July 24 2016 Prevailing Through A Vision

PREVAILING THROUGH A VISION

Acts 26:19

Verse 19 – So then King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven.

Five Facts About A Vision:

I. Gods vision will stop you.

Ver. 12-15 – We all fell to the ground and I heard a voice saying to me, Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?

A vision caused Paul to:

1. See himself.

2. See your possibilities.

II. God’s vision will send us.

Ver. 16-18 – Now get up and stand on your feet.

A vision helps us to see others.

III. God’s vision will strengthen us.

Ver. 20-23 – But I have had God’s help to this very day.

When you focus on God’s vision, it produces: power and strength.

IV. God’s vision will stretch us.

Ver. 24-29

This vision gave Paul:

1. Conviction to stand. (verse 26)

2. Conviction to speak. (verse 27)

3. Compassion to show. (verse 29)

V. God’s vision will satisfy us.

Ver. 19 – I was not disobedient to the vision from Heaven.

Who is the happiest person in the world?

People who have a vision.

Remember, when there is no faith in the future, there is no power in the present.

March 23 2014 Learning To Live The Good Life

Learning To Live The Good Life 

Galatians 5:22 – The Fruit of the Spirit is Goodness.

Thoughts about the good life:

• Looking good.
• Feeling good.
• Having the goods.

Ephesians 2:10 – For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ to do good works.

Six Steps To Goodness:

1. You must receive the gift of God.

Romans 3:23 – For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

Regeneration means: To receive new life.

Romans 6:23 – The Gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

2. You must master your Bible.

2 Timothy 3:16 – The whole Bible was given to us by inspiration from God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives, it straightens us out and helps us do what is right.

3. You must learn to control your thought life.

Matthew 6:22 – The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light.

Verse 23 – But if your eye is clouded with evil thoughts and desires, you are in deep spiritual darkness.

Philippians 4:8 – If you want to do good, think about good, positive and uplifting things, things that are true, honest, pure and of good report.

4. You must develop some convictions.

Matthew 6:22 & 23 – The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light, if your eye is clouded with evil thoughts and desires you are in deep spiritual darkness.

Opinion is something you hold.

Conviction is something that holds you.

Romans 12:9 – Hate what is evil, cling to what is good.

2 Peter 2:19-20 – It’s better to suffer for doing good than doing evil.

2 Timothy 3:1-3 – There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves.

5. You must have the courage to be different from your culture.

3 John 11 – Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good.

Romans 15:14 – You are full of goodness.

6. You must develop the habit of meeting with other believers.

Hebrews 10:24 – Consider how we may spur one another on towards love and good deeds, let us not give up meeting together, but let us encourage one another.

John 17:15 – My prayer is not that you take them out of the world, but that you protect them from the evil one.

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.

January 8 2012 How To Live Effectively Through Prayer

How To Live Effectively Through Prayer

Nehemiah 1:4-11

Ezekiel 22:30 - I (God) looked in vain for anyone who would build again the wall of righteousness that guards the land, who could stand in the gap…but I found not one.

The effectiveness of my public life is determined by my private life.

Three Key Questions:

I. When should I pray?

Answer: before I do anything else. (verse 4)
An effective person does more than pray, but he doesn’t do anything else until he prays.

He prays:
• Effective people make prayer a first priority.
• Ineffective people make prayer a last resort.

When Nehemiah used prayer:
1:4-11
6:9
2:4
13:29
4:4,5
5:19
4:9
13:14,22,31

II. Why should I pray?

1. It shows I’m depending on God.
John 15:1-8
Matt. 5:3

2. It lightens my load.
Isaiah 40:31 - They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings like eagles. They shall run and not be weary, they Shall walk and not faint.

Effective people find their strength on their knees.

3. It releases God’s power.
Jer. 33:3 - (God says) Call to Me and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things which you know not.

III. How should I pray?

Example of effective praying - verses 5-11.

Key question to ask myself:

How we should pray.

Four Secrets To Answered Prayer

1. Base your request on God’s character.

What Nehemiah said about God (verses 5-6)

* You’re a faithful God
* You’re a great God
* You are a God of love

2. Confess the sins of Israel and himself. (vs. 6b-7)

Effective people accept the blame. Losers pass the buck.

3. Claim the promises of God.
(vs. 6b-8) Nehemiah reminded God.

Prayer transforms God’s promises into performance!

The strength of my prayer life is determined by how well I know the promises of God.

4. Be very specific in what you ask. (vs. 10)

If I can’t ask God to bless what I’m doing, then I’d Better start.

Summary: The Type of Prayer God Answers:

* A prayer of conviction. (of who God is)
* A prayer of confession. (of what I am)
* A prayer of confidence. (in what God has promised)
* A prayer of commitment. (I’m willing to be a part of the answer)