May 1 2016 Your Loneliness And God's Presence

YOUR LONELINESS AND GOD’S PRESENCE

Genesis 2:18 – God said, it isn’t good for man to be alone.

Psalm 139:7 – Where can I go from Your presence?

FIVE CAUSES OF LONELINESS

1.  Disappointment.

Psalm 17:13 - Rise up, O Lord, confront them, bring them down, rescue me from the wicked by your sword.

2.  Mechanical world.

2 Timothy 4:9 – Do your best to come to me quickly.

3.  Commercial world.

Ecclesiastes 6:10 - Whoever loves money never has enough, whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with     his income. This too is meaningless.

4.  Busy world.

Ecclesiastes 4:8 - There was a man all alone.  There was no end to his toil, yet his eyes were not content with his wealth.

5.  Artificial world.

Ecclesiastes 6:17 - All his days he eats in darkness, with great frustration, affliction and anger.

SIX WAYS TO EXPERIENCE GOD’S PRESENCE

Isaiah 41:6 – Don’t worry because I am with you. Don’t be afraid because I am your God.  I will make you strong and help you. I will support you.

1. Receive Christ into your life.

Galatians 2:20 - I will come in to you and will fellowship with you.

Galatians 2: 20 – Christ liveth in me.

Psalm 26-14 – The one thing I seek most of all is the privilege of living in His presence every day of my life.

2. Walk with God in obedience.

John 15:5 - Apart from me, you can do nothing.

1 Corinthians 2:9 - Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him.

James 1:22 - Do not merely listen to the Word and so deceive yourselves.  Do what it says.

3.  Fellowship with other Christians.

Hebrews 10:25 – Let us not give up meeting together, but let us encourage one another.

Proverbs 27:9 - Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart and the pleasantness of one’s friends springs from His earnest counsel.

Ecclesiastes 4: 9-10- But they soon forgot what He had done and did not wait for His counsel.

4.  Wait for God’s guidance.

Psalm 106:13 - But they soon forgot what He had done and did not wait for His counsel.

John 11:12 - I still have many things to say to you but You cannot bear them now.

Isaiah 28:16 - He that believeth shall not make haste.

5.  Accept God’s will.

Noah

Abraham

The blessing does not come in discovering God’s will but in the doing of God’s will.

Ephesians 6:6 - Do God’s will from the heart.

6.  Recognize God’s presence.

Psalm 116:8 – The Lord stopped my tears and He kept me from defeat so I walk in the presence of the Lord. I kept on believing even when I felt completely crushed.

John 14:18 - I will not leave you as orphans.

Psalm 139 - Where can I get away from your presence?  If I go up to Heaven you are there. Anywhere on earth you are there. I can’t get away from you.

Psalm 26:14 – Friendship with God is reserved for those who reverence Him.

October 26 2014 Fully Engaged In My Walk With God

Fully Engaged in My Walk with God

Memory Verse: “The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.” - 2 Chronicles 16:9

KEY TRUTH: GOD IS FULLY ENGAGED WITH ME.

See Psalm 139:1 – 18

God shows His engagement to me through JESUS CHRIST

“For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” --John 3:16

I show my engagement with God through BECOMING MORE LIKE JESUS

“For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son…” --Romans 8:29

KEY QUESTION: AM I  FULLY ENGAGED WITH GOD?

“Examine me, O LORD, and try me; Test my mind and my heart.” -Psalm 26:2

10 Pillars of a Fully Engaged Walk with God

1. My faith is involved in every aspect of my life

2. Because of my faith, I have meaning and purpose in my life

3. My faith gives me an inner peace

4. I am a person who is spiritually committed

5. I spend time in worship every day        

6. Because of my faith, I have forgiven people who have hurt me deeply            

7. My faith has called me to develop my given gifts and talents                            

8. I will take unpopular stands to defend my faith

9. I speak words of kindness to those in need of encouragement
                        
10. I talk about my faith with those who are not yet Christians
                    

(Adapted from www.gallupfaith.com)


KEY DECISION: TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR MY ENGAGEMENT

My Engagement Measurement

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ACTION: What is one step I can take this week to be more engaged with God?

“Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.” – James 4:8