Sermon 11-27-11 Mary says yes to God Luke 1:26-38
26 In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” 29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. 31 You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.” 34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” 35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called[a] the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. 37 For nothing is impossible with God.” 38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.
The series – the journey
Mary says yes to God
What is the biggest thing that you have ever said yes to God about
Do we say yes to God? Of course we do
Do we ever say no to God?????????
Every time is a generalization. Many times when we are saying yes to our selves, we are saying no to God
Time talent treasure. Our time, talent and treasure, or gifts from God to be used for his purpose?
Let’s be clear, if you are not saying yes to God, you might be saying no
Lots of stories of people who said no to God-
Jonah
The parable of the two sons matthew 21
28 “What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’ 29 “‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went. 30 “Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go. 31 “Which of the two did what his father wanted?” “The first,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you.
David platt’s book, radical
Rich young ruler
Luke 18
18 A certain ruler asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
19 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. 20 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.’[a]”
21 “All these I have kept since I was a boy,” he said. 22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 23 When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was very wealthy.
There is something in his life that he is saying no to God about
Do we have such things
Jesus was always looking for those who would do his fathers will - luke 9
57 As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” 58 Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” 59 He said to another man, “Follow me.”
But he replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” 60 Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” 61 Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.” 62 Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”
They were making excuses
Do we have excuses?
Jesus chased this subject a lot - Mt 10
37 “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.
No an invitation to be mean to your in-laws- a realization- - -
There is one most important relationship in life……
There is one creator, from who we came and to whom we will return
What does our Christian life look like?
Sometimes I wonder if - Mostly what we want in life is to not be bothered, - - by the irs, by our employer, bothered by God
Just let me do my thing
In our life are we predominantly saying yes to God or no to God?
In our life are we predominantly saying yes to God or no to God?
There is another alternative
The Christian life is a Journey
Advent is a journey.
Advent is an advent-ure.
Every great adventure begins with a “yes!” Starts with an agreeing to go.
Think of all of the people who said yes to God
Moses. Joshua. Peter. Paul. Noah. Abraham. James, John.
Oh, and a young girl named Mary – in the company of the pillars of the faith; of the great prophets
Every great adventure begins with a “yes!”
What are you being called to this Advent?
To live your life as a Christian
to forgive someone
to help someone
to see or visit someone
To take up a cross
Then there is the ordained ministry thing………
We are all called To fundamentally reorder our lives. That is conversion. God is in the conversion business.
What would our church look like if everyone said yes to God
How would our work places and community be impacted?
The Kingdom coming - on Earth as it is in Heaven
Let the journey – the adventure – begin…continue…say yes to God
Showing posts with label Holy Spirit. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Holy Spirit. Show all posts
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Mary Says Yes To God Luke 1:26-38 11/27/2011
Sermon 11-27-11 Mary says yes to God Luke 1:26-38
26 In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” 29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. 31 You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.” 34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” 35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called[a] the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. 37 For nothing is impossible with God.” 38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.
The series – the journey
Mary says yes to God
What is the biggest thing that you have ever said yes to God about
Do we say yes to God? Of course we do
Do we ever say no to God?????????
Every time is a generalization. Many times when we are saying yes to our selves, we are saying no to God
Time talent treasure. Our time, talent and treasure, or gifts from God to be used for his purpose?
Let’s be clear, if you are not saying yes to God, you might be saying no
Lots of stories of people who said no to God-
Jonah
The parable of the two sons matthew 21
28 “What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’ 29 “‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went. 30 “Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go. 31 “Which of the two did what his father wanted?” “The first,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you.
David platt’s book, radical
Rich young ruler
Luke 18
18 A certain ruler asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
19 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. 20 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.’[a]”
21 “All these I have kept since I was a boy,” he said. 22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 23 When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was very wealthy.
There is something in his life that he is saying no to God about
Do we have such things
Jesus was always looking for those who would do his fathers will - luke 9
57 As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” 58 Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” 59 He said to another man, “Follow me.”
But he replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” 60 Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” 61 Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.” 62 Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”
They were making excuses
Do we have excuses?
Jesus chased this subject a lot - Mt 10
37 “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.
No an invitation to be mean to your in-laws- a realization- - -
There is one most important relationship in life……
There is one creator, from who we came and to whom we will return
What does our Christian life look like?
Sometimes I wonder if - Mostly what we want in life is to not be bothered, - - by the irs, by our employer, bothered by God
Just let me do my thing
In our life are we predominantly saying yes to God or no to God?
In our life are we predominantly saying yes to God or no to God?
There is another alternative
The Christian life is a Journey
Advent is a journey.
Advent is an advent-ure.
Every great adventure begins with a “yes!” Starts with an agreeing to go.
Think of all of the people who said yes to God
Moses. Joshua. Peter. Paul. Noah. Abraham. James, John.
Oh, and a young girl named Mary – in the company of the pillars of the faith; of the great prophets
Every great adventure begins with a “yes!”
What are you being called to this Advent?
To live your life as a Christian
to forgive someone
to help someone
to see or visit someone
To take up a cross
Then there is the ordained ministry thing………
We are all called To fundamentally reorder our lives. That is conversion. God is in the conversion business.
What would our church look like if everyone said yes to God
How would our work places and community be impacted?
The Kingdom coming - on Earth as it is in Heaven
Let the journey – the adventure – begin…continue…say yes to God
26 In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” 29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. 31 You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.” 34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” 35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called[a] the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. 37 For nothing is impossible with God.” 38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.
The series – the journey
Mary says yes to God
What is the biggest thing that you have ever said yes to God about
Do we say yes to God? Of course we do
Do we ever say no to God?????????
Every time is a generalization. Many times when we are saying yes to our selves, we are saying no to God
Time talent treasure. Our time, talent and treasure, or gifts from God to be used for his purpose?
Let’s be clear, if you are not saying yes to God, you might be saying no
Lots of stories of people who said no to God-
Jonah
The parable of the two sons matthew 21
28 “What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’ 29 “‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went. 30 “Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go. 31 “Which of the two did what his father wanted?” “The first,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you.
David platt’s book, radical
Rich young ruler
Luke 18
18 A certain ruler asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
19 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. 20 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.’[a]”
21 “All these I have kept since I was a boy,” he said. 22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 23 When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was very wealthy.
There is something in his life that he is saying no to God about
Do we have such things
Jesus was always looking for those who would do his fathers will - luke 9
57 As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” 58 Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” 59 He said to another man, “Follow me.”
But he replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” 60 Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” 61 Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.” 62 Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”
They were making excuses
Do we have excuses?
Jesus chased this subject a lot - Mt 10
37 “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.
No an invitation to be mean to your in-laws- a realization- - -
There is one most important relationship in life……
There is one creator, from who we came and to whom we will return
What does our Christian life look like?
Sometimes I wonder if - Mostly what we want in life is to not be bothered, - - by the irs, by our employer, bothered by God
Just let me do my thing
In our life are we predominantly saying yes to God or no to God?
In our life are we predominantly saying yes to God or no to God?
There is another alternative
The Christian life is a Journey
Advent is a journey.
Advent is an advent-ure.
Every great adventure begins with a “yes!” Starts with an agreeing to go.
Think of all of the people who said yes to God
Moses. Joshua. Peter. Paul. Noah. Abraham. James, John.
Oh, and a young girl named Mary – in the company of the pillars of the faith; of the great prophets
Every great adventure begins with a “yes!”
What are you being called to this Advent?
To live your life as a Christian
to forgive someone
to help someone
to see or visit someone
To take up a cross
Then there is the ordained ministry thing………
We are all called To fundamentally reorder our lives. That is conversion. God is in the conversion business.
What would our church look like if everyone said yes to God
How would our work places and community be impacted?
The Kingdom coming - on Earth as it is in Heaven
Let the journey – the adventure – begin…continue…say yes to God
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Doing the Job Mark 13:32-37 8-20-95
doing the Job 8-20-95 Mark 13:32-37
This is the kind of topic in which we will not be blessed unless the Holy Spirit blesses it
most everyone likes to lay on the beach and bask in the sun
fewer of us enjoy the kind of work that it takes to be able to do so the rewards are not realized without the work involved.
the kingdom of God is like a man who went on a journey
life is like this....and God's world is like this too
we are assigned tasks....assigned tasks by God....how well are we doing?
have we forgotten that we are only guests in the Master's house
do we think that we have no tasks?
There are a variety of tasks in life, but I must speak of the church
missions....youth....children....Sunday school....worship....fellowship....choirs....on and on
new folds....need more than Sunday morning worship
is God's church a place where we only come to be blessed?
is it not a vineyard in which we all should work
1996 nominations forms....
not just a sheet of things to consider....opportunities from God to do his work....
watch and be ready ...when HE returns, will He find you at work or on a beach
If something is important someone must take responsibility for it
if someone is choking, you don't ask if you should help
you don't wait around for a light to shine and a voice to speak to you
the need is the call
Prayers Presence Gifts Service
now we come to the excuses
I didn't understand what you wanted me to do
I was not equipped to do the job......I was basking on the beach
uh....you caught me....I guess I had my own agenda
I didn't care that much about your tasks
I've never done anything like that before
fire, prayer place story
someone must step forward to do the jobs that need to be done
not because I have asked, but the Master has left for a while he has entrusted us, his servants to take care of the house.
This is the kind of topic in which we will not be blessed unless the Holy Spirit blesses it
most everyone likes to lay on the beach and bask in the sun
fewer of us enjoy the kind of work that it takes to be able to do so the rewards are not realized without the work involved.
the kingdom of God is like a man who went on a journey
life is like this....and God's world is like this too
we are assigned tasks....assigned tasks by God....how well are we doing?
have we forgotten that we are only guests in the Master's house
do we think that we have no tasks?
There are a variety of tasks in life, but I must speak of the church
missions....youth....children....Sunday school....worship....fellowship....choirs....on and on
new folds....need more than Sunday morning worship
is God's church a place where we only come to be blessed?
is it not a vineyard in which we all should work
1996 nominations forms....
not just a sheet of things to consider....opportunities from God to do his work....
watch and be ready ...when HE returns, will He find you at work or on a beach
If something is important someone must take responsibility for it
if someone is choking, you don't ask if you should help
you don't wait around for a light to shine and a voice to speak to you
the need is the call
Prayers Presence Gifts Service
now we come to the excuses
I didn't understand what you wanted me to do
I was not equipped to do the job......I was basking on the beach
uh....you caught me....I guess I had my own agenda
I didn't care that much about your tasks
I've never done anything like that before
fire, prayer place story
someone must step forward to do the jobs that need to be done
not because I have asked, but the Master has left for a while he has entrusted us, his servants to take care of the house.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Holy Spirit Acts 20 9-12-04
Sermon 9-12-04 Acts 20
How do you know if you are being led by the Holy Spirit
Story of the gallon of milk
How do you know if you are being led by the Holy Spirit
It is hard to describe
The taste of an apple
Honor
It is hard to describe ---But it is real as the above
What it is not
Easier to describe when we are not, and to set the stage for his work by
eliminating those things which prohibit it
1. cant be led by the spirit if you are doing wrong
hard for me to imagine a time what you would be hating, cheating, not forgiving someone and be being led by the spirit
beslan school in Russia
right off the bat, lets just square off and be clear that the natural human mind
seems simple yet a very needful point….
james 1-20 the wrath of man does not bring about the righteousness of God
need a conscious commitment to avoid wrong
2. cant be led by the spirit if you are self absorbed
you don’t say that you are led by the spirit,
god works this within you and people will recognize it within you
You cannot validate your own spirituality, others must do it
Mother Theresa did not declare her greatness, others did
Those who say don’t know, those who know don’t have to say
It is too easy to fool ones self-calling attention to self, taking credit…
Jesus…Mt 5….do your good works in secret…..don’t let your right hand know
3. being religious is different than being spirit led
the trappings of faith do not mean that you are filled with the spirit
being led by the spirit is not a play or a show, people can sniff what you are about
some sound like they are being led all the time….
Trouble is brewing
He will not usually break into your world to lead you, you must change and become interested in the work of God
Transition……..--are you broken is there nothing left of your ego?
Now you are ready.
High pressure to low pressure
positive conclusions
Lets look at the scripture……
Paul is doing Good, not self absorbed-humility , doing Gods work
Many years of experience, it is not about him, and he has the testimony of others
He is led by the spirit
holy spirit leads you to think like Jesus
is the fruit of the spirit at work in you….sign that you are being led by the spirit.
Sense of peace
Others confirming that you are a spirit led person
Are you doing his work?
Are you concerned with his agenda
Are you open and listening
Listen to the thoughts, measure them , act on them if, carefully begin the walk
Monopoly board….There is a place to begin……….Great place to start
What would the holy spirit lead us to? To jesus of course
Holy spirit calls us to be committed to Jesus….
prayer
Softly and tenderly
A young man had been to Wednesday night Bible Study. The Pastor had shared about listening to God and obeying the Lord's voice. The young man couldn't help but wonder, "Does God still speak to people? "After service he went out with some friends for coffee and pie and they discussed the message. Several different ones talked about how God had led them in different ways.It was about ten o'clock when the young man started driving home. Sitting in his car, he just began to pray, "God.. If you still speak to people speak to me. I will listen. I will do my best to obey." As he drove down the main street of his town, he had the strangest thought to stop and buy a gallon of milk. He shook his head and said out loud, "God is that you?" He didn't get a reply and started on toward home. But again, the thought, buy a gallon of milk. The young man thought about Samuel and how he didn't recognize the voice of God, and how little Samuel ran to Eli. "Okay, God, in case that is you, I will buy the milk." It didn't seem like too hard a test of obedience. He could always use the milk. He stopped and purchased the gallon of milk and started off toward home.As he passed Seventh Street, he again felt the urge, "Turn down that street." This is crazy he thought and drove on past the intersection. Again, he felt that he should turn down Seventh Street At the next intersection, he turned back and headed down Seventh. Half jokingly, he said out loud, "Okay, God, I will". He drove several blocks, when suddenly, he felt like he should stop. He pulled over to the curb and looked around. He was in semicommercial area of town. It wasn't the best but it wasn't the worst of neighborhoods either The businesses were closed and most of the houses looked dark like the people were already in bed.Again, he sensed something, "Go and give the milk to the people in the house acrossthe street." The young man looked at the house. It was dark and it looked like the people were either gone or they were already asleep. He started to open the door and then sat back in the car seat. " Lord, this is insane. Those people are asleep and if I wake them up, they are going to be mad and I will look stupid." Again, he felt like he should go and give the milk. Finally, he opened the door, "Okay God, if this is you, I will go to the door and I will give them the milk. If you want me to look like a crazy person, okay. I want to be obedient. I guess that will count for something but if they don't answer right away, I am out of here."He walked across the street and rang the bell. He could hear some noise inside. A man's voice yelled out, "Who is it? What do you want?" Then the door opened before the young man could get away. The man was standing there in his jeans and T-shirt. He looked like he just got out of bed. He had a strange look on his face and he didn't seem too happy to have some stranger standing on his doorstep. "What is it?" The young man thrust out the gallon of milk, "Here, I brought this to you." The man took the milk and rushed down a hallway speaking loudly in Spanish. Then from down the hall came a woman carrying the milk toward the kitchen. The man was following her holding a baby. The baby was crying. The man had tears streaming down his face. The man began speaking and half crying, "We were just praying. We had some big bills this month and we ran out of money. We didn't have any milk for our baby. I was just praying and asking God to show me. How to get some milk." His wife in the kitchen yelled out,"I ask him to send an Angel with some. Are you an Angel?" The young man reached into his wallet and pulled out all the money he had on him and put in the man's hand. He turned and walked back toward his car and the tears were streaming down his face. He knew that God still answers prayers.
For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.James 1 20
How do you know if you are being led by the Holy Spirit
Story of the gallon of milk
How do you know if you are being led by the Holy Spirit
It is hard to describe
The taste of an apple
Honor
It is hard to describe ---But it is real as the above
What it is not
Easier to describe when we are not, and to set the stage for his work by
eliminating those things which prohibit it
1. cant be led by the spirit if you are doing wrong
hard for me to imagine a time what you would be hating, cheating, not forgiving someone and be being led by the spirit
beslan school in Russia
right off the bat, lets just square off and be clear that the natural human mind
seems simple yet a very needful point….
james 1-20 the wrath of man does not bring about the righteousness of God
need a conscious commitment to avoid wrong
2. cant be led by the spirit if you are self absorbed
you don’t say that you are led by the spirit,
god works this within you and people will recognize it within you
You cannot validate your own spirituality, others must do it
Mother Theresa did not declare her greatness, others did
Those who say don’t know, those who know don’t have to say
It is too easy to fool ones self-calling attention to self, taking credit…
Jesus…Mt 5….do your good works in secret…..don’t let your right hand know
3. being religious is different than being spirit led
the trappings of faith do not mean that you are filled with the spirit
being led by the spirit is not a play or a show, people can sniff what you are about
some sound like they are being led all the time….
Trouble is brewing
He will not usually break into your world to lead you, you must change and become interested in the work of God
Transition……..--are you broken is there nothing left of your ego?
Now you are ready.
High pressure to low pressure
positive conclusions
Lets look at the scripture……
Paul is doing Good, not self absorbed-humility , doing Gods work
Many years of experience, it is not about him, and he has the testimony of others
He is led by the spirit
holy spirit leads you to think like Jesus
is the fruit of the spirit at work in you….sign that you are being led by the spirit.
Sense of peace
Others confirming that you are a spirit led person
Are you doing his work?
Are you concerned with his agenda
Are you open and listening
Listen to the thoughts, measure them , act on them if, carefully begin the walk
Monopoly board….There is a place to begin……….Great place to start
What would the holy spirit lead us to? To jesus of course
Holy spirit calls us to be committed to Jesus….
prayer
Softly and tenderly
A young man had been to Wednesday night Bible Study. The Pastor had shared about listening to God and obeying the Lord's voice. The young man couldn't help but wonder, "Does God still speak to people? "After service he went out with some friends for coffee and pie and they discussed the message. Several different ones talked about how God had led them in different ways.It was about ten o'clock when the young man started driving home. Sitting in his car, he just began to pray, "God.. If you still speak to people speak to me. I will listen. I will do my best to obey." As he drove down the main street of his town, he had the strangest thought to stop and buy a gallon of milk. He shook his head and said out loud, "God is that you?" He didn't get a reply and started on toward home. But again, the thought, buy a gallon of milk. The young man thought about Samuel and how he didn't recognize the voice of God, and how little Samuel ran to Eli. "Okay, God, in case that is you, I will buy the milk." It didn't seem like too hard a test of obedience. He could always use the milk. He stopped and purchased the gallon of milk and started off toward home.As he passed Seventh Street, he again felt the urge, "Turn down that street." This is crazy he thought and drove on past the intersection. Again, he felt that he should turn down Seventh Street At the next intersection, he turned back and headed down Seventh. Half jokingly, he said out loud, "Okay, God, I will". He drove several blocks, when suddenly, he felt like he should stop. He pulled over to the curb and looked around. He was in semicommercial area of town. It wasn't the best but it wasn't the worst of neighborhoods either The businesses were closed and most of the houses looked dark like the people were already in bed.Again, he sensed something, "Go and give the milk to the people in the house acrossthe street." The young man looked at the house. It was dark and it looked like the people were either gone or they were already asleep. He started to open the door and then sat back in the car seat. " Lord, this is insane. Those people are asleep and if I wake them up, they are going to be mad and I will look stupid." Again, he felt like he should go and give the milk. Finally, he opened the door, "Okay God, if this is you, I will go to the door and I will give them the milk. If you want me to look like a crazy person, okay. I want to be obedient. I guess that will count for something but if they don't answer right away, I am out of here."He walked across the street and rang the bell. He could hear some noise inside. A man's voice yelled out, "Who is it? What do you want?" Then the door opened before the young man could get away. The man was standing there in his jeans and T-shirt. He looked like he just got out of bed. He had a strange look on his face and he didn't seem too happy to have some stranger standing on his doorstep. "What is it?" The young man thrust out the gallon of milk, "Here, I brought this to you." The man took the milk and rushed down a hallway speaking loudly in Spanish. Then from down the hall came a woman carrying the milk toward the kitchen. The man was following her holding a baby. The baby was crying. The man had tears streaming down his face. The man began speaking and half crying, "We were just praying. We had some big bills this month and we ran out of money. We didn't have any milk for our baby. I was just praying and asking God to show me. How to get some milk." His wife in the kitchen yelled out,"I ask him to send an Angel with some. Are you an Angel?" The young man reached into his wallet and pulled out all the money he had on him and put in the man's hand. He turned and walked back toward his car and the tears were streaming down his face. He knew that God still answers prayers.
For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.James 1 20
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Deciding Who You Are 4-27-03
Deciding who you are 4-27-2003
Iraqi information minister
They are trapped In umm Qasr, they are trapped near basra, they are trapped near nasiriyah. They are trapped everywhere……They are nowhere near the airport, they are lost in the desert, they cannot read a compass……..I speak better english than the american president…..
Disciples blew it
Hid in fear, went back to their old ways
We fear decisions because of what others will think
During World War II, Winston Churchill was forced to make a painful choice. The British secret service had broken the Nazi code and informed Churchill that the Germans were going to bomb Coventry. He had two alternatives: (1) evacuate the citizens and save hundreds of lives at the expense of indicating to the Germans that the code was broken; or (2) take no action, which would kill hundreds but keep the information flowing and possibly save many more lives. Churchill had to choose and followed the second course.
We fear dec. because sometimes we just don’t know what to do
To not make a decision is to make a decision
Will you have the crown or the curse? -- John Wesley
Former president Ronald Reagan once had an aunt who took him to a cobbler for a pair of new shoes. The cobbler asked young Reagan, "Do you want square toes or round toes?" Unable to decide, Reagan didn't answer, so the cobbler gave him a few days. Several days later the cobbler saw Reagan on the street and asked him again what kind of toes he wanted on his shoes. Reagan still couldn't decide, so the shoemaker replied, "Well, come by in a couple of days. Your shoes will be ready." When the future president did so, he found one square-toed and one round-toed shoe! "This will teach you to never let people make decisions for you," the cobbler said to his indecisive customer. "I learned right then and there," Reagan said later, "if you don't make your own decisions, someone else will."
We can be paralyzed by selfishness
Saul Bellow story..woman who couldn’t leave house to anyone
We can be paralyzed by sadness
I remember one winter my dad needed firewood, and he found a dead tree and sawed it down. In the spring, to his dismay, new shoots sprouted around the trunk. He said, "I thought sure it was dead. The leaves had all dropped in the wintertime. It was so cold that twigs snapped as if there were no life left in the old tree. But now I see that there was still life at the taproot." He looked at me and said, "Bob, don't forget this important lesson. Never cut a tree down in the wintertime. Never make a negative decision in the low time. Never make your most important decisions when you are in your worst mood. Wait. Be patient. The storm will pass. The spring will come."
Your decisions matter
It may be true that there are two sides to every question, but it is also true that there are two sides to a sheet of flypaper, and it makes a big difference to the fly which side he chooses.
Decide who you are, who you will be
Only one person in that room knew who they were
Jesus identifies himself
Everything I said was true
You did not waste your time
What we did matters
What you are going to do is also going to matter
For disciples, for us, in a gut check time
Jesus offers the holy spirit
It doesn’t matter if anyone ever sings your praise….you did the right thing
Disciples finally got it….went out into the world
Touched others for Christ
They did the right thing
Go thou and do likewise
Self oriented Decisions
Saul Bellow … "Leaving the Yellow House." An old woman, who had nothing, interited a house.
As she grew older and more frail, she knew that she had to leave it to someone in her will. She knew this, but for years did nothing about it. One night, thinking that she'd finally come to a decision, she sat down and began to write a will:"I, Harriet Simmons Waggoner, being of sound mind and not knowing what may be in store for me at the age of 72 (born 1885), living alone at Sego Desert Lake, instruct my lawyer, Harold Claiborne, Paiute County Court Building, to draw my last will and testament upon the following terms."She lifted her pencil from the page, thought a bit, took a drink, realized that she spent all her life waiting. She thought to herself, I was waiting, thinking, "Youth is terrible, frightening. I will wait it out. I could never make anyone else happy.Then she turned again to write the will:"Upon the following terms .... Because I have suffered much. Because I only lately received what I have to give away .... It is too soon! Too soon! ... Even though by my own fault I have put myself into this position. And I am not ready to give up on this. No, not yet. And so I'll tell you what, I leave this property, land, house, garden, water rights, to Hattie Simmons Waggoner. Me! I realize this is bad and wrong. Not possible. Yet it is the only thing I really wish to do, so may God have mercy on my soul."In her hour of extremity and need, all she could think to do was to try insanely to leave the house to herself, to perpetuate a tragic situation. She could not accept and would not choose the decision that was forcing itself upon her. She could not leave the house.Perhaps, like Hattie Waggoner, we have avoided the decision in front of us for too long. Perhaps we have reached the point now where the decision can be avoided further only at our peril and at the expense of hurting others. That's the first temptation we face when decisions enter our lives -- we will try to wait them out; we will wait too long.
Iraqi information minister
They are trapped In umm Qasr, they are trapped near basra, they are trapped near nasiriyah. They are trapped everywhere……They are nowhere near the airport, they are lost in the desert, they cannot read a compass……..I speak better english than the american president…..
Disciples blew it
Hid in fear, went back to their old ways
We fear decisions because of what others will think
During World War II, Winston Churchill was forced to make a painful choice. The British secret service had broken the Nazi code and informed Churchill that the Germans were going to bomb Coventry. He had two alternatives: (1) evacuate the citizens and save hundreds of lives at the expense of indicating to the Germans that the code was broken; or (2) take no action, which would kill hundreds but keep the information flowing and possibly save many more lives. Churchill had to choose and followed the second course.
We fear dec. because sometimes we just don’t know what to do
To not make a decision is to make a decision
Will you have the crown or the curse? -- John Wesley
Former president Ronald Reagan once had an aunt who took him to a cobbler for a pair of new shoes. The cobbler asked young Reagan, "Do you want square toes or round toes?" Unable to decide, Reagan didn't answer, so the cobbler gave him a few days. Several days later the cobbler saw Reagan on the street and asked him again what kind of toes he wanted on his shoes. Reagan still couldn't decide, so the shoemaker replied, "Well, come by in a couple of days. Your shoes will be ready." When the future president did so, he found one square-toed and one round-toed shoe! "This will teach you to never let people make decisions for you," the cobbler said to his indecisive customer. "I learned right then and there," Reagan said later, "if you don't make your own decisions, someone else will."
We can be paralyzed by selfishness
Saul Bellow story..woman who couldn’t leave house to anyone
We can be paralyzed by sadness
I remember one winter my dad needed firewood, and he found a dead tree and sawed it down. In the spring, to his dismay, new shoots sprouted around the trunk. He said, "I thought sure it was dead. The leaves had all dropped in the wintertime. It was so cold that twigs snapped as if there were no life left in the old tree. But now I see that there was still life at the taproot." He looked at me and said, "Bob, don't forget this important lesson. Never cut a tree down in the wintertime. Never make a negative decision in the low time. Never make your most important decisions when you are in your worst mood. Wait. Be patient. The storm will pass. The spring will come."
Your decisions matter
It may be true that there are two sides to every question, but it is also true that there are two sides to a sheet of flypaper, and it makes a big difference to the fly which side he chooses.
Decide who you are, who you will be
Only one person in that room knew who they were
Jesus identifies himself
Everything I said was true
You did not waste your time
What we did matters
What you are going to do is also going to matter
For disciples, for us, in a gut check time
Jesus offers the holy spirit
It doesn’t matter if anyone ever sings your praise….you did the right thing
Disciples finally got it….went out into the world
Touched others for Christ
They did the right thing
Go thou and do likewise
Self oriented Decisions
Saul Bellow … "Leaving the Yellow House." An old woman, who had nothing, interited a house.
As she grew older and more frail, she knew that she had to leave it to someone in her will. She knew this, but for years did nothing about it. One night, thinking that she'd finally come to a decision, she sat down and began to write a will:"I, Harriet Simmons Waggoner, being of sound mind and not knowing what may be in store for me at the age of 72 (born 1885), living alone at Sego Desert Lake, instruct my lawyer, Harold Claiborne, Paiute County Court Building, to draw my last will and testament upon the following terms."She lifted her pencil from the page, thought a bit, took a drink, realized that she spent all her life waiting. She thought to herself, I was waiting, thinking, "Youth is terrible, frightening. I will wait it out. I could never make anyone else happy.Then she turned again to write the will:"Upon the following terms .... Because I have suffered much. Because I only lately received what I have to give away .... It is too soon! Too soon! ... Even though by my own fault I have put myself into this position. And I am not ready to give up on this. No, not yet. And so I'll tell you what, I leave this property, land, house, garden, water rights, to Hattie Simmons Waggoner. Me! I realize this is bad and wrong. Not possible. Yet it is the only thing I really wish to do, so may God have mercy on my soul."In her hour of extremity and need, all she could think to do was to try insanely to leave the house to herself, to perpetuate a tragic situation. She could not accept and would not choose the decision that was forcing itself upon her. She could not leave the house.Perhaps, like Hattie Waggoner, we have avoided the decision in front of us for too long. Perhaps we have reached the point now where the decision can be avoided further only at our peril and at the expense of hurting others. That's the first temptation we face when decisions enter our lives -- we will try to wait them out; we will wait too long.
Work of the Holy Spirit Part 4 Jeremiah 20:7-9 7-21-02
Sermon – Work of the Holy Spirit, Part 4 7-21-02
Holy spirit empowers us to go, do
Raising Children…they are all different
We work with them in different ways to accomplish purpose
Means may be different, end target is the same, fulfill potential
I cant not do it
Jeremiah 20:7-9
Fire in the bones
Overcome by it
I want to do this
Is 6:5-8
Volunteer for it
I don’t want to do this
Annanias and Paul/Saul acts 9:10-14
Moved forward with fear and trembling
Man on vine at cliff…is there anyone else there?
I feel nothing. I either will, or wont do what is right
Totally unmotivated other than the right thing to do
Mt 21:28-32
Matters not the feeling, just the willingness
Where do we go from here?
Wesley give me 50 preachers fully committed and I will give England back to God
What will we do?
What is god calling me to do?
As an individual, a family, a church?
As I consider the stories of these 5 people,
There is only one of them that I don’t want to be
How about you?
Holy spirit empowers us to go, do
Raising Children…they are all different
We work with them in different ways to accomplish purpose
Means may be different, end target is the same, fulfill potential
I cant not do it
Jeremiah 20:7-9
Fire in the bones
Overcome by it
I want to do this
Is 6:5-8
Volunteer for it
I don’t want to do this
Annanias and Paul/Saul acts 9:10-14
Moved forward with fear and trembling
Man on vine at cliff…is there anyone else there?
I feel nothing. I either will, or wont do what is right
Totally unmotivated other than the right thing to do
Mt 21:28-32
Matters not the feeling, just the willingness
Where do we go from here?
Wesley give me 50 preachers fully committed and I will give England back to God
What will we do?
What is god calling me to do?
As an individual, a family, a church?
As I consider the stories of these 5 people,
There is only one of them that I don’t want to be
How about you?
Work of the Holy Spirit Part 3 John 16:13 & 14:57-14-02
Sermon 7-14-02 Work of the Holy Spirit part 3
John 16:13/John 14:6
Kierkegaard once said, "Oh, would that there was truth in the intercourse between men! One man defends Christianity, another attacks it and in the end, if one examines their lives, neither of them bothers very much about it."Holy spirit
Apology
Nature of Truth
If God is a square, he does not become a triangle to accommodate your way of thinking
Catholic spirit [essentials, think and let think]
Sources of Truth
Wesleyan Quadrilateral [scripture, tradition, reason, and experience]
What are the essential truths
There are some black and white for a Christian, but not as many as you think
Essential truth [s]
I am the way the truth and the life
Do not use this as an excuse not to grow
Branching out
Be careful….attitude
Be careful….forget your focus
Paul and appollos
Do we become exclusive, arrogant
Or do we become those who are filled with love
Power of holy spirit to change your life
Believe in God
Believe in the power of God to help you
Holy spirit makes you sweet
1 jn 4 7-8 – beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God and everyone that loves is born of God and knows God He that loveth not knoweth not god for God is love
John 16:13/John 14:6
Kierkegaard once said, "Oh, would that there was truth in the intercourse between men! One man defends Christianity, another attacks it and in the end, if one examines their lives, neither of them bothers very much about it."Holy spirit
Apology
Nature of Truth
If God is a square, he does not become a triangle to accommodate your way of thinking
Catholic spirit [essentials, think and let think]
Sources of Truth
Wesleyan Quadrilateral [scripture, tradition, reason, and experience]
What are the essential truths
There are some black and white for a Christian, but not as many as you think
Essential truth [s]
I am the way the truth and the life
Do not use this as an excuse not to grow
Branching out
Be careful….attitude
Be careful….forget your focus
Paul and appollos
Do we become exclusive, arrogant
Or do we become those who are filled with love
Power of holy spirit to change your life
Believe in God
Believe in the power of God to help you
Holy spirit makes you sweet
1 jn 4 7-8 – beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God and everyone that loves is born of God and knows God He that loveth not knoweth not god for God is love
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