How Do I Enjoy The Good Things Of God?

James 1:16-18

1. Avoid killjoy thinking and people. 
    a. Do not err, my beloved brethren.  James 1:16
2. Make sure your perspective about God is accurate. 
    a. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights James 1:17
3. Count your blessings and give thanks. 
    a. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above James 1:17
4. Don't worry, God hasn't and will not change. 
    a. with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. 
    James 1:17
5. Shout His goodness from the rooftop. 
    a. Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
    James 1:18
6. Remind yourself of how quickly time flies. 

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What Happened To The Cause?

1 Samuel 17

29 And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause? 30 And he turned from him toward another, and spake after the same manner: and the people answered him again after the former manner. 

"I firmly believe that any man's finest hour, the greatest fulfillment if all that he holds dear, is that moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle - victorious."

1. Their fear was bigger than the cause. 
    a. When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid. 
       1 Sam 17:11
    b. And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him, and were sore afraid. 
      1 Sam 17:24
    c. Faith activates God, fear activates the enemy. 
2. Jealousy was bigger than the cause. 
    a. And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and Eliab's anger  was kindled against David, and he said, Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle. 
      1 Sam 17:28
3. Criticism was bigger than the cause. 
    a. ..Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle. 
      1 Sam 17:28
4. Misplaced values were bigger than the cause. 
    a. And the men of Israel said, Have ye seen this man that is come up? surely to defy Israel is he come up: and it shall be, that the man who killeth him, the king will enrich him with great riches, and will give him his daughter, and make his father's house free in Israel. 
      1 Sam 17:25
    b. And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh away the reproach from Israel? for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God? 
      1 Sam 17:26

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Finding Peace With A Shamed Filled Life

Shame is the deep-seated feeling that something is fundamentally wrong with me.

Guilt is about what I have done. Shame is about who I am.

1. Where does shame come from?

   a. Shame can be transmitted.

      i. A parents attitude towards life can be transmitted to their children. Shame for their parents problems. Family secrets. Abuse creates shame.

   b. Results of a shame-based identity.

      i. Shame says hide yourself.

      ii. Feelings and events trigger shame.

   c. Shame sends messages

   d. False ways in which we deals with shame.

      i. Shame teaches us to be embarrassed about having needs or hurting.

      ii. Shame hinders emotional closeness with other people.

      iii. Shame from others can lead to shame of your own.

      iv. You end up carrying a heavy load.

   e. How we run from shame.

      i. Denying shame through compulsive behavior.

   f. Defeating shame once and for all.

      i. Real, genuine, authentic spiritual cleansing.

      ii. Romans 5:8 "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, while we were still       sinners, Christ died for us."

      iii. Isaiah 54:4 "Do not be afraid; you will not suffer shame. Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated. You will forget the shame of your youth."

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Don't Stop The Praise

Psalm 113:1-9

1. We need to praise God consistently. (vs. 1-2)
2. We need to praise God systematically. (vs. 3)
3. We need to praise God reverently. (vs. 3)
4. We need to praise God confidently. (vs. 4-5)- God is in control.
5. We need to praise God thankfully. (vs. 6)
6. We need to praise God livingly. (vs. 7-9)

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He Is Risen

Luke 24:1-12

1 Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. 2 And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. 3 And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: 5 And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, 7 Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. 8 And they remembered his words, 9 And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles. 11 And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not. 12 Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass. 

Acts 2

1. Exchange religion for a relationship. 
2. Surrender to internal control.
    a. You can have control over circumstances or the circumstances can have control over you. 
3. You have to develop an eternal perspective. 

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