July 31 2016 Accept No Substitutes

ACCEPT NO SUBSTITUTES

Ten Values That Build Strong Families - Part 2

"You shall not make any idols ... you must never bow to an image or worship it in any way." Exodus 20:4-5 (LB)            

TWO PRINCIPLES

I.  DON'T `IDOLIZE' ANYTHING!

"Idolize" - to look to something more than God.

"For your own good ... don't sin by making an idol in any form at all."  Deuteronomy 4:15-16 (GN)
    
Why?

1.  Idols will disappoint me.

"...those who make idols are disillusioned because the gods they make are false and lifeless."    Jeremiah 10:14 (GN)

"What's the use of an idol?  It's only something a man has made.  What good does it do ... to trust it?  Habakkuk 2:18(GN)
    
2.  Idols will dominate me

"... (before you knew Christ) you were controlled by dead idols, who always led you astray."  1 Corinthians 12:2 (GN)

3.  Idols will deform me

"Those who make idols will become like them, and so will those who trust in them." Psalms 115:8 (GN)

"They worshiped worthless things and became worthless themselves." Jeremiah 2:5 (GN)

II.  WORSHIP ONLY GOD!

"Worship" -- to give my highestlove and devotion

"(Many) exchange the truth about God for a lie; they worship and serve what God has created instead of the Creator himself!" Romans 1:25 (GN)

The Benefits of Worshiping Only God

1.  IT WILL DELIGHT ME

"Seek your happiness in the Lord and He will give you your heart's desire.” Psalm 37:4 (GN)

"Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed." Romans 10:11 (GN)
    
2.  IT WILL DELIVERME

Jesus said, "If you obey my teaching ... you will know the truth and the truth will set you free." John 8:31-32

"If the Son sets you free, you will be really free." John 8:36

3.  IT WILLDEVELOP ME.

"As the Spirit of the Lord works with us, we become more and more like Him."      2 Corinthians 3:18b (LB)

"We arrive at maturity -- that measure of development which is meant by `the fullness of Christ.'" Ephesians 4:13-15 (Ph)

"Christ is the visible image of the invisible God." Colossians 1:5

ACCEPT NO SUBSTITUTES

December 29 2013 God The Promise Keeper

God The Promise Keeper

Psalm 33:4 – For the Word of the Lord is right and true, He is faithful in all He does.

God cannot do wrong. (Deut. 32:4) Just

God cannot lie. (Heb. 6:18) Holy

God cannot break promises. (Num.23:19) Faithful

I. The Greatest Example of God’s Faithfulness:

Joshua 21:45 – Not one of all the Lord’s good promises to the house of Israel failed, everyone was fulfilled!

Deuteronomy 7:9 –He is the faithful God, keeping His covenant to a thousand generations.

Psalm 145:13 – The Lord is faithful to all His promises.

II. God’s Guarantees to you:

1. I can depend on God to forgive your sins.

I John 1:9 –If we freely admit that we have sinned, we find Him reliable and just. He forgives us and makes us thoroughly clean from all that is evil.

2. I can depend on God to give me guidance.

Proverbs 3:5-6 – Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Never rely on what you think you know. Remember the Lord in everything you do, and He will show you the right way.

3. I can depend on God to settle the score.

Romans 12:19 – Dear friends, never avenge yourselves. Leave that to God, for He has said He will repay those who deserve it.

1 Peter 2:23 – Jesus never answered back when insulted. When He suffered, He did not threaten to get even. He left His case in the hands of God who always judges fairly.

4. I can depend on God to reward my generosity.

Luke 6:38 – Give, and it will be given to you, for with the same measure you use, it will be measured to you.

5. I can depend on God to give me a home in Heaven.

1Corinthians 1:8-9 – God guarantees right up to the end that you’ll be counted free from all guilt on that day when He returns. God will surely do this for you.

2 Timothy 1:12 – I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that day.

6. I can depend on God to remember my service.

Hebrews 6:10 – God is not unfair. He will not forget all that you have done, nor the loving labor which you have shown for His sake in looking after fellow Christians.

Romans 10:11 – Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.

Romans 10:13 – Whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

January 6 2013 How To Know The Real God

HOW TO KNOW THE REAL GOD
Exodus 20:4-5

The second commandment is a natural extension of the first.  Once you understand that God is to have first place in your life, the natural question is:  What kind of god is God?  What is He really like?

Step two to the Better Life in 2013:
“You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything, you shall not bow down to it or worship it.”

The principle things are to be used, but not loved.

I.  What happens when we turn things into “gods?”

3 Consequences

1.  Things will disappoint you.
Jeremiah 10:14 - Those who make idols are disillusioned because the gods they make are false and lifeless.

Hebrews 2:8 - What’s the use of an idol?  It’s only something that a man has made.  What good does it do for its maker to trust it?

2.  Things will deceive you and lead you astray.
Ezekiel 14:3 - They have given their hearts to idols and are letting idols lead them into sin.

3.  Things will begin to dominate you.
Psalm 115:8 - Those who make idols will become like them, and so will those who trust them.
Jeremiah 2:5 - They worshiped worthless things and became worthless themselves.

II.  How to know the real God.

Isaiah 40:18 - To whom, then, will you compare God?  What image will you compare Him to?

Acts 17:29 -  We should not think that the Divine Being is like gold or silver or stone, an image made by man’s design and skill.

2 Corinthians. 4:4 - Christ is the exact likeness of God.

Colossians 1:15 - Christ is the visible image of the invisible God.

Benefits of Worshiping the Real God

1.  There is fulfillment.
Romans 10:11 - Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.

Psalm 37:4 - Seek your happiness in the Lord and He will give you your heart’s desire.

2.  There is freedom.
John 8:31-32 - Jesus said, “You will know the truth and the truth will set you free.”

Galatians 5:22 - The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy and peace.

3.  You become like God.
2 Corinthians 3:18 - As the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like Him.