It is better to be slow-tempered than famous, it is better to have self-control than to control an army. Proverbs 16:32 (LB)
For with God nothing is ever impossible and no word from God shall be without power or impossible of fulfillment. Luke 1:37 (AB)
1. CONTROLLING YOUR EMOTIONS IS PART OF GOD’S PLAN FOR YOUR LIFE
How truly I love you! We're the best of friends, and I pray for good fortune in everything you do, and for your good health—that your everyday affairs prosper, as well as your soul!
3 John 2 (TM)
Your soul is actually made up of three parts.
Your mind
Your will
Your emotions
2. JESUS SHOWS US HOW TO CONTROL OUR EMOTIONS
Now that we know what we have—Jesus, this great High Priest with ready access to God—let's not let it slip through our fingers. We don't have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He's been through weakness and testing, experienced it all—all but the sin. So let's walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help.
Hebrews 4:15 (TM)
They went to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and Jesus said, "Sit here while I go and pray." He took Peter, James, and John with Him, and He became deeply troubled and distressed. He told them, "My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death.."
Mark 14:32-34 (NLT)
3. JESUS SOUGHT THE FATHER IN PRAYER
He went on a little farther and fell to the ground. He prayed that, if it were possible, the awful hour awaiting Him might pass Him by. "Abba, Father," He cried out, "everything is possible for You. Please take this cup of suffering away from Me. Yet I want Your will to be done, not Mine."
Mark 14:35-36 (NLT)
4. RECOGNIZE THAT YOUR EMOTIONS ARE BEING MANIPULATED BY SATAN
Your father is the devil, and you do exactly what he wants. He has always been a murderer and a liar. There is nothing truthful about him. He speaks on his own, and everything he says is a lie. Not only is he a liar himself, but he is also the father of all lies. John 8:41 (CEV)
Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you. Luke 10:19 (NLT)
Yes, that old snake and his angels were thrown out of heaven! That snake, who fools everyone on earth, is known as the devil and Satan. Revelation 12:9 (CEV)
In fact, God treats us with even greater kindness, just as the Scriptures say, "God opposes everyone who is proud, but he is kind to everyone who is humble." 7Surrender to God! Resist the devil, and he will run from you. 8Come near to God, and he will come near to you. Clean up your lives, you sinners. Purify your hearts, you people who can't make up your mind.
James 4:6-8 (CEV)
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Monday, February 16, 2009
HOW TO RENEW YOUR PASSION FOR JESUS
He is a God who is passionate about His relationship with you. Exodus 34:14 (NLT).
Jesus said, "'Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.' This is the most important, the first on any list. Matthew 22:37-40 (TM)
Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Colossians
Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.
Romans 12:2 (TM)
Jesus once again addressed them: "I am the world's Light. No one who follows me stumbles around in the darkness. I provide plenty of light to live in." John
THE SEVEN PASSION KILLERS
1. AN UNBALANCED SCHEDULE
It is senseless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, fearing you will starve to death; for God wants his loved ones to get their proper rest. Psalm 127:2 (TLB)
Faith that doesn’t show itself by good works is no faith at all—it is dead and useless. James
2. AN UNUSED TALENT
God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. 1 Peter
Each of you has been blessed with one of God's many wonderful gifts to be used in the service of others. So use your gift well. 1 Peter
3. AN UNCONFESSED SIN
My guilt overwhelms me— it is a burden too heavy to bear.
5My wounds fester and stink because of my foolish sins. Psalm 38:4-5 (NLT)
if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.
1 John 1:9 (NLT)
4. AN UNRESOLVED CONFLICT
Envy and jealousy will kill a stupid fool. Job 5:2 (CEV)
"You are only hurting yourself with your anger." Job 18:4 (GN)
5. AN UNSUPPORTED LIFESTYLE
Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. 10If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 (NLT)
6. AN UNCLEAR PURPOSE
"I have labored to no purpose; I have spent my strength in vain and for nothing. Isaiah 4:6 (NIV)
7. AN UNDERNOURISHED SPIRIT
I honor and love your commands. I meditate on your decrees.
Psalm 119:48 (NLT)
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
HOW TO PREPARE FOR JESUS RETURN
“Look, I will come as unexpectedly as a thief! Blessed are all who are watching for me, who keep their clothing ready so they will not have to walk around naked and ashamed.”
Revelation
For you know quite well that the day of the Lord’s return will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night. 3When people are saying, “Everything is peaceful and secure,” then disaster will fall on them as suddenly as a pregnant woman’s labor pains begin. And there will be no escape. 4But you aren’t in the dark about these things, dear brothers and sisters, and you won’t be surprised when the day of the Lord comes like a thief. 1 Thessalonians 5:2-4 (NLT)
10“But while they were gone to buy oil, the bridegroom came. Then those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was locked. 11Later, when the other five bridesmaids returned, they stood outside, calling, ‘Lord! Lord! Open the door for us!’ Matthew 25:10-11 (NLT)
1. THE TIME TO PREPARE IS NOW!
“Today when you hear his voice, don’t harden your hearts as
2. LIVE AS A SERVANT OF JESUS
“Yes,” Jesus replied, “and I assure you that everyone who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or property, for my sake and for the Good News, 30will receive now in return a hundred times as many houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and property—along with persecution. And in the world to come that person will have eternal life.
Mark 10:29-30 (NLT)
And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. Deuteronomy 6:5 (NLT)
One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers—Simon, also called Peter, and Andrew—throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living. 19Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” 20And they left their nets at once and followed him. Matthew 4:18-20 (NLT)
3. LIVE YOUR LIFE WITH FAITH AND HUMILITY
“If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities. Luke
“When a servant comes in from plowing or taking care of sheep, does his master say, ‘Come in and eat with me’? 8No, he says, ‘Prepare my meal, put on your apron, and serve me while I eat. Then you can eat later.’ 9And does the master thank the servant for doing what he was told to do? Of course not. 10In the same way, when you obey me (Jesus) you should say, ‘We are unworthy servants who have simply done our duty.’” Luke 17:7-10 (NLT)
4. LIVE YOUR LIFE WITHOUT PRACTICING SIN
Jesus met the man in the temple and told him, "You are now well. But don't sin anymore or something worse might happen to you." John
So an elder must be a man whose life is above reproach. He must be faithful to his wife. He must exercise self-control, live wisely, and have a good reputation. He must enjoy having guests in his home, and he must be able to teach. 1Timothy 3:2 (NLT)
Sunday, February 1, 2009
THE IMPORTANCE OF MEMBERSHIP IN YOUR CHURCH
The Three Parts of the Christian Life
1. Believing
BELIEVE on the Lord Jesus and you will be saved.
Acts
2. Belonging
You are a member of God’s very own family… and you BELONG in God’s household with every other Christian! Ephesians
3. Becoming
For from the very beginning God decided that those who came to him-and all along he knew who would-should become like his Son, so that his Son would be the First, with many brothers. Romans
Benefits to Membership
1. IT IDENTIFIES ME AS A GENUINE BELIEVER
You Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens with everyone else who belongs to the family of God. Ephesians
The body we're talking about is Christ's body of chosen people. Each of us finds our meaning and function as a part of his body. Romans 12:5 (TM)
2. IT PROVIDES ME A SPIRITUAL FAMILY TO SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGE ME
Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. 2Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. Galatians 6:1-2 (TLB)
Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. 25And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. Hebrews 10:24-25 (NLT)
3. IT GIVES ME A PLACE TO DISCOVER AND USE MY SPIRITUAL GIFTS IN MINSITRY
A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other. 1 Corinthians 12:7 (NLT) read 4-27
4. IT PLACES ME UNDER THE SPIRITUAL PROTECTION OF GODLY LEADERS
Obey your spiritual leaders, and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they are accountable to God. Give them reason to do this with joy and not with sorrow. That would certainly not be for your benefit. Hebrews
Look after yourselves and everyone the Holy Spirit has placed in your care. Be like shepherds to God's church. It is the flock that he bought with the blood of his own Son. 29I know that after I am gone, others will come like fierce wolves to attack you.
Acts 20:28-29 (CEV)
5. IT GIVES ME THE ACCOUNTABILITY I NEED TO GROW
Out of respect for Christ, be courteously reverent to one another. Ephesians 5:21
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