LIFE - Sermon 39

Luke 16:10-13

Gen 41:1-16

LIFE POINT: Man's resources can't compare to God's.

Our actions, and who we give credit to, reveal who we are living for.

In our forgetting of whose we are, we can become self-serving and self-absorbed.

If we remember everyday that our life is about God (His Kingdom), then we are more likely to depend on Him and His resources, than we are our "own," or the world's.

Gen 41:17-24

God is looking for a willing vessel who will give Him all glory.

Gen. 41:25-45

1 Peter 1:24-25

1 Cor 1:25-31 (ESV)

Spiritual Maturity

Impedance #6

Impedances:

Strife/Division

Carnality (fleshly indulgence)

Pride

Inconsistency/unreliability/unfaithfulness

Information without application (just biblical knowledge)

Impedance #6: Selfishness

Selfishness is a form of idolatry.

Selfish - (description of a person, action, or motive) lacking consideration for others; concerned chiefly with one's own personal profit, or pleasure.

John 13:34-35

Gal. 5:13-14 (ESV)

Selfishness is a form of rebellion against God.

Selfishness becomes destructive in:

1. Time

2. Talent

3. Treasure

1 Cor. 6:19-20

Selfishness is a destructive trait that can be found in:

The Marriage

The Home

The Church

The Relationship

The Job

Selfishness, many times, is brought to the surface of our character under pressure.

Phil. 2:1-8

Rom. 10:9-10 (ESV)

LORD is kurios in the Greek. Definition: supreme in authority, i.e. controller, master.

Acts 9:6

1 Cor 7:22-23

Eph. 6:5-6

Matt. 6:24 (ESV)

Matt. 16:24

Matt. 26:39, 42

Matt. 26:40-41

The Conquering Christ

What is God's plan?

Luke 19:10

Matt. 1:21

Eph. 2:5

2 Peter. 3:9

Rom. 5:12

Rom. 3:10, 3:23, 6:23

John 16:33

Ps. 46 (ESV)

Matt. 27:23-31 (ESV)

Matt. 27:40-43, 45, 50, 51, 54, 57-66 (ESV)

Matt. 28:1-6 (ESV)

Matt. 28:16-20 (ESV)

Because Christ Conquered:

I. We can have sins forgiven.

Hebrews 10:10-18 (ESV)

II. We can have salvation freely.

Rom. 3:22-26 (ESV)

Rom. 6:23

III. We can have a secured future.

John 3:36

John 14:6

Killing the King

I. The Religious Sinners passionately killed the King for themselves.

Matthew 21:1-11

Acts 3:12-15

John 3:15-18

"Believeth" means "to entrust."

II. The Righteous Savior passionately gave His life for us.

John 3:16

John 10:14-18

1 John 3:16

Matthew 26:47-56

III. The Redeemed Saints passionately live for the King.

Eph. 2:8-9

Romans 5:1-5 (ESV)

John 10:10

Is. 62:11

2 Cor. 5:14-15

1 Cor 6:20

Spiritual Maturity

Mark #6

Mark 6: Controlled tongue

James 3:1-3

Our words reveal our hearts and direct our lives.

James 3:4-7

We have the option of yielding our members to unrighteousness or to righteousness.

Romans 6:13-14

Rom. 7:24-25

Discretion is vital and points to maturity.

Prov. 2:10-12

Prov. 19:11 (NASB)

James 3:9-12

The closer we grow to Christ-likeness the less our speech (both in substance and tone) is:

Condescending

Corrupt

Catty

Cross

Damaging

Destructive

Demeaning

Divisive

Fleshly

Spiteful

Smart aleck

Slanderous (gossip)

1 Cor. 13:11

Eph. 4:15 (ESV)

Eph. 4:29-32 (ESV)

1 Peter 2:21-23 (ESV)

Is. 53:7

Sometimes, one of the most Christlike things we can do concerning is our speech is say nothing.

Prov. 29:11 (ESV)

Col. 4:6

Eccl. 10:12-13

LIFE - Sermon 38

Phil. 2:5-8 (ESV)

Heb. 12:2-4 (ESV)

Gen. 40:5-23

LIFE POINT 2: Being faithful in all things is vital in all circumstances of life.

Luke 16:10-13

Being faithful points to the principle of entrustment.

Rom. 12:3

Eph. 4:7

If you want to be faithful to God, the house of God, the things of God, the Word of God, you choose it...or you don't.

Faithfulness is a trait of a spiritually maturing person.

Faithfulness is part of the fruit of the Spirit. Unfaithfulness is a trait of the flesh.

Gal. 5:13 (ESV)

Being faithful isn't a relative issue.

Spiritual Maturity

Impedance #5

Fifth Impedance: Information without application

Milk Status: Can't digest meat. Won't move beyond milk.

Meat Status: USING the knowledge you have. Ability to discern in decision making based on what biblical information you have.

Understanding is application of knowledge.

Biblical Comparison of Wise vs. Fool:

Wise - Prov. 1:5

Fool - Prov. 1:7

Knowledge is essential for spiritual maturity, but knowledge alone doesn't indicate spiritual maturity.

2 Tim. 3:1-9 (ESV)

Prov. 10:14, 17-19

Prov. 12:15-16 (ESV)

Prov. 29:11

Eccl. 10:12-15

The spiritually maturing person is submitted to the truth of God's word, His council, His leadership, His men (who teach His word), and daily strive to apply the knowledge they have.

Necessary Sequence for Being on God's Team:

1. You have to be on the team.

2. You have to know the playbook and your role.

3. You have to workout, and practice, to be prepared and unified with the team and it's goal.

4. You have to be faithful, or you might miss adjustments.

5. You have to be in tune, in the huddle, or you may miss the play call.

6. You have to break the huddle and execute the plan.

7. You have to give your all or you could get hurt.

If you are just sitting on biblical knowledge, you aren't growing toward Christlikeness.

LIFE - Sermon 37

Last week:

Gen. 39:21-23

Life Point: You can't control what others say, or do.

Life Point: It's important to never forget that God's mercy is unfailing and His grace is amazing.

Gen 40:1-4

LIFE POINT 1: Maintaining a servants heart is vital in all circumstances of life.

Matt. 20:25-28

Gal. 5:13 (ESV)

Circumstances don't change our call to fulfill God's will.

When we allow circumstances, or feelings, to dictate what we will, or won't do, we have exalted their influence above the Holy Spirit's and Word of God's influence in our lives.

Phil. 2:1-11 (ESV)

Servanthood has everything to do with:

1. Submission to God - Rom. 6:15-18

2. Obedience to God - Rom. 6:16

Gen. 40:5-23

LIFE POINT 2: Being faithful in all things is vital in all circumstances of life.

Luke 16:10-13

Being faithful points to the principle of entrustment.

Rom. 12:3

Eph. 4:7

If you want to be faithful to God, the house of God, the things of God, the Word of God, you choose it...or you don't.

Spiritual Maturity

Mark #5

Eph. 4:11-14 (ESV)

Mark #5 - Sacrifice

Matt. 20:28

Heb. 10:1-18

Romans 6:1-11 (ESV)

1 Peter 3:18

Examples of Sacrifice:

Cain and Abel

Abraham and Isaac

Main points of sacrifice for us to remember:

1. Source

2. Trust

3. Heart

Gal. 2:20-21

Gal. 5:24

Col 3:3-4

Rom. 12:1-2

The more our lives are in our hands the less they resemble Christ's.

The less our lives are in our hands the more they resemble Christ's.

Two statements on sacrifice, one bears the mark of maturity:

"Lord, here's what I'll do."

"Lord, what will You have me to do."

Acts 9:6

Luke 22:42

LIFE - Sermon 36

Last week's Life Point:

When you are struggling against temptation, you must be fixated on Christ to see victory.

Genesis 39:10-12

Genesis 39:13-20

Life Point 1: You can't control what others say, or do.

Phil 2:12-13 (NASB)

If you keep your heart right with God (and others), it frees you from the bondage of what others do to you, or put you through.

Genesis 39:21-23

Life Point 2: It's important to never forget that God's mercy is unfailing and His grace is amazing.

We lose sight that we have no goodness of our own.

Is. 64:6

Rom. 3:10, 23

Rom. 4:13-24 (NASB)

1 Cor. 1:28-31 (ESV)

God's mercy and grace may actually look like a peace in the middle of great trial.

He's either God and He's got a good plan (even through our bad experiences), or He's not.

Lam 3:18-26

Ps. 136