November 14, 2004 Model Forgivers
November 21, 2004, Recognizing Wealth When You Don't See It
November 28, 2004 Be Still..... Know God

 

November 14, 2004
Model Forgivers

Matthew 18:21 - 35

Unforgiveness is the poison we drink, hoping others will die.
We forgive …

· … because God forgave us

Get along with each other, and forgive each other. If someone does wrong to you, forgive that person because the Lord forgave you.
Colossians 3:13 New Century Version

· … the same way God forgave us

… forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4: 32

Jesus forgave us before we …

· … understood what we did wrong

Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." Luke 23:34

· … repented

While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

Jesus’ forgiveness leaves us with a clear conscience

… the blood of Christ … cleanse our consciences … so that we may serve the living God! Hebrews 9:14

Don’t make people you forgive feel guilty

Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. Colossians 3:13 The Message paraphrase

Joseph demonstrated total forgiveness

· Don’t let people be afraid of you Genesis 45:3-5, 14-15

· Help them save face Genesis 45:5,7,27

· Refuse to tell others

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. Ephesians 4:29

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things. Philippians 4:8

· Serve a life sentence of forgiveness Genesis 50:21

· Pray God’s blessing on them … and mean it!

… forgive your brother from your heart Matthew 18:35

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November 21, 2004
Recognizing Wealth When You Don’t See It

Luke 12:13-21

Focus on money and possessions leads to

· Fighting v. 13 -14

What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. James 4:1-2

· Blindness to spiritual priorities v. 21

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Luke 12:34

· Worry we don’t have enough

Then Jesus said to his disciples: "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Luke 12:22-23

· Fear we will lose it

"Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. Luke 12:32-33

· Backsliding

People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. I Timothy 6:9-10

Seek contentment, not abundance

But godliness with contentment is great gain. … But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. I Timothy 6:6, 8

I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. Philippians 4:12

Embrace spiritual riches

Believers who are poor should be proud, because God has made them spiritually rich. James 1:9 New Century Version

Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? James 2:5

… always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything. 2 Corinthians 6:10

God … has blessed us … with every spiritual blessing Ephesians 1:3

Spiritual blessings include

· A cleaned up life

… he chose us … to be holy and blameless Ephesians 1:4

· Belonging to God’s family

… he predestined us to be adopted as his sons Ephesians 1:5

· A new start

… we have … the forgiveness of sins Ephesians 1:7

· Knowing what God is doing

… he made known to us the mystery of his will Ephesians 1:9

· The Holy Spirit

Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit Ephesians 1:13

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November 28, 2004
Be Still … Know God

Psalm 46

II Chronicles 32:16 – 21

That night the angel of the LORD went out and put to death a hundred and eighty-five thousand men in the Assyrian camp. When the people got up the next morning-there were all the dead bodies. 2 Kings 19:35

· Mountains represent all that is fixed and unchangeable.

· Seas represent lawless chaos

Be Still …

· Cease activity

Cease striving and know that I am God
Psalms 46:10 New American Standard Bible

As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!" "Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her." Luke 10:38-42

· Experience rest

"Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work …For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Exodus 20:8-11

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30

· Distinguish His voice

And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. So it was, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him, and said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" 1 Kings 19:11-13 New King James Version

the sheep hear his voice … and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.
John 10:3-4 New King James Version

… And Know …

to bring you to a full knowledge of himself.
Colossians 3:10 Today’s English Version

growing in the knowledge of God Colossians 1:10

Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. The man who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know. 1 Corinthians 8:1-2

We never really know enough until we recognize that God alone knows it all. 1 Corinthians 8:3 The Message

… That I Am God

I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob as God Almighty [Elohim], but by my name the LORD [YHWH] I did not make myself known to them. Exodus 6:3

· El Elyon God Most High Genesis 14:19

· El Shaddai I am God Almighty Genesis 17:1

· Jehovah Jireh The LORD Will Provide. Genesis 22:14

· Jehovah Rophi I am the LORD, who heals you. Exodus 15:26

· Jehovah Shalom The LORD is Peace. Judges 6:24

· Jehovah Nissi The LORD is my Banner. Exodus 17:15

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