Bishop George Davis
--> Ephesians 2: 8-10 We are God's workmanship; His masterpiece.
- Everyone knows a masterpiece takes time. There are always different phases til the finished product God has called us to. Where ever you are right now, this isn't the end for you!
- So if you're doing well right now, that's great! Thank God for it, but he has more in store for you! If you're not doing so hot right now, you thought you should have accomplished some things in your life and you didn't, you strayed away, etc. God is still working on you!
**Philippians 1:6 - "And I am sure of this, that he who began a great work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ."
(In lamen terms): As long as you are still down here on this earth, God will be working on you! It doesn't say "..until you mess up," which means God must have already factored into it your mess-ups! He already understood that there was going to be a detour; it wasn't a detour He intended, nor a detour He designed, but He has a way for you to get back on track and still end up where he intended for you to be.
**Question: What is God working on in you for this year??
- If you say that God isn't working on anything in you right now, it's because you haven't been listening! b/c Phil 1:6 clearly states that He is working on something continuously in you until the day Christ returns
--> Hebrews 6:1-
* At no time does God want us to get comfortable with where we are!
*God never remains stagnant. So what frustrates people is when we (people) become stagnant, and God is trying to move us to the next level of growth.
*God is not going to give you the next level of blessing until you walk in the next level of growth.
*In order for this to be the year of the fullness of the blessing for you, it must be the year of the fullness of the maturity for whatever He's talking to you about fixing.
-So if I want the fullness of the blessing, i have to be willing to submit myself to God, and walk in the fullness of maturity for whatever He's asking me to do right now!
-If you refuse to let God work on perfecting you in that one area, it's going to bring a stop to what God able to do in your life. b/c you can't keep going higher and higher with a moving God, while staying the exact same way in your personality and character.
-Every time you make the changes, God promotes you to a higher level.
*Many times we are hold-up for the blessing! But if we'll just get out of the way, and let God have his way, what we'll find is He's ready to do a lot more things in our lives than what he's been able to do up until now, *and as soon as we get ready we find that He has been ready!
--> 1 Samuel 16:1 - Example of how some character issue can cause you to miss out on some facet of what God could be doing in your life.
- God doesn't owe us an explanation! There's plenty of times where God will tell you to do something, and when you're a young christian he gives you plenty of time. He'll give you confirmation. He'll give you someone to prophesy a word into your life, send you to church and a message confirms what you're supposed to do, etc. to make sure you know it's really Him that's sending you. BUT, now that you've been walking with God for a little while, and you know his voice, you know how he deals with you, you get to a point where God tells you to do something and you ask for confirmation- no confirmation comes. Because he knows he already taught you how to hear his voice. You know how to pray it out in the spirit until you get peace on the inside. So now God is telling you to go and do what he asked you to do, and he may not give you all the details.
- The more you mature, to which much is given much is required. In the beginning days God knew it'd take time to work with you. But after all this time, God no longer takes your excuses.
--> Look at Moses as an example. The confirmations God gave him with the signs in exodus; versus the response God gives Moses for not doing what God commanded in the dessert. The first time, God told Moses to strike the rock with the rod and water would come out. sure enough, water came out and the people were given water to drink. The second time however, God wanted Moses to show the people that the power wasn't in the rod it was in God, so this time God told Moses to just speak to the rock. But afraid of what would happen Moses did what he did the first time and hit the rock with the rod. The people's needs were still met, but because of Moses' disobedience God would not let him inherit the promise land.
Back to 1 Samuel 16:, starting at vs 6:
-Eliab was rejected by God, and so were all the other sons before David. To be rejected means they must have been considered. There was probably something in their characters that made them unfit to be God's anointed king.
(I wonder if there are things in our own personalities and characters that hinder God's blessing...)
**The moment God reveals a part of your character or personality that needs to be altered, from that moment you become responsible to God for going to Him and letting Him give you what it takes, by the grace of God, to make the changes. b/c any of us can change any part of our personalities that needs to be changed.
- With God, it's all about position! God will start talking to you about something you need to change today, that will have you lined up for a promotion that's coming your way tomorrow.
-There may be something you've been standing and believing God for, and though you have a covenant right to it, there's a difference between having a covenant right to something and being spiritually mature enough to handle it when it shows up. --> *God won't give us more than we can handle.
--> Philippians 3:10-
*When there's something in your character or personality that keeps sticking out at you like a sore thumb, that needs to be corrected, it's because the Lord is the one who loves you just the way that you are, but can see how much greater you would be, and how much more he'd be able to do through you, if you went ahead and made the adjustment.
- (Phil 3:13) you have to let go of the past!! So many people are stuck grieving over their hurt feelings from the past, their failures, etc.
*The one thing you need to learn as a Christian is how to have a short memory! The only thing you want to keep on your mind is how good God has been b/c every day his mercies are brand new, he has a way to turn things around, and make things better every day of your life!
- It's time to let go of "he hurt me," or "they hurt me," etc. God knows they hurt you! But just like God factored in your mess-ups, he also factors in people hurting you.
- you'll have such joy on your face when God rewards you b/c you didn't faint, you didn't quit but you kept pressing forward.
- "press" = comes from the Greek word "dioko" which means to seek after eagerly; to earnestly endeavor or acquire; or to pursue in a hostile manner.
*Are you living with urgency to become all God has created you to be??
- I'm not talking about pursuing after all God can do for us. But are you really pursuing in a hostile manner all God created you to be? Are you at a place where you're no longer content with having a bad attitude? Are you at a place where you're just not willing to live another year caught up in foolishness? Are you at a place where you've made up in your mind that you're done repenting over and over again for the same thing? Are you at a place where you made up in your mind, "I'm going to go so hard after God in a hostile manner?" That i'm not going to let that spirit of loneliness cause me to step out of the will of God ever again? Are you at a place with your walk with God where there's such an urgency, a hostile spirit in you, that you've just decided, "i'm not getting baited into strife ever again?"
**See what happens with so many believers, they say they're going to change in some areas but they don't make a determined decision to do so. There's no urgency on it. There's no hostile intent. So consequently, when someone comes along and pushes the wrong button, it's easy for them to drift right back into what they say they'd no longer do b/c they never made a real commitment to do it right to begin with. That's why we say things like, "i'm gon' work on that," or "i'm gon' try and change that." Those are just excuse that mean, "i'm not going to do it, but i want you to know that i was thinking about doing it before i messed up."
- I've made up in my mind that there has to be more on the other side of what God is asking me to change.
--> John 5: 30 *This has to be your declaration! If you're still stuck on "it has to be my way all the time" or "i have to win every fight," then you're not going to be willing to make the adjustments. But when the only thing you really care about is the will of God, "i just want to be right with God.." The only thing you're really concerned with is, "Lord, let me know your will so i can sell out the rest of my life doing your will." And what happens is when you sell out to doing nothing but the will of God, you can't help but get rewarded for doing right! ((David said i've been young and i'm now old, but never have i seen the righteous of the Lord forsaken or his seed begging bread) you do right by God, and i promise God will do right by you! That's why it's impossible to live right before God consistently and have everything in your life go wrong every month, and every single day, etc. So don't confuse it. don't think that God has let you down! If you just never get a break, something's always going wrong, you never get a chance to stop & celebrate the goodness of the Lord without it being by faith, somewhere along the line you have to go back and examine. "Lord, what have you been dealing with me about changing, that i may have missed the mark on, or been too stubborn to change, or ignored it and didn't hear what you were telling me to do?" b/c when you live uprightly before God to the best of what you know right now, you can't help but walk in blessings even when challenges come your way.
*I'm tired of apologizing for blessings, or acting like i'm not blessed just to make someone else feel better! I'm blessed! and there's a reason why i'm blessed! Yes, God is good, but i've been living right and doing right before God for a very long time now, and when you've been living right before God you ought to walk in the blessings that come from living right before Him.
--> Acts 9:1-5
(vs 4-5) "It's hard for thee when you kick against the bricks." -in other words: when you're trying to do the opposite of what God is nudging you to do, nothing good is going to come out of that.
- If you try to go up against God and do the opposite of what he wants you to do, God IS going to have his way in your life! You can take the easy route, or you can take the hard route bc He's not going to change His mind. If you don't believe me, here are a few examples:
- Jonah: he didn't go where God told him to go; went on a boat heading in the opposite direction.. (you all know the story) *But we always look at Jonah being swallowed by a fish as a bad thing when really it's the mercy and grace of God that he didn't let Jonah drown in the sea! And when Jonah was back on land, God told him to go and do the exact same thing he told him to do before. So really, Jonah could have saved himself a few nights in the belly of a fish had he done it God's way to begin with!
- Pharaoh: God said let his people go. Pharaoh did everything he could not to let them go. etc.
--> End up in the same mess, sometimes longer than we had to be there, b/c we won't go ahead and do it God's ways.
-God is going to have his way, so it's best to just surrender all to him.
--> Hebrews 12: 5-11
- If you can't think of anything God is dealing with you about, it's because you haven't sought him on it. You spend enough time with God, and he'll make it very clear to you what he's working on.Then you have to surrender it to God.
*The way in which God chastens us is not with sickness and disease! God doesn't put cancer, or HIV on you to teach you something. Now sometimes sickness and disease come because we get out here on the enemy's territory. We dance with Satan and end up getting something we didn't want to have. But God is still merciful!
-God is the father of spirits. So when the father of spirits wants to correct his spirit children he does so by correcting or chastening them in their spirit not their flesh. He makes it real clear here: (He contrasts) "Fathers in the flesh would correct us in the flesh." And even when they corrected you in the flesh, you still had respect for them.
example: a 4 year old being spanked for being disobedient --> well 10-20 minutes later they're back, hugged up on their mom or dad b/c they understand it's just part of the process.
--> Well now our heavenly father is the father of spirits. When he corrects us, he corrects us in our hearts. When he comes and says, " you know you're wrong doing that," or "that wasn't the best way to handle that situation." Sometimes you want him to jump all over that one person at work or school b/c of how they mistreated you, and instead he starts telling you how he wants you to grow in your walk of maturity, your walk in love. He wants you to stop being so selfish in having things always done your way, etc. That's the chastening of the Lord!
And the bible says, "if you endure it.." Meaning if you don't kick against it. b/c you can rebel by saying "but i don't want to do it that way," or "man whatever, they mad me mad," etc. b/c it doesn't feel good when you're going through it, when God is chastening you, when He is working on something on the inside of you; it doesn't feel good when it seems like he's just constantly nitpicking at you..
But the bible says afterwards! Afterwards, if you endure the chastening, it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness.
--> "peaceable" -root word being "peace," it comes from the Greek word "eirene" and it means "to set at one again." It's the Greek word that corresponds to the Hebrew word "shalom," which means "to bring everything back together, nothing missing and nothing broken."
- So when you submit to the chastening, that means everything that has been missing or broken from your life
will start making its way back because of your right standing with God.
-Now we get to a place where we say to God, "whatever you want me to adjust, I'll adjust."
--> Proverbs 9:8-
*We have to grow to a place where we love righteous correction! When you see God correcting you, whether it's him talking to you directly or if it's him talking to you through your holy woman or man of God, you ought to thank God for it. And surrender to it saying, "thank you Lord for bringing me up to a higher level."
Friday, December 30, 2011
"The Breath of God in a Time of Lack"
November 28, 2011, 8:30 am service ~ Bishop George Davis
--> Malachi 3: 8-
- "Barraca" = an "enablement" for victory
--> Deuteronomy 8:18- God will bless the work of your hands!
* Wealth is not just limited to monetary status; wealth can include having the ability to produce ideas
--> Isaiah 58:3- God is not reactionary; when we face problems, God has already placed an answer
- live life by Design not by Default
--> Psalm 34:8-
- in the midst of listening to God, He will direct you away from famine, etc .
--> Genesis 11:26-
*when you don't trust God, you tend to take your own route (out of fear) to solve your lack, which often times leads to more lack
**Question: How many times do we settle in a place where God doesn't tell us to go for fear of never eventually making it??
**The safest place in the world is in the center of the will of God! b/c that's where your prosperity is! That's where your health is! That's where the angels of the Lord are protecting you!
(God promises to bless you if you obey him! )
- some of those who are the most fearful in the world are the wealthy
* If you learn to trust in God, He will take you from glory to glory b/c if you learn to trust God in the good times, you'll be able to stand when famine comes..
--> Genesis 26:1-6; 12
When God blesses you in the middle of famine, it's not just for you but also for those around you to see how great God is!
--> Malachi 3: 8-
- "Barraca" = an "enablement" for victory
--> Deuteronomy 8:18- God will bless the work of your hands!
* Wealth is not just limited to monetary status; wealth can include having the ability to produce ideas
--> Isaiah 58:3- God is not reactionary; when we face problems, God has already placed an answer
- live life by Design not by Default
--> Psalm 34:8-
- in the midst of listening to God, He will direct you away from famine, etc .
--> Genesis 11:26-
*when you don't trust God, you tend to take your own route (out of fear) to solve your lack, which often times leads to more lack
**Question: How many times do we settle in a place where God doesn't tell us to go for fear of never eventually making it??
**The safest place in the world is in the center of the will of God! b/c that's where your prosperity is! That's where your health is! That's where the angels of the Lord are protecting you!
(God promises to bless you if you obey him! )
- some of those who are the most fearful in the world are the wealthy
* If you learn to trust in God, He will take you from glory to glory b/c if you learn to trust God in the good times, you'll be able to stand when famine comes..
--> Genesis 26:1-6; 12
When God blesses you in the middle of famine, it's not just for you but also for those around you to see how great God is!
"I Will Rejoice!"
November 12, 2011
~11:00 am service, Bishop George Davis
--> Psalm 118: 17-
*vs 24: "I will rejoice!" - Your rejoicing is your personal choice
- It's easy to rejoice when someone just put a million dollar check in your mailbox! But by faith, we ought to rejoice in the promises of God.
- rejoice = to be joyous; happy in the possession of
--> 2 Corinthians 6:1 -
*We should rejoice because we are living in the day of salvation; "the Dispensation of Grace"
- Jesus has purchased righteousness for us --> every day we should wake up and on purpose rejoice! Where you don't need a natural reason to be happy
*There's power that happens when you rejoice--> it will release the answer you're in need of, the hurt you want to rid yourself of, etc.
--> John 16: 20 -
- The day of salvation was unleashed when Jesus rose from the grave
*In that day, you won't need for Jesus to go to the father for you anymore. Jesus is the mediator, but it's by his blood! God's wrath has been softened by the blood of Jesus Christ. Meaning you don't need a bishop, pastor, etc to speak to God on your behalf!
-Jesus says your joy will be full!
ex: light comes on when gas tank is low. (look at it spiritually, in terms of your joy level) : you know when your light is on when..
- you're irritable - negative - fatigued for no reason at all, etc
BUT, when you joy is on high, you're in the same situation but you look at it differently.
--> Isaiah 61: 1-
*Own your own happiness because when you wait for the situation to get better on its own, you have just surrendered your joy to the enemy. You've basically just told him," you know, whenever you're ready/tired of send sickness and disease, etc on my family i'd greatly appreciate it.."
*You have to make up in your mind that you're not going to be sad anymore! --> You have to yield to the anointing of joy!
To those who are grieving: If you have lost a loved one, it's okay to shed a tear or two every now and then. But don't allow the enemy to take away your ability to live. Love them by honoring them, but let go of the grief! *Put on your praise for God! b/c you can't be depressed while you're praising God at the same time! You can't be angry, or sad, etc. while you're praising God!
1 kings 1:18-
The Devil loves to take the negative things in our life to keep us in our grief. You have to resist the spirit of heaviness.
(a merry heart does good like a medicine!)
-try laughing on purpose sometimes. Not because something is funny, but just laugh. Or smile. You can start to feel better if you want to
*Don't wait on the spirit to act first, but on purpose praise god and worship by faith and he will add on to you..
~11:00 am service, Bishop George Davis
--> Psalm 118: 17-
*vs 24: "I will rejoice!" - Your rejoicing is your personal choice
- It's easy to rejoice when someone just put a million dollar check in your mailbox! But by faith, we ought to rejoice in the promises of God.
- rejoice = to be joyous; happy in the possession of
--> 2 Corinthians 6:1 -
*We should rejoice because we are living in the day of salvation; "the Dispensation of Grace"
- Jesus has purchased righteousness for us --> every day we should wake up and on purpose rejoice! Where you don't need a natural reason to be happy
*There's power that happens when you rejoice--> it will release the answer you're in need of, the hurt you want to rid yourself of, etc.
--> John 16: 20 -
- The day of salvation was unleashed when Jesus rose from the grave
*In that day, you won't need for Jesus to go to the father for you anymore. Jesus is the mediator, but it's by his blood! God's wrath has been softened by the blood of Jesus Christ. Meaning you don't need a bishop, pastor, etc to speak to God on your behalf!
-Jesus says your joy will be full!
ex: light comes on when gas tank is low. (look at it spiritually, in terms of your joy level) : you know when your light is on when..
- you're irritable - negative - fatigued for no reason at all, etc
BUT, when you joy is on high, you're in the same situation but you look at it differently.
--> Isaiah 61: 1-
*Own your own happiness because when you wait for the situation to get better on its own, you have just surrendered your joy to the enemy. You've basically just told him," you know, whenever you're ready/tired of send sickness and disease, etc on my family i'd greatly appreciate it.."
*You have to make up in your mind that you're not going to be sad anymore! --> You have to yield to the anointing of joy!
To those who are grieving: If you have lost a loved one, it's okay to shed a tear or two every now and then. But don't allow the enemy to take away your ability to live. Love them by honoring them, but let go of the grief! *Put on your praise for God! b/c you can't be depressed while you're praising God at the same time! You can't be angry, or sad, etc. while you're praising God!
1 kings 1:18-
The Devil loves to take the negative things in our life to keep us in our grief. You have to resist the spirit of heaviness.
(a merry heart does good like a medicine!)
-try laughing on purpose sometimes. Not because something is funny, but just laugh. Or smile. You can start to feel better if you want to
*Don't wait on the spirit to act first, but on purpose praise god and worship by faith and he will add on to you..
"Committed to Kingdom Business" ~assist. pastor Robert Brooks
Luke 2: 49- 52 (Jesus is preaching in the church)
- God has created so intrinsic in value, that the world be lost had it not existed. (his kingdom)
--> Isaiah 1:19-
*God is commanding us to be steadfast, immovable in our purpose/ assignment that He has given to us. God is requiring your faithfulness
"Faithfulness" = your dependability to be where you're supposed to be
--> The heart to be there, even when you don't always want to be = "loyalty"
*loyalty is important in winning souls over to God --> your faithfulness + loyalty = tied to someone else's salvation.
"committed" = to pledge to an assignment
*Question: How much more committed to our assignment for God will/ should we be than the commitments we have OUTSIDE of God?
--> we try to please the people around us (i.e you're committed to your spouse/gf/bf, or your sports teams, and ministry obligations in the church, etc) but how much MORE will you be committed to God??
~How to Stay Committed ~
1) Understand the standard or core concept of the company..
*We have to be just as dogmatic, if not more dogmatic about our faith as other people are about other religions! (i.e Islam, etc)
2) Commit your heart to the business
- what you do does have an impact on someone else's life! (everyone is leading someone!)
3) Embrace your privilege to represent the kingdom!
- we have to go harder for what we know and believe!
1 Sam. 30
4) you must be willing to put your agenda on the back burner
*loyalty requires submission. Submission equates to your attitude to a certain extent
- 1 John 5:30
- 1 Kings 19:
*It's not about you all the time!
- 2 Kings 2: 2-
- Stay committed to what God told you to do, even when it's hard ( vs 10-11 "cried.." )
analogy: family business. The parents passed the business down to the children --> God gave us access to the kingdom
5) Find your niche in the family business
--> Ephesians 4:14-16
*Everyone has a part to play. Everyone has gifts, talents, and passions (*16)
--> there's an anointing on your life to do it!
*There's times when we don't want to do, but God says "I could have gotten someone else but i wanted you.."
-->Jeremiah 1:
*anything God asks you to do, God will prepare you for it. If you feel like you were not prepared, it may be because it has already been done.
- In those times, remind yourself that you're committed to Him!! Remind yourself of those many times you told God, "if you just get me out of this one, i'll change.." Unlike us, God doesn't change His mind.
6) Be spirit-controlled rather than flesh-dominated!
* Galatians 5: 14- 26 (Walk by the spirit and not by the flesh)
7) Stay on course at all costs!
--> 1 Samuel 24:2-
- If a parent gives the family business to their children, they want them to handle it right. We have the kingdom of God as an inheritance! So we must place it of some value to us because it's powerful!
- When things start to look grey, we have to remind ourselves of the time when god sent you there, telling you to do it, because it was ordained. That means there is another side to your obstacle.
- God has created so intrinsic in value, that the world be lost had it not existed. (his kingdom)
--> Isaiah 1:19-
*God is commanding us to be steadfast, immovable in our purpose/ assignment that He has given to us. God is requiring your faithfulness
"Faithfulness" = your dependability to be where you're supposed to be
--> The heart to be there, even when you don't always want to be = "loyalty"
*loyalty is important in winning souls over to God --> your faithfulness + loyalty = tied to someone else's salvation.
"committed" = to pledge to an assignment
*Question: How much more committed to our assignment for God will/ should we be than the commitments we have OUTSIDE of God?
--> we try to please the people around us (i.e you're committed to your spouse/gf/bf, or your sports teams, and ministry obligations in the church, etc) but how much MORE will you be committed to God??
~How to Stay Committed ~
1) Understand the standard or core concept of the company..
*We have to be just as dogmatic, if not more dogmatic about our faith as other people are about other religions! (i.e Islam, etc)
2) Commit your heart to the business
- what you do does have an impact on someone else's life! (everyone is leading someone!)
3) Embrace your privilege to represent the kingdom!
- we have to go harder for what we know and believe!
1 Sam. 30
4) you must be willing to put your agenda on the back burner
*loyalty requires submission. Submission equates to your attitude to a certain extent
- 1 John 5:30
- 1 Kings 19:
*It's not about you all the time!
- 2 Kings 2: 2-
- Stay committed to what God told you to do, even when it's hard ( vs 10-11 "cried.." )
analogy: family business. The parents passed the business down to the children --> God gave us access to the kingdom
5) Find your niche in the family business
--> Ephesians 4:14-16
*Everyone has a part to play. Everyone has gifts, talents, and passions (*16)
--> there's an anointing on your life to do it!
*There's times when we don't want to do, but God says "I could have gotten someone else but i wanted you.."
-->Jeremiah 1:
*anything God asks you to do, God will prepare you for it. If you feel like you were not prepared, it may be because it has already been done.
- In those times, remind yourself that you're committed to Him!! Remind yourself of those many times you told God, "if you just get me out of this one, i'll change.." Unlike us, God doesn't change His mind.
6) Be spirit-controlled rather than flesh-dominated!
* Galatians 5: 14- 26 (Walk by the spirit and not by the flesh)
7) Stay on course at all costs!
--> 1 Samuel 24:2-
- If a parent gives the family business to their children, they want them to handle it right. We have the kingdom of God as an inheritance! So we must place it of some value to us because it's powerful!
- When things start to look grey, we have to remind ourselves of the time when god sent you there, telling you to do it, because it was ordained. That means there is another side to your obstacle.
"In spite of Imperfection"
November 04, 2011 ~ Edge! Lifted Service
~Pastor Brandon
--> Philippians 1:
Question: What has God started in you?
- He's changed your heart so that you can honestly say that Jesus is your Lord and Savior
*There's no such thing as a perfect person
- Just because you're not perfect doesn't mean God hasn't done a marvelous work in you!
--> Do you know how long it takes to craft a masterpiece?
*God isn't done crafting you yet- it isn't in your hands! Allow God to shape you.
--> Jeremiah 18:1-
- spoiled = corrupted, decayed, ruined, injured, "rotted" --> God touches dirty things and makes them whole again! *He doesn't even bother putting on gloves! He touches and restores the things in our lives that no one else wants to deal with. *Your problem/ sin, etc is no match for the power of God!!
~Pastor Brandon
--> Philippians 1:
Question: What has God started in you?
- He's changed your heart so that you can honestly say that Jesus is your Lord and Savior
*There's no such thing as a perfect person
- Just because you're not perfect doesn't mean God hasn't done a marvelous work in you!
--> Do you know how long it takes to craft a masterpiece?
*God isn't done crafting you yet- it isn't in your hands! Allow God to shape you.
--> Jeremiah 18:1-
- spoiled = corrupted, decayed, ruined, injured, "rotted" --> God touches dirty things and makes them whole again! *He doesn't even bother putting on gloves! He touches and restores the things in our lives that no one else wants to deal with. *Your problem/ sin, etc is no match for the power of God!!
[untitled] Friday Lifted Service
October 28, 2011
~ Pastor Brandon
Isaiah 61: 1-
- poor = those in need of the gospel --> the gospel means you don't have to be broken anymore!
- "broken-hearted" = a shattered/ crushed heart
- when you live for Jesus, He makes you whole again!
- everyday when your eyes pop open, you should be convicted of all the things you did the night before because it's only by the grace of God that you're alive to even see that new morning!
*He didn't just die on the cross to save you from hell, but to break the bondage of sin in our lives. --> We don't have to sin anymore!
- your mentality reflects how important Jesus is to you. Do you see Jesus and think,"Lord, I'm yours. Take me." or do you think, "Lord God i don't want to go to hell when I die!" Jesus is more than just a press pass into Heaven!
"Life without Jesus is like an un-sharpened pencil- it has no point." ~Pastor Brandon
**Q: How badly do you want him??
- Will you let your pride or friends keep you from Him? (b/c friends won't be who you face on judgement day!)
~ Pastor Brandon
Isaiah 61: 1-
- poor = those in need of the gospel --> the gospel means you don't have to be broken anymore!
- "broken-hearted" = a shattered/ crushed heart
- when you live for Jesus, He makes you whole again!
- everyday when your eyes pop open, you should be convicted of all the things you did the night before because it's only by the grace of God that you're alive to even see that new morning!
*He didn't just die on the cross to save you from hell, but to break the bondage of sin in our lives. --> We don't have to sin anymore!
- your mentality reflects how important Jesus is to you. Do you see Jesus and think,"Lord, I'm yours. Take me." or do you think, "Lord God i don't want to go to hell when I die!" Jesus is more than just a press pass into Heaven!
"Life without Jesus is like an un-sharpened pencil- it has no point." ~Pastor Brandon
**Q: How badly do you want him??
- Will you let your pride or friends keep you from Him? (b/c friends won't be who you face on judgement day!)
"How to Reach Your Relatives"
[October 23, 2011 service by Bishop George L Davis]
-Psalm 127:1-2
- 1 Samuel 2: 12-30
- Matthew 10: 32-37
- Make a decision to go after God fullheartedly
--> Luke 9:57-62
- Family and friends are generally the source of a lot of pressure, persecution, etc
--> John 2: 1-5
--> Mark 3:20
- Don't allow your hurt from you family not accepting God stop you from doing the assignment God has for you
~3 Principles to Reach Your Family ~
1) settle the fact that God loves your family and wants the saved more than you do.
--> Acts 16: 27-32
- Don't try to manipulate the Holy Ghost
2) Realize that you are not the best person to always lead your family member to the Lord.
--> Mark 6: 1-6
3) Understand that your best form of ministry for your family is prayer and living examples
--> 1 Peter 3:1
- Believers need to live as a Godly example.
- Don't be judgmental
-Psalm 127:1-2
- 1 Samuel 2: 12-30
- Matthew 10: 32-37
- Make a decision to go after God fullheartedly
--> Luke 9:57-62
- Family and friends are generally the source of a lot of pressure, persecution, etc
--> John 2: 1-5
--> Mark 3:20
- Don't allow your hurt from you family not accepting God stop you from doing the assignment God has for you
~3 Principles to Reach Your Family ~
1) settle the fact that God loves your family and wants the saved more than you do.
--> Acts 16: 27-32
- Don't try to manipulate the Holy Ghost
2) Realize that you are not the best person to always lead your family member to the Lord.
--> Mark 6: 1-6
3) Understand that your best form of ministry for your family is prayer and living examples
--> 1 Peter 3:1
- Believers need to live as a Godly example.
- Don't be judgmental
Monday, November 7, 2011
"The Good News is for Everyone"
October 16,2011 Notes --> "The Good News Is For Everyone"
Proverbs 11:30 the wise wins souls
-God draws men to him by drawing them to us
--> Matthew 4:23, Matthew 24: 14
God will send you people if you are open and available.
--> Luke 9:1-6
--> Mark 1: 14-15
--> Luke 4:16
--> Luke 20:1-2
--> Isaiah 61:1-3
--> Mark 16:15
--> Genesis 3:15
-Gospel = good tithings or good news
Life today is not what God intended it to be
--> Romans 10:8
- There is a certain piece of the Gospel that meets the needs of everyone, but you must first find the needs of everyone but you must first find the need of that person
- "saved" (in Greek it's "Sozo") means to deliver, protect, heal, preserve; to be made whole or well.
--> Proverbs 18:13
--> James 1: 19
Proverbs 11:30 the wise wins souls
-God draws men to him by drawing them to us
--> Matthew 4:23, Matthew 24: 14
God will send you people if you are open and available.
--> Luke 9:1-6
--> Mark 1: 14-15
--> Luke 4:16
--> Luke 20:1-2
--> Isaiah 61:1-3
--> Mark 16:15
--> Genesis 3:15
-Gospel = good tithings or good news
Life today is not what God intended it to be
--> Romans 10:8
- There is a certain piece of the Gospel that meets the needs of everyone, but you must first find the needs of everyone but you must first find the need of that person
- "saved" (in Greek it's "Sozo") means to deliver, protect, heal, preserve; to be made whole or well.
--> Proverbs 18:13
--> James 1: 19
Friday, October 21, 2011
Grateful
I want to be transparent with you all for a moment.. apologies if any family member is offended. Your struggles are tools for ministry, and i think someone out there can grow from this situation.
Anyway..
Two days ago, my mother's car was repossessed. I had no idea. That same morning, my dad told my siblings and I that in a few weeks we would be moving into a smaller home because at the moment my dad was the only paycheck we were living off of, so we needed to save money and cut expenses. Initially, I thought, "How did things get this bad? My parents make descent money, especially to only be on the lower end of their 30's. what's going on?"
But God spoke to me at that moment, and I couldn't do anything but give Him praise. We have to downsize from our condo to an apartment. True. However, we are all covered under my dad's health insurance; we have two other vehicles to use so the repossession didn't greatly effect our daily routine; we're not starving; and we still have somewhere to lay our heads. Some families weren't as lucky. Some kids are living in shelters right now. The only change in our lives is that I have to give up my own room and share with one of my sisters. Nothing else changed, or is changing. Praise God that this situation isn't as bad as it could be. In fact, since we have to downsize, we can't take everything with us. So i've decided that i'm most likely going to give my tv, radio, and some other valuables away to the city rescue mission. I'm not going to just give away the things I no longer use, but I want to actually sacrifice some of the material things in my life so that I'm not as distracted from God. I'm going to turn the situation the enemy want to use as a tragedy and turn it into a testimony for God. With Him, I can never be defeated!
However, as human beings, sometimes it takes a little bit of light for us to see the whole picture. We tend to focus on the little speck in the corner, when the entire picture is a million dollar portrait! Through good and bad, God remains worthy of every ounce of praise. Remember that everything you have or don't have, good or bad if for the glory of God alone. Always count your blessings and stay humble. Stay blessed, love you all. Have a great day :)
"Impact Through Relationships" ~Bishop George Davis
~October 09,2011
[Week 3 of 40 Days of Impact]
--> Matthew 28:16-20 (The Great Commission)
- You have accepted the responsibility of fulfilling your part of the Great Commission the moment you became a born-again believer..
*impossible to have this type of impact on people (teaching/ discipling) without having relationships!
-->john 1:34-
"Leadership is influence" --> *in order to have influence on an individual's life, you must have relationship!
--> Luke 14:23-33 (The Cost of Discipleship)
Compel--> to necessitate; constrain; to bring by force or threat
-for last, longterm change in people's lives= relationship. Over time, God will use you to minister and reach people
*In order to be effective in Evangelizing, you must be effective in relationship! You can't evangelize if you don't know people. Meaning, you must be willing to open yourself up to meet and interact with people you don't know. We must be willing to expand our horizon of who we consider our friends
--> Matthew11:28
~ 2 methodologies Jesus uses in ministry~
1) he met "felt" (human) needs
- Matthew 11:28
-people are more willing to listen to you if you touch a place in their hearts that is hurting; relate to them.
* "You'll never know until you try, how accessible men are, but we must approach each man a different way" ~ William Beacher
Question: What are "felt" needs?
- answers to Q's about life problems. --> when people recognize the wisdom of God in you, they will come to you and ask you questions! [so don't be aggravated when people always want to talk to you about issues, etc] You can't be easily irritated by those people are who you are trying to reach!
-info about things that interest people -> *so many Christians only know how to talk about the bible! We have to be well-rounded (i.e. able to talk about common interest like volleyball, football, etc) so that you don't turn people away.. and eventually, once you build that relationship, you CAN talk to them about what you really want to talk to them about, which is the love of God.
-->Luke 4:18-
* Question: how will we ever be like Christ and use the anointing we have to heal the hurts of people, if we never know the people around us are hurting?
*you don't have to be rich, but it's selfish to only want enough for you and your family because then you can't be used by God to bless others! He has raised you up to get a word so that you can give a word!
-->john 1:35
"come and see"
-come= He had enough time, they're worthy of his time. (we have to slow down enough to spend time with them)
-see= he was being transparent with them!
--> Matthew 5:13-
"we are salt.." --> *The only reason total hell and condemnation hasn't completely take =n over this world is because the body of Christ is here
-salt = a preservative. (used in mid. eastern countries without refrigerators to preserve food)
*we have to take the salt and light out of the church and into the community where the people are.
-we need to get to a place where we don't condemn the sinners, but at the same time we can still reach out to them.
**their temptations are not beneath us! It's just that we've come to a place where we're not tempted to/by it
--> Luke 19:
-you don't have to shove that person's past sins in their face, or quote 100 scriptures for why what they're doing is wrong!
*acceptance builds trust--> trust builds relationships--> relationships lead to people being comfortable enough with you through relationship that they are willing, maybe even eager to hear what you have to say
[Week 3 of 40 Days of Impact]
--> Matthew 28:16-20 (The Great Commission)
- You have accepted the responsibility of fulfilling your part of the Great Commission the moment you became a born-again believer..
*impossible to have this type of impact on people (teaching/ discipling) without having relationships!
-->john 1:34-
"Leadership is influence" --> *in order to have influence on an individual's life, you must have relationship!
--> Luke 14:23-33 (The Cost of Discipleship)
Compel--> to necessitate; constrain; to bring by force or threat
-for last, longterm change in people's lives= relationship. Over time, God will use you to minister and reach people
*In order to be effective in Evangelizing, you must be effective in relationship! You can't evangelize if you don't know people. Meaning, you must be willing to open yourself up to meet and interact with people you don't know. We must be willing to expand our horizon of who we consider our friends
--> Matthew11:28
~ 2 methodologies Jesus uses in ministry~
1) he met "felt" (human) needs
- Matthew 11:28
-people are more willing to listen to you if you touch a place in their hearts that is hurting; relate to them.
* "You'll never know until you try, how accessible men are, but we must approach each man a different way" ~ William Beacher
Question: What are "felt" needs?
- answers to Q's about life problems. --> when people recognize the wisdom of God in you, they will come to you and ask you questions! [so don't be aggravated when people always want to talk to you about issues, etc] You can't be easily irritated by those people are who you are trying to reach!
-info about things that interest people -> *so many Christians only know how to talk about the bible! We have to be well-rounded (i.e. able to talk about common interest like volleyball, football, etc) so that you don't turn people away.. and eventually, once you build that relationship, you CAN talk to them about what you really want to talk to them about, which is the love of God.
-->Luke 4:18-
* Question: how will we ever be like Christ and use the anointing we have to heal the hurts of people, if we never know the people around us are hurting?
*you don't have to be rich, but it's selfish to only want enough for you and your family because then you can't be used by God to bless others! He has raised you up to get a word so that you can give a word!
-->john 1:35
"come and see"
-come= He had enough time, they're worthy of his time. (we have to slow down enough to spend time with them)
-see= he was being transparent with them!
--> Matthew 5:13-
"we are salt.." --> *The only reason total hell and condemnation hasn't completely take =n over this world is because the body of Christ is here
-salt = a preservative. (used in mid. eastern countries without refrigerators to preserve food)
*we have to take the salt and light out of the church and into the community where the people are.
-we need to get to a place where we don't condemn the sinners, but at the same time we can still reach out to them.
**their temptations are not beneath us! It's just that we've come to a place where we're not tempted to/by it
--> Luke 19:
-you don't have to shove that person's past sins in their face, or quote 100 scriptures for why what they're doing is wrong!
*acceptance builds trust--> trust builds relationships--> relationships lead to people being comfortable enough with you through relationship that they are willing, maybe even eager to hear what you have to say
Another Friday Lifted Service
October 07, 2011
scriptures:
Luke 1: 26-35; Matthew 1:18-25; Jeremiah 1:5; Romans 11:29; Ephesians 2:10; Matthew 28; Mark 13:11; Romans 10:14
-You've been chosen. Therefore you have been equipped with everything you need (through the Holy Spirit) to minister to the multitudes
*Think of 2Timothy 1:7 before you get ready to minister to people [if fear is something that stops you from sharing the Gospel] and read Mark13:11 [if you deal with insecurities like what to say when you minister, etc]
*Romans 10:14 = your motivating force in discipling
--> Romans 8:35
*We have to be crazy in love with God in order to follow christ. I want to make my life look so much like Christ's life so that I can live forever with him.
- The only way you know Christ is through the word.
**Question: What are some things that tend to separate us from Him?
our own physical plans - music - friends - guilt - unforgiving heart - insecurities - etc
-Paul is talking to us; he is asking us what shall separate us from the love of God?! It's really just a rhetorical question b/c NOTHING can separate us from the love of Christ!
Tribulation= distress, turmoil, dire or extreme tragedy and sadness.
*even though i'm feeling this way[insert emotion here], God is still in love with me!
(I no longer live but Christ lives in me)
--> God is still amazing; He is still good despite your circumstances!! For God's sake, we are being persecuted all day long! We may not be killed physically, but we are persecuted by words, etc. We can't do all the things of the world b/c we know that it doesn't please him.
- I'd rather be treated like a sheep, than BE a sheep without Christ. (*Without a good shepherd, we're treading on very dangerous territory)
-suicide= allowing affliction to separate us from God
*Paul doesn't say what turns GOD away from us, but what WE do to separate ourselves from HIM! God is ALWAYS there!! He'll never leave you nor forsake you. He won't give up on you, even when everyone else around you does.
---> It's not enough for God to be crazy in love with us! We have to reciprocate that same love back to him!
**Question: Are you in love with him back?
-it takes a leap of faith. Are you crazy enough to not only believe in Him, but be radical enough to love him back by sacrificing your life to Him?
scriptures:
Luke 1: 26-35; Matthew 1:18-25; Jeremiah 1:5; Romans 11:29; Ephesians 2:10; Matthew 28; Mark 13:11; Romans 10:14
-You've been chosen. Therefore you have been equipped with everything you need (through the Holy Spirit) to minister to the multitudes
*Think of 2Timothy 1:7 before you get ready to minister to people [if fear is something that stops you from sharing the Gospel] and read Mark13:11 [if you deal with insecurities like what to say when you minister, etc]
*Romans 10:14 = your motivating force in discipling
--> Romans 8:35
*We have to be crazy in love with God in order to follow christ. I want to make my life look so much like Christ's life so that I can live forever with him.
- The only way you know Christ is through the word.
**Question: What are some things that tend to separate us from Him?
our own physical plans - music - friends - guilt - unforgiving heart - insecurities - etc
-Paul is talking to us; he is asking us what shall separate us from the love of God?! It's really just a rhetorical question b/c NOTHING can separate us from the love of Christ!
Tribulation= distress, turmoil, dire or extreme tragedy and sadness.
*even though i'm feeling this way[insert emotion here], God is still in love with me!
(I no longer live but Christ lives in me)
--> God is still amazing; He is still good despite your circumstances!! For God's sake, we are being persecuted all day long! We may not be killed physically, but we are persecuted by words, etc. We can't do all the things of the world b/c we know that it doesn't please him.
- I'd rather be treated like a sheep, than BE a sheep without Christ. (*Without a good shepherd, we're treading on very dangerous territory)
-suicide= allowing affliction to separate us from God
*Paul doesn't say what turns GOD away from us, but what WE do to separate ourselves from HIM! God is ALWAYS there!! He'll never leave you nor forsake you. He won't give up on you, even when everyone else around you does.
---> It's not enough for God to be crazy in love with us! We have to reciprocate that same love back to him!
**Question: Are you in love with him back?
-it takes a leap of faith. Are you crazy enough to not only believe in Him, but be radical enough to love him back by sacrificing your life to Him?
Crazy Love ~ Pastor Brandon Davis
Friday night Lifted Service [September 30,2011]
* a huge misconception about God is that he doesn't love individuals who don't follow him.
-God loves us, in spite of us!
-we could go day after day doing the same sins we swore we'd stop doing, constantly breaking promises to Him and he STILL loves us!
-God is omniscient [all knowing] He knows your good, bad, and ugly (all the little things you put away in a closet for no one else to see)
*God's love is different than the "love" of this world!!
-->Romans 5:6-8 Jesus died for you IN your sin! *If you never realize how jacked up you are, you'll never truly appreciate the death of Christ
- the death of Christ signifies that you have the power to defeat sin, we're born again, etc. and we mock his death when you keep playing with those sins.
-He must be crazy to send his son to die for us, knowing that we were going to sin against him over and over...
-John 3:16-18 "....he gave"
--> Love leads to giving
*Jesus didn't come to the world to judge or condemn us! --> His love came in and rescued us from what we were about to do to ourselves.
Q: how many times have we put our feelings, sin, etc. ahead of God?
ex:"i don't feel like reading my word tonight, i'm too tired.." I know i shouldn't be doing this [insert sin here], but i want to do it.." When you do that, you're putting your feelings, sins, etc. before God! He's a jealous God! you can't play around with sin throughout the week, then try to clean yourself up on sundays and think God is pleased with you.
-->Ephesians 3:17
*Jesus wants to dwell on the inside of your heart forever [only possible if you have faith! trust in him and know him!]
-understand the extent of God's love. It surrounds us; we can't ever escape it! Despite what you've done, what people say about you, etc God has not given up on you!
*There is never a day when you were so good that you're beyond the need of God's grace, and there's never a day where you were so bad that you're beyond the reach of God's grace! (Jerry Bridges 1994) --> "The Discipline of Grace" chapter 3...
-come to know how much God loves you and how much he loves others
*our ability to love can either hurt our ministry or help it
Ghandi- "I would've became a Christian if I never met one." --> Show the true love of Christ and break this stereotype!!
-->Matthew 25:31-34
Did you even know...
-That someone is in need?
- That Jesus is sick when people are sick, hungry when people are hungry, etc.
* a huge misconception about God is that he doesn't love individuals who don't follow him.
-God loves us, in spite of us!
-we could go day after day doing the same sins we swore we'd stop doing, constantly breaking promises to Him and he STILL loves us!
-God is omniscient [all knowing] He knows your good, bad, and ugly (all the little things you put away in a closet for no one else to see)
*God's love is different than the "love" of this world!!
-->Romans 5:6-8 Jesus died for you IN your sin! *If you never realize how jacked up you are, you'll never truly appreciate the death of Christ
- the death of Christ signifies that you have the power to defeat sin, we're born again, etc. and we mock his death when you keep playing with those sins.
-He must be crazy to send his son to die for us, knowing that we were going to sin against him over and over...
-John 3:16-18 "....he gave"
--> Love leads to giving
*Jesus didn't come to the world to judge or condemn us! --> His love came in and rescued us from what we were about to do to ourselves.
Q: how many times have we put our feelings, sin, etc. ahead of God?
ex:"i don't feel like reading my word tonight, i'm too tired.." I know i shouldn't be doing this [insert sin here], but i want to do it.." When you do that, you're putting your feelings, sins, etc. before God! He's a jealous God! you can't play around with sin throughout the week, then try to clean yourself up on sundays and think God is pleased with you.
-->Ephesians 3:17
*Jesus wants to dwell on the inside of your heart forever [only possible if you have faith! trust in him and know him!]
-understand the extent of God's love. It surrounds us; we can't ever escape it! Despite what you've done, what people say about you, etc God has not given up on you!
*There is never a day when you were so good that you're beyond the need of God's grace, and there's never a day where you were so bad that you're beyond the reach of God's grace! (Jerry Bridges 1994) --> "The Discipline of Grace" chapter 3...
-come to know how much God loves you and how much he loves others
*our ability to love can either hurt our ministry or help it
Ghandi- "I would've became a Christian if I never met one." --> Show the true love of Christ and break this stereotype!!
-->Matthew 25:31-34
Did you even know...
-That someone is in need?
- That Jesus is sick when people are sick, hungry when people are hungry, etc.
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Loving the Seemingly "Unlovable" ~ Bishop George Davis
*First sermon in Faith Christian Center's 40 Days of Impact campaign!!
(8:30 am service, September 25, 2011)
Luke 6:27-
- It's no big deal to love someone who loves you back; help those who help you; give to those in which you expect to receive something in return, etc.
Question: Is there a group of people that you've self-consciously labeled "unlovable" or placed on a "hard-to-love" list? [of course, no one says this verbally, but in the back of your mind you've placed these individuals in a pile of "unlovables" because of your personal feelings about them, etc.]
*In order for us to be effective in ministry, we have to love people. -->John 3:16 "For God so loved the WORLD..." it doesn't say "For God so loved the Christian.." Yes, God is pleased with the walk or life the Christian lives, but his love for them is not greater than his love for the sinner. Therefore as followers of Christ, OUR love for people shouldn't be greater towards someone who loves us back or makes us feel good. That drug dealer or prostitute you pass by on the side of the road is loved just as much as the elderly woman you see praising God in her Sunday's best every week. You don't know how good your "love walk" is until you encounter someone who is different from you.
4 Roots to Why We're Unable to Really Love People:
#1: Prejudice- an unfavorable feeling or opinion formed beforehand or without knowledge, thought or reason; without personal knowledge of a person yet generalizing based on a collective group of individuals.
*Prejudice goes far beyond a racial barrier.
When you prejudge, you get to a place where you're unwilling to ask God to help you go that extra mile to minister to that person because you feel like you already have them figured out based on what you see. [It's okay to totally loathe and detest the actions of a person, but NEVER to actually hate the person!]
--> Luke 5:12
#2: A Selfish Focus
- Evangelism is not just going out cold turkey and asking people if they want to be born again.
-We live in such a humanistic world...a selfish focus will keep us TALKING about the needs of those around us, but too prideful or self-consumed to act on those needs. A selfish focus will keep you focused only on how YOU are blessed, etc.
--> ex: after 6 months, that fancy car or new house you bought will be just another house.
*Most of the emotional stress people deal with have to do with the result of living a selfish life. We have the most stuff out of any generation, yet we are also the most depressed generation. Why? Because stuff can't satisfy you.
--> Matthew 6:36 [ref scripture]
--> Matthew 9: 36-39
--> Matthew 14: 10-16
*compassion came over Jesus and he heard those sick people in the crowds EVEN while he tried to grieve over the murder of John the Baptist
--> Matthew 15:32 - when you have compassion for people and allow your desires to match God's, He will make sure you have all the resources available to you that you need to be effective in ministry.
--> Matthew 20:30
Compassion: a genuine love for those in need, combined with a Godly desire to end their suffering.
*it might be someone's LAST day on Earth, and they ran into you! They interacted with you! You must have compassion to love them enough to get them to Jesus!
*We're not blessed so that we can sit and live a life of luxury but that when God gives us an opportunity to minister to His people, you can do it and do it well.
#3: personal insecurity
-requires looking past a person's actions to see their needs.
--> Matthew 9:10
*you cant reach a sinner if you're unwilling to engage with them!
-> Luke 7:36-
#4: Pride and Arrogance
- if it wasn't for the grace of God, you could be that homeless guy or that girl with the baby at 14. Don't think for a second that you didn't make enough mistakes in your life to end up where they are or worse! Your life is by the grace of God alone. It's not because you made all the right choices and that's why you're successful. No.
--> Romans 5:8 [ref scripture]
(8:30 am service, September 25, 2011)
Luke 6:27-
- It's no big deal to love someone who loves you back; help those who help you; give to those in which you expect to receive something in return, etc.
Question: Is there a group of people that you've self-consciously labeled "unlovable" or placed on a "hard-to-love" list? [of course, no one says this verbally, but in the back of your mind you've placed these individuals in a pile of "unlovables" because of your personal feelings about them, etc.]
*In order for us to be effective in ministry, we have to love people. -->John 3:16 "For God so loved the WORLD..." it doesn't say "For God so loved the Christian.." Yes, God is pleased with the walk or life the Christian lives, but his love for them is not greater than his love for the sinner. Therefore as followers of Christ, OUR love for people shouldn't be greater towards someone who loves us back or makes us feel good. That drug dealer or prostitute you pass by on the side of the road is loved just as much as the elderly woman you see praising God in her Sunday's best every week. You don't know how good your "love walk" is until you encounter someone who is different from you.
4 Roots to Why We're Unable to Really Love People:
#1: Prejudice- an unfavorable feeling or opinion formed beforehand or without knowledge, thought or reason; without personal knowledge of a person yet generalizing based on a collective group of individuals.
*Prejudice goes far beyond a racial barrier.
When you prejudge, you get to a place where you're unwilling to ask God to help you go that extra mile to minister to that person because you feel like you already have them figured out based on what you see. [It's okay to totally loathe and detest the actions of a person, but NEVER to actually hate the person!]
--> Luke 5:12
#2: A Selfish Focus
- Evangelism is not just going out cold turkey and asking people if they want to be born again.
-We live in such a humanistic world...a selfish focus will keep us TALKING about the needs of those around us, but too prideful or self-consumed to act on those needs. A selfish focus will keep you focused only on how YOU are blessed, etc.
--> ex: after 6 months, that fancy car or new house you bought will be just another house.
*Most of the emotional stress people deal with have to do with the result of living a selfish life. We have the most stuff out of any generation, yet we are also the most depressed generation. Why? Because stuff can't satisfy you.
--> Matthew 6:36 [ref scripture]
--> Matthew 9: 36-39
--> Matthew 14: 10-16
*compassion came over Jesus and he heard those sick people in the crowds EVEN while he tried to grieve over the murder of John the Baptist
--> Matthew 15:32 - when you have compassion for people and allow your desires to match God's, He will make sure you have all the resources available to you that you need to be effective in ministry.
--> Matthew 20:30
Compassion: a genuine love for those in need, combined with a Godly desire to end their suffering.
*it might be someone's LAST day on Earth, and they ran into you! They interacted with you! You must have compassion to love them enough to get them to Jesus!
*We're not blessed so that we can sit and live a life of luxury but that when God gives us an opportunity to minister to His people, you can do it and do it well.
#3: personal insecurity
-requires looking past a person's actions to see their needs.
--> Matthew 9:10
*you cant reach a sinner if you're unwilling to engage with them!
-> Luke 7:36-
#4: Pride and Arrogance
- if it wasn't for the grace of God, you could be that homeless guy or that girl with the baby at 14. Don't think for a second that you didn't make enough mistakes in your life to end up where they are or worse! Your life is by the grace of God alone. It's not because you made all the right choices and that's why you're successful. No.
--> Romans 5:8 [ref scripture]
Monday, September 19, 2011
Lifted Youth Group
-September 15, 2011 Thursday night service by Pastor Brandon Davis
* your protection is where God tells you to be, and in his presence.
-Living in perfect peace has nothing to do with your situation, but everything to do with fearing God
-it's impossible to be joyous, peaceful, etc while simultaneously NOT fearing God
*joy has absolutely nothing to do with happiness! --> happiness = a temporary feeling.
-->Proverbs 8:13-
*whatever God says goes. Period. The minute this isn't our mindset, we're in sin.
God says to hate evil, therefore we should hate evil. Evil isn't just all the obvious sins. It's all sin. That includes gossiping --> The only opinion that matters is God's and he said he created all people to be beautiful. Who are you to talk about someone else?
*Fear the Lord or you will not be with him.
- He will not be mocked!! Do you really think God is going to sit up in heaven and be mocked by someone who wants to receive His grace and gift of salvation but didn't do anything on Earth to deserve it? Salvation is a free gift; we can't do anything to earn it. However, as a born-again believer, you are still held liable to the law if God which he gives to those who believe in him.
*fearing God leads to knowing God; He's the beginning of knowledge. Therefore, you won't know him until you fear him. God doesn't operate like the other things in this world. You don't see him first. God says, "you fear me, THEN you will see me." The problem with this is that we don't allow ourselves to look past our circumstances.
*It's hard to talk about someone you don't know!
*If you don't know the bible you'll never know/ understand how to defend it!
--> rap: the majority, if not all of rap/hip hop music today talks about pride, arrogance, money, success, revenge, murder, drugs, etc. The very things God despises. All the rappers, singers, actors, entertainers, etc. are speaking into existence the very things God says he HATES and He tells us to hate it as well. [Goes back to the fearing God thing] One component of fearing God is being obedient to his will. If he HATES these things, yet they are still a part of your life [and you're making no effort to remove them from your life], God might not think too fondly of you right now.
Peace can only be obtained through fearing God
--> Deuteronomy 30:19
obedience is better than sacrifice!
Q: How can I be expected to fear the Lord with everything going on in my life?
A: that's why God sent the holy spirit!
- some people look at fearing God like children look at their parents forcing them to eat vegetables! [maybe not through their mouth, but through their actions]
--> But Jesus sent us a comforter! (vs 16)
"comforter" - counselor; helper, intercessor; etc.
*Holy Spirit is living on the inside of you [if you're born again]. You're not happy, or you're depressed because you have God living on the inside of you, restraining your joy because you refuse to serve, love or fear Him. You're trying to do the things of this world, and you can't seem to get happy because the Holy Spirit is also an intercessor-> He is praying to God AGAINST the very things you're trying to do!
Also, so many people say they're confused, or insecure,etc. You have every answer you ever needed because you have the Holy Spirit on the inside of you while simultaneously dwelling in the mind of God [and God is all knowing] --> With someone like that on the inside of you, you can't (or shouldn't) ever feel insecure, depressed, inferior, stupid, etc.
* your protection is where God tells you to be, and in his presence.
-Living in perfect peace has nothing to do with your situation, but everything to do with fearing God
-it's impossible to be joyous, peaceful, etc while simultaneously NOT fearing God
*joy has absolutely nothing to do with happiness! --> happiness = a temporary feeling.
-->Proverbs 8:13-
*whatever God says goes. Period. The minute this isn't our mindset, we're in sin.
God says to hate evil, therefore we should hate evil. Evil isn't just all the obvious sins. It's all sin. That includes gossiping --> The only opinion that matters is God's and he said he created all people to be beautiful. Who are you to talk about someone else?
*Fear the Lord or you will not be with him.
- He will not be mocked!! Do you really think God is going to sit up in heaven and be mocked by someone who wants to receive His grace and gift of salvation but didn't do anything on Earth to deserve it? Salvation is a free gift; we can't do anything to earn it. However, as a born-again believer, you are still held liable to the law if God which he gives to those who believe in him.
*fearing God leads to knowing God; He's the beginning of knowledge. Therefore, you won't know him until you fear him. God doesn't operate like the other things in this world. You don't see him first. God says, "you fear me, THEN you will see me." The problem with this is that we don't allow ourselves to look past our circumstances.
*It's hard to talk about someone you don't know!
*If you don't know the bible you'll never know/ understand how to defend it!
--> rap: the majority, if not all of rap/hip hop music today talks about pride, arrogance, money, success, revenge, murder, drugs, etc. The very things God despises. All the rappers, singers, actors, entertainers, etc. are speaking into existence the very things God says he HATES and He tells us to hate it as well. [Goes back to the fearing God thing] One component of fearing God is being obedient to his will. If he HATES these things, yet they are still a part of your life [and you're making no effort to remove them from your life], God might not think too fondly of you right now.
Peace can only be obtained through fearing God
--> Deuteronomy 30:19
obedience is better than sacrifice!
Q: How can I be expected to fear the Lord with everything going on in my life?
A: that's why God sent the holy spirit!
- some people look at fearing God like children look at their parents forcing them to eat vegetables! [maybe not through their mouth, but through their actions]
--> But Jesus sent us a comforter! (vs 16)
"comforter" - counselor; helper, intercessor; etc.
*Holy Spirit is living on the inside of you [if you're born again]. You're not happy, or you're depressed because you have God living on the inside of you, restraining your joy because you refuse to serve, love or fear Him. You're trying to do the things of this world, and you can't seem to get happy because the Holy Spirit is also an intercessor-> He is praying to God AGAINST the very things you're trying to do!
Also, so many people say they're confused, or insecure,etc. You have every answer you ever needed because you have the Holy Spirit on the inside of you while simultaneously dwelling in the mind of God [and God is all knowing] --> With someone like that on the inside of you, you can't (or shouldn't) ever feel insecure, depressed, inferior, stupid, etc.
Sunday, September 11, 2011
just thinking..
With the first three weeks of senior year under my belt, I feel more confident than ever that God has a purpose waiting for me. I'm growing closer to him, and that's great! I feel like I can hear him so much more clearly now than I did 4 months ago. He has also placed great friends in my life that are striving to be closer to Him as well and that's exactly what I needed. As more and more people that i felt I "needed" in my life began to show their true colors, God showed me that he has someone better in store for me that not only will encourage me to continue in my walk, but won't hinder me from my purpose. I'm so incredibly grateful for this new church family- they truly are a blessing to me, whether they realize it or not. I pray that I never turn back to how I used to be.. living for Christ is so much more rewarding!
Understanding the Laws of Life and Death [part III]
Bishop George Davis, 8:30 am service September 11,2011
Before I share these notes with you, I'd like to take a moment to remember those who lost their lives in 9/11. May God bless and comfort the family, friends and cities they left behind.
--> Deuteronomy 30:19
--> John 10:10 ["The enemy only comes to steal kill and destroy..." ]
-Jesus says he came so that you may have life and have it more abundantly - meaning that the idea of god taking you through hardships to "teach you a lesson" is absolutely contradictory to the Word of God.
- We shouldn't have a problem with the enemy throwing challenges our way because we already have the answer!! [Jesus] Just like you don't have a problem with your teacher giving you a pop quiz if you know every answer.
* Learn to make choices that align with the Word of God so that it becomes habits that align with the Word of God. Those habits become a character that aligns with the Word of God and having a character that aligns with the Word of God leads to living a life that aligns with the Word of God.
--> Colossians 3:1 -set your priorities on what's a priority in Heaven. Your heart should be wrapped around what's important to Heaven
- when you do this, your mindset will be in line with God's, and when situations come it won't be so hard for you to make the righteous choice.
ex: swimming upstream. It's hard to swim upstream when the current is flowing in the opposite direction. In your walk, everyone around you might not be walking in the law of life, but you don't turn around and follow them. Keep pressing forward!
--> Proverbs 31:19- *the fear of the Lord ignites the law of life- if i want to live this life that John 10:10 talks about, the bible says that fear of the Lord LEADS to it!
-->Psalm 128:1-6 [all of psalm 128]
--> Psalm 31:19-
--> Proverbs 14:26-27
--> Psalm 145: 18-19
[Notice a recurring theme? If you fear the Lord, he will bless you]
|--> 2 reasons why:
a) because He's a good God
b) because the more you have the fear of God on the inside of you, your priorities/desires start to change to line up with His.
--> Psalm25:12
- He'll teach you how to walk in His way! Your soul will be at ease [ you can have a lot of bad things going on around you yet you can till praise God]
a lot of people don't totally understand what it means to fear the Lord.
*The fear of the Lord = an attitude (3 components)
1) reverence for God- an expression of deep respect, love and admiration for God. Ex: Like someone utters the name of Jesus and immediately you get excited..
--> 1 Peter 3:15* God has his own private place in your heart that no one else can enter.
*God's word is not a suggestion! IT"S A COMMANDMENT!
*Going to church every week is NOT just about receiving a good word. It's about doing what you've been doing alone all week, now in a public setting! Praising God. Corporate worship with your fellow brothers and sisters! When you realize that it's a time for you to praise God publically, maybe you won't have as many excuses for not going. It's disrespectful! If God is showing up, it's disrespectful for you to be absent because you are supposed to be there giving him the praise He deserves. You should come to church always ready to give God something.
--> exodus 23
2) obedience to God - John 14:15
3) hatred for evil
--> Proverbs 8: 4-8
Having a hatred for evil means NO exceptions! If God hates it [i.e. homosexuality, lust, gossip, etc] then we as his children and followers should hate it as well. Some people confuse holiness with simply abstaining from immorality and sin, or dressing nicely. Holiness is simply "at one with God." Meaning, if you are at one with God, you will make the godly decision, you won't tolerate the things that upset him, and you will follow his commandments.
*"Salvation is ONLY in the name of Jesus because he was and still is the only one qualified to represent mankind." ~ Bishop George Davis
Before I share these notes with you, I'd like to take a moment to remember those who lost their lives in 9/11. May God bless and comfort the family, friends and cities they left behind.
--> Deuteronomy 30:19
--> John 10:10 ["The enemy only comes to steal kill and destroy..." ]
-Jesus says he came so that you may have life and have it more abundantly - meaning that the idea of god taking you through hardships to "teach you a lesson" is absolutely contradictory to the Word of God.
- We shouldn't have a problem with the enemy throwing challenges our way because we already have the answer!! [Jesus] Just like you don't have a problem with your teacher giving you a pop quiz if you know every answer.
* Learn to make choices that align with the Word of God so that it becomes habits that align with the Word of God. Those habits become a character that aligns with the Word of God and having a character that aligns with the Word of God leads to living a life that aligns with the Word of God.
--> Colossians 3:1 -set your priorities on what's a priority in Heaven. Your heart should be wrapped around what's important to Heaven
- when you do this, your mindset will be in line with God's, and when situations come it won't be so hard for you to make the righteous choice.
ex: swimming upstream. It's hard to swim upstream when the current is flowing in the opposite direction. In your walk, everyone around you might not be walking in the law of life, but you don't turn around and follow them. Keep pressing forward!
--> Proverbs 31:19- *the fear of the Lord ignites the law of life- if i want to live this life that John 10:10 talks about, the bible says that fear of the Lord LEADS to it!
-->Psalm 128:1-6 [all of psalm 128]
--> Psalm 31:19-
--> Proverbs 14:26-27
--> Psalm 145: 18-19
[Notice a recurring theme? If you fear the Lord, he will bless you]
|--> 2 reasons why:
a) because He's a good God
b) because the more you have the fear of God on the inside of you, your priorities/desires start to change to line up with His.
--> Psalm25:12
- He'll teach you how to walk in His way! Your soul will be at ease [ you can have a lot of bad things going on around you yet you can till praise God]
a lot of people don't totally understand what it means to fear the Lord.
*The fear of the Lord = an attitude (3 components)
1) reverence for God- an expression of deep respect, love and admiration for God. Ex: Like someone utters the name of Jesus and immediately you get excited..
--> 1 Peter 3:15* God has his own private place in your heart that no one else can enter.
*God's word is not a suggestion! IT"S A COMMANDMENT!
*Going to church every week is NOT just about receiving a good word. It's about doing what you've been doing alone all week, now in a public setting! Praising God. Corporate worship with your fellow brothers and sisters! When you realize that it's a time for you to praise God publically, maybe you won't have as many excuses for not going. It's disrespectful! If God is showing up, it's disrespectful for you to be absent because you are supposed to be there giving him the praise He deserves. You should come to church always ready to give God something.
--> exodus 23
2) obedience to God - John 14:15
3) hatred for evil
--> Proverbs 8: 4-8
Having a hatred for evil means NO exceptions! If God hates it [i.e. homosexuality, lust, gossip, etc] then we as his children and followers should hate it as well. Some people confuse holiness with simply abstaining from immorality and sin, or dressing nicely. Holiness is simply "at one with God." Meaning, if you are at one with God, you will make the godly decision, you won't tolerate the things that upset him, and you will follow his commandments.
*"Salvation is ONLY in the name of Jesus because he was and still is the only one qualified to represent mankind." ~ Bishop George Davis
"Walk"
September 08, 2011
Given by Pastor Brandon Davis; Thursday youth service
- we should not live defeated lives [Matthew 16:24-26]
- every day we must die to flesh
- what you "plan" to do should never be bigger than what God wants you to do
- don't live for the moment, live for eternity
--> Joshua 1:8
--> Acts 9:20-25
- The more you walk with your cross the stronger God will make you
- God is all powerful, I am not
- Lord means master
- 2 things in order to walk
1) be courageous [Joshua 1:8]
2) rely on Godly relationships to keep you going
--> Acts 14:19- 22
- Life is not about you
- I set my mind to do what God wants me to do
- nobody is perfect including you
"forbearance" - bear with one another
Given by Pastor Brandon Davis; Thursday youth service
- we should not live defeated lives [Matthew 16:24-26]
- every day we must die to flesh
- what you "plan" to do should never be bigger than what God wants you to do
- don't live for the moment, live for eternity
--> Joshua 1:8
--> Acts 9:20-25
- The more you walk with your cross the stronger God will make you
- God is all powerful, I am not
- Lord means master
- 2 things in order to walk
1) be courageous [Joshua 1:8]
2) rely on Godly relationships to keep you going
--> Acts 14:19- 22
- Life is not about you
- I set my mind to do what God wants me to do
- nobody is perfect including you
"forbearance" - bear with one another
Saturday, September 3, 2011
The Brand of a True Friend
Lifted Youth Group- Thursday night service
preacher: Minister Keia Perry-Farr
-"Brand" -> a particular characteristic that identifies something placed forever in memory; distinctive; distinguished from common qualities. [definition in terms os friendship]
--> Basically, "true" friends are hard to find!
Q: what brand of friend are you?
--> Mark 2:3- 12
- you need to be committed as a friend. See the need(s) of your firends. Press as a friend! P.U.S.H [pray until something happens] Don't take no for an answer!
- "fellowship" -> the brand of a true friend
--> Acts 2:42-45 Impossible to have a good, coherent friendship without fellowship.
-Friends pray with friends (*prayer helps to answer problems)
-dying to self, living for Christ and spreading the gospel all over!
3 traits that brand true friendship: care, joy, transparent love
in our friendships, we should do all of the following:
1) exercise Godly character
2) share the same heart [2 Cor. 6:14]
3) give friends time + attention b/c you have to help your friends meet their needs to the best of you ability
4) be honest
5) protect your friends
--> Acts 5:32-35 [ foundation scripture for the night] Protecting is not always about fighting. You can protect your friend's character; integrity; protect them from going down the wrong path, etc.
6) give Godly advice to encourage your friends
7) challenge one another to be better by pointing them in the right direction
--> Proverbs 27:17 You should be sharper with your friends! Every time you are with them, you should grow!
*Keep each other accountable! Pray and read the word with them! Last but not least, disciple one another!
- to disciple means to teach; to prepare for survival. In essence, you are teaching your friends how to survive! [b/c we're at spiritual warfare! Equip them with knowledge!]
Friends help friends hold on to their salvation.
preacher: Minister Keia Perry-Farr
-"Brand" -> a particular characteristic that identifies something placed forever in memory; distinctive; distinguished from common qualities. [definition in terms os friendship]
--> Basically, "true" friends are hard to find!
Q: what brand of friend are you?
--> Mark 2:3- 12
- you need to be committed as a friend. See the need(s) of your firends. Press as a friend! P.U.S.H [pray until something happens] Don't take no for an answer!
- "fellowship" -> the brand of a true friend
--> Acts 2:42-45 Impossible to have a good, coherent friendship without fellowship.
-Friends pray with friends (*prayer helps to answer problems)
-dying to self, living for Christ and spreading the gospel all over!
3 traits that brand true friendship: care, joy, transparent love
in our friendships, we should do all of the following:
1) exercise Godly character
2) share the same heart [2 Cor. 6:14]
3) give friends time + attention b/c you have to help your friends meet their needs to the best of you ability
4) be honest
5) protect your friends
--> Acts 5:32-35 [ foundation scripture for the night] Protecting is not always about fighting. You can protect your friend's character; integrity; protect them from going down the wrong path, etc.
6) give Godly advice to encourage your friends
7) challenge one another to be better by pointing them in the right direction
--> Proverbs 27:17 You should be sharper with your friends! Every time you are with them, you should grow!
*Keep each other accountable! Pray and read the word with them! Last but not least, disciple one another!
- to disciple means to teach; to prepare for survival. In essence, you are teaching your friends how to survive! [b/c we're at spiritual warfare! Equip them with knowledge!]
Friends help friends hold on to their salvation.
Understanding the Laws of Life & Death
- beginning of a new series by Bishop George Davis
Romans 7:15- Romans 8:2
-in my flesh there is no good thing. However, through Christ JesuI live by the law of the spirit, not the law of man
-2 master laws that exist on earth and they are polar opposites:
1) law of life
2) law of death
-There are things that we do, sometimes ignorantly, that enacts the law of death to work against us when God designed for the law of life to be operating in our lives each and every day.
-Called laws because they're always working either for or against you for your entire life.
*Important to know about these laws because if we don't, we may end up blaming God when things go wrong in our lives and get mad at God.
- You can't expect to live out the law of life in your life if you're continually enacting the law of death
- *Death is always trying to work against you, but because you're in Christ Jesus, the law of life supersedes the law of death because it's more powerful
--> Psalm 115:12-
-God will bless you on credit! (he knows your heart)
--> Genesis 2:7-9; Genesis 1:26
*It's a powerless place to be in when everyone else is responsible for your mess because that means you can't get out of this prison/ bondage you're in unless they decide to change their ways. But when you take responsibility for it, you have dominion over it.
[reference scripture: John 6:63, 1Tim 3:16]
--> Romans 5
From Adam to Moses, the people of the earth were being dominated by the law of death until God gave Moses the law --> now they know what's right and what's wrong so they (we're) without excuse.
--> John 3:36-
-He that believeth on the son of God has eternal life. The law of life is the dominating force in the life of a born-again believer so you no longer have to bow a knee to the law of sin.
- God has put himself in us! (supernatural) he's trying to get us to a place where we're in this world but not of this world --> it's a daily fight to live in this world, but not be contaminated by this world
John 17:13-
- Stand up and show the world what God looks like!
*Don't tiptoe around the devil! Why? Because Jesus has made me free from the law of sin! I don't have to try and impress you, be afraid of you, fearful, cowardly, etc. Because God has set me free to be me in Him.
* assignment for the week: overflow in the word of God this week. You can do that by - CD, meditation, of key scriptures, etc.
Romans 7:15- Romans 8:2
-in my flesh there is no good thing. However, through Christ JesuI live by the law of the spirit, not the law of man
-2 master laws that exist on earth and they are polar opposites:
1) law of life
2) law of death
-There are things that we do, sometimes ignorantly, that enacts the law of death to work against us when God designed for the law of life to be operating in our lives each and every day.
-Called laws because they're always working either for or against you for your entire life.
*Important to know about these laws because if we don't, we may end up blaming God when things go wrong in our lives and get mad at God.
- You can't expect to live out the law of life in your life if you're continually enacting the law of death
- *Death is always trying to work against you, but because you're in Christ Jesus, the law of life supersedes the law of death because it's more powerful
--> Psalm 115:12-
-God will bless you on credit! (he knows your heart)
--> Genesis 2:7-9; Genesis 1:26
*It's a powerless place to be in when everyone else is responsible for your mess because that means you can't get out of this prison/ bondage you're in unless they decide to change their ways. But when you take responsibility for it, you have dominion over it.
[reference scripture: John 6:63, 1Tim 3:16]
--> Romans 5
From Adam to Moses, the people of the earth were being dominated by the law of death until God gave Moses the law --> now they know what's right and what's wrong so they (we're) without excuse.
--> John 3:36-
-He that believeth on the son of God has eternal life. The law of life is the dominating force in the life of a born-again believer so you no longer have to bow a knee to the law of sin.
- God has put himself in us! (supernatural) he's trying to get us to a place where we're in this world but not of this world --> it's a daily fight to live in this world, but not be contaminated by this world
John 17:13-
- Stand up and show the world what God looks like!
*Don't tiptoe around the devil! Why? Because Jesus has made me free from the law of sin! I don't have to try and impress you, be afraid of you, fearful, cowardly, etc. Because God has set me free to be me in Him.
* assignment for the week: overflow in the word of God this week. You can do that by - CD, meditation, of key scriptures, etc.
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Lifted Youth Group
by Pastor Brandon Davis
connect = fellowship
Genesis 3:1-6
crafty- subtle, shrewd, sly, sensible
-Adam allowed the serpent to influence his wife
-friends are supposed to fight for and protect each other
- if you have a God complex, you want to be like God
-God has to be the most valuable thin to us or else we will fall for anything
- friends
-gossip is sin too
--> Genesis 4:1
- if you want to please God, do well
* how can you expect to honor God if you can't honor your friends?
connect = fellowship
Genesis 3:1-6
crafty- subtle, shrewd, sly, sensible
-Adam allowed the serpent to influence his wife
-friends are supposed to fight for and protect each other
- if you have a God complex, you want to be like God
-God has to be the most valuable thin to us or else we will fall for anything
- friends
-gossip is sin too
--> Genesis 4:1
- if you want to please God, do well
* how can you expect to honor God if you can't honor your friends?
"Lifted"
by Pastor Brandon Davis
--> Romans 12:1-
- present: to place at one's disposal; to present a person to another to see and to question
- Paul is charging us to put ourselves at God's disposal!
(We're trying to be more like God- if you become "like" a person, it's easier to pick up their habits. For example, if you have a friend that consistently uses profanity, you are more likely to accept cursing or begin cursing yourself. Not necessarily ALWAYS the case but you make yourself more vulnerable to it by putting yourself in an environment where they curse.
--> He (God) has the power to do whatever he wishes to do with your life!
Q :does God have the power to do whatever he wants to do in your life? [obviously, he has the power to do anything, but he gives us free will]
- Are you willing to be at God's disposal? [present yourself to God as a living sacrifice]
-Don't make anyone make you feel like you can't be used, or walk in God's purpose for your life as a teenager.
-Paul also calls us to let God examine every aspect of our lives
3 things in this text:
1) God wants our lives to be a lives to be a living sacrifice
2)wants our lives to be holy
3) wants our lives to be acceptable to his standards
*sacrifice--> the surrender or destruction of something prized or desirable for the sake of something more important
- it's easy to give up something when you the better
Q: what's your most prized possession? who/what do you feel you can't live without ?
-sacrifice is worship.
- the surrender/ destruction of something not pleasing to God= an act of worship!
-destroy your selfish will because God's will is more important! *It's not you at all whenever God uses you.
- what will you value most? --> there your worship & your heart will be also.
* anyone trying to follow God can't hold on to what they had before they knew him!
-when Jesus enters you life everything in your life should drastically change! Why? Because you must sacrifice.
*If your heart isn't open to God, how is he living there?
2) holy- living before God, good conduct before God --> *righteousness = your position with God
holiness is your character before God
3) acceptable = pleasing to God
- we shouldn't want to please our teammates, boy/girlfriend, family, music, money, etc more than God
*in order to worship, you must sacrifice.
- you can't gain Christ holding on to the things that keep you away from him
--> Matthew 13:44 * [meditation script]
- when sacrificing something we always view it as a negative
-as long as you hold on to the stupid things you do, you'll never gain him!
- i know he's worth more b/c the things of this world won't be there with you when you die
*what sense does it make to be popular? Who is going to die with you?
*mark 10: 17-
- whatever you're not willing to sacrifice
- is Jesus worth more to you than all you have?
*When the first thing you ask is, " what do i have to do to get into heaven?" you're being selfish- only looking out for yourself getting into heaven instead of looking at what Jesus actually requires for you to live!
--> Romans 12:1-
- present: to place at one's disposal; to present a person to another to see and to question
- Paul is charging us to put ourselves at God's disposal!
(We're trying to be more like God- if you become "like" a person, it's easier to pick up their habits. For example, if you have a friend that consistently uses profanity, you are more likely to accept cursing or begin cursing yourself. Not necessarily ALWAYS the case but you make yourself more vulnerable to it by putting yourself in an environment where they curse.
--> He (God) has the power to do whatever he wishes to do with your life!
Q :does God have the power to do whatever he wants to do in your life? [obviously, he has the power to do anything, but he gives us free will]
- Are you willing to be at God's disposal? [present yourself to God as a living sacrifice]
-Don't make anyone make you feel like you can't be used, or walk in God's purpose for your life as a teenager.
-Paul also calls us to let God examine every aspect of our lives
3 things in this text:
1) God wants our lives to be a lives to be a living sacrifice
2)wants our lives to be holy
3) wants our lives to be acceptable to his standards
*sacrifice--> the surrender or destruction of something prized or desirable for the sake of something more important
- it's easy to give up something when you the better
Q: what's your most prized possession? who/what do you feel you can't live without ?
-sacrifice is worship.
- the surrender/ destruction of something not pleasing to God= an act of worship!
-destroy your selfish will because God's will is more important! *It's not you at all whenever God uses you.
- what will you value most? --> there your worship & your heart will be also.
* anyone trying to follow God can't hold on to what they had before they knew him!
-when Jesus enters you life everything in your life should drastically change! Why? Because you must sacrifice.
*If your heart isn't open to God, how is he living there?
2) holy- living before God, good conduct before God --> *righteousness = your position with God
holiness is your character before God
3) acceptable = pleasing to God
- we shouldn't want to please our teammates, boy/girlfriend, family, music, money, etc more than God
*in order to worship, you must sacrifice.
- you can't gain Christ holding on to the things that keep you away from him
--> Matthew 13:44 * [meditation script]
- when sacrificing something we always view it as a negative
-as long as you hold on to the stupid things you do, you'll never gain him!
- i know he's worth more b/c the things of this world won't be there with you when you die
*what sense does it make to be popular? Who is going to die with you?
*mark 10: 17-
- whatever you're not willing to sacrifice
- is Jesus worth more to you than all you have?
*When the first thing you ask is, " what do i have to do to get into heaven?" you're being selfish- only looking out for yourself getting into heaven instead of looking at what Jesus actually requires for you to live!
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