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.”

July 5 2015 The Antidote To Anxiety

THE ANTIDOTE TO ANXIETY

Matthew 6:9-13 “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven,  hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’

Three Keys to Overcoming Worry

Philippians 4:6 (LB) "Don't worry about anything; instead pray about everything; tell God your needs. "

1. Ask FOR GOD’S ASSISTANCE

Give us today our daily bread.

Memory Verse: James 4:2"...You do not have because you do not ask God!"

Numbers 16:32 (GN)"God is the source of all life..."

God is my source... 

Source of Wisdom (Psalm 36:9) 
Source of Strength (Isaiah 48:5) 
Source of Happiness (Psalm 43:4) 
Source of Hope (Romans 15:13) 
Source of Peace (Romans 15:33) 
Source of Patience (Hosea 15:5) 
Source of Salvation (Hebrews 5:9) 
Source of Encouragement (Romans 15:5)

2. Remember GOD'S RESOURCES

"Give us today our daily bread.”

Philippians 4:19 (Ph)"God will supply all that you ever need from his glorious resources in Christ Jesus.

(JB) "...as lavishly as only God can.

Matthew 6:32-33 (LB)"Don't worry at all about having enough food and clothing .... our heavenly Father already knows perfectly well that you need them, and He will give them to you if you give him first place in your life. . . "

Romans 8:3 (LB) "Since God didn’t spare even his own Son for us but gave him up for us  all, won't he also surely give us everything else?"

3. Trust GOD’S TIMING

"Give us today our daily bread.

Matthew 6:34 (LB)"Don't be anxious about tomorrow.  God will take care of your tomorrow too. Live one day at a time”.  

(NIV) "Each day has enough trouble of its own!"

Psalm 68:19 "Praise the Lord... who DAILY bears our burdens”

TWO RESULTS OF TRUSTING GOD AS YOUR SOURCE

1.You become more AT PEACE. 

2.You become more GENEROUS.

Matthew 7:11 "If you were asked by your son for bread, would you give him a stone?  How much more likely is it that your heavenly Father will give good things to those who ask him?"

October 5 2014 Accepting Our Duty

Accepting Our Duty 

Ephesians 5:15

Three Foes Of Personal Duty

1. The “rights” mentality: “I demand my rights.”

2. The ‘victim’ mentality: “It’s not my fault.”

3. The ‘entitlement’ mentality: “I deserve it.”

Ephesians 5:15 – Live life with a sense of responsibility, not as those who don’t know the meaning of life, but as those who do.

Why Accept Our Duty

• BECAUSE God is watching MY LIFE.

Hebrews 4:13 – Nothing in all the world can be hidden from God. Everything is open before Him and to Him, we must explain the way we have lived.

Romans 14:12 – Each of us will have to give a personal account to God.

• BECAUSE others are effected BY MY LIFE.

1 Corinthians 10:24 – People should be concerned about others and not just about themselves.

• BECAUSE God rewards it.

Dueteronomy 28:2 – You will experience all of God’s Blessings if you obey the Lord.

How To Accept My Duty

• By saving my money.

Proverbs 21:20 – The wise man saves for the future, but the foolish man spends whatever he gets.

Ecclesiastes 7:4 – The fool thinks only about having a good time now.

• By controlling my reactions.

Proverbs 29:11 – A fool expresses all his emotions, but a wise person controls them.

Matthew 12:36 – People will be responsible for every careless word they’ve said.

Romans 12:21 – Don’t let evil get the best of you, but conquer evil by doing good.

• By guarding our minds.

Proverbs 15:14 – A wise person is hungry for truth, while the fool feeds on trash.

• By admitting my mistakes and sins.

Proverbs 28:13 – A man who refuses to admit his mistakes can never be successful. But if he confesses and forsakes them, he gets another chance.

Hosea 4:4 – Don’t point your finger at someone else and try to pass the blame!

Romans 3:23-24 – All of us have fallen short, yet now God declares us ‘not guilty’ if we trust in Jesus Christ, who freely takes away our sins.

March 17 2013 Learning To Love Christ Back

LEARNING TO LOVE CHRIST BACK

Rev. 4:116 - You (God) created everything and it is for your pleasure that they exist and were created.
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.
I 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 Love Christ Back?

He shaped us for a specific reason.

Gal. 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.
Jer. 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 our salvation.
II 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 commitment.

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 LOVING CHRIST BACK

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.
I 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.
Phil 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. We are self motivated.
Prov. 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.
Psalm 37:5 - Commit everything you do to the Lord, trust Him to help you do it and He will.

HOW DO WE LOVE CHRIST BACK

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

4. Give all we have.
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.”

October 28 The Choice Of Giving

THE CHOICE OF GIVING

Matt. 5:7 - Happy are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

The Motive of Mercy

Vs. 7- Happy are the merciful.

We must experience God’s mercy.
I Peter 1:3 - Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. In His great mercy, He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

Complete surrender to God.
Romans 12:1 - I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God that you present your bodies (yourselves) a living sacrifice to God.

The Marks of Mercy

Matt. 5:7 - Happy are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

Mercy is: Kindness

What are the Marks:

1. I’ll accept people where they are.
I Thes. 5:14 - Encourage the timid, help the weak, and be patient with everyone.

2. Keep the Spirit of forgiveness.
Matt. 18:22 - But up to seventy times seven.

Col 3:13 - Be gentle and ready to forgive, never hold grudges. Remember the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.

3. We must support each other.
Gal. 6:2 - Bear one another’s burdens.

Hosea 6:6 - For I desire mercy, not sacrifice.

4. I’ll help those who are hurting.
Prov. 3:27 - Whenever you possibly can, do good to those who need it.

I John 3:17-18 - If someone who is supposed to be a Christian has enough money to live well, and sees a brother in need but won’t help him, how can God’s love be in him? Let’s stop just saying we love people, let’s show it by our actions.

The Mastering of Mercy

• Don’t nurse them

• Don’t curse them

• Do release the wound.

You get what you give:

Prov. 11:17 - Your own soul is nourished when you are kind, it is destroyed when your are cruel.