January 13 2013 Taking God Seriously

TAKING GOD SERIOUSLY

Exodus 20:7 - You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God.

What’s in a name?

Reputation

Character

Authority

I. Ways God’s Name Can Be Misused
• Using God’s Name to insult.

• Using God’s Name to indulge.
Leviticus 19:12 - Do not make a promise in My Name if you do not intend to keep it. That brings disgrace on My Name.

• Using God’s Name to intimidate.

• Using God’s Name to impress.
Titus 1:16 - They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny Him.

• Using God’s Name impulsively.
Isaiah 29:23 - Those people Worship Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me.

Matthew 6:7 - When you pray, don’t use a lot of meaningless words.

II. How Can I Use God’s Name Correctly?

1. Reverence God’s Name Continually.

Psalm 29:2 - Give to the Lord the glory due His Name.

Psalm 9:10 - Those who know Your Name will trust in You.

Psalm 61:5 - You (God) have given me the blessings You reserve for those who reverence Your Name.

2. Represent God’s Name Clearly.
2 Timothy 2:19 - A person who calls himself a Christian should not be doing things that are wrong.

Colossians 3:17 - Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the Name of the Lord Jesus.

3. Rely on God’s Name Completely.
Psalm 33:21 - No wonder we are happy in the Lord! We trust His Holy Name.

Acts 4:12 - Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other Name under heaven by which we must be saved.

John 20:31 - Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and by believing you may have life in His Name.

Luke 6:45 - The mouth speaks what the heart is full of.

November 25 2012 Preparing For Christ At Christmas

PREPARING FOR CHRIST AT CHRISTMAS
Matthew 2:1-10

Five Observations To Consider:

1. We must do more than obey the law.
Matthew 2:2 - We saw His star in the east and have come to Worship Him.
Matthew 2:6 - Who will be the shepherd of my people.
Matthew 3:7-8 - You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.

Examples: The Priest and Levite.
The rich young ruler.

2. Our faith must move beyond the lips to the heart.
Matthew 2:8 - Herod said, go and make careful search for the Child. As soon as you find Him, report to me, so that I too may go and Worship Him.
Matthew 15:8 - These people honor me with their lips but their heart is far from me.

Examples: They failed to go the second mile.

3. We must understand that those who are farthest want to get close.
Matthew 2:1 - Wise men for the east came to Jerusalem.

Examples: The wise men.
The thief on the cross.
The prodigal son.


4. We must make our commitment real.
Matthew 2:9-11 - After they had heard the King, they went their way and the star they had seen in the east, went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the Child was. When they saw the star they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the Child with His Mother Mary and they bowed down and worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.

5. We must obey the Father.
Matthew 2:12 - They returned to their country by another route. They had Divine instruction to go a different route.

August 19 2012 Managing Your Mouth

MANAGING YOUR MOUTH
James 3:1-12

James 3:2 - We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check.

I. Why must I watch what I say?

1. My tongue directs where I go.
Vs. 3 - When we put bits in the mouths of horses, we can turn the whole animal.
Vs. 4 - Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go.

2. My tongue can destroy what I have.
Vs. 5 - Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue is also a fire.
Vs. 6 - It sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.
Proverbs 21:23 - If you want to stay out of trouble, be careful what you say.
Vss. 7-8 - All kinds of animals have been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

3. My tongue displays who I am.
It is inconsistent (Verse 9)
Vs. 10 - Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be.
Vs. 11 - Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? Can a fig tree bear olives or a grapevine bear figs?

The Problem is my heart.
Matthew 12:34 - For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.

II. What’s the solution?

1. Get a new heart.
II. Cor. 5:17 - Rid yourself of all the offenses you have committed and get a new heart and a new spirit.

2. Ask for God’s help.
Psalm 141:3 - Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord, keep watch over the door of my lips.

3. Think before you speak.
James 1:19 - Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry.