Pastor's Message
9-22-19 “RESOLVE TO LIVE A JOYOUS LIFE”
Philippians 4:1-9
Resolve Daily to:
1. Live joyously (vs.1,4)
“My joy…beloved…stand firm”
Live in _VICTORY___and
claim the _JOY__ of God’s grace
2. Keep a proper perspective (vs.2-3)
Basic truth: It’s not about me!
Live in _HARMONY__
agreeable
3. Lighten up (vs. 4,5)
“Rejoice…let your forbearing spirit” _SHOW__
4. Make prayer your first response (v.6)
Don’t _WORRY_, instead _PRAY_
“Anxious” - _Cares, Worry__ (1 Peter 5:7)
“Supplication” - ASK_ God for something
“Thanksgiving” - _APPRECIATION_
5. Let God’s peace protect you (v.7)
“Peace” _He is our Peace_ (Ephesians 2:14) Calming, encouraging
“Guard” - _Positive Things_ Set a protection ground
6. Choose carefully what you dwell on (v.8)
“As you _THINK_, so are you” (Proverbs 23:7)
“Take thoughts _CAPTIVE_” (2 Corinthians 10:15)
Have the mind of Christ Philippians 2:5
7. Apply what you learn (v.9)
“Practice” - “ DOER’S_ the Word” (James 1:22)
Make prayer your 1st response
Don’t practive religion, practice relationship
When negative find something TRUE
A lemon was squeezed and the class was asked what will come out?
Lemon juice. Instead Grapefruit Juice because the Lemon was infused.
When squeezed what will come out of you??
9-15-19 “THE JOY OF THE JOURNEY”
Philippians 3:11-21
_Faith_ is a journey; pursue _Christlikeness_
· PRESSS ON (vs.12, 14)
We are not yet not ready (mature)_
“press on” - _pursue follow after – Olympic runner
“lay hold” _of by Christ (Paul Damascus road)
· PAUSE MOMENTARILY
Reject the _past (v.13)forgetting behind
Experience God in the _present_
Reach for the _promise_, the _goal_
· PROFESS A RIGHT PERSPECTIVE (v.15)
Right “attitude” – “_mind__ of Christ” (2:5)
Wrong attitude? – God will give _light, wisdom
· PICK YOUR FELLOW TRAVELERS
Examples to follow (v.17) observe, take notes
“standard” (v.16)…“pattern” (v.17) - _christ in you__
Walk- conduct walk worthy
Enemies to fear (vs.18-19) enemies of the cross
· PROCLAIM YOUR CITIZENSHIP (vs.20-21)
Destination? _Heaven_ - Ephesians 2:9
While we wait for a _savior_ (v.20)
Who will transform (change) us to the Glory.
9-8-19
“BEWARE OF JOY-STEALERS”
Philippians 3:1-10
God wants us to have consistent, abiding joy:
“Rejoice in the _LORD_” (v.1)
Some want to rob us of our joy: (v.2)
· _DOGS_
· EVIL_ _WORKERS_
· FALSE_ _CIRCUMCISION_
They have lost sight of _JESUS_
They look _GODLY__ and _SPIRITUAL__,
but have no _POWER_ in their lives
The “true circumcision” (v.3)
· _WORSHIP_ in the Spirit of God
· _GLORY_ in Christ Jesus
· Reject “confidence in the _FLESH__” (vs. 3-8)
They put confidence in Jesus (v.10)
· _PERSONALLY_ “To know Him”
· _POWERFULLY_ “Power of His resurrection”
· _PAINFULLY_ “Fellowship of His suffering”
· _PRACTICALLY_ “Being conformed to His death”
“Conformed” - outward expression
of an inner experience of faith;
exemplified in _BAPTISM__ (Romans 6:4)
Paul came to a moment in which truth of who Jesus is,
turned to a heart-felt, life-changing moment
God calls that _JOY
9-1-19
“THE JOY OF A JESUS ATTITUDE”
Philippians 2:5-11
ATTITUDE: _MIND___
“Be of the same _mind__” (v.2); Romans 15:5;
2 Corinthians 13:11; Colossians 3:2
MIND OF CHRIST:
Identified (vs.2-4)
LOVE, UNITY, PURPOSE SELFLESS, thinking of others
Illustrated (vs.6-8)
6) He did not __exploit__, flaunt His Godliness; rather,
7) He __surrendered__ as a “bond-servant”
8) He _submitted__ to “death on a cross”
(Matthew 20:28)
A GODLY ATTITUDE REQUIRES _WORK__
· It begins with God –vs. 6, 13
· It requires _self_ -__discipline__ - v.12
The mind of the world declares:
Your rights, ways, prejudice
The mind of Jesus reveals
Submission, humility, love, _> set self aside
“At the name of Jesus: BOW_surrender...submission_”
CONFESS: say the same thing GOD says
Romans 10:9, “Confess with your mouth”
Matthew 10:32, “Confess Me before men”
“Always ready (to declare)… hope” (1Pt. 3:15)
8-25-19
“THE JOY OF UNITY”
Philippians 1:27-2:1-4
· UNITY BEGINS WITH A CONSISTENT __CONDUCT__
“Conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel”
CONDUCT: _ACTION__, __WALK_. __BEHAVIOR__
Ephesians 4:1, “worthy of your calling”
· UNITY REVEALS A COMMON __CAUSE___
What we _BELIEVE__, determines how we __BEHAVE__
· UNITY IS EVIDENT IN _TOGETHERNESS____
STRIVING: _Pulling as one__ TOGETHER: __UNIFIED___
Jesus prayed that we be __ONE__ (John 17:20-22)
There is _POWER__ in unity
· THERE IS JOY IN UNITY
2:2, “Make my joy complete…”
· WHAT DISRUPTS UNITY?
1. Threat from without
“Don’t be alarmed by your opponents”
Ephesians 6:12, “Our struggle is not against flesh and blood”
2. Threat from within: (2:3-4)
a. _Self Centered not focused__
b. _Pride___
c. _Vision___
Proverbs 29:18
8-18-19
“JOY IN SPITE OF CIRCUMSTANCES”
Philippians 1:11-26
James 1:2-3 – Happiness is a __FEELING___,
Joy is an _ATTITUDE__
Judge Joseph Carter; Matthew 11:28
City of NY- One day disappeared never to be seen again. Only
thing was a note left to his wife. “Weary”
When you are facing adversity, joy is available
· LOOK AT YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES
THROUGH GOD’S _EYES__
The Apostle Paul wrote Philippians from priso
His chains gave him:
1. Contact with the ___LOST___ (v.13)
2. Courage to the ___SAVED__ (v.14)
3. Confidence (v.12)
· SURRENDER YOURSELF TO GOD’S _PURPOSE___
Romans 8:28; Philippians 1:6 Ephesians 2 8-9
· _ACT__ RATHER THAN _REACT_
You have __PURPOSE___ in the trial
See it in the life of Jesus
· BE _SECURE___ IN GOD
2 Timothy 1:12; Philippians 1:21; 2 Timothy 4:6-7
· WALK IN THE __GRACE__ GOD PROVIDES
2 Corinthians 9:8; 12:9; Galatians 2:20
2 Timothy 2:21 In spite of circumstances
8-11-19
“THE JOY OF SPIRITUAL VITALITY”
Philippians 1:9-11
Would you say that your life is like:
A beautiful artificial silk plant, or
A fresh-cut flower in a vase
Jesus said, “I am the vine, you are the branches.
He who ABIDES in Me and I in him,
he will bear much fruit, for apart from Me
you can do nothing” (John 15:5)
To maintain spiritual growth:
· PRAY PURPOSEFULLY
“Lord, teach us to pray” (Luke 11:1)
Paul - “And this I pray” (Philippians 1:9)
· CHOOSE TO GROW
“That your love may abound…still more and more”
· LET YOUR LOVE ABOUND
“Abound” – filled with ENERGY
“To approve the things that are EXCELLENT
· BE FILLED WITH THE FRUIT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
“In Jesus…bear much fruit”
Col 3:2 Set Your Mind on things ABOVE.
· BE SINCERE AND BLAMELESS
“be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ”
James 3:18
Choice: Be satisfied with plastic and artificial,
or be living and growing
8-4-19
“THE JOY OF FRIENDSHIP” 8/4/19
Philippians 1:1-8
Philippians – a letter of grace, peace, joy – to friends
“To have a friend you must BE a friend”
Friendships are more than AQUAINTANCES
“There is a friend that sticks closer than a BROTHER”
(Prv.18:24)
FRIENDS ARE:
· PEOPLE YOU REMEMBER
“I thank my God for in all my remembrances” (v.3)
· PEOPLE FOR WHOM YOU PRAY
“Always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer
for you” (v.4), because…1. You SHARE the gospel (v.4)
2. God is at work PERFECTING (maturing) you (v.6)
His Work: for, in, through you:
salvation, sanctification, service
· PEOPLE WITH WHOM YOU SHARE
LIFE’S GREATEST EXPERIENCES
“You are partakers of GRACE with me” (v.7)
Partakers: (koinonia) FELLOWSHIP
“Timothy, bondservant” (v.1)
· PEOPLE YOU LOVE
“I long for you with the AFFECTION of Christ Jesus” (v.8)
“A friend LOVES at all times” (Prv.7:17)
“Greater love has no one than this, that one LAY DOWN
his life for his friends” (Jo.15:13)
7-28-19
“CHRISTIAN CHARACTERISTICS”
Colossians 3:1-11
A Christian has DIED to self,
and is “hidden with Christ in God…He is our LIFE
A Christian is “RAISED UP with Christ”,
illustrated by BAPTISM: “Resurrected to walk
in newness of life” (Romans 6:4)
A Christian should constantly PERSUE
“things above”, by FOCUSING on “things above,
not on things on earth”, by “seeking FIRST
the kingdom of God” (Matthew 6:33)
A Christian should DISGARD garments of evil,
while being “RENEWED”
When “Christ is REVEALED”,
so shall we be with Him in “GLORY” (1 John 3:2)
7-21-19
JESUS: LIGHT OF THE WORLD
John 9
Imagine…
Jesus’ disciples saw the man as a Sinner
The neighbors saw him as a Beggar
The Pharisees saw him as a way to Trap Jesus
Jesus saw him as one who needed Help
The Pharisees saw Jesus as a Sinner
The disciples asked, “Why?”
· Punishment for sin?
1. God? His punishment for sin is Death
2. Personal? – all personal suffering is related
to original sin (Genesis 3)
Personal suffering can be related to
personal sin – worry, anger…
3. Parents? Sometimes it is…abuse, poor care…
· Opportunity?
1. For God to Work? (John 9:3)
2. For us to Testify? (John 9:25, 38)
Jesus is the light of the world (John 9:5; John 8:12)
John 8:12, "He who follows Me will not walk in the darkness,
but shall have the light of life."
7-14-19
7-7-19
“DECISIONS, DECISIONS”
· A SELF-EXAMINATION [Psalm 37]
Do I…
1. _TRUST___the Lord?
2. Do good, dwell in the land, cultivate faithfulness”?
a. Look to the __SAVIOR__ (Hebrews 12:2)
b. Live in the ___SCRIPTURE___ (Romans 10:17)
c. Lean on the __SPIRIT___ (John 16:13)
3. __DELIGHT_ in the Lord? (Matthew 6:33)
4. Believe that He will “give me the DESIRES_
Seek first his kingdom (Mt 6:33) of my heart”?
Serve the Lord with Gladness (Ps 100:2)
· A NATIONAL EXAMINATION [1 Samuel 16;
2 Chronicles 7:14]
Do we…
1. _Worship__
a. _Consecration (humble, purify)__
b. __Sacrifice (give, serve)__
2. Use _Human__ perspective or _Divine__
3. Watch God _Work David, harp, Goliath, Jonathon__
4. Follow God’s steps to see His _Promise__
a. _Humble ourselves___
b. _Pray__
c. _Seek His Face__
d. _Turn from our wicked ways__
His Promise: “I will forgive sins, hear from heaven, Heal Land”
6-30-19 The Lord's Supper
6-23-19
WHAT IS YOUR SOURCE OF JOY
John 10:10
Happiness and joy are not the same
Joy comes from __within__
Jesus said the thief comes to _steal__ your joy
The “thief” (devil) “prowls about like a roaring lion
seeking someone to devour” (1Peter 5:8)
Joy in Jesus is something he can never steal
PROTECT YOUR JOY
1. Avoid Prolonged _Anger___
“Don’t give the devil an _opportunity___” (Ephesians 4:27)
“_Submit__ to God” (James 4:7)
2. Avoid __Religious__ _Rules__
Disguised as __Bible__ __Truths__
3. Accept only the _True___ Source of Joy
Jesus came that we might have life…abundantly
ABUNDANT: _Overflowing____ (Mark 12:33)
ABUNDANT LIFE: “Life of _Contentment__” (J.M. Boyce)
Before we can know “abundant life”,
we must first know _Life___ (John 14:6)
“We are made __alive____ together with Christ”
(Ephesians 2:5)
6-16-19
FATHERS: How Are You Doing? 6/16/19
A Tragedy in Shunem [2Ki.4:8-32]
A Question for each of us: How are you doing? [2Ki.4:26]
· As a PARENT? “Is it well with your children?”
Focus – Prv.22:6, “train up a child…”
1Thes.2:11, exhort, encourage, implore
2Tim.1:5, Biblical influence
· As a PARTNER?
Eph.5:2, Love your wife, just as Christ also loved
the church and gave Himself up for her”
Eph.5:1, “Be imitators of God”
5:21, “Be subject to one another”
· As a PERSON?
1. Priorities
Lk.10:27, “Love God totally”
Mt.6:33, “Seek first the kingdom of God”
2. Purity
Mt.5:8, “Be blessed”
1Tim.5:22, Keep yourself pure”
2Pt.3:14, “Be blameless…at peace with God”
Ps.24:4, “clean hands and pure heart”
3. Prayer
“Pray without ceasing” (1The.5:17)
“Pray and not lose heart” (Lk.18:11)
“Devote yourself to prayer” (1Cor.7:5)
“Train up a child in the way he should go” (Prv. 22:6)
6-9-19
ETERNAL LIFE
Matthew 19:16-17
Jesus said, “If you _love_ Me, keep My commandments”
(John 14:15)
His commandments are not burdensome_ (1 John 5:3)
Which commandments?
- Ten Commandments? (Exodus 20:1-26)
- _Greatest_ commandment? (Matthew 22:36-40)
God calls failure to “keep His commandments” _sin_
(Romans 3:23),
which results in _death_ (Romans 6:23);
But because God _loved_ you and gave His Son
to die for our sins - whoever _believes_ in Him
should not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16);
which is the free gifts_ of God
in Christ Jesus our Lord” (romans 6:23)
Life in Jesus involves choices:
- Obey His commands
- Not disobey His commands
- Discover His will when no clear command is evident
A PATTERN FOR CHOOSING:
1 Corinthians 6:12; 8:9; 10:23; 10:31
- Don’t be _mastered_ by anything you are free to do
- Don’t let freedom make you a
__stumbling__ _block__ to the weak
- Choose things that _edify___
- Do all to the _glory__ of God
6-2-19
“WATCH YOUR STEP”
Ephesians 4:1-6
WALK: ____Conduct, behavior____
CALLING: We are called into God’s _Kingdom_ (1 Thessalonians 2:12)
We are called to God’s _glory__ (1 Peter 5:10)
WALK IN…
· Humility - _dependence, attitude, mind of Jesus__ on God (Philippians 2:5-8)
· Gentleness - _strength _ under control
Jesus was “gentle and humble in heart”
· Patience - _slow_ to anger (James 1:19)
· Forbearance - _enduring, not exasperated__
· Unity – “of the Spirit in the bond of peace”
“Dwell together in unity” (Psalm 133:1)
“Be _perfected__ in unity” (John 17:23)
“Strive to attain to the unity of the _faith_” (Ephesians 4:13)
“There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling” (v.4)
ONENESS:
· Body: _church, the Body of Christ_
· Spirit: Holy Spirit__ _”walk by the spirit”__
· Hope : future promise__
· Lord: Jesus Christ
· Faith: personal _faith_ in Jesus
· Baptism:
1. Water – outward expression of faith
2. Spirit – which brings us into unity
· God: _sovereign_,“over all, through all, in all” (v.6)
5-26-19
“BE GOOD”
1 Timothy 6:17-19; Mathew 6:21
GOOD? ___beneficial, right, profitable, useful_____
“Good news of great joy for all people” (Luke 2:10)
GOOD LOOKS LIKE…
· __GOD__ (Psalm 106:1; Romans 8:28; Genesis 50:20)
· Jesus, the good __shepherd__ (John 10:14)
· __You__, when I do what I know is right;
otherwise it’s __sin__ (James 4:17)
“__Overcome___ evil (sin) with good” (Romans 12:21)
“__Learn__ to do good: (Isaiah 1:17)
Seek __justice__
Reprove the __ruthless___
Defend the ___orphan___
Plead for the _widow___”
“Do good while you have the __opportunity___”
(Galatians 6:10)
WHAT GOOD IS THERE IN “DOING GOOD”?
1. Godly people __rejoice___ (2 Chronicles 6:41)
2. Doing what God __prepares___ for us to do
(Ephesians 2:10)
3. _Trust___ God (Psalm 37:3)
4. A good __conscience____ before God” (Acts 21:1)
WILL “DOING GOOD” GET YOU TO HEAVEN?
1. Ask the Rich Young Ruler (Matthew 19:16)
2. Ask the Apostle Paul (Ephesians 2:8-9)
GOOD?
5-19-19
“A PROPHETIC WORD”
Haggai THEN…NOW?
“We are the temple of the _living__ God”; in which the
_spirit___ dwells (1 Corinthians 6:16,19; 3:16);
“Built together as _living__ stones, on Jesus,
the __cornerstone__”1 Peter 2:5; Ephesians 2:22)
Spiritual _laziness__ can cause the spiritual temple
to “_lie_ _desolate__” (Haggai 1:4)
How can we “rebuild” the temple in which God resides?
Haggai 1:8, “Go up to the mountains, bring wood and
rebuild the temple that I may be _pleased__ with it
and _glorified__”
Mountains symbolize the presence of God
who is our _help_ (Psalm 121:1-2)
· _SINCERITY__ (Hebrews 10:22; James 4:8)
· _FOCUS___ (Hebrews 12:2)
· _OBEY____ (Psalm 119:105; Proverbs 3:5-6)
· _CONFESS_____ (1 John 1:9)
· _WITNESS__ (Acts 1:8; 1 Peter 3:15)
· _PRAY_ (1 Thessalonians 5:17)
· _LOVE__ (1 John 4:7)
May 12, 2019
GOD’S MODEL MOTHER
Matthew 1:1-18
Proverbs 31 – Wonder Woman
Two “imperfect” women
· RAHAB, “a __harlot__” (Joshua 2:1), hid the
Israelite _spies_ (v.6), professed her _faith_
in God (2:11), and was __protected_ by the symbol
of a _scarlet_ _cord_ when Jericho fell (6:17)
Rahab married a Jewish man named Salmon.
They had a son named _Boaz__
· RUTH, from Moab, married a Jewish man.
Her commitment to her mother-in-law is one of the most
cherished phrases in all of literature (Ruth 1:16).
Ruth married _Boaz__.
They had a son named _Obed_, the grandfather of
___David__, the forefather of Jesus.
Model Mothers: a __Harlot__ and a _Pagen__?
God can use __imperfect__ people because of
“His great love with which He loves us;
He made us _alive__ together with Christ.
By _grace__ we are _saved__
through _faith__” (Ephesians 2:4-5).
God makes us _new__ (2 Corinthians 5:17)
“A woman who _fears__ the Lord,
shall be praised” (Proverbs 31:30)
“WHAT’S YOUR TROUBLE?” 5-5-19
James 1:2, “various _trials___”
1 Peter 1:6, “_distressed____ by various trials”
John 16:33, “In this world you will have __tribulations___”
14:1, “Let not your hearts be __troubled__”
Jesus knew that troubles are real; in fact,
He once was “troubled in __spirit___” (John 13:21)
" Don’t be troubled by __troubles___”
Dealing with troublesome testing times?
1. ___Denial____ - hope it will go away
2. ___Distress____ - be agitated, “troubled”
3. ___Discernment___ - discover the source,
deal with it by relying on God’s Word (Psalm 119:105)
James 1:3, “Testing of your faith produces _endurance__”
1 Peter 1:7, “proof of your _faith___”
John 16:33, Jesus has “___overcome__ the world”
and we “overwhelmingly ___conquer__ through Him
who loved us (because) nothing can separate us
from the love of God” (Romans 8:35-39)
John 14:1, “Believe” __faith_ in a:
1. __Person___ - Jesus, “Believe in Me”
2. ___Place__ - Heaven, “prepare a place”
3. __Promise___ - Eternal life,
“ "Where I am, there you may be”
God promises, “I know the __plans___ I have for you…
for welfare, not calamity (_help__ and not _harm__)
to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11)
HE IS RISEN – ARE YOU? 4-28-19
Colossians 1:10
What does your walk reveal?
· _CHOICE________
1. Accepting Jesus as Savior
a. Confessing sin
b. Believing that Jesus died to cover my sin
c. Believing that my sins are forgiven (1 John 1:9)
Galatians 2:20 crucified with Christ
2. Daily choosing to __SERVE____ God? (Joshua 24:15)
· _CHANGE________
A new __CREATION_____ (2 Corinthians 5:17),
with a new __MIND___________ (Philippians 2:15)
and a ___HOLY___________ behavior (1 Peter 1:14-15);
by being __TRANSFORMED______ (Romans 12:2),
and letting my __MIND___ dwell on things
“worthy of praise” (Philippians 4:8)
· _CHALLENGE________
Matthew 16:24, “Follow Jesus: _DENY___ self,
take up my cross and follow Him” -“Set my mind
on things ___ABOVE_____” (Colossians 3:2) by
“seeking __FIRST_____ the kingdom of God”
(Matthew 6:33)
1. Process: 1 Thessalonians 5:17 - __PRAY______
2. Proof: Galatians 5:22-24
a. Revealing the __FRUIT___ of the ___SPIRIT___
b. Crucifying the __FLESH___
c. Living…walking by the __SPIRIT___
HE IS RISEN – ARE YOU?
“WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE” 4-21-19
John 11:25-26
“I am the resurrection and the life, whoever believes
in Me shall live even if he dies, and everyone who lives
and believes in Me, shall never die. Do you believe this?”
The Easter question: “Do you believe this?”
· Do YOU believe this? Faith is __Personal__
· Do you BELIEVE this?
BELIEVE: _Faith, Confidence, Trust- not intellectual assent_
It is not a question of intellectual assent.
Critics said they would believe in Him,
“if He came down” (Matthew 27:42)
James declared, “The demons believe and tremble”
Belief is _Trusting_____ that He is true,
and having __Confidence_______ in the grace-gift of
salvation (Ephesians 2:8)
· Do you believe THIS?
1. His claim about His _DIETY____________
2. His claim about ____DEATH_____________
3. His claim about ____DESTINY____________
4. His claim about ____DELIVERANCE____________
What do you believe?
Lazarus died. Jesus called him from death to life; and
“Because of Lazarus many were believing in Jesus”
(John 12:11)
WHOEVER LIVES AND BELIEVES IN ME SHALL NEVER DIE
Eternal salvation is through faith (belief) in Jesus alone.
In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness
of sins. According to the riches of His grace (Eph. 1:7)
