April 17 2016 Breaking Free From Debt

BREAKING FREE FROM DEBT

Proverbs 21:20 & Selected - When your outgo exceeds your income your upkeep will be your downfall.

Proverbs 21:20 (Living Bible) "The wise man saves for the future but the foolish man spends whatever he gets. "

(The Good News) "Stupid people spend their money as fast as they get it.,,

Proverbs 27:20 (Good News) "Human desires are like the world of the dead - there is always room for more. "

1. Having more things will make me MORE HAPPY.

Ecclesiastes 5:10-11 "He who loves money shall never have enough. The foolishness of thinking that wealth brings happiness! The more you have, the more you spend... " 

Ecclesiastes 6:9 "It is better to be satisfied with what you have than to be always wanting something else. " 

2. Having more things will make me MORE IMPORTANT

Luke 12:15 "Be on your guard against greed in any shape or form. For a man's real life in no way depends on the number of his possessions."

3. Having more things will make me MORE SECURE

Proverbs 11:28 "Those who depend on their wealth will fall like the leaves of autumn. " 

Proverbs 19:18 (Living Bible) "The rich man think of his wealth as an impregnable defense, a high wall of safety. What a dreamer!"

1 Timothy 6:9 "When we long to be rich we are a prey to temptation We get trapped into all sorts of foolish and dangerous ambitions which eventually plunge us into ruin. '

HOW DO YOU ENJOY LIFE MORE ON LESS?

1. I find my happiness in HELPING OTHERS.

Acts 20:35 "Jesus said, 'There's more happiness in giving than in receiving"'.

Matthew 5:6 "Happy are those whose greatest desire is to do what God requires; God -will satisfy them fully. "

2. I find my self-worth in KNOWING GOD.

Isaiah 43:4 "God says, 'You are precious in my sight!"' 

Matthew 6:26""Your heavenly Father feeds the birds. Are you not more valuable then they?',

Romans 5:8 "The proof of God’s amazing love is this: while -we were sinners Christ died for us. .

3. I find my security in TRUSTING GOD.

Hebrews 13:5 (Good News) "Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, I will never leave you nor abandon you. "

March 13 2016 The Word Of Victory

THE WORD OF VICTORY

John 19:30-37

Verse 30 – It is finished.

1. The Work of Christ as Prophet ended.

John 6:38 – I came down from Heaven, not to do my Own will but the will of Him who sent Me.

John 3:34 – My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me.

John 14:9 – He that hath seen Me has seen the Father.

Romans 5:8 – While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

2. The Work of redemption was completed.

John 1:29 – Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world.

Several Things To Remember

• The suffering of Christ had ended.
• Separation was ended.
• The power of sin was broken.

Hebrews 10:24 – By one offering He hath perfected forever them that are sanctified.

• His death satisfied the law.

Colossians 2:14 – He canceled the record that contained the charges against us.  He took it and destroyed it by nailing it to Christ’s cross.

Romans 10:4 – Christ ended the law so that everyone who believes in Him may be right with God.

3. The Way to God was opened up.

Matthew 27:51 – At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.

1 Timothy 2:5 – For there is one God, one Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.

Philippians 1:6 – I am confident of this one thing, He that hath begun a good work in you will bring it on to completion in the day of Christ.

February 7 2016 The Word Of Forgiveness

THE WORD OF FORGIVENESS

Luke 23:33-43

Verse 34 – Jesus said, “Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.

THE PROBLEM WITH SOCIETY

-We try to bury the past.

Psalm 32 – When I refused to confess my sins, I was weak and miserable.

-We beat ourselves up.

Psalm 30 – Because I was foolish, I’m bent over and bowed down, I’m sad all day long.

-We try to blame others.

Proverbs19:3 – Some people ruin themselves by their own stupid actions and then blame the Lord.

TRUTHS TO HELP US

1. Forgiveness begins with God.

Verse 34 – “Father.”

Romans 3:23 – All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

Romans 5:8 – But God demonstrates His own love for us in this, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

2. Forgiveness is possible because of Christ.

Verse 34 – “Forgive them.”

Hebrews 4:14 – Therefore since we have a great High Priest who has gone into heaven, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence so we may receive mercy and find grace to help in our time of need.

Isaiah 53:12 – He bore the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors.

3. Forgiveness is needed by all.

Verse 34 – “They do not know what they are doing.”

2 Corinthians 5:19 – That God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them.

4. This prayer sets an example for us.

Matthew 5:44 – But I tell you love your enemies.

WHAT JESUS WANTS US TO DO

-Admit our guilt.

Proverbs 20:27 – The Lord gave us a mind and a conscience, we cannot hide from ourselves

1 John 1:8 – If we claim to be without sin we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.

-Accept responsibility.

Psalm 51:3 – I recognize my faults. I am conscious of my sin.

James 5:16 – Admit your faults to one another and pray for each other so that you may be healed.

1 John 1:9 – If we freely admit that we have sinned, we find God utterly reliable.  He forgives your sins and makes us thoroughly clean from all that is evil.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

-God forgives instantly.

Isaiah 55:7 – God is merciful and quick to forgive.

-God forgives completely.

Colossians 2:13 – He forgave us all our sins.

-God forgives freely.

Ephesians 1:7 – For by the death of Christ, we are set free.

October 11 2015 Game On: It's Time To Walk Across The Room

Game On: It's Time To Walk Across The Room

(Jesus) “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” - Matthew 28:19-20

WHY JESUS WALKED FROM HEAVEN TO EARTH

• HE WALKED TO SHOW HIS LOVE FOR US.

John 1:14“So the Word became human and lived here on earth among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the only Son of the Father.” 

Romans 5:8  “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” 

• HE WALKED TO SHOW HIS COMPASSION FOR US.

Matthew 9:6  “He felt great compassion for the crowds that came, because their problems were so great and they didn’t know where to go for help. They were like sheep without a shepherd.” 

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” 

• HE WALKED TO SHOW HIS DREAM FOR US.

John 10:10  (Jesus) “I came so they can have real and eternal life,  more and better life than they ever dreamed of.” 

WHY SHOULD I WALK ACROSS THE ROOM?

John 17:18   “Jesus prayed to the Father: ‘In the same way that you gave me a mission in the world, I give them a mission in the world.’”  

• I WALK BECAUSE OF MY LOVE FOR OTHERS.

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

Matthew 22:39  “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

• I WALK BECAUSE OF MY COMPASSION FOR OTHERS        

Luke 16:27-28“Then the rich man said, ‘Please, Father Abraham, send him to my father’s home.  For I have five brothers,  and I want him to warn them about this place of torment so they won’t have to come here when they die.’”

• I WALK BECAUSE OF MY DREAM  FOR OTHERS.

1 Corinthians 13:7  “Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.” 

Acts 20:24 “But my life is worth nothing unless I use it for doing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus – the work of telling others  the Good News about God’s wonderful kindness and love.

May 3 2015 Freedom From Our Hurts

FREEDOM FROM OUR HURTS

Isaiah 57:18 – I have seen how they acted, but I will lead them and help them and I will comfort them that mourn.

DENIAL BUSTERS 

1. Crises

2. Confrontation

3. Catastrophe 

Hebrews 11:6 – Anyone who comes to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.

THREE STEPS TO GET HELP FOR OUR HURTS

1. Acknowledge God’s existence.

Romans 11:20 – Since the creation of the world, God’s invisible qualities, His eternal power and divine nature have been clearly seen.

Psalm 19:1 – The heavens declare the glory of God.

Psalm 14:1 – The fool says there is no God!

2. Understand God’s character.

Colossians 1:15 – Christ is the visible expression of the invisible God.

• God knows all about my situation.

Psalm 31:7 – You have seen the crisis in my soul.

Psalm 69:5 – You know how foolish I have been.

• God cares about my situation.

Psalm 103:13-14 – He is like a Father to us, tender and sympathetic, for He knows what we are made of, dust!

Jeremiah 31:3 – God says I have loved you with an everlasting love!

Romans 5:8 – God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us.

• God can change me and my situation.

Ephesians 1:20 – I pray you will begin to understand how incredibly great His power is to help those who believe Him.  The same power that raised Christ from the dead.

Luke 18:27 – What is impossible for men is possible with God.

3. Accept God’s offer to help you.

Philippians 2:13 – For God is at work within you giving you the will and the power to achieve His purpose.

2 Timothy 1:7 – The Spirit that God gives us fills us with power, love and self-control.

HOW TO PLUG INTO GOD’S POWER

• Believe Christ died on the cross to save me and help.
• Believe that He cares and has power to help me.
• Surrender my all to Him

Isaiah 43:2-3 – When you go through deep waters and great troubles, I will be with you, you won’t drown!  When you walk through the fires of oppression, you won’t be burned up!