April 2 2017 The Gift Of Love In The Deeper Life

THE GIFT OF LOVE IN THE DEEPER LIFE

Mark 12:41-44

Verse 41-42 - Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the Temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts, but a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny.

Three Lessons on The Deeper Life

1. Her gift was a symbol of her faith.

Verse 42 - The poor widow woman came.

Matt. 6:33 - But seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

2. Her gift was sacrificial.

Verse 44 - But she, out of her poverty, put in everything, all she had to live on.

Romans 12:1-2 - I beseech you therefore brethren that you present your bodies a living sacrifice unto God.

3. Her gift was also love.

Matt. 22:36-37 - Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the law? Jesus replied, love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind.

Three Practical Thoughts on The Deeper Life

1. Only the gift that cost really counts.

II Samuel 24:24 - Neither will I offer burnt offerings that cost me nothing.

2. Our privacy is a gift to give.

Paul said - We have been bought with a price.

3. Being personal with someone else.

February 21 2016 Daring To Grow A Deep Soul

DARING TO GROW A DEEP SOUL

Daring Faith: The Key to Miracles – Part 7

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." Matthew 22:37 (NIV)

Spiritual growth is a process in which GOD AND I EACH HAVE A PART.

1. GOD’S PART: HE INVITES

MY PART: I RESPOND

Ephesians 1:4 (NLT) "Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes."

James 1:21b (NJB) "Humbly welcome the Word which has been planted in you and can save your souls."

2. GOD’S PART: HE IS FOUND.

MY PART: I SEEK HIM.

Jeremiah 29:13­14a (NIV) "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord . .

Psalm 27:8 (NIV) "My heart says of you, ‘Seek his face!’ Your face, Lord, I will seek."

3. GOD’S PART: HE TEACHES ME.

MY PART: I LEARN.

John 16:13a (ESV) "When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth."

Hebrews 5:11­14 (NLT) There is much more we would like to say about this, but it is dif icult to explain, especially since you are spiritually dull and don’t seem to listen. You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word.[a] You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food. For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn’t know how to do what is right. Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the dif erence between right and wrong

4. GOD’S PART: HE BRINGS GOOD OUT OF EVIL.

MY PART: TO ENDURE.

Romans 8:28 (NJB) "We are well aware that God works with those who love him, those who have been called in accordance with his purpose, and turns everything to their good."

Colossians 1:11 (Msg) "We pray that you’ll have the strength to stick it out over the long haul—not the grim strength of gritting your teeth but the glory­strength God gives. It is strength that endures the unendurable and spills over into joy."

Jeremiah 17:7­8 (NLT) "But blessed are those who trust in the Lord, and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they go right on producing

Philippians 1:11 (Msg) ". . . bountiful in fruits from the soul, making Jesus Christ attractive to all, getting everyone involved in the glory and

GOD’S GUARANTEE: GOD WILL FINISH WHAT HE HAS STARTED.

Philippians 1:6 (Amp) "And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ (right up to the time of His return), developing that good work and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you."

October 11 2015 Game On: It's Time To Walk Across The Room

Game On: It's Time To Walk Across The Room

(Jesus) “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” - Matthew 28:19-20

WHY JESUS WALKED FROM HEAVEN TO EARTH

• HE WALKED TO SHOW HIS LOVE FOR US.

John 1:14“So the Word became human and lived here on earth among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the only Son of the Father.” 

Romans 5:8  “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” 

• HE WALKED TO SHOW HIS COMPASSION FOR US.

Matthew 9:6  “He felt great compassion for the crowds that came, because their problems were so great and they didn’t know where to go for help. They were like sheep without a shepherd.” 

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” 

• HE WALKED TO SHOW HIS DREAM FOR US.

John 10:10  (Jesus) “I came so they can have real and eternal life,  more and better life than they ever dreamed of.” 

WHY SHOULD I WALK ACROSS THE ROOM?

John 17:18   “Jesus prayed to the Father: ‘In the same way that you gave me a mission in the world, I give them a mission in the world.’”  

• I WALK BECAUSE OF MY LOVE FOR OTHERS.

Memory Verse: 1 John 4:19  “We love because God loved us first.” 

Matthew 22:39  “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

• I WALK BECAUSE OF MY COMPASSION FOR OTHERS        

Luke 16:27-28“Then the rich man said, ‘Please, Father Abraham, send him to my father’s home.  For I have five brothers,  and I want him to warn them about this place of torment so they won’t have to come here when they die.’”

• I WALK BECAUSE OF MY DREAM  FOR OTHERS.

1 Corinthians 13:7  “Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.” 

Acts 20:24 “But my life is worth nothing unless I use it for doing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus – the work of telling others  the Good News about God’s wonderful kindness and love.

April 12 2015 Determining My Life's Work

Determining My Life's Work

“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.” — James 1:5

Four Questions To Determine My Life’s Work

WHAT does God want?

“Now listen, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.’ Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. . . Instead, you ought to say, ‘If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that.’” — James 4:13-15

WHAT am I good at?

“I (God) have given him the skill, ability, and knowledge to do all kinds of work.”— Exodus 31:3

“For we are God's masterpiece, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” — Ephesians 2:10

WHAT is in front of me?

“Whatever presents itself for you to do, do it with all your might.” — Ecclesiastes 9:10

“In all the work you are doing, work the best you can. Work as if you were doing it for the Lord, not for people.” — Colossians. 3:23

“His master replied, ‘Good job! You're a good and faithful servant! You proved that you could be trusted with a small amount. I will put you in charge of a large amount. Come and share your master's happiness.’” — Matthew 25:23

WHAT is my life’s ministry?

Memory Verse: ““Jesus replied, ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” — Matthew 22:37-39

“You are the salt of the earth. . .You are the light of the world—like a city on a mountain, glowing in the night for all to see.” — Matthew 5:13-14

“It is not that we think we can do anything of lasting value by ourselves. Our only power and success come from God.” — 2 Corinthians 3:5

February 22 2015 Thirty Days To A No Regrets Life

Thirty Days to a No-Regrets Life

Memory Verse: Psalm 90:12 “Teach us to number our days and recognize how few they are; help us to spend them as we should.”
        
FOUR PRINCIPLES FOR LIVING FROM THE LIFE OF JESUS

1.  LIVE PASSIONATELY

John 10:10b (Msg)“… I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.”

Luke 7:31,32 (NIV)"To what, then, can I compare the people of this generation? What are they like? They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling out to each other: ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not cry.'”                

2.  LOVE COMPLETELY

John 13:1 (NIV)“Jesus knew that the time had come for Him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved His own who were in the world, He now showed them the full extent of His love.”         

Matthew 22:37-39 (NIV)“Jesus replied: 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'  This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'”             

1 Corinthians 13:8 (NIV)  “Love never fails….”         

3.  LEARN HUMBLY

Philippians 2:5-8 (NIV)“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:  Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.  And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross!”           

4. LEAVE BOLDLY

Luke 9:51 (NIV)“As the time approached for Him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.”         

Matthew 25:23 (NIV)"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'”