February 7 2016 The Word Of Forgiveness

THE WORD OF FORGIVENESS

Luke 23:33-43

Verse 34 – Jesus said, “Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.

THE PROBLEM WITH SOCIETY

-We try to bury the past.

Psalm 32 – When I refused to confess my sins, I was weak and miserable.

-We beat ourselves up.

Psalm 30 – Because I was foolish, I’m bent over and bowed down, I’m sad all day long.

-We try to blame others.

Proverbs19:3 – Some people ruin themselves by their own stupid actions and then blame the Lord.

TRUTHS TO HELP US

1. Forgiveness begins with God.

Verse 34 – “Father.”

Romans 3:23 – All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

Romans 5:8 – But God demonstrates His own love for us in this, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

2. Forgiveness is possible because of Christ.

Verse 34 – “Forgive them.”

Hebrews 4:14 – Therefore since we have a great High Priest who has gone into heaven, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence so we may receive mercy and find grace to help in our time of need.

Isaiah 53:12 – He bore the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors.

3. Forgiveness is needed by all.

Verse 34 – “They do not know what they are doing.”

2 Corinthians 5:19 – That God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them.

4. This prayer sets an example for us.

Matthew 5:44 – But I tell you love your enemies.

WHAT JESUS WANTS US TO DO

-Admit our guilt.

Proverbs 20:27 – The Lord gave us a mind and a conscience, we cannot hide from ourselves

1 John 1:8 – If we claim to be without sin we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.

-Accept responsibility.

Psalm 51:3 – I recognize my faults. I am conscious of my sin.

James 5:16 – Admit your faults to one another and pray for each other so that you may be healed.

1 John 1:9 – If we freely admit that we have sinned, we find God utterly reliable.  He forgives your sins and makes us thoroughly clean from all that is evil.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

-God forgives instantly.

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

-God forgives completely.

Colossians 2:13 – He forgave us all our sins.

-God forgives freely.

Ephesians 1:7 – For by the death of Christ, we are set free.

November 1 2015 The Prayer Of Deliverance

THE PRAYER OF DELIVERANCE

Matthew 6:13 – And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

THREE OBSERVATIONS ABOUT TEMPTATION

1. First, remember that temptation is normal.

1 Corinthians 10:13 – Every temptation that comes 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 the strength to endure it and so provide you with a way out.

Example:  Joseph

2. Temptation is common.

Hebrews 4:15 – For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way just as we are, yet without sin.

3. Temptation improves our life.

James 1:2-4 – Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.

John 4:4 – Greater is He who is in you, than he who is in the world.

SIX STEPS TOWARD DELIVERANCE

1.    Identify my vulnerability. 

Matthew 26:41 – Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.  The Spirit is willing, but the body is weak.

*When am I most tempted?
*Where am I most tempted?
*Who is with me when I’m most tempted?
*What temporary benefit do I get if I give in?
*How do I feel before I’m tempted?

2. Refuse to let fear take over.

Three ways He works

Ephesians 6:10-11 – Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power, put on the full armor of God so you can take your stand against the devil’s scheme.

3. Quickly turn to God.

Psalm 50:15 – Call to Me when trouble comes, I will save you and you will praise Me.

Daniel

Joseph

Hebrews 4:15-16 – (Jesus) had the same temptations we do, though He never once gave way to them and sinned, so let us come boldly to God and find grace to help us in our time of need.

4. Intentionally refocus your mind.

James 1:14-15 – Temptation is the pull of your own evil thoughts and wishes.  These evil thoughts lead to evil actions.

Be careful how you think, your life is shaped by your thoughts.

5. Enlist a partner.

Ecclesiastes 5:9-10 – Two are better than one, because together if one falls down, the other can help him up.  But if someone is alone and falls, there’s no one to help him.

James 5:16 – Admit your faults to one another and pray for each other, so that you may be healed.

6. Turn from the devil.

Ephesians 5:17 – Accept salvation from God to be your helmet and receive the Word of God to use as a sword.

Example of Jesus

YOU CAN HANDLE TEMPTATION

August 2 2015 How To Overcome Temptation

HOW TO OVERCOME TEMPTATION

Matthew 6:13 "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil One.

1 Corinthians 10:13 (GN) "Every temptation that comes 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 the strength to endure it, and so provide you with a way out." 

FIVE STEPS TO OVERCOMING TEMPTATION

1. Refuse TO BE INTIMIDATED

Ephesians 6:10-11 (GN) "Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.   Put on the full armor of God so you can take your stand aaisnt the devil’s schemes.” "

2. Request HELP FROM GOD

Psalm 50:15 (GN) "Call to me when trouble comes;  I will save you, and you will praise me."

Hebrews 4:15-16 (LB) "(Jesus) ... had the same temptations we do, though he never once gave way to them and sinned So let us come boldly ... to God... and find grace to help us in our times of need "

3. Refocus YOUR ATTENTION

James 1:14-15 (LB) "Temptation is the pull of your own evil thoughts and wishes. These evil thoughts is lead to evil actions. . . "

Proverbs 4:23 (GN) "Be careful how you think;  your life is shaped by your thoughts.” 

4. Reveal YOUR STRUGGLE TO A FRIEND

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 (GN) "Two are better than one, because together ... if one falls down, the other can help him up.  But if someone is alone and falls ... there's no one to help him.  "

James 5:16 "Admit your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed." 

5. Resist THE TEMPTOR

James 4:7 (JB) "Give in to God then resist the devil and he will run away from you.  "

Ephesians 6:17 (JB)... accept salvation from God to be your helmet and receive the word of God... to use as a sword."

July 19 2015 The Person God Uses

The Person God Uses

2 Chronicles 7:14

THE PROCESS OF RENEWAL

Christians pray, God cares
Christians repent, God shows us ourselves
Christians minister, God empowers and equips

THE PERSON GOD USES

1. That person has one great purpose.

Philippians 3:7-14

To “know God” there must be:

Evaluation How well do I know God?

Exchange What must I do to know Him better?

Trade off What price will I pay to know Him better?

2. That person has, by God’s grace, removed every known hindrance.  Hebrews 12:1-2

Observations:

1. We can have victory over all sin.

2. If God’s Word says lay it aside, it can be done.

God didn’t say these things to frustrate us, but help us by God’s Grace.

“Whatever weakens your reason, impairs the tenderness of your conscience, obscures your sense of God, or takes off the relish of spiritual things, whatever increases the authority of your body over your mind, that thing for us is sin.” (Susanna Wesley)

3. That person has placed themselves at God’s disposal.

Romans 12:1-2

Observations:

1. For those who have been saved.

2. Sign my name to a blank sheet of paper.

3. Give Him control of your life.

4. That person who has learned to prevail in prayer.

James 5:13-18

Observations:
1. Things beyond my control.

2. Things that are bigger than myself.

3. Things that seem impossible.

5. That person is a student of the Word.

2 Timothy 3:16-17

6. That person has a giving Spirit.

John 3:16

7. That person expects results.

Romans 4:16-21

8. That person lives under the anointing of God the Holy Spirit.

Ephesians 5:18-20

“The renewal we need is simply a return to normal New Testament Christianity, where the Churches are full of prayer, full of power, full of people, full of praise full of divine happenings all the time.  We want something normal, not just ‘special.’  God’s normal, that is.  God’s normal is greater than most of our specials put together. (Dr. Armin Desswein)

December 28 2014 Building Confidence In Prayer

Building Confidence in Prayer

Luke 5:16 – But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.

Seven Principles Towards Confidence In Prayer:

1. Make sure all known sin is confessed.

Psalm 68:18 – If I regard sin in my heart the Lord will not hear me.

Isaiah 59:1-2 – Your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear.

Principle to live by: Before I pray for change in my circumstances, I should pray for a change in character.

James 5:16 – The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

2. Keep a forgiving spirit towards others.

Principle: A forgiving spirit is not an act, it’s an attitude.

Matthew 5:23-24 – First go and be reconciled to your brother.

3. Keep a surrendered will at all times.

James 4:3 – You ask and do not receive because you ask wrongly.

Principle to live by: If God lays a burden on our heart, He also purposes to grant it.

Psalm 33:13 – From heaven the Lord looks down and sees all mankind.

Principle: When God sees me He also sees the crowd and does what’s best for the whole group.

4. Understand God’s Sovereignty.

Principle to live by: I must accept the Sovereignty of God in my life of prayer.

5. I must have faith.

James 1:5 – But let him ask in faith, with no doubting for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.

Matthew 9:29 – According to your faith it will be done unto you.

Matthew 17:20 – If your faith is as small as a mustard seed you can say to this mountain move from here to there and it will.

Principle: To make prayer a force, I must look for question marks in my life.

6. I must have persistence.

Jacob
Ask, Seek, Knock

Principle: Persistence in prayer does not change God, it changes me.

7. Put action with your prayers.

James 2:14 – Faith without action is dead.

Principle: My great need is not faith and works, but faith that works.