The Promise of Hope

November 28, 2021

Luke 2:25–35

 

A. HOPE IS A CERTAINTY ABOUT THE FUTURE
     THAT IMPACTS THE PRESENT.
      1. Our hope is not set in some vague confidence
          for no reason.

 

Fact: Hope is about living right now in the light of a

          future promise.

 

       2. A mark of almost every person within the     
           Christmas story is that they were full of hope
           about the fulfillment of a historic promise.
                                    (Isaiah 9:2)
       3. Some traditions believe that Simeon may have
           been around 112 years old.

 

B. HOPE IS BIRTHED OUT OF DEEP LONGINGS
     AND DESPERATE NEED.
     1. Simeon shows us that hope is birthed out of a
         deep longing and a desperate need for God’s
         presence and God’s comfort.

 

Fact: This word consolation means “encouragement”

          or  comfort.”

Fact: The word that Luke uses for waiting is the Greek

          word prosdechomai, which means: “To give

          access to one’s self.”

       2. Instead of leaning into our deepest need for
           God’s comfort and healing in our lives, we
           simply try to distract ourselves, and in the end,
           we miss the hope that is offered in Jesus Christ.

 

Fact: Hope is found in our deepest longing, but our

          hope also comes from a person.

C. HOPE IS FOUND IN A PERSON. (1 Peter 1:13)
     1. In 1 Peter we are told that our hope is not set in
         some kind of empty wishful thinking.

 

Fact: Our hope is in Jesus and His promised arrival in

          the future to restore all that is broken.

 

     2. As you read through the New Testament, many
         people who come in contact with Jesus miss the
         significance of who He really was.

 

Question: So why did Simeon get it right when so

                  many got it wrong?

Answer:   Because people were looking for something

                  Jesus wasn’t.

 

     3. When our hope is placed in anything other than
         the promises of God and the fulfillment of these
         promises in Jesus, we tend to settle for hope in
         lesser things.

 

Fact: There is a difference in being hopeful FOR

          something and being hopeful IN something.

 

The Table – Table Talk

Psalm 128:1-6

November 7, 2021

“Meaningful Conversations are the

way to genuine CONNECTION.”

 

A.) Ask QUESTIONS.

      1. Jesus asked questions to those who had a need            in their life. (Mark 10:51 & John 5:5-6)

 

Fact: Jesus knew, that asking questions was the key              to making connection.

Fact: When asking questions, make sure that you are              listening, because if you don’t, you are not                    establishing a connection with them.

 

     2. Jesus listen before He would offer a solution.                                                                        (James 1:19)
         a. Time creates space for conversation to                            happen.

 

Fact: When you have a conversation, don’t focus on              you, focus on them.

 

          b. Meaningful conversation is the byproduct of                    asking the right questions.

 

Fact: Correction with no connection goes nowhere.                  Rules with norelationship always leads to                      rebellion.

 

         c. Questions are the spark that gets the                             conversation going.

 

B.) Show CONCERN. (Galatians 6:1-3)

      1. It’s not about You, It’s about them.
      2. People don’t care what you know until they                    know that you care.

 

Brene Brown says:

“Care starts with the highest level of connection

called empathy. Empathy is the communication that

says You’re not alone. I’m with you.”

 

      3. The language of Care is, “I hear You.”

 

Fact: A Caring Heart will always bring meaningful                 relationships.

 

C.) Be VULNERABLE. (James 5:16)
      1. Forgiveness comes from God, Healing happens            through connections.

 

Fact: The Key to your freedom with what you are                    struggling with istalking about it, telling                          someone about it and allowing them to pray for              you. (Rev. 12:11)

 

        2. What God has done in your life was never                      meant to be kept a secret.

 

Fact: You need to be VULNERABLE with those who                are closest to You.

Fact: We might impress people with our strength, but              we connect with people through our                                weaknesses.

 

Brene Brown said:

“Courage starts with showing up and

letting ourselves be seen.”

 

      3. Your story can be an encouragement to                        someone else’s STRUGGLE.

 

 

 
The Table – It’s about Time!
October 24, 2021

Psalm 128:1-6

 

In Deuteronomy 11:13-21, we see what

God blesses and what God curses.

 

A.) Make TIME. (Ephesian 5:15-16)

      1. The temptation is to succeed in this life but not in

          eternal life, is a problem in God’s eyes.

 

Fact: The word “Time” means “to purchase or buy up”.

Fact: Time is the most valuable resource that we have.

 

      2. A Life of Freedom is lived within Limits.

 

Fact: Your Calendar & Checkbook tells you what you

          value most.

 

B. Make Time MATTER. (Ephesian 5:15-16)
    1. Don’t just create the space, but live in that space.

 

Fact: Two Greek words for time:

          #1. “Chronos” refers to “Quantity” of time.

          #2. “Kairos” refers to “Quality” of time.

 

    2. Make moments in the Mist of your life.

 

Fact: We don’t spend time we invest time.

 

Question: How can you spend your time in a way that

                 will yield good relationships?

Answer:   You invest into eternal things, not

                  temporal things.

 

Fact: We each get 1440 minutes in a day.

 

C. Make Time Matter the MOST. (Revelation 3:20)
    1. Your conversation should center around godliness

         not worldliness.

    2. Make Time Matter the Most by choosing Jesus.

 

“A Legacy is Lived not Left”

 

 

 
Living A Blessed Life Series
October 3, 2021

“Doing the Right Thing”

Matthew 6:19-21

 

A. Get out of Debt. (Proverbs 22:7)

 

Fact: The good news is, not having debt gives you            the freedom to serve God in helping others.

Fact: The truth is, you have to be committed to

          change in order for anything happen.

Fact: When you are out of debt, you will go from

          being financially crush to having the freedom

          to give.

 

B. Never Use Others.
    1. The second holds a greater truth than the first.

 

A matter of truth:

If your focus is on people then you stop looking

to God to meet your need and start to

look to others instead.

 

     2. If you want your heart to follow after the
         things of God’s heart is after, the local church
         and reaching the lost, He’ll ask you to put
         your treasure there.

 

Fact: When people begin to invest their treasure in

          God through the local church, their heart

          follows.

C. Give!

 

Fact: Giving touches at the core of so much of 

          what God wants to do in our lives.

 

    1. Romans 12:6-8, talks about the Spiritual Gifts
        that God gives and we see that God give the
        gift of Giving to individuals.

 

Fact: In Romans 12:6-8, outlines the seven

          motivational gifts that believers receive from

          God.

 

    2. In 2 Corinthians 9:6-8, the apostle Paul is
        commending them for their willingness to
        give.

 

Fact: You are the only person on earth who can

          decide what the right level of giving is for

          you.

 

Question: How do you become a cheerful giver?

Answer:   God must do a work in your heart.

 
Living A Blessed Life Series
August 29, 2021

“Which Master are you Serving?”

Matthew 6:24

 

Fact: “Mammon” is an Aramaic word that essentially

           means “riches”.

 

A. Breaking the spirit of Mammon.

 

Fact: The spirit of Mammon is basically the spirit of the

          world.

 

     1. I have noticed that people who are under the 
         influence of the spirit of Mammon tend to have
         the most fear about their money.

 

Fact: Jesus states that the spirit of Mammon will try to

          take the place of God.

Fact: More than anything, the spirit of Mammon wants

          to rule.

 

Fact: One of the most misquoted verses in the Bible is

          1 Timothy 6:10:

“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.”

 

Fact: Money is not the answer to problems – God is.

Fact: Jesus is proclaiming: Either we will love one and

          hate the other or we will be loyal to one and

          despise the other.

 

B. True Riches. (Luke 16:9-13)
     1. Here Jesus calls mammon unrighteous but note
         that He wasn’t calling money unrighteous.

 

Fact: Money can be used for either unrighteous or

          righteous purposes.

Fact: It tells us that we are to use our money for that

          which is eternal.

 

     2. In Matthew 6:19-21, Jesus says when we use

         money for righteous purposes, we are laying up

         treasurer in heaven.

 

Fact: This explains why the enemy of our souls works

           so hard to corrupt and distort out thoughts about

           money.

Fact: The Bible says that we must be faithful with a

          little before we will be entrusted with much.

                                  (Luke 16:10)

 

     3. We become centered on the blessings rather than
         on the Blessor.

 

Fact: God uses things to test our hearts and reveal

          what’s inside.

 

     4. We need to have a heart of gratitude.

 

 
Living A Blessed Life Series
August 15

“The Principle of Multiplication”

Luke 9:12-17

 

Fact:

That’s the tendency for all of us. We try or want to figure out in advance how God is going to provide for our needs.

 

A. Two Keys to Multiplication.
     #1. Something must be blessed before it can
                              multiply.

 

Fact: What many Christians fail to understand is

          that before your money can multiply, it has to

          be blessed.

 

          a. When we give the first of our increase, the
              tithe, to the Lord, therest of it is blessed.
                                (Romans 11:16)
          b. When you give to the Lord first and the
              Lord puts His blessing on it, then, and only
              then, does it have the ability to multiply.

 

    #2. Only what is given away can multiply.

 

Fact: Tithing isn’t really giving – it’s returning.

 

B. The Power of Offerings.
     1. In Matthew 25, Jesus tells a story of three
         stewards.

 

Fact: There is a principle of faithful stewardship

          that teaches that we should give more to God

          than just the tithe because tithing is simply

          returning to Him what is already His.

Fact: Tithing is where we remove curse. Tithing is

          what brings the blessing on the balance of

          our finances. Tithing is what causes God

          to rebuke the devourer and open the

          windows of heaven. It is the foundation on

          which our giving is built.

 

     2. If you look closely at Malachi 3:8-11, God
         mentions more than the tithe, He mentions
         “Tithes and offerings.” (v. 8)

 

C. The Power in the Law of Sowing and Reaping.
                                (1 Cor. 3:6)
     1. This Law states, that you have to sow in order
          to reap.
     2. It’s not about what we do but its more about
         what God can do.

 

Fact:

I’m convinced that God wants to bless and multiply our finances, just as He blessed and multiplied the two fish and five loaves.

 
 
Living A Blessed Life Series
August 1

“Tithing is Life, not Law”

Matthew 6:21

 

Fact: When we demonstrate faithful stewardship –

          we show God that we realize that we are

          stewards, not owners, when we give Him the

          tithe.

 

A. Passing the Test. (Matthew 6:21)
     1. It basically saying: “That your heart follows
         your treasurer.”

 

Fact: The word “Tithe” translates in the Hebrew as

          “Tenth” or “Tenth part of”.

Fact: What is true is that the number 10 is

          associated with testing throughout the Bible.

 

      2. The Tithe represents the ultimate “heart test”
           for the believer, but tithing is the only area in
           which Christians are invited to test God.
                                 (Malachi 3:10)

 

Fact: It’s a life of Obedience or a life of Curses.

 

B. The Law and Grace.
     1. The Grace of God really is amazing.

 

Fact: The righteousness of grace always exceeds

          the righteousness of the law.

                            (Matthew 5:17-20)

 

     2. Whenever Jesus points to an Old Covenant
          law, He then sets a higher standard under
          the New Covenant Grace.

 

Fact: The point is that there are certain principles

          throughout the scriptures that Jesus didn’t do

          away with, but He encourages us to live that

          higher standard, with His help.

 

C. Abraham, Melchizedek, and You.
    1. In Genesis 14:18-20, we read that 430 years
        before tithing was a part of the Mosaic law,
        Abraham tithed to Melchizedek.
    2. In Genesis 28:20-22, we find Jacob having his
        famous encounter with God in a dream.

 

Fact: True tithing comes from the heart, not a

          legalistic mind.

 

    3. In the New Testament, it is not silent about the
        principle of the tithe. (Matthew 23:23)

 

Fact: Giving to God just doesn’t involve tithing, but

          it involves all matters of your heart.

 

D. Caring for God’s Bride.

 

We need to see the church as a visible manifestation of God’s Bride.

 
Living A Blessed Life Series
July 11 & 18

“God must be First”

Exodus 13:2, 12-13

 

  • It’s all about the Heart.

(God was a giver and we also need to be givers.)

#1. Deal with a selfish heart. (Deut. 15:7-9)

#2. Deal with a grieving heart. (Deut. 15:10)

#3. Develop a generous heart. (Deut. 15:14)

#4. Develop a grateful heart. (Deut. 15:15)

 

A. The Principle of Firstfruits.
     1. Sacrificed or Redeemed. (Exodus 13:2)
         a. God plainly declares that the firstborn “is
             Mine”. (Exodus 13:12-13)

Fact: Jesus was God’s Tithe. (Romans 5:8)

Fact: We have to give our firstfruits offering – our

          tithe – in much the same way. Before we see

          the blessings of God, we give it in faith.

 

          b. God gave Jesus in faith “that He might be
              the firstborn among many brethren”.
                                (Romans 8:29)

 

Fact: The Israelites were saved by the blood of the

          lamb in the form of the cross!

 

     2. The first belongs to God.
          a. This principle is found through the Bible.
          b. It always requires faith to give first.

 

Fact: Tithing, it is the primary way we   

          acknowledge that God is first.

 

B. The First of the First.
     1. Not only does the firstborn belong to God but
         the firstfruits belong to Him as well.
                            (Exodus 23:19)
         a. Notice that the scripture designates “the
             house of the Lord” as the proper place to
             give your firstfruit.

 

Fact: Tithing to the Lord’s house involves honoring

          the Lord with our possessions and with the

          firstfruits of all of our increase.

 

     2. Consecrated or Cursed – that’s exactly what
          the tithe is all through the Bible.
          a. The tithe is consecrated to the Lord and for
               the Lord’s house.

 

Fact: In Malachi 3:8-9, God makes it clear that if we

          keep the tithe to ourselves, we are robbing

          God.

 

          b. Many people say, “Tithing was under the
              law, so I don’t have to do it. We’re under
              grace.”

 

Fact: There are eternal principles throughout the

          Word of God and tithing is clearly one of

          them.

C. Respect for what’s God. (There is a lesson in 
    this for us)
    1. God is looking at our hearts when we give.

 

Fact: The tithe is your firstfruit, the tithe must be

          first. (Lev. 27:30)

 

    2. If God is first in your life, everything will come
        into order.

 

God doesn’t need you to give –

you need to be Blessed.