Happy in an Unhappy World
“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. Philip saith unto him, Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father? Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.”
1. Find something to do with MEANING and PURPOSE! (John 14:10-14)
” He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go to my Father.”
• Do nothing – waste of time
• Find something to make a difference
2. Find someone to LOVE that brings AFFIRMATION and security! (John 14:15-27)
” If ye love me, keep my commandments…he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and manifest myself to him.”
• The LOVE of the FATHER
• The LOVE of the Son
3. Find something to look forward to with HOPE and ASSURANCE! (John 14:1-3)
“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me….In my Father’s house are many mansions:…I go to prepare a place for you…I will come again, and receive you unto myself.”
• Heaven’s for real
• Jesus will come again
Love y’all,
The Power of Praying for One Another
Introduction: Is there really POWER in prayer? Have you prayed for anybody today? Finish this statement: When we pray for one another there is ____? James, the half-brother of Jesus, gives us (believers), (3) instructions for praying for each other:
1. When should we PRAY? (James 5:13, 14)
” Is there any among you afflicted? Let him pray. Is any merry? Let him sing psalms. Is any sick among you: let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.”
• When we face Adversity
“Afflicted” – kak-op-ath-eh-o, which means to suffer – endure – evils (hardships, troubles)
• When we are sick
“Sick” – as-then-eh-o, which means to be weak, feeble, to be without strength.
2. How should we PRAY? (James 5:15, 16)
” And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up, and if he hath committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.”
• God answers PRAYER
• The PRAYER of faith
3. Whose PRAYERS have GREAT strength? (James 5:16)
“Confess your faults one to another, that ye may be healed: The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”
• “Effectual fervent” – en-erg-eh-o, which means to be operative, be at work, put forth power
• “Availeth” – is-khoo-o, which means to be strong, to have power, strength to overcome
Conclusion: Would you agree? The PRAYER of faith brings both mental and physical healing….according to the WORD of God and the WILL of God. Faith is cultivated by a need, planted by a promise, and harvested by the Lord of the Harvest- Jesus Christ. Do you know anybody that needs PRAYER?
Love y’all,
Liberated Living
“Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy….Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? .. .let your soul delight itself in fatness…I will make a everlasting covenant with you even sure mercies of David.”
• Some things money can’t buy (vv. 1, 2) “The exchanged life” (Gal 2:20)
• Some things only God can do (vv. 3-5) “He gets glory”
“Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near…let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God for He will abundantly pardon.”
• Go back to God
• Call out to God
• He cares
• He pardons
” For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord…For as the heavens are higher than the earth….so are my ways…thoughts than yours….For as the rain cometh down….and returneth not but watereth the earth…..so shall my word be that goeth forth…it shall not return void, but it will accomplish that which I please.”
• God’s character never changes
• God’s Word always changes
Love y’all,
If That Isn’t Love
“For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
Introduction: Remember the song, “If that isn’t LOVE, the ocean is dry”! Paul understood the LOVE of God…..and gives us (3) reasons we ought to LOVE Him and let Him have His WAY with us:
1. st Reason to LOVE the Lord… we have a Brand New LOVE with a Brand New MOTIVATION! (2 Cor 5:14, 15)
“The love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all….that they which live should not live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.” (constraineth – soon-ekh-o, which means “to hold together” – motivates – Jesus is holding us together!)
• Choice – live for SELF
• Choice – live for the Lord
2. nd Reason to LOVE the Lord… we have a Brand New LORD with a Brand New TRANSFORMATION! (2 Cor 5:17)
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away…all things are…new.”
• Brand new owner (under new management!)
• Want-to’s changed
3. rd Reason to LOVE the Lord… we have a Brand New LIFE with a Brand New DESTINATION! (2 Cor 5:18-21)
“Who hath reconciled us to him by Jesus Christ and given us the ministry of reconciliation…Now then we are ambassadors for Christ….For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” That’s SHOUTING ground!
(“reconciled” – katalasso, which pictures exchange of coins, ” ambassador” – presbeuo, representative)
• Love for the Lord shows
• Love for the Lord goes
Conclusion: Have you noticed? God’s Word is diametrically opposed to the world’s philosophy of life.
“Live for SELF!”
“Live around SELF!”
“It’s all about SELF!”
No wonder it’s…
– Higher,
– Deeper,
– and Wider, than anything on this earth.
Love y’all,
R.I.P.
” If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affections on the things above, not on the things on the earth….For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.”
Note: {“If” means “since”- aorist tense – past event- the believers of Colossae had already been “raised” up – (positionally and practically when fleshed out experientially)
•”Dead” R.I.P – Rest In Peace. (“For ye are dead”- Col 3:4)
•”Mortify” aorist – put to death..”your members…fornication, uncleanness….evil concupiscence, and covetousness.” (Col 3:5)
[Past sins – R.I.P; Perfect people – R.I.P.]
Our hearts need (R.I.P.)
•[A Passion for His WORD] – Col 3:16 “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly”
•[A Passion for His WILL] – Col 3:15 “Let the peace of God rule in your hearts”
•[A Passion for His WORK] – Col 3:23,24 “Whatever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord…ye serve the Lord Christ.”
- Some things in our life {have been} need to be buried. “Put to death” (R.I.P) – Rest In Peace!
- While some things need to be “Brought to life” (R.I.P.) – Resurrected In Power!
Love y’all,
Gone But Not Forgotten
Acts 20:1-36
Introduction: How do you want to be remembered? When your time comes, will you be GONE and FORGOTTEN? How can we leave a lasting legacy? God gives us (5) ways to be “GONE but not FORGOTTEN” through Paul’s life and influence:
1. By INFLUENCING others to follow the WILL of God! (Acts 20:1-4)
“Paul called unto him the disciples, and embraced them…and had given them much exhortation.”
• Paul’s circle of influence
• Your circle of influence
2. By BELIEVING the WORD of God! (Acts 20:7-12)
“And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them.”
• Your mission field
• Blossom where you are planted
3. By being LEAD by the SPIRIT of God! (Acts 20:17-22)
“Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations…I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there…save the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city.”
• Red lights of the Holy Spirit – WHOA
• Green lights from the Holy Spirit – GO
4. By FINISHING faithful with the PLAN of God! (Acts 20:24)
“Neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.”
• It’s not how you start
• It’s how you finish
Love y’all,
Greater Love in Action
Jesus said, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”
Introduction: Are you ready to go? Ready to serve? Will you answer God’s CALL? “He that loses his life for my sake shall find it” (Matt 10:39). “When He was on the cross, you (I) were on His mind.” Just as men and women down through the ages have answered the CALL to serve our country, AMERICA – even to the point of death – may we STEP up and say, “Yes to Jesus”!
Think about (3) reasons to answer God’s CALL:
Conclusion: You probably would not be reading this, if you didn’t answer God’s CALL. The stakes are high! The cost is great! The battle is relentless! But the purpose is justifying…. In a culture that thrives on SELF – preserving, may we be FAITHFUL to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as we answer His CALL!
Faith Worth Fighting For
- Facing an Internal enemy – fighting your testimony
- Facing an External enemy – fighting your family
- Facing an Infernal enemy – fighting your legacy
- The COST of compromise
- The PRICE that’s RIGHT for the fight
- God’s in control
- We shall behold Him
Teach Us to Pray
(“Lord, Teach us to pray”)
• Why? Because we have not because we ask not (James 4:2)
• Why pray? To keep us from falling into temptation (Matt 26:41 – “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing but the flesh is weak”)
• Why? Because we have an enemy (“Deliver us from evil…” Matt 6:13)
(“Lord, teach us to pray”)
• Pray in Jesus’ name (John 14:13, 14)
• Pray according to the will of God (1 John 5:14, 15)
• Pray in Faith ( Matt 11:22-24)
• Pray for God’s glory (John 17:1f)
Love y’all,
How to Live the Kind of Life that Pleases Our Lord
“See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ”
Introduction: Pleasing our Lord should be #1 on our list. Right? Is it possible? How? Everyday? Failures, faults, and fears can block us. But inspired by the Holy Spirit, Paul lays out to the Church of Ephesus and to us today, (5) ways to LIVE a LIFE that PLEASES the Lord:
1. Watch your step CAREFULLY! (Eph 5:15)
“See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise.”
• “Circumspect” – (Latin- means ” looking around”)
( Greek- means “accuracy & precision”)
• Cautious- yellow light
2. Use your time WISELY! (Eph 5:16)
” Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”
• “Redeem”- buy back (wouldn’t you like to do that?)
• “Days are evil” – pulled by the world, flesh, devil
3. Fill your tank DAILY! (Eph 5:18)
” And be not drunk with wine wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit.”
• “Be filled” ( Greek word – plerusthe )
• Present tense- continuous action- go on being filled (we leak!)
• Plural in form- for everybody (not just Charles Stanley) me & you
• Passive in mood- can’t fill ourselves – need God
4. Sing from heart to the Lord JOYFULLY! (Eph 5:19)
“Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.”
• When praises go up….
• Blessings come down
5. Thank God CONTINUALLY! (Eph 5:20)
” Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
• Thanksgiving is thanksgiving
• Notice – “for all things”
1. Admit we can’t
2. Believe & trust Him to enable us
3. Cooperate with the Holy Spirit
It is possible; otherwise, the Lord would not have had Paul to write it down for us.
Not perfection, but PLEASING!