The Struggle is Real!

The problem is that we give up to soon.  If you want victory, there's got to be a fight.

Don't every despise anything that drags you to Jesus.  

We learn by influence and repetition.  Where I am growing is greater than what I am going through.  God will be with you in trouble. 

Psalm 9:9-10 (NLT)

⁹ The Lord is a shelter for the oppressed,
    a refuge in times of trouble.
¹⁰ Those who know your name trust in you,
    for you, O Lord, do not abandon those who search for you.

1 Peter 5:7  (NLT)

⁷ Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.

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.

Isaiah 40:28-31  (NLT)

28 Have you never heard?
    Have you never understood?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
    the Creator of all the earth.
He never grows weak or weary.
    No one can measure the depths of his understanding.
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.

Jeremy Foster, Hope City Church

The Grace to Change

How to Find the Power to Change Anything in Your Life

1. Understand the corrupt and incorrigible nature of your flesh.

Romans 7:14-25 MSG

14 I can anticipate the response that is coming: “I know that all God’s commands are spiritual, but I’m not. Isn’t this also your experience?” Yes. I’m full of myself—after all, I’ve spent a long time in sin’s prison. 

15 What I don’t understand about myself is that I decide one way, but then I act another, doing things I absolutely despise. 

16 So if I can’t be trusted to figure out what is best for myself and then do it, it becomes obvious that God’s command is necessary. 

17 But I need something more! For if I know the law but still can’t keep it, and if the power of sin within me keeps sabotaging my best intentions, I obviously need help! 

18 I realize that I don’t have what it takes. I can will it, but I can’t do it. 

19 I decide to do good, but I don’t really do it; I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway.

20 My decisions, such as they are, don’t result in actions. Something has gone wrong deep within me and gets the better of me every time. 

21 It happens so regularly that it’s predictable. The moment I decide to do good, sin is there to trip me up. 

22 I truly delight in God’s commands, 

23 but it’s pretty obvious that not all of me joins in that delight. Parts of me covertly rebel, and just when I least expect it, they take charge. 

24 I’ve tried everything and nothing helps. I’m at the end of my rope. Is there no one who can do anything for me? Isn’t that the real question? 

25 The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and does. He acted to set things right in this life of contradictions where I want to serve God with all my heart and mind, but am pulled by the influence of sin to do something totally different.

Romans 7:22-24 NKJV

22 For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. 

23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 

24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?

2. Understand the purpose of the Holy Spirit in your life.

Romans 8:1-16 NKJV

1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 

2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. 

3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, 

4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 

5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 

6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 

7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. 

8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. 

10 And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 

11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. 

12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.

13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 

14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 

15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,

Galatians 5:16-23 NKJV

16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 

17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. 

18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 

19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 

20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 

21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 

23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

Four Categories of Sin in Galatians 5

A. Sexual Sin

B. Emotional Sin

C. Sins of Excess

D. Spiritual Sins

Galatians 5:22-23 NKJV

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 

23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

John 16:13 NKJV

13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.

Mark 11:20-24 NKJV

20 Now in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. 

21 And Peter, remembering, said to Him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree which You cursed has withered away.” 

22 So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. 

23 For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. 

24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.

Romans 8:11 NKJV

11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

Galatians 5:24-25 NKJV

24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

What is the Holy Spirit saying to me through this message?

Jimmy Evans, Gateway Church

More than a feeling!

I. Love is more than a feeling. 

It is a decision.  We must love the haters because that shows you what love is.  

You lose that loving feeling when you quit acting in loving ways.  

Husband:

1.  She wants open, honest, consistent communication.   

2.  She wants to be protected.   Wipe away her tears not create them.  

Nehemiah 4:14  (NLT)

...“Don’t be afraid of the enemy! Remember the Lord, who is great and glorious, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes!”

3. She needs quality and quantity time. 

4. She wants to be pursued.  What you did to get her. Do to keep her.  

Wife:

1. He desperately needs your respect. 

Honor him as if he is already the man you want him to be.  We respond better to honor than anger.  

2. He wants you to initiate sex, and be receptive when he does. 

1 Corinthians 7:3-5 (NLT)

3 The husband should fulfill his wife’s sexual needs, and the wife should fulfill her husband’s needs. 

4 The wife gives authority over her body to her husband, and the husband gives authority over his body to his wife.

5 Do not deprive each other of sexual relations, unless you both agree to refrain from sexual intimacy for a limited time so you can give yourselves more completely to prayer. Afterward, you should come together again so that Satan won’t be able to tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

3. He wants you to know that you're his best friend.      

4. He wants to be appreciated.  

II. Love is a commitment. 

III.  Love is not blind.  

Blind love is broken love.  

Genesis 3:6 (NLT)

6 The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too.

Temptation is Satan asking for permission.  

James 1:16-17 (NLT)

16 So don’t be misled, my dear brothers and sisters. 

17 Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens.[a] He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.

If it is not from God, it's not good.  If it's not good for me, why do I allow it around?  

The lure of temptation is to make something evil to appear to be good.  

Ephesians 5:18 n (NLT)

18 Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit,

We're not just talking about drinking.  If you're not filled with the Spirit, you're going to be filled with something.

Jeremy Foster, Hope City Church

Seeing Beyond

Romans 8:16-17  (NLT)

16 For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children.

For most of us, our earthly parents form our perspective of God.  For me, it was work. We must see God as He really is.   

17 And since we are his children, we are his heirs. 

If we are an heir, we can see beyond our present situation because someday we will be the boss.  

We can see today differently if we can grasp what's ours tomorrow.  The outside does not change, but our perspective within us does.

In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.

This life is tough.  If we can see what's ahead, we can get by what's now.  

  

Galatians 3:26-4:7  (NLT)

26 For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 

Forgiveness is a free gift.  It is not based upon performance.  

27 And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes.

28 There is no longer Jew or Gentile,slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus. 

29 And now that you belong to Christ, you are the true children of Abraham. You are his heirs, and God’s promise to Abraham belongs to you.

4 Think of it this way. If a father dies and leaves an inheritance for his young children, those children are not much better off than slaves until they grow up, even though they actually own everything their father had. 

2 They have to obey their guardians until they reach whatever age their father set. 

3 And that’s the way it was with us before Christ came. We were like children; we were slaves to the basic spiritual principles of this world.

4 But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. 

5 God sent him (Jesus) to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children.

6 And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.” 

7 Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir.

1. You are loved.  

Christianity is not about fearing an angry ruler, but following a loving father. 

2. You are adopted.   

Christianity is not a religion to join, but a family to belong to.

3. You are a heir.  

We receive something that we didn't earn.  This life is not about this life.  

Christianity is not about an earthly payment, but an eternal reward.  

If we can't see tomorrow accurately, we can't see today accurately. 

1. See beyond faults. 

Heirs are family first. 

Ephesians 4:1-4  (NLT)

4 Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. 

2 Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. 

3 Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.

4 For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. 

2. See beyond correction. 

Heir embrace feedback.  We won't enjoy it. It doesn't feel good. Encouragement makes us feel good.  Correction makes us grow if we embrace it.  

Hebrews 12:7 (NLT)

7 As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father?

Hebrews 12:11 (NLT)

11 No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.

3. See beyond opinion.   Opinion has created a generation of dishonor.  Heir honor. Speak kindly of people.

Hebrews 12:10  (NLT)

10 For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness.

  

We must see correction not as rejection.  Correction is redirection. Heirs honor everyone.   

1 Timothy 5:17  (NLT)

17 Elders who do their work well should be respected and paid well,especially those who work hard at both preaching and teaching.  

4. See beyond yourself.  

 We are heirs.  We must build God's house.  

Ephesians 4:15-16  (NLT)

15 Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. 16 He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.

Layne Schranz, Church of the Highlands
https://www.churchofthehighlands.com/media/message/seeing-beyond