September 25 2016 Winning Through Persistence

WINNING THROUGH PERSISTENCE

2 Corinthians 4:1-18

One of the most essential qualities for success is persistence.  Paul was a man of incredible endurance.  In this passage, Paul shares his …….

Seven Secrets For Persistence

1. Remember that God loves you.

Verse 1 – Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart.

1 Corinthians 15:10 – Talks about God’s grace.

Grace says:

• I don’t have to prove my worth.
• Gives energy to start over when we fail.

2. Maintain a clear conscience.

Verse 2 – Rather we have renounced secret and shameful ways, we do not use deception, nor do we distort the Word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly, we commend ourselves to every man’s conscience.

1 Timothy 1:19 – Holding on to faith and a good conscience, some have rejected those and so have shipwrecked their faith.

Proverbs 10:9 – The man of integrity walks securely.

3. Have the right motivation.

Verse 5 – For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.

Verse 11 – For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake.

Colossians 3:23 – Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for man.

4. I must accept my limitations.

Verse 7 – But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.

Exodus 23:29-30 – Drove enemy out little by little.

Hebrews 12:1 – Let us run with patience the race that is set before us.

5. Love other people.

Verse 15 – All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.

6. Take time to recharge.

Verse 16 – Therefore, we do not lose heart.  Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.

List The Things That Can Renew You:

• A place to dump your worries.
• A time to play with family.
• Physical exercise.
• Bible reading and prayer.
• A strategy for daily renewal.

Psalm 119:50 – Your promise renews my life.

7. Keep your eye on the goal.

Verses 17-18 – For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us eternal glory that far outweighs them all.  So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.  For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

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.

February 23 2014 How The Bible Changes Us

How The Bible Changes Us 

Psalm 33:6 “The Lord merely spoke and the heavens were created. He breathed the word and all the stars were born.”

John 6:63 “The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.”

The Bible was not given to increase our knowledge; the Bible was given to change our lives. -D.L. Moody

SIX WAYS GOD WANTS TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE WITH IS WORD.

1. God’s Word recreates my life.

James 1:18 “He chose to give us birth through the word of truth…

1 Peter 1:23 “You have been born, again not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring Word of God.”

2. God’s Word eradicates my guilt.

1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins to God he is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Romans 8:1 that says “There is now no condemnation no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

Ephesians 5:25-26 “Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the Word.”

3. God’s Word activates my faith.

Romans 10:17, “Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the Word of Christ.” 2

Exodus 23:29-30

4. God’s Word stimulates my growth.

Acts 20:32 “I commit you to God and to the Word of his grace,which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.”

2 Timothy 3:16-17“All Scripture is God-breathed, and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

5. God’s Word elevates my mood.

Romans 15:4 “Everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”

6. God’s Word liberates my potential.

John 8:31-32 “If you continue in my Word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free!”

HOW DO I GAIN THESE BENEFITS?

1. I’ve got to learn it.

Mark 12:24 “Your trouble is that you don’t know the Scriptures…”

Proverbs 14:12 “There’s a way that seems right to men but it always ends in death.”

2. I have to accept it.

1 Thessalonians 2:13 “When you received the Word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, – the Word of God, which is at work in you who believe.”

3. I have to act on it.

John 13:17 “Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.” 3

Memory Verse: Psalm 119:18. Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.”