March 6 2016 Daring To Wait On God

DARING TO WAIT ON GOD

Daring Faith: The Key To Miracles – Part 9

“God does everything just right and on time, but people can never completely understand what he is

WHAT TO REMEMBER WHILE WAITING ON GOD

1. REMEMBER THERE’S A NATURAL DELAY BETWEEN PLANTING & HARVESTING!

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven . . . A time to plant and a time to harvest . . . a time to scatter and a time to gather . . .” 

2. REMEMBER THERE’S AN UNSEEN BATTLE GOING ON.

“We are not struggling and fighting against human beings but against evil spiritual forces in the heavenly realm—the rulers, authorities, and powers of darkness.” 

3. REMEMBER GOD IS PREPARING ME FOR HIS BLESSING

“There is wonderful joy ahead, even though it is necessary for you to endure many trials for a while. These troubles test your faith, to show that it is strong and pure, just as fire tests and purifies gold—and your faith is far more precious to God than mere gold.” 

“Waiting does not diminish us any more than waiting diminishes a pregnant mother. We are enlarged in the waiting. We don’t see what is enlarging us, but the longer we wait, the larger we become, and the more joyful our expectancy. Meanwhile, when we get tired in the waiting, God’s Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don’t know how or what to pray, it doesn’t matter. He prays in us and for us . . .He knows us far better than we know ourselves, and knows our pregnant condition . . . That’s why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.” Romans 8:24-28

4. REMEMBER I’M IN GOOD COMPANY WHEN WAITING ON GOD

 “People who lived in the past became famous because of their faith.”

5. REMEMBER GOD ALWAYS KEEPS HIS PROMISES!

God says, “At the time I have decided, my words will come true. You can trust what I say about the future. It may take a long time, but keep on waiting—it will happen!” Habakkuk 2:3 (CEV) 

WHAT TO DO WHILE WAITING ON God

1. WRITE DOWN THE LESSONS I’M LEARNING

“At the Lord’s direction, Moses kept a written record of their progress.” Numbers 33:2a (NLT)

“Remember what you have learned about the Lord through your experiences with him.” Deuteronomy 11:2a (TEV) 

2. ACT AS THOUGH I ALREADY HAVE IT

Jesus said, “I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” Mark 11:24 (NIV) 

3. IMITATE THE HABITS THAT GROW STRONG FAITH

“We do not want you to become lazy, but to IMITATE those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.” Hebrews 6:12 (NIV) 

Paul: “KEEP ON putting into practice all you learned from me and heard from me and saw me doing.”  Philippians 4:9a (NLT) 

DON’T put my life on hold.

• KEEP ON  PRAYING

“Keep on asking, and you WILL be given what you ask for. Keep on looking, and you WILL find. Keep on knocking, and the door WILL be opened!” Matthew 7:7 (NLT) 

• KEEP ON SERVING

“Never be lazy in your work, but serve the Lord enthusiastically.”  Romans 12:11 (NLT)

• KEEP ON GOING TO CHURCH

“Don’t give up your habit of meeting with other believers. Instead keep on encouraging each other!” Hebrews 10:25 

• KEEP ON SOWING

“Keep on sowing your seed, for you never know which ones will grow—perhaps they all will!” Ecclesiastes 11:6 (LB)

• KEEP ON BELIEVING

“You must keep on believing the things you have been taught. You know they are true . . .” 2 Timothy 3:14 (LB)

TRUST GOD INSTEAD OF PANICKING

“Even when I am afraid, I keep on trusting you.” Psalm 56:3 (CEV)

July 13 2014 When I Feel Stressed About My Future

When I Feel Stressed About My Future

1. REMEMBER GOD’S FAITHFULNESS IN MY PAST.

“Why am I discouraged? Why so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again – my Savior and my God! Now I am deeply discouraged, but I will remember your kindness – from Mount Hermon, the source of the Jordan, from the land of Mount Mizar.” – Psalm 42:5 - 6

2. EVALUATE THE SPECIFIC SOURCE OF MY STRESS.

eu-stress: GOOD STRESS

“Then Jesus said, ‘Let's get away from the crowds for a while and rest.’ There were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn't even have time to eat.” – Mark 6:31

dis-stress: BAD STRESS

(Jesus) "So don't worry about having enough food or drink or clothing. Why be like the pagans who are so deeply concerned about these things? Your heavenly Father already knows all your needs, and he will give you all you need from day to day if you live for him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern. So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough for today.” – Matthew 5:31 - 34

3. STICK TO WHAT I KNOW IS RIGHT

“The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right, and his ears are open to their prayers. But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil.”– 1 Peter 3:12

“Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.” Philippians 4:8-9

4. TRUST GOD COMPLETELY WITH MY FUTURE.

“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the LORD. ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope’”” – Jeremiah 29:11

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” – Proverbs 3:5-6

“Then the angel spoke to the women. ‘Don't be afraid!’ he said. ‘I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He isn't here! He has been raised from the dead, just as he said would happen.’” –Matthew 28:5-6

April 6 2014 God's Strategy For Reducing Stress

God's Strategy For Reducing Stress

Philippians 4:4-9

Vs 4: 4Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

Philippians 4:6-9"Don't be anxious about anything but in everything by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God and the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." Then he says, "Finally whatever is true and noble and right and pure and lovely and admirable, think about such things 9Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

1. STEP ONE: WORRY ABOUT NOTHING!

vs. 6a "Do not be anxious about anything..."

(Amp)"Do not fret or have any anxiety..."

The facts about worry:

• 40 % never happen
• 30 % concern the past
• 12 % needless health concerns
• 10 % insignificant/petty issues
• 8 % are legitimate concerns

Memory Verse: Matthew 6:34 "Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough troubles of its own."

Key: Live one day at a time

2. STEP TWO: PRAY ABOUT EVERYTHING.

Vs. 6b... but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

"Petition": A specific, detailed, direct prayer

(Ph)"When you pray, tell God every detail of your needs."

1 Peter 5:7 (JB)"Unload all your worries on Him since He is looking after you!"

1 Peter 5:7 (Ph) You can throw the whole weight of your anxieties upon Him, for you are His personal concern!"

James 4:2 "... You do not have, because you do not ask God."

Insight: No problem is too big or too small to pray about

3. STEP THREE: THANK GOD IN ALL THINGS.

vs. 6b (GN)"... in everything (pray) ... with thanksgiving..."always asking Him with a thankful heart."

1 Thessalonians 5:18 "Give thanks in all circumstances for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

Insight: Even out of bad God can bring good.

4. STEP FOUR: I THINK ABOUT THE RIGHT THINGS.

v. 8"Finally, brothers, whatever is true ... noble... right... pure... lovely... admirable.... If anything is excellent or praise worthy -- think about such things."

(JB) "...fill your mind with those things..."

The root cause of stress:

Proverbs 23:7 (KJV) "As a man thinks in his heart, so is he."

The Result: Peace of mind

Vs. 7 (LB)"If you do this, you will experience, God's Peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will keep your thoughts and your heart quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ Jesus."