March 1 2015 Spiritual Maturity Under Pressure

SPIRITUAL MATURITY UNDER PRESSURE

1 Peter 2:1-10

Three Things That Help Us Mature

1. Seek after God’s Word.

Verse 1 – Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy and slander of every kind.

GET RID OF:

• Malice
• Envy
• Deceit
• Slander
• Hypocrisy

Verse 2 – Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it, you may grow up in your salvation.

Verse 3 – Now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.

2. Stand on the firm foundation.

Verse 4 – As you come to Him, the Living Stone rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to Him.

Verses 5 -6 – You also, like living stones are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.  For in the scripture it says, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone and the one who trusts in Him will never be put to shame.

Moses said Jehovah is the rock of our salvation.

David said He is my rock and fortress, my God in whom I take refuge.

Isaiah said for in the Lord we have an everlasting rock.

Verse 8 – A stone that causes men to stumble and rock that makes them fall.

3. Speaking out a message of hope.

Verse 9-10 – But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belong to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into this wonderful light, once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God.

SIX LESSONS:

1. We are a family.
2. We have direct access to God.
3. We are also different from the world.
4. We are a people belonging to God.
5. We’re not what we used to be.
6. We’re blessed to be a blessing.

February 24 2013 How To Win The Respect Of Others

HOW TO WIN THE RESPECT OF OTHERS
Exodus 20:16

Verse 16 - You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
Prov. 17:7 - Respected people do not tell lies.

I.  First you win respect by not giving false testimony

TYPES OF FALSE TESTIMONY

1.  By gossip.
Definition:
Prov. 26:20 & 22 - Without wood a fire goes out, without gossip a quarrel dies.  The words of a gossip are like choice morsels, they go down to a man’s inmost parts.
Varieties:

2.  By slander.
Definition:
James 4:11 - Brothers do not slander one another.  Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the Law.  There is only one Lawgiver and Judge.

3. By flattery.
Definition:
Prov. 26:28 - Flattery is a form of hatred and wounds cruelly.
Prov. 29:5 - Whoever flatters his neighbor is spreading a net for his feet.

II.  The way to win the respect of others:

1.  Examine your heart.
Jer. 17:9 - The heart is deceitful above all things.

MOTIVES FOR DISHONESTY
* Fear                
* Anger
* Pride
* Selfishness

2.  Think about honest things.
Phil. 4:8 - Whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things. 

3.  Refuse to give or receive gossip.
Prov. 11:13 - A gossip goes around spreading rumors, while a trustworthy man tries to quiet them.

4.  Keep your promises.
Psalm 15:4-5 - He who keeps his oath even when it hurts, shall never be shaken.

5.  Be an encourager.
Ephesians 4:29 - Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouth, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

T Is it True
H Is it Helpful
I Is it Inspiring
N Is it Necessary
K Is it Kind

Psalm 34:11 & 12 - If you love life and desire to see many good days, then keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies.

February 17 2013 Keeping Your Peace Of Mind While Getting Ahead

KEEPING YOUR PEACE OF MIND WHILE GETTING AHEAD
Exodus 20:15 - You shall not steal.
Proverbs. 10:2 - Ill gotten gain brings no lasting happiness, but right living does.

I. Wrong ways to get ahead:

1. Dishonesty.
Proverbs 16:11 - The Lord wants weights and measures to be honest and every sale to be fair.
Proverbs 20:14 - It’s no good: It’s no good, says the buyer, then off he goes and boasts about his purchase.

2. Defrauding people.
Leviticus 19:13 - Don’t hold back the wages of a hired man overnight.
Colossians 3:22 - Obey your human masters, not only when they are watching you because you want their favor, but do it with a sincere heart in reverence for the Lord.

3. Getting ahead by default.
Romans 13:8 - Let no debt remain outstanding.
Psalm 37:21 - The wicked borrow and do not repay.

4. Depending on luck.
Proverbs 28:20 & 22 - The man who wants to get rich quick will quickly fail. Trying to get rich quick is evil and leads to poverty.
Proverbs 28:19 - He who works his land will have abundant food, but the one who chases fantasies will end in poverty.

5. Dishonoring others.
Proverbs 10:18 - Whoever spreads slander is a fool.

II. The right way to get ahead:

1. Hard work.
Proverbs 14:23 - Hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.

2. Saving and investing.
Proverbs 21:5 - The wise man saves for the future, but the foolish man spends all he can get.
Proverbs 13:11 - Dishonest money dwindles away, but he who gathers little by little makes it grow.

3. Praying.
Matthew 7:11 - If you being evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him.

4. Giving.
Proverbs 11:24-25 - Be generous and you will be prosperous. Help others and you will be helped.

III. Peace of mind while getting ahead:

• Be honest with people.
Proverbs 15:27 & 19:1

• Be honest with the government.
Romans 13:7, Matthew 22:21

• Be honest with God.
MalachI 3:8-10