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 19 & 26 2017 God's Plan For Financial Blessing

GOD'S PLAN FOR FINANCIAL BLESSING

TWO IMPORTANT TRUTHS ABOUT MONEY

Luke 12:15 (NIV)"Jesus said, 'Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds ofgreed; a man's lift does not consist in the abundance of his possessions. "

Luke 16:9-13 (NIV)"I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain eternal Mends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings. Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So ifyou have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? And ifyou have not been trustworthy with someone else property, who will give you properly ofyour own? No one can serve two masters... You cannot serve both God and Money."'

1. MONEY IS A TOOL AND A TEST.
2. MANAGING MONEY IS A SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE.

EIGHT HABITS FOR FINANCIAL BLESSING

1. I must trust God as my source and supply.

Rom. 11:36 (NLT)"Everything comes from God; everything exists by his power; and everything is intended for his glory."

Deut. 8:18 (NIV)"Always remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability TO PRODUCE WEALTH."

Pr. 16:3 (NLT)"Commit your work to the Lord, and then your plans will succeed."

2. I must do my work as an act of worship.

Col. 3:23 (NIV) Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,

Pr. 21:5 (NLT)"Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty."

Pr. 10:4 (NIV)"Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth."

Pr. 16:11 (NLT)"The Lord demands fairness in every business deal; he sets the standard."

Pr. 12:11 (NIV) "Hard work brings prosperity; only fools waste time chasing fantasies."

Pr. 13:11 (NLT)"Wealth from get-rich-quick schemes quickly disappears; but wealth from hard work grows."

3. Keep good records.

Pr. 27:23-24 (LB)"Riches can disappear fast... so watch your business interests closely. Know the state of your flocks and herds."

1 Cor. 16:2 (LB)"On the first day of every week put aside some of what you have earned during the week, and use it for the offering The amount depends on how much the Lord has helped you earn."

http://saddleback.com/watch/webcast/financial-seminar-2010

4. GIVE THE FIRST TEN PERCENT BACK TO GOD

Pr. 3:9-10 (LB)"Honor the Lord by giving Him the first part of all your income, and He will fill your barns to overflow!"

Deut. 14:23 (LB)"The purpose of tithing is to teach you always to put God first in your lives."

Mal. 3:10 (NCV)"Bring to My Storehouse a full tenth of what you earn...Test me in this, 'says the Lord. 'I will open the windows of heaven for you and pour out all the blessings you need.

5. I must save and invest for the future.

Pr. 21:20 (LB)"The wise man saves for the future, but the foolish man spends whatever he gets."

Pr. 13:11 (NCV) "Money that comes easily disappears quickly, but money that is gathered little by little will grow."

Pr. 24:27 (NLT)"Develop your business first before building your house."

6. You setup a repayment plan to get yourself out of debt.

Pr. 3:27 (LB)"Don't withhold repayment of your debts."

Rom. 13:8 (NIV)"Let no debt remain outstanding."

7. Budget your spending.

Pr. 21:5 (TEV)"Plan carefully and you will have plenty; if you act too quickly, you will never have enough."

Pr. 10:16 (NLT)"The earnings of the godly enhance their lives, but evil people squander their money on sin."

Memory Verse: Pr. 21:20b (TEV)"... stupid people spend their money as fast as they get it."

8. I must enjoy what I have.

Eccl. 6:9 (TEV)"It is better to be satisfied with what you have than to always be wanting something else."

1 Tim. 6:18 (NLT)"Tell them to use their money to do good They should be rich in good works and should give generously to those in need, always being ready to share with others whatever God has given them."

WHAT MOST PEOPLE DO: THE ORDER GOD BLESSES:

1. Spend it - 1. Dedicate it to God

2. Worry about it - 2. Tithe it

3. Repay it  - 3. Save & Invest

4. Save it - 4. Repay it

5. Give it,  -  5. Enjoy it

Mt. 6:31-33 (LB) "Don't worry... Your heavenly Father already knows what you need, and He will give it to you IF you give him first place in your life AND live as he wants you to."

November 27 2016 Preparing For The Christ Of Christmas

PREPARING FOR THE CHRIST OF CHRISTMAS

Luke 2:1-7 – In these days, Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was Governor of Syria. And everyone went to his own town to register. So, Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem, the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her first born, a Son. She wrapped Him in cloths and placed Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the Inn.

HOW TO PREPARE FOR CHRISTMAS

Replace The Urgent With The Significant.

Matthew 6:34 – Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.

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

Replace Physical Preparation With Spiritual Preparation.

Colossians 3:2 – Don’t shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ, that’s where the action is. See things from His perspective.

Replace The External Side Of Things With Internal sides.

Verse 7 – No room in the Inn.

Lamentations 3:40 – Let’s take a good look at the way we are living and re-order our lives under God.

Replace The Superficial With The Super-Natural.

Jeremiah 9:23-24 – Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight.

1. Sit.

2. Listen.

3. Chose the best.

October 30 2016 I am the Good Shepherd

Connecting With The Real Jesus - I am the Good Shepherd

John 10:14, 27-28 "I am the good shepherd. I know my own sheep and they know me.... My sheep recognize my voice. I know them and they follow me. I give them eternal life and they will never perish. No one will snatch them away from me."

WHAT IT MEANS TO YOU THAT JESUS IS YOUR SHEPHERD

1. As my good shepherd, Jesus provides for my needs.

Matthew 6:31-33 "“So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your Heavenly Father already knows all of your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need."

Memory Verse: Philippians 4:19 "My God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus."

2. As my good shepherd, Jesus protects me from harm.

Mark 4:35-40 As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” So they took Jesus in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed). But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water. Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?” When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. Then he asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

Psalm 34:9 "The good man does not escape of troubles. He has them, too, but the Lord helps Him in each and everyone."

3. As my good shepherd He will guide me on what is right.

James 1: 5-8 (TLB) 5 If you want to know what God wants you to do, ask him, and he will gladly tell you, for he is always ready to give a bountiful supply of wisdom to all who ask him; he will not resent it. But when you ask him, be sure that you really expect him to tell you,

Matthew 7:13-14 (NIV) Enter through the narrow gate. For Wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow is the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."

Luke 15:4-7 If a man has a 100 sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won't he leave the 99 others in the wilderness and go and search for that one that is lost until He finds it? And when he has found it, he will joyfully carry it home on his shoulders." And when he arrives, he will call together all of his friends and neighbors saying, "Rejoice with me, because I have found my lost sheep." "In the same way, there is more joy in Heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over 99 others who are righteous and haven't strayed away.

August 14 2016 Ten Values That Build Strong Families

Ten Values That Build Strong Families

Memory Verse: "You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God" - Exodus 20:7

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 (GN) "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 to IMPULSIVELY

Isaiah 29:13 "These people worship me with their lips ... but their hearts are far from me."

Matthew 6:7 (GN)"When you pray, don't use a lot of meaningless words..."

Exodus 20:7b"...I the Lord will punish anyone who misuses my name!"

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 (LB) "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 (LB)"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 GOD'S NAME COMPLETELY.

Psalm 33:21 (LB)"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 (GN) "The mouth speaks what the heart is full of."