May 1 2016 Your Loneliness And God's Presence

YOUR LONELINESS AND GOD’S PRESENCE

Genesis 2:18 – God said, it isn’t good for man to be alone.

Psalm 139:7 – Where can I go from Your presence?

FIVE CAUSES OF LONELINESS

1.  Disappointment.

Psalm 17:13 - Rise up, O Lord, confront them, bring them down, rescue me from the wicked by your sword.

2.  Mechanical world.

2 Timothy 4:9 – Do your best to come to me quickly.

3.  Commercial world.

Ecclesiastes 6:10 - Whoever loves money never has enough, whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with     his income. This too is meaningless.

4.  Busy world.

Ecclesiastes 4:8 - There was a man all alone.  There was no end to his toil, yet his eyes were not content with his wealth.

5.  Artificial world.

Ecclesiastes 6:17 - All his days he eats in darkness, with great frustration, affliction and anger.

SIX WAYS TO EXPERIENCE GOD’S PRESENCE

Isaiah 41:6 – Don’t worry because I am with you. Don’t be afraid because I am your God.  I will make you strong and help you. I will support you.

1. Receive Christ into your life.

Galatians 2:20 - I will come in to you and will fellowship with you.

Galatians 2: 20 – Christ liveth in me.

Psalm 26-14 – The one thing I seek most of all is the privilege of living in His presence every day of my life.

2. Walk with God in obedience.

John 15:5 - Apart from me, you can do nothing.

1 Corinthians 2:9 - Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him.

James 1:22 - Do not merely listen to the Word and so deceive yourselves.  Do what it says.

3.  Fellowship with other Christians.

Hebrews 10:25 – Let us not give up meeting together, but let us encourage one another.

Proverbs 27:9 - Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart and the pleasantness of one’s friends springs from His earnest counsel.

Ecclesiastes 4: 9-10- But they soon forgot what He had done and did not wait for His counsel.

4.  Wait for God’s guidance.

Psalm 106:13 - But they soon forgot what He had done and did not wait for His counsel.

John 11:12 - I still have many things to say to you but You cannot bear them now.

Isaiah 28:16 - He that believeth shall not make haste.

5.  Accept God’s will.

Noah

Abraham

The blessing does not come in discovering God’s will but in the doing of God’s will.

Ephesians 6:6 - Do God’s will from the heart.

6.  Recognize God’s presence.

Psalm 116:8 – The Lord stopped my tears and He kept me from defeat so I walk in the presence of the Lord. I kept on believing even when I felt completely crushed.

John 14:18 - I will not leave you as orphans.

Psalm 139 - Where can I get away from your presence?  If I go up to Heaven you are there. Anywhere on earth you are there. I can’t get away from you.

Psalm 26:14 – Friendship with God is reserved for those who reverence Him.

December 6 2015 Recovering The Hope Of Christmas

RECOVERING THE HOPE OF CHRISTMAS

Isaiah 9:6 - To us a child is born, to us a Son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders.  And He will be called Wonderful Counselor.

FIVE CAUSES OF HOPELESSNESS

1. Disappointment.

Psalm 17:13 - Rise up, O Lord, confront them, bring them down, rescue me from the wicked by your sword.

2. Our mechanical world.

Genesis 2:18 - It is not good for man to be alone, then the Lord God made a woman.

3. The commercial world.

Ecclesiastes 6:10 - Whoever loves money never has enough, whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his     income.  This too is meaningless.

4. The busy world.

Ecclesiastes 4:8 - There was a man all alone. There was no end to his toil, yet his eyes were not content with his wealth.

5. Our artificial world.

Ecclesiastes 6:17 - All his days he eats in darkness, with great frustration, affliction and anger.

SIX WAYS TO RECOVER HOPE

1. Receive Christ into your heart and life.

Galatians 2:20 - I will come in to you and will fellowship with you.

2. Walk with God in obedience.

John 15:5 - Apart from me, you can do nothing.

1 Corinthians 2:9 - Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him.

James 1:22 - Do not merely listen to the Word and so deceive yourselves.  Do what it says.

3. Fellowship with other Christians.

Isaiah 9:6 - To us a child is born, to us a Son is given.

Proverbs 27:9 - Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart and the pleasantness of one’s friends springs from His earnest counsel.

Ecclesiastes 4: 9-10- But they soon forgot what He had done and did not wait for His counsel.

John 11:12 - I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.

Isaiah 28:16 - He that believeth shall not make haste.

4.  Wait on God for guidance.

Psalm 106:13 - But they soon forgot what He had done and did not wait for His counsel.

John 11:12 - I still have many things to say to you but You cannot bear them now.

Isaiah 28:16 - He that believeth shall not make haste.

5.  Accept God’s Will.

Noah

Abraham

The blessing does not come in discovering God’s Will. but in the doing of God’s Will.

Ephesians 6:6 - Do God’s will from the heart.

6.  Recognize God’s presence.

Isaiah 9:6 - A Child is born. A Son is given.

John 14:18 - I will not leave you as orphans.

Psalm 139 - Where can I get away from your presence?  If I go up to Heaven you are there.  Anywhere on earth you are there.  I can’t get away from you.

March 9 2014 How To Increase Your Patience

How To Increase Your Patience 

Galatians 5:22 – The fruit of the spirit is patience.

Proverbs 16:32 – Better a patient man than a warrior, a man who controls his temper, than one who takes a city.

Four Ways To Test Your Patience

1. Interruption

Matthew 19:13-14 – Then little children were brought to Jesus for Him to place His hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked those who brought them.

2. Inconvenience

Luke 10:40 – Lord don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!

3. Irritations

Some Irritations

• Long lines.
• Misplaced items.
• Cold food at a restaurant.

Numbers 20:10-11 – Moses was irritated.

The Oyster: Turn irritations into pearls.

4. Inactivity

Job 14:14 – All the days of my hard service, I will wait for my reward to come.

Proverbs 19:2 – It is not good to be hasty and miss the way.

The cause of impatience is a lack of peace.

Four Steps To Increase Your Patience

Step one Develop a new perspective.

Proverbs 19:11 – A man’s wisdom gives him patience. It is his glory to over-look an offence.

Proverbs 20:24 – A man’s steps are directed by the Lord.

Proverbs 14:29 – A patient man has great understanding, but a quick tempered man displays folly.

Step two Develop a sense of humor.

Proverbs 14:3 – A relaxed attitude lengthens a man’s life.

Psalm 2:4 – The one enthroned in heaven laughs.

Proverbs 17:22 – A cheerful heart does good like medicine.

Step three deepen your love.

1 Corinthians 13:4 – Love is patient.

Ephesians 2:4 – Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.

Step four depend on God.

Bible Characters of Patience:

• Noah waited 120 years.
• Moses waited 80 years.
• Abraham waited 100 years.
• God’s Old Testament folks waited for Jesus.
• Disciples waited in the upper room.

Psalm 37:7 – Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him.

2 Peter 3:15 – Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation.

October 13 2013 Building A Life Of Faith

BUILDING A LIFE OF FAITH

Heb. 11:6 – Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.

FAITH IS...

1.  Believing when I don't see it.
Heb. 11:1 – Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

2.  Obeyingwhen I don't understand it.
Heb. 11:7 – It was by faith that Noah built an ark to save his family from the flood.  He obeyed God, who warned him about something that had never happened before.

Heb. 11-8 – It was faith that made Abraham obey when God called him and go out to a country God had promised to him.  He left his own country without knowing where he was going.

3.  Giving when I don't have it.
Heb. 11:4 – It was faith that made Abel's offering to God a better sacrifice than Cain's.  Through his faith God approved of his giving.

II Cor. 8:2-3 – Because of their great joy, they gave even more than they could afford.

II Cor. 4:6 & 8 – Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, but whoever sows generously will reap generously.  And God will generously provide all you need.  Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.

4.  Persisting when I don't feel like it.
Heb. 11:27 – It was by faith that Moses left Egypt and was not afraid of the King's anger.  He held to his purpose like a man who could see the invisible.

5. Thanking God before I receive it.
Heb. 11:30 – By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days.

Mark 11:24 – When you pray and ask for something, believe that you have received it and you will be given what you ask for.

6. Trusting if I don't get it.
Heb. 11: 39-40 – They were all commended for their faith yet none of them received what had been promised.  God had planned something better.

HOW GOD BUILDS MY FAITH

Rom. 10:17 – Faith comes from hearing the Word of God.

I Peter 1:7 – These trials are only to test your faith, and your faith is far more precious to God than mere gold, it will bring you much praise and honor on the day of His return.

June 30 2013 God On Film: Becoming a Super Man Of God

Man of Steel: Becoming a Super Man of God

Psalm 112:6“A righteous man will be remembered forever.”

EXAMPLES OF “SUPER MEN” OF GOD:
 

• Noah

Genesis 6:9 “Noah was a righteous man, the only blameless man living on earth at the time. He consistently followed God’s will and enjoyed a close relationship with him.”
 

•  Abraham

•   Moses

•  David

Acts 13:22 “...God said, ‘David son of Jesse is a man after my own heart, for he will do everything I want him to.’”
 

•  Peter

•  Paul

•  __________________.

TO BECOME A SUPER MAN OF GOD:

1. SPEAK ___________________________________.

Exodus 23:1 “Do not pass along false reports. Do not cooperate with evil people by telling lies”
 
Proverbs 25:14 “A person who doesn't give a promised gift is like clouds and wind that don't bring rain.”

Psalm 101:2 “I will be careful to live a blameless life...I will lead a life of integrity in my own home.”

2. SERVE __________________________________.

Matthew 23:11(Jesus) “The greatest among you must be a servant.”

Psalm 37:18“Day by day the Lord observes the good deeds done by godly men, and gives them eternal rewards.”

3. SUCCEED _______________________________.

Proverbs 29:23 “Pride ends in humiliation, while humility brings honor.”

Memory Verse: “Don't be selfish; don't live to make a good impression on others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourself.” - Philippians 2:3

Philippians 4:13 “For I can do everything with the help of Christ who gives me the strength I need.”