January 29 2017 The Life God Blesses

THE LIFE GOD BLESSES

Decade of Destiny - Part 3

FOUR PITFALLS ON YOUR JOURNEY

1. Cultural Distractions.

2. Voices of Doubt

3. Tempting Shortcuts.

4. Discouraging Delays

LESSONS FROM NOAH: GENESIS 6-9

1. I must dare to be different from my culture.

Genesis 6:12 (NLT)"God observed all the corruption in the world, and he saw violence and depravity everywhere. "

Genesis 6:5-6 (LB)'When God saw the extent of human wickedness, and that the trend and direction of men's lives were only towards evil, he was sorry he had made them. It broke his heart"

Genesis 6:8 (MSG)"But Noah was different. God liked what he saw in Noah."(LB) "Noah was a pleasure to the Lord"

Genesis 6:9a (LB)"Noah was the only truly righteous man living on the earth at that time.

2. I must listen to the voice of God, not the voices of doubt.

Hebrews 11:7a (NCV)"It was by faith that Noah heard God's warnings about things he could not yet see."

Hebrews 11:7b (LB)"Noah's belief in God was in direct contrast to the disbelief of tile rest of the world..."

Genesis 6:9c (NIV)"Noah walked with God."

3. I must do exactly as God tells me to do.

Genesis 6:9b (LB) "Noah always tried to conduct his affiuirs according to God's will."

Genesis 6:22 & 7:5 (NLT) "Noah did eveiy!hing exactly as God had commanded him."

Hebrews 11:7b (NCV)"Noah obeyed God and built a large boat to save his family."

4. I must refuse to give up on the dream God gives me.

Hebrews 11 :7a (LB)"Noah trusted God. When he heard God's warning about the future, Noah believed him even though there was no sign of a flood..."

Hebrews 11 :7b (NCV)'...By his flu/h, Noah showed that the world was wrong, and he became one of those who are made right with God through flu/h."

Genesis 6:8 (KJV)"Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord."

Memory Verse: 2 Chronicles 16:9 (NASB) "For the eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His.

January 8 2017 Getting A Grip On Faith

GETTING A GRIP ON FAITH

Matthew 9:29 – According to your faith will it be done to you.

Hebrews 11:6 – Without faith it is impossible to please God.

Luke 17:5 – The apostles said, Lord, increase our faith.

I. How does God strengthen my faith? By testing it.

James 1:3 – The testing of your faith develops perseverance so that you may be mature and complete.

Job 7:17-18 – What is man that you make so much of him, and that you give him so much attention that you examine him every morning and test him every moment.

II. How does God test our faith?

1. God tests our faith through difficulties.

1 Peter 1:6-7 – For a little while you have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

Isaiah 48:10 – I have refined you, though not as silver, I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.

James 1:2-3 – Consider it pure joy whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know the testing of your faith develops perseverance.

LESSON: To live by faith, I learn to: To live by faith.

2. God tests our faith through demands.

Exodus 16:4 – The people are to go out each day and gather enough manna for that day. In that way I will test them and see whether they will follow instructions.

Hebrews 11:8 – By faith Abraham obeyed and went.

Hebrews 11:7 – By faith Noah built an ark.

LESSON: To live by faith I must learn to: Obey God quickly.

3. God tests our faith through delays.

Deuteronomy 8:2 – God led you all the way in the desert these 40 years to test you in order to know what was in your heart.

Isaiah 64:4 – God acts on behalf of those who wait for Him.

LESSON: To live by faith, I must learn to: Wait patiently.

October16 2016 The Life God Blesses

THE LIFE GOD BLESSES

FOUR PITFALLS ON YOUR JOURNEY

1. Cultural distractions
2. The voices of doubt
3. Tempting short cuts
4. Discouraging delays

LESSONS FROM NOAH: GENESIS 6-9

1. I must dare to be different than my culture.

Genesis 6:12 – God observed all the corruption in the world, and He saw violence and depravity everywhere.

Genesis 6:5-6 – When God saw the extent of human wickedness, and that the trend and direction of men’s lives were only towards evil, he was sorry He had made them.  It broke His heart.

Genesis 6:8 – But Noah was different.  God liked what He saw in Noah.  Noah was a pleasure to the Lord.

Genesis 6:9a – Noah was the only truly righteous man living on the earth at that time.

2. I must listen to the voice of God, not the voices of doubt.

Hebrews 11:7a – It was by faith that Noah heard God’s warnings about things he could not yet see.

Hebrews 11:7b – Noah’s belief in God was in direct contrast to the disbelief of the rest of the world.

Genesis 6:9c – Noah walked with God.

3. I must do exactly as God tells me to do.

Genesis 6:9b – Noah always tried to conduct his affairs according to God’s will.

Genesis 6:22 & 7:5 – Noah did everything exactly as God had commanded him.

Hebrews 11:7b – Noah obeyed God and built a large boat to save his family.

4. Refusing to give up my God given dreams that God gives me.

Hebrews 11:7a – Noah trusted God.  When he heard God’s warning about the future, Noah believed Him even though there was no sign of a flood.

Hebrews 11:7b – By his faith, Noah showed that the world was wrong, and he became one of those who are made right with God through faith.

Genesis 6:8 – Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.

January 11, 2015 Becoming God's Usable Person

BECOMING GOD’S USABLE PERSON

Genesis 6:1-22

Hebrews 11:7 – By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear, built an ark to save his family.  By his faith, he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.

2 Chronicles 16:9 – For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him.

Four Characteristics Of Noah

1. Noah was available.

Genesis 6:5, 7, 9 – The Lord saw how great man’s wickedness on the earth had become, so the Lord said, I will wipe mankind from the face of the earth.  But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.

2. Noah dared to be different.

Verse 9 – Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time and he walked with God.

Proverbs 29:25 – Fear of man will prove to be a snare.

Verse 9 – He walked with God.

3. Noah followed God completely.

Verse 22 – Noah did everything, just as God commanded.

Genesis 7:5 – And Noah did all that the Lord commanded him.

4. Noah never gave up.

Genesis 6:3 – Then the Lord said, My Spirit will not contend with man forever.

Three Things That Tempt Us To Quit:

• Problems
• Pressures
• People

October 13 2013 Building A Life Of Faith

BUILDING A LIFE OF FAITH

Heb. 11:6 – Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.

FAITH IS...

1.  Believing when I don't see it.
Heb. 11:1 – Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

2.  Obeyingwhen I don't understand it.
Heb. 11:7 – It was by faith that Noah built an ark to save his family from the flood.  He obeyed God, who warned him about something that had never happened before.

Heb. 11-8 – It was faith that made Abraham obey when God called him and go out to a country God had promised to him.  He left his own country without knowing where he was going.

3.  Giving when I don't have it.
Heb. 11:4 – It was faith that made Abel's offering to God a better sacrifice than Cain's.  Through his faith God approved of his giving.

II Cor. 8:2-3 – Because of their great joy, they gave even more than they could afford.

II Cor. 4:6 & 8 – Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, but whoever sows generously will reap generously.  And God will generously provide all you need.  Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.

4.  Persisting when I don't feel like it.
Heb. 11:27 – It was by faith that Moses left Egypt and was not afraid of the King's anger.  He held to his purpose like a man who could see the invisible.

5. Thanking God before I receive it.
Heb. 11:30 – By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days.

Mark 11:24 – When you pray and ask for something, believe that you have received it and you will be given what you ask for.

6. Trusting if I don't get it.
Heb. 11: 39-40 – They were all commended for their faith yet none of them received what had been promised.  God had planned something better.

HOW GOD BUILDS MY FAITH

Rom. 10:17 – Faith comes from hearing the Word of God.

I Peter 1:7 – These trials are only to test your faith, and your faith is far more precious to God than mere gold, it will bring you much praise and honor on the day of His return.