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LET'S TALK ABOUT... |
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THE DEEPER LIFE |
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THE CHURCH ON HIGHER GROUND |
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HOMEPAGE |
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SERMON NETS HOMEPAGE |
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SERMON NETS MENU |
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HOLINESS AND VICTORY |
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HOMEPAGE |
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SERMON NETS ON HOLINESS |
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HOLINESS #1 |
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SERMON NETS ON VICTORY |
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KEYS TO VICTORY #1 |
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KEYS TO VICTORY #2 |
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KEYS TO VICTORY #3 |
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KEYS TO VICTORY #4 |
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KEYS TO VICTORY #5 |
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KEYS TO VICTORY #2
SERMON NETS ON VICTORY...PAGE #2ON THIS PAGE#1 A Field of Fulfillment#2 A Time to Uproot, Tear Down, Throw Away #3 Victory in Jesus, Not in Others <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> |
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#1 A Field of FulfillmentJuly 2, 2001When we think of God (obviously the God of the Bible, the God of Christianity), we think of Someone Who is concerned with the restoration, reclamation and renewal of man. He is indeed the God of new beginnings, the God of lost causes, the God of last resort. We think in terms of His forgiveness, regeneration, redemption. All of these terms represent the "positive" side of salvation, not that any of His work is "negative." In Theology (the study of God) the work of salvation is seen as two sides to the same reality, the positive and the negative sides. Positive and negative are not to be seen as "good" and "bad" but as the "add" column and the "take away" column of what God is doing in our lives. For instance, the positive side...God gives us life; the negative side...God takes away our sin. Most people like to focus on the positive side of salvation and some people only see the positive side. This is not a well balanced or healthy approach to a right relationship with God. On the other hand, some people want to focus on or see only the negative side. This is also wrong. A right relationship with God requires that we both 1) turn FROM sin and 2) turn TO God. Because we have been conditioned and acculturated to be negative toward negative concepts, we do not like to think about the negative side of salvation. We want the harvest, but we don't want the steps it takes to get to a harvest (some of which are on the "take away" side). STEPS TO SUCCESSFUL GROWTH. To harvest a crop we must first prepare the ground. *Trees must be cut down. *Stumps must be destroyed. *The ground must be broken up. *Stones must be removed. *In many cases, nutrients must be added. *Irrigation ditches must be cut. *Rows must be plowed. *Weeds must be pulled. *Seed must be planted. *Crops must be cultivated. *Birds must be scattered. *Deer, foxes, rabbits and other animals must be repelled. *Beetles, aphids and other insects must be resisted. *Water must be provided. This is not all that must be done to reap a harvest, but it shows us that there is more to reaping than just going out in the field and gathering our supper. These steps are true for the older saint as well as the new convert. Though we go through these steps in our early relationship with God, we are required to repeat them when we encounter new ground in our spiritual growth. As we move deeper into the life of Christ we must conquer new lands and turn our wilderness into a land flowing with milk and honey. Which trees stand in the way of your success? They must be removed. It is not sufficient to cut them down, you must uproot the remains of the stump. This is not always a pleasant or an easy job, but it is a necessary one. Some trees have been growing for a long time and they have become part of the landscape of your life, but they must go. Some trees must go, not because they are evil, but because they are in the way. We can only produce fruit for Jesus in areas of our lives which are set aside for Him. There is no room for anything that is in the way of His blessing. An old saying is, "The greatest enemy of that which is best is that which is good." Never settle for that which is good, when the best is available, or "the good" will become a stumbling block to you. Go back over the STEPS TO SUCCESSFUL GROWTH and make the spiritual applications in your own life. Make a list of the steps you must take in your own life to be a productive field for God. Be specific about each step. Remember, this is not a call for us to do God's part in our growth and development. We are called to do our part and then God gives the increase. But if we don't do our part, we will suffer crop failure in the field of eternal life, either our own or someone else's. Salvation is salvation from something and to Someone. Salvation is not of our own works, but a salvation that does not work is not of God. BACK TO TOP <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> <#2 A Time to Uproot, Tear Down, Throw AwayJul 8, 2001 (Read Ecclesiastes 3:1-8) We think of God as being in the "Redemption" business. I say "business" in the sense of that to which He is dedicated and not as in any commercial sense. God has always been redeeming, reclaiming, renewing, restoring, regenerating and saving that which is lost. "Jesus came to seek and to save that which was lost." However, there are some situations which are not "savable" but must be abandoned or rejected. Sometimes in the interest of "saving" something,we must destroy something else. Through the years I have seen and heard about "household mold" which grows uncontrollably in a house. This is not just a little mold around the back of the shower during the hot and steamy summer months. This is a mold which grows in the walls, ceilings and basement of a house, but it cannot be brought under control. I have recently seen news reports concerning new and expensive homes (some of which were valued in the millions of dollars each), which had to be destroyed because the mold was uncontrollable. The mold was the same kind which is considered as a "biological warfare agent" by our own military. This mold not only is unsightly and dangerous to ones health, it is deadly. I was amazed as I watched the owner of the mansion walk through her house, dressed in protective clothing and breathing apparatus, pointing out the mold in room after room. It couldn't be controlled, it couldn't be removed and the house could not be cleaned adequately, the house had to be destroyed completely. Sometimes there are areas of our lives which are so ruined by the deadly mold of sin that there is no chance of "saving" them. They must be given up as a loss. It is not as difficult to give up the things in our lives which are unpleasant, or less desirable. But sometimes we must give up things to which we have become attached and have come to love. Some things and some relationships must be completely removed from our lives or they will not only rob us of our spiritual health, they may even kill our spiritual man. Remember, sin kills (the wages of sin is death) and when we hold on to that which is carnal (anti-spiritual), it brings death (to be carnally minded is death). Though we are to give up any relationship which is detrimental to our own spiritual life, we are not actually destroying the other person who is involved. God does not give up on the person who has become a stumbling block to us. God will continue to love and reach out to that person. Sometimes God cannot reach that person until we break that relationship. We can stand in the way of God's will and work. Our desire for temporary fulfillment can cost us and the other person eternal life. Though I do not watch entertainment with nudity or foul language, the movie Titanic recently made the rounds. This is the story of the greatest ship built in it's time. It was called, "unsinkable." But once the great ship hit the iceberg and started to go down, there was no choice but to abandon ship. It was the maiden voyage. It was a floating city. It was a dream come true. It became a nightmare. There was no choice for those who wanted to survive, they must abandon ship and let it go. When it comes to things which are not to our spiritual benefit, we must "abandon ship and let it go." Though it involves our lives, investments and emotions, we must turn from our dreams when they are taking us down. If we don't abandon that which is detrimental, it will lull us to sleep, only to waken us to a living nightmare whose end may never come. BACK TO TOP <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> # 3 Victory in Jesus, Not in OthersJan 31, 2001 This came from a note I sent to a young man who was constantly complaining about not having a wife and family. He thought that all of his dreams would be fulfilled if he only had a wife. "Our problem is not our singleness or our married-ness, it is our yieldedness to God." Depressed young adults have been told throughout history, "Get married, that will make you happy." Too many people think, "If only I was married, I would be happy" while others are thinking, "If only I was single again, I would be happy." People think, "If I had children, I would be satisfied" only to wish that they had never had children, once they became parents. The devil wants us to be dissatisfied with our lives in any and every way he can. The fact is, our fulfillment is not found in a relationship with a spouse but in Jesus. If God has not brought you to a place, person and time to be married, He has a reason, maybe several. Actually you have certain liberties in serving Christ as a single which you will not have when you are married. This is not my opinion but God's. Your whole life will change and your responsibilities will compound once you are married. You will become one part of a relationship with certain responsibilities. When you fail as a married, as you have failed as a single, you will bring failure and disappointment to your wife as well. If you think it is difficult to deal with your failures, wait till you have to deal with another persons failures. Our lack of joy comes from not accepting the will of God. Once you are married you may (and in this present state of mind, you will) be just as unhappy and even more so. If you cannot be at peace and fulfilled with Christ in your singleness, neither will you be even if you are married. Marriage is not a panacea (cure all.) Only Jesus is. Yes, if God wills for you to be married you can find great joy, fulfillment and peace in your role as a husband and a father, but only if you are where you should be with Him. If you think you are unhappy as a single, wait until you are married to the wrong person, or even to the right person, but you are not ready. Churches and divorce courts are filled with people who were not happy until they had their own way, and then they found out that having their own way is a sure-fire way to misery. Study the Word, God is more than adequate for any problem you have. BACK TO TOP |
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