Wednesday Night August 29, 2012
scriptures: Proverbs 19, Matthew 6, Romans 16, 2 Corinthians 8, 1 Thessalonians 1, 2 Thessalonians 1, Romans 8, Proverbs 9
audio file: click to open in a new window or right-click to download
Notes
Proverbs 19:21
You may have many interests, but you need to be guided by the Lord.
There are many that agree mentally but don’t dedicate their lives to Christ.
Matthew 6:30-33
There are practical considerations to living as a Christian. You don’t consider and worry like the world. A Christian seeks God’s will and knows that He will take care of the rest.
Not that any believer is supposed to be more holy. Using each other as example, we should all be speaking the same things. Many of the issues
in life are common. We are supposed to be working for the Lord during all of the issues.
If you are too busy to pray, then you are too busy. You have to stop something to seek God first.
Living for Christ is deeper than job or college. People are often thinking about a job or school as making you instead of wanting to be in God and allowing Him to define you.
Believers want to know how they are being a vessel and representation of Christ. Others often consider their likes and dislikes when making decisions.
Ask yourself: how am I seeking first? Am I living for myself?
FIRST: The first thing I do is to do what I am committed to do in Christ.
What am I doing for Christ and building His kingdom? Then I may fit those other things in.
Christ can be first. There is not a situation where Christ will not give you the strength to continue.
The situations may not be the same in their specifics, but you’re able to hold on like others because you have the same purpose to seek God’s kingdom first.
Romans 16:1-19
Sincere Christians. If you are seeking the kingdom, you need to be working. Emotions and raising your hands is not the extent of working for Christ. It takes being committed and being a worker.
Who are you in Christ? What do you do in Christ?
2 Corinthians 8:1-12
You are not judged on what you cannot do, but rather on what you are willing to do.
1 Thessalonians 1:1-10
Trying to find you in this bible: Your character, even if not your name.
This was written about committed people. In your life in church, is it talking about you?
The spiritual leaders have to think about who are the people that are laboring, that are going to be examples of what God wants. We should be living to be an example to others of how a Christian lives.
Sometimes testimony of another believer living godly speaks loudly to others. Everytime you worship or refuse to worship, it speaks to others.
Are you living to be an example to help others see Christ?
2 Thessalonians 1:1-12
Can you rejoice in seeing how other believers have grown in work and love to each other? Can you see yourself growing in the church and work of Christ?
Who is praising God for how well you handle problems and tribulation?
For how well you continued to serve God and rejoice?
The call to serve Christ is very serious. We will each have to answer to whether or not we have accepted and worked for Him and His kingdom.
God will give us power to do.
Proverbs 19:21-25
What about your passion for God is attractive?
When people love the Lord, they are doing things in Christ, they take care of business.
Those who are obedient and consistent are more satisfied and have more hope.
God’s promises are to those who trust Him and serve Him.
Don’t be lazy. Don’t be spiritually lazy either. Lazy includes the people who will work on what they want to but will not take care of what they need to.
Correction will benefit the wise as well as the simple who are watching.
The foolish reject correction.
Proverbs 9:8-9
The wise want to be better.
Proverbs 19:26-27
There are children who abuse their parents. God is not pleased with them.
We are responsible to avoid advice and “wisdom” from people who turn you from what God desires. Sometimes you let crazy things enter into you and then wonder why you start thinking things that are off track.
You have to be careful. Just because someone is popular and recording music, you can’t absorb their words if they are talking against Christ!
Watch how you think. Watch what goes in your mind.
If you haven’t been what you need to be in God, you have to ask for forgiveness to be restored. Just saying you are sorry is not the same as seeking to be right now.