Resurrection (Part 5)

Pastor Rocklyn E. Clarke - Sunday December 10, 2006

© 2006 Life Church Ministries, Inc.

http://www.LifeChurchMinistries.org/

 
V Introduction
* Bible Reading 12/3 - 12/9: Dan 11:2 - Joel 3:21; 1John 3:7 - Rev 1:20; Psalm 122 - 128; Prov 29:1-18
> Review
V New Material
> Preparation
V Resurrection (continued)
* Resurrection and the Life Church Vision - exponential growth
V You have to fight!
* People who are not willing to change can't serve God in the long term
* Second Chance: No Prisoners, no treaties - Deut 7:1-8
* God to Israel: No fight, no victory! - Josh 17:11 - 18:3; Judges 2:1-5
* Conquer sin - 1John 3:1-10; 1John 5:18
V What you must fight
* "Me" centered life
V Acts of the sinful nature (works of the flesh)
* Sexual Immorality (Gk porneia)
* Impurity (Gk akaqartos) - unclean (e.g. unclean spirit)
* Debauchery (Gk aselgeia) - license, lack of restraint
* Idolatry (Gk idwlolatria) - worshipping idols
V Witchcraft (Gk farmakei÷a) - magic including drugs and spells
* Lev 19:31; Deut 18:9-14
* Hatred (Gk ecqra)
* Discord (Gk eris)
* Jealousy (Gk zhlos)
* Fits of rage (Gk qumos)
* Selfish ambition (Gk eriqeia) - base self seeking
* Dissensions (Gk dicostasia) -
* Factions (Gk airesis) - creating independent groups within the church
* Envy (Gk fqonos) -
* Drunkenness (Gk meqjjh) - applies to any intoxication
* Orgies (Gk kwmos) - drinking parties with unrestrained indulgence
V How to fight
* Advice from Ephesians - Eph 4 - 5
V Cultivate time in God's presence
* Alone with God - personal worship and devotional time
V Keep coming back
* Moses and the fading of God's glory - Ex 34:28-35; 2Cor 3:1-18;
* Be continually filled with the Spirit (because we leak) - Eph 5:18
V Cultivate time with other believers
V Without the Church you have no ministry - Phil 2:3-4
* Some people have isolated themselves from the body
* Others have isolated themselves from pastoral leadership
* The Church is the body with pastoral leadership - Our Lord never envisioned his Church any other way. - 1Cor 12:27-31; Eph 4
* You should either be part of a congregation that has a pastor or you should be looking for one to join. Otherwise you're deceiving yourself.
* Be transparent
* Confess your sins - James 5:13-18
* Submit to one another - Eph 5:21
* Pursue trust - deliberately establish and build trusting relationships
V Life group - accountability and disclosure
* It's more than a 90 minute weekly meeting - it's a lifestyle!
* Informal gatherings
V Set your mind on what the Spirit wants - Rom 8:5-6
V Find out what the Spirit wants - Eph 5:8-10
* Pray
* Read your Bible
* Choose to focus your thoughts on these things
V Stop thinking about the things of the flesh - Rom 8:5-6; Rom 13:14
* Put them off until later (e.g. delay that first drink/hit/sexual encounter)
V Stay away from problem situations
* e.g. the young couple who wouldn't listen to our advice
V Base your decisions on God's Word rather than on personal pain relief
* Spiritual: "What does the Father want me to do today?"
* Carnal: "What will make me feel good today?"
V Renew your mind - Rom 12:1
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