Archive for The Nature of God
God’s Fathering Tips – Father’s Day Sermon
Posted by: | CommentsGod's Fathering Tips
by Eddie Lawrence
Let's look at four great tips from the Bible that remind us what God does as our Father and will help us be better fathers as well.
1. Patience
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us,[b] not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
God is so patient as our Heavenly Father. He withholds His judgement as He waits for people to repent.
-We should be careful about losing our patience with our children.
-When we are patient with out children, we create a safe envirnoment where they feel free to discover the treaures in life. If we intimidate and fill them with only fear, then we can shut them down. We shut down their creativity, their desire to explore and discover, the desire to soar.
-Good fathers understand the difference between immaturity and rebellion and allow their children to stumble into maturity.
-How long as God been patient with you as you have tried to get things right in a certain area of struggle.
Illus-In a recent article Billy Grahman commented about his relationship with his son, Franklin, "
In a radio interview not many years ago, Franklin told about his rebel years of drinking, drugs, smoking, girls, and fast driving. These were things he said his mother and I knew nothing about—or so he thought. And he said he never forgot a conversation I had with him in Lausanne, Switzerland, in 1974. I assured him of our love, no matter what he did, where he went, or how he ended up.
He knew that he could always phone us, collect, from anywhere in the world, and that whenever he wanted to come home, the door would always be open. He also knew we would never stop praying for him. It was actually during a trip to the Middle East, while in Jerusalem, that he made his firm decision to follow Christ."
2. Provision
Mattew 6:26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?
He is Jehovah Jireh, our Provider. He is the Shepherd of Ps 23 that says "we shall not lack." He is the God of Phil. 4:10 that promises to supply all our needs. He is the loving Father of Matthew 6 that feeds the birds and promises to feed us.
-Good fathers desire to and work hard to provide for their children. The natural things and the spiritual things. Natural food and spiritual food. Natural clothes and spiritual clothes.
-God provides for our needs. In kindness and mercy He even sends rain on the unjust as well.
-There are times when we as fathers need to respond to "wrong" in our kids with kindness and mercy.
3. Protection
Hebrews 12:5 And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons:
“ My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD,
Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him;
6 For whom the LORD loves He chastens,
And scourges every son whom He receives.”[a]
7 If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? 8 But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. 9 Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. 11 Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
Illus–Most of us have had heard our Dads say, "I'm doing this for your own good. It hurts me more than it hurts you." We thought, "Yeah, sure Dad!" but now we realize that it was trud.
The father who does not care, does not correct.
Father God is our strong tower and shield. He protects us in som many ways:
A. Intervention – He gets between us and what the Devil is up to and delivers us through a way of escape (1 Cor. 10:13). As good fathers, we should teach our children how to recognize the way of escape when they are faced with temptation. We do this by talking with them and giving them examples of how to handle different scenarios. We share times that we got out of temptation and the times we failed and what it cost us.
B. Correction – Yes correction is a way that God shows us His love and teaches us to avoid something worse later on. Good fathers will correct their children out of love and use the correction as a teaching tool for their future benefit. Just yelling, spanking, and threatening with do little good and possibly a lot of damage.
4. Permanence
Romans 8:31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written:
“ For Your sake we are killed all day long;
We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”[c]
37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
-The above passage, like no other, tells us that God loves us with a steadfast undying love. He is not going to bail out on us. He can be depended on through thick and thin.
-Good fathers will demonstrate to their children that they will walk through the good times and bad times with them. They will walk through the fire for them. They will go to the cross for them. This is what our Heavenly Father did for us.
-This persevering love will teach our children the true value of relationships and life and love.
-Good Fathers are willing to forgive.
-Good Fathers are willing to repent.
-Good Fathers are willing to sacrifice in order to help their kids.
Conclusion: Let us endeavor to be patient fathers, fathers who provide what our kids need in the natural and the spiritual, fathers who protect and correct, fathers who go the distance in love. If we do these things, we will be better fathers.
____
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Eleven Names to Shout About – sermon on praise
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ELEVEN NAMES TO SHOUT ABOUT
By Eddie Lawrence
The following is a simple sermon outline about praising the Divine names of God. It focuses on the compound Divine names and can be used to teach people about praise, prayer, and the nature of God all in one sermon. Of course, they all point to the Jesus and what He has done for us.
Learn to Voice and Praise God using the various names we find attributed to God in Scripture. They tell us something about His nature and character. They give us insight into what He does for us. The compound names sometimes referred to as the Jehovah names are full of application and meaning for us. They also point to Jesus as He was God come in human flesh.
1. Jehovah Jireh means God will provide.
Genesis 22:14 And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-jireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen.
-When you need provision praise Him as Jehovah Jireh.
2. Jehovah Rophe means God is the one who heals.
Exodus 15:26 And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in His sight, and wilt give ear to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD That healeth thee.
-When you need healing praise Him as Jehovah Rophe.
3. Jehovah Nissi means God is our banner, our victory.
Exodus 17:15 And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovah-nissi: 16 For he said, Because the LORD hath sworn that the LORD will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.
-When you are in battle praise Him as Jehovah Nissi.
4.Jehovah Mekaddish means God is our sanctifier.
Exodus 31:13 Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily My sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the LORD That doth sanctify you. See also Leviticus 20:8; 21:8; 22:32 Ezekiel 20:12
-When you are in need of cleansing and you have confessed your sin, praise Him as Jehovah Mekaddish.
5. Jehovah Shalom means God is our peace.
Judges 6:23 And the LORD said unto him, Peace be unto thee; fear not: thou shalt not die. 24 Then Gideon built an altar there unto the LORD, and called it Jehovah-shalom: unto this day it is yet in Ophrah of the Abi-ezrites.
-When you sense confusion and distraction praise Him as Jehovah Shalom.
6. Jehovah Sabboath means He is the God of hosts.
1 Samuel 1:3 And this man went up out of his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice unto the LORD of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the LORD, were there.
-When you feel intimated or fearful praise Him as Jehovah Sabboath.
7. Jehovah Rohi means God is my shepherd.
Psalms 23:1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
-When you are needing direction or you feel uncertain and unsafe, praise Him as Jehovah Rohi.
8. Jehovah Sidkenu means God is our righteousness.
Jeremiah 5 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. 6 In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is His name whereby He shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. See also Jeremiah 33:16
-When the enemy accuses you praise Him as Jehovah Sidkenu.
9. Jehovah Elyon means the God Most High.
Psalms 7:17 I will praise the LORD according to His righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the LORD MOST HIGH. See also Psalms 47:2; 97:9
-When you feel overwhelmed, praise Him as Jehovah Elyon.
10. Jehovah Shammah means God is present.
Ezekiel 48:35 It was round about eighteen thousand measures: and the name of the city from that day shall be, The LORD is there.
-When you feel isolated, abandoned, or alone, praise Him as Jehovah Shammah.
11. Jesus means Jehovah Saves.
Matthew 1:21And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
We pray now through the name of Jesus. All the other names mentioned find their fulfillment for our lives through the Lord Jesus Christ. Think of how God has provided for us through Christ. He heals us through Christ. Christ is our peace. Christ is our sanctifier. Jesus is our victory and so forth. He embodied these truths as God in human flesh who offered Himself for us.
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Favor With God — sermon
Posted by: | CommentsFavor with God, a sermon about favor with God and how it unfolds in our lives.
by Eddie Lawrence
Text: Luke 1:6 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!” 29 But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. 30 Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS…..38 Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her. (NKJV)
1. An Announcement from God (v26-28)
-Mary was made aware that God was speaking to her. In her case, it was an angel. God has a way of getting our attention when He desires to call us into action for His plans and purposes.
-(List the ways that God can speak to us and briefly share those here in the sermon)
2. A Response of Fear (v29-30)
-Mary was troubled and afraid. We too are initially afraid when God begins revealing what He wants to do. Even God speaking to us can be an intense experience that rattles us.
-(Share a time the Lord spoke to you and you were afraid when you considered what was happening.)
3. A Promise of Favor (v28-29)
-Twice the Lord lets Mary know He has come to favor her. It is important for us to know that God’s intentions for us are always in our best interest. It is a sign of favor when the Lord invites you into what He is doing.
-(share a story of someone who experienced God’s favor because of stepping into God’s plans)
4. A Conception and Birthing
-Mary was told she would conceive and birth a child. With us, there is also the development within us of what God wants to do. It is a step into a process. As we faithfully carry it, it will be brought forth.
-(share how it is important to be patient and allow God to develop things. Use other biblical examples here)
5. A Response of Faith (v38)
-Mary heard, overcame her fear and said "Yes, be it unto me!" She demonstrated faith and obedience.
-Call for people to say yes to what God is speaking to them.
6. A Focus on Jesus (v31)
-Mary’s call was to birth the Christ child.
-When God is at work in us, it is always about forming Christ in us and making him known to others. For us to live is Christ!!!
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Do You Love Like God Loves? – Devotional + sermon outline
Posted by: | Commentsby Mikki Lawrence
…love one another fervently with a pure heart. 1 Peter 1:22
Let brotherly love continue. Hebrews 13:1
If God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 1 John 4: 11
By this will all men know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another. John 13:35
The fruit of the Spirit is love… Galatians 5:22
Love never fails. 1 Corinthians 13:8
If love were always easy, then perhaps the Word wouldn’t give us so many admonitions about it. Over and over again we are told to love. Love God. Love one another. Love ourselves.
The war over love is really a war over our hearts. Many things can fill our hearts. Strife, hatred, anger, lust, greed, bitterness. The Word teaches us that whatever is in our hearts will come forward in our words and in our actions.
Romans 5:5 says that the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit and then goes on to remind us that God demonstrated His love for us in that WHILE WE WERE STILL SINNERS, Christ died for us.
We can add fuel to the fire of love in our hearts by humbly reflecting on how Christ gave his all to show us God’s love for us. The realization that God loved us while we were completely lost in our sins, when as to yet, we had done nothing for him, yet His pure undeserved love poured out for us and gave Christ as a sacrifice because God so longed to have us, to be in relationship with us – that revelation can and should fan into flame the fire of love on our hearts.
Would you stop for a moment and think about how God gave His love for you? Would you ask the Father to blow on the embers of your heart and fan into flame His love? Would you ask Him to show you who you can love better? Would you ask Him how you can love better?
(by Eddie) Mikki’s devotional provides great seed for a sermon on love. Here is a suggested outline with the above in mind:
4 CHALLENGES OF LOVING LIKE GOD LOVES!
1. IT WON’T BE EASY
2. THE WAR OF LOVE IS WON IN THE HEART
3. LOVE KEEPS FLOWING EVEN WHEN IT’S NOT RECOGNIZED
4. LOVE IS GIVEN NEVER EARNED
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Jonathan Edwards, God Honoring Resolutions
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Jonathan Edwards was one of the most profound theologians in our American lineage. The positive influence of his life continues to linger and stir the souls of believers toward Christ.
Following is a list of resolutions he penned personally. Most of them were penned at a young age as he began his journey into life as a minister. Others were added as time went on. He dated those so you can see the progression of his thought as he became aware of yet another area that needed consecration. They are challenging and give us insight into the discipline, passion, and resolve that possessed a man that God has used mightily to His Own Glory. (The original source of the following is found in The Works of Jonathan Edwards, Volume 1, Chapter Three.)
RESOLUTIONS
“Being sensible that I am unable to do any thing without God’s help, I do humbly entreat him, by his grace, to enable me to keep these Resolutions, so far as they are agreeable to his will, for Christ’s sake.
Remember to read over these Resolutions once a week.
1. Resolved, That I will do whatsoever I think to be most to the glory of God, and my own good, profit, and pleasure, in the whole of my duration; without any consideration of the time, whether now, or never so many myriads of ages hence. Resolved, to do whatever I think to be my duty, and most for the good and advantage of mankind in general. Resolved, so to do, whatever difficulties I meet with, how many soever, and how great soever.
2. Resolved, To be continually endeavouring to find out some new contrivance and invention to promote the forementioned things.
3. Resolved, If ever I shall fall and grow dull, so as to neglect to keep any part of these Resolutions, to repent of all I can remember, when I come to myself again.
4. Resolved, Never to do any manner of thing, whether in soul or body, less or more, but what tends to the glory of God, nor be, nor suffer it, if I can possibly avoid it.
5. Resolved, Never to lose one moment of time, but to improve it in the most profitable way I possibly can.
6. Resolved, To live with all my might, while I do live.
7. Resolved, Never to do any thing, which I should be afraid to do if it were the last hour of my life.
8. Resolved, To act, in all respects, both speaking and doing, as if nobody had been so vile as I, and as if I had committed the same sins, or had the same infirmities or failings, as others; and that I will let the knowledge of their failings promote nothing but shame in myself, and prove only an occasion of my confessing my own sins and misery to God. Vid. July 30.
9. Resolved, To think much, on all occasions, of my dying, and of the common circumstances which attend death.
10. Resolved, When I feel pain, to think of the pains of martyrdom, and of hell.
11. Resolved, When I think of any theorem in divinity to be solved, immediately to do what I can towards solving it, if circumstances do not hinder.
12. Resolved, If I take delight in it as a gratification of pride, or vanity, or on any such account, immediately to throw it by.
13. Resolved, To be endeavouring to find out fit objects of liberality and charity.
14. Resolved, Never to do any thing out of revenge.
15. Resolved, Never to suffer the least motions of anger towards irrational beings.
16. Resolved, Never to speak evil of any one, so that it shall tend to his dishonour, more or less, upon no account except for some real good.
17. Resolved, That I will live so, as I shall wish I had done when I come to die.
18. Resolved, To live so, at all times, as I think is best in my most devout frames, and when I have the clearest notions of the things of the gospel, and another world.
19. Resolved, Never to do any thing, which I should be afraid to do, if I expected it would not be above an hour before I should hear the last trump.
20. Resolved, To maintain the strictest temperance in eating and drinking.
21. Resolved, Never to do any thing, which if I should see in another, I should count a just occasion to despise him for, or to think any way the more meanly of him.
22. Resolved, To endeavour to obtain for myself as much happiness in the other world as I possibly can, with all the power, might, vigour, and vehemence, yea violence, I am capable of, or can bring myself to exert, in any way that can be thought of.
23. Resolved, Frequently to take some deliberate action, which seems most unlikely to be done, for the glory of God, and trace it back to the original intention, designs, and ends of it; and if I find it not to be for God’s glory, to repute it as a breach of the fourth Resolution.
24. Resolved, Whenever I do any conspicuously evil action, to trace it back, till I come to the original cause; and then, both carefully endeavour to do so no more, and to fight and pray with all my might against the original of it.
25. Resolved, To examine carefully and constantly, what that one thing in me is, which causes me in the least to doubt of the love of God; and so direct all my forces against it.
26. Resolved, To cast away such things as I find do abate my assurance.
27. Resolved, Never wilfully to omit any thing, except the omission be for the glory of God; and frequently to examine my omissions.
28. Resolved, To study the Scriptures so steadily, constantly, and frequently, as that I may find, and plainly perceive, myself to grow in the knowledge of the same.
29. Resolved, Never to count that a prayer, nor to let that pass as a prayer, nor that as a petition of a prayer, which is so made, that I cannot hope that God will answer it; nor that as a confession which I cannot hope God will accept.
30. Resolved, To strive every week to be brought higher in religion, and to a higher exercise of grace, than I was the week before.
31. Resolved, Never to say any thing at all against any body, but when it is perfectly agreeable to the highest degree of christian honour, and of love to mankind, agreeable to the lowest humility, and sense of my own faults and failings, and agreeable to the golden rule; often, when I have said any thing against any one, to bring it to, and try it strictly by, the test of this Resolution.
32. Resolved, To be strictly and firmly faithful to my trust, that that, in Prov. 20:6. ‘A faithful man, who can find?’ may not be partly fulfilled in me.
33. Resolved, To do always what I can towards making, maintaining, and preserving peace, when it can be done without an overbalancing detriment in other respects. Dec. 26, 1722.
34. Resolved, In narrations, never to speak any thing but the pure and simple verity.
35. Resolved, Whenever I so much question whether I have done my duty, as that my quiet and calm is thereby disturbed, to set it down, and also how the question was resolved. Dec. 18, 1722.
36. Resolved, Never to speak evil of any, except I have some particular good call to it. Dec. 19, 1722.
37. Resolved, To inquire every night, as I am going to bed, wherein I have been negligent,—what sin I have committed,—and wherein I have denied myself;—also, at the end of every week, month, and year. Dec. 22 and 26, 1722.
38. Resolved, Never to utter any thing that is sportive, or matter of laughter, on a Lord’s day. Sabbath evening, Dec. 23, 1722.
39. Resolved, Never to do any thing, of which I so much question the lawfulness, as that I intend, at the same time, to consider and examine afterwards, whether it be lawful or not; unless I as much question the lawfulness of the omission.
40. Resolved, To inquire every night before I go to bed, whether I have acted in the best way I possibly could, with respect to eating and drinking. Jan. 7, 1723.
41. Resolved, To ask myself, at the end of every day, week, month, and year, wherein I could possibly, in any respect, have done better. Jan. 11, 1723.
42. Resolved, Frequently to renew the dedication of myself to God, which was made at my baptism, which I solemnly renewed when I was received into the communion of the church, and which I have solemnly re-made this 12th day of January, 1723.
43. Resolved, Never, henceforward, till I die, to act as if I were any way my own, but entirely and altogether God’s; agreeably to what is to be found in Saturday, Jan. 12th. Jan. 12, 1723.
44. Resolved, That no other end but religion shall have any influence at all on any of my actions; and that no action shall be, in the least circumstance, any otherwise than the religious end will carry it. Jan. 12, 1723.
45. Resolved, Never to allow any pleasure or grief, joy or sorrow, nor any affection at all, nor any degree of affection, nor any circumstance relating to it, but what helps religion. Jan. 12 and 13, 1723.
46. Resolved, Never to allow the least measure of any fretting or uneasiness at my father or mother. Resolved, to suffer no effects of it, so much as in the least alteration of speech, or motion of my eye; and to be especially careful of it with respect to any of our family.
47. Resolved, To endeavour, to my utmost, to deny whatever is not most agreeable to a good and universally sweet and benevolent, quiet, peaceable, contented and easy, compassionate and generous, humble and meek, submissive and obliging, diligent and industrious, charitable and even, patient, moderate, forgiving, and sincere, temper; and to do, at all times, what such a temper would lead me to; and to examine strictly, at the end of every week, whether I have so done. Sabbath morning, May 5, 1723.
48. Resolved, Constantly, with the utmost niceness and diligence, and the strictest scrutiny, to be looking into the state of my soul, that I may know whether I have truly an interest in Christ or not; that when I come to die, I may not have any negligence respecting this to repent of. May 26, 1723.
49. Resolved, That this never shall be, if I can help it.
50. Resolved, That I will act so, as I think I shall judge would have been best, and most prudent, when I come into the future world. July 5, 1723.
51. Resolved, That I will act so, in every respect, as I think I shall wish I had done, if I should at last be damned. July 8, 1723.
52. I frequently hear persons in old age say how they would live, if they were to live their lives over again: Resolved, That I will live just so as I can think I shall wish I had done, supposing I live to old age. July 8, 1723.
53. Resolved, To improve every opportunity, when I am in the best and happiest frame of mind, to cast and venture my soul on the Lord Jesus Christ, to trust and confide in him, and consecrate myself wholly to him; that from this I may have assurance of my safety, knowing that I confide in my Redeemer. July 8, 1723.
54. Resolved, Whenever I hear anything spoken in commendation of any person, if I think it would be praise-worthy in me, that I will endeavour to imitate it. July 8, 1723.
55. Resolved, To endeavour, to my utmost, so to act, as I can think I should do, if I had already seen the happiness of heaven and hell torments. July 8, 1723.
56. Resolved, Never to give over, nor in the least to slacken, my fight with my corruptions, however unsuccessful I may be.
57. Resolved, When I fear misfortunes and adversity, to examine whether I have done my duty, and resolve to do it, and let the event be just as Providence orders it. I will, as far as I can, be concerned about nothing but my duty and my sin. June 9, and July 13, 1723.
58. Resolved, Not only to refrain from an air of dislike, fretfulness, and anger in conversation, but to exhibit an air of love, cheerfulness, and benignity. May 27, and July 13, 1723.
59. Resolved, When I am most conscious of provocations to ill nature and anger, that I will strive most to feel and act good-naturedly; yea, at such times, to manifest good nature, though I think that in other respects it would be disadvantageous, and so as would be imprudent at other times. May 12, July 11, and July 13.
60. Resolved, Whenever my feelings begin to appear in the least out of order, when I am conscious of the least uneasiness within, or the least irregularity without, I will then subject myself to the strictest examination. July 4 and 13, 1723.
61. Resolved, That I will not give way to that listlessness which I find unbends and relaxes my mind from being fully and fixedly set on religion, whatever excuse I may have for it—that what my listlessness inclines me to do, is best to be done, &c. May 21, and July 13, 1723.
62. Resolved, Never to do any thing but my duty, and then, according to Eph. 6:6–8. to do it willingly and cheerfully, as unto the Lord, and not to man: knowing that whatever good thing any man doth, the same shall he receive of the Lord. June 25, and July 13, 1723.
63. On the supposition, that there never was to be but one individual in the world, at any one time, who was properly a complete Christian, in all respects of a right stamp, having Christianity always shining in its true lustre, and appearing excellent and lovely, from whatever part and under whatever character viewed: Resolved, To act just as I would do, if I strove with all my might to be that one, who should live in my time. Jan. 14, and July 13, 1723.
64. Resolved, When I find those “groanings which cannot be uttered,” of which the apostle speaks, and those “breathings of soul for the longing it hath,” of which the psalmist speaks, Psalm 119:20. that I will promote them to the utmost of my power; and that I will not be weary of earnestly endeavouring to vent my desires, nor of the repetitions of such earnestness. July 23, and Aug. 10, 1723.
65. Resolved, Very much to exercise myself in this, all my life long, viz. with the greatest openness of which I am capable, to declare my ways to God, and lay open my soul to him, all my sins, temptations, difficulties, sorrows, fears, hopes, desires, and every thing, and every circumstance, according to Dr. Manton’s Sermon on the cxix Psalm. July 26, and Aug. 10, 1723.
66. Resolved, That I will endeavour always to keep a benign aspect, and air of acting and speaking, in all places, and in all companies, except it should so happen that duty requires otherwise.
67. Resolved, After afflictions, to inquire, what I am the better for them; what good I have got by them; and, what I might have got by them.
68. Resolved, To confess frankly to myself, all that which I find in myself, either infirmity or sin; and, if it be what concerns religion, also to confess the whole case to God, and implore needed help. July 23, and August 10, 1723.
69. Resolved, Always to do that, which I shall wish I had done when I see others do it. Aug. 11, 1723.
70. Let there be something of benevolence in all that I speak. Aug. 17, 1723.”
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What’s He the God Of? — sermon outline
Posted by: | CommentsFollowing is a simple outline that can be developed into a great message about the heart flow of God toward humanity.
What’s He the God Of?
by Eddie Lawrence
1. He is the God of Glory
Acts 7:2 And he said, “Brethren and fathers, listen: The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia,…
2. He is the God of all Comfort
2 Cor 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,
3. He is the God of Patience
Rom 15:5 Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus,…
4. He is the God of Hope
Rom 15:13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
5. He is the God of all Peace
Heb 13:20 Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
6. He is the God of all Grace
1 Pet 5:10 But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.
Through Grace He–
A. Perfects You
B. Establishes You
C. Strengthens You
D. Settles You
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Missionary Church
Posted by: | CommentsMissionary Church
by Eddie Lawrence
Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
Every church should be a missionary Church because every church worships a missionary God. What many call the greatest verse in the Bible vividly describes the missionary activity of God.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (NKJV)
Note the following:
1. The Missionary Motive
"For God so loved"
A love for God and a love for the lost are important ingredients for every missionary. This was the divine motive. For God so "loved" that he gave.
2. The Missionary Map
"the world"
The whole world is our mission field. Every ethnic group. Every language group. Every race on Earth.
All people in all places are to reached.
3. The Missionary Means
"that He gave"
Every missionary is a great giver. They give up many things precious to them to carry the One most precious to others.
4. The Missionary Message
The essentials of the Gospel are in John 3:16. What a great message we have. No other group on Earth has been charged with so great a task with so great a message.
A. Jesus is the Son of God who died for us.
"His only begotten Son"
B. Anyone can be saved by trusting Christ.
"whosoever believes"
C. Judgment awaits those who do not believe.
"should not perish"
D. Eternal life is given to those who believe.
"but have everlasting life"
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The Eleven Judgments of God — sermon outline
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THE ELEVEN JUDGMENTS OF GOD.
by Eddie Lawrence
(The following is an attempt to give an order to the unfolding of God’s judgments. There may be others that some would include in the following list, but I feel this list fairly represents the more broad and universal judgment activity of God. Further Scriptures can be added and an actual sermon series could be easily developed out of this list.)
1. THE HEAVENLY REBELLION JUDGMENT
This occurred in the pre-creation period when Lucifer rebelled against God in Heaven and exalted himself as God. He and the angels who rebelled with him were cast out and removed from their glorious ministry of worshipping God (Isaiah 14:11-13).
2. THE CURSE OF SIN JUDGMENT
When Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, the curse of sin came upon the Earth and upon all future humanity (Genesis 3).
Romans 5-6 teaches us that through Adam sin reigned in all men. Sin carries it’s own consequence which is death or "separation." Sin separates us from God and His eternal purposes for our lives.
When a person sin, that sin, will produce the consequence of corruption (Gal. 6, Romans 8:1). The principle of sin reigns through the flesh (fallen) nature of man and has to be put to death through the new nature imparted by Christ. God’s wrath is always working against sin (Romans 1:18) through the pronouncement of the curse.
3. THE GLOBAL FLOOD JUDGMENT
This occurred in the days of Noah when God brought judgment upon the Earth through means of a flood due to the growing wickedness and evil imaginations of man. He responded with Grace to Noah in preserving a family to replenish the Earth and ultimately bring about redemption through the sending of His Son, Christ Jesus (Genesis 6-8).
4. THE CALVARY JUDGMENT
When Jesus died on the cross, he bore our sins. He said, "It is finished." He took upon himself the judgment for our sins. When a person believes and confesses Christ as Lord, what Jesus did on the cross is imputed to them. The believer is pardoned from the ultimate penalty of sin which is eternal separation from God (2 Cor. 5:20-21).
5. THE WOODSHED JUDGMENT
When the judgment of the cross is applied through faith to a person’s life, they begin living as a child of God (John 1:12). When a child of God sins, the Father of the family brings correction.
In the old days, a phrase was used, "Daddy is going to take you to the woodshed." This implied getting a spanking. It was to bring correction. It was to change behavior. The Bible says, "Whom the Lord loves, He chastens." (Hebrews 12:6)
6. THE WRATH OF GOD JUDGMENTS
In the Book of Revelation we see a season and series of judgments hurled upon the Earth during the end times to judge the worldy antichrist structures that have been instituted. These judgments are severe, rapid, and very terrible.
7. THE BEMA JUDGMENT
Paul in writing to the Corinthians (2 Cor.5.10), teaches us that there will be a judgment where beleivers will be judged on the basis of what they have done with what they have been given. The motives of a believer’s heart will be revealed. This is not a judgment in the sense of weeding out believers from unbelievers but of purifying and bringing to light Heaven’s perspective of how we have lived our Christian lives. It will result it Christ being glorified and the purer works of believers being identified.
8. THE NATIONS JUDGMENT
When Jesus returns at the Second Coming, He will judge the nations (Matt.25.31-32). Not only do individuals have a responsibility to steward God’s blessings but so do nations.
9. THE DEVIL’S FINAL JUDGMENT
Satan will be restrained to start with for a period called 1000 years in a bottomless pit. Then he will be momentarily released and will face the final judgment of God where he is cast into the lake of fire with his cohorts. (Rev. 20)
10. THE CELESTIAL AND GLOBAL CLEANSING JUDGMENT
Peter teaches us that the Firmament, the heavens, and the Earth will be purged with fire and a new Earth will emerge. As the Earth was first judged by water, it will in the latter end be judged by fire (2 Peter 3:10-13) .
11. THE WICKED’S FINAL JUDGMENT
This is referred to as The Great White Throne Judgment. All people who have rejected Christ will stand before God and their lives will be examined. If there is no covering of their sins through the blood of Jesus there will be no salvation. They enter into the Lake of Fire for eternity. This is the most sobering truth of all Scripture (Rev.20.11-15).
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Jesus is The Son of God — sermon outline
Posted by: | CommentsJESUS IS THE SON OF GOD
Seven Testimonies that Jesus is the Son of God:
1. The Father Testified of It Matt. 3:17
2. Jesus’ Personal Testimony Matt. 26:63
3. Peter Testified of it Matt. 16:16
4. Demons Recognized it. Mark 3:11
5. The Disciples Recognized it. Matt 14:33
6. The Resurrection Testified of it Romans 1:4
7. Paul Testified of It Acts 9:20
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The Deity of Jesus Christ — sermon outline
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THE DEITY OF JESUS CHRIST
1. He existed eternally before he came to Earth as a man.
John 1:1-3
John 8:58
John 17:5
2. He is included in Scripture as a member of the Eternal Godhead
John 5:19-23
Matthew 28:19
Romans 1"7
3. His incarnation is described as God becoming man.
Philippians 2:1-11
John 1:14
4. He is ascribed the very names of God in Scripture
Mark 1:24
Matthew 22:45
Matthew 1:23
John 1:1
Acts 2:36
John 20:28
5. He is directly stated to be God
Colossians 2:9
6. He and the Father are stated to be One
John 10:30
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