May 31 2015 Freedom To Change

FREEDOM TO CHANGE

Romans 12:1-2
 
Voluntarily submit to every change God wants to make in my life and humbly ask him to remove my character defects. 

Romans 12:1-2 – Offer yourselves as a living sacrifice to God, dedicated to His service and pleasing to Him, and let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind.

I. Where Do My Character Defects Come From?

• My biological inheritance.

Genetics explain predisposition but don’t excuse sin.

• My circumstances, or how I was raised.

Character defects are often attempts to fill unmet needs.

• My choices in life.

Character defects are often positive qualities being misused.

II. Why Is It So Hard To Change Them?

1. Because I’ve had them a long time.

2. Because I confuse my identity with them.

3. Because they have a payoff.

4. Because satan discourages me.

III. How Do I Cooperate With God’s Change Process?

Romans 12:2 – Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

1. Focus on changing one defect at a time.

Proverbs 17:24 – An intelligent person aims at wise action, but a fool starts off in many directions.

2. Focus on Victory one day at a time.

Matthew 6:11 – Give us this day our daily bread.

Matthew 6:34 – Don’t worry about tomorrow, each day has enough troubles of its own.

3. Focus on God’s power not willpower.

Jeremiah 12:23 – Can a leopard take away his spots?  Nor can you who are used to doing evil now start being good.

BUT…..

Philippians 4:13 – I can master anything with the help of Christ who gives me strength.

4. Focus on what I want, not what I don’t want.

Philippians 4:8 – Fix your thoughts on what is true and good and right.  Think about things that are pure.  Think about all you can praise God for and be glad about. 

5. Focus on doing good, not feeling good.

Galatians 5:16 – If you are guided by the Spirit you will be in no danger of yielding to self-indulgence.   

6. Focus on people who help me, not hinder me. 

Proverbs 27:1 – As iron sharpens iron, so people can improve each other.

7. Focus on progress not perfect performance.

Philippians 1:6 – God who began the good work within you will keep right on helping you grow in His Grace until His task with you is finally finished.

December 29 2013 Mistakes To Avoid In 2014

Mistakes To Avoid In 2014

"Consecrate yourselves in preparation for tomorrow." Joshua 7:13 (NIV)

FOOLISH MISTAKES TO AVOID

1. USELESS WORRYING ABOUT THE FUTURE

Matthew 6:27 (NIV)"Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?"

Matthew 6:30b-33 (NCV)"... Don't have so little faith! Don't worry and say, `What will we eat... or drink...or wear?' The people who don't know God keep trying to get these things, and your Father in heaven knows you need them. The thing you should want most is God's kingdom and doing what God wants. Then all these other things you need will be given to you."

Matthew 6:3 (LB)"So don't be anxious about tomorrow -- God will take care of your tomorrow, too. Live one day at a time."

THE WISE WAY: TRUST GOD

2. ARROGANT ASSUMING.

Proverbs 27:1 (NIV)"Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth."

Isaiah 56:12"’Come,’ each one cries, ‘... Let us drink our fill of beer! And tomorrow will be like today, or even better!’"

James 4:14 & 16 (NIV)"Why, you don't even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil."

Proverbs 22:3 (LB) "A prudent man foresees the difficulties ahead and prepares for them; the simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences."

THE WISE WAY: PREPARE

3. FAULTY PLANNING.

James 4:13 (NIV)"Now listen, you who say, `Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business, and make money.’"

Ecclesiastes 8:7 (NIV) "Since no man knows the future, who can tell him what is to come?"

James 4:15 (NIV) "Instead, you ought to say, IF it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that."

THE WISE WAY: PRAY AS YOU PLAN

Proverbs 16:1 (GN) "We may make our plans, but God has the last word."

Proverbs 16:9 (LB) "We should make plans – counting on God to direct us."

4. LAZY PROCRASTINATING.

James 4:17 (NIV) "Anyone then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it sins."

Proverbs 3:27-28 (NIV)"Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act. Do not say to your neighbor, `Come back later; I'll give it tomorrow' -- when you now have it with you."

THE WISE WAY: DO IT NOW

1 John 2:3-4 (NIV)"We can be sure we know Christ if we obey His commands. The one who says `I know Him' but doesn't do what He commands is a liar."

2 Corinthians 6:2 (LB)"RIGHT NOW God is ready to welcome you. TODAY He is ready to save you!

June 23 2013 How To Face Your Future

HOW TO FACE YOUR FUTURE

THREE COMMON MISTAKES TO AVOID

MISTAKE #1:_______________________________

"Now listen, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business, and make money.  " (James 4:13)

THE SOLUTION:____________________________

"Instead, you ought to say, 'IF it is the Lords will, we will live and do this or that.  " (James 4:15)

"We may make our plans, but God has the last word.  " Prov. 16: 1 (GN)

"We should make plans - counting on God to direct us.  " Prov. 16:9 (LB)

MISTAKE #2:________________________________

Why, you don't even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life?  You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.  As it is, you boast and brag.  All such boasting is evil." (James 4:14,16)

Ps. 39:4-6; Ps. 102:3, 1 1; Job 4:7,9; Ps. 103:15

"Come, " each one cries, "... Let us drink our fill of beer!  And tomorrow will be like today, or even better!" Isaiah 56:12

"Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.      Prov. 27:1
 
THE SOLUTION:_____________________________

Memory Verse: "So don't be anxious about tomorrow - God will take care of your tomorrow, too.  Live one day at a time.  "     Matt. 6:34 (LB)

MISTAKE #3:_______________________________

"Anyone then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it sins.” (James 4:17)

THE SOLUTION:_____________________________

"Do not with hold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act.  Do not say to your neighbor, 'Come back later; I'll give it tomorrow'- when you now have it with you.  " Prov. 3:27-29

Luke 12:16-20 -- A foolish man

"RIGHT NOW God is ready to welcome you.  TODAY He is ready to save you!" 2 Cor. 6:2 (LB)

September 2 2012 How To Face Your Future

HOW TO FACE YOUR FUTURE
James 4:13 -17

Everyone is interested in the future. James warns us about common mistakes we make regarding the future.

Three Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Mistake #1 planning without God.
Vs. 13 - Now listen, you who say, today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city; spend a year there, carry on business, and make money.

The Solution: Include God in your planning.
Vs. 15 - Instead, you ought to say, if it is the Lord’s will we will live and do this or that.

Proverbs 16:1 - We may make our plans, but God has the last Word.

Proverbs 16:9 - We should make plans, counting on God to direct us.

2. Mistake #2 presuming about tomorrow
Vs. 14 & 16 - Why you don’t even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil.

Isaiah 56:12 - Come, each one cries, let us drink our fill of beers and tomorrow will be like today, or even better.

Proverbs 27:1 - Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.

The Solution: Live one day at a time.
Matthew 6:34 - So don’t be anxious about tomorrow, God will take care of your tomorrow too. Live one day at a time.

3. Mistake #3 putting off doing good.
Vs 17 - Anyone then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.

The Solution: You need to do it now.
Proverbs 3:27-28 - Do not with hold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act. Do not say to your neighbor, “come back later, I’ll give it tomorrow” when you now have it with you.

2 Corinthians 6:2 - Right now God is ready to welcome your today. He is ready to save you!

Luke 12:16-20 - Parable of a Foolish Man.