July 10 2016 Living With Eternity In Mind

Living with Eternity In Mind

The Apostle’s Creed: "I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, He descended into hell; On the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; "And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord; suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; from where He shall come to judge the living and the dead. "I believe in the Holy Ghost, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.”"

1 John 5:11. (NLT) And this is what God has testified: He has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

Psalm 136 (NIV) “His love endures forever.”

Jude 1:21, (NLT) “Live in such a way that God’s love can bless you as you wait for the eternal life that our Lord Jesus Christ and His mercy is going to give you.”

THREE WAYS TO LIVE WITH AN ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE.

1. Recognize that everyone is created for eternity.

Genesis 1:26 (NIV) Then God said, "Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness

Ecclesiastes 3:11. (NLT) “God has made everything beautiful for its own time.” He planted eternity into human hearts. But even so, people cannot see the scope of God’s work from beginning to end.

2. Participate in the Sacraments.

Sacrament = an outward and visible sign of inward and spiritual divine grace.

Memory Verse: John 3:16. (NLT) “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.”

John 10:28 (NLT) “I give them eternal life and they will never perish.” No one can snatch them away from me.

3. Invest my life in eternal pursuits.

• Invest my time in something that is going to last forever.
• Invest your treasure in a way that will last forever.
• Invest your testimony in a way that is going to last forever.

1 John 1:2 (NLT) This one who is life itself was revealed to us, and we have seen him. And now we testify and proclaim to you that he is the one who is eternal life. He was with the Father, and then he was revealed to us.

1 Corinthians 9:25 (NLT) All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize.

September 13 2015 Game On

Game on

Memory Verse: “Jesus prayed to the Father: ‘In the same way that you gave me a mission in the world, I give them a mission in the world.’” - John 17:18

BEFORE I ASK GOD TO USE ME, I MUST:

1. PURIFY MY Heart.
“Joshua told the people, ‘Purify yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do great wonders among you.’” - Joshua 3:5

2. DEDICATE MY Body.
“Athletes practice discipline and self-control. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize.” - 1 Corinthians 9:25

3. SIMPLIFY MY Schedule.
“As Christ’s soldier, don’t let yourself become tied up in the affairs of this life, for then you cannot satisfy the one who has enlisted you in his army.” - 2 Timothy 2:4

4. FORTIFY MY Faith.
“Strengthen yourselves so that you will live here on earth doing what God wants, not evil things people want.” - 1 Peter 4:1-2

HOW DOES GOD WANT TO USE ME?

• IN MY Family.

“But if you are unwilling to serve the LORD, then choose today whom you will serve...But as for me and my family, we will serve the LORD.” - Joshua 24:15

• IN MY Church.

“Under his direction, the whole body is fitted together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.” - Ephesians 4:16

• IN MY Work.

“In all the work you are doing, work the best you can. Work as if you were doing it for the Lord, not for people.” - Colossians 3:23

• IN MY Entire World.

(Jesus) ““But when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, you will receive power and will tell people about me everywhere - in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”” - Acts 1:8

• FOR HIS Glory.

“So you should consider yourselves dead to sin and able to live for the glory of God through Christ Jesus.” - Romans 6:11

MY PRAYER FOR GOD TO USE ME: “Then I heard the Lord asking, ‘Whom should I send…? Who will go for us?’ And I said, ‘‘Lord, I’ll go! Send me.’” - Isaiah 6:8

September 29 2013 Live Your Calling

THE CALL IS FOR YOU
 

Live Your Calling: What On Earth Am I Here For? – Part 1

“We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, WHO HAVE BEEN CALLED according to His PURPOSE.” Rom. 8:28 (NIV) 

“My prayer is that light will flood your hearts and that you will understand the hope that was given to you when God CALLED YOU. Then you will discover the glorious blessings that will be yours together with all of God's people!” Eph. 1:18-19 (CEV) 

WHAT I NEED TO KNOW ABOUT MY LIFE’S CALLING

1. MY CALLING IS A GIFT FROM GOD

“God, by his grace through Christ, has called you to become his people.” Galatians 1:6 (NCV) 

“He has saved us and called us to a holy life - not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace.” 2 Timothy 1:9 (NIV) 

2. I AM CALLED FOR GOD’S PURPOSE

“Before the two boys were born, God told Rebekah, ‘The older will serve the younger.’ This was before the boys had done anything good or bad. God said this so that the one chosen would be chosen because of God's own plan. He was chosen because he was the one God wanted to call, not because of anything he did.” Romans 9:11 (NCV)

“For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10 (NIV) 

3. GOD CHOSE MY CALLING BEFORE I WAS BORN

“It pleased God in his kindness to choose me and call me even before I was born! What undeserved mercy!” Galatians 1:15 (NLT) 

“Before I shaped you in the womb, I knew all about you. Before you saw the light of day, I had holy plans for you.” Jeremiah 1:5 (MSG)

“I am your Creator. You were in my care even before you were born!” Isaiah 44:2 (CEV)

4. MY CALLING IS CONNECTED TO OTHERS
 
“We are all one body, we have the same Spirit, and we have all been called to the same glorious future hope.” Ephesians 4:4 (NLT) 

“Brothers and sisters, you are holy partners in a heavenly calling.” Hebrews 3:1 (GW) 

5. GOD EMPOWERS WHAT HE CALLS ME TO DO

“I now urge you to live the life to which God called you.” Ephesians 4:1 (NCV) 

“That is why we always pray for you, asking our God to help you live the kind of life he called you to live. We pray that with his power God will help you do the good things you want and perform the works that come from your faith.” 2 Thessalonians 1:11 (NCV) 

“The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.” 1 Thessalonians 5:24 (NIV) 

6. THERE IS A PRIZE FOR LIVING OUT MY CALLING

“I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:14 (NIV) 

“Live the kind of life that pleases God, who calls you to share in his own Kingdom and glory.”  1 Thessalonians 2:12 (TEV)