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Showing posts with label Show Me Your Ways. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Show Me Your Ways. Show all posts

Sunday, June 11, 2017

Sunday Words of Encouragement June 11, 2017

Our Sunday School teacher was out so our substitute shared a video with Jonathan Cahn which was awesome. My hubby and I plan to find the full video to watch together.

Our Pastor is continuing his sermon series from the book of James. This section is titled Dependent. He noted that God does not seek our independence but instead seeks our dependence on Him. [My interjection here: I sometimes think this is a difficult concept for Americans as we are generally known as a nation of limitless opportunities where we are raised being told we can accomplish anything we work hard enough for. This tends to foster an atmosphere of independence and “do it myself” response even from children. God doesn’t want us to “do it myself”; He wants us to seek His guidance and follow His lead.]

Pastor used examples such as tug of war and Red Rover to point out the problems of a divided nature that is pulling in different directions. As humans we are always balancing opposite goals: responsibility on one side (what we should do) versus fun on the other (what we want to do). Spending v saving; eating a rich meal v working out during lunch. Living our old life after we have accepted the new life found as a Christ follower. James points out that we can't have it both ways. James 4:1-4 James says in verse 4: “Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God?”

Today we have many different levels of friends, including friends on facebook who we don’t really know and have never talked to one on one or done things with. Historically, a friend during the times of James would mean someone you would spend time with and do things with. However, whether then or now, do we ever find ourselves being two- faced by saying or acting one way with friends and then another when we come before God or talk with fellow believers? This is wrong. God is jealous of our attitudes, times and every aspect of our lives. He takes our standing with Him more seriously than we do.

James 4:7-10 tells us what to do to change our attitudes from worldliness to Godliness. ‘Humble yourself; resist the devil; come close to God…

God has come all the way from Heaven to earth for us. He is here – waiting for us to turn and take one step to Him. We must first repent of our worldly ways and allow God to lift us up as His child. We must put on the full armor of a believer. Ephesians 6:10-18.

The Point: The next move toward a fully committed relationship with God is yours.

We need to recognize that we can only get satisfaction from God, not from the world. God wants to be close to us. We can only run the good race if we focus on Him and not on the world.

I started with a different song in mind but came to this one, which I think fits.

A Verse for Today:
James 4:8
8 Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.

Lord, Help me commit each morning to walk with Your guidance and not in my own strength nor in the ways of the world.
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Sunday, September 28, 2014

Sunday Words of Encouragement September 28, 2014

We watched the second half of the video by Pastor Perry on the Millennial Reign of Christ in Jerusalem in our Sunday School class. Pastor Perry seeks to encourage the viewer to look forward to living and serving during the reign of peace.

We had wonderful music worship again this morning. Pastor delivered his sermon which I will title: “His Way or Our Way?” He used the rather harsh story of Judges 19 and 20 where the Levite’s concubine was horribly abused in the town of Gibeah in the territory of Benjamin. When the other tribes of Israel sought to punish the tribe of Benjamin they attacked first without seeking God’s permission, although they did seek some input as to which tribe should go first. After two devastating battles they finally approached God with the correct question: ‘do we go into battle again or cease?’ Only then did God reply “Go up, for tomorrow I will deliver them into your hand.” Judges 20:28.

The point of the story and Pastor’s question: “Do we plunge forward with our own plans, seeking God to bless them?” Or, do we stop and ask God: “What is Your Will? How do You want me to proceed?” We need to be careful to seek God’s Way instead of trying to live “our way”.

My added concluding comments:
God’s way is so much purer and better for us.
Judges 19:1 starts: “In those days, when there was no king in Israel...”
The story is closed by Judges 21:25: "In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes."
As commentator/Pastor Wayne D. Turner says: "When people do that which is right in their own eyes, it's not usually right in God's eyes."

This is a nice praise song to go with today's message.
Show Me Your Way, by Hillsong

Verses for Today:
Proverbs 21:2-3 NIV
2 A person may think their own ways are right, but the Lord weighs the heart.
3 To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.

Help me each morning Lord to seek Your Will for the day and not my own. I give thanks for Your grace and mercy that are new every morning.

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