December 4 2016 When Life Gets Messy

/ Great Plains Community Church/

THE STORY OF JOSEPH - When Life Gets Messy

This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. Joseph, her fiancé, was a good man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly. As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”...When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife. But he did not have sexual relations with her until her son was born. And Joseph named him Jesus. - Matthew 1:18-21, 24-25

HOW DO I THRIVE WHEN LIFE GETS MESSY?

1. ADMIT MY Fear.

“As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. ‘Joseph, son of David,’ the angel said, ‘do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit.’” - Matthew 1:20

God doesn’t want me to fear the opinions of others.

“The Lord is for me, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?” - Psalms 118:6

God doesn’t want me to fear circumstances.

“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.” - Romans 8:28

God doesn’t want me to fear the future.

“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord. ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.’” - Jeremiah 29:11

2. TRUST GOD EVEN WHEN I I don't understand.

“When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife.” - Matthew 1:24

Memory Verse: “‘My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,’ says the Lord. ‘And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.’” - Isaiah 55:8

3. TRUST GOD EVEN WHEN IT’S  it's costly.

“After the wise men were gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. ‘Get up! Flee to Egypt with the child and his mother,’ the angel said. ‘Stay there until I tell you to return, because Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.’ That night Joseph left for Egypt with the child and Mary, his mother, and they stayed there until Herod’s death.’” - Matthew 2:13-15

(Jesus) “And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or property, for my sake, will receive a hundred times as much in return and will inherit eternal life.” - Matthew 19:29

4. ALLOW GOD TO DEVELOP MY patience DURING THE MESS.

“When Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt. ‘Get up!’ the angel said. ‘Take the child and his mother back to the land of Israel, because those who were trying to kill the child are dead.’” - Matthew 2:19-20

November 15 2015 Managing My Money

/ Great Plains Community Church/

MANAGING MY MONEY

Wiser- Part 5 of 8

FIVE FOUNDATIONS FOR FINANCIAL FREEDOM

Rule #1: Keep Good Records

Proverbs 23:23 (LB)"Riches can disappear fast ... so watch your business interests closely. Know the state of your flocks.  "

Proverbs 23:23 (LB)"Get the facts at any price!"

Rule #2: Plan Your spending

Proverbs 21:5 (GN) Plan carefully  and you will have plenty; if you act too quick, you will never have enough.  "

Proverbs 21:20 (GN)". . . stupid people spend their money as fast as they get it.  "

Rule #3: Save For the Future

Proverbs 21:20a (LB)"The wise man  saves for the future. . . "

Proverbs 13: 11 (Jerusalem Bible) "He grows rich who accumulates little by little.              

Rule #4: Enjoy What your already have

Proverbs 21:17 (Good News) "Indulging in luxuries, wine and rich food will never make you wealthy. 

Hebrews 13:5 "Be content with what you have. .  

Rule #5: Give At least 10% back to God

Memory Verse: Proverbs 3:9-10 (LB) "Honor the Lord by giving Him the first part  of all your income and He will fill  your barns to overflow. 

Proverbs 10: 16 (Living Bible) "The good man's earnings advance  the cause of righteousness. 

Proverbs 22:9 "A generous man will leave God's blessings.  

Isaiah 55:2  Why spend money on what does not satisfy. "

July 12 & 19 2015 Getting Rid Of Guilt

/ Great Plains Community Church/

GETTING RID OF GUILT

God's Answer to Your Needs - Part 5 of 8

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.’

HOW DOES GOD FORGIVE?

1. God forgives INSTANTLY

Nehemiah 9:17 (LB) "You are a God of forgiveness, always ready to pardon, gracious and merciful...full of love

Isaiah 55:7 (GN)". . . God is merciful and quick for forgive. "

2. God forgives COMPLETELY

Colossians 2:13-14 (Ph) "He has forgiven all your sins; He has utterly wiped out the evidence of broken commandments which always hung over our heads, and has completely annulled it by nailing it to the cross.”

Jeremiah 31:34 (LB)"I the Lord will forgive and forget their sins."

3. God forgives REPEATEDLY

1 John 1:9"If we confess our sins to God, he will keep his promise and do what is right; he will forgive our sins and make us clean from all our wrongdoing."

Hebrews 7:25 (Ph)"(Christ) ... is always interceding on our behalf "

4. God forgives FREELY

Romans 3:23-24 (LB)"All of us have sinned ... yet now God declares us “not guilty of offending him IF we trust in Jesus Christ, who freely takes away our sins."

Ephesians 2:8-9 (GN)"For it is by God's grace that you have been saved, through faith. It is not your own doing, but God's gift, There is nothing to boast of, since it is not the result of your own effort.”

HOW TO BE FORGIVEN

  • Admit
  • Believe
  • Commit

Romans 8:1 (GN) "There is no condemnation for those who live in union with Christ Jesus."

May 24 2015 Freedom From Guilt

/ Great Plains Community Church/

FREEDOM FROM GUILT

Psalm 25:18 – Look on my affliction and my pain, and forgive all my sins.

HOW DO WE GET RID OF GUILT?

I. First remember God forgives instantly.

HOW TO APPLY FORGIVENESS INSTANTLY

A. Remember God’s position.

Nehemiah 9:17 –You are a God of forgiveness always ready to pardon.

B. Trust God’s promise.

Isaiah 55:7 – God is merciful and quick to forgive.

II. Remember God forgives completely. 

A.    

1. An example: The father of the prodigal son.

B. How to know forgiveness is complete.

1. Christ paid the debt for every sin.

Colossians 2:13-14 – He has forgiven all your sins, He has utterly wiped out the evidence of broken commandments which always hung over our heads, and has completely annulled it by nailing it to the cross.

2. Remember, God forgets.

Jeremiah 31:34 – I, the Lord, will forgive and forget their sins.

III. Remember that God forgives more than once.

HOW DOES IT HAPPEN?

A. God does not get tired of our coming to Him.

1 John 1:9 – If we confess our sins to God, He will keep His promise and do what is right.  He will forgive our sins and make us learn from our wrong doing.

B. Learn to keep short accounts.

Hebrews 7:25 – (Christ) Is always interceding on our behalf.

IV. Finally notice that God forgives freely.

Romans 3:23-24 – All of us have sinned, yet now God declares us not guilty of offending Him IF we trust in Jesus Christ who freely takes away our sins.

Ephesians 2:8-9 – For it is by God’s grace that you have been saved through faith.  It is not your own doing, but God’s gift.  There is nothing to boast of, since it is not the result of your own efforts.

HOW TO BE FORGIVEN

  • Admit the wrong.
  • Believe what Christ did on the cross.
  • Commit your life to following Jesus.
  • Gratitude must be expressed.

Romans 8:1 – There is no condemnation for those who live in union with Christ Jesus.