August 9 2015 Renewing Our Passion For God And Church-Humility's Place In Renewal

RENEWING OUR PASSION FOR GOD AND CHURCH HUMILITY’S PLACE IN RENEWAL

2 Chronicles 34

Intro:

Humility is a strange commodity.  The moment you think you have it, you’ve already lost it.

Josiah – A Picture of Humility

He humbled himself before the Lord. (vs. 1-13)

He humbled himself before God’s Word. (vs. 14-28)

He humbled himself before his people. (vs. 29-33)

I. What is humility?

True humility is knowing where we stand before God.

What clouds the picture of our standing before God?

1. Presumption

2. Comparison

3. Pride

What clears the picture of our standing before God?

1. God’s circumstances

2. God’s Word

3. God’s people

II. What does humility do?

It causes us to:

1. Realize that we are wrong. (v. 19)

2. Repent of that wrong. (v. 19)

3. Reach for the truth. (vs. 21-26)

Humility reveals that we do not have all the answers.

4. Respond with tenderness. (v. 27)

5. Recommit yourself to God before others. (vs. 29-32)

Personal renewal must become public.

6. Remove all hindrances from your life. (v.33)

The result of a renewal of humility?  Consistent Christian living (v.33)

July 19 2015 The Person God Uses

The Person God Uses

2 Chronicles 7:14

THE PROCESS OF RENEWAL

Christians pray, God cares
Christians repent, God shows us ourselves
Christians minister, God empowers and equips

THE PERSON GOD USES

1. That person has one great purpose.

Philippians 3:7-14

To “know God” there must be:

Evaluation How well do I know God?

Exchange What must I do to know Him better?

Trade off What price will I pay to know Him better?

2. That person has, by God’s grace, removed every known hindrance.  Hebrews 12:1-2

Observations:

1. We can have victory over all sin.

2. If God’s Word says lay it aside, it can be done.

God didn’t say these things to frustrate us, but help us by God’s Grace.

“Whatever weakens your reason, impairs the tenderness of your conscience, obscures your sense of God, or takes off the relish of spiritual things, whatever increases the authority of your body over your mind, that thing for us is sin.” (Susanna Wesley)

3. That person has placed themselves at God’s disposal.

Romans 12:1-2

Observations:

1. For those who have been saved.

2. Sign my name to a blank sheet of paper.

3. Give Him control of your life.

4. That person who has learned to prevail in prayer.

James 5:13-18

Observations:
1. Things beyond my control.

2. Things that are bigger than myself.

3. Things that seem impossible.

5. That person is a student of the Word.

2 Timothy 3:16-17

6. That person has a giving Spirit.

John 3:16

7. That person expects results.

Romans 4:16-21

8. That person lives under the anointing of God the Holy Spirit.

Ephesians 5:18-20

“The renewal we need is simply a return to normal New Testament Christianity, where the Churches are full of prayer, full of power, full of people, full of praise full of divine happenings all the time.  We want something normal, not just ‘special.’  God’s normal, that is.  God’s normal is greater than most of our specials put together. (Dr. Armin Desswein)

June 1 2014 iGod AM All-Powerful

iGod AM All-Powerful

iGod: Part 3 of 4

Exodus 3:14 “God replied to Moses, ‘I Am the one Who Always IS. Just tell them, “I AM has sent me to you.”’”

Omnipresent: God is everywhere.

Omnipotent: God has unlimited power.

Omniscient: God God knows everything

Psalm 139:1-6 “O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my every thought when far away. You chart the path ahead of me and tell me where to stop and rest. Every moment you know where I am. You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord. You bothprecede and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to know!

BECAUSE GOD IS ALL-KNOWING

• I CAN TRUST GOD WITH MY FUTURE

Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the LORD. ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.’”

Genesis 17:16-19 “(God) ‘I will bless her and give you a son from her! Yes, I will bless her richly, and she will become the mother of many nations. Kings will be among her descendants!’ Then Abraham bowed down to the ground, but he laughed to himself in disbelief. ‘How could I become a father at the age of one hundred?’ he wondered. ‘Besides, Sarah is ninety; how could she have a baby?’ ...But God replied, ‘Sarah, your wife , will bear you a son. You will name him Isaac, and I will confirm my everlasting covenant with him and his descendants.’”

My response: TO RELAX COMPLETELY

• I TRUST GOD WITH MY PRESENT

Matthew 8:23-27 “Then Jesus got into the boat and started across the lake withhis disciples. Suddenly, a terrible storm came up, with waves breaking into the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went to him and woke him up, shouting, ‘Lord, save us! We're going to drown!’ And Jesus answered, ‘Why are you afraid? You have so little faith! Then he stood up and rebuked the wind and waves, and suddenly all was calm. The disciples just sat there in awe. ‘Who is this?’ they asked themselves. ‘Even the wind and waves obey him!’” Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will direct your paths.”

• My response: TO RECOMMIT DAILY

BECAUSE GOD IS ALL-KNOWING

• I CAN TRUST GOD WITH MY PAST

Luke 15:17-24 “When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, At home even the hired men have food enough to spare, and here I am, dying of hunger! I will go home to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired man.”’ So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long distance away, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.’ But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger, and sandals for his feet. And kill the calf we have been fattening in the pen. We must celebrate with a feast, for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began.”

My response: TO REPENT SINCERELY

Memory Verse: Jeremiah 31:34 “And I will forgive their wickedness and will never again remember their sins.”

February 16 2014 Becoming A More Loving Person

BECOMING A MORE LOVING PERSON

Galatians 5:22 –But the fruit of the Spirit is Love.

Misconceptions About Love:

• Love is a feeling.
• Love is uncontrollable.

Facts About Love:

• Love is a choice.

Colossians 3:14 – Over all these virtues, put on love which binds them all together in perfect unity.

• Love is a matter of conduct.

1 John 3:18 – Let us not love with words or tongue, but with actions and in truth.

Five Steps to Becoming a Loving Person:

Step One – Experience God’s love.

Ephesians 3:17-18 – I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts, living within you, as you trust in Him May your roots go down deep into the soil of God’s marvelous love, and may you be able to feel and understand, as all God’s children should, how long, how wide, how deep and how high His love really is and to experience His love for yourself.

1 John 4:19

Step Two – Forgive your enemies.

Colossians 3:13 – Forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another.

Step Three – Think loving thoughts.

Philippians 2:4-5 – Don’t just think about your own affairs, but be interested in others too, and in what they are doing. Your attitude should be the kind that was shown us by Christ Jesus.

A fact of life: Hurt people hurt people.

Step Four – Act in loving ways.

Luke 6:27-28 – Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.

Four Ways To Act Lovingly:

• Overlook their faults.
• Do good to them.
• Bless them.
• Pray for them.

1 Corinthians 13

Step Five – Expect the best.

1 Corinthians 13:2 – You will always believe in Him, always expect the best of Him.

Taking the First Step

• Remember God loves you.

John 3:16 – For God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son, that whosoever believes in Him, shall have everlasting life.

• Repent and turn to God.

Acts 3:19 – Repent then, and turn to God.

• Trust Jesus for forgiveness and power.

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

August 11 2013 Trusting God During Adversity And Misunderstandings

Trusting God During Adversity/Misunderstandings

Genesis 50:20 - You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good, to accomplish that which is now being done, the saving of many lives.

5 Ways To Hang On In Adversity

1.  He knew the practics of survival.

3 Things To Remember
• He didn’t give in to self pity.
Genesis 39:3 - The Lord gave him success in everything he did.

• He didn’t give in to bitterness.
Genesis 45:15 - He kissed all his brothers and wept over them.

• He knew God sees everything and cares.
“But the Lord was with Joseph.”

2.  We see the plan of God.
Romans 8:28 - In all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.

Psalm 37:25 - I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken.

3.  Remember the promises of God.
Romans 15:4 - For everything that was written was so that we might have hope.

Psalm 9:10 - For you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.

Psalm 34:6 -I sought the Lord and He answered me and delivered me.

Philippians 4:19 - My God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

4.  The people of God.
Hebrews 10:24-25 - Spur one another on, encourage one another.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 - The God of all comfort comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others in trouble.

Genesis 39:21

Genesis 40

5.  There is God’s presence through Christ.
Rom 5:10 - When we were God’s enemies we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son.

1 Peter 5:7 - Cast all your cares upon Him because He cares for you.

Genesis 49:22 - Joseph is a fruitful bough.  Whose branches run over the wall.

Two Words In Turning To Christ

• Repent of your sins.

• Trust in Christ alone.