The Type of Person God Uses

Text: Luke 1:26-55

God is looking for people to use!

II Chronicles 16:9 “For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him.”

God choose Mary above all other women because she trusted Him!

Mary had fears, but she did not let her fears control her! 

Luke 1:30 “But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God.”

3 THINGS TO BUILD INTO YOUR LIFE TO BE USED BY GOD…

1. God uses people who desire to do His will!

Matthew 6:10 “Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

I Corinthians 3:9 “For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.”

2. God uses people who decide to pay the cost.

3. God uses people who dare to trust His promises.

Hebrews 11:6 “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.”

Seize the Moment

Luke 1:38 Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.”

All of the characters in the Christmas story were given an opportunity and they seized the moment to be used of God!

Recognizing opportunity and having faith in God to seize the moments of life leads to success.

HOW TO SEIZE THE MOMENT AND MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR OPPORTUNITIES…

1. Learn to value your moments of opportunity.

Psalm 68:19 “Blessed be the Lord, who daily loads us with benefits, the God of our salvation!”

Psalm 103:2 “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits…”

2. Be willing to pay the price for success.

Hebrews 11:1 “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”

3. Overcome obstacles and endure hardships.

Hebrews 10:35-36 “Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. 36 For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise…”

God's Providence

Romans 8:28-29 NLT – 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. 29 For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 

1Corinthians 2:8-9 NIV – None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived” the things God has prepared for those who love him.

His perspective differed from others.

1 Samuel 17:25 KJV – And the men of Israel said, Have ye seen this man that is come up? Surely to defy Israel is he come up: and it shall be, that the man who killeth him, the king will enrich him with great riches, and will give him his daughter, and make his father’s house free in Israel.

His methods differed from others.

1 Samuel 17:40 NLT – He picked up five smooth stones from a stream and put them into his shepherd’s bag. Then, armed only with his shepherd’s staff and sling, he started across the valley to fight the Philistine.

His convictions were different.

1 Samuel 17:46 KJV – This day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand . . .

Psalm 96:4 KJV – For the Lord is great, and greatly to be praised: he is to be feared above all gods.

His experiences differed from others.

1 Samuel 17:34-37 NLT – But David persisted. “I have been taking care of my father’s sheep and goats,” he said. “When a lion or a bear comes to steal a lamb from the flock, 35 I go after it with a club and rescue the lamb from its mouth. If the animal turns on me, I catch it by the jaw and club it to death. 36 I have done this to both lions and bears, and I’ll do it to this pagan Philistine, too, for he has defied the armies of the living God! 37 The Lord who rescued me from the claws of the lion and the bear will rescue me from this Philistine!”

Saul finally consented. “All right, go ahead,” he said. “And may the Lord be with you!”

His attitude differed from others.

1 Samuel 17:29 KJV – And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause?

“Be Thankful”

Luke 16:11 “And if you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the TRUE RICHES of heaven?”

1 Thessalonians 5:18 “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

1 Chronicles 29:16 “Everything has come from You; everything belongs to You.”

· Be thankful to God for the grace He has shown you.

Ephesians 2:8 “God saved you by His grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.”

Psalm 103:2-5, 8-11

Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things He does for me.

3He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases.

4He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies.

5He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagle’s!

8The Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.

9He will not constantly accuse us, nor remain angry forever.

10He does not punish us for all our sins; He does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve.

11For His unfailing love toward those who fear Him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth.”

· Be thankful to God for the plans He has for you.

Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”

· Be thankful to God for the home He has prepared for you in heaven.

2 Corinthians 5:1 “For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we

will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God Himself and not by human hands.”

John 14:2-3 “In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”

What will heaven be like?

ü You will be reunited with loved ones who were believers.

ü You will be rewarded for your faith, trust and giving.

ü You will be reassigned new things to do to.

ü You will be released from all pain, fear and stress.

1 Peter 1:4-6 “And God has reserved for His children the priceless gift of eternal life; it is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay.

5And God, in His mighty power, will make sure that you get there safely to receive it because you are trusting Him. It will be yours in that coming last day for all to see.

6So be truly glad!”

· Be thankful to God for the changes He is making in you.

Philippians 2:13 “For God is working IN YOU, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him.”

2 Corinthians 3:18 “And as the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like Him.”

1 Thessalonians 5:18 “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

“Be Content”

Luke 16:11 “And if you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven?”

Philippians 4:12 “I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation...”

Ecclesiastes 6:9 “It is better to be satisfied with what you have than to be always wanting something else.”

The damaging effects of always wanting more:

· Wanting more brings more fatigue.

Proverbs 23:4 “Do not wear yourself out to be rich; have the wisdom to show restraint.”

· Wanting more brings more expense.

Proverbs 14:30 “It’s healthy to be content, but envy will eat you up.”

Philippians 4:19 “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

· Wanting more brings more worry.

· Wanting more brings more conflict.

Proverbs 15:27 “A greedy man brings trouble to his family.”

1 Timothy 6:9 “People who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction.”

· Wanting more brings more dissatisfaction.

Ecclesiastes 5:10 “If you love money, you will never be satisfied; if you long to be rich, you will never get all you want. It is useless.”

Philippians 4:12 “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.”

Learning to be content...

· Stop comparing yourself to others.

2 Corinthians 10:12 “We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise.”

· Enjoy what you do have!

Ecclesiastes 5:19 “If God gives us wealth and property and lets us enjoy them, we should be grateful and enjoy what we have worked for. It is a gift from God.”

· Use what you have to help others.

1 Timothy 6:18 “Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.”

Acts 20:35 “There is more happiness in giving than receiving.”

· Remember life is not about things.

Luke 12:15 “...one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.”

· Focus on what will last forever.

2 Corinthians 4:18 “We fix our attention, not on the things that are seen, but on things that are unseen. What can be seen lasts only for a time; but what cannot be seen lasts forever.”

Luke 16:11 “And if you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven?”

1 Timothy 6:17-19 “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.”

18Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.

19In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.”

· Don’t trust in riches but in Him who richly provides.

1 Timothy 6:17 “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.”

Proverbs 18:11 “The wealth of the rich is their fortified city; they imagine it a wall too high to scale.”

· God and money will always be in competition for your heart!

Matthew 6:24 “…You cannot serve both God and money.”

Luke 12:15 “…for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.”

· The fewer things you want in life the happier you will be!

· You are blessed to be a blessing!

1 Timothy 6:18 “Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.”

· When Jesus taught about money, He always connected it with eternity

Luke 12:16-21 And He told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest.

17He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’

18“Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain.

19And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’

20“But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’

21“This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”

· There is more to life than this life.

1 Timothy 6:19 “In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.”

· The greatest things in life are not things!

Luke 12:34 “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

RUN TO THE ROAR

Luke 24:13 That same day two of Jesus’ followers were walking to the village of Emmaus, seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 As they walked along they were talking about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed these things, Jesus himself suddenly came and began walking with them. 16 But God kept them from recognizing him.

17 He asked them, What are you discussing so intently as you walk along?

They stopped short, sadness written across their faces. 18 Then one of them, Cleopas, replied, You must be the only person in Jerusalem who hasn’t heard about all the things that have happened there the last few days.

19 What things? Jesus asked.

27 Then Jesus took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

28 By this time they were nearing Emmaus and the end of their journey. Jesus acted as if he were going on, 29 but they begged him, Stay the night with us, since it is getting late. So he went home with them. 30 As they sat down to eat, he took the bread and blessed it. Then he broke it and gave it to them. 31 Suddenly, their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And at that moment he disappeared!

32 They said to each other, Didn’t our hearts burn within us as he talked with us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us? 33 And within the hour they were on their way back to Jerusalem. There they found the eleven disciples and the others who had gathered with them…

3. picture of lion

4.Vs 17. “Sadness was written across their faces…”

5.Vs 19 “Jesus was a prophet…”

6.Vs 21 “We had hoped...”

7.Vs 31 “Their eyes were opened…”

8.Vs 33 “…Within the hour they were on their way back to Jerusalem.”

9. REVERSE THE FEAR

10. 2 Timothy 1:7 God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.

11. OLD THINGS IN A NEW WAY

12. I Corinthians 15:58 So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.

13. ACCEPT OUR MISTAKES AND KEEP MOVING

14. Philippians 3:13-14 …I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on…

15. REMEMBER JESUS WALKS WITH US

16. Isaiah 41:10- Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.

17. Reverse the fear

Old things in a new way


Accept your mistakes and keep moving

Remember Jesus walks with u

LIFE’S TOO SHORT...TO WASTE

The Bible compares our life to...

ü Life is as a shadow that disappears - 1 Chronicles 29:15

ü It’s as a cloud that vanishes - Job 7:9

ü It’s as a flower that fades - Job 14:2

ü It’s as a dream that flies away - Job 20:8

ü It’s as a mere breath, as nothing - Psalm 39:5

ü It’s as the wind that passes - Psalm 78:39

ü It’s as a vapor that vanishes - James 4:14

ü It’s as grass that withers - 1 Peter 1:24-25

Psalm 90:12 “Teach us to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”

Mark 8:36 “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life?”

Three undeniable truths about life...

· Life is short.

Psalm 39:5 “Certainly every man at his best state is but a vapor.”

· Life is valuable.

Luke 12:24 “Look at the ravens. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for God feeds them. And you are far more valuable to Him than any birds!”

· Life is uncertain.

Proverbs 27:1 “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.”

Ephesians 5:15-17 “So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. 16 Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. 17 Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.”

· Consider your lifestyle - v.15

· Utilize the present - v.16

· Prioritize what is important - v.17

To make the most of every opportunity...

Þ Live with purpose.

Proverbs 29:18 “Where there is no vison the people perish…”

Þ Live to serve others.

Romans 12:10 “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.”

Þ Live doing your best.

Galatians 6:9 “So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.”

Þ Live for God!

1 Corinthians 15:58 “So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.”

LIFE’S TOO SHORT...TO BE NEGATIVE 

Ephesians 5:15-17 “So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise.

16 Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.

17 Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.”

Proverbs 10:11 “The mouth of a good person is a deep, life-giving well, but the mouth of the wicked is a dark cave of abuse.”

Proverbs 18:21 “Death and life are in the power of the tongue...”

John 10:10b “…I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” ~ Jesus

Proverbs 18:8 “The words of a talebearer are like tasty trifles, and they go down into the inmost body.”

Numbers 13:23,25-33 Then they came to the Valley of Eshcol, and there cut down a branch with one cluster of grapes; they carried it between two of them on a pole. They also brought some of the pomegranates and figs.

25And they returned from spying out the land after forty days.

26Now they departed and came back to Moses and Aaron and all the congregation of the children of Israel in the Wilderness of Paran, at Kadesh; they brought back word to them and to all the congregation, and showed them the fruit of the land.

27Then they told him, and said: “We went to the land where you sent us. It truly flows with milk and honey, and this is its fruit.

28Nevertheless the people who dwell in the land are strong; the cities are fortified and very large; moreover we saw the descendants of Anak there.

29The Amalekites dwell in the land of the South; the Hittites, the Jebusites, and the Amorites dwell in the mountains; and the Canaanites dwell by the sea and along the banks of the Jordan.”

30Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, “Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it.”

31But the men who had gone up with him said, “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we.”

32And they gave the children of Israel a bad report of the land which they had spied out, saying, “The land through which we have gone as spies is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people whom we saw in it are men of great stature.

33There we saw the giants (the descendants of Anak came from the giants); and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight.”

Numbers 13:30 “Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it.”

Number 13:33 “…and we were like grasshoppers in our OWN sight…”

Numbers 14:1 “So all the congregation lifted up their voices and cried, and the people wept that night.”

Numbers 14:2 And all the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron, and whole congregation said to them, “If only we had died in the land of Egypt! Or if only we had died in the wilderness.”

· GOD HEARS EVERY COMPLAINT YOU MAKE AND EVERY NEGATIVE WORD YOU SAY!

Philippians 2:14 “Do all things without complaining and disputing.”

Numbers 14:11-12 Then the Lord said to Moses: “How long will these people reject Me? And how long will they not believe Me, with all the signs which I have performed among them?

12I will strike them with the pestilence and disinherit them, and I will make of you a nation greater and mightier than they.”

1) NEGATIVITY REFLECTS INNER DEFEAT.

Matthew 12:34 “…For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” ~ Jesus

2) NEGATIVITY ALWAYS JUSTIFIES ITSELF.

Proverbs 16:2 “All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes…”

3) NEGATIVITY ISOLATES YOU.

Proverbs 18:1 “A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire…”

3 types of people in your life...

ü Drainers

ü Maintainers

ü Propellers

4) NEGATIVITY DISTORTS THE TRUTH.

Proverbs 12:25 “Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, but a good word makes it glad.”

5) NEGATIVITY MAKES HARSH JUDGMENTS.

John 7:24 “Do not judge according to appearance…” ~ Jesus

1 Samuel 16:7 “For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

6) NEGATIVITY NEGATES THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN YOUR LIFE.

The Secret Kingdom #9

The Law of Miracles

This Law governs the question of God’s willingness to disrupt His natural order to accomplish His purpose.  God expected His followers to do even greater miracles than He did.  John 14:12; Matt 8:10.

Mark 11:22  “Have faith in God”.

Rules of Miracles:

We are to take our eyes off the circumstances and impossibilities.  Look at Joshua and Caleb, and  the 10 other spies report in Numbers 13 and 14.  Also look at 1 Sam 14:1-15, when Jonathan defeated the Philistine camp. We are not to doubt in our hearts.  For miracles to happen through us, God’s will must first be transmitted by the Holy Spirit to our spirits. Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise.  Rom4:20-21.

The voice is very important in relation to miracles.  Mk 4:39; Matt 9:23-24; Lk 7:11-16; Jn 11:34; Mk 9:25; Matt 8:3, 13.

Prayer for Jesus was communing with the Father, listening to the Father, watching the Father.  Insight from the Father unified the heart and mind of His Son.  Then, taking the authority that was His, the Son spoke the Word of the Father.  Jn 5:19, 30; Jn 8:28, 38; Job 42:5.

Miracles begin with the certainty that God is present and that He has a purpose.  Avoid foolishness as you speak about sacred things.

God set forth the major hindrance to the working of miracles in the visible world—resentment and lack of forgiveness.  A principle weapon in the crises we face in the world is Love.   Love operates only in a state of forgiveness and reconciliation.  Miracles are available!  1 Cor 12:8-10.

Matt 13:11—“You are permitted to understand the Secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others are not.  To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge.  But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them.

“Life’s Too Short…to Worry”

Ephesians 5:15-16 “ So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity…”

What is worry? The inner distress over the unknown or the uncontrollable future. 

Worry is future focused. It cannot change or control the future. Worry is negative faith believing the worst will happen.

Jesus told us not to worry! Matthew 6:25-30 

How to keep from worrying. Philippians 4:7

Refuse to worry about anything! Philippians 4:6

Worry is unreasonable. Matthew 6:25

Worry is unnatural. Matthew 6: 26-29

Worry is unhelpful. Matthew 6:27

Worry is unnecessary. Matthew 6:30

Talk to God about everything! Philippians 4:6

Thank God in all things! Philippians 4:6

Think about good things! Philippians 4:8

Be content with anything! Philippians 4:11-12

Develop a system of priorities. Matthew 6:33

Form a strategic PLAN. Matthew 6:34

Do not dwell on your TOMORROWS.

Do not dwell on your YESTERDAYS.

Acknowledge God as your PRESENT HELP in the time of need!

The Secret Kingdom #8

Law of Dominion

Question—What was the one thing that God wanted? What did God truly want from His creation from the beginning until now? The answer can be found in Gen 1:26-27. That was the Lord’s purpose for man, then and now.

At the time of creation, man exercised authority, under God’s sovereignty, over everything.

Man was to rule and subdue, under God’s direction. God did not actually take the dominion away from man. He simply took away man’s access to Him, because of sin. Man still had dominion, but he lost the relationship and understanding necessary to exercise it properly.

Gen 1:29. Man has failed. Heb 2:14-15.

Mark 16:20; 2 Cor 5:20; 2 Cor 6:1…Man is God’s fellow workers.

Matt 28: 18-19—God’s people could move out to accomplish their worldwide task because He had restored man’s dominion under God.

Satan’s strategy is to deceive.

God has given His children the Spirit of power, love and discipline. 2 Tim 1:7.

LIFE’S TOO SHORT

Title: “Life’s too short...Not to Fish”

Ephesians 5:15-17 “So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise.16 Make the most of every opportunity...”

Matthew 4:18-19 And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea; for they were fisherman. 19 Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

1 Corinthians 3:6-7 “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. 7 So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.”

Four characteristics of real fisherman...

· Fisherman have real purpose.

Matthew 9:37-38 He said to His disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. 38 So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask Him to send more workers into His fields.”

· Fisherman have real passion.

Mark 16:15-16 And then He told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone. 16 Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned.”

· Fisherman have real persistence.

Hebrews 10:36 “You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised.”

· Fisherman have real partnership.

John 14:16-17 “And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. 17 He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth.”

Get ready to fish...

ü Target one friend or family member who is not a Christ follower.

ü Pray for them every day.

ü Find ways to bless them.

ü Spend time with them and let them see how you live.

ü Ask the tough questions.

ü Bring them to our church services.

ü Begin to disciple them!

The Secret Kingdom #7

Law of Perseverance

Heb 12:1;  Matt 7:7-8;  Rom 8:18-21

God’s principle of The Law of Perseverance is critical to success in life generally and to the life in the Kingdom of God especially.

Expect trials: Acts 14:21-22; His peace-- Phil 4:6-7;  His presence-- Matt 28:20.

To refuse to struggle is to stand still and stagnate.

Matt 7:7-11.  Keep asking, keep seeking, keep knocking!

You can find an illustration of perseverance in Lk 18: 1-8.

Matt 11:12 shows us something about our attitude toward perseverance.  It does not come easily.

Look at the examples of Jacob, Abraham, and the people of Judah.

Luke 11: 5-8.  Jesus knew men and their tendency to give up quickly, to become inconsistent, and lackadaisical, Yet He pleads with us to persist…in prayer and all aspects of life.

Realize that God knew there would be conflict, pressure and testings.  Remember you have an adversary called satan.  He wants you to become discouraged, and bring depression on you.  But God wants you to persevere and He will make a way possible!

1 Cor 10:13.  God will not let trial or temptation overcome us if we will stand.  He will make a way of victory for us.

Perseverance—word hard to practice it. There are benefits to those who persevere…1 Pet 1:6-7—Faith is genuine.  James 1:2-4, 1:12—Perseverance develops character.  As Christians, we are called to persevere.

September 24, 2017

The Freedom of the Cross

Galatians 6:14 “But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.”

the cross delivers from legalism.

Legalism = “keeping man made rules to obtain righteousness with God and acceptance by men.”  God hates legalism!

Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.”

The cross delivers from false concepts about god.

Your concept of God will determine how you serve Him.

To know what God is like, look at Jesus!

THE CROSS REVEALS A GOD WHO WILL NOT CHANGE.

Hebrews 13:8 “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”

THE CROSS DELIVERS FROM FALSE CONCEPTS ABOUT JESUS.

Colossians 1:15 “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 

The Secret Kingdom #6

Law of Reciprocity

Reciprocity—is from the Latin word—reciprocus—meaning –returning the same way. The definition of reciprocity is: a situation or relationship in which 2 people or groups agree to do something similar for each other…to allow each other to have the same rights.

The Law of Reciprocity is revealed in Luke 6:27-38. God anticipates that His people will be generous. His generosity towards us is to be reflected in our generosity toward others and toward His work.

James 1:5, 17 states that God gives generously to all without reproach.

Eph 2:8-10. Generosity is not demanded in order to be a Christian, but generosity is anticipated because we are Christians, generosity will be reflected through our life.

Ps 37:21, 112:5; Pr 14:21, 31

What has God given you? He has given you all that He is and is seen in His names.

Ps 46;1; Zeph 3:17

What did Jesus do for you?! 1 Pet 3:18-22. Vs 18—Jesus died for your sins. His death was unique, sacrificial, substitutionary, reconciling. Vs 19-20—Jesus declared His victory over the cross. Vs 20-21—Jesus delivers us from judgment.

What does the Holy Spirit do in or lives? The Holy Spirit exalts Jesus, convicts us (Jn 16:7-11), regenerates us (Gal 5:22-23), lives in us (Rom 8:9; 1 Cor 6:19-20, 12:13), seals believers and guides us (Jn 14:16), prompts us to worship (Ps 46:10), empowers us to witness, enables us to understand and apply what is taught in the Word of God (Jn 16:13), and gives life to our mortal bodies (Rom 8:11).

God takes note of how His people live. The manner in which we live our lives reflects who we are and reveals the relationship we have with God Himself. Lk 18:29-30.

It all begins with the receipt of the forgiveness of sin and the acceptance of the sacrifice Jesus has already offered. It continues with living according to His Kingdom principles and laws.

September 17, 2017

Title: “Faith for a Miracle”

Mark 6:34-44 And Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd. So He began to teach them many things. 

35 When the day was now far spent, His disciples came to Him and said, “This is a deserted place, and already the hour Is late. 

36 Send them away, that they may go into the surrounding country and villages and buy themselves bread; for they have nothing to eat.”

37But He answered and said to them, “You give them something to eat.”  And they said to Him, “Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread (half a year’s wage!) and give them something to eat?”

38But He said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.”  And when they found out they said, “Five, and two fish.”

39 Then He commanded them to make them all sit down in groups on the green grass. 

40 So they sat down in ranks, in hundreds and in fifties. 

41 And when He had taken the five loaves and the two fish, He looked up to heaven, blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to His disciples to set before them; and the two fish He divided among them all. 

42 So they all ate and were filled. 

43 And they took up twelve baskets full of fragments and of the fish. 

44 Now those who had eaten the loaves were about five thousand men.

How faith in Jesus turns a little into a lot...

Admit you have an unsolvable

Mark 6:35-37 When the day was now far spent, His disciples came to Him and said, “This is a deserted place, and already the hour Is late. 

36 Send them away, that they may go into the surrounding country and villages and buy themselves bread; for they have nothing to eat.”

37But He answered and said to them, “You give them something to eat.”  And they said to Him, “Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give them something to eat?”

Give God what little you do have.

Mark 6:38 But He said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.”  And when they found out they said, “Five, and two fish.”

Put it all in the hands of Jesus.

Mark 6:41 And when He had taken the five loaves and the two fish, He looked up to heaven, blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to His disciples to set before them; and the two fish He divided among them all.

Expect God to multiply

Mark 6:42-44 So they all ate and were filled. 43 And they took up twelve baskets full of fragments and of the fish. 44 Now those who had eaten the loaves were about five thousand men.

The Secret Kingdom #5

The Law of Use 

We need to understand how important God views our use of what He has given us.

If you are willing to use what He has given you, you will have more.

It you are not willing to use what He has given you, you will lose it.

This applies to all areas of your life: physical, mental, spiritual, financial, emotional, etc.

This is not an instant solution but a long process.

This parable overall warns us that our place and service in

heaven will depend on the faithfulness of our lives and service here on this earth.

A talent represents our abilities, time, resources and opportunities to serve God while on this earth.

We are here to work and do God’s business. Eph 4:7-8 says that, “when He ascended on high, He gave gifts to men”.

It is not the individual’s talent that matters, but what matters is how he uses it.

The Parable tells us that the man who is punished is the man who will not try. The man with 1 talent did not lose his talent, he simply did nothing with it. He did nothing with his abilities, time, resources, and opportunities that God gave him.

Never let fear paralyze you and prevent you from experiencing God’s great reward for you.

September 10, 2017

“Faith to Wait on God”

Ecclesiastes 3:11 “ He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.”

What to remember while waiting on God…

There is a natural delay between planting and harvest. Ecclesiastes 3:15 There is an unseen battle going on. 6:12, Daniel 10:11-13 God is preparing you for His blessing. I Peter 1:6-7 You are in good company when waiting on God. Hebrews 11:2, Deuteronomy 11:2, Psalm 119:33 God always keeps His promises! Habakkuk 2:3

Things to do while waiting on God...

Write the lessons you are learning. Act as though you already have what you want. Imitate the habits that grow strong faith. Trust God instead of panicking!

Faith building habits…

Keep on praying. Matthew 7:7 Keep on serving. Romans 12:11 Keep on sowing. Ecclesiastes 11:6 Keep on believing. II Timothy 3:14

The Secret Kingdom #4

Law of Unity

Unity is the central to the way the world works. It is from the beginning of time. Gen 1:26

Gen 3:22-23. Judgment also flowed from unity.

Matt 6:10 UNITY

The Kingdom of God demands unity. Matt 18:19-20. John 17:20-26—Jesus knew how critical unity was and is.

Unity is powerful for good and for evil. Gen 11:8

Unity must begin with the individual.

You must have internal harmony. Matt 6:32-33.

Internal unity: My thoughts—His thoughts; My desires—His desires; My will—His will.

James 1:6-8.

Matt 12:25. Unity produces strength. Disunity produces weakness.

Jesus knew that the fulfillment of the purposes of God would require unity. Without it, there would be no flow of power to save the world and to perfect the people of God.