July 31 2016 Prevailing Through Opposition

The Tactics of Opposition

First Tactic: ridicule. (Vs. 1-3)

He ridiculed the Jews.

Second Tactic: organized resistance. (Vs. 6-8)

They all plotted together.

Third Tactic: rumor. (Vs. 11-12)

Two Characteristics of Rumors:

1. They are always spread by those closest to the enemy.

2. They are exaggerated the more they are repeated.

Effective Christians don’t swallow rumors.

The Effect of Opposition

Verses 10-11 – Meanwhile, the people in Judah said, the strength of the laborers is giving out, and there is so much rubble that we cannot rebuild the wall. Also, our enemies will attack.

The Effect is discouragement.

When does this usually occur in a project?

When the wall half done.(Vs. 6)

Four Causes of Discouragement:

1. “Strength, giving out” Fatigue

2. “So much rubble” Frustration

3. “We cannot rebuild” Failure

4. “Enemies will attack us” Fear

The Right Response to Opposition

What do you do when you’re under attack?

• Rely on God. (Vs. 4-5)

Proverbs 26:4 – Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you will be like him yourself.

The Effective Christian says, when you’re ridiculed, don’t take it out on people, talk it out with God.

• Respect the opposition. (Vs. 9)

Petition without precaution is presumption.

“Watch and Pray”

Matthew 26:41; Colossians. 4:2; 1 Peter 5:8

• Reinforce your weak points. (Vs. 13)

Effective Christians know: where they are the weakest and they post a guard. (Vs. 16-18)

Effective Christians must build and battle at the same time.

• Reassure your position. (Vs. 14)

“Remember the Lord.”

• Refuse to quit. (Vs. 15)

(Vs. 21-23)

Effective Christians are persistent.

A fundamental principle of the Christian Life - Never Give Up

January 11, 2015 Becoming God's Usable Person

BECOMING GOD’S USABLE PERSON

Genesis 6:1-22

Hebrews 11:7 – By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear, built an ark to save his family.  By his faith, he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.

2 Chronicles 16:9 – For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him.

Four Characteristics Of Noah

1. Noah was available.

Genesis 6:5, 7, 9 – The Lord saw how great man’s wickedness on the earth had become, so the Lord said, I will wipe mankind from the face of the earth.  But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.

2. Noah dared to be different.

Verse 9 – Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time and he walked with God.

Proverbs 29:25 – Fear of man will prove to be a snare.

Verse 9 – He walked with God.

3. Noah followed God completely.

Verse 22 – Noah did everything, just as God commanded.

Genesis 7:5 – And Noah did all that the Lord commanded him.

4. Noah never gave up.

Genesis 6:3 – Then the Lord said, My Spirit will not contend with man forever.

Three Things That Tempt Us To Quit:

• Problems
• Pressures
• People

February 24 2013 Dating Dilemmas

Dating Dilemmas

Psalm 144:11 “Reach down from Heaven and rescue me. Deliver me from deep waters.”

2 Corinthians 6:14. “Don’t become partners with those who reject God. How can you make a partnership out of right and wrong. That’s not partnership, that’s war.”

Proverbs 4:23.“Above all else, guard your heart for it is the wellspring of life.”

Six Questions To Avoid Dating Dilemmas

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 “Love is patient. Love is kind. It does not envy. It does not boast. It is not proud. It is not rude. It is not self-seeking. It is not easily angered. It keeps no record of wrong. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with truth. It always protects. It always trusts. Always hopes, always preservers. Love never vents.”

1. Is this relationship progressing To Quickly ?

Verse 4: Love is patient

1 Corinthians 6:18. “Run away from sexual sin. No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does. For sexual immorality, it’s a sin against your own body.”

2. Is this person Kind ?

Verse 4: “Love is kind.”

The “out in public test”.

verse 7 “Love always protects”.

3. Is this person a Team mate ?

Verses 4-5 “Love does not envy, does not boast. It is not proud. It is not rude. It is not self seeking. It is not easily angered. Love keeps no record of wrong.”

The “pronoun test”

4. Is this a person of Integrity ?

Verse 6: Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth”

The “refund test”

5. Is this person a Quitter ?

Verse 7:“Love always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”

Does this person have a Forever view of marriage?

6. Is God the First Love of my life?

Verse 8 “Love never fails.”

Memory Verse: “We love because He first loved us.” - 1 John 4:19

My next step today is to: 

• Memorize I John 4:19
• Pray about and evaluate my relationship with_________.
• Make God the first love of my life.
• Pray that God will double our church’s attendance at Easter

Join us next Sunday as we continue our New teaching series “Relationship Rescue” with “Marriage Maintenance”

January 15 2015 Principles Of Courage For Opposition

Principles Of Courage For Opposition

Nehemiah 6:11-16

1. Courage is in doing our duty.
Verse 11 - O Lord, please hear my prayer. Help me now as I go in and ask the King for a great favor.
John 7:21 - Jesus said, not everyone that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but he that doeth the will of my Farther in Heaven.

2. Courage is putting our trust in God.
6:9 - Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands.
Isaiah 12:2 - Surely God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid, for the Lord is my strength.

3. Courage is standing steadfast (unmovable.)
Verse 11 - Should such a man as I flee? 
Ph. 1:29 - Do not be frightened in anyway by those who oppose you, for they will be destroyed and you will be saved, and that by God.
Eph. 6:10 - Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.

4. Courage is serving in silence.
Verse 15-16 - So the wall was finished and the enemies were cast down in their own eyes, for they perceived that this work was wrought by God.

5. When faced with opposition you refuse to quit.
Ne. 6:15 - When our enemies heard that we were aware of their plot and that God had frustrated it, we all returned to the wall, each to his own work.
Ne. 6:21 - So we continued to work from the first light of dawn till the stars came out.

POEM
I want to let go, but I won’t let go.
There are battles to fight by day and by night for
God and the right, and I’ll never let go.

I want to let go, but I won’t let go.
I’m sick ‘tis true and worried and blue and worn out through and through. 
But I won’t let go.

I want to let go, but I won’t let go.
I will never yield, won’t lie down in the field and
surrender my shield.
No, I’ll never let go.

I want to let go, but I won’t let go.
May this be my song, may in legions of wrong, oh, God, keep me strong, so I’ll never let go.

May 29 2011 When You Need A Fresh Start

WHEN YOU NEED A FRESH START

Psalm 145:14 – God gives a fresh start to those ready to quit.
Mark 10 :46 – Sitting beside the road.
Mark 10:52 – Following Jesus on the road.

WHAT KEEPS ME FROM SEEING LIFE CLEARLY?

SEIZE THE MOMENT!
(Mark 10:46 – As Jesus and His disciples left town, a great crowd was following. A blind beggar named Bartimaeus was sitting beside the road as Jesus was going by. When Bartimaeus heard that Jesus from Nazareth was nearby, he began to shout out, “Jesus Son of David, have mercy on me!”)
(Luke 9:62 – Jesus said, “No procrastination. No backward looks. You can’t put God’s kingdom off till tomorrow. Seize the day.”)

TAME YOUR FEAR!
(Mark 10:48 – Many of the people scolded him and told him to be quiet. But he shouted even more loudly, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
(John 6:37 – I will never turn away anyone who comes to Me.)
(Proverbs 29:25 – The fear of human opinion disables you, trusting in God protects you from that.)

ANNOUNCE YOUR FAITH!
(Mark 10:51 – Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you? The blind man answered, “Teacher, I want to see.”)
(Galatians 3:27 – Your baptism in Christ was not just washing you up for a fresh start. It also involved dressing you in an adult faith wardrobe, Christ’s life, the fulfillment of God’s original promise.)

RECEIVE GOD’S GRACE!
(Mark 10:52a – Jesus said to him, “Go your way, your faith has made you well.” And immediately he regained his sight.)
(Ephesians 2:8 – For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.)

TAKE THE NEXT STEP!
(Mark 10:52b – He regained his sight and began following Jesus on the road.)
(James 2:14 – If people say they have faith, but do nothing, their faith is worth nothing.)
(I Corinthians 1:30 – Everything that we have, right thinking and right living, a clean slate and a fresh start, comes for God by way of Jesus Christ.)