Pastor Alex's Sermon Carryouts

It's Yo' Move (Challenges for the week)

2012-01-29T09:28:00.000-06:00

Challenges: It's Yo' Move!

Where are you stuck in life/ministry/relationships thinking that you’re waiting on God for the next move?

How is God’s Covenant with you different than any other relationship you have?

Where are you most prone to to break Covenant with God due to disobedience?

Just knowing you have a Covenant with God should change our entire attitude about life, our lifestyle, our confidence, our relationships and our intimacy with God. Do you understand the Covenant? Strive to do so.

Phone #: 530-881-1000 Participant Access Code: 651737#

God is commited to you becasue of Jesus & His sacrifice. We owe God Allegiance, Praise, Obedience and a Testimony!!

On The Brink: It's Yo' Move!

2012-01-29T09:23:00.002-06:00

It’s Yo’ Move: (You’re on the Brink of your Conquest) 1/29/12

Jordan = last obstacle before crossing into promise. It’s a conquest.

You’ve gotta lay something down something personal and God’s gotta remove something!! (Ai)

(Jordan= Human failed efforts meet God’s power)

The children of Israel had wandered for nearly a half-millennium without permanent home
Most of that time was as slaves of Pharaoh
An add’l 40 years as slaves to their own fear and rebellion.
God was still committed to them! Why? His ‣COVENANT!!!

God moves then waits to see if His covenanted people will act in obedience!

God’s Move	Joshua/Others’ Move
God called Abraham	Abraham obeyed and left homeland
God called Abraham & offered a Promise	Abraham obeyed and went to Egypt
God gave A. promises re: Isaac	God asked A. to sacrifice Isaac
God sends Moses to top rung of Egypt	God calls Moses to destroy the system that trained him in military, leadership, economics, government, etc.
God gave His rescued people miracles of plaques and the Red Sea	They held to the slave mentality and couldn’t see beyond their giants & their memories.
God called Moses to the Covenanted Place He’d give A.	Moses disobeyed and could not enter into the full promise.
Josh is told that Moses is dead	Be strong, courageous, obey and meditate on His word
God promised the Land again	Joshua had the people to prepare themselves
God told the priest to go first and that the waters would open	They did...He did!
God closed the River...	They never looked back!
God told them to take stones from the river and to make a memorial	They did!
The Lord exalted Joshua & The Canaanite Kings melted with fear over J’s God	Re instituted Passover and circumcision @ an inopportune time.
God stopped Manna!!
Jericho was lockup up & gave told them to march around or 7 days	They did and the walls fell
God asked for full devotion	Joshua lost battle of Ai. Joshua tore clothes all day and questioned God’s progress
God said get up...there’s sin in the camp and you must uproot it or I won’t be with you!	Joshua scrutinized the entire camp and found Achan and his stolen plunder
Don’t be afraid and discouraged...I have given you victory	Joshua then attached Ai again and won
	J. took the men to Mt Ebal, copied the Law on Stones and read in the hearing of the people as they stood there
	This was the same place where Abraham sacrificed to God after the Covenant was given 600 years prior!

Deuteronomy 11:26-32

²⁶ See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse— ²⁷ the blessing if you obey the commands of the LORD your God that I am giving you today; ²⁸ the curse if you disobey the commands of the LORD your God and turn from the way that I command you today by following other gods, which you have not known. ²⁹ When the LORD your God has brought you into the land you are entering to possess, you are to proclaim on Mount Gerizim the blessings, and on Mount Ebal the curses. ³⁰ As you know, these mountains are across the Jordan, westward, toward the setting sun, near the great trees of Moreh, in the territory of those Canaanites living in the Arabah in the vicinity of Gilgal. ³¹ You are about to cross the Jordan to enter and take possession of the land the LORD your God is giving you. When you have taken it over and are living there, ³² be sure that you obey all the decrees and laws I am setting before you today.

On The Brink: A Favorable Position

2012-01-22T08:46:00.000-06:00

On The Brink: A Favorable Position

Favorable Position= Mindset that acknowledges the presence of God’s plan @ all times.

This is the story of a CONQUEST (territorial, geographical, mental, spiritual, theological and personal).

I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. Josh 1:3

You set your foot i.e.

Tuition reimbursement (you get a B ave & you’ll be reimbursed)
Jump and I catch you.
God “I promise & I fulfill...you must walk it out!”

God basically tells Joshua... “just go...I’m with you!!”

☀Favor is a serious thing with God because it is NEVER personal...only!!!

God is very concerned about the development of the individual being used
God doesn’t pick favorites arbitrarily

☀A person who desires to walk in favor needs to discern the times (seasons, needs, harsh realities, impending dangers, etc.

☀When God’s call comes...things are already in motion. Time is of the essence.

The Favorable Position is the last big step into our promised land/destiny

This will either be internal or how you internally process the external. This MAJOR step of victory is totally up to you!!!

In Joshua..those who hid idols refused to receive the true blessing of the promised land...which was to be freed of idolatry and worship God

They went as far as they could...then God showed up! Favor=the last step of the physical crossing.

Favor=God’s provision for God’s task. Otherwise, God is reduced to a fickle parent and a God of favoritism. This leads to discord and rivalry. True favor is designed for Godly gain, not human devices. (Segue into Joseph’s Story)

People confuse being the favorite and being favored!

Story of Joseph The Dreamer: Blessing or Curse?

Favored by his father (Colorful coat)
Bratty towards his brothers
Ambushed and thrown in a hole
Sold into slavery (Midianites)
Sold to Ishmeelites
Sold to Potiphar, Captain of Egyptian Army
Framed by Potiphar’s wife

(Test of Character...favor vs. favorite...entitlement vs. discipline and respect for God and man)

☛Because favor is at God’s discretion, it is given on the basis of their usefulness to God...not their maturity, ability or talent.

☛In the case of Joseph, he demonstrated immaturity and brattiness and as a result he suffered things that allowed his character to catch up with his favor!

☛It was several years before he was ready to experience the full power of God and to fulfill the purpose for which he was created, chosen and favored.

☞Human nature is blame God for the delay...= we still lack maturity!

™What impedes your brinking is your refusal of the breaking from the things on which you're banking that aren’t God-centered...hence toxic to your purpose!

™True FAVOR emerges when individuals grasp that theirs and God’s destinies intertwine into what is called PURPOSE.

Challenge for this week: 1. Read about Esther, David, Rahab positioned themselves to be blessed by God. 2. Where are you NOT setting your foot and how is that limiting God? 3. What Character issues is God currently addressing in your life (fear, honesty, integrity, anger, discipline)? 4. Study: Romans 12:2 Don’t be conformed...be transformed by the renew of your mind; 2 Cor 10.5 Cast down imaginations and reasonings that compete against truth;

You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. Gen 50.20

Get To Stepping'

2012-01-15T16:54:00.002-06:00

On The Brink Series

Sermon Title: Get To Steppin’ (Extending Your Territory)

Sunday, January 15, 2012

Background Points:

Joshua took steps towards favor...he wasn’t merely lucky (The Cost Ex 17, Num 14)

He believed; He aligned himself with God’s leader;

God Almighty:

Moses is dead! “I am not!” (Consider...really consider your Source!)

I am about to give you the Land

I am keeping my promise to Moses (Abraham and Isaac)

No one will be able to stand against you.

I will continue the covenant with you

I will never leave you

Be courageous

Be ☛Strong (Legs...in face of opposition) and ☛Courageous (Grip: God’s values, plans, purposes. Phil 3.12)

Other people’s blessings rested on Joshua’s obedience.

Obey the laws of Moses so that success will surely happen.

Meditate on the word so that you’re careful to walk in it

Again, be strong and courageous

Don't be afraid or discouraged

I will be with you wherever you go. (This is a promise that can’t be broken!)

Joshua:

Get you provisions ready! We’re about to cross!

Favor is not for your purpose. It is for God’s Purpose:

A person of purpose must understand this

“I will give you the places where you step” (He’s gone ahead of you)

No one will be able to stand before you (God enemies are yours and your enemies are God’s)

Favor requires more obedience; not less

The people agreed to obey

Joshua sent 2 spies out to Rahab

God will give you unlikely allies when you walk in purpose

The king of Jericho and others heard about the victory of Israel and how God had fought for them.

Chapter 3 Crossing

Follow the Ark (Evidence of God existence and God’s co-existence with Israel).

Understand why God gives miracles. (Make them last!)

Demonstrates His ability, might and concern.

Memorialize Acts of Favor☑

They took 12 stones from the Joran and carried them over to the camp & set them up as a memorial.

Why the Memorial? (Deut 6)

Humans are fickle and forgetful

God made it His duty to:

Give promises

Remember His promises

Deliver His people

Give his people a miracle

Help His people to memorialize His miracle so that it lasts. (Doggy bag!)

What do these stones mean?

Tell them about the dry ground

He treated the Jordan like the Red Sea

He did this it to show his might

He wanted people to always remember Him.

The enemies were frightened

Circumcision was reinstated

If you want the blessings of old promises, you must realign yourself with God.

Fear, pride, disobedience

Challenge: 1. Which of the spiritual disciplines have you left? 2. What steps will you take right now to realign with the Covenant? 3. Are you surrounding yourself with others who understand the urgency of this season?

Familiarity Breeds Complacency: What You Know Can Destroy You!

2012-01-08T10:02:00.001-06:00

I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. Joshua 1:3

On The Brink Series

Sermon Title: Familiarity Breeds Complacency: What You Know Can Destroy You!

Saturday, January 7, 2012

Theme: Breaking Old Ties, Remembering Covenants & Building New Strategic Alliances for the Future!

The Fall of Jericho: ¹³ Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, “Are you for us or for our enemies?”¹⁴ “Neither,” he replied, “but as commander of the army of the LORD I have now come.” Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence, and asked him, “What message does my Lord have for his servant?”¹⁵ The commander of the LORD’s army replied, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.

Book of Joshua is about Conquest.

Land of Promise (Abraham, Moses, Caleb)
However, its capture involves retention, distribution & disposing of the wicked (w/i & w/o)

The people needed to have their trust put in God (Hear O Israel...Dt 6/Mark 12*)

➢Breaking Old Ties: (...But we’ve always done it that way!)

Human beings are creatures of habit

We want what’s familiar because it resonates with our senses
Our senses were not given to us from God to replace God...but rather to grasp the beauty of God’s handiwork around us.

When we use our sense to predict our future outcomes, we become our own god

Example #1 Children of Israel during the exodus

Looked back to Egypt longingly and wished for its resources & security*
Preferred a decent burial in bondage than a good living with God in the wilderness
God granted their preference and all men military age & older died in the wilderness

Example #2 Descendants of the Children of Israel during the Jordan Crossing

“Moses is Dead*!”...The Lord was trying to get His people to recognize the leadership shift; the positional shift; the resource shift; location shift.

The people needed to have their trust put in God (Hear O Israel...Dt 6/Mark 12*)

✩MOSES IS DEAD!!! (2 MSGS: 1. I’M GOD, 2. TREAD LIGHTLY...MOSES SLIPPED!)

✩I’m with you as I was with Moses

✩Joshua lost it in Chapt 7 (God helped him by telling him to consecrate)

➢Remembering Covenants: (Back to the basics...Chapt 5)

They crossed in the Canaan
Take off your shoes
Then they re-instituted a few things: Circumcision (Gilgal= rolling); Passover

Manna Ceased

➢Building New Strategic Alliances for the Future!:

When the Covenant was observed, God sent Heaven Military Might
*Rahab was also a new ally was introduced in Chapt 2

Challenges:

Define your default (familiar) weakness when you’re frightened by success?
Define your default (familiar) strength when you’re threatened with failure?
Are you familiar with God’s Covenant with us? Familiarize yourself with every detail.
Is God for you or against you today??

Sermon Title: An Inopportune season; An Opportune Moment: Preparing for God’s Next Suddenly

2012-01-01T14:33:00.000-06:00

Deuteronomy 32:36 (NIV)

Sunday, January 1, 2012

Title: An Inopportune season; An Opportune Moment: Preparing for God’s Next Suddenly

36 The LORD will vindicate his people and relent concerning his servants when he sees their strength is gone and no one is left, slave or free.

Overview of 2 Kings (Divided Kingdoms)

The second series of stories, once again, consists of those in which Elisha acts in international affairs (Healing Naaman). In each, the northern kingdom is under Syrian (or Aramean) attack. 2Ki 6:8-23, to begin with:

Prophet amusingly revealing Syrian war strategies to the Israelite king.

Out of frustration, the Syrians attack anyway, but they are miraculously blinded and captured.

2Ki 6:24-7:20:

records yet another struggle with the Syrians. Encircled by enemy soldiers,
Samaria is plagued by an ever-worsening famine.
As a result, the famine passes, the prophetic word is substantiated, and the example of the lepers is preserved.

Note, Unbelief is a sin by which men greatly dishonour and displease God, and deprive themselves of the favours he designed for them. The murmuring Israelites saw Canaan, but could not enter in because of unbelief.

The Attack: Whether the noise was really made in the air by the ministry of angels, or whether it was only a sound in their ears, is not certain; which soever it was, it was from God, who both brings the wind out of his treasures, and forms the spirit of man within him. The sight of horses and chariots had encouraged the prophet’s servant, 2 Kgs. 6:17.

The noise of horses and chariots terrified the hosts of Syria. For notices from the invisible world are either very comfortable or very dreadful, according as men are at peace with God or at war with him. 2 Kgs 6.17

Hearing this noise, they concluded the king of Israel had certainly procured assistance from some foreign power: He has hired against us the kings of the Hittites and the kings of the Egyptians.

So they imposed upon themselves by the interpretation they made of it.
How could the king of Israel, who was closely besieged, hold intelligence with those distant princes? What had he to hire them with? It was impossible but some notice would come, before, of the motions of so great a host; but there were they in great fear where no fear was.

None of them had so much sense as to send out scouts ... The wicked flee when none pursues.

The watchmen on the walls were not aware of the retreat of the enemy, so silently did they steal away.
But Providence employed four lepers to be the intelligencers, who had their lodging without the gate, being excluded from the city, as ceremonially unclean...
They therefore determine to go over to the enemy, and throw themselves upon their mercy:
They feasted in the first tent they came to (2 Kgs. 7:8) and then began to think of enriching themselves with the plunder;
But they corrected themselves (2 Kgs. 7:9): “We do not well to conceal these good tidings from the community we are members of, under colour of being avenged upon them for excluding us from their society; it was the law that did it, not they, and therefore let us bring them the news. Though it awake them from sleep, it will be life from the dead to them.” Their own consciences told them that some mischief would befall them if they acted separately, and sought themselves only.
Selfish narrow-spirited people cannot expect to prosper;
Let not those who, like him, are unstable in all their ways, think to receive any thing from God; nay, a guilty conscience fears the worst and makes men suspicious.

The wealth of the sinner laid up for the just (Job 27:16, 17)

2. The wants of Israel supplied in a way that they little thought of, which should encourage us to depend upon the power and goodness of God in our greatest straits.

➢A measure of fine flour was sold for a shekel; those that spoiled the camp had not only enough to supply themselves with, but an overplus to sell at an easy rate for the benefit of others, and so even those that tarried at home did divide the spoil,

➢God’s promise may be safely relied on, for no word of his shall fall to the ground.

Isaiah 33:23 ²³ Your rigging hangs loose: The mast is not held secure, the sail is not spread. Then an abundance of spoils will be divided and even the lame will carry off plunder.

The Lord/Advisor?

He saw the plenty, for the silencing and shaming of his unbelief, corn cheap without opening windows in heaven, and therein saw his own folly in prescribing to God; but he did not eat of the plenty he saw.

1.) How deeply God resents out distrust of him, of his power, providence, and promise. When Israel said, Can God furnish a table? the Lord heard it and was wroth.

God never promises the end without knowing where to provide the means.

He whom the king leaned upon the people trod upon; he who fancied himself the stay and support of the government was trampled under foot as the mire in the streets. Thus hath the pride of men’s glory been often stained.

Let all men fear before the great God

Question/Challenge: How are you preparing for the next suddenly? Are you aware of the nature of God? Do you know his promises? Do your children? Is your expectancy dependent upon your strength? Is your faith limited by your failure? Is God really God to you? Can you stand to be blessed? God is UP to something really big this season! Will you be like the lepers in 2 Kings 2 or the trusted & wise royal advisor. Will you taste victory in this season?

The Theatre of the Cross

2011-04-24T08:13:00.001-05:00

Resurrection Sunday 2011

Title: The Theater of the Cross (phrase coined by the theologian, Calvin)

18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, (Ephesian 1.18-20 NIV)

The tomb is empty...Christ is risen!!

How did we get here?

☛Garden/Fall/Flood/Tower/New Family/Covenant/Bondage & Exodus/The Law & Moses/New Nation/Judges/Prophets/Monarch/New Kingdom/New Tribe/Corporate Neglect/Destruction/Reformation/Promise of God’s visit...

☛Christ’s birth...Christ’s ministry...Christ’s claims & deeds...Christ’s Cross.

Cross: Displayed the Self-Humiliation of God (began with incarnation & ended with crucifixion)

In my humble opinion, the self-humiliation continues as God lives in me!!

Cross has 4 major benefits by demonstrating 4 facets of God’s Divine Plan & Nature:

The JUSTICE of God

Execute justice against wrongdoers needed to happen
Cross=place of great shame & is a deterrent to others

The LOVE of God

1 John 4.10 (He would send Jesus to die in our place...bearing our punishment)
God wanted to die for us rather than live without us!!
Gladys: “I’d rather live in his world than to live without him in mine”

The WISDOM of God

The ability of God to expertly carry out justice against our sin and love for our souls.
God’s needs for justice were met
Our spiritual needs were met

The POWER of God

Saved those who believed by restoring our fellowship & increasing our position!

Why? God’s plan was ALWAYS imputation vs. amputation.

According to Gal 2:13-15 (Titulus): free us from bankruptcy by paying out dept and destroying incriminating documents

Cancelled our debt or bond
Wiped the slate clean...
By nailing to Christ’s cross (Raynor story: made me take my finances more seriously)

☛Resurrection:

Empty tomb symbolizes: Just as Christ’s crucifixion was ours too; so was his resurrection.

Christ’s bodily resurrection/Our Spiritual Resurrection/Ultimate Raising of the Dead in Christ

There were many resurrections: Shunamites’s son, Jairsu’s daugher, Widow of Nain’s son, Lazurus, Eutychus by Paul, etc.

They all have graves!!!

They were brought to life; not raised to POWER!

☛Jesus’ resurrection:

God’s Approval (Check out lanes)
When I grow up..... In my next life...
Who are you in light of Resurrection?

Accepted by God
Resourced with Christ
Undefeatable by the devil

God IS glorified in:

Christ’s cross
Christ’s resurrection
Our Christ-centered lives

We have now become a part of the sphere where God rules.

Challenge:

#1 You’ve been raised from the dead...what graves clothes are you still wearing?

#2 God continues to be glorified as we lay down our lives to His purposes.

#3 Live Christ-centered, Heaven-resourced, Love-fueled lives!!

#4 Allow your life to reflect a Christ who experienced hell, escaped the tomb, is seated in heaven next to the Father & who lives to make intercession for us.

Know Your Place

2011-03-20T08:51:00.002-05:00

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Know Your Place!: A Message to Misfits

Recap: Paul describes God’s gift of grace, then prayed for the ability to grasp and apply it.

Chapter 1: God’s plan concerning us

Chapter 2: God’s strategy to rescue us by and for lavishly loving on us

Knowledge= information

Wisdom= Power. Why? Wisdom= the application of knowledge. Putting it to practice.

(*Paul prays for wisdom so that the mind of God (knowledge) is put on display)

1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions (offsides) and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air (influence of dark powers of this world), the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh (our un-renewed mind) and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. (Ephes 2:1-3)

*Triple Threat (past sins, our sins, our own self-centered mindset) God freed us from all 3!! (This is one of scripture’s clearest definitions of salvation)

Remedy

4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show (display upon us) the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork (poem...masterpiece), created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. (Eph 2.12-13 NIV) *Christ gave us the benefit of his righteousness just as were give the penalty of Adams violations. Therefore, Christians mustn’t apologize for the Centrality of Christ.

Ahas in Chapter 2

Risen Christ in Heaven isn’t prone to forget us, our plight or our assignment
Since we are in Him...let’s act like Him
Horizontal reconciliation & vertical reconciliation
God is Rich in mercy!------> Made Us Alive in Christ

Theological Insights

Christ is central to salvation (why...not to compete...he claims divine origins therefore could deliver)

When Christ was raised, it changed the status of every person who’d choose to identify with Him.

God’s plan was to invite us into a salvation which was inaugurated without our help!!

God’s workmanship: Product of God’s labor... we are not a perversion of good...we are the example of it. We are something that God takes pride in. We are not a mistake or an afterthought.

Reconciliation is a cosmic reality: Earthly (with each other) & Heavenly (with Christ)

Christ destroyed the dividing wall (elements of the law that separated Jewish community from the Gentile (non-Jewish) community.

We are members of God’s Household

We are not house-guests!
When we work, it isn’t service, it’s chores!

Applications

Pray that Paul’s prayer would come true in your life
Seek out the reality of God’s presence in your life by seeking out reconciliation
“If you don’t know how to act at home...you won’t know how to act out in public”
Acts 19: Seven Sons of Sceva faked their position and withstand the evil forces of society. You cannot influence others POSITIVELY until you know who you REALLY are in Christ.

Assignments for the next 2 weeks:

Read Acts 19 to look at examples of unity and spiritual authority, then read Ephesians 3-6
Pray for your mind & and the minds of seekers to opened to the truth of God’s love & provision for them.

Purge

2011-01-31T03:49:00.006-06:00

(Poem that accomponies my sermon Gideon's Purge from Judges 6-7)

I think I heard the Lord say “purge”

To cleanse, remove, deny the urge...

To allow my light & this world's sin to merge

Sin says "you’ve been good & deserve to splurge"

Sin goes on to say "God’s too good to scourge"

"Shoot if you fall, you’ll emerge..."

"This is America, respect the urge."

I think I heard the Lord say verge

Of where wisdom and power and revival emerge

Of when God’s word & love & will converge

Baptizing us in the Spirit’s surge

Filling us with love’s overwhelming gurge

Till God’s ways and my ways soon diverge

To live like this, Lord, I’ll need your “curge”

‘Cause I know I heard the Lord say to purge.

©Alexander Gee Jr 2011

Rejoice. Pray. Give Thanks. (1 Thes 5:16-18)

2010-11-21T08:46:00.004-06:00

Rejoice. Pray. Give Thanks. (1 Thes 5:16-18)

Rejoice (be glad....Attitude). Pray (Don’t give up looking up. Fortitude). Give Thanks (Understand that God is redeeming everything. “Oh, Thank God!! [a sign of relief and letting go of a worry] Acknowledging a benefit. Aptitude). This is God’s will for you.

☛Attitude

manner, disposition, feeling, position, etc., with regard to a person or thing; tendency or orientation, esp. of the mind:

position or posture of the body appropriate to or expressive of an action, emotion, etc.: a threatening attitude; a relaxed attitude.

☛Fortitude

[fawr-ti-tood, -tyood] Show IPA

–noun

mental and emotional strength in facing difficulty, adversity, danger, or temptation courageously: Never once did her fortitude waver during that long illness.

☛Aptitude

capability; ability; innate or acquired capacity for something;readiness or quickness in learning; intelligence: the state or quality of being apt; special fitness.

Definition of GLAD

archaic : having a cheerful or happy nature

b : made pleased, satisfied, or grateful —often used with of glad of their help; very willing <glad to do it>

a : marked by, expressive of, or caused by happiness and joy glad shout>

Paul Had Great Spiritual Joy

Paul maintained this Christ-centered faith during at least four years of suffering as a prisoner of the Roman government, first in Caesarea and then in Rome, possibly in other places as well. During his imprisonment, Paul wrote four letters that survive in our New Testament. They are Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians and Philemon. We, living almost 2,000 years later, are fortunate to have these letters to teach us the inspiring truths of God. We are the beneficiaries of Paul’s spiritual wisdom forged in the crucible of personal suffering. These four letters are among the most hopeful and encouraging Paul wrote.

Key Passages on Thanksgiving:

Psalm 50:14
Offer to God thanksgiving,And pay your vows to the Most High.
Psalm 50:13-15 (in Context) Psalm 50 (Whole Chapter)

Nehemiah 12:31
So I brought the leaders of Judah up on the wall, and appointed two large thanksgiving choirs. One went to the right hand on the wall toward the Refuse Gate.
Nehemiah 12:30-32 (in Context) Nehemiah 12 (Whole Chapter)

Philippians 4:6
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;
Philippians 4:5-7 (in Context) Philippians 4 (Whole Chapter)

PAG’s thoughts on Thanksgiving:

In scripture, God is always above (mountain, sky, throne). This is meant to cause us to look up and to know that our help and source is from another realm ~ outside ourselves/outside our realm.
When human can peer thru the distractions/troubles/spiritual battles/spiritual realms and see the reality of God...it blesses God.
Praise/Thanksgiving shows that a heart can track God’s whereabouts. A person who loves to praise can tell you where God is!
A heart of praise is trained...(Psalm 4 & 5) talk about seeking God at night upon our bed and seeking Him every morning.
Eyes that can make out God is this present darkness & send and impulse to the mind and body to actually celebrate God’s goodness~ is a sign of spiritual depth
Angels saw God and abandoned their posts, ignoring His goodness and vastness only because they “perceived” opportunity. We have never seen God’s face, yet we trust, love and celebrate Him. This brings spiritual authority!
God doesn’t want to be invisible. Sin clouds our eyes ~ This is why scripture says that the pure in heart shall see God. We know our hearts are pure if when tragedy and hardship hits us and we rejoice. This is a heart that is God’s home!

→What are you willing to sacrifice in order to allow the Holy Spirit to train your heart to be thankful?

→What will a thankful heart do for your relationship with God that is non-existent now?

→Remember: praise/thanksgiving are significantly beneficial to you and God!

Close To The Edge: The Sin of A Marginal Life

2010-07-11T09:03:00.002-05:00

Close To The Edge: The Sin of Marginal Living

Matt 25:1-13

15Speaking to the people, he went on, "Take care! Protect yourself against the least bit of greed. Life is not defined by what you have, even when you have a lot." Luke 12.15

Margin: an amount allowed or available beyond what is actually necessary: to allow a margin for error.

A limit in condition, capacity, etc., beyond or below which something ceases to exist, be desirable, or be possible

We are part of a society that doesn’t respect boundaries...

We live AT or BEYOND our means

We overspend & under-save
We overeat & and under-exercise
We over promise & under-deliver
We overcommit & just merely don’t show up

⇔We live to close to our limits...this means:

we almost always overdraw our account
We live from crisis to crisis
We on edge because we’re on the edge

⇔Are we mismanaging and mis-budgeting our lives?

We think we can have it all!! (Willy Wonka movie...)

⇔When business finds there is no margin in a product it is discontinued

⇔When a leader’s life lacks margin:

prayerlessness results
become too locked up to be poured into (i.e. a closed fist)
running on empty, which = your own strength & ability

⇔When do you know you’re running on empty?

(Refer to margins article)

sickness/poor health
irritability
insomnia
depression
irrational behavior

⇔Jesus had an internal alarm, he was bad because he would get away from the crowds to be alone (John 6.22):

He was going to heal Jairus’ daughter when the Bleeding Woman touched him

He had enough time to do ministry when he encountered the funeral progression in Nain.

He had enough time and energy to train his successors

He catered a wedding...or at least made a wine run

My soul is exceedingly sorrowful until death...wait here will I go pray (Matt 26.38)

He resurfaced with the statement, not my will but yours be done

he acquired the margin to obey the Father and save us!!

⇔A Margin-less life has no room for delay gratification. Why?

It needs excitement now! because the already-full life is so painful & empty

⇔So...layway has morphed into Instant Credit, or... “rent-a-life”

⇔We’re so full, that we neglect....

We neglect our marriages (they require trust, time and work)
We neglect our children (children require energy, attention and wisdom)
We neglect our health (emotionally, spiritually and physically)

⇔Remedies:

Joy (you’ll appreciate what you have)
Vacation (stay-cation or day-cation)...sacrifice and save
Set a reasonable bedtime
Find margin for a hobby or past-time that refreshes you
Sabbath!

Was designed to build margin into faith
was designed to keep spiritually vibrant
was designed to remind us we aren’t little gods

⇔SABBATH CHALLENGE: 2 HRS WEEKS TO LISTEN, PERCEIVE, NOTICE, THING, REFLECT

We seem afraid to rest

We seem afraid to vacation

We seem too tense to relax

We’re “on” all the time.

Oftentimes, God doesn’t turn ON until we turn OFF (2 Cor 12.10)

⇔If we don’t....

Our rushed lives will soon slow us down
Our full plates will soon starve us...and empty us out
Too many dreams will cause us nightmares

And if you should be “LUCKY” enough to GET IT ALL...

You’ll quickly find you can’t HANDLE IT ALL

You’ll risk LOSING IT ALL

And You’ll die empty & LEAVING IT ALL BEHIND!!

Remember:

22 What does a man get for all the toil and anxious striving with which he labors under the sun? 23 All his days his work is pain and grief; even at night his mind does not rest. This too is meaningless. 24 A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, Ecc 2:22-24 NIV

Iron Men, Too!

2010-06-20T08:47:00.001-05:00

Iron Men, Too (Father’s Day 2010)

13 Another thing you do: You flood the LORD's altar with tears. You weep and wail because he no longer pays attention to your offerings or accepts them with pleasure from your hands. 14 You ask, "Why?" It is because the LORD is acting as the witness between you and the wife of your youth, because you have broken faith with her, though she is your partner, the wife of your marriage covenant. 15 Has not the LORD made them one? In flesh and spirit they are his. And why one? Because he was seeking godly offspring. ^[a^] So guard yourself in your spirit, and do not break faith with the wife of your youth. 16 "I hate divorce," says the LORD God of Israel, "and I hate a man's covering himself ^[b^] with violence as well as with his garment," says the LORD Almighty. So guard yourself in your spirit, and do not break faith. (Mal 2:13-16)

5 "See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the LORD comes. 6 He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with a curse." (Mal 4:5-6)

Insights: Relationships would be the cornerstone of the new Kingdom initiative.

Malachi speaks of at least 4 failures (All of which disrespect Father God)

failure of the impatient people to bring good gifts to God (Mal 1:6-14)
failure of the priests to exercise & excellence in offering these lazy, maimed gifts to God. (Mal 2:1-9
failure of home covenants (Mal 2:10-14) (Divorce & remarriage to foreigners/God wants Godly children)
failure of tithes & supporting God’s spirtual and national work (Mal 3)
God would restore all of this by restoring relationships (Mal 4)

Relationships with each other would be reflect our relationship with God.
God’s wants kid who’ll change the world and kids who are wounded because the father’s won’t get it together.
God means that thing!
Men play a key role in God’s new Kingdom order

Challenge: We’re called to save society. We reverse what Onan did & father children who aren’t our own.

Men need a challenge. Father’s are men.
Church needs to be a place were men/father’s are equipped to serve
Society will change when men are secure. The Church should specialize in pointing men to God for security
Relax: Secure men do not abuse power nor do they hold it over the heads of strong women!
We must restore God’s dignity in the Church and in society!!

Hearing Hard Lessons

2010-06-20T08:46:00.001-05:00

Positioning Ourselves Appropriately: (Set-Up of Sermon)

Are you in the right place, waiting for the blessing of the Lord?

Location is everything in cases where Jesus has arranged it....

he told the disciples to meet him in jerusalem after his death
God told Abraham to leave his father’s country (Gen 12.1)
1 Kings 17

Kerith Ravine (A place where I have commanded a Raven to feed you)
Zarephath (A place where I have commanded a widow to serve you)

2 Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah: 3 "Leave here, turn eastward and hide in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan. 4 You will drink from the brook, and I have ordered the ravens to feed you there." 1 Kings 17

7 Some time later the brook dried up because there had been no rain in the land. 8 Then the word of the LORD came to him: 9 "Go at once to Zarephath of Sidon and stay there. I have commanded a widow in that place to supply you with food." 1 Kings 17

4On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. (Acts 1.4)

Sometimes the location sometimes positions you to be a blessing to someone else. Blessings are not just for us. They are not meant to be a dead end!

As believers, we want to position ourselves for the blessing of being deputized (duly authorized and being blessed & anointed to be sent for and by Jesus).

-------------------------------------------------

Hard Lessons from Jesus: John 6 (Learning Hard Lessons)

The crowds followed because they wanted to see more miracles (entertainment) in Galilee.

This was passover season & Jesus did a miracle with the bread

bread had true significance (so did manna)

They wanted to make Jesus a king because of his provision (This is that prophet)

He went up into the mountain again

Jesus walked on the water toward Capernaum

People sailed to where Jesus did the bread miracle and didn’t find him there. They then sailed further to find him. (v. 23-25)

Jesus isn’t impressed when they find him (v. 26...ya’ll didn’t come for a true miracle...you came for bread).

[We do all this searching for Jesus...but it isn't earnest. We seek a Jesus we can manipulate and not a Jesus who will mold and reshape us]

“what is the sign that you will give us?” Manna?

What will you do in order to earn our praise and allegiance?

38 “ I didn’t come from Heaven to do what I want. I came to do what the Father wants”

God’s will & work= believe on Jesus. (This is your job description)

* People are used to free entertainment without committing to anything!

So...Jesus started messing with their heroes...and their theology

My Father gave you better bread than Moses

I am the Bread of Life. No hunger and no thirst.

You’ve seen me...but you have not believed ( although they’ve traveled far to see miracles).

This is the will of the one who sent me: Belief in ME & that I would give eternal life

Jews were mad ‘cause he spoke of coming down from heaven

I am the bread of life (2x) & I am the living bread that came down form heaven.

If the people are already upset...why would Jesus keep on talking?

55For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.

56He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.

57As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.

58This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.

How can this man give us his flesh to eat?

Many disciples murmured. This is too hard to understand (v. 60)

You can’t come to me unless the Father draws you (v. 66). The people got angrier!

No man can come to Jesus unless his father draws them.

Many disciples left and walked with Jesus no more

what do you turn to when you turn from Jesus?

The people didn’t like Jesus assertions about Himself because his assertions clashed with their own view...and need for Jesus.

Not ALL the disciples left...just some.

Scripture is full of hard saying that people had to understand and obey....

Sell what you have
Sacrifice your son
Rise, slay and eat
Seek the Shalom of your city
Preach to the Gentile
Take this cup and drink it (to Jesus in Gethsemane)

*The point is not WHY this is a hard saying... it WAS hard and many left Jesus because of it.

they didn’t crucify him....they just stopped walking with him
they didn’t betray him...they just stopped walking with him

Sitting At Jesus' Feet (I did't get to preach this message due to the move of the Spirit, but here are my notes)

2010-06-20T08:44:00.002-05:00

Sitting at Jesus’ Feet

Sitting

The posture of submission

it may initially look like one is waiting to serve, however

It really is the posture of one waiting to be served by the Lord.

Sitting is a passive posture <> crouching, stooping, standing, leaning, etc.

Feet symbolize authority:

Deut 2.5; 11.24; Josh 1.3; Ps 122.2

To fall at someone’s feet means reverence: 1Sam 25.24; 2 Sam 22.39; Esther 8.3; Acts 10:25

Rev19:10; Acts 22.8 Angel refuses to let John fall at his feet because he was not worthy of worship

Demonic man was found sitting at Jesus’ feet

There’s a place in God’s heart for those who look as tho’ they want a blessing:

Jacob was really a swindler..but he got the blessing of Isaac.

Gen 27 & Heb 11.20

Esau said, "Isn't he rightly named Jacob ^[a^] ? He has deceived me these two times: He took my birthright, and now he's taken my blessing!" Then he asked, "Haven't you reserved any blessing for me?" Gen 27.36

Romans 9:12-14 (New International Version)

12not by works but by him who calls—she was told, "The older will serve the younger."^[a^] 13Just as it is written: "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated."^[b^]

The Shrewd manager was scandalous, but the Lord commended him.

Elisha (2 Kings 2):

Verse 3

Mary therefore took a pound of pure nard, very precious, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odor of the ointment.

Pure nard ...

Spikenard was a perfume highly prized by the ancients, and was produced from Nardostachys jatamansi, a small plant (which is) a native of the Himalaya Mountains. F4 The high cost derived partly from the transportation of it thousands of miles from India to Jerusalem. There were "cut" varieties of it, but this was expensive pure nard itself.

Mary’s understanding/epiphany of who Jesus really was, caused her to sacrifice & serve

Sitting at Jesus’ feet makes us deadly to the plans of the enemy:

Mary’s devotion to Jesus caused her to position herself thusly

Others jostled Jesus as they jockeyed for position

Mary wanted Him....They wanted to be connect with Him.

Her posture showed that she understood both His Lordship and her servanthood

Her posture caused her to observe things that others were too busy to notice

Her devotion to Christ did not begin with the miracle of Lazarus.

Her devotion → serious choices

Financially (nard was imported 1K miles away from India) = Annual Salary
Socially= It was inappropriate for her to take her hair down to was Jesus feet. This would change the way others viewed her.

Mary was extravagant with her faith and devotion!

Assemby Required: The Power of Agreement

2010-03-14T08:41:00.002-05:00

Power of Agreement = Harmony. Accord.

forsake not the assembling of yourselves... (Heb 10:23-24)

23Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. 25Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. (Heb 10:23-25).

Ancient teachers from Greek philosophers to Qumran's founding teacher established communities of followers to perpetuate their teachings...

Bin Laden
Charles Manson
These men’s adherents should be viewed just a suspiciously as their leaders...why isn’t that the case with Christians?

I want to teach FoLifers to embrace the Body of Christ

My family taught me that we ALWAYS side with family.

You never fight publicly
You always defend family
If one of us was not welcome in a place, none of were
if one of you gets jumped unfairly...or the other relative is losing this fight...you’d best jump in or you’d have a “fight” when you got home.

Hebrews was likely written to Hellenistic Jews who were facing persecution...

(Paul explains what that might’ve looked like in Act 26.9-11).

These strong believers wanted to be encouraged as they were being challenged to die for their faith...

be unswerving...how?
spur each other on to good works...who?
continue meeting together!!
The author of Hebrews said what AA, NA, SA advocates have been saying for years... go to your meeting!!

What can coming to the house of the Lord can do?

reflect on the past week and prepare for the upcoming week
confess sin/ hear testimony/ experience artistic expression of faith/ silence
study the faith of ancient believers/ hear a message that contradicts the voices of mainstream america
praying & being in the company of people who are trying to do all these things.

Watchman Nee (Famous Chinese Author):

The Lord revealed to me that He desired to build up local churches in various places to manifest Himself and to bear the testimony of unity on the ground of the local churches. In this way, each saint [believer] is able to function in the church and live the church life. What God wants is not individuals trying to be victorious or spiritual; He wants a corporate glorious church presented to Himself.

Worship/Gathering/Community:

Talk about co-signing
Talk about exchange

my relationship with presbyterians

Our attitude is wrong...gathering is about seeing God (direction); worshiping God (empowerment for service & witness); encouraging others (family time)

Why was the church so hard on sin?

it destroyed community

inappropriate dress
inappropriate conversations & propositions
schisms
you don’t crap in the water you drink from

Acts 12

Peter's Miraculous Escape From Prison

5So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him...

12When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying.

Where do I want to end up?

Explain that the sense of isolation and disconnection from others has been a huge part of the sin problem

Adam’s sin was incubated in the fact that he didn’t think about how his actions would impact others...and God.

Community is where we spur others on to faith and good works

Each time you see a powerful outpouring of God’s Spirit in the Book of Acts, it was when a great unifying event had taken place.

Actions:

Ask for volunteers for a First Sunday Fellowship
Use purple forms this week to write a note of encouragement for the any member of the ministry team (children, youth, music, set-up, janitorial, sound/video, ushers, etc.)
Make a point of hanging back for a few minutes after service each week in order to meet a new person each Sunday.

God’s view of the POWERFUL local church:

settle disputes & avoid the courtroom (...You and your sister fought at school?!)
put people out of church if they wouldn’t live/act right
reinstate people when they got right

I Will Be You God and You Will Be My People (Sermon)

2010-03-05T14:16:00.003-06:00

Sermon: I Will Be Your God and You Will Be My People

Character is the ability to follow through on a resolution long after the emotion with which it was made has passed.

(Brian Tracy)

Jeremiah 31:31-34

31 "The time is coming," declares the LORD, "when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. 32 It will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant, though I was a husband to ^[d^] them, ^[e^] " declares the LORD. 33 "This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time," declares the LORD. "I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. 34 No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest," declares the LORD. "For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more."

Recap: God frees Israel from Egyptian Bondage in order to given them liberty and a relationship with a real God.

Following God Almighty whole-heartedly requires a total break for former gods

fear, comfort, selfishness, greed, hatred

God’s presence was revealed...God’s character is taught (they didn’t know God)

A full-break with the old god is required in order to clearly see God Almighty

Israel needed to be retrained (spiritually, attitudinally, emotionally) before they could handle the Promised Land.

God is certainly with the destitute...but at some point, God expects the destitute to have a hand in bringing other broken people to God.

Today: We fast forward to Jeremiah: (Jere 31:31-34)

He prophesies because Israel forgot or ignored what happened in Egypt, Sinai and Canaan

He prophesied that Jerusalem should surrender to Babylonian powers

He further prophesies of a New Covenant and points to Calvary

Where I want to end up:

Israel often felt like an orphan, a nomad or an refugee.... Neither had roots or stability!

God offered them a promise to be their God and they’s be the people of God
Become a people was dependent upon having a leader (God)

God wants to renew our minds and give us new character that will beckon his continued presence in, and pleasure with, our lives.

Questions:

Do you find yourself feeling alienated from the plan of God and the center of that will?

As a believer, Is God an after thought in your life?

How is the New Covenant working for you?

How do you follow the presence of God to a place where the Holy Spirit can begin to write the truths of God into the fiber of your being?

The Lord God Almighty is willing to be your God...are you willing to be God’s People?

Challenge:

When we fail to pursue the God Who is pursuing us; we find that we have fallen prey to a lesser god that has been desiring to pursue us in order to devour us.

It’s is God’s character that ushers the Presence of God into our midst

Biblical Solutions to Problem

2009-10-04T07:21:00.002-05:00

PROBLEMS

• may be testing your faith. ^§ Genesis 12:10; ^§ Luke 4:1; ^§ 2 Thes. 1:5

• following God may bring more. ^§ Genesis 12:10; ^§ Exodus 5:4-9; ^§ Exodus 5:22-23

• danger of solving them our way. ^§ Genesis 16:3

• blaming others for ours. ^§ Genesis 16:5

• don’t run away from. ^§ Genesis 16:8

• none too complicated for God. ^§ Genesis 16:13; ^§ Genesis 18:14

• lying brings more. ^§ Genesis 18:15

• God will help solve yours. ^§ Genesis 20:11-13

• God overcomes the impossible ones. ^§ Genesis 21:1-7

• how three patriarchs handled similar ones. ^§ Genesis 30:3

• Christianity doesn’t guarantee problem-free life. ^§ Genesis 35:10; ^§ Psalm 18:32-34

• what they can teach us. ^§ James 1:2-4

• wrong solutions worse than no solutions. ^§ Genesis 37:26-27

• let them make you better, not bitter. ^§ Exodus 1:12

• when you can’t solve yours, God can. ^§ Exodus 2:9

• Moses learned that God can solve any problem. ^§ Exodus 4:6-7

• how God views our problems. ^§ Exodus 4:10-13

• can exercise our patience. ^§ Exodus 5:22-23

• big problems let God give big answers. ^§ Exodus 6:6

• maintain your faith despite them. ^§ Exodus 9:1; ^§ Matthew 14:28; ^§ Mark 5:35-36

• God can get you out of any kind. ^§ Exodus 14:21

• do you complain or pray about them? ^§ Exodus 17:2

• God concerned about each one. ^§ Exodus 39:32

• finding hope in midst of. ^§ Leviticus 26:40-45; ^§ John 5:6

• focus on positive aspects of. ^§ Numbers 13:25-29

• don’t trust God with only the small ones. ^§ Numbers 14:5-9

• from failing to trust God. ^§ Numbers 14:34

• overrating yours. ^§ Numbers 16:13-14

• do you believe God can help you with? ^§ Numbers 21:34

• not usually solved by change of scenery. ^§ Numbers 23:27

• sometimes caused by allowing sin to remain in our lives. ^§ Numbers 33:55

• how to keep them from getting the upper hand. ^§ Deut. 1:22

• our problems are no problem for God to solve. ^§ Deut. 3:1-3

• turn to God first when problems arise. ^§ Judges 4:3

• look first within yourself for why they come. ^§ Judges 6:13

• don’t complain about them without doing something about them. ^§ 1 Samuel 7:2-3

• putting giant ones in perspective. ^§ 1 Samuel 17:26

• let them drive you toward not away from God. ^§ 2 Cor. 1:8-10; ^§ Rev. 2:9-11

• look for solutions rather than blame. ^§ 1 Samuel 30:6

• come from excusing sin. ^§ 1 Kings 11:9-10

• seek God before they come. ^§ 1 Chron. 14:10

• Nehemiah’s approach to problem solving. ^§ Neh. 2:11-17

• don’t question God’s goodness in. ^§ Job 2:10

• refine our character. ^§ Psalm 66:10-12

• give us the potential for praise. ^§ Psalm 107:32

• why God is able to bear ours. ^§ Psalm 145:14

• are you just using God to escape yours? ^§ Jeremiah 21:1-14

• do you rejoice at others’ problems? ^§ Obadiah 1:12

• Jesus controls the storms of life. ^§ Matthew 8:25

• trusting God with. ^§ Mark 4:38-40

• how we underestimate Jesus’ help in. ^§ Mark 4:41

• should not keep us from God. ^§ Mark 5:25-34

• God hasn’t lost sight of yours. ^§ Mark 6:49

• why we should be able to help others with. ^§ Matthew 9:35-38

• how the church should resolve them. ^§ Matthew 18:18; ^§ Acts 15:2

• developing a new attitude toward. ^§ Luke 12:13

• your life not too complex for God. ^§ John 1:3-5; ^§ John 11:4

• don’t let them hinder love. ^§ John 15:17

• make prayer your first step in solving. ^§ Acts 1:12-13

• keeping proper focus on. ^§ Acts 5:1

• how God works them all for good. ^§ Romans 8:28

• why some churches seem to have so many. ^§ 1 Cor. 3:10-17

• legalism causes us to look for. ^§ 1 Cor. 10:25-27

• must be confronted in the church. ^§ 1 Cor. 16:24; ^§ Galatians 2:2-3

• may be a sign of effective living. ^§ 1 Thes. 3:1-3

• God will end all yours in eternity. ^§ Rev. 7:17

CONFLICT(S)

• between Cain and Abel.

• PROFILE: Cain

• take the initiative to solve. ^§ Genesis 13:5-9

• preparing for. ^§ Genesis 14:14-16

• when it’s wise to avoid them. ^§ Genesis 26:17-22

• not always worth the consequences. ^§ Numbers 20:21

• try to make peace first. ^§ Joshua 22:11-34

• talk before you fight.

• PROFILE: Jephthah

• find common goals bigger than your differences. ^§ 2 Samuel 3:1

• Jesus controls the storms of life. ^§ Matthew 8:25

• between believers and unbelievers. ^§ Matthew 10:34-39

• how the church should resolve them. ^§ Matthew 18:18

• accepting Jesus may lead to conflict. ^§ Luke 12:51-53

• finding peace in conflict. ^§ John 14:27-29

• need not affect spiritual unity. ^§ Acts 4:32

• sometimes inevitable for the Christian. ^§ Acts 5:29

• how churches in Antioch and Jerusalem resolved theirs. ^§ Acts 15:2

• God works through. ^§ Acts 15:36-39

• should Christians go to court over? ^§ 1 Cor. 6:1-6; ^§ 1 Cor. 6:6-8

• selfish desires often a cause of. ^§ James 4:1-3

Help!! I'm In My Own Way!

2009-10-04T07:19:00.002-05:00

Series (Distractions: Can’t See the Forest for the Trees)

Sermon Title: Help! I’m in my own way!!

2 Cor. 4:4 (NLT) Satan, the god of this evil world, has blinded the minds of those who don't believe, so they are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News that is shining upon them. They don't understand the message we preach about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.

Mark 4:7 (NLT) Other seed fell among thorns that shot up and choked out the tender blades so that it produced no grain. (See Mark 4:18-20 for explanation)

Sermon Concepts/Insights:

The god of this world uses blindness (smokiness) to keep people from the reality of God’s love, support, honor, accompaniment, etc.
Just because Jesus heals us from this blindness doesn’t mean that Satan no longer attempts to bring us back into a place of blindness.
When we don’t know Jesus, the enemy uses spiritual blindness.
When we don know Jesus, the enemy uses distractions
- This is subtle because we are often distracted by things we want, like or believe we need or are entitled to.

Anxiety: Often caused by an agenda this is ours and not God’s. It is placing an importance on something that isn’t important to the purpose of God.

Comfort
Popularity
Materialism
Abundance/size/vastness/greatness

The cares of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for nice things (none of these is bad or ungodly)

We need to get on the same page as the Father re: His priorities for our lives.

Choke: Strangle completely; crowd out; to drown; stifle; squeeze breath out; obstruct oxygen flow; suppress & seize.

►The cares of this life, (Stress & Anxiety)

We’re living in trying time right now
Stress is a killer and the leading culprit in _____ disease that claims millions of lives and costs billions of dollars in treatment.
Culprit (fear, anxiety, indecision): Overwhelming issues for which we see no solution…this pressure weakens our immune system, causes insomnia, give room to degenerative diseases.

Examples of people who suffered stress/anxiety and it clouded their judgment & ability to perceive God’s plan: Elijah; Timothy; David (#d the troops). Fear/Anxiety caused them to forget their Source.

How to reduce stress:

Foods: Spinach, oranges, oatmeal, salmon, soybeans, pistachios, avocado/guacamole, almonds, warm milk (skim or low fat)
- Regulate serotonin and cortisol levels so as to reduce stress

Exercise
Sleep: We weren’t built to function 24hrs a day. We are not computers/machines. We need to shut off.
Shut off devices: pagers, iPhones, texting, email, facebook, twitter.
Find what you enjoy: reading, travel, movies, walks, gardening, puzzles, family, etc. and do it!!
Get accountability for your dreams and aspirations because unrealized potential is a real source for stress.

Find consistent people to talk to
Get professional therapy
Get some pastoral counseling
Work to start a support group here at church

Jesus’ response to this:

Cast your cares on me, I care for you.
Remember the sparrows

Luke 12:6-7 (NLT) "What is the price of five sparrows? A couple of pennies? Yet God does not forget a single one of them. 7And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are more valuable to him than a whole flock of sparrows.

Solutions/Challenges:

In Mark 4 we worry and think that “things” and status can fulfill and direct us. Let’s us this fast and a time to identity and address fears in our life.
We cannot wait for systems to change before we have peace! We must find peace in the truth of Jesus message. This is a hallmark of Christian maturity: peace & joy!!
We must develop a healthy theology for *miracles, *prayer, *suffering & *community

Psalm 55:22 (NLT) Give your burdens to the Lord, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.

Remember the Holy Spirit is our paraclete (helper alongside). Seek the Holy Assistance this week.

(Consult the Bible Responses to Problems sheet for scriptural references that will help you cope with your problems)

Tell Somebody

2009-09-27T09:13:00.002-05:00

Thanks for viewing my blog this week. Click on the sermon title and my notes will appear.

I"d love it if you left a note so that I know you were here.

The spreading of the gospel is not merely the job of pastors. Our job is to train the Body of Christ to share God's truth. You are just as important to the Great Commission as I am.

Hearing Test

2009-09-20T08:50:00.002-05:00

I'm back, beautiful people. Here are my sermono notes from today's sermon. Click on sermon title and my notes will appear.

Homework:

Take out 15 minutes each morning this week to sit (walk or job) quietly and ask God to allow you to hear something that He has been trying to say to you. Act on that godly mandate.

Pictures of Pastor Alex's Graduation

2009-06-14T08:30:00.003-05:00

Click the title of this blog in order to see my pictures.

Also, click the link below in order to see a 2 minute YouTube clip of my graduation and hooding ceremony:

http://tiny.cc/YmBmi

The Revolution Will Not Be Televised on Sunday Mornings!

2009-05-06T12:26:00.001-05:00

(Please click on the poem title to see a copy of the poem)

Enjoy!

Re-connected and Re-stored

2009-04-19T08:29:00.003-05:00

(Click sermon title in order to see my notes)

Assignment this week: Read Romans 1-8

Challenges/Discussion Starters/Questions: go to www.folmadison.org to listen to sermon if you have not already done so.

How should your life look after meeting the resurrected Savior?
What is too old to be happily embraced by your life any more not that you're resurrected?
What needs to be infused into your soul, attitude and faith right now that you're resurrected?
What have you mistakenly assumed was missing from your Christian arsenal that has been there all along? Will you claim it today?

Re-Positioned and Re-Commission

2009-04-12T09:29:00.003-05:00

(Click sermon title to see my sermon notes)

Challenge: Don't be a mere spectator in this great drama. God is inviting you to become a part of history and a part of His story. You belong here!

Satan Loves and Hates Resurrection Sunday

2009-04-12T09:25:00.002-05:00

(Please click poem title to see a copy of poem)

Challenge: Live in a manner that make satan hate Resurrection Sunday! Give witness to the resurrection power of God with every fiber of your being!!

How Could This Happen?

2009-04-05T08:16:00.004-05:00

(Click on sermon title above in orde to see my notes)

Here are some questions that I'd like you to ask yourself this week:

What thing or promise has given you a false sense of security of protection from Judgment?

What do idols look like in our nations? The Church? Our own lives?

Are we just as oblivious to our idol worship as Jerusalem was? Where they hardheaded or blind?

We hear both the voices of love and judgment in this sermon today…which will you hear?

God never forgot Jerusalem. God used the Babylonians to help “disciple” the southern kingdom Do you need this kind of "help" following Jesus?

Closing Challenging Thought:

The Grace that allows God to see the good in us, should allow us to God as a worthwhile subject of our affection and obedience. In short, grace works two-ways. It is not merely having God be good to us when we sin...grace is a force in our hearts that engraves obedience into our hearts as well. Grace should allow us to be faithful to God even when we don't like the way He is doing things.

Have a great week!!

March of Dimes Information

2009-04-05T08:11:00.005-05:00

Jackie, Lexi and I would love it if you'd consider being a part of Team Lexi as we walk for babies on Saturday, May 2nd, 2009 at 9:30am.

You can help in the following ways:

(Click on March of Dimes above to get our letter)
(Click here to make a safe and secure donation on our March of Dimes website)

Be a walking captain who gets financial supporters to sponsor your walk
donate via our website
pray for us
forward our email to your friends and ask them to please make a donation to an organization that has helped to save the life of someone you know, Lexi Gee.

If you have any questions, email us at: gee@alexgee.com

What's That in Your Hands (Part 2: Blooming Where You're Planted)

2009-04-01T06:12:00.003-05:00

In this sermon we learned that Moses was not necessarily uncomfortable leading, but he was most likely uncomfortable serving in that context.

Are you ever tempted to downplay who you really are because of where you are?

Moses had the stick before he knew God. What's been in your hand since before even coming to Christ?

What will it look like when you blook where you're planted?

Morehouse College Visit

2009-03-25T07:47:00.001-05:00

I spent some time with Alpha Phi Alpha President, Skip Mason

Posted via Pixelpipe.

March of Dimes Walk for Babies!!!

2009-03-22T09:00:00.005-05:00

Click the title above to see my letting inviting friends and family to walk with the Gee family & help to raise money to help save premature babies!!

What's That In Your Hand, Moses?

2009-03-22T08:53:00.002-05:00

Click on the sermon title above in order to see my sermon notes.

Questions:

Are you afraid of your gift? Why?

Do you know your gifts? Do you want to discover them and be trained in using them?

Do you ever question your identity the way Moses did?

Who do you think God is calling you to rescue?

Challenge:

Moses was very ordinary. God was extraordinary. Stop disqualifying yourself from service. God ONLY created you because He has an extraordinary purpose for your life.

Live like it.
Pray like it.
Serve like it.
Believe it!

Moses the Insider/Outsider Poem

2009-03-22T08:50:00.001-05:00

Click the title in order to read my poem.

Who is your Be-Sider?

Why Are You Crying Out To Me?

2009-03-15T20:35:00.003-05:00

(Please click sermon title for my sermon notes from today)

Challenge:

Grow in discernment via obedience and knowledge of God’s word to know when you should march
Don’t waste your life praying (mindless religious acts that never require you to get out the boat); just because it’s ridiculous doesn’t mean it’s God
Pray is what we do until God tell us what to do. It is the most we can do until God tells us what to do next!
When God tells us to move…everything else is foolishness, wasteful and disobedience
God tells us to move from “here” when he knows that the enemy will soon be “here”

Carryout: Ask God to show you places where you are in a religious rut…not acting… saying “God knows my heart”, etc. And pray for release because you don’t want to be here when the enemy arrives.

Pastor Alex's Safari Pictures

2009-03-13T11:27:00.005-05:00

Hello Beautiful People,

Please click on title above and you'll be taken to my safaria photos from South Africa.

Who Told You That You Were Naked? (March 8th 2009)

2009-03-13T10:43:00.002-05:00

Guest Preacher for March 8th was Rebekah Bolin. Click her sermon title to see sermon notes and outline.

Lexi is the Wisconsin March of Dimes Ambassador

2009-03-01T20:02:00.001-06:00

Lexi & Channel 15's Sarah Carlson @ March of Dimes Kickoff

Posted via Pixelpipe.

Why Are You So Angry?

2009-03-01T08:43:00.002-06:00

Reflection Questions:

(Click on sermon title to get me sermon notes and outline)

Although this lesson isn't merely about anger or jealousy, but rather the deterioration of relationships. Reflect upon a time when emotions caused you to cause damage to an important relationship.

Journal about the emotion you felt.

Does that emotion still master you?

How easily are you mastered by your emotions?

Which emotions give you the most trouble?

How have you attempted to work through this? Counseling? Accountability with a friend? Prayer? Word study?

God's command to Cain was to "Master this!" Consider how you may use this Lenen season to reflect upon your need for God's assistance in this area of your life.

Be blessed this week. Be a blessing this week.

Adam, Where Are You? (Sermon)

2009-02-22T09:13:00.003-06:00

If you click on the title it'll link you to my sermon notes.

Please review the sermon notes as well as the notes you took in church. Ask youself... in what ways am I missing the "mark" for God's plan for me life?

Sin is just ugly because it goes against God. Sin is ugly because it goes again us, too. Take the proper stride to get on track via God's grace and good accountability. The Body of Christ needs each of its member to be on track if we're too serve humanity the way in which God intended.

Have a great week!!!

Poem: Adam, Where Are You?

2009-02-22T09:09:00.004-06:00

Adam, Where Are You?

It’s a beautiful day.

Life is good.

God is near.

All of creation yearns for God’s attention. His smile. His shear joy with what He’s created.

The solar systems are affirmed by Him.

The sun wants to be seen by Him.

The waters stir and ripple at the thought of Him.

The hills leap to get his attention.

And the birds…the birds…sing untainted praise to Him.

All longing to be close to God

All longing for time with God

But right now, God has an important appointment.

A daily appointment

It happens in the cool of the day.

Is it time yet?

Is it evening yet?

It’s time to meet with Adam?
Do you see him?
Adam, where are you?
Adam never misses our meetings, God says to Himself

Something has gone wrong, I feel it.
Something has gone wrong, I can tell.
I tell you, something is wrong.

Adam?
Adam?
Adam… where are you?
Something was missing. Man was not his usual place.

He missed the mark.
He missed His meeting with God. His meeting with destiny. His briefing on life. He missed a meeting that every person who has ever lived, has always wanted…access.

Adam had it.
God’s ear.
God had access.
Adam’s ear.

Until today!

Adam had a new god. Although that wasn’t what he was looking for.
Adam had a new love. Although it wasn’t what he was looking for.
Adam had a new identity. Although it wasn’t what he was looking for.
Adam had new wardrobe. Although it wasn’t what he was lookin for.

Adam now has godly knowledge, but unfortunately, he no longer has godly character to harness all that knowledge.

So Adam is thinking big things with little character
And Adam is seeing great things with a small perspective
And Adam’s new god is cursing him and accusing him and belittle him and
tempting him and telling him his Old God hates him now.

Meanwhile, his Old God is missing Adam more than words could expressing and is thinking to Himself that there is no price He wouldn’t pay to get Adam back and back into proper position, back on the mark.

Adam has a new lens through which sees everything and it make him see things real clearly…
He can see he’s naked…and that’s bad
He can see that Eve’s naked… and that’s bad
He can see that Eve can see that he’s naked…and that’s really bad
And he can see that Eve can’t be trusted…so he sews organic boxers to hide his jewels so his queen won’t see.

And he hides in the woods because his new lens helps him to see his old God with fresh perspective.

►Is that The God I used to trust? He looks scary.
►Is that The God I used to laugh with? He looks so serious.
►Is that really the God that used to fill me with warmth and gladness? He makes me so nervous now for some reason.

And Adam hides in the woods because he is certain that a God like that…could now possible love a man like this!!

►Adam has a new god.
►The new god doesn’t love him
►They new god won’t affirm him
►The new god won’t teach him how to love and honor his wife
►The new god will continue to tell him to hide from his wife
►The new god wont’ helps him settle sibling rivalry issues with his sons
►The new god will try to kill him before the real god can die for him
►And the new god will do his best to defile the image of God that lives in Adam’ soul

And the beauty that God created us to behold, and care for, has just been stolen from human beings in the garden.

And the enemy slithers on his rough belly to his throne where he will attempt to out-rein the reining God of the world…using Adam as his pawn.

And suddenly there is:

Murder & mayhem
Pain & suffering
Sibling rivalry
Drunkenness
Deceit
Lust for power
Seduction
More curses
Jealously
Conspiracy
Sickness
Death
Greed
Abuse
Assault
Manipulation
Cursing
Racism
Sexism
Classism
Nationalism
Motherless
Fatherlessness
Abandoned children
Wrecked marriages
Human trafficking
Sickness
Despondency
Hopelessness
Mind control
Civil war
World wars
Tribal wars
Cold wards
Nuclear wars
Genetic cleansing wars
And Race wars

There will be:

Human suffrage
World hunger
Millions of starving children
Millions of homeless families
Millions of single mothers
Millions of displaced fathers
Millions of refugee infants
Millions of broken hearts

And humanity will smoke and drink and eat and snort and consume…
Whatever we can get our hands on.

Because we miss meeting Old God in the garden in the cool of the evening
We miss His Voice
We miss His humor
We miss His slendor
We miss His wonder
We miss even his correction and guidance

New god says that we shouldn’t waste time thinking about that…
New god says that Old God has forgotten us long ago…he only likes the good ones.
And new god tries to console me with food and sex and money and prestige and blow and weed and clothes and grades and stature and looks and cars and houses and fame and stuff…

But I sware that when my heart is real, real still and my the ranting and raving of my racing, fearful heart has finally subsided…

In a distant land… I can almost here a sweet, distinct, and concerned voice of a sad father in-search of His prodigal children…

All the while He’s pacing back and forth, surveying the horizon looking for any sign of their much anticipated return home, saying:

Adam, where are you?
Adam, what have you done?

I know you want to come home, but think you can’t? You think I won’t let you…

And the Old God can’t wait for something that will one day be called Calvary, where He will go very old school on new god and show him an old concept called Unconditional Love.
And Old God…Yahweh God…gave Adam a new chance thru Christ Jesus.

Adam, Adam…where are you?
Raised and seated in Christ Jesus, at your right hand Father!!
Is it the cool of the evening yet?

I Had a Dream Last Night

2009-02-15T18:28:00.002-06:00

I had a dream last night…

I dreamed that Jesus invited me to Heaven for a pop quiz. He wanted to get a pulse on how the Christian Church was doing. So, I had to stand in front of Jesus and give an account of my action, good and not-so-good.

I’m good on my feet so I quickly attempted to prepare myself for this tough practice exam.

When he asked me about my actions…or lack thereof…how should I engage Him?

What will he ask about?

My devotion?

Number of people I’ve led to Him?

Number of sermons I’ve delivered?

Amount of hours I’ve prayed?

The amount of money I’ve given to His great commission?

How many books I’ve read?

How many mission trips I’ve taken?

And how will I respond?

Should my answer appeal to his intellect by showing off my bible knowledge?

Should I appeal to his humanity and play on His sympathy?

Should I appeal to his humor and by admitting how lame my bad choices were?

Should I appeal to his kind nature and own up to my guilt quickly…even before he asks?

Should I appeal to his spirituality and ask Him to pray for me, or request additional angel coverage?

Should I appeal to rage at our common enemy and declare the devil made me do it?

I think I’m ready…

It’s almost time for my practice oral exam appointment…

An angel approaches me…

“You’re next, sir” he states politely, “follow me, please”

I’m in a beautiful room that’s full of light and love and music and sweet fragrance…

It is so bright in the room that I can’t see Jesus, but I hear a sweet melodious voice that sounds like soothing waterfalls… and immediately, I fall on my face in His presence.

“Good morning, Alex, thanks for meeting with me on such short notice.”

I can’t speak and I gulp very deeply and loudly.

He continued…

“You do know that my line of question is not meant to be demeaning, belittling or harsh”
I’m glad He’s Christ and can read my thoughts… because I still can’t talk

“Please, sit. Are you comfortable?”

I think to myself, as comfortable as a man can be when he’s in the presence of the Creator of the Universe and the Savior of World.

Crap! He knows I thought that.

Crap! He knows I said crap!!

I compose myself for line of questioning….. and He states that he only has one question for me.

I can’t believe that his question stunned me.
I hadn’t prepared for that one.
How could I have been so stupid?
I sat horribly silent in His presence…
And realized that I didn’t know how to answer His question…
I dropped my head…
And wrung my hands…
As tears fell from my sad eyes…
Because His question sounded rhetorical, but was very practical…
And I had no answer, when he asked me…

“When will I be enough for you?”

And before I could stutter in my own defense… I heard a loud noise… a ringing…

Suddenly I was back in my bed…alarm clock screaming angrily at me…

and my daughter Lexi was knocking at my door…

“Daddy…You overslept. It’s time to get up and make breakfast.”

I instantly know the answer to Jesus’ question.. and the answer was: Today! Jesus will be enough for me today!!

Does Ricky Want To Get Better?

2009-02-15T18:00:00.003-06:00

Spiritual life is about choices
It’s one of the ways in which dignifies humanity in a way that no over being in the Lord’s creation enjoy---he gives us choices.
Adam and Eve had a choice, Abraham had a choice, David had a choice, and Jesus had a choice.

Synonym: satisfaction.

Contentment is rooted in appreciation. Complacency is rooted in comfort.

►Therefore, complacency is being satisfied with things that Jesus is upset by!
Complacency = satisfaction with something other than Jesus!! It’s settling.

–noun, plural -cies.
1.
a feeling of quiet pleasure or security, often while unaware of some potential danger, defect, or the like; self-satisfaction or smug satisfaction with an existing situation, condition, etc.

►We must fight complacency with a sense of holy discontent.

Scriptural Text (John 5:1-14)
Afterward Jesus returned to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish holy days.

2Inside the city, near the Sheep Gate, was the pool of Bethesda, with five covered porches. 3Crowds of sick people—blind, lame, or paralyzed—lay on the porches. 4

5One of the men lying there had been sick for thirty-eight years.

6When Jesus saw him and knew how long he had been ill, he asked him, "Would you like to get well?"
Contrary to our beliefs, no one suffers without Jesus noticing
38 years is a long time to be sick. It’s an even longer time to lose hope
Jesus’ question was meant to be shocking!
Complacency needs a shock if change is gonna come!!
The assumption is that everyone who is sick wants to get better…
Everyone who is down and out wants to be up and in
Jesus loves us but coddling us doesn’t honor us…or God.
He told the man to do something…for himself!
Something that required obedience to God, but no obligation to man.

7"I can't, sir," the sick man said, "for I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred up. While I am trying to get there, someone else always gets in ahead of me."

·
Ricky defends his own complacency. It’s precious and it needs our protection.
This man gave power away! He put his stock in what others could do for him
He didn’t position himself for change
Jesus knew that Ricky couldn’t walk to Him, that’s why Jesus approached him.
However, Jesus did expect Ricky to walk away from him!!

8Jesus told him, "Stand up, pick up your sleeping mat, and walk!"

9Instantly, the man was healed! He rolled up the mat and began walking! But this miracle happened on the Sabbath day. 10So the Jewish leaders objected. They said to the man who was cured, "You can't work on the Sabbath! It's illegal to carry that sleeping mat!"

· Your breakthrough is going to upset somebody
o You shouldn’t laugh…
o You shouldn’t celebrate…
o You shouldn’t try so hard…

· The Mishnah/Jewish law stated that it was legal to be carried on your mat, but you couldn’t carry your own mat.

11He replied, "The man who healed me said to me, 'Pick up your sleeping mat and walk.' "

· I’ve never noticed before, but Ricky’s legs are healthy but his mind is still enslaved. He cowers to the men rather than celebrating his healing

o “It’s not my fault!”
o “I’m so sorry that my new legs upset you. I’ll go sit by behind down right away, sir!”

o “I would’ve never thought to insult the religious order by accepting a healing by the hand of God!”

o “Thanks a lot, Jesus!” rather than “Thank you, Jesus!”

o Ricky is healed, but he ain’t healthy. He’s a walking victim
§ He still isn’t responsible or his actions. It’s someone else’s fault/problem.
§ He is still so used to his fate being determined by others…
· A lie: your fate is NEVER determined by others.

12"Who said such a thing as that?" they demanded.

· They were still talking to Ricky like he was a beggar.
o And Ricky was still talking to them like they had something to offer him.
o They ignored him while he begged at the pool, only to “see” him now that Jesus caused him to walk upright.

13The man didn't know, for Jesus had disappeared into the crowd. 14But afterward Jesus found him in the Temple and told him, "Now you are well; so stop sinning or something even worse may happen to you."

· “You look good!! Stop sinning and you’re continue to be alright”
· Here comes come the troubler again.
o …and more demands! Stand up. Walk. Have dignity. Pick up your feet. Lift your legs.
o Whatever!
· We don’t know that the sinning is, however, Ricky’s actions help us to understand what the sinning might have been

John 5:15-16
Then the man went to find the Jewish leaders and told them it was Jesus who had healed him.
16So the Jewish leaders began harassing Jesus for breaking the Sabbath rules.

o Ricky is a rat! He turns Jesus in!

I think Ricky’s sin was complacency and his dependence upon the pity of others.

►Jesus showed up to take Ricky’s pain and sorry and helplessness and complacency away and all Ricky wanted to talk about was what others hadn’t done for him.

►Jesus today is more than all of the pains of yesterday combined.

When will Jesus be enough?

I think that is there really are questions asked of us as we stand before God, one of the big ones will be: “Why wasn’t I enough for you?”

Self-Victimization: Isn’t merely being wronged; it is a reshaping of reality and identity based upon that wrong. Victimization is the subtly-evil attempt to shape identity based upon circumstances rather than the plan of God concerning you.

Self-Victimization leads to complacency…
Your Complacency shapes
Your Perception, which shapes
Your Attitude, which shapes
Your Energy, which shapes
Your Morale, which shapes
Your Relationships, which shape
Your Accountability, which shapes
Your Expectations, which shape
Your Viable Options, which shape
Your Choices, which shape
Your Fate, which shapes
Your Reality.

So… when we pray and ask Jesus to change our reality what are we really asking?

Can we ask this of Jesus without Jesus challenging our:

Complacency, Perception, Attitude, Energy, Awareness to viable options, choices

My Reflections while visiting Mandela's Prison

2009-02-12T00:36:00.001-06:00

Please check out this blog that I wrote:

http://tinyurl.com/bet4l5

Got Joy?

2009-02-05T07:36:00.004-06:00

James 1:2-6 (New International Version)

Trials and Temptations

2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.

James, Jesus’ brother, wrote this letter in order to encourage persecuted believers to keep the faith. He instructs his audience to find joy in the midst of hardship and suffering. James teaches his dispirited readers that suffering actually helps to develop perseverance (or endurance) so as to complete and mature individuals. And perseverance, according to James, is not the desired outcome of suffering---maturity and/or completion in God should be.

God will convert suffering into something that develops maturity is us as believers. Maturity means that we possess the potential to reproduce, contribute, and create something beautiful that inspires. Completion allows us to be intimate with God because we are no longer tempted by the false promises of fulfillment by some force other that God Almighty, Himself.

Remember, joy isn’t happiness or spiritual euphoria. Joy isn’t a feel or a mood. Joy is a fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5). It is an awareness of the purpose of God concerning you. Joy is the deep sense of inward stability that is rooted in the knowledge that God will use whatever hardship you are experiencing to become a better you, for His glory, and for your calling.

So, what will it take for you to experience joy in the midst of your discomfort? Are you willing to not hinder the Holy Spirit’s “farming and producing” of joy in your soul? Because if you have joy, your suffering will draw you closer to God and it will weave godliness into your character. If you don’t have joy, all you have is suffering.

Nehemiah 8:10 (New International Version)
10 Nehemiah said, "Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength."

Pastor's Sermon Notes (Walk In The Light) & Carryout Challenge

2008-12-21T07:21:00.007-06:00

Series Title: Hope: Seeing light during intense darkness
December 21st (3rd Sunday) Title: Walking in the Light

Key Verses

The Lord guided them by a pillar of cloud during the day and a pillar of fire at night. That way they could travel whether it was day or night. 22And the Lord did not remove the pillar of cloud or pillar of fire from their sight. Exodus 13:21-22 (NLT)

Sermon Theme: God didn’t save Israel from the wilderness-experience, however; God did provide light…and company!

Sermon Aim: To remind FOL partners that light in the midst of darkness is God’s assurance that we’re on the right track.

God doesn’t remove darkness---- He gives light!

The pillars never left their sight. (It is the Lord’s responsibility to direct us. He has obligated Himself)

· God equips us to travel @ night as well (Or, when conditions are less than favorable)
· He led over a million people out of Egypt and led them through wilderness territory)
· Light clarifies & helps us to judge correctly
· Light helps us to recognize our Source & our enemies
· Light helps to keep us from stumbling

Why would God, Who, gave Israel all the miracles of Egypt MERELY give pillars and not just airlift them to the safety of the Promised Land??

· The light was God’s essence! It was His very presence manifested (made clearly obvious and understandable) before Israel’s eyes.

· He revealed Himself in a very practical manifestation

What steps were taken right light was revealed

· God had a strategic plan that Israel followed
· God moved them to a place of total reliance upon Himself (an usual route)
· God moved them to a place of no return
· They began to remember the covenant (Gen 50.25/Gen 47:29-30) and carried Joseph's bones
· Then the Glory came!!

►Light=The Glory of the Lord
►We often crave God’s light (direction) but not His glory
►When we honor God--- His light shines all around us.
►If we want direction---we must seek to honor God.
►We don’t nee light to disobey. We need light in order to see and follow God correctly

Luke 1:78-79 (NLT) Because of God's tender mercy, the light from heaven is about to break upon us, 79to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide us to the path of peace."

John 1:1-5 In the beginning the Word already existed. He was with God, and he was God. 2He was in the beginning with God. 3He created everything there is. Nothing exists that he didn't make. 4Life itself was in him, and this life gives light to everyone. 5The light shines through the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.

John 8:12 (NLT) Jesus said to the people, "I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won't be stumbling through the darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life."

Matthew 5:14-16 (NLT)
You are the light of the world—like a city on a mountain, glowing in the night for all to see. 15Don't hide your light under a basket! Instead, put it on a stand and let it shine for all. 16In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

John 12:46 (NLT)
I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the darkness.

Scriptures about walking in the Light

Psalm 56:13 (NLT) For you have rescued me from death; you have kept my feet from slipping. So now I can walk in your presence, O God, in your life-giving light.

Psalm 89:15 (NLT) Happy are those who hear the joyful call to worship, for they will walk in the light of your presence, Lord.

Isaiah 2:5 (NLT) Come, people of Israel, let us walk in the light of the Lord!

Isaiah 50:11 (NLT) But watch out, you who live in your own light and warm yourselves by your own fires. This is the reward you will receive from me: You will soon lie down in great torment.

Ephes. 5:8 (KJV) For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:

1 John 1:7 (NLT) But if we are living in the light of God's presence, just as Christ is, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from every sin.

Carryout Challenges & Application:

Using prayer & reflection, determine how prone you are to walk in your own light or the light/direction of other trusted people, rather than walking in the light of scripture or the voice of the Holy Spirit?

Do you believe that God wants to direct (not dictate) every area of your life?

Israel (Exod 13:17-22) had to follow God's wild winding path so as to keep Israel from the temptation of returning to Egypt. How has God done this in your life?

God is obligated (not to us, but to His own promise) to direct us; how obligated are you to obeying?

The light and glory of the Lord are synonomous. Are there things in your life that hinder the glory/honor of God? If so, the likelihood of receiving God's full light is greatly diminished. Think about it.

A Hope That Lasts (Follow up to Light-hearted sermon)

2008-12-14T08:45:00.004-06:00

Scripture does not merely suggest that Jesus is Messiah, it proves it! If people were going to have hope that would endure 1300 years of disaster, wars, ruin, poverty and exile...the Lord would surely need to make the promise clear. (I have added a link below that I used for today's sermon so that you could study Old Testament scripture that foretold the Messiah's arrival. God made it crystal clear!!

http://www.geocities.com/cobblestoneministries/2007/JesusTheJewishMessiah_TracedThroughTheHebrewScriptures.html

Questions:

What actions are you taking to keep the Lord's promises to you in front of you?

Do you expect to have hope if you don't nurture it in your heart?

What can you do when hope seems to be fading from your heart?

Difference between Faith and Hope

2008-12-07T08:36:00.004-06:00

Here is some great background information that influenced my sermon this past Sunday (Jesus, The Light of The World, Dec 7th 2008. This is an except from John Bunyan's book, Israel's Hope Encouraged.)

I look forward to sharing more sermon background information as well as life application challenges in this new blog. Jump on in and start and lively discussion!!!!

The difference between faith and hope
18 August 2007 by cath

John Bunyan (author of the Pilgrim’s Progress and other classics) wrote a treatise on the text in the Psalms which calls on its readers to ‘hope in the Lord.’ Here I’m quoting an excerpt from right at the start of the book, where he differentiates between faith and hope, two graces which are in some ways quite similar.

“[In the text in question ('Let Israel hope in the Lord,' Psalm 130: 7)] that which is preadmitted is Faith. For when we speak properly of Hope, and put others distinctly to the duty of hoping, we conclude that such have faith already; for, no faith, no hope. To hope without faith is to see without eyes, or to expect without a ground: for ‘faith is the substance of things hoped for,’ as well with respect to the grace [of faith] as to the doctrine of faith. … He that never believed, never hoped in the Lord. Wherefore when he saith, ‘Let Israel hope in the Lord,’ he presupposeth faith, and signifieth that he speaketh to believers.

“That which is … [implied] [in the text] is, that Hope has in it an excellent quality to support Israel in all his troubles. Faith has his excellency in this, Hope in that, and Love in another thing. Faith will do that which Hope cannot do; Hope can do that which Faith doth not do; and Love can do things distinct from both their doings. Faith goes in the van, Hope in the main body, and Love brings up the rear; and thus now abideth Faith, Hope, and Charity.

“Faith is the mother-grace, for hope is born of her; but Charity floweth from them both. But now we are upon Faith and Hope distinctly, to let you see a little. Faith comes by hearing, hope by experience. Faith comes by hearing the word of God; hope by the credit that faith has given to it. Faith believeth in the truth of the word; hope waiteth for the fulfilling of it. Faith looks through the word to God in Christ; hope looks through faith, beyond the world, to glory.

“Faith lays hold of that end of the promise that is next to us, to wit, as it is in the Bible; hope lays hold of that end of the promise that is fastened to the mercy-seat. For the promise is like a mighty cable, that is fastened by one end to a ship, and by the other to the anchor. The soul is the ship where faith is, and to which the hither end of the cable is fastened; but hope is the anchor that is at the other end of the cable, ‘and which entereth in to that within the veil.’ Thus faith and hope getting hold of both ends of the promise, they carry it safely all away.
“Faith looks to Christ as dead, buried, and ascended; and hope looks for his second coming. Faith looks to him for justification; hope for glory. Faith fights for doctrine; hope for reward: faith for what is in the bible; hope for what is in heaven. Faith purifies the heart from bad principles; hope from bad manners, 2 Peter 2: 11, 14.

“Faith sets hope on work; hope sets patience on work. Faith says to hope, ‘Look for what is promised;’ hope says to faith, ‘So I do, and will wait for it too.’
“Thus faith saves, and thus hope saves. Faith saves by laying hold of God by Christ. Hope saves by prevailing with the soul to suffer all troubles, afflictions, ans adversities that it meets with betwixt this [world] and the world to come, for the sake thereof [ie for the sake of the world to come]. … Hope has a thick skin, that will endure many a blow; it will put on patience as a vestment, it will wade through a sea of blood, it will endure all things, if it be of the right kind, for the joy that is set before it.”

John Bunyan, Israel’s Hope Encouraged, excerpt from the first section.