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Searching for "hebrews" in the Quiet Time Archive
Displaying results from "25" to "50". (167 found)

2008-08-08 - 30 Days at the Cross - Problems or Possibilities
Suffering is a problem for us:
  • We don't like it
  • Trouble figuring it out
  • Try hard to avoid it

We spend too much time asking questions:
  • Why is God doing this to me?
  • Is this from God or Satan?
  • Why does he allow me to suffer like this?
It is the response that matters, Jesus' response was:
  • Jesus, through suffering, was made perfect - Matthew 26:36-46
  • Our Lord sympathizes with our weakness - Hebrews 2:18
  • He was without sin during his sufferings- Hebrews 4:15
  • He forgave during his sufferings - Luke 23:34
  • Accepted God's will for His life
We should not be concerned on why but how we will respond

We should:
  • Consider it a pure joy - James 1:2
  • Know it is for our maturity - James 1:3-4
  • Know it is an opportunity to prove our faith - 1 Peter 1:6
Look for the lesson, make sure your suffering counts for someone
The issue is how you respond and how you will respond in the future

2008-08-11 - 30 Days at the Cross - Seeing It Through
It is not hard to start something but it takes character to finish

What did it take for Jesus to reach his goal? Nothing less than a relationship with the Father and death

With dull disciples - could have become impatient
Exhausted after a long journey - could have become selfish
He never gave in

How did he stay so determined to overcome?
Offered prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears - Hebrews 5:7

Jesus shed tears for:
  • the lost
  • the people he met and healed
  • his disciples to stay faithful
  • his family who thought he was crazy
  • the children
Knowing that God heard his cries, he found victory over discouragement, anxiety, doubt, and loneliness
We are aware of our ineffectiveness, we focus on what we should be doing but neglect our relationship with God

2008-08-12 - 30 Days at the Cross - Mistreatment but Not Misery
No way to be righteous enough, wise enough, or loving enough to avoid persecution
The world can not hate you, it hates Jesus - John 7:7

We never see a hint of retaliation, bitterness, or self-pity
When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate - 1 Peter 2:22-23
On the cross: heaped insults (Matthew 27:44) and he is asked God to forgive them - Luke 23:34

How did he get through the cruel and vicious attacks with such grace?
  • He entrusted himself to him who judges - 1 Peter 2:23
  • Kept his focus on the joy that would be his - Hebrews 12:2


2008-08-15 - 30 Days at the Cross - Nothing but the Best
Do what comes naturally. Get in touch with who you are. Do what feels right. Be true to yourself. - These are the ideas the world tells us.
Do they really change our lives?

Jesus' blood shed challenges us to reconsider our empty way of life

What a person is willing to give reveals a lot about the person
Jesus was the perfect Son and an exact representation of God - Hebrews 1:3

God's precious and costly sacrifice seeks and demands a response.

Make every effort is the only appropriate response - 2 Peter 1:5-7
Motivated by God's grace and example, we can increase our faith

Sin weakens our character, steals our energy, and undermines our determination

2008-08-18 - 30 Days at the Cross - Turning the Tables

Jesus came to turn the tables on Satan
He came to deal with the greatest of all questions and fears - death

  • He spoke about it in great length - John 5:21-30
  • He claimed to be the only solution for death - John 6:53-57
  • He raised the dead - John 11
  • He believed his death would bring others life - John 12:23-25

When he died, almost everyone thought evil won

Satan pulled out all the stops.
Jesus was in his deadly sights at all times - waiting for a bad day

7 moves to turn the tables:

  1. Pray - he is listening - Hebrews 5:7
  2. Read - he is speaking - Luke 4:1-13
  3. Believe - he is able - Hebrews 2:18
  4. Trust - he is willing - Hebrews 4:15
  5. Fight - he knows what you can bear - 1 Corinthians 10:13
  6. Seek - he has provided a way out - 1 Corinthians 10:13
  7. Find - he gives grace in time of need - Hebrews 4:16
Jesus death turned the tables on Satan

2008-08-20 - 30 Days at the Cross - I Am Not Alone
Stress, word for the modern world, everyone has too much of it
Synonymical cousins: worry, frustration, and impatience
Vacation sometimes causes it
Sociologists and Psychologist make a lot of money because of it
Jesus never was described as stressed
Jesus was tempted in every way as we are - Hebrews 4:15

How did he conquer stress? He was not alone - John 16:31-32

Allowing stress to overwhelm us is sin - focus on ourselves
It tempts us to let our emotions lead over our convictions

Worry - always be thousands of reasons to worry - still sin
Frustration - thing don't go the way we think it should - we need faith

We too can overcome stress - we too are not alone

2008-08-22 - 30 Days at the Cross - Not Surprise by Joy

Joy set before him endured the cross - Hebrews 12:2-3
Jesus was a joyful person; even at the cross - at the cross it seemed that everything was going wrong

Yet joy joy was still in the heart of Jesus:

  • He knew God was in control
  • He didn't agrue with God
  • He didn't need explaination
  • He didn't need to justify himself
  • He entrusted himself to the one who judges - 1 Peter 2:23

When we try to take over God's role - there is no joy
Jesus prayed for his disciples to have the full measure of his joy - John 17:13

Even the violent scene of the cross brought about joy and hope
What will you allow to steal your joy?



2008-08-27 - Teach Us To Pray - Savior and Redeemer

The Cross is enough, then, now, and always

Hebrews 7:25-27

  • He is able to completely save
    • Never too short
    • Never too weak
    • Never worn out
  • He always lives - Prepared to recuse me until the day I die
  • Once for all - One death sufficient for all my sins, for all time

God wants his children to be abolutely confident that we can draw near to him with freedom and assurance

Without seeing the cross, David understood his Savior and Redeemer - Psalms 69:13

 



2008-08-30 - Teach Us To Pray - God Enjoys Talking to Us

To truely know him, we must absorb his Word
We must enjoy his talking to us

God's Word was written with one purpose in mind - to communicate God's love:

  • He promised to carry our burdens - Matthew 11:28
  • We will have all we need - 2 Corinthians 9:8
  • He will give us more than we can ask or imagine - Ephesians 3:20
  • He will meet all our our needs - Philippians 4:19
  • All disciples have angels to server them - Hebrews 1:14


2008-09-04 - Teach Us To Pray - Persistent and Determined
Luke 18:1-8 - Persistent widow kept on seeking justice from an unjust judge until she received it
  1. We must seek justice - what is right in sight of God - Yes, No, or Wait a While
  2. We must cry out - Urgent, passionate yet humble - he was heard because of his reverent submission - Hebrews 5:7
  3. We must be consistent day and night - beginning (Psalms 5:1-3) and all day
  4. Pray full of faith - Jesus concluded with a question: would he find faith on earth?
Do you pray with this kind of persistency and urgency?

2008-09-15 - Teach Us To Pray - Changes in Character
Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place - Psalms 51:6
Character can grow if we take a sober gut-level check look at who we are

Too often we pray:
  • Help me be a better person
  • Help me to change
  • Help me to love you more
We don;t know specifically what we need to change
When we aim at nothing, that is what we hit

The word of God discerns the thoughts and intentions of our heart - Hebrews 4:12-13
Like a mirror reflecting how we look spiritually - James 1:23-25
We also learn the truth about ourselves from other people in our lives - Proverbs 20:5

Ask God to help you see what you need to change
Ask others what things they see in your sinful nature

How badly do you want to change?
It will show by the way you pray
My power is made perfect in weakness - 2 Corinthians 12:9

2008-09-19 - Teach Us To Pray - Direction for Decisions
Most difficult decision are not so much a question of right and wrong but rather what is good, better, and best
When ask according to God's will, he hears us - 1 John 5:14-15

God give wisdom in prayer (James 1:5) and through his Word (Hebrews 5:14)
He will give us wisdom to discern what is best

God also gives wisdom to men and women in his kingdom
It is would be foolish and arrogant to not actively seek out wisdom God has made available
Should imitate leaders faith - Hebrews 13:7


2008-09-21 - Teach Us To Pray - Friends and Loved Ones
To intercede or pray on someone else's behalf is a privilege
Our prayers are sacrifices which are pleasing to him - Hebrews 13:15

Paul: I want you to know how much I am struggling for you - Colossians 2:1
Who do you struggle for? How about people you have never meet?

Far be it that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray to you - Samuel to King Saul - 1 Samuel 12:23

Jesus intercedes for us - Romans 8:34
Like a good friend, he adds or subtracts from what you are missing or need
Jesus makes us complete in God's sight

2008-10-08 - Man of Prayer - YHWH-shamma

God is "the Lord who is present"
Shekinah is the Hebrew word meaning 'residence'

He has a great desire to dwell in the lives of believers:

  • Bodies have become the temple of the living God - 1 Corinthians 3:16
  • Jesus is our Immanuel - God with us
  • He promises that He is always with us - Matthew 28:20
  • He will never forsake us - Hebrews 13:5

 



2008-12-25 - Raising Awesome Kids - Gods Training Plan (part 3)

These commandments... are to be upon your hearts (v. 6)

Should train from the heart level
in their minds and on their minds - Hebrews 10:16

Impress them on your children (v. 7)

Training with the Scriptures must be done with great conviction, sincerity and earnestness
If you want it to stick, you will need to give all you have

Talk about them always (v. 7)

Train consistantly - everywhere, anytime, anyplace

About teaching our children how to live life - not nagging about their misdeeds

Make it fun, doable, effective

Most training should be spontaneous

Never underestimate how many times we will have to say the same things over and over again



2009-01-27 - Jesus with People - Rich Young Ruler

Luke 18:22-24
Wouldn't all Christians love to meet someone who comes across as this man does initially?

Most of us would say, "can we study the Bible?"
Jesus had a very different responce because he knew his heart

Sell everything and follow him = It's not what you do but who you are
For him to have a heart set fully on following Jesus - it meant a willingness to seel all
Following the exchange, it became clear - the man was out of touch with himself and God

Jesus did challenge him but he also loved him
He pointed the man to the narrow way
At the same time he drew him close want to give him strength, faith, and hope

Jesus does not get into a lengthy theological debate
He saw weaknesses the man had to deal with if he was going to enter the kingdom of God

Each of us lacks that "one thing" deep down that we must give up and following Jesus
Something we don't know what it is but God will reveal it - Hebrews 4:12-13



2009-02-22 - Jesus with People - Daily Unconditional Love

Jesus was tempted in every way we are but was without sin - Hebrews 4:15

How could he put up with this day after day?

Jesus was in complete submission of God's will:

  1. Jesus God no matter what the cost
  2. He chose Judas so the scriptures would be fulfilled - John 13:18
  3. Suffered emotionally each time he looked at Judas

How Jesus' heart must have ached when teaching:

  1. Be on your guard against men; they will hand you over - Judas. - Matthew 10:17
  2. Brother will betry brother to death - Judas. - Matthew 10:21
  3. Love your enemies - Judas. - Matthew 5:44

 



2009-03-03 - Promises of God - Remember Your Sins No More

Remember Your Sins No More - Hebrews 8:12

God wants to forgive
God has spent all of his time since man's fall working out our forgiveness - it cost him dearly

God's nature is to forgive
If God kept a record of sins, who could stand? - Psalms 130:3-4

Psalms 103:

  • v3 - He forgives all
  • v13-14 - He is compassionate and gracious
  • v8 - He is slow to anger
  • v9 - He doesn't hang on to his anger forever
  • v10 - He does not treat us as our sins deserve

God doesn't need forgiveness
He commited no sin - 1 Peter 2:22
We are the ones who sinned - Romans 3:23
The most foolish thing in the world is to have this attitude toward God

 



2009-03-07 - Promises of God - Lord of the Unexpected

One of our greatest test of faith comes when we face the unexpected

We forget Psalms 91 - His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart

We often rely on our own understanding of situations and then ask God what we think we need

It is important to let God give us the answer since he knows what is best for us
Like children, we do not always know what we need

This trouble you're in is not punishment, it's training, the normal experience of children - Hebrews 12:17

 



2009-03-13 - Promises of God - Faith vs Doubt
Doubt: God has forgotten about you and does not care

Faith: He knows the way you have served - Hebrews 6:10. He knows notices and cares when a sparrow falls - Matthew 10:29

Doubt: He remembers but he remembers others more than you; Doubt fills in the blanks and customizes to your hopes and desires.

Faith: God shows no favoritism; He moves at different time for different people; He has given everything we need for life and godliness

Doubt calls into question the faithfulness of God
Faith tells us it is impossible for God to lie

When Doubt comes calling, we must turn away

Faith says yes to God's promises

2009-03-14 - Promises of God - Not tempted Beyond What You Can Bear
He will not let be tempted beyond what yo can bear - 1 Corinthians 10:13

God has not promised that we will not be tempted - James 1:13-15

No situation will ever be too difficult. God simply will not allow it.
There is never an excuse for sin.

Jesus is our ultimate example
He himself suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted - Hebrews 2:18


2009-03-17 - Promises of God - Encouragement From Disciples

Jesus overcame temptation by using scripture, prayer, and he called others for encouragement from others

He deliberately sought out support and encouragement from his 3 closest friends
He also expressed his disappointment at their failure to help

We desperately need relationships for encouragement EVERY day - Hebrews 3:12-13
Tempatation comes every day

There is no excuse in an age of modern technology for getting in touch



2009-03-18 - Promises of God - Produces a Harvest
Hebrews 12:11 - Discipline produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it

Key ways to respond to God's discipline:

Get Grateful
Probably the most difficult thing to do during hardships
It is the very thing that will help us to learn the important lessons God is trying to teach us

Hunger for Holiness
Media bombards us with devices, books, etc to make our lives easier
God disciplines us for our good, we may share in his holiness - Hebrews 12:10
He is willing to watch his precious children to go through temporary pain for them have eternal peace

Trust the Trainer
We must trust him as the perfect trainer
Training = something rigorous that stretches the trainee emotionally or physically
God's discipline is exact what we need and he promises it is always for our own good

2009-04-03 - Promises of God - Prayers Real Purpose (part 1)
We must understand our God if we are going to truly understand the promise offered to us in prayer

His thoughts are not small nor his purposes shallow
He is in the control of all things and these is nothing he can't do

He is the God who take out a heart of stone and put in a heart of flesh - Ezekiel 36:26

He can forgive our sins and forget them - Hebrews 8:12

2009-04-05 - Promises of God - Noahs Faith
Confidence in God's promise must be so great that we obey "even though" we don't understand and it does not make sense

By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen - Hebrews 11:7

  • Noah was commissioned by God to build a large ship in the middle of a dessert
  • Only his family would be persuaded to follow him into the ark
  • He did it for one reason: obedience to God


2009-04-06 - Promises of God - Abrahams Faith
By faith Abraham, called to place even through he did not know where is was going - Hebrews 11:8

Obedience to God is the only thing that makes sense

Ludicrous to think that our limited and mortal minds can out smart an omnipotent and omnipresent God

We will never find the blessing of God if we constantly question the wisdom of God

How do you feel about the word of obey?

2009-04-13 - Promises of God - God Passes the Test
God Passes the Test:
  1. Does he have a proven record? Yes, Joshua 21:45; 1 Kings 8:56; 2 Corinthians 1:20; Hebrews 6:13-20
  2. Does he have a genuine concern for my life? Yes, Exodus 2:25; 1 Peter 5:7; Psalms 55:22
  3. Does he understand me and my current crisis? Yes, Job 31:4; Psalms 139:1-18; Matthew 6:7-8; Hebrews 4:13
  4. Do he have the power to bring change in my life? Yes, Romans 4:18-21; 1 Corinthians 1:25; Ephesians 1:18-22; Ephesians 3:20; 2 Peter 1:3-4


2009-04-16 - Promises of God - Never Give Up
Never give up - Hebrews 10:35-39

Why?

  • God has pledged to save us for all eternity - Revelation 21:1-7
  • Forgive our sins - 1 John 1:5-2:2
  • Provide us with all we need for life and godliness - 2 Peter 1:3-4
  • Give us great friends and huge spiritual family - Mark 10:29-31
  • Show us a way out when tempted - 1 Corinthians 10:13
  • Comfort us in our troubles - 1 Corinthians 1:3-7
  • Equip us for any challenge, any work, any time - 2 Timothy 2:20-21


2009-04-17 - Why We Need God - He is The Creator
GOD IS THE CREATOR...
  1. Of the heavens and the earth - Genesis 1:1; Exodus 20:11; Hebrews 11:3
  2. Of mankind, both male and female - Genesis 1:27; 5:2
  3. Even in the womb, God has a role in giving us life - Psalms 139:13-16;  Jeremiah 1:5
  4. He made us, not we ourselves - Psalms 100:3


2009-04-23 - Why We Need The Bible - Salvation By Faith from the Word
Salvation By Faith from the Word
  1. Without faith it is impossible to please God - Hebrews 11:6
  2. Without faith in Jesus we cannot be saved - John 8:24
  3. It is the Word of God that produces such faith - Romans 10:17
  4. The gospels were written to produce faith - John 20:30-31


2009-04-26 - Why We Need Jesus - He Intercededs For Us to God
WHO INTERCEDES FOR US TO GOD...
  1. Now at God's right hand, Jesus makes intercession for us - Romans 8:34
  2. He serves as our "Advocate" with the Father - 1 John 2:1
  3. He is our perfect High Priest - Hebrews 2:17-18; 4:14-15
  4. He enables us to come boldly to the throne of grace to obtain mercy and help - Hebrews 4:16
  5. He now "always lives" to intercede on our behalf - Hebrews 7:25


2009-04-28 - Why We Need Jesus - He Guides Us By His Words and Actions
WHO GUIDES US BY WORDS AND ACTIONS...

His words provide a solid foundation upon which to build our lives
  • Such as those spoken in His sermon on the mount - Matthew 7:24-27
  • Such as those later revealed through His apostles - John 16:12-13; 2 Peter 1:1-11
His example provides both direction and inspiration
  • His humility and service - Philiippians 2:3-8
  • His perseverance - Hebrews 12:1-3
  • His suffering - 1 Peter 2:21-25


2009-05-12 - No one like him - Joy
Most of the first 1,000 years’ pictures were of Jesus not smiling – common view

Jesus never felt bitterness, negative thinking, or despair

[Cheer-up] I have overcome the world – John 16:33

We can have complete joy – implementing the teaching of Jesus drew near to God (Joy) – John 16:21-24

Joy in enduring the cross – Hebrews 12:2

2009-06-01 - No one like him - Words from the Cross
1. Forgive them
a. Choose to pray for other first
b. Living what he preached – Pray for your enemies
2. Here is your mother
a. He wanted to make sure other were taken care of before he left
3. Be with me in paradise
a. Show he was generous with the undeserving
b. Similar to the parable about the servants being paid the same with different lengths of service
4. Why have you forsaken me?
a. Felt his need for God and separation from him
5. I am thirsty
a. Jesus was aware of his limitation
b. Hebrews 4:15-16 – Jesus can sympathize with our pain
6. It is finished
a. Foundation of his work was finished
b. Some thought this was the end of his ministry
7. Into your hands I commit my spirit
a. Conforms Jesus unswerving commitment


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

2009-09-17 - Wild at Heart - Healing the wound (part 3)
Wound unfelt is wound unhealed
Door may be your anger – perhaps from a girl, failure
The way to God is stopping the false self
It may a simple prayer – Jesus, take me into my wound

Jesus never seems to heal the same way twice
There are no formulas with God
Insists on working personally
Masculinity is bestowed by masculinity
Healing never happens outside of intimacy with Christ

It begins with surrender; until you have given yourself to him you will not have a real self
…to set you free – What? Your heart
So take him at his word – ask him in to heal all the broken places within you
But you can’t do this at a distance

I simply allow myself to say that the loss of my father mattered
Important for us to grieve our wound
Grieving we admit the truth, we hurt by someone we loved
Few men are ever so vulnerable as to simply let themselves be loved by God
Why don’t you just let God love you?
The imitate union with Jesus and with his Father is the source of all healing and all our strength
Unforgiveness and bitterness can wreck our lives and the lives of others – Ephesians 4:31, Hebrews 12:15
Forgiveness is setting a prisoner free and then discovering the prisoner was you.

2009-09-25 - One Another - Making it Clear
1 Corinthians 1-3 2 Corinthians 1
The world's wisdom The world's wisdom
God's grace God's grace

Relationships that are conducted according to the world's wisdom - have some element of self in mind

Relationships in God's grace have in mind: God's grace to us and our need to pass grace on to others

World teaches to be independent / We belong to one another -  Romans 12:5
  • One on who be independent choose not to / he emptied himself and became a slave - Philippians 2
  • We are do be devoted to one another - philostorgos = like family - Romans 12:10
When we see the grace of God, we see one:
  • who brings into his circle of friends - John 15:13-15
  • who adopts us into his family - Hebrews 2:11
  • who vows he will never leave or forsake us - Hebrews 13:5
We are to admonish one another and speak the truth in love - Colossians 3:16; Ephesians 4:15

If living with worldly wisdom  then we will:
  1. Ignore the problem
  2. Gossip about it to other
  3. Blast a person with the truth
None of these actions show grace

2009-09-27 - One Another - Familial Love
Scripture uses the powerful metaphor of the family

God is our Father
Jesus is the elder brother
We are brothers and sisters - the word, brother, used 250x in reference to Christians

We are to keep on loving each other as brothers - Hebrews 13:11
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love - Romans 12:10

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

2010-01-19 - Kingdom First - Handle Prayerfully (part 1)
Jesus was a man of prayer - he knew how to do it and he did it all the time
  • Prayed for the power to heal and to change others - Mark 9:29
  • In prayer in order to be at peace with God's will - Matthew 26:36-46
  • Struggled in prayer to be wholehearted submissive to his Father - Hebrews 5:7-8
  • Prayed by himself - Matthew 14:23
  • Prayed before others - John 11:41-43
  • Prayed with his face to the ground - Matthew 26:39
  • Prayed looking up to heaven - John 17:1
  • Prayed standing up - Mark 11:25
  • Prayed kneeling down - Luke 22:41
  • Prayed in early in the morning - Mark 1:35
  • Prayed throughout the night - Luke 6:12
He did NOT say:
  • If you pray
  • Please, I beg you to pray
  • I command you to pray
But "When you pray..."

2010-01-25 - Kingdom First - Only One Master

What occupies my mind?
What concerns me?
When I think of security, is my focus on God or money?

If we are eager and driven to gain more we will stray from the faith and be pierced with many griefs - 1 Timothy 6:10

Secret to being content, I can do everything through him that gives me strength - Philippians 4:12-13

Judas: example of someone trying to live with 2 masters:

  • Expressed concern for a waste of money that could have gone to the poor - John 12:4-6
  • The hold money had on Judas' heart eventually led to his betrayal of Jesus
Guards responsible for securing Jesus' tomb
Elders gave large sums of money to have them lie about the disciples stealing the body of Jesus - Matthew 28:12

What is our selling point?
Do not put our hope in wealth, which is so uncertain - 1 Timothy 6:17
Keep your lives free from the love of money - Hebrews 13:5

2010-02-07 - First the Kingdom - One-Lane Road (part 2)
When have been given a second chance to walk the narrow road

Finding the narrow does not guarantee we will go through the final gate

Must make daily decisions:
  • Decision to stay humble - Luke 18:17
  • Decision against materialism - Luke 18:24-25
  • Decision to persevere through hardships - Acts 14:22
  • Decision to stand firm in our convictions - Luke 21:12-19
  • Decision to believe and obey God whatever the circumstances - Hebrews 3:5-19


2010-02-10 - First the Kingdom - Trees (part 3)

No fruit means a bad tree too

A fruitless tree in a useless tree - Matthew 3:10, Matthew 13:22, Luke 13:6-9, Luke 19:11-27, John 15:2, 6, Hebrews 6:8

Jesus warned the Pharisees the kingdom of God would be taken away from people who will not produce - Matthew 21:43

In the Christian life there is no neutrality of example
Either we bear good fruit OR not bearing fruit which shows the condition of our heart - sterile and barren
Bearing no fruit = faithless Christianity

Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire - Matthew 7:19

 



2010-02-18 - One Another - Encouraging One Another (part 3)
Encourage one another - Hebrews 3:12-13
  • There must a real involvement in each other's lives - we need each other
  • We fail to realize the strength of discouragement and its ability to gradually eat away at our conviction and faith
  • There is a strong sense of spiritual obligation
  • See to it - not hope it happens
  • Make sure it happens - Who? you
Let us not give up meeting together but let us encourage one another - Hebrews 10:25
  • Meeting together is not only benefiting us but it is also helping others
  • Does not exclusively refer to services of the church


2010-02-19 - One Another - Spurring One Another (part 1)
Let us consider how we spur one another on toward love and good deeds - Hebrews 10:24

Two unfaithful extremes:
  • We feel uncomfortable which people getting involved with our lives at all
  • We tell people what we think they should do and expect them to do it
Great blessings we have based on our relationship with Jesus - Hebrews 10:19-25
  • We have access to the Father
  • We a great high priest
  • We have full assurance
  • We have a clean conscience
  • We have hope
  • We have a faithful God


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


2010-02-26 - One Another - Forgiving One Another (part 2)
Other matters related to forgiveness:

Forgiveness is the ultimate 'one another' trump card

Love, which always forgives, can cover a multitude of sins - 1 Peter 4:8

Forgiveness must come from a grateful heart

If forgiveness comes from anything other than a grateful heart, we lack the purity of heart
Rid yourself of all bitterness, rage, and anger - forgiving each other as Christ forgave you - Ephesians 4:31-32

We must help one another forgive

When a person is not forgiving, they grow bitter
The sin of lack of forgiveness of someone may be greater than the actual offense
See that no one misses the grace of God and no bitter root grows - Hebrews 12:14-15

Pain and anger are not resolved in a moment, but let us never doubt where we must end up

2010-03-16 - To Live is Christ - Profit to Loss
If anyone want to talk about 'confidence in the flesh', Paul was ready to take them on - Philippians 3:4-7
Paul used the events in his life to show just how empty all human achievements in before God

Heredity reasons (how Paul was more than others but counted them a loss)
  • He was circumcised the first day it was possible (eighth day)
  • He was an Israelite
  • He was from the tribe of Benjamin (most honored tribe of all)
  • He was a Hebrew of Hebrews - carefully passed on Hebrew language to children
Hard work reasons (how Paul was more than others but counted them a loss)
  • He was extremely zealous - Galatians 1:14
  • He vigorously opposed the church
  • He was faultless in the eyes of others
He considered it all a loss = Greek: "the thinks that were gains to me, I counted loss"
If anyone had a right to glory in the flesh, Paul did, but he clearly saw that no one has that right

2010-04-02 - Life to the Full - Dead or Alive? (part 2)
While there is certain kinds of judging that is prohibited or discourage, there is also judging that is encouraged
  • Judging whether someone is receptive - Matthew 7:6
  • Coming to a correct conclusion - Luke 12:57
  • Spiritual judgments - 1 Corinthians 2:15
  • Church discipline - 1 Corinthians 5:12-13
  • Adjudicating in litigation - 1 Corinthians 6:5
  • Being convicted by spiritual worship - 1 Corinthians 14:24
And some judgment belonging only to God
  • Judgment regarding retribution - Hebrews 10:30
  • Final judgment - John 12:48


2010-04-25 - Heart of Friendship (part 1)

Preached by John Lusk (2005-01-23)

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

  • We need each other
  • Many books written about relationships - None seem to completely work

Christ is the key to having true friendships

Friendship with Christ

John 15:14-15

  • Amazing - God of the universe calls us a "friend"
  • Much like a maturing parent/child relationship - we grow from master/slave relationship to a friendship with the almighty God
  • Jesus meet many of our needs - Belonging and Security

Matthew 11:28-30 - Jesus yoke is easy and he will give you rest

Hebrews 4:15-16 - Jesus understands and have been in your situation

2 Peter 1:3 - He given everything we need in life



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