December 4 2016 When Life Gets Messy

THE STORY OF JOSEPH - When Life Gets Messy

This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. Joseph, her fiancé, was a good man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly. As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”...When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife. But he did not have sexual relations with her until her son was born. And Joseph named him Jesus. - Matthew 1:18-21, 24-25

HOW DO I THRIVE WHEN LIFE GETS MESSY?

1. ADMIT MY Fear.

“As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. ‘Joseph, son of David,’ the angel said, ‘do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit.’” - Matthew 1:20

God doesn’t want me to fear the opinions of others.

“The Lord is for me, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?” - Psalms 118:6

God doesn’t want me to fear circumstances.

“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” - Romans 8:28

God doesn’t want me to fear the future.

“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord. ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.’” - Jeremiah 29:11

2. TRUST GOD EVEN WHEN I I don't understand.

“When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife.” - Matthew 1:24

Memory Verse: “‘My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,’ says the Lord. ‘And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.’” - Isaiah 55:8

3. TRUST GOD EVEN WHEN IT’S  it's costly.

“After the wise men were gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. ‘Get up! Flee to Egypt with the child and his mother,’ the angel said. ‘Stay there until I tell you to return, because Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.’ That night Joseph left for Egypt with the child and Mary, his mother, and they stayed there until Herod’s death.’” - Matthew 2:13-15

(Jesus) “And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or property, for my sake, will receive a hundred times as much in return and will inherit eternal life.” - Matthew 19:29

4. ALLOW GOD TO DEVELOP MY patience DURING THE MESS.

“When Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt. ‘Get up!’ the angel said. ‘Take the child and his mother back to the land of Israel, because those who were trying to kill the child are dead.’” - Matthew 2:19-20

October 9 2016 Getting Where We Want To Be - Focused On God's People

GETTING WHERE WE WANT TO BE, FOCUSED ON GOD’S PURPOSE

Romans 12:1 - Because of God’s great mercy to us, offer yourselves as a living sacrifice to God, dedicated to His Service and pleasing to Him.  This is your true Worship that you should offer.

1 Peter 4:2 - From now on, live the rest of your lives controlled by God’s Will, not by human desires.

Romans 6:13 - Give yourselves completely to God, every part of you, you want to be tools in the hands of God to be used for His good purposes.

1.  Why Get Focused?

He shaped us for a specific reason.

Galatians 1:15 - For even before I was born, God had chosen me to be His and He called me, what kindness and grace.

God Knows what’s best for me.

Jeremiah 29:11 - For I know the plans I have for you says the Lord.  They are plans for good and not for evil to give you a future and a hope.

I Am grateful for my salvation.

2 Timothy 1:9 - Christ saved us and called us with a Holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace.

God Promises to reward our focus.

Proverbs 7:6 - In everything you do put God first and He will direct you and brown your efforts with success.

WHAT KEEPS US FROM GETTING FOCUSED

1.  Short term values.

Mark 4:19 - The attractions of this world and the delights of wealth, and the search for success and love of nice things came in and crowded out God.

1 John 2:17 - The world and all its passionate desires will one day disappear, but anyone who does the Will of God will live forever.

2.  Past failure.

Philippians 3:13-14 - Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on towards the goal to win the prize for which God has called me.

3. To self-motivate.

Proverbs 14:14 - The back slider is bored with himself, but the Godly man’s life is exciting.

Mark 8:35 - If you insist on saving your life you will lose it.  Only those who throw away their lives for my sake and for the Good News will ever know what it means to really live.

4.  Fear keeps us from focus.

Psalm 37:5 - Commit everything you do to the Lord, trust Him to help you do it and He will.

HOW DO WE GET FOCUSED

1.  Consider the cost.

Luke 14:27-28 - No one can be My disciple who does not carry his own cross and follow Me, but don’t begin until you count the cost.

2. Come just as you are.

3. He wants you to do it now.

Hosea 10:12 - Sow for yourselves righteousness, break up the follow ground, for it is time to seek the Lord.

4.  God wants 100%.

Romans 12:1-2 - Offer yourselves as a living sacrifice to God, dedicated to His Service and pleasing to Him.  This is true Worship, then you will be able to know the Will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect.

C.S. LEWIS “THE ONLY THING CHRISTIANITY CANNOT BE IS MODERATELY IMPORTANT.”

September 18 2016 Telling The Truth

Telling The Truth

Memory Verse: Exodus 20:16 "You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor."

Psalm 34:12-13 (GN) "Would you like to enjoy life? Do you want long life and happiness? Then keep from speaking evil and from telling lies."

I. WHY DO WE LIE?

Type - Motive

The cruel lie - Resentment

The cowardly lie - Fear

The conceited lie - Insecurity

The calculated lie - Greed or selfishness

The convenient lie - Laziness

II. HOW TO TELL THE TRUTH

1. TELL THE TRUTH completely

Proverbs 10:10 (GN) "Someone who holds back the truth causes trouble."

Proverbs 28:23 (LB) ""In the end people appreciate frankness more than flattery."

2. TELL THE TRUTH consistently

Ephesians 4:15 (Amp) "Let our lives lovingly express the truth in all things - speaking truly, dealing truly, living truly."

Proverbs 11:3 (GN)"people who can't be trusted are destroyed by their own dishonesty."

Proverbs 13:17 (LB)"Reliable communication permits progress."

3. TELL THE TRUTH lovingly

Ephesians 4:15 (GN)"Speak the truth in a spirit of love."

Ephesians 4:29 "(Speak) only what is helpful for building others up, according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen."

4. TELL THE TRUTH tactfully

Proverbs 12:18 (GN) "Thoughtless words can wound as deeply as any sword, but wisely spoken words can heal."

Proverbs 16:23 (GN) "Intelligent people think before they speak."

Ecclesiastes 8:6 (GN)"There is a right time and a right way to do everything."

THE REAL PROBLEM....

Matthew 12:34 (GN)"For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of"

September 11 2016 Seeing Through The Eyes Of Faith

SEEING THROUGH THE EYES OF FAITH

Numbers 13:17-33

TWO WAYS TO SEE THINGS

I.    Notice what happens when we allow fear to dominate our lives.

A)    We misunderstand what God can do.

1. Verses 28-29 – But the people who live there are powerful.  The cities are fortified and very large.  The Amalekites, the Hittites, Jebusites, and Amorites (all giants) live there.

• Lesson The longer you look at a problem, the bigger it gets.

B)    They underestimate what God can do.

1. Verse 33 – We felt like grasshoppers before them, they were so tall.

• Lesson: Problems rarely defeat us it’s our perspective that defeats.

C)    The results of fear:

1. Discouragement.

a)    14:1 – Then all the people began weeping aloud and they carried on all night long.

       2. Discontented.

        a) 14:2 – Their voices rose in a great chorus of complaint against Moses and Aaron.

       3. There was a desire to return to the old.

       a)   14:3 – Let’s get out of here and return to Egypt, they shouted.

II.    We need to see what happens when faith dominates our life.

       A)   Verse 30 – But Caleb reassured the people as they stood before Moses, “Let us go       up at once and possess it,” he said, “for we are well able to conquer it.”

1. Ephesians 1:18
2. Examples of Spiritual sight.

Genesis 21 – Hagar

Luke 24 – Disciples on Emmaus Road

2 Kings – Elisha’s servant

Genesis 13 – Abraham
        
3.    Spiritual eyes see opportunities, not obstacles.

III. We see the decision of the future here.

A)    Kadesh means place of decision.

CONCLUSION: Moses could lead the people to Kadesh, but he couldn’t make the decision for them.

He didn’t bring us out this far to bring us back again.
He brought us out to bring us into the Promised Land.
He didn’t bring us out this far to bring us back again.
He brought us out to bring us into the Promised Land.
Though there be giants in the land,
We will not be afraid.
He brought us out to bring us into the Promised Land.

July 31 2016 Prevailing Through Opposition

The Tactics of Opposition

First Tactic: ridicule. (Vs. 1-3)

He ridiculed the Jews.

Second Tactic: organized resistance. (Vs. 6-8)

They all plotted together.

Third Tactic: rumor. (Vs. 11-12)

Two Characteristics of Rumors:

1. They are always spread by those closest to the enemy.

2. They are exaggerated the more they are repeated.

Effective Christians don’t swallow rumors.

The Effect of Opposition

Verses 10-11 – Meanwhile, the people in Judah said, the strength of the laborers is giving out, and there is so much rubble that we cannot rebuild the wall. Also, our enemies will attack.

The Effect is discouragement.

When does this usually occur in a project?

When the wall half done.(Vs. 6)

Four Causes of Discouragement:

1. “Strength, giving out” Fatigue

2. “So much rubble” Frustration

3. “We cannot rebuild” Failure

4. “Enemies will attack us” Fear

The Right Response to Opposition

What do you do when you’re under attack?

• Rely on God. (Vs. 4-5)

Proverbs 26:4 – Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you will be like him yourself.

The Effective Christian says, when you’re ridiculed, don’t take it out on people, talk it out with God.

• Respect the opposition. (Vs. 9)

Petition without precaution is presumption.

“Watch and Pray”

Matthew 26:41; Colossians. 4:2; 1 Peter 5:8

• Reinforce your weak points. (Vs. 13)

Effective Christians know: where they are the weakest and they post a guard. (Vs. 16-18)

Effective Christians must build and battle at the same time.

• Reassure your position. (Vs. 14)

“Remember the Lord.”

• Refuse to quit. (Vs. 15)

(Vs. 21-23)

Effective Christians are persistent.

A fundamental principle of the Christian Life - Never Give Up