September 11 2016 Prospering With Integrity

Prospering With Integrity

Memory Verse: Exodus 20: 15 "You shall not steal."

I. HOW DO WE STEAL?

1 By deceiving customers

Amos 6:5 (GN) "(They) overcharge, use false measures, and fix the scales to cheat the customers."

2. By defrauding employers

Colossians 3:23 "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord."

3. By delaying payments

Leviticus 19:13 (GN) "Don't take advantage of anyone... Don't hold back the wages of someone you've hired, not even for one night."

4. By defrauding on loans

Psalm 37:21 (GN) "The wicked man borrows and never pays back..."

5. By deceiving the government

Romans 13:6-7 (GN) "...the authorities are working for God ... Pay what you owe them; pay your personal and property taxes..."

6. By defrauding the Lord

Malachi 3:8 "Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me! but you ask, `How do we rob You, God? By withholding tithes and offerings!"

II. WHY BE HONEST?

1. I am being watched by God

Job 34:21-22 (LB) "God careful watches the goings on of all mankind; he sees them all. No darkness is thick enough to hide evil men from his eyes."

Proverbs 20:7 (LB) "It is a wonderful heritage to have an honest father."

2. I will reap whatever I sow

Galatians 6:7 (LB) "Don't be misled, remember a man will always reap just the kind of crop he sows!"

Proverbs 15:27 (GN) "Try to make a profit dishonestly and you'll get your family in trouble."

Proverbs 21:6 (LB) "Dishonest gain will never last, so why take the risk?"

3. Dishonesty damages my character

Proverbs 10:2 (GN) "Wealth you get by dishonesty will do you no good, but honesty can save your life."

Proverbs 19:1 (GN) "It is better to be poor but honest, than to be a lying fool!"

4. God will reward my honesty.

Proverbs 28:20 (GN) "Honest people will lead a full, happy life but if you are in a hurry to get rich you are going to be punished."

Matthew 25:21 (JN) "Well done...you've shown you can be faithful in small things. I will trust you with greater ones; come and join in your Master's happiness!"

III. FIRST STEPS TO INTEGRITY

1. Make restitution when possible.

Luke 19:8 (GN) (Zacchaeus) "If I have cheated anyone, I will pay him back four times as much."

2. Give God my full tithe

Malachi 3:8,9-10 "Is it right for a person to cheat God? Of course not...Bring the full amount of your tithes to the Temple ... and I will pour out on you in abundance..."

3. Make a living honestly

Ephesians 4:28 (Ph) "The man who used to be a thief must give up stealing, and do an honest day's work with his own hands..."

April 12 2015 When We Need 20-20 Vision

WHEN WE NEED 20-20 VISION

Matthew 6:22-23 – The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness.

Mark 8:17-29

AN EMBARRASSING MISUNDERSTANDING

Mark 8:13-21 – Then Jesus got into the boat and crossed to the other side.  The disciples had forgotten to bring bread, except for one loaf they had in the boat. Be careful, Jesus warned. Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod. The disciples discussed why Jesus had said this and they decided it was because they hadn’t brought bread with them. Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked, why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your minds closed? You have eyes, but now don’t really see! You have ears, but you don’t really listen. Remember when I divided five loaves of bread for the five thousand? How many baskets did you fill with leftover pieces of food? They said, twelve. And when I divided seven loaves of bread for the four thousand, how many baskets did you fill with leftover pieces of food? They said, seven. Then Jesus said, and you still don’t understand yet?

WHAT KEEPS ME FROM 20-20 VISION?

1. Pride.

“Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees.”

2. Short term thinking.

“The disciples discussed why Jesus had said this and they decided it was because they hadn’t brought bread with them!”

3. Short term memory.

“Remember the two miracles?”

A PROGRESSIVE MIRACLE

Mark 8:22 – They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. Jesus took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village.

THREE CONDITIONS FOR A MIRACLE

1. When some body cares.

2. When we get close to Jesus.

3. When we trust Jesus to lead us.

Mark 8:23-26 – Then Jesus spit on the man’s eyes and put His hands on him, and then asked, do you see anything? The man looked up and said, I see people but they look like trees walking around. So Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes a second time. Then his eyes were opened fully, his sight was restored completely, and he saw everything clearly. Jesus sent him home, saying, don’t go back into town.

THREE LESSONS ABOUT 20-20 VISION

1. My spiritual vision grows in stages.

2. The test of my vision is how I see other people.

3. Jesus heals my sight three ways:

• My focus gets sharper.
• My perspective gets larger.
• Makes my vision clearer.

Job 34:32 – Teach me what I cannot see; and if I’ve done wrong, I won’t do it again!

A CLARIFYING QUESTION

Mark 8:27-29 – Then Jesus asked them, who do people say I am? They replied, some say you are John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and still others you’re one of the other prophets. But what about you, Jesus asked, who do you say I am? Peter said, You are the Christ, the Messiah!

How I see Jesus determines how clearly I see everything else.

January 26 2014 The Truth About Change

The Truth About Change 

MYTH: "I should be able to change overnight. "

I. THE PROCESS GOD USES TO CHANGE US

Phase 1: CONCERN

Job 30:27 (LB)"My heart is troubled and restless. "

Deuteronomy 32:11 "like an eagle that stirs up its nest .... "

How you feel: UNCOMFORTABLE

Phase 2: CRISIS

2 Corinthians 7:10 (LB)"God sometimes uses sorrow in our lives to help us turn away from sin .... "

How you feel: INTENSE PAIN

Phase 3: CHOICE

Job 34:3-4 (LB)"We choose the sounds we want to listen to; we choose the taste we want in food, and we should choose to follow what is right. "

How you feel: SCARED

Phase 4: COMPREHENSION

Romans 12:2 (NCV)"... be changed within by a new way of thinking .... "

John 8:32 (LB)". . . the truth will set you free. "

How you feel: CAUTIOUSLY HOPEFUL

Phase 5: CONDUCT

James 2:17 "Faith, if it is not accompanied by ACTION, is dead."

How you feel: FRUSTRATED

Phase 6: COMMITMENT TO CONTINUE.

How you feel: DISCOURAGEMENT

II. HOW TO COOPERATE WITH GOD'S PROCESS

Phase 1: Be Alert To God's Voice

Job 33:13-19"For God does speak -- now one way, now another -- though man may not perceive it. In a dream . . . as they slumber . . . (or) he may speak in their ears . . . with warnings . . . Or a man may be chastened on a bed of pain with constant distress .... "

Phase 2: Accept God’s Comfort

Isaiah 42:3 "God will encourage the fainthearted, those tempted to despair. "

Psalm 31:7 (LB) "You (God) have listened to my troubles and have seen the crisis in my soul. "

Jonah 2:7 (LB) " When I had lost all hope, I turned my thoughts once more to the Lord. "

Phase 3: Ask God For Courage

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 fi re of oppression, you will not be burned up .... "

Phase 4: Apply God’s Word

2 Timothy 3:16 (LB)"The whole Bible . . . is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives; it straightens us out and helps us do what is right. "

James 1:22 "Do not merely listen to the Word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

Phase 5: Anticipate God's Help

Psalm 37:5 (LB)"Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him to help you do it. and he will. "

Phase 6: Adhere To God’s Plan

Galatians 6:9 (LB)"Let us not get tired of doing what is right, for after a while we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don 't get discouraged and give up. "

Philippians 1:6 "Be confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. "