STUDIES FROM BRETHREN IN CHRIST

SERMON MENU SELECTIONS

9/21/2008 ~ Do You Stand With the Power of God?

... "Do you understand what you are reading?" And he said,
"How can I, unless someone guides me?" ... ~ Acts 8:25-40


Do we prepare for God?
Does He excite us for the eternity that He offers?
~ How can we renew our passion for God?


1. Listen to the Lord

Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, "Arise and go ...
~ Acts 8:26


Then the Spirit said to Philip, "Go near and overtake this chariot."
~ Acts 8:29


We have all been told to teach.
⭩ ↓ ⭨

... Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them ...
~ Matthew 28:18-20


... "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. ...
~ Mark 16:15-16


We are not excused from divine command.
If we put our jobs, hobbies, families, or desire to travel
before our stand for God, we fall short.


TEACHING = PERSONAL SACRIFICE

... "Here am I! Send me." And He said, "Go, and tell this people: ..."
~ Isaiah 6:8-9


2. Be on the Look Out

Do you have a concern for fellow souls?
Look out for those looking to be right with God.
One word of God or an invitation to a Gospel Meeting may save.

When each of us is ready to engage others
we will individually and collectively renew evangelism.


3. Be prepared to preach

... "I ask you, of whom does the prophet say this, of himself
or some other man?" ~ Acts 8:34


... always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you
a reason for the hope that is in you, ... ~ 1st Peter 3:15-17


We need to keep Christ first in our herts.
Always be ready to make a difference to glorify God.

Hope, is it in you?
                   └─> Fundamental to a Christian.

People don’t care how much you know
~ unless you show them how much you care.


4. Begin Again

... passing through, he preached in all the cities till he came to Caesarea.
~ Acts 8:40


It may be we will only encounter the person once.
~ Disappointments can make it difficult to begin again.


The Difference
HELL ↔ HEAVEN

We can not afford to give it up.

1. Listen to the Lord
2. Be on the Look Out
3. Be prepared to preach
4. Begin Again

Do you want to worship
at the throne of Heaven forever?


... written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort
of the Scriptures might have hope. ~ Romans 15:4


Do we have steadfast trust to stand for Him?
Examples of God's power by example are evident.


The First Day of the week has always been important.
● God created the Heavens and the earth.
● The angel announced Jesus had risen.
● The church began on Pentecost.
God's creation for us is important to Him.
                           \ | /
His Bible informs us of Him.
                           / | \

And so it was, when Gideon heard the telling of the dream
and its interpretation, ... ~ Judges 7:15-23


The book of judges covers 350 years of Jewish history.

In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right
in his own eyes. ~ Judges 17:6


It was a dark time where they repeatedly fell away from God.

In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right
in his own eyes. ~ Judges 21:25


As soldiers of Christ, we are at war.
Souls are at stake with eternal consequences.
Standing your ground is what God calls for.


And every man stood in his place all around the camp;
and the whole army ran and cried out and fled. ~ Judges 7:21


And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon ...
~ Hebrews 11:32-34


Faith is for every man and a portal to the eternal.

But without faith it is impossible to please Him,
for he who comes to God must believe that He is, ... ~ Hebrews 11:6


300 Jews against 135,000 Midianites.
       └─> 1 against 450 odds.

Where is your faith?
Yes, we will be out numbered.


"... pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest."
~ Matthew 9:37-38


Join the cause of God.
We need committed people to stand for God.
 Be part of His power. 


FAITH = CONFIDENCE WITHOUT CONDITION

Then the LORD said to Gideon, "By the three hundred men who lapped
I will save you, and deliver the Midianites into your hand. ... ~ Judges 7:7


... "Arise, for the LORD has delivered the camp of Midian into your hand."
~ Judges 7:15


If God is on your side, you can not loose.

FAITH = REFUSAL TO PANIC

Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. ~ 1st Corinthians 16:13

He is fighting for us.

When Gideon came to the Jordan, he and the three hundred men who
were with him crossed over, exhausted but still in pursuit. ~ Judges 8:4


The battle belongs to the Lord.
He is in control.
Will you serve Him without condition?
Each man must find his place to stand for God.
└─> Everyone has a place to serve.        
~ Serve Him with what you have.
- Participate!

~ By the grace of God, I will do!
Stand Firm. ⭧


... And the country was quiet for forty years in the days of Gideon.
~ Judges 8:28


The faith of a few is GREAT.

... out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle,
turned to flight the armies of the aliens. ~ Hebrews 11:32-34


Choices made when weakest show your greatest strength.
Where do you put your confidence?


"... when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?"
~ Luke 18:8


Will you be able to withstand the pressure?

┌─> The weeping prophet.
Jeremiah did.                       
                                  └─> He warned his people only to fall upon deaf ears.

... the word of the LORD was made to me A reproach and a derision daily. ...
~ Jeremiah 20:7-10


... Why did I come forth from the womb to see labor and sorrow,
That my days should be consumed with shame? ~ Jeremiah 20:14-18


Life is a series of joys and sorrows, pain comes to all.

"I am not able to bear all these people alone, because the burden
is too heavy for me." ~ Numbers 11:14


MOSES

... he prayed that he might die, and said, "It is enough! Now, LORD,
take my life, ... ~ 1st Kings 19:4


ELIJAH

Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I say rejoice! ~ Philippians 4:4

God tells us to bank on Him, count on it and be filled.
However, bad decisions lead to bad results.


1. Worry More, Pray Less

~ One has to take concerns to God.

The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed,
A refuge in times of trouble. ... ~ Psalm 9:9-10


... Hovers over its young, Spreading out its wings, taking them up,
Carrying them on its wings, ... ~ Deuteronomy 32:11


In troubled times we need to rely on Him more.

... knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance,
character; and character, hope. ... ~ Romans 5:1-5


... knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. ... ~ James 1:2-4

Some will not hear nor be ready when called.

... the word which they heard did not profit them,
not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. ~ Hebrews 4:1-2


If God can forgive our sins, He is able to stand with all of our troubles.

... the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard
your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. ~ Philippians 4:6-7


Diligent hope fills the heart beyond knowledge and delivers peace.
He wants to hear our pleas that we can find joy in Him.
However, bad decisions lead to bad results.


2. Find an Alternative to Worship

Worship is for God and not man.
└─> One has to invest in wanting God.
Would we choose the things of this world over Him?
      Brought nothing – Leave with nothing.
He gave everything - He gives everything


... consider one another in order to stir up love and good works,
not forsaking the assembling of ourselves ... ~ Hebrews 10:24-25


┌─> Go more?   
Discouraged ?
└─> Go less?    

If you don’t enjoy worship on earth,
you will not get that opportunity on the other side.
Bad decisions lead to bad results.


3. Cut Yourself Off From Loved
    Ones; ~ Isolation

Christians need one another!

God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew. ... ~ Romans 11:2-4

We need to lean on one another.
Going it alone leads to failure.


Loneliness = Misery

Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. ~ Galatians 6:2

~ Though we may feel alone, we are not!
We all breath air and bear the common problems of life.


"Yet I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees
have not bowed to Baal, ..." ~ 1st Kings 19:18


Pity Party: How to Fail
1. Worry More, Pray Less
2. Find an Alternative to Worship
3. Cut Yourself Off From Loved Ones;
    ~ Isolation

... the LORD! For He has delivered the life of the poor
From the hand of evildoers. ~ Jeremiah 20:11-13


All carry a cross, will you look up or down?

... pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in
despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed ...
~ 2nd Corinthians 4:8-10


If we choose God, His light will radiate from within.

The POWER of GOD is in each of us pursuing His truths.

But it is good to be zealous in a good thing always, and not only
when I am present with you. ~ Galatians 4:18


I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call
of God in Christ Jesus. ~ Philippians 3:14


And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, ...
~ Colossians 3:23-24


... do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge
or wisdom in the grave where you are going. ~ Ecclesiastes 9:10


... not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; ...
~ Romans 12:10-11


Follow God to Heaven.

The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, And he who wins souls is wise.
~ Proverbs 11:30


A true witness delivers souls, But a deceitful witness speaks lies.
~ Proverbs 14:25


... Who brings glad tidings of good things, Who proclaims salvation,
Who says to Zion, "Your God reigns!" ~ Isaiah 52:7


... who are wise shall shine Like the brightness of the firmament, And those
who turn many to righteousness Like the stars forever ... ~ Daniel 12:3


Share the Hope in which we stand.

... I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you,
which also you received and in which you stand, ... ~ 1st Corinthians 15:1


... some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping
of the saints for the work of ministry, ... ~ Ephesians 4:11-13


... be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work
of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. ~ 2nd Timothy 4:2-5


Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him,
And He shall bring it to pass. ~ Psalm 37:5


Believe and it will be.

... not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says
will be done, ... ~ Mark 11:20-24


But He said to them, "Where is your faith?" And they were afraid,
and marveled, ... ~ Luke 8:25


And the apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith." ~ Luke 17:5

"... Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."
~ John 20:26-29


True faith is unending.

For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith;
as it is written, "The just shall live by faith." ~ Romans 1:17


... "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is,
the word of faith which we preach): ... ~ Romans 10:8


So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
~ Romans 10:17


Open your heart to His word.

... for whatever is not from faith is sin. ~ Romans 14:22-23

And now abide faith, hope, love, these three;
but the greatest of these is love. ~ 1st Corinthians 13:13


For we walk by faith, not by sight. ~ 2nd Corinthians 5:7

The greatest in man is in his acts of faith.

... a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ,
... ~ Galatians 2:16


For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. ~ Galatians 3:26

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails
anything, but faith working through love. ~ Galatians 5:6


There is power through the word.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. ... ~ Galatians 5:22-23


For by grace you have been saved through faith, and not of yourselves,
it is the gift of God, ... ~ Ephesians 2:8


... that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. ~ Ephesians 3:14-19

Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were
also called and have confessed the good confession ... ~ 1st Timothy 6:12


It takes a committed heart to get to heaven.

But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been
assured of, knowing from whom you have learned ... ~ 2nd Timothy 3:14-15


... ... let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, ...
~ Hebrews 10:22


Now faith is the substance of things hoped for;
the evidence of things not seen. ~ Hebrews 11:1


... let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto
Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, ... ~ Hebrews 12:1-2


Failure is not an option.

... ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like
a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. ~ James 1:5-6


Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. ~ James 2:17

Do you see that faith was working together with his works,
and by works faith was made perfect? ~ James 2:22


You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.
~ James 2:24


Do you act on your faith?

And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up.
And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. ~ James 5:15


Hope deferred makes the heart sick, But when the desire comes,
it is a tree of life. ~ Proverbs 13:12


"... we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless
at Your word I will let down the net." ~ Luke 5:5


Power is in our hope and thanks be to a faithful Creator.

THE POWER OF GOD HAS ALWAYS BEEN



 

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