(Romans 12:2 NLT) Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world,
but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you
think. Then you will know what God wants you to do…
(1 Corinthians 3:18 NLT) Stop fooling yourselves. If you think you are
wise by this world’s standards, you will have to become a fool so you
can become wise by God’s standards…
COVENANT SINGLES
(Song of Solomon 8:6) Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal
on your arm; for love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the
grave. It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame.
(Song of Solomon 8:8-10) We have a young sister, and her breasts are
not yet grown. What shall we do for our sister for the day she is spoken
for? If she is a wall, we will build towers of silver on her. If she is a door,
we will enclose her with panels of cedar. I am a wall, and my breasts are
like towers. Thus I have become in his eyes like one bringing
contentment.
Covenant preparation.
(2 Corinthians 3:18) And we…are being transformed into his
likeness with ever-increasing glory…
(Luke 2:52) And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor
with God and men.
Covenant purity.
(Job 31:1) I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a
girl.
(2 Corinthians 6:14-15) Do not be yoked together with
unbelievers…What does a believer have in common with an
unbeliever?
Covenant pursuit.
(2 Corinthians 6:17-7:1) Therefore come out from them and be
separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive
you.
I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and
daughters, says the Lord Almighty.
Since we have these promises,
dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that
contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence
for God.
IS IT TOO LATE?
(Titus 3:3-7 MSG) It wasn't so long ago that we ourselves were stupid
and stubborn, dupes of sin, ordered every which way by our glands,
going around with a chip on our shoulder, hated and hating back.
But
when God, our kind and loving Savior God, stepped in, he saved us from
all that. It was all his doing; we had nothing to do with it. He gave us a
good bath, and we came out of it new people, washed inside and out by
the Holy Spirit.
Our Savior Jesus poured out new life so generously.
God's gift has restored our relationship with him and given us back our
lives. And there's more life to come—an eternity of life!
1. Confess sincerely.
(1 John 1:9 NLT) 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.
2. Repent fully.
(Luke 9:61-62 NLT) Another said, “Yes, Lord, I will follow you, but
first let me say good-bye to my family.” But Jesus told him,
“Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit
for the Kingdom of God.”
3. Commit wholeheartedly.
(Jeremiah 29:11-14) “For I know the plans I have for you," declares
the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give
you hope and a future.
Then you will call upon me and come and
pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me
when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,"
declares the Lord, "and will bring you back from captivity…
Video
https://www.churchofthehighlands.com/media/message/covenant-singles
Discussion Guide
https://www.churchofthehighlands.com/files/groups/guides/10-30-11.pdf
Chris Hodges, Church of the Highlands
Showing posts with label purity. Show all posts
Showing posts with label purity. Show all posts
Monday, February 18, 2019
Friday, February 15, 2019
Unmasking our Dark Side
Behind the Mask
(John 3:20) “Everyone who does evil hates the
light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be
exposed.”
We have an opportunity.
(Genesis 4:7) “…sin is crouching at your door; it
desires to have you, but you must master it.”
We take a look.
(James 1:14) “Each one is tempted when, by his own
evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed.”
We begin to reason.
(John 8:44) “When he (Satan) lies, he speaks his
native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”
We take a step.
(James 1:15) “Then, after desire has conceived, it
gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.”
We start the cycle.
(Romans 7:18-19) “…For I have the desire to do
what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want
to do; no, the evil I do not want to do--this I keep on doing.”
Unmasking our Dark Side
(1 John 1:5-10) “God is light; in him there is no
darkness at all…If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the
truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will
forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have
not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our
lives.”
1. Run.
(2 Timothy 2:22) “Flee the evil desires of youth,
and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on
the Lord out of a pure heart. “
2. Be accountable.
(Proverbs 28:13) “He who conceals his sins does
not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.”
3. Take precautions.
(Proverbs 5:8) “Keep to a path far from her, do
not go near the door of her house.”
4. Make Jesus Lord of my life.
(Romans 6:12-14) “Therefore do not let sin reign
in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer the parts
of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves
to God...For sin shall not be your master…”
(John 8:12) When Jesus spoke again to the people,
he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in
darkness, but will have the light of life.”
Today, I make a fresh commitment to spiritual,
moral, ethical, and sexual purity.
Video
Discussion Guide
Chris Hodges, Church of the Highlands
Sunday, January 20, 2019
Why can't I feel God's presence?
If you want to carry God's anointing, you have to regulate what comes into your life.
Chris Hodges
Chris Hodges
Save Your Soul
Save your soul(which is your mind, will, and emotions) from what you look at and what your hear. Don't look at or listen to ungodly things.
Chris Hodges
Chris Hodges
The Best Version of You
To get the best version of you, regulate what goes into your eyes and ears.
Chris Hodges
Chris Hodges
Friday, November 30, 2018
Garbage in Garbage out
If you are struggling in an area, put in something that will strengthen you in your weak area.
Take an inventory on what you are feeding your mind.
Avoid people who gossip, are negative, and are critical.
Watch out, or you'll pick up their attitudes.
Avoid destructive TV shows, music, and video games.
If you allow them, they will bring you down. Satan is trying to drag you down.
Viewing movies with nudity, violence, and bad language is like digging around in a garbage can while looking for something good.
It chips away at your values.
What you eat will eventually become you.
In the same way, what you look at and hear will eventually show up in your behavior.
Sex is what sells in our society.
We should only think upon things that are pure and wholesome.
What you sow will eventually show up in your actions.
It desensitizes you to it.
Don't watch programs of people cheating on their spouses.
You'll eventually think that it's okay.
TV likes to match up people who are not married.
In Matthew 12:35, Jesus warned about what we put into our hearts.
Change the channel when something bad comes on. The mind can take things in that we are not aware of.
Just don't leave the TV on in the background. Your mind will pick it out.
Be on guard of video games because they devalue life.
God will hold you responsible for what you allow your children to do.
Don't use TV as a baby sitter.
Flip off bad commercials during ball games.
Things that we watch are being recording in our minds.
Be careful of what you allow inside the temple of your body.
You may not be able to do everything that your friends are doing.
Think about Samson. God had a divine purpose for Samson's life.
He had a weakness in his character, which was he couldn't control what he looked at.
He couldn't keep his mind on the right things.
He lived in mediocrity.
God allowed the Philistines to puck out his eyes.
Take an inventory of what you are putting into your mind.
Find yourself good things to watch.
(notes from Joel Osteen)
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