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New Life COTR Wednesday September 19, 2007
“GOD IS ON YOUR SIDE”
INTRODUCTION: Next week we’ll begin “Finding The Rock” a study in the doctrines we believe at New Life COTR. It will be fun and informative.
1Timothy 4:16- “Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.”
Titus 1:9- “He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.”
Titus 2:1- “You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine.”
Sound- to be healthy
2Timothy 4:3- “For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.”
GOD IS ON YOUR SIDE
Psalm 118:6,7- “The Lord is with me I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? The Lord is with me; he is my helper. I will look in triumph on my enemies.”
Is this the confession from your mouth? Is this the declaration from your heart?
Proverbs 18:20,21- “From the fruit of his mouth a man’s stomach is filled; with the harvest from his lips he is satisfied. The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”
FIVE DECLARATIONS THAT PROVE GOD IS ON YOUR SIDE
1. God is for us and can take any situation in our life and turn it around for good!
Romans 8:28- “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
a). Love God
b). Allow your life to come along side God’s purposes for your life.
c). You need to know
Ephesians 1:11- “In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will.”
Philippians 2:13- “for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.”
God is for us and can take any situation in our life and turn it around for good!
2. God is for you and He has predestined you for greatness.
Romans 8:29,30- “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those He predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.”
Predestined- to decide beforehand
Called- invite, summon. The authority of the speaker dictates the nature of the calling.
justified- vindicate, declare righteous, to put someone in proper relationship with another, usually referring to God’s relationship to humankind, implying a proper legal or moral relationship.
Glorified- to glorify, give praise or honor.
Verse 30 (AMP)- “And those whom He thus foreordained, He also called, He also justified (acquitted, made righteous, putting them into right standing with Himself). And those whom He justified, He also glorified [raising them to a heavenly dignity and condition or state of being.]”
Ephesians 2:6,7- “And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in heavenly realms in Christ Jesus. In order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.”
God is for you and he has predestined you for greatness.
3. God is for us and He will freely give us all things.
Romans 8:31,32- What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all-how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things.”
a). GOD IS GOING TO DO SOMETHING GOOD FOR YOU!!! BECAUSE JESUS IS WORTHY!
Psalm 84:11- “For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.”
Psalms 34:10- “The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.”
Matthew 7:7-12- Turn and Read
God is for us and He will freely give us all things.
4. God is for us and He will not allow anyone to condemn you.
Romans 8:33,34- “Who will bring any charge against those God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus who died-more than that, who was raised to life-is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.”
1John 2:1,2- “My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense-Jesus Christ the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.”
Through Jesus Christ we have been called, justified and glorified.
God is for us and He will freely give us all things.
5. God is for us and He will not allow anyone to separate you from the love of God.
Romans 8:35-39- Turn and Read
2Corinthians 5:14,15- For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.”
God is for us and He will not allow anyone to separate you from the love of God.
CONCLUSION: God is on your side. Make these and other scriptures the declaration of your heart.
Thursday, September 20, 2007
God is on Your Side - Pastor Kenneth Woolf
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Overcoming Discouragement in Ministry - Pastor Kenneth Woolf
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New Life COTR Wednesday September 12, 2007
Overcoming Discouragement in Ministry
INTRODUCTION: In life and especially in ministry there arises the opportunity from time to time to get discouraged. If discouragement takes root in our life it can lead to depression.
Discouragement is a reality of life. We’re all flesh and blood and have to fight discouragement.
2Corinthians 1:8- “We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life.”
Despair- To be overcome by a sense of futility or defeat. Utter lack of hope. Something that destroys all hope.
1Samuel 30:1-6 Turn and Read
The Bible says that David was greatly distressed. Talk about discouragement.
Many times circumstances and situations present to us the opportunity to get discouraged and depressed.
FOUR MAIN CAUSES OF DISCOURAGEMENT AND DEPRESSION
1. Unfulfilled expectations.
The passing of time works against hope and faith in your life.
Proverbs 13:12- “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.”
Many times we loose hope and when we loose hope we loose faith.
Have you ever heard this phrase? “Don’t get your hopes up.” If your hope is not up your faith is not up!
Hebrews 11:1- “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”
Unfulfilled expectations can cause discouragement.
2. Attacks of the enemy.
Attacks of the enemy can cause you to loose hope.
Luke 22:31-32(AMP)- “Simon, Simon (Peter), listen! Satan has asked excessively that [all of] you be given up to him [out of the power and keeping of God], that he might sift [all of] you like grain. But I have prayed especially for you [Peter], that your [own] faith may not fail; and when you yourself have turned again, strengthen and establish your brethren.”
Jesus tells Peter, “I’m going to pray for you not to loose hope.”
Attacks of the enemy can cause us to loose hope and get discouraged.
Ephesians 6:12,16- “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.”
Attacks of the enemy can cause you to become discouraged.
3. Financial Setbacks
1Kings 17:12-16- Turn and Read
Financial setbacks can cause discouragement.
Philippians 4:14-19- Turn and Read
4. The loss of someone close to you.
Deuteronomy 34:8- “The Israelites grieved for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days, until the time of weeping and mourning was over.”
Grieved – to weep, wail, cry, sob, mourn.
FOUR CURES FOR DISCOURGEMENT
1. Do not compare yourself to your problem or enemy but compare your enemy to your God.
Psalm 27:1-3 Turn and Read
2. Go to the secret place of God.
Everyone needs a secret place.
Psalm 27:4,5- Turn and Read
Psalm 32:7- “You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.”
Psalm 91:1(KJV)- “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the almighty.”
3. Offer up a Sacrifice of Praise
Psalm 27:6- “Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at his tabernacle will I sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the Lord.”
God inhabits the praises of His people.
It’s your responsibility to offer up a sacrifice of praise.
Hebrews 13:15- “Through Jesus therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise-the fruit of lips that confess his name.”
1Peter 2:9- “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”
4. Wait in faith on the Lord
Psalm 27:13,14 Turn and Read
Isaiah 40:28-31 Turn and Read
CONCLUSION: 1. Compare your enemy to your God. 2. Go to the secret place of God. 3. Offer up a sacrifice of praise. 4. Wait in faith on the Lord
1Samuel 30:6- “David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the Lord his God.”
2Corinthians 1:9,10- “Indeed in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and He will deliver us. On Him we have set our hope, that he will continue to deliver us.”
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
Disqualified From Ministry - Pastor Kenneth Woolf
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New Life COTR Wednesday September 5, 2007
DISQUALIFIED FROM MINISTRY
INTRODUCTION: God wants to use you. God wants you to finish well in your life and ministry. God wants you to be successful. These are the thoughts we need to think on.
“If God is for us, who can be against us.” “I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.”
Luke 10:2- “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into the harvest field.”
In the Bible we see many examples of people that God used. Even people that experienced failures in their lives.
Abraham lied. Moses was a murderer. Noah got drunk. David committed adultery. God used a harlot to hide the spies Joshua sent into the Promised Land. Peter denied Christ and was still used by God. Paul persecuted the church.
After all the bible is all about the fall and redemption of man.
Yet in 1Samuel 15 we read about King Saul who was disqualified from ministry. He was removed from being King. This is something rare we read about in the Bible.
THERE ARE THINGS THAT CAN DISQUALIFY US FROM MINISTRY!
God took Saul out of the ministry for many reasons. Many people think it was just disobedience but the disobedience was just the straw that broke the camels back.
TEN THINGS THAT CAN DISQUALIFY US FROM MINISTRY
1Samuel 15:1-9 Turn and Read
1. You do not fully obey God. (verses 10,11)
Obedience is huge with God. Obedience reveals our commitment to Lordship!
2. When it starts being more about you than the Lord. (verse 12)
LOOK WHAT I’VE ACCOMPLISHED!
3. When you begin to blame others for your own failures. (verse 15)
Displaced responsibility.
4. When you forget where your power and authority come from. (verse 17)
Pride is a key issue with leaders.
5. When you don’t complete your mission. (verse 18)
“Go into all the world and preach the gospel.” This is our mission. What is a church? Why are we still here? Because we have a mission! I longer have a life but I have a mission!
6. When you’re blinded by materialism. (verse 19)
The story of the rich young ruler.
7. When you try to justify your disobedient actions. (verse 20)
I HAD MY REASONS! I KNOW BETTER THAN GOD!
8. When you substitute outward religious activities rather than obeying God’s voice. (verse 21,22)
No sacrifice is greater than obeying God’s voice.
9. When you get into rebellion. (verse 23)
Manipulating events to get what you want instead of what God says.
10. When you fear the people more than you fear God. (verse 24)
We must have the proper fear of God in our hearts.
Proverbs 1:7- “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.”
THREE THINGS TO DO TO TURN IT AROUND
1. An Honest Evaluation
2Corinthians 13:5- “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith….”
2. Experience Genuine Repentance
Saul simply asked God to pardon his sins. It wasn’t in his heart to change. On the contrary David experienced true repentance.
3. Ask God for another chance.
2Kings 20:1-6 Turn and Read
CONCLUSION: “The harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few..” Tonight ask God to use you to expand the Kingdom of God all over the world.
Position yourself to hear is voice and then obey His voice.
Three types of Christians.
1. I want what I want.
2. I want what God wants-but.
3. I want what God wants-period!
