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Searching for "because" in the Quiet Time Archive
Displaying results from "50" to "75". (314 found)

2009-06-05 - No one like him - Count Cost (part 2)
Every effort

Must give up everything
God not as concerned about material as your heart
Everything must be under the Lordship of Christ

For all people

Message for all people – young and old
Spoke to the large crowds – Luke 14:25-33

Supreme Concern

Jesus was concerned about the people becoming disciples

Common belief is to believe - Christians vs Disciples

Just because you think are a disciple does not mean you are – Luke 6:46; 7:22-23

2009-06-11 - One Another - Correction Needed

There were a lot of relationship issues that needed to be corrected in first book of Corinthians:

  1. They were divided into cliquish groups - Chapter 1-3
  2. Became arrogant in their relationship with Paul - 1 Corinthians 4:18-19
  3. Lawsuits with each other - Chapter 6
  4. Left their spouses just because they were not Christians - Chapter 7
  5. Offending other's conscience - Chapter 8
  6. Acted insensitively toward the poorer members - Chapter 11
  7. Who had the greatest gift (selfish competition) - Chapter 12-14

 



2009-06-16 - A Life of Impact - Initiative and Authority

Initiative

Mark 1:21

  • Jesus was a self-starter
  • How many great plans fail / talents wasted because of a lack of initiative.
  • What are you pursuing most?

Authority

Mark 1:22-28

  • Jesus allowed people decide for themselves whether they would obey him or not.
  • Not authority structures can be chaotic and can be full of crippling bad attitudes and unresolved conflicts
  • We can allow the misuse of authority by others to hinder or eliminate our proper use of it


2009-06-18 - A Life of Impact - Compassion

Compassion

Mark 1:40-45

  • He did not minister from a safe distance.
  • We can have a powerful and lasting impact on someone else if we willing to go deep.
  • There was no room left in Jesus for fear, disgust, or apprehension.
  • His emotional state was righteous because he did not hesitate to reachout and touch the diseased man.
  • How many of us reach out and pull back abruptly because of fear of personal rejection?

Humility

  • Jesus foresaw His popular curtailing His ability to spread His word.
  • People interested in personal glory don’t usually get very far in enlisting others in their cause.


2009-06-19 - A Life of Impact - Opportunism

Opportunism

Mark 2:1-2

  • Jesus was always ready to make the most of an opportunity because he was always eager to be productive.
  • He did not dread his work and he didn’t procrastinate
  • He was not content to merely existing.
  • To Jesus, life itself was an opportunity, so every event in life was a “once in a lifetime opportunity”
  • If today was your last day, would you be pleased with how you lived it?

Commendation

Mark 2:3-5

  • Jesus notices and rewarded the aggressive faith of these men. He was not offended

Forgiveness

  • The guilt of sin can have a crippling or debilitating effect on even our physical bodies
  • Spiritual and physical health are linked together


2009-06-20 - A Life of Impact - Selfless Authority

Abandon

Mark 2:6-12

  • Jesus didn’t walk on eggshells when he was around those who opposed him.
  • We are often so careful not to offend anyone that no frankness and no power is left our speech.
  • We need to be constantly ready to withstand opposition

Selfless Authority

  • People who seem apologetic about authority they have or hesitate to exercise it are not very impressive
  • Reason: they see it as a means of gaining something for themselves for themselves rather than a means of achieving a goal
  • People that abuse power act the same way as those who do not use
  • Pilate failed because he did not understand why he was in power
  • We should not hesitate to make use of this authority and we should be unashamed
  • How can disciples of Jesus not be bold and assertive? We must be forceful people!


2009-06-21 - A Life of Impact - Focus on the individual

Focus on the individual

Mark 2:13-14

  • Jesus didn’t miss the forest because of the trees
  • We cannot allow ourselves to grow dull to the preciousness of each individual

Acceptance of others

Mark 2:15-17 · Jesus did not seem to worry about ruining his reputation



2009-06-22 - A Life of Impact - Nonconformist

Mark 2:15-17

Nonconformist

  • He challenged popular thinking to inspire them to think again about how they were living.
  • Are you willing to rock the boat?
  • People of impact won’t accept because we have always have do it this way.
  • Every great historic change has been bought by blood or the reputation of non-conformists.
  • People who are unwilling to venture out into unfamiliar territory will never men of impact
  • More difficult for people who feel they have achieved a great deal

Protector

  • Legalism occurs when one values an easy decision over true justice.
  • When Jesus gave direction, he assumed responsibility for their actions
  • Jesus stood up for his disciples.
  • They probably felt very safe around Him (love always protects)
  • Without protection, insecurity can be seen more and in the “Me” generation.

Challenger

  • To say that Jesus quietly and humbly pointed out their wrongs would be inaccurate
  • He didn’t go after their ego, he went straight to the heart.


2009-06-28 - A Life of Impact - Discernment and Productivity

Discernment

Mark 4:14-20

  • We are not to pronounce judgment but announce His judgment.
  • Types of people at work:
    • Non-ambitious - Putting in their time, staying out of trouble, receiving a paycheck
    • Overly ambitious – position only a stepping stone, self and not the organization
    • Employees that just want to an excellent job – may turn bitter after a while because of others around them.
    • Those who hold to their ideas and maintain an “all for one and one for all” attitude – will produce beyond own expectations

Productivity

  • Jesus was concerned with people’s spiritual productivity
  • Apple seed – would you expect one apple from an apple tree? No hundreds each year


2009-07-04 - A Life of Impact - Amazing Speech

Amazing Speech

Mark 6:1-6

Suspicions and fear can evaporate because of love and openness

1. Deep Conviction

  • Listeners who put his words into practice were wise
  • How convicted are you about what you’ll be saying?
  • Think about what to say instead of how it will come across

2. Passion - If the speaker isn’t moved by the message, how can he expect it to move anyone else?

3. Integrity - Speaker must take plank out of their own eye before one can challenge other on the same topic

4. Person to person

  • Speak at their level mean not “to talk down to” or “to talk up to” an audience.
  • Apologizing without reason, belittles himself
  • Jesus was above us, but he came down to our level

5. Inspirational

  • Conservative and low-key he will have no impact
  • We all want our lives to count for something

6. Practical

  • Message must be practical and applicable
  • He specifically addressed the sins in their lives
  • He gave them direction, and at times He told them exactly what to do

7. Meet the Need - Out of touch with the needs on the audience can actually make things worst then they are.



2009-07-06 - A Life of Impact - Forcefulness

The Sending

Mark 6:7-13

  • He gave them very specific instructions
  • He taught them how much they needed encouragement, accountability, and support.
  • It is the responsibility of the sender to ensure that those sent on a mission be adequately prepared for it.
  • An unprepared person who is sent can gather discouragement more than victories.

Forcefulness

  • Forceful leader gives specific direction and then fully expects his followers to carry them out.
  • Jesus did not apologize for strong leadership; he promoted it
  • Strong leadership is offensive to many these days
  • People resist because of pride or because they simply do not want other to tell them what to do.


2009-07-21 - A Life of Impact - Magnetism

Magnetism

Mark 9:14-29

  • Why? Magnetism came from only prayer.
  • Magnetism: an attracting force on the level of the soul, which produces deep bonding and enduring loyalty.

Frustration

  • Jesus expressed frustration regarding the continuing unbelief of the people.
  • Closest disciples even needed him the bolster their faith.
  • He was frustrated because their unbelief blocked the power of God.
  • Jesus did not lock his frustration up inside.
  • Dealing with frustration – stuffer = out of mind; slammers = fly off the handle – neither are good


2009-08-04 - A Life of Impact - Higher Plain

Higher Plain

Mark 12:13-17

  • Jesus was not deceived by flattery.
  • He spoke openly about their attempt to trap him.
  • Jesus amazed them by a simple spiritual perspective on religiously complex issues.

Unity

  • Unity is achieved as God’s people strive together to attain God’s thinking on all of life’s issues.
  • People willing to deny themselves accept their Creator’s thinking above their own opinion will achieve the closeness no one has ever seen
  • God’s plan for diversity and unity complement each other.
  • Plurality of denominations exists because men and women have not obeyed the scripture.
  • Common goaled minded people produce unity.

Contentedness

  • People don’t trust someone whom they suspect to be greedy or overindulgent.
  • A greedy man stirs up dissension.


2009-08-11 - A Life of Impact - Connections

Connections

Mark 14:12-16

  • Sometimes it is not what you know but who you know.
  • If you don’t have many connections, this is probably because you are not a friendly person or influential people intimate you.


2009-08-12 - A Life of Impact - Unconditional Love

Unconditional Love

Mark 14:17-26

  • Jesus knew yet did not treat Judas any different than he treated the other eleven.
  • Conditional love puts an unbearable strain on relationships
  • Unconditional gives security, wipes away fear, builds confidence, adds hope, teaches perseverance, and erases discouragement and doubt.
  • The key is not to love if or because of, but to love in spite of. In-spite-of love cannot fail to make a lasting impact.

The Memorial

  • Jesus died for us as individuals
  • It is the forgiveness of sins, my sins.
  • People need frequent reminders
  • We soon forget what is important.
  • The activities of life so easily distract us and we so quickly lose our convictions.


2009-09-04 - Wild at Heart - Fathers wound
Divorce and abandonment - believes if they would have done better than daddy would have stayed
Father’s silence - men become passive, doubt they are a man

Most men who are living in falsehood have this kind of wound - arrows are deep and produces:
  • Perfectionism
  • Nice guys - pushovers
  • Violent
  • Passive

Can not marry because they are uncertain of themselves
Drifting, deeply insecure, and loaded with-hatred

2009-09-05 - Wild at Heart - Battle for a mans heart (part 1)
Jesus told us to turn the other cheek. We can not turn a cheek we do not have. Church full of such men
Many have their soul hanging in the balance because no one invited them to be dangerous and to know their own strength or to discover they have what it takes
I feel like I have to ask for permission
Nearly every blow ends up falling in the same place - against our strength
Life takes one vertebra at a time until he has no spine at all

Boy are 3-4 times more likely to be diagnosed as suffering from ADD
Society teaches to be a nice guy -– to be soft
Women are often attracted to wilder men, but once have caught him they settle down to task of domesticating him

How do I get my husband to come alive? Invite him to be dangerous
Women don’t start wars
Violent crimes aren’t really committed by women.
Our prisons aren’t filled with women

2009-09-10 - Wild at Heart - False self (part 1)
Place of our woundedness we construct a false self
People can shutdown their heart and focus on what they are good at - Spock like
Can become a perfectionist
An impostor - don’t ever be your real self anymore because nobody likes you as you are
As a defense against pain
It becomes OUR plan for salvation - will fail time and time again until we give up

God must take it away
Those plans to protect and save us will actually destroy us - leads to death  - Proverbs 16:25
Seems right to shield ourselves from pain and to save a little love

There is a critical point in every man’s life
True test of a man is when he starts to longer rely on what he’s used all his life
Not women want a man that just exists

2009-09-11 - Wild at Heart - False self (part 2)
Enemy always tempts us to take back control and to recover and rebuild false self
We must remember that it is out of love God stops our imposter
God disciplines those he loves, do not lose heart - Hebrews 12:5-6
We must walk away from the false self
Simply accept the invitation to leave all that we’ve relied on and venture out with God

No clue to what your false self may be?
  • What is my effect on you?
  • What am I like to with?
  • What don’t you feel free to bring up with me?
If you never ever say a word in a meeting because you fear you might say something stupid, well then it’s time to speak up
If you dominate meetings - sense of worth
Do you face fears head on?

Losing false self is painful
Like losing a close friend
Journey has pain but is toward freedom, healing, and authenticity

2009-09-18 - Wild at Heart - Healing the wound (part 4)
Forgiveness is a choice
Do not wait for the feeling of wanting to forgive because it will not come
Not “It didn’t matter” and “I probably reserved it”
“It was wrong, it mattered, and I release you”

Masculinity is passed from father to son
Adam, Abraham, Jacob, David leaned who they were out of their intimacy with God the Father

New heart and put a new spirit in you - Romans 8:1
What God sees when he see you is the real you, the true you, the man he had in mind when he made you
You must ask God what he thinks of you, and you must stay with the question until you have an answer
Last thing the Evil One wants you to

2009-09-19 - Wild at Heart - Healing the wound (part 5)
Until we are broken, our life will be self-centered, self-reliant, our strength will be our own.
So long as you think you are really something in and of yourself, what will you need God for?
Think of the poser you know – are they the kind of man you would call 2am, when life is collapsing around you?

Where a man’s wound is, that is where his genius will be.
Because the wound was given in the place of your true strength
Out of your brokenness that you discover what you have to offer the community
When we begin to offer not merely our gifts but our true selves, that is when we become powerful
That is when we are ready for battle

2009-09-23 - Wild at Heart - The Enemy (part 4)
The world is a carnival of counterfeits, counterfeit battles. Counterfeit adventures, counterfeit beauties
Men should think of it as a corruption of their strength
Battle your way to the top says the world and you will be a man

World give a false sense of security
  • Where does your sense of power come from?
  • Is it your position?
Look to be the servant of all
Want to know how the world really feels about you – start living out your true strength
Say what you think, stand for the underdog, challenge foolish polices
Many of us have actually been afraid to let our strength show up because the world doesn’t have a place for it

2009-10-03 - One Another - Responsibility for one another
Two extremes:
  1. Mind your own business - can gravitate to this view because of our own conform
  • Can become busybodies instead - 2 Thessalonians 3:11
  • Can become lazy - 1 Timothy 5:13
  • Offering guidance, instructions, cautions, warnings, or sometimes stronger - all part of being faithful in our relationships
  1. Judge not and you will not be judged
  • Jesus is condemning self-righteous judging
  • For those unwilling to examine the issue in their own lives
  • Must care enough about each other to help each other to grow


2009-10-10 - Wild at Heart - The Strategy (part 3)
2. Intimidation

Our condition may become normal to use after a while - depression
If you pray and fight against – It will get worse.
Once the Enemy is discovered, he usually does not just roll over and die.
Jesus says get tough and resist the onslaught

Next level Satan tries intimidation and fear
He wants you to agree with intimidation because he fears you
Fighting back, he will lose – Resist the devil and he will flee – James 4:7

Why do so many pastor’s kids go off the deep end?
Evil One is trying to an old tactic – strike first and maybe the opposition will run
He can’t win, you know

God is with us
“As I was with Moses, so I will be with you” – Joshua 1:5
The Lord is a warrior, the Lord is his name – Exodus 15:3

How did Jesus win the battle against Satan? God was with him
Doesn’t simply mean that he’ll be around - he will fight for us
Satan is trying to appeal to the traitor’s commitment to self-preservation when he uses fear and intimidation.
So as long as we are back in the old story of saving our skin, looking out for Number One, those tactics will work.

Become a warrior
The most dangerous man on earth is the man who has reckoned with his own death.
All men die, few men ever really live.

2009-10-17 - Wild at Heart - Offering our Strength (part 3)
She needs God more than she needs you
You need him more than you need her

You do not love her to get a good grade, you love her because that is what you are made to do

Ruth: How does a good woman help her man to play the man? Arouse him to be a man
Boaz offers her some protection and some food, but what Ruth really want was a ring

Four options:
  1. Badger him - Why don’t you stand up and be a man?
  2. Whine about it - Hurry up and marry me!!
  3. Emasculate him - I thought you were a real man
  4. Inspire and energize him
Ask men what they would prefer

Will you fight for her?

Stop being a nice guy and act like a warrior
Pray for her like you never prayer for her before, OUT LOUD
Step between her and the forces of darkness

Not just once (some will do it 1,2, or 3 times)
Man can only be justified by the measure of his sacrifice

2009-10-18 - Wild at Heart - An adventure to live (part 1)
A man just won’t be happy until he’s got adventure in his work, in love and in his spiritual life
God is intimately personal with us and he speaks in ways that are peculiar to our own quirky hearts – not just through
the Bible, but through the whole creation

Don’t ask yourself what does the world need. Ask yourself what make you come alive and go do that because what the world needs is people who have come alive
I realized I was living a script written for me by someone else
To go where the world takes us, to drift with whatever current happens to be running the strongest

What would have happened if Moses had listed to his mother’s advice, “never play with matches”?
Paul didn’t leave his familiar group of Pharisees?
God took a big risk in making the world

2009-10-19 - Wild at Heart - An adventure to live (part 2)
Most spend the energy of their lives trying to eliminate risk
Their children hear “no” far more than they hear “yes”
If a man succeeds in securing his life against all risk, he will wind up in a cocoon of self-protection and wonder why he is suffocating
Seizing upon some sort of competence and rejecting anything that cannot be controlled

This a refusal to trust God and reach out for control – runs deep in every man
False self’s desire is to have power over experience – to control events and consequences - Mark 8:36

Too may men forsake their dreams because they aren’t willing to risk or fear they aren’t up to the challenge or are never told that those desire of the heart are good

Soul of a man isn’t made for controlling things
His job is charter to explore, build, conquer, and care for all creation
If you had permission to do what you really wanted to do, what would you do?

"How" is a faithless question – How is God’s department… Ask "what"
What is written on your heart?
What make you come alive?
Don’t ask yourself what does the world need. Ask yourself what make you come alive and go do that because what the world needs is people who have come alive

I’ve met men who’ve used advice like it was permission
They are deceived about what they really want
Goal of Christian discipleship is the transformed heart
We move from boy who needs the Law to the man who is able to live by the Spirit of the Law
Live freely, animated and motivated by God’s Spirit then you won’t feed on compulsion or selfishness

2009-11-26 - Master Plan - Association (part 2)
  • Reasons for departures:
    • Oppositions from Pharisees
    • Hostility of Herod
    • Jesus wanted to be with disciples without distractions
  • In Gethsemane, disciples were only a stone’s throw away - Luke 22:41
    • Family: near each other in a time of departure
  • Every minute cherished because the growing realization of He would be with them no more
  • He spent more time with His disciples than with everyone else put together.
    • Ate with them
    • Slept with them
    • Talked with them
    • Walked with them
    • Prayed with them
    • Worshiped with them
  • Ministering to the mass – disciples learned the lessons and then got an explanation afterwards
  • Jesus had little time to call His own
  • Only exceptions was when He kept to His own personal devotions with interruptions - Mark 46-48
  • He wanted to be with them
  • They were His spiritual children


2009-12-24 - First the Kingdom - Key to everything else
The first beatitude is the key to whole sermon on the mount

By ourselves we can not live out the sermon - we need help from God
  • We can not be convicted enough
  • Can not be committed enough
  • Can not be determined enough
Lessons always lead back to this beatitude again and again
  • You will fail to have a pure heart and not forgive
  • Struggle to love your enemy
  • You will lash back because you can not turn the other cheek
  • You will be self-righteous and judge others
  • You will get anxious
God does nothing less but give the entire kingdom to a bunch of beggars - just have to admit you are one

Does this describe you?
Would God describe you this way?

2009-12-26 - First the Kingdom - Mourning Misunderstandings
Two extremes to mourning:

1. Mournful mourning
  • Self-centered - woe-is-me
  • We shield ourselves from God's grace
  • Focused on our own unworthiness
2. Matter-of-fact mourning
  • Qualifies as mourning because the mourner defines it as such
  • Brokenness is missing
  • God is looking for a broken and contrite heart - Psalms 51:17
The cross is the center point within the extremes

We will have to face the mourning someday - it is be now and God's way or it will be later and God's way

Are you postponing?

Are you ignoring?

2009-12-31 - First the Kingdom - Mercy
Mercy is treating others as God has treated us

As Christians, we can become numb to the cries of others

Because of increased wickedness the love of most will grow cold but he stands firm to the end will be saved - Matthew 24:12-13
Has our love grown cold?
Why do we feel so little mercy?
Why don't we feel for others?

Feeling what they feel - that is really what mercy is all about
Not merciful or forgiving because we get focused on ourselves and how we feel
We need to forgive so our sins can be forgiven and we can be healed - Luke 6:37

Mercy also comes in the form of understanding and compassion
Jesus had mercy for the blind beggar - "Jesus, have mercy on me" = Luke 18:35-43

2010-01-06 - Kingdom First - At War
Blessed are those who are persecuted - Matthew 5:10-12

Persecution must come and will come to every person who want to live a godly life - 2 Timothy 3:12

Persecution must come because we are war Satan

Jesus: I did not come to bring peace but a sword - Matthew 10:34
He knew that life mean war

Knowing that life means war will not make us glad but it will make us ready

2010-01-07 - Kingdom First - Blessing of Persecution
Matthew 5:10-12 - Describes 3 types of blessing that come from persecution:

1. Kingdom of Heaven

Testing refines our faith and proves it to be genuine - 1 Peter 1:6-7
Faith, by definition, is all weather

2. Reward in Heaven
Because of Christ blood, he keeps no records of wrong
He is keeping a record of rights
He will not forget your work and the love you have shown him - Hebrews 6:10

3. Prophets before you

Persecution and suffering means pain but also means glory
Glory - Comes from in realizing we walk in the company of the glorious
They endured the exact same things
We are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses - Hebrews 12

2010-01-17 - Kingdom First - Not Kidding
His challenge to love our enemies and pray for our persecutors
His message totally defies world standards

Consider the alternative: responding like the world
We become enslaved by how other treat us

Regardless how much we love the brotherhood of believers, if we hold any bitterness or resentment - we are simply reduced to the level of the world
No matter how unjust or painful the treatment, God's grace is sufficient - 2 Corinthians 12:7-9

He expects us to have
Because he call to a life of righteousness which will produce enemies
Are we willing to go all the way and suffer for him - Philippians 1:29

He expects us to love and actively pray for the people who oppose us
How much do we persevere with people?
Do we answer back kindly when spoken to unjustly?

2010-01-18 - Kingdom First - Giving in Secret
Giving should be done without even our closest friends and family knowing - Matthew 6:1-4
God blesses are many time unknown or unseen to many people
He gives because he wants to

Are you content when no one sees your sacrifice?
Do you give without wanting anything in return?

Jesus' life was full of sacrifical giving and he expects us to do likewise
  • Lift up widow for giving out of her poverty - Luke 21:1-4
  • He challenges the rich young man to sell everything - Matthew 19:21
  • God loved us so much, he gave up his only son - John 3:16
Giving must be a decision we make - do it joyfully

God loves a cheerful giver - 2 Corinthians 9:7

2010-01-22 - Kingdom First - Hungry and Humility (part 1)
Not "If you fast" but "When you fast" - Matthew 6:16-18

Quickest way to a man's heart is  through his stomach

Greek word for fasting is nesteno
ne = a negative prefix
esthio = to eat

When was the last time you fasted?

Why don't we fast more?

1. Fasting humbles us because it reminds us how frail we are

I have humbled myself with fasting - Psalms 35:15
It is associated with confession and repentance of sin

2. Fasting tests our earnestness to move God to action
Forcing us to admit that sometimes prayer alone may not suffice - Mark 9:29

Jesus talks about motivation for fasting
We must surpass the righteous of the Pharisees and fast for God and not men - Matthew 5:20
God asks the people "was it really for me that you fasted?" - Zechariah 7:5

2010-01-24 - Kingdom First - Wise Investing

Jesus is not interested in our obedience outwardly without having our hearts set on heaven
All the ancient were longing for a better country

Living a Christian life is more than living up to a standard of behavior
Meant to ask deeper questions of motivation and heart with an understanding a heart properly movtivated - actions will follow

We should develop a heart that does not store treasures in heaven
Jesus makes a case that does not make sense to store up treasures here because they will not even last here - Matthew 6:19-21

No moth, no rust, no thief, not even Satan himself can diminish our treasure in heaven
It is an incredible freeing feeling to let go of the "treasure" here on earth

Will you miss services to get overtime in?
Do your children see a joyful parent excited about the kingdom of God?

Invest all you have and all you are - Romans 12:1

 



2010-02-12 - First the Kingdom - Expectations
1. Jesus promised to judge us at the last day by his words - John 12:48
Ignorance is anything but bliss
Reliance on the teaching of the religious is dangerous

2. Jesus intends for us to act on his words once we have heard them
Knowing without doing is worse than not knowing in the first place - Luke 12:47-48
To hear the Word without obey is to be self-deceived - James 1:22-25

3. Storms of life are a reality
Disciples will in one way will have more storms because the persecution they face

4. The type of value system we have will be revealed
It will be revealed via the storms we face - our foundation (faith) will be tested - 1 Corinthians 3:11

2010-02-20 - One Another - Spurring One Another (part 2)
Because of our great blessings with Christ, we can not take this fellowship lightly

Must pursue it with greater vigor - Hebrews 10:24-31
There is great seriousness in this matter

paroxusmos - Greek word, translates word:
  • NIV = spur on
  • KJV = provoke
  • CSB - promote
  • NASB - stimulate
Greek lexicon:
  1. Stirring up, provoking - only used here in the NT
  2. irritation, sharp disagreement - only Acts 15:39
  3. Attack of high fever - not in NT
Not a "nice" word but aggressive word in Webster's transliteration:
  1. Sudden violent outburst
  2. Fit of violent action or emotion
  3. A severe medically attack
How do we accomplish the "spurring on"?
Must be done with thought and with their needs in mind - not one size fits all
Must be done with end result to result being love and good deeds

  • Pray for their needs and let them know that you are
  • Share scripture that you believe will be relevant
  • When they share struggles - ask them about it consistently
  • Do not be afraid to give someone a bold challenge


2010-03-10 - To Live is Christ - Having the Same Love

Paul wanted to remind the Philippians of the blessings of their relationship with Jesus - Philippians 2:1-4
He called them to "be like-minded, having the same love" for each other

By this all men will know we are Jesus' disciple by our love - John 13:35

"Sharing in the common life" ws his heartfelt vision for them

He applealed to them to be one to initiate this kind of love
To love like Jesus is to love first
We love because he first loved us - 1 John 4:19
God did not wait for us to initiate and get an attitude because we didn't

It is not natural to love this way
Jesus does not ask of us something he did not do or something we cannot do

Will we trust the message he lived and taught?
Will we be the kind of friend to others that he has been to us?



2010-03-11 - To Live is Christ - Just Like Christ

In the midst of the discussion about unity, Paul continues by talking about having the mind of Jesus - Philippians 2:5-8

The only way to have unity is to be like Jesus

We were called to follow in his steps - 1 Peter 2:21

Jesus willingly because a servant
Greek literally says, "he emptied himself"'

  • He poured out his diviniy for us
  • He gave up his rights
  • Jesus was not just playing a role, he was showing us the depths of this heart

Jesus came not to be served but to serve - Matthew 20:28

 



2010-03-20 - To Live is Christ - Enemies of the Cross
The acceptance of Jesus leads to joy and not to be naive - Philippians 3:17-21
Be thankful but still have our eyes wide open

The cross stands as a constant reminder of the battle between good and evil
Jesus did not just hang out at the cross - HE DIED there because of his enemies
And the war goes on

To act as though we do could do enough to earn salvation - undermines Jesus' sacrifice
To act as though grace is a license for sin - undermines the purpose of the cross - Romans 6:17

Enemies of the cross = people with minds on earthly things

Philippians had a unique blessing of having Roman citizenship outside of Rome
Our real home country is heaven and our loyalty is to the King of Kings

2010-03-23 - To Live is Christ - Anxious About Nothing

Paul urges them to be anxious and worried about nothing and to pray about everything because God is in control - Philippians 4:6-7

Peace never comes without surrender
Surrender never comes without a decision to trust

Something instead of dealing with our emotions, we try an avoidance pattern
Adam and Eve hid from God and themselves

We must be in touch with happens to others and ourselves
It is why we must consistently and unashamedly pray about all aspects of our lives
It is not just for some - it is normal experience - just people deciding to trust God in every situation

Guard (a garrison of angel are available to help) our hearts - Satan wants us to trust ourselves and to doubt our God
Our own thoughts are not always the truth

How challenging to turn everything over to God. Yet, how foolish not to!

 



2010-03-25 - To Live is Christ - Learned to be Content
The secret of being content in any situations is to remember - I can do everything through him who gives me strength - Philippians 4:10-13

Content = Greek word autarkeia = self-sufficiency or not needing a thing

Secret he learned was not because he choose not to care

He learned it by:
  • Listening to Christ everyday
  • Holding on to his faith in the fiery trails
  • Slowly and painfully
Paul did not raise from baptism knowing this, he came out of the waters ready to learn it
At one point - bad circumstances led him to despair of life itself - 2 Corinthians 1:8

What circumstances are in your life right now that could lead to a lack of contentment?


2010-04-12 - Life to the Full - Macho Mist (part 2)
Spiritual adultery - How easy it is to flirt with the world if we fail to guard our hearts - Proverbs 4:23
In Jewish law, adultery is grounds for divorce

The Spirit cause to live within us envies intensely - James 3:5

The nature of God: He will tolerate no rivals for his love
God is a jealous God - Exodus 34:14

One of the quoted OT verse in the the NT is about pride - Proverbs 3:34
Much of the pride mention in the NT is bad: Pride goes before the fall - Proverbs 16:18
Pride mentioned in the NT is usually good: I take great pride in you - 2 Corinthians 7:4
It depends on where the pride is rooted and the attitude behind it

If you feel ineffective, frustrated, unproductive, opposed - it might be because God is opposing you because of your pride
He is trying to get your attention so you will turn back to him

2010-04-14 - Life to the Full - Got to Pray (part 2)
James 5:7-11 - Addresses patience in peace and in suffering

Two examples of patience in suffering:
  • The prophets - Suffered because they were opposed by the religious
  • Job - Maintained his integrity despite not understanding why he was suffering
James 5:12-13 - what is meant by "do not swear"
Jewish were very fond of oath-taking - Matthew 5:33-37
James may have been referring to rash oath-taking - Ecclesiastes 5:4-7

Rather than swearing (v12), we should pray (v13)
No true disciple should need to take an oath since we must be men and women of our word
Simply let our yes be yes and our no be no

2010-04-19 - Life to the Full - In His Steps (part 2)

Disciples are priests and ministers in function - using the righteousness of Jesus - 1 Peter 2:4-6

Preist, by definition, is holier than the common man

The clergy-laity system is flawed because of there reasons:

  • It is elitiest
  • Fosters a double-standard
  • It is unbiblical

Consider today's denominational titles:

  • Father - Jesus said to avoid this title - Matthew 23:9
  • Pope - means father; Peter was suppose to the first one but he never claimed that he was
  • Paster - Latin for shepard; refered only in - Ephesians 4:11
  • Bishop - Greek for overseer
  • Priest - corruption of the Greek presbyteros, meaning elder
  • Female pasters - Roundly rejected by the NT; See 1 Timothy 3 and 1 Corinthians 14
  • Monks and Nuns - created in the 2nd and 3rd centuries; Jesus said we are in the world but not of the world

 



2010-04-28 - Heart of Maturity (Motivation of Maturing)

Preached by John Lusk (2005-01-30)

How passionate are you about maturing?

  • Being a new Christian, it was easiler because everything was new. Now what?
  • We must have the correct motivation if we are to continue maturing in the long run.

Motivation of Maturing

1. To regain your identify

Genesis 1:26-27

  • We need to realize who we are suppose to be
  • Duck example
    • First thing it sees when it is born it assumes is its mother and will follow it around
    • If the baby duck follows something other than another duck, it will get frustrated because it can only do what duck do
  • Human example
    • We were made to be like God
    • We see other things and try to follow the world
    • We also get frustrated because worldly persuits are not what were designed for

2. To remian in Jesus

1 John 2:3-4 - This is a expectation from God

3. To be effective and productive

2 Peter 1:4-8

  • Must make every effort
  • It would be sad to find out in the end we were ineffective and unproductive
  • Others need you to grow!
  • Your growth rate will determine how much you are effective, not where you are right now

4. Secure salvation

2 Peter 1:8-11 - We have been given a new start

Wrong motivation - Pleasing people, selfish ambition



2010-04-30 - I am Innocent of the Blood of all Men (part 1)
Preached (2007-03-18)

Paul - Innocent of the blood of all men

Acts 20:17-27
  • v20 - I have not hesitated to preach
  • v21 - Declared that everyone must turn to God in repentance
  • v23 - Faced hardships
  • v24 - Meant everything to testify to the "gospel of grace"
  • v26, 27 - I am innocent of the blood of all men
Why did Paul say he was innocent?
  • Because he proclaimed the whole will of God
  • Did not hesitate
  • Ezekiel 33:6 - But suppose the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet to warn the people. Then the sword comes and takes one of their lives. He is swept away for his iniquity, but I will hold the watchman accountable for that person's death.
What made Paul so determined to preach and to share about Christ and God?

2010-05-15 - Desire's Journey - The Dilemma of Desire
We can not live without yearning, yet the yearning sets us up for disappointment
Because of its vulnerable nature, desire begins to feel like our worst enemy

Despair is the fate of the desiring soul - Sam Houston
Hope deferred make the heart sick - Proverbs 13:12

How awful it feels to open our hearts to joy, only to have grief come in
How do we live in a world with desire so deep in us and disappointment lurking behind every corner?
Are a few arrows, dare we even desire?
Do we refuse to love because we may hurt? possibility of pain?

Shutting down our hearts is to die altogether
Hope deferred make the heart sick... but when dreams come true, there is life and joy

Most of us have chosen to reduce our desire to a more manageable size
We allow it only in small doses:
  • Dinner out
  • Vacation
  • A new ______


2010-05-17 - Desire's Journey - The Beast Within
Years of living in an indifferent hostile world creates a deep sense of unsettledness with in us

Battle of good and evil within us - Romans 7:20-23
Sinful desires are contrary to the Spirit
They conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want - Galatians 5:17

There is a nagging awareness warning us not to feel our hunger too deeply or it will undo us
We wouldn't want to do anything crazy or desperate

We want what our unmet desire wants but our sinful nature wants what is contrary

We try everything - TV, sex, relationships, drugs, etc - going one to another
We don't know what we want because we're so unacquaninted with our desire

We try to keep a safe distance between our daily lives and our heart's desire - because it causes us too much trouble

Do we really want to open Pandora's box?

Dare we awaken our hears to their true desires?
Is it better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all?

Our dilemma is this: we can't seem to live with desire, and we can't live without it



2010-05-21 - Desire's Journey - Good News?
The promise of life has been lost in the focus of knowledge and performance

Pharisee knew more about the Bible than we ever will - and it hardened their hearts

There were two trees in the garden of Eden:
  • Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil
  • Tree of Life
We go the wrong tree

Each church has its unspoken list of what you should and should not do
We are told this is the good news

We don't need more facts
We don't need more things to do
We need life

You have made know to me the path of life - Psalms 16:11
My soul pants for you - Psalms 42:1-2
My soul thirsts for you - Psalms 63:1

Why did Jesus appeal to desire?
Because it was essential for life
He who has the Son has life - 1 John 5:12



2010-05-25 - Desire's Journey - Man who Wanted Nothing

A faithful church attender, never missing a Sunday, serving on a committee and offered help to those in need - but why is there something missing?

Why are we a Christian? What is that we want?
You can not help someone who does not want anything
Geldings are nicer and much more well behaved than stallion but they do not bring live (sterile)

To abandon desire is to say, "I don't really need you or want you. I will live with you because I am suppose to"

Your heart desires, duty reduces the dance to a drill
God wants to be desired

The real dilemma of desire is that it humbles us
It takes us wat beyond our own resources where we need to ask for help



2010-05-26 - Desire's Journey - Faith as Desire

First two servant doubled their investment and were rewarded
Most would have agreed with the third servant burying the money saying, "well, at least it was safe" - Matthew 25
The third servant was put into darkness because he did not trust God

When we bury our desires, we saying to God = 'I don't dare desire because I fear you; I think you are hard-hearted"

Is our obedience more out of love or out of carefulness?
Killing desire may look like sanctification but it's really godlessness

Persistent widow - won he case because she refused to let up

When Jesus returns, will he find faith? - Luke 18

To live with desire means:

  • Choosing vulnerability over self-protection
  • Admiting our desire and seeking help beyond ourselves
  • Living by faith and refuse to kill desire

 



2010-05-27 - Desire's Journey - Language of Desire

Jesus offered prayers and pleadings, with a loud cry to the one who could deliever him - Hebrews 5:7

Strong desires make strong prayers

Children are often not embarrassed by desire
We hide our true desires and call it maturity - Jesus is not impressed

Why are we embarrassed by our desire? Why do we pretend?

  • Persistent widow wasn't embarrassed
  • "Sinful" woman wasn't embarrassed

We don't pray like Jesus because we don't allow ourselves to nearly alive
We don't allow ourselves to feel how desparate our situation truely is

Pretending seems a much more reliable road to Christian maturity
Only the price is we pay for the loss of soul, communication with God, loss of direction and loss of hope

Without a deep and buring desire of our own, we will be ruled by the desires of others



2010-06-17 - Jesus - The Healer (part 2)

Causes of Sickness:

Break Down of System

Our spiritual immune system can break down:

  1. Time with God isn't exciting...less time spent
  2. Dynamic prayer becomes nonexistant
  3. Desire to go to Church decreases
  4. Becomes critical toward the church, people, even God
James 1:13-15
  • I didn't become a disciple to be here and then fall away
  • Sin gives birth to death...maybe slow maybe fast.
Some are accidential injuries

You must be prepared:

1 Peter 4:1-11

  • Because we are not prepared
  • Wolves are all around us.
Some are self-afflicted injuries

Ephesians 5:10-18

  • Comes when we make excuses.
  • Like shotting ourselves in the foot.
Jesus can heal your weaknesses and injuries

Will you let him?



2010-06-24 - God does not change (part 2)
Genesis

v1:1 - Not much of the world

v2:1 - What a change in a few weeks

v2:20-25 - God created companionship - Adam's life changed

v3:23-24 - Punished, banished, and moved out of the garden

v6:11
  • God moves people around
  • Noah's life changed because of his righteousness
  • Would start the whole human race over again
v12:1-5 - Abraham is called to leave even though he did not know much about God

v37:17-28
  •  Joesph life changed
  • Often did not know what God was doing but we must have faith to change

Genesis 45:4-8
  • Results of brother's action lead to the coming of Jesus
  • God allowed Joesph brother's to throw him into slavery for me
  • God is all about change because he wants us to have have faith

God will never change

2010-06-28 - Jesus - The Lord (part 2)

Jesus is Lord of the Harvest

Matthew 9:35-38

  • Are you happy?
  • Are the hopeless and harassed?
  • Happiness produces more than guilt-driven action.

Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath

Matthew 12:1-14

  • Why do you go to church?
    • Out of habit?
    • Because you are suppose to?
      • Law is here to protect, direct, and save us
1 John 5:3
  • Obeying comes happiness
  • We show God we love him by obeying him.
Is Jesus your Lord?

2010-07-07 - Desire's Journey - The Grand Affair (part 4)

Sexual intimacy is the closest parallel we have to real worship

The best impostors succeed because they are nearly indistinguishable from what they are trying to imitate
We worship sex and other things because we don't know how to worship God

Our hearts live for "an experience of worship that fills our being with a joy that is so deeply in awe that we are barely aware of ourselves
Our worship services don't get anywhere near something like our wedding night

Men have a hard time relating to the bridal imagery used in Scripture



2010-07-11 - Desire's Journey - The Adventure Begins (part 3)
You would expect:
  • The daughter/son of Einstein to be smart
  • The daughter/son of Lance Armstrong to be fast
  • The daughter/son of Micheal Jordan to be good at basketball
We expect greatness from the offspring of the great
More often than not we think of godliness only in moral terms

We are made like God because we are to be like God on earth - Genesis 1:26

We humans beings are never happier than when we are expressing the deepest gifts that are truly us

The opportunity reveals the our creative nature
All we want is to be released to be who we are

God has created us and our gifts for a place of his choosing

Our creative nature is essential to who we are as image bearers
It brings us great joy to live it out with freedom and skill

2010-07-16 - Desire's Journey - Deeper Desire (part 3)
The first step in the journey of desire is to stop pretending that we would be happy with less
Recovering our heart involves facing our deepest disappointments
We do not need to fear what we find because our heart is our biggest ally

The father of lies takes many people out of the journey for life by keeping them in shallow desire
He threatens us from going to the deep waters of desire by telling us that are core desires are evil
Makes us thing that every thought and desire is our own

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; remove your heart of stone - Ezekiel 36:26
Our core desires are good: I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts - Jeremiah 31:33

We still struggle with sin with our tendency to kill desire or give our hearts over to false desires

2010-07-18 - Desire's Journey - Deeper Desire (part 5)
We can learn many things about the journey of desire in the story of Jesus' wilderness trial

1. He was hungry - Matthew 4:1-4
  • We can see the humanity of Jesus
  • Because his hunger was real, we can learn something about ours
  • Hunger is normal, except it
  • Don't be embarrassed by it, don't try to hide it
  • We end up repenting of the wrong thing

Satan: You don't have to stay hungry, you have options
The lie is that the options will bring us what we most deeply want and need
Evey idol is an impostor - not true life

When on a marathon - and are given a beer
It is cold (we desire cold) but we know we really need cold water for our thirst
Junk food does not have the nutrition we need

When we have been working out, working hard in the field, we know what we want
Knowing full well what our heart's real thirst is, we will have looked the imposer in the face and laughed as Jesus did

2010-07-28 - Desire's Journey - Letting Go (part 5)

Grief is the antidote to the incessant possessive demand within

Sow in tear = song of joy - Psalms 126:5

Two spiritual discipline we need

  1. Worship - must adore God deliberately and regularly
  2. Grief - must allow a time for sorrow to do own personal sowing

Making time to grieve may sound strange
Just because we do not feel it does not mean it is not there
There are thousands of distractions these days
Sometimes it comes out in a song or movie
Sometimes small disappointments can be a door into the room of grief

Beauty and affliction are the only two things that can pierce our hearts
We must have a measure of beauty in our lives proportionate to our afflication

 



2010-08-02 - Desire's Journey - Keeping Heart (part 3)
Not all the truths help us descend with the mind into the heart
We have dissected God, man, and gospel thousands of times - all facts
It is not that these insights aren't true, but knowing facts will not help feel closer to God

How do you get to know a person? Through stories
We should stop approaching the Bible looking just for tips and techniques

We are bombarded by thousands of messages each day, every on of them urgent
Must reduce the constant noise - turn off the TV
Even the news is a problem because of its artificial importance
Every night there is an urgent story (to sell more news) but nothing is


2010-08-08 - Waking Dead - At War (part 3)
Until we come to terms with war, we will not understand life
We will misinterpret most of what is happening around us:
  • Difficult to believe God's intentions are eternal life
  • Hard to not feel that we are blowing it
  • We will accept some awful things as God's will
  • God is ignoring our problem or just does not care
Most people get stuck at some point because God appears to have abandoned them
We have to realize we are part of a story and the situation we are in right now will change

We won't understand our life until we see it as a battle - warring against your heart

The issue is: we can not see things as clearly as we ought to - but we need to
The attack on our hearts weighs down our lives and glory is being held back
We don't see clearly because we don't see with the eyes of our heart

2010-08-11 - Waking Dead - Myths (part 2)

Myth tell us three truths, the second is:

2. There is a great struggle or quest or battle that is well under way

Christianity isn't about:

  • Going to Sunday school
  • Being nice
  • Holding car washs
  • Sending clothes to Mexico

As good as those things might be, this is a world at war
We live in a far more dangerous and dramatic story than we ever imagine

Reason we love these is because it is telling us that this is our most desperate hour

  • The Chronciles of Narnia
  • Star Wars
  • The Matrix
  • The Lord of the Rings

Without this buring in our hearts, we lose the meaning of our days

Notice that those who have tried to wake up to this reality were ususally killed

  • The phophets
  • Jesus
  • Stephen
  • Paul
  • Most of the disciples in the Bible

Has it occured to you that someone is trying to shut them up?

 



2010-08-26 - Waking Dead - Glory (part 3)
You are going to the need your whole heart - so you will need every ounce of courage and faith as well

James and John, sons of Zebedee did hide what they thought
  • Wanted choice seat to the right and left of Jesus
  • Wanted to call down fire from heaven to destroy a village
Their buddies called the idiots, but Jesus called them Sons of Thunder - Mark 3:17
He can see clearly who they really are

We many times spend our time hiding through false selfs
Like Adam and Eve did with fig leaves
We make up a glory because we are convinced we have none of our own

Must ask: God, who am I? What do you think of me? What is my real name?

The deeper reason we fear our own glory is that once we let others see the truest us - aka nakedness
It is awkward when everyone else is veiled

Living from your glory is the only way to live
You cannot love another person from a false self
You can not help others if you are in captivity yourself

Our deepest fear of all - we will have to live from our hearts
Means we do not know the next thing God will ask of us

2010-08-28 - Waking Dead - Wisdom and Heart
Our heart has been made good by work of Christ but we haven't learned how to live from it
Launching out with an untrained heart can bring disaster
We can easily be shamed into sin management and think our heart is bad

The church choose those who had both wisdom and the Spirit - Acts 6:3
We need both

Wisdom is crying out
  • Do not rush the field - Luke 14:31
  • Train yourself to discern good from evil - Hebrews 5:14
  • Live as through your life is at stake - Matthew 10:16
Wisdom is not cramming our heads with principles but developing a discerning heart
Solomon was so sharp because he had a wise and discerning heart - 1 Kings 3:9

But wisdom is not enough
  • Against "wisdom", the disciples were asked to go Saul, the one who used to murder Christians, and lay his hands on him - Acts 9:13-14
  • Would you counsel a father to sacrifice his only child?
  • Take on a fortified city by slashing your ranks from 32,000 to 300?
  • Jesus to give himself up to the authorities and let himself get killed
Wisdom is not enough, it may even hold us back
The common sense life can be the enemy of the supernatural life

2010-08-29 - Waking Dead - Listening to His Voice
God is still speaking to us today

I have much more to say to you. The Spirit will guide you in all truth - John 16:12-13
There is much more than Jesus wants to say to you
Since the Spirit resides in you heart - the conversation can continue

Many good people never hear God because they have never been told  that he does
He who belongs to God hears what God says - John 8:47

His sheep follow him because they hear his voice. I am the good shpherd - John 10:4
He wants to speak to you and want to lead you to good pasture

When we ask, we need to hear what the true answer is - not what we want to hear

2010-09-01 - Waking Dead - Our Story (part 2)
The enemy is after us from the beginning

Joseph stands out from his brothers
Instead of celebrating his glory, his brothers want to destroy it
The worst blows typically come from family

David full of faith and courage when he sees that on one will take on Goliath
His older cowardly brother is exposed by David's bravery
Older brother - "I know how conceited you are and how wicked your heart is" - 1 Samuel 17:28
The worst blows come from those who know us well

Even Jesus' brothers did not believe in him - John 7:5
His family came to bring him home because they think he has lost it - Luke 8:20

Sometimes the very thing that someone loves to do is the thing God has given them as a source of celebration
We should check to see this is true before we turn it into shame
How long will you turn my glory into shame - Psalms 4:2

What have you believed about your heart over the years?

2010-09-03 - Waking Dead - Help of Others
We are usually too close to our lives to see what is going on
Because it is our story , we don't know what  is true and false

In every great story, the hero or heroine must turn to someone older and wiser to answer a riddle
  • Dorthy seeks the Wizard
  • Frodo turns to Gandalf
  • Neo has Morpheus
  • Curdie is helped by Lady of the Silver Moon
  • Jedis look Yodo
Pride is so blinding
Sometimes in our discipling we just fix what is wrong (sin) and not work on the glory of God
Need to also me focused on moving forward and to go out on faith

2010-09-07 - Waking Dead - Deep Restoration (part 4)
We need time in the presence of the Lord - Pslam 86:11-12
  • Teach me your way
  • I will walk in your truth
  • Give me an undivided heart
  • I will fear your name
  • I will praise you
  • With all of my heart
  • I will glory you
Remove yourself from distractions - will be able to hear more clearly

We declare the authority of Jesus over our hearts - he made our hearts - Psalms 33:15
He has redeemed our hearts - Romans 2:29

Sometimes he will take us back to a memory, a time and place where a shattering blow was given
Anytime someone says, "I feel like there's this part of me..." we need to listen - somewhere in the heart
Hidden many times because of a false comfort

2010-09-10 - Waking Dead - Spiritual Warfare (part 2)
The question is not are we oppressed but where and how we are

Why does every story have an enemy?
  • Little Red Riding Hood - wolf
  • Dorthy - Wicked Witch of the West
  • Neo - powerful agents
Every story has a villain because yours does

Satan lost the battle against Michael and his angels - was hurled to earth - Revelation 12:9
Satan's mood? He is filled with fury because he knows his time is short - Revelation 12:12

He is trying to steal your freedom, kill your heart, destroy your life
We can go throughout our day and not even once wonder how the enemy might be attacking us
All we know is that we aren't enjoying that abundant life Christ talked about

Ignorance of spiritual warfare is the most native and dangerous thing a person can do
You don't escape spiritual warfare by choosing not to believe it exists or refuse to fight

The thief is trying to steal the life God wants to give - John 10:10


2010-09-11 - Waking Dead - Spiritual Warfare (part 3)
Satan is the Father of Lies - John 8:44
His first attack on the human race was to lie to Adam and Eve
He lied about God and where life was found

He hoping we buy into whatever he is saying
The evil one is still lying to us and is seeking our agreement every day

Try to hold on to this and see much accusation you live under
Your heart is good
Your heart matters to God

We must make no agreement with him
Most of the time we don't recognize the attack because we do not live as though we are at war
We assume these impressions are our own

Any movement toward freedom, life, God, or others will be opposed
Marriage, friendship, beauty, rest - the thief wants it all

2010-09-15 - God is love

Preached by Richard Dixion on 1999-05-04

Psalms 25:10

  • Gratefulness: no arguments, no frustration, no complaining
Unconditional Love

Psalms 145:13

  • All he made - Did God make you?
  • We live in an unloving world
    • God is not like use
  • We make limits to our love
    • God does not stop
  • We all need unconditional love
Tough Love

Hebrews 12:4-10

  • God love is tough
  • Two kinds of discipline
    • Action - stops for the short-term
    • Heart - God way, deals with sin
  • Discipline - creates - discipline and gratefulness
  • Running away or running toward discipline?
  • He wants us to be holy, righteousness
  • Wrong thinking: I won't because I might get disciplined
  • Right thinking: I will, and I will be molded


His love is Transforming

Romans 12:1-2

  • What transforms you?
  • How are different than a year ago?
  • Living sacrifices?

2 Corinthians 5:3

  • How would you look if God transformed your life?
  • Do you know who are?
  • What would Jesus do different in your life?
  • God loves us the way we are
    • He refuses to leave us that way


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