Sunday, February 26th, 2006

Dr. Richard Shropshire

"Let Your Glory Fall"

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Sunday, February 19th, 2006

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The Case for God’s Word – The Bible

2 Tim. 3:14-17
But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.


2 Peter 1:19-21
And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. 20Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. 21For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.


The Bible is a SUPER - NATURAL gift.


JUST DO IT!

The Teaching of the Bible is as much about APPLICATION as it is KNOWLEDGE.

James 1:22-25
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it--he will be blessed in what he does.


Romans 2:13
For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God's sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous.

Luke 8:21
He replied, "My mother and brothers are those who hear God's word and put it into practice."

Luke 11:28
He replied, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it."

John 5:24
"I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.


JUST ACT ON GOD’S Word and Expect :

1. Answered Prayer.

John 15:7 (NIV)
If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.

1 John 3:22
and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him.


2. Unshakable Peace and Joy

Philip. 4:7
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Psalm 19:8
8The precepts of the Lord are right,
giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the Lord are radiant,
giving light to the eyes.


3. Profound Insight

Hebrews 4:12 (NIV)
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

Hebrews 4:12 (NLT)
For the word of God is full of living power. It is sharper than the sharpest knife, cutting deep into our innermost thoughts and desires. It exposes us for what we really are.

4. Victorious, God honoring Living

Psalm 119:11
I have hidden your word in my heart
that I might not sin against you.

5. Vitality and Wisdom
When we think of the law, we often think of something that keeps us from having fun. But here we see the opposite—law that revives us, makes us wise, gives joy to the heart, gives light to the eyes, warns us, and rewards us. That’s because God’s laws are guidelines and lights for our path, rather than chains on our hands and feet. They point at danger and warn us, then point at success and guide us.

Psalm 19:7
The law of the Lord is perfect,
reviving the soul.
The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.


DON’T ACT ON GOD’S WORD and:

Experience the empty wagon syndrome!

2 Tim. 3:5
having a form of godliness but denying its power.

Isaiah 29:13
The Lord says:

"These people come near to me with their mouth
and honor me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me.
Their worship of me
is made up only of rules taught by men.

Matthew 15:8
" 'These people honor me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me.

Do Act on God’s Word and Demonstrate Your Love!

2 John 1:6
And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.

1 Samuel 15:22
But Samuel replied:

"Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices
as much as in obeying the voice of the Lord?
To obey is better than sacrifice,
and to heed is better than the fat of rams.

John 14:15
"If you love me, you will obey what I command.

John 14:23-24
Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24He who does not love me will
not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.


John 15:10
If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love.

Sunday, February 12, 2006

Singleness and Sex

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Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body. 1 Cor. 6:19-20

Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace. Romans 6:12-14

Q1: Why did God invent sexual desire?
Answer 1: God created us with sexual desire is to see to it that mankind would fill the earth with people.
"God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. And God blessed them and God said to them, 'Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it."' Genesis 1:27,28


Answer 2: "God created (these things) to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth."
“The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. 2Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. 3They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth. 4For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, 5because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.” 1 Tim. 4:1-5


Q2: What are God’s words of guidance to those who are not married?
In the NT porneia is translated as "fornication," "unchastity" or "immorality." Generally it refers to sexual promiscuity of unmarried people.

Matthew 15:19 Jesus says, "Out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, fornication, . . ."

The Bible calls sexual intercourse outside marriage, sin.

Galatians 5:19 – Sex outside of marriage is listed with the works of the flesh.
Ephesians 5:3 – Sex outside of marriage should never have to be named among Christians.
Colossians 3:5 – Sex outside of marriage is first on Paul's list of things we
should put to death in ourselves.
Revelation 9:21 – Sex outside of marriage is listed with murder, sorcery and theft as things a
hardened people would not repent of.

1 Corinthians 7:2,8&9 “Because of temptation to immorality (i.e., fornication) each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. . . To the unmarried (men and women) and to the widows I say it is well for them to remain single as I do. But if they cannot exercise self-control, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to be aflame with passion.”

Answer: Abstain.

Q3: Why did God command that we find gratification for our sexual desires only in marriage?

A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. If the husband dies, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord. 1 Corinthians 7:39

Answer: Marriage is distinguished from other chosen relationships by its permanence and sex is an expression of love reserved exclusively for marriage.



8 PRACTICAL POINTS OF COUNSEL FOR THE SINGLE PERSON:

ONE: do not seek sexual satisfaction through touching or being touched by another person even if you stop short of sexual intercourse.

TWO: avoid unnecessary sexual stimulation.

THREE, when the stimulation comes and the desire starts to rise perform a very conscious act of transfer onto Christ.
"Jesus, you are my Lord and my God, and my greatest desire is to know and love and obey you, so this desire is really for you. I take it from your competitor, I purge it and I direct it to you. Thank you for freeing me from the bondage of sin."

FOUR, pray that God would give you a desire to know and love and obey Him above all else.

FIVE, saturate your mind in God's word.
Jesus prayed, "Sanctify them in the truth. Your word is truth" (John 17:17).

SIX, keep yourself busy, and when it is time for leisure, choose things that are pure, lovely, gracious, excellent, worthy of praise (Philippians 4:8).

SEVEN, don't spend too much time alone.

EIGHT, Resolve to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and He will add to you everything you need - - - sexually.

02-05-06 The Greatest Are the Servants

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RELATIONSHIP PRINCIPLES OF JESUS

THE GREATEST ARE THE SERVANTS:
Demonstrating Care in Our Relationships

Deacon Ordination Service: the word deacon means attendant, waiter or servant.

Acts 6:1-5
But as the believers rapidly multiplied, there were rumblings of discontent. Those who spoke Greek complained against those who spoke Hebrew, saying that their widows were being discriminated against in the daily distribution of food. 2So the Twelve called a meeting of all the believers.
"We apostles should spend our time preaching and teaching the word of God, not administering a food program," they said. 3"Now look around among yourselves, brothers, and select seven men who are well respected and are full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom. We will put them in charge of this business. 4Then we can spend our time in prayer and preaching and teaching the word."
5This idea pleased the whole group,

Relationship Principle #5:
THE GREATEST ARE THE SERVANTS: Demonstrating Care in Our Relationships

Jesus called them together and said, "You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 43Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. 45For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." Mark 10:42-45 (NIV)


“The greatest among you will be your servant. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” Matthew 23:11-12

True Servants Demonstrate C.A.R.E. through Humble Acts of Service and Submission.

What does it mean to be humble?
What is Humility?

Philip. 2:5-8
Your attitude should be the same that Christ Jesus had. 6Though he was God, he did not demand and cling to his rights as God. 7He made himself nothing; he took the humble position of a slave and appeared in human form. 8And in human form he obediently humbled himself even further by dying a criminal's death on a cross.


Everyday we face the simple test of greatness (check one):

r Exalt yourself

r Humble yourself

If I desire to be a Servant who truly cares,

1. HOW DOES HUMILITY IN ME HANDLE MY TENDENCY TO Compare?

“But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ … For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Luke 14:10-11

Exalt yourself: Get the UPPER HAND.

Humble yourself: Take the LOWEST PLACE

Remember: Humility is not seeing ourselves as less important, it is seeing others as more important.


“Take the lowest seat” What does that mean in everyday life – and how do you do this? The seats at the banquets were not places of responsibility, but of honor. The advice behind this parable:

DON’T WASTE TIME WORRYING ABOUT HONOR!

LIVE YOUR LIFE FOR AN AUDIENCE OF ONE!


2. HOW DOES HUMILITY IN ME HANDLE Ambition?

“Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:4

The disciples were arguing about which of them would be the greatest. Jesus taught them a very important lesson:

Let humility manage your ambition.


1. Whoever humbles himself like this child

Humility means dependence on God.

2. Unless you change and become like children

Humility means asking God for what you need.

3. HOW HUMILITY IN ME HANDLE MY DESIRE FOR Recognition?

“The greatest among you will be your servant. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” Matthew 23:11-12

Exalt yourself: You NEED other’s notice

DON’T be like the Pharisees, Jesus said:

“Everything they do is done for men to see…”

“they make their phylacteries wide…”
The Love of SYMBOLS

“they love the places of honor at banquets…”
The Love of RECOGNITION

“they love… to have men call them ‘Rabbi’”
The Love of TITLES

Humble yourself: You notice other’s NEEDS.



4. HOW DOES HUMILITY IN ME HANDLE THE REALITY OF MY Election?( Luke 18:9-14)

Two Pray-ers

• The Pharisee

• The Tax Collector

Two Prayers

• “God, I thank You that I am not like all other men – robbers, evildoers, adulterers – or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.”

• “God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”

Exalt yourself: Do it YOURSELF!

Three signs of “do it yourself” religion…

1. CONFIDENT in yourself

“… confident of their own righteousness…”

2. CONDEMNING of others

“… looked down on everyone else…”

3. CONCERNED with externals

“… I fast… I tithe…”


Humble yourself: Trust God

In order tot rust God you must recognize:

1. Who YOU really are

2. Who GOD really is

“God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time.” 1 Peter 5:5-6


HUMILITY IS THE MARK OF GREATNESS!

YOUR CARE FOR OTHERS IS THE MEASURE OF YOUR GREATNESS!

“Now came an argument among them as to which of them would be greatest (in the coming Kingdom)! But Jesus knew their thoughts, so He stood a little child beside Him and said to them, ‘Anyone who takes care of a little child like this is caring for Me! And whoever cares for Me is caring for God who sent Me. Your care for others is the measure of your greatness.’” Luke 9:46-48 (TLB)