November 2 2014 Conquering Loneliness

Conquering Loneliness

Genesis 2:18 – It is not good for man to be alone.

2 Timothy 4:6-21

The Final Days Of Paul’s Life

I. FOUR CAUSES OF LONELINESS

1. The transitions of life. (Vs. 6-8)
…..the time has come for my departure.

2. Separation. (Vs. 9, 21)
Do your best to come to me quickly, do your best to get here before winter.

3. Opposition. (Vs. 14)
(He) did me a great deal of harm, he strongly opposed our message.

4. Rejection. (Vs. 16, 10)
….no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. Demas has deserted me.

II. HOW TO COPE WITH LONELINESS

1. UTILIZE my time. Vs. 12)
…bring my coat, and bring my books.

2. MINIMIZE my hurt. (Vs. 16)
…everyone has deserted me. May it not be held against them.

3. RECOGNIZE God’s presence. (Vs. 17a)
But the Lord stood by my side and gave me strength.

4. EMPHASIZE other’s needs. (Vs. 17b)
….so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it.

October 26 2014 Showing Honor

Showing Honor 

HONOR WHO?

• Parents (Ex. 20:8-9)
• Spouses (Eph. 5:22, 1 Peter 3:1, 7)
• Church Leaders (Heb. 13:17)
• Anyone In Authority (rom. 13:1-7)

I Peter 2:17 – Show proper respect to everyone.

I. Why Treat Everyone With Honor?

1. Because God made them.

Psalm 8:5 – You (God) made man inferior only to yourself; You crowned him with glory and honor.

2. Because Jesus died for them.

1 Peter 1:18-19 – God paid a ransom to save you.  He paid for you with the precious life blood of Christ.

3. Because I personally know God.

1 John 4:8 – If a person isn’t loving and kind, it shows that he doesn’t know God, for God is love.

4. Because I’ll get back what I give.

Galatians 6:7 – A man’s harvest in life will depend entirely on what he sows.

II. How To Show Honor To Others.

1. Accept others unconditionally.

Romans 15:7 – Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.

Romans 12:18 – If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

2. Commit yourself personally.

Romans 12:10 – Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.

Romans 12:5 – In Christ, we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.

3. Encourage others continually.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 – Therefore, encourage one another and build each other up just as in fact, you are doing.

1 Corinthians 13:7 – If you love someone you always believe in him and always expect the best of him.

4. Serve people cheerfully.

1 Peter 4:10 – Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.

Romans 12:13 – Share with God’s people who are in need.  Practice hospitality.

5. Forgive others freely.

Colossians 3:13 – Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another.  Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

6. Share Christ verbally.

1 Peter 3:15-16 – Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.  But, do this with gentleness and respect.

2 Corinthians 5:14 – For Christ’s love compels us.

Conclusion:  Ephesians 3:17-18 – I pray that Christ will be more at home in your heart, living within you as you trust Him. May your roots go deep into the soil of God’s marvelous love, and may you be able to feel and understand how long, wide, deep and high His love really is, and experience this love for yourselves.

October 19 2014 Establishing Stability

Establishing Stability

Psalm 127:2 – It is senseless for you to work so hard from early morning ‘til late at night, God wants His loved ones to get their proper rest.

1. BUILD MY LIFE AROUND CHRIST.

Matthew 6:33 – God will give you all you need from day to day IF you live for Him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern.

2. ACCEPT MY HUMANITY.

Ecclesiates 10:15 – Only someone too stupid to find his way home would wear himself out with work.

Psalm 119:73 – You made my body, Lord; now give me sense to heed your laws.

3. LIMIT MY LABOR.

Exodus 20:9 – You have six days in which to do your work, but the 7th day is to be a day of rest dedicated to Me.

Sabbath means: day of rest,

4. ADJUST MY VALUES.

Ecclesiastes 4:4 – I’ve learned why people work so hard to succeed; it’s because they envy the things their neighbors have.

Mark 8:36 – What good is it for man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?

Ecclesiastes 4:6 – It is better to have only a little, with peace of mind, than be busy all the time.

5. NOURISH MY INNER LIFE.

Song of Solomon 1:6 – I had no time for myself.

Psalm 119:16 – I will not neglect your Word.

Luke 5:15 & 16 – Jesus often slipped away to be alone so He could pray.

6. COMMIT MY SCHEDULE TO GOD.

Psalm 31:15b – My times are in your hands.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 – There is a time and a season for everything under Heaven.

7. ENJOY EACH MOMENT.

Ecclesiastes 3:13 – All of us should enjoy what we have worked for. It’s God’s gift.

Proverbs 14:30 – A relaxed attitude lengthens a man’s life.

Matthew 11:28 & 29 – Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are tired and have heavy loads, and I will give you rest, the load I give you to carry is light.

October 12 2014 Developing Our Confidence

Developing Our Confidence 

Anything I have confidence in more than God is called an idol.

Deuteronomy 4:15-16 – For your own good don’t sin by making an idol in any form.

I. What happens when I put confidence in anything else more than God?

1. I AM disappointed.

Jeremiah 10:14 – Those who make idols are disillusioned.

Hebrews 2:18 – Of what value is an idol?  For he who makes it trusts in his own creation.

Isaiah 44:20 – The poor, deluded fool is trusting something that can give him no help at all.  Yet he cannot bring himself to ask: is this thing, this idol a lie?

2. I AM dominated.

1 Corinthians 12:2 – You were controlled by dead idols, who led you astray.

Psalm 115:8 – Those who make idols end up like them.  So does everyone who trusts them.

3. I AM embracing false religions.

II. Why don’t I have confidence in God?

Because I Don’t really know God.

Psalm 9:10 – Those who know the Lord trust Him.

III. Why should I put all my confidence in God?

1. BECAUSE He always tells the truth.

Hebrews 6:18 – We can completely count on Him, for it is impossible for God to lie.

Romans 3:4 – God will continue to be true even when every person is false.

2. BECAUSE He loves me.

1 John 4:16, 18 – We know how much God loves us, so we have put our trust in Him, because God’s perfect love drives out fear.

3. BECAUSE He’s in control.

Romans 8:28 – And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them.

4. BECAUSE God will help me.

Proverbs 3:5-6 – Trust the Lord with all your heart, and don’t depend on your own understanding.  Remember the Lord in all you do, and He will give you success.

Mark 5:36 – Jesus says: “Don’t be afraid.  Just trust Me.”

October 5 2014 Accepting Our Duty

Accepting Our Duty 

Ephesians 5:15

Three Foes Of Personal Duty

1. The “rights” mentality: “I demand my rights.”

2. The ‘victim’ mentality: “It’s not my fault.”

3. The ‘entitlement’ mentality: “I deserve it.”

Ephesians 5:15 – Live life with a sense of responsibility, not as those who don’t know the meaning of life, but as those who do.

Why Accept Our Duty

• BECAUSE God is watching MY LIFE.

Hebrews 4:13 – Nothing in all the world can be hidden from God. Everything is open before Him and to Him, we must explain the way we have lived.

Romans 14:12 – Each of us will have to give a personal account to God.

• BECAUSE others are effected BY MY LIFE.

1 Corinthians 10:24 – People should be concerned about others and not just about themselves.

• BECAUSE God rewards it.

Dueteronomy 28:2 – You will experience all of God’s Blessings if you obey the Lord.

How To Accept My Duty

• By saving my money.

Proverbs 21:20 – The wise man saves for the future, but the foolish man spends whatever he gets.

Ecclesiastes 7:4 – The fool thinks only about having a good time now.

• By controlling my reactions.

Proverbs 29:11 – A fool expresses all his emotions, but a wise person controls them.

Matthew 12:36 – People will be responsible for every careless word they’ve said.

Romans 12:21 – Don’t let evil get the best of you, but conquer evil by doing good.

• By guarding our minds.

Proverbs 15:14 – A wise person is hungry for truth, while the fool feeds on trash.

• By admitting my mistakes and sins.

Proverbs 28:13 – A man who refuses to admit his mistakes can never be successful. But if he confesses and forsakes them, he gets another chance.

Hosea 4:4 – Don’t point your finger at someone else and try to pass the blame!

Romans 3:23-24 – All of us have fallen short, yet now God declares us ‘not guilty’ if we trust in Jesus Christ, who freely takes away our sins.