Sermon Notes from Sunday, November 7, 2010

Here are the sermon notes from Sunday, November 7, 2010 "The Leader Who Handles the Offering" from II Corinthians 8:15-9:5. Click here

Developing a lifestyle of praise

This is Nancy Leigh DeMoss' daily devotion today. What a joy to pass it on.

“When I pray, I’m really only asking God for help.”

Nancy Leigh DeMoss: How much time do you spend praising God?

“I don’t really get around to praising Him very much.

Nancy: Are you taking time to praise God? Here are nine reasons why we should develop a lifestyle of praise:

1. God loves praise and is looking for worshipers.
2. Praise is the primary occupation of heaven. We’ll do it for eternity.
3. God commands us to praise Him.
4. He deserves our worship and praise.
5. We were created to bring Him pleasure and praise Him.
6. Praise takes us into His presence.
7. Praise is a cure for spiritual dryness.
8. It defeats Satan.
9. Praise sets us free from spiritual bondage.

Are you doing what you were created to do? Be sure to spend some time today just praising God. With Seeking Him, I’m Nancy Leigh DeMoss.

For those sins that so easily beset us

John Piper offers a solution to “sin that easily besets us in the form of an acronym: ANTHEM

A– avoid sights and situations that arouse unfitting desires. Prevent what fuels your appetite for sin.

N– say NO to every lustful thought within five seconds. In the first two seconds shout “No, get out of my head!” In the next two, cry out, “Oh God, in the name of Jesus, help me. Save me now. I am yours.” Say it out loud. The Puritan writer John Owen said, “Be killing sin, or it will be killing you.”

T– turn the mind forcefully towards Christ. Attack sin with the promises of Christ.

H– Hold the promise and pleasure of Christ firmly in mind. For how long? Until it pushes other images out. Hold it. Don’t let it go. Hold it until you win!

E– enjoy a superior satisfaction: Pleasure in Christ. If you have little taste for Jesus, competing pleasures will triumph.

M– move into useful activity, away form idleness and other vulnerable behaviors. Abound in the work of the Lord (see 1 Cor. 15:58). Replace deceitful lusts with a passion for good deeds.

Sermon Notes from Sunday, October 31, 2010

"Tithing isn't the ceiling of giving; it's the floor. It's not the finish line of giving; it's just the starting blocks. Tithes can be the training wheels to launch us into the mind-set, skills, and habits of grace giving." Randy Alcorn The Treasure Principle, page 65

Here are the sermon notes from this past Sunday, October 31 "Giving is a Heart Issue." Click here to read.

Pray for Dr. Robert Smith and family

Pray For Dr. Robert Smith And Family

Posted: November 2, 2010 by pastorron7 in Current Issues
Tags: Dr. Robert Smith, Beeson Divinity School

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Dr. Robert Smith’s family has been given a hard providence. His son was tragically killed this past weekend (Click here for article). Dr. Smith is a Professor at Beeson Divinity School of Samford University in Birmingham, AL. His son was living in Cincinnatti with his grandmother to take care of her. He was shot after having difficulty opening the cash register where he worked when the business was being robbed. Obviously the Smith family needs the comfort of God’s Holy Spirit in their time of grief (2 Corinthians 1:3-5).

I don’t have a point of reference for such a tragedy. I can’t imagine the heart ache of Dr. Smith and his family. Life can change so quickly… so unexpectedly… in ways we never would have imagined. This reminds me that each day we have is a gift from God. Each moment we have in God’s creation is a blessing. And that the Christian’s sorrow is not like the rest of the world that has no hope.

Then I am reminded that it is as we walk with God we are better able to flee to the throne when unexpected events make their way into our life. The closer we are to God, the quicker we are by His side when we need Him.

Keep the Smith family in your prayers…

To lighten the mood on this Election Day

Now you see why I like basketball better than any other sport. Would you have seen this at a football game?

My prayer for our nation as we face elections 2010

As I write this one day before the election, I am reminded of the article I wrote two years ago on the same day. Click here to read that article of November 3, 2008.

Two years of complete Democratic rule has most of us conservatives wishing for a complete Republican take-over tomorrow.

Yet, years of going through these times (I am old enough to have gone through the Reagan elections), I am here to say our greatest need tomorrow is NOT for Republicans to gain control of the Congress, state house or any house. We’ve been there and done that.

As a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ and whose goal is to see “His Kingdom come and His will be done,” and for every person on this planet to be transformed by the grace of God; then my greatest desire is to see a change of heart among those who occupy the seats of government as well as the seats in our churches.

The church needs to repent of believing a party will ever bring about the “glory of God” that this nation and church needs. The church (of which I have been a part for thirty years) has too long believed that getting the right party or person into political office will solve our problems. Well, it hasn't and it won't. We need heart transformation; not just party swapping.

Government policies can (and do) legislature morality, but a change of morality is not what we as believers in Christ want to see. We must not lessen our goal of seeing hearts changed. We want to see persons (whether they are in the government or church) who will without apology give the only and highest glory to God, and God alone. And not just to how you interpret "God." His name is Jesus!!!

Then, morality will take care of itself when hearts are changed.

I do not believe either the Republicans nor the Democrats are at that point. In fact, I don’t know if any of them even really care about this country - only that they get re-elected and put more money in their pockets. (Please, forgive me - I don’t mean for this article to go negative).

The competition, compromise and calloused self-promotion of both parties is not worthy of my following as a Christian. My allegiance is to a higher calling and purpose.

So, what do I do tomorrow? I will vote, but with a very heavy heart. I will weep over the choices we have. But to stay home and not vote would even be worse.

My prayer for me, our churches, and our nations: "Now, therefore, says the Lord, Turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning." So rend, your heart, and not your garments; Return to the Lord your God,..." Joel 2:12-13

Oh, God, may I live long enough in this land to see it!!