September 18 2016 Telling The Truth

Telling The Truth

Memory Verse: Exodus 20:16 "You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor."

Psalm 34:12-13 (GN) "Would you like to enjoy life? Do you want long life and happiness? Then keep from speaking evil and from telling lies."

I. WHY DO WE LIE?

Type - Motive

The cruel lie - Resentment

The cowardly lie - Fear

The conceited lie - Insecurity

The calculated lie - Greed or selfishness

The convenient lie - Laziness

II. HOW TO TELL THE TRUTH

1. TELL THE TRUTH completely

Proverbs 10:10 (GN) "Someone who holds back the truth causes trouble."

Proverbs 28:23 (LB) ""In the end people appreciate frankness more than flattery."

2. TELL THE TRUTH consistently

Ephesians 4:15 (Amp) "Let our lives lovingly express the truth in all things - speaking truly, dealing truly, living truly."

Proverbs 11:3 (GN)"people who can't be trusted are destroyed by their own dishonesty."

Proverbs 13:17 (LB)"Reliable communication permits progress."

3. TELL THE TRUTH lovingly

Ephesians 4:15 (GN)"Speak the truth in a spirit of love."

Ephesians 4:29 "(Speak) only what is helpful for building others up, according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen."

4. TELL THE TRUTH tactfully

Proverbs 12:18 (GN) "Thoughtless words can wound as deeply as any sword, but wisely spoken words can heal."

Proverbs 16:23 (GN) "Intelligent people think before they speak."

Ecclesiastes 8:6 (GN)"There is a right time and a right way to do everything."

THE REAL PROBLEM....

Matthew 12:34 (GN)"For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of"

June 7 2015 Freedom Through Forgiveness

Freedom Through Forgiveness

Proverbs 10:12 – Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all sins.

Proverbs 19:11 – When someone wrongs you, it is a great virtue to ignore it.

I. First establish the forgiving motive.

Jeremiah 13:23 – Can the leopard change his spots?  Then may you also do good that are accustomed to doing evil?

HOW TO ESTABLISH NEW MOTIVES

1. Move Christ into the center of your life.

2 Corinthians 5:17 – Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature.  Old things are passed away, behold all things are become new.

2. Live your life focused on Christ.

John 15:4 – Remain in Me and I will remain in you.

II. Secondly, we need to understand why we forgive.

1. First because God forgives us.

Colossians 3:13 – Be ready to forgive, never hold grudges.  Remember the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.

2. We need to forgive because resentment doesn’t work.

Job 5:2 – To worry yourself to death with resentment would be a foolish, senseless thing to do.

Job 18:4 – You are only hurting yourself with your anger.

3. You need to forgive because you need forgiveness in the future.

Mark 11:25 – When you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins too.

III. We deal with our hurt by learning the steps out of our hurt.

1. Never retaliate.

Proverbs 20:22 – Don’t take it on yourself to repay a wrong.  Trust the Lord and He will make it right.

2. Deal with your hurt immediately.

Ephesians 4:26 – Don’t sin by nursing your grudge.  Don’t let the sun go down with you still angry, get over it quickly.

3. Forgive them whether they ask or not.

Ephesians 4:32 – Forgive each other as readily as God forgave you in Christ.

4. Do good to them.

Luke 6:27-28, 35 – Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you.

Job 11:13-16 – Put your heart right, reach out to God, then face the world again, firm and courageous.  Then all troubles will fade from your memory, like floods that are past and remembered no more.

November 4 2012 The Choice Of Purity

THE CHOICE OF PURITY

Matthew 5:8 - Happy are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

Pure in Heart:

Matthew 6:1 - Be careful not to parade your good deeds before others to attract their notice, or you will lose all reward for your Father in heaven.

How to Develop a Pure Heart (Matthew 6)

1. Remember God sees everything.
Vs. 4, 6, 18 - Your Father sees what is done in secret.

Hebrews 4:13 - Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.

2. Review my motives.
Proverbs 24:21 - God knows and judges your motives. He keeps watch over you. He knows, and He will reward you according to what you do!

• Giving (vs. 2-4)
• Praying (vs. 5-15)
• Fasting (vs. 16-18)

1 Thessalonians 2:4 - We do not aim to please others, but to please God who knows us through and through.

3. Realign your priorities.
Exodus 20:3 - You shall have no other gods before Me.

Three Tests

• Look at my activities.
Matthew 6:19 - Don’t pile up treasures on earth, but keep your treasures in heaven. For where your treasure is, your heart will be also.

• Look at my anxieties.
Matthew 6:25 - Therefore, I tell you, don’t worry about your life.

• Look at my ambitions.
Matthew 6:31-33 - Don’t worry about (these things), this is what pagans are always looking for, your heavenly Father knows you need them. Instead, set your heart first on His Kingdom, and His goodness and all those things will come to you as a matter of course.

Psalm 51:10 - Create in me a new, clean heart, O God, filled with clean thoughts and right desires.

October 28 The Choice Of Giving

THE CHOICE OF GIVING

Matt. 5:7 - Happy are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

The Motive of Mercy

Vs. 7- Happy are the merciful.

We must experience God’s mercy.
I Peter 1:3 - Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. In His great mercy, He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

Complete surrender to God.
Romans 12:1 - I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God that you present your bodies (yourselves) a living sacrifice to God.

The Marks of Mercy

Matt. 5:7 - Happy are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

Mercy is: Kindness

What are the Marks:

1. I’ll accept people where they are.
I Thes. 5:14 - Encourage the timid, help the weak, and be patient with everyone.

2. Keep the Spirit of forgiveness.
Matt. 18:22 - But up to seventy times seven.

Col 3:13 - Be gentle and ready to forgive, never hold grudges. Remember the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.

3. We must support each other.
Gal. 6:2 - Bear one another’s burdens.

Hosea 6:6 - For I desire mercy, not sacrifice.

4. I’ll help those who are hurting.
Prov. 3:27 - Whenever you possibly can, do good to those who need it.

I John 3:17-18 - If someone who is supposed to be a Christian has enough money to live well, and sees a brother in need but won’t help him, how can God’s love be in him? Let’s stop just saying we love people, let’s show it by our actions.

The Mastering of Mercy

• Don’t nurse them

• Don’t curse them

• Do release the wound.

You get what you give:

Prov. 11:17 - Your own soul is nourished when you are kind, it is destroyed when your are cruel.

February 13 2011 Turning Tough Times Into Something Worthwhile

*no sermon audio*

Turning Tough Times Into Something Worthwhile

(Philippians 1:12-20 - Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly. It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The latter do so in love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. 

I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.)

Four Steps To Turning Tough Times Around

1. See our opportunity for advancement

(Verse 12 - Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel.)

Two opportunities:

• To Witness

(Verse 13 - As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ.)

• To Strengthen our character

(Verse 14 - Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly.)

Lesson: God has a purpose behind every one of my problems

2. Establish correct priorities for life

(Verse 15-16 - It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The latter do so in love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel.)

(Verse 18 - But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice)

Lesson: Focus on what really counts and let the rest go

3. Understand that strength is available

(Verse 19 - for I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.)

(Philippians 4:13 - I can do everything through him who gives me strength.)

Lesson: With God's power every tough time can be turned into something worthwhile

4. Keep a correct motive

(Verse 20 - I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.)

Lesson: Jesus first. Others second. Myself third.