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From the Pew to the Pulpit |
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From the Pew to the Pulpit #1 CONTENTMENT: Keys To
Peace of Mind Phil. 4:10-13 You
may have heard this verse quoted as a PROSPERITY verse. It is
just the OPPOSITE. 1. Paul is
learning to BE CONTENT in both PROSPERITY & POVERTY. ·
He at one time had POSSESSIONS & PRESTIGE.
(Phil. 3:5-6) ·
He had GIVEN IT AWAY for the PERSUIT of
Christ. (3:7-8) It
is easy to say “WHY ME” when life is not going RIGHT, and “WHY
NOT ME” when we want MORE. 2.
The key is FOCUS. ·
Does your CHECKBOOK consume your thoughts? ·
Do you think MORE about WHAT YOU DON’T HAVE
than WHAT YOU DO? ·
Phil. 3:7-9- He chose not to CLIMB THE COMPANY LADDER,
but to focus on Christ. 3.
Contentment breeds CONFIDENCE. ·
He was able to be BLESSED in life’s trials. ·
He was able to see God’s hand in: A. WHERE I AM. B. WHAT I DO. C. WHAT I HAVE. D. WHO I’M WITH. ·
He was confident in God’s PROVISION. Paul
found his greatest joy in PEOPLE not possessions. SELFISHNESS is the greatest
deterrent to CONTENTMENT. From the Pew to the
Pulpit #2 God's Gift Vs. Our
Work
Romans 3:21-25 Verse 21 may be the greatest words
ever written: BUT NOW! Paul had spent the first 3
chapters describing our SPIRITUAL BANKRUPSY and GOD'S JUDGEMENT.
(1:24-32) 5
Pillars of God's Plan for Those Who Love Him: 1. RIGHTEOUSNESS through FAITH. (vs. 22) You can't EARN it or DESERVE
it. What ever it takes to be RIGHT
WITH GOD, He SETS THE TERMS. 2. COMPARISONS are
worthless. (vs. 23) Just because you are not a FELON
does not make you righteous. God deals with our DISOBEDIENCE. God deals with our DISAPPOINTMENT. 3. JUSTIFICATION by GRACE.
(vs. 24) That is JUST AS IF I'D
never sinned! 4. Jesus is the SACRIFICE
of ATONEMENT. (vs. 25) The Greek word is PROPITIATION,
which means to TURN ASIDE WRATH. I didn't know God was
angry?!? (See 1:18-23) 5. All was done in the name
of JUSTICE- for PAST & PRESENT SINNERS. He answers the question of,
"What about those that DIED BEFORE CHRIST." This is the Good News: Since DEATH is the price
for SIN (Rom. 6:23). God has not CHANGED THE PRICE, but
given a SUBSTITUTE! What JUSTICE REQUIRED, His LOVE
PROVIDED! From the Pew to the Pulpit 7 Wonders of the
WORD
Psalms 19:7-14 There
is a separation in these verses: ·
Vs. 7-10 a HYMN OF PRAISE concerning the LAW. ·
Vs. 11- 14 PERSONAL PRAYER of SUPPLICATION. 1.
The LAW is perfect- it REVIVES THE SOUL. 2.
The STATUTES are trustworthy- it brings WISDOM to all.
That is a particular LAW listed in the WHOLE LAW. 3.
The PRECEPTS are right- it brings JOY. That is a guide to
MORAL LAWS. Ex. FORTUNE COOKIES? 4.
The COMMANDS are radiant- it gives VISON. That is a
single statements that ARE NOT NEGOTIABLE. 5.
The FEAR of the Lord- stands FOREVER. This refers to REVERANCE
OF GOD. It keeps us from DISCRASING OURSELVES. 6.
The ORDINANCES or the Lord- are RIGHTEOUS. That is REGULATIONS
that PROTECT, PROVIDE, and create PURITY.
Ex. THE SMOKING BAN. 7.
All of these lead to the understanding of PRAYER. ·
For KNOWN SIN. ·
For HIDDEN SIN.
·
For PREVENTION of SIN. All
of these are for one purpose- to be PLEASING TO THE LORD. How to R.E.L.A.X. in the Valleys Ps. 23 What
is the key to a PEACE OF MIND and a SERENE SOUL? Jesus
call us to have a CHILD-LIKE FAITH(Matt. 18:3), but we also need to
have a MATURE PERSPECTIVE. R
- Remember when… (1-2) ·
David is RECALLING a time when things were going RIGHT. ·
Was there ever a time when you WERE NOT IN WANT? E
– Enlivens our soul. (3) ·
Often we live in a WAX-ON / WAX-OFF
existence. It is only through hindsight that we can see blessings. ·
The paths of righteousness are not always EVIDENT. ·
My life is not the fulfillment of ME, but HIS
NAMES SAKE. L
– Learn from Past Errors. (4a) ·
The EXPERIENCES at a teacher. ·
It is these battles that PROVE God’s FAITHFULNESS. ·
Sin is never pleasing to God, but it does have its PURPOSE! A
– Amity even among enemies. (5) Bringing peaceful relations. ·
Your testimony is never GREATER than in TIMES OF
TRIALS. ·
The biggest crime is that we often try to HIDE OUR
PROBLEMS! ·
TROUBLES cannot SPOIL HIS JOY in the
Lord. X
– EXCEEDING LOVE is in view. (6) ·
He is not IGNORING his troubles, but CHOOSING
only to remember the good. ·
He gains an ETERNAL OUTLOOK even in the valley. The
greatest builder of your faith is joining EXPERIENCE and HOPE.
That is what gave David this type of PERSPECTIVE. From The Pew to the Pulpit Have It Your Way!
1 Cor. 9:15-23 Do
you remember the Burger King slogan from the 1970’s…? How
is it that FAST FOOD can offer that, but the CHURCH has
difficulty with it? Remember, we are not talking about
the VISION, but the METHODS. Paul
sets the example for the Church (remember Jesus’ 3rd command- TELL
OTHERS). PROVERBS 11:30- must have been his life verse. 1.
I have made myself a SLAVE to all. Ex.
21:2-6 He gave up his freedom to MODIFY
his HABITS, PREFERENCES, & LIFE-STYLE in order not
to be a HINDERANCE TO THE GOSPEL. 2.
I have made myself a JEW to the JEWS. Acts
16:3 What had once been LEGAL restraints now became LOVE
restraints. 3.
I have made myself WITHOUT THE LAW to the GENTILE.
Gal. 2:11. Never sacrificing GOD’S MORAL LAW, he ATE what they
ATE, WENT where they WENT, & DRESSED as they DRESSED. 4.
I have made myself WEAK to the WEAK. The
man who can never see anything but HIS OWN POINT OF VIEW and no
attempt to UNDERSTAND others will RARELY be USED OF GOD. ·
What
are people saying about Emmanuel? If
you always DO what you have always DONE, you will always GET
what you have always GOTTEN. We
need to become ALL THINGS to all men that we might by ALL MEANS
SAVE SOME. |
