Don't throw in the Towel

 Jeremiah 20:7-9

7. O Lord, thou hast deceived me, and I was deceived; thou art stronger than I, and hast prevailed: I am in derision daily, every one mocketh me.

8. For since I spoke, I cried out, I cried violence and spoil; because the word of the

Lord was made a reproach unto me, and a derision, daily.

9. Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.

1. Throwing In The Towel Can Happen To Anyone.

2. Throwing In The Towel Begins With Me Believing Satan’s Lies.

3. Throwing In The Towel Is Compounded By Peer Pressure 

4. Throwing In The Towel Comes With The Weight of The Cross.

5. Throwing In The Towel Develops From Just Being Plain Tired.

6. Picking Up The Towel Happens When I Feel The Fire Raging In My Bones.

 

Faith Will Define You

Faith Will Define You  Hebrews 11:23-28 NIV

1. Faith Will Make You Brave Vs. 23

It was by faith that Moses’ parents hid him for three months when he was born. They saw that God had given them an unusual child, and they were not afraid to disobey the king’s command.

A. We must make brave decisions.
B. “Faith does not give into fear.”
C. Who are you going after?
D. What are you doing to leave your comfort?

-Faith will cause you to do the unusual.
-Faith will require you to take a risk.
-Faith will challenge you. 

2. Faith Is Not Always The Easy Way Vs. 24-26

It was by faith that Moses, when he grew up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. 25 He chose to share the oppression of God’s people instead of enjoying the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He thought it was better to suffer for the sake of Christ than to own the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his great reward. 

A. Faith is, MOST of the time, the less popular thing to do. 
B. God will not leave you. 
“Sometimes faith is not to move a mountain, but instead it requires you to put on the hiking gear and climb the mountain.”

3. Faith Takes a Long-term View Vs.27

It was by faith that Moses left the land of Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger. He kept right on going because he kept his eyes on the one who is invisible.

A. Faith indicates we believe there is a future.
B. Let God be part of the equation.    
    1. What will please Him?
    2. How will this affect later?

4. Faith Ultimately Rests On Jesus Vs.28

It was by faith that Moses commanded the people of Israel to keep the Passover and to sprinkle blood on the doorposts so that the angel of death would not kill their firstborn sons.

A. Faith is not a “You,” but a “He.”
B. We all make the “choice” to have faith. Having that faith is resting on Jesus to do the unforeseen. 
C. You give it all to Him and take your hands off.

 

 

 

 

 

Finding Your Fire For God

Finding Your Fire For God

Begins With A Willing Heart!

Exodus 35

4. Then Moses said to the entire Israelite community, “This is what the Lord has commanded: 5. Take up an offering among you for the Lord. Let everyone whose heart is willing bring this as the Lord’s offering:

1.  Their Willing Hearts Fired Up The Volunteers.

          (A) They Were Excited.

          (B) They Were Cooperative.

          (C) They Were Gifted.

2. Their Willing Hearts Fired Up The Offerings.

          (A) It Was A Purposeful Offering.
          (B)  It Was A Planned Offering.
          (C) It Was A Plentiful Offering.

3. Their Willing Hearts Fired Up A Genuine Focus On God.

 

 

 

 

Difficult Times Ahead!

Difficult Times Ahead!

 2 Timothy 3:1

But know this: Difficult times will come in the last days.

1.  Make The Scriptures Your Standard.

2 Timothy 4:2
   Proclaim the message; persist in it whether convenient or not; rebuke, correct, and encourage with great patience and teaching. 

2.  Be Persistently On The Alert.

3.  Take A Stand.

2 Timothy 4:3-4

 3. For the time will come when they will not tolerate sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, will multiply teachers for themselves because they have an itch to hear something new. 4 They will turn away from hearing the truth and will turn aside to myths.

(A) Truth is rejected.

(B) Lies are supported

.4.   Follow God’s Blueprint For Standing Successfully. 

2 Timothy 4:5
 But as for you, be sober minded, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

First, Stand Calmly.
Second, Endure Hardship.
Third, Keep on Evangelizing. 
Fourth, Fulfill Your Ministry.

 

 

 

 

You Are An Ambassador. You Have Been Called And Commissioned For A Joyful Task.

2 Corinthians 5:17-20
17.  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, and look, new things have come. 18.  Everything is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19.  That is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed the message of reconciliation to us .20. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, certain that God is appealing through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God. 

 1. You Are Personally Commissioned to Share The Message of Your King.

2. You Should Expect Many Opportunities to Bring Reconciliation Between Your King And A Lost World.

3. Our Words And Our Actions Speak Volumes About Our King.

4. We Must Put The King’s Interests And Priorities Above Our Own Personal Affairs.