AVOID SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS SEVEN RULES TO SUCESS -- Part 4

And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus. 5They were delighted and agreed to give him money. 6He consented, and watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them when no crowd was present. Luke 22:4-6 (NIV)

1. SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS IS AN INVISIBLE, OFTEN FATAL DISEASE THAT IS USUALLY DIAGNOSED AFTER IT IS TOO LATE

Six days before the Passover celebration began, Jesus arrived in Bethany, the home of Lazarus—the man he had raised from the dead. 2 A dinner was prepared in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, and Lazarus was among those who ate with him. 3 Then Mary took a twelve-ounce jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet with it, wiping his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance. 4 But Judas Iscariot, the disciple who would soon betray him, said, 5 “That perfume was worth a year’s wages. It should have been sold and the money given to the poor.” 6 Not that he cared for the poor—he was a thief, and since he was in charge of the disciples’ money, he often stole some for himself. John 12:1-6 (NLT)

4And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus. 5They were delighted and agreed to give him money. 6He consented, and watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them when no crowd was present. Matthew 26:14-16 (NLT)

2. CHECK YOURSELF FOR SELF-RIGHTEOUS ATTITUDES

But Paul said to him, “God will slap you, you corrupt hypocrite! What kind of judge are you to break the law yourself by ordering me struck like that?” 4 Those standing near Paul said to him, “Do you dare to insult God’s high priest?” 5 “I’m sorry, brothers. I didn’t realize he was the high priest,” Paul replied, “for the Scriptures say, ‘You must not speak evil of any of your rulers.’” Acts 23:3-5 (NLT)

3. GROUND SELF-RIGHTEOUS EMOTIONS WITH A FAITHFUL LIGHTNING ROD

4Wise words are like deep waters;

wisdom flows from the wise like a bubbling brook.

13Spouting off before listening to the facts

is both shameful and foolish.

15Intelligent people are always ready to learn.

Their ears are open for knowledge.

Proverbs 18:4,13,15 (NLT)

Just as iron sharpens iron, friends sharpen the minds

of each other. Proverbs 27:17 (CEV)

4. DEVELOP THE HEART OF A REFORMER (PROBLEM SOLVER), NOT A REBEL

Inasmuch as an excellent spirit, knowledge, understanding, interpreting dreams, solving riddles, and explaining enigmas were found in this Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar, now let Daniel be called, and he will give the interpretation.”

Daniel 5:12 (NKJV)

29Then he touched their eyes and said, "According to your faith will it be done to you". Matthew 9:29 (NIV)

19 “Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live!

Deuteronomy 30:19 (NLT)

JESUS LOVES YOU

Jesus said: “I came so that everyone would have life, and have it in its fullest.”

John 10:10 (CEV)

HOW TO UNLOCK THE SECRET OF BREAKTHROUGH

Part 1

1.  FAITH, THE FIRST KEY TO BREAK THROUGH

So David asked God, “Should I go out to fight the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?” The Lord replied, “Yes, go ahead. I will hand them over to you.” 14And once again David asked God what to do. “Do not attack them straight on,” God replied. “Instead, circle around behind and attack them near the poplar trees.  1 Chronicles 14:10, 14 (NLT)

“God did it!” David exclaimed. “He used me to burst through my enemies like a raging flood!” So they named that place Baal-perazim (which means “the Lord who bursts through”). 

1 Chronicles 14:11 (NLT)

Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.  

Romans 10:17 (NIV)

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.

Psalm 119:105 (CEV)

2.  ACTION, THE SECOND KEY TO BREAK THROUGH  

My brothers, what good is it for someone to say that he has faith if his actions do not prove it?  Can that faith save him?  17So it is with faith; if it is alone and includes no actions, then it is dead. 26So then, as the body without the spirit is dead, also faith without actions is dead.  James 2:14, 17, 26 (GNB)

"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."  

Matthew 7:24-27 (NIV)

3. THE 15 MINUTE BREAK THROUGH

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us… Ephesians 3:20 (NKJV)

Quiet Your Mind

But I have learned to feel safe and satisfied, just like a young child on its mother's lap. Psalm 132:2 (CEV)

Focus Your Mind

Be joyful and sing as you come in to worship the LORD! 4Be thankful and praise the LORD  as you enter his temple.  Psalm 100:2-4 (CEV)

Pray Your Mind

Don't worry about anything, but pray about everything. With thankful hearts offer up your prayers and requests to God. 7Then, because you belong to Christ Jesus, God will bless you with peace that no one can completely understand. And this peace will control the way you think and feel.  Philippians 4:6-7 (CEV)

Renew Your Mind

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.  Romans 12:2 (NIV)

Read The Word of God

Today is my day of breakthrough

 Because 

JESUS

 LOVES ME!

TELLING PEOPLE ABOUT JESUS

Witnessing Jesus’ Way (John 4:4-42)

I.  HE HANDS HER A GLASS (Make a conversion)

Jesus began the conversation with two statements:

1.  Please give me a drink

Build a bridge to the other person by…

• Accepting them for who they are
  
• Asking them for help
  

2.  If you only knew… you would ask and he would

Believe that the other person wants to believe

Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.  

Colossians 4:6 (NIV)

II. HE FILLS IT WITH WATER (Share who Jesus is)

Jesus compares “this water” to “living water”. He compares temporary satisfaction to eternal fulfillment, eternal life

To effectively share the good news we must:

1. Move from the known to the unknown
   
2. From the felt need to the real need
   
3. Help people to start asking questions
   
4. Show people the truth about Jesus
   

III. HE TEACHES HER TO DRINK (Ask for commitment)

Jesus’ answers to her statements lead her through the process of commitment.

Her First Response: Desire for change

Jesus’ Answer:  “Call your husband:

He addresses her guilt

Her Second Response:  Let’s talk about religion

Jesus points out her guilt and she immediately wants to talk about the difference between Jewish and Samaritan religions!

1. When we feel guilty we often attack the nearest target.
   
2. It is much more comfortable to discuss religion than to face one’s sins
   

Jesus’ Answer:  He refuses to argue

• Jesus does not ignore her question.
  
• Jesus does not shame her for asking the question.
  
• Jesus does not twist the truth to gain her sympathy.
  
• Jesus answers the question in a way that brings her back to her need.
  

Her Third Response: Let’s talk later

Jesus’ answer: I am He!  Let’s decide now!

For God says, ‘At just the right time, I heard you.  In the day of salvation, I helped you.’  Indeed, God is ready to help you right now.  Today is the day of salvation.

2 Corinthians 6:2 (NLT)

Her Fourth Response: She believed and helped others to believe.

1. Notice her growth … Sir, prophet, messiah, Savior of the world.
   
2. They believed because of her testimony

WHAT MAKES GOD SMILE?

“For thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created!”  Revelation 4:11b (KJV)

“The Lord takes pleasure in His people.”  Psalm 149:4 (GN)

WORSHIP: Living a life pleasing to God

“Because of God's great mercy...  Offer yourselves as a living sacrifice to God, dedicated to his service and pleasing to him.  This is the true worship that you should offer.”  

Romans 12:1 (GN)

“Noah was a pleasure to the Lord.”  Genesis 6:8 (LB)

WE GIVE GOD PLEASURE...

1. WHEN WE LOVE HIM ABOVE EVERYTHING ELSE

"I don't want your sacrifices-- I want your love!  I don't want your offerings--I want you to know me!”  Hosea 6:6 (LB)

“Noah was a righteous man, he walked in close fellowship (relationship) with God.”  Genesis 6:9b (NLT)

“God’s unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ.  And this gave him great pleasure.”  Ephesians 1:5 (NLT)

2. WHEN WE TRUST HIM COMPLETELY

“The Lord takes pleasure in those who honor him and trust in his constant love.”  Psalm 147:11 (GN)

“By faith, Noah built a ship in the middle of dry land.  He was warned about something he couldn't see, and acted on what he was told...  His act of faith drew a sharp line between the evil of the unbelieving world and the rightness of the believing world.  As a result, Noah became intimate with God.”  

Hebrews 11:7 (TM)

God: “I want you to trust me in your times of trouble, so I can rescue you and you can give me glory.”  

Psalm 50:14 (LB)

3. WHEN WE OBEY HIM WHOLEHEARTEDLY

“We please God by what we do and not only by what we believe.” James 2:24 (CEV)

 “Noah obeyed and built a boat...” Hebrews 11:7 (CEV)

“Noah did everything exactly as God commanded him.”  Genesis 6:22 (NLT)

“Just tell me what to do and I will do it, Lord.  As long as I live I'll wholeheartedly obey.”  Psalm 119:33 (LB)

“Those who live by their natural inclinations can never be pleasing to God.”  Romans 8:8 (NJB)

4. WHEN WE FULFILL HIS PURPOSES

“Then God blessed Noah and his sons, and said to them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth!”  

Genesis 9:1 (KJV)

“The steps of the godly are directed by the Lord.  He delights in every detail of their lives.” Psalm 37:23 (NLT)

“God takes particular pleasure in acts of worship -a different kind of "sacrifice"—that take place in kitchen and workplace and on the streets.”  Hebrews 13:16b (TM)

“The Lord looks down from heaven on all mankind to see if there are any who are wise, who want to please God.” 

Psalm 14:2 (LB)

“Everything that goes into a life of pleasing God has been miraculously given to us by getting to know, personally and intimately, the One who invited us to God.”  

2 Peter 1:3 (TM)

THE CHARACTERISTICS OF A SERVANT LEADER

Give yourselves completely to God – every part of you – for you want to be tools in the hands of God, to be used for His good purposes.  Romans   6:13 (LB) 

1. YOU MUST KNOW WHO YOU ARE 

Jesus knew that He had come from God…  He also knew that the Father had given Him complete power.  So He got up, wrapped a towel around His waist… and began washing His disciples' feet.  John 13:3-5 (CEV) 

Jesus: “Your approval or disapproval means nothing to Me.”  

John 5:41 (NLT) 

2. YOU MUST ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY

The lazy person is full of excuses.  Proverbs 22:13 (TLB) 

Don't use your freedom as an excuse to do anything you want.  Use it as an opportunity to serve each other with love. 

Galatians   5:13 (CEV) 

Some died by stoning, some were sawed in half, and others were killed with the sword. Some went about wearing skins of sheep and goats, destitute and oppressed and mistreated

Hebrews 11:37(NLT)

3.  YOU MUST SET PRIORITIES

We should choose to follow what is right.  But first we must define what is good.  Job 34:4 (LB)

Moses regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.  Hebrews 11:26 (NIV)

Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the priceless gain of knowing Christ Jesus.  Philippians 3:8 (LB)

4.  YOU MUST FOCUS ON ETERNITY 

Set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits… Let heaven fill your thoughts.  Do not think only about things down here on earth.  Colossians 3:1-2 (NLT) 

It was by faith that Moses left the land of Egypt.  He was not afraid of the king.  He kept right on going because he kept his eyes on the one who is invisible.  Hebrews 11:27 (NLT) 

Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in.  Study how He did it.  Because He never lost sight of where He was headed—that exhilarating finish with God—He could put up with anything along the way: cross, shame, whatever. Hebrews 12:2 (TM)

YOU GET TO LIVE LIFE ONCE ONLY

“For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 (NLT) 

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 12:1-2 (TM)

“The master was full of praise. ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together! ’ Matthew 25:21 (NLT)

1. YOU HAVE BEEN CHOSEN BUY JESUS – GOD IN PERSON

But you are God's chosen and special people. You are a group of royal priests and a holy nation. God has brought you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Now you must tell all the wonderful things that he has done. The Scriptures say, 

10"Once you were nobody. Now you are God's people. At one time no one had pity on you. Now God has treated you with kindness. 1 Peter 2:9-10 (CEV)

2. GOD’S ONCE IN A LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY IS OFFERED NOW!

So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. 16Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. 17Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.  Ephesians 5:15-17 (NLT)

Peter saw his opportunity and addressed the crowd.  

Acts 3:12 (NLT)

The Master said, "Martha, dear Martha, you're fussing far too much and getting yourself worked up over nothing. One thing only is essential, and Mary has chosen it—it's the main course, and won't be taken from her."  Luke 10:41-42 (TM)

3. THE DOOR OF OPPORTUNITY WILL SOON CLOSE 

Remember him before the door to life’s opportunities is closed and the sound of work fades. Now you rise at the first chirping of the birds, but then all their sounds will grow faint.  

Ecclesiastes 12:4 (NLT)

“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. 13“So you, too, must keep watch! For you do not know the day or hour of my return.  Matthew 25:10-13 (NLT)

4. DON’T BE THE ONE THAT IS LEFT BEHIND  

Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures. 10The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. 

John 10:9-10 (NLT)

"For many are invited, but few are chosen."

Matthew 22:14 (CEV)

“Two men will be working together in the field; one will be taken, the other left. Matthew 24:40 (NLT)

Serve the Lord with all your heart because

JESUS LOVES YOU!

HOW TO TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR FEAR

I tell you for certain that if you have faith in me, you will do the same things that I am doing. You will do even greater things, now that I am going back to the Father. John 14: 12 (CEV)

1. WHERE THERE IS FAITH IN JESUS THERE CANNOT BE FEAR
And God has given us his Spirit as proof that we live in him and he in us. 14Furthermore, we have seen with our own eyes and now testify that the Father sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15All who confess that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God. 16We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love.
God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. 17And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world.
18Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love.

1 John 4:13-18 (NLT)

You, LORD, are the light that keeps me safe. I am not afraid of anyone. You protect me, and I have no fears.
Psalm 27:1 (NLT)

2. JESUS PROMISES TO BE WITH YOU NOW AND FOREVERMORE
Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.”
Hebrews 13:5 (NLT) also Deuteronomy 31:6
Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:20 (NLT)

3. GOD DOES NOT GIVE US THE SPIRIT OF FEAR. FEAR
COMES FROM SATAN
For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.

2 Timothy 1:7 (NLT)

So I confessed my sins and told them all to you. I said, "I'll tell the LORD each one of my sins." Then you forgave me and took away my guilt. Psalm 32:5 (CEV)
All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. John 3:20 (NLT)

Satan's Method for using Fear:
He uses our past sins
He uses the possibilities of the future
He uses the potential of failure
He uses the certainty of criticism

4. RECOGNIZE THAT BECAUSE OF JESUS, YOU HAVE THE POWER TO TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR FEARS
I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:13 (NLT)
Let us be bold, then, and say, “The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What can anyone do to me?” Hebrews 13:6 (GN)