Pt. Dave Kenney
Christmas Weekend
Galatians 4:1-7 (MSG)
v.4 But when the time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. Gal 4:4-5 (NIV).
1. Not my Timing, but God's Timing
"...in the fullness of time..."
"... just the right time..."
"... when the time arrived that was set by God the Father..."
No matter what I see going on around me, God is still in control.
Moses - between the sea and army.
God took their outer control and showed He is still under control [story about apostle Paul]
Who is greater : Jesus or King Herod?
2. Not my Ability, but God's Enabling
Luke 1:13-18 (MSG)
v.8 Do you expect me to believe this?
Luke 1:30-38 (NIV)
v.38 "I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered.
What God wants from us is obedience and willingness and He takes care of the rest.
And Mary said, "Behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it unto me according to Thy word. And the angel departed from her. Luke 1:38 (KJV)
Mary accepted God's plan, even she knows it doesn't make sense.
Zachariah rejected what God told him, coz he has no ability. He looks at his own weakness.
God only wants us to OBEY.
3. Not my Plan, but GOd's Plan.
Matt 1:18-25 (MSG)
Joseph:
bitterly felt betrayed.
Actually he has 2 option : publicly divorced Mary meaning humiliate her, OR do it quietly so people won't question.
Him, being a gentlemen, planned to do it quitely. But then God interfere. And he OBEYED.
No matter what is happening in your life, you need to live to please God.
Joseph's dream was totally shattered, the moment Mary "betrayed" him.
But he did the right thing, no matter what.
God still wants you to obey HIM.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Who We Are, Where We Are Going
Pt. Dave Kenney
Eph. 4:1-16
ONE
We have a calling - God has a purpose for everyone's life, but we have a calling together..
It is to be His Body - His representative..
It is fulfilled in and through Love for one another
TWO
Each has a unique and special gift - God has a role for everyone to be played.
You need to take a chance to discover your uniqueness.
THREE
Equippers :
pastor - to train, motivate, encourage
teacher
evangelist
These people aren't the ones who's supposed to be reaching out.
Ministers
FOUR
Result - because the love of Christ, you need to go and reach out.
Impact
Take Three Steps
Step One : Love God
Step Two : Love Others - each other, that's how we start to reach out.
Step Three : Reach the World
Jesus replied, "You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: Love your neighbor as yourself. The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments." Matthew 22:37-40 (NLT)
Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirt. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Matthew 28:19-20 (NLT)
Eph. 4:1-16
ONE
We have a calling - God has a purpose for everyone's life, but we have a calling together..
It is to be His Body - His representative..
It is fulfilled in and through Love for one another
TWO
Each has a unique and special gift - God has a role for everyone to be played.
You need to take a chance to discover your uniqueness.
THREE
Equippers :
pastor - to train, motivate, encourage
teacher
evangelist
These people aren't the ones who's supposed to be reaching out.
Ministers
FOUR
Result - because the love of Christ, you need to go and reach out.
Impact
Take Three Steps
Step One : Love God
Step Two : Love Others - each other, that's how we start to reach out.
Step Three : Reach the World
Jesus replied, "You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: Love your neighbor as yourself. The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments." Matthew 22:37-40 (NLT)
Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirt. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Matthew 28:19-20 (NLT)
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Receiving Guidance From God
Pt. Dave Kenney
Week 1 : How to Hear God Speak
Week 2 : How God Talks to You
Why is it so important to really hear to God speak? There are three reasons:
Week 3 : How to Recognize God's Voice
WEEK 4 : RECEIVING GUIDANCE FROM GOD
I will stand at my watch
and station myself on the ramparts;
I will look to see what He will say to me,
and what answer I am to give this complaint.
Then the Lord replied:
"Write down the revelation
and make it plain on tablets
so that a herald may run with it. Habakkuk 2:1-2
1. BACKGROUND : HABAKKUK, PROPHET TO JUDAH
He's a minor prophet also asked "Why there is injustice things happened?" -We aren't the first to ask that.
a. "How long, Lord?" Habakkuk's first prayer.
b. God's Answer - bring Babylonia to wiped the Israelites
c. "How can You use them, Lord?" Habakkuk's second prayer - them : wicked people, worse enemy
d. Waiting for God's answer
e. God's second answer - don't worry. I'll destroyed them for their wickedness. God will use them first to fulfilled His purpose.
f. "I will rejoice in the God of my salvation" Habakkuk's third prayer.
Habakkuk saw injustice occurring in Judah and cried out to God for an answer. We cry out to cry in the midst of crisis, in the midst of sickness, in the times when we can't go on in our own strength. God hears the cries of His people, and responds to them. Example : The nation of Israel in slavery in Egypt (Exodus 3); Jehoshaphat when Moab and Ammon invaded Israel (2 Chronicles 20); Peter's deliverance from jail (Acts 12); Paul and Silas in prison (Acts 16)
2. HOW TO REQUEST GUIDANCE?
a. I must realize that God cares about the details of our lives - most of us only asked for the really BIG questions.
Matt 6:31-32
Sometimes we don't ask Him, coz we thought He don't care about the details.
b. I must ask a specific question
James 4: 2b "You do not have, because you do not ask God."
c. I must believe He wants to answer
James 1:5-6
3. FIVE STEPS TO RECEIVING GUIDANCE
While Habakkuk was waiting for God's answer - Hab 2:1-2
a. W ith draw
"I will climb my watchtower"
watchtower: someone getting away from everything.
This is Suzanna Wesley's watchtower : in the rocking chair, under the apron.
b. W ait - be patient, coz God's time line isn't ours. His plans aren't ready yet.
"I will station myself" - hurry is the death of prayer
c. W atch - take a look around you, how God works, what He had for you.
"I will look to see what He says to me"
d. W rite - we need to remember it.
"Write down clearly what I reveal to you."
e. W orship
Habakkuk wasn't happy with what God said, but still worshiping Him for being Him.
"I will rejoice in the God of my salvation"
4. WHAT IF THERE IS NO ANSWER
a. Sometimes God let's us choose - Go and choose whatever. He will be with you anyway. The critical thing is your relationship with God.
b. Make sure you evaluate your choice.
c. Make a decision based on confidence, not on fear.
"...whatever decision your making, Am gonna make it work it out..." [God]
He's not sitting up there just watching and doing nothing
Week 1 : How to Hear God Speak
- Cultivate an open mind
- Allocate time to listen
- Eliminate distractions
- Cooperate with what God says
Week 2 : How God Talks to You
- God speaks through the Bible
- God speaks to us through gifted teachers
- God speaks through impressions
- God speaks through pain
Why is it so important to really hear to God speak? There are three reasons:
- It assures me that I'm in God's family.
- It protects me from mistakes.
- It is the secret of a productive life, listening to God on a moment by moment basis.
Week 3 : How to Recognize God's Voice
- Does it agree with the Bible?
- Does it make me more like Christ?
- Does my church family confirm it?
- Is it consistent with how God has shaped me?
- Does it concern my responsibility?
- Do I sense God's peace about it?
WEEK 4 : RECEIVING GUIDANCE FROM GOD
I will stand at my watch
and station myself on the ramparts;
I will look to see what He will say to me,
and what answer I am to give this complaint.
Then the Lord replied:
"Write down the revelation
and make it plain on tablets
so that a herald may run with it. Habakkuk 2:1-2
1. BACKGROUND : HABAKKUK, PROPHET TO JUDAH
He's a minor prophet also asked "Why there is injustice things happened?" -We aren't the first to ask that.
a. "How long, Lord?" Habakkuk's first prayer.
b. God's Answer - bring Babylonia to wiped the Israelites
c. "How can You use them, Lord?" Habakkuk's second prayer - them : wicked people, worse enemy
d. Waiting for God's answer
e. God's second answer - don't worry. I'll destroyed them for their wickedness. God will use them first to fulfilled His purpose.
f. "I will rejoice in the God of my salvation" Habakkuk's third prayer.
Habakkuk saw injustice occurring in Judah and cried out to God for an answer. We cry out to cry in the midst of crisis, in the midst of sickness, in the times when we can't go on in our own strength. God hears the cries of His people, and responds to them. Example : The nation of Israel in slavery in Egypt (Exodus 3); Jehoshaphat when Moab and Ammon invaded Israel (2 Chronicles 20); Peter's deliverance from jail (Acts 12); Paul and Silas in prison (Acts 16)
2. HOW TO REQUEST GUIDANCE?
a. I must realize that God cares about the details of our lives - most of us only asked for the really BIG questions.
Matt 6:31-32
Sometimes we don't ask Him, coz we thought He don't care about the details.
b. I must ask a specific question
James 4: 2b "You do not have, because you do not ask God."
c. I must believe He wants to answer
James 1:5-6
3. FIVE STEPS TO RECEIVING GUIDANCE
While Habakkuk was waiting for God's answer - Hab 2:1-2
a. W ith draw
"I will climb my watchtower"
watchtower: someone getting away from everything.
This is Suzanna Wesley's watchtower : in the rocking chair, under the apron.
b. W ait - be patient, coz God's time line isn't ours. His plans aren't ready yet.
"I will station myself" - hurry is the death of prayer
c. W atch - take a look around you, how God works, what He had for you.
"I will look to see what He says to me"
d. W rite - we need to remember it.
"Write down clearly what I reveal to you."
e. W orship
Habakkuk wasn't happy with what God said, but still worshiping Him for being Him.
"I will rejoice in the God of my salvation"
4. WHAT IF THERE IS NO ANSWER
a. Sometimes God let's us choose - Go and choose whatever. He will be with you anyway. The critical thing is your relationship with God.
b. Make sure you evaluate your choice.
*is it biblical?
*does it make me more like Christ?
*does it make me more like Christ?
c. Make a decision based on confidence, not on fear.
"God, who loved us enough to send His Son to die for us, will walk with you
no matter what you decide." Pastor Dave Kenney
"...whatever decision your making, Am gonna make it work it out..." [God]
He's not sitting up there just watching and doing nothing
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