Blog Archives

"THE DONKEY'S TALE"

3/28/2021

Matthew 21:1-11

The irony of the donkey
1. God uses the humble things of the world to confound the wise.
2. Christ's reign was one of peace and humility, not of power and might.

The use of the donkey
1. Palm Sunday- a capsulized version of the purpose for Christ coming to earth.

2. The donkey was a popular animal for riding.
Jesus promises to ease the journey for us if we ask Him to.

3. Donkeys were useful for bearing burdens.
I Peter 5:7 “ Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.”

4. Donkeys would be yoked together to pull the plows and also to trample the seed.
Our Christian lives need to be cultivated.

5. The donkey was an instrument of revelation. (Balaam)
What God wants to say to us, He said through Jesus.

6. The donkey was a source of judgment. (Samson)
Jesus is the One who will ultimately judge.

"FOUR STEPS TO DEATH"

3/21/2021

James 1:12-16

The upward scale (Romans 5)
5. reward
4. hope
3. character
2. perseverance
1. suffering

The downward scale (James 1)
1. think sin
2. want sin
3. do sin
4. pay for sin

The first temptation is to think that God tempts us.

1. Satan can make us “think” sin because it always comes very natural to us.
“II Corinthians 10:5 “...... take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

2. Lust is crossing the line between thinking sin and wanting sin.
The new nature does not enjoy sinning.

3. Jesus conquered death's power over us, but that didn't change the power of sin.

4. We pay for our sins in lots of ways.

Often your choices begin with a trial you are going through.

You can have victory over sin because Christ has won the victory for you!

"IN TIMES OF DROUGHT"

3/14/2021

I Kings 17:7-16

God can meet your need, not your greed.
1. Leave your comfort zone.
Too many times, we've become passive with our pain.

2. Let go of your fear.
Remember 3 things
a. God knows where you are.
b. God knows where you're going.
c. God has prepared a place.

3. Look for God's provision.
Many times, He provides for us in ways we'd never imagine.

4. Lose your pride.
God makes sure that both the give and the receiver eventually switch positions.

5. Lend what you have left to God.
God requires us to take action so we can participate by our steps of faith in the solution to our own problems.
The widow of Zerephath and the boy with the lunch
1. They both gave what they had.
2. They both gave all they had.

What we want God to do for us, He waits to do through us.

"THE POWER OF A GOOD DECISION"

3/7/2021

Matthew 13:31-35

Principle of God's abundance: He can do a lot with a little.
The smallest decision can make a BIG difference in your life.
Pre-destination does not mean that everything is mapped out for us.

1. Experiencing God's abundance begins with a right decision.
Farmer: began with the decision to plant the mustard seed

2. Once you've made the decision, you must nurture the decision.
Farmer: had to water the plant, make sure it took root, was not choked out by weeds
Decisions require follow-up. Yeast must be worked into the dough. (33)
It is much better to do the right thing, even if it is painful, than to do the wrong thing, thinking you will avoid pain.

3. It may take months or even years to see the results of your decision.
Farmer: knew there was a period of time in which the seed would develop and grow into a plant.
For most of the problems we have, there are no easy cures and no quick fixes.