March 5 2017 Getting A Grip On Failure

GETTING A GRIP ON FAILURE

Judges 13-16

Judges 13:5 – Tells us Samson was chosen by God “to begin the deliverance of Israel from the hands of the Philistines.”

Three Principles That Bring About A Fall:

1. We are asking for trouble when we fail to learn from our mistakes.

Two Weaknesses

1. Bad temper.

Judges 14:12-19; 15:3-5; 15:7 – Since you have acted like this, I won’s stop until I get my revenge on you.

Verse 11

2. Physical desire.

John 8:34 – I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.

2. We are asking for trouble if we choose the wrong friends.

If you want to soar with the eagles, you can’t run with the turkeys.

Prov. 22:24-25 – Do not make friends with a hot-tempered man, do not associate with one easily angered or you may learn his ways.

3. We are asking for trouble when we refuse to take God seriously.

Two Ways

1. Careless about his spiritual life.

Judges 14:2 – When he returned he said to his father and mother, “I have seen a Philistine woman, now get her for me as my wife.”

2. He never prayed about anything.

Judges 16:28 – O Sovereign Lord remember me, strengthen me just once more.

How To Recover From Failure:

1. He repented and prayed.

Judges 16:22 – The hair on his head began to grow again after it had been shaved.

Hebrews 11:34 – His weakness was turned to strength.

September 4 2016 Affair-Proofing Your Marriage

Affair Proofing Your Marriage

Memory Verse: Exodus 20:14 "You shall not commit adultery."

How to Affair Proof Your Marriage

1. MAKE A COMMITMENT TO GOD'S STANDARDS

Psalm 119:9 "How can a (person) keep his way pure? By living according to your Word."

Proverbs 5:15 (GN) "Be faithful to your own wife and give your love to her alone."

2. MAGNIFY THE CONSEQUENCES

Proverbs 6:32 (GN)"The one who commits adultery is an utter fool, for he destroys his own soul."

3. MAINTAIN MY MARRIAGE

1 Corinthians 7:3 (GN)" A man should fulfill his duty as a husband and a woman should fulfill her duty as a wife, and each should satisfy the other's needs."

The top five needs of most men are:

1. Sexual fulfillment
2. Recreational companionship
3. An attractive spouse
4. Domestic support
5. Admiration

The top five needs of most women are:

1. Affection
2. Conversation
3. Honesty and openness
4. Financial support
5. Family commitment

1 Corinthians 7:5 (Ph)"Do not cheat each other of normal sexual intercourse ... or you will expose yourselves to the obvious temptation of Satan."

4. MANAGE MY MIND

How Affairs Develop

1. Accepting sinful thoughts in my mind
2. Emotional, non-physical involvement
3. Physical involvement
4. Rationalizing the affair

James 1:14-15 (LB) "Temptation is the pull of a person's own evil thoughts and wishes. These evil thoughts lead to evil actions and afterwards to death."

2 Timothy 2:22 (Ph)"Turn your back on lustful desires and give your positive attention to goodness, integrity, love, and peace..."

Romans 16:19 "I want you to be wise about what is good and innocent about evil."

5. MAINTAIN PROPER RELATIONSHIPS

Ephesians 5:3 "But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality."

6. MINIMIZE THE OPPORTUNITY

1 Corinthians 10:12 (LB)"So be careful! If you are thinking, `Oh, I would never behave like that - let this be a warning to you. For you too may fall into sin."

1 Corinthians 15:33 "Bad company corrupts good character."

Malachi 2:15 "Guard yourself in your spirit, and do not break faith with your wife."

THE PATHWAY BACK TO PURITY

1. Acknowledge the sin (Psalm 51:1-4)
2. End the relationship immediately
3. Avoid ALL contact with the person from now on. Do whatever it takes to do this!

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.