November 17 2013 God's Challenge - Our Choice

GOD’S CHALLENGE – OUR CHOICE

Nehemiah 2:17-19-4:1-9

Nehemiah 2:18 – Let us rise up and build, then they set their hands to this good work.

1. We must build the wall of solution.
II Cor. 12:15 – I will very gladly spend and be spent for your souls.

Math. 28:20 – Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you.

2. We must build the wall of Worship.
John 4:24 – Those who Worship Him must Worship in Spirit and truth.

3. We must build the wall of victorious Christian living.
Acts 15:8-9 – So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us and made no distinction between them and us, purifying their hearts by Faith.

4. We must build the wall of generosity.
II Cor. 8:9 – For you know the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor.

II Cor. 8:8 – I am testing the sincerity of your love by the diligence of others.

5. We must build the wall of determination.
Nehemiah 4:6 – For the people worked with all their heart.

Nehemiah 4:15 – Each returned to his own work on the wall.

Nehemiah 2:20 – The God of heaven Himself will prosper us. Therefore we, His servants will rise and build.

6. We must build the wall of prayer.
Nehemiah 4:9 – But we prayed to our God.

7. We must build the wall of watchfulness.
Nehemiah 4:9 – They posted a guard day and night.

July 11 2010 Handling Life's Pressures

Handling Life's Pressures

(John 2:1-11 - On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus' mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine was gone, Jesus' mother said to him, "They have no more wine." "Dear woman, why do you involve me?" Jesus replied. "My time has not yet come." His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you." Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the jars with water"; so they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, "Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet." They did so, and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside and said, "Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drinkbut you have saved the best till now." This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed at Cana in Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him.)

Without Mary's faith, the compassion and power of God would never have been released into people's lives.

The Steps of Faith

1. Understand the situation
(Verse 3 - When the wine was gone, Jesus' mother said to him, "They have no more wine.")

This is not reality, that our best attempts have not led to God, but to lives where the wine of living has run out.

2. Understand the solution
(Verse 5 - His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you.")

You can go to Jesus with the confidence that His life will always be enough for you.

3. Notice the sufficiency of Christ
(verses 6 & 7 - Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the jars with water"; so they filled them to the brim.)

Lesson - No matter how deeply you draw on Jesus for power to live, you cannot
*Paul
*Peter
*Stephen

4.Enjoy great satisfaction
(Verse 10 - "Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.")

God can be found. He is the resting place you need.