Click here to download the sermon file.
Notes from February 24, 2008
1. Believers are commanded to be filled with the Spirit (i.e. to willingly place themselves under the control of the Holy Spirit). Ephesians 5:18
2. The issue is not how much of the Holy Spirit do we have (we will never have more of the Holy Spirit than we do at the moment of salvation). The issue is how much of us does the Holy Spirit have?
3. The conditions for being filled with the Spirit are: we must deal with sin in our lives (Ephesians 4:30); we must acknowledge God’s right to our lives and consciously yield to God (Romans 12:1; 6:13; Galatians 2:20); and we must live a life of dependence allowing the Spirit to have full control (Galatians 5:16).
4. The results of and evidences of being filled with the Spirit are: Christlike character (Galatians 5:22,23); worship, praise and thanksgiving (Ephesians 5:19,20); and right relationships in marriage, the home on the job and in the church (Ephesians 5:21ff).
Friday, February 29, 2008
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
How to Maintain Your Spiritual Edge, Part 4
Click here to download the sermon file.
Recap of the sermon from February 17, 2008:
Rick Warren in his book, The Purpose-Driven Life, suggests the following steps in overcoming temptation:
-refuse to be intimidated, all are tempted (1 Corinthians 10:13)
-recognize your pattern of temptation and be prepared for it (when, where, in what situations, and who are you with when you are tempted?)
-request God’s help (Hebrews 4:15,16)
-re-focus your attention on something else (Philippians 4:8)
-reveal your struggle to a godly friend or group (Ecclesiastes 4:11.12)
-resist the devil (1 Peter 5:8; James 4:7)
-realize your vulnerability (1 Corinthians 10:1-12, especially 12)
Recap of the sermon from February 17, 2008:
Rick Warren in his book, The Purpose-Driven Life, suggests the following steps in overcoming temptation:
-refuse to be intimidated, all are tempted (1 Corinthians 10:13)
-recognize your pattern of temptation and be prepared for it (when, where, in what situations, and who are you with when you are tempted?)
-request God’s help (Hebrews 4:15,16)
-re-focus your attention on something else (Philippians 4:8)
-reveal your struggle to a godly friend or group (Ecclesiastes 4:11.12)
-resist the devil (1 Peter 5:8; James 4:7)
-realize your vulnerability (1 Corinthians 10:1-12, especially 12)
Monday, February 11, 2008
How to Maintain Your Spiritual Edge, Part 3
Click here to download the sermon file.
Recap of February 10, 2008
1. Every temptation is an opportunity to do good, to grow into the character of Jesus Christ. It is as much an opportunity to do the right thing, as to do the wrong thing. (Rick Warren, The Purpose Driven Life)
2. Temptation in itself is not sin. It’s what we do with the temptation. Jesus was tempted, yet He was without sin.
3. Sin begins in the thought life, the heart. James 1:13-15; Matthew 15:16-19
4. Satan’s part in temptation is to cause us to doubt the seriousness of sin or to question, misuse and misquote the Word of God. This can clearly be seen in Genesis 3 and Matthew 4.
5. Three areas of temptation we face are: temptation to fulfill a legitimate need in an illegitimate way; temptation to test God rather than believe Him; and temptation to seek success without holiness.
“Maintaining Your Spiritual Edge” (pt. 4)
(selected Scripture)
1. Do I have a regular daily time with God where I replenish my spiritual resources? Mark 1:21-35
2. Is there someone I need to forgive? Am I holding a grudge? Matthew 18:21-35; Ephesians 4:22-32
3. Is there something in my life (an attitude, an activity) of which God cannot approve? Romans 6:2, 11-14
Recap of February 10, 2008
1. Every temptation is an opportunity to do good, to grow into the character of Jesus Christ. It is as much an opportunity to do the right thing, as to do the wrong thing. (Rick Warren, The Purpose Driven Life)
2. Temptation in itself is not sin. It’s what we do with the temptation. Jesus was tempted, yet He was without sin.
3. Sin begins in the thought life, the heart. James 1:13-15; Matthew 15:16-19
4. Satan’s part in temptation is to cause us to doubt the seriousness of sin or to question, misuse and misquote the Word of God. This can clearly be seen in Genesis 3 and Matthew 4.
5. Three areas of temptation we face are: temptation to fulfill a legitimate need in an illegitimate way; temptation to test God rather than believe Him; and temptation to seek success without holiness.
“Maintaining Your Spiritual Edge” (pt. 4)
(selected Scripture)
1. Do I have a regular daily time with God where I replenish my spiritual resources? Mark 1:21-35
2. Is there someone I need to forgive? Am I holding a grudge? Matthew 18:21-35; Ephesians 4:22-32
3. Is there something in my life (an attitude, an activity) of which God cannot approve? Romans 6:2, 11-14
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
How to Maintain Your Spiritual Edge, Part 2
Click here to download the sermon file.
Recap of Part 2 from February 3, 2008
(credit for the outline to Selwyn Hughes, Every Day Light: Water for the Soul)
1. On the basis of God’s forgiveness of our enormous debt of sin against Him at the cross, we are to forgive others without limit.
2. Having an unforgiving spirit produces negative consequences in our lives; physically, emotionally and spiritually.
3. Those we may need to forgive: parents; ourselves; God; our mate; those in authority over us; others. (source: Happiness is a Choice).
4. We forgive by: admitting our hurt, anger or bitterness; asking God for His grace and help; forgiving, yielding up, letting go of our hurt by an act of the will; foregoing the right to strike back; replacing feeling of resentment and anger with good will seeking the good of the other person, not harm; and by taking steps to start over at an appropriate time.
Recap of Part 2 from February 3, 2008
(credit for the outline to Selwyn Hughes, Every Day Light: Water for the Soul)
1. On the basis of God’s forgiveness of our enormous debt of sin against Him at the cross, we are to forgive others without limit.
2. Having an unforgiving spirit produces negative consequences in our lives; physically, emotionally and spiritually.
3. Those we may need to forgive: parents; ourselves; God; our mate; those in authority over us; others. (source: Happiness is a Choice).
4. We forgive by: admitting our hurt, anger or bitterness; asking God for His grace and help; forgiving, yielding up, letting go of our hurt by an act of the will; foregoing the right to strike back; replacing feeling of resentment and anger with good will seeking the good of the other person, not harm; and by taking steps to start over at an appropriate time.
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