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.

January 8 2017 Your Choice: Blessed Or Stressed

YOUR CHOICE: BLESSED OR STRESSED

Decade of Destiny – Part 1

Deuteronomy 28:2-8 - You will experience all these blessings IF you obey the Lord your God.  You will be blessed in your towns and in the country. You will be blessed with many children and productive fields.  You will be blessed with fertile herds and flocks.  You will be blessed with baskets overflowing with fruit, and with kneading bowls filled with bread.  You will be blessed wherever you go, both in coming and in going.  The Lord will conquer your enemies when they attack you, and the Lord will BLESS EVERYTHING YOU DO and will fill your storehouses with grain.

Job 42:12 – The Lord blessed Job in the second half of his life even more than in the first half of his life.

GOD PROMISES TO BLESS MY LIFE

1. If I meet with Him daily.

Proverbs 8:34 – Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway.

Psalm 31:19 – You have stored up great blessings for those who honor you.  You do so much for those who come to you for protection, blessing them before the watching world.

2. If I study and do His Word.

Psalm 1:1-3 – Blessed is the man whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His Word he meditates day and night.  He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither.  Whatever he does prospers.

James 1:25 – The man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it, he will be blessed in what he does.

3. If I tithe my income.

Malachi 3:10 – Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my hours.  Test me in this, says the Lord Almighty, and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.

4. If I help others in need.

Psalm 41:1-2 – God blesses those who are kind to the poor and helpless.  He helps them out of their own troubles.  He protects them and keeps them alive; He publicly honors them and destroys the power of their enemies.

Proverbs 22:9 – A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor.

Proverbs 11:11 – Good people bless and build up their city.

5. If I share the good news.

Philemon 1:6 – I pray you will be active in sharing your faith, so that you will fully understand every blessing we have in Christ.

1 Corinthians 3:8 – The man who plants and the man who waters have on purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor.

6. If I participate in fellowship.

Romans 1:12 – I’m eager to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours.  In this way, each of us will be a blessing to the other.

Now that you know these things, you will be blessed If you Do them.

January 8 2017 Getting A Grip On Faith

GETTING A GRIP ON FAITH

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

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

Luke 17:5 – The apostles said, Lord, increase our faith.

I. How does God strengthen my faith? By testing it.

James 1:3 – The testing of your faith develops perseverance so that you may be mature and complete.

Job 7:17-18 – What is man that you make so much of him, and that you give him so much attention that you examine him every morning and test him every moment.

II. How does God test our faith?

1. God tests our faith through difficulties.

1 Peter 1:6-7 – For a little while you have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

Isaiah 48:10 – I have refined you, though not as silver, I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.

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

LESSON: To live by faith, I learn to: To live by faith.

2. God tests our faith through demands.

Exodus 16:4 – The people are to go out each day and gather enough manna for that day. In that way I will test them and see whether they will follow instructions.

Hebrews 11:8 – By faith Abraham obeyed and went.

Hebrews 11:7 – By faith Noah built an ark.

LESSON: To live by faith I must learn to: Obey God quickly.

3. God tests our faith through delays.

Deuteronomy 8:2 – God led you all the way in the desert these 40 years to test you in order to know what was in your heart.

Isaiah 64:4 – God acts on behalf of those who wait for Him.

LESSON: To live by faith, I must learn to: Wait patiently.

October 2 2016 Your Choice: Blessed Or Stressed

YOUR CHOICE: BLESSED OR STRESSED

Decade of Destiny – Part 1

Deuteronomy 28:2-8 - You will experience all these blessings IF you obey the Lord your God.  You will be blessed in your towns and in the country. You will be blessed with many children and productive fields.  You will be blessed with fertile herds and flocks.  You will be blessed with baskets overflowing with fruit, and with kneading bowls filled with bread.  You will be blessed wherever you go, both in coming and in going.  The Lord will conquer your enemies when they attack you, and the Lord will BLESS EVERYTHING YOU DO and will fill your storehouses with grain.

Job 42:12 – The Lord blessed Job in the second half of his life even more than in the first half of his life.

GOD PROMISES TO BLESS MY LIFE

1. If I meet with Him daily.

Proverbs 8:34 – Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway.

Psalm 31:19 – You have stored up great blessings for those who honor you.  You do so much for those who come to you for protection, blessing them before the watching world.

2. If I study and do His Word.

Psalm 1:1-3 – Blessed is the man whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His Word he meditates day and night.  He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither.  Whatever he does prospers.

James 1:25 – The man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it, he will be blessed in what he does.

3. If I tithe my income.

Malachi 3:10 – Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my hours.  Test me in this, says the Lord Almighty, and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.

4. If I help others in need.

Psalm 41:1-2 – God blesses those who are kind to the poor and helpless.  He helps them out of their own troubles.  He protects them and keeps them alive; He publicly honors them and destroys the power of their enemies.

Proverbs 22:9 – A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor.

Proverbs 11:11 – Good people bless and build up their city.

5. If I share the good news.

Philemon 1:6 – I pray you will be active in sharing your faith, so that you will fully understand every blessing we have in Christ.

1 Corinthians 3:8 – The man who plants and the man who waters have on purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor.

6. If I participate in fellowship.

Romans 1:12 – I’m eager to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours.  In this way, each of us will be a blessing to the other.

Now that you know these things, you will be blessed If you Do them.

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