Read Genesis 27 http://tinyurl.com/dbx5c2
Jacob was deceitful and disagreeable. He manipulated circumstances in his life for his own gain. As a result of his deception he was forced to run away from his family in order to survive. God revealed himself in a night vision. Read Genesis 28:10-20 http://tinyurl.com/dhtrf6 As a result of this encounter Jacob knew he had a personal encounter withe God and his life would never be the same.
John 1:51 Before this is over you're going to see heaven open and God's angels descending to the Son of Man and ascending again."
This scripture promises hope for all. Many of us in our dependencies manipulate our life circumstances for our own gain and because things don't always go according to our plans like Jacob retreat (run away from reality). The Good NeWS for all of us is like Jacob we can also have personal encounters with God and through those encounters have our lives changed so we too can see God plan for us through Jesus ascension to Heaven.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Monday, April 13, 2009
Why do you continue to rebel?
Isaiah 1:5-6
“Why do you still want to be beaten? Why do you continue to rebel? Your whole head is infected. Your whole heart is failing. From the bottom of your feet to the top of your head there is no healthy spotleft on your body only bruises, sores, and fresh wounds. They haven’t been cleansed, bandaged, or soothed with oil."
STEP1. We admit we were powerless over the effects of our sin and that our lives have become unmanageable.
“Why do you still want to be beaten? Why do you continue to rebel? Your whole head is infected. Your whole heart is failing. From the bottom of your feet to the top of your head there is no healthy spotleft on your body only bruises, sores, and fresh wounds. They haven’t been cleansed, bandaged, or soothed with oil."
STEP1. We admit we were powerless over the effects of our sin and that our lives have become unmanageable.
Because the people of Judah were in denial and refused to admit their sins they continued to suffer. In our dependencies we deny our sins and refuse to admit our need of God, His cleansing and His forgiveness. In our addictions we often create destructive consequences as we try to manage our own lives. God wants us to know in the first step of recovery that we can rely on Him, face the truth and come out of denial.
In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths smooth. Proverbs 3:6
In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths smooth. Proverbs 3:6
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Romans 5:6-11
6Look at it this way: At the right time, while we were still helpless, Christ died for ungodly people. 7Finding someone who would die for a godly person is rare. Maybe someone would have the courage to die for a good person. 8Christ died for us while we were still sinners. This demonstrates God’s love for us.
9Since Christ’s blood has now given us God’s approval, we are even more certain that Christ will save us from God’s anger. 10If the death of his Son restored our relationship with God while we were still his enemies, we are even more certain that, because of this restored relationship, the life of his Son will save us. 11In addition, our Lord Jesus Christ lets us continue to brag about God. After all, it is through Christ that we now have this restored relationship with God.
I. WHILST WE WERE HELPLESS (POWERLESS) GOD SHOWED US LOVE
God’s love is forgiving: Luke 15:7
I can guarantee that there will be more happiness in heaven over one person who turns to God and changes the way he thinks and acts than over 99 people who already have turned to God and have his approval
God’s love is beyond measure: Romans 8:38-39
I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love which Christ Jesus our Lord shows us. We can’t be separated by death or life, by angels or rulers, by anything in the present or anything in the future, by forces or powers in the world above or in the world below, or by anything else in creation.
God’s love is sacrificial: John 3:16-17
God loved the world this way: He gave his only Son so that everyone who believes in him will not die but will have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but to save the world
George Eliot wrote, “The first condition of human goodness is something to love; the second is something to worship.”
Love is a command from God: James 2:8
You are doing right if you obey this law from the highest authority: “Love your neighbor as you love yourself
II. JESUS SACRIFICIAL DEATH (“HIS BLOOD”) MEANS WE ARE NOW APPROVED BY GOD.
God’s approval should be our highest priority: John 5:41-44
“I don’t accept praise from humans. But I know what kind of people you are. You don’t have any love for God. I have come with the authority my Father has given me, but you don’t accept me. If someone else comes with his own authority, you will accept him. How can you believe when you accept each other’s praise and don’t look for the praise that comes from the only God?
God’s approval comes through obedience to Christ: John 8:31-32
”If you live by what I say, you are truly my disciples. You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
Other people’s approval is not the same as God’s approval: When many people approve of us, we feel good, but that should never cloud our thinking or affect our decisions. We should not live to please the crowd - especially in our spiritual lives. We should also put our trust in God alone.
III. APPROVAL FROM GOD LEADS US TO REPENTANCE OF SIN.
Repentance demonstrates real faith: Romans 2:4
Do you have contempt for God, who is very kind to you, puts up with you, and deals patiently with you? Don’t you realize that it is God’s kindness that is trying to lead you to him and change the way you think and act?
Repentance makes inward changes a visible reality: Mark 2:22
People don’t pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the wine will make the skins burst, and both the wine and the skins will be ruined. Rather, new wine is to be poured into fresh skins.”
Repentance breaks the bondage of sin and sets us free:Psalm 68:6
God places lonely people in families. He leads prisoners out of prison into productive lives.
Things don’t change, we change - Henry David Thoreau
IV. REPENTANCE LEADS TO NEW LIFE.
New life is demonstrated through transformed life: 2 Corinthians 5:17
Whoever is a believer in Christ is a new creation. The old way of living has disappeared. A new way of living has come into existence
6Look at it this way: At the right time, while we were still helpless, Christ died for ungodly people. 7Finding someone who would die for a godly person is rare. Maybe someone would have the courage to die for a good person. 8Christ died for us while we were still sinners. This demonstrates God’s love for us.
9Since Christ’s blood has now given us God’s approval, we are even more certain that Christ will save us from God’s anger. 10If the death of his Son restored our relationship with God while we were still his enemies, we are even more certain that, because of this restored relationship, the life of his Son will save us. 11In addition, our Lord Jesus Christ lets us continue to brag about God. After all, it is through Christ that we now have this restored relationship with God.
I. WHILST WE WERE HELPLESS (POWERLESS) GOD SHOWED US LOVE
God’s love is forgiving: Luke 15:7
I can guarantee that there will be more happiness in heaven over one person who turns to God and changes the way he thinks and acts than over 99 people who already have turned to God and have his approval
God’s love is beyond measure: Romans 8:38-39
I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love which Christ Jesus our Lord shows us. We can’t be separated by death or life, by angels or rulers, by anything in the present or anything in the future, by forces or powers in the world above or in the world below, or by anything else in creation.
God’s love is sacrificial: John 3:16-17
God loved the world this way: He gave his only Son so that everyone who believes in him will not die but will have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but to save the world
George Eliot wrote, “The first condition of human goodness is something to love; the second is something to worship.”
Love is a command from God: James 2:8
You are doing right if you obey this law from the highest authority: “Love your neighbor as you love yourself
II. JESUS SACRIFICIAL DEATH (“HIS BLOOD”) MEANS WE ARE NOW APPROVED BY GOD.
God’s approval should be our highest priority: John 5:41-44
“I don’t accept praise from humans. But I know what kind of people you are. You don’t have any love for God. I have come with the authority my Father has given me, but you don’t accept me. If someone else comes with his own authority, you will accept him. How can you believe when you accept each other’s praise and don’t look for the praise that comes from the only God?
God’s approval comes through obedience to Christ: John 8:31-32
”If you live by what I say, you are truly my disciples. You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
Other people’s approval is not the same as God’s approval: When many people approve of us, we feel good, but that should never cloud our thinking or affect our decisions. We should not live to please the crowd - especially in our spiritual lives. We should also put our trust in God alone.
III. APPROVAL FROM GOD LEADS US TO REPENTANCE OF SIN.
Repentance demonstrates real faith: Romans 2:4
Do you have contempt for God, who is very kind to you, puts up with you, and deals patiently with you? Don’t you realize that it is God’s kindness that is trying to lead you to him and change the way you think and act?
Repentance makes inward changes a visible reality: Mark 2:22
People don’t pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the wine will make the skins burst, and both the wine and the skins will be ruined. Rather, new wine is to be poured into fresh skins.”
Repentance breaks the bondage of sin and sets us free:Psalm 68:6
God places lonely people in families. He leads prisoners out of prison into productive lives.
Things don’t change, we change - Henry David Thoreau
IV. REPENTANCE LEADS TO NEW LIFE.
New life is demonstrated through transformed life: 2 Corinthians 5:17
Whoever is a believer in Christ is a new creation. The old way of living has disappeared. A new way of living has come into existence
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Leaving Loserville
Loserville Is State of Mind
- A place where you retreat to when life seems to hard.
- An addiction you turn to to cope with daily living.
- A mask that you wear because you eother don't know or don't like the real you.
- Face the truth about your self.
- Get involved in a good 12 Step Recovery group.
- Apply the 12 Steps to your daily living.
- Acknowldege Jesus Christ as your one true Higher Power.
- Accept that He can and will help you recover.
- Daily conversation with Jesus Christ.
- Regular attendance at meetings.
- Obedience to God's leading in your life.
- Sharing your faith in Him with others in need of recovery.
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