November 15 2015 The Prayer Of Fulfillment

THE PRAYER OF FULFILLMENT

Matthew 6:13 – For thine is the Kingdom and the power, and the glory forever.

God’s Kingdom is His plan.

God’s Power is His program.

God’s Glory is His purpose.

Romans 11:36 – Everything comes from God alone.  Everything lives by His power, and everything is for His glory.

REAL FULFILLMENT COMES THROUGH

1. Living in God’s Kingdom.

1 Thessalonians 2:1 - You should live in a way that proves you belong to the God who calls you into His Kingdom and glory.

Matthew 6:33 – God will give you all you need from day to day if you live for Him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern.

First in your finances.
Interest
Relationships
Schedule
Troubles

2. Live by God’s power.

1 Corinthians 4:20 – For the Kingdom of God is not just fancy talk; it is living by God’s power.

Ephesians 3:20 – By His mighty power at work within us, He is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope.

BY praying.

BY taking a risk.

BY not giving up.

3. Live for God’s glory.

Romans 6:10-11 – Jesus died to defeat sin and now He lives for the glory of God.  So you should consider yourselves dead to sin and able to live for the glory of God through Christ Jesus.

HOW:

• Show love to everybody.

Romans 15:7 – Warmly welcome each other into the Church, just as Christ has warmly welcome you; then God will be glorified. 

• Use your abilities to serve everybody.

1 Peter 4:10-11 – God has given each of you some special abilities; be sure to use them to help each other so that God will be glorified.

• Share the good news about Jesus with everyone.

2 Corinthians 4:15 – As God’s grace brings more and more people to Christ.  God will receive more and more glory!

• You should join the Church.

Ephesians 3:21 – To God be the glory in the Church and in Christ Jesus for all time, forever and ever! Amen

February 15 2015 Perseverance Under Pressure

Perseverance Under Pressure

Seven things to give us perseverance under pressure:

1. Realize we are strangers in this world.

Verse 1 – To God’s elect, strangers in the world scattered.

John 17:15-16 – My prayer is not that you take them out of the world, but that you protect them from the evil one.  They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.

Don’t drive the stakes in too deep, you’re moving up in the morning.

2. Realize we are chosen.

Verse 2 – Who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ.

Three things about being chosen:

1. Our salvation is not haphazard.

2. God is willing to take risks.

3. We have value.
 
3. Realize the power of the resurrection.

Verse 3 – Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord, Jesus Christ.  In His great mercy He has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

1 Corinthians 15:19 – If only in this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.

Psalm 33: 13-22

4. Realize the riches of our inheritance.

Verse 4 – An inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade, kept in heaven for you.

Four facts about our inheritance:

1. It’s untouched by death.

2. It’s unstained by evil.

3. It will not fade away.

4. It’s reserved, set aside, for you.

5. Realize the protection of your salvation.

Verse 5 – Who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of Salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.

Three meanings of protection:

1. You have a guard out front.

2. He identifies the problem.

3. He communicates the danger.
 
6. Realize the positive results of pressure.

Verses 6-7 – In this you greatly rejoice through now for a little while you may have had to suffer all kinds of trials.  These have come so that your faith of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

Suffering brings out the gold in life.

Four things about suffering:

1. It’s seasonal.

2. It’s necessary.

3. It’s revealing.

4. It’s sanctifying.

7. Realize you have present power.

Verse 8 – Though you have not seen Him, you love Him.

October 6 2013 Called To Be Loved

CALLED TO BE LOVED - Live Your Calling: What On Earth Am I Here For? – Part 2

“Long ago, even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. And this gave him great pleasure.” Ephesians 1:4-5 (NLT) 

• The first purpose of my life is be loved by God

“This letter is from Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James. I am writing to all who are CALLED TO LIVE IN THE LOVE OF GOD the Father and in the CARE of Jesus Christ.” Jude 1:1 (NLT) 

• My first calling is I’m called to enjoy a relationship with God! 

“Dear friends in Rome, God loves you dearly, and he has CALLED you to be his very own people.” Romans 1:7 (NLT) 

• That relationship is to be  His son or his daughter!

“What an incredible quality of love the Father has shown to us, that we should be named and called and counted the children of God! And so we are!” 1 John 3:1 (Amp) 

“I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of God's marvelous love; and may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how WIDE, how LONG, how HIGH, and how DEEP his love really is. May you EXPERIENCE the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it.” Ephesians 3:17-19 (LB, NLT) 

WIDE ENOUGH to be everywhere.

LONG ENOUGH to last forever

DEEP ENOUGH to handle anything.

HIGH ENOUGH to overlook my sinsWHAT CHANGES HAPPEN IF I STAY AWARE OF GOD’S CONSTANT LOVE FOR ME? 

1. I feel accepted rather than ashamed.

“By faith we have been made acceptable to God. And now, because of our Lord Jesus Christ, we live at peace with God.” Romans 5:1 (CEV) 
 
“If God says his chosen ones are acceptable to him, can anyone bring charges against them? Or can anyone condemn them? No indeed!” Romans 8:33-34 (CEV) 

2. I am bold in bringing my needs to God.

“All who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God! So, you should not be like cowering, fearful slaves. You should behave instead like God's very own children, adopted into his family—calling him ‘Father, dear Father.’ ... And since we are his children, we will share his treasures—for everything God gives to his Son, Christ, is ours, too.” Romans 8:14-15, 17 (NLT) 

“Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Hebrews 4:16 (NIV)

3. I have peace in pain I don’t understand. 

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28 (NIV) 

4. I gain the courage to take risks.

“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment.” 1 John 4:18 (NIV)

June 26 2011 When You Feel You're Sinking

When You Feel You're Sinking

Matt. 14:22-32
Verse 30 -But when he saw he wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, Lord save me.

LESSONS FROM JESUS WHEN I'M SINKING

1. Storms come to God's best people.

Verse 22 – Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of Him to the other side.

2. The Lord of the storm is praying.

Verse 23 – He went up into the hills by Himself to pray.

John 17:9 – I pray for them.

3. He is watching.

Verse 24 – The boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves.

Matt. 10:30 – Even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

4. He will also come to us. 

Verse 25 – During the fourth watch of the night, Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake.

5. He will help us.

Verse 32 – When He climbed into the boat, the wind died down.

Heb. 13:5 – Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.

John 14:1 – Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, trust also in Me.

WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I'M SINKING

1. Have courage.

Mark 6:50 – Jesus said to them, take courage, it is I, don't be afraid.

2. Take a risk in Faith.

Verse 28-29 – Lord, if it is You , Peter replied, tell me to come to You on the water. Come, Jesus said. So Peter got out of the boat, walked on the water and came to Jesus.

3. Stay focused on Jesus.

Verse 30 – But when Peter looked around at the high waves, he was terrified and began to sink. Save me Lord, he shouted.

4. Don't doubt.

Verse 31 – Immediately Jesus reached out His hand and caught him. You of little faith He said, why did you doubt?