October 30 2016 I am the Good Shepherd

Connecting With The Real Jesus - I am the Good Shepherd

John 10:14, 27-28 "I am the good shepherd. I know my own sheep and they know me.... My sheep recognize my voice. I know them and they follow me. I give them eternal life and they will never perish. No one will snatch them away from me."

WHAT IT MEANS TO YOU THAT JESUS IS YOUR SHEPHERD

1. As my good shepherd, Jesus provides for my needs.

Matthew 6:31-33 "“So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your Heavenly Father already knows all of your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need."

Memory Verse: Philippians 4:19 "My God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus."

2. As my good shepherd, Jesus protects me from harm.

Mark 4:35-40 As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” So they took Jesus in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed). But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water. Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?” When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. Then he asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

Psalm 34:9 "The good man does not escape of troubles. He has them, too, but the Lord helps Him in each and everyone."

3. As my good shepherd He will guide me on what is right.

James 1: 5-8 (TLB) 5 If you want to know what God wants you to do, ask him, and he will gladly tell you, for he is always ready to give a bountiful supply of wisdom to all who ask him; he will not resent it. But when you ask him, be sure that you really expect him to tell you,

Matthew 7:13-14 (NIV) Enter through the narrow gate. For Wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow is the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."

Luke 15:4-7 If a man has a 100 sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won't he leave the 99 others in the wilderness and go and search for that one that is lost until He finds it? And when he has found it, he will joyfully carry it home on his shoulders." And when he arrives, he will call together all of his friends and neighbors saying, "Rejoice with me, because I have found my lost sheep." "In the same way, there is more joy in Heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over 99 others who are righteous and haven't strayed away.

June 14 2015 What Is God Really Like?

WHAT IS GOD REALLY LIKE?

Matthew 6:9 "This is how you, should pray, 'Our Father...

1. GOD IS A Caring Father

Psalm 104:13 "As a father has- compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on 

those who honor Him.

Memory Verse: I Peter 5:7 "Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you!"

Psalm 35:37 "The Lord delights in the well being of His servants.  "

GN "The Lord is pleased with the success of His servants.  " .

2. GOD IS A Consistent Father

James 1:17 "Every good and perfect gift is from the Father who does not change like shifting 

shadow. 

2 Timothy 2:13 "Even if we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot disown Himself.  

Malachi 3:6 God says, "I the Lord, do not change.  " 

Psalm 18:20 "What a God he is! All his promises prove true!"

3.  GOD  IS A Close Father

Acts 17:27  "God did this so people would reach out for Him and find Him since He is not far 

from each of us. 

1. God is never to busy for me.  

Psalm 145:18 "Th Lord is near to all who call on Him.

2. He loves to meet my needs.  

Matthew 7:11  "If you know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your 

Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him.  " 

Matthew 6:31-32 "So don't worry saying 'What are we going to eat? or what shall we wear?' 

Your heavenly Father knows you need these things.  " 

3. He is sympathetic to my hurts.  

Psalm 34:18 "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in 

spirit.

4. GOD IS A Capable Father

Luke 1:37 "For nothing is impossible with God.  " 

Ephesians 3:20 (LB) "God is able to do far more than we would ever dare to ask or even 

dream of infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, or hopes!" 

Philippians 4:19 "My God shall supply all of your needs.  " 

Galatians 3:26 "We are children of God through faith in Jesus Christ." 

John 1:12 "To as many as received Him, to them He gave the power to become the children of 

God."

October 27 2013 Building A Life Of Intention

BUILDING A LIFE OF INTENTION

Ephesians 2:10 – God is our Maker, and in our union with Christ, He has created us for a life of good works, which He has already prepared for us to do.

Acts 13:36 – David served God’s purpose in his generation.

Acts 20:24 – (Paul) I reckon my own life to be worth nothing to me, in order that I may complete my mission and finish the work the Lord Jesus gave me to do.

THE BENEFITS OF LIVING AN INTENTIONAL LIFE

1. It will reduce frustration.

James 1:6-7-A doubtful mind is unsettled as a wave of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.

James 1:8 – The double minded man can never keep a steady

Isaiah 49:4 – I’ve labored to no purpose. I’ve spent my strength in vain and for nothing.

2. It will increase my motivation.

Job 7:6, 17 – My life drags by, day after hopeless day, I’m tired of living, my life makes no sense.

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.

Ephesians 3:20 – God is able to do far more than we would ever dare to ask or even dream of.

3. It will allow greater concentration.

Philippians 3:13 – I am bringing all my energies to bear on this one thing: forgetting what is behind and looking forward to what

Ephesians 5:15-17 – Pay close attention to how you live. Make good use of every opportunity you get, find out what the Lord wants you to do.

4. It will attract cooperation.

Ezra 10:14 – Tell us how to proceed in setting things straight, and we will fully cooperate.

5. It will prepare me for God’s evaluation.

Romans 14:10, 12 – We will all stand before God’s judgment seat. So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.

∙ Believe God has a purpose for my life.

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

∙ Receive God’s Son into my life.

Ephesians 1:4-5 – Long ago, even before He made the world, God choose us to be His very own through what Christ would do for us, His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into His own family be sending Jesus Christ to die for us. And He did this because He wanted to!

∙ Live in Christ each day.

Colossians 2:6 – So then just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him.

Acts 20:24 – Life is worth nothing unless I use it for doing the work assigned to me by the Lord Jesus.

I Corinthians 6:20 – Use every part of your body to give glory to Him.

∙ Use your treasure in view of eternity.

I Timothy 6:18-19 – Use your money to do good, always being ready to share whatever God has given you. By doing this you will be storing up real treasure for yourself in heaven.

Luke 16:9 – Use worldly wealth to make friends who will welcome you into eternal dwellings.

June 2 2013 Five Conditions For Answered Prayer

FIVE CONDITIONS FOR ANSWERED PRAYER

If you meet these conditions you have every right to expect that what you ask for will be answered in prayer.

1. You must  Have an Honest Relationship with God

John 15:7 "If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, you can ask whatever you wish and it will be given to you." 

Three questions on how to evaluate if you  have an honest relationship to God. 

* Do I or have I refused to admit things that I have done wrong in the past?  

1 John 1 /  Psalm 66:18 / Isaiah 59:2

Proverbs 28:13 "He who tries to conceal his sins cannot prosper but he who admits them, confesses them, forsakes them will have mercy."  

1 John 1:8 "If we claim to be without sin, we're just deceiving ourselves.  The truth is not in us.  However, if we confess our sins, He's faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." 

* Am I currently in the present ignoring any of God's principles? 

1 John 3:21-22 "Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us we have confidence before God and we receive from Him anything we ask [That's the promise] because we obey His commands and do what pleases Him.  This is His command: To believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ and to love one another as He has commanded us."  

*  Do I really want God's will for my life?  

1 John 5:14 "This is the assurance we have in approaching God that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us and if we know that He hears us then whatever we ask we know that we have what we've asked of Him." 

2. You must HAVE A FORGIVING ATTITUDE     TOWARD OTHER PEOPLE. 

Mark 11:24-25  "Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you've received it and it will be yours. Condition:  And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him so that your Father in heaven may forgive your sins."  

Hebrews 12:15 (LB) "Watch out that no bitterness take root among you for as it springs up among you it causes deep trouble, hurting many in their spiritual lives." 

1 Peter 3:7 "Husbands, in the same way [just like he's talked to the wives in the previous verses] be considerate as you live with your wives and treat them with respect.... so that nothing will hinder your prayers." 
 
3. You must WILLING TO SHARE THE RESULTS
 
Proverbs 21:13 "If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and not be answered."        

1 John 3:22.   "We receive from Him anything we ask because we obey His commands."   "His commands are believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ ... love one another as He has commanded us."  

1 John 3:17 "If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?"            

James 4:1 "What causes fights and quarrels among you?  Don't they come from your desires that battle within you?  You want something but you don't get it.  You kill and you covet but you can't have what you want.  You quarrel and you fight.  But you have not because you don't ask God...

James 4:3  When you ask you don't receive because you ask with the wrong motive that you  may spend what you get on your own pleasures."         

4. You must______________________________

James 1:5-7 "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God who gives generously to all without finding fault and it will be given to him. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.  That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord.  He's a double-minded man unstable in all he does."  

Mark 9:29 "According to your faith, it will be done unto you."              

Hebrews 11:6 "Without faith it is impossible to please God."

5.  You must_____________________________

Memory Verse: John 14:13 "And I will do whatever you ask in My name so that the Son may bring glory to the Father.  You may ask Me for anything in My name and I will do it."

John 16:24  "You've not asked anything in My name.  Ask and you will receive and your joy will be complete."

July 22 2012 How To Make Up Your Mind

How To Make Up Your Mind

James 1:5-11

Immediately after speaking about problems (vs. 2-4), James deals with the matter of decision-making.  The quality of your life will be determined by the wisdom or foolishness of your decisions.

1. The problem: Indecision.
Verse 8 - A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways.

Double-minded: Two-souled

Indecision causes:

•  Unstable emotions.
•  Unstable relationships.
•  Unstable spiritual life.

2. The prescription: Get wisdom.

James suggests three practical steps:

Step One:  Admit your need.
Verse 5 - If any of you lack wisdom.
Proverbs 11:2 - When pride comes, the comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.

Step Two:  You need to ask.
Verse 5 - He should ask God.
Proverbs 2:6 - It is the Lord who gives wisdom, from Him comes knowledge and understanding.

Step Three:  You anticipate it.
Verse 6 - But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt.
Hebrews 11:6 - And without faith, it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.

3. The Promise: God will give it.
Verse 5c - Ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

How God Gives:
•  Gives it continuously
•  Gives it generously
•  Gives it cheerfully