SERMON NOTES

Sunday 3/11/2018

What God Wants You to Know

“I pray also 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 the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms,” (Ephesians 1:18-20).

 To know these important truths

1.You must ask God to enlighten the eyes of your heart

2.God has opened our eyes to see and believe in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord

3.As a believer, we are always in need of the Holy Spirit to enlighten the eyes of your heart to the great truths of the Bible

Matthew 11:25 “Thou has hidden these things from…”

4. You should constantly be praying as you study the Word, “Lord, enlighten the eyes of my heart so that I may know, love, and obey You better!”

God wants you to know what is the hope of His calling

1.The hope of His calling means that He took the initiative in our salvation (John 15:16)

2.Your salvation does not rest on your choosing Christ

3.  The hope of His calling is the certainty of increasing blessing and joy in Christ

4.We know that He will fulfill all of His promises to us

 

God wants you to know what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe

1.The surpassing greatness of His power that saved us

2. The greatness of His power that enables us to persevere through trials

3.The greatness of His power to overcome temptation and live in holiness
 
4. The greatness of His power for everything that He has called us to do

5.The greatness of His power to keep us to the end

Sunday: March 18, 2018

Change Your Life By Changing Your Mind

 “Do not be conformed to the pattern of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.” Romans 12:2 (NLT)

WHY I MUST MANAGE MY MIND

  1. BECAUSE: My thoughts control my life

“Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts.”  Proverbs 4:23 (TEV)

  1. BECAUSE: My mind is the battle ground for sin

     “I love to do God’s will so far as my new nature is concerned; but there’s something else deep within me that is at war with my mind and wins the fight and makes me a slave to the sin within me.  In my mind I want to be God’s servant, but instead I find myself still enslaved to sin.” Romans 7:22-23 (LB)

  1. BECAUSE: It is the key to peace and happiness
      “If your sinful nature controls your mind, there is death.  But if the Holy Spirit controls your mind, there is life and peace.”  Romans 8:6 (NLT)

3 DAILY CHOICES FOR A HEALTHY MIND

  1. I MUST: Feed my mind with truth 

“People need more than bread for their life; they must feed on every WORD OF GOD.”  Matthew 4:4 (NLT)

WHEN?  Moment by moment

“Lord, how I love your Word.  I think about it all day long.”  Psalm 119:97

  1. I MUST: Free my mind from destructive thoughts

“Those who are dominated by their sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit.” Romans 8:5 (NLT)

“Though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.  The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world.  [Our weapons] have divine power to demolish strongholds.  We demolish any argument and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we TAKE CAPTIVE EVERY THOUGHT to make it OBEDIENT to Christ.”  2 Corinthians 10:3-5

YOU HAVE THREE ENEMIES WARRING TO CONTROL YOUR THOUGHTS

1.Old Nature = self-defeating behavior

But there is something else deep within me, in my lower nature, that is at war with my mind and wins the fight and makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me (Romans 7:23)

  1. Satan = He wants to control you mind

      “I have forgive that man…keep from being outsmarted by Satan” 2 Corinthians     2:10-11)

  1. World value system = the world will not help you to discipline yourself
       “for all these worldly things, these evil desires—the craze for sex, the ambition to buy everything that appeals to you, and the pride that comes from wealth and importance—these are not from God. They are from this evil world itself” (1 John 2:16)

3. MUST:  Focus my mind on the right things

“Keep your mind on Jesus Christ .  .  .”  2 Timothy 2:8 (CEV)

“Think about Jesus’ example.  He held on while wicked people were doing evil things to him.  So do not get tired and stop trying.”  Hebrews 12:3 (NCV)

 

 Sunday: March 25, 2018

IN GOD’S HANDS

Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last. Luke 23:46

Into your hands I commit my spirit; Deliver me, Lord, my faithful God. (Psalm 31:5)

THE LAST SEVEN SAYING OF CHRIST ON THE CROSS

I.“Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34)

II.“Verily I say unto you, Today shall you be with Me in paradise” (Luke 23:43)

III.Woman, behold thy son …Then said he to the disciple, Behold thy      mother (John 19:26-27)

IV.“Eloi, Eloi, lama, sabachthani?” being interpreted, “My God, My God, why      have You forsaken Me?” (Matthew 27:46)

V.“I thirst,”  (JOHN 19:28)

VI.“It is finished.” (John 19:30)

VII.  “Father, into Your hands I commend My spirit,” (Luke23:46)

 THE DOCTRINE OF OUR LORD’S LAST CRY FROM THE CROSS

I.God is His Father and God is our Father

  1. Universal fatherhood of God is a lie from the devil
III. Jesus first cry from the cross is like the last

 LET US PRACTICE THE DUTY

  1. Our first duty is to turn in our resignation
 
SUNDAY IS COMING
Easter Sunday
April 1, 2018

1 Peter 2:21-25

21 This suffering is all part of the work God has given you. Christ, who suffered for you, is your example. Follow in his steps: 22 He never sinned, never told a lie, 23 never answered back when insulted; when he suffered he did not threaten to get even; he left his case in the hands of God who always judges fairly. 24 He personally carried the load of our sins in his own body when he died on the cross so that we can be finished with sin and live a good life from now on. For his wounds have healed ours! 25 Like sheep you wandered away from God, but now you have returned to your Shepherd, the Guardian of your souls who keeps you safe from all attacks.
 

I.Jesus death, bury and resurrection happen       over three days

a.Friday – day of pain and suffering

b.Saturday – day of doubt, confusion and misery
 
c. Sunday –day of joy, celebration and victory

FRIDAY – DAY OF PAIN

 What did Jesus when He was going through pain

  1. Reach out to your friends (Matthews 26:36-46)
  2. Reached out to God (Mark 14:35-36)
  1. Jesus prayed 3 things to God

       First, you affirm God (God I know you can do anything)

       Second, you express your desire or your pain (Let this cup pass from me)

       Thirdly, you show your trust (I want your will not mine)

SATURDAY – DAYS OF DOUBT

(Jesus was placed in a tomb)

I.Disciples saw Jesus do all these miracles

II.Saturday they possible did a lot of “WHAT IF”

III.What do you do in the Saturday’s of doubt and confusion

  1. You hold on to the promises of God
  2. John 14:19-20 — Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day        you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.
  3. What have happens when you don’t know the God promises   “YOU WORRY”
 

DAY OF JOY, CELEBRATION AND VICTORY

I.When the disciples saw Jesus alive, they had the Joy of Sunday

II.Only Jesus can get you through to Sunday

III.Jesus Said,  “I AM THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE…”

  April 8, 2018
Choosing the door that God has open
Revelation 3:7-8
 
“To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write:
These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. 8) I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.
 
Rev. 3:7 “…who holds the key of David
1.  David symbolizes the messianic office
 2.  Key is the symbol of scriptures
 3.  Key is equated with authority
 4.  Whoever has the key has control
 5.  This key unlocks David house       “THE KINGDOM”
 I.  WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT DOORS IN YOUR LIFE
a. Every door is a decision
b. Your future (destiny) will be shaped by which door you walk through or let pass by
c. Each wrong door will cost you something (time, money, partnership …)
 
. DISCERNMENT
       Philippians 1:9-10: “And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10) so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ”
a. If a open door is truly from God, it will not contradict what He already said in His Word
Deuteronomy 30:19
This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live
b. If God said don’t do it, that door is a trap
Matthew 16:23
Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”
Any time you look at your future from a human viewpoint and not from God      THAT’S A TRAP
DOOR OF OPPORTUNITY
1 CORINTHIANS 16:9
FOR THERE IS A WIDE OPEN DOOR FOR ME TO PREACH AND TEACH HERE. SO MUCH IS HAPPENING, BUT THERE ARE MANY ENEMIES
a. Every door God open for you will be met with opposition
b. Opposition doesn’t mean it’s the wrong door
ILL: Nehemiah 6:3 3
so I replied by sending back this message to them: “I am doing a great work! Why should I stop to come and visit with you?”
GOD WILL OPEN DOORS FOR YOU IF YOU WILL OPEN DOORS FOR OTHERS
Golden Rule – Luke 6:31
Proverbs 11:25 — A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.
Be generous with you time, praise, home, money, energy
THAT’S CALL “HOSPITALITY
 Job 31:32 — The stranger has not stayed in the street, for I have opened my doors to the traveler
NOTE: Friends and blood relatives don’t count – Matt: 5:46-47
GETTING CLOSER TO GOD
 
(ARE YOU CHANGING)

Luke 15:11-24

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind… (Romans 12:2)

a.To get closer to God you have to change the way you think

b.The further you get away from God the more trouble you will have in your life

a.The close you get to God the more your life will be transformed

YOU GOT TO GET FED UP

a.V17. “When he finally came to his senses

b.Anything that you can tolerate, you cannot change

c.Desperate = The boy became so hungry that even the pods he

 was feeding the swine looked good to him

  1. Jeremiah 29:13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me   with all your heart.

OWN UP TO YOUR OWN SINS

a.V18 = “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you

b.Isaiah 59:2 But the trouble is that your sins have cut you off from God. Because of sin he has    turned his face away from you and will not listen anymore

b.Examine yourself

c.2 Corinthians 13:5  Check up on yourselves. Are you really Christians? Do you pass the test?   Do you feel Christ’s presence and power more and more within you? Or are you just pretending to be Christians when actually you aren’t at all?

d.Psalm 139:23-24 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test my thoughts. Point out anything you find in me that makes you sad, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.

f.   Admit that you are living the way God desire for you

 Offer up yourself

a.V19 = “…Please take me on as a hired servant”

  1. change in attitude
  2. v12 = give me = move from self-center
  3. v19 = make me a hired servant = God center
  4. That’s transformation — don’t happen over night
  5. 2 Corinthians 3:18 And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his   image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord,   who is the Spirit.

LIFT GOD UP IN PRAISE

24 for this son of mine was dead and has returned to life. He was lost and is found.’ So the party began.

Are You Confused
2 Timothy 3:1-5
But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.
 
3 Definition for CONFUSE
1. “ UNABLE TO THINK INTELLIGENTLY”
     Implies that a person is unable to think or reason clearly or to act sensibly.
 
2. The second definition, “NOT DIFFERENTIATED” Implies that you cannot distinguish one thing from the other; There are no clear guidelines so everything looks the same.
3. Third definition, “BEING DISORIENTED “ Reflects a person who is confused as to time and place; Out of touch with reality.
 
POWER AND AUTHORITY
POWER = “the authority to act or do something according to a law or rule.”
 
AUTHORITY = “the power or right to command,
    1. Authority does not beg; 2. Authority doesn’t ask; 3. Authority commands!
POWER AND AUTHORITY ARE INSEPARABLE.
(Matthew 8:5-10)
 
(Matthew 28:18-20)
 
(Mark 16:15-18)
 
Acts 1:8: “but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”
 
Acts 4:33: “And with great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was upon them all.”
 
Acts 6:8: “And Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people.”
 
1 Corinthians 2:5: “So that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.”
 
1 Corinthians 4:20: “For the kingdom of God does not consist in words but in power.”
 
Ephesians 3:20: “Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us.”
 
Ephesians 6:10: “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.”
 
2 Thessalonians 1:11: “To this end also we pray for you always, that our God will count you worthy of your calling, and fulfill every desire for                                                        goodness and the work of faith with power.”
 
2 Timothy 1:7 “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and discipline.”
 
2 Timothy 3:5 (avoid those who) had a form of godliness but denied its power?
 
When we refused to acknowledge the power within us and operate within it we are denying that power.
 
Power and authority is exercised when there is a right to exercise it
 
If you do not believe you can walk in POWER AND AUTHORITY
THEN YOU CAN’T
 
(2 Corinthians 4:7-18)
“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death works in us, but life in you. But having the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, ‘I BELIEVED, THEREFORE I SPOKE,’ we also believe, therefore we also speak, knowing that He who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and will present us with you. For all things are for your sakes, so that the grace which is spreading to more and more people may cause the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of God. Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”