3/9/2011, 3/16/2011

Job 32:1-36:33

I’ve combined both of these sermons into one post since it’s been quite some time since I have posted. Sorry about that…

• Don’t cause your friends (or anyone else) to stumble. Job’s friends failed to put themselves in Jobs’ place and failed to shut up. They also caused him to say risky things. Don’t be the reason for this in your friends’ lives.
• One of the great advantages we have over Job in reading this book is that we know the end of the story.
• Elihu focuses so much on the sovereignty of God that he doesn’t leave any room for any of the other attributes of Him. Yes, God is sovereign, but He is also loving, all-knowing, just, graceful, and so much more. Don’t put God in a box.
• When we are persecuted, we may have to turn the other cheek, but we never have to change our doctrine if it’s right. The truth is not up for debate.
• It’s never good to give the devil a microphone. Just don’t do it.
• The gullible get devoured. It takes work to be a Christian. It took a bloody cross to start it, so why would we think it was going to be easy?
• Serving the Lord is serious. It’s not always convenient, but it is worth it. It involves sacrifice, but it doesn’t have to involve misery.
• Don’t be a toxic Christian. Don’t judge people for not living up to your standards.
• There is contention in this world. Against God or against sin. Pick which side you are on.
• Practice what you preach. God can give you something in private that you screw up in public. Just don’t.
• Don’t be a know-it-all who wants to do good. They are problems.
• Being self-existent is a job requirement for being God.
• You don’t have to defend [protect] God. Preach the truth when the door is opened.
• When we get to heaven, we will not just be sanctified. We will be glorified as well.
• Don’t be someone who has to be heard under all circumstances. Job’s friends didn’t know God’s plan, but they still spoke up.
• Making someone else feel small so you can feel big is addictive to the flesh, but that doesn’t make it right.
• Just because a catastrophe happens doesn’t mean God is judging a nation or a group of people.
• Satan is an accuser of the brethren. He will try to make you feel like you have done something wrong, even if you haven’t. Don’t listen to him! Listen to God!
• “men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.” – John 3:19
• Many heroes of the faith felt that it was a bigger sacrifice to not sacrifice their time, love, and life to the Lord. Do you feel the same way?
• The just shall live by faith (Habakkuk 2:4; Romans 1:17); We walk by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7) – you don’t have to feel God’s presence in your life. Live by faith.
• We don’t have to get everyone to come to our church. We can fellowship with those who do not go to the same church or share every tiny detail of doctrine with us, but we must agree on who Jesus is.

Sketches of the Christian Life–3/5/2011

Deuteronomy 11:10-12

“For the land which you go to possess is not like the land of Egypt from which you have come, where you sowed your seed and watered it by foot, as a vegetable garden; but the land which you cross over to possess is a land of hills and valleys, which drinks water from the rain of heaven”

• God uses what you understand.
• The book of Joshua is more than just a history story. It is also a parallel to our crossing over into the Christian life.
• The battles of the Christian life (against the world, ourselves, Satan, etc.) won’t end until we get home, in Heaven.
• The Jews leaving Egypt is symbolic of the death of a life in bondage. Their entering the promised land is symbolic of the death of a meaningless life. The Jews fighting to rid the land of Canaan of wickedness is like our fighting to rid our lives of sin.
• Don’t lose sight of the love we are to have for the lost.
• The flesh will not die of natural causes. Period. It must be crucified every day!
• The Christian life isn’t a playground – it’s more of a battleground.
• When we come to Christ, our flesh and the world chase us. They are trying not to let us go. Resist it!
• Not only is God sovereign and true, but He also loves us.
• We have a responsibility to fight for what God has promised us. It will not all be handed to us.
• Drive your giants out of your life like the Israelites had to drive the giants out of the promised land!
• Expect and be prepared for ups and downs. But know that Jesus has overcome the world!
• Our bodies are broken because they house sin. Jesus’ body was broken to take our sin, so we may stand blameless before God Almighty.
• People don’t have to believe in God to benefit from His grace.
• You always have something to aim for. Strive to be like Jesus!
• It is not advisable to have question marks in your life with God.
• Is God real to you?
• God will provide for His people until the end.
• We should all be FAR more concerned with our sin footprint than we are with our carbon footprint.
• “Having a lab coat does not make you my god!” – Pastor Rick.
• Say you’re a Christian, but live like a devil? Expect the consequences.

God bless! ><>

3/2/2011

Job 30:20-31:40

• Self-examination: Where am I with You, Lord?
• The just shall live by faith. We have faith in God, even though we may not understand His ways. We don’t have to understand. He is God. He understands.
• If I lost it all, would my hands stay lifted to the God who gives and takes away? If You take it all, this live You’ve given, still my heart will sing to You!
  - I’m Still Yours, Kutless
• When we abide in Christ, nothing can hurt us in judgment.
• “The wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” – James 1:20
• God is merciful when we stumble. That’s grace.
• The love of God involves a reverent fear.
• Even when God does not answer your prayers right away, you are not insignificant to Him. You are not a heap of ruins. He hears your every cry. Be patient, He will rescue you!
• “I will rejoice in Yahweh!”
• I don’t know how I will physically survive, but I do know how I will spiritually survive!
• Stop being so focused on what YOU want and start focusing on what GOD wants for you.
• Resist the devil and he will flee from you. But maybe not right away. And he will probably come back. Lean on God!
• It is way easier to keep a bird out of your house than it is to get the bird out once it is there. Likewise, it is way easier to not sin than it is to stop sinning. Resist temptation!
• Set your life to sail towards righteousness!
• God is just and fair. He will deal with sin. In His time.
• Watch that in your zeal you do not become the devil’s puppet.

Dead to sin, alive in Christ!

“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How can we who died to sin live any longer in it?”
– Romans 6:1-2

“What then, shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? Certainly not!”
– Romans 6:15

We, as Christians, are to be dead to sin. Before we were saved, we were in bondage to sin. But Jesus paid the ransom for us and now we are free! Why then would we go back??? Just because there is grace doesn’t mean that we should take advantage of that!

If you read Romans 6, you will find that Paul speaks a lot about being a slave. Whose slave are you? We don’t have to be slaves to sin, we have been set free! “And having been set free from sin, you became slaves to righteousness” (Romans 6:18).

Fight against your sin! Ask Jesus for help; He is there for you! He will never ever leave you! It is a struggle, but it is worth it!

“But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.”
– Romans 6:22