October 30 2016 I am the Good Shepherd

Connecting With The Real Jesus - I am the Good Shepherd

John 10:14, 27-28 "I am the good shepherd. I know my own sheep and they know me.... My sheep recognize my voice. I know them and they follow me. I give them eternal life and they will never perish. No one will snatch them away from me."

WHAT IT MEANS TO YOU THAT JESUS IS YOUR SHEPHERD

1. As my good shepherd, Jesus provides for my needs.

Matthew 6:31-33 "“So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your Heavenly Father already knows all of your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need."

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

2. As my good shepherd, Jesus protects me from harm.

Mark 4:35-40 As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” So they took Jesus in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed). But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water. Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?” When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. Then he asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

Psalm 34:9 "The good man does not escape of troubles. He has them, too, but the Lord helps Him in each and everyone."

3. As my good shepherd He will guide me on what is right.

James 1: 5-8 (TLB) 5 If you want to know what God wants you to do, ask him, and he will gladly tell you, for he is always ready to give a bountiful supply of wisdom to all who ask him; he will not resent it. But when you ask him, be sure that you really expect him to tell you,

Matthew 7:13-14 (NIV) Enter through the narrow gate. For Wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow is the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."

Luke 15:4-7 If a man has a 100 sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won't he leave the 99 others in the wilderness and go and search for that one that is lost until He finds it? And when he has found it, he will joyfully carry it home on his shoulders." And when he arrives, he will call together all of his friends and neighbors saying, "Rejoice with me, because I have found my lost sheep." "In the same way, there is more joy in Heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over 99 others who are righteous and haven't strayed away.

July 17 2016 Conquering Inner Anxiety

CONQUERING INNER ANXIETY

Psalm 23

While we may often walk in the valleys, we need not fear it’s shadow.

1. Anxiety is conquered by a personal relationship with God.

Verse 1a – The Lord is my Shepherd.

2. Anxiety is conquered by understanding His provisions.

Verse 1b – I shall not be in want.

Matthew 6:25 & 32 – Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink or about your body, what you will wear, your heavenly Father knows that you need them.

Verse 33- But seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness and all those things will be given to you as well.

3. Anxiety is conquered by seeing His promises.

Verse 4 – I will fear no evil.

Verse 5 – Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life.

4. The practical application of this Psalm.

Verse 6 – I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

• Admit it
• Commit it to God
• Stand firm in God’s strength

CAST YOUR BURDEN UPON THE LORD AND HE WILL SUSTAIN YOU

November 29 2015 Realizing The Heart Of Christmas

REALIZING THE HEART OF CHRISTMAS

Matthew 2:1-10

Five Truths To Remember

1. We must move beyond religious practice.

Matthew 2:2 – We saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.

Verse 6 – Who will be the shepherd of my people.

Matthew 3:7-8 – You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.

2. Our faith must move faith to the heart.

Matthew 2:8 – Herod said..go and make careful search for the child. As soon as you find Him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship Him.

Matthew 15:8 – These people honor me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.

3. We must understand no one is too far away.

Matthew 2:1 – Wise men from the east came to Jerusalem.

4. We must make our surrender real.

Matthew 2:9 -11 – After they had heard the King, they went their way and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star they were overjoyed.  On coming to the house, they saw the child with His mother Mary and they bowed down and worshiped Him.  Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.

5. We must decide to be obedient.

Matthew 2:12 – They returned to their country by another route. They had diving instruction to go a different route.

November 16 2014 Fully Engaged In My City

Fully Engaged in My City

“The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.” - 2 Chronicles 16:9

"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God's messengers! How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn't let me.” – Luke 13:34

“As Jesus approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it.” – Luke 19:41

TO BE FULLY ENGAGED IN MY CITY I MUST

1. SEE  that God has a purpose for me in this place.    

“For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”  - Ephesians 2:10

““For when David had served God's purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep.” - Acts 13:36

2. SEE  the city as the people.

“A vast crowd was there as Jesus stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he taught them many things.”  - Mark 6:34

““Jesus replied, ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.  This is the first and greatest commandment. second is equally important: Love your neighbor as yourself.” - Matthew 22:37-39

3. SEE God-given opportunities to act.     

“Live wisely among those who are not yet Christians, making the most of every opportunity.” – Colossians 4:5
            
Memory Verse: “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.” – Acts 20:24

November 7 2010 Focusing On The Harvest

Focusing On The Harvest

Matthew 9:35-38 - Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 

Matthew 9:36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."

How To Focus On The Harvest

1. Have a proper vision

Verse 36 - When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

• Jesus had a vision for outsiders

2 Peter 2:8 - for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard

Acts 17:16 - While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols.

2. Have an understanding of the coming verdict

Verse 37 - Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.

Joel 3:13-14 - Swing the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Come, trample the grapes, for the winepress is full and the vats overflow— so great is their wickedness!" 

Joel 3:14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.

Matthew 13:30 - Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.

2 Corinthians 5:11 - Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience.

3. We need a correct view of the workers

Verse 37 - Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.

• Few consecrated to the work
• Few that are faithful

We Must Focus On The Harvest