November 30 2014 The Christmas Tradition Of Purification

THE TRADITION OF PURIFICATION

““Eight days later, when the baby was circumcised, he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel even before he was conceived. it was time for the purification offering, as required by the law of Moses after the birth of a child; so his parents took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. law of the Lord says, ‘If a woman's first child is a boy, he must be dedicated to the Lord.’’ they offered a sacrifice according to what was required in the law of the Lord – ‘either a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.‘” – Luke 2:21-24

“Who may climb the mountain of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place? those whose hands and hearts are pure, who do not worship idols and never tell lies.”  – Psalm 24:3-4

Memory Verse: “God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God.” – Matthew 5:8

FOUR STEPS TO A PURE HEART THIS CHRISTMAS

1. EXAMINE MY HEART FOR IMPURITIES

““Who can say, ‘I have cleansed my heart; I am pure and free from sin?’” – Proverbs 20:9

“A good person produces good words from a good heart, and an evil person produces evil words from an evil heart.” – Matthew 12:35

“People may be pure in their own eyes, but the LORD examines their motives.” – Proverbs 16:2

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts. out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.” – Psalm 139:23-24
 
2. PROTECT MY MIND FROM IMPURE THOUGHTS

“Your eye is a lamp for your body. A pure eye lets sunshine into your soul. But an evil eye shuts out the light and plunges you into darkness.” – Luke 11:34

“I will refuse to look at anything vile and vulgar.” – Psalm 101:3

3. FILL MY LIFE WITH GOD’S PRESENCE

“When an evil spirit leaves a person, it goes into the desert, seeking rest but finding none. it says, 'I will return to the person I came from.' So it returns and finds its former home empty, swept, and clean. the spirit finds seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they all enter the person and live there. And so that person is worse off than before.”  – Matthew 12:43-45

“How can a young person stay pure? By obeying your word and following its rules.” – Psalm 119:9

4. RECEIVE COMPLETE FORGIVENESS FROM JESUS

“Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.” – Psalm 51:7

“We are made right in God's sight when we trust in Jesus Christ to take away our sins. And we all can be saved in this same way, no matter who we are or what we have done.” – Romans 3:22

“Create in me a clean heart, O God.  Renew a right spirit within me.”” – Psalm 51:10

December 8 2013 Showing I Care For My Neighbors

Showing I Care For My Neighbors

(Open Before Christmas: Part 2)

(Jesus) “I assure you, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!” Matthew 25:40

“‘Teacher, of all the commandments, which is the most important?’ Jesus replied, 'You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the other commandments and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.’” Matthew 22:36-40

“And who is my neighbor?” — Luke 10:29b

My Neighbor: SOMEONE WHO IS ON MY WAY.

FOUR STEPS TO LOVING MY NEIGHBOR

1. Ask GOD FOR A COMPASSIONATE HEART

“You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.” — Luke 6:36

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts.” — Psalm 139:23

2. Show GENUINE INTEREST.

“Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.” — Romans 12:10

3. Be ALERT TO NEEDS.

“Don't be misled: No one makes a fool of God. What a person plants, he will harvest. The person who plants selfishness, ignoring the needs of others - ignoring God - harvests a crop of weeds. All he'll have to show for his life is weeds! But the one who plants in response to God, letting God's Spirit do the growth work in him, harvests a crop of real life, eternal life.” — Galatians 6:7-8

“Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.” Philippians 4:6

4. Respond WITH COMPASSIONATE ACTION.

“Dear brothers and sisters, what's the use of saying you have faith if you don't prove it by your actions? That kind of faith can't save anyone. Suppose you see a brother or sister who needs food or clothing, and you say, ‘Well, good-bye and God bless you; stay warm and eat well’ – but then you don't give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? So you see, it isn't enough just to have faith. Faith that doesn't show itself by good deeds is no faith at all – it is dead and useless.” James 2:14-17

"Do for others what you would like them to do for you. This is a summary of all that is taught in the law and the prophets." Matthew 7:12

Memory Verse: “Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples." — John 13:35

August 25 2013 Beyond GPS: U-Turns Allowed

Beyond GPS: U-Turns Allowed

Seven Truths About God’s Will:

1. God's will NEVER CONTRADICTS God's word.

2. God expects me to obey His word BEFORE He shows me His specific will.

3. It's God's will that I live a PURE, disciplined life-style.

4. It's God's will that I maintain an ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE.

5. It is God's will that I be a LAW ABIDING CITIZEN

6. It is God's will that I BRING OTHERS to Jesus Christ.

7. It is God's will that I COMMIT MYSELF to God and other believers.

The EIGHTH Truth About God’s Will:

God Allows U TURNS

Definition of God’s Will:

God’s will is the direction I would choose if I could see things from God’s perspective.

HOW TO GET BACK IN GOD’S WILL:

-ADMIT THAT I AM OUT OF GOD’S WILL

Psalm 139:23“Investigate my life, O God, find out everything about me; Cross-examine and test me, get a clear picture of what I'm about.”

Symptoms that “may” show that I’m out of God’s Will:

Frustration 
Fatigue
Feelings of emptiness 
Failure
Feeling distant from God 
Lack of Fulfillment
Anxiety 
Not enough time for God
Quick-tempered 
Avoidance of spiritual habits

-ACCEPT GOD’S FORGIVENESS

1 John 1:9“But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong.”

-ASK GOD FOR REVISED DIRECTIONS

James 1:5“If you need wisdom – if you want to know what God wants you to do – ask him, and he will gladly tell you. He will not resent your asking.”

Memory Verse: “The Lord says, ‘I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.’”
– Psalm 32:8

-Act quickly ON THE STEPS THAT GOD GIVES

Philippians 3:13-14“Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us up to heaven.”

2 Timothy 4:7“ I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”