Do It Again, Lord! Acts 4: 23-35; Matthew 10: 22-25
Pentecost = 50 Jewish Feast of Weeks, 50 days after Passover
I. Great Season of United Prayer
II. A Great Atmosphere of Expectancy
III. A Great Fellowship of Unity
Psalms 37: 3
Trust is the Doorway – Psalms 24: 1; John 14: 1; Psalms 20: 7
The Challenge of Trusting – Hebrews 11: 1-3; Proverbs 3: 5-6
When We Trust, God Supplies – Deuteronomy 10: 14;
Proverbs 11: 18; Ecclesiastes 3: 1-2; Matthew 13: 8
God Pours Out His Blessings – Luke 11: 13; Matthew 25
Life is an Adventure – 2 Corinthians 9: 6; Jeremiah 31: 14;
2 Corinthians 8: 7; Malachi 3: 8-11; Psalms 28: 7
Giving reflects our attitude toward material things –
Psalms 37:5
Materialism is the Enemy – 1 John2: 15-17; Matthew 6: 33;
1 John 18: 36; John1: 3.
How can we stand against materialism? – Philippians 3: 7-9; Luke 9:62; 1 Timothy 6: 6-10; Jeremiah 29: 11; Luke 12: 34.
Giving is a mark of devotion to Christ – Luke 21: 1-4;
Hebrews 13: 16; 1 Corinthians 8: 12; 16: 2
God rewards our devotion to Him – 2 Corinthians 9: 6-12;
Luke 6: 38
“One of the world’s greatest tragedies is that we allow
our hearts to shrink until there is room in them for little besides
ourselves.” – A. W. Tozer
DELIGHT TO GIVE – Psalm 37:4
We Are the Recipients of God’s Goodness
Revelation 14:7; Romans 12:1-2; 1 Corinthians 10:31
We Are Blessed to Bless Others
James 1:17; Ecclesiastes. 5:13; Acts 2:44-45
The greatness of a church is determined not by what it takes in, but by what it sends out. —Talmadge Johnson
Our Giving Has a Positive Impact on Our Lost World
2 Corinthians 8:2; Matthew. 5:42; Matthew. 10:8
Giving is the secret of a healthy life.—John D. Rockefeller, Jr.
Encouraging Other Believers
Three Kinds of Giving . . . “I don’t want to!”, “I should do it!”,
“I want to.”
God has given us two hands—one to receive with and the other to give with. We are not cisterns made for hoarding; we are channels made for sharing. —Billy Graham
1 John 4:15-19 ™
GIVING REAPS ETERNAL DIVIDENDS
PSALM 37:7
Most people in the world look to the future and see a hopeless end. “The believer looks to the future and sees an endless hope.”
—Norman Wilson
God Has Promised a Great Reward
Hebrews 11:6; Psalms 84:11; Galatians 6:10;
Giving Is Trust in God’s Reward
Proverbs 19:17; Proverbs 14:23; Hebrews 6:10; James 4:6;
Romans 8:2
“I do not believe one can settle how much we ought to give. I am afraid the only safe rule is to give more than we can spare.”
—C. S. Lewis
Trust in God’s Rewards Results in Spiritual Rest
Psalms 40: 1-2
“The supreme motive for giving is love.” —Jerry Brecheisen
Giving Helps Me Focus on Eternity
2 Samuel 24:18-24; 1 Corinthians 15:55-57
The Challenge:
Review God’s gifts to you.
Examine your attitudes and heart motives
Reflect on your personal faithfulness.
Get in the Cycle of Victorious Giving.
“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep, to gain what he cannot lose.” — Jim Elliot
The Cycle of Victorious Giving (review)
We trust to live.
We commit to grow.
We delight to give.
We rest to inherit.
“Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead.
You are not in the driver’s seat—I am.” —Jesus in Luke 9:23 ™
True Spirituality? It’s in Romans 12
References: Romans 8: 16-18, 1 John 3: 1-2, Matthew 6: 8-9, 2 Corinthians 3: 18, Romans 8: 29, Matthew 22: 37-39,
5 key relationships:
- Relationship with God = Surrender to God
- Relationship with the world = Be separate from the world’s values
- Relationship with yourself = Sober in self-assessment
- Relationship with believers = Serving in love
- Relationship with non-believers = Supernaturally responding to evil
WARNING – Romans 12 is not a “try hard” moral code to live up to, but a faith response to what God has already done for us.
ABRAHAM – LEARNING TO GIVE GOD WHAT HE WANTS THE MOST
Genesis 22; Romans 12:1
I. Abraham’s Journey reveals what God wants most from each of us. The call to follow God – Genesis 12
Will you trust me with your future?
– Test #1 – Famine – Genesis 12: 10-13
– Test #2 – Greed – Genesis 13: 8-11
– Test #3 – Prosperity -Genesis 14: 18-20
– Test #4 – Courage – Genesis 15: 6
– Test #5 – Timing – Genesis 16: 1-2
– Test #6 – Obedience – Genesis 17:17-19
– Test #7 – The Final Exam – Genesis 22: 1-2
• An outrageous request • An obedient response • A long walk
• The moment of truth • The great reward
II. Abraham’s confidence in God’s promise and God’s character were the secret to his surrender and reward.
Romans 4:20-21, Hebrews 11:6
III. Abraham’s life reveals that surrender is the channel through which God’s biggest and best blessings flow.
Romans 12:1
Surrender is the key to xperiencing true spirituality.
John 12:24-25
Question: What Does God Want Most From You and Me?
I. He wants all I am, He wants all I have. 2. He wants me
by faith to say “Lord, I’m All ln!” 3. He wants me to sign the blank check of my life over to Him. John 3: 16, Romans 5: 8
Daniel – Learning to Get God’s Best For Your Life
Daniel 1
Question – How Do You Get God’s Best For Your Life?
I. Daniel’s Journey – Reveals How to Get God’s Best For Our Lives in a Hostile Environment.
• The Historical Setting – Daniel 1:1-2
– The Time = 605 BC- The Place = Babylon- The Reason = Deuteronomy 28-30- The Spiritual Climate = Wickedness
• The Babylonian (world’s) Game plan to Seduce Daniel’s Soul – v. 3-7
• God’s Game plan to Transform Babylon (the world) vs. 8-21
II. Daniel’s Confidence in God’s Promises and God’s Character Were the Secret to His Conviction and Courage.
Convictions = Refusing to compromise in spite of the cost.
(Daniel chapters 5, 6)
– They are caught more than taught – Proverbs 13:20
– They only come by personal discovery
Courage = Refusing to confirm even when you’re afraid.
(Daniel chapters 3, 6)
– Grows out of our convictions. – Romans 4:20-21
– Is sustained by our comrades. – Proverbs 27:17
III. Daniel’s Life Reveals That Getting God’s Best is a
“No/Yes” Proposition.
Romans 12 :2
Truth, Not “Trying Harder” is the Pathway to True Spirituality
“To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Jesus of Nazareth – John 8:31-32
Question: How Do You Get God’s Best for Your Life?
Psalms 119: 9-11
Moses – Learning to Come to Grips with the Real You
Exodus 2 – 4; Romans 12:3-8
David & Jonathan – Learning How to Experience Authentic Community 1 Samuel 18-20: Romans 12:9-13
Learning to Overcome the Evil Aimed at You
Romans 12: 14-21; Genesis 37-50
Introduction – In a fallen world “the rocks” of evil, injustice and betrayal will happen to all of us sooner or later.
1 Peter 4:12, 2 Timothy3:12-13
Question: How do you overcome the evil aimed at you?
I. Joseph’s journey Genesis 37-50
II. Joseph’s secret to overcoming evil involved something he ________, something he _____ , and something __________ to do.
(Genesis 45:5-8), (Romans 8:28-29)
(Genesis 45:9-13; Romans 12:14, 21)
(Matthew 5:43-48) (Genesis 50:15-21; Romans 12:17-21)
(Matthew 6:14-15)
Question: How do you overcome the evil aimed at you?
Learning to Overcome the Evil Aimed at You
Romans 12: 14-21; Genesis 37-50
Introduction – In a fallen world “the rocks” of evil, injustice and betrayal will happen to all of us sooner or later.
• “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you.” 1 Peter 4:12
• “In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.” 2 Timothy 3:12-13
Question: How do you overcome the evil aimed at you?
Genesis 37-50
II. Joseph’s secret to overcoming evil involved something he KNEW, something he DID, and something REFUSED to do.
What he knew = Nothing comes into our lives by accident. It is
either decreed or allowed by an all-wise, sovereign God for our good. (Genesis 45:5-8)
Application = I am never a VICTIM! (Romans 8:28-29)
What he did = He blessed those who cursed him. (Genesis 45:9-13; Romans 12:14, 21)
Application = I will do GOOD to those who hurt me (in a safe and appropriate way). (Matthew 5:43-48)
What he refused to do = Take revenge. (Genesis 50:15-21; Romans 12:17-21)
Application = I will choose to FORGIVE (release) those who hurt me from the retribution they deserve because Christ has done that for me. (Matthew 6:14-15)
Question: How do you overcome the evil aimed at you?
1. Choose to FORGIVE the person(s) who have hurt you.
Forgive Forgiving Forgiven
Choice Process Resolution
2. Begin to PRAY daily for God to bless the person(s) who hurt you (30 days).
3. Do one act of KINDNESS who hurt you (if possible and if appropriate).
JESUS PRAYER FOR THE CHURCH
John 17:13-21
In this prayer Jesus reveals a two-fold purpose:
1- Jesus is reporting to the Father that He has accomplished what He was sent to do.
2- Jesus is asking that the purpose of the Father would
continue in the Church (v. 21)
I. That The Church Will sense The Glory of The Father
A. Glory = “doxa”
B. Jesus prayed for the Glory to continue to rest on His Church.
C. Jesus made Provision for us to be a glorious Church
(Eph. 5:25-27)
II. That the Church would follow the Word of God
A. They received the Word of God (v.8)
The Word of God Gave Them:
- meaning in life
- motivation for life
- a mission for life
B. What the Word of God does for Us
-it separates us (v. 14)
-it strengthens us (v. 15)
-it sanctifies us (vs. 17,19)
-it saves us (v. 20)
C. We Must Become Established in the Word of God
III. That The Church Would Be united In The Love
of God.
St. Augustine – “In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty;
in all things, charity.”
“Spirit-filled Christians, United in Love, Guided by a Purpose that
they truly Believe in, can do Anything!”
IV. That the Church Would Begin to move In the Mission of God
A. Jesus came to provide eternal life
B. Jesus came to provide sanctification for believers
(1) Be set apart for a special mission
(2) Equiping them for a special mission
C. Jesus calls upon the Church to go into the world
to achieve His purpose (v. 18)
V. That the Church would experience the joy of God
We begin to Experience the Joy of God when we:
- Sense the Glory of God
- Follow the Word of God
- Unite in the Love of God
- Go forth in the Mission of God
BEING ATTACHED TO GOD
Genesis 12:1-9; Luke 14:33
1. Detachment from place
A. God’s Call of Abraham
– God was saying to Abraham, “I want you loose from place.
B. God Calls Us
(1) To be detached from place
(2) We must be “loose” if we are to be identified with Him.
2. Detachment from possessions (Genesis 13: 11)
A. God’s Call of Abraham
– Abraham was 75 when God called him.
B. God Calls Us
(1) To be detached from possessions or things
(2) The “old English” refers to them as “goods”
(3) God wants us detached from them in order to be
attached to the one true good. (Genesis 14: 22-23)
3. Detachment from people (Genesis 22:1-2)
A. God’s Call of Abraham
(1) To sacrifice his greatest love
(2) Isaac was Abraham’s greatest joy
B. God Calls Us
(1) To be detached from our loves
(2) There can be no competing love to God
God has already paid the price!
—Consider Places
—Consider Possessions
—Consider People