March 22 2015 Thirty Days To A No Regrets Life (part 5)

Thirty Days To A No-Regrets Life - Leave Boldly

1 Corinthians 3:12-14 (NIV)"If Any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, And the fire will test the quality of each man's work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward."

THREE ETERNAL MATERIALS THAT BUILD A LEGACY

1. CONVICTIONS

Isaiah 40:8 (NIV) “The grass withers And the flowers fall, but the Word of our God stands forever."

Matthew 7:26 (The Msg) "But if you just use My words in Bible studies And don't work them into your life, you Are like A stupid carpenter who built his house on the sandy beach. "

2. CHARACTER

"God knew what He WAS doing from the very beginning. He decided from the outset to shape the lives of those who love Him Along the same lines as the life of His Son... " - Romans 8:29 (The Msg)

God's Character Building Tools

• Problems
• Pressures
• People

3. COMMUNITY

Luke 10:40-42 (NRSV)"Martha was distracted by her many tasks: So she came to Him and asked, 'Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her to help me.' But the Lord answered her, 'Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things: but there is need of only one thing and Mary has chosen the better part...'"

February 9 2014 Building My Life On The Bible

Building My Life On The Bible

HOW DO I BUILD MY LIFE ON THE BIBLE?

JAMES 1:19-25

1. I receive it with my ears.

Romans 10:17 (NIV) “Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the Word of Christ.”

James 1:19-21 (NIV)“Everyone should be QUICK TO LISTEN, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly ACCEPT THE WORD planted in you, which can save you.”

For “Good Reception” I need to be …

• Quiet 

“Be quick to listen and slow to speak …” 

• Calm

“and slow to become angry …”

• Clean

“get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent”

• Humble

“humbly accept the Word planted in you which can save you.”

2. I read it with my eyes.

James 1:22-25 (NIV)“Do not merely listen to the Word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the Word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like! But the man who LOOKS INTENTLY into the perfect law that gives freedom, and CONTINUES to do this, NOT FORGETTING what he has heard, but DOING IT—he will be blessed in what he does.”Get a Bible Reading Plan

3. I research it with my hands and my mouth.

Bible “STUDY” requires

• writing down what I learn
• talking about what I learn

John 5:39 (NLT) “You search the Scriptures because you believe they give you eternal life. And the Scriptures point to me!” 

4. I review and remember with my mind.

James 1:25 (NIV) “The man who looks intently into the perfect law … and CONTINUES to do this, NOT FORGETTING what he has heard but doing it, he will be blessed in what he does.” The Bible term for remembering & reviewing God’s Word is meditation.

Joshua 1:8 (NIV) “Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.”

5. I respond to it with my actions.

James 1:22 (NIV) “Do not merely listen to the Word, and so deceive yourselves. DO what it says!”

Matthew 7:24-27 (NIV) “Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. BUT everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

February 27 2011 Responding To The Deeper Life

Responding To The Deeper Life In 2011

(Luke 6:46-49 - "Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say? I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.")

Five Steps

1. The deeper life can't be lived without adversity

(Verse 48 - "He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built.")

• Temporal affliction
• Temptation

(Ephesians 6:12 - For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.)

• Sin

2. The deeper life must have aim

(Matthew 7:24 - "Therefore 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 7:26 - "But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.")

(Matthew 5:38-39 - "You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.'

(Mat 5:39 But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.")

(Matthew 7:12 - "Do unto others what you would have them do to you.")

Proverbs - If you want friends show yourself friendly.

(Matthew 7:21 - "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.")

3. The deeper life have assurance

(1 Corinthians 3:11 - For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.)

Nahum said - The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble.

(1 Peter 2:6 - For in Scripture it says: "See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.")

4. The deeper life takes action

(Verse 47 - "I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice.")

(Hebrews 7:25 - Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.)

5. The deeper life has accountability