These next few weeks we will talk about:
------------ Unity in the Body of Christ
How should we prepare our Soul for meeting in Christ's Body
1Co 12:12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. And if they were all one member, where were the body? But now are they many members, yet but one body.
We should meet together in common attitudes:
I. Gentleness
II. Lowliness
III. Longsuffering
IV. Forbearance
V. Godly Love
Are you living your life in
Faith or Fear?
Matthew 6:28-34; 8:23-27; 14-22-33; 16:12-15
and Heb. 11
God has given us freedom to choose how we will live our lives and it is up to us to choose if we will live by Faith or by Fear. Fear is immature and incomplete. Faith is mature and causes us to become a "finished" or complete person in thought, intents and motives. In other words; Faith defines and builds our character.
Intro:
Fear is an emotion and can be relegated to the following three catagories:
1. Fear of Supply (will my needs be met?)
2. Fear of Health (will I contract a disease or have a heart attack, etc...?)
3. Fear of Happiness (will the negative things in life take away my Joy?)
Faith is Not an emotion. It is a proven and scientific wisdom with Static, Proven and Duplicatable Results, that dispels the negative emotions of fear.
I. Faith has substance (mass) and evidences (matter) - Heb. 11:1-6
II. Faith is more than superstitious and immature belief (puny faith)
III. Immature or puny Faith still clings to the emotions of Fear
1. Anxiety
2. Doubt
3. Ignoring the experience (or evidence) of Real Trust in God
IV. Developing (or maturing) your Faith
1. Intimacy with God (more than mere prayer)
2. God's Word (more than mere knowledge)
3. Dedication (wholehearted and absolute Trust)
4. Nourishment (got milk? - Need Meat)
5. It starts with Repentance (start walking the opposite direction)
Intro to our Sermon on Faith: What is Faith?
Faith is often misinterpreted and misrepresented. In it's most basic form; the faith of a child, it holds the power of eternal life. This simplicity is often lost amidst the miry maze of practical daily life. The reason for this is related to our definition and perception of faith. What is the definition of faith? Faith can mean different things to various people depending on circumstance. To one person, faith may simply be loyalty to a cause or purpose. It could mean loyalty in a religious system or to another person or group. Those of us who believe the Gospel believe it to be a simple trust in God. All of these definitions fall short of the True Faith that God Himself has established by principle and by practice. It is God's Faith that should set the standard for interpretation, because it is His Faith that has the ability to reach beyond a common definition and change someone's life for the better. Although most of us would lay claim to faith, our daily practice of such would indicate something less. Something incomplete and lacking for the tasks at hand. We say we have faith, but what we practice is a form of believeism. You can believe something, or believe in something, but belief alone is not enough to sustain us.
An example of this line of reason would be such that a man may believe he is God's gift to women, yet he is not the best looking guy in the room. Just because you believe something, does not make it true. The truth is that only a woman can claim to be God's gift to man, because God made woman from Adam's rib and then "presented" her to the man, now all woman can claim to be God's gift to men. Gen. 2:22-24(MSG ver.) Okay, I'll be more serious. Another example may be that a man believes he can lift three-hundred pounds, but if he never actually does it, it proves nothing. Therefore we could say that faith is the practical application of what you believe. Even this interpretation falls short of explaining real and Godly faith. Although it is accurate to say that a person is Saved by Faith when they take action on what they believe to be true, it still leaves us short of the full implication of Faith. Even when we prove our faith, by action that follows, we are left with incomplete application and understanding of that faith. The apostle Paul describes Faith as "the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Faith has substance and evidence that reaches far beyond our human capability to reason. That is why our current study about faith is so important. Certain character attributes can be added to our current beliefs to grow and mature into a more complete Trust in God. --- I will finish this discussion and post it to my Blog, soon ---
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Additives to Faith
2 Peter 1:3-11
We must have these character additives to have a Complete and Mature Faith
Add to your Faith:
I. Virtue
II. Knowledge
III. Temperance
IV. Patience
V. Godliness
VI. Brotherly Kindness
VII. Charity
Four Levels of Sowing and Reaping: Giving Back to God
I. Level 1: Stingy- Only gives what they want, when they want
1. May not be a Real Christian
II. Level 2: Thief and Robber- Only gives out of obligation.
1. Most Likely A Born Again Believer- Still immature and holds back
what they know the Spirit is leading them to give
III. A Greedy Christian (Pharisee)
1. Gives religeously, but has wrong motives
IV. Top Level Christian (Sows seed into God's Kingdom)
1. Gives out of Love for God, and directly from the Heart
Journey out of Selfisheness
2 Tim. 3:1-5
I. We need a change in Direction
II. A Drastic change
III. A Decisive change
IV. A Daily commitment
Why do People Fail?
James 1:23-24
(It is estimated that:
Fifty percent of young people fall away from the Lord & His church.
Twenty five percent of adults – before they die.
If this be true – think of the souls who are going to suffer in eternity.
Why People Fail )
“For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
For he beholds himself, and goes his way, and straightway forgets what manner of man he was.” James 1:23-24
I. They are forgetful Hearers
1. Lessons listened to & NOT allowed to sink deeply into the heart
are soon forgotten.
2. This makes a weak, starving Christian.
3. Spiritually Logical that they will soon fail in living the Christian life.
II. They do not (or will not) Consider
1. Do not consider what God has for His children.
2. Would not be hard to get people to do right, if they would consider.
No one with sound mind can say:
" Bad Behavior might produce Good Results"
"It is best to live in sin, die & go to torment for ever.”
III. By Yielding to the world
1. I John 2:15-16
“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world.
2. Lust of the Flesh
3. Lust of the Eyes
4. Pride of Life
IV. By sudden Temptations
1. Faults
2. Temptations
3 No temptation beyond that which we can endure
4 Provided: A way of Escape
5 Note the Key word: Endures in James 1:12
V. By failing to Watch
1. Christ & His apostles were in the garden of Gethsemane.
He had left them to watch, while He prayed.
2. Not Vigilant
3. Vigilant means: Alert, watchful
VI. By Inattention
1.Just not paying attention to how they are living.
2. Nor to the dangers lurking to lead them away.
3. Satan has snatched many away at a moment of inattention.
4. Some effort is required to live faithfully for the Lord
VII. By Neglecting Duty
1. When we know to serve God & don’t, then we have sin.
2. Sinning is addictive & contagious
Choices have to be made daily.
One cannot just coast along & remain faithful to the Lord.
Hebrews 11:25
“Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;”
If the choices one makes doesn’t lead to a stronger faith, then the wrong choices have been made.
Matthew 6:33
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
What are you putting first in your life?
If it is not the Lord & His church, then you are holding on to something that will not last.
Matthew 16:26
“…what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”
To obey the gospel, one must:
1. Hear – Rom. 10:17
2. Believe – Heb. 11:6
3. Repent – Luke 13:3
4. Confess Christ – Acts 8:36-37
5. Be Baptized – Acts 2:38
6. Remain Faithful – Rev. 2:10
(When someone asks you to dinner, or to a potlatch, Most considerate people ask)...
What Shall I Bring?
Colossians 3:16
I. Teaching
* Come with something to Teach
II. Wisdom
* Teach with Godly Wisdom
III. Admonishing
* Loving Advice and Encouragement
IV. Singing
* A "Joyful Noise" with Gratitude
V. The Challenge
* Focus on what you can Give, Not what you can Get!
(Come with your "hands" Full, & you will leave with More)...
What Not to Wear
(What will Not please the Greatest Designer?... and What Will?)
Col. 3:1-17
I. Designer Worship is a way of Life (not a 1 hr. event)
1. Clothing the:
a. Heart
b. Mind
c. Life
II. What Not to Wear
1. Sexual immorality
2. Selfish Evil Desires
3. Self Righteousness
III. What you Should Wear
1. Fruit of Spirit
2. Compassion
3. Love (above all else)
a. Don't leave home without it
IV. God is not concerned with Labels
1. Only God's designer line will do
a. What you wear on the Inside
How to be a Blessing; Instead of being a Burden
1 Thes. 2:6-12
I. A Burden to the Church
1. looking for praise from people
2. not encouraging others
3. seeking a position
II. How to be a Blessing to your Church
1. service through relationship (not authority)
2. two sided concern
3. Spiritual effort and true Concern for others
III. Encourage Godly living; by Example
1. Encourage
2. Comfort
3. Urge
(Our excuses cannot discount the Day of Christ)
Matt. 12:36
I. We are Accountable to our God
II. We are Accountable to Each Other
III. We are Accountable for The Truth
(Knowing we are Accountable keeps our words and deeds in balance with the Truth; helping each
other be Accountable helps us be who we ought to be in Christ)
How to Use Your Faith
(How do you practice Daily Faith)
Hebrews 11:1
I. Faith that Worships
II. Faith that Walks
III. Faith that Works
IV. Faith that is Willing
(Doubt is the opposite of Faith - Doubt Limits God's Power - Doubt Offers No Solutions - Doubt Limits Prayer -
Doubt Leaves No Room for God's Miracles)
What Went Wrong?
Matt. 21:1-11
(King of the Jews to Crucified Felon- in one day!)
I. Jesus entered Jerusalem a Triumphant King
II. People Worshipped and Praised Him
III. Jesus challenged the Intents of thier Hearts
IV. They Turned on Him Without Remorse
V. He Loved them enough to Submit to thier "judgement" and relinquish
His Life; Shed His Blood and Rise again to give them Salvation
Illusion or Reality (What is Christ to you)?
Heb 11:1 "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."
I. Faith
1. See and Hear with your Soul, not your eyes and ears
2. The Reality of life cannot be comprhended without Grace
3. Most people live in a self-manufactured Illusion
II. Hope
1. Do you see what you believe or do you believe what you see?
2. The Mystery of Reality (Godliness) can be revealed to those who
have Hope
3. Don't let the reality of the world blind you to Heavenly Substance
a) That which really matters, has no mass
The Mightiest Message; The Meekest Approach
I Cor. 2:1-8
I. The Matter of his Message
1. The most important matter ever preached
a) to know nothing is to realize everything
II. The Manner of his Message
2. The manner in which it should be preached
a) the meekest approach has the greatest power
III. The Meaning of his Message
3. The mystery of the message - (the revelation)
a) not phlosophy; not sociology; not ideaology; not even logic
--- Righteousness can never make sense to us, until God reveals His Truth ---
God's Simple Message to a Complex Society 2-24-08
I Cor. 1:18-31
I. Wisdom vs. Foolishness
* God's Wisdom: seems like Foolishness to those that are Perishing
II. Righteousness vs. Corruption
* What is Right with God: What seems right to the world
III. Sanctification vs. Filthiness
* God's perfect cleansing: Mankind's inadequate shower
IV. Redemption vs. Slavery
* God has bought us: Man keeps trying to find a bribe