Mountain Pointe Ministries

Sermon Notes  9/20/15

Get Ready-

Isaiah 43:19 (NLT) ¹⁹  For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.

John 7:38 (NIV) ³⁸  Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.”

Joshua 4:19-24 (NLT) ¹⁹  The people crossed the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month. Then they camped at Gilgal, just east of Jericho. ²⁰  It was there at Gilgal that Joshua piled up the twelve stones taken from the Jordan River. ²¹  Then Joshua said to the Israelites, “In the future your children will ask, ‘What do these stones mean?’ ²²  Then you can tell them, ‘This is where the Israelites crossed the Jordan on dry ground.’ ²³  For the LORD your God dried up the river right before your eyes, and he kept it dry until you were all across, just as he did at the Red Sea when he dried it up until we had all crossed over. ²⁴  He did this so all the nations of the earth might know that the LORD’s hand is powerful, and so you might fear the LORD your God forever.”

Joshua 5:1-2 (NLT) ¹  When all the Amorite kings west of the Jordan and all the Canaanite kings who lived along the Mediterranean coast heard how the LORD had dried up the Jordan River so the people of Israel could cross, they lost heart and were paralyzed with fear because of them. ²  At that time the LORD told Joshua, “Make flint knives and circumcise this second generation of Israelites.”

Philippians 3:3 (NLT) ³  For we who worship by the Spirit of God are the ones who are truly circumcised. We rely on what Christ Jesus has done for us. We put no confidence in human effort,

Problem-

Deuteronomy 8:10-14 (NLT) ¹⁰  When you have eaten your fill, be sure to praise the LORD your God for the good land he has given you. ¹¹  “But that is the time to be careful! Beware that in your plenty you do not forget the LORD your God and disobey his commands, regulations, and decrees that I am giving you today. ¹²  For when you have become full and prosperous and have built fine homes to live in, ¹³  and when your flocks and herds have become very large and your silver and gold have multiplied along with everything else, be careful! ¹⁴  Do not become proud at that time and forget the LORD your God, who rescued you from slavery in the land of Egypt.

Problem- today as people;

2 Timothy 3:1-5 (NLT) ¹  You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. ²  For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. ³  They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. ⁴  They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. ⁵  They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!

But they will reject the power that could make them godly, denying God’s power over their lives. The “act” could include going to church, knowing Christian doctrine, using Christian clichés, and following Christian traditions. Such practices can make a person outwardly look good, but if the inner attitudes of belief, love, and worship are lacking, the public appearance is hollow, meaningless.

Why do I need the power of the Holy Spirit?

Acts 1:8 (NLT) ⁸  But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Witness- One who can give a firsthand account of something seen, heard, or experienced;

Hebrews 12:12-13 (NLT) ¹²  So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. ¹³  Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong.

“What we are going through today isn’t about today, it’s about our future”

Matthew 6:33 (NLT) ³³  Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

Psalm 46:10 (KJV) ¹⁰  Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

Psalm 46:10 (MSG) ¹⁰  “Step out of the traffic! Take a long, loving look at me, your High God, above politics, above everything.”

2 Timothy 1:7 (KJV) ⁷  For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

Joshua 3:1-3 (NIV) ¹  Early in the morning Joshua and all the Israelites set out from Shittim and went to the Jordan, where they camped before crossing over. ²  After three days the officers went throughout the camp, ³  giving orders to the people: “When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests, who are Levites, carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it.

John 16:13 (NLT) ¹³  When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future.

Tradition is about the past; Trends are about the present; Truth is about the future;

God wants to lead or guide our life-

Joshua 3:4 (KJV) ⁴  Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure: come not near unto it, that ye may know the way by which ye must go: for ye have not passed this way heretofore.

Problem- Don’t get so familiar with God that you think you have it all figured out. We are foolish to try to fit God into our mold—to make his plans and purposes conform to ours. Instead, we must strive to fit into his plans.

Isaiah 55:8-9 (NLT) ⁸  “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the LORD. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. ⁹  For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.

God wants us to get ready for what he is about to do-

Joshua 3:5 (KJV) ⁵  And Joshua said unto the people, Sanctify yourselves: for to morrow the LORD will do wonders among you.

What they were going through today wasn’t about today, it was about their future.

Joshua 3:6-8 (KJV) ⁶  And Joshua spake unto the priests, saying, Take up the ark of the covenant, and pass over before the people. And they took up the ark of the covenant, and went before the people. ⁷  And the LORD said unto Joshua, This day will I begin to magnify thee in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee. ⁸  And thou shalt command the priests that bear the ark of the covenant, saying, When ye are come to the brink of the water of Jordan, ye shall stand still in Jordon.

Before you ever enter this new season, get rid of the fear-

Exodus 14:13 (NLT) ¹³  But Moses told the people, “Don’t be afraid. Just stand still and watch the LORD rescue you today. The Egyptians you see today will never be seen again.

2 Timothy 1:7 (KJV) ⁷  For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

Psalm 46:10 (KJV) ¹⁰  Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

Then Joshua said do this-

Joshua 3:9-11 (NLT) ⁹  So Joshua told the Israelites, “Come and listen to what the LORD your God says. ¹⁰  Today you will know that the living God is among you. He will surely drive out the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites, and Jebusites ahead of you. ¹¹  Look, the Ark of the Covenant, which belongs to the Lord of the whole earth, will lead you across the Jordan River!

Titus 3:4-5 (NLT) ⁴  But—“When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, ⁵  he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit.

Acts 2:17-18 (NLT) ¹⁷  ‘In the last days,’ God says, ‘I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams. ¹⁸  In those days I will pour out my Spirit even on my servants—men and women alike— and they will prophesy.

We are body, soul, and spirit- The spirit is that which knows, and the soul is that which feels. The flesh is upon us and the spirit is within us. The body is material and of dust and will return to dust.  The inner man, is made up of soul and spirit, is spiritual; it was created to live inside the body.  At death the body dies and the inner man leaves it, going to heaven or hell.

Hosea 4:6 (KJV) ⁶  My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.

Ephesians 4:23 (NLT) ²³  Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.

A changed life convinces people of Christ’s power. One of your greatest testimonies is the difference others see in your life and attitudes since you have believed in Christ.

Ephesians 3:16-20 (NLT) ¹⁶  I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. ¹⁷  Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. ¹⁸  And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. ¹⁹  May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. ²⁰  Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.

God wants to fill us with all the fullness or power of God, but he can’t until first we know this- “the love of Christ” Christ, the anointed one-

Luke 4:18-19 (NLT) ¹⁸  “The Spirit of the LORD is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, ¹⁹  and that the time of the LORD’s favor has come.”

Ephesians 5:15-20 (NLT) ¹⁵  So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. ¹⁶  Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. ¹⁷  Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. ¹⁸  Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, ¹⁹  singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. ²⁰  And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

1. I need a safe place;

Psalm 9:9 (KJV)
⁹  The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.

Psalm 46:1 (NLT)
¹ God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.

2. Peace – shalom, shaw-lome’; safe, happy, health, prosperity;

How is it possible to live a peaceful life, with all that is going on today?

John 14:27 (NLT)
²⁷  “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.

Don’t be caught off-guard-

John 16:33 (NLT)
³³  I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

Know this-

Isaiah 26:1-4 (NLT)
¹  In that day, everyone in the land of Judah will sing this song: Our city is strong! We are surrounded by the walls of God’s salvation.
²  Open the gates to all who are righteous; allow the faithful to enter.
³  You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!
⁴  Trust in the LORD always, for the LORD GOD is the eternal Rock.

Second- What does God want from me in life?

Problem-

Romans 1:25 (NLT)
²⁵  They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen.

Matthew 6:31-33 (NLT)
³¹  “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’
³²  These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs.
³³  Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

“Seek- to worship, desire, and require God and his will first in life.”

John 4:23 (NLT)
²³  But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way.

The expression “in spirit” refers to the human spirit—the inner being in each person. God indwells believers—that is where true worship takes place. Our body can be anywhere, yet worship occurs as our attention and praise are turned toward God. We need to consciously focus on God when we are in a house of worship because we easily assume that our presence in church is all that we need in order to worship. We can usually remember how long the worship service lasted, but can we remember exactly when we actually worshiped the Lord? The phrase in truth means “in a true way” or “with genuineness.”

Romans 14:17 (NLT)
¹⁷  For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

What do you need God to do? Will you do your part first?

Philippians 4:6-7 (NLT)
⁶  Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.
⁷  Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

“What we put into our mind determines what comes out in our words and actions”

Who will we let be in control of our life?

Romans 8:6 (NLT)
⁶  So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.

Psalm 27:1-6 (NLT)
¹ The LORD is my light and my salvation— so why should I be afraid? The LORD is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble?
²  When evil people come to devour me, when my enemies and foes attack me, they will stumble and fall.
³  Though a mighty army surrounds me, my heart will not be afraid. Even if I am attacked, I will remain confident.
⁴  The one thing I ask of the LORD— the thing I seek most— is to live in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, delighting in the LORD’s perfections and meditating in his Temple.
⁵  For he will conceal me there when troubles come; he will hide me in his sanctuary. He will place me out of reach on a high rock.
⁶  Then I will hold my head high above my enemies who surround me. At his sanctuary I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy, singing and praising the LORD with music.

Living Life-

Ecclesiastes 1:12-14 (NLT)
¹²  I, the Teacher, was king of Israel, and I lived in Jerusalem.
¹³  I devoted myself to search for understanding and to explore by wisdom everything being done under heaven. I soon discovered that God has dealt a tragic existence to the human race.
¹⁴  I observed everything going on under the sun, and really, it is all meaningless—like chasing the wind.

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 (NLT)
¹³  That’s the whole story. Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty.
¹⁴  God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad.

Good News About Life-

Mark 16:15 (NLT)
¹⁵  And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.

Colossians 1:6 (NLT)
⁶  This same Good News that came to you is going out all over the world. It is bearing fruit everywhere by changing lives, just as it changed your lives from the day you first heard and understood the truth about God’s wonderful grace.

Problems, in living an overcoming life today-

2 Corinthians 4:4 (NLT)
⁴  Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.

Galatians 3:3 (NLT)
³  How foolish can you be? After starting your Christian lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort?

Galatians 5:16-17 (NLT)
¹⁶  So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.
¹⁷  The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions.

Answers, for overcoming today-

Rehab- the process of helping someone to become healthy again: the action or process of rehabilitating;

Rehabilitate- : to bring back to a normal, healthy condition, to teach to live a normal and productive life: to restore to a former state;

Luke 4:18 (NLT)
¹⁸  “The Spirit of the LORD is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free,

Luke 15:20-24 (NLT)
²⁰  “So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.
²¹  His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.’
²²  “But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet.
²³  And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast,
²⁴  for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began.

Lost- Unable to find one’s way: Bewildered or confused: Having wandered from;

Receive the Good News today, God Can Change Us-

2 Corinthians 3:16-18 (NLT)
¹⁶  But whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.
¹⁷  For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
¹⁸  So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.

1 Samuel 10:6 (NLT)
⁶  At that time the Spirit of the LORD will come powerfully upon you, and you will prophesy with them. You will be changed into a different person.

John 7:37-39 (NLT)
³⁷  On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me!
³⁸  Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’”
³⁹  (When he said “living water,” he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him. But the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered into his glory.)

Luke 15:25-32 (NLT)

“But, once he was found, I wonder what happened to him after that. What was his life like? Did he become just like his religious brother? Or did he become like his father?”

Promises For Living Life-

Isaiah 58:11 (NLT)
¹¹  The LORD will guide you continually, giving you water when you are dry and restoring your strength. You will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring.

Philippians 4:19 (NLT)
¹⁹  And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.

Difficult Times In Life-

2 Timothy 3:1 (NLT)
¹  You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times.

Problem today-

Isaiah 1:4 (NLT)
⁴  Oh, what a sinful nation they are— loaded down with a burden of guilt. They are evil people, corrupt children who have rejected the LORD. They have despised the Holy One of Israel and turned their backs on him.

Hosea 10:13 (NLT)
¹³  “But you have cultivated wickedness and harvested a thriving crop of sins. You have eaten the fruit of lies— trusting in your military might, believing that great armies could make your nation safe.

Psalm 11:3 (NLT)
³  The foundations of law and order have collapsed. What can the righteous do?”

Why does God allow trouble to come?

Psalm 78:32-34 (NLT)
³²  But in spite of this, the people kept sinning. Despite his wonders, they refused to trust him.
³³  So he ended their lives in failure, their years in terror.
³⁴  When God began killing them, they finally sought him. They repented and took God seriously.

Romans 2:9 (NLT)
⁹  There will be trouble and calamity for everyone who keeps on doing what is evil—for the Jew first and also for the Gentile.

Psalm 9:17 (NLT)
¹⁷  The wicked will go down to the grave. This is the fate of all the nations who ignore God.

Do we have a foundation problem today?

Luke 6:46-49 (MSG)
⁴⁶  “Why are you so polite with me, always saying ‘Yes, sir,’ and ‘That’s right, sir,’ but never doing a thing I tell you?
⁴⁷  These words I speak to you are not mere additions to your life, homeowner improvements to your standard of living. They are foundation words, words to build a life on.
⁴⁸  “If you work the words into your life, you are like a smart carpenter who dug deep and laid the foundation of his house on bedrock. When the river burst its banks and crashed against the house, nothing could shake it; it was built to last.
⁴⁹  But if you just use my words in Bible studies and don’t work them into your life, you are like a dumb carpenter who built a house but skipped the foundation. When the swollen river came crashing in, it collapsed like a house of cards. It was a total loss.”

Psalm 146:3 (NLT)
³  Don’t put your confidence in powerful people; there is no help for you there.

Answer for today-

1. Repent- turn to God; to change the attitude toward sin;

Acts 3:19-20 (NLT)
¹⁹  Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away.
²⁰  Then times of refreshment will come from the presence of the Lord, and he will again send you Jesus, your appointed Messiah.

2. Rejoice, don’t miss the opportunity that God is giving us-

Psalm 118:19-24 (NLT)
¹⁹  Open for me the gates where the righteous enter, and I will go in and thank the LORD.
²⁰  These gates lead to the presence of the LORD, and the godly enter there.
²¹  I thank you for answering my prayer and giving me victory!
²²  The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.
²³  This is the LORD’s doing, and it is wonderful to see.
²⁴  This is the day the LORD has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.

3. Believe, that no matter what happens-

Psalm 16:8-11 (NLT)
⁸  I know the LORD is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.
⁹  No wonder my heart is glad, and I rejoice. My body rests in safety.
¹⁰  For you will not leave my soul among the dead or allow your holy one to rot in the grave.
¹¹  You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever.

Psalm 34:19 (NLT)
¹⁹  The righteous person faces many troubles, but the LORD comes to the rescue each time.

Psalm 40:2 (NLT)
²  He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along.

1 Corinthians 15:2 (NLT)
²  It is this Good News that saves you if you continue to believe the message I told you—unless, of course, you believed something that was never true in the first place.

Endurance-

2 Timothy 4:3-4 (NLT)
³  For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear.
⁴  They will reject the truth and chase after myths.

Revelation 21:7 (KJV)
⁷  He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

James 1:2 (NLT)
²  Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.

Happiness centers on earthly circumstances and how well things are going here. Joy centers on God and his presence in our circumstances.

James 1:3 (NL.T)
³  For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.

Endurance- The act, quality, or power of withstanding hardship or stress: The measure of a person’s stamina or persistence. Ability to endure hardship. Endurance is a strong and active response to the difficult events of life.

James 1:4 (NLT)
⁴  So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

Do we have a work problem today?

James 2:17 (KJV)
¹⁷  Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

Do we have a reflection problem today?

2 Corinthians 3:14-18 (NLT)
¹⁴  But the people’s minds were hardened, and to this day whenever the old covenant is being read, the same veil covers their minds so they cannot understand the truth. And this veil can be removed only by believing in Christ.
¹⁵  Yes, even today when they read Moses’ writings, their hearts are covered with that veil, and they do not understand.
¹⁶  But whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.
¹⁷  For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
¹⁸  So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.

Answer for overcoming- Giving not getting;

“Spiritual endurance is, giving glory to God despite circumstances, situation, or despite how long it last.

James 1:2 (NLT)
²  Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.

Nehemiah 8:10 (NLT)
¹⁰  And Nehemiah continued, “Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the LORD is your strength!”

Philippians 4:4 (NLT)
⁴  Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!

1 Thessalonians 5:16-19 (NLT)
¹⁶  Always be joyful.
¹⁷  Never stop praying.
¹⁸  Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
¹⁹  Do not stifle the Holy Spirit.

How will you use your opportunity today?

Acts 16:25 (NLT)
²⁵  Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening.

A Promise from God-

Matthew 24:13 (NLT)
¹³  But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

1 Corinthians 13:7 (NLT)
⁷  Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

Trusting God That Never Changes-

Common Sense- the ability to think and behave in a reasonable way and to make good decisions; sound practical judgment that is independent of specialized knowledge, training, or the like;

Proverbs 2:7 (NLT)
⁷  He grants a treasure of common sense to the honest. He is a shield to those who walk with integrity.

Proverbs 3:21 (NLT)
²¹  My child, don’t lose sight of common sense and discernment. Hang on to them,

Proverbs 2:11 (NLT)
¹¹  Wise choices will watch over you. Understanding will keep you safe.

Proverbs 5:21-23 (NLT)
²¹  For the LORD sees clearly what a man does, examining every path he takes.
²²  An evil man is held captive by his own sins; they are ropes that catch and hold him.
²³  He will die for lack of self-control; he will be lost because of his great foolishness.

Deuteronomy 30:19 (NLT)
¹⁹  “Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live!

Choices Have Results-

Proverbs 1:31 (NLT)
³¹  Therefore, they must eat the bitter fruit of living their own way, choking on their own schemes.

Problem- What do we believe today?

2 Corinthians 5:7 (NLT)
⁷  For we live by believing and not by seeing.

“Your faith and your words will either save you or destroy you”

Matthew 8:23-27 (NLT)
²³  Then Jesus got into the boat and started across the lake with his disciples.
²⁴  Suddenly, a fierce storm struck the lake, with waves breaking into the boat. But Jesus was sleeping.
²⁵  The disciples went and woke him up, shouting, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”
²⁶  Jesus responded, “Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!” Then he got up and rebuked the wind and waves, and suddenly all was calm.
²⁷  The disciples were amazed. “Who is this man?” they asked. “Even the winds and waves obey him!”

Matthew 14:22-33 (NLT)
²²  Immediately after this, Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and cross to the other side of the lake, while he sent the people home.
²³  After sending them home, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. Night fell while he was there alone.
²⁴  Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves.
²⁵  About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water.
²⁶  When the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. In their fear, they cried out, “It’s a ghost!”
²⁷  But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here!”
²⁸  Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.”

³²  When they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped.
³³  Then the disciples worshiped him. “You really are the Son of God!” they exclaimed.

III. Today- Jesus the Word is who he says he is, will do what he says he will do or life is hopelessly lived with no hope for the future.

Hebrews 13:8 (NLT)
⁸  Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

“In a changing world we can trust our unchanging Lord.”

Philippians 3:1 (NLT)
¹  Whatever happens, my dear brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord. I never get tired of telling you these things, and I do it to safeguard your faith.

Rejoice- calmly happy or well off; (because I am is here)

Sermon Notes   7/26/15

Sickness-Diseases- A condition or tendency, regarded as abnormal and harmful. Lack of ease; trouble.

Psalm 6:3 (NLT)
³  I am sick at heart. How long, O LORD, until you restore me?

Proverbs 13:12 (KJV)
¹²  Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.

Proverbs 18:14 (NLT)
¹⁴  The human spirit can endure a sick body, but who can bear a crushed spirit?

Psalm 118:5 (NLT)
⁵  In my distress I prayed to the LORD, and the LORD answered me and set me free.

Ephesians 6:12 (NIV)
¹²  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.

John 8:32-34 (NLT)
³²  And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
³³  “But we are descendants of Abraham,” they said. “We have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean, ‘You will be set free’?”
³⁴  Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave of sin.

Sin- to miss the mark and so not share in the prize; Rom.8:29;

Hebrews 12:1-2 (KJV)
¹  Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
²  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith;

We need to be touched today- to attach oneself to; to fasten to, to set on fire; Emotionally affected; Slightly mentally deficient; touched in the head.

Matthew 8:1-3 (NLT)
¹  Large crowds followed Jesus as he came down the mountainside.
²  Suddenly, a man with leprosy approached him and knelt before him. “Lord,” the man said, “if you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean.”
³  Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!” And instantly the leprosy disappeared.

2 Corinthians 6:17 (NIV)
¹⁷  “Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.”

Hebrews 11:6 (NLT)
⁶  And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.

2 Corinthians 5:7 (NLT)
⁷  For we live by believing and not by seeing.

Luke 13:10-15 (NLT)
¹⁰  One Sabbath day as Jesus was teaching in a synagogue,
¹¹  he saw a woman who had been crippled by an evil spirit. She had been bent double for eighteen years and was unable to stand up straight.
¹²  When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, “Dear woman, you are healed of your sickness!”
¹³  Then he touched her, and instantly she could stand straight. How she praised God!
¹⁴  But the leader in charge of the synagogue was indignant that Jesus had healed her on the Sabbath day. “There are six days of the week for working,” he said to the crowd. “Come on those days to be healed, not on the Sabbath.”
¹⁵  But the Lord replied, “You hypocrites! Each of you works on the Sabbath day!

Luke 13:16 (NIV)
¹⁶  Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?”

How can I touch the unseen Jesus today and be set free?

Hebrews 4:15-16 (KJV)
¹⁵  For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
¹⁶  Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

“When we touch Jesus, God releases power.”

Ephesians 3:16 (NLT)
¹⁶  I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit.

Resource- Something that can be used for support or help: An available supply that can be drawn on when needed. The ability to deal with a difficult or troublesome situation effectively; Means that can be used to cope with a difficult situation.

Ephesians 3:19 (NLT)
¹⁹  May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

“It’s time to get off the old songs and start singing the new.”

Psalm 40:3 (NLT)
³  He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what he has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the LORD.

Acts 16:25 (KJV)
²⁵  And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.

Locked up in the depths of a Roman jail, in stocks! So what did they do? Moan? Whine? Blame God? Give up? No, their jail term was marked by only two activities: praying and singing hymns to God.

Trusting God’s Words- No Matter What You Are Going Through;

Psalm 23:4 (NLT)
⁴  Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.

Psalm 46:10 (NLT)
¹⁰  “Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world.”

Psalm 46:10 (MSG)
¹⁰  “Step out of the traffic! Take a long, loving look at me, your High God, above politics, above everything.”

Jesus knew that we would have a “real” need today for help-

John 14:16 (KJV)
¹⁶  And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;

If you have received Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, then the helper is with you-

Romans 8:15-16 (NIV)
¹⁵  For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”
¹⁶  The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.

John 14:16 (NLT)
¹⁶  And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you.

Hebrews 13:5-6 (NLT)
⁵  Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.”
⁶  So we can say with confidence, “The LORD is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?”

Answer for today’s problems are found in the promises of God-

Galatians 5:16 (NLT)
¹⁶  So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.

Acts 1:8 (NLT)
⁸  But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Power- The “power” believers receive from the Holy Spirit includes courage, boldness, confidence, insight, ability, and authority.

Problem-

Revelation 2:7 (NLT)
⁷  “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches.

Matthew 13:15 (NLT)
¹⁵  For the hearts of these people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes— so their eyes cannot see, and their ears cannot hear, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them.’

Listening to and obeying God’s promises have “real” benefits-

Luke 5:4-8 (NLT)
⁴  When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Now go out where it is deeper, and let down your nets to catch some fish.”
⁵  “Master,” Simon replied, “we worked hard all last night and didn’t catch a thing. But if you say so, I’ll let the nets down again.”
⁶  And this time their nets were so full of fish they began to tear!
⁷  A shout for help brought their partners in the other boat, and soon both boats were filled with fish and on the verge of sinking.
⁸  When Simon Peter realized what had happened, he fell to his knees before Jesus and said, “Oh, Lord, please leave me—I’m too much of a sinner to be around you.”

Luke 10:38-42 (NLT)
³⁸  As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed them into her home.
³⁹  Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught.
⁴⁰  But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.”
⁴¹  But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details!
⁴²  There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Will God really do what he promised “for me”?

Acts 2:39-40 (NLT)
³⁹  This promise is to you, and to your children, and even to the Gentiles—all who have been called by the Lord our God.”
⁴⁰  Then Peter continued preaching for a long time, strongly urging all his listeners, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!”

God’s Promises-

Isaiah 40:29-31 (NLT)
²⁹  He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless.
³⁰  Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion.
³¹  But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.

2 Corinthians 12:9 (NLT)
⁹  Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.

Philippians 4:19 (NLT)
¹⁹  And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.