July 31 2016 Accept No Substitutes

ACCEPT NO SUBSTITUTES

Ten Values That Build Strong Families - Part 2

"You shall not make any idols ... you must never bow to an image or worship it in any way." Exodus 20:4-5 (LB)            

TWO PRINCIPLES

I.  DON'T `IDOLIZE' ANYTHING!

"Idolize" - to look to something more than God.

"For your own good ... don't sin by making an idol in any form at all."  Deuteronomy 4:15-16 (GN)
    
Why?

1.  Idols will disappoint me.

"...those who make idols are disillusioned because the gods they make are false and lifeless."    Jeremiah 10:14 (GN)

"What's the use of an idol?  It's only something a man has made.  What good does it do ... to trust it?  Habakkuk 2:18(GN)
    
2.  Idols will dominate me

"... (before you knew Christ) you were controlled by dead idols, who always led you astray."  1 Corinthians 12:2 (GN)

3.  Idols will deform me

"Those who make idols will become like them, and so will those who trust in them." Psalms 115:8 (GN)

"They worshiped worthless things and became worthless themselves." Jeremiah 2:5 (GN)

II.  WORSHIP ONLY GOD!

"Worship" -- to give my highestlove and devotion

"(Many) exchange the truth about God for a lie; they worship and serve what God has created instead of the Creator himself!" Romans 1:25 (GN)

The Benefits of Worshiping Only God

1.  IT WILL DELIGHT ME

"Seek your happiness in the Lord and He will give you your heart's desire.” Psalm 37:4 (GN)

"Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed." Romans 10:11 (GN)
    
2.  IT WILL DELIVERME

Jesus said, "If you obey my teaching ... you will know the truth and the truth will set you free." John 8:31-32

"If the Son sets you free, you will be really free." John 8:36

3.  IT WILLDEVELOP ME.

"As the Spirit of the Lord works with us, we become more and more like Him."      2 Corinthians 3:18b (LB)

"We arrive at maturity -- that measure of development which is meant by `the fullness of Christ.'" Ephesians 4:13-15 (Ph)

"Christ is the visible image of the invisible God." Colossians 1:5

ACCEPT NO SUBSTITUTES

February 28 2016 The Word Of Substitution

THE WORD OF SUBSTITUTION

Matthew 27:39-49

Verse 46 – My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?

What does it Teach Us?

1. That God is Holy.

Revelation 4:5 – Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord God almighty, who was, and is and is to come.

Habakkuk 1:13 – Your eyes are too pure to look on evil, you cannot tolerate wrong.

2. The setting is loneliness.

Hebrews 2:18 – Because He himself suffered being made like His brothers in every way, He is able to help those who are being tempted.

Proverbs 18:24 – But there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother.

3. The cross speaks about lostness.

Verse 46 – Why has Thou forsaken Me?

• Sin alienates.

Isaiah 59:2 – Your evil has separated you from your God and your sins have caused Him to turn away from you, so He does not hear you.

• Sin causes distress.

Psalm 38:4 – My guilt has overwhelmed me like a burden too heavy to bear.

• Sin condemns.

Romans 6:23 – The wages of sin is death.

2 Corinthians 5:21 – He made Him, to be sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.

4. The cross speaks about lessons for living.

Verse 46 – My God, My God.

Job 13:15 – Though He slay Me, yet I will trust in God.

Mark 16:7 – Go tell His disciples and Peter.

How Should We Respond

1. Turn from sin to Christ.

Romans 3:22 – We are mead right in God’s sight when we trust in Jesus Christ to take away our sins.  And we all can be saved in this same way, no matter who we are or what we have done.

2. Live in a state of gratitude.

Romans 5:11 – Now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God, all because of what our Lord Jesus Christ has done for us, making us friends with God.

3. Remember what Christ has done when tempted.

1 Peter 1:18-19 – God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors, He paid for you the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God.

4. Tell others the good news.