August 23 2015 Renewing Our Passion For God And His Church

RENEWING OUR PASSION FOR GOD AND HIS CHURCH

THE PLACE OF OBEDIENCE IN RENEWAL
I Kings 18

Introduction: Choice, not chance, determines our destiny.

Life’s Living Options:

1. Every person has a choice to make.

2. Every person has the ability to make these choices.

3. The choice we make always has consequences.

4. While we’re choosing we live in one of the choices.

Sermon goals help us to choose to live a life of continued obedience to God.

Observations About Obedience:

1. We need to be sensitive to the voice of God.
Vs. 1 – After a long time, in the third year, the Word of the Lord came to Elijah.

How to be Sensitive to the Voice of God:

1. We must be serving.
2. We have to be in the right place.
3. Samuel listened to a mature Christian.

2. Obey God even when the path is difficult.
Vs. 1-19 

3. Obedience is difficult if we haven’s seen God move in the lives of people.
Vs. 20-29
Vs. 21 – Elijah said, if the Lord is God, follow Him, but if Baal is God follow Him.

Three Classes of People at Mt. Carmel:

1. A group that was devoted to God.
2. A group devoted to a false god.
3. A group that was undecided.

4. God honors an obedient heart.
Vs 30-38

The preparation of an obedient heart.
Vs. 30 – He repaired the altar of the Lord which was in Ruins.

The predicament of an obedient heart.
Vs. 32-35

The prayer of an obedient heart.
Vs. 36-38

5. Obedience is easy when we see God move.
Vs. 39 – When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, the Lord He is God!  The Lord He is God!

August 16 2015 The Place Of Consecration In Renewal

THE PLACE OF CONSECRATION IN RENEWAL

1 Samuel 7:3,4,12,13
  
God never asks us to give more, He asks us to give all.

THE PROCESS OF CONSECRATION

1. Remove all that hinders your relationship with God.

Vs. 3 – Then rid yourselves of the foreign gods.

Christians don’t push God from #1 position all at once, He’s gradually edged out.

What causes us to remove attitudes and things which come before God?

(1) The place of helplessness.

(2) When we’re given hope.

2. Direct your heart towards God.

Vs. 3 – Commit yourselves to the Lord.

What had captured Israel’s attention?

(1) The Philistines.  (Sometimes all our attention is directed towards our problems.)

(2) The stolen Ark.  (Your mind is sometimes directed to our religious symbols instead of God)

Samuel wanted all attention to be given to the Lord.

3. Serve the Lord alone.

Vs. 3 – Serve Him only.

Service is love in working clothes.

4. Rest in God and watch Him work.

Vs. 12-13 – Thus far the Lord has helped us.  So the Philistines were subdued and did not invade Israelite territory again.

May 13 2012 Three Things Mothers Can Build In The Home

Three Things Mothers Can Build In The Home

I. First Mothers need to build the foundation of Faith.

Examples:

1. Timothy’s Mother and Grandmother.

2 Timothy 1:5 - I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first live in your Grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and I am persuaded, now lives in you also.

2. Moses’ Mother.

Hebrews 11:25 - He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasure of sin for a short time.

3. Samuel’s Mother.

I Samuel 1:28 -2:1 - So now I give him to the Lord, my heart rejoices in the Lord.

II. Secondly you need to build a closet of prayer.

A place where you can get alone with God.

I Samuel 1:27 - I prayed for this child.

III. Thirdly build a room for improvement.

Mothers are the molders of men and women.

Examples:

1. Nancy Hanks, Mother of Abraham Lincoln

2. Winston Churchill’s Mother

3. Suzanne Wesley, Mother of John & Charles Wesley

4. Sarah Edwards, Mother of Jonathan Edwards

I believe that Mothers set the tone for the family. Therefore, get a vision for your child and pour your life I nto them.

I Samuel 2:26 - And the boy Samuel continued to grow in stature and in favor with the Lord and with men.