August 9 2015 Renewing Our Passion For God And Church-Humility's Place In Renewal

RENEWING OUR PASSION FOR GOD AND CHURCH HUMILITY’S PLACE IN RENEWAL

2 Chronicles 34

Intro:

Humility is a strange commodity.  The moment you think you have it, you’ve already lost it.

Josiah – A Picture of Humility

He humbled himself before the Lord. (vs. 1-13)

He humbled himself before God’s Word. (vs. 14-28)

He humbled himself before his people. (vs. 29-33)

I. What is humility?

True humility is knowing where we stand before God.

What clouds the picture of our standing before God?

1. Presumption

2. Comparison

3. Pride

What clears the picture of our standing before God?

1. God’s circumstances

2. God’s Word

3. God’s people

II. What does humility do?

It causes us to:

1. Realize that we are wrong. (v. 19)

2. Repent of that wrong. (v. 19)

3. Reach for the truth. (vs. 21-26)

Humility reveals that we do not have all the answers.

4. Respond with tenderness. (v. 27)

5. Recommit yourself to God before others. (vs. 29-32)

Personal renewal must become public.

6. Remove all hindrances from your life. (v.33)

The result of a renewal of humility?  Consistent Christian living (v.33)

October 14 2012 The Choice Of Reactions

THE CHOICE OF REACTIONS

Matthew 5:5 - Happy are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

I.  Clearing Up The Confusion

• What meekness is not:  Weakness

• What meekness is:  Strength under control

II. When Do I Need To Manage My Reactions?

1. When someone serves you

Be understanding not demanding.

Philippians 2:4-5- Don’t just think about your own affairs, but be interested in others too, and in what they are doing.  Your attitude should be the same as Jesus Christ.

2. When someone disappoints you

Be gentle not judgmental.

Romans 14:1 - Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters.

Galatians 6:1-2 - If a person is trapped in some sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently.  But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.  Carry each other’s burdens.

3. When someone disagrees with you

Be tender withoutsurrender.

Proverbs 15:1 - A gentle answer quiets anger but a harsh word stirs it up.

James 3:16-17 - Wherever there is jealousy or selfish ambition, there will be disorder.  But wisdom from above is pure, peaceful gentle and friendly.

2 Timothy 2:24-25 - The Lord’s servant must not quarrel, those who oppose him, he must gently instruct, in hope that God will give them a change of heart.

4. When someone corrects you

Be teachable not unteachable.

James 1:19 - Let everyone be quick to listen, but slow to use his tongue, and slow to lose his temper.

Proverbs 13:18 - Whoever listens to correction is honored.

5. When someone hurts you

Be an actor not a reactor.

Romans 12:17. 21 - Do not repay evil for evil, overcome evil with good.

Proverbs 16:32 - He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his own spirit, than he who captures a city.

2 Timothy 1:7 - God does not make us timid, instead His spirit fills us with power, love and self control.

Luke 14:33 - So no one can become my disciple without giving up everything for me.

August 22 2010 Practicing God's Kindness Under Pressure

PRACTICING GOD’S KINDNESS UNDER PRESSURE

I Peter 1: 22 – 2:10
I Peter 2:10 – Once you knew very little about God’s
kindness, now your very lives have been changed by it.
LB

Facts about God’s Kindness

1. God’s kindness must be personalized
(Eph. 2:8 – Because of His kindness you have been saved through His kindness.)
(Romans 12:1 – Dear brothers I urge you, in view of God’s mercy, offer yourselves as living sacrifices to God.)
• The Good Samaritan

2. God’s kindness develops the love principle
(I Peter 1:22 – Now you can have real love for everyone because your should have been cleansed from selfishness and hatred, so see to it that you really love each other warmly with all your heart.)
(I Peter 2:1-3 – Get rid of the feeling of hatred. Don’t just pretend to be good, be done with dishonesty and jealousy and talking about others behind their backs, put away evil, deception, envy and fraud. Long to grow up into the fullness of your salvation.)

3. God’s kindness will persevere
( I Peter 2:6 – See I am sending Christ to be the carefully chosen corner stone, and I will never disappoint those who trust in Him. David said – He is my Rock and my fortress my God in Him I take refuge and He only is my salvation. He’s my stronghold and on that Rock I’ll not be greatly shaken.)
(Psalm 62 – When my heart is faint, lead me to the Rock that is higher than I, for You have been my refuge.)
(Isaiah – Trust in the Lord forever for in the Lord we have an everlasting Rock.)

4. God’s kindness must be put into practice
•Find someone to forgive
(Eph 4:32 – Be kind to each other forgiving one
another.)
•Be understanding
(Eph. 4:32 – Be tenderhearted.)
•Supply someone's needs
(Matthew 25:35 – For I was hungry and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in.)
•Be a peacemaker
(Eph. 4:3 – Try always to be at peace with one another.)
(Gal. 6:2 – Share each other’s troubles and problems.)