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FRIENDS
23 August 2009 (am)
FRIENDS
Past. Melody vd Merwe
Mark 2:1-12
Intro: We must realize that friends are important and we are to choose friends wisely.
You can’t choose your family but you can and should choose your friends wisely.
Prov 12:26 – Life is about choices (Facebook)
Nelson’s Bib. Dictionary.
Friend: A person whom one loves and trusts; close companion or comrade.
Paralytic’s friends brought him to Jesus!
Where do I find a friend?
To have a friend, you must be a friend
Luke 6:31 “… and just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise.
Law of sowing and reaping – Gen 8:22
Forgiving, merciful, loving, caring, loyal
Luke 6:38 “…Give and it will be given to you; Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use it will be measured back to you.”
Prov 17:17 “…a friend loves (1 Cor 13:4-7 – TLB) at all times.
Living Bible: A true friend is always loyal.
Ruth 1:16+17 “…where you go, I’ll go…”
To have a friend you must be a friend!
Prov 18:24 “… a man who has friends must himself be friendly…”
Living Bible: There are friends who pretend to be friends, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”
Prov 27:10 (TLB) Never abandon a friend, either yours or your fathers. Then you won’t need to go to a distant relative for help in your time of need.
Cost of friendship
Anything worth something costs a price.
Jesus – lay down his life – John 15:13+14
(love, obedience & unity)
Friendship – Friends in the ship of life together.
= time, money, yourself
Friends should help you reach your destiny
- Prov 27:6 (TLB) Wounds from a friend are better than kisses from an enemy.
- Judas – Luke 22:48 – “…Betraying me with a kiss?”
- Fat friends
- Serving the Lord
You become like the people you spend time with.
Prov 22:24+25 & Prov 13:20
2 Cor 6:14 – 7:1 – Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers.
*Notes – any close relationship.
Words Have Power
BOTH ENTHUSIASM AND PESSIMISM ARE CONTAGIOUS.
HOW MUCH OF EACH DO YOU SPREAD?
Your words reflect what you believe about your future. Just to see how it feels, for the next twenty-four hours refrain from saying anything bad about anyone or anything. “The difference between the right word and almost the right word is the difference between lightning and lightning bug,” said Mark Twain.
The person who finds the negative seldom finds anything else. Live your life as and exclamation, not an explanation. Children are born optimists, then the world slowly tries to educate them out of their “delusion.” The fact is, the more you complain the less you’ll obtain.
Some people always find the bad in a situation. Do you know people like that? Think about it, how many successful complainers do you know? Many a great idea has been quenched by wrong words. Don’t spend your life standing at the complaint counter.
A Wise old owl sat on an oak, The more he saw the less he spoke; The less he spoke the more he heard; Why aren’t we like that wise old bird? (Edward H. Richards)
WHY ASK WHY—JOHN MASON
Give Honour
16 August 2009 (am)
Give Honour
Past. Melody vd Merwe
Aim: We’ll see what honour is and to whom it is due.
Rom 13:7 (NKJV) “…render therefore to all their due; taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honour to whom honour”
(Living Bible) “…and give honour and respect to all those whom it is due.
Honour (TIMAO) Something so valuable that it is held as precious, prized, cherished, reassured, valuable, and very dear.
Word Wealth (Spirit Filled Life Bible) Ps 8:5 – to honour, to glorify, to make splendid.
Honour: Respect, esteem, reverence (a feeling of profound awe and respect).
Rom 13:7 “…render therefore to all their due;…honour to whom honour.”
Who is due for Honour?
1. God – Heb 12:28+29 “… serve God acceptably with reverence and Godly fear. v29 for our God is a consuming fire
How do we honour God?
a. With our words
Heb 13:15
Ps 66:1-4
Ps 96:1-6-13
Rev 4:11
Make sure your words and heart are in the same place.
Ps 19:14
Matt 15:8+9
b. By lifting Holy Hands to Him
Prov 3:9
c. With our time
Ps 63:1+2+6+7
d. With your actions – do the Word
Luke 6:46 “…but why do you call me Lord, Lord and not do the things which I say…”
Matt 7:21 “…Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my father in heaven.
SUBMISSION – especially doing the word when it’s not what you wanted to hear.
The Son of God: Jesus makes it clear that you cannot honour the father unless you also honour the Son (John 5:23)
2. Honour those in Authority
Government, Schools, Work, All those set over you. Rom 13:1-7
Even Ministries Heb 13:17
3. Honour to husbands – Eph 5:22+23
4. Honour to wives – 1 Pet 3:7
5. Honour your parents – Ex 20:12, Eph 6:1 and Col 3:20
Model honour to your children and to spiritual babes – our responsibility
6. Honour all people (made in God’s image)
1 Pet 2:17 – Honour all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.
James 2:1-13
Sow honour and you will reap it!
Fear Fighter
Fear Fighter
DO YOU LOOK AT THE HORIZON AND SEE AN OPPORTUNITY OR DO YOU LOOK INTO THE DISTANCE AND FEAR A PROBLEM?
Fear is a poor chisel to carve out your tomorrows. If you are looking at your future from a position of fear, I want to let you know that view is inaccurate and distorted. It’s never safe to look into the future with the eyes of fear. The worst liars in the world are your own fears. One of the great discoveries you can make is to find that you can do what you were afraid you couldn’t do. William Ward showed the difference between faith and worry: “Worry is faith in the negative, trust in the unpleasant, assurance of disaster and belief in defeat. Worry is a magnet that attracts negative conditions. Faith is a more powerful force that creates positive circumstances… Worry is wasting today’s time to clutter up tomorrow’s opportunities with yesterday’s troubles.’
Dale Carnegie wrote, “An old man was asked what had robbed him of joy in his life. His reply was, ‘Things that never happened.’” Fear wants you to run from things that aren’t after you. Here’s what I do. I follow this famous advice: “At night, I give all my worries and fears to God. He’s going to be up all night anyway.” 1 Peter 5:7 puts it this way: “Let Him have all your worries and cares, for He is always thinking about you and watching everything that concerns you”.
WHY ASK WHY—JOHN MASON
Progressive Nature of Sin
09 August 2009 (pm)
Past. Melody vd Merwe
2 Sam 11:1-10
Aim: That we’ll be vigilant and guard against sin in our lives.
1 Pet 5:8-9
Be certain you’re always where God want you to be or you put yourself in jeopardy.
What are you doing here?
(Godliness) = live by God’s spirit in the fear of God – (God’s a consuming fire) under the eye of God, according to the will of God, with an uninterrupted consciousness of God’s indwelling presence. Living this way will keep us from much trouble and tragedy (Truth in action 1)
v2+3 – See David heading for trouble.
(God warned David against multiplying wives (Deut 17:17)
David began to shirk his duty – told her name and that she was married – to his soldier.
David disregarded common decency – He:
- Sent for her
- Committed adultery
- She went home
- Time past
- Found out she was pregnant
Be careful – Don’t slip.
Remember you can’t have everything you want.
- David was in the wrong place at the wrong time
- David should have had a network of accountability
- He was lonely (Don’t isolate yourself – Prov 18:1… notes one who cuts himself off from others will soon be out of step with everyone…)
Progressive Nature of Sin
1. He sinned in thought – saw the woman, thought she was very beautiful…
The seed of sin is first sown in our minds. Prov 23:7 …for as he thinks in his heart so is he…
Your life moves in the direction of your strongest thought – (what are you meditating on?)
Josh 1:8 … Meditate on the law day and night – think on the Word.
2. He sinned in word:
If we do not confess and repent the sin in mind, it almost always gives birth to the next stage (conversation – Worry!)
David sent for her Josh 1:8… book of the law shall not depart from your mouth…
3. He sinned in deed – committed adultery
- Flirted with sin in thought
- Spoke it
- Did it
Battlefield is in the mind…
Be steadfast, immovable. 1 Cor 15:56-58
Regarding thoughts – Ps 139:23+24
Regarding words – Ps 19:14
Regarding deeds – Ps 15:1-2
Example: Woman with the issue of blood – Mark 5:25-29
We receive our miracles in the same way!
Who am I?
09 August 2009 (am)
WHO AM I?
Past. Melody vd Merwe
2 Sam 7:18
Intro: 2 Sam 7:1. Now the king was in his house and the Lord had given him rest from his enemies all around…
David looks at the splendor around him and realizes God lives in a tent and not a tabernacle. David purposes to build God a tabernacle. V11 God tells David He will make David a house – family – clan (ww)
V12: Will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom.
V13: He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of His kingdom forever.
V15: and My mercy shall not depart from him
V16: And your house (family-clan) and your kingdom shall be established forever before you, your throne shall be established forever.
David breaks out in praise to God in sitting before the Lord (v 18: 21:29)
Compulsory Praise Ps 8:1-4
You can’t out give God – covenant rested on God’s faithfulness – not man’s v21+28
God did not choose David to build a house for His name because he was a warrior and had shed blood. 1 Chron 28:3
What is better than doing a wonderful task for God? – Having your children do a marvelous task for God!
Prov 10:1 “… a wise son makes a glad father…”
After David’s victories 2 Sam 8:15 so David reigned over all Israel
God had fulfilled Jonathan’s wish and given David everything.
2 Sam 9:1-3. David demonstrated kindness to Mephibosheth (v7-9)
David a heart like God’s – was seeking someone to bless and love. 2 Sam 9:9-10
1. David showed God’s Loving-Kindness – and so should we (v3)
- God is kind, compassionate, full of mercy.
- David’s heart was full of loving-kindness
- David was tender (soft) (soften my heart with oil… open my eyes to see)
- Ezek 36:24-28 Notes 26 + Truth-in-Action 2 (Spirit filled life bible)
2. David initiated the relationship – David was like God – wanted to show God’s loving-kindness
- As we have opportunity let us do good to all – Gal 6:16
- Titus 3:8 “…be careful to maintain good works…”
3. David completely accepted Mephibosheth – Loved him and showed him kindness just as he was.
Eph 1:6 “…He made us accepted in the beloved (bestowed grace upon us)”
4. David displayed God’s calming spirit.
V7 – Do not fear… (365 x in the bible)
5. David delighted in restoration (v7)
- God delights in giving John 3:16 so should we
- Ps 23:3 “… He restores my soul…”
- Gal 6:1 “… You who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness”
Help restore/save others God restored us!
The People Investment
04 August 2009
The People Investment
DO YOU LEAVE PEOPLE BETTER THAN YOU FOUND THEM?
One of the most exciting decisions you can make is to be on the lookout for opportunities to invest in others. For me, this has been one of the most powerful principles of momentum I’ve implemented in my life. About ten years ago, I remember driving to Tulsa, Oklahoma, from St. Louis Missouri with my family. I was listening to a Zig Ziglar tape and on this tape he said, “You’ll always have everything you want in life if you’ll help enough other people get what they want.” When I heard this statement, literally , something went off inside of me, and I said out loud, “I’m going to do it.” That decision to look for ways to help others, to invest in them, changed my life.
“There are three keys to more abundant living: caring about others, daring for others and sharing with others” (William Ward). Assign yourself the purpose of making others happy and successful. People have a way of becoming what you encourage them to be.
There are two types of people in the world: those who come into a room and say, “Here I am!” and those who come in and say, “Ah there you are!” Do this: “If you cannot win, make the one ahead of you break the record” (Jan McKeithen). Invest in others. It pays great dividends.
WHY ASK WHY—JOHN MASON
His Goodness Leads to Repentance
02 August 2009 (pm)
(Pastor Melody van der Merwe)
Rom. 2:4b “…not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance…”
Aim: That we’ll serve and love and have a relationship with God not because we want to miss hell but because we realize His goodness.
Micah 6:8 + *WordWealth Mercy (NKJV) (Notes)
(1) Remain honest in all you do
(2) cherish compassionate faithfulness
(3) commit yourself to live in submission to your God – Walk Humbly.
Prodigal Son
Luke 15:11-19-24 *WordWealth – Matt. 14:14
“Compassion” = be moved with deep compassion or pity.
Compassion – moving with pity to help.
Compassion is what motivated Jesus to perform miracles.
John 15:15 “…no longer do I call you servants … but I have called you friends…”
We were bound by our sin – But Jesus came to set us free.
Greatest commandment. Matt 22:37+38 “… you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.
Not SERVE but LOVE.
We are to please God.
Gal 1:10 “… for if I still pleased men, I would not be a servant of Christ.”
Matt 22:16
Rom 1:1 “…Paul a bondservant of Jesus Christ…”
Phil 1:1 “…Paul and Timothy, bondservants of Jesus…”
Slaves – could become so in different ways:
- If a thief could not repay what he had stolen he could be sold as a slave.
- Children taken as slaves in payment of debts
- IF YOU WERE UNABLE TO PAY YOUR DEBTS YOU COULD OFFER YOURSELF AS A SLAVE
After six years a slave was released!
If a slave desired to continue with his master, he would have a mark made in the ear; this mark would signify that he had chosen to remain a slave.
Gal 4:7 “…you are no longer a slave but a son (bond servant)…”
A Slave does not manage his own life. If we are slaves (bondservants) of Christ we acknowledge that the saviour has power over us.
Eph 2:4-10
Mercy = Kindness: loyal love and favor – Longsuffering love – candle with very long wick – Grace.
Love and serve Him because of who He is.
Jesus did not come to be served but to serve.
God is love 1 John 4:8
God is rich in mercy Eph 2:4
Ps 86:15 —– I will serve Him.
Ps 86:5 —– God is good.
1 Cor 13 – God’s goodness leads us to repentance (Rom 2:4) *WordWealth Gal 5:22
Turning away from serving ourselves, sin and the world!
GOD IS GOOD!
*WordWealth – Spirit Filled Life Bible notes (NKJV)
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