December 6 2015 Recovering The Hope Of Christmas

RECOVERING THE HOPE OF CHRISTMAS

Isaiah 9:6 - To us a child is born, to us a Son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders.  And He will be called Wonderful Counselor.

FIVE CAUSES OF HOPELESSNESS

1. Disappointment.

Psalm 17:13 - Rise up, O Lord, confront them, bring them down, rescue me from the wicked by your sword.

2. Our mechanical world.

Genesis 2:18 - It is not good for man to be alone, then the Lord God made a woman.

3. The commercial world.

Ecclesiastes 6:10 - Whoever loves money never has enough, whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his     income.  This too is meaningless.

4. The busy world.

Ecclesiastes 4:8 - There was a man all alone. There was no end to his toil, yet his eyes were not content with his wealth.

5. Our artificial world.

Ecclesiastes 6:17 - All his days he eats in darkness, with great frustration, affliction and anger.

SIX WAYS TO RECOVER HOPE

1. Receive Christ into your heart and life.

Galatians 2:20 - I will come in to you and will fellowship with you.

2. Walk with God in obedience.

John 15:5 - Apart from me, you can do nothing.

1 Corinthians 2:9 - Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him.

James 1:22 - Do not merely listen to the Word and so deceive yourselves.  Do what it says.

3. Fellowship with other Christians.

Isaiah 9:6 - To us a child is born, to us a Son is given.

Proverbs 27:9 - Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart and the pleasantness of one’s friends springs from His earnest counsel.

Ecclesiastes 4: 9-10- But they soon forgot what He had done and did not wait for His counsel.

John 11:12 - I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.

Isaiah 28:16 - He that believeth shall not make haste.

4.  Wait on God for guidance.

Psalm 106:13 - But they soon forgot what He had done and did not wait for His counsel.

John 11:12 - I still have many things to say to you but You cannot bear them now.

Isaiah 28:16 - He that believeth shall not make haste.

5.  Accept God’s Will.

Noah

Abraham

The blessing does not come in discovering God’s Will. but in the doing of God’s Will.

Ephesians 6:6 - Do God’s will from the heart.

6.  Recognize God’s presence.

Isaiah 9:6 - A Child is born. A Son is given.

John 14:18 - I will not leave you as orphans.

Psalm 139 - Where can I get away from your presence?  If I go up to Heaven you are there.  Anywhere on earth you are there.  I can’t get away from you.

November 29 2015 Realizing The Heart Of Christmas

REALIZING THE HEART OF CHRISTMAS

Matthew 2:1-10

Five Truths To Remember

1. We must move beyond religious practice.

Matthew 2:2 – We saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.

Verse 6 – Who will be the shepherd of my people.

Matthew 3:7-8 – You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.

2. Our faith must move faith to the heart.

Matthew 2:8 – Herod said..go and make careful search for the child. As soon as you find Him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship Him.

Matthew 15:8 – These people honor me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.

3. We must understand no one is too far away.

Matthew 2:1 – Wise men from the east came to Jerusalem.

4. We must make our surrender real.

Matthew 2:9 -11 – After they had heard the King, they went their way and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star they were overjoyed.  On coming to the house, they saw the child with His mother Mary and they bowed down and worshiped Him.  Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.

5. We must decide to be obedient.

Matthew 2:12 – They returned to their country by another route. They had diving instruction to go a different route.

November 22 2015 Maintaining Thanksgiving Joy

MAINTAINING THANKSGIVING JOY

Philippians 3:1 – Finally my brothers, rejoice in the Lord.

Six Ways To Maintain Thanksgiving Joy

1.  Stop dwelling on past failures.

Philippians 3:13 b - One thing I do is to forget what is behind me and do my best to reach what is ahead.

Isaiah 43:18-19 - Forget what happened in the past and don’t dwell on the events from long ago because I’m going to do something new.

2. Let go of anxieties about the future.

Philippians 4:6 - Don’t worry about anything, instead pray about everything.  Tell God what you need and thank Him for all He has done.

3. Embrace God’s plan for our life.

Philippians 1:21 - For me to live is Christ.

2 Timothy 1:3 - My only purpose in life is to please Him.

Romans 6:13 - Give yourself completely to God, every part of you to be tools in the hands of God to be used for His good purpose.

4. Dwell on the positive facts.

Philippians 4:8 - Fix your thoughts on what is true, honorable and right.  Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable.  Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

5.  Give our lives away to others.

Philippians 4:1 - Dear brothers and sisters, I love you and I long to see you, for you are my joy and the reward of my work.

Philippians 3:21-24 - For me, living means opportunity for Christ, and dying, well, that’s better yet!  But, if living will give me more opportunities to win people to Christ, then I really don’t know which is better, to live or die, sometimes I want to live and at other times I don’t, for I long to go and be with Christ.  How much happier for me then living here, but the fact is, that I can be of more help to you by staying.

6. Learn to be untroubled by circumstances.

Philippians 4:11 - I have learned to be content, whatever the circumstances.

2 Corinthians 11:23 - I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely and been exposed to death again and again.

November 15 2015 The Prayer Of Fulfillment

THE PRAYER OF FULFILLMENT

Matthew 6:13 – For thine is the Kingdom and the power, and the glory forever.

God’s Kingdom is His plan.

God’s Power is His program.

God’s Glory is His purpose.

Romans 11:36 – Everything comes from God alone.  Everything lives by His power, and everything is for His glory.

REAL FULFILLMENT COMES THROUGH

1. Living in God’s Kingdom.

1 Thessalonians 2:1 - You should live in a way that proves you belong to the God who calls you into His Kingdom and glory.

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.

First in your finances.
Interest
Relationships
Schedule
Troubles

2. Live by God’s power.

1 Corinthians 4:20 – For the Kingdom of God is not just fancy talk; it is living by God’s power.

Ephesians 3:20 – By His mighty power at work within us, He is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope.

BY praying.

BY taking a risk.

BY not giving up.

3. Live for God’s glory.

Romans 6:10-11 – Jesus died to defeat sin and now He lives for the glory of God.  So you should consider yourselves dead to sin and able to live for the glory of God through Christ Jesus.

HOW:

• Show love to everybody.

Romans 15:7 – Warmly welcome each other into the Church, just as Christ has warmly welcome you; then God will be glorified. 

• Use your abilities to serve everybody.

1 Peter 4:10-11 – God has given each of you some special abilities; be sure to use them to help each other so that God will be glorified.

• Share the good news about Jesus with everyone.

2 Corinthians 4:15 – As God’s grace brings more and more people to Christ.  God will receive more and more glory!

• You should join the Church.

Ephesians 3:21 – To God be the glory in the Church and in Christ Jesus for all time, forever and ever! Amen

November 1 2015 The Prayer Of Deliverance

THE PRAYER OF DELIVERANCE

Matthew 6:13 – And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

THREE OBSERVATIONS ABOUT TEMPTATION

1. First, remember that temptation is normal.

1 Corinthians 10:13 – Every temptation that comes your way is the kind that normally comes to people.  But, God keeps His promise, and He will not allow you to be tempted beyond your power to resist.  At the time you are tempted He will give you the strength to endure it and so provide you with a way out.

Example:  Joseph

2. Temptation is common.

Hebrews 4:15 – For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way just as we are, yet without sin.

3. Temptation improves our life.

James 1:2-4 – Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.

John 4:4 – Greater is He who is in you, than he who is in the world.

SIX STEPS TOWARD DELIVERANCE

1.    Identify my vulnerability. 

Matthew 26:41 – Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.  The Spirit is willing, but the body is weak.

*When am I most tempted?
*Where am I most tempted?
*Who is with me when I’m most tempted?
*What temporary benefit do I get if I give in?
*How do I feel before I’m tempted?

2. Refuse to let fear take over.

Three ways He works

Ephesians 6:10-11 – Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power, put on the full armor of God so you can take your stand against the devil’s scheme.

3. Quickly turn to God.

Psalm 50:15 – Call to Me when trouble comes, I will save you and you will praise Me.

Daniel

Joseph

Hebrews 4:15-16 – (Jesus) had the same temptations we do, though He never once gave way to them and sinned, so let us come boldly to God and find grace to help us in our time of need.

4. Intentionally refocus your mind.

James 1:14-15 – Temptation is the pull of your own evil thoughts and wishes.  These evil thoughts lead to evil actions.

Be careful how you think, your life is shaped by your thoughts.

5. Enlist a partner.

Ecclesiastes 5:9-10 – Two are better than one, because together if one falls down, the other can help him up.  But if someone is alone and falls, there’s no one to help him.

James 5:16 – Admit your faults to one another and pray for each other, so that you may be healed.

6. Turn from the devil.

Ephesians 5:17 – Accept salvation from God to be your helmet and receive the Word of God to use as a sword.

Example of Jesus

YOU CAN HANDLE TEMPTATION