You are free

August 5, 2015

Scripture 

1 Corinthians 1:30

God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin.  (NLV)

But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption— (NKJV)

Observation

1. I am in Christ

United with him in his death and in his resurrection 

2. Jesus is wisdom from God.

Jesus is the evidence, proof, wisdom, knowledge about life, how to live life, everything.

3. Jesus made me right with God

4. Jesus made me pure and holy

5. Jesus set me free from sin

This is a powerful verse that represents a powerful truth.  Jesus made my salvation possible.  He set me free from the penalty of sin.  I am no longer on my way to hell but am on my way to heaven.  That would be enough but it is not all.  He also set me free from the power of sin, made me pure and holy.  How can I live this God-pleasing life? By being in Christ, being united with the him in his death on a cross and in his resurrection from the dead.  Water baptism is a great illustration of this:  when I was submerged into the water it symbolized my death, when I came out of the water, it symbolized my resurrection.  My old man, nature has died, I am a new creation, a new man.  

Application

1. Count myself as dead to sin and alive in Christ.

It begins with my thinking, my beliefs.  I have to believe I am dead to sin and alive in Christ.  My behavior will never surpass my beliefs because belief systems determine behaviors.  I am transformed by the renewing of my mind.  

2. Abide in Christ.

Time in his presence will transform and empower me.  The Holy Spirit empowers me to be: to progressively become the man God has called me to be.

3. Spend time in the Word.

The Bible is my guidebook in life, it gives me the principles to live by but it is also a living book that gives life.  I receive life, strength by allowing the Bible transform me.

4. Spend time with other believers

The fellowship and accountability with other believers strengthens me.  I receive life, strength, when I spend time with like minded, same hearted people.

Prayer

I am right with God, pure, holy, free from sin.

How to stay strong till the end

August 3, 2015

Scripture 

1 Corinthians 1: 8-9

He will keep you strong to the end so that you will be free from all blame on the day when our Lord Jesus Christ returns. God will do this, for he is faithful to do what he says, and he has invited you into partnership with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. (NLT)

who will also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. ( NKJV)

Observation 

1. Jesus will keep me strong to he end

Confirm me to the end

Confirm-to make firm or more firm; add strength to; settle or establish firmly: Their support confirmed my determination to run for mayor.

2. I will be free from all blame on the day Jesus returns

3. God is faithful. 

He will do what he says.

4.  He has invited me into partnership, fellowship, communion with Jesus.

Application

1. Trust in God, he is faithful

2. Depend on Jesus who will keep me strong and blameless in the end.

3. Rely on and ente in my partnership, fellowship, communion with Jesus.

Prayer

I depend upon you.  I desire for you to be my partner.  I desire communion with you.  Come near to me, please.  Make me strong and keep me blameless till the end.

Your one thing, only thing, everything

August 3, 2015

Scripture

2 Chronicles 34: 3, 31-32

During the eighth year of his reign, while he was still young, Josiah began to seek the God of his ancestor David. Then in the twelfth year he began to purify Judah and Jerusalem, destroying all the pagan shrines, the Asherah poles, and the carved idols and cast images.

The king took his place of authority beside the pillar and renewed the covenant in the LORD’s presence. He pledged to obey the LORD by keeping all his commands, laws, and decrees with all his heart and soul. He promised to obey all the terms of the covenant that were written in the scroll. And he required everyone in Jerusalem and the people of Benjamin to make a similar pledge. The people of Jerusalem did so, renewing their covenant with God, the God of their ancestors. (NLT)

Observation

1. When Josiah began to seek God, his desire for purity increased.

Seeking God with all my heart, soul, mind, and body will increase my desire for purity.

2. When leaders take their place of authority, the people's desire for purity will increase.

The people began to cleanse their lives when Josiah took his place.

Speed of the leader equals speed of the team.  The people will never surpass their leaders.  My desire for Jesus, my desire for purity will set the pace.

Application

1. Abiding has to be my first priority.  Seeking Jesus, abiding in his presence is everything, my one thing, the only thing.

2. I have to set the pace, leaders set the bar for the rest of the team.

Pace of the leader, pace of the team.  

Prayer

Holy Spirit, increase my desire for the Father.  May I burn inside for Jesus.  May he my number one priority, my one thing, my only thing. I want more of Jesus.

Spiritual Warfare

August 2, 2015

Scripture 

2 Chronicles 32: 2-8

When Hezekiah realized that Sennacherib also intended to attack Jerusalem, he consulted with his officials and military advisers, and they decided to stop the flow of the springs outside the city. They organized a huge work crew to stop the flow of the springs, cutting off the brook that ran through the fields. For they said, “Why should the kings of Assyria come here and find plenty of water?” Then Hezekiah worked hard at repairing all the broken sections of the wall, erecting towers, and constructing a second wall outside the first. He also reinforced the supporting terraces in the City of David and manufactured large numbers of weapons and shields. He appointed military officers over the people and assembled them before him in the square at the city gate. Then Hezekiah encouraged them by saying: “Be strong and courageous! Don’t be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria or his mighty army, for there is a power far greater on our side! He may have a great army, but they are merely men. We have the LORD our God to help us and to fight our battles for us!” Hezekiah’s words greatly encouraged the people. (NLT)

Obaervation

Hezekiah found himself under attack by the Assyrians.  How did he respond?

This is a great example of how to respond to spiritual warfare.

1.  He consulted with advisors.

A. He was not a Lone Ranger.

We are a part of the body of Christ.

B. Sought wisdom

Trusted friends and advisors.

2. Hezekiah worked hard

A. The Bible teaches to work out your own salvation

We depend upon the Holy Spirit and work out our salvation. It is and/both not either/or.  I am to be 100 percent defendant on Jesus and I am to work hard

B. Work ethic

The men and women who have made the biggest difference for the kingdom of God worked hard, sacrificed greatly, left it all on the field of battle.

3. He had faith that God would bring the victory.

Don’t be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria or his mighty army, for there is a power far greater on our side! He may have a great army, but they are merely men. We have the LORD our God to help us and to fight our battles for us!” 

A. He worked hard while believing God would fight the battle fkor him.

B.  He believed in the power and greatness of God.

4. As a leader Hezikiah encouraged the  people.

A. Then Hezekiah encouraged them by saying: “Be strong and courageous! Hezekiah’s words greatly encouraged the people

B. One the greatest gifts a leader can give his followers is encouragement.

To have heart.

Human beings need to be motivated, encouraged.

They need to be challenged to be brave, strong, and courageous 

Application

1. Have a strong work ethic

2. Remember theology tends to be both/and not either/or

3. Be 100 percent dependent on Jesus

4. Have wise advisors and seek out their counsel

Have them before you need them

Consult them even when you think you got this

5. Be an encourager

Anyone can suck the life out of others, but you be a person that speaks life into others.

Prayer 

May I work out my own salvation and depend 100 percent on you.

Show me the right path

August 1, 2015

Scripture

Psalm 25:4-5

Show me the right path, O LORD ; point out the road for me to follow. 5 Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me.

 (NLV)

Make me to know Your ways, O Lord; teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; on You I wait all the day. 

( MEV)

Observation

1. Make me to know your ways.

Do not give me a choice. 

2. Show me the right path

I am limited in my knowledge, you are unlimited, all knowing.  Show me the right path 

3. Lead me in your truth, teach me

I want go beyond knowing the truth but be lead into the truth.  Teach me

4. You are the God who saves me.

Application

1. God reveals the right path, he points out the way.

2. He leads me into his truth and teaches me.

3. He saves me from harm and pain.  Leads me to the right destination 

Prayer

Make me to know your ways.  Point out the right path.

Transformation

July 29, 2015

Scripture 

Romans 12:1-3

And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. 

(NLT)

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. (NKJV)

Observation

1. Beseech- to implore urgently: They besought him to go at once.

to beg eagerly for; solicit.

It means to urge, plead, implore

To do what?

2. Give my body to God as a sacrifice.  

My body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, it belongs to God.  I am to be a steward of my body

3. Do not copy the behavior and customs of this world.  

Do not conform be shaped by the world.  It's values, beliefs, cultures.  I am to be shaped by God and His Word.

4. But be transformed by the renewing of my mind

Allow God to shape the way I think, my mind will be controlled by the Holy Spirit and shaped by the Bible.

Then I will be able to:

5. Prove the good, acceptable, pleasing and perfect will of God.

Application

1. Offer my body as a sacrifice, treat my body as the temple of the Holy Spirit

Holiness and health 

2. Do not conform to the values, beliefs, and cultures of the world

Edit entertainment and be careful that I do not allow academia to have too much influence.

3. Be transformed by the renewing of my mind through God's word by the Holy Spirit.

Read, journal, memorize, and pray the Bible

4. Then I will know the good, pleasing, acceptable, and perfect will of God.

Live in the will zone

Prayer

Enable me to live holy and healthy 

Personal growth leads to prosperity

July 14, 2015

Scripture

Proverbs 19:8

He who gets wisdom loves his own soul; He who keeps understanding will find good. (NKJV)

To acquire wisdom is to love yourself; people who cherish understanding will prosper. ( NLT)

Observation

1. Acquire wisdom

Get wisdom

2. Is to love yourself

Personal growth is key to advancement.  Always learn, grow, and develop self

This is not pride but love.

3. Keep understanding

Personal growth is not just learning but applying what I learn. I must keep what I learn.

4. Personal growth is the key to prosperity.

Good things will come my way as I grow, learn, and continually develop.

Application

1. Read daily

2. Life coaching

3. Member care growth

Prayer

May I grow so I will prosper