9/19/2011 Freedom From RegretScriptures: 2 Corinthians 7:8-10, 1 Timothy 1:12-13
Are you living in regret? Letting the sins or decisions of the past rule your present? Its time to get freedom from regret! The first step to freedom is getting past your past, which is started through repentance. Take a new course and move beyond your coping mechanisms. Let the past stay where it belongs: behind you! The Bible talks about two types of sorrow: worldly and godly. Worldly is all about how my poor choices affect me; its totally self motivated. Godly sorrow is all about how my poor choices affect my relationships with God, family, church family, friends and society. Godly sorrow is looking past self and realizing that our actions effect everything and everyone around us. Second, you must embrace grace. Do not allow your past to claim your thoughts any longer and let God's grace cover your sin. Regret is unresolved guilt and God can take care of our guilt. God's grace removes guilt and shame. The Bible tells us that God's grace is exceedingly abundant towards us. Finally, you must take action. Regret without repentance results in death. Godly sorrow helps us turn away from regret and seek salvation. Its only by the power of the cross that we are released from regret and find true freedom. Allow your regrets to sit at the feet of the cross and allow His grace to cover them. Regret causes pain, but God's grace gives us peace. 9/15/2011 Developing Your Spiritual GiftsScriptures: Romans 12:3-8
A spiritual gift is an ability from God that goes beyond your own natural abilities. Theses gifts are given for the purpose of God. Romans 12 defines these ministry gifts, or the gifts of action, today we will study three of these: prophecy, service and exhortation. 1) Prophecy: the gift of expounding scripture and making it come to life. Its words of encouragement and strength. Prophecy is relevant to the individual it is meant for. We prophecy in proportion to our faith: we prophecy what we accept ourselves! If we tell someone God wants to heal them and then struggle with doubts about our own healing it will affect our gift. Where our faith is at the time is where our gift will be able to operate. 2) Service: this is the "get busy gift," where we get the term deacon used in many churches. This is getting busy doing! Its: ushering, sending cards, caring for the sick, cleaning the church, and so much more. For this gift to operate you must ask God and leadership for direction, its asking the question: "where am I needed the most?" 3) Exhortation: this literally means to "come alongside." Exhortation is one of the most important ministries of the church, because people need a kind word and a kind action. We encourage one another to: turn from sin, overcome a bad habit, and to become obedient to God's desires. Prophecy proclaims God's word and exhortation compels us to obey God's word. God has given us precious gifts, we need 9/5/2011 Does God Go to Work with Us?Scriptures: Ecclesiastes 5:18-20, 2 Thessalonians 3:10
In this life there are dream jobs and there are real jobs. There are the jobs we want and there are the jobs we acutally have. Regardless of what we do as an occupation, our job is a big deal to God. God has an opinion on working, the Bible tells us that: "if anyone will not work, neither shall he eat." We need to learn to appreciate our jobs and see them as a way to serve God! First, whatever your job is view it as a blessing. Improve your career by changing your attitude about it. Is your job where God wants you? Be reminded that we are blessed with health to be able to work. Second, view your job as a bridge. Your job is a bridge for building a good reputation. Its a bridge for ministering to the needs of others. Your job is a bridge for revealing Jesus to those you work for and with. Ask yourself the question: when I go to work what kind of bridge am I building? Lastly, view your job as a building project. We must remember that is more important how you do your job than what your job is! If God inspected your work would He be pleased? Become a pencil in God's hands and allow your potential to be used. Do every task unto His glory and reap the blessings that will follow. "Enjoy the good of all your labor....rejoice in your labor...this is the gift of God." |
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