Sermons on Spiritual Growth (Page 16)
Keeping God in Sight
•Prayer and dieting have this in common… They are most often done in desperation Nothing wrong with either, but its no way to live •Especially when desperation becomes “Too late 1.The heart hardens 2.Focus fades 3.The way is lost •Where there is life there is hope: “Choose Life.” 1 Corinthians 16:22 (NASB) 22 If anyone does not love the Lord, he is to be [a]accursed. [b]Maranatha.
Strength In Battle: Spiritual Warfare
A call to strength by the Lord demands action: 1.Awareness 2.Preparation 3.Offensive 4.Defensive Ephesians 6:10 (NASB) The Armor of God 10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.
The Company You Keep
Bad Company •Remember that God forgives you and I multiple times a day •7 times is being generous •Jesus has made friends of ‘Bad Company.’ Proverbs 22:24-25 (ESV) 24 Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man,25 lest you learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare.
Time For A Change
Each one of us has a role—Even in isolation I need to adjust to a new reality Matthew 15:18-20 (ESV) 18 But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. 20 These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone.”
Brotherly Kindness, Too
Brotherly love must be kept alive and active— -Fuelled to continue: -Takes time spent -Takes needs met – Takes patience invested -Takes a desire IN YOU that everyone do well in the Lord—This is a given! 2 Peter 1:5-7 (ESV) 5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue,[a] and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.
The God That Provides
God seeks – First and Foremost – man’s spiritual good, not material benefits 1.Material blessings may come to one as a result of special providence (Mt.6:33). 2.God may also allow financial hardship, illness, or other physical trials to occur if He deems them suitable for our spiritual benefit (Rom.5:3-5; Jm.1:2-4). 3.His ultimate goal is the saving of our souls. Matthew 5:45 (ESV) 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun…
Peace Beyond Comprehension
Peace in the love shown by the Father Peace in the Prince of Peace Peace in the promises in God’s Word Peace in the goodness of the church Peace in wisdom and strength to overcome Philippians 4:6-8 (NASB) 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all [a]comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right,…
Faithful unto Death
2 Timothy 2:11-13 (NASB) 11 It is a trustworthy statement: For if we died with Him, we will also live with Him;12 If we endure, we will also reign with Him;If we [a]deny Him, He also will deny us;13 If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself
Life Under The Sun-Eccl 12:13-14
•Seeing things from a purely worldly perspective is easy. •The devil doesn’t have to work hard for this. •A tinge of envy. •A hint of disrespect. •Small doses of ‘I’m hard done by.’ Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 (NASB) 13 The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. 14 For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil
How to Fail Safe Your Prayer Life-Part 2
•It is crucial to put things in place to make sure your prayer-life does what it is supposed to do—To Failsafe it! • •A daily job. •Distractions abound. •Daily routines change. •People and Things come and go. •The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry. Colossians 4:3 (NASB) 3 praying at the same time for us as well, that God will open up to us a door for the word, so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ, for which I have also been imprisoned;