July 10 2011 Living The Effective Life

Living The Effective Life

Four Keys to Effective Living:

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 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 24 – 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
* Pleasure
* Possessions
* 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:

God's purpose is more valuable than popularity.

Verse 24 – refused to be known as Pharaoh's daughter.

People are more valuable than pleasure.

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

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, your 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 fearing 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.

October 18 2015 Wise Up

Wise Up!

Proverbs 4:7-8 (GN) "Getting wisdom is the most important thing you can do. Whatever else you get, get insight! Love wisdom and she will make you great!

1. What is it?
Wisdom: Seeing and responding to life from GOD’S PERSPECTIVE

Proverbs 14:12 "There is a way that seems right to a man but in the end it leads to death. 

2. What will it do for me?
 
Proverbs 3:14-18 (NCV) Wisdom is worth more than silver; it brings more profit than gold.  Wisdom is more precious than rubies;  nothing you could want is equal to it. With her right hand wisdom offers you a long life,  and with her left hand she gives you riches and honor.  Wisdom will make your life pleasant and will bring you peace. As a tree produces fruit, wisdom gives life to those who use it,  and everyone who uses it will be happy.

Six Benefits

1. LONGER LIFE
2. WEALTH
3. HONOR
4. PLEASURE
5. SECURITY
6. HAPPINESS

3. How can I get it?

• READ GOD’S WORD

Proverbs 1:2 (LB) "(Solomon) wrote these Proverbs to teach his people how to live - how to act in every circumstance. "

Proverbs 1:3 (GN) "They can teach you how to live intelligently  

• DO WHAT IT SAYS

Proverbs 7:1-2 (GN)  Never forget what I tell you to do. Do what I say  and you will live.  Be careful to follow it. . . "

• GET TO KNOW GOD

Proverbs 1:7 (LB)"How does a person become wise? Ae first step is to trust and revere the Lord "

Proverbs 9:10 (LB)"For the reverence and fear of God are basic to all wisdom.  Knowing God results in every other kind of understanding.  

Make Wisdom a Life Goal!

February 22 2015 How Can I Display Christianity Under Pressure

How Can I Display Christianity Under Pressure

1 Peter 1:13-16

I. The setting of our scripture

Verse 16 – Be Holy, because I am Holy.

Therefore:

II. Four helps to Holy living

1. You need a well ordered mind.

Verse 13 – Prepare you mind for action.

Exodus 12:11 – And thus shall you eat, with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, your staff on your hand, and ye shall eat it in haste.  It is the Lord’s Passover.

Three Hebrew children:

2. Have a well disciplined life.

Verse 13 – Be self-controlled.

Two things this means:

1. Be alert to potential dangers.
2. Be aware of who you are.

3. Have a well defined goal.

Verse 13 – Set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.

Definition of “set”.

I John 3:2 – When He appears we shall be like Him.

1 John 3:3 – Everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself just as He is pure.

4. Have a well established conversion.

Verse 14 – As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance.

Obedience is the process of walking in the Light.

Verse 16 – Be Holy because I am Holy.

Five factors that motivate us to Holiness:

1. The character of God.

2. He’s called us.

3. It’s God’s command.

4. The consistency of God.

5. It’s the choice of God.

Romans 12:1 – In view of God’s mercy, offer yourselves as living sacrifices to God.

June 2 2013 How To Succeed In Life

How To Succeed In Life
Philippians 3:12-21
Verse 17 - Join with others in following my example, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you.

4 Keys To Successful Living

I.  Evaluation.

Verses 12-13 - Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it.

Proverbs 28:13 - You will never succeed in life if you try to hide your sins.  Confess them and give them up, then God will show mercy to you.

Question: Where do I need to change?

II.  Elimination.

Verse 13 b - But this one thing I do, forgetting what is behind.

Isaiah 43:18 - Forget the former things, do not dwell on the past, see I am doing a new thing (says the Lord.)

WHAT TO FORGET
* Our failures.
* Our successes. 

Luke 9:62 - Jesus said, anyone who starts to plow and then looks back is of no use for the Kingdom of God

Questions: What memory do I need to let go of?

III.  Concentration.

Verse 13c - But this one thing I do, straining toward what is ahead I press on toward the goal.

I Corinthians 9:24 - Do you know that in a race, all the runners run, but only one gets the prize?  Run in such a way as to win the prize.

WHAT IS THE GOAL?

II Corinthians 5:9 - so we make our goal to please Him.

Question: What am I living for, what’s my focus?

IV.  Determination.

Verses 12-13 - I press on, straining, I press on to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Acts 20:24 - But I reckon my own life to be worth nothing to me, in order that I may complete my mission and finish the work that the Lord Jesus gave me to do, which is to declare the good news of the grace of God.
II Timothy 4:7-8- I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.  Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness which the Lord will award to me on that day.

3 SUGGESTIONS (Verses 15-16)

*  Don’t become complacent.

*  Be teachable.

*  Be persistent.

May 20 2012 Managing Financial Stress In The Home

*no audio*

Managing Financial Stress In The Home

According to a Time magazine survey of a few years ago, the number one source of arguments in marriage is conflict over money. Gallup reports 56% of divorces are due to financial problems or pressure.
Financial problems always occur when we ignore God’s Five Financial Laws:

1. Keep good records.

Proverbs 27:23-24 - Be sure you know the conditions of your flocks, give careful attention to your herds. For riches do not endure forever, and a crown is not secure for all generations.
Proverbs 23:23 - Get the facts at any price.
Proverbs 24:3-4 - Any enterprise becomes strong, through common sense and profits by keeping abreast of the facts.

Four Things to Know
• Keep track of what you own
• Know what you earn
• Know what you owe
• You need to know where it goes

2. Plan your spending.

Proverbs 21:5 - The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as hast leads to poverty.
Proverbs 21:20 - The wise man saves for the future, but the foolish man spends whatever he gets.

Three Things in a Good Budget
• It ought to be a mutual decision
• It ought to be a matter of prayer
• It should be based on goals


3. Enjoy what you have.

Proverbs 15:16-17 - Better is a little with the fear of the Lord than great wealth with turmoil. Better a meal of vegetables where there is love than a fattened calf with hatred.
1 Timothy 6:6-8 - But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing we will be content with that.
Hebrews 13:5 - Be content with what you have.

4. Share with others in need.

Proverbs 11:24-25 - One man gives freely, yet gains even more, another with holds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous man will prosper, he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.
Proverbs 19:17 - He who is kind to the poor leads to the Lord, and He will reward him for what he has done.
Proverbs 22:19 - A generous man will himself be blessed.
Proverbs 28:27 - He who gives to the poor will lack nothing.

5. Tithing.

Proverbs 3:9 - Honor the Lord with your wealth, and with the first fruits of all your crops.

Three Reasons to Tithe
• It shows our gratitude
• It’s a reminder for the present
• It’s a step of faith for the future

Deuteronomy 14:23
Malachi 3:8-10
Matthew 6:33 - Seek first His Kingdom and His Righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.