September 25 2016 Learning To Be Content

LEARNING TO BE CONTENT

Memory Verse: Exodus 20:17 "You shall not covet...anything that belongs to your neighbor."

"COVET": the uncontrolleddesire to acquire

I. What Happens When I Always Want More

1. Fatigue

Proverbs 23:4" Do not wear yourself out to be rich; have the wisdom to show restraint."

2. Debt

Ecclesiastes 5:11 (LB) "The more money you have, the more money you spend..."

3. Worry

Ecclesiastes 5:12 (GN)"A working man ... can get a good night's sleep. But the rich man has so much that he stays awake worrying."

4. Conflict

James 4:1"What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from the desires that battle with you?"

5. Dissatisfaction

Ecclesiastes 5:10 (GN)"You will never be satisfied if you long to be rich. You will never get all you want."

Philippians 4:12(Paul) "I have learned the secret of being content... whether living in plenty or in want."

II. How To Learn To Be Content

1. RESIST COMPARING MYSELF TO OTHERS.

2 Corinthians 10:12 "We do not dare classify or compare ourselves ... it is not wise."

I Timothy 6:9 (JB) "When we long to be rich, we are a prey to temptation; We get trapped into all sorts of foolish and dangerous ambitions which eventually plunge us into ruin."

2. REJOICE IN WHAT I DO HAVE.

Ecclesiastes 5:19 (GN)"If God gives a man wealth and property .. he should be grateful and enjoy what he has...it is a gift from God."

Ecclesiastes 6:9 (GN)"It is better to be satisfied with what you have than to be always wanting something else."

3. RELEASE WHAT I HAVE TO HELP OTHERS.

I Timothy 6:17-19 (LB)"Tell those who are rich, not to be proud and not to trust in their money which will soon be gone. Tell them to use their money to do good ... to give happily to those in need, always with others whatever God has given them. By doing this they will be storing up real treasure for themselves in heaven -- it is the only safe investment for eternity!"

Acts 20:35 (GN)"There is more happiness in giving than in receiving."

4. REFOCUS ON WHAT'S GOING TO LAST.

2 Corinthians 4:18 "We fix our attention, not on the things that are seen, but on things that are unseen. What can be seen lasts only for a time, but what cannot be seen lasts forever."

Luke 12:15 "A man's true life is not made up of the things he owns, no matter how rich he may be."

June 14 2015 Freedom From Depression

FREEDOM FROM DEPRESSION

1 Kings 19:1-18 

Verse 4 – I have had enough, Lord.  Take my life.  I am no better than my ancestors.

A Prime Candidate For Depression Is: Physically tired & emotionally exhausted.

I. First, notice what causes or increases depression.

A) One – You focus on feelings instead of facts.

Verse 3-4 – Elijah was afraid and ran for his life.  He came to a broom tree, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said.

B) Secondly, you can increase depression by comparing yourselves with others.

Verse 4 – “I’m no better than my ancestors.”

2 Corinthians 10:12 – We do not dare to compare ourselves with some.

C) Thirdly, depression is increased when we take false blame.

Verse 10 – “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty.  The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword.”

You can sometimes influence people but you can’t control them.

D) A fourth mistake we make about depression is exaggerate the negative.

Verse 10 – “Everybody’s against me.”

II. Secondly, notice God’s cure for depression

A) First take care of physical needs.

Verses 5-6 – Then he lay down under the tree and fell asleep, and then the angel said, “Get up and eat,” and he looked and saw bread and a jar of water.

B) Secondly give your frustrations to God.

Verses 9-10 – Israel rejected the covenant, broke down the altars, put the prophets to death, the only one left.

Many emotions:

Verse 3:  He was afraid.

Verse 4:  He talks about resentment.

Verse 10:  Worked hard for nothing. Thought they would kill him.

C) Thirdly get a fresh awareness of God.

Verse 11 – “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord for I am to pass by.”

HOW TO GET A FRESH AWARENESS

Get alone with God.

D) Fourthly get a new direction for life.

Verse 15 –“Go back the way you came and go to the Desert of Damascus.  When you get there here’s what I want you to do.”

Matthew 16:25 – Whoever loses his life will find it.

YOU CAN CHANGE!

July 27 2014 Finding My Significance Through Service

Finding My Significance Through Service 

God on Film Part 5

Memory Verse: Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)“We are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Job 10:8 (NIV) “Your hands shaped me and made me.”

Spiritual Gifts

• Heart
• Abilities
• Personality
• Experiences

1 Peter 4:10 (NIV) “Each one should use whatever gift he’s received to serve others.”

Matthew 20:28 (LB) Jesus: “Your attitude must be like My Own, for I did not come to be served, but to serve...”

LEARNING TO SERVE LIKE JESUS

1. SERVING LIKE JESUS MEANS BEING AVAILABLE.

Matthew 20:30-32 (NIV) “Two blind men... shouted, ‘Lord, have mercy on us!’ ... Jesus stopped and called them. ‘What do you want Me to do for you?’ He asked.”

Proverbs 3:28 (TEV) “Never tell your neighbors to wait until tomorrow if you can help them now.”

1st Barrier: SELF-CENTEREDNESS

Philippians 2:4 (MSG)“Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.”

2nd Barrier: PERFECTIONISM

Ecclesiastes 11:4 (NLT)“If you wait for perfect conditions, you’ll never get anything done.”

3rd Barrier: MATERIALISM

Luke 16:13 (NIV)“No servant can serve two masters... You cannot serve both God and money."

2. SERVING LIKE JESUS MEANS BEING THANKFUL

John 11:41-42 (NIV) “Jesus looked up and said, ‘Father, I thank you that you have heard Me. I knew that you always hear Me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here...’"

Psalms 100:2 (KJV) “Serve the Lord with gladness.”

2 Timothy 1:9 (LB) “It is He who saved us and chose us for His holy work not because we deserved it but because that was His plan...”

1st Barrier: COMPARING & CRITICIZING

Romans 14:4 (GW)“Who are you to criticize someone else's servant? The Lord will determine whether His servant has been successful.”

2nd Barrier: WRONG MOTIVATIONS

Matthew 6:1 (CEV) “When you do good deeds, don't try to show off. If you do, you won't get a reward from your Father in heaven.”

June 23 2013 How To Live The Satisfied Life

HOW TO LIVE THE SATISFIED LIFE
Philippians 4:10-13

Verses 11-12 - I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.  I know what it is to be in need and I know what it is to have plenty.  I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation.

4 LESSONS

1.  I must avoid comparisons.
a) Verse 11 b - I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.
b) II Cor. 4:18 - We do not look at what we can see right now, the troubles all around us, but we look forward to the joys in heaven, the troubles will soon be over, but the joys to come will last forever.

Misconceptions about happiness:
* I must have what others have.

* I must be liked by everyone.

* Having more of everything.

I Timothy 6:6-8 - Godliness with contentment is great gain.  For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.  But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.

2.  I must adjust to change.
a) Verse 12 - I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty.  I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well-fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.

I have learned to be independent of circumstances

Types of circumstances:
•  Those we can control and do.
•  Those we can control and don’t.
•  Those we can’t control.

b) Rom. 12:18 - If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

3.  I must draw on Christ’s Power.
a) Verse 13 - I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.

THERE IS NOTHING I CANNOT MASTER WITH THE HELP OF THE ONE WHO GIVES ME STRENGTH.

b) II Cor. 12:9 - But God said to me my grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in (your) weakness.

4.  I must trust Christ to meet my needs.
a) Verse 19 - And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
b) Matt. 6:31-33 - So do not start worrying, where will my food come from?  Or my drink?  Or my clothes?  Your heavenly Father knows you need all these things.  Instead be concerned above everything else with God’s Kingdom and He will provide you with all these other things.

March 3 2013 The Way To Lasting Contentment

THE WAY TO LASTING CONTENTMENT

Exodus 20:17
Verse 17 - You shall not covet anything that belongs to your neighbor.

Definition:

• Excessive desire for what I dont have.
• Envious desire for what others have.

I. How materialism hurts us.

• Causes us worry.

Matthew 6:25 - Do not worry, is not life more important than food and the body more important than clothes?

• Creates fatigue.

Proverbs 23:4 - Do not wear yourself out to be rich, have the wisdom to show restraint.

• Can create depression.

I Timothy 6:10 - some men, in the struggle to be rich, have lost their faith and caused themselves untold agonies of the mind.

• Can cause problems.

I Timothy 6:10 - The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.

II. How to learn lasting contentment.
Philippians 4:11

1. Be grateful and enjoy what you have.
I Timothy 6:6-8 - But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.

2. Stop comparing yourself with others.
I Corinthians 10:12 - We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who compare themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare, they are not wise.

3. Recognize the limitation of wealth.
Ecclesiastes 5:10-11 - He who loves money shall never have enough. The foolishness of thinking that wealth brings happiness! The more you have, the more you spend, right up to the limits of your income.
Proverbs 18:11 - The rich man thinks of his wealth as an impregnable defense, a high wall of safety. What a dreamer.

4. Focus on relationships, not things.
Proverbs 15:16-17 - Better to be poor and reverence the Lord than to be rich and in trouble. Better to eat vegetables with people you love than to eat the finest meat where there is hate.

5. Look beyond what is temporary.
II Corinthians 4:18 - So we fix our eyes, not on what is seen, but what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

6. Become a regular giver.
I Corinthians 16:2 - On each Sunday, each of you should put aside some of what you’ve earned during the week, and give it as an offering. The amount depends on how much the Lord has helped you earn.

7. Evaluate your priorities.
Luke 12:15 - Jesus said watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed. A man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.
Matthew 6:33

8. Find your satisfaction in Christ.
Hebrews 13:5 - Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, never will I leave you. Never will I forsake you.