May 15 2016 Managing Life's Rejections

MANAGING LIFE’S REJECTIONS

Proverbs 18:14 - A man’s spirit will endure sickness, but a broken spirit, who can bear?

SIX SYMPTOMS OF REJECTION
1. Easily hurt.
2. Have a fear of failure.
3. Often suspicious of others.
4. Often isolate themselves from others.
5. Feel they have to prove themselves all the time.
6. Difficulty trusting God.

HOW TO RESPOND TO LIFE’S REJECTIONS

1. Release my pain.

Matthew 5:4 – Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Psalm 62:8 – Pour out your heart to God, for He is our refuge.

Psalm 34:18 – The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

2. Receive from others.

Galatians 6:2 – Carry each other’s burdens.  By helping each other with your troubles, you obey the law of Christ.

Hebrews 12:15 – Look after each other so that not one of you will fail to find God’s best blessing.

3. Refuse to be bitter.

Job 21:25 – Some people have no happiness at all; they live and die with a bitter heart.

Hebrews 12:15 – Watch out that no bitterness takes root among you, it causes deep trouble hurting many in their spiritual lives.

The Antidote: 

-Accept what cannot be changed.

Job 11:13, 16 – Reach out to God, then face the world again, firm and courageous.

-Focus on what’s left not what’s lost.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 – No matter what happens always be thankful, for this is God’s will for you.

4. Remember what’s important.

Luke 12:15 – Jesus said life is not measured by how much one owns.

1 Timothy 6:7 – We brought nothing into the world and we can take nothing out of it.

5. Rely on Christ.

Philippians 4:13 – I have learned the secret of being happy at any time in everything that happens.  I can do all things through Christ, because He gives me strength.

HOW?

-Lean on Christ for stability!

Psalm 125:1 – Those who trust in the Lord are steady as Mount Zion, unmoved by any circumstance.

Psalm 112:6-7 – Such a person will not be overthrown by evil circumstances.  God’s constant care of him will make a deep impression on all who see it.  He does not fear bad news, nor live in dread of what may happen.  For he is settled in his mind that God will take care of him.

-Listen to Christ for direction!

Jeremiah 29:11 – I know what I am planning for you, says the Lord.  I have good plans for you, not plans to hurt you.  I will give you hope and a good future.

-Look to Christ for salvation.

Job 2:7 – When I have lost all hope, I once again turn my thoughts to the Lord.

November 2 2014 Conquering Loneliness

Conquering Loneliness

Genesis 2:18 – It is not good for man to be alone.

2 Timothy 4:6-21

The Final Days Of Paul’s Life

I. FOUR CAUSES OF LONELINESS

1. The transitions of life. (Vs. 6-8)
…..the time has come for my departure.

2. Separation. (Vs. 9, 21)
Do your best to come to me quickly, do your best to get here before winter.

3. Opposition. (Vs. 14)
(He) did me a great deal of harm, he strongly opposed our message.

4. Rejection. (Vs. 16, 10)
….no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. Demas has deserted me.

II. HOW TO COPE WITH LONELINESS

1. UTILIZE my time. Vs. 12)
…bring my coat, and bring my books.

2. MINIMIZE my hurt. (Vs. 16)
…everyone has deserted me. May it not be held against them.

3. RECOGNIZE God’s presence. (Vs. 17a)
But the Lord stood by my side and gave me strength.

4. EMPHASIZE other’s needs. (Vs. 17b)
….so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it.

April 15 2012 Six Ways To Grow A Healthy Family

Six Ways To Grow A Healthy Family

1. (F) Fun

Ecclesiastes 9:9 - Enjoy life with your wife.

Proverbs 5:13 - Be happy with your wife and find joy with the girl you married.

Psalm 127:3 - Children are a gift from God.

2. (A) Attention

Philippians 2:2-4 - When you do things, do not let selfishness or pride be your guide.  Be humble and give more honor to     others than yourselves. Do not be interested only in your own life, but be interested in the lives of others.

Philippians 2:5-7 - Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus…did not consider equality with God something to be grasped but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant.

Romans 12:10 - Love one another, out do one another in     showing honor.

3. (M) Ministry


1 Corinthians 16:15 - Stephanas and his family were the first to become Christians in Greece, and they are spending their lives helping and serving Christians everywhere.

Acts 16:33 - The whole family was filled with joy because they had come to believe God.

Romans 12:13 - When God’s children are in need, help them out.  Get into the habit of inviting guests home for dinner, of if they need lodging for the night.

4. (I) Insulate the members from the storms of life

Proverbs 14:26 - Reverencefor the Lord gives a man deep strength, his children have a place of refuge and security.

3 Kinds Of Storms

1. Change.

2. Failure.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 - Two are better than one, if one of them falls down the other can help him up, but if someone is alone and falls, it’s just too bad because there is no one to help him

3. Rejection

5. (L) Learning Center

Psalm 14:12 - May our sons, in their youth, be like plants that grow.

Ephesians 6:4 - Fathers, don’t exasperate your children, instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the     Lord.

Luke 2:52 - Jesus grew in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and with man.

Isaiah 38:19 - One generation makes known your faithfulness to the next.

Deuteronomy 6:6-7 - These commandments impress them upon your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

6. (Y) Yield to God

Joshua 24:25 - Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods of your forefathers or the gods of the Amorites, but as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.

Philippians 4:8 - Fix your thoughts on what is true and good and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely and dwell on the fine, good things in others.

February 5 2012 How To Handle Loneliness

**no sermon audio**

How To Handle Loneliness

II Timothy 4:6 - 22

Four Causes Of Loneliness

1. Transitions in life.
Verse 6 - I am already being poured out like a drink offering and the time has come for my departure.

Verses 7 & 8 - I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness.

2. Separation.
Verse 9 - Do your best to come to me quickly.

Verse 21 - Do your best to get here before winter.

3. Opposition.
Verse 14 - Alexander, the metal worker, did a great deal of harm.

Definition of harm:

4. Rejection.
Verse 16 - At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me.

4 Steps Through Loneliness

1. Utilize your time.
Verses 12 - 13 - I sent Tychicus to Ephesus and when you come bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas and my scrolls, especially the parchments.


2. Minimize the hurt.
Verse 16 - No one came to my support but may it not be held against them.

3. Recognize God's Presence.
Verse 17 - The Lord stood at my side and gave me strength.

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

Example of David, 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.

4. Empathize with other people's needs.
Verse 17 - The Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it.

Mark 15:34 - “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

June 19 2011 Discovering God's Purpose For Your Home

Discovering God's Purpose For Your Home

Genesis 2:18 & 24: The Lord God said, it is not good for man to be
alone. I will make a helper suitable for him. Therefore, a man will
leave his father and mother and be united to his wife.

GOD’S PURPOSE FOR THE FAMILY

I. A family is a shelter in the storm.
Proverbs 14:26 - reverence for the Lord gives a man deep strength,
his children have a place of refuge and security.

TYPES OF STORMS

1. change
2. failure
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 -Two are better than one, if one of them falls
down the other can help him up. But if someone is alone and falls,
it’s just too bad because there’s no one to help him.
3. rejection
Ecclesiastes 4:12 - One standing alone can be attacked and
defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer.
My Response:

II. A family is a learning center for life.
Psalm 144:12 - May our sons in their youth be like plants that grow
up strong.
Ephesians 6:4 - Fathers, don’t exasperate your children, instead
bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.
Luke 2:52 - Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with
God and with man.

Things you always leave home with:
1. Relationships
2. Character
3. Values
Isaiah 38:10 - One generation makes known your faithfulness to
the next.
Deuteronomy 6:6-7- These commandments, impress them upon
your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when
you walk along the road, when you lie down, and when you get up.

III. A family is a place to play.
Ecclesiastes 9:9 - Enjoy life with your wife whom you love.
Proverbs 5:18 - Be happy with your wife and find your joy with the
girl you married.
Psalm 127:3 - Children are a gift from God, they are his reward.
My Response:

IV. A family is a launching pad for ministry.
I Corinthians 16:15 - Stephanas and his family were the first to
become Christians in Greece and they are spending their lives
helping and serving Christians everywhere.
Acts 16:33 - The whole family was filled with joy because they had
come to believe in God.
Romans 12:13 - When God’s children are in need, help them out!
Get into the habit of inviting guests home for dinner, or if they
need lodging for the night.
My Response:

John 1:12 - All who received Him, He gave the right to become
children of God.