Defeating Negativism
Philippians 4:8:
8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.
What we put in our mind determines what comes out in our words and actions.
We need to examine what we are putting into our minds through TV, internet , books , conversations , movies, and magazines. Replace harmful input with wholesome material.
Above all, read Gods word and pray.
1. By Your Decisions
Deuteronomy 30:19:
19 “Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live!
Moses challenged Israel to choose life, to obey God, and therefore to continue to experience his blessings.
God doesn’t force his will on anyone. He lets us decide to follow him or reject him.
This decision, however, is a life or death matter. God wants us to realize this , for he would like us all to choose life. Daily, in each new situation, we must affirm and reinforce this commitment.
A. Some people have a negative attitude. Their pessimism brings unhappiness to both themselves and others.
B. You can be optimistic. By deliberate action of your will you can decide to have a positive outlook.
C. Daily decisions are necessary to attain this. Concentrating on God’s good plan for your life will bring victory over negativism.
Genesis 50:20:
20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.
Do you trust God enough to wait patiently for him to bring good out of bad situations? You can trust him because God can overrule peoples evil intentions to bring about his intended results.
2. By Your Devotion
Psalm 119:11:
11 I have hidden your word in my heart,
that I might not sin against you.
Hiding (keeping) Gods word in our hearts is a deterrent to sin. This alone should inspire us to memorize Scriptures. But memorization alone will not keep us from sin: we must also put Gods word to work in our lives, making it a vital guide for everything we do.
A. Many neglect their devotional life. Their lack of prayer and Bible reading brings defeat.
B. Devotion is necessary to positive living. Implicit trust brings peace, love, and joy.
C. Be faithful in your devotions. Keep praying and believing and win over negativism.
Luke 18
Parable of the Persistent Widow
1 One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up.
To persist in prayer and not give up does not mean endless repetition or painfully long prayer sessions.
Constant prayer means keeping our requests continually before God as we live for him day by day, believing he will answer.
When we live by faith, we are not to give up. God may delay in answering, but his delays always have good reasons. As we persist in prayer, we grow in character, faith, and hope.
3. By Your Diligence
Proverbs 11:27:
27 If you search for good, you will find favor;
but if you search for evil, it will find you!
A. Selfishness lends itself to negativism. Those who are concerned only with personal gain and self- interests tend to become negative when things don’t go there way.
B. You can subdue a negative attitude by helping the less fortunate. Lending a helping hand, visiting the sick and lonely, loving the unlovable lifts your self-esteem.
C. Be diligent for God. Seek to share Christ with others. Sharing brings victory over negativism.
Proverbs 11:30:
30 The seeds of good deeds become a tree of life;
a wise person wins friends.
A wise person is a model of a meaningful life. Like a tree attracts people to its shade, a wise persons sense of purpose attracts others who want to know how they too , can find meaning. Gaining wisdom yourself can be the first step in leading people to God.
4. By His Direction
Psalm 32:8:
8 The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life.
I will advise you and watch over you.
God longs to guide us with love and wisdom. He offers to teach us the best way to go. Accept the advice written in Gods Word and don’t let your stubbornness keep you from obeying God.
A. Many depend on their own power instead of asking for and depending on God’s strength.
B. God wants to help us, but we must do our share, for we are workers together with God.
2 Corinthians 6:1:
1 As God’s partners, we beg you not to accept this marvelous gift of God’s kindness and then ignore it.
Don’t just hear Gods message and not let it affect your life.
C. Believe that God is directing. You win when you follow His leading.
Proverbs 6:3:
3 follow my advice and save yourself,
for you have placed yourself at your friend’s mercy.
Today will you choose to make a difference.
Will you say I will begin by controlling my thoughts.
A person is the product of his thoughts.
Will you say you want to be happy and hopeful. Therefore, will have thoughts that are happy and hopeful.
Will you refuse to be victimized by your circumstances.
Will you not let petty inconveniences such as stoplights, long lines, and traffic jams be your masters.
Will you avoid negativism and gossip.
Optimism will be your companion, and victory will be your hallmark. Today will you make a difference.
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Sunday, September 19, 2010
10 ASSURANANCES EVERYBODY WANTS
Ten Assurances Everybody Wants
Illustration: 30 years ago two shoe salesmen were sent to Nigeria to survey the country for the possibility of building a shoe factory. The first man came back and said, "Few people here wear shoes so there is little need to build a new shoe factory in Nigeria. The second came back to London and said, "This is the greatest opportunity we have ever had. Everybody I saw needs a good pair of shoes." That is how we need to look at every community when it comes to their need for Jesus Christ and His love and forgiveness. Let us learn to view everyone, everything and every relationship from the mind of Jesus Christ.
There is nothing we can’t do with Christ on our side. We tend to look at the negative side of life instead of focusing on the opportunities that God gives us.
Sometimes we through perfect opportunities out the window.
Tell story of littering.
The bible commands us to go out and be a great witness to this world but sometimes we don’t do that because we are so unsure of whom we are in Christ.
This morning I want to focus on ten assurances that we have.
1. Assurance of Salvation: I John 5:11,12,13 - And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.
Illustration: There are four basic categories:
1) Those who think they are saved, but aren’t. Matthew 7:21-3
2) Those we think are saved, but aren’t. 1 John 2:18-19
3) Those who are saved, but don’t act like it: Corinthians.
4) Those who are saved, and they act like it.
Whoever believes in God’s Son has eternal life. He is all you need. You don’t have to wait for eternal life because it begins the moment you believe.
You don’t need to work for it because it is already yours. You don’t need to worry about it because you have been given eternal life by God himself- and its guaranteed.
Some people hope that they will receive eternal life. John says we can know we have it.
Our certainty is based on God’s promise that he has given us eternal life through his Son.
This is true whether you feel close to God or far away from him. Eternal life is not based on feelings but on facts. You can know that you have eternal life if you believe God’s truth.
If you aren’t sure that you are a Christian, ask yourself: Have I honestly committed my life to him as my Savior and Lord? If so, you know by faith that you are indeed a child of God.
2. Assurance of Forgiveness: I John 1:9 - If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
Confession is supposed to free us to enjoy fellowship with Christ. It should ease our conscience and lighten our cares. But some Christians do not understand how it works. They feel so guilty that they confess the same sins over and over: then we wonder if we may have forgotten something.
Our relationship with Christ is secure. He forgives and forgets. But true confession involves a commitment not to continue in sin. We wouldn’t be genuinely confessing our sins to God if we planned to commit them again and just wanted temporary forgiveness. We should pray for strength to defeat temptation the next time we face it.
3. Assurance of Guidance: Prov. 3:5,6 - Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
When we have an important decision to make, we sometimes feel that we can’t trust anyone- not even God. But God knows what is best for us. He is a better judge of what we want than we are! We must trust him completely in every choice we make. Bring your decisions to God in prayer: use the Bible as your guide: and then follow God’s leading. He will direct your paths by both guiding and protecting you.
Make him a vital part of everything you do: then he will guide you because you will be working to accomplish his purposes.
4. Assurance of Victory Over Temptation: I Cor. 10:13; John 16:33 – No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
We live in a world filled with moral depravity and sin- inducing pressures but in scripture we find out a few things (1) temptations happen to everyone, so don’t feel you’ve been singled out. (2) Others have resisted temptation and so can you. (3) Any temptation can be resisted because God will show you a way out. Running from tempting situations is your first step on the way to victory.
Quote from Jesus: In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.
5. Assurance of Peace: John 14:27 - Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
The end result of the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives is deep and lasting peace. Unlike worldly peace, which is usually defined as the absence of conflict, this peace is confident assurance in any circumstance: with Christ peace, we have no need to fear the present or the future.
If your life is full of stress, allow the Holy Spirit to fill you with Christ’s peace.
6. Assurance of Answers to Prayer: John 14:12-14 - I tell them the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name and I will do it.
When Jesus says we can ask for anything, we must remember that our asking must be in his name- that is, according to God’s character and will. God will not grant requests contrary to his nature or his will, and we cannot use his name as a magic formula to fulfill our selfish desires.
If we are sincerely following God and seeking to do his will, then our request will be in line with what he wants, and he will grant them.
7. Assurance of Provision for Needs: Phil. 4:19 - And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
We can trust that God will always meet our needs. What-ever we need on earth he will always supply, even if it is the courage to face death.
Whatever we need in heaven he will supply. We must remember, however, the difference between our wants and our needs. Most people want to feel good and avoid discomfort or pain. We may not get all that we want. By trusting in Christ, our attitudes and appetites can change from wanting everything to accepting his provision and power to live for him.
8. Assurance of Sufficient Grace: 2 Cor. 12:9,10 - My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
The fact that God’s power is displayed in our weaknesses should give us courage and hope. As we recognized our limitations, we will depend more on God for our effectiveness rather than on our own energy, effort, or talent.
When we are strong in abilities or resources, we are tempted to do God’s work on our own. Only his power will make us effective for him and will help us do work that has lasting value.
9. Assurance of Enablement: 2 Tim. 1:7 - For God did not give us a spirit of fear and timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.
We need to be bold when working for God. When we allow people to intimidate us, we neutralize our effectiveness for God. The power of the Holy Spirit can help us overcome our fear of what some might say or do to us that we can continue to do God’s work.
There is mentioned here in scripture three characteristic of an effective Christian leader: power, love, and self-discipline. These are available to us because the Holy Spirit lives in us. We need to follow his leading each day so that our lives fully exhibit these characteristics.
10. Assurance of Empowerment for Accomplishments: Phil. 4:12,13 – I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
Often the desire for more or better is really a longing to fill an empty place in a person’s life. To what are you drawn when you feel empty inside? How can you find true contentment? The answer lies in your perspective, your priorities, and your source of power.
Can we really do everything? The power we receive in union with Christ is sufficient to do his will and to face the challenges that arise from our commitment to doing it.
As we contend for the faith, we will face troubles, pressures, and trials. As they come, ask Christ to strengthen you.
When we have the assurance of these ten things we tend to act differently when caring out his will for our lives, it brings about some confidence to our walk with him.
Illustration: Sometime when you’re in an airport, observe the difference between passengers who hold confirmed tickets and those who are on standby. The ones with confirmed tickets read newspapers, chat with their friends or sleep. The ones on standby hang around the ticket counter, pacing and pacing. The difference is caused by the confidence factor. If you knew that in fifteen minutes you would have to stand in judgment before the Holy God and learn your eternal destiny, what would your reaction be? Would you pacing all around? Would you say to yourself, "I don’t know what God’s going to say--will it be ’Welcome home, child,’ or will it be ’Depart from me; I never knew you’?
Concluding Application:
Ask the Lord to help you to live in confident assurance of the above ten promises from God. Trust the Lord to help you utilize all of these assurances in all our personal affairs, relationships and ministries. Share each of these ten assurances with others who need the loving assurance from God for all of their hurts, fears, feelings of anger, unrealized expectations, disappointments, and unmet needs.
Illustration: 30 years ago two shoe salesmen were sent to Nigeria to survey the country for the possibility of building a shoe factory. The first man came back and said, "Few people here wear shoes so there is little need to build a new shoe factory in Nigeria. The second came back to London and said, "This is the greatest opportunity we have ever had. Everybody I saw needs a good pair of shoes." That is how we need to look at every community when it comes to their need for Jesus Christ and His love and forgiveness. Let us learn to view everyone, everything and every relationship from the mind of Jesus Christ.
There is nothing we can’t do with Christ on our side. We tend to look at the negative side of life instead of focusing on the opportunities that God gives us.
Sometimes we through perfect opportunities out the window.
Tell story of littering.
The bible commands us to go out and be a great witness to this world but sometimes we don’t do that because we are so unsure of whom we are in Christ.
This morning I want to focus on ten assurances that we have.
1. Assurance of Salvation: I John 5:11,12,13 - And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.
Illustration: There are four basic categories:
1) Those who think they are saved, but aren’t. Matthew 7:21-3
2) Those we think are saved, but aren’t. 1 John 2:18-19
3) Those who are saved, but don’t act like it: Corinthians.
4) Those who are saved, and they act like it.
Whoever believes in God’s Son has eternal life. He is all you need. You don’t have to wait for eternal life because it begins the moment you believe.
You don’t need to work for it because it is already yours. You don’t need to worry about it because you have been given eternal life by God himself- and its guaranteed.
Some people hope that they will receive eternal life. John says we can know we have it.
Our certainty is based on God’s promise that he has given us eternal life through his Son.
This is true whether you feel close to God or far away from him. Eternal life is not based on feelings but on facts. You can know that you have eternal life if you believe God’s truth.
If you aren’t sure that you are a Christian, ask yourself: Have I honestly committed my life to him as my Savior and Lord? If so, you know by faith that you are indeed a child of God.
2. Assurance of Forgiveness: I John 1:9 - If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
Confession is supposed to free us to enjoy fellowship with Christ. It should ease our conscience and lighten our cares. But some Christians do not understand how it works. They feel so guilty that they confess the same sins over and over: then we wonder if we may have forgotten something.
Our relationship with Christ is secure. He forgives and forgets. But true confession involves a commitment not to continue in sin. We wouldn’t be genuinely confessing our sins to God if we planned to commit them again and just wanted temporary forgiveness. We should pray for strength to defeat temptation the next time we face it.
3. Assurance of Guidance: Prov. 3:5,6 - Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
When we have an important decision to make, we sometimes feel that we can’t trust anyone- not even God. But God knows what is best for us. He is a better judge of what we want than we are! We must trust him completely in every choice we make. Bring your decisions to God in prayer: use the Bible as your guide: and then follow God’s leading. He will direct your paths by both guiding and protecting you.
Make him a vital part of everything you do: then he will guide you because you will be working to accomplish his purposes.
4. Assurance of Victory Over Temptation: I Cor. 10:13; John 16:33 – No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
We live in a world filled with moral depravity and sin- inducing pressures but in scripture we find out a few things (1) temptations happen to everyone, so don’t feel you’ve been singled out. (2) Others have resisted temptation and so can you. (3) Any temptation can be resisted because God will show you a way out. Running from tempting situations is your first step on the way to victory.
Quote from Jesus: In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.
5. Assurance of Peace: John 14:27 - Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
The end result of the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives is deep and lasting peace. Unlike worldly peace, which is usually defined as the absence of conflict, this peace is confident assurance in any circumstance: with Christ peace, we have no need to fear the present or the future.
If your life is full of stress, allow the Holy Spirit to fill you with Christ’s peace.
6. Assurance of Answers to Prayer: John 14:12-14 - I tell them the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name and I will do it.
When Jesus says we can ask for anything, we must remember that our asking must be in his name- that is, according to God’s character and will. God will not grant requests contrary to his nature or his will, and we cannot use his name as a magic formula to fulfill our selfish desires.
If we are sincerely following God and seeking to do his will, then our request will be in line with what he wants, and he will grant them.
7. Assurance of Provision for Needs: Phil. 4:19 - And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
We can trust that God will always meet our needs. What-ever we need on earth he will always supply, even if it is the courage to face death.
Whatever we need in heaven he will supply. We must remember, however, the difference between our wants and our needs. Most people want to feel good and avoid discomfort or pain. We may not get all that we want. By trusting in Christ, our attitudes and appetites can change from wanting everything to accepting his provision and power to live for him.
8. Assurance of Sufficient Grace: 2 Cor. 12:9,10 - My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
The fact that God’s power is displayed in our weaknesses should give us courage and hope. As we recognized our limitations, we will depend more on God for our effectiveness rather than on our own energy, effort, or talent.
When we are strong in abilities or resources, we are tempted to do God’s work on our own. Only his power will make us effective for him and will help us do work that has lasting value.
9. Assurance of Enablement: 2 Tim. 1:7 - For God did not give us a spirit of fear and timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.
We need to be bold when working for God. When we allow people to intimidate us, we neutralize our effectiveness for God. The power of the Holy Spirit can help us overcome our fear of what some might say or do to us that we can continue to do God’s work.
There is mentioned here in scripture three characteristic of an effective Christian leader: power, love, and self-discipline. These are available to us because the Holy Spirit lives in us. We need to follow his leading each day so that our lives fully exhibit these characteristics.
10. Assurance of Empowerment for Accomplishments: Phil. 4:12,13 – I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
Often the desire for more or better is really a longing to fill an empty place in a person’s life. To what are you drawn when you feel empty inside? How can you find true contentment? The answer lies in your perspective, your priorities, and your source of power.
Can we really do everything? The power we receive in union with Christ is sufficient to do his will and to face the challenges that arise from our commitment to doing it.
As we contend for the faith, we will face troubles, pressures, and trials. As they come, ask Christ to strengthen you.
When we have the assurance of these ten things we tend to act differently when caring out his will for our lives, it brings about some confidence to our walk with him.
Illustration: Sometime when you’re in an airport, observe the difference between passengers who hold confirmed tickets and those who are on standby. The ones with confirmed tickets read newspapers, chat with their friends or sleep. The ones on standby hang around the ticket counter, pacing and pacing. The difference is caused by the confidence factor. If you knew that in fifteen minutes you would have to stand in judgment before the Holy God and learn your eternal destiny, what would your reaction be? Would you pacing all around? Would you say to yourself, "I don’t know what God’s going to say--will it be ’Welcome home, child,’ or will it be ’Depart from me; I never knew you’?
Concluding Application:
Ask the Lord to help you to live in confident assurance of the above ten promises from God. Trust the Lord to help you utilize all of these assurances in all our personal affairs, relationships and ministries. Share each of these ten assurances with others who need the loving assurance from God for all of their hurts, fears, feelings of anger, unrealized expectations, disappointments, and unmet needs.
Saturday, September 11, 2010
The T-O-U-C-H of God
The T-O-U-C-H of God
1 Samuel 10:26:
26 When Saul returned to his home at Gibeah, a group of men whose hearts God had touched went with him.
1. T-ransforms
2 Corinthians 5:17:
17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!
This is not a superficial change that will be quickly superseded by another novelty. This is an entirely new order of all creation under Christ authority.
It requires a new way of looking at all people and all creation. Does your life reflect this new perspective?
A. The touch of God brings forgiveness of sins to those who repent and believe. It brings cleansing and power to those who yield themselves totally to God.
B. The transforming touch of God makes everything new. We receive a new life in Christ Jesus, new desires, new activities, and a new hope of eternal life.
2. O-rdains
John 15:16:
16 You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name.
Jesus made the first choice- to love and to die for us, to invite us to live with him forever. We make the next choice- to accept or reject his offer.
A. Many Christians fail because they do not work for God. Some think only ministers are to witness to the unsaved and win them to Christ.
B. The touch of God ordains all Christians into God’s service. Everyone can share something for God- a smile, a prayer, a helping hand.
3. U-nifies
Psalm 133:1
1Behold, how good and how pleasant it is
For brothers to dwell together in unity!
Harmony is pleasant and precious. Unfortunately, harmony is not always found in the church, as it should be. Harmony is important because
1. It makes the church a positive example to the world and helps draw others to the Lord.
2. It helps us cooperate as a body of believers as God meant us to, giving us a foretaste of Heaven.
3. It renews and revitalizes ministry because there is less tension to sap our energy.
A. Many churches fail because their members do not work together, they are divided. Some pull in one direction, and others in another direction.
B. The touch of God brings harmony and love. It enables us to accomplish God’s work in “ the unity of the Spirit”
Ephesians 4:3:
3 Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.
To build unity is one of the Holy spirits important roles. He leads , but we have to be willing to be led and to do our part to keep the peace.
We do that by focusing on God, not on ourselves.
Living in harmony does not mean that we will agree on everything: But we must agree on our purpose in life- to work together for God.
4.C-conquers
Romans 8:37:
37But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.
A. Many Christians give up to easily. They throw up their hands and quit when they are persecuted, rebuked, or when they fail to get their own way.
B. The touch of God gives us courage to conquer. Christ furnishes the strength which enables us to :keep on keeping on”
Philippians 4:13:
13 For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.
The power we receive in union with Christ is sufficient to do his will and to face the challenges that arise from our commitment to doing it.
As we contend for the faith, we will face troubles, pressures, and trails. As they come, ask Christ to strengthen you.
5. H-eals
Matthew 8:3:
3 Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!” And instantly the leprosy disappeared.
A. Many have never experienced divine healing because of a lack of faith. We cannot expect to please God or receive blessings from Him without faith.
Hebrews 11:6:
6 And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.
Matthew 9:29:
29 Then he touched their eyes and said, “Because of your faith, it will happen.”
B. The touch of God brings physical, mental, and spiritual healing. We receive God’s touch through reading His Word, praying, believing, accepting, and obeying.
“The Touch of God”
There is no touch like the touch of God. His touch is the
difference between life and death; hope and despair; victory and
defeat.
In Mark 5:25-34, we find an incident where the touch of God
made the difference between life and death. It is the story of the
woman with the issue of blood.
.
#1 - She Needed The Touch of God: In verses 25-26, the Bible tells us several
things about this woman: (1) She was sick; (2) She had been sick for a long
time; (3) She had been to every doctor; (4) She had spent all she had; (5) She
was no better; (6) She only grew worse.
Does this sound like people today? (1) Multiple problems; (2) Struggled for a long time?; (3) Tried everything?; (4) Exhausted all resources?; (5) No better?; (6) Only worse; Your answer is the same as this woman’s answer… “You need the touch of God.”
#2 - She Wanted The Touch of God: She said in verse 28, “If I can touch
but His clothes, I shall be whole.” Not only did she need God’s touch, she
wanted God’s touch.
So many people today need God’s help, and God’s touch, but they do not want God’s help or God’s touch.
In order to receive God’s touch you must want it. If you want it, you will be willing to do at least three things:
(A) You must be willing to go alone: This lady wanted God’s touch so bad she
went to touch Him alone. Sometimes you have to stand alone to receive from
God.
(B) You must be willing to break tradition: God chooses to do things His way
and sometimes God’s way does not line up with ours. It sometimes goes against
our tradition.
(C) You must be willing to lose your present reputation: This lady did not care
what other people thought about her. Her main purpose was to touch Jesus.
Nothing else mattered.
What is your present situation?
Do you need the touch of God?
Do you want the touch of God?
He is concerned about you, and He wants to help you.
But He will not intrude into places He is not wanted.
If you want the touch of God, you can experience it. Why not call upon Him today with an open heart, and watch His power as it is demonstrated in your life.
1 Samuel 10:26:
26 When Saul returned to his home at Gibeah, a group of men whose hearts God had touched went with him.
1. T-ransforms
2 Corinthians 5:17:
17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!
This is not a superficial change that will be quickly superseded by another novelty. This is an entirely new order of all creation under Christ authority.
It requires a new way of looking at all people and all creation. Does your life reflect this new perspective?
A. The touch of God brings forgiveness of sins to those who repent and believe. It brings cleansing and power to those who yield themselves totally to God.
B. The transforming touch of God makes everything new. We receive a new life in Christ Jesus, new desires, new activities, and a new hope of eternal life.
2. O-rdains
John 15:16:
16 You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name.
Jesus made the first choice- to love and to die for us, to invite us to live with him forever. We make the next choice- to accept or reject his offer.
A. Many Christians fail because they do not work for God. Some think only ministers are to witness to the unsaved and win them to Christ.
B. The touch of God ordains all Christians into God’s service. Everyone can share something for God- a smile, a prayer, a helping hand.
3. U-nifies
Psalm 133:1
1Behold, how good and how pleasant it is
For brothers to dwell together in unity!
Harmony is pleasant and precious. Unfortunately, harmony is not always found in the church, as it should be. Harmony is important because
1. It makes the church a positive example to the world and helps draw others to the Lord.
2. It helps us cooperate as a body of believers as God meant us to, giving us a foretaste of Heaven.
3. It renews and revitalizes ministry because there is less tension to sap our energy.
A. Many churches fail because their members do not work together, they are divided. Some pull in one direction, and others in another direction.
B. The touch of God brings harmony and love. It enables us to accomplish God’s work in “ the unity of the Spirit”
Ephesians 4:3:
3 Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.
To build unity is one of the Holy spirits important roles. He leads , but we have to be willing to be led and to do our part to keep the peace.
We do that by focusing on God, not on ourselves.
Living in harmony does not mean that we will agree on everything: But we must agree on our purpose in life- to work together for God.
4.C-conquers
Romans 8:37:
37But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.
A. Many Christians give up to easily. They throw up their hands and quit when they are persecuted, rebuked, or when they fail to get their own way.
B. The touch of God gives us courage to conquer. Christ furnishes the strength which enables us to :keep on keeping on”
Philippians 4:13:
13 For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.
The power we receive in union with Christ is sufficient to do his will and to face the challenges that arise from our commitment to doing it.
As we contend for the faith, we will face troubles, pressures, and trails. As they come, ask Christ to strengthen you.
5. H-eals
Matthew 8:3:
3 Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!” And instantly the leprosy disappeared.
A. Many have never experienced divine healing because of a lack of faith. We cannot expect to please God or receive blessings from Him without faith.
Hebrews 11:6:
6 And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.
Matthew 9:29:
29 Then he touched their eyes and said, “Because of your faith, it will happen.”
B. The touch of God brings physical, mental, and spiritual healing. We receive God’s touch through reading His Word, praying, believing, accepting, and obeying.
“The Touch of God”
There is no touch like the touch of God. His touch is the
difference between life and death; hope and despair; victory and
defeat.
In Mark 5:25-34, we find an incident where the touch of God
made the difference between life and death. It is the story of the
woman with the issue of blood.
.
#1 - She Needed The Touch of God: In verses 25-26, the Bible tells us several
things about this woman: (1) She was sick; (2) She had been sick for a long
time; (3) She had been to every doctor; (4) She had spent all she had; (5) She
was no better; (6) She only grew worse.
Does this sound like people today? (1) Multiple problems; (2) Struggled for a long time?; (3) Tried everything?; (4) Exhausted all resources?; (5) No better?; (6) Only worse; Your answer is the same as this woman’s answer… “You need the touch of God.”
#2 - She Wanted The Touch of God: She said in verse 28, “If I can touch
but His clothes, I shall be whole.” Not only did she need God’s touch, she
wanted God’s touch.
So many people today need God’s help, and God’s touch, but they do not want God’s help or God’s touch.
In order to receive God’s touch you must want it. If you want it, you will be willing to do at least three things:
(A) You must be willing to go alone: This lady wanted God’s touch so bad she
went to touch Him alone. Sometimes you have to stand alone to receive from
God.
(B) You must be willing to break tradition: God chooses to do things His way
and sometimes God’s way does not line up with ours. It sometimes goes against
our tradition.
(C) You must be willing to lose your present reputation: This lady did not care
what other people thought about her. Her main purpose was to touch Jesus.
Nothing else mattered.
What is your present situation?
Do you need the touch of God?
Do you want the touch of God?
He is concerned about you, and He wants to help you.
But He will not intrude into places He is not wanted.
If you want the touch of God, you can experience it. Why not call upon Him today with an open heart, and watch His power as it is demonstrated in your life.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Spiritual Success
Once there were three trees on a hill in the woods. They were discussing their hopes and dreams when the first tree said, "Someday I hope to be a treasure chest. I could be filled with gold, silver and precious gems. could be decorated with intricate carving and everyone would see the beauty." Then the second tree said, "Someday I will be a mighty ship. I will take kings and queens across the waters and sail to the corners of the world. Everyone will feel safe in me because of the strength of my hull." Finally the third tree said, "I want to grow to be the tallest and straightest tree in the forest. People will see me on top of the hill and look up to my branches, and think of the heavens and God and how close to them I am reaching. I will be the greatest tree of all time and people will always remember me."
After a few years of praying that their dreams would come true, a group of woodsmen came upon the trees. When one came to the first tree he said, "This looks like a strong tree, I think I should be able to sell the wood to a carpenter" ... and he began cutting it down. The tree was happy, because he knew that the carpenter would make him into a treasure chest. At the second tree a woodsman said, "This looks like a strong tree, I should be able to sell it to the shipyard." The second tree was happy because he knew he was on his way to becoming a mighty ship. When the woodsmen came upon the third tree, the tree was frightened because he knew that if they cut him down his dreams would not come true. One of the woodsmen said, "I don't need anything special from my tree so I'll take this one", and he cut it down."
When the first tree arrived at the carpenters, he was made into a feed box for animals. He was then placed in a barn and filled with hay. This was not at all what he had prayed for. The second tree was cut and made into a small fishing boat. His dreams of being a mighty ship and carrying kings had come to an end. The third tree was cut into large pieces and left alone in the dark.
The years went by, and the trees forgot about their dreams. Then one day, a man and woman came to the barn. She gave birth and they placed the baby in the hay in the feed box that was made from the first tree. The man wished that he could have made a crib for the baby, but this manger would have to do.
The tree could feel the importance of this event and knew that it had held the greatest treasure of all time.
Years later, a group of men got in the fishing boat made from the second tree. One of them was tired and went to sleep. While they were out on the water, a great storm arose and the tree didn't think it was strong enough to keep the men safe. The men woke the sleeping man, and he stood and said "Peace" and the storm stopped. At this time, the tree knew that it had carried the King of Kings in its boat.
Finally, someone came and got the third tree. It was carried through the streets as the people mocked the man who was carrying it. When they came to a stop, the man was nailed to the tree and raised in the air to die at the top of a hill. When Sunday came, the tree came to realize that it was strong enough to stand at the top of the hill and be as close to God as was possible, because Jesus had been crucified on it.
The moral of this story is that when things don't seem to be going your way, always know that God has a plan for you. If you place your trust in Him, He will give you great gifts. Each of the trees got what they wanted, just not in the way they had imagined. We don't always know what God's plans are for us. We just know that His ways are not our ways, but His ways are always best.
The moral of this story is that when things don't seem to be going your way, always know that God has a plan for you. If you place your trust in Him, God will give you great gifts.
Each of the trees got what they wanted, just not in the way they had imagined.
We don't always know what God's plans are for us. We just know that His ways are not our ways, but His ways are always best.
Can you recall a time when you were consistently riddled by bullets of defeat. Have you ever had an unprovoked, sequence of events that left you bewildered, discontent, and physically and mentally exhausted.
These are times when your children are going astray, your marriage seems to be strained, friends withdraw from you, you receive a lay-off notice from your employer, an eviction notice soon follows and lastly, you receive a diagnosis of a genetic illness and the prognosis is grim.
At this point all you can muster up to say is: What is really going on here? Something is just not right! You begin to feel spiritually drained .
Our vision here is equipping people to believe , receive and achieve all that God has for them. I believe that God has an awesome work for us all , He wants us all to be spiritually successful and over comers.
Gen 50:20 says 20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good.
God allows certain things to come are way to get us were we need to be.
You can either fall on the rock or the rock will fall on you.
Spiritual Success
Joshua 1:8:
8 Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.
Many people think that prosperity and success come from having power, influential personal contacts, and a relentless desire to get ahead. But the strategy for gaining prosperity that God taught Joshua goes against such criteria. He said that to succeed Joshua must..
1.Be strong and courageous because the task ahead would not be easy.
2.Obey God’s law
3.Constanly read and study the Book of instruction-God’s Word.
To be successful, follow God’s words to Joshua. You may not succeed by the world’s standards, but you will be a success in God’s eyes- and his opinion is the most important.
1. Commitment to Christ
1 Thessalonians 5:23
23 Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again.
God must be involved in every aspect of our life.
A. Some Christians fall short of pleasing God because they are not totally committed to Him. They insist on asserting their will over God’s will.
B. Spiritual success demands complete abandonment of self and the acceptance of God’s will. His will makes everything work together for our good and His glory.
We must first be submitted to the will of the Lord before we can even begin to achieve spiritual success -James 4:7 says-Submit yourself therefore unto God, resist the devil and he will flee from you.
Romans 8:28:
28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
We need to trust in God, not in worldly treasures because our security is in heaven, not on earth.
Our faith in God should not waiver in pain and persecution because we know God is with us and is able to turn every circumstance around for our long- range good.
Our strength lies in our will to survive! The reality is that all chaos has been unleashed into our life, but in actuality God will never leave you.
If you choose it, the Joy of the Lord can be your strength.
2. Confidence in Christ
We can achieve this with consistent focused individual prayer, group prayer, and singing songs of victory, praise-reflects what he has done for us, worship-reflects what God means to you.
Surround yourself with water walkers: those who have gone through insurmountable odds and survived.
1 John 5:14:
14 And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him.
The emphasis here is on God’s will, not our will.
When we communicate with God, we don’t demand what we want: rather we discuss with Him what he wants for us.
If we align our prayers to his will, he will listen: and we can be certain that if he listens, he will give us a definite answer.
Start praying with confidence! Re-route all doom and gloom talkers, delete and dispose of their negative comments. This can be difficult, but necessary.
Speak daily ( Declaring) scriptures aloud when discouragement, doubt and unbelief creep in. Say no to thoughts that don’t line up with a successful outcome, and plead the Blood of Jesus over your mind.
A. World and national conditions have caused a breakdown in trust and confidence. This holds true in government, business, school, church, and family.
B. Christ is still the Truth. We can safely place our confidence in Him. He never misrepresents or undermines. Trusting Christ leads to spiritual success.
3. Compassion Like Christ’s
Luke 7:13:
13 When the Lord saw her, his heart overflowed with compassion. “Don’t cry!” he said.
Jesus has great compassion on our pain, and he has the power to bring hope out of any tragedy.
A. Jesus had great compassion. Because He was touched by the infirmities of others, he healed the lame , may the blind to see and the death to hear.
B. We attain spiritual success when we are compassionate- pray for the sick, help the needy , and comfort the bereaved.
4. Cooperation with Christ
2 Corinthians 6:1:
1 And working together with Him,
A. Many Christians fail to work for Christ as they should. They neglect, make excuses, and fail to cooperate with Christ in carrying out His commission.
B. When we work for Christ, we are working with Him also. He goes with us and speaks through us as we call, invite, and witness.
5. Contentment Through Christ
Philippians 4:11:
11 Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have.
Are you able to get along happily(be content) in any circumstance you face? Paul knew how to be satisfied whether he had plenty or weather he was in need..
The secret was drawing on Christ’s power for strength . Do you have great need’s, or are you dissatisfied because you don’t have what you want?
Learn to rely on God’s promises and Christ’s power to help you be content.
If you always want more, ask God to remove that desire and teach you how to be satisfied in every circumstance.
He will supply our every need , but in ways that he knows is best for us.
A. Discontentment is prevalent in today’s world. Many are trying to find contentment through possessions, pleasures, and popularity.
B. Real and lasting contentment is only found in Jesus Christ. He satisfies the longing of the soul and brings spiritual success.
1 Timothy 6:6:
6 Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth.
This statement is the key to spiritual growth and personal fulfillment. We should honor God and center our desires on him , and we should be content with what God is doing in our lives.
Philippians 4:13
13 For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.
Because of this promise we can have spiritual success.
As your faith increases think regularly on past victories.
Speak what you desire the outcome to be no matter what continues to occur. I am blessed, I walk in the favor of God and man, no weapon formed against me shall prosper, I am healed and spirit filled sickness and disease are far from me, I attract finances, and blessings are running me down and overtaking me now....... The list goes on!!
Commitment, confidence , compassion , cooperation , will bring about spiritual success.
Jeremiah 29:11:
11 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
After a few years of praying that their dreams would come true, a group of woodsmen came upon the trees. When one came to the first tree he said, "This looks like a strong tree, I think I should be able to sell the wood to a carpenter" ... and he began cutting it down. The tree was happy, because he knew that the carpenter would make him into a treasure chest. At the second tree a woodsman said, "This looks like a strong tree, I should be able to sell it to the shipyard." The second tree was happy because he knew he was on his way to becoming a mighty ship. When the woodsmen came upon the third tree, the tree was frightened because he knew that if they cut him down his dreams would not come true. One of the woodsmen said, "I don't need anything special from my tree so I'll take this one", and he cut it down."
When the first tree arrived at the carpenters, he was made into a feed box for animals. He was then placed in a barn and filled with hay. This was not at all what he had prayed for. The second tree was cut and made into a small fishing boat. His dreams of being a mighty ship and carrying kings had come to an end. The third tree was cut into large pieces and left alone in the dark.
The years went by, and the trees forgot about their dreams. Then one day, a man and woman came to the barn. She gave birth and they placed the baby in the hay in the feed box that was made from the first tree. The man wished that he could have made a crib for the baby, but this manger would have to do.
The tree could feel the importance of this event and knew that it had held the greatest treasure of all time.
Years later, a group of men got in the fishing boat made from the second tree. One of them was tired and went to sleep. While they were out on the water, a great storm arose and the tree didn't think it was strong enough to keep the men safe. The men woke the sleeping man, and he stood and said "Peace" and the storm stopped. At this time, the tree knew that it had carried the King of Kings in its boat.
Finally, someone came and got the third tree. It was carried through the streets as the people mocked the man who was carrying it. When they came to a stop, the man was nailed to the tree and raised in the air to die at the top of a hill. When Sunday came, the tree came to realize that it was strong enough to stand at the top of the hill and be as close to God as was possible, because Jesus had been crucified on it.
The moral of this story is that when things don't seem to be going your way, always know that God has a plan for you. If you place your trust in Him, He will give you great gifts. Each of the trees got what they wanted, just not in the way they had imagined. We don't always know what God's plans are for us. We just know that His ways are not our ways, but His ways are always best.
The moral of this story is that when things don't seem to be going your way, always know that God has a plan for you. If you place your trust in Him, God will give you great gifts.
Each of the trees got what they wanted, just not in the way they had imagined.
We don't always know what God's plans are for us. We just know that His ways are not our ways, but His ways are always best.
Can you recall a time when you were consistently riddled by bullets of defeat. Have you ever had an unprovoked, sequence of events that left you bewildered, discontent, and physically and mentally exhausted.
These are times when your children are going astray, your marriage seems to be strained, friends withdraw from you, you receive a lay-off notice from your employer, an eviction notice soon follows and lastly, you receive a diagnosis of a genetic illness and the prognosis is grim.
At this point all you can muster up to say is: What is really going on here? Something is just not right! You begin to feel spiritually drained .
Our vision here is equipping people to believe , receive and achieve all that God has for them. I believe that God has an awesome work for us all , He wants us all to be spiritually successful and over comers.
Gen 50:20 says 20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good.
God allows certain things to come are way to get us were we need to be.
You can either fall on the rock or the rock will fall on you.
Spiritual Success
Joshua 1:8:
8 Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.
Many people think that prosperity and success come from having power, influential personal contacts, and a relentless desire to get ahead. But the strategy for gaining prosperity that God taught Joshua goes against such criteria. He said that to succeed Joshua must..
1.Be strong and courageous because the task ahead would not be easy.
2.Obey God’s law
3.Constanly read and study the Book of instruction-God’s Word.
To be successful, follow God’s words to Joshua. You may not succeed by the world’s standards, but you will be a success in God’s eyes- and his opinion is the most important.
1. Commitment to Christ
1 Thessalonians 5:23
23 Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again.
God must be involved in every aspect of our life.
A. Some Christians fall short of pleasing God because they are not totally committed to Him. They insist on asserting their will over God’s will.
B. Spiritual success demands complete abandonment of self and the acceptance of God’s will. His will makes everything work together for our good and His glory.
We must first be submitted to the will of the Lord before we can even begin to achieve spiritual success -James 4:7 says-Submit yourself therefore unto God, resist the devil and he will flee from you.
Romans 8:28:
28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
We need to trust in God, not in worldly treasures because our security is in heaven, not on earth.
Our faith in God should not waiver in pain and persecution because we know God is with us and is able to turn every circumstance around for our long- range good.
Our strength lies in our will to survive! The reality is that all chaos has been unleashed into our life, but in actuality God will never leave you.
If you choose it, the Joy of the Lord can be your strength.
2. Confidence in Christ
We can achieve this with consistent focused individual prayer, group prayer, and singing songs of victory, praise-reflects what he has done for us, worship-reflects what God means to you.
Surround yourself with water walkers: those who have gone through insurmountable odds and survived.
1 John 5:14:
14 And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him.
The emphasis here is on God’s will, not our will.
When we communicate with God, we don’t demand what we want: rather we discuss with Him what he wants for us.
If we align our prayers to his will, he will listen: and we can be certain that if he listens, he will give us a definite answer.
Start praying with confidence! Re-route all doom and gloom talkers, delete and dispose of their negative comments. This can be difficult, but necessary.
Speak daily ( Declaring) scriptures aloud when discouragement, doubt and unbelief creep in. Say no to thoughts that don’t line up with a successful outcome, and plead the Blood of Jesus over your mind.
A. World and national conditions have caused a breakdown in trust and confidence. This holds true in government, business, school, church, and family.
B. Christ is still the Truth. We can safely place our confidence in Him. He never misrepresents or undermines. Trusting Christ leads to spiritual success.
3. Compassion Like Christ’s
Luke 7:13:
13 When the Lord saw her, his heart overflowed with compassion. “Don’t cry!” he said.
Jesus has great compassion on our pain, and he has the power to bring hope out of any tragedy.
A. Jesus had great compassion. Because He was touched by the infirmities of others, he healed the lame , may the blind to see and the death to hear.
B. We attain spiritual success when we are compassionate- pray for the sick, help the needy , and comfort the bereaved.
4. Cooperation with Christ
2 Corinthians 6:1:
1 And working together with Him,
A. Many Christians fail to work for Christ as they should. They neglect, make excuses, and fail to cooperate with Christ in carrying out His commission.
B. When we work for Christ, we are working with Him also. He goes with us and speaks through us as we call, invite, and witness.
5. Contentment Through Christ
Philippians 4:11:
11 Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have.
Are you able to get along happily(be content) in any circumstance you face? Paul knew how to be satisfied whether he had plenty or weather he was in need..
The secret was drawing on Christ’s power for strength . Do you have great need’s, or are you dissatisfied because you don’t have what you want?
Learn to rely on God’s promises and Christ’s power to help you be content.
If you always want more, ask God to remove that desire and teach you how to be satisfied in every circumstance.
He will supply our every need , but in ways that he knows is best for us.
A. Discontentment is prevalent in today’s world. Many are trying to find contentment through possessions, pleasures, and popularity.
B. Real and lasting contentment is only found in Jesus Christ. He satisfies the longing of the soul and brings spiritual success.
1 Timothy 6:6:
6 Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth.
This statement is the key to spiritual growth and personal fulfillment. We should honor God and center our desires on him , and we should be content with what God is doing in our lives.
Philippians 4:13
13 For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.
Because of this promise we can have spiritual success.
As your faith increases think regularly on past victories.
Speak what you desire the outcome to be no matter what continues to occur. I am blessed, I walk in the favor of God and man, no weapon formed against me shall prosper, I am healed and spirit filled sickness and disease are far from me, I attract finances, and blessings are running me down and overtaking me now....... The list goes on!!
Commitment, confidence , compassion , cooperation , will bring about spiritual success.
Jeremiah 29:11:
11 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
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