Sunday, September 26, 2010

09-26-10 PM - Living in Proper Fear



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1 Peter 1:17-21

1 Cor. 10:13
For no temptation (no trial regarded as enticing to sin), [no matter how it comes or where it leads] has overtaken you and laid hold on you that is not common to man [that is, no temptation or trial has come to you that is beyond human resistance and that is not adjusted and adapted and belonging to human experience, and such as man can bear].
But God is faithful [to His Word and to His compassionate nature], and He [can be trusted] not to let you be tempted and tried and assayed beyond your ability and strength of resistance and power to endure, but with the temptation He will [always] also provide the way out (the means of escape to a landing place), that you may be capable and strong and powerful to bear up under it patiently.

fear to mean – reverence, or awe, or respect.

And we will only truly worship and serve God if we properly learn to reverence Him.

17 And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:

1Peter 2:11
Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;

The world teaches that all these things the silver, the Gold, the corruptible things are all worth living for.

1Kings 22:52
And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the way of his father, and in the way of his mother, and in the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin:

Ephesians 2:2-5
Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)


17 And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:
18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,
.21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.

He alone was able to raise up and glorify Christ.
1. Which means if He was able to do that for Christ we have hope that we will also be raised on that day.
2. He will also glorify us as well.

John 6:40
And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
1 Cor. 15:1-4
1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
2 Cor. 4:14
Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.

Eph. 1:19-20
And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,

09-26-10 AM - Leaving a Lasting Legacy



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1)There is no success without a successor -

1 Kings 19:19-21

2 Kings 2:1-15

A)Lessons from Elijah

-Elijah didn't wait until the day he was to leave before he called or trained Elisha.

-Elijah didn't know at the time he called Elisha that he would one day be whisked away in a fiery chariot. He had the end in sight from the beginning. THAT is a Kingdom mentality!

-The difference in being a man or woman of the Kingdom is do you guard yourself from building YOUR kingdom?

-If Elijah was all about what HE accomplished, he never would've consented to giving Elisha a double portion of his anointing. He would've said something like “I worked hard for this anointing – go get your own.” That would've been terrible...but how often do we hold back from those who would look to us to pass on a blessing?

-One of two monuments can be left to represent your life.

-After you're gone, your life can be defined by a statue that sums up your accomplishments, or it can be     carried on in the lives of those you've influenced. The difference being that a statue is merely an idol made in the image of who you thought you were, and the lives of those influenced is a living testimony of who you really were.

While I was at Youth Advance with our teens on Labor Day weekend, I penned this following paragraph in my journal:

“The true sign or mark of a leader is NOT in how far they traveled or how many accolades they've acquired! The true sign is found in the fact that they were able to bring others with them on the journey!”

B)Lessons from Elisha

-The anointing didn't happen by accident

-Elisha chose to serve Elijah. To follow him. To find someone to whom he could look up to, learn from, and some day be like!

-We have to choose and chase the ones we want to be influenced by. If we wait for them to come to us, regret will be our only teacher, and bitterness will be our only anointing.

2)In a world void of role models, choose to be a spiritual father-

1 Cor. 4:15
1 Cor. 4:17
1 Tim. 1:2
1 Tim. 1:18
2 Tim. 1:2
Php. 2:22
1 Tim. 6:11
1 Tim. 6:20

-It was evident that Paul wanted people to know that Timothy was his son. He was PROUD to call Timothy his son.

-But we also know that Paul wasn't simply doing this for show. Paul poured into Timothy's life – he took him along on the journey!

A)Lessons from Paul

-Be the kind of father Paul was

-1 Cor. 4:15 he says, “Even though you have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many     fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel.”

Quick Word Study

-The word guardian in Greek is paidagogos which means “a tutor i.e. a guardian and guide of boys. Among the Greeks and the Romans the name was applied to a trustworthy slave who was charged with the duty of supervising the life and morals of boys belonging to the higher class. The boys were not allowed so much as to step out of the house without them before arriving at the age of manhood. (almost like a fancy babysitter)

-The first time father is mentioned in the verse, it is the Greek word pater, which is a progenitor, a father, a male ancestor. The one who gives the seed to make the child.

-The second time father is mentioned is in reference to Paul, and it is not the same word as pater. It is, in fact, gennao (sounds like generation, huh?). It means to begat, bear, bring forth, to father.

So this verse could be adequately read this way, as we understand the verbiage Paul is using, “Even though you have ten thousand guardians/tutors/babysitters in Christ, you do not have many fathers, progenitors, men who have given you life or seeded you, for in Christ Jesus I became your father, the one who brought you forth, the one who actually fathered you through the gospel.”

-What does this have to do with being a father in the same vein as Paul? Simple

– don't just guardian or tutor or babysit those God gives you as spiritual sons. Be a father, and not just one that seeds them and leaves them

– be a father who brings your sons forth, nurtures them, and really fathers them.

-Pour into and invest in the lives of your spiritual sons!

-See how Paul fathered Timothy? 1 Tim. 6:11, 20

B)Lessons from Timothy

-Be worthy sons!

-“Timothy has proven himself”; “my son whom I     love...who is faithful”

-Live so your spiritual fathers can be say of you “you     served well – you are valuable to me”
-Lead by following

-Like Timothy, you cannot lead until you learn to follow.     You cannot come INTO authority until you can learn to come UNDER authority.

Remember – “The true sign or mark of a leader is NOT in how far they traveled or how many accolades they've acquired! The true sign is found in the fact that they were able to bring others with them on the journey!”

3)Set others up to be more successful than you are-

Want to end today by talking about Jesus and His disciples.

John 14:12
John 17:9, 15-19

Jesus' words were ones of lasting legacy. His heart and goal was for the disciples to do greater things than He had accomplished on this earth.

Look at His final words to the disciples in Acts 1:8 to see that this truly was His heart.

Acts 1:8

Where? Jesus was here to primarily reach the Jewish people. The disciples? They would be Jesus' witnesses EVERYWHERE!!!

Live a live that puts your spiritual sons in a position to accomplish more than you ever could have accomplished. And do this – speak that to them! Jesus let them know – I WANT you to do more than I did.

Sunday, September 19, 2010

09-19-10 PM - Pittsburgh City Outreach Testimonies, Pt. 2



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There are no sermon notes available.

09-19-10 AM - Pittsburgh City Outreach Testimonies



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There are no sermon notes available.

Sunday, September 12, 2010

09-12-10 PM - Rat Racers vs. Chariot Chasers



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Acts 8:26-39

What will move us from mundane motion to intentional Holy Spirit Living?

The answer to both questions is obedience.

09-12-10 AM - Using My Influence, Pt. 2



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III. I must maximize my influence.

“God, use me as an influence for You and for good in this world.” 

Ephesians 5:16(NLT) “Make the most of every opportunity for doing good in these evil days.”    That means maximize it. 

Col 4:5(LB) “Make the most of your chances to tell unbelievers the good news.  Be wise in all your contacts with them.” 

 When you use it wisely, God gives you more. 

“I’m just an ordinary person.”

2 Cor. 10:13-16(ESV) “The area of influence that God has assigned to us is to reach you.  Now our hope is that as your faith increases our area of influence may be greatly enlarged so that we may preach the gospel in lands beyond you.”

Philippians 1:21 Paul says “For me living means opportunities for Christ.  And dying, that’s better yet.” 

Sunday, September 05, 2010

09-05-10 AM - The Stewardship of My Life: Using My Influence



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What is influence? 

Let me tell you what it’s not. 
It’s not fame. 
It’s also not wealth.

Cambridge Dictionary definition:
 “It is the power to affect how someone develops, acts, or thinks.” 


Matthew 5:16 (CEV).  Jesus is talking. 
“Let your light shine so that others will see the good that you do and will praise your Father in heaven.” 

 Mt. 5:13 (TEV)“You are like salt for the whole human race.”  Why does God want us to be the salt of the earth?

Because salt does a couple things: it seasons or improves taste, and it preserves. 

Jeremiah 15:19 (NLT), “You are to influence them.  Do not let them influence you.”

“I don’t want you to be a thermometer

I want you to be a thermostat

The Bible says you do three things.

I.  I must recognize my influence.

Who do I influence?” - Everybody you come in contact with. 

everybody you come in contact with you have the potential for influence. 

WHAT KIND of an influence are you? 

How are YOU influencing others? 

Galatians 6:4 (Msg) says “Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given.  Then sink yourself into that.” 

Exodus 4:2 (NIV) “Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘What is in your hand?’  ‘ A staff,’ he replied. ” 

THE PROBLEM: We have the tendency to be conscious of the talents and gifts we DON’T have – not what we have.


II. I must exercise my influence

Five Levels of Influence.

1.  By smiling at people.

Proverbs 15:30(NIV) “A cheerful look brings joy to the heart.” 

2.  By sympathizing with people

2 Corinthians 1:4 (NCV) says “God comforts us so that when others have trouble we can comfort them with the same comfort that God gives us.” 

3.  By serving people.

1 Corinthians 9:19(Msg)“Even though I’m free of the expectations of everyone I have voluntarily become a servant to any and all in order to reach a wide range of people.” 

Mt 20:26 (CEV) “If you want to be great, you must be the servant of all the others.” 

You can IMPRESS people from a distance but you can only INFLUENCE them up close.  

synergistic relationship.[the total result is greater than the sum of the individual parts.] 

4.  By speaking.

Ps107:2(KJV) “Let the redeemed of the Lord say so.” 

Edmund Burke once said, “The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.” 

2 Tim. 4:2 (CEV) “…preach God's message. Do it willingly, even if it isn't the popular thing to do. You must correct people and point out their sins. But also cheer them up, and when you instruct them, always be patient.”

Ephes. 4:15 (NIV) “…speaking the truth in love…”  

Proverbs 31:8-9(TEV) “Speak up for people who cannot speak for themselves.  Protect the rights of all who are helpless.  Speak for them and protect the rights of the poor and needy.”

5.  By sacrificing.

Hebrews 9:14(CEV) “Jesus Christ was sinless.  Yet He offered Himself as an eternal and spiritual sacrifice to God.  That’s why His blood is much more powerful and makes our conscious clear.  Now we can serve the living God and no longer do things that lead to death.” 

1 John 3:16 (Msg) “This is how we've come to understand and experience love: Christ sacrificed his life for us. This is why we ought to live sacrificially for our fellow believers, and not just be out for ourselves.”

Great sacrifice equals great influence. 

Philippians 2:17(GW), “My life is being poured out as part of the sacrifice and service that I offer to God for your faith.  And yet I am filled with joy.” 

If you want great influence you’ve got to make great sacrifices. 

Heb. 13:16(GW)“Don’t forget to do good things for others and to share what you have with them. These are the kinds of sacrifices that please God.” 

Smiling, sympathizing, serving, speaking up and sacrificing.