If we look at our identity as a building,inside there is an elevator. We go up and down depending on our needs. In yesterday's sermon, I talked about elevator experiences. You can find the audio of the sermon on our podcast of weekly sermons at:
www.harlanfirstaog.org
Below is the basic outline:
John 12:32 But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself." He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.
Drawing people to Jesus is the primary goal of life and we cannot do it. He must do it and does it when we lift Him up.
Lifting ( Exalting God ) is what we were created to do.
Vantage points at different levels
Elevator concepts:
1. A change in level occurs
2. Decisions are required
3. Things are happening on the floors you pass by
Good Samaritan. Luke 10.others passed by ..
4. Accidently getting off on the wrong floor is frustrating
Unfamiliar surroundings and wrong places
5. Clear communication is important
( Is the first floor basement or ground )
6. Nursery and morgue on different floors in same building
Talents different to different needs
7. Requires standing at the door and waiting
Isa 40:31 Waiting is worth it
8. You are in a small room with strangers
Hebrews 13:2 Entertaining Angels
9. There is an unseen power source at work
2 Cor. 4:18 “fixing our eyes”
10. The ride is important
God will ask us if we had a nice journey.
Monday, March 8, 2010
Monday, March 1, 2010
Fulfilling destiny
Some of the key points from yesterday's sermon. Guest missionary Jonathan Barthalow shared about fulfilling our destiny based on Scriptures in Philippians 3:7-21.
In order to do that we need to:
1. Know Jesus personally
2. Refuse to be controlled by our past hurts and actions
3. Refuse to be controlled by our past heritage
4. Refuse to be controlled by our distractions
We all need a constant reminder to stay on track no matter what. Nothing is more important than God's will for our lives.
In order to do that we need to:
1. Know Jesus personally
2. Refuse to be controlled by our past hurts and actions
3. Refuse to be controlled by our past heritage
4. Refuse to be controlled by our distractions
We all need a constant reminder to stay on track no matter what. Nothing is more important than God's will for our lives.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Do Nots
Yesterday in my sermon series on being do-ers of the Word, I listed some of the "Do Nots"
Identity Series
Doers
Today: “Things to Not Do”
There is a hunger in those in touch with God to express worship in new ways.
John 20:19-21
“…As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”Be Patient and wait for the signal from God
Do Not’s in Genesis:
Gen 19:17 “And as they brought them out, one said, “Escape for your life. Do not look back or stop anywhere in the valley.
Gen 19:22 “Escape there quickly, for I can do nothing till you arrive there.”
Gen. 26:2 “And the Lord appeared to him and said, “Do not go down to Egypt; dwell in the land of which I shall tell you.”
Gen. 43:23…“Peace to you, do not be afraid…
Gen. 45:5 “And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life.”
Gen 45:9 “Hurry and go up to my father and say to him, ‘Thus says your son Joseph, God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me; do not tarry.”
Gen 45:24 “Then he sent his brothers away, and as they departed, he said to them, “Do not quarrel on the way.”
Things to remember in the “Doing Not” arena:
God’s call is individual. Task # 1 is to listen for ours.
Call to intimate relationship
Call to have the heart of the Father
Call to wait until we have heard
Call to send ( John 20:21- “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you”)
We need to know who God is calling us to reach and wait until He sends us.
Identity Series
Doers
Today: “Things to Not Do”
There is a hunger in those in touch with God to express worship in new ways.
John 20:19-21
“…As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”Be Patient and wait for the signal from God
Do Not’s in Genesis:
Gen 19:17 “And as they brought them out, one said, “Escape for your life. Do not look back or stop anywhere in the valley.
Gen 19:22 “Escape there quickly, for I can do nothing till you arrive there.”
Gen. 26:2 “And the Lord appeared to him and said, “Do not go down to Egypt; dwell in the land of which I shall tell you.”
Gen. 43:23…“Peace to you, do not be afraid…
Gen. 45:5 “And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life.”
Gen 45:9 “Hurry and go up to my father and say to him, ‘Thus says your son Joseph, God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me; do not tarry.”
Gen 45:24 “Then he sent his brothers away, and as they departed, he said to them, “Do not quarrel on the way.”
Things to remember in the “Doing Not” arena:
God’s call is individual. Task # 1 is to listen for ours.
Call to intimate relationship
Call to have the heart of the Father
Call to wait until we have heard
Call to send ( John 20:21- “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you”)
We need to know who God is calling us to reach and wait until He sends us.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Do it for the Glory of God
The sermon series that I am preaching this year is entitled "IDENTITY"
Insiders
Do-ers
Elevators
Noticers
Transformers
Illuminators
Tasters
Yielders
A look at some sermon notes from yesterday:
Do All to the Glory of God
Don’t go after success without God. Don’t be so full of your dreams that you have no room for God’s dream for you.
1 Cor 10:31 “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”
Living under the influence of the promises of God
Greatest blessing comes in visiting an old word (Watering holes in the Word )
1. Embrace the Challenge
When you do it builds the core of your identity ( who you are ) Even if you don’t perform perfectly.
More options than ever right now as is the volume of the voice of God
Wade into that challenge disregarding whether or not it will be difficult or unpleasant
Acknowledge to God in prayer a sin or character flaw you have been trying to hide.
I heard this week that sometimes we do the right thing out of discipline and sometimes it is because we can no longer function without doing it.
You will get a little stronger inside
If you wimp out – you die a little and fear and anxiety will be the rule instead of faith.
2.Recognize the enemy of your victory over the challenge
2 Cor. 2:11 “We are not ignorant concerning his devices”
F.E.Marsh (Author of Discipler’s manual once said,”Satan comes as a roaring lion to persecute: or an angel of light to patronize. Satan as an angel of light is far more to be dreaded than satan as a roaring lion. A patronizing enemy is far worse than a persecuting one.
How do you recognize God?
Desire the right things. 1 Cor. 14:1
Insiders
Do-ers
Elevators
Noticers
Transformers
Illuminators
Tasters
Yielders
A look at some sermon notes from yesterday:
Do All to the Glory of God
Don’t go after success without God. Don’t be so full of your dreams that you have no room for God’s dream for you.
1 Cor 10:31 “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”
Living under the influence of the promises of God
Greatest blessing comes in visiting an old word (Watering holes in the Word )
1. Embrace the Challenge
When you do it builds the core of your identity ( who you are ) Even if you don’t perform perfectly.
More options than ever right now as is the volume of the voice of God
Wade into that challenge disregarding whether or not it will be difficult or unpleasant
Acknowledge to God in prayer a sin or character flaw you have been trying to hide.
I heard this week that sometimes we do the right thing out of discipline and sometimes it is because we can no longer function without doing it.
You will get a little stronger inside
If you wimp out – you die a little and fear and anxiety will be the rule instead of faith.
2.Recognize the enemy of your victory over the challenge
2 Cor. 2:11 “We are not ignorant concerning his devices”
F.E.Marsh (Author of Discipler’s manual once said,”Satan comes as a roaring lion to persecute: or an angel of light to patronize. Satan as an angel of light is far more to be dreaded than satan as a roaring lion. A patronizing enemy is far worse than a persecuting one.
How do you recognize God?
Desire the right things. 1 Cor. 14:1
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Lessons from the sea of life
Much of our understanding in life can be looked at as the pattern that the heavenly wave left on the sand when it retreated. I have often preached on the subject of water. The bible is full of illustrations of life on and around the sea. There are currents that take us where the water is headed. There are storms that toss us to and fro upon the waves. There are wonderful calm times with the sounds of creation all around us and there are times of great noise that cause us to find a place in the cabin of the ship away from the sounds. There are fish and fishermen. There is the sail that must be tended to and there is the island on which to rest. There are great ships that carry thousands and there are small boats that carry one. There are depths to be explored and high wave crests to be ridden.
There are seashells and starfish to be pondered and sand to be sifted through our toes.
Thank God today that there are lighthouses to guide us and ports to welcome us. Whatever ship you are on today, enjoy the ride, but don’t forget to look at the pattern that the heavenly wave left on the sand as the tide moved across it.
There are seashells and starfish to be pondered and sand to be sifted through our toes.
Thank God today that there are lighthouses to guide us and ports to welcome us. Whatever ship you are on today, enjoy the ride, but don’t forget to look at the pattern that the heavenly wave left on the sand as the tide moved across it.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
The business of the Kingdom
A few short thoughts this morning:
We are living in a time of sifting. The balanced life requires training in the business of the Kingdom. When Jesus was about 12 , His family was looking for Him and they found Him in the temple teaching the teachers. We get no indication that He apologized for causing their inconvenience. He simply reminded them that they should have known that He would be about the Father's business.
The Father's business is profitable. There is abundance.
The Father's business is pleasing. There is joy.
The Father's business is pure. There is clarity.
The Father's business is palatable. There is sweetness
In this time of stuggling economy around us, it is good to know that the Father's business is doing well.
We are living in a time of sifting. The balanced life requires training in the business of the Kingdom. When Jesus was about 12 , His family was looking for Him and they found Him in the temple teaching the teachers. We get no indication that He apologized for causing their inconvenience. He simply reminded them that they should have known that He would be about the Father's business.
The Father's business is profitable. There is abundance.
The Father's business is pleasing. There is joy.
The Father's business is pure. There is clarity.
The Father's business is palatable. There is sweetness
In this time of stuggling economy around us, it is good to know that the Father's business is doing well.
Monday, January 25, 2010
I'm In
Sermon notes from "I'm In" sermon yesterday. This is part of our 2010 "IDENTITY" series. God works from the inside out.
Acts 17:28-29. 'For in him we live and move and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring.' "Therefore since we are God's offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone an image made by man's design and skill."
From the ESV Study Bible:
"Acts teaches that the new community is rooted in old promises. It does this by telling how God directed the inclusion of Gentiles and took the message from Jerusalem to Rome. The gospel can go to all the world because (1) Jesus is Lord and (2) God directed that the gospel go into all the world. The book ends on a note of triumph as the gospel comes to Rome, even though believers suffered in terms of injustice and physical persecution in an effort to get the gospel there."
God created us with an innate desire to know and love him. While this desire will last eternally, trauma can shock it into temporary dormancy.
Hebrew verb "YHVH" meaning “to be.”
Jehovah-Jireh means "the Lord who sees and provides."
Jehovah-Nisi means “the Lord is my miracle,” or “the Lord is my banner."
Jehovah-Tsidkenu means "the Lord who is our righteousness."
Jehovah-Shalom refers to "the Lord of peace.”
Jehovah-Rapha means “the Lord who heals you."
1. God heals because he is The Healer
2. God heals in response to his promises.
3. God heals when you demonstrate faith
4. God heals to encourage people to come to Him. (Psalm 103:2-4).
He heals broken hearts; he repairs wounds.
We must strive to comprehend the depths of God’s unconditional love.
We were created with an innate desire to know and love Him.
As God works us through things He works from the inside out.
God responds to faith
Acts 17:28-29. 'For in him we live and move and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring.' "Therefore since we are God's offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone an image made by man's design and skill."
From the ESV Study Bible:
"Acts teaches that the new community is rooted in old promises. It does this by telling how God directed the inclusion of Gentiles and took the message from Jerusalem to Rome. The gospel can go to all the world because (1) Jesus is Lord and (2) God directed that the gospel go into all the world. The book ends on a note of triumph as the gospel comes to Rome, even though believers suffered in terms of injustice and physical persecution in an effort to get the gospel there."
God created us with an innate desire to know and love him. While this desire will last eternally, trauma can shock it into temporary dormancy.
Hebrew verb "YHVH" meaning “to be.”
Jehovah-Jireh means "the Lord who sees and provides."
Jehovah-Nisi means “the Lord is my miracle,” or “the Lord is my banner."
Jehovah-Tsidkenu means "the Lord who is our righteousness."
Jehovah-Shalom refers to "the Lord of peace.”
Jehovah-Rapha means “the Lord who heals you."
1. God heals because he is The Healer
2. God heals in response to his promises.
3. God heals when you demonstrate faith
4. God heals to encourage people to come to Him. (Psalm 103:2-4).
He heals broken hearts; he repairs wounds.
We must strive to comprehend the depths of God’s unconditional love.
We were created with an innate desire to know and love Him.
As God works us through things He works from the inside out.
God responds to faith
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