October 30 2016 I am the Good Shepherd

Connecting With The Real Jesus - I am the Good Shepherd

John 10:14, 27-28 "I am the good shepherd. I know my own sheep and they know me.... My sheep recognize my voice. I know them and they follow me. I give them eternal life and they will never perish. No one will snatch them away from me."

WHAT IT MEANS TO YOU THAT JESUS IS YOUR SHEPHERD

1. As my good shepherd, Jesus provides for my needs.

Matthew 6:31-33 "“So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your Heavenly Father already knows all of your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need."

Memory Verse: Philippians 4:19 "My God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus."

2. As my good shepherd, Jesus protects me from harm.

Mark 4:35-40 As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” So they took Jesus in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed). But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water. Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?” When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. Then he asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

Psalm 34:9 "The good man does not escape of troubles. He has them, too, but the Lord helps Him in each and everyone."

3. As my good shepherd He will guide me on what is right.

James 1: 5-8 (TLB) 5 If you want to know what God wants you to do, ask him, and he will gladly tell you, for he is always ready to give a bountiful supply of wisdom to all who ask him; he will not resent it. But when you ask him, be sure that you really expect him to tell you,

Matthew 7:13-14 (NIV) Enter through the narrow gate. For Wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow is the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."

Luke 15:4-7 If a man has a 100 sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won't he leave the 99 others in the wilderness and go and search for that one that is lost until He finds it? And when he has found it, he will joyfully carry it home on his shoulders." And when he arrives, he will call together all of his friends and neighbors saying, "Rejoice with me, because I have found my lost sheep." "In the same way, there is more joy in Heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over 99 others who are righteous and haven't strayed away.

August 9 2015 Trusting God For Every Need

TRUSTING GOD FOR EVERY NEED

God's Answer to Your Needs ­ Part 8 of 8

Matthew 6:9­ "This, then, is how you should pray: "‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’

­ God is waiting for you to ask!

GOD'S ANSWER TO ...

1. My inferiority: His PERSON

"Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. . .

2. My confusion: His  PLAN

"Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

3. My worry­ His PROVISION

"Give us today our daily bread.

4. My guilt: His  PARDON

"Forgive us our debts. . .

5. My strained relationships: His PEACE

... as we forgive our debtors.

6. My temptations: His PROTECTION

"And lead us not into temptation. . .

7. My fear: His POWER

"but deliver us from evil"

PRAYING THE LORD'S MODEL PRAYER

I can't say "OUR FATHER" unless I've been born again into God's family. (John 1: 12)

I can't say "HALLOWED BE YOUR NAME" unless Christ has first priority in my own life.

I can't say "YOUR WILL BE DONE ON EARTH" unless I am committed to doing his will all the time.

I can't say "GIVIE US TODAY OUR DAILY BREAD" without a willingness to share it with those in need around the world.

I can't say "FORGIVE US OUR DEBTS" if I am holding onto an unforgiving attitude toward others.

I can't say "LEAD US NOT INTO TENDTATION" if I continue to expose myself to compromising situations.

I can't say "DELIVER US FROM EVIL" unless I really desire to walk with integrity and purity.

February 15 2015 Perseverance Under Pressure

Perseverance Under Pressure

Seven things to give us perseverance under pressure:

1. Realize we are strangers in this world.

Verse 1 – To God’s elect, strangers in the world scattered.

John 17:15-16 – My prayer is not that you take them out of the world, but that you protect them from the evil one.  They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.

Don’t drive the stakes in too deep, you’re moving up in the morning.

2. Realize we are chosen.

Verse 2 – Who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ.

Three things about being chosen:

1. Our salvation is not haphazard.

2. God is willing to take risks.

3. We have value.
 
3. Realize the power of the resurrection.

Verse 3 – Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord, Jesus Christ.  In His great mercy He has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

1 Corinthians 15:19 – If only in this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.

Psalm 33: 13-22

4. Realize the riches of our inheritance.

Verse 4 – An inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade, kept in heaven for you.

Four facts about our inheritance:

1. It’s untouched by death.

2. It’s unstained by evil.

3. It will not fade away.

4. It’s reserved, set aside, for you.

5. Realize the protection of your salvation.

Verse 5 – Who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of Salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.

Three meanings of protection:

1. You have a guard out front.

2. He identifies the problem.

3. He communicates the danger.
 
6. Realize the positive results of pressure.

Verses 6-7 – In this you greatly rejoice through now for a little while you may have had to suffer all kinds of trials.  These have come so that your faith of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

Suffering brings out the gold in life.

Four things about suffering:

1. It’s seasonal.

2. It’s necessary.

3. It’s revealing.

4. It’s sanctifying.

7. Realize you have present power.

Verse 8 – Though you have not seen Him, you love Him.

April 13 2014 The Prayer Jesus Prayed

The Prayer Jesus Prayed 

John 17:1 (NCV)“He looked toward heaven and prayed…”

Jesus’ prayer shows HIS HEART

Jesus’ prayer shows OUR HOPE

John 17:20 (NLT)“I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in Me because of their testimony.”

Romans 8:34 (CEV)“Christ died and was raised to life, and now He is at God's right side, speaking to Him for us.”

FOUR WAYS JESUS PRAYED (AND IS STILL PRAYING) FOR YOU:

I. GIVE THEM PROTECTION.

John 17:15 (NLT) “I'm not asking You to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one.”

Matthew 6:13 (NIV) “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”

II. GIVE THEM UNITY.

John 17:21 (TLB) “My prayer for all of them is that they will be of one heart and mind, just as you and I are, Father.”

John 13:35 (Msg) “This is how everyone will recognize that you are My disciples—when they see the love you have for each other.”

Romans 15:5 (NIV)“May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among ourselves as you follow Christ Jesus.”

III. GIVE THEM PURITY.

John 17:17 (NLT)“Make them pure and holy by teaching them Your words of truth.”

John 17:19 (TEV) “And for their sake I dedicate Myself to You, in order that they, too, may be truly dedicated to You.”

Titus 1:15 (TLB) “A person who is pure of heart sees goodness and purity in everything; but a person whose own heart is evil and untrusting finds evil in everything, for his dirty mind and rebellious heart color all he sees and hears.”

IV. GIVE THEM A MISSION.

John 17:18 (Msg) “In the same way that You gave me a mission in the world, I give them a mission in the world.”

John 17:23 (NCV) “Then the world will know that You sent Me and that You loved them just as much as You loved me.”

John 17:24 (NCV) “Father, I want these people that You gave Me to be with Me where I am.”

John 17:3 (NLT) “And this is the way to have eternal life—to know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one You sent to earth.”

October 17 2010 The Power Of Christian Influence

The Power Of Christian Influence

(Matthew 5:13-14 - "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.")

Four Pillars of Truth

1. Christian influence is a positive force

(Verse 13 - You are the salt of the earth.)

• Salt preserves
• Salt makes people thirsty

(Matthew 23:4 - They tie up heavy loads and put them on men's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.)

2. Christian influence is a permanent force

(Verse 13 - But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?)

(John 17:15-16 - My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.)

3. Christian influence has a precious influence

(1 Corinthians 1:27-28 - But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are)

(Genesis 2:7 - the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.)

(1 Samuel 17:40 - Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream)

(Luke 2:7 - and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger)

4. Christian influence must be planned

(Romans 12:1 - Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God)