Sermon notes from May 2.
IDENTITY SERIES
Insiders
Mark 4:11 He told them, "The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you.”
Certain messages are appropriate for those who are inside the faith, but make no sense to those outside the faith.
Thru relationship, God entrusts His secrets to us. We are insiders in the Kingdom.
Doers
“Contend for the Faith”- Jude 3
“Be doers of the Word” – James 1:22
1 Cor 10:31 “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”
Dedication, Order, Entirety, Rededication ( end zone celebration )
Elevators
John 12:32
Elevator concepts:
1. A change in level
2. Decisions are required
3. Things are happening on the floors you pass by
4. Accidently getting off on the wrong floor is frustrating
5. Clear communication is important ( first floor basement or ground )
6. Nursery and morgue on different floors in same building
Noticers
Transformers
Illuminators
Tasters
Yeilders
Mark 5:21 - 6:1 Jesus got into the boat again and went back to the other side of the lake, where a large crowd gathered around him on the shore. 22 Then a leader of the local synagogue, whose name was Jairus, arrived. When he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet, 23 pleading fervently with him. "My little daughter is dying," he said. "Please come and lay your hands on her; heal her so she can live." 24 Jesus went with him, and all the people followed, crowding around him. 25 A woman in the crowd had suffered for twelve years with constant bleeding. 26 She had suffered a great deal from many doctors, and over the years she had spent everything she had to pay them, but she had gotten no better. In fact, she had gotten worse. 27 She had heard about Jesus, so she came up behind him through the crowd and touched his robe. 28 For she thought to herself, "If I can just touch his robe, I will be healed." 29 Immediately the bleeding stopped, and she could feel in her body that she had been healed of her terrible condition. 30 Jesus realized at once that healing power had gone out from him, so he turned around in the crowd and asked, "Who touched my robe?" 31 His disciples said to him, "Look at this crowd pressing around you. How can you ask, 'Who touched me?'" 32 But he kept on looking around to see who had done it. 33 Then the frightened woman, trembling at the realization of what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and told him what she had done. 34 And he said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace. Your suffering is over." 35 While he was still speaking to her, messengers arrived from the home of Jairus, the leader of the synagogue. They told him, "Your daughter is dead. There's no use troubling the Teacher now." 36 But Jesus overheard them and said to Jairus, "Don't be afraid. Just have faith." 37 Then Jesus stopped the crowd and wouldn't let anyone go with him except Peter, James, and John (the brother of James). 38 When they came to the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw much commotion and weeping and wailing. 39 He went inside and asked, "Why all this commotion and weeping? The child isn't dead; she's only asleep." 40 The crowd laughed at him. But he made them all leave, and he took the girl's father and mother and his three disciples into the room where the girl was lying. 41 Holding her hand, he said to her, "Talitha koum," which means "Little girl, get up!" 42 And the girl, who was twelve years old, immediately stood up and walked around! They were overwhelmed and totally amazed. 43 Jesus gave them strict orders not to tell anyone what had happened, and then he told them to give her something to eat.
Notice!
Mark 5:30 At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, "Who touched my clothes?"
Things to Notice:
Everywhere Jesus went was a ministry opportunity
Jesus noticed the crowd
There are desperate people around us
Jesus noticed the one in need
There are things you would be willing to pay every penny you have for.
Jesus noticed the touch
Jesus tied peace to the miracle
Messengers sometimes bring bad news
Jesus noticed the weeping
Jesus noticed that they were overwhelmed and gave them instructions about how to handle the crowd.
Jesus noticed the hunger
Monday, May 3, 2010
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Elevating others by doing things right
Notes from last Sunday's Sermon about elevating others
God’s Vantage point
From His point, Accuracy is unquestionable
“Fast is fine, but accuracy is everything.” Greek quote
“Accuracy is the twin brother of honesty; inaccuracy, of dishonesty.”
- Nathaniel Hawthorne
From principles is derived probability, but truth or certainty is obtained only from facts.
- Nathaniel Hawthorne
Proverbs 11:1 The LORD abhors dishonest scales, but accurate weights are his delight.
Accuracy can be the difference between life and death
Amos 7:8 And the LORD asked me, "What do you see, Amos?" "A plumb line," I replied. Then the Lord said, "Look, I am setting a plumb line among my people Israel; I will spare them no longer.
Deuteronomy 25:15 You must have accurate and honest weights and measures, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.
We can get inaccurate when we are inefficient. There is an account in the book of Exodus that teaches this lesson:
Exodus 18:1 - 19:1 8 Lessons about doing things right:
Keep an ear to what God is doing.v 1
Camp near the mountain of God v. 5
Greet people properly v 7
Share your testimonies v 8
Understand that you are always in the presence of God v. 13
Participate with straight, accurate answers to clear questions
Follow Good advice
Allow consulting parties to go on their way. There are others that need their help too.
God’s Vantage point
From His point, Accuracy is unquestionable
“Fast is fine, but accuracy is everything.” Greek quote
“Accuracy is the twin brother of honesty; inaccuracy, of dishonesty.”
- Nathaniel Hawthorne
From principles is derived probability, but truth or certainty is obtained only from facts.
- Nathaniel Hawthorne
Proverbs 11:1 The LORD abhors dishonest scales, but accurate weights are his delight.
Accuracy can be the difference between life and death
Amos 7:8 And the LORD asked me, "What do you see, Amos?" "A plumb line," I replied. Then the Lord said, "Look, I am setting a plumb line among my people Israel; I will spare them no longer.
Deuteronomy 25:15 You must have accurate and honest weights and measures, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.
We can get inaccurate when we are inefficient. There is an account in the book of Exodus that teaches this lesson:
Exodus 18:1 - 19:1 8 Lessons about doing things right:
Keep an ear to what God is doing.v 1
Camp near the mountain of God v. 5
Greet people properly v 7
Share your testimonies v 8
Understand that you are always in the presence of God v. 13
Participate with straight, accurate answers to clear questions
Follow Good advice
Allow consulting parties to go on their way. There are others that need their help too.
Monday, April 12, 2010
Confrontation at the elevator
Confrontation at the Elevator
April 11, 2010
Pastor Al Hazelton
Harlan First Assembly
God wants to confront you today. As you walk you will find Him already there. His heart is already here.
Deut. 31:21
“And when many evils and troubles have come upon them, this song shall confront them as a witness (for it will live unforgotten in the mouths of their offspring). For I know what they are inclined to do even today, before I have brought them into the land that I swore to give.”
Old chorus: Standing somewhere in the shadows you’ll find Jesus
He’s the one who always cares and understands
Standing somewhere in the shadows you will find Him
And you’ll know Him by the nail prints in His hands
VALUE
There is nothing you brought in with you today that God refuses to confront.
He has a good day planned for you
Prov 11:28 ( the message )
“A life devoted to things is a dead life; a stump,
A God-shaped life is a flourishing tree”
Jeremiah 17:7-8 ( NLT )
Blessed are those who trust in the Lord…They are like trees planted along the riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they go right on producing delicious fruit.”
Everything finds value and purpose in God Because He is the author and creator of all things.
Figuring out our value only works when we start with God rather than starting with ourselves.
Since we did not create ourselves, we cannot figure our value
We must begin at God and let value determination happen from the vantage point of the Holy Spirit.
God is the source of your life
V- View
Remember that God’s view is higher
Within God’s will everything holds a special calm serenity and beauty
1 Jn 5:14 tells us that God listens when we pray in His will.
God take us higher
A –Attitude
All He wants is you
Charles Spurgeon once said, “We should plow carefully and pray carefully”
Dangerous is ok, careless is not
Following the example of Christ should be our heart attitude.
1 Jn 2:6
L- Look Angle
“ O for a faith that will not shrink
Though pressed by every foe
That will not tremble on the brink
Of any earthly woe”
Turn your eyes upon Jesus and the things of earth will grow strangely dim.
U- Upward Movement
Space shuttle launch
Don’t forget about the things you dreamed about when you were a kid
Isa 61 “ The Spirit of the Lord is upon me…
God wants to catapult you upward (Space shuttle launch)
One version reads in Gen 25:8 that Abraham died satisfied with life
E- Excellence
John Maxwell in his book “Life@work” writes about 4 helpful activities in the excellence search:
1. Constructing personal convictions
2. Capturing inspirational moments
3. Conducting Scripture memory
4. Connecting with people of character
Determine the value and confront life by acting on the valuable things
April 11, 2010
Pastor Al Hazelton
Harlan First Assembly
God wants to confront you today. As you walk you will find Him already there. His heart is already here.
Deut. 31:21
“And when many evils and troubles have come upon them, this song shall confront them as a witness (for it will live unforgotten in the mouths of their offspring). For I know what they are inclined to do even today, before I have brought them into the land that I swore to give.”
Old chorus: Standing somewhere in the shadows you’ll find Jesus
He’s the one who always cares and understands
Standing somewhere in the shadows you will find Him
And you’ll know Him by the nail prints in His hands
VALUE
There is nothing you brought in with you today that God refuses to confront.
He has a good day planned for you
Prov 11:28 ( the message )
“A life devoted to things is a dead life; a stump,
A God-shaped life is a flourishing tree”
Jeremiah 17:7-8 ( NLT )
Blessed are those who trust in the Lord…They are like trees planted along the riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they go right on producing delicious fruit.”
Everything finds value and purpose in God Because He is the author and creator of all things.
Figuring out our value only works when we start with God rather than starting with ourselves.
Since we did not create ourselves, we cannot figure our value
We must begin at God and let value determination happen from the vantage point of the Holy Spirit.
God is the source of your life
V- View
Remember that God’s view is higher
Within God’s will everything holds a special calm serenity and beauty
1 Jn 5:14 tells us that God listens when we pray in His will.
God take us higher
A –Attitude
All He wants is you
Charles Spurgeon once said, “We should plow carefully and pray carefully”
Dangerous is ok, careless is not
Following the example of Christ should be our heart attitude.
1 Jn 2:6
L- Look Angle
“ O for a faith that will not shrink
Though pressed by every foe
That will not tremble on the brink
Of any earthly woe”
Turn your eyes upon Jesus and the things of earth will grow strangely dim.
U- Upward Movement
Space shuttle launch
Don’t forget about the things you dreamed about when you were a kid
Isa 61 “ The Spirit of the Lord is upon me…
God wants to catapult you upward (Space shuttle launch)
One version reads in Gen 25:8 that Abraham died satisfied with life
E- Excellence
John Maxwell in his book “Life@work” writes about 4 helpful activities in the excellence search:
1. Constructing personal convictions
2. Capturing inspirational moments
3. Conducting Scripture memory
4. Connecting with people of character
Determine the value and confront life by acting on the valuable things
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
A trail worth taking
I had the opportunity last night to hop on the bicycle and experience the "Old Stone Arch Trail" at Shelby, Iowa. We have these hidden treasures just a short distance from where we live. The old railroad bed that once carried the locomotives everyday, today offers a view of the countryside that is not seen from the hyway. I am reminded that not all that is real and beautiful is before our eyes. Some treasures must be sought out by searching. The stone arch reminded me that there are bridges worth crossing. This week we celebrate the greatest bridge man has ever crossed. The "Crimson Bridge" of the cross of Christ is the only path that leads from death to life. It is a trail worth taking.
Friday, March 26, 2010
Biking season
It feels like Spring has finally really arrived now. One of my goals for this year is to do some bicycling. I got the bike off the ceiling hooks in the garage last night and took a short spin.Looking forward to heading down some of the trails that have been developed in the past few years. I have not ridden much in the past several years but have fond memories of many miles on the bike in the past. We'll see how it goes.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Heavenly Realms
I have really been slow on the blogging front lately. I thought I had better at least post some sermon notes from last Sunday. I am continuing in the IDENTITY series, spending the last several weeks on the "Elevator" as we look at the ups and downs of spiritual life including a reminder that we are not battling against flesh and blood but the spiritual battle is taking place in heavenly realms. We are given a glimpse of that venue in scripture.
The entire Bible now is found in electronic form on tiny silicon chips
The Rocks are crying out : )
No matter what floor you are on, God has a purpose for you
We are to be pressing toward the upward call of God
I want to see Him high and lifted up, Shining in the light of His glory
God is looking for what Bill Johnson calls “royal fighters” who will enter into the contest with his whole soul and take the situation captive for the Lord Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 6:10-17 "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."
For too long the church has played defense in the battle for souls.
Learning from people who take a stand for God regardless of the cost.
People who are wanting to change the world one heart at a time.
On Offense:
1. We have the ball
Options: Move, Shoot, Pass,
We are not to stand there and hold it
We are not to fear ( read Ex 13:17 )
The safest place is always in obedience ( deep intimacy )
2. We have a table prepared for us Psalm 23:5 .
3. We have Joy ( About a decision, not a feeling )
Satan is an expert at stealing from us and his favorite target is our joy
Psalm 118:24 Nehemiah 8:10 Proverbs 17:22 Jeremiah 17:7-8
The entire Bible now is found in electronic form on tiny silicon chips
The Rocks are crying out : )
No matter what floor you are on, God has a purpose for you
We are to be pressing toward the upward call of God
I want to see Him high and lifted up, Shining in the light of His glory
God is looking for what Bill Johnson calls “royal fighters” who will enter into the contest with his whole soul and take the situation captive for the Lord Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 6:10-17 "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."
For too long the church has played defense in the battle for souls.
Learning from people who take a stand for God regardless of the cost.
People who are wanting to change the world one heart at a time.
On Offense:
1. We have the ball
Options: Move, Shoot, Pass,
We are not to stand there and hold it
We are not to fear ( read Ex 13:17 )
The safest place is always in obedience ( deep intimacy )
2. We have a table prepared for us Psalm 23:5 .
3. We have Joy ( About a decision, not a feeling )
Satan is an expert at stealing from us and his favorite target is our joy
Psalm 118:24 Nehemiah 8:10 Proverbs 17:22 Jeremiah 17:7-8
Friday, March 12, 2010
Response techniques
I was listening to a podcast devotional this morning that reminded me to pay attention to how God oprerates and provides. The reason is not so that I will know exactly how He will operate today, because there is much variety in how He meets the needs. The reason to pay special attention to how He did it yesterday is because that will help formulate my response today to situations of life. I can learn good response techniques simply by studying God's responses in history.
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