February 26 2017 Getting A Grip On Power

Getting A Grip On Power

Job 6:10 – At least I can take comfort in this, despite the pain. I have not denied the words of the Holy One.

1 Corinthians 4:20 – The Kingdom of God is not just fancy talk. It is living by God’s power.

Psalm 68:35 – God is awesome, He gives power and strength to His people.

WHEN TO EXPECT GOD’S POWER

1. When I’m tired.

Isaiah 40:28 & 31 – The Lord is the everlasting God. He never grows tired or weary. He strengthens those who are weak and tired. Those who trust the Lord for help will find their strength renewed. He gives power to those who are tired and worn out, He offers strength to the weak.

2. When I’ve nothing to offer.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 – My power shows up best in weak people. Now I am glad to boast about how weak I am, I am glad to be a living demonstration of Christ’s power, instead of showing off my own powers and abilities.

3. When I’m in pain.

Psalm 41:3 – The Lord nurses them when they are sick and eases their pain.

4. When I’m tempted.

Romans 7:18 – I often find that I have the will to do good, but no power.

2 Corinthians 10:13 – Every temptation that has come your way is the kind that normally comes to people. But god keeps His promise, and He will not allow you to be tempted beyond your power to resist, at the time you are tempted, He will give you strength to endure it, and so provide you with a way out.

Philippians 4:13 – I have the strength to face all conditions by the power that Christ gives me.

HOW TO BUILD CONFIDENCE IN GOD’S POWER

1. Admit your need for help.

Proverbs 29:23 – Pride ends in humiliation, while humility brings honor.

2. Get connected.

John 15:5 – I am the vine and you are the branches. Those who remain in Me and I in them, will produce much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.

2 Timothy 1:7 – For the Spirit that God gives us does not make us timid. Instead His Spirit fills us with power.

3. Choose God’s way with faith that God’s power will show up.

Hebrews 11:1 – What is faith? It is the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen.

Isaiah 40:31 – Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary.

Romans 8:17 – And since we are His children, we will share His treasure. For everything God gives to His Son, Christ, is ours too.

November 20 2016 The Kind Of Work God Blesses

THE KIND OF WORK GOD BLESSES

Proverbs 27:29 – When you see people skilled in their work, you know that they will end up standing before Kings, not working for ordinary people.

Proverbs 16:3 – Commit your work to the Lord, and it will succeed.

FIVE WAYS GOD BLESSES OUR WORK

1. Seek God’s direction.

Proverbs 15:8 – The Lord is pleased when good men pray.

Proverbs 16:20 – He who plans a thing will be successful.

Proverbs 13:16 – A wise man thinks ahead, a fool doesn’t and even brags about it.

2. Sharpen our skills.

Ecclesiastes 10:10 – If your axe is dull, and it’s edge unsharpened, more strength is needed, but still will bring success.

Proverbs 15:22 – Get all the advice you can, and you will succeed, without it you will fail.

3. Share the profit.

Proverbs 3:9-10 – Honor the Lord by giving Him the first part of all your income, and He will fill your barns to overflow.

4. Stay with it.

Proverbs 12:24 – Diligence brings a man to power.

Proverbs 21:5 – Steady plodding brings prosperity.

Colossians 3:24 – Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.  Remember that the Lord will reward you.  For Christ is the real master you serve.

Isaiah 40:31 – Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.

5. Always be thankful.

Ephesians 5:20 – Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

April 3 2016 Your Future And God's Faithfulness

YOUR FUTURE AND GOD’S FAITHFULNESS

Psalm 34:4 – I sought the Lord and He answered me, He delivered me from all my fears.

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

GOD’S FAITHFULNESS

1.  Helps me keep standing when I’m tempted.

1 Peter 5:8 - Watch out for attacks from the devil, your great enemy.  He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for some victim to devour.  Take a firm stand against him, and be strong in your faith.

1 Corinthians 10:13 - The temptations that you have are the same ones that all people have.  But you can trust God.  He will not let you be tempted more than you can stand.  When you are tempted, God will also give you a way to escape.  Then you will be able to stand it.

2.  Helps me keep standing when I’m overwhelmed.

2 Corinthians 1:21-22 - It is God who gives us the ability to stand firm for Christ.  He has commissioned us, and He has identified us as His own by placing the Holy Spirit in our hearts.

Philippians 2:13 - For God is at work within you, giving you the will and the power to achieve His purpose.

3.  Helps me keep standing in the storm.

Isaiah 41:10 - So don’t worry, because I am with you.  Don’t be afraid, because I am your God.  I will make you strong and will help you.  I will support you with my right hand that saves you.

Psalm 46:1 - God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.

HOW TO RECEIVE GOD’S STRENGTH

1.  Call out to God.

James 4:6-8 - God gives grace to the humble.  So give yourselves completely to God.  Draw close to God, and God will draw close to you.

2.  Fill your mind with God’s Word.

Psalm 119:25 - I am completely discouraged; revive me by your Word.

3.  Accept support from God’s people.

Galatians 6:2 - By helping each other with your troubles, you truly obey the law of Christ.

4.  Hold on to God’s promises.

Isaiah 40:29-31 - He gives strength to the wary and increases the power of the weak.  Even youths grow tired, but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint.

2 Corinthians 4:18 - So we don’t look at the troubles we can see right now; rather, we look forward to what we have not yet seen.  For the troubles we see will soon be over, but the joys to come will last forever.

Philippians 4:13 – I have strength for all things in Christ who empowers me.  I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him who infuses inner strength into me.

February 14 2016 Daring To Commit

DARING TO COMMIT

Romans 6:13 (LB) "Give yourselves completely to God—every part of you—for you have been brought back to life, and you want to be tools in the hands of God, used for his good purposes."

FIVE COMMITMENTS

1. TO STRENGTHEN MY FAITH . . .

I MUST unite with others in worship

Isaiah 40:31 "Those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint."

Psalm 100:2 (NLT) "Worship the Lord with gladness! Come before him, singing with joy!"

2. TO DISCOVER MY IDENTITY & PURPOSE . . .

I MUST connect with others in fellowship

Romans 12:4­5 (Mes)"We are like the various parts of a human body. Each part gets its meaning from Christ’s Body as a whole, not the other way around. Each of us finds our meaning and function as a part of his body. But as a chopped­off finger or cut­off toe we wouldn’t amount to much, would we?"

Ephesians 2:16 (Mes) "Christ brought us together through his death on the Cross. The Cross got us to embrace, and that was the end of the hostility."

2 Corinthians 5:18­-19 (NIV) "Now God had reconciled us to himself through Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation...and the message of reconciliation."

3. TO DEVELOP MY POTENTIAL . . .

I MUST learn from others to grow

Ephesians 4:16 (NLT)"Christ’s Body is fitted TOGETHER perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow . . ."

4. TO EXPERIENCE SIGNIFICANCE . . .

I MUST serve with others in ministry

1 Peter 4:10 (NCV) "Each of you has received a gift to use to serve others. Be good Servants of God’s various gifts of grace."

Mark 8:35 (NLT) "If you try to keep your life for yourself, you will lose it. But if you give your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will find true life."

Ecclesiastes 4:9­-12 (NCV & LB) "Two people are always better than one, because they get more done by working TOGETHER. If one falls down, the other can help him up. But it is bad for the person who is alone and falls, because no one is there to help. If two lie down TOGETHER, they can share the same blanket and stay warm, but a person alone will not be warm. An enemy might defeat one person, but two people TOGETHER can defend themselves. And a rope that is woven of three braids is hard to break."

WHEN WE WORK TOGETHER . . .

• WE maximize our impact (vs 9)
• WE minimize our failure (vs 10)
• WE mobilize our resources (vs 11)

Memory Verse: Matthew 25:40 (NIV) "I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these, you did for me."

5. TO MAKE AN ETERNAL DIFFERENCE . . .

I MUST join with others on mission

Matthew 28:19­-20 (NIV)"Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to do everything I have commanded you. And surely I will be with you . . ."

March 29 2015 Victory Under Pressure

VICTORY UNDER PRESSURE

Mark 14:32-36

1 Peter 5:10 – And the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm, and steadfast.

Hebrews 5:8 - Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from what He suffered.

1. We must realize that all must go through the press.

Mark 14:32 - Then Jesus went to His Disciples to a place called Gethsemane.

Luke 22:44 - His sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.

1 Peter 1:6 - Though now for a little while you may have suffered grief in all kinds of trials.

2. We must reserve time with God.

Mark 14:38 - Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.

3. We must release our all to Christ.

Mark 14:35 - Not what I will, but what You will.

Hebrews 4:9 - There remains than a rest for the people of God.

4. We must remember the results.
    
Mark 14:42 - Jesus said, “Rise let us go.”

Lesson - Every time we come through the press of life victoriously we have a new inner quality to give away to those around us.

2 Corinthians 1:5 - For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort over flows.

5. We must rejoice for we’re never forgotten.

Luke 22:43 - An Angel from heaven appeared to Him and strengthened Him.

Isaiah 40:31 - They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings as eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.