Sunday, June 27, 2021

How to honor

1.  We honor by putting others first. 

Malachi 1:6

New International Version

 

“A son honors his father, and a slave his master. If I am a father, where is the honor due me? If I am a master, where is the respect due me?” says the Lord Almighty.

“It is you priests who show contempt for my name.

“But you ask, ‘How have we shown contempt for your name?’


2. We honor by our words.


James 3:9-10

New International Version

With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.

 

Ephesians 4:29-30

New International Version

29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

 

3. We honor by protecting them.  

John 7:18

New International Version

Whoever speaks on their own does so to gain personal glory, but he who seeks the glory of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him.

 


Honor who?

Romans 12:10

English Standard Version

1 Peter 2:17

English Standard Version

Romans 13:1-2

New International Version

Ephesians 6:2-3

New International Version

Hebrews 13:4

New International Version

1 Peter 3:7

New Living Translation 

Leviticus 19:32

New Living Translation

New International Version

Malachi 1:6

New International Version

“A son honors his father, and a slave his master. If I am a father, where is the honor due me? If I am a master, where is the respect due me?” says the Lord Almighty.

Sunday, June 6, 2021

The Purpose of Pain

The greatest lessons of life are almost always taught in the classroom of suffering.  Where does pain come from?  It does not come from God, but God is the pain taker.  


John 10:10

English Standard Version

10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I (Jesus) came that they may have life and have it abundantly. 

 

Where does Satan target us for pain.  He targets our weaknesses.  Weakness is another name for our blindspots. Areas that we do not see.  Satan also targets our pride.  Areas that we think that we are strong.  We need people who tell us what we need.  



 

Hebrews 12:1

New Living Translation

 

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.

 

James 4:6

New Living Translation

And he gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say,

“God opposes the proud
    but gives grace to the humble.


1 John 1:9

New Living Translation

But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.

 

James 5:16

New Living Translation

16 Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.

 

2 Corinthians 11:24-29

New International Version

24 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. 27 I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. 28 Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn?

 

2 Corinthians 12:7-10

New International Version

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. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 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.


Friday, June 4, 2021

Decisions that define us

 Read in the Bible Joshua 24:16-23

 

Not choosing is choosing.

 

1. Big decisions impact small decisions.


2. Small decisions can have big impact. 


3. Everyday decisions have spiritual outcome.


4.  Spiritual decisions are generational. 


Ask what's at stake here?  

Choices lead.  Feelings follow. 

 

Read in the Bible Jude 1:3, 20-23.

 

1.  Choose to give life wherever you go.

 

Read in the Bible Matthew 5:13.

 

2. Let's choose the supernatural over the natural. 


3.  Let's define healthy relationships and choose them. 

 

Are you going to be a victim or a victor?  


We must forgive before we are offended.  

Mercy is not receiving what we deserve.

 

4.  Let's boldly build the kingdom of God.  We must come and see and go and tell.  

 

Read in the Bible Acts 5:42.    

Signs of the times

 There will be an increase of wickedness (Matthew 24:9-13, 36,  2 Timothy 3:1-5).  There will be world wide satellite technology (Revelation...