|
Thursday, February 21, 2008
2 Peter 1:5-11 Important spiritual values: If you have them, you will never be barren!
BUILT TO LAST
Nobody starts off something without the intention to last.
Is focus and change contradictory?
No. We need to focus on the right things to experience change.
What is important vs. what happened in the past.
Instead of worrying, seek first the Kingdom of God. Matt 6:33
You need to change your values, your mindsets, need to seek the spirtual aspects.
Story of the rich young ruler: He focused on the commandments like a law, but did not understand the spirit of the commandments, that is to love people and to love God.
.: We need to focus on values that are built to last! Values are needed for long-term growth.
Matt 12: 25
If you want your house to stand, it has to be united - have values that everyone agrees on. The place of agreement is the place of power, while the place of disagreement is the place of powerlessness.
Values
1. Loyalty
- Choose which god we are going to serve, which company we want to work in etc.
2. Commitment - Wives: Commit yourself to your husband and his visions
- Until you are committed, the visions will be just castles in the sky
3. Respect - Speak well to one another
- Whatever you don't guard - like how Adam didn't guard his relationship with God - you lose
- Familarity breds content
- You don't elevate yourself to that person you are taught to serve. You serve!
- Submission to authority is a Kingdom attitude
- Humility: Phil 2:5-11. Note: Jesus is God!
4. Accountability - Maintain connectedness (i.e. communication) witht he one you have a relationship with
- John 15:5
- Be connected to the one who first gave you your ministry
5. Family
- Your family is something that God has entrusted you with
- Live a balanced life!
- The Strength of a Man:
The strength of a man isn’t seen in the width of his shoulders.
It’s seen in the width of his arms that circle you. The strength of a man isn’t in the deep tone of his voice.
It’s in the gentle words he whispers. The strength of a man isn’t how many buddies he has.
It’s how good a buddy he is with his kids. The strength of a man isn’t in how respected he is at work.
It’s in how respected he is at home. The strength of a man isn’t in how hard he hits.
It’s in how tender he touches. The strength of a man isn’t in the hair on his chest.
It’s in his Heart…that lies within his chest. The strength of a man isn’t how many women he’s loved.
It’s in how he can be true to one woman. The strength of a man isn’t in the weight he can lift.
It’s in the burdens he can carry. (Thanks Cheryl! :))
6. Love - Matt 12: 20
- Love is that which motivates us to serve God
- John 15:12
- Is a commandment to love one another just "as I have loved you"
- God loves us too, and in that loving environment, there will be security
- 1 Cor 13:4-5
- Faith moves in an environment of love - people feel accepted, that is, if they fail, there is grace
7. Faithfulness
- i.e. trustworthy
- Luke 16:10, 12
- 1 Cor 4:2
8. Hard work
- i.e. diligence
- 2 Peter
- 2 Thess 3:10
9. Integrity
- Living in truth, speaking in truth, building your life on truth (private & public life)
- John 14:6
- Build your life on truth: Better would be your way and your life
- John 8:44
- By being a liar, you are saying that the devil is your father!
- Matt9:12-13
- Put your life right when it is wrong
10. Generosity
- Don't be a taker, be a giver!
- Acts 20:25
- 1 Tim 6:6-8
- The way to break envy is to be a giver
- James 3:14-15
- Envy is demonic
Where do all these values come from?
Exodus 20:1
- v3: Loyalty
- v4-6: Committment to who you are serving
- v7: Respect
- v8-11: Come beck in connection to God again
- v12: Family
- v13: Whoever has hatred in his heart is a murderer
- v14: Faithfulness
- v15: Hard work
- v16: Integrity
- v17: Don't be envious, be generous
Romans 1:29-30
The world at end times will have values that are a total opposite.
2 Tim3:1-4
Moral laws!
V.A.L.U.E.S. of having Values
Visible: Values give you an identity
Attract: Values attract people of similar values
Lead: Values are like a compass when you are presented with many opportunities - what am I to do? Go back to your values.
Unite: Without committment, we can't build anything
Establish: Values establish a firm foundation especially when there is external pressure
Standard: Values set a form of measurement
Labels: Saturday, Sermons
Leaving a foot step - 7:04 AM
++++++++++++++++++++
|
