A Made Up Mind (What Do You Want?)

If heaven is your goal you must come to a place of decision. You must ask yourself, “what do I want out of my life?” Is it a life of holiness with sustained joy? Or is it just a temporary fix that gets you through a bad situation?   Have you really decided that God is all that you want?  If you haven’t come to a place in which God is all you want, you will always live an unstable life. 

Romans 8:5 -7 tells its that the carnal mind has deep seated hated towards God. It’s does not want to die. It does not want to lose. The carnal mind is constantly doing whatever it can to live.  This is where the question “what do I want” Comes into play.  The answer to that question will determine your spiritual fate. If what you want is God , then you will be able to overcome the attempt of the carnal mind to pull you down.

Psalms 27:4 illustrates the one true desire of King David. To dwell in the house of the lord forever.  Psalm15:1-2 Psalm 16:1

The Grace Of God (Pastor Shane McDonald)

Psalm 103:8.  Your spiritual growth depends on how you see him.  Grace is an important ingredient in the growth process because we all will experience failure.  Grace is what pushes us to keep growing in pursuit of holiness. 

Grace is not given so that we can continue in sin. Instead grace should encourage us to discontinue a life of sin

Romans 5:20 tells us that where sin is present God’s grace is even more present. Looking at the example of the prodigal son in the 15th chapter of Luke we see that even in the prodigal son’s lowest moment,  God’s grace was even more present. The grace of God allowed the prodigal son to humble himself and return home. Grace allows you to get to the end of yourself, acknowledge your sin and live in freedom. 

The Other Side Of the Cross (Grace)

True grace should cause a lasting change. If we claim to live in God’s grace but continue to live reckless sinful lives, we are not living in TRUE grace.

God’s grace is not cheap. The price was the life of his only son. Living your life in your old self cheapens the gift of Grace extended by Jesus Christ.

Romans 6:15-16 tells us that we must no longer live as slaves to sin if we except the grace of God.  On the contrary,  because of grace, we must reject sin. We now become slaves of righteousness.

1 Corinthians 6:9-11 gives us a list of people who will not enter the kingdom of God. Essentially it’s shows us that we cannot be a slave to sin and God at the same time.  If we are going to wall in grace then there must be a change in your lifestyle.  2 Corinthians 5:17.

Blinded By Sight : The Blessing In the Storm

Never look at how big your problem is, instead look at how how big God is.

Matthew 8:23-27

Regardless of the storm raging around him, Jesus was able to rest.  Jesus knew who he was and what his purpose in life was to be.  This assurance allowed Jesus to see the storm as an opportunity to rest in the promise of God. 

The disciples viewed the storm as an opportunity to panic.  What the disciples saw blinded them to God’s promise. In the same way, sometimes we become blinded by what we see.  Life’s trials cause us to panic instead of rest in the promises of God.  Like Jesus we must remember who we are and what our purpose in life is.

This assurance can only come through a true relationship with Christ.  A connection to God allows us to rest in the middle of the storm.  It allows us to believe when the sun is shining, and trust when the rain is pouring. 

Bearing God’s Image (Introduction)

We were designed to bear God’s image throughout the Earth.

Genesis 1:26-31 lets us know that we were made in the image of God and given dominion over everything that was on the Earth.  In essence God was spreading his image all through the world, to carry his authority.    Understand although we carry his authority, it is God alone who rules over all. Bearing God’s image and carrying his authority does not make us equal to God.  God established his authority by placing rules over his creation.  Because of sin, our ability to bear God’s image has been corrupted.  As a result of this corrupted image we carry the mark of sin in our life.  Our authority is scarred and easily seen in every aspect of our life. From marriage, to parenting and ministry, God’s image is not reflected accurately because of sin.  Next week we will learn how we can be restored to mirror the image of God.

Happy Mother’s Day

What Hinders the Process of God.

Pain is a gift.  Pain allows us to know where we fall short, and pushes us toward our purpose in God.  The systems of this world are trying to push society towards pain free living.  Although it may sound good to never experience pain, in the end a pain free life contradicts God’s word.   A pain free life is a life absent from God.

Pain is a gift that draws us closer  to God.  Without it, we would not see our need to live in communion with our heavenly Father.  Without pain we would never be all that God desires us to be.  It is a natural human response to avoid pain.  It is a spiritual godly response to embrace it  and go through it. Pain is not a punishment, it is a gift.

What hinders us from embracing  pain?

1. A Bad Perspective: 2 Cor 1:3-9
  Our pain is a learning process that allows us to encourage and help others through their pain. 

2.  A Bad Motive: Acts 20:22-25
  If your motive is to avoid pain you will never be an effective Christian.

3. A Protective Heart: Acts 22:11-14
Everyone has to go through the pain process.  When we try to protect others from going through the pain process we end up hurting them.  Deliverance, freedom, joy, love, longsuffering,  healing  and many other things come at the end of the pain proces

Romans 8:36-39

The Gift of Pain

Contrary to what you may believe, pain is a gift from God.   Pain is God’s way of pushing us towards his purpose for our lives.   1 Peter 4:12-14 let’s us know that as we endure pain, God’s glory will be revealed.

Every process God takes us through will have some measure of pain.  If you spend your life trying to hide from or avoid pain you will never do anything great for God.  Pain is not subjective.  Jesus experienced pain as do our brothers and sisters in the body of Christ.  The bible tells us that it is not strange to feel pain.  It’s part of God’s process.  It is only when we go through God’s process that we become strengthened and established in God.  (1 Peter 5:10)

Without pain you never will grow, without pain you will never know you’re sick.  Pain is a gift that pushes you toward your destiny.  Pain wakes us up. Embrace it instead of running from it. 

What Keeps Us From Connecting(unforgiveness)

We must become selfless instead of selfish when it comes to community.  Instead of asking what can I get out of community ask what will people miss out on if I’m not in my place.

1John 2:9-11 tells us that we cannot say we are in the light if we refuse to live in community with one another.   Our inability to live in fellowship with one another is directly connected to our inability to connect with God.

The root cause that keeps us from living in community is unforgiveness.    Unforgiveness is very deadly to your spiritual life and can cause physical and spiritual sickness.  Matthew 6: 9-14 tells us that as we forgive, God will forgive us.  You cannot expect forgiveness and release from God if your refuse to forgive and release others.

Forgiveness is not for the people who hurt us.  Forgiveness is for you.  Forgiveness allows us to walk and live in freedom.  Holding on to unforgiveness is an attempt to make those who hurt us pay a price.  Romans 12:17-19 tells us that we must not repay evil for evil.  The Lord will repay. The Lord will make all wrong things right.

Matthew 18:2-35 illustrates the importance of forgiveness.  Forgiveness should be unending. We must love and forgive in the same way God loves and forgives us.  Unforgiveness is a wall that separates us from God.  You cannot truly say you loveGod if you will not forgive others.