This is the closing song to Sundays Worship Service! So Good!
Author: dgould77
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Today, I want to . . .
Today, the church has given us the day off, very nice of them, but the weekend still happens, and, I am speaking to the church at large this weekend. I am excited to do it, but I really get PMS (pre message syndrom) when I have to speak to the whole church. I am praying that God would just take over! That my words would be His and I would step out of the way, so people could understand, and clearly know what God wants them to do. It’s a tuff topic, but has the potential to really connect! Pray for me, and us!
That being said, here are my goals for today:
- Finish the body of my talk. Wrestling with what and how to say what God has laid on my heart.
- Hang out with My family. We will either hit the pool or take the dart to Dallas with some friends who are in town.
- Be totally present with my family! Have fun, and relax!
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Matthew 5:17-30
“So if you ignore the least commandment and teach others to do the same, you will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But anyone who obeys God’s laws and teaches them will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven.” v.19
What a statement! Jesus goes on to teah about anger, and lust, probably things that none of us deal with on a daily basis. Wrong, I find it interesting that he not only addresses the actual sin but talks about the little things that gradually get bigger as we continue to sin. Jesus says we have to cut off the things that cause us to sin.
This weekend I am talking about “Secret Sin.” The past two years I have seen good even godly men fall because they let secret sin lead them to places they never thought possible and they ended up doing things they never thought they would do. That’s the power that is in secret sin, and Jesus tels us to cut it off!
What are some things that you struggle with? Today, will you begin to cut those things out, so you can experience the fullness of Christ? Today, will I be willing to cut those things out, so I can experience the fullness of Christ? Let do it together!
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Matthew 5:1-15
“God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.” v.3
This is the first of eight statements Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount. We know them today as the “Be Attitudes.” In these, are hidden truths of the Gospel that each one of us can experience.
When we realize that we don’t have anything offer, or we have nothing left to try, those tend to be the moments that God shows up in the biggest ways. It is the simple realization that you can’t do this on your own. It’s in this moment that we cry out to God and say, “Father help me, I can’t do this and I need you.” This is the beginning, not the end, of a journey were God becomes our rescuer and sustainer. Sometimes its not easy, but we can take confidence that we don’t have to do it alone!
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The New Dew
Well, tonight, all the boys got haircuts. Its so nice that I can do this without having to take them and pay to get them done. I have been cutting my own hair since I was in High School. I have gotten better since then. Here are the boys sporting their new hair cuts.
No Nicholas this decision was not based on our discussion today during the service planning meeting. . . so don’t feel bad, or get a big head!!
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Mark 2:23-3:19
“He looked around at them angrily and was deeply saddened by their hard hearts. Then he said to the man, ‘Hold out your hand.’ So the man held out his hand, and it was restored!” Mark 3:5 (NLT)
Have you ever been disappointed by someones actions or reaction? Jesus is looking at the religious leaders of the day in disappointment that they would be more concerned with it being the Sabbath then helping someone who had a need. Jesus was saddened by their hard hearts.
A hard heart comes when we ignore the things God wants us to be sensitive to. It can come from avoiding sin that God is convicting us of, not serving in an area God wants us to serve in, and by having an unforgiving heart toward others. When it comes to your hearts condition, to you have a soft sensitive heart, open to God and what he wants to do? Or, do you have a hard heart, closed to God and what He wants to do?
Today, God would you break our hearts for the things that break yours. Help us to be people that a sensitive to you and the things you are trying to accomplish. Not for our glory, but for the Glory of your name sake. May we make you famous!
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Outline . . . DONE!!!
Just finished my outline for this weekends talk in the “Big House.” For some reason this talk has been dificult already. I am praying that God uses it to draw people close to Him. Here are the two main sections we are going to talk about:
The Power of Secret Sin
The Power of the Cross
With it being the 4th of July weekend Freedom will be celebrated! However, real personal freedom can only be given by Christ! I am praying that people would be freed this weekened from the power of secret sin.
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John 5
“So Jesus explained, ‘I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does.’” v.19 (NLT)
Jesus, fully God, fully Human, says that he con do nothing by himself. It doesn’t mean that Jesus was weak, incompetent, or needy. It simply shows His humble, disciplined, servants heart. He was so in tune with God that every aspect of His life reflected his relationship with The Father.
There is much for us to learn from this one verse. If Jesus, fully God, fully Human, says he can do nothing by himself, why do we try to attempt things on our own? This statement, is the secret to Jesus Life. It allowed him to heal, teach, love and serve others. But it wasn’t just the secret to the good stuff/miracles. It also kept Him from sinning. He knew that He was not alone and that the Father was with Him. Jesus was able to live in this world without sin because he knew the secret of life, “I can do nothing by myself.”
Today ask yourself, “What am I trying to do in my own power? Who am I when no-one but God is looking?” Then give that to God and faithfully follow His lead. I think you and I would be surprised by the results.
Father today, make us more like Jesus by being more like you! Help us to surrender everything to you and to lean on your power and strength not our own. Help us to understand that we can do nothing by ourselves.
