May 15 2016 Managing Life's Rejections

MANAGING LIFE’S REJECTIONS

Proverbs 18:14 - A man’s spirit will endure sickness, but a broken spirit, who can bear?

SIX SYMPTOMS OF REJECTION
1. Easily hurt.
2. Have a fear of failure.
3. Often suspicious of others.
4. Often isolate themselves from others.
5. Feel they have to prove themselves all the time.
6. Difficulty trusting God.

HOW TO RESPOND TO LIFE’S REJECTIONS

1. Release my pain.

Matthew 5:4 – Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Psalm 62:8 – Pour out your heart to God, for He is our refuge.

Psalm 34:18 – The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

2. Receive from others.

Galatians 6:2 – Carry each other’s burdens.  By helping each other with your troubles, you obey the law of Christ.

Hebrews 12:15 – Look after each other so that not one of you will fail to find God’s best blessing.

3. Refuse to be bitter.

Job 21:25 – Some people have no happiness at all; they live and die with a bitter heart.

Hebrews 12:15 – Watch out that no bitterness takes root among you, it causes deep trouble hurting many in their spiritual lives.

The Antidote: 

-Accept what cannot be changed.

Job 11:13, 16 – Reach out to God, then face the world again, firm and courageous.

-Focus on what’s left not what’s lost.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 – No matter what happens always be thankful, for this is God’s will for you.

4. Remember what’s important.

Luke 12:15 – Jesus said life is not measured by how much one owns.

1 Timothy 6:7 – We brought nothing into the world and we can take nothing out of it.

5. Rely on Christ.

Philippians 4:13 – I have learned the secret of being happy at any time in everything that happens.  I can do all things through Christ, because He gives me strength.

HOW?

-Lean on Christ for stability!

Psalm 125:1 – Those who trust in the Lord are steady as Mount Zion, unmoved by any circumstance.

Psalm 112:6-7 – Such a person will not be overthrown by evil circumstances.  God’s constant care of him will make a deep impression on all who see it.  He does not fear bad news, nor live in dread of what may happen.  For he is settled in his mind that God will take care of him.

-Listen to Christ for direction!

Jeremiah 29:11 – I know what I am planning for you, says the Lord.  I have good plans for you, not plans to hurt you.  I will give you hope and a good future.

-Look to Christ for salvation.

Job 2:7 – When I have lost all hope, I once again turn my thoughts to the Lord.

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. '

October 11 2015 The Prayer Of Dependance

The Prayer Of Dependance

Matthew 6:11 – Give us today our daily bread.

Bread Represents

• The Necessities in Life

Psalm 104:25-28

• The Word of God

Deuteronomy 8:3

• God’s Family and Fellowship

1 Corinthians 1:16

• Represents our Salvation

Luke 22:19

Matthew 6:11 – This is how you should pray: Give us today our daily bread.

I. First of all it means: Trusting Him for today.

• Give us today our daily bread.
• James 4:2 – You do not have, because you do not ask God.

HOW DO WE TRUST GOD FOR TODAY?

1. God’s purpose is to give us what we need.

Matthew 7:11 – If you were asked by your son for bread, would you give him a stone/  How much more likely is it that your heavenly Father will give good things to those who ask Him.

EXAMPLES

• Good Company
• Father & Mother

2. God is always our source.

Numbers 16:32 – God is the source of all life.

3. God is always available.

Psalm 53:17 – I will pray morning, noon, and night, pleading aloud with the Lord.

II. Depending on God means: Seeing Him as my source.

A) Give us today our daily bread.

HERE’S HOW

1. Trust Him with all necessities,

Philippians 4:19 – God will supply all you ever need from His glorious resources in Christ Jesus.

2. Look to the Son Jesus.

Romans 8:31 – Since God didn’t spare even His own Son for us, but gave Him up for us all, won’t He also surely give us everything else?

III. Depending on God means: Trusting God’s timing.

A) Give us today our daily bread.

1. We must have faith.

Matthew 6:34 – Don’t be anxious about tomorrow.  God will take care of your tomorrows too.  Live one day at a time.

2. Let God carry the load.

Psalm 68:19 – Praise the Lord who daily bears our burdens.

IV. Finally, depending on God means: Giving God complete control.

A) Give us today our daily bread.

HOW TO GIVE HIM COMPLETE CONTROL

1. Put Him first in your life.

Matthew 6:32-33 – Don’t worry at all about having enough food and clothing, your heavenly Father already knows perfectly well that you need them and He will give them to you if you give Him first place in your life.

2. Be generous in your giving.

• Bible says – Give and it will be given to you.
• It is more blessed to given than to receive.

October 13 2013 Building A Life Of Faith

BUILDING A LIFE OF FAITH

Heb. 11:6 – Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.

FAITH IS...

1.  Believing when I don't see it.
Heb. 11:1 – Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

2.  Obeyingwhen I don't understand it.
Heb. 11:7 – It was by faith that Noah built an ark to save his family from the flood.  He obeyed God, who warned him about something that had never happened before.

Heb. 11-8 – It was faith that made Abraham obey when God called him and go out to a country God had promised to him.  He left his own country without knowing where he was going.

3.  Giving when I don't have it.
Heb. 11:4 – It was faith that made Abel's offering to God a better sacrifice than Cain's.  Through his faith God approved of his giving.

II Cor. 8:2-3 – Because of their great joy, they gave even more than they could afford.

II Cor. 4:6 & 8 – Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, but whoever sows generously will reap generously.  And God will generously provide all you need.  Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.

4.  Persisting when I don't feel like it.
Heb. 11:27 – It was by faith that Moses left Egypt and was not afraid of the King's anger.  He held to his purpose like a man who could see the invisible.

5. Thanking God before I receive it.
Heb. 11:30 – By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days.

Mark 11:24 – When you pray and ask for something, believe that you have received it and you will be given what you ask for.

6. Trusting if I don't get it.
Heb. 11: 39-40 – They were all commended for their faith yet none of them received what had been promised.  God had planned something better.

HOW GOD BUILDS MY FAITH

Rom. 10:17 – Faith comes from hearing the Word of God.

I Peter 1:7 – These trials are only to test your faith, and your faith is far more precious to God than mere gold, it will bring you much praise and honor on the day of His return.

September 1 2013 Trusting God With Our Giants

Giants represent the problems that we face in life.

Examples: 

Wrong relationships with others.
Difficult circumstances.
A defeating habit.
Daily struggle with self image.

God allows giants to come into our pathway to stretch us spiritually.

The Setting Of I Samuel 17

Verses 1, 2, and 3

Verses 4-7

Verses 8-9

Sin is more that a match for you and me.

Sin is not a contest until it is our master.
Verses 10-11

Verse 12

Verses 17, 18, and 19

Verses 20-23

Four Things That Caused David To Handle The Giant

I.  Be convinced of God‘s reality.
Verse 24
Verse 26

Faith looks beyond the problem and sees the power of God.
Verses 28-29

II.  Be confident in the reliability of God.
Verses 31-37

You will never be able to handle the giants until you have learned to handle the lions and the bears.

Two Things About David’s Confidence
• Past victories will give present confidence.

• David did not forget what God had done for him in the past.

III.  Depend on the resources of God.
Verses 38-39

Verse 40

Verses 45-47

IV.  Be sure you are God‘s representative.
Verse 48

Verse 49
You Can Handle The Giants In Your Life!!!