Sunday, December 26, 2010
*.* Never Lose Heart *.*
Pastor Chris Hodges – Church of the Highlands
Alabama, USA
So I Hated Life
I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labor. Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun… So I hated life, because the work that is done under the sun was grievous to me. All of it is meaningless, a chasing after the wind. Ecclesiastes 2:10-11, 17
I’m frustrated.
…Life is useless, all useless. You spend your life working... but what do you have to show for it? ... The world stays just the same. Ecclesiastes 1:2-4 GNT
I’m tired.
The sun still rises, and it still goes down... the wind blows… round and round and back again. Every river flows into the sea... [then] the water returns to where the rivers began and starts all over again. Everything leads to weariness – a weariness too great for words... Ecclesiastes 1:5-8 GNT
I’m unfulfilled.
…No matter how much we see, we're never satisfied. No matter how much we hear, we're not content. History merely repeats itself... Ecclesiastes 1:8-9 NLT
Focus on the Eternal
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18
1. Pray.
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. Colossians 3:1-2
2. Serve.
Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life... John 6:27
3. Give.
They share freely and give generously to those in need. Their good deeds will be remembered forever. They will have influence and honor. Psalm 112:9 NLT
4. Share Christ.
…Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith… Hebrews 12:1-2
TALK IT OVER
On a scale of 1-10, how much would you say you love life right now? How did you land on that number-was it from being frustrated, tired, or unfulfilled?
What truths from the Bible do you need to find to outweigh your problems? How will you go about that?
How will you do all four things this week to refocus your mind on the eternal?
It's been a busy week, but taking time to talk it over with someone can help you take your next step toward loving life again. Find more at www.lifechurch.tv/talkitover.
Me blogged @ | 6:48 AM
Monday, December 13, 2010
*.* MULTIPLY - 2 *.*
PRINCIPLES OF MULTIPLICATION
Pastor Robert Morris, Gateway Church – TX, USA
When the day began to wear away, the twelve came and said to Him, "Send the multitude away, that they may go into the surrounding towns and country, and lodge and get provisions; for we are in a deserted place here." 13 But He said to them, "You give them something to eat." And they said, "We have no more than five loaves and two fish, unless we go and buy food for all these people." 14 For there were about five thousand men. And He said to His disciples, "Make them sit down in groups of fifty." 15 And they did so, and made them all sit down. 16 Then He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the multitude. 17 So they all ate and were filled, and twelve baskets of the leftover fragments were taken up by them. Luke 9:12-17 NKJV
1. It has to be blessed before it can multiply.
2. It has to be given away before it can multiply.
TALK IT OVER
Share a time when you saw God bless someone’s generosity.
What would you be willing to give to see God bless your finances?
What is your first step towards seeing God’s power to multiply in your life?
Talk it over with someone who will help you put God first this week. Watch a Talk It Over video or download a LifeGroup study guide at www.lifechurch.tv/talkitover.
Me blogged @ | 6:57 PM
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
*.* MULTIPLY - 1 *.*
GOD MUST BE FIRST
Pastor Robert Morris, Gateway Church – TX, USA
Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2 "Consecrate to Me all the firstborn, whatever opens the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and beast; it is Mine." Exodus 13:1-2 NKJV
That you shall set apart to the LORD all that open the womb, that is, every firstborn that comes from an animal which you have; the males shall be the LORD's. 13 But every firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb; and if you will not redeem it, then you shall break its neck. And all the firstborn of man among your sons you shall redeem. Exodus 13:12-13 NKJV
1. The Firstborn Must Be Sacrificed or Redeemed
2. The Firstfruits Must Be Offered
The first of the firstfruits of your land you shall bring into the house of the LORD your God. God will never be on second only first! Exodus 23:19 NKJV
Honor the LORD with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase; 10 So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine. Proverbs 3:9-10 NKJV
And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the LORD. 4 Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the LORD respected Abel and his offering, 5 but He did not respect Cain and his offering. Genesis 4:3-5 NKJV
3. The Tithe Must Be First
The tithe is first. we should take it out of our gross rather than our net.
And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD's. It is holy to the LORD. Leviticus 27:30 NKJV
Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also: 2 On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come. 1 Corinthians 16:1-2 NKJV
So it shall be, when your son asks you in time to come, saying, 'What is this?' that you shall say to him, 'By strength of hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 15 And it came to pass, when Pharaoh was stubborn about letting us go, that the LORD killed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man and the firstborn of beast. Therefore I sacrifice to the LORD all males that open the womb, but all the firstborn of my sons I redeem.’ Exodus 13:14-15 NKJV
Talk It Over
What are some areas where you see that you haven’t put God first?
What point from the message really stuck out to you the most? How did it speak to you?
Is God first in your life? What are you going to do about that question this week?
Me blogged @ | 5:28 PM
