January 4, 2015 Becoming a Person of Influence

Becoming a person of influence

Four Keys To Living A Life Of Influence

1. Be yourself.

Hebrews 11:24 – By faith, Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter.

2. Accept responsibility for your own life.

Verse 25 – He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God, rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time.

PRINCIPLE: The negative is followed by the positive.

Verse 23 – By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the King’s edict.

Verse 26 – When he had grown up.

3. Establish a value system for your life.

Verse 26 – He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt because he was looking ahead to his reward.

THREE COMMON VALUES

1. Pleasure.
2. Possessions.
3. Power.

Matthew 6:24 – No one can serve two masters.  Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other.  You cannot serve both.

THREE THINGS MOSES DECIDED

1. God’s purpose is more valuable than popularity.

Verse 24 – Refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter.

2. People are more valuable than pleasure.

Verse 25 – Chose to be mistreated rather than enjoy the pleasures of sin.

3. God’s peace is more valuable than possessions.

Verse 26 – Regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt.

Your character is determined by your choices, you choices are determined by your values and your values are determined by your vision.

4. Never take your eyes off the goal.

Verse 27 – By faith he left Egypt, not rearing the King’s anger, he persevered because he saw Him who is invisible.

II Corinthians 4:16-17 – Therefore, we do not lose heart though outwardly we’re wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.  For our troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.

Verse 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.

Hebrews 12:1-2 – Since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us fix our eyes on Jesus, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross.

January 13 2013 Taking God Seriously

TAKING GOD SERIOUSLY

Exodus 20:7 - You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God.

What’s in a name?

Reputation

Character

Authority

I. Ways God’s Name Can Be Misused
• Using God’s Name to insult.

• Using God’s Name to indulge.
Leviticus 19:12 - Do not make a promise in My Name if you do not intend to keep it. That brings disgrace on My Name.

• Using God’s Name to intimidate.

• Using God’s Name to impress.
Titus 1:16 - They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny Him.

• Using God’s Name impulsively.
Isaiah 29:23 - Those people Worship Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me.

Matthew 6:7 - When you pray, don’t use a lot of meaningless words.

II. How Can I Use God’s Name Correctly?

1. Reverence God’s Name Continually.

Psalm 29:2 - Give to the Lord the glory due His Name.

Psalm 9:10 - Those who know Your Name will trust in You.

Psalm 61:5 - You (God) have given me the blessings You reserve for those who reverence Your Name.

2. Represent God’s Name Clearly.
2 Timothy 2:19 - A person who calls himself a Christian should not be doing things that are wrong.

Colossians 3:17 - Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the Name of the Lord Jesus.

3. Rely on God’s Name Completely.
Psalm 33:21 - No wonder we are happy in the Lord! We trust His Holy Name.

Acts 4:12 - Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other Name under heaven by which we must be saved.

John 20:31 - Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and by believing you may have life in His Name.

Luke 6:45 - The mouth speaks what the heart is full of.

July 22 2012 How To Make Up Your Mind

How To Make Up Your Mind

James 1:5-11

Immediately after speaking about problems (vs. 2-4), James deals with the matter of decision-making.  The quality of your life will be determined by the wisdom or foolishness of your decisions.

1. The problem: Indecision.
Verse 8 - A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways.

Double-minded: Two-souled

Indecision causes:

•  Unstable emotions.
•  Unstable relationships.
•  Unstable spiritual life.

2. The prescription: Get wisdom.

James suggests three practical steps:

Step One:  Admit your need.
Verse 5 - If any of you lack wisdom.
Proverbs 11:2 - When pride comes, the comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.

Step Two:  You need to ask.
Verse 5 - He should ask God.
Proverbs 2:6 - It is the Lord who gives wisdom, from Him comes knowledge and understanding.

Step Three:  You anticipate it.
Verse 6 - But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt.
Hebrews 11:6 - And without faith, it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.

3. The Promise: God will give it.
Verse 5c - Ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

How God Gives:
•  Gives it continuously
•  Gives it generously
•  Gives it cheerfully