August 5 2012 How To Handle Temptation

How To Handle Temptation

James 1:13-15 - When tempted, no one should say, God is tempting me, for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one tempted when, by his own evil desire.

THREE FACTS ABOUT TEMPTATION

1. First, remember that temptation is natural.
1 Corinthians 10:13 - Every temptation that comes your way is the kind that normally comes to people. But, God keeps His promise, and He will not allow you to be tempted beyond your power to resist. At the time you are tempted He will give you the strength to endure it and so provide you with a way out. 

2. Temptation is neutral.
Hebrews 4:15 - For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way just as we are, yet without sin.

3. Temptation is necessary.
James 1:2-4 - Consider it pure joy my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.
John 4:4 - Greater is He who is in you, than he who is in the world.

FIVE WAYS TO HANDLE TEMPTATION

1. Refuse to be intimidated.

• Three ways He works:
Alarmed - Frustration - Discouragement
Ephesians 6:10-11 - Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power, put on the full armor of God so you can take your stand against the devil’s scheme.

2. Request God’s help.
Psalm 50:15 - Call to me when trouble comes, I will save you and you will praise Me.

• Daniel
• Joseph

Hebrews 4:15-16 - (Jesus) had the same temptations we do, though He never once gave way to them and sinned, so let us come boldly to God and find grace to help us in our time of need.

3. Refocus your attention.
James 1:14-15 - Temptation is the pull of your own evil thoughts and wishes. These evil thoughts lead to evil actions.
Be careful how you think, your life is shaped by your thoughts.

4. Reveal your struggle to a friend.
Ecclesiastes 5:9-10 Two are better than one, because together, if one falls down, the other can help him up. But if someone is alone and falls, there’s no one to help him.
James 5:16 - Admit your faults to one another and pray for each other, so that you may be healed.

5. Resist the tempter.
Ephesians 5:17 - Accept salvation from God to be your helmet and receive the Word of God to use as a sword.

•Example of Jesus: Filled with the Holy Spirit.
Instant NO. Quoted scripture.

April 29 2012 Bringing Out The Best In Your Kids

Bringing Out The Best In Your Kids

Matthew 5:48 - Be perfect as your Heavenly Father is perfect.

1. I must understand my children.

Psalm 103:13 - As a Father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him. For he knows how we are formed.

Proverbs 24:3 - Homes are built on the foundation of wisdom and understanding.

Proverbs 22:6 - Train a child in the way he should go, and then when he is old he will not turn from it.

Proverbs 14:29 - A patient man has great understanding.

2. I must accept my children.

Psalm 145:8 - The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.

Romans 15:7 - Accept one another.

Psalm 127:3 - Children are a gift from God, they are His reward.

3. I must discipline my children.

Hebrews 12:6 - The Lord disciplines those whom He loves.

Proverbs 13:24 - If you refuse to discipline your son, it proves you don’t love him.

Proverbs 19:18 - Discipline your children while they are young enough to learn. If you don’t you are helping them destroy themselves.


HOW TO DISCIPLINE

Discipline calmly.

Proverbs 29:11 - A fool gives full vent to his anger.

Don’t be a nagger.

Ephesians 6:4 - Don’t keep scolding and nagging your children, making them angry and resentful, use loving discipline.

Discipline quickly.

Discipline sparingly.

Col. 3:2 - Fathers don’t discourage your children so much that they become discouraged and quit trying.

Discipline by age level.

• The Age Of Regulation (Age 1-7)

Must learn to obey.

• The Age Of Imitation (Age 8-12)

Learn by watching you.

• The Age Of Inspiration (Age 13 & Up)

They will be like who they run with.

4. I must express love to my children.

Psalm 145:9 - The Lord is good and has compassion on all He has made.

Psalm 145:14 - The Lord upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down.

Psalm 145:18 - The Lord is near to all who call on Him.

Psalm 101:2 - I will try to walk a blameless path, but how I need Your help especially in my own home where I long to act as I should.

December 11 2011 Christmas: The Answer To Discouragement

Christmas: The Answer To Discouragement

Isaiah 9:6 - To us a child is born, to us a Son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Everlasting Father.

FIVE CAUSES OF DISCOURAGEMENT

1. Disappointment.
Psalm 17:13 - Rise up, O Lord, confront them, bring them down, rescue me from the wicked by your sword.

2. Our mechanical world.
Genesis 2:18 - It is not good for man to be alone, then the Lord God made a woman.

3. The commercial world.
Ecclesiastes 6:10 - Whoever loves money never has enough, whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless.

4. The busy world.
Ecclesiastes 4:8 - There was a man all alone. There was no end to his toil, yet his eyes were not content with his wealth.

5. Our artificial world.
Ecclesiastes 6:17 - All his days he eats in darkness, with great frustration, affliction and anger.

SIX WAYS TO CURE DISCOURAGEMENT

1. Receive Christ into your heart and life.
Galatians 2:20 - I will come in to you and will fellowship with you.

2. Walk with God in obedience.
John 15:5 - Apart from me, you can do nothing.
I Corinthians 2:9 - Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him.
James 1:22 - Do not merely listen to the Word and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

3. Fellowship with other Christians.
Isaiah 9:6 - To us a child is born, to us a Son is given.
Proverbs 27:9 - Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart and the pleasantness of one’s friends springs from His earnest counsel.
Ecclesiastes 4: 9-10- But they soon forgot what He had done and did not wait for His counsel.
John 11:12 - I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.
Isaiah 28:16 - He that believeth shall not make haste.

4. Wait on God for guidance.
Psalm 106:13 - But they soon forgot what He had done and did not wait for His counsel.
John 11:12 - I still have many things to say to you but
You cannot bear them now.
Isa.28:16 - He that believeth shall not make haste.

5. Accept God’s Will.
Noah
Abraham
The blessing does not come in discovering God’s Will.
But in the doing of God’s Will.
Ephesians 6:6 - Do God’s will from the heart.

6. Recognize God’s presence.
Isaiah 9:6 - A Child is born. A Son is given.
John 14:18 - I will not leave you as orphans.
Psalm 139 - Where can I get away from your presence? If I go up to Heaven you are there. Anywhere on earth you are there. I can’t get away from you.

August 1 2010 Help For Discouraging Moments Under Pressure

Help For Discouraging Moments Under Pressure

(Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To God's elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance. Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls. Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.)

Four Things To Remember

1. God has chosen us to be a part of His family
(Verse 2 - who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance.)
(Verse 3 - Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead)

2. God is still working in your life
(Verse 2b (TLB) - and the Holy Spirit has been at work in your hearts, cleansing you with the blood of Jesus Christ and making you to please Him.)

*He cleanses
*He changes

Two Benefits
1. Increasing freedom from fear and anxiety
2. No matter what happens, God will help you

(Verse 2 - who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance.)
(verse 7 - These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.)
(2 Corinthians 4:17 - For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.)

3. God has secured my future
(Verse 4 - and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you)

*inheritance incorruptible
*inheritance is undefiled
*inheritance is unfading

4. We are protected by God's power
(Verse 5 - who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.)
(Ephesians 6:16 - In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.)
(Acts 1:8 - But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.")
(2 Timothy 1:7 - They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm.)
(Verse 6 - In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.)