Jane and Shannon hold a conversation about rest and why it is vital for everyone who follows Jesus Christ. Without that spiritual rest, the Sabbath rest, our faith and our lives will become stagnant and we are in danger of burning out. We hope you take time to listen. The recording is about 37 minutes long. It is the unofficial start to our podcast, Bible Talk with jane and Shannon which we will begin in the New Year. The format will be different at that time but it will be the same teaching (it will be podcast format through podbean.com).
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"Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their opponents in court." Psalm 127:3-5 Parents' Responsibilities: #1. Nourish their children. "Fathers,do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord." Ephesians 6:4 #2. Educate. "These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up." Deuteronomy 6:6-7 #3. Discipline. "Discipline your children, for in that there is hope; do not be a willing party to their death." Proverbs 19:18 Lack of discipline will cause pain. Be a good example. "They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. 11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it." Hebrews 12:10-11 It isn't fun to discipline. God doesn't find great joy in disciplining us but He knows it is necessary. The Truth about Children: 1. All children are born sinful. All people are born sinful. "As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one;" Romans 3:10 2. All are rebellious. "Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far away." Proverbs 22:15 Rebellion is natural to us all. 3. Self-Absorbed. "In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord." Genesis 4:3 Cain got angry at God rather than trying to do better or asking God what he needed to do to do it right. There is a natural selfishness built into us. You must learn to share and cooperate. 4. Children are pliable -- they seek influence. "Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." Ephesians 5:102 Sometimes they grow in spite of us. They are seeking to be influenced. They will mimic you. 5. The world is a dangerous place. The world is getting worse and worse. We have to protect them. They will be under peer pressure to accept all that society accepts. We must be their strongest influece. We have to outvote all their peers. "A discerning son heeds instruction, but a companion of gluttons disgraces his father." Proverbs 28:7 What is the prescription for good parenting? 1. Be right with God. "By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures." Proverbs 24:3-4 If you build a foundation and you don't follow through that foundation will crumble and be destroyed. "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." Matthew 6:33 God has an answer. He will guide you. Just ask. 2. Be the example of what you want your children to be. "Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers." 1 Peter 3:7 "Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children," Titus 2:4 If parents abuse, the children will abuse. What we are is reflected in our children. Love between parents is so important. Have an open relationship with your kids. If you mess up, apologize. 3. Examples we should be: "He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full[a] respect." 1 Timothy 3:4 "Whoever heeds discipline shows the way to life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray." Proverbs 10:17 Sheep go astray. Lambs don't. They follow the sheep. The children are watching. We all are responsible. Practice what you preach! 1. Start Early: If you let them develop bad habits you have to get rid of these first before you can start training. 2. Discipline. "Know then in your heart that as a man disciplines his son, so the Lord your God disciplines you. Observe the commands of the Lord your God, walking in obedience to him and revering him." Deuteronomy 8:5-6 3. Be Consistent. "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise-- 3 “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”[a] Fathers,[b] do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord." Ephesians 6:1-4 4. Stay in the Community of the Church. "For lack of guidance a nation falls, but victory is won through many advisers." Proverbs 11:14 "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching." Hebrews 10:24-25 You're not alone. We're here to support each other. The world is going down and Jesus is coming back. Live in expectation of Jesus returning. Be a safe place for each other. Seek the family. "Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it." Proverbs 22:6 "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction." Proverbs 1:7 We have a tendency to panic and fear. This doesn't need to be how we react. God gives us a better way. Why should we fear God? 3 kinds of Biblical fear: Terror: fear of the power of God Respect: as a servant servicing a master. Reverence: Understanding who He is and who we are. Reverence is a deep, deep respect. Knowing who God is, who we are -- what God is capable of. The benefits of fearing God (as in the reverence kind): 1. Hate Evil. "To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech." Proverbs 8:13 The world has a problem of saying something is evil -- like sin. We need to look at the world through God's view. We get understanding when we look with God's perspective. 2. Live a "Long" Life (abundant, full life) "The fear of the Lord adds length to life, but the years of the wicked are cut short." Proverbs 10:27 When God disciplines us He is loving us. "Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? 8 If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all." Hebrews 12:7-8 "Because He said so" is somehting we should accept from God. Healthy vs. unhealthy fear: Healthy fear: "Good judgment wins favor, but the way of the unfaithful leads to their destruction." Proverbs 13:15 Unhealthy fear: "Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.”" Genesis 3:8-10 Unhealthy fear can be based in shame or blame or condemnation. We continue to hide in sin. You can't hide anything from God. Godly sorrow vs Worldly Sorrow: "Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death." 2 Corinthians 7:10 Choose Him or don't choose Him. Admitting sin is uncomfortable. We have a choice on what or who we fear. We can fear God or fear people. If I hide the good news from other people, if I don't share the "Cure" to fallenness, I am a coward, a selfish coward (those are Jane's words speaking to herself). “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. 33 But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven." Matthew 10:32-33 Those verses should scare us! When we fear God we don't need to fear anything or anyone else. If we fear the world more than we fear God we distance ourselves from Jesus. Jesus came to bring us home. “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters." Matthew 12:30 Am I gathering or scattering? It's not multiple choice. It's true or false. Is there something stopping us from living for God? The fear of God leads to a life of fearlessness! Halleluia!! "The fear of the Lord leads to life; then one rests content, untouched by trouble." Proverbs 19:23 If we find contentment in God everything will be provided. We serve a living God who is here right now. "For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;" Psalm 103:11-13 "For those who fear Him" has to be part of the equation. It's okay to "rock the boat." It's okay to "stand alone." If you fear God, He'll take care of everything. We need not to have any fear of Satan or the future: "We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the One who was born of God keeps them safe, and the evil one cannot harm them." 1 John 5:18 "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[a] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:38-39 God is a jealous God. He won't let anyone take you from HIm. #1. Everything we do is seen by God. #2. If I repent God will take care of me. #3 We have to choose to fear God and not people. God or people. That's it. Who do you choose to fear? "But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15 "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. 2 Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. 3 They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. 4 Yet their voice[b] goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun. 5 It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, like a champion rejoicing to run his course. 6 It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is deprived of its warmth. 7 The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. 8 The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes. 9 The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The decrees of the Lord are firm, and all of them are righteous." Psalm 19:1-9 Every single thing in creation is a wonder of God: babies, flowers, bees, trees, our bodies. For example, 1055 amino acids make up a protein, but those amino acids have to be lined up in one perfect order. For this to happen accidentally, the chance of this happening would be 10 to the 260th power! God's wonder is laid out all around us. The wonder of God is self-evident. "But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you; 8 or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you. 9 Which of all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this?" Job 12:7-9 Man is the only creation that will deny God. "For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse." Romans 1:20 The Joy of the Law of God "The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. 8 The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes. 9 The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The decrees of the Lord are firm, and all of them are righteous." Psalm 19:7-9 The Law gives us and all things guidance. "My dear child, don't shrug off God's discipline, but don't be crushed by it either. It's the child he loves that he disciplies; the child he embraces, he also corrects." Hebrews 12:6 Discipline comes from love. God's ways are always best. The Love of God in Jesus God's plan from the very beginning was to make a way for us to be with him -- that way is Jesus. "He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. 27 Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. 28 All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. 29 As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.”" Mark 4:26-29 1. Our God is alive and working. 2. He loves us enough to discipline us. 3. He loved us enough to send Jesus. 4. We need to be actively growing. We need to be fertile soil. 5. The Creator is still creating. "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8 He Demonstrates. Present tense! We should be faithfully growing daily, never stopping until death or when Jesus comes back. We should be faithfully planting, never stopping until death or when Jesus comes back. Jesus will come back for the final harvst. Slavery was acceptable and public in Bible times. Now it is hidden (most of the time). Today, we are talking about a different kind of slavery. "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." Galatians 5:1 Paul is telling them to not go back to slavery. They'd (and we) have been freed already. Don't go back. Jesus set us free so we would be and stay free. There were people coming from Jerusalem who told the Galatian church members they needed to obey the Mosiac law. They were trying to add to the gospel. Faith in Christ is our freedom. "because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you[a] free from the law of sin and death." Romans 8:2 Two Slaveries: Legalism and Sin "You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. 5 For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love." Galatians 5:4-6 If you're trying to live by rules instead of by Grace and faith, you aren't living a life of faith. It's all about faith. It's easy to fall into rules/legalism. Humans like to control things, to control other peole. Legalism= the excessive adherence to law/formula/rules. "You were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth? 8 That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. 9 “A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough.'" Galatians 5:7-9 Who cut in on you? Who got you off course? Why are you listening to them? It doesn't take much to change something. Watch out for "bad yeast." Legalism, if it comes in, can take over quickly. Faith is so simple it confounds the wise. Don't go back to the law. "For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace." Romans 6:14 Jesus completed the law. Don't choose slavery. "Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 33 They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?” 34 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35 Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." John 8:32-36 Second slavery -- Slavery of Self-Indulgence (license) "You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh[a]; rather, serve one another humbly in love." Galatians 5:13 Stay on the path. Don't use your freedom to fall away. If you love Jesus you will keep His commandments (that is what He says). Sin harms me and those around me. Here is a short list of the self-indulgent sins: "The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God." Galatians 5:19-21 We are for or against Christ. We walk by the Spirit or by the flesh. Either or. We must surrender/yield to the Spirit. "So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever[a]you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law." Galatians 5:16-18 The Judge is the Judge. He judges right from wrong. We condemn ourselves. God never condemns. We choose Him or condemnation. We condemn ourselves when we don't choose Jesus. "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control.Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires." Galatians 5:22-24 That is a life walking by the Spirit. Self-control and love go hand in hand. Our joy will come through loving and serving others. Be joyful! "Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit." Galatians 5:25 It's easy to see someone is out of step because he or she eventually walks away. Correct them in love. If you aren't in step you're walking away. Keep in step with the Spirit. It is all behind us in less we stand still -- then the junk wil catch up with us. Hold on! He is coming!! 'Now I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets, ‘I will not impose any other burden on you,25 except to hold on to what you have until I come.’" Revelation 2:24-25 We are all bound in some ways, but we don't need to be. "Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. 14 He brought them out of darkness, the utter darkness, and broke away their chains. 15 Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind, 16 for he breaks down gates of bronze and cuts through bars of iron." Psalm 107:13-16 We all are meant to be free! "See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him." 1 John 3:1 This love is a strange, foreign love to anyone who doesn't know Jesus. We have no way to comprehend it without the Spirit. 5 Steps to Breaking the Chains: 1. Remember who you are. You don't have to give in. "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm,then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." Galatians 5:1 2. Rely on God's strength, not your own. "I can do all this through him who gives me strength." Philippians 4:13 3. Fight the lies. Focus on the Truth. Don't deceive yourself. Don't justify sin. "Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:32 4. Be willing to be set free. Jesus asked the man at the pool of Bethsaida: "Are you willing to be healed?" Do you want to lose your chains? 5. Leave the chains at the altar. Don't pick them up again. "For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with,[a] that we should no longer be slaves to sin-- 7 because anyone who has died has been set free from sin." Romans 6:6-7 If we grab that sin willingly that is disobedience. Don't let sin become your normal. The norms of the world aren't the norms of God's way of life. God handles it for me. Walk away from the chains. If you have a habit that is sin, you need to lose it. God wants us to be free. Take your chains to God. Pray often. Pray specifically. Pray for others. You don't have to do anything alone. Bring sin to the light. Then, it will lose its power. "So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him. 6 The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance. 7 Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. “Quick, get up!” he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists." Acts 12:5-7 God is the same always! What He did for Peter He can do for you, for me. God wants us to come to Him, pray and believe. "You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them,because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world." 1 John 4:4 There is no problem, no chain that God can't overcome for you. "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching,rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God[a] may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:16-17 Hearsay = information received from other people that one cannot substantiate; rumor, gossip. ALL Scripture is God-breathed. All of it comes from the mouth of God. We need to equip ourselves thoroughly. Go right to the source! 1. Scripture is necessary for understanding God's will for your life. "Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’[a]”" Matthew 4:4 "But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect," 1 Peter 3:15 How can you truly love God if you don't spend time with Him? 2. God's word is necessary for discernment. All the noise of the world blocks out God. Prosper= Shalom = peace, wholeness, completeness. "For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." Hebrews 4:12 We can lay the pieces out of our lives and get the junk out. “Is not my word like fire,” declares the Lord, “and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?" Jeremiah 23:29 If you don't have God's truth, you will use your own (or someone else's). 3. The Word of God is the instruction book for life. We try it ourselves first and then we go to the book. We should go to the Word first. "How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word." Psalm 119:9 "but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed." James 1:14 4. The Word of God is the ultimate tool for yourr life. Offensive weapon -- all the hardware you'll ever need. Macgyver our lives with the Bible!! "Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." Ephesians 6:17 "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth." 2 Timothy 2:15 The Bible is a tool you need to learn how to use. "Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me, 26 but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. 27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me." John 10:25-27 Listening is an art form. You have to train yourself to learn to listen well. Humans are naturally good at it. We naturally just listen for what we want to hear. And we can hear God's voice if we pay attention. He is speaking and wants each of us to hear Him. "he said, “Listen to my words: “When there is a prophet among you, I, the Lord, reveal myself to them in visions, I speak to them in dreams." Numbers 12:6 "But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit." Matthew 1:20 "For God does speak—now one way, now another-- though no one perceives it. 15 In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on people as they slumber in their beds, 16 he may speak in their ears and terrify them with warnings, 17 to turn them from wrongdoing and keep them from pride, 18 to preserve them from the pit, their lives from perishing by the sword." Job 33:14-18 To be part of a relationship you have to do your part. You have to communicate. You have to listen. Have caution -- don't take someone else's words at face value. Do your own research. Speak to God yourself. "The idols speak deceitfully, diviners see visions that lie; they tell dreams that are false, they give comfort in vain. Therefore the people wander like sheep oppressed for lack of a shepherd." Zechariah 10:2 "Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. Therefore fear God." Ecclesiastes 5:7 God can speak to us anyone He wants to. He spoke to Moses the first time thorugh a bush! Then there was the long silence: "The boy Samuel ministered before the Lord under Eli. In those days the word of the Lord was rare; there were not many visions. 2 One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place. 3 The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the house of the Lord, where the ark of God was. 4 Then the Lord called Samuel. Samuel answered, “Here I am.”" 1 Samuel 3:1-4 Silence was in preparation for the next step. Jesus didn't have to stay around and have a ministry. He did all this so we could have a relationship with Him. God has not changed. “I the Lord do not change. So you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed." Malachi 3:6 "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." Hebrews 13:8 If you aren't hearing from God, you aren't listening. The more familiar you are with God's voice, the more you will hear Him. God will speak to us through His word. "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God[a]may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:16-17 Our Father is speaking to His children. "For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." Hebrews 4:12 the Word is alive! He speaks to us intentionally and personally. If you're walking in faithfulness, God will speak. What you fill your world with is what You will focus on. "Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. 24 Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me. 25 “All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you." John 14:23-26 "Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit." 1 Corinthians 12:3 The World wants us distrated and following impulses and totally disorganized. Often, God will speak to us through circumstances. "or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh,a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 Give your testimony from the point of weakness. Use discernment and prayer. "But who can discern their own errors? Forgive my hidden faults." Psalm 19:12 "Teach me knowledge and good judgment, for I trust your commands." Psalm 119:66 "let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance—" Proverb 1:5 Don't take stuff at face value. Do your own research. "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:2 If you ask God a question, give Him time to answer. Focus on God. Dwell with Him. Listen. He has something to tell you. "For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness,righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord." Ephesians 5:8-10 Are you listening for the Shepherd's voice? "Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks." John 4:23
The world is full of moral relativism. The majority of Americans believe all religions will lead you to God. This makes no sense. Think of it: Eastern Religions believe in an impersonal diety, all gods are okay and there is no afterlife. Hinduism believes in an impersonal diety, and reincarnation. Islam beieves in an impersonal diety and eternity has to be earned. Judaism is the first one to believe in One God (the God), a personal God, but they are taught eternal life is earned. Christianity believes in a personal diety; believes in One God and that eternal life is a gift. If God spoke all these different ways to people He would be totally unstable and mentally ill and really darn scary. It would make no sense. He would be denying Himself. Moral relativism can't be true. Absolute Truths: 1. Grace! "For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ." John 1:17 2. Only Way to the Father is through Jesus! "Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6 3. The only Faith that Its Leader has fulfilled prophecies. There were 300 prophecies fulfilled by Jesus. The odds of only 10 of these prophecies accidentaly being fulfilled is 10 billion times a billion. It is a mathematical impossibility that 300 prophesies could be fulfilled in one man accidentally. The only possibility is that Jesus is who He says He is; who the Bible says He is. Dig deeper. Look for yourself. The more we look at the Bible the more truth we discover. Truth to Believe: 1. The Bible is the Word of God. "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God[a] may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:16-17 2. We are all sinners, saved by grace. "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," Romans 3:23 3. God created us in His image. "So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them." Genesis 1:27 Metal has a memory. It will try to go back to its original shape when you work with it. People want to go back to their original shape too. 4. God loves us this much! "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16 5. Salvation comes through Christ. "He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God-- 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God." John 1:11-13 The more you listen the more you will hear God. "The accumulation of whre I took you add up to where I want you to be." Shannon Hinrichs God's always knocking on the door. "for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:16 God the Father. “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name," Matthew 6:9 "But if your eyes are unhealthy,[a] your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!" Matthew 6:23 "Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba,[a] Father.” Galatians 4:6 Abba means "daddy." "So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. 19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed. 20 That, however, is not the way of life you learned."Ephesians 4:17-20 Set yourself apart from the Old way of life. When you come in dirty from the field you take off your dirty clothes and take a shower, but you don't stop there if you plan on going anywhere. You put on clean clothes. We need to clothe ourselves in the new self. Practical Advice -- and an example to Follow. “In your anger do not sin”[a]: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry," Ephesians 4:26 "The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever;" Psalm 103:8-9 "Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.5 1 Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for usas a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." Ephesians 4:31-5:2 Follow God's example. Our goal is for people to see the Father in us. "In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:16 God's standard -- do as God does. The absolute truth -- God is our standard. Be like Him. Obey or break. The love of the Father overcomes the failures of the children. "See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him." 1 John 3:1 World doesn't understand absolute truth. Until I understand the love of God I won't understand anything else. The standard is perfection. "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." Matthew 5:48 Perfect means "complete" or "mature." "But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil." Hebrews 5:14 Grow. Keep growing. Grow toward God. Grow to be like God. Every day we get a do-over. That's grace! |
Shannon HinrichsDupree Baptist Church Pastor If you would like to donate to this ministry, send your donation via check or money order to Dupree Baptist Church PO Box 372 Faith, SD 57626 Thank you!! All donations are tax deductible.
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