These are some notes from when I visited Church of the Rock last Sunday. Don't forget to take time to look up the verses for yourself. Ask questions and wonder and search. The more questions you ask God the more answers you'll get.
Ephesians 4:1-6
1: (see also Col. 1:10) As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2:Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3: (see also Col. 3:14) Make ever effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4:There is one body and one Spirit- just as you are called to one hope when you were called- 5:one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6: (see also Ro. 11:36) one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
Ephesians 4:1
What does this verse say to us?
You, as a Christian, belong to God. You are His property. You need to live a life that is a good representation of the God you serve and call Father. God has set all of us on a long and hard race. We are ALL on this race together! Are you making it easier for yourself by following Gods lead and helping each other? Or are you getting lost because you're leaving the path and getting in others way?
This isn't about us! This calling, this race, is bigger then any and all of us! Stop acting like you're the most important runner in the race.
Ephesians 4:2
What does this verse mean?
It's simple. Help each other through life. Life is like a race and there are manners involved in races. Be humble: Dont get in peoples way and slow them down. And don't think you've got it all together and like you're above everyone else. A tiny stone can trip even the biggest of us and the bigger your head the more top heavy you are and, therefore, the more likely you are to fall.
Be gentle: Dont be rude. Be kind to everyone! Especially the ones who are struggling.
Be patient: There are gonna be hard parts of the race and easy parts. When it gets hard remember God is running next to you and He is cheering you on. Dont give up. It WILL get better. It may not get better right away or for a very long time or until you get to the end but it will get better.
Ephesians 4:3
This is even simpler. STAY TOGETHER! God put us all in the same race so that we could learn from each other, help each other, and encourage each other. Think of others before you do something stupid that is gonna slow everyone down.
Ephesians 4:4-5
There is only one important race, one leader, and we are all in the race working together to get to the end. Are you doing your part in running the race or are you letting other drag you along and slowing them down?
Ephesians 4:6
God is the leader of the race so He leads us in the way we should go. But if you fall behind and ask for help He's never to far away to come and save you. He loves all of us more then we could imagine!
Hebrews 12:1-2
1. (see also Co. 9:24) Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2. (see also Php. 2:8-9) Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the auther and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him enduring the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Living the life of a Christian is hard. But it has great benifits! Just like being in the Army. It can be hard, it hurts sometimes, but it only makes you better and the benifits out weight the pain 10 to 1. Like in the Army you stay together and you help each other and you get through it! Every step you take is over and done with and you are one step closer to the end.
Certain things can hold you down and slow you down and trip you up. When you're running you usually wear light clothes and take as little as possible with you. So why would you try to take all your sin and bagage with you? It'll just slow you down until you either give up or come in last place. All it causes is pain, just let go and leave it on the side of the road so others dont trip on your bagage.
Also, keep your eyes on the prize. Everything you struggle through really is worth it in the end!
Look around, who are you running with?
Are you running with people that encourage you, teach you, and enjoy running the race? Or are you running with people that drag you down and discourage you?
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Gods Will
These are my notes from church, I thought a few people could benefit from them.
1 Peter 4:12-19:
Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. For it is time for judgment to begin with God's household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And,
"If it is hard for the righteous to be saved,
what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?" So then, those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good. (1 Peter 4:12-19 NIV)
Sometimes our problems is Gods will for us.
Most of the time God uses hard times to refocus us.
Deuteronomy 8:2
Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. (Deuteronomy 8:2 NIV)
God gave the Israelites chance after chance to show their faith for God and they failed so He sent them through another trail until they got it right.
The hotter the fire the purer the gold will be. The harder our trials the better we'll be when it's over.
Psalms 199:71
It was good for me to be afflicted
so that I might learn your decrees. (Psalm 119:71 NIV)
Trials can be stepping stones or stumbling blocks, you choose.
*Hebrews 12:6-8
because the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son." Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. (Hebrews 12:6-8 NIV)
God corrects us because He loves us. If He didn't correct us it would me He didn't love us...
Genius 50:20
You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. (Genesis 50:20 NIV)
People mean to harm us but God means to protect us. No one can harm us because God has His hands wrapped around us. If we stay inside the protected arms of God we are safe because the world can't get past God. They can yell at us but never get to us.
James 1:2-4
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. (James 1:2-4 NIV)
God does everything to teach us.
God teaches us in two ways. Through the word and through problems. The more time we spend in the word the less time God needs to teach us through problems.
2 Corinthians 12:7-10
or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:7-10 NIV)
What do we do when we have a problem?
1 Peter 4:12-19:
Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. For it is time for judgment to begin with God's household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And,
"If it is hard for the righteous to be saved,
what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?" So then, those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good. (1 Peter 4:12-19 NIV)
Sometimes our problems is Gods will for us.
Most of the time God uses hard times to refocus us.
Deuteronomy 8:2
Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. (Deuteronomy 8:2 NIV)
God gave the Israelites chance after chance to show their faith for God and they failed so He sent them through another trail until they got it right.
The hotter the fire the purer the gold will be. The harder our trials the better we'll be when it's over.
Psalms 199:71
It was good for me to be afflicted
so that I might learn your decrees. (Psalm 119:71 NIV)
Trials can be stepping stones or stumbling blocks, you choose.
*Hebrews 12:6-8
because the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son." Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. (Hebrews 12:6-8 NIV)
God corrects us because He loves us. If He didn't correct us it would me He didn't love us...
Genius 50:20
You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. (Genesis 50:20 NIV)
People mean to harm us but God means to protect us. No one can harm us because God has His hands wrapped around us. If we stay inside the protected arms of God we are safe because the world can't get past God. They can yell at us but never get to us.
James 1:2-4
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. (James 1:2-4 NIV)
God does everything to teach us.
God teaches us in two ways. Through the word and through problems. The more time we spend in the word the less time God needs to teach us through problems.
2 Corinthians 12:7-10
or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:7-10 NIV)
What do we do when we have a problem?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)