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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