Suddenly (it felt like overnight), we all found ourselves "sheltering in place" and dealing with a whole new set of reasons to be irritated and angry. This message helps us find the positive purposes for our feelings and gives us an action plan to help us identify and process those feelings so that we rule them instead of them ruling us.

This Sermon was given virtually by Pastor Clark Cothern on March 29th 

Mar. 29, 2020  Every day I am allowing Christ to overcome my irritations. 

We all have our default emotional reactions to various stressful situations. 

I. A Theology of _______________  

A. ______ has feelings 

Jesus is God (incarnate) and he experienced all the feelings we feel. (Hebrews 4:15) 

B. My feelings are actually a ________ from God.  

C. Biblical _______________ avoids two extremes: 

 a.  

 b.  

D. The ___________ and _______________ are also God’s gifts.  

Once we know the cause we can determine if the cause is real or imagined.  

(Proverbs 25:28; Proverbs 14:29)  

II. Understanding ________ and managing it.  

A. Anger is: 

1) Anger is destructive to the ________. (Proverbs 14:30) 

2) Anger is destructive to _______________. (Proverbs 15:18)  

3) Anger is destructive to ___________ itself. (Proverbs 14:29) 

4) Anger is also _________________. (Prov. 19:19) 

B. Appropriate anger is actually a _______ thing.  

“He who is ________ to anger is better than the mighty…” (Prov. 16:32a, NASB) 

The Biblical ideal is not “____ anger.” The Biblical ideal is “_________ anger.” (Eph. 4:26)  

You can be angry and you can sin. Or you can NOT be angry…and sin.  

2020-03-29 – Overcoming irritations and frustrations – Page 2 of 2 

“He that is angry without cause, sins, but he that is not angry when there is cause, sins.” --John Chrysostom 

Remember that Jesus is God. Jesus never sinned. And yet Jesus was angry. He was slow to anger, but he was angry.  

A Sabbath healing, for example. (Mark 3:4-5) 

God had revealed this “slow to anger” character quality to ___________. (Ex. 34:6, ISV) 

A LOT of people today (in America and I suspect in many other countries) would say, “I don’t want to serve an angry God. I want a God of love.”  

Here’s a truth that I firmly believe is rooted in the Bible and in God’s character:  

You cannot have a God who is perfect in __________without a God who is also perfect in _________.  

If you never get angry about anything then you don’t truly ________ anything.  

When we love someone, there are times when anger (at that which would harm the one we love) is the absolutely most appropriate response.  

III. An action plan for being “Slow to anger.”  

A. “Is this a ________ irritation or is this something much more important?”  

B. “What am I _________ angry about?” 

C. “How can I display my anger in a ____________ way?”  

D. Check your ________. (Proverbs 15:1) 

E. Don’t let your anger ________ with you.  

“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.” (1 John 3:16, NIV)

None of us knew (until just before this message) that we would be self-quarantined and meeting online. If ever there was a time to focus on physical, emotional and spiritual health, it would be now. This message gets seriously practical about things we can do to maintain health during this unusual season.   This Message was given Virtually for Living Water Community Church by Pastor Clark Cothern   Every day I am taking steps toward good health. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20. Use your bodies for God’s glory.) Allowing Christ to overcome my lack of discipline (feeding my mind, soul, body).  Every day I am…  Taking steps toward good health.  Intro: Clotaire Rapaille (A Frenchman’s true story)  Today’s focus: Taking steps toward good health.   1. Physical Health 2. Mental Health 3. Spiritual Health  1. Physical Health (Psalm 119:73)  God made your body. Jesus died for your body.  The Holy Spirit lives in your body. God’s going to resurrect your body.  God expects you to ________ ______ your body. (Proverbs 3:7-8)  Daniel’s story. (Daniel 1)  1) God’s Word is practical and it applies to our overall _________. 2) It’s easier to get healthy wen we have supportive _________.  3) Health is not just about losing _________.   Here are five biblical healthy habits:  1. Eat Healthy _________ The foods God gave us, in as natural a form as possible.  1 Corinthians 6:20; 6:13b  2. Balance Your __________ (Mark 1:35)  Room for ______________ brings ___________.   Sabbath rest is so important that God put it in the _____ ________________.   3. Think Healthy ______________ (1 Timothy 4:7-8)  a. ________ about it.    b. Identify the ____________.   c. Take an ____________ step.   d.  Ask: “Can ______ solve this?”    Here’s an action plan for you:   1) Pray specifics (Lord, I’m fearful about…) 2) Communicate with supportive friends.  3) Do something to encourage someone else.

Have you ever felt that you lacked motivation or that you have procrastinated on an important task and you couldn't figure out what was going on? The Bible has some important things to say about becoming productive and the principles are valuable for everyday situations and for eternal, spiritual focus. Let's see what the Bible says about becoming focused, purpose-filled, productive people.   This Sermon was presented remotely for LWCC on March 15th 2020  Mar. 15, 2020 Every day I am allowing Christ to overcome laziness. (So I can be productive.)  Introductory Comments and Missions Report  Have you noticed how people who are really productive also seem to be fulfilled?   A Bible word for productivity is “stewardship.”   Productivity: “Making the most of what you’ve been given.”   When it comes to productivity it’s not ____ _______ you get done. It’s ________ you get done.   It’s easy to become frenetic and get a LOT done and still not get the most important things done.   Biblical principles based on the term Fruitfulness.   Fruitful – abounding in fruit, producing good results, beneficial.   The Greek word for Fruitfulness is karpovß (karpos).   “This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” (John 15:8, NIV)   1. When I bear fruit I bring __________ to God. (John 15:8a)  2. Bearing fruit shows that I am a _______________. (John 15:8, NIV)  The branch reveals the _________.  3. God’s desire is that I bear __________ fruit. (John 15:16; Eph. 3:17)  A balancing principle in fruitfulness:   Productivity requires ________.  Meaningful margins result in ________________.   When we put our roots into the good soil of God’s Word and practice building Sabbath margins into our lives, we can bear the kinds of fruit expected of true disciples:   a. The fruit of _______________. (Matt. 3:7-8, John the Baptist)   b. The fruit of the __________. (Gal. 5:22-23, character qualities of Jesus)   c. The fruit of another ______________. (Matt. 28:18-20, the Great Commission)   d. The fruit of _______________. (Rom. 12:5, the spiritual gifts given to serve others)   Here are some practical, biblical things you can do to bear biblical fruit:   1. Put down deep _____________. “There’s no fruit without a root.”  (Jeremiah 17:7-8)  When the heat’s on.   Times of drought.    Redwoods vs.Tumbleweeds   And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. (Col. 2:6, NLT)   Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness. (Col. 2:7, NLT)  2. Pull some _________ in your life.   “As for the seed that fell among thorns, these are the ones who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the worries and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature.” (Luke 8:14, NET)  What things in your life choke out productivity (fruitfulness)?   3. Allow God to do some _____________.   “No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.” (Heb. 12:11, NLT)  4. Wait patiently and expect a _____________.   Jesus said this: “Unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.” (John 12:24, NIV)

Do you ever wonder why you try to do good things? And have you ever wondered what keeps you from doing them? This message explores the ways pride and fear can keep us from doing what we want to do with the proper motivation.

Every day I am allowing Christ to reveal His light to others.

(2 Cor. 5:18-20; Matthew 5:15-16. Shining God’s light.)

Allowing Christ to overcome my pride and fear.

This Message was given by Pastor Clark Cothern at LWCC in Ypsilanti Michigan on March 1st

Every day I am allowing Christ to overcome my pride and fear

as I reveal His light to others.

Matthew 5:11-16

Fear and pride may factor into our alleged morality.

In the Sermon on the Mount we see how Christianity is not only different from the world. It’s also different, at its core, from religion.

The Light we’re talking about sharing isn’t a light of _____________.

Background concept: Who killed Jesus?

So who did kill Jesus? _______________ _______________.

Contrasts by Jesus:

a. Paths

b. Houses

c. Trees

What you don’t hear Jesus saying:

1) Kingdom light is _____________ than religious light. (Matt. 5:14a)

This reveals how Jesus expects Christians to relate to the _________.

2) Kingdom light is ____________ than religious light. (Matt. 5:20)

What does Jesus mean by the word “surpass?” (Vss. 21, 27, 31, 33, 38)

What do the words “But I say to you…” point to?

Fear and Pride: Reasons for Our Actions

Example: Lying or Not Lying

3) Kingdom light is ______________ than religious light.

Every day I am allowing Christ to overcome my self-centeredness and unbelief.

(2 Corinthians 5:14-21; Mark 9:24. I am an ambassador of healing.)

Allowing Christ to heal relationally [as I let go of revenge], spiritually [as I forgive offenses], often resulting in physical healing [since forgiveness and healing are often related].

This Message was given by Pastor Clark Cothern on Feb 23, 2020 @ Living Water Community Church

Sermon Notes: 

Every day I am allowing Christ to overcome my self-centeredness.

Luke 10:17; Mark 2:2-12; Romans 7-8

Even those who appear to be morally upright can exhibit self-centered behavior.

For example: Luke 10:17

This selfish tendency can distort the beauty of God.

What’s needed most to combat self-centeredness is ___________________.

Mark 2:2-12

We’re really good at minimizing our own ______ and __________________.

The truth shall set you free. But first the truth will make you ________________.

A danger of “religious rightness” is that our pride in moral achievement turns us into modern day ________________.

When you know who you really are in Christ, you will be able to:

1) Admit your own ______________ tendencies. (Rom. 7; Gen. 4)

It resides _____________ us.

It ______________low.

It comes back and ______________.

2) Avoid ____________ solutions to your real problem.

Merely avoid the _________________ of sin.

This shows who (or what) you really _____________.

3) Apply the _____________ solution to your real problem. (Rom. 8)

Allow the Holy Spirit of Christ to deal _______________ with you.

Continually allow God’s Spirit to _____________ your heart.

Every day I am allowing Christ to overcome my complacency.

(1 Thess. 5:17. “Pray continually.”)

Allowing Christ to speak to me through His Word and prayer.

This Message was given by Pastor Clark Cothern @ Living Water Community Church on February 16th. 

Message Notes:

Every day I am allowing Christ to overcome my complacency.

1 Thessalonians 5:17; John 11

The little memory verse with huge meaning. John 11:35

Another little verse with big meaning. 1 Thessalonians 5:17

Context: The verses around it, starting with verse 17.

Notice the “always” (and related words) in verses 16-18.

How, though?

1. We should live in a constant state of _______________ upon God.

2. We should pray to the God who saves _______________ and _________. (Rom. 1:9)

3. We should pray without _____________ ______ on God’s answer. (Luke 18:1-8)

How does continual prayer overcome my complacency?

Three things you can do while in God’s waiting room:

1. ______________ those who faithfully persist in prayer with patience. (Heb. 6:12)

2. Don’t put your life on ________.

Waiting is an _____________.

Here are five habits to practice while waiting on God:

a. Keep on _____________. Matthew 7:7

b. Keep on _____________. Romans 12:11

c. Keep on attending a ________ _________. Hebrews 10:25

d. Keep on _______________ seeds of truth. Ecclesiastes 11:6; 2 Cor. 9:6

e. Keep on ___________________. 2 Timothy 3:14

Don’t give up on prayer and don’t get tired of doing the right things. Gal. 6:9

Every day I am allowing Christ to overcome my pride, self-importance and self-reliance.

(2 Cor. 10:5. “Take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”)

Allowing Christ’s will to overcome my will.

This Message was given by Pastor Clark Cothern on Feb 9th 2020 at Living Water Community Church

Message Notes Feb. 9, 2020

Every day I am allowing Christ to overcome my old nature.

Colossians 3:9-11; 2 Corinthians 5:17; John 14:15-17

Paul gives us a picture of a ________________.

(See Isaiah 64:6 and 2 Cor. 5:17)

Jesus made a promise to his disciples. (John 14:15-17)

Why doesn’t the world receive the Holy Spirit? Why don’t people recognize Him?

(Matt. 18:3, NASB)

Jesus plainly said why he had come. (Luke 19:10, NLT)

This happens through _________________. And the Holy Spirit is provided by God so that the ________ will recognize that what Jesus had taught is true.

This term “converted” means to turn completely around and face in a completely new direction.

God’s Holy Spirit doesn’t replace your personhood. It’s not so much a “_____________” of who you are, but a “________________” of who you are.

A conversion of thought comes when you understand a ___________ you’ve been missing.

God’s Holy Spirit (John 16:8):

1. Convicts of ______.

2. Reveals God’s ________________.

3. Warns of coming ______________.

If you want to live securely as God’s child:

1. You can’t allow yourself to be led by your ______________. (1 John 3:7)

2. You can’t allow yourself to be led by friends who aren’t led by _____. (Ex. 23:2; Rom. 12:2)

Here’s what you cando to be led by God’s Holy Spirit:

1. You have to ________ to be ______. (Psalm 40:8)

2. You have to let God change the way you _________. (Rom. 12:2)

3. You have to be _______________ to do what God ________. (John 7:17)

4. You need to look to God’s _________. (Psalm 119:105)

One pastor said, “When you open your ________ God opens His __________.”

Every day I am allowing Christ to overcome my pride, self-importance and self-reliance.

(2 Cor. 10:5. “Take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”)

Allowing Christ’s will to overcome my will.

This Message was given by Pastor Clark Cothern on Feb 2nd 2020 @ Living Water Community Church

Every day I am allowing Christ to overcome my pride, self-importance and self-reliance.

(2 Cor. 10:5. “Take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”)

Bottom line: Every day I am allowing Christ’s will to overcome my will.

Think for a minute about how many dangerous thoughts can bombard your mind in just one hour.

2 Corinthians 10:3-5

This battle takes place in the mind.

What is a “stronghold?”

We can demolish those strongholds and Paul the Apostle tells us how.

“We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” (2 Cor. 10:5)

Here’s the big question: How?

Three practical principles for taking down strongholds:

1. You can’t __________ everything you ____________.

(see Jeremiah 17:9)

2. You need to _________ your mind from _______________.

(see Proverbs 15:14)

Just because you can do a thing doesn’t mean you ___________ do a thing.

Sometimes the reason we _______ like garbage is because we’re _____________ on garbage.

Philippians 4:6-7:

Continual ____________________ prayer.

3. Share your ____________ with other __________________.

(And) “I pray that the fellowship of your faith may become effective through the knowledge of every good thing which is in you for Christ's sake.” (Philemon 1:6, NASB)

Winter Bible Study  20/20 Vision Through 20/20 Hindsight   Sharpening our vision through a clear look at history through the eyes of five Old Testament prophets, Samuel, Elijah, Jonah, Isaiah and Jeremiah. These presentations were given on January 25th and 26th at Living Water Community Church, Ypsilanti, MI.  This message was given by Mark Elwell on January 26th 2020 

Winter Bible Study  20/20 Vision Through 20/20 Hindsight   Sharpening our vision through a clear look at history through the eyes of five Old Testament prophets, Samuel, Elijah, Jonah, Isaiah and Jeremiah. These presentations were given on January 25th and 26th at Living Water Community Church, Ypsilanti, MI.  This message was given by Dr. Steve Pipe on January 26th 2020 Winter Bible Study  20/20 Vision Through 20/20 Hindsight   Sharpening our vision through a clear look at history through the eyes of five Old Testament prophets, Samuel, Elijah, Jonah, Isaiah and Jeremiah. These presentations were given on January 25th and 26th at Living Water Community Church, Ypsilanti, MI.  This message was given by Mark Elwell on January 26th 2020