March 5 2017 Getting A Grip On Failure

GETTING A GRIP ON FAILURE

Judges 13-16

Judges 13:5 – Tells us Samson was chosen by God “to begin the deliverance of Israel from the hands of the Philistines.”

Three Principles That Bring About A Fall:

1. We are asking for trouble when we fail to learn from our mistakes.

Two Weaknesses

1. Bad temper.

Judges 14:12-19; 15:3-5; 15:7 – Since you have acted like this, I won’s stop until I get my revenge on you.

Verse 11

2. Physical desire.

John 8:34 – I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.

2. We are asking for trouble if we choose the wrong friends.

If you want to soar with the eagles, you can’t run with the turkeys.

Prov. 22:24-25 – Do not make friends with a hot-tempered man, do not associate with one easily angered or you may learn his ways.

3. We are asking for trouble when we refuse to take God seriously.

Two Ways

1. Careless about his spiritual life.

Judges 14:2 – When he returned he said to his father and mother, “I have seen a Philistine woman, now get her for me as my wife.”

2. He never prayed about anything.

Judges 16:28 – O Sovereign Lord remember me, strengthen me just once more.

How To Recover From Failure:

1. He repented and prayed.

Judges 16:22 – The hair on his head began to grow again after it had been shaved.

Hebrews 11:34 – His weakness was turned to strength.

April 3 2016 Why Do I Do What I Don't Want To Do

WHY DO I DO WHAT I DON'T WANT TO DO?

What do you have a hard time controlling?

• My temper
• Spending
• Eating
• My moods
• Drinking
• Sexual desires
• Procrastinating
• Bad habits

1. THE PROBLEM:

Romans 7:15-16, 18 (LB) "My own behavior baffles me. For I find myself doing what I really hate and not doing what I really want to do! I often find that I have the desire to do good, but not the power. I don't accomplish the good I set out to do, and the evil I don't really want to do I find I am always doing!"

Mark 14:37"The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. "

Results: 

• Confusion.
• Frustration.
• Defeat and discouragement

Romans 7:24 It is an agonizing situation. Who can set me free from the prison of this mortal body?

II GOD'S PROMISE:

John 8:22"Jesus said '.., When you know the Truth, the Truth will set you free. 

FACT: Behind every self-defeating behavior is: A LIE THAT I’M BELIEVING

III. THE PRESCRIPTION:

Acknowledge THE ROOT OF MY PROBLEM

“Sin”: "I'M IN CHARGE AND I DON'T NEED GOD."

1 John 1: 8 (LB)"If we say we have no sin we are only fooling ourselves and refusing to accept the truth."

To stop defeating myself, I must stop DECEIVING myself.

John 8:34 (Phillips) Jesus: "Everyone who commits sin is its slave " 

Believe that Christ can change me.

Romans 7:24-25"Who can free me from this prison... " I thank God there is a way out through Jesus Christ our Lord!"

Romans 8:2 (Ph)"For the new spiritual principle of life in Jesus Christ lifts me out of the old vicious circle of sin... "

John 14:6"Jesus said, 'I AM" the Truth!"

Commit ALL I AM TO CHRIST

2 Corinthians 5:17 (LB)"When anyone becomes a Christian, he becomes a brand new person inside. He is not the same anymore. A new life has begun!"

2 Timothy 1: 7"The Spirit God gives us doesn't make us timid,- instead his Spirit fills us with power, love, and SELF CONTROL. "

Stop Trying! Start TRUSTING

2 Corinthians 3:17"Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. '

November 8 2015 Taming My Temper

TAMING MY TEMPER

Wiser Part 4
    
Proverbs 16:32 (LB) It is better to be slow-tempered than famous; it is better to have self control than control an army.  

1. REMEMBER the results

Proverbs 19:22 (LB) "A hot-tempered man ... gets into all kinds of trouble. " 

Proverbs 15:18 (GN) "Hot tempers cause arguments. "

Proverbs 14:29 (GN)   “... anger causes mistakes. "

Proverbs 14:17 (GN) "People with hot tempers do foolish things."

Proverbs  11:29 (LB)  "The fool who provokes his family to anger and resentment will finally have nothing worthwhile left, " 

2. REFLECT before acting

Proverbs 29:11 (NEB)  "A stupid man gives free rein to his anger; a wise man waits and lets it grow cool "

Proverbs 12:16 (GN) "When a fool is annoyed he quickly lets it be known.  Smart people will ignore an insult

Proverbs 19:11 (GN) When someone wrongs you, it is a great Virtue to ignore it. "

Proverbs 17:27 (GN) "People who stay calm have real insight”        

3. RESTRAIN  your remarks

Proverbs 21:23 (GN)"If you want to stay out of trouble, be careful what you say-  "

Proverbs 15:1 (GN) "A gentle answer quiets anger, but a harsh one stirs it up.  "

Galatians 5:22 "The fruit  of the Spirit is ... patience.  "

January 25, 2015 Becoming A Stronger Person

BECOMING A STRONGER PERSON

Hebrews 11:32

Judges 13:24 – The woman gave birth to a boy and named him Samson.  He grew and the Lord blessed him.

Three Things That Will Weaken Your Life

1. Self Indulgence.

Judges 14:1 – Samson went down to Timnah and saw there a young Philistine woman.

Verse 2 – When he returned, he said to his father and mother, I have seen a Philistine woman, not get her for me as my wife.

Verse 3 – His father and mother replied, isn’t there an acceptable woman among your relatives or among your own people?

Galatians 6:7-8 – Don’t be misled, remember that you can’t ignore God and get away with it, a man will always reap just the kind of crop he sows!  If he sows to please his own wrong desires, he will be planting seeds of evil and he will surely reap a harvest of spiritual decay and death.

Lesson One: Strong people discipline their desires.

1 Corinthians 6:12 – I will not be mastered by anything.

Proverbs 25:28 – Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self control.

2. Bitterness.

Judges 14:18 – He was burning with anger.

Judges 15:3 – This time I have a right to get even with the Philistines.

Judges 15:7 – Since you acted like this, I won’t stop until I get my revenge on you.

Judges 15:11 – I merely did to them, what they did to me.

Judges 15:3-5 – I will really harm them.  He went out and caught three hundred foxes and tied them tail to tail in pairs.  He then fastened a torch to every pair of tails, lit the torches and let the foxes loose in the standing grain of the Philistines.  He burned up the shocks and standing grain, together with the vine yards and olive groves.

Judges 15:15 – Finding a fresh jawbone of a donkey, he grabbed it and struck down a thousand men.

Lesson Two: Strong people restrain their reactions.

Proverbs 29:22 – An angry man stirs up dissension and a hot tempered one commits many sins.

Proverbs 11:32 – Better a patient man than a warrior, a man who controls his temper than one who takes a city.

3. Carelessness.

Judges 13:4-5 – See to it that you drink no wine or other fermented drink and that you do not eat anything unclean, no razor shall be used on his head.

Judges 16:7   Verse 11   Verses 13-14

Verse 17 – He told her everything.

Verse 19 – Having put him to sleep on her lap, she called a man to shave off the seven braids of his hair, and his strength left him.

Verse 20 – He did not know that the Lord had left him.

Lesson Three: No one ever plans to be a failure.

Verse 21 – Then the Philistines seized him, gouged out his eyes and took him down to Gaza, binding him with bronze shackles.  They set him to grinding in the prison.

Verse 22 – But the hair on his head began to grow again after it had been shaved.

June 22 2014 Taming My Dragon Of Anger

God On Film: Taming My Dragon Of Anger

FIVE DRAGONS OF ANGER

Ž1. The Raging Dragon (Proverbs 29:11)
Ž
2. The Silent Dragon (Psalm 55:21)
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3. The Passive-Aggressive Dragon (Proverbs 26:18-19)
Ž
4. The Pouty Dragon (Proverbs 29:22)
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5. The Sarcastic Dragon (Matthew 5:22)

Matthew 5:21-22 (Jesus) “You have heard that the law of Moses says, ‘Do not murder. If you commit murder, you are subject to judgment.’ But I say, if you are angry with someone, you are subject to judgment! If you call someone an idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the high council. And if you curse someone, you are in danger of the fires of hell.”

Ecclesiastes 7:9“Don’t be quick-tempered, for anger is the friend of fools.”

HOW TO TAME MY DRAGON OF ANGER

1. IDENTIFY WHAT Triggers MY ANGER.

2. Pause AND Pray WHEN MY TEMPER IS RISING.

James 1:19-20“Be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Your anger can never make things right in God’s sight.”

Proverbs 19:11“People with good sense restrain their anger; they earn esteem by overlooking wrongs.”

Proverbs 13:16 “Wise people think before they act; fools don’t and even brag about it!”

Proverbs 14:29 “Those who control their anger have great understanding; those with a hasty temper will make mistakes.”

3. Repair the damage CAUSED BY MY ANGER.

Proverbs 15:1 “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but harsh words stir up anger.”

Matthew 5:23-26 (Jesus) “So if you are standing before the altar in the Temple, offering a sacrifice to God, and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, leave your sacrifice there beside the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God. Come to terms quickly with your enemy before it is too late and you are dragged into court, handed over to an officer, and thrown in jail. I assure you that you won’t be free again until you have paid the last penny.”

4. RESPOND WITH Love INSTEAD OF ANGER.

Memory Verse: (Jesus) “God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God.” - Matthew 5:9

Romans 12:18-20 “Do your part to live in peace with everyone, as much as possible. Dear friends, never avenge yourselves. Leave that to God. For it is written, ‘I will take vengeance; I will repay those who deserve it,’ says the Lord. Instead, do what the Scriptures say: ‘If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are are thirsty, give them something to drink, and they will be ashamed of what they have done to you.’”