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Wednesday, October 29, 2014

The Great Opportunity for God to Show His Power Acts 16: 26-34


click to Read the passage: Acts 16  (a new browser window will open)
Opportunity for:

v.26 1. God to show His power.
(and suddenly there was a great earthquake,)

v.26 2. God to shake the foundations.
( so that the foundations of the prison were shaken)

v.26 3. God to show His dominion.
(foundations of the prison were shaken) 

v.26 4. God to loose the bonds of captivity.
(and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were 
                loosed.)

v.27 5. God to break down barriers to peace.
(And the keeper of the prison awaking our of his sleep, and seeing the prison
                doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing
                that the prisoners had been fled.)

v.31 6. God opening the door of the gospel.
(And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and
                thy house.)

v.34 7. God saving men’s souls who otherwise would have had no hope.
(And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and
                rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.)




Saturday, October 25, 2014

The Basis of True Fellowship Philippians 2: 1-3


click to Read the passage: Philippians 2  (a new browser window will open)



V.1            1.            Agreement with truth.
                        (If there be, therefore, any consolation in Christ…)

v.1            2.            Surrender to the Holy Spirit.
                        (if any fellowship of the Spirit)

v.2            3.            Cooperation with the Holy Spirit’s leadership.
                        (Fulfill ye my joy, …)

v.3            4.            Acceptance of those the Holy Spirit brings into your life.
                        (let nothing be done through strife or vainglory, …)

 v.4            5.            Having genuine concern for the brethren.
                        (look not every man on his own things, …)

v.5            6.            Staying within the bounds of God’s acceptance.
                        (let this mind  be in you,)

v.5            7.            Living with Christ as the center of life.
                        (which was also in Christ Jesus,)
                        Be reconciled with, agree with, Jesus.


Wednesday, October 22, 2014

The Specific Need Today for God's Power Acts 16: 25-34


click to Read the passage: Acts 16  (a new browser window will open)

v.25 1. It will require our getting our focus off of ourselves.
(Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises unto God;)
off of our rights, our priorities, our conveniences

v.25 2. It will require beseeching God.
(prayed and sang praises unto God;)

3. Without God’s power the church is bound up.
v.24- feet fast in stocks

v.26 4. When God’s power is present, there is no human explanation.
(and suddenly there was a great earthquake.)

v.27- 5. When God’s power is present, God’s work follows.
(and the keeper of the prison, …)

v.29 6. When God’s power is present, human hearts are humbled.
(The he called for a light; …and came trembling)
men yield up their pride.

v.29 7. When God’s power is present, man’s arguments subside.
(Sirs, what must I do to be saved?)

v.29 8. When God’s power is present, men know there is a God.
(Sirs, what must I do to be saved?)

v.29 9. When God’s power is present, there is no hiding of your sin.
(to be saved)

v.33, 10. When God’s power is present, life becomes real.
  34 (…believing in God with all his house.)




Saturday, October 18, 2014

When Does God Respond? 1 John 5: 14, 15


click to Read the passage: I john 5  (a new browser window will open)


V14 1) When He sees our need. 
(We ask) 
Continuously He is responding.

V14 2) When He sees our faith. 
(We ask) 

V14 3) When He sees our heart. 
(We ask anything) 

v 14 4) When He see our love for His will and Word. 
(According to His will,) 

V14 5) When He hears our petition.
(He heareth us)

V15 6) Without delay. 

V15 7) Fully when He does. 
(We know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him) 




Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Why You Cannot Help but Praise God Acts 16: 25


click to Read the passage: Acts 16  (a new browser window will open)

(And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praise unto God …) 

1. Because of your firm assurance of Jesus, not your firm assurance of 
earthly security.

2. Because you believe the reading of your spirit, not the reading of your
mind and feelings.

3. Because joy is an uncontainable expression of the life of Jesus within.
Joy is God’s gift of sustainment. The joy of the Lord is our strength.

4. Because oppression cannot bury hope.

5. Because adversity reveals the strength of Christ’s sustainment.

6. Because adversity brings sweeterness to the fellowship.

7. Because life from above cannot be deterred nor diluted.
Jesus gives life, unhindered.

8. Because the power of Christ is always greater than the challenge to life.

9. Because God gives the unique distinctive of praise to a believer, for 
Christ’s glory.

10. Because of Christ’s great worthiness and honor.
Rev. 4: 11; 7: 10-12


What a testimony. There will be an audience to hear genuine praise. 
                See. V. 26-31.






Saturday, October 11, 2014

Worship-A Believer's Privilege John 4: 24


click to Read the passage: John 4  (a new browser window will open)



                        …(they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.

            1.            Its bounds.
                        What, Who God is.
                        Psalms 65: 5-; 66: 5-; 104: 3-

            2.            Its breadth.
                        All God is.
                        Psalms 93: 1; 97; 145: 10-13

            3.            Its breath (life).
                        By God’s spirit speaking.
                        Psalms 27: 14; 33: 21; 52: 9; 145: 16

            4.            Its balance.
                        spirit and truth
                        Psalms 115: 1; 57:2

            5.            Its benefit.
                        protects from error.
                        Psalms 61: 1-8

            6.            Its bounty.
                        enjoying the greatness of God.
                        Psams 67: 5,6; 68:19

            7.            Its blessing.
                        The joy of Jesus.
                        Psalms 86: 4-12; 96: 1-


Wednesday, October 8, 2014

How to Respond When You are Bound Acts 16: 24, 25


click to Read the passage: Acts 16  (a new browser window will open)


                (Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison,
and made their feet fast in the stocks.)
(And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the 
prisoners heard them.)

1. Hold onto your fellowship.

2. Follow your faith.
(And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed,)

3. Trust in your heavenly Father.
(prayed)

4. Let praise flow.
(praises)

5. Rejoice in your fate.
(and sang praises)

6. Thank God for His favor.
(praises)

7. Believe in God’s faithfulness.
(unto God:)








Saturday, October 4, 2014

The Only Hindrance to Great Works Matthew 14: 29-33


click to Read the passage: Matthew 14  (a new browser window will open)



V 29 1) Response begun as a prompting of God's spirit but fading into a response to 
man's senses.
(and He said, come.)

v 30 2) Trust eroded by fear of circumstances.
( ... he was afraid.)

v 30 3) Eyes of faith and reverence becoming eyes of physical report. 
(But when they saw the wind boisterous, .•• and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord,
save me.)
Losing a firm grip on the object of faith.

v 31 4) Allowing doubt to take a hold.
 (Why didst thou doubt?)

v 32 5) Lack of total dependency upon the powerful Christ.
(and when they were came into the boat, the wind ceased.)

v 33 6) Weak worship.
(Then they that were in the boat came and worshipped Him.)

v 33 7) Forgetting the report and presence of truth.
 (Of a truth, thou art the Son of God.)

Wednesday, October 1, 2014

The Paradox Acts 16: 24-34


click to Read the passage: Acts 16  (a new browser window will open)


v.24 1. The one with the keys was bound, the ones locked up were free.
(who having received such a charge …)

v.25 2. The one with the better surroundings had no joy, the ones with miserable 
                circumstances had no reason to complain.
(Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises unto God;)
v.25, 3. The one who was sleeping had no rest, the ones who were awake were 
  27 resting.
(And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises unto God;) (And the\
                keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep …)

v.26 4. Man’s hands were tied, God’s was not.
(and suddenly there was a great earthquake.)
The earthquake only revealed the presence of true freedom.

v.27 5. The one supposedly free had the fear, the ones supposedly locked up had
the peace.
(and would have killed himself)

v.30 6. The one with the questions had no answers, the ones with the answers
had no question.
(Sirs, what must I do to be saved?)

v.34 7. The ones with the faith were accepted, the ones with the positions 
were excluded.
  (…and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.)
The magistrates were without salvation.