Ms Pam taught a great lesson today about guarding our words. Hurtful words can crush a person's spirit. Spend this week meditating/thinking about your own speech. Let your words be encouraging to others. The verses that we discussed today were James 4:11,12; Titus 3:1,2; and Ephesians 4:29.
1. Do not speak against one another, brethren. He who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks against the law and judges the law; but if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge of it. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and to destroy; but who are you who judge your neighbor? (James 4:11, 12 NASB)
2. Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed, to malign no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing every consideration for all men. (Titus 3:1, 2 NASB)
3. Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear. (Ephesians 4:29 NASB)
Don't forget to read John 6 this week if you have been following along. I will try to post some words about it later this week.
Sunday, November 18, 2012
Saturday, November 17, 2012
Out of the Heart...
Understanding our human condition-
-->the tongue and the heart work together to produce our speech--whether good or bad
"The heart is more deceitful than all else
And is desperately sick;
Who can understand it? (Jeremiah 17:9 NASB)
...For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. (Matthew 12:34 ESV)
But the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile the man. (Matthew 15:18 NASB)
...for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart. (Luke 6:45 NASB)
He who guards his mouth and his tongue,
Guards his soul from troubles. (Proverbs 21:23 NASB)
The one who guards his mouth preserves his life;
The one who opens wide his lips comes to ruin. (Proverbs 13:3 NASB)
A gentle answer turns away wrath,
But a harsh word stirs up anger. (Proverbs 15:1 NASB)
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Your sight,
O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer. (Psalm 19:14 NASB)
By the word of the LORD the heavens were made,
And by the breath of His mouth all their host. (Psalm 33:6 NASB)
In the beginning was the Word... (John 1:1)
--> we see the spectrum from man to God in the matter of words and the heart.
James 3:1-12
-->Our words are...
1.Powerful
Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment. For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well. Now if we put the bits into the horses' mouths so that they will obey us, we direct their entire body as well. Look at the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, are still directed by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot desires. So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things.
2. Dangerous
See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell. For every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by the human race. But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison.
3. Revealing
With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way. Does a fountain send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water? Can a fig tree, my brethren, produce olives, or a vine produce figs? Nor can salt water produce fresh. (James 3:1-12 NASB)
**Our sinful hearts are revealed by our words.
-->the tongue and the heart work together to produce our speech--whether good or bad
"The heart is more deceitful than all else
And is desperately sick;
Who can understand it? (Jeremiah 17:9 NASB)
...For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. (Matthew 12:34 ESV)
But the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile the man. (Matthew 15:18 NASB)
...for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart. (Luke 6:45 NASB)
He who guards his mouth and his tongue,
Guards his soul from troubles. (Proverbs 21:23 NASB)
The one who guards his mouth preserves his life;
The one who opens wide his lips comes to ruin. (Proverbs 13:3 NASB)
A gentle answer turns away wrath,
But a harsh word stirs up anger. (Proverbs 15:1 NASB)
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Your sight,
O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer. (Psalm 19:14 NASB)
By the word of the LORD the heavens were made,
And by the breath of His mouth all their host. (Psalm 33:6 NASB)
In the beginning was the Word... (John 1:1)
--> we see the spectrum from man to God in the matter of words and the heart.
James 3:1-12
-->Our words are...
1.Powerful
Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment. For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well. Now if we put the bits into the horses' mouths so that they will obey us, we direct their entire body as well. Look at the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, are still directed by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot desires. So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things.
2. Dangerous
See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell. For every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by the human race. But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison.
3. Revealing
With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way. Does a fountain send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water? Can a fig tree, my brethren, produce olives, or a vine produce figs? Nor can salt water produce fresh. (James 3:1-12 NASB)
**Our sinful hearts are revealed by our words.
Sunday, October 21, 2012
Renovation vs Revival
2 Chronicles 34:1-8
1. Remember the Lord
-->seek, hunt, pursue, inquire, draw near
-->is your time and intent for the Lord Jesus lacking? We can always seek Him more!
2. Remove the idols
-->Josiah sought the Lord by removing idols and priests of idols.
-->what idols do we need to remove from our hearts?
**Seeking the Lord gives us:
A. Clarity-finding out God's purpose.
B. Conviction-the Holy Spirit will reveal your idols when you ask in prayer.
C. Confidence-He will give you trust.
1. Remember the Lord
-->seek, hunt, pursue, inquire, draw near
-->is your time and intent for the Lord Jesus lacking? We can always seek Him more!
2. Remove the idols
-->Josiah sought the Lord by removing idols and priests of idols.
-->what idols do we need to remove from our hearts?
**Seeking the Lord gives us:
A. Clarity-finding out God's purpose.
B. Conviction-the Holy Spirit will reveal your idols when you ask in prayer.
C. Confidence-He will give you trust.
Saturday, October 13, 2012
From Rebellion to Restoration
What is revival?
"Behold, I long for Your precepts;
Revive me through Your righteousness." (Psalm 119:40 NASB)
--> consider the First Great Awakening and Jonathan Edwards:
The word ‘revival’ infers that something is dead or dying. The early 1700s in America were marked by spiritual decline and immorality. This was a time when few people attended church and there was little interest in spiritual things. But in 1734, in the small, unassuming church of Jonathan Edwards, 25% of the town converted to faith in Christ over the course of six months. The revival spread throughout the region and beyond. The Holy Spirit of God was at work in the souls of humanity.
Jonathan Edwards said, ‘God has also seemed to go out of his usual way in the quickness of His work...on the hearts of many….There was scarcely a single person in the town, either old or young, that was left unconcerned about the great things of the eternal world …The town seemed to be full of the presence of God…it never was so full of love and full of joy.
2 Chronicles 7:11-14
Thus Solomon finished the house of the LORD and the king's palace, and successfully completed all that he had planned on doing in the house of the LORD and in his palace. Then the LORD appeared to Solomon at night and said to him, "I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice. If I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among My people, and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
I. Pride leads to ... Rebellion
--> when we start to believe that we are ok without the Lord's work in our lives, then we fall into pride and selfishness. We are useless. We are like walking zombies within our church.
--> pride was the first sin that brought the archangel, Lucifer, down to earth as Satan, our enemy. It separated him from God, and it does the same to us.
'... Therefore it says, "GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE." Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.' (James 4:6-8 NASB)
II. Humility leads to ... Restoration
"Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you." (James 4:8-10 NASB)
--> we acknowledge our sin (laughter turned to mourning, joy turned to gloom) and it brings about repentance!
--> here is where we find true JOY, and as we are humbled, we are exalted and restored!
"Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:5-11 NASB)
**information on Jonathan Edwards: http://www.revival-library.org/pensketches/revivals/1st_edwards.html
"Behold, I long for Your precepts;
Revive me through Your righteousness." (Psalm 119:40 NASB)
--> consider the First Great Awakening and Jonathan Edwards:
The word ‘revival’ infers that something is dead or dying. The early 1700s in America were marked by spiritual decline and immorality. This was a time when few people attended church and there was little interest in spiritual things. But in 1734, in the small, unassuming church of Jonathan Edwards, 25% of the town converted to faith in Christ over the course of six months. The revival spread throughout the region and beyond. The Holy Spirit of God was at work in the souls of humanity.
Jonathan Edwards said, ‘God has also seemed to go out of his usual way in the quickness of His work...on the hearts of many….There was scarcely a single person in the town, either old or young, that was left unconcerned about the great things of the eternal world …The town seemed to be full of the presence of God…it never was so full of love and full of joy.
2 Chronicles 7:11-14
Thus Solomon finished the house of the LORD and the king's palace, and successfully completed all that he had planned on doing in the house of the LORD and in his palace. Then the LORD appeared to Solomon at night and said to him, "I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice. If I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among My people, and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
I. Pride leads to ... Rebellion
--> when we start to believe that we are ok without the Lord's work in our lives, then we fall into pride and selfishness. We are useless. We are like walking zombies within our church.
--> pride was the first sin that brought the archangel, Lucifer, down to earth as Satan, our enemy. It separated him from God, and it does the same to us.
'... Therefore it says, "GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE." Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.' (James 4:6-8 NASB)
II. Humility leads to ... Restoration
"Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you." (James 4:8-10 NASB)
--> we acknowledge our sin (laughter turned to mourning, joy turned to gloom) and it brings about repentance!
--> here is where we find true JOY, and as we are humbled, we are exalted and restored!
"Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:5-11 NASB)
**information on Jonathan Edwards: http://www.revival-library.org/pensketches/revivals/1st_edwards.html
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Warning Signs
**your attitudes and actions reveal your level of commitment to Christ
Hebrews 5:11-14
11 Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.
1. Attitude
An apathetic attitude reveals disinterest in the things of God.
V. 11-- "dull of hearing"
-We are unable to discern how to live right, or we just don't care. If this is a struggle for you, then be cautioned! This lack of understanding is a direct result of living outside of God's will and His word.
2. Growth
Lacking spiritual growth in your life means that you are moving backwards. Like the vine from last week's lesson, if we are not growing and living in Christ then we are dying!
V. 12-- we should be much further along in our spiritual journey. The milk is for babies!
3. Effectiveness
What kind of steward are you of God's gift of salvation? Have you been thankful for it? Have you sought to make good choices based on what you know from God's word? Do you want to know more and train your mind to think Biblically?
Vv. 13-14-- "righteousness" means right living. And right thinking = right living! We must train our minds to think right by absorbing God's truth in His word.
**The book of Hebrews is written to the Jews (Hebrews) to help those who followed Christ to move past their "rituals" into a life of obedience. Consider the very best way young people can live out obedience to Christ. There is no better act than to honor your parents. This is a great starting point for you to direct your thinking and living toward the righteousness of our Lord Jesus Christ.
-Christ's example-- obedient to the point of death! (Philippians 2:8)
-the fifth commandment (Exodus 20)
-Ephesians 6...v. 3 "SO THAT IT MAY BE WELL WITH YOU, AND THAT YOU MAY LIVE LONG ON THE EARTH."
-Matthew 15
-Deuteronomy 5:16
-Proverbs 23:22
Hebrews 5:11-14
11 Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.
1. Attitude
An apathetic attitude reveals disinterest in the things of God.
V. 11-- "dull of hearing"
-We are unable to discern how to live right, or we just don't care. If this is a struggle for you, then be cautioned! This lack of understanding is a direct result of living outside of God's will and His word.
2. Growth
Lacking spiritual growth in your life means that you are moving backwards. Like the vine from last week's lesson, if we are not growing and living in Christ then we are dying!
V. 12-- we should be much further along in our spiritual journey. The milk is for babies!
3. Effectiveness
What kind of steward are you of God's gift of salvation? Have you been thankful for it? Have you sought to make good choices based on what you know from God's word? Do you want to know more and train your mind to think Biblically?
Vv. 13-14-- "righteousness" means right living. And right thinking = right living! We must train our minds to think right by absorbing God's truth in His word.
**The book of Hebrews is written to the Jews (Hebrews) to help those who followed Christ to move past their "rituals" into a life of obedience. Consider the very best way young people can live out obedience to Christ. There is no better act than to honor your parents. This is a great starting point for you to direct your thinking and living toward the righteousness of our Lord Jesus Christ.
-Christ's example-- obedient to the point of death! (Philippians 2:8)
-the fifth commandment (Exodus 20)
-Ephesians 6...v. 3 "SO THAT IT MAY BE WELL WITH YOU, AND THAT YOU MAY LIVE LONG ON THE EARTH."
-Matthew 15
-Deuteronomy 5:16
-Proverbs 23:22
Sunday, September 23, 2012
How to grow as a disciple: Spiritual disciplines
I. Love Jesus
This is a commandment! But we love because He first loved us. (1 John 4:19 NASB)
"You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart."(Deuteronomy 6:5, 6 NASB)
"I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples." (John 15:5-8 NASB)
** abide = live (picture of vine)
2. Read your Bible
Psalm 119, the longest chapter in the Bible, shows a love for God's Word:
"Your word is a lamp to my feet
And a light to my path." (Psalm 119:105 NASB)
"Teach me, O LORD, the way of Your statutes,
And I shall observe it to the end. Give me understanding, that I may observe Your law
And keep it with all my heart. Make me walk in the path of Your commandments,
For I delight in it. Incline my heart to Your testimonies
And not to dishonest gain. Turn away my eyes from looking at vanity,
And revive me in Your ways. Establish Your word to Your servant,
As that which produces reverence for You. Turn away my reproach which I dread,
For Your ordinances are good. Behold, I long for Your precepts;
Revive me through Your righteousness." (Psalm 119:33-40 NASB)
-many descriptive words for "Bible": statutes, law, commandments, testimonies, ways, word, ordinances, precepts
**Make goals for reading!
3. Pray to God
"pray without ceasing;" (1 Thessalonians 5:17 NASB)
-pray anytime; remember to pray for your parents' wisdom in raising you!
ACTS-adoration, confession, thanksgiving, supplication (praying for the needs of others)
4. Worship and serve
"and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near." (Hebrews 10:24, 25 NASB)
-this is why we need to be in church!
'If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also.' (1 John 4:20, 21 NASB)
-don't undervalue relationships with loved ones. Mothers, fathers, sisters, and brothers are very important and not to be taken for granted!
This is a commandment! But we love because He first loved us. (1 John 4:19 NASB)
"You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart."(Deuteronomy 6:5, 6 NASB)
"I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples." (John 15:5-8 NASB)
** abide = live (picture of vine)
2. Read your Bible
Psalm 119, the longest chapter in the Bible, shows a love for God's Word:
"Your word is a lamp to my feet
And a light to my path." (Psalm 119:105 NASB)
"Teach me, O LORD, the way of Your statutes,
And I shall observe it to the end. Give me understanding, that I may observe Your law
And keep it with all my heart. Make me walk in the path of Your commandments,
For I delight in it. Incline my heart to Your testimonies
And not to dishonest gain. Turn away my eyes from looking at vanity,
And revive me in Your ways. Establish Your word to Your servant,
As that which produces reverence for You. Turn away my reproach which I dread,
For Your ordinances are good. Behold, I long for Your precepts;
Revive me through Your righteousness." (Psalm 119:33-40 NASB)
-many descriptive words for "Bible": statutes, law, commandments, testimonies, ways, word, ordinances, precepts
**Make goals for reading!
3. Pray to God
"pray without ceasing;" (1 Thessalonians 5:17 NASB)
-pray anytime; remember to pray for your parents' wisdom in raising you!
ACTS-adoration, confession, thanksgiving, supplication (praying for the needs of others)
4. Worship and serve
"and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near." (Hebrews 10:24, 25 NASB)
-this is why we need to be in church!
'If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also.' (1 John 4:20, 21 NASB)
-don't undervalue relationships with loved ones. Mothers, fathers, sisters, and brothers are very important and not to be taken for granted!
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