ‘Please heal my son if you can.’ Jesus replied, ‘What do you mean, "If I can?" Anything is possible IF a person believes.’ The father replied, ‘I do believe, but help me not to doubt!’"

6. Growing my character will clarify my vision.

2 Peter 1:5­9 (NCV) "To your faith, add goodness; and to your goodness, add knowledge; and to your knowledge, add self­control; and to your self­control, add patience; and to your patience, add service for God; and to your service for God, add kindness for your brothers and sisters in Christ; and to this kindness, add love for everyone. IF all these things are in you and are growing, they will help you to BE USEFUL AND PRODUCTIVE in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But anyone who does not have these things CANNOT SEE CLEARLY."

7. If a dream is from God, it will be connected somehow to to His Church & Plan for the World

"If you try to keep your life for yourself, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will find true life." Mark 8:35 (NLT)

June 21 2015 Letting God Meet Your Needs

LETTING GOD MEET YOUR NEEDS 

God's Answer to Your Greatest Needs 

Matthew 6:9-13 9“This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven,  hallowed be your name,  

WHAT GOD'S NAMES TELL ME

1. God wants to SUPPLY MY NEEDS

Genesis 22:14 "God is my provider." ("Jehovah-Jireh")

Philippians 4:19 (Ph) "God will supply all that you need from his glorious resources in Christ Jesus.  "

2 Peter  1:3 (LB) "As you know Him better, God will give you, through His great power, everything you need  for living a truly good life. "

My most urgent need:

2. God wants to FORGIVE MY FAULTS

Jeremiah 23:6 "God is my Righteousness.  " ("Jehovah-Tsidkenu")

Isaiah 43:25 (GN)  'I am the God who forgives your sins, and I do this because of who I am."

Romans 3:23-24 (LB) "All have sinned... yet God declares us 'not guilty of  offending Him if we trust in Jesus 

My worst fault-

3. God wants to RELIEVE MY STRESS

Judges 6:24 "God is my Peace " ("Jehovah-Shalom")

1 Corinthians 14:23 (RSV) "God is not a God of confusion but of peace.  "

John 14:27 (LB) (Jesus)"The peace I give you isn't fragile like the peace the world gives. So don't be 

My greatest stress:

4. God wants to HEAL MY HURTS

Exodus 15:26 "God is my Healer" ("Jehovah-Rophe")

Psalm 147:3 "God heals the brokenhearted and binds up their

2 Corinthians 5:17 (LB) When. someone becomes a Christian he becomes  a brand new person inside.  He is not the same anymore.  A new life has begun!"

My deepest hurt:

Psalm 33:21 (LB)"No wonder we are happy in the Lord!.  We trust  His holy name!"