CONSISTENCY: THE LIFESTYLE
CONSISTENCY: THE LIFESTYLE
28 March 2010 (am)
Pastor Melody vd Merwe
Heb 13:8
Consistent is similar to constant, which is the same as invariable, same as changeless, or steady, or faithful, or continual or ceaseless or reliable, or trustworthy, or dependable.
To succeed at anything in life we must work at it consistently, constantly, invariably, changelessly, steadily, faithfully, continually and ceaselessly.
- Earth Hour. Lights off between 8:30 & 9:30.
Consistency is the key to success and effectiveness.
NB: Successful people do daily (consistently) what unsuccessful people do only occasionally.
Diet, Sport, Business, Exercise.
Geyser – Hot water – consistently
Car – start – consistently
Fridge, Stove, Kettle, Computer – Work – Consistently.
- Don’t want temperamental – want consistency.
Heb 13:8 (AMP) Jesus Christ (the messiah) is [ALWAYS] the same, yesterday, today [yes] and forever (to the ages).
We must have a lifestyle of consistency.
Consistency in getting, hearing, meditating on and doing the Word.
John 8:31-32 – Speaks to Pharisees. John 8:43
- Result – freedom.
Romans 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing and hearing (+hearing) by the Word of God.
Romans 12:2 Be transformed by the renewing of your mind – Result – Faith – Change your life.
Matt 7:24 – Wisdom Result…. whoever hears theses sayings of mine and does them, I will liken him to a wise man.
James 1:25 – Blessed
Ps 1:1-3 – Prosper in whatever he does.
Consistency in Prayer.
1 Thess 5:17 … pray without ceasing.
Luke 18:1 …Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart.
John 14:13 … Whatever you ask in My name that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
John 15:7 … You will ask what you decide and it shall be done for you.
Luke 11:9+10 … Ask and receive.
Matt 21:22 … and whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.
1 John 3:22 … Whatever we ask we receive from Him…
1 John 5:14+15
James 5:16-18
Consistency in Church Attendance (Gym – 1 a month does nothing)
Heb 10:23-25
Acts 2:42 … they continued steadfastly in the apostles doctrine and fellowship.
Jesus did it. Luke 4:16
Paul did. Acts 17:2… As His custom was.
Ps 122:1 … I was glad when they said to me, let us go into the house of the Lord.
- Church attendance – consistently results in Spiritual growth.
Eph 4:8, 11-15 … Christ gave gifts to the Church to equip the saints for the work of the ministry.
Consistency in Love
Not hot one day and cold the next.
Makes us like God (God is love)
Col 3:14 … put on love, which is the bond of perfection.
Mess Trans…and regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment never be without it.
John 13:34+35 …A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
(v 35) by this all will know that you are my disciples if you have love for one another…
Love is constant and self-sustaining. (Poured out in our hearts Rom 5:5)
Consistency in Forgiveness
Eph 4:32
Matt 6:14+15
Matt 18:21-35 – Unforgiving Servant
WW Col 3:13 – Forgive freely.
Forgiving consistently sets you free!!
Witness Consistently
Matt 28:19+20, Mark 16:15 Go make Disciples
Acts 1:8 … you shall be witness to Me in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Sameria, and to the end of the earth.
Give Consistently
Luke 6:38, 1 Cor 16:2 1st day of the week, each one?
Gal 6:6-10
Phil 4:15-19 …Result – if you give you get.
Eccl 11:1… if you cast your bread out on the water in slices, eventually it will come back to you in loaves.
Worship Consistently
Ps 113:3…from the rising of the sun to its going down the Lord’s name is to be praised.
Heb 13:15… therefore by him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to his name.
When we praise Him, He turns up – manifests.
Lifestyle of Consistently serving God
Eph 4:14+15
God knows your faithfulness
God knows your faithfulness
by Rick Warren
So we must not get tired of doing good, for we will reap at the proper time if we don’t give up. Galatians 6:9 (HCSB)
Here’s another benefit from God knowing everything: He sees everything you do that is good and right. Every time you choose not to sin, every time you resist temptation, every time you take a stand because of God’s Truth, He sees your faithfulness to Him.
The Bible says every good deed will be rewarded, no matter how insignificant and regardless of whether anybody else on earth sees it. Every encouragement you give to other people, every kind word you give to your children, every time you do a thoughtful act for your husband, every time you pick up around the office when it’s not your job, every time you set up chairs in church or stuff bulletins, every act of courtesy, every time you refuse to gossip, every time your positive instead of negative — God sees it all, no matter how small. (Matthew 10:40-42)
Imagine yourself on a giant stage and you’re the only person on that stage. You’re acting out your life. In the audience there is only one person and it’s God. He’s out there clapping and saying “I see that good thing you just did. Keep on going! Nobody else saw it, but I saw it.”
So what should be my response? If God sees all the good things that I do and He’s out there cheering me on, then my response should be, “Don’t Be Discouraged!”
You may be thinking, “I’ve been trying to do the right thing in my marriage. I don’t see any results. I’ve been trying to be the right kind of person and respond correctly with my kids or to my parents. I’ve been trying to do the right thing at work or at school. And I don’t know if it’s paying off. I don’t see it making any difference in anybody’s life.”
God says, “I see it and it doesn’t matter who else sees it.”
Nothing good we ever do is ever done in vain: “So we must not get tired of doing good, for we will reap at the proper time if we don’t give up.” (Galatians 6:9, HCSB)
CONSISTENCY: THE KEY
CONSISTENCY: THE KEY
21 March 2010 (am)
Pastor Melody vd Merwe
Heb 13:8
AMP: Jesus Christ (the Messiah) is [always] the same, yesterday, today [yes] and forever (to the ages).
Mal 3:6 …for I am the Lord, I do not change…
1 Cor 1:9 (NKJV) …God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
AMP: God is faithful (reliable, trustworthy, and therefore ever true to His promise, an he can be depended on);…
Consistent is similar to Invariable, which is the same as Constant, same as Changeless, or Steady or Faithful or Continual or Ceaseless or Reliable or Trustworthy or Dependable.
To succeed at anything in life we must work at it consistently, invariably, constantly, changelessly, steadily, faithfully, continually and ceaselessly.
Consistency is the key to success and effectiveness.
Successful people do daily (consistently) what unsuccessful people do occasionally.
Diet, Sports, Business, Exercise…
- Geyser – produce hot water – consistently.
- Car – must start –consistently
- Fridge/stove – must work – consistently
Jesus is the same (constant, consistent, invariable, changeless, steady, faithful, continual, trustworthy, dependable, reliable) yesterday, today and forever.
To be successful in (anything) life we must develop a lifestyle of consistency
Not up one day and down the next.
Friendly, Loving, Patient, Kind, Happy/Joyful.
NB!! Jesus isn’t fickle, He does not change.
How do we develop consistency as a lifestyle?
A Little everyday. Luke 13:18-19
Seed grows a little at a time – consistently 24hrs a day.
Not crisis management – no crash diet – problem then pray, read, exercise.
No overnight success – consistently, constantly keeping at the word.
Act like the Word is true 24hrs a day.
Get the word, meditate on the word, confess the word, do the Word – 7 days a week.
The secret of your future is hidden in your daily routine.
Successful people do (consistently/daily) what (unsuccessful) other people do occasionally.
SUMMING IT ALL UP
SUMMING IT ALL UP
14 March 2010 (am)
Pastor Melody vd Merwe
Rom 12:1+2
- Jesus Lord of All or not Lord at all.
Matt 7:21-23 Not everyone who says Lord Lord – those who do the will…
- Do you serve God?
Matt 6:24 … cannot serve two masters.
Do you serve God or do you expect God to serve you?
- Is He just Savior or is He Lord and Savior?
- Master, owner, controller – sold out to Jesus … does He have ALL of you?
- Commanded to Love. John 13:34-35
Love is the oxygen of the kingdom – cannot live without love. God is Love. Love is the Christian life. – Love proof of salvation. We are to have the character of God.
- Speech that pleases God. Eph 5:19+20. Praise is the language of the kingdom.
- Your speech betrays you. Are you praising God or complaining and murmuring?
Everything God does is super-natural – not all spectacular – blind man first sunrise/sunset.
Familiarity causes contempt.
- Praise reminds us who He is – Lord of All.
- Praise reminds us who we are – sets everything in order – Gives us perspective.
WHAT MUST WE DO?
Romans 12:1+2
Put our whole life – All of it on the alter!! Living sacrifice – reasonable service.
1 Sam 6:10 – Cows bring back ark
Dan 6 – Lions and Daniel
Jesus came to serve – to lay down – offer up His life for us – Garden of Gethsemane not my will but yours be done. (Luke 22:39-46)
Surely it’s unreasonable – a living sacrifice.
HOW CAN WE DO IT?
Be transformed by the renewing of our mind – thru the Word of God. Rom 12:2
- Good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Will of God is the Word of God!
NKJ: Offer/ present/surrender your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
Good News: So then, my brothers, because of God’s great mercy to us I appeal to you; offer yourselves as a living sacrifice to god, dedicated to His service and pleasing to Him. This is the true worship that you should offer.
SPEECH PLEASING TO GOD
SPEECH PLEASING TO GOD
07 March 2010 (am)
Pastor Melody vd Merwe
Eph 5:19+20 (MSG)
Eph 5:19+20 … Sing hymns instead of drinking songs! Sing sons from your heart to Christ. Sing praises over everything, any excuse for a song to God the Father in the Name of our Master, Jesus Christ.
Aim: We realize we are of the kingdom of heaven, representatives, ambassadors of the Kingdom of God, – that the language of our homeland is praise and thanks giving.
Matt 26:73 …Surely you are also one of them, for your speech betrays you…
It’s amazing how much can be learned about us from the manner in which we speak. – background, culture, attitude, morality…
Betrays – Gives away information.
Words betray:
– who we are
– Where we’re at
– Where we’re going. Matt 12:33-37
David, a man after God’s heart, had a lifestyle of praise. Many/most of the psalms were written by David.
Ps 34:1-3 … I will bless the Lord at all times…His praise shall continually be in my mouth…
Psalm means praise.
Def. Of praise: recognition of virtue = the giving of a testimony of what God has done. The honoring of God as an expression of gratitude.
Praise: To honour, to bless, to exalt, to glorify, to celebrate, to magnify, to speak reverently.
Opposite of praise – complain, murmur, moan, (lament).
We praise God for His mighty deeds! His power, Greatness and goodness.
Everything God does is supernatural – everything is not spectacular – Familiarity – sunrise / sunset.
When the music fades – (lifestyle –praise)
– A song in itself is not what you have required you search much deeper that that.
– A heart of worship – it’s all about Him.
David – end of his life 1 Chron 29:1-29
We must never forget the awesome benefits of authentic (genuine, heart-felt) praise.
Ps 22:3 … He inhabits the praises of Israel
When we praise Him He shows up. (Paul & Silas)
When we have a lifestyle of praise, we are aware of His presence (manifest)
God desired our praise for various reasons.
-
Praise reminds us who He is
(i) When we praise Him for what He’s done in the lives of those recorded in the word (not empty gift boxes) – Daniel, Noah, Joseph, Shadrach, Meshach and Abendego, Peter…
(ii) His wonders in our own lives. (Saved, delivered and healed)
(iii) His wonders in the lives of those I know.
Then we can proclaim with Jer 32:17 Ah (Lord, God! Behold you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for you.
2. Praise reminds us who we are. Ps 139:1-18
1 Cron 29:14 … who am I, and who are my people.
– Gets everything into perspective and we end with a humbled heart before God (Loved by him bought by his blood).
– Prov 4:23 … Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.
Remember – God resits the proud, but gives grace to the humble (1 Pet 5:5)
Prov 16:5 (Liv Bib) Pride disgusts the Lord. Take my word for it – proud men shall be punished.
COMMANDED TO LOVE
COMMANDED TO LOVE
28 February 2010 (am)
Pastor Melody vd Merwe
John 13:34-35
Intro: We are bondservants of the Lord – CHOOSING to serve Him. Laying down our lives for Him. Choosing to follow and obey Him (to obey is better than sacrifice).
What in the natural can we not live without?
- Can without food – 40 days
- Can without water – ± 3 days
We cannot live without oxygen for more than ± 5 min!!
- Oxygen is our life!! (in the natural)
- Spiritually we as Christians cannot live without love.
Love is spiritual oxygen of Christianity.
Love is not a spiritual extra – not something you can choose to live without!
LOVE IS THE CHRISTIAN LIFE!!
We see in 1 Cor 13:1-3+13+14:1
God is eternal + Love is eternal
Love is the light – love is the oxygen of the kingdom (Christian life).
1 John 1:7 …if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin…
1 John 2:10+11 … He who loves his brother abides in the light…
- Darkness = lack of light – lack of love
- Turn out the light and there is darkness.
Love is eternal – everything else comes to an end
God = LOVE, LIFE, LIGHT, The WORD
Opposite of love – selfishness
Opposite of light – darkness
Walking selfishly = walking in darkness.
Love is proof of salvation
1 John 4:7+8
1 John 3:14 …He who does not love abides in death..
Rom 13:10 …love does no harm to a neighbor
Þ Love is the fulfillment of the Law.
Jer 31:33 …but this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after these days, says the Lord: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God and the shall be My people…
Rom 5:5 …The love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Don’t seek gifts, seek fruit.
Gifts – Charismatic – everyone loves gifts – Christmas tree – gifts
Fruit is the evidence of the tree species.
Love = Fruit of God tree bearing as spirit.
Gal 5:22+23
Love the beginning – foundation of all – held in place by self-control.
Proverbs says… better to have self-control than to control an army…
… a man without self-control is like a city with broken down walls…
Love is not a feeling – it’s an act of your will.
Love is a verb – something you DO!
Love under law Lev 19:18 … you shall love your neighbor as yourself…
Samaritan – Luke 10:25-37 – Jesus says we’re to be as the Samaritan.
Jesus doesn’t call him Good – that’s being a neighbor – moved with compassion (Love in action)
Start loving your neighbor – win them to Christ.
Love without limits. As “yourself”
What you ant for yourself – want for others.
If you have two and another has none – give him one.
John 13:34 …Love as I have loved you.
We must love as Jesus – Jesus loved us more than He loved His own life – He gave His life for us. 1 John 3:16
Love changes anything – teenager falling in love.
Mashed potato love – Eph 4:1-3
Father, Son and Holy Spirit – 3 but 1 (many but one)
1 Thes 2:12 and 4:9-12
- Work that flows from faith (Notes)
- Labor that flows from love.
Patient endurance that is born
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