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Searching for "will" in the Quiet Time Archive
Displaying results from "25" to "50". (825 found)

2008-04-29 - Falling in Love with God - Seeking Only Him

If God's people will humble themselves pray and seek his face, he will hear from heaven and forgive us - 2 Chronicles 7:11-16

Even after the temple was built, God was concerned whether his people will still seek him

God himself was often "felt" but not "found" - He has the same concern today

Difference: being members / having a deep personal and individual relationship with God

In his pride the wicked does not seek him - Psalms 10:1-4

One thing I ask: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord, gaze upon the beauty - Psalms 27:1-9

Nothing will satisfy like seeking his face



2008-04-30 - Falling in Love with God - God Finding Us

When does seeking really start?

Romans 3:11 - there is no one that seeks God
John 6:44 - No one can come to me unless the Father draws him

Studying the Bible is simply allowing ourselves to be sought by God

If it was our own effort - baptism may seem like the end of the quest

We need to active learners

When we were young, we understood obligation  - "I gotta go to school"
After high school, we may go to college and narrow our focus of learning and become passive learners

  • We listen to the voice of our experience as the final authority
  • We learn mostly from our mistakes
  • We learn when we are forced to out of control - crisis, illness, death

Treasures are for those who will continue to seek forever; not for those who want tips and tricks for being "effective"

If there were ever a moment to be a passive learner, it would be when you walk with Jesus

Luke 11:1-13 - where would we be if the disciples had not asked about praying to the Father? - not know how to address the Father

We need to take responsibilty to get deep and ask questions



2008-05-01 - Power of Spiritual Thinking - Forgiveness, part 1

Jesus calls for unlimited forgiveness - disciples plea to increase their faith

If on-goning relationship difficulties - maybe one or both are too concerned about who sinned the most rather than focusing on reconciliation

With a willingness to forgive, we cannot be forgiven by God - Matthew 6:14; Matthew 18:23-35

We must forgive in the way that God forgives - Colossians 3:13
He forgives quickly, completely, and repeatedly - and then forgets the sin - Hebrews 8:12



2008-05-02 - Power of Spiritual Thinking - Forgiveness, part 2

1 Peter 2:18

  • Our first response to others must having nothing to do with how they treat us; love is unconditional
  • Our response to those who mistreat us must be based on the example of Jesus
  • Our response when we are hurt is to think how to extend an opportunity of repentance and forgiveness
  • The more we suffer with grace and mercy toward our offender, the more they are drawn to God

1 Peter 3:8-9

  • Taking up our cross means we suffer at the hands of others without retaliation and with repect
  • Offenders will be melted by our gentleness and hopefully
  • Even if no repetance, they at least have an opportunity to repent

Taking the way of the cross accomplishes:

  • Refines our character, making us more like Jesus
  • Works on those who sin against us by bringing them to repentance
  • The greater the hurt forgiven, the greater the impact of the one forgiven


2008-05-03 - Power of Spiritual Thinking - Rest of the Story
The first person who presents a case - seems right - Proverbs 18:17
  • Marriage counseling - one view, then a different view
  • Forming opinion without all the background information
  • Good leader - realizing he does not know everything about every subject
  • Been hurt by others - assume others are the same way
Good thing to say: "I have seen something which concerns me, but I haven't heard your side yet"

Involving everyone on a decision will help others to feel valued and for you to consistently have good decisions

We have trouble listening to other opinions besides our own

Can you get hurt by other that love you? Yes
 - Double indemnity insurance policy against unresolved issues (Matthew 18:15-17 and Matthew 5:23-24)

2008-05-04 - Power of Spiritual Thinking - Buy Now and Pay Later
Many struggle with the route of least resistance - CHARGE IT

Satan invented the mind-set: Sin now and pay later

God is not short-term but long-term
Pay up front and gain big dividends later
Righteousness is an investment of life

Without perseverance through hard time times we will not grow - Romans 5:1-5, James 1:2-4, Hebrews 12:5-14
God does not "zap" change into you:
Change requires:
  • Practice until our character is different - Hebrews 5:14
  • Patience if did not get it right for ___ time
  • Trust God that this change is for our own good - Romans 8:28
We always know what we want, God always knows what we need


2008-05-05 - Power of Spiritual Thinking - The Easy Way Out
Taking the easy way out is as normal as breathing.

We love labor saving devices - medicine, cars, wash machine, lawn mower, tools

Not bad for life, but there is button pushing when it comes to overcoming our sinful nature
  • Deny self daily
  • Repentance - when we don't respond to God's grace - God will find a way to help us to repent
    • Through kindness - Romans 2:4
    • Through discipline - Hebrews 12:5-11
  • Persevering though suffering - James 1:2-4
Greater the gain in spirituality, the larger the price tag

God is determined to raise us up to maturity, despite our wailing and weeping through the rod of discipline
Sooner we cooperate, the sooner our trials may end

Do you want Joy? > Become spiritually mature
Do you want to mature? > Pray for God to help (suffering will most likely be involved)

Reject the temptation to desire the easy way
That way will lead to death - Proverbs 14:12

2008-05-06 - Power of Spiritual Thinking - Emotions and Spirituality
Emotions are God-given and a blessing

Some refuse to get open and honest with their true feeling - from pride and fear

In times of crisis, we usually get past our emotional blockage and express ourselves much better

Negative emotions are not to be trusted
Unless you allow others to break into your closed system of reasoning, the illogical will continue to seem perfectly logical
Satan can use emotions in a damaging way - need to allow others to gain perspective

Emotions are needed and seen in Jesus:
  • Cried regularly - Hebrews 5:7
  • Open about disappointments - Luke 19:41-44
  • Open about struggles - Matthew 26:36-46
Thank God for those who are both emotionally based and spiritually strong at the same time

2008-05-11 - Power of Spiritual Thinking - Escaping the Performance Trap

Performance trap - termed as perfectionism (not measuring up = sin)

Guilt and imagined guilt come from performance based - must learn to understand God's grace
Guilt-ridden people are not joyful people, poor advertisements for God's kingdom

Good thing to do our best but when mixed with pride is a wrong turn
Ex. Parental pride = making children reach a goal that unattainable

Rejection (or fear of) - is the root of most of our insecurities
We either pull back or prove ourselves through performance
Much of our competitiveness come from this source

Performance-oriented tries to conceal insecurities with a superimage of self
Deep-down we want love and acceptance
Real love is unconditional

Unless we are open about our negative points we will never reallty feel loved

Paul opened up his life:

2 Corinthians 6:11-13

  • Spoke freely
  • Open wide his heart
  • Not withholding affection


2008-05-14 - Power of Spiritual Thinking - I was Born this Way
Son will not share the guilt of the father - Ezekiel 18:20

Environment or heredity - most likely both
Must be slow to judge situations we do not completely understand otherwise may bless us with an understanding in a way we do not want

Other extreme - develop a victim mentality regarding ourselves or others
Can lead to being angry, use drugs, being immoral, or just about anything else
We have difficulty applying this to a murder

Answer: despite it being more difficult and having different backgrounds, the standard is still the same
He does not ask us to do anything he will not enable us to do
Identify the sin > repent of it > start relying on God grace > formulate a plan to overcome sin
Psychology can find root causes but it is powerless to find a cure

Hezekiah and Josiah were righteous amount a line of kings that were evil

The promises of God are far greater than our past and present challenges

Pray that we may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way - Colossians 1:10-12

2008-05-19 - Power of Spiritual Thinking - Sentimentality

Can easily become sentimental when talking about salvation:

  • Family, people you are emotionally connected with
  • Thinking about people in remote parts of the world
    • It would be cruel to share the gospel with someone who hadn't heard it and was saved
    • Like not throwing a life jacket because you think they will be alright
  • Religous people - would you be willing to stand before God with - infant baptism or non-disciple life?

All have sin and have fallen short of the glory of God - Romans 3:23

Being "broader" than the Bible puts you on the wrong road

God will be the judge and he has given us the basis of his judgement - John 12:48

Extremes:

  • We become judgmental and reason like Pharisee; we are policeman, God is the judge
  • Lose our conviction religious doesn't equal salvation

 



2008-05-20 - Power of Spiritual Thinking - Heaven Can Wait
2 Corinthians 12:2-7 - Paul longed for heaven but was willing to wait in order to fulfill his purpose
Death held no fear for him because heaven was so real

Life goes by so quickly - Psalms 90:10
All are destined to become distance memories for those we leave behind

2 Corinthians 4:16 - we are wasting away outwardly but being renewed day by day

It is far too easy to become attached to this life - hardship changes this.

As beautiful as all of God's creation is, God made it as throwaway
It is destined to be burned up and to pass away - 2 Peter 3:10


2008-05-21 - Power of Spiritual Thinking - Even though
Hebrews 11:8,11,17:20
  • Even though he did not know where he was going
  • Even though he was pass age to have kids
  • Even though he God said to sacrifice his son
  • Abraham reasoned... spiritually
Romans 4:18 - Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed

He was not a blind idealist, he faced the facts: God creates the laws but he not bound by them

We will not be victorious if we sacrifice our faith on the alter of reason, logic or cynicism

It is time to get back to idealism that belongs to faith in God:

  • We can change
  • Our children can change
  • Our marriages can change
  • Our hearts can change
  • We just can't give up

We have the same God who was with Abraham

2008-05-23 - Purpose Driven Life - You Are Not an Accident

God planned:

  • Where you would be born
  • When you would be born (waiting patiently for Juniper)
  • How long you will live
  • Who your parents would need to be for you to come the way you came

God was thinking of you even before he made the world, that is why he created the world

God's purpose even took in account sin and human error.

If there was no god, we would all be accidents

The only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what God is and by what he does for us - Romans 12:3



2008-05-24 - Purpose Driven Life - What Drives Your Life?

What shouldn't drive our life (will miss God's purposes for your life):

People are driven by guilt

Allows the past to control their future
God's purpose is not limited to our past

God turned a murder (Moses and Paul) into a leader and a coward into a hero

God specializes in giving people a fresh start

People are driven by resentment and anger - Resentment always hurts you more than it does the other person

People are driven by fear - from unrealistic expectations and high-control situations

People are driven by materialism - Your value is not determined by your valuables

People are driven by the need for approval - those who follow the crowd usually get lost in it

Living a purpose driven life, knowing your purpose:

  1. Gives meaning to your life
    • I have laboed to no purpose - Isaiah 49:4
    • My life drags by - day after hopeless day - Job 7:6
    • My life makes no sense - Job 7:16
  2. Simplies your life
    • You have just enough time to do God's will - too much to do means you doing things you shouldn't be doing
  3. Focuses your life
  4. Motivates your life
  5. Prepares you for eternity


2008-05-25 - Purpose Driven Life - Made to Last Forever

This life is preparation for the next - realizing this will help you live differently

  • Place a higher premium on relationships
  • Use your time and money more wisely
  • Your priorities will become reordered

God has planted eternity in the human heart - Ecclesiastes 3:11

The closer you live to God, the smaller everything else appears

The most damging aspect of contemporary living is short-term thinking
Only time most people think about eternity is at a funeral

This world is not our home - Hebrews 13:14
Every moment in this body is time spent away from our eternal home - 2 Corinthians 5:6



2008-05-27 - Purpose Driven Life - Life is a Temporary Assignment

Life is a temporary assignment

It is descriped as a mist, a fast runner, a breath, a wisp of smoke

Compared to eternity, life is extremely brief
Earth is only a temporary residence
Christians should carry spiritual green cards

With this understanding. worries lost their grip on our lives

In order to keep us from getting too attached God allows us to feel much discontentment and dissatisfaction in life
It is a fatal mistake to assume God's goal for your life is material prosperity or popular success

  • Paul was faithful - ended up in prison
  • John the Baptist was faithful - was beheaded

Some would consider them foolish and lost everything but they gained everything - God and heaven

In heaven we will ask ourselves:

  • Why did I place so much importance things so temporary?
  • What was I thinking?
  • Why did I waste so much time on thing that will not last?


2008-05-28 - Purpose Driven Life - The Reason for Everything

The ultimate goal is to give glory to God

God's glory = the expression of his goodness and all his other eternal qualities
Through history, God has revealed his glory
God's glory is best seen in Jesus Christ

All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God - Romans 3:23
I have created them to bring me glory - Isaiah 43:7
Jesus brought glory to God by doing everthing he was told to do by God - John 17:4

  1. We bring God glory by worshiping him - Use your body to the glory of God - Romans 6:13
  2. We bring God glory by loving other believers - Accept others as Christ accepted you - Romans 15:7
  3. We bring God glory by becoming like Christ - We become more and more like him, reflect his glory even more - 2 Corthinians 3:18
  4. We bring God glory by serving others our gifts - Do it all with all that God has given you - 1 Peter 4:10-11
  5. We bring God glory by telling others about him - Bringing people to Christ through his grace, God receives more and more glory - 2 Corinthians 4:14

Giving glory to God will require us to change our priorities, schedule, relationships, and everything else

 



2008-05-29 - Purpose Driven Life - Planned for God's Pleasure
You are planned for God's pleasure
He chose to create you for his enjoyment
Bringing enjoyment to God is the first purpose in life
He considers valuable enough to keep you for eternity with him

Bringing pleasure to God is called worship
Anything you do that brings pleasure to God is an act of worship to God
Worship is a universal urge - if not worshiping God, it will be something
Worship is not for your benefit, not "I got a lot out of it"

Worship is far more than music
Worship music is not limited to a particular style of music - nothing to do with volume or speed of the song
Style of the music says more about you than it does God

Worship is not a part of your life, it is your life
Every activity can be transformed into an act of worship
Whether you drink or eat or whatever... do it all for the glory of God- 1 Corinthians 10:31

2008-06-01 - Purpose Driven Life - The Heart of Worship (Part 1)
Surrender is an unpopular word, implies losing
Heart of a true worshiper of God is surrender

Three barriers to 100% surrender are: fear, pride, and confusion

Can we trust God?

Trust is essential, you can not surrender to God if you do not trust him
Fear keeps us from surrendering - God is love and love us deeply and casts out all fear

God is willing to have his son die for us - Romans 5:8


Admitting our limitations


The oldest temptation is want to be like God - Genesis 3:5
That desire wants complete control
We want to be taller, smarter, anger, stronger, more talent, more beauty, and wealthier.
When faced with our limitations we react with irritation, anger, and resentment.


2008-06-06 - Purpose Driven Life - When God Seems Distant
Easy to worship God when things are going great

God matures relationship by times of separation - Job, David, Jesus
God promises to never leave you or forsake you

Sin separates - Friendships are tested by separation and silence

Sometimes distance from God is not because of sin - feelings may be off
It is not a feeling,  God will remove your dependence of feelings
 
Tell God how you feel
God can handle your doubt, fear, anger, grief, confusion, and questions
 
Remember: God is unchanging:
 
Job praised God in these ways:
  • Good and loving - Job 10:12
  • All powerful - Job 42:2; 37:5, 23
  • Every detail of his life - Job 23:10, 31:4
  • He is in control - Job 34:14
  • Has a plan for my life - Job 23:14
  • He will save me - Job 19:25
Trust God to keep his promises
His promises do not change despite circumstances
 
Remember what God has already done for you
Even if God will not do anything else for you (very unlikely) He gave his son

2008-06-07 - Purpose Driven Life - Formed for Gods Family
You were formed for God's family
God desired to have a family but didn't need a family
God became our Father

Benefits of being part of God's family:
  • Family name, likeness, privileges,
  • Inheritance - since yo are his child, everything he has belongs to you (Galatians 4:7)
  • Will be with God forever - 1 Thesslonians 5:10
  • Be like Christ - 1 John 3:2
  • Freed from all pain, death, and suffering - Revelation 21:4
  • Rewarded and reassigned positions of service
  • Share in Christ's glory - Romans 8:17
We all need a family to identify with - the Church - Satan is always on the prawl


2008-06-08 - Purpose Driven Life - What Matters Most
Life is all about love
 
Most important lesson he wants you to learn on earth is how to love (have a lifetime to learn)
 
Learning to love unselfishly is not an easy task - runs counter to our self-centered nature
 
God trains us by giving us "family responsibilities"
Love cannot be learned in isolation
You have to be around people - irritating, imperfect, frustrating
 
Life without love is really worthless - 1 Corinthians 13:3
God says relationships are what life is all about
  • 4 commandments  - deal with your relationships with people
  • 6 commandments - deal with your relationships with God
  • All 10 commandments deal with relationships!
 
Love God and Love People - 2 greatest commandments (Matthew 22:37-40)
 
Busyness is a great enemy of relationships
 
Love will last forever
 
How you treat other people will be the most enduring impact you can leave on earth
Final moments - we want people to surround us
 
We will be evaluated on our love
 
Spiritual maturity is measured by the quality of our relationships
To love Jesus is to love his family by providing for their needs

2008-06-09 - Purpose Driven Life - The Value of Time
The importance of things can be measured by how much time we are willing to invest in them
Your time is your life
Greatest gift you can give someone is your time
Words alone are worthless - 1 John 3:18
Most desired gift of love is focused attention
Give without loving, but you can not love without giving - God gave everything (John 3:16)
 
Make the most of every opportunity
Other and you are not guaranteed tomorrow
 
Who do you need to spend more time with?
What do you need to cut out of your day?

2008-06-10 - Purpose Driven Life - A Place to Belong
You are called to belong
Relationship with Christ is personal but not private
Your organs are connected to other organs to fulfill a purpose
Organ severed from the body will shrivel and die
 
Christ loved the church and gave his life for it - Ephesians 5:25
 
Church is Christ's bride
Can't say to Christ "I love you but I do not love your wife
 
Why you need a Church Family?
 
1. Identifies you as a genuine believer
 
2. Move you out of self-centered isolation
 
Lab for practicing unselfishness
Learn to care about others
If one part suffers, all suffer - 1 Corinthians 12:16
We ought to lay down our lives for our brothers - 1 John 3:16
 
3. Helps develop spiritual muscle
Isolation breeds deceitfulness
 
4. Body Needs you
 
5. Share in Christ's mission - He works through us
 
6. Church family will help you from backsliding
 
"Mind your own business" - not a Christian phrase
It is your responsibility to help those who need help
 
Difference between a church attender and a church member is commitment

2008-06-12 - Purpose Driven Life - Cultivating Community
Community requires commitment
Only the Holy Spirit can create real fellowship between believers
 
Cultivating community takes...
 
...Honesty
 
Silent when someone sins - not loving thing to do
Means caring enough to lovingly confront - Proverbs 24:26
A group will remain superficial because they are afraid to conflict
It is where gossip thrives
Corinth church was allowing sexual immorality because no one had the courage to say anything.
 
...Humility
 
Pride builds walls between; humility builds bridges
Being prideful is living in opposition to God - 1 Peter 5:5
Develop humility by: admitting weakness, being patient with other's weakness, being open to correction, pointing the spotlight on others
 
...Courtesy
 
Nothing to do with compatibility
Basis of our fellowship is our relationship to God - We are family
 
...Confidentiality
 
Does not mean keeping silent about sin
Means - stays within the group - Proverbs 16:28
 
...Frequency
 
You need to spend time - make it a habit - Hebrew 10:25
Community is not built on convenience - "Let's get together sometime"

2008-06-14 - Purpose Driven Life - Protecting Your Church
It is your job to protect the unity of the church
 
Supreme model for unity is the Trinity
Jesus' final moment was thinking and praying about the church's unity
Make every effort to keep the unity - Ephesians 4:3
 
Focus on what we have in common
 
We share the same life, salvation, and same future
Conflict - focused on "disputable matters"
 
Be realistic in your expectations
 
People become disillusioned with church
Should not be surprised - made up of sinners, including ourselves - 1 Corinthians 1:10
Reconciliation - not running away - road to stronger character and deeper fellowship
If the church must be perfect to satisfy you, that same perfection will exclude you
 
Choose to encourage rather than criticize
 
It is always easier to stand on the sidelines than get involved
Judge another believer:
  • Lose fellowship with God
  • Expose my pride and insecurity
  • Set myself up to be judged by God
  • Harm the fellowship
 
Satan is the accuser of our brothers
Other Christians are not the real enemy
Any time spent for comparing and criticizing should be used for building others up
 
Refuse to listen to gossip
 
People who gossip to you will also gossip about you
Great wounds usually come from other sheep, not wolves
 
Practice God's method for conflict resolution
 
Go to the person you are having issues with - Matthew 18
Takes a man of courage to speak the truth in love
 
Support your pastor and leaders - Hebrews 13:17
 
No perfect leaders
They are accountable but so are you
You will give an account on how you obeyed your leaders

2008-06-15 - Purpose Driven Life - Created to Become Like Christ
You are created to become like Christ

Jesus' mission is restore the full image that we have lost
God's ultimate goal for your life on earth in not comfort but character development
If we forget this, you will become frustrated by your circumstances

You exist for God's purpose, not vice versa

Only the Holy Spirit has the power to make the changes God wants to make in our lives - Philippians 2:13

We must cooperate with the Holy Spirit's work

Obedience unlocks God's power
God waits for you to act first
Make every effort - Luke 13:24; Romans 14:19; Ephesians 4:3; 2 Timothy 2:15

Ephesians 4:22-24 - Responsibilities in belonging like Christ:
  • Choose to let go of old ways
  • Must change the way we think
  • Must put on the "character of Christ by developing new, godly habits

God uses his Word, people, and circumstances to mold us
  • Truth we need to grow
  • Support when we need guidance or when we fail
  • Environment we need to practice Christ-likeness
In many religions, the mature isolate themselves, not those who are being like Christ

Being like Christ is a long, slow process of growth - You are a work in progress

2008-06-19 - Purpose Driven Life - Growth Through Temptation
Happy is the man who does not give in - will be rewarded with the crown of life - James 1:12

Every temptation is an opportunity to do good through the path of maturity

How does the Holy Spirit produce fruit in our lives? - Galatians 5:22-23
By allowing you to be tempted by the opposite opportunity
  • God teaches love by putting unloving people around us
  • God teaches peace by allowing times of chaos and confusion
You can not claim to be faithful if you've never had the opportunity to be unfaithful

Temptation follows 4 steps:
  1. Satan identifies a desire within you - Comes from within - Mark 7:21-23
  2. Satan tries to get you doubt what God has said about sin - Don't let your doubt turn you from God - Hebrews 3:12
  3. Satan tries replace truth with lies - He is the Father of lies - John 8:44
  4. Our disobedience - Drawn away and trapped by our own desires - James 1:14-16


2008-06-20 - Purpose Driven Life - Defeating Temptation

There is always a way out
He will not permit any temptation that you could not overcome - 1 Corinthians 10:13

Refocus attention on something else

By resisting, you actually reinforce it
Don't fight the though, change the channel
Power of suggestion - the more you think about something, the stronger it takes hold of you
Temptation begins by capturing your attention - Satan can't get your attention when you are focused on something else

Reveal your struggle to a gold friend or support group

If you fall, a friend can help you up - Eccelesiastes 4:9-10
Hiding your hurt intensifies it
Satan wants you to think that your temptation is unique - We all fight the same temptations - 1 Corinthians 10:13
The reason we hide our faults is pride - everything is under control

Resist the Devil

He will flee when you resist - James 4:7
Without Christ we are defenseless against the Devil
Satan can not make you do anything, he can only suggest
Use the Word of God as your weapon against Satan - Jesus simply answered Satan with scriptures
Don't ever try to argue with Satan - he better at it

Realize your vulnerabilities

The heart is deceitful above all things- Jeremiah 17:9

Don't carelessly place yourself in tempting situations, avoid them - Proverbs 14:16



2008-06-21 - Purpose Driven Life - Overcoming Temptation
Refuse to be intimidated

You will never outgrow temptation
Temptation is a sign that Satan hates you
Paul says, "WHEN you are tempted..." - 1 Corinthians 10:13
Jesus was tempted, but never sinned - Hebrews 4:15
The closer you grown to God, the more Satan will try to tempt you

Recognize your pattern of temptation

Know what exactly what trips you up - Stay alert, Satan waits til you are napping - Matthew 26:41
  • When am I most tempted?
  • Where am I most tempted?
  • Who is with me went I am tempted?
Don't give the Devil a chance - Ephesians 4:27
Plan carefully what you do... - Proverbs 4:26-27

Request God's Help

Call on God in times of trouble - Psalms 50:15
Jesus is sympathetic; he understands our weakness - Hebrews 4:15
We can be embarrassed to ask God for help after failing over and over again, but let us have confidence when approaching - Hebrews 4:16

2008-06-26 - Purpose Driven Life - No Excuse for Not Serving
The Bible warns against living only for ourselves - Romans 2:8
Trying to save our life; we will lose it - Mark 8:35

What excuse have you been using to not serve?
  • Abraham was old
  • Jacob was insecure
  • Leah was unattractive
  • Joseph was abused
  • Moses stuttered
  • Gideon was poor
  • Samson was codependent
  • Rahab was immoral
  • David has an affair and many family problems
  • Elijah was suicidal
  • Jeremiah was depressed
  • Jonah was reluctant
  • Nomi was a widow
  • John the Baptist was eccentric
  • Martha worried a lot
  • Samaritan women had several failed marriages
  • Peter was impulsive and hot-tempered
  • Zacchaeus was unpopular
  • Thomas had doubt
  • Paul had poor heath
  • Timothy was timid


2008-06-27 - Purpose Driven Life - Shaped for Serving God
Before God created you, he decided what role he wanted you to play on earth
You were made for a specific ministry.

Created in Christ to do good works - Ephesians 2:10

God does not make junk
God never wastes anything - he did not give you talents and gifts unless he intended for you to use them for his glory

God shapes us:
Spiritual Gifts
Heart
Abilities
Personality
Experience

We will look at spiritual gifts and heart today:

SHAPE: Spiritual Gifts


He alone decides which gift each person should have - 1 Corinthians 12:11
If you had them all, you would not need others; teaches us to love and depend on each other

Given gifts for the benefit of others
Gift given as a means of helping the entire church - 1 Corinthians 12:7

Two gift problems:
  • Gift-envy - wanting a gift that someone else has
  • Gift-projection - expect others to the same gifts as we do
SHAPE: Heart

Heart = desires, hopes, interest, ambition, dreams, and passion
Heart reflects the person - Proverbs 27:19
You may have interest that no one else has - from God

Don't ignore your interest; consider how they might be used by God

Serve the Lord with all of your heart - Deuteronomy 11:13

How do you know if you are serving the Lord with all of your heart?
  • Enthusiasm - what you love to do; no one has to motivate
  • Effectiveness - passion drives perfection
A simple life is better than a rich life with headaches - Proverbs 15:16

2008-06-28 - Purpose Driven Life - Applying Your Abilities
We are all have abilities that God has given us
To build the Tabernacle, God engaged all kinds of craftsmanship - Exodus 31:3-5

All of our abilities come from God

God has given each of us the ability to do certain things well - Romans 12:6
Can not say, "I don't have any abilities to offer"
  • Average person possesses from 500 to 700 different skills and abilities
  • Brain can store 100 trillion facts
  • Can handle 15,000 decisions a second
Every ability can be used for God's glory

Whatever you do, do it for the glory of God - 1 Corinthians 10:31
Remember the Lord your God; he give the ability to produce wealth - Deuteronomy 8:18

What I am able to do, God wants me to do

God equips you will you need for doing well - Hebrews 13:21
Seriously examine what you are good at doing and do it
God will never ask to something you have no talent for
Abilities are not just to make a living, but also for service for him
Be sure to use our abilities to help each other - 1 Peter 4:10


2008-06-29 - Purpose Driven Life - Using Personality and Experiences

Personality

You are very unique 102,400,000,000 in DNA terms
All the particles in the universe is less than 1076

It is obvious that God loves variety
God works through different people in different ways; achieves his purpose through all - 1 Corinthians 12:6
So many personality conflicts between just the 12 disciples

It is easier to  work with the grain than against it
Mimicking someone else exactly does not work

Experiences

  • Family experiences
  • Education experiences
  • Vocational experiences
  • Spiritual experiences
  • Ministry experiences
  • Painful experiences

Greatest ministry comes from our most likely come from your greatest pain
God allows you to go through painful experiences for ministry of others

When others are troubled, we will be able to give them the comfort God has given us - 2 Corinthians 1:4

Paual was honest with his bouts of depression
He eventually put everything into the hands of God, who alone could save us - 2 Corinthians 1:8-10

If Paul kept his experience to himslef, millions of people would have never benefitted from it

Don't waste your pain, us it to help others

 



2008-07-01 - Purpose Driven Life - Real Servants (part 1)

We server God by serving others
Everyone wants to lead; not many want to follow - we would rather be generals than privates

How can you know if you have the heart of Jesus?
You can tell what they are by what they do - Matthew 7:16

Real Servants make themselves available to serve

Like a soldier, always by for duty - 2 Timothy 2:4

  • Do what is needed
  • Do it when it is inconvenient
  • Gives up control of their schedule
  • Not frustrated because it is whatever God wants

Real servants pay attention to needs

Always looking out for ways to help others
Great opportunities to serve never last for long
Never tell your neighbor to wait until tomorrow if you can help them now - Proverbs 3:28

Real servants do their best with what they have

Servant never make excuses, procratinate, wait for better circumstances
If you wait for the perfect conditions, you will never get anything done - Ecclesiates 11:4
Less-than-perfect service is better than the best intention



2008-07-02 - Purpose Driven Life - Real Servants (part 2)

Real servants do every task with equal dedication

Whatever you do, do it with all your heart - Colossians 3:23
You are never too [fill in the blank] to be a servant
Jesus specialized in menial tasks:

  • washing feet
  • helping children
  • fixing breakfast
  • servng lepers

Small taks often show a big heart
Little things determine big things
Race to be a leaders is crowded but the field is wide open for those willing to be servants

Real servants are faithful to their ministry

Servants finish tasks, fullfill their responsibilities, and complete their commitments
Can you be counted on by others?
We want to God to say, "Well gone, good and faithful servant" - Matthew 25:23

Real Servants maintain a low profile

Put on the apron of humility, to serve one another - 1 Peter 5:5
Not about show  - If we are trying to please men (including ourselves) we can not be a servant of Christ - Galatians 1:10

Servants are content with quietly serving in the shadows
Wouldn't find many true servants in any Halls of Fame or Who's who books

Be confident that nothing you do for God is a waste of time or effort - 1 Corinthians 15:58



2008-07-04 - Purpose Driven Life - Thinking Like a Servant (part 2)

Servants think about their work, not what others are doing

They do not compare, criticize, or compete with other servants; same goal and same team
When you are busy serving, you don't have time to be critical
Our job is not to evaluate - Lord will determine the sucessfulness  of his servant - Romans 14:4

If you serve like Jesus, expect to be criticized
The service of the sinful (pouring perfume on Jesus) was though to be a waste but just though of it as significant - Matthew 26:10

Servants base their identity in Christ

They are loved and accepted by grace, servants don't have to prove their worth
Jesus washing feet - Jesus understood his worth and the task did not threathen his self-image - John 13:3-4

Insecure people are always worrying about how they appear; want others to serve them instead
Only God's approval counts - 2 Corinthians 10:18

Servants think of ministry as an opportunity, not an obligation

Serve the Lord with gladness - Psalms 100:2
The Father rewards anyone who serves him - John 12:26
He will not forget how hard you have worked - Hebrews 6:10

The only really happy people are those who have learned to serve



2008-07-06 - Purpose Driven Life - Gods Power in My Weakness (part 2)

All God's great people in the Bible were weak but did not stay that way:

  • Moses: Weakness was his temper BECAME "the humblest man on earth" - Numbers 12:3
  • Gideon: Weakness was his low self-esteem BECAME a "mighty man of valor" - Judges 6:12
  • Abraham: Weakness was fear BECAME "the father of those who have faith" - Romans 4:11
  • Peter: Weakness was weak willed BECAME "a rock" - Matthew 16:18
  • David: Weakness as a adulterous BECAME "a man after my own heart" - Acts 13:22
  • John: Weakness was arrogance BECAME "apostle of love"


2008-07-10 - Purpose Driven Life - Made for a Mission (part 2)
Your mission is a wonderful privilege
  • You are working with God
  • You are representing God
We're Christ representatives and become friends with God - 2 Corinthians 5:20

Telling others how they can have eternal is the best thing you can do

If have the cure for AIDs, you would share it
You just have to remember the hopeless you felt without Christ

Your mission has eternal significance

Impact the eternal destiny of other people
Consequences will last for ever; consequences of your job will not

All of us must quickly carry our tasks; all work comes to an end - John 9:4


2008-07-11 - Purpose Driven Life - Made for a Mission (part 3)
Your mission give your life meaning

The nest use of your life is to spend it for something that outlast you.
My life is worth nothing unless I use it for doing the work assigned me - Acts 20:24
The is some people that only you can reach

God's timetable is connected to the completion of our mission

Some are focus on when Christ will come
No one knows (or will know) the day or hour of the end - Matthew 24:36
It is not for us to know; it is up to us to witness - Acts 1:7-8
Jesus quickly switch the conversations from prophecy to evangelism

Satan would rather have do anything besides sharing your faith
Expect Satan to throw all kinds of diversion at you
Anyone who lets themselves get distracted from God's plan is not fit for the Kingdom of God - Luke 9:62

2008-07-12 - Purpose Driven Life - Sharing Your Message (Testimony)
Your message includes testimony

Tell other of the difference he made for you - 1 Peter 2:9

Witnessing = simply sharing your personal experiences regarding the Lord

In court witness are NOT expected to:
  • Prove the truth
  • Argue the case
  • Press for a verdict
Witnesses simply report what happened to them or what they saw
You will be my witnesses - Acts 1:8

Personal stories:
  • Easier to relate to than principles
  • Capture our attention
  • People are naturally curious about experiences they never have had
  • Builds a relational bridge
  • Bypasses intellectual defenses
Be ready to all times to answer for your hope - 1 Peter 3:15-16

Four parts of your testimony:
  1. What my life was before Christ
  2. How I realized I needed Jesus
  3. How I committed my life to Jesus
  4. The difference Jesus has made in my life


2008-07-14 - Purpose Driven Life - Sharing Your Message (Godly Passions)
God passionately loves some things and passionately hates things other thing
The closer you are to God - you will share these view

Jesus - Man's heart determines his speech - Matthew 12:34
David - Zeal for God's work burn within him - Psalms 69:9
Jeremiah - Cannot keep silent - Jeremiah 20:9

Are defend the defenseless, those who can not speak for themselves
Should not expect everyone to have the exact same passion as you

It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good - Galatians 4:18

2008-07-16 - Purpose Driven Life - Becoming a World-Class Christian (part 2)
Shift from self-centered thinking to other-centered thinking

Stop thinking like children (thinking like only of self), and like like mature people (grown ups) - 1 Corinthians 14:20
Most advertising encourages selfish thinking

To make the paradigm switch to mature thinking - need to dependence of God
God has given us his Spirit so we don't think like the world thinks - 1 Corinthians 2:12


Shift from local thinking to global thinking

God so loved the world... - John 3:16
God made all the nations and where they would be, so we would look for him - Acts 17:26-27

The world already thinks globally: business, competition, and news
If you ask me, I will give you the nations - Psalms 2:8

What should we pray for?
  1. Opportunities to witness - Colossians 4:3
  2. Courage to speak up - Ephesians 6:19
  3. Rapid spread of the gospel - John 17:20
  4. More workers - 2 Thessalonians 3:1


2008-07-17 - Purpose Driven Life - Becoming a World-Class Christian (part 3)
Shift from "here and now" thinking to eternal thinking

Eternal thinking will keep us from majoring on minor issues
We fix our eyes on what is unseen - 2 Corinthians 4:18
Deal sparingly on things the world trusts on you - 1 Corinthians 7:31
Let's strip off anything that holds us back - Hebrews 12:1

Invest in the future (in heaven)
Store up treasure in heaven - Matthew 6:20-21
Real treasure in God in heaven and the friends we can bring with us - 1 Timothy 6:19

2008-07-20 - Purpose Driven Life - Lifes 5 Greatest Questions
  1. What will be the center of my life? - Center our lives should be God - 2 Chronicles 14:4
  2. What will be the character of my life? - Keep a firm grasp of your character; keep at it - 1 Timothy 4:16
  3. What will be the contribution of my life? - Meet the needs of God's people produces gratitude - 2 Corinthians 9:12
  4. What will be the communication of my life? - Bring honor to the good news - Philippians 1:27
  5. What will be the community of my life? - Christ loved the church and gave his life for it - Ephesians 5:25


2008-07-21 - 30 Days at the Cross - Unconditional Love

Feels good to feel loved - insecurities come from not being sure or for some reason other than unconditional love

In our worst shape, God demonstrated his love for us - Romans 5:8
Love that surpasses knowledge - Ephesians 3:19
The is not of higher value than unconditional love
Not a testimony to God's softness on sin
We will be changed if we understand God's love

Love you enough to have his son killed for you - while you (and me) were enemies of God
How much is his love toward you now that you his child?
Be imitators of God, as dearly loved children and live a life of love - Ephesians 5:1-2

If God loves us this much, we should as love this way - 1 John 4:11
Do you only love God when perform as you think he should? He doesn't!

Paul - Christ came to save sinners and I am the worst - 1 Timothy 1:15

 



2008-07-22 - 30 Days at the Cross - Hating Sin

We can feel pain because God feels pain
By his wounds you have been healed - 1 Peter 2:24

Questions:

  • Have you loved someone wholeheartedly and they stopped loving you?
  • Has someone take advantage of you?
  • Have you ever been neglected, forgotten, or rejected?

Amazing grace cost amazing pain

Don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? - James 4:4-5

How does God feel about:

  • Lack of trust?
  • Sexual sin?
  • Lack of care?
  • Being pushed aside because of school or business?
The greater capacity to love, the greater the capacity to feel pain

Imagine that you can home from work and you found a dog that just kill your child
We killed Jesus with our sin, how should we be treated?
  • How do you feel about sin? Do you hate it?
  • Do you allow sin to stay around?
Your hatred toward sin is in proportion to your love for the one who died for you
Resist the devil and he will flee; Come near to God and he will near to you - James 4:7-10

2008-07-25 - 30 Days at the Cross - Always Remembering

Passover - it meant freedom for the Jews (from Egypt)
Jesus choose Passover to bring freedom to all through his death

It was a new relationship with God and man
God loved mankind but man hurt God with his sin

Jesus: with my life and death, you have a new relationship, now remember this
It will be forgotten in our lives if we don't make plans to remember

In the midst of our activities and pressure of life, we forget:

  • How much he went through for us
  • That we can be forgiven and start over again and again
  • Why we are doing things we are doing

He took bread and gave thanks for this very reason - Luke 22:19

Give thanks and examine yourself - 1 Corinthians 11:28
Don't forget that in Christ there is no condemnation - Romans 8:1



2008-07-26 - 30 Days at the Cross - Wisdom and Power of God

Will the cross ever make sense to the world?

Will all the wisdom of the world, no one has found God
Man destined to frustration by God himself to show themselves helpless without God

Jews sought a miracle worker general ignoring scriptures like Isaiah 53
Greeks described god as apatheia - total inability to feel; looked don on uncultered Christians

God's plan was never to impress prideful scholars or to find acceptance among the rulers of the ages

Some things never change:

  • Graduate student in the laborary for 100 hours - OK
  • Athlete who trains 6-8 hours a day - OK
  • Executive working 60 hours a week - OK
  • Someone passionate about Christ - Bad

Cross is foolishness to those who are perishing
Man without the Spirit does not accpet spiritual things - 1 Corinthians 2:14
God has blinded the minds of unbelievers - 2 Corinthians 4:4

God didn't come to impress the world. Are you?



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