Sunday, July 22, 2018

God's Got It Pt 2 - And So Do You!


Pericope:  Genesis 28:16-22

Sermon Text:  Genesis 28: 20 Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear

Sermon Title:  God’s Got It: Pt 2 And So Do You!

James 4:1-6 - What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? 2 You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. 3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. 4 You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us? 6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”

Point 1:  Jacob makes a proposition.  Genesis 28: 20 Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear
a)    How long is the contract?  Vs 20…watch over me on this journey
b)    How do you enter the contract? Vs 20 if you then I will
I called this that “if you” condition's. Jacob was all in God's face talking about if you do the something. We say on a regular basis, “if you God…”
c)    What will both parties do? Vs 20 [God] give me food to eat and clothes to wear… I return safely… You will [can] be my God.

Point 2:  God's response to your needs. God has an If then Deuteronomy 28:1-8 - If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. 2 All these blessings will come on you [overtake you] and accompany you if you obey the Lord your God: 3 You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country. 4 The fruit of your womb will be blessed, and the crops of your land and the young of your livestock—the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks. 5 Your basket and your kneading trough will be blessed. 6 You will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out. 7 The Lord will grant that the enemies who rise up against you will be defeated before you. They will come at you from one direction but flee from you in seven. 8 The Lord will send a blessing on your barns and on everything you put your hand to. The Lord your God will bless you in the land he is giving you.
        In order to receive those blessings God wants a lifestyle change. 
Matthew 5:22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.

Vs. 28 - But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Vs  44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

Vs 48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

James 1:13-15 Don’t let anyone under pressure to give in to evil say, “God is trying to trip me up.” God is impervious to evil, and puts evil in no one’s way. The temptation to give in to evil comes from us and only us. We have no one to blame but the leering, seducing flare-up of our own lust. Lust gets pregnant, and has a baby: sin! Sin grows up to adulthood, and becomes a real killer.

Point 3: Negotiate from a position of strength Vs 13 There above it stood the Lord, and he said: “I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying.
God promised him the birthright. “And may God give you of the dew of heaven [abundant rainfall] and of the fatness [rich places] of the earth, and plenty [an abundance] of grain and wine. Let people serve you, and let nations bow down to you. Be lord [rule] over your brethren, and let your mother’s sons bow down to you. Cursed be everyone that curses you, and blessed be he that blesses you” (Gen. 27:28-29).
That blessing that was irrevocable. Isaacs blessing him in Vs 1 So Isaac called for Jacob and blessed him.  God re-affirmed it.
Philippians 4:19 says all we need to do is trust God.  19 And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. 

Life Application: 
1.  Stop bargaining with God and start trusting God.
2.  Remember he loves you so much he gave his only begotten Son for you.  He will not withhold any good gift from you.
3.  When you make a promise to God – if..then – keep it!


Saturday, July 14, 2018

Do You Have the Time?


Sermon Text:  Eccl 3:1 - 1 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:
Do You Have the Time?
Point 1:  Life’s Clock is set on Purpose. 
1.    There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven.  Solomon is simply saying time and seasons dictate our lives and if life did not have sequence, four seasons, time of day, which starts with day and ends with night; our lives would be chaotic. 
Gen. 1: 2-3 - Now the earth was [a] formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. 3 And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light.
Right after God destroyed the earth one of the first things God did was re-establish time, order, sequence, seasons
Gen. 8: 22 "As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest,      cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease."
Isaiah 46:10  I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come.
MESSAGE - From the very beginning telling you what the ending will be, All along letting you in on what is going to happen, Assuring you, 'I'm in this for the long haul, I'll do exactly what I set out to do,'
Point 2:  Life’s clock is set on enjoyment.  Vs. 12-13 - 12 I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. 13 That everyone may eat and drink and find satisfaction in all his toil—this is the gift of God.
Contrary to popular belief God wants us to live an enjoyable life. 
·       3 John 2 – (2) Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.
o   Message - and I pray for good fortune in everything you do, and for your good health—that your everyday affairs prosper, as well as your soul!
·       Jer. 29:11 - 11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
o   Message - I'll show up and take care of you as I promised and bring you back home. I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.
·       Josh 1:8 - 8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
o   Message - And don't for a minute let this Book of The Revelation be out of mind. Ponder and meditate on it day and night, making sure you practice everything written in it. Then you'll get where you're going; then you'll succeed.
Prov. 10:22 - 22 The blessing of the LORD brings wealth, and he adds no trouble [sorrow] to it.
At times life seems to be 1) out of balance, 2) out of control, 3) painful and anything but enjoyable. 
Haggai 1:5-6 - 5 Now this is what the LORD Almighty says: "Give careful thought to your ways. 6 You have planted much, but have harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it."
Point 3:  Life’s Clock is set on eternityvs. 11, 14 - 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. 14 I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that men will revere him.
Ps. 139:16 - 16 your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.
MESSAGE - Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth;  all the stages of my life were spread out before you, The days of my life all prepared  before I'd even lived one day.
Jeremiah 1: 5"Before I shaped you in the womb, I knew all about you.  Before you saw the light of day, I had holy plans for you:
A prophet to the nations— that's what I had in mind for you."
1.  Are you really enjoying life?  Circle Yes or No
2.  Do you know your purpose in life?  Circle Yes or No
3.  Do you know where you will spend eternity?  Circle Yes or No

Sunday, July 8, 2018

God's Got It


Sermon Text James 4:2b, 3
Sermon Title:  God’s Got It
Point 1:  Ask ..Say what you want…have what you say. James 4:2b you do not have because you do not ask God
John 15:7 - If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
Matthew 17:20  "Because you have so little faith." He answered. "For truly I tell you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."
Philippians 4: 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
·        Ask
·        Add
·        Erase

Point 2Access denied James 4:3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. When you ask you don't receive.  
Galatians 6: 7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. [God is not a fool, nor will God be made a fool of] A man reaps what he sows. James 4:3–10 The Message Bible - 2-3 You wouldn’t think of just asking God for it, would you? And why not? Because you know you’d be asking for what you have no right to. You’re spoiled children, each wanting your own way 4-6 You’re cheating on God. If all you want is your own way, flirting with the world every chance you get, you end up enemies of God and his way. And do you suppose God doesn’t care? The proverb has it that “he’s a fiercely jealous lover.” And what he gives in love is far better than anything else you’ll find. It’s common knowledge that “God goes against the willful proud; God gives grace to the willing humble.” 7-10 So let God work his will in you. Yell a loud no to the Devil and watch him scamper. Say a quiet yes to God and he’ll be there in no time. Quit dabbling in sin. Purify your inner life. Quit playing the field. Hit bottom, and cry your eyes out. The fun and games are over. Get serious, really serious. Get down on your knees before the Master; it’s the only way you’ll get on your feet
Point 3: Anticipate  James 1:6-8 6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do
James 1:2-3 - Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.
1 Corinthians 10:13 - No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
2 Corinthians 9:6-8 - 6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
Life Application
1. Plant seeds regularly and often
2. Remember you control how much you harvest 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 - 6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
3.  Trust God!

Sunday, July 1, 2018

How to Live in the World of Trump

Sermon Text:  John 15: 18-21. 18“If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. 19“If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you. 20“Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also. 21“But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know the One who sent Me.,
Sermon Title:  The Spirit of Trump Pt 2How to Live in the World of Trump
Point 1: Limit your Intake Matthew 6:22-23. The eye is the lamp of the body; so then if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light. 23“But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!
Point 2: Share your Views Matthew 5:47And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? The Message Bible puts it this way If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run of-the-mill sinner does that.
1. Diffuse
2. Deescalate
3. Depart

Point 3: Love your Neighbor Matthew 5:43-46 - You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.’ 44“But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46“For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?
1 John 3:18 Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.

Point 4: Contact your Representative, Register and Vote

Point 5: Remember who you are Hebrews 13:5b-6- for He Himself has said, “I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU,” 6 so that we confidently say, “THE LORD IS MY HELPER, I WILL NOT BE AFRAID. WHAT 
WILL MAN DO TO ME?”

Point 6: Don’t be hurt because you areHatedJohn 15:18-19 “If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. 19“If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world

1 John 3:15 Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him.

John 15:18-1918 “If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. 19“If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world


Virtual Family Sunday Questions

What ways can we create community as a family? How has our viewership/church attendance enhanced or diminished our family covenant? What way...