March 27 2016 Daring To Believe - Breaking Free (part 1)

DARING TO BELIEVE

John 3:16 “God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever BELIEVES in him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

John 6:29 (NLT) "This is what God wants you to do: BELIEVE in the one he has sent!"

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO “BELIEVE IN JESUS”?

Turn everything over to Jesus.

Romans 10:9 “IF you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is my LORD," and BELIEVE in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved!”

Relax in his love.

Romans 8:38-39 (NLT) “Nothing will ever be able to separate us from his love. Death can't, and life can't. The angels can't, and demons can't. Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, and even the powers of hell can't keep God's love away. Whether we’re high above the sky or in the deepest ocean, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Use my life to serve God by serving others.

Romans 6:13 (LB) “Give yourselves completely to God--every part of you--for you’ve been saved from death and you want to be tools in the hands of God, to be used for his good purposes.”

Ephesians 2:10 (TEV) “God has made us what we are, and in our union with Christ Jesus he has created us for a life of good works, which he has already prepared for us to do.”

Suffer for doing what’s right.

Philippians 1:29 (NLT) “For you have been given not only the privilege of BELIEVING in Christ but also the privilege of SUFFERING for him.”

1 Peter 3:14 (NLT) “But if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don't be afraid and don't worry.”

Trust what He says.

Psalm 33:4 (NLT) “For the word of the Lord always holds true, and everything he does is worthy of our trust.”

Hebrews 6:18 (Mes) “God can't break his word. So we who have trusted our very lives to God have every reason to grab the promised hope with both hands and never let go!”

John 1:12 “To all who received him, to those who believed in his name, Jesus gave the right to become children of God.”

October 12 2014 Developing Our Confidence

Developing Our Confidence 

Anything I have confidence in more than God is called an idol.

Deuteronomy 4:15-16 – For your own good don’t sin by making an idol in any form.

I. What happens when I put confidence in anything else more than God?

1. I AM disappointed.

Jeremiah 10:14 – Those who make idols are disillusioned.

Hebrews 2:18 – Of what value is an idol?  For he who makes it trusts in his own creation.

Isaiah 44:20 – The poor, deluded fool is trusting something that can give him no help at all.  Yet he cannot bring himself to ask: is this thing, this idol a lie?

2. I AM dominated.

1 Corinthians 12:2 – You were controlled by dead idols, who led you astray.

Psalm 115:8 – Those who make idols end up like them.  So does everyone who trusts them.

3. I AM embracing false religions.

II. Why don’t I have confidence in God?

Because I Don’t really know God.

Psalm 9:10 – Those who know the Lord trust Him.

III. Why should I put all my confidence in God?

1. BECAUSE He always tells the truth.

Hebrews 6:18 – We can completely count on Him, for it is impossible for God to lie.

Romans 3:4 – God will continue to be true even when every person is false.

2. BECAUSE He loves me.

1 John 4:16, 18 – We know how much God loves us, so we have put our trust in Him, because God’s perfect love drives out fear.

3. BECAUSE He’s in control.

Romans 8:28 – 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.

4. BECAUSE God will help me.

Proverbs 3:5-6 – Trust the Lord with all your heart, and don’t depend on your own understanding.  Remember the Lord in all you do, and He will give you success.

Mark 5:36 – Jesus says: “Don’t be afraid.  Just trust Me.”

August 3 2014 Hope - The Inspiration Of The Church And Life

THE INSPIRATION OF THE CHURCH AND LIFE

Romans 15:1-13

The difference between faith and hope:

Faith: Tends to deal with the details of life.

Hope: Deals with the largeness of life itself.

Hope is a confident anticipation of good things to come with the corresponding effort to reach and attain them.

The Streams of Hope

1. The Dark Stream of Hope

Romans 15:4 – For everything was written to teach us, that through endurance and the encouragement of the scriptures, we might have hope.

2. The Light Stream of Hope

Romans 15:13 – May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust Him, so that you may overflow with hope, by the power of the Holy Spirit.

3. The Bridge Between Endurance and Hope

Romans 15:4 – Through endurance and the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope.

Romans 5:1-5

Perseverance means active endurance.

Psalm 33:18 – The eyes of the Lord are on those who fear Him, on those whose hope is in His unfailing peace.

• Hope comes from His character.

Hebrews 6:17-19 – Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of His purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, He confirmed it with an oath.  God did this, so that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged.  We have this hope, an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.

• Hope comes from His control.

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

The Substance of Hope

Vs. 13 – Fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him.

The Supply of Hope

Vs. 13 – So that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

• He gives us surviving power.
• He gives us reviving power.
• He gives us standing power.
• He gives us driving power.
• He gives us arriving power.

Are you looking for hope?  Then grab hold of the rope of Hope.  It is as strong as God’s character and as long as your faith.

December 29 2013 God The Promise Keeper

God The Promise Keeper

Psalm 33:4 – For the Word of the Lord is right and true, He is faithful in all He does.

God cannot do wrong. (Deut. 32:4) Just

God cannot lie. (Heb. 6:18) Holy

God cannot break promises. (Num.23:19) Faithful

I. The Greatest Example of God’s Faithfulness:

Joshua 21:45 – Not one of all the Lord’s good promises to the house of Israel failed, everyone was fulfilled!

Deuteronomy 7:9 –He is the faithful God, keeping His covenant to a thousand generations.

Psalm 145:13 – The Lord is faithful to all His promises.

II. God’s Guarantees to you:

1. I can depend on God to forgive your sins.

I John 1:9 –If we freely admit that we have sinned, we find Him reliable and just. He forgives us and makes us thoroughly clean from all that is evil.

2. I can depend on God to give me guidance.

Proverbs 3:5-6 – Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Never rely on what you think you know. Remember the Lord in everything you do, and He will show you the right way.

3. I can depend on God to settle the score.

Romans 12:19 – Dear friends, never avenge yourselves. Leave that to God, for He has said He will repay those who deserve it.

1 Peter 2:23 – Jesus never answered back when insulted. When He suffered, He did not threaten to get even. He left His case in the hands of God who always judges fairly.

4. I can depend on God to reward my generosity.

Luke 6:38 – Give, and it will be given to you, for with the same measure you use, it will be measured to you.

5. I can depend on God to give me a home in Heaven.

1Corinthians 1:8-9 – God guarantees right up to the end that you’ll be counted free from all guilt on that day when He returns. God will surely do this for you.

2 Timothy 1:12 – I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that day.

6. I can depend on God to remember my service.

Hebrews 6:10 – God is not unfair. He will not forget all that you have done, nor the loving labor which you have shown for His sake in looking after fellow Christians.

Romans 10:11 – Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.

Romans 10:13 – Whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.