Nov 2014
Hope of Salvation
30/11/14 20:07 Filed in: Psalm 62
Because only God can save, let us place all hope in Him
1. Hope while facing attack (1-4)
• we are safer in the hands of our God than even the safest of strongholds
• the enemy will attack relentlessly to cause us to fear
• God is our victory over sin and temptation
2. Hope for ultimate success (5-8)
• with God we can have a hope of a greater purpose and ending than ourselves
3. Hope for perfect justice (9-12)
• when we don't believe justice is coming, we tend to take things into our own hands
• when we are in the race to get ahead in life, we overlook the oppressed
Is all our hope in God?
Where do your attacks come from? Is your hope in God?
Do you want to be a success? Is your hope in God?
Do you want justice? Is your hope in God?
Read More...
1. Hope while facing attack (1-4)
• we are safer in the hands of our God than even the safest of strongholds
• the enemy will attack relentlessly to cause us to fear
• God is our victory over sin and temptation
2. Hope for ultimate success (5-8)
• with God we can have a hope of a greater purpose and ending than ourselves
3. Hope for perfect justice (9-12)
• when we don't believe justice is coming, we tend to take things into our own hands
• when we are in the race to get ahead in life, we overlook the oppressed
Is all our hope in God?
Where do your attacks come from? Is your hope in God?
Do you want to be a success? Is your hope in God?
Do you want justice? Is your hope in God?
Read More...
Faith to Praise
23/11/14 20:05 Filed in: Psalm 75
Because God promises His presence, let us offer continual praise.
- we must believe that God is always with us
1. Praise for His deeds (1)
• often we stop giving thanks because we believe God isn't with us and isn't working for us
2. Praise for His justice (2-10)
• struggles can lead us to be bitter, but if we trust God's provision, we can find a way to give thanks even through the pain
Romans 1:18-21
Are you trusting in the promises of God's presence?
Do you praise/thank Him often?
Do you trust His justice? Read More...
- we must believe that God is always with us
1. Praise for His deeds (1)
• often we stop giving thanks because we believe God isn't with us and isn't working for us
2. Praise for His justice (2-10)
• struggles can lead us to be bitter, but if we trust God's provision, we can find a way to give thanks even through the pain
Romans 1:18-21
Are you trusting in the promises of God's presence?
Do you praise/thank Him often?
Do you trust His justice? Read More...
Confessional Courage
16/11/14 20:04 Filed in: Psalm 51
Understand our confession isn't making amends with other men, it's making amends with God
Because confession heals, we must find courage to confess...
1. Courage to confess to God (1-4)
• we need to look in the mirror and see we are the reason for our actions, not the pressures of life or our families
• confession is our way to acknowledge that God is right rather than us
2. Courage to confess my sin (5-8)
• others aren't to blame, we need to own the blame
3. Courage to confess my hope (9-19)
• to create a clean and pure heart after our sin; a hope for restoration
How can we lead someone to Jesus' salvation when we aren't enjoying it ourself? We are not able to continue in our ministry if we are consumed by guilt and shame.
What do you need to confess?
Confess to a gracious God!
Confess our own sin!
Confess with a great hope! Read More...
Because confession heals, we must find courage to confess...
1. Courage to confess to God (1-4)
• we need to look in the mirror and see we are the reason for our actions, not the pressures of life or our families
• confession is our way to acknowledge that God is right rather than us
2. Courage to confess my sin (5-8)
• others aren't to blame, we need to own the blame
3. Courage to confess my hope (9-19)
• to create a clean and pure heart after our sin; a hope for restoration
How can we lead someone to Jesus' salvation when we aren't enjoying it ourself? We are not able to continue in our ministry if we are consumed by guilt and shame.
What do you need to confess?
Confess to a gracious God!
Confess our own sin!
Confess with a great hope! Read More...
Good Grief
09/11/14 20:03 Filed in: 2 Corinthians 7
2 Corinthians 7:5-16
Leaving a slave master to follow someone leading you to freedom is an image for us of repentance
Because repentance precedes effective ministry, we must practice confession.
1. Confession in relationships (v.5-9)
• we can grow together as a congregation by practicing confession
2. Confession to salvation (v.10-13)
• we cannot grow past where we are at if we don't practice confession to God
• how can God create new life in us without confession of the old?
3. Confession for justification (v.14-16)
• for our creditability
Do we practice confessions? What does the effectiveness of our ministry reveal?
Read More...
Leaving a slave master to follow someone leading you to freedom is an image for us of repentance
Because repentance precedes effective ministry, we must practice confession.
1. Confession in relationships (v.5-9)
• we can grow together as a congregation by practicing confession
2. Confession to salvation (v.10-13)
• we cannot grow past where we are at if we don't practice confession to God
• how can God create new life in us without confession of the old?
3. Confession for justification (v.14-16)
• for our creditability
Do we practice confessions? What does the effectiveness of our ministry reveal?
Read More...
Separate to Serve
02/11/14 20:01 Filed in: 2 Corinthians 6
Because we are to win others to Christ, we must be separate:
1. Separate in our affections (v.11-7:1)
• The things we love and get excited about
• The things we are affectionate about should be separate from what the world is affectionate about
• Separate yourselves to pursue the holiness of God
2. Separate in our expectations (v.7:2-4)
• God has the power to make us distinct from the world if we let Him
• God is going to finish His work, why not be a part of it?
Is our desire to win the world to Christ revealed in our separation from the world?
Do our affections and expectations differ from that of the world?
(2 Corinthians 6:11-7:4 NIV)
We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you. We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us. As a fair exchange—I speak as to my children—open wide your hearts also. Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.” Therefore, “Come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.” And, “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God. Make room for us in your hearts. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have exploited no one. I do not say this to condemn you; I have said before that you have such a place in our hearts that we would live or die with you. I have spoken to you with great frankness; I take great pride in you. I am greatly encouraged; in all our troubles my joy knows no bounds.
Read More...
1. Separate in our affections (v.11-7:1)
• The things we love and get excited about
• The things we are affectionate about should be separate from what the world is affectionate about
• Separate yourselves to pursue the holiness of God
2. Separate in our expectations (v.7:2-4)
• God has the power to make us distinct from the world if we let Him
• God is going to finish His work, why not be a part of it?
Is our desire to win the world to Christ revealed in our separation from the world?
Do our affections and expectations differ from that of the world?
(2 Corinthians 6:11-7:4 NIV)
We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you. We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us. As a fair exchange—I speak as to my children—open wide your hearts also. Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.” Therefore, “Come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.” And, “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God. Make room for us in your hearts. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have exploited no one. I do not say this to condemn you; I have said before that you have such a place in our hearts that we would live or die with you. I have spoken to you with great frankness; I take great pride in you. I am greatly encouraged; in all our troubles my joy knows no bounds.
Read More...