October 7 2012 The Choice Of Comfort

THE CHOICE OF COMFORT
Matthew 5:4 - Happy are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

How To Experience God’s Comfort

1.  Realize God is with you.
Psalm 34:18 - The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
Psalm 121:2-3 - Where does my help come from?  My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth, He will not let your foot slip, He who watches over you will not slumber.

Things I need to remember:

• God is aware.
Job 13:27 - You (God) keep a close watch on all my paths.

• God is sympathetic.
Nahum 1:7 - The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in Him.

• God let’s you talk about your discomfort.
Heb. 4:16 - Let us approach (God) with confidence, so we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

2. Release the hurt.

How?

I must stop focusing on what has been lost,
And start focusing on what’s left.

Options for our hurts:
•  You can repress it
•  You can rehearse it.
•  You can refuse to resent it.

Isaiah 43:18 - Do not dwell on the past. See I am doing a new thing (says the Lord).

Romans 12:19 - Dear friends, never avenge yourselves. Leave that to God, for He has said He will repay those who deserve it.

Psalm 10 - Victim’s Psalm

3. Rely on God’s resources for comfort.

Three Comforters:

• God’s Word.
Psalm 119:25, 52 - I am completely discouraged.  Revive me by your Word.  Your Word has been my comfort.
Philippians 4:13 - I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me.

• God’s people.
II Cor. 1:3-4 - The God of all comfort comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort others with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.

• God’s Spirit is a comfort.
Romans 15:13 - May the God of hope fill you will all joy, that by the power of the Holy Spirit your whole life and outlook may be radiant with hope.

Revelation 21:4 - He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.

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