SERMON NETS 3 - KEYS TO VICTORY #1

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		KEYS TO VICTORY #5

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SERMON NETS 3
KEYS TO VICTORY #1

SERMON NETS VICTORY...PAGE #1 ON THIS PAGE #1 I Can Do All Things Through Christ #2 Agenda of the Possible #3 What is Your Temperature? #4 Would You "Choose" Me?<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

#1 I Can Do All Things Through Christ

Dec 22, 2000

Philippians 4:13 tells us "...I can do all things through Christ who strngthens me..." The context shows us Paul is referring to either living with material gain or without it, but the principle is true in other areas of our lives. If God assigns us, He enables us. I can't necessarily do what He hasn't called me to do (personally win the whole world to Jesus) but I can do what He wants me to do. In the same book Paul said, "for it is God which works in you both to will and do of His good pleasure." (2:13) It is not me but Christ in me. I heard it said this way one time, "what would you do for Jesus if you knew you could not fail?" Let us go in the power of His might.

READ "THE AGENDA OF THE POSSIBLE" (next message)
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#2 Agenda of the Possible
Jan 19, 2001

"The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord." This is the basic foundation to the "agenda of the possible." There are plenty of things we cannot do either because we are not equipped, or we do not have enough time or some other reason. But we can always do what God requires. With God's call comes God's enabling. And with God's "to do list" comes the amount of time to do His will.

There are many things that need to be done and not enough time to do them. However,there is always enough time to do whatever God requires of us. He knows our abilities, weaknesses, needs, obstacles and time allotments. He never assigns a task for which He does not equip us nor does He tell us to do something without giving us enough time. Though there is more to do than we have time for, there is always enough time to do what God expects.The agenda of the possible means that we cannot share Christ with everyone today, but we can share Christ with whatever appointments He sets for us.

God knows our situation, our physical limitations and He only holds us accountable for His assignments. I can't read everything that needs to be read, but I can read what God wants me to read. We could go on and on about what we don't have time to do...but we don't have time. However we do have time to obey Jesus. And we must take time to find out what He wants from us if we want to receive what He has for us. This is why we sing, "Take time to be holy." And here on Higher Ground we sing "It takes time."

In order to "...finish the course..." we must prioritize according to His will. Though this means trading in our agenda for His, it also means we are set free from frustration as well as anxiousness. Peace comes with serving God.

We should apply this principle in connection with our money as well as our time.
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#3 What is you temperature?
Jan 28, 2001

The old joke is, Question: "You have paper, kindling, branches and logs. If you want to start a fire, what do you light first?" Answer: "the match!" That reminds me of the old Christian campfire song, Pass It On;

It only takes a spark,
To get a fire going.
And soon all those around
Can warm up to its glowing.
That's how it is with God's love,
Once you've experienced it,
You spread His love to everyone,
You want to pass it on.

I guess it is kind of natural for me to think about these things right now. It is winter, and I am heating my home with a wood stove (actually the stove is iron, it only burns wood.) I either have to get it started or keep it going. It takes some small, light, burning material to start it, like paper or twigs or dried bark which works really well. Then I add small pieces of wood and ultimately I add the split logs. Some of the wood burns hot and fast, like pine. The hard woods burn longer. Some hard woods burn real hot as well as long. If you don't mess with the fire for a long time, you may find yourself left with only burning coals in the bottom of the stove.

In our relationship with God, what kind of fire do we have? Are we just a quick spark that ignites for a moment and then is gone? Are we the pine that burns hot for a short period of time and then leaves nothing but smoke and soot? Are we the long burning, on fire believer who gives warmth, light and ignition to others who are seeking to offer themselves on the altar of sacrifice for Jesus? Do we still glow with the fire of His presence when all around us seems to be dying in cold ashes. The secret to an on-fire relationship with God is to allow God to fill us with Himself. He is a consuming fire and He will burn out the impurities of our lives. He will shine through us and set other's hearts afire. Abide in Him. Let Him burn brightly in your life. The world lies in darkness and we are the light of the world.
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#4 Would you "choose" me?
Jul 2, 2002

A couple of Saturdays ago we had several friends and family members with us to celebrate a Christian wedding. Some of them were able to remain through the weekend and worship with us on Lord's Day. I had enjoyed the fellowship with my family members, but had also had a great time with some new friends we made that weekend. As I was preparing myself for preaching on Sunday morning, I thought, "I would choose "Tom" right out of a catalogue if I could." The idea of choosing a friend from a catalogue is kind of strange, but it caused me to think about some things.

If I was in a catalogue to be chosen as someone's friend, how would I be described. Would I have the characteristics which would appeal to someone looking for a friend. Would I stand out among the other "choices" in the catalogue? I am not referring to physical or material qualifications. I am thinking about character traits and attitude. Am I the kind of person someone would want to know, get-to-know and introduce to their friends and family? Would I be someone they would choose as casual acquaintance or as a close friend. Would I be someone who would be there in the good-times or someone who would be there all the way through the tough-times? Would I be a "high maintenance" friend or someone who not only carried-my-own-load, but helped them carry theirs as well? Would my description call me a help or a hindrance, a blessing or a burden, a stepping stone or a stumbling block.

Some people have "natural" appeal and seem to have a built-in people attraction, but even these people need the supernatural power of God to make them the friend they need to be. Our depth of loyalty and love only reaches it's pinnacle when we are in a living and loving relationship with Jesus the Friend of sinners. His grace will make us into the "friend which sticketh closer than a brother." Actually, the only appeal I want to have to others is the Christ-likeness they see in me as I walk with Jesus.
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#1 I Can Do All Things Through Christ