March 8 2015 Responding To Intimidation

RESPONDING TO INTIMIDATION

1 Peter 3:13-22

TWO WAYS TO RESPOND

1. Keep your mind on the will of God.

Verse 17 – It is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

HOW TO DEVELOP THIS LIFESTYLE

• Be zealous for what is good.

Verse 13 – Who is going to harm you if you are eager (or zealous) to do good?

• Don’t be intimidated or troubled.

Verse 14 – Do not fear what they fear, do not be frightened.

• Keep a life style of Holiness.

Verse 15 – But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord.

FOUR DESCRIPTIVE WORDS

• Admit that you are in control.
• Submit your all to God.
• Commit your will to His way.
• Transmit God’s love to others.

Verse 15 – Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.

Verse 16 – Respond with gentleness and respect.

A MODEL FOR COPING

Acts 4:23-31

Verse 29 – Consider their threats.

Verse 29 – Enable your servants to speak with boldness.

Verse 30 – Stretch out your hand to heal.

Verse 31 – They were all filled with the Holy Spirit.

• Keep a clear conscience.

Verse 16 – Keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.

2. Keep your faith in the risen Christ.

Verses 18 & 22 – Christ also suffered.  He died once for the sins of all as guilty sinners, although He Himself was innocent of any sin at any time, that He might bring us safely home to God.  But through His body died, His Spirit lived on, and now Christ is in heaven sitting in the place of honor next to God the Father.

IDENTIFY WITH CHRIST MEANS:

• Our sins are forgiven.
• We will suffer as He did.
• He will take us home to heaven.

March 18 2012 The Effective Lifestyle For The Life Without Limits

The Effective Lifestyle For The Life Without Limits

Mark 13:35 - So you also must keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back.
Luke 21:34-36 - Be careful or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap. Be always on the watch and pray.

1. Prayer is an act of dedication.

John 15:5 - (Jesus) I am the vine and you (Christians) are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in Him, he will bear much fruit. But apart from Me you can do nothing.
Verse 6 - If anyone does not remain in Me he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers. Such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.
Verse 7 - But if you remain in Me (if you remain dependent upon Me) and my Words remain in you, ask whatever you wish and it will be given to you.

2. Prayer is an act of communication. 

John 1:15-16 - I no longer call you servants because a servant does not know his Master’s business. Instead,
I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have make know to you. You did not choose Me, but I chose you to go and bear fruit. Fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in My Name.

3. Prayer is an act of supplication.

Philippians 4:6-7 - Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer, present your request to God.
Verse 7 - And the peace of God will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
John 16:23 - I tell you the truth, My Father will give you whatever you ask in My Name.
Verse 24 - Until now you have not asked for anything in My Name. Ask and you will receive and your joy will be complete.
Psalm 37:4 - Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.
Psalm 84:11 - No good thing does He withhold from those whose walk is blameless.

4. Prayer speaks of an act of cooperation.
John 14:12-13 - I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in Me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater thins because I am going to My Father and I will do whatever you ask in My Name.

Two Great Truths To Remember

1. We are to be faithful to God to the end.
Matthew 6:33 - Seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well.

2. We are to communicate His love and enable other people to know Him.

February 12 2012 Letting Go Of Destructive Lifestyles

Letting Go Of Destructive Lifestyles

What keeps us from committing our all to Christ?

1. Pride
Proverbs 18:12 - Arrogant people are on the way to ruin because they won’t admit it when they need help.
Proverbs 10:8 - The self-sufficient fool falls flat on his face.

2. Guilt
Psalm 40:13 - Problems far too big for me to solve are piled higher than my head. Meanwhile my sins too many to count have caught up with me and I’m ashamed to look up.

3. Fear
Mark 8:36 - How does a man benefit if he gains the whole word and loses his soul in the process? Is anything worth more that his soul? No!

4. Worry
I Peter 5:7 - Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.
Philippians 1:6 - God, who began a good work in you, will keep right on helping you grow in His Grace until His task is finally finished.

5. Doubt
Matthew 17:20 - If you have Faith as small as a mustard seed, nothing will be impossible to you.

How To Make The Decision For Christ

1. Accept God’s Son as my Savior.
Acts 16:31 - Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved.

2. Accept God’s Word as my standard for living.
II Timothy 3:16 - All Scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching the Faith and correcting error, for resetting the direction of a man’s life, training him in good living.

3. Accept God’s Will as my goal for life.
David said: I desire to do Your Will O my God.


4. Accept God’s power as my strength.
Phil 4:13 - I can do everything God asks me with the help of Christ who gives me the strength and power.

Rev. 3:20 - Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will go in and eat with him and he with Me.

November 6 2011 Love As A Lifestyle

Love As A Lifestyle

Gal. 5:22 – The Fruit of the Spirit is Love.
Without love, nothing else matters. (I Cor. 13:1-2)
Love shows we really know God. (I John 4:7-21)
To love is our #1 responsibility. (Matthew 22:36-40)
I Cor. 13:5 -Love is not rude, love does not demand it’s own way, love is not irritable and love keeps no record of when it has be wronged. 

I. How to develop a loving lifestyle or mindset.

1. Accept others unconditionally.
Romans 15:7 – Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.
Romans 12:18 – If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

2. Commit yourself personally.
Romans 12:10 – Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.
Romans 12:5 – In Christ, we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 

3. Encourage others continually.
I Thess. 5:11 – Therefore, encourage one another and build each other up just as in fact, you are doing.
I Cor. 13:7 – If you love someone, you always believe in him and always expect the best of him.

4. Serve people cheerfully.
I Peter 4:10 – Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms.
Romans 12:13 – Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

5. Forgive others freely.
Col 3:13 – Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

6. Decide to expand the Kingdom.
Matthew 28:19 - Go and make disciples of all nations.
II Cor. 5:14 - For Christ’s love compels us.

II. The practical application for dealing with draining people.

1. Difficult people: I must be tactful, not just truthful.
I Cor. 13:5 - Love is not rude.
Prov. 16:21 A wise mature person is known for his understanding. The more pleasant his words the more persuasive he is.

2. Demanding people: I must be understand and not be demanding.
I Cor. 13:5 -Love does not demand it’s own way.
Titus 3:2 -Believers shouldn’t curse anyone or be quarrelsome, but they should be gentle and show courtesy to everyone.

3. Disappointing people: I must be gentle not judgmental.
I Cor. 13:5 -Love is not irritable.
Prov. 15:4 - Gentle words bring life and health.

4. Destructive people: Don’t repeat it, just delete it.
I Cor. 13:5 - And love keeps no record of when it has been wronged.
Prov. 19:11 - When someone wrongs you it is a great virtue to ignore it.

CONCLUSION: Eph. 3:17-18 – I pray that Christ will be more at home in your heart, living within you as you trust Him. May your roots go deep into the soil of God's Marvelous love, and may you be able to feel and understand how long, wide, deep and high His love really is, and experience this love for yourselves.

October 30 2011 When Love Is Wise

When Love Is Wise

James 3:13-18

Vs. 18 – And these who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of goodness. 

Wisdom is a lifestyle of love.
Vs. 13 – Who is wise and understanding among you? 
Let him show it by his good life.

Lack of wisdom causes all kinds of disorder.
Vs. 14-16 – disharmony and all other kinds of evil.

How To Relate Wisely To Others
Vs. 17

1. If I'm wise, I won't compromise my integrity.
Vs. 17 – The wisdom that comes from heave is first of all pure.
Prov. 10:9 – The man of integrity walks securely.

2. If I'm wise, I won't antagonize your anger.
Vs. 17 – wisdom is peace-loving.
Prov. 20:3 – Any fool can start arguments, the wise thing is to stay out of them.
Prov. 14:29 – A wise man controls his temper, he knows that anger causes mistakes.

3. If I'm wise, I won't minimize your feelings.
Vs. 17 – wisdom is considerate.
Prov. 15:4 – Kind words bring life, but cruel words crush your spirit.

4. If I'm wise, I won't criticize your decisions.
Vs 17 – wisdom is submissive.
Prov. 12:15 – A fool thinks he needs no advice. A man listens to others.

5. If I'm wise, I won't emphasize your mistakes.
Vs 17 – wisdom is full of mercy and good fruit.
Prov. 17:19 – Love forgets mistakes, nagging about them parts the best of friends.

6. If I'm wise, I won't disguise my own weaknesses.
Vs. 17 – wisdom is important and sincere.
Prov. 28:13 – You will never succeed in life if you try to hide your sins.
Col. 2:3 – The secret is Christ Himself, in Him lie hidden all God's treasures of wisdom.