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)

December 29 2013 God The Promise Keeper

God The Promise Keeper

Psalm 33:4 – For the Word of the Lord is right and true, He is faithful in all He does.

God cannot do wrong. (Deut. 32:4) Just

God cannot lie. (Heb. 6:18) Holy

God cannot break promises. (Num.23:19) Faithful

I. The Greatest Example of God’s Faithfulness:

Joshua 21:45 – Not one of all the Lord’s good promises to the house of Israel failed, everyone was fulfilled!

Deuteronomy 7:9 –He is the faithful God, keeping His covenant to a thousand generations.

Psalm 145:13 – The Lord is faithful to all His promises.

II. God’s Guarantees to you:

1. I can depend on God to forgive your sins.

I John 1:9 –If we freely admit that we have sinned, we find Him reliable and just. He forgives us and makes us thoroughly clean from all that is evil.

2. I can depend on God to give me guidance.

Proverbs 3:5-6 – Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Never rely on what you think you know. Remember the Lord in everything you do, and He will show you the right way.

3. I can depend on God to settle the score.

Romans 12:19 – Dear friends, never avenge yourselves. Leave that to God, for He has said He will repay those who deserve it.

1 Peter 2:23 – Jesus never answered back when insulted. When He suffered, He did not threaten to get even. He left His case in the hands of God who always judges fairly.

4. I can depend on God to reward my generosity.

Luke 6:38 – Give, and it will be given to you, for with the same measure you use, it will be measured to you.

5. I can depend on God to give me a home in Heaven.

1Corinthians 1:8-9 – God guarantees right up to the end that you’ll be counted free from all guilt on that day when He returns. God will surely do this for you.

2 Timothy 1:12 – I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that day.

6. I can depend on God to remember my service.

Hebrews 6:10 – God is not unfair. He will not forget all that you have done, nor the loving labor which you have shown for His sake in looking after fellow Christians.

Romans 10:11 – Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.

Romans 10:13 – Whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

June 2 2013 Five Conditions For Answered Prayer

FIVE CONDITIONS FOR ANSWERED PRAYER

If you meet these conditions you have every right to expect that what you ask for will be answered in prayer.

1. You must  Have an Honest Relationship with God

John 15:7 "If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, you can ask whatever you wish and it will be given to you." 

Three questions on how to evaluate if you  have an honest relationship to God. 

* Do I or have I refused to admit things that I have done wrong in the past?  

1 John 1 /  Psalm 66:18 / Isaiah 59:2

Proverbs 28:13 "He who tries to conceal his sins cannot prosper but he who admits them, confesses them, forsakes them will have mercy."  

1 John 1:8 "If we claim to be without sin, we're just deceiving ourselves.  The truth is not in us.  However, if we confess our sins, He's faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." 

* Am I currently in the present ignoring any of God's principles? 

1 John 3:21-22 "Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us we have confidence before God and we receive from Him anything we ask [That's the promise] because we obey His commands and do what pleases Him.  This is His command: To believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ and to love one another as He has commanded us."  

*  Do I really want God's will for my life?  

1 John 5:14 "This is the assurance we have in approaching God that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us and if we know that He hears us then whatever we ask we know that we have what we've asked of Him." 

2. You must HAVE A FORGIVING ATTITUDE     TOWARD OTHER PEOPLE. 

Mark 11:24-25  "Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you've received it and it will be yours. Condition:  And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him so that your Father in heaven may forgive your sins."  

Hebrews 12:15 (LB) "Watch out that no bitterness take root among you for as it springs up among you it causes deep trouble, hurting many in their spiritual lives." 

1 Peter 3:7 "Husbands, in the same way [just like he's talked to the wives in the previous verses] be considerate as you live with your wives and treat them with respect.... so that nothing will hinder your prayers." 
 
3. You must WILLING TO SHARE THE RESULTS
 
Proverbs 21:13 "If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and not be answered."        

1 John 3:22.   "We receive from Him anything we ask because we obey His commands."   "His commands are believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ ... love one another as He has commanded us."  

1 John 3:17 "If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?"            

James 4:1 "What causes fights and quarrels among you?  Don't they come from your desires that battle within you?  You want something but you don't get it.  You kill and you covet but you can't have what you want.  You quarrel and you fight.  But you have not because you don't ask God...

James 4:3  When you ask you don't receive because you ask with the wrong motive that you  may spend what you get on your own pleasures."         

4. You must______________________________

James 1:5-7 "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God who gives generously to all without finding fault and it will be given to him. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.  That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord.  He's a double-minded man unstable in all he does."  

Mark 9:29 "According to your faith, it will be done unto you."              

Hebrews 11:6 "Without faith it is impossible to please God."

5.  You must_____________________________

Memory Verse: John 14:13 "And I will do whatever you ask in My name so that the Son may bring glory to the Father.  You may ask Me for anything in My name and I will do it."

John 16:24  "You've not asked anything in My name.  Ask and you will receive and your joy will be complete."