March 23 2014 How To Integrate God's Word Into My Life

How To Integrate God's Word Into My Life 

1. I must build on it

“Everyone who hears these words of mine, and puts them into practice, is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” Matthew 7:24

Unreliable Foundations

• Popular culture
• Tradition
• Only Reason
• Emotion

2. I have to feed on it

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.” Colossians 3:16

a. Receive with my ears (listen)

b. Read with my eyes

c. Research with my hands & mouth (study)

d. Reflect with my mind

3. I have to live by it

“I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” Psalm 119:114.

4. I have to grow through it.

“Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.” Psalm 119:18

PARABLE OF THE FOUR SOILS (Luke 8:4-15)

1). The hardened soil = a closed mind

Action: Cultivate an open mind

2). The shallow soil = the superficial mind

Action: Make time for God’s Word.

3). The soil with weeds = a preoccupied mind

Action: I must eliminate the distractions

4). The good soil = A willing mind.

Action: Cooperate with what God says

5. I’ve got to act on it.

“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” James 1:22

Picture it! Visualize the scene in your mind

Pronounce it! Emphasize each word aloud

Paraphrase it! Write it down in your own words

Personalize it! Put your name in the verse

Probe it! Ask the S.P.A.C.E.P.E.T.S. questions

Pray it! Pray the verse back to God

6. I must trust in it.

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.” Psalm 119:105

August 4 2013 Beyond GPS: Knowing And Doing The Will Of God

Beyond GPS: Knowing and doing the will of God (LEARNING TO HEAR)
 

James 1:5“If you need wisdom – if you want to know what God wants you to do – ask him, and he will gladly tell you. He will not resent your asking.”

Definition of God’s Will: the direction I would choose for my life if I could see things from God's perspective

Psalm 32:8“The Lord says, ‘I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.’”

HOW CAN I FULFILL GOD’S WILL IN MY LIFE?

1. Decide to actively listen to God each day

Deuteronomy 13:4“Serve only the LORD your God and fear him alone. Obey his commands, listen to his voice, and cling to him.”

Deuteronomy 28:45“If you refuse to listen to the LORD your God and to obey the commands and laws he has given you, all these curses will pursue and overtake you until you are destroyed.”

Luke 8:8b“Jesus said.... `He who has ears to hear, let him hear!’”

2. Act quickly on what God tells me to do

Hebrews 12:25“See to it that you obey God, the one who is speaking to you. For if the people of Israel did not escape when they refused to listen to Moses, the earthly messenger, how terrible our danger if we reject the One who speaks to us from heaven!”

John 13:17(Jesus) “You know these things – now do them! That is the path of blessing.”

2 Peter 3:9“The Lord isn't really being slow about his promise to return, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake

3. Admit my complete dependence upon God

Romans 12:1-2“And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice – the kind he will accept. When you think of what he has done for you, is this too much to ask? Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is.”

Memory Verse: (Jesus) “Yet I want your will, not mine."