January 29 2017 The Life God Blesses

THE LIFE GOD BLESSES

Decade of Destiny - Part 3

FOUR PITFALLS ON YOUR JOURNEY

1. Cultural Distractions.

2. Voices of Doubt

3. Tempting Shortcuts.

4. Discouraging Delays

LESSONS FROM NOAH: GENESIS 6-9

1. I must dare to be different from my culture.

Genesis 6:12 (NLT)"God observed all the corruption in the world, and he saw violence and depravity everywhere. "

Genesis 6:5-6 (LB)'When God saw the extent of human wickedness, and that the trend and direction of men's lives were only towards evil, he was sorry he had made them. It broke his heart"

Genesis 6:8 (MSG)"But Noah was different. God liked what he saw in Noah."(LB) "Noah was a pleasure to the Lord"

Genesis 6:9a (LB)"Noah was the only truly righteous man living on the earth at that time.

2. I must listen to the voice of God, not the voices of doubt.

Hebrews 11:7a (NCV)"It was by faith that Noah heard God's warnings about things he could not yet see."

Hebrews 11:7b (LB)"Noah's belief in God was in direct contrast to the disbelief of tile rest of the world..."

Genesis 6:9c (NIV)"Noah walked with God."

3. I must do exactly as God tells me to do.

Genesis 6:9b (LB) "Noah always tried to conduct his affiuirs according to God's will."

Genesis 6:22 & 7:5 (NLT) "Noah did eveiy!hing exactly as God had commanded him."

Hebrews 11:7b (NCV)"Noah obeyed God and built a large boat to save his family."

4. I must refuse to give up on the dream God gives me.

Hebrews 11 :7a (LB)"Noah trusted God. When he heard God's warning about the future, Noah believed him even though there was no sign of a flood..."

Hebrews 11 :7b (NCV)'...By his flu/h, Noah showed that the world was wrong, and he became one of those who are made right with God through flu/h."

Genesis 6:8 (KJV)"Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord."

Memory Verse: 2 Chronicles 16:9 (NASB) "For the eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His.

October16 2016 The Life God Blesses

THE LIFE GOD BLESSES

FOUR PITFALLS ON YOUR JOURNEY

1. Cultural distractions
2. The voices of doubt
3. Tempting short cuts
4. Discouraging delays

LESSONS FROM NOAH: GENESIS 6-9

1. I must dare to be different than my culture.

Genesis 6:12 – God observed all the corruption in the world, and He saw violence and depravity everywhere.

Genesis 6:5-6 – When God saw the extent of human wickedness, and that the trend and direction of men’s lives were only towards evil, he was sorry He had made them.  It broke His heart.

Genesis 6:8 – But Noah was different.  God liked what He saw in Noah.  Noah was a pleasure to the Lord.

Genesis 6:9a – Noah was the only truly righteous man living on the earth at that time.

2. I must listen to the voice of God, not the voices of doubt.

Hebrews 11:7a – It was by faith that Noah heard God’s warnings about things he could not yet see.

Hebrews 11:7b – Noah’s belief in God was in direct contrast to the disbelief of the rest of the world.

Genesis 6:9c – Noah walked with God.

3. I must do exactly as God tells me to do.

Genesis 6:9b – Noah always tried to conduct his affairs according to God’s will.

Genesis 6:22 & 7:5 – Noah did everything exactly as God had commanded him.

Hebrews 11:7b – Noah obeyed God and built a large boat to save his family.

4. Refusing to give up my God given dreams that God gives me.

Hebrews 11:7a – Noah trusted God.  When he heard God’s warning about the future, Noah believed Him even though there was no sign of a flood.

Hebrews 11:7b – By his faith, Noah showed that the world was wrong, and he became one of those who are made right with God through faith.

Genesis 6:8 – Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.

August 23 2015 Helping Others Like Jesus

HELPING OTHERS LIKE JESUS

The Jesus Model – Part 1

Luke 4:18-19 (NKJV) “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me To preach good news to the poor; He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim freedom for the prisoners, To recover the sight of the blind, To release the oppressed and proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.”

THE FOCUS OF A CHRIST-LIKE MINISTRY

Who Jesus came to help:

“THE POOR” The Have Nots

Types of poverty:

• material poverty
• moral poverty
• spiritual poverty

“THE BROKENHEARTED”The Let Down.

“THE IMPRISONED” the Locked Up.

Types of prisons:

• addictions
• secrets
• ignorance
• fear.

“THE BLIND” the Shut Out.

Types of blindness:

• night blindness
• relational blindness
• spiritual blindness.

“THE OPPRESSED” the Kicked Around

Types:

• political oppression.
• Cultural oppression
• Spiritual oppression

“The year of JUBILEE”

John 13:15 (NLT) “I have given you an example to follow. Now do as I have done to you.”

THE FEATURES OF A CHRISTLIKE MINISTRY

What Jesus came to do

• “Preach good news” 
• “Heal the brokenhearted” 
• “Proclaim freedom”
• “Provide recovery of sight” 
• “Release the oppressed”

1 Corinthians 9:19-23 (NLT) “… I have become a servant of everyone so that I can bring them to Christ… When I am with those who follow Jewish laws, I do the same, even though I am not subject to the law, so that I can bring them to Christ. When I am with Gentiles… I fit in with them as much as I can… so I can bring them to Christ. But I do not discard the law of God; I obey the law of Christ. When I am with those who are oppressed, I share their oppression so that I might bring them to Christ. I try to find common ground with everyone so that I might bring them to Christ. I do all this for the sake of the Good News, and in doing so I enjoy its blessings.” 

September 28 2014 Understanding My World

Understanding My World

Where Have All the Values Gone?

• Politics
• Business
• Entertainment
• Education
• Religion

I.  THE REASON:

THREE DESTRUCTIVE PHILOSOPHIES:

1. Individualism.

Judges 21:25 - “In those days Israel had no (authority) so the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes.”

2. Secularism.

Romans 1:25 - “They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped created things rather than the Creator.”

3. Relativism.

“It doesn’t matter what you believe as long as you’re sincere.”

“There are no absolute truths.”

Ephesians 4:17-19 - “They are hopelessly confused.  Their closed minds are full of darkness; they are far away from the life of God.  They don’t care anymore about     right and wrong.”

II. THE RESULT: Our culture is collapsing.

Proverbs 29:18 - “Where there is ignorance of God, crime runs wild.”

Isaiah 5:20 - Destruction is certain for those who say that evil is good and good is evil; that dark is light and light is dark.”

Proverbs 29:18 - “A nation without God’s guidance is a nation without order.”

Psalm 11:3 - “When the foundations of life are     undermined, what can good people do?”

III. THE REMEDY: We must start with God.

Proverbs 2:9 - God shows how to distinguish right from wrong, how to find the right decision every time.”

2 Timothy 3:16 - “All Scripture is inspired by 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     teaches us to do what is right.”

Psalm 119:105 - “God’s Word is a flashlight to light the path ahead of me and keep me from stumbling.”

Proverbs 16:20 - “Those who listen to God’s instruction will prosper; those who trust the Lord will be happy.”

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.