"Being a Seeker"
Pastor Lana -- Sunday AM - August 17, 2008
Many churches have become "seeker sensitive." They water down the Word of God so as not to offend people. But we are to be holy.
Romans 3:10
There is none righteous. None seek after God.
Luke 19:1
Zacchaeus was rich because he took money that wasn't rightly his. And he was hated for that. Zaccheaus was curious about Jesus and sought to see Him. And because he was a seeker of God, Jesus went to his house; the house of this sinner. Zaccheaus repented of all the wrong he'd done and made restitution.
vs 10
We find that Jesus is the seeker. He seeks us out. He knows all our past and failures. He is the same yesterday, today and forever.
Luke 15
Jesus is the seeker who draws sinners to Himself by love. His presence brings repentance. Jesus goes after the one lost sheep like windo who's lost her only coin and sweeps the whole house until she finds it. There is more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents.
We cannot do anything good enough to be saved. All our good works are the fruit of our love for Jesus.
Romans 4:1
Abraham believed God and it was counted unto him as righteouness. He was saved because he believed, not because he did everything right and never did wrong.
Grace is a gift, not something we can earn. All our very own righteousness (from our striving to be right) is like filthy rags. It is the blood of Jesus that makes us truly righteous. It is a gift. We can't be cleansed by doing good.
Ephesians 1:3-4
God chose us.
John 1:17
We receive grace through and because of Jesus. His grace covers our shame, rejection, sin and defeat.
Romans 5:19-20
Where sin abounds, grace DOES MUCH MORE ABOUND! Grace says to us, "Go and sin no more." We can't do anything bad enough to loose Jesus. God will not abandon us. Grace abounds.
Romans 5:1
It is through Jesus that we have acces to the throne of grace. We have right standing before God.
vs. 9
Mercy is compassion. It overshadows the punishment we deserve. It is compassion to us the sinner and law breaker. We deserve death. We don't deserve goodness and mercy. But His grace is sufficient.
Acts 11:23
Barnabas saw the grace of God poured out on the gentiles.
Romans 5:15
It is a free gift.
2 Corinthians 8:9
Jesus became poor so that we could be rich (abundantly supplied). Jesus is waiting to extend His love to you.
Romans 3:24
We have been justified freely by His grace. Mercy forgave the prodigal son. We need to be looking to the author and finisher of our faith. Be used for His glory.
"Being a Disciple of Christ"
Pastor Lana -- Sunday AM - May 11, 2008
Deuteronomy 6-7
We are to speak the Word of God, when we lie down, when we rise up, when we talk to our children. We are to encourage our children and ourselves in the Lord.
David always honored God even when Saul sought his life. Our children will imitate and emulate his parents and others in leadership
2 Timothy 1:1-7
Timothy had a family life that taught him the Word of God. What have we passed on to our children?
Be an example. Watch your mouth. Wash your mind with the renewing of the Word. Keep your mind on the Word of God. God will perform His Word and we will have good fruit.
When we goof or make a mistake, apologize to children. Then you will be able to preach to the children.
We should be an incorruptible church. Jesus is coming for an incorruptible church. Be renewed in your spirit and in your mind.
Believe God's Word. Dare to believe Him. Be like the widow who only had a little flour and oil, yet she believed God and made some bread for the prophet. And God multiplied it.
Elijah believed and declared that rain was coming even though in the flesh no one could see anything.
It is the same with us. Start to declare and affirm God's Word. Don't look and affirm the circumstance. Believe God.
"Don't Lose Your Joy"
Pastor Lana -- December 15, 2007
MATTHEW 2:1-10
The three magi were overjoyed. Jesus was about 2 years old. They brought Him gifts worthy of a king. These gifts were fortelling who He was. They brought gold which is a gift for a king; incense used for deities, myrrh which is used in embalming.
Jesus hadn't taught yet. He hadn't delivered anyone or gone to the cross. The magi worshiped Jesus for Who He is and so should we.
God had done some awesome things and He will do more. He is worthy of Holy Spirit praise. He is worthy for us to give Him praise. He is worthy.
Rejoice. Use this Christmas time to plant seeds of joy and gladness. These are action words, verbs. Be obedient.
The fruit of the Spirit is joy. We have to exercise this fruit in our lives. This fruit has to be grown. We have to choose to allow it to grow. It is an act of our will. Don't let the circumstances determine how you will act.
JAMES 2
Count it all joy. This means in every circumstance. Have a positive outlook. Confess God's Word. Don't take the easy way out. But choose what Jesus would do.
2 TIMOTHY 2:12
When it's hard, He is able and willing to keep us.
Pastor Lana
"New Year-New You"
December 31, 2006
We are to do all things as unto the Lord. In the New Year we may make many resolutions such as to tithe or stop smoking. We always say tomorrow we will do such and such. And we're serious and mean to do it. We may even do it the 1st day.
Matthew 13:3
The sower sowed seed and some fell by the roadside or on rocky ground. This speaks about good intentions. There is no staying power. We flip-flop.
When we make a decision, things, others even ourselves are used by the devil to discourage our efforts. Some of us listen to the world's words, "Do what feels good." That's the teaching of humanism; the teaching of the world. There are no absolutes, no committments.
The world's philosophy says take the 10 commandments from the schools. We don't want our children to learn that stealing and killing are sins.
When we decide to do things God's way, discouragement will come from the devil in the world, through others.
If you've made a new committment, do it. Ask God to help you with prayer and supplication. When we get God involved, we will bear fruit, 30, 60 100 fold.
Ground preparation is important. What kind of soil are we preparing. Do we cultivate with prayer. Do we reprogram our thinking with the Word of God. The battle is in the mind.
Romans 12:2
Don't conform to the world. When you take a stand with God, the world doesn't like it. It will give you a hard time. The world doesn't want you to make a stand. It will pull you. That is the time to run, not crawl to God. He's there waiting. Get your mind off self and on God. Be careful . Declare that you live for God.
The world declares differently. It pulls one on every front; tv, ads, media, music. It teaches selfishness and a worldly lifestyle. It declares, what can we get out of man, a friend, our church, our job, etc... It teaches how can we get ahead.
God way to be the greatest is to be a servant. Jesus washed the disciples' feet. The Son of God, gave the greatest gift. He went to the cross while we were yet in sin.
When we sin, we want put an end to it, but it creeps slowly back and we justify it. We set ourselves up to fail. We need to give up all temptation. We need to plow the soil. Good resolutions and good intentions alone won't work.
Find Sripture and meditate on it. Renew your mind, for "We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us." God will enable. There are miracles, but there is a requirement on our part. The Lord will meet us where we are.
Don't allow negative thoughts. But replae those old thoughts. Take the trash out. Get rid of them. Negative thoughts will get a foothold and make a "nest" in your mind. Those old thoughts stink in God's nostrils. Let go of any offense.
We need the fruit of the Spirit and the fresh oil of the Holy Spirit. God fed the Israelites with manna in the wilderness. They needed to gather everyday. They had to depend on the Lord everyday. We need fresh oil everyday.
Maybe you've been wanting to change, but are not willing to wait. Failing doesn't mean failure if you keep trying and not give up.
Everyone remembers the victory, not the failings. It's not the start but the finish. Do all you can do. God'll do the rest. He our grace, our peace, our mediator. He wants us to be a success.
Yes, there will be obstacles. We all have great obstacles, even the great Christians in the past. But we have to focus on the call.
Pastor Lana
November 11, 2006
"FAITH"
Galatians 5:1-6
Faith, not works (which are circumstances, the Law) is what justifies us. We have been made free from the Law, from the curse of the Law. We have freedom in faith and in the Lord. We are free in Christ to grow. It is a process. And we have to be patient with ourselves and with others.
Galatians 5:7
Many people start good, but have we have to also finish good. The Galations listened to another gospel that got them on the wrong path.
Galatians 5:13
We need to walk in the Spirit. The flesh is contrary to the Spirit. If we are walking in the flesh, we are not walking in the Spirit.
Galatians 5:19-21
These are the "doings" of the flesh.
Galatians 5:22-23
These are the "doings" of the Spirit. It is "goodness in action." Being filled with the Spirit is more than tongues and gifts. It is a call to righteousness. It is the fruit. We should all have it. The Holy Spirit produces it. We can try to get it on our own, but we can't. It doesn't work that way. We have to surrender and let God do it. He will do it.
Galatians 6:1
We are to restore our brethren. What can keep us from walking in the Spirit? ...unforgiveness. Don't harbor it in your heart. Don't sleep on a heart filled with unforgiveness.
Ecclesiastes 3:1
There is a time for everything. Hate the spirit behind the actions of others. But love the person. We have all authority. Take authority. There is only one Lord. Jesus is our Lord. Pray for people. Pray for sinners.
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