December 18 2016 Benefits From The Christmas Savior

BENEFITS FROM THE CHRISTMAS SAVIOR

Matthew 1:21 – She will give birth to a Son and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.

1. You lose your loneliness.

Hebrews 13:5 – Jesus said, “I will never leave you; I will never abandon you.”

Isaiah 41:10 - 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.”

Psalm 4:8 – “I will lie down in peace and sleep, for though I am alone, O Lord, You will keep me safe.”

Psalm 16:11 – “Your presence fills me with joy.”

2. You get another chance.

I Corinthians 1:30 – Right thinking and right living, a clean slate and a fresh start, all come from God by way of Jesus Christ.

II Corinthians 5:17 – Anyone who belongs to Christ becomes a new person. The past is forgotten, and everything becomes new.

Colossians 2:13-14 – God makes you alive with Christ when He forgives all your failures and sins. He did this by erasing the charges that were brought against us by the laws God established. He took those charges away by nailing them to the cross.

3. You find your reason for living.

Ephesians 1:11 – It is in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ He had His eye on us, and designed us for glorious living.

Proverbs 16:4a – The Lord has made everything for His own purposes.

Colossians 3:11 – In this new life one’s nationality or race or education or social position is unimportant; such things mean nothing. Whether a person has Christ is what matters, and He is equally available to all.

I Peter 1:3-4 – Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we’ve been given a brand new life and have everything to live for, including a future in heaven and the future starts now!

Romans 6:13 – Give yourselves completely to God, every part of you to be used for His good purposes.

4. You get His power to go on.

II Timothy 2:1 – Find your source of strength in the Grace of Christ Jesus. 

Isaiah 43:2 – When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up.

September 18 2016 How To Manage Life's Crises

HOW TO MANAGE LIFE’S CRISES

How Do We Manage Life’s Crises?

I. Remember the variety of crises or storms we may face.

A. Crises can be of a situational nature.

Proverbs 1:27 – When calamity overtakes you like a storm.

B. Crises can be relational.

Psalm 102:7-9 – I have become like a bird alone on a house top, I lie awake all day long, my enemies taunt me, those who rail against me use my name as a curse.

C. Crises might be emotional.

Job 30:22 – You snatch me up and drive me before the wind, you toss me about in the storm.

II. Know the facts about crises or storms.

A. Storms are inevitable.

James 1:2 – When you face trials.

B. Crises are unpredictable.

Without warning a furious storm came up.

C. Crises are impartial.

Matthew 5:45 – He sent rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

III. There are two possible reactions.

A. I can be filled with panic.

Verse 25 – The disciples went and woke Him saying, “Lord save us, we’re going to drown.”

B. I can be filled with peace.

Verse 24b – But Jesus was sleeping.

IV. Let’s look at how to manage the crisis.

A. Remember God’s closeness.

1. Verse 23 – Then He (Jesus) got into the boat and His disciples followed Him.

2. Isaiah 43:1-2 – Fear not, for I have redeemed you.  I have called you by name, you are mine.  When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.

LESSON #1 – When you’re in the crises, remember Jesus is with you.

B. Relax in God’s care.

1. Mark 4:38 – The disciples said to Him, “Teacher don’t you care if we drown?”

LESSON #2 – God cares about what you’re going through.

2. I Peter 5:7 – Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.

C. Rely on God’s control.

1. Mark 4:39 – Jesus got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Be quiet! Be Still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.
 
LESSON #3 – God is in control; you don’t have to be.

2. Jeremiah 32:17 – Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arms.  Nothing is too hard for you.

YOU CAN MANAGE YOUR CRISES

May 3 2015 Freedom From Our Hurts

FREEDOM FROM OUR HURTS

Isaiah 57:18 – I have seen how they acted, but I will lead them and help them and I will comfort them that mourn.

DENIAL BUSTERS 

1. Crises

2. Confrontation

3. Catastrophe 

Hebrews 11:6 – Anyone who comes to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.

THREE STEPS TO GET HELP FOR OUR HURTS

1. Acknowledge God’s existence.

Romans 11:20 – Since the creation of the world, God’s invisible qualities, His eternal power and divine nature have been clearly seen.

Psalm 19:1 – The heavens declare the glory of God.

Psalm 14:1 – The fool says there is no God!

2. Understand God’s character.

Colossians 1:15 – Christ is the visible expression of the invisible God.

• God knows all about my situation.

Psalm 31:7 – You have seen the crisis in my soul.

Psalm 69:5 – You know how foolish I have been.

• God cares about my situation.

Psalm 103:13-14 – He is like a Father to us, tender and sympathetic, for He knows what we are made of, dust!

Jeremiah 31:3 – God says I have loved you with an everlasting love!

Romans 5:8 – God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us.

• God can change me and my situation.

Ephesians 1:20 – I pray you will begin to understand how incredibly great His power is to help those who believe Him.  The same power that raised Christ from the dead.

Luke 18:27 – What is impossible for men is possible with God.

3. Accept God’s offer to help you.

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

2 Timothy 1:7 – The Spirit that God gives us fills us with power, love and self-control.

HOW TO PLUG INTO GOD’S POWER

• Believe Christ died on the cross to save me and help.
• Believe that He cares and has power to help me.
• Surrender my all to Him

Isaiah 43:2-3 – When you go through deep waters and great troubles, I will be with you, you won’t drown!  When you walk through the fires of oppression, you won’t be burned up!

June 1 2014 Building Confidence In God's Presence

Building Confidence In God's Presence

Jeremiah 23:23 – I am a God who is everywhere and not in one place. Do you not know that I am everywhere in heaven and on earth?

God’s Omnipresence God is everywhere.
It does not mean that God is everything.

Acts 17:28 – He is not far from us, for in Him we live and move and have our being.

Fact: God is always with me. I just need to recognize it.

How God’s Presence Brings Confidence To My Life

1. When I am lonely God’s presence is my companion.

Psalm 25:16 – Turn to me Lord and be merciful, because I am lonely.

Hebrews 13:5 – God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you!”

John 14:5 – I call you friends.

Psalm 16:11 – (David) your presence fills me with joy.

Confidence Builder: God’s presence cheers me up.

2. When I am worried, God is my foundation.

Isaiah 43:2-3 – When you go through deep waters and great troubles, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you won’t drown! When you walk through the fires of oppression, you won’t be burned up.

Psalm 16:8-9 – I am always aware of the Lord’s presence. He is near, and nothing can shake me. I’m so thankful and glad, and I feel completely secure.

Confidence Builder: God’s presence calms me down.

Psalm 23:4 – Even though I walk through the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.

3. When I am tempted, God is my Counselor.

2 Corinthians 10:13 – No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful, He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

Confidence Builder: God’s presence helps us maintain control.

Job 13:27 – You (God) keep a close watch on all my paths.

4. When I am discouraged, God is my comforter.

Psalm 34:18 – The Lord is near to those who are discouraged. He saves those who have lost hope.

(The Lord is close to the brokenhearted.)

Psalm 116:8-11 – The Lord stopped my tears and kept me from defeat. So I walk in the presence of the Lord. I kept on believing, even when I said, I’m completely crushed and even when I was afraid and said, no one can be trusted.

Confidence Builder: God’s presence sees me through.

How to Practice God’s Presence:

Revelation 3:20 Invite Jesus into your life.

Psalm 46:10 Be quiet.

1 Thessalonians 5:17 Talk to God about everything.

Psalm 100:4 Develop the habit of praise.

February 23 2014 The Choice To Rejoice

The Choice To Rejoice 

Galatians 5:22 – The fruit of the Spirit is joy.

Philippians 4:4 – Rejoice always in the Lord. I will say it again rejoice.

Three Reasons to Rejoice

1. We have hope.

Romans 5:1-2 – Therefore since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through Whom we have gained access, by faith into this grace in which we now stand and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Romans 12:12 – Be joyful in hope.

2. God has a purpose.

Romans 5:3 – We rejoice in our sufferings because we know that suffering produces perseverance.

Verse 4 – And perseverance character, and character, hope.

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

Verse 4 – Perseverance must finish its work, making you mature and complete, not lacking anything.

3. Understand God is with us.

Romans 5:11 - We all rejoice because of what God has done through our Lord Jesus Christ who has made us good friends.

Isaiah 43:2 – When you pass through deep waters, I will be with you, your troubles will not overwhelm you. When you pass through fire you will not be burned.

Four Steps to Inner Joy

1. Develop the attitude of gratitude.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 – Give thanks in all circumstances for this is God’s will for you in Christ.

Psalm 28:7 – My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to Him in song.

2. Strengthen joy by giving.

Acts 20:35 – It is more blessed to give than to receive.

2 Corinthians 9:7 – God loves a cheerful giver.

3. Increase joy through service.

Mark 8:35 – For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the Gospels will save it.

Ephesians 6:7-8 – Serve whole heartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not man, because you know the Lord will reward everyone whatever good he does.

4. Learn to share Christ with others.

Luke 15:10 – There is rejoicing in heaven when a person comes to faith in Christ.

Romans 10:1 – How I wish with all my heart that my own people might be saved how I pray to God for them.

Jesus said – I will not abandon you or leave you as orphans in the storm, I will come to you.