February 5 2017 How Can I Know My Destiny

HOW CAN I KNOW MY DESTINY?

BOOK OF ESTHER

1. I must recognize the gifts that God has given me to use

Esther 2:8-9 (NIV)"Esther pleased Hegai and won his favor. Immediately he provided her with her beauty treatments and special food. He assigned to her seven maids selected from the king's palace and moved her and her maids into the best place in the harem."

Esther 2:15b "Esther won the favor of everyone Who saw her."

Esther 2:17 (N IV)“...she then won the king's favor and approval more than any of the other virgins. So he set a royal crown on her head and made her queen."

I Peter 4:10 (TEV)"Each of us, as a good manager of God's different gifts, must use for the good of others the special gift we have received from God."

What has God given me to use for good?

2. I must identify the needs that stir my heart.

Esther 4:4 (TEV)"When Esther's servants told her what Mordecai was doing, she was deeply disturbed."

Isaiah 58:6-11 (TEV)"Remove the chains of oppression and yoke of injustice, and let the oppressed go free. Share your food with the hungry and open your homes to the homeless poor. Give clothes to those who have nothing to wear, and do not refuse to help your own relatives. THEN my favor will shine on you like the morning sun, and your wounds will be quicklv healed. I will always be with you to save you and my presence will protect you on every side. When you pray, I will answer you. When you call tome, I will respond. Ifyou put an end to oppression, to every gesture of contempt, and to every evil word; if you give food to the hungry and satisfy those who are in need, then the darkness around you will turn to the brightness of noon. And I will always guide you and satisfy you with good things. I will keep you strong and well."

What needs do I see around me that disturb me?

3. Take the time to hear God's call on my life.

Esther 4:13-14 "Mordecai sent this word to Esther: 'Do not think that because you are in the king house you alone of all Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your fathers family will perish. Besides who knows but that you have come to this position for such a time as this?"

Esther 4:15-16a (NIV) "Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: 'Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king... "

4. Make a faith commitment

Memory Verse: Esther 4:16 (NIV)"When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish. "

Matt. 9:29 Jesus said, "According to your faith will it be done to you!"

What 3-year faith commitments will I make?

October 23 2016 How Can I Know My Destiny

HOW CAN I KNOW MY DESTINY?

BOOK OF ESTHER

1. I must recognize the gifts God has given to me.

Esther 2:8-9- Esther pleased Hegai and won his favor.  Immediately he provided her with her beauty treatments and special food.  He assigned to her seven maids selected from the king’s palace and moved her and her maids into the best place in the harem.

Esther 2:15b – Esther won the favor of everyone who saw her.

Esther 2:17 – She then won the king’s favor and approval more than any of the other virgins.  So he set a royal crown on her head and made her queen.

1 Peter 4:10 – Each of us, as a good manager of God’s different gifts, must use for the good of others the special gift we have received from God.

What Has God Given Me To Use For Good?

2. I must identify the needs that stir my heart.

Isaiah 58:6-11 – Remove the chains of oppression and yoke of injustice and let the oppressed go free.  Share your food with the hungry and open your homes to the homeless poor.  Give clothes to those who have nothing to wear, and do not refuse to help your own relatives.  Then my favor will shine on you like the morning sun, and your wounds will be quickly healed.  I will always be with you to save you and my presence will protect you on every side.  When you pray, I will answer you.  When you call to me I will respond.  If you put an end to oppression, to every gesture of contempt, and to every evil work; if you give food to the hungry and satisfy those who are in need, then the darkness around you will turn to the brightness of noon.  And I will always guide you and satisfy you with good things.  I will keep you strong and well.

What Needs Do I See Around Me That Disturb Me?

3. Take time to hear God’s call on your life.

Esther 4:13-14 – Mordecai sent this word to Esther; ‘Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all Jews will escape.  For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish.  Besides who know but that you have come to this position for such a time as this?

Esther 4:15-16a – Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai; ‘Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me.  Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day.  I and my maids will fast as you do.  When this is done, I will go to the king.’

4. You must make a faith commitment.

Esther 4:16 – When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law.  And if I perish, I perish.

Matthew 9:29 – Jesus said, ‘According to your faith will it be done to you!’

September 20 2015 Game On: How To Activate My Gifts

How To Activate My Gifts

“Jesus prayed to the Father: ‘In the same way that you gave me a mission in the world, I give them a mission in the world.’” - John 17:18

Memory Verse: “A spiritual gift is given to each of us as a means of helping the entire church.” - 1 Corinthians 12:7

HOW TO ACTIVATE MY GIFTS:

1. BE THANKFUL THAT GOD HAS GIVEN ME GIFTS.

“God has made us what we are. In Christ Jesus, God made us to do good works, which God planned in advance for us to live our lives doing.” - Ephesians 2:10

2. BE PROACTIVE  IN DISCOVERING MY GIFTS.

“God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.” - 1 Peter 4:10

SPIRITUAL GIFTS SELECTION

• Administration (organizing) 
• Pioneering (new works)
• Discernment
• Evangelism
• Encouraging
• Faith (high trust in God)
• Giving (financial) 
• Hospitality
• Leadership
• Mercy
• Shepherding (care) 
• Serving / Helping
• Teaching
• Wisdom / Counseling

“Do not neglect the spiritual gift you received.” - 1 Timothy 4:14

3. BE QUICK TO USE MY GIFTS.

“Give to others, and God will give to you…The measure you use for others is the one that God will use for you.” - Luke 6:38

“So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and steady, always enthusiastic about the Lord's work, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever wasted.” - 1 Corinthians 15:58

4. BE DILIGENT  IN USING MY GIFTS TO SERVE OTHERS.

“If your gift is that of serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, do a good job of teaching. If your gift is to encourage others, do it! If you have money, share it generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.” - Romans 12:7-8

“Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God.” - Romans 6:1

February 17 2013 Keeping Your Peace Of Mind While Getting Ahead

KEEPING YOUR PEACE OF MIND WHILE GETTING AHEAD
Exodus 20:15 - You shall not steal.
Proverbs. 10:2 - Ill gotten gain brings no lasting happiness, but right living does.

I. Wrong ways to get ahead:

1. Dishonesty.
Proverbs 16:11 - The Lord wants weights and measures to be honest and every sale to be fair.
Proverbs 20:14 - It’s no good: It’s no good, says the buyer, then off he goes and boasts about his purchase.

2. Defrauding people.
Leviticus 19:13 - Don’t hold back the wages of a hired man overnight.
Colossians 3:22 - Obey your human masters, not only when they are watching you because you want their favor, but do it with a sincere heart in reverence for the Lord.

3. Getting ahead by default.
Romans 13:8 - Let no debt remain outstanding.
Psalm 37:21 - The wicked borrow and do not repay.

4. Depending on luck.
Proverbs 28:20 & 22 - The man who wants to get rich quick will quickly fail. Trying to get rich quick is evil and leads to poverty.
Proverbs 28:19 - He who works his land will have abundant food, but the one who chases fantasies will end in poverty.

5. Dishonoring others.
Proverbs 10:18 - Whoever spreads slander is a fool.

II. The right way to get ahead:

1. Hard work.
Proverbs 14:23 - Hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.

2. Saving and investing.
Proverbs 21:5 - The wise man saves for the future, but the foolish man spends all he can get.
Proverbs 13:11 - Dishonest money dwindles away, but he who gathers little by little makes it grow.

3. Praying.
Matthew 7:11 - If you being evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him.

4. Giving.
Proverbs 11:24-25 - Be generous and you will be prosperous. Help others and you will be helped.

III. Peace of mind while getting ahead:

• Be honest with people.
Proverbs 15:27 & 19:1

• Be honest with the government.
Romans 13:7, Matthew 22:21

• Be honest with God.
MalachI 3:8-10

September 5 2010 Living For God To The End

Living for God to the end

(1 Peter 4:7-10 - The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms.)

Verse 7 - The end of all things is near.

Signs to look for:

• Mental state of the world
• Moral state of the world
• A falling away
• Lawlessness
• Scoffers
• Our end

Truths to remember

1. Keep up a proper prayer life

(verse 7 - Therefore be clear minded and self controlled so that you can pray.)

(Hebrews 4:16 - Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.)

(1 Thessalonians 5:6 - So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled.)

2. Keep up the life of love

(Verse 8 - Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins.)

(1 John 3:14 - We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death.)

(Proverbs 10:12 - Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers over all wrongs.)

3. Keep up the life of hospitality

(Verse 9 - Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.)

4. Keep up the life of good stewardship

(Verse 10 - Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms.)