January 8 2017 Your Choice: Blessed Or Stressed

YOUR CHOICE: BLESSED OR STRESSED

Decade of Destiny – Part 1

Deuteronomy 28:2-8 - You will experience all these blessings IF you obey the Lord your God.  You will be blessed in your towns and in the country. You will be blessed with many children and productive fields.  You will be blessed with fertile herds and flocks.  You will be blessed with baskets overflowing with fruit, and with kneading bowls filled with bread.  You will be blessed wherever you go, both in coming and in going.  The Lord will conquer your enemies when they attack you, and the Lord will BLESS EVERYTHING YOU DO and will fill your storehouses with grain.

Job 42:12 – The Lord blessed Job in the second half of his life even more than in the first half of his life.

GOD PROMISES TO BLESS MY LIFE

1. If I meet with Him daily.

Proverbs 8:34 – Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway.

Psalm 31:19 – You have stored up great blessings for those who honor you.  You do so much for those who come to you for protection, blessing them before the watching world.

2. If I study and do His Word.

Psalm 1:1-3 – Blessed is the man whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His Word he meditates day and night.  He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither.  Whatever he does prospers.

James 1:25 – The man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it, he will be blessed in what he does.

3. If I tithe my income.

Malachi 3:10 – Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my hours.  Test me in this, says the Lord Almighty, and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.

4. If I help others in need.

Psalm 41:1-2 – God blesses those who are kind to the poor and helpless.  He helps them out of their own troubles.  He protects them and keeps them alive; He publicly honors them and destroys the power of their enemies.

Proverbs 22:9 – A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor.

Proverbs 11:11 – Good people bless and build up their city.

5. If I share the good news.

Philemon 1:6 – I pray you will be active in sharing your faith, so that you will fully understand every blessing we have in Christ.

1 Corinthians 3:8 – The man who plants and the man who waters have on purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor.

6. If I participate in fellowship.

Romans 1:12 – I’m eager to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours.  In this way, each of us will be a blessing to the other.

Now that you know these things, you will be blessed If you Do them.

November 13 2016 Creating A Spiritual Legacy

CREATING A SPIRITUAL LEGACY

Matthew 25:21 – Well done good and faithful servant. You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.  Come and share your Master’s happiness.

Mark 10:45 – I did not come to be served, but to serve and to give my life as a ransom for many.
    
1.  SPEAK with integrity.

Proverbs 17:7 - Respected people do not tell lies.

Proverbs 25:14 - People who promise things they never give are like clouds and wind that bring no rain.

Psalm 101:2 -  I will try to walk a blameless path, but how I need Your help, especially in my own home, where I long to act as I should.

2.  SERVE with intensity.

Proverbs 14:22 -  You will earn the trust and respect of others if you work for good.

Colossians 3:23 -  Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.

John 6:27 -  Don’t work for food that spoils, instead, work for the food that lasts for eternal life.

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

3.  GIVE with generosity.

2 Corinthians 9:9 -  Godly people give generously. Their good deeds will never be forgotten.

Psalm 112:9 -  He who gives generously to the needy and shows kindness will be powerful and respected.

Proverbs 11:25 - A generous man will prosper, he who refreshed others will himself be refreshed.

Proverbs 3:27-28 - Whenever you are able, do good to people who need help.  Don’t say “Come back later.  I’ll give it to you tomorrow.”

4.  SUCCEED with humility.

Proverbs 29:23 - Arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.

Proverbs 27:21 - Praise is the test of character.

Proverbs 13:18 - Someone who will not learn will be poor and disgraced.  Anyone who listens to correction is respected.

Proverbs 13:7 - A pretentious, showy life is an empty life, a plain and simple life is a full life.

Proverbs 15:33 - Humility and reverence for the Lord will     make you both wise and honored.

November 6 2016 God's Prescription For Health

GOD’S PRESCRIPTION FOR HEALTH

WHAT GOD SAYS ABOUT MY BODY

1 Corinthians 6:12-20

1. God expects me to manage my body.

1 Corinthians 6:12-13a – Everything is permissible for me, but not everything is beneficial.  Everything is permissible for me, but I will not be mastered by anything.  Food for the stomach and the stomach for food, but God will destroy both.

2. My body is God’s property.

I Corinthians 6:13b – The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.

3. My body will be resurrected when I die.

1 Corinthians 6:14 – By His power God raised the Lord from the dead, and He will raise us also.

MISTAKES WE MAKE
Ѳ We rely on will power alone.
Ѳ We have a wrong motivation.
Ѳ We try to do it all on our own.

4. Our body is connected to Christ.

1 Corinthians 6:15a & 18 – Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ Himself?  Flee from sexual immorality.  All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body.

5. The Holy Spirit lives in our body.

1 Corinthians 6:19 – Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?

6. Jesus bought my body on the cross.

1 Corinthians 6:20 – You are not your own; you were bought at a price.  Therefore, honor God with your body.

Romans 12:1 – I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to god, this is your spiritual act of worship.

GOD’S PRESCRIPTION FOR HEALTH

Psalm 119:73 – You made my body, Lord; now give me sense to heed your laws.

Deuteronomy 32:47 – These instructions are not mere words; they are your life!  By obeying them you will enjoy a long life in the land.

Proverbs 3:1-10 – Keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.  Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones. Honor the Lord with the first part of your wealth, the first fruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing.

1. Trusting God is good for my health.

Psalm 116:7 – I said to myself, ‘Relax, because the Lord takes care of you.’

Proverbs 14:30 – A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.

2. Confessing my sin is good for my health.

Psalm 32:3-5 – When I refused to confess my sin, I was weak and miserable, and I groaned all day long.  My strength evaporated. Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide them and you forgave me! All my guilt is gone.

3. Giving generously is good for my health. 

Proverbs 11:25 – A generous man will prosper; he who refreshed others will himself be refreshed.

4. Having fun is good for my health.

Proverbs 17:22 – A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

October 30 2016 God's Plan For Financial Blessing

GOD’S PLAN FOR FINANCIAL BLESSING

TWO STATEMENTS FROM JESUS

Luke 12:15 – Jesus said, “Watch out!  Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”

Luke 16:9-13 – “I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain eternal friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings. Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much.  So, if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?  And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?  No one can serve two masters.  You cannot serve both God and money.

Money is a tool and a test.

Managing money is a spiritual discipline.

SEVEN HABITS FOR FINANCIAL BLESSING

1. I must trust God as my source and supply.

Romans 11:36 – Everything comes from God; everything exists by His power; and everything is intended for His glory.

Deuteronomy 8:18 – Always remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you the ability to produce wealth.

Proverbs 16:3 – Commit your work to the Lord, and then your plans will succeed.

2. I must do my work as an act of Worship.

Proverbs 21:5 – Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty.

Proverbs 10:4 – Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth.

Proverbs 16:11 – The Lord demands fairness in every business deal; He sets the standard.

Proverbs 12:11 – Hard work brings prosperity; only fools waste time chasing fantasies.

Proverbs 13:11 – Wealth from get-rich-quick schemes quickly disappears; but wealth from hard work grows.

3. I must keep good records.

Proverbs 27:23-24 – Be sure you know the conditions of your flocks, give careful attention to your herds.  For riches do not endure forever, and a crown is not secure for all generations. 

Proverbs 23:23 – Get the facts at any price.

Proverbs 24:3-4 – Any enterprise becomes strong, through common sense and profits by keeping abreast of the facts.

Three Things To Know: Know what you own; Know what you earn: Know where it goes.

4. Plan your spending.

Proverbs 21:5 – The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as hast leads to poverty.

Proverbs 21;20 – The wise man saves for the future, but the foolish man spends whatever he gets.

Three things in a good budget: Mutual decision; Matter of prayer; Goals

5. Enjoy what you have.

Proverbs 15:16-17 – Better is a little with the fear of the Lord than great wealth with turmoil.  Better a meal of vegetables where there is love than a fattened calf with hatred.

1 Timothy 6:6-8-But godliness with contentment is great gain.  For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and be content with that.

Hebrews 13:5 – Be content with what you have.

6. Share with others in need.

Proverbs 11:24-25 – One man gives freely, yet gains even more, another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.  A generous man will prosper, he who refreshed others will himself be refreshed.

Proverbs 19:17 – He who is kind to the poor leads to the Lord, and He will reward him for what he has one.

Proverbs 22:19 – A generous man will himself be blessed.

Proverbs 28:27 – He who gives to the poor will lack nothing.

7. It’s called tithing.

Proverbs 3:9 – Honor the Lord with your wealth, and with the first fruits of all your crops.

Three Reasons To Tithe: It shows Our Gratitude; It’s a Reminder for the Present; It’s a Step of Faith for the Future.

Deuteronomy 14:23

Malachi 3:8-11

Matthew 6:33 – Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

October 2 2016 Your Choice: Blessed Or Stressed

YOUR CHOICE: BLESSED OR STRESSED

Decade of Destiny – Part 1

Deuteronomy 28:2-8 - You will experience all these blessings IF you obey the Lord your God.  You will be blessed in your towns and in the country. You will be blessed with many children and productive fields.  You will be blessed with fertile herds and flocks.  You will be blessed with baskets overflowing with fruit, and with kneading bowls filled with bread.  You will be blessed wherever you go, both in coming and in going.  The Lord will conquer your enemies when they attack you, and the Lord will BLESS EVERYTHING YOU DO and will fill your storehouses with grain.

Job 42:12 – The Lord blessed Job in the second half of his life even more than in the first half of his life.

GOD PROMISES TO BLESS MY LIFE

1. If I meet with Him daily.

Proverbs 8:34 – Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway.

Psalm 31:19 – You have stored up great blessings for those who honor you.  You do so much for those who come to you for protection, blessing them before the watching world.

2. If I study and do His Word.

Psalm 1:1-3 – Blessed is the man whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His Word he meditates day and night.  He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither.  Whatever he does prospers.

James 1:25 – The man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it, he will be blessed in what he does.

3. If I tithe my income.

Malachi 3:10 – Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my hours.  Test me in this, says the Lord Almighty, and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.

4. If I help others in need.

Psalm 41:1-2 – God blesses those who are kind to the poor and helpless.  He helps them out of their own troubles.  He protects them and keeps them alive; He publicly honors them and destroys the power of their enemies.

Proverbs 22:9 – A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor.

Proverbs 11:11 – Good people bless and build up their city.

5. If I share the good news.

Philemon 1:6 – I pray you will be active in sharing your faith, so that you will fully understand every blessing we have in Christ.

1 Corinthians 3:8 – The man who plants and the man who waters have on purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor.

6. If I participate in fellowship.

Romans 1:12 – I’m eager to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours.  In this way, each of us will be a blessing to the other.

Now that you know these things, you will be blessed If you Do them.