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PASTOR’S SERMON NOTES

BE BLESSED BY GOD’S WORD THROUGHOUT THE WEEK

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2018 Scripture: Acts 5:17-25

Their was a time in our lives when we lived outside of God’s will – and whenever we have lived outside of the will of God we come to understand that things never get better (we built fences, walls, and invisible barriers that keep us from becoming all that God is calling us to be) – we create prisons for ourselves that no one can see but us

But whenever you make the sound decision to step out of your prison to live in your faith in God (to do a good work for God – with the promise of you growing in your faith and gaining success in your spiritual growth and development – get ready to be met with some opposition)

Opposition from those who make it their business to try to destroy the encouragement that You have received from God (and this opposition will work to cause interference that will be the negative movement that your emotions need in order to make you stay inside your prison )

Points: In order to live in the Power and Promises of God – outside of your prison life (two things I want to share with you – that I believe help destroy the fences and barriers blocking you from being a real Christian)

#1 – When you come out of your prison to live in Christ Power – You will have confrontation (v.17-18)

Sometimes the enemy of God will attempt to try to confront us on our short comings when we start to make the transition to truly all in God’s promises (and when he tries to intensify confrontation in your life – You have to understand that God is in charge of you moving forward in Him)

#2- When you come out of your prison to live in Christ Power – You have to share with others what God has done (v.19-20)

God sent his angel to release them out of prison – you need to know that God who set His Apostles free – is still breaking chains today (God is still a bondage breaker and can lose every chain that has held you back from trusting Him totally)

Don’t go back to your prison life – let God destroy your distractions – your worries – your failures – your fears – your bad habits – your bad attitude (whatever your prison is break lose and break out – today God wants to break you free)

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2018: Hearing What God Has To Say – John 10:24-29 It is possible at times in our lives – when we hear Instructions from God and never follow what He directs us to do (you have to understand – that your faith in God plays a major role in you following the voice of God – that comes to direct – that comes to strengthen – that comes to rebuild – and that comes to sustain)

[In the text] We come to the climax of Jesus public ministry before The Week that He is to be crucified (Jesus is declaring –Himself to be the Son of God and the religious leadership argued with Him) – Jesus would be able to distinguish His voice over the distractions that block us from listening. There are 2 things that Jesus shares in this text – that I believe will help us listen to the voice of God. #1 – You Will Hear God – When You Put Yourself In His Care (v.27a, Jesus said – “My Sheep listen to My voice”)

Knowing the sound of the Shepard is important – because that is what God uses to lead us into following His will for us (a Shepard never drives his sheep from the rear – God never pushes us into anything that He has for us – you have to follow Him freely because you trust Him) – Psalm 18:2 says – The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

God moves through His Spirit to demonstrate His Power On any situation in the life of the one who hears Him (when you hear God and then move into action – your faith will elevated because The Spirit of the Lord has no limits to all that God can do). #2– You Will Hear God – When You Abide In Him (v.27b- I know them, and they follow Me). When you follow what God has to say – you have to Give up your own efforts to run your life (and you have to trust in God fully – that puts us in a position to hear God clearly)

God can only be heard by the person who knows who God is through a Spiritual transfer {Jesus said in John 3:16/For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life} – this is not just an intellectual knowing of God (but this is a Spiritual knowledge of who He is and being able to know His Voice over the noise of the life’s distractions). {let me tell you something} God will not account those his sheep that are deaf to his calling and dose not listen to Him (follow Him means we submit to his guidance by a willing obedience to all that God commands – we see God as our leader and follow the prescriptions of His Word to direct us).

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2018: Psalms 30:1-5 When We Get Our Thank You Back
We can all remember that one of the first things we were taught as a child growing up – was to not only say “thank you” but to be thankful (In 1st Thessalonians Chp.5 – the Bible teaches us that – in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you). Today we are living in a world where the church has become distracted by worldly things (as believers we are losing site of the things that are really important in our lives – like our relationship with Christ, our family, good friends, love for one another) – we have lots of reasons to thank God for. The Psalmist sings this song because of a thankful heart for the great deliverance that God provides (here David praises God for the deliverance he had received as he calls for others to rejoice in the goodness of God – at the dedication of the house of David)

There are two things that we should never have a problem doing (when you are truly Thankful To God). #1- When You Are Thankful To God – You Don’t Mind Giving Him All The Praise; Giving God praise means – to express happiness or relief that something did or did not happen in your day that you knew nobody but God could have done this (when you travel from one place to another – and you made it here safely – that’s a reason to say thank you – because of God’s protection). When you think about all that the Lord has done and is doing in your life – it is the expectation of the believers – that we praise God (for praise was created and sanctified by God that must be given to God). #2- When You Are Thankful To God – You Learn How To Wait On Him; When we try to do things in our own strength – thinking that we can do it or accomplish without God’s accommodations – I believe we offend God goodness and faithfulness toward us (the Apostle Paul reminds us in Romans 8:6 – For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace). Waiting on God simply means – that I am Believing God is my power to help me endure any discomfort or difficulty that comes my way (because I know he is in charge of what it’s going to look like when He I come out)

If your weeping endures for a night – and it be a wearisome night (when rest in your thank you To God – no matter what you feel – as sure as the light of the morning returns after the darkness of the night – so sure will joy and comfort return in due time to the people of God)-Wait on God. I believe God wants His church to get its Thank you back (so that the believers can show the world – what it truly means to be thankful to God)