Heritage Church Podcast
WHEN THE ODDS ARE AGAINST YOU Part 5: “How to Hear the Voice of God” David Bamberry – January 31, 2016 2 Chronicles 20:1-30 Jehovah Nissi = "I am the God who defends you." STEP 1: TURN TO GOD ________FIRST____________ "After this, the armies of the Moabites, Ammonites, and the Meunites declared war on Jehoshaphat... He was afraid, so he decided to ask the Lord what to do." 2 Chron. 20:1,3 (NLT/NCV) STEP 2: TALK TO GOD_____ABOUT YOUR SITUATION____________________ “Then King Jehoshaphat went and stood before them and prayed aloud..." 2 Chron. 20:5b (GN) • REMIND MYSELF ___________WHO GOD IS_________ "Are You not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in Your hand, and no one can withstand You." vs. 6 (NIV) • REMIND MYSELF _________________________________________ "Didn't You drive out those who lived in this land when Your people arrived?" vs. 7 (NLT) • ASK GOD ___FOR HELP NOW_______ "O God, won't You stop them?" vs. 12 a (NLT) STEP 3: TELL GOD _________EXACTLY HOW YOU FEEL________ "We are powerless against this mighty army that is about to attack us." 2 Chron. 20:12b (NLT) STEP 4: TRUST GOD______________TO HELP ME____________ "We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon You." 2 Chron. 20:12c (NIV) GOD'S RESPONSE: "This is what the Lord says to you: 'Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God's!'" 2 Chron. 20:15 (NIV) "You won't need to fight in this battle. Just stand strong in your places, and you will see the Lord save you." 2 Chron. 20:17 (NCV) STEP 5: THANK GOD _______IN ADVANCE_______ "The king appointed singers to walk ahead of the army, singing to the Lord and praising Him... This is what they sang: 'Give thanks to the Lord for His faithful love endures forever!'" 2 Chron. 20:21 (NLT) "At the moment they began to sing and to praise, the Lord caused the armies of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir to begin fighting among themselves, and they destroyed each other!" 2 Chron. 20:22 (LB) "When the surrounding kingdoms heard that the Lord Himself had fought against the enemies of Israel, the fear of God came over them. So Jehoshaphat's kingdom was at peace, for God had given him rest on every side." 2 Chron. 20:29-30 (NLT)
LEARNING TO TRUST GOD David Bamberry – January 24, 2016 “My God will supply all that you need from His glorious resources in Christ Jesus.” Phil 4:19 (Ph) The Condition: “According to your faith will it be done to you.” Matt. 9:29 (NIV) How We Learn It: “These trials are only to test your faith, to show that it is strong and pure.” 1 Peter 1:7 (NLT) FOUR LIFE TESTS 1. THE ________PRESSURE__________ TEST: HOW WILL I ________ HANDLE STRESS_____? “I want you to trust Me in your times of trouble, so I can rescue you and you can give Me glory.” Ps. 50:15 (LB) “My people have done two evils: They have turned away from me, the spring of living water. And they’ve dug their own wells, which are broken wells that cannot hold water.” Jer. 2:13 (NCV) 2. THE _______________PEOPLE_____________ TEST: HOW WILL I ___DEAL WITH DISAPPOINTMENT________ ? “You should stop trusting in people to save you, because people are only human.” Isa. 2:22 (NCV) “Blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made Him their hope and confidence.” Jer. 17:7 (NLT) “Anyone who trusts in Me will not be disappointed.” Isa. 49:23b (NCV) 3. THE ____________PERSISTENCE___________ TEST: WILL I ___KEEP MY COMMITMENTS______ ? “If you make a promise to God, don’t be slow to keep it. God is not happy with fools, so give God what you promised.” Eccl. 5:4 (LB) “The wise man will find a time and a way to do what he says.” Eccl. 8:5 (LB) 4. THE _________PRIORITIES_____________TEST: WHAT WILL BE ___FIRST IN MY LIFE_______ ? “Your heavenly Father already knows all your needs, and He will give you all you need from day to day if you live for Him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern.” Matt. 6:33 (NLT)
The Path to Personal Peace David Bamberry – January 17, 2016 Jehovah Shalom = “I am the God of Peace” 3 SOURCES OF TENSION: When circumstances are...Uncontrollable When people are...Unchangeable When problems are...Unexplainable “I am leaving you with a gift – peace of mind and heart! And the peace I give isn’t fragile like the peace the world gives. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” John 14:27 (LB) THE PATH TO PERSONAL PEACE 1. ACCEPT WHAT CAN'T BE CHANGES “I have learned to be satisfied with the things I have and with everything that happens. I know how to live when I am poor, and I know how to live when I have plenty. I have learned the secret of being happy at anytime in everything that happens … I can do all things through Christ, because He gives me strength.” Phil 4: 11-13 (NCV) THE SERENITY PRAYER “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.” 2. TRUST IN GOD'S LOVING CARE “You, Lord, give true peace to those who depend on You because they trust You.” Isa. 26:3 (NCV) “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and don’t lean on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.” Pr. 3:5-6 (NIV) “Don’t worry about anything; instead pray about everything; tell God your needs and don’t forget to thank Him for His answers. If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand.” Phil. 4:6-7 (LB) 3. SURRENDER TO GOD'S LOVING DIRECTION “If a person’s thinking is controlled by his sinful self, then there is death. But if his thinking is controlled by the Spirit, then there is life and peace.” Rom. 8:6 (ICB) “Those who love your teaching will find true peace, and nothing will defeat them.” Ps. 119:165 (NCV) “Since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.” Rom. 5:1 (NLT)
HOW TO WORSHIP THE SAVIOR Personalities of Christmas — The Magi Pastor David Bamberry —December 06, 2015 1. Start With a Sincere Desire Magi from the east came to Jerusalem… Matthew 2:1 Tell God that you want the strength, hope, and comfort that only his presence can bring. 2. Develop an Expectant Spirit Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him. Mat. 2:2 As you begin a time of worship, tell Jesus that you expect to meet him there! 3. Choose to Express Joy When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. Mat. 2:10 Thank God specifically for the things that bring joy into your life. 4. Decide to Humble Yourself On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Mat. 2:11a Take a moment to take in the fact that you are in the presence of the greatness of God. 5. Plan to Give Gifts Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. Mat. 2:11b What gift do you want to give Jesus this Christmas? 6. End With an Obedient Response And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route. Mat. 2:12 Is there something that God prompted you to do as you worshipped?But you are the ones chosen by God… to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you. 1 Peter 2:9 (MSG) Who could you invite to Christmas Eve services starting this weekend?
Heritage Church – Pastor David Bamberry November 15, 2015 DARING TO PLANT IN FAITH—Pt 6 A “SEED” IS ANYTHING VALUABLE THAT I GIVE AWAY IN ORDER TO HELP SOMEBODY ELSE 1. I’M NOT THE ONLY SOWER “I sent you to reap where you didn’t plant; others had already done work before you, and you will gather the harvest.” John 4:38 2. I ALWAYS REAP IN A DIFFERENT SEASON THAN I SOW “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven. . . A time to plant and a time to harvest. . . a time to scatter and a time to gather. . .” Ecclesiastes 3:1-5 3. I MUST BE PATIENT AND NOT GIVE UP “Let us not get tired of doing what is right, for after a while we WILL reap a harvest of blessing IF we don’t get discouraged and give up.” Galatians 6:9 (LB) 4. I ALWAYS REAP MORE THAN I SOW “Some seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, multiplying thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times.” Mark 4:8 5. I INCREASE MY HARVEST BY PLANTING MORE SEED “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will reap generously. Each one should give what he’s decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 “The world of the generous gets larger and larger; the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller.” Proverb 11:24 (Mes) 6. THE MORE SEED I PLANT THE MORE GOD WILL GIVE ME “For God, who supplies seed to the farmer and bread to eat, will give you more and more seed to plant and will make it grow so that you can give away more and more fruit from your harvest.” 2 Corinthians 9:10 (LB) 7. I PLANT BY FAITH, NOT BY MY FEELINGS “Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy. They weep as they go to plant their seed, BUT they sing as they return with the harvest.” Psalm 126:5-6 (NLT) 8. THE BEST TIME TO PLANT IS NOW “Those who wait for perfect weather will never plant seeds; and those who look at every cloud will never reap a harvest.” Ecclesiastes 11:4
DARING TO PLANT IN FAITH Daring Faith: The Key To Miracles – Part 5 Pastor David Bamberry —November 8, 2015 God: “As long as the earth endures, there will be seed time and harvest. . .” Genesis 8:22 (NIV) “Don’t be misled: No one makes a fool of God. Whatever a person plants, he WILL harvest.” Galatians 6:7a (Mes) GOD’S LAWS OF PLANTING AND HARVESTING 1. EVERYTHING STARTS AS A SEED God said, “Let the land have seed-bearing plants and trees that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their varieties.” Genesis 1:11 A “SEED” IS ANYTHING VALUABLE THAT I GIVE AWAY IN ORDER TO HELP SOMEBODY ELSE 2. NOTHING HAPPENS UNTIL THE SEED IS PLANTED Jesus said, “Unless a grain of wheat is buried in the ground, it cannot reproduce. But if it dies, it will produce much fruit.” John 12:24 Jesus said, “The kingdom of God is like someone who plants seed in the ground. Night and day, whether the person is asleep or awake, the seed still grows, but the person does not know how it grows.” Mark 4:26-27 (NCV) 3. WHEN I HAVE A NEED I SHOULD PLANT A SEED “Do your planting in the morning and in the evening, too! You never know whether it will all grow well or whether one planting will do better than the other.” Ecclesiastes 11:6 (TEV) 4. WHATEVER I PLANT IS WHAT I WILL REAP “You will reap exactly what you plant.” Galatians 6:7b (TEV) “The person who plants selfishness, ignoring the needs of others, and ignoring God, harvests a crop of weeds. That’s all he’ll have to show for his life! BUT the one who plants in response to God, letting God’s Spirit do the growth work in him, harvests a crop of real life, eternal life!” Galatians 6:7b-8 (Mes) 5. I’M NOT THE ONLY SOWER “I sent you to reap where you didn’t plant; others had already done work before you, and you will gather the harvest.” John 4:38 6. I ALWAYS REAP IN A DIFFERENT SEASON THAN I SOW “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven. . . A time to plant and a time to harvest. . . a time to scatter and a time to gather. . .” Ecclesiastes 3:1-5 7. I MUST BE PATIENT AND NOT GIVE UP “Let us not get tired of doing what is right, for after a while we WILL reap a harvest of blessing IF we don’t get discouraged and give up.” Galatians 6:9 (LB) 8. I ALWAYS REAP MORE THAN I SOW “Some seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, multiplying thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times.” Mark 4:8 9. I INCREASE MY HARVEST BY PLANTING MORE SEED “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will reap generously. Each one should give what he’s decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 “The world of the generous gets larger and larger; the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller.” Proverb 11:24 (Mes) 10. THE MORE SEED I PLANT THE MORE GOD WILL GIVE ME “For God, who supplies seed to the farmer and bread to eat, will give you more and more seed to plant and will make it grow so that you can give away more and more fruit from your harvest.” 2 Corinthians 9:10 (LB) 11. I PLANT BY FAITH, NOT BY MY FEELINGS “Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy. They weep as they go to plant their seed, BUT they sing as they return with the harvest.” Psalm 126:5-6 (NLT) 12. THE BEST TIME TO PLANT IS NOW “Those who wait for perfect weather will never plant seeds; and those who look at every cloud will never reap a harvest.” Ecclesiastes 11:4
DARING TO GIVE GOD MY BEST Daring Faith: The Key To Miracles – Part 4 Pastor David Bamberry —November 1, 2015 “DO YOUR BEST to improve your faith. You can do this by adding goodness, understanding, self-control, patience, devotion to God, concern for others, and love. If you keep growing in this way, it will show that . . . Christ has made your lives useful and meaningful.” 2 Peter 1:5-8 (CEV) “Honor God with everything you own; give him the first and the BEST part of everything. If you do this, your barns will fill with grain and your barrels will overflow with wine.” Proverbs 3:9-10 HOW DO I GIVE MY BEST TO GOD? 2 Timothy 2:3-7 – A Soldier, An Athlete, A Farmer “Endure hardship with us like a GOOD SOLDIER of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets tied up in civilian affairs—he wants to please his commanding officer. Similarly, if anyone competes as AN ATHLETE, he does not receive the victor’s crown unless he competes according to the rules. And the HARDWORKING FARMER should be the first to receive a share of the crops. Think about these three illustrations, and the Lord will help you to understand how they apply to you.” 2 Timothy 2:3-7 (NIV/LB) Lessons from the military — Like an effective soldier, I must… 1. I must define What I'd die for “The greatest love is shown when a person lays down his life for his friends.” John 15:13 (LB) 2. I must sacrifice my comfort. “Live a life of sacrificial love just like Christ loved us and gave himself as an offering and sacrifice for us.” Ephesians 5:2 3. I must eliminate distractions. Lessons From Sports 1. I must intend to win. 2. I must discipline myself. 3. I must stay focused on the reward. Lessons From Farming To reap a great harvest I must plant generously in faith 2 Promises Of Jesus: Luke 6:38 & Mark 10:29-31 The Soldier saves lives...The athlete wins the prize...The farmer’s harvest is a larger size (more than enough)
Heritage Church — Pastor David Bamberry October 25, 2015 Daring Faith: The Key To Miracles Part 4 — Daring To Imagine 3 Categories in the Bible Some things we shouldn’t imagine Some things we can’t imagine Some things we should imagine 1. My imagination Shapes My Life “ . . . For as a man thinks in his heart, so he is.” Proverbs 23:7 (KJV) “Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts.” Proverbs 4:23 (TEV) God’s warning about Babel: The Lord said, “Now that they are one people speaking one language, this is only the beginning of what they will do. Now nothing they have IMAGINED they can do will be impossible for them!” Genesis 11:6 (Amp) 2. Imagining is essential to living by faith “What is faith? It is the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen. It is the evidence of things we cannot yet see.” Hebrews 11:1 (NLT) “We set our eyes not on what we see but on what we cannot see. What we see will last only a short time, but what we cannot see will last forever.” 2 Corinthians4:18 (NCV) 3. Great lives are build around great dreams “May God enlighten the eyes of your mind so that you can see the hope that his calling holds for you.” Ephesians 1:18 (NJB) “Where there is no vision, the people perish . . .” Proverbs 29:18 (KJV) 4. God’s dream for my life is bigger than my dream “God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever IM AGINE or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by his Spirit working deeply and gently within us.” Ephesians 3:20 (Mes) Let the size of my God, determine the size of my goals 5. Doubt is the enemy of imagination “If you need wisdom, just ask God for it, because He is generous and enjoys giving to everyone. But when you ask God, you must believe in faith and not doubt. For a doubtful mind is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is driven back and forth, and tossed about by the wind. Such doubters cannot decide about anything they do, so they should not imagine receiving anything from the Lord.” James 1:5-7 “The man said, ‘Please heal my son if you can.’ Jesus replied, ‘What do you mean, “If I can?” Anything is possible IF a person believes.’ The father replied, ‘I do believe, but help me not to doubt!’” Mark 9:22-24 (NLT) 6. God’s Spirit and God’s Word fuel my imagination “I will ask the Father, and he will give you another helper who will be with you forever. That helper is the Spirit of Truth . . . you know him because he lives with you and will be IN you!”John 14:16-17 (GW) “Open my eyes to see the wonderful truths in your law . . . Help me understand the meaning of your commandments, and I will meditate on your wonderful miracles.” Psalm 119:18, 27 (NLT) THE KEY: A DAILY QUIET TIME “The Sovereign Lord has given me his words of wisdom, so I know what to say to all these weary ones. Morning by morning he wakens me and opens my understanding to his will.”Isaiah 50:4 (NLT) 7. Growing my character will clarify my vision “To your faith, add goodness; and to your goodness, add knowledge; and to your knowledge, add self-control; and to your self-control, add patience; and to your patience, add service for God; and to your service for God, add kindness for your brothers and sisters in Christ; and to this kindness, add love for everyone. IF all these things are in you and are growing, they will help you to BE USEFUL AND PRODUCTIVE in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But anyone who does not have these things CANNOT SEE CLEARLY.” 2 Peter 1:5-9 (NCV) 8. If a dream is from God, it will be connected somehow to His' Church and Plan for the World “If you try to keep your life for yourself, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will find twill find true life.” Matthew 6:25 God is looking for people who are tired of small thinking with self centered dreams!
Heritage Church – Pastor David Bamberry October 18, 2015 HOW FAITH IN JESUS TURNS A LITTLE INTO A LOT Mark 6:34-44 – The Miracle of Feeding the 5,000 1. ADMIT ________I have an unsolvable problem____________ “When Jesus . . . saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them . . . so he began teaching them. By this time it was late in the day, so his disciples came and said, ‘This is a remote place. Send the people away so they can go and buy something to eat.’ But Jesus answered, ‘You give them something to eat!’ They said, ‘That would take eight months of a man’s wages!’” Mark 6:34-37a (NIV) 2. GIVE GOD ___________what little I already have___________ “‘How many loaves do you have?’ Jesus asked. ‘Go and see.’ When they found out, they said, ‘Five small loaves of bread and two fish.’" Mark 6:38 (NIV) “Jesus asked this only to test them, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.” John 6:6 (NIV) 3. PUT IT ALL ____in the hands of Jesus___________ “Jesus took the five loaves and the two fish . . . He blessed the food and broke the loaves and He kept giving them to the disciples to set before the people . . .” Mark 6:41 (NASB) The boy gave what he had . . . willingly, cheerfully, & immediately. 4. EXPECT GOD _________________to multiply it___________ “Everyone ate and had enough. Afterwards they collected 12 baskets full of . . . leftovers!” Mark 6:42-43 (Ph) “All things are possible with God.” Mark 10:27 (NIV) Jesus: “A kernel of wheat must be given away and planted in the soil. Unless it dies and is buried, it will remain a single seed. But its death will produce many more seeds and a great harvest!” John 12:24
Daring Faith: Key to Miracles Part 1: What Happens When You Have Faith A. Faith is: Seeing From God's Point of View B. What Happens When We see with Eyes of Fear 1. We exaggerate our difficulties 2. We underestimate our own abilities 3. We get discouraged 4. We start to gripe about all or our lives 5. we eventually give up and blame God C. What Happens When We See With Eyes of Faith 1. Faith shrinks my problems 3. Faith opens the door for a miracle 3. Faith moves God to work on my behalf 4. Faith unlocks all the promises of God 5. Faith turns God-given drams into reality 6. Faith gives me the power to hang on in tough times
Heritage Church — October 4, 2015 Pastor David Bamberry Trusting God in Difficult Times — Pt. 4 When the Unthinkable Happens Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.” No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. Romans 8:35-37 NLT 1. For Many People, When the Unthinkable Happens They… a. Walk Away From God b. Blame God for all Their Troubles c. Begin to Unravel Jesus said, “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust in me. John 14:1 NCV 2. God Never promised a perfect Life but did Promise… a. He would go through it with us b. We would have the last victory c. We could be unshakable · I can’t change it · I’m not going to worry about it · I’m going to go to prayer about it · I’m going to trust God...to handle it for me So you see, the Lord knows how to rescue godly people from their trials, even while keeping the wicked under punishment until the day of final judgment. 2 Peter 2:9 NLT Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. Romans 12:12 NLT I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 NLT
Planting churches in Eastern Europe Living in Budapest, Hungary
Heritage Church — September 20, 2015 Pastor David Bamberry Trusting God in Difficult Times — Pt. 3 When You Don’t Feel Like Trusting Trust in Him at all times, you people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah Psalms 62:8 NLT 1. Remember That Trust is not an ___Emotion__ Jesus said, “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust in me. John 14:1 NCV 2. Set Your Heart On _____God’s Love For You______ Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. Ephesians 3:17-18 NLT 3. Set Your Mind On _What Will Last_________ Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Colossians 3:1 NLT 4. Don’t Face It __________Alone_______________ Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7 NLT a. Trust When You’re ________Anxious_________ b. Trust When You’re ______Afraid__________ c. Trust When You’re ____Stubborn_________ d. Trust When You’re ______Tired________
Heritage Church — September 13, 2015 Pastor David Bamberry Trusting God Through Trouble — Pt 2 Five Ways to Cooperate With God in Order to Turn Your Trouble Around I trust in God, so why should I be afraid? What can mere mortals do to me? Psalms 56:11 NLT For we walk by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7 NKJV We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 NLT 1. FEED on the Word of God It is the water, milk, bread, and meat of the spiritual life. Feed yourself daily. 2. Pray for the Rain of the HOLY SPIRIT It softens the ground in your heart and quench your thirsty soul. 3. Pull the WEEDS Get rid of anything that entangles you and trips you up, or chokes the life of Christ in you (worries, un-forgiveness, bitterness, envy, and etc.) 4. Guard Against BUGS Those things that steal your joy, rob your energy, or deplete your resources (habits and behaviors, poor choices, unhealthy relationships, and etc.) 5. Prepare for a HARVEST “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9 NIV
Heritage Church — September 6, 2015 Pastor David Bamberry Trusting God in Difficult Times — Pt 1 1. LOOK for God in the Change “If you look for me in earnest, you will find me when you seek me.” Jeremiah 29:13 NLT 2. Ask God For WISDOM “If you need wisdom — if you want to know what God wants you to do—ask Him, and he will gladly tell you. He will not resent your asking.” James 1:5 NLT 3. Listen for God’s WHISPER “Go out and stand before me on the mountain,” the Lord told him. And as Elijah stood there, the Lord passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And a voice said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 1 Kings 19:11-13 NLT 4. Don’t Ask Why, But What Do I NEED TO LEARN Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. 1 Thes. 5:18 NLT 5. Focus on What NEVER CHANGES The grass withers and the flowers fade, but the word of our God stands forever.” Isa. 40:8 NLT 6. Don’t Face it Alone. ACCEPT Help From Others Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. Ecc. 4:9 NLT 7. Become a PROMISE Person And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. Philippians 1:6 NLT 8. Tell God You Will Trust Him NO MATTER WHAT
Heritage Church — August 30, 2015 Dr. Ouida Walsh “Doing Life Together — Why I Love My Church” Week 6: God Will Take You From Loser to Leader Judges 6-7 Gideon’s life is a classic example of how God prepares us to be used in a significant way. God used a four-step process to transform Gideon from a loser into a leader Three Characteristics 1: God’s Affirmation: He will encourage me. (6:11-16) Gideon’s Reaction (vs. 13 & 15) God’s Response (vs. 14 & 16) 2: God’s Revelation: He will meet me. (6:17-24) Gideon met God...at the Alter...a symbol of Personal Commitment 3: Gideon’s Confrontation: God wil test me. (6:25-32) 3 Ways God May Test You... A. Spiritually (vs. 25-26) B. Emotionally (vs. 27) C. Physically (vs. 28-30) 4: Gideon's Transformation: God will empower me. (vs. 34) For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. Philippians 2:13 Gideon was transformed from a loser into a leader: Judges 6:35-7:25 Don’t limit what God wants to do in your life!
Heritage Church - August 12. 2015 Pastor David Bamberry "Doing Life Together - Why I Lone My Church" Week 5: What Sets You Above the Crowd Prayer of Jabez - 1 Chronicles 4:9 - 10 NLT There was a man named Jabez who was more honorable than any of his brothers. His mother named him Jabez[d] because his birth had been so painful. 10 He was the one who prayed to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and expand my territory! Please be with me in all that I do, and keep me from all trouble and pain!” And God granted him his request. 1. You need an AMBITION! "...enlarge my territory!" A. We confuse ABILITY for FEAR. B. We confuse CONTENTMENT for LAZINESS. C. We confuse LITTLE THINKING for SPIRITUALITY. 2. You need a GROWING FAITH! Jabez - ordinary yet above average! 3. You need a GENUINE PRAYER LIFE! Jabez Prayed... A. He prayed for GOD'S POWER in his life. "Bless me..." B. He prayed for GOD'S PRESENCE in his life. "Bless me..." C. He prayed for GOD'S PROTECTION in his life. "Keep me from harm so I will be free from pain"
Week 3: How Real Believers Handle Difficult Situations Life Of Abraham —Hebrews 11: 8-19 NLT So Abraham is the spiritual father of those who have faith ... They are counted as righteous because of their faith. Romans 4:11 NLT And Abram believed the Lord, and the Lord counted him as righteous because of his faith. Genesis 15:6 NLT Four Tests Abraham Passed Test 1: The Test of a Major CHANGE A real believer will follow God’s leading without knowing WHERE... Test 2: The Test of a DELAYED Promise A real believer will wait for God’s timing without knowing WHEN... Test 3: The Test of an Impossible PROBLEM A real believer will expect a miracle without knowing HOW... Test 4: The Test of a Truly Unfathomable SITUATION A real believer will trust God’s purpose without knowing WHY… And we know that God causes everything to work together[a] for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. Romans 8:28 NLT
Four Reasons God Used Noah Reason 1: Noah Was Available ... So the Lord was sorry he had ever made them...But Noah found favor with the Lord. Genesis 6:5-8 Reason 2: God Uses People Who Dare to be Different Noah was a righteous man, the only blameless person living on earth at the time, and he walked in close fellowship with God. Genesis 6:9 NLT Reason 3: God Uses People Who Follow Him Completely So Noah did everything exactly as God had commanded him. Genesis 6:22 NLT Reason 4: God Uses People Who Never Give Up The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. 2 Chronicles 16:9 NLT
Question 1: Who am I? (Verse 24) Answer: Be YOURSELF. Question 2: What are my choices? (Verse 25) Answer: Accept RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR OWN LIFE. Question 3: What is really important? (Verse 26) Answer: Establish a VALUE SYSTEM for your life - Moses decided three things... A. Moses decided that God's purpose is more valuable than POPULARITY. B. Moses decided that people are more valuable than PLEASURES. C. Moses decided that peace is more valuable than POSSESSIONS. Question 4: What are my goals? (Verse 27) Answer: Never TAKE YOUR EYES off the goal.
Four Common Types of Complainers 1. The "Whiner": David - Psalm 73:11 2. The "Martyr": Moses - Numbers 11:11 - 15 3. The "Cynic": Solomon - Ecclesiastes 1:2 - 9 4. The "Perfectionist": Solomon - Ecclesiastes 1:2 - 4 How Do You Conquer Complaining? 1. Admit it is a PROBLEM - Proverbs 28:13 2. Accept RESPONSIBILITY for my own life - Proverbs 19:3 3. Develop the ATTITUDE of gratitude - 1 Thessalonians 5:18 4. Look for God's HAND in circumstances - 2 Corinthians 4:17 5. Practice speaking POSITIVELY - Ephesians 4:29
1. Be Grateful for the good in people. 2. Practice positive praying. A. Pray that they will grow in love. B. Pray that they will make wise choices. C. Pray that they will do the right thing. 3. Be patient with their progress. 4. Love people from the heart.
WHAT KEEPS US FROM TAKING A RISK ON PEOPLE? 1. FEAR keeps us from taking a risk. 2. DOUBT keeps us from taking risk. 3. CYNICISM keeps us from taking a risk. HOW WE CAN BE A BARNABAS FOR OTHERS 1. Take the TIME to hear their story. 2. Verify the FACTS. 3. TRUST in God's power.
1. Saul's encounter with Christ gave him a new life mission. 2. Saul's encounter with Christ changed his character. 3. Saul's encounter with Christ affected his relationship. 4. Saul's encounter with Christ made him willing to suffer for the sake of his faith. 5. Saul's encounter with Christ caused him to ground his faith in the truth of scripture, not just personal experience.
Heritage Church Podcast
A beautiful woman uses her lips for truth, her voice for kindness, her ears for compassion, her hands for charity, her heart for love. For those who don't her, she uses prayer.
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