Prayer's
Sunday, September 07, 2003
Sunday Evening Worship Service September 7, 2003
Pastor: Dave Burns
Being Distracted
We buy a lot of things to give us more time, but what are we doing with the time we save? Are we using the time as we should, by worshiping and praising the Lord?
We can be distracted by the preparations and not the event. Preparation is important, but not at the cost and neglect of our life with the Lord today.
It's not enough to say that we believe in the Lord, because if we really believe our salvation was brought by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, we would desire to spend as much time as possible praising and worshipping him.
Time shouldn't be the prime consideration when we are praising and worshipping the Lord.
We should ask the Lord why and what we are commanded, not decide what we want to do and then ask the Lord to bless those decisions.
We should think about our relationship with the Lord, not so much with the outward appearance of our worship. Our hearts are where our worship should really occur.
Lets not worship the event, worship the Lord.
Who are we bringing attention, the Lord or ourselves?
Jesus wants to see us spending time with him. He desires us, to spend time alone with God, but he wants sincere time, not a certain required amount each day.
When you want something out of your heart, you are truly dedicated to that desire. So we should be driven by the most sincere desire, to praise and worship the Lord.
There is no scorecard, in the application of our faith.
The Lord offers us spiritual food.
Are we Sprirtually hungry or are we spiritually healthy?
John 6:26-27
26 Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.
27 Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed. {Labour not: or, Work not}
Problems and Answers
Taking our thoughts away from a problem and turning them toward our blessings will set our direction and path.
Be restful and aware of the presence of the Holy Spirit.
Contentment and prayer are the results of having the presence of the Holy Spirit.
Encouraging People
We should strive to be encourageing people.
Discourageing people drag us down, instead of inspiring us to hope and take heart in God.
Being an encourager is a command based in the love of God.
The best way to experience the encouragement that you long for is to be and encourager to others.
Proverbs 12:25
Anxiety in the heart of man causes depresion, but a good word makes it glad.
Various Scripture
Dueteronomy 2:7
For the blessing of the Lord your God has been on you in all the work of your hands: he has knowledge of your wanderings through this great waste: these forty years the Lord your God has been with you, and you have been short of nothing.
Dueteronomy 2: 33 - 34
33 And the Lord our God gave him into our hands; and we overcame him and his sons and all his people.
34 At that time we took all his towns, and gave them over to complete destruction, together with men, women, and children; we had no mercy on any:
Dueteronomy 3:21 - 22
21 And I gave orders to Joshua at that time, saying, Your eyes have seen what the Lord your God has done to these two kings: so will the Lord do to all the kingdoms into which you come.
22 Have no fear of them, for the Lord your God will be fighting for you.
Dueteronomy 4: 24
24 For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God.
Dueteronomy 4:30
30 When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days, if thou turn to the LORD thy God, and shalt be obedient unto his voice; {are…: Heb. have found thee}
Sunday Morning Worship Service - August 31, 2003
Pastor: Dave Burns
Galatians Chapter 5
How we perceive things sets the tone of how we will actually deal with reality.
The Purpose of the Law!
Our attitudes need to be circumsized before our spirit.
Bondage comes from not seeing our salvation through the cross, and trying to justify salvation through deeds.
The flesh always feels that it is our job to help God.
Our love should be of a Spiritual nature, and we should not demand acts for love. The way someone acts towards us should have no bearing on our love for them.
We should not use our love as a bank ledger. We should not require deposits, in order for others to receive our love.
Do not keep laws of church between others and your love.
Do not Judge!! Seeking justification for our love.
We should use every opportunity to share the love of Christ.
When we do things out of a natural feeling, then we are accepting the power of the Holy Spirit.
The value of the Spirit revealed in our daily lives, is the gift of Salvation.
It's not our job to change others, that is the job of God through the Holy Spirit.
Bondage is the result of those hardened hearts and wrong perceptions.
Salvation has nothing to do with what we do or do not accomplicsh. Salvation comes from Christ Jesus.
2nd Corinthians 5:15
Sunday Morning: Discipleship Training August 31, 2003
Kindness - Doing something good for someone else expecting nothing in return.
The difference between being sorry and truly asking for forgiveness is the act of repentance.
Genesis - 50:19 - 21
19.) And Joseph said unto them, fear not, for am I in the place of God.
20.) Bus as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.
21.) Now therefore fear ye not; I will nourish you, and your little ones. and he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.
Disruptions to Family Unity
1. Pride
2. Guilt
3. Fear
4. Selfishness
God's promises will be fullfilled. We should look to the lord for our promises, because of the failfulness of our Saviour.
Nothing will remain of us once we die except rememberance.
Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting Notes for August 27, 2003
Message by: Pastor Dave Burns
Notation by: Eric Echols
Exodus 1:15
Always remember that we were once the unruly children.
Because the midwives in Egypt feared God, the Lord blessed them and their houses multiplied.
Does the Lord give gifts to people because that person has a more righteous being, or does the evil we confront and overcome provide us the strength and faith that will lead us to greater accomplishment.
The Authority and benevolence of God, and our reverence and faith we offer, will provide us the strength and wisdom to do greater works.
God creates the cause so that we will enact his desired effect.
God will work out the Plan.
Fear of God is a basket ofprotection for us. Gods plan will work regardless of circumstances.
We need to know that God has a plan and that his plan will be revealed in time.
If we have afear and reverence of God, we can become an instrument of Gods plan.
The begining of wisdom is the Fear of God.
Promise Keepers ---"NOTES"--- Day Two "What are Your Spiritual Beliefs?"
Turn on your Spiritual Radar, and witness your salvation to those around you.
6 Truths
God created us to be with him. Genesis 1:26
Our sin seperates us from God. Genesis 6:5-6
Sin can not be removed by good deeds. Titus 3:5
Paying the price for sin, Jesus died and rose again. 1 Corinthians 15:3-4
Everyone who trusts in him alone, has eternal life. John 6:47
Life that's eternal means we will be with Jesus foreer in heaven. Revelation 22:5
Believe and Receive - belief in and reception of the everlasting love and faithfulness of Jesus Christ.
God created us in his own imbage because he wants us to be with him and share in his blessings and spread his message.
Our Sins and our flesh, our earthly desires, seperate us from experiencing a close relationship with God.
Sin can not be atoned by acts or deeds. Without faith in and acceptance of the Lord Jesus Christ's mercy and salvation, no sin debt is repayed.
Paying for our Sin, Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour washed away the pain of that separation from God our creator.
Everyone who trusts in the salvation and the Eternal Sacrifice of Jesus Christ, shall receive the blessing of Eternal life with Lord our God.
Life Everlasting is the Promise to all who will surrender their Sin to the Lord, and accept his mercy and salvation.
Promise Keepers ---"NOTES"--- Day Two Call to the Commission
The Holy Spirit
We can have "Rivers" of the Holy Spirit flowing through our bodies.
Acts 1:8 To be filled with that which you already have within you.
Jesus passed the mantle of ministry onto us. We shall receive power. The holy spirit is with us and shall be within us. We have a companionship with God, and he sees and hears everything we experience. The Holy Spirit will lead and direct us to create a passion for Jesus that is grater than the desires of Sin. Misery will dirve us back to God, because sin will seperate us from the presence of God.
How to Lead a Spiritual Life
Be witnesses at home - Be witnesses among your own family first. We will be involved in each others lives seeking the will of the Lord. God gives us "Shock and Awe," and we are to be followers of the Holy Spirit to receive that power. (Acts 2) People will know that we have found gold by the way that we act and react to one another.
How do we receive power?
1. Yielding - Yielding our physical and emotional selves, giving everything in our lives to God.
2. Feeding - Feeding our Spirit, through the word of God, and absorption, through interaction with other followers of God.
3. Weeding - Weeding sins out of our lives. Asking God to reveal our struggles, and then revealing them to others, which disallows Satan using the secret Sin and pervert our spirit. We should flee sin. We should be reconciled to every person.
4. Believing - Believing and having faith that we are following the will of God. As we recieved the forgiveness from the dying Christ, we receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is not inus to be a resident, but to be our President.
If we allow the Holy Spirit to lead our lives, then we will develop habits of righteousness.
Promise Keepers ---"Notes"--- Day Two Threats of Isolation
When a man is brought to Christ 93% of the time, the rest of the family did as well.
5 Key Steps
1. Ready
Ready Position = Come to Church ready to serve
2. Pastor Needs a Recruiter
The Pastor/Preacher can't be the only member of a church proselitizing to potential members. It is the church families duty to bring lost persons to the Lord's message, through the Pastor.
3. Neutralize the Opposition
Protect our Leaders, and Pastors. Defend them against libel and gossip. Protect each other from the Sin of loose tongues, and envious thoughts.
4. Be a "Hands On" Leader
Don't merely say you follow Christ, show that you follow Christ, by living faithful to the lords word and intentions.
5. Stay in your lane
We need to create relationships with our fellow christians, so we can be accountable to each other, and build each other spiritually. Celebrating victories, and struggling together in conflicts.
The Threats of Isolation -- Securing the Home Front
Marriage is not a human invention, it is a holy union, defined and designed by God.
God created one woman for each man, and his plan is for them to marry and have children, reared in god fearing homes.
The restoration of marriage is the goal of our lives, ever since the fall of man from the Garden of Eden.
Success is the tenth attempt after nine failures.
What a woman Needs
1. House -- The house is an extension of the way we treat our wives. Women take it personal when we neglect the house. Chores represent relationships to wives. Read the to do list, and know your limitations.
2. Security -- Your wife needs to be secure that she is the only woman in your life. A woman has got to know you will never desert her. NEVER mention the word DIVORCE! Youve got to be faithful to your wife with your body, emotions, and your eyes. Determine, before you are placed in a tempting situation, what actions you will take.
3. Romance -- Relationship's are romance to your wife. Date once a week. Call on the phone. Have a make out party. Find your wife's love language. Rekindle your wifes loves.
4. How to Fight -- Never publicly humiliate your wife. Never abuse your wife. Never bad mouth your wife to anyone. Don't attack the person, attack the issue. Agree to postpone a fight, but never longer than 24 hours. You MUST be able to say, "I'm Sorry" and "I forgive you."
5. Kids -- God first introduced himself as Father. We set up our kids boundaries, with the knowledge and understanding, that if they pass those boundaries, we still love them.. ie..Unconditional Love. Never withold your love from your family. Know that as you have disappointed your Father in Heaven, that your children will disappoint you. Accept their failures, as the Lord has accepted yours.
6. Find a Mentor -- Find a couple you want to be your mentor.
We need to go back and renew our wives and our marriages.
Promise Keepers ---"NOTES"--- Day Two Spiritual Discipline
Sometimes we don't change until the pain is to great to remain the same.
Spiritual Discipline
Adjust your feelings to the facts. We are SERVANTS. We are in an arena of spiritual challenge, and the battle is fought on a daily basis, not now and then. We must battle the forces and influences of temptation and sin every day. We may lose one of those battles, but we must remain firm in our challenge, to hold the lines, if we are to win the ultimate victory.
Weapons of Spirituality
1. Fasting - Induced weakness
Fasting intensifies prayer.
Chronicles 7:14
2. Reading the Bible - The bible was written for "Me." It is a living document. When you are "Reading the Bible" the Bible is "Reading You."
Sin will keep you from the Bible, however the Bible will keep you from Sin.
Read for Seed, NOT for Speed ie..Read for the message not for the quantity.
Break the Bible up into pieces - so that you can read it prayerfully, and concentrate on the messages.
3. Prayer - It was Gods intention for us to pray aloud.
Luke 11:2
Establish Spiritual habits. Make Commitments.
1. Prayer
2. Read the Bible
3. Fast
The Holy Spirit is the teacher of the Bible.
Promise Keepers ---"NOTES"---SESSION ONE
Outer appearance of Christianity does not signify your true heart and feeling.
We should try to think of God.
God isn't asking us for more, he just wants us to surrender your life to him.
There are different types of runaways.
We should celebrate the coming home of our lost brothers and sisters, and not be envious of there commitments.
Spiritual life has more to do with our weakness. As we grow, we should desire to me more like Christ. Giving up our sins happily.
Envy and resentment are the tools that keep us from the will of God.
God doesn't force our obedience, he pleads with us to do his will.
Resentment will burn in the heart and remove everything the lord wants for us.
Conformity means NOTHING! If your heart is not in the service, then your service has no value.
Judgemental and distance from one another is a barrier to faithful following.
When we come to the father we won't judge others. A critical spirit can kill the ones we love.
Tenderness and love are the only gifts we can offer our family.
The end of the story is ours to write.
