A person who is enthusiastic on keeping the two greatest commandment
Deuteronomy 11:13: So if you faithfully obey the commands I am giving you today- to love the Lord your God and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.
Matthew 22:39: And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.
will have these characteristics:)
S - Sow the seed into new believers
H - Harvest the field of new believers treated like young infants
A - Assimilate them
R - Recruit them into the kingdom of God
E - Expand the kingdom of God =)
**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Teaching
These commands are a lamp,
this teaching is a light,
and the corrections of discipline
are the way of life.
-Proverbs 6:23-
**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**
this teaching is a light,
and the corrections of discipline
are the way of life.
-Proverbs 6:23-
**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
The Right Path
Teach me your way, O Lord;
lead me in a straight path
-Psalm 27:11-
**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**
lead me in a straight path
-Psalm 27:11-
**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**
Monday, October 25, 2010
You Rock!
O Lord, since you are my rock and my fortress,
for the sake of your name
lead and guide me.
-Psalm 31:3-
**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**
for the sake of your name
lead and guide me.
-Psalm 31:3-
**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Status Update
Sunday 24th September 2010
Mark Broadbent
*So many people go to church with a shopping list in hand
*Many that are persecuted don't come with a shopping list but they come to have a need to be united
*It is not about what you like or don't like about the church but to celebrate what God has done
*Nehemiah 8:1: When the seventh month came and the Israelites had settled in their towns, all the people assembled as one man in the square to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded for Israel.
*Nehemiah 8:3: He read it aloud from daybreak till noon as he faced the square before the Water Gate in the presence of the men, women and others who could understand. And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law.
*Nehemiah 8:9-10: Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to them all, "This day is sacred to the Lord your God. Do not mourn or weep."For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law. Nehemiah said, "Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength."
"Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength"
*God change the heart of the King and gave him the resources to rebuild the walls
*They realize God has been at their shelf. They were mourning for sin while they listened to the word of God
*They knew it was a special day. God ordained that day as the celebration of trumpets
*Leviticus 23:23-24: The Lord said to Moses, "Say to the Israelites; 'On the first day of the seventh month you are to have a day of rest, a sacred assembly commemorated with trumpet blasts.
*We have time to mourn but also a time to celebrate
*We should practice the celebration of discipline
*The best thing is that God asks us to do something without expecting anything highly of us and He doesn't just tell us to do something and leave us to do it, He goes together with us!:D
**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**
Mark Broadbent
*So many people go to church with a shopping list in hand
*Many that are persecuted don't come with a shopping list but they come to have a need to be united
*It is not about what you like or don't like about the church but to celebrate what God has done
*Nehemiah 8:1: When the seventh month came and the Israelites had settled in their towns, all the people assembled as one man in the square to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded for Israel.
*Nehemiah 8:3: He read it aloud from daybreak till noon as he faced the square before the Water Gate in the presence of the men, women and others who could understand. And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law.
*Nehemiah 8:9-10: Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to them all, "This day is sacred to the Lord your God. Do not mourn or weep."For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law. Nehemiah said, "Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength."
"Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength"
*God change the heart of the King and gave him the resources to rebuild the walls
*They realize God has been at their shelf. They were mourning for sin while they listened to the word of God
*They knew it was a special day. God ordained that day as the celebration of trumpets
*Leviticus 23:23-24: The Lord said to Moses, "Say to the Israelites; 'On the first day of the seventh month you are to have a day of rest, a sacred assembly commemorated with trumpet blasts.
*We have time to mourn but also a time to celebrate
*We should practice the celebration of discipline
*The best thing is that God asks us to do something without expecting anything highly of us and He doesn't just tell us to do something and leave us to do it, He goes together with us!:D
**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Words of Wisdom
If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.
-1 Peter 4:11-
**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**
-1 Peter 4:11-
**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**
Friday, October 22, 2010
Children of God
This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother.
-1 John 3:10-
**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**
-1 John 3:10-
**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**
Habakkuk Chapter 3
John Sweetman
17th October 2010
1. He Prays
*Habakkuk 3:1-2
A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet. On shigionoth.
Lord, I have heard of your fame;
I stand in awe of your deeds, O Lord.
Renew them in our day,
in our time make them known;
in wrath remember mercy.
*When God doesn't answer, we stop praying but Habakkuk didn't
*When kids are having struggles, mom's would care much about it. It is the same with God
*God cares for you more deeply in these times
*Thats why we need to continue praying because He is nearer than you can even imagine
*We all have problems but God is there
2. He remembers
*Habakkuk 3:3-8:
God came from Teman,
the Holy One from Mount Paran.
His glory covered the heavens
and his praise filled the earth
His splendor was like the sunrise;
rays flashed from his hand,
where his power was hidden.
Plague went before him;
pestilence followed his steps.
He stood, and shook the earth;
he looked, and made the nations tremble.
The ancient mountains crumbled
and the age-old hills collapsed.
His ways are eternal. I saw the tents of Cushan in distress,
the dwellings of Midian in anguish.
Were you angry with the rivers, O Lord?
Was your wrath against the streams?
Did you rage against the sea
when you rode with your horses
and your victorious chariots?
*Israel slaves of Egypt --> Passover --> took over Canaan
*Habakkuk 3:9-14
You uncovered your bow,
you called for many arrows.
You split the earth with rivers;
the mountains saw you and writhed.
Torrents of water swept by;
the deep roared
and lifted its waves on high.
Sun and moon stood still in the heavens
at the glint of your flying arrows,
at the lightning of your flashing spear.
In wrath you strode through the earth
and in anger you threshed the nations.
You came out to deliver your people,
to save your anointed one,
You crushed the leader of the land of wickedness,
you stripped him from head to foot.
With his own spear you pierced his head
when his warriors stormed out to scatter us,
gloating as though about to devour
the wretched who were in hiding.
*Memory is very important
*Some people commit suicide because they are trap in the present and finds no way
*Habakkuk remembered the past events.
Remembering
a. In your own life
*When you're struggling and no answer is given, remember in your history what God has done for you whether in big or small ways.
b. In the lives of others
*Encouraging what God does in the lives of others
eg: videos
c. In scripture
*Refer back to the bible because it tells how God worked
*We participate in communion to remember what Jesus has done
1. He died on the cross- this assures us that Jesus loves us
2. Resurrection - No power could stop him. We have hope to be saved
3. He rejoices
*Habakkuk 3:17-18:
Through the fig tree does not bud
and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
and no cattle in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
I will be joyful in God my Savior.
*Habakkuk is looking ahead when they take over Babylon, how terrible it would be when everything wipes out but "he will still be joyful in God his Saviour"
*As we pray and talk to Jesus, we can trust Jesus that He will bring us through
*Anxiety in relationships, family rejecting Jesus, bored of jobs. Habakkuk felt God should do other things better as well.
*Habakkuk 3:19:
The Sovereign Lord is my strength;
he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
he enables me to go on the heights.
For the director of music. On my stringed instruments.
*There is nothing wrong getting disappointed but in the middle remember, pray and rejoice so that we could dance with the deers:)
**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**
17th October 2010
1. He Prays
*Habakkuk 3:1-2
A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet. On shigionoth.
Lord, I have heard of your fame;
I stand in awe of your deeds, O Lord.
Renew them in our day,
in our time make them known;
in wrath remember mercy.
*When God doesn't answer, we stop praying but Habakkuk didn't
*When kids are having struggles, mom's would care much about it. It is the same with God
*God cares for you more deeply in these times
*Thats why we need to continue praying because He is nearer than you can even imagine
*We all have problems but God is there
2. He remembers
*Habakkuk 3:3-8:
God came from Teman,
the Holy One from Mount Paran.
His glory covered the heavens
and his praise filled the earth
His splendor was like the sunrise;
rays flashed from his hand,
where his power was hidden.
Plague went before him;
pestilence followed his steps.
He stood, and shook the earth;
he looked, and made the nations tremble.
The ancient mountains crumbled
and the age-old hills collapsed.
His ways are eternal. I saw the tents of Cushan in distress,
the dwellings of Midian in anguish.
Were you angry with the rivers, O Lord?
Was your wrath against the streams?
Did you rage against the sea
when you rode with your horses
and your victorious chariots?
*Israel slaves of Egypt --> Passover --> took over Canaan
*Habakkuk 3:9-14
You uncovered your bow,
you called for many arrows.
You split the earth with rivers;
the mountains saw you and writhed.
Torrents of water swept by;
the deep roared
and lifted its waves on high.
Sun and moon stood still in the heavens
at the glint of your flying arrows,
at the lightning of your flashing spear.
In wrath you strode through the earth
and in anger you threshed the nations.
You came out to deliver your people,
to save your anointed one,
You crushed the leader of the land of wickedness,
you stripped him from head to foot.
With his own spear you pierced his head
when his warriors stormed out to scatter us,
gloating as though about to devour
the wretched who were in hiding.
*Memory is very important
*Some people commit suicide because they are trap in the present and finds no way
*Habakkuk remembered the past events.
Remembering
a. In your own life
*When you're struggling and no answer is given, remember in your history what God has done for you whether in big or small ways.
b. In the lives of others
*Encouraging what God does in the lives of others
eg: videos
c. In scripture
*Refer back to the bible because it tells how God worked
*We participate in communion to remember what Jesus has done
1. He died on the cross- this assures us that Jesus loves us
2. Resurrection - No power could stop him. We have hope to be saved
3. He rejoices
*Habakkuk 3:17-18:
Through the fig tree does not bud
and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
and no cattle in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
I will be joyful in God my Savior.
*Habakkuk is looking ahead when they take over Babylon, how terrible it would be when everything wipes out but "he will still be joyful in God his Saviour"
*As we pray and talk to Jesus, we can trust Jesus that He will bring us through
*Anxiety in relationships, family rejecting Jesus, bored of jobs. Habakkuk felt God should do other things better as well.
*Habakkuk 3:19:
The Sovereign Lord is my strength;
he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
he enables me to go on the heights.
For the director of music. On my stringed instruments.
*There is nothing wrong getting disappointed but in the middle remember, pray and rejoice so that we could dance with the deers:)
**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Habakkuk Chapter 2
Sunday 10th October 2010
Dan Harding
When God lets you down
*Habakkuk 1:1-4
The oracle that Habakkuk the prophet received.
How long, O Lord, must I call for help,
but you do not listen?
Or cry out to you, "Violence!"
but you do not save?
Why do you make me look at injustice?
Why do you tolerate wrong?
Destruction and violence are before me;
there is strife, and conflict abounds.
Therefore the law is paralyzed,
and justice never prevails.
The wicked hem in the righteous,
so that justice is perverted.
*Habakkuk 1:5-7
Look at the nations and watch
and be utterly amazed.
For I am going to do something in your days
that you would not believe,
even if you were told.
I am raising up the Babylonians,
that ruthless and impetuous people,
who sweep across the whole earth
to seize dwelling places not their own.
They are a feared and dreaded people;
they are a law to themselves
and promote their own honor.
*The Good=Habakkuk
*The Bad/Ugly= Babylonians
*Are you really who you are?
*Habakkuk 2:1
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 to this complaint.
*He ask God "What's going on?"
*Habakkuk is far from resolve
*He will decide what He think he hears. He is not sure if God is a good God
*It is the same feeling that some of us has
*Habakkuk 2:2-3
Then the Lord replied:
"Write down the revelation
and make it plain on tablets
so that a herald may run with it.
For the revelation awaits an appointed time;
it speaks of the end
and will not prove false,
Though it linger, wait for it;
it will certainly come and will not delay.
*If you feel God is abandoning you and He ask you to wait, what would you react?
*Habakkuk claims he's the good guy and ask God something but instead, he is suppose to wait
*The key verse for Habakkuk's story is
Habakkuk 2:4
"See, he is puffed up;
his desires are not upright
but the righteous will live by his faith-
*The righteous is accepted by God
*Habakkuk sees the bad, good and ugly but God sees the pride in one's own righteousness and faith in his mercy
*People in relationships or jobs have a sense of entitlement. They think they deserve more than what their going through but God says otherwise
*You will either think you are so good that you do not deserve this or you are so unworthy that God does not need to help you
"If you believe that God ought to bless you and help you because you have worked so hard to obey him and be a good person, then Jesus may be your helper, your example, even your inspiration but God is not your Saviour but you are your own Saviour"
-Tim Keller-
*Daniel 9:4-5
I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed:
"O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with all who love him and obey his commands, we have sinned and done wrong. We have been wicked and have rebelled; we have turned away from your commands and laws.
*Daniel 9:17-19
"Now, our God, hear the prayers and petitions of your servant. For your sake, O Lord, look with favor on your desolate sanctuary. Give eat, O God, and hear; open your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears your Name. We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy. O Lord, listen! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, hear and act! For your sake, O my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name."
The Difference
My Righteousness
-Faithful
-Obedient
-'Pure'
God's mercy
-Gracious
-Long suffering
-Compassionate
*God explains that it is not that Habakkuk is good but that God is merciful
*We cannot checklist or to do good to be in God's family
*We have to be born into the family
*The only way to be accepted by God is to be trusting in his mercy
*Galatians 3:10-13 (quoted by Habakkuk 2:4)
All who rely on observing he law are under a curse, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of he Law." Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, "The righteous will live by faith." The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, "The man who does these things will live by them." Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written:"Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree."
*Christ takes the punishment for us and that is the only way we can be accepted
*Many people get this wrong
**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**
Dan Harding
When God lets you down
*Habakkuk 1:1-4
The oracle that Habakkuk the prophet received.
How long, O Lord, must I call for help,
but you do not listen?
Or cry out to you, "Violence!"
but you do not save?
Why do you make me look at injustice?
Why do you tolerate wrong?
Destruction and violence are before me;
there is strife, and conflict abounds.
Therefore the law is paralyzed,
and justice never prevails.
The wicked hem in the righteous,
so that justice is perverted.
*Habakkuk 1:5-7
Look at the nations and watch
and be utterly amazed.
For I am going to do something in your days
that you would not believe,
even if you were told.
I am raising up the Babylonians,
that ruthless and impetuous people,
who sweep across the whole earth
to seize dwelling places not their own.
They are a feared and dreaded people;
they are a law to themselves
and promote their own honor.
*The Good=Habakkuk
*The Bad/Ugly= Babylonians
*Are you really who you are?
*Habakkuk 2:1
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 to this complaint.
*He ask God "What's going on?"
*Habakkuk is far from resolve
*He will decide what He think he hears. He is not sure if God is a good God
*It is the same feeling that some of us has
*Habakkuk 2:2-3
Then the Lord replied:
"Write down the revelation
and make it plain on tablets
so that a herald may run with it.
For the revelation awaits an appointed time;
it speaks of the end
and will not prove false,
Though it linger, wait for it;
it will certainly come and will not delay.
*If you feel God is abandoning you and He ask you to wait, what would you react?
*Habakkuk claims he's the good guy and ask God something but instead, he is suppose to wait
*The key verse for Habakkuk's story is
Habakkuk 2:4
"See, he is puffed up;
his desires are not upright
but the righteous will live by his faith-
*The righteous is accepted by God
*Habakkuk sees the bad, good and ugly but God sees the pride in one's own righteousness and faith in his mercy
*People in relationships or jobs have a sense of entitlement. They think they deserve more than what their going through but God says otherwise
*You will either think you are so good that you do not deserve this or you are so unworthy that God does not need to help you
"If you believe that God ought to bless you and help you because you have worked so hard to obey him and be a good person, then Jesus may be your helper, your example, even your inspiration but God is not your Saviour but you are your own Saviour"
-Tim Keller-
*Daniel 9:4-5
I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed:
"O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with all who love him and obey his commands, we have sinned and done wrong. We have been wicked and have rebelled; we have turned away from your commands and laws.
*Daniel 9:17-19
"Now, our God, hear the prayers and petitions of your servant. For your sake, O Lord, look with favor on your desolate sanctuary. Give eat, O God, and hear; open your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears your Name. We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy. O Lord, listen! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, hear and act! For your sake, O my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name."
The Difference
My Righteousness
-Faithful
-Obedient
-'Pure'
God's mercy
-Gracious
-Long suffering
-Compassionate
*God explains that it is not that Habakkuk is good but that God is merciful
*We cannot checklist or to do good to be in God's family
*We have to be born into the family
*The only way to be accepted by God is to be trusting in his mercy
*Galatians 3:10-13 (quoted by Habakkuk 2:4)
All who rely on observing he law are under a curse, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of he Law." Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, "The righteous will live by faith." The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, "The man who does these things will live by them." Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written:"Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree."
*Christ takes the punishment for us and that is the only way we can be accepted
*Many people get this wrong
**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**
Peace
Great peace have they who love God's law,
and nothing can make them stumble.
-Psalm 119:165-
**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**
and nothing can make them stumble.
-Psalm 119:165-
**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Hopeless?
Though things may seem hopeless, "God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful"
-1 Corinthians 1:9-
No trial is so great that God cannot deliver us. No pain is so great that he does not bring us comfort. And no situation is ever without God's presence: "Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand"
-Isaiah 41:10-
**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**
-1 Corinthians 1:9-
No trial is so great that God cannot deliver us. No pain is so great that he does not bring us comfort. And no situation is ever without God's presence: "Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand"
-Isaiah 41:10-
**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
S.O.S
For I am the Lord, your God.
who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear;
I will help you.
-Isaiah 41:13-
**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**
who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear;
I will help you.
-Isaiah 41:13-
**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Habakkuk Chapter 1
Mark Broadbent
3 October 2010
*There are times we have been disappointed with God
*No matter how much work you put in, you do not get the grades you want
*Some of us pray so much for the person to be healed but no miracle comes and that person leaves earth
*You feel God has let you down
*Some of us want to be married and thought he/she was the one but it did not work out
*Habakkuk 1:1-4:
The oracle that Habakkuk the prophet received
How long, O Lord, must I call for help,
but you do not listen?
Or cry out to you, "Violence!"
but you do not save?
Why do you make me look at injustice?
Why do you tolerate wrong?
Destruction and violence are before me;
there is strife, and conflict abounds.
Therefore the law is paralyzed,
and justice never prevails.
The wicked hem in the righteous,
so that justice is perverted.
*About a guy brutally honest with how he feels
*He is crying out on behalf of others about violence, death
*There is story after story crying out for personal needs but not this story
*Habakkuk 1:5
"Look at the nations and watch-
and be utterly amazed.
For I am going got do something in your days
that you would not believe,
even if you were told.
*He has waited for an answer but now he is getting exited because God answered him
*Habakkuk 1:6
I am raising up the Babylonians,
that ruthless and impetuous people,
who sweep across the whole earth
to seize dwelling places not their own.
*This is not the answer Habakkuk was expecting
*God said that there are more violent people around and He will ask them to wipe all the violence and injustice Habakkuk was crying about
What do you do when God does not answer what you want?
*We might be spiritually exhausted and walk away
*Why should we hang in there when we got every reason to walk out?
1. The Coke Machine
*Sometimes you get 'fanta' instead of 'coke' or even worse, nothing
*It does not matter how frustrated, confused, inconsistent you are by the coke machine. The coke machine is the only thing that can give you coke
*We should ask God to be the God of your life
*When we hang on, we would get an answer that is confusing but he is the only one that can give you an answer
*You would never see God working in your life if you run away from him
2. Loving Father
*God is way better than a coke machine
*He is personal, he knows your heart and every problem in your life
*Luke 11:11-13:
"Which is you father, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? if you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven five the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"
*Your heavenly father is way better than any earthly Father around
*God is always consistent and personal in our lives
3. My Place in God's Story
*Romans 8:28: And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
*God will put all the devastating and evil things and leverage it for our own good
*He uses our own evil, broken lives and transform them and find place in His Story to fulfill his purposes like redeeming people
*For people struggling with singleness, when we are single, we can focus better on God
*When we are married, we have to focus on both spouse and God
"Following God is about trading a starring role in a tiny story for any role in the biggest, most incredible story of all time"
-Louie Giglio-
*No matter how disappointing you can be, He will use our story to be involve in a bigger story of His
*Joseph forgave his brothers because he knew God intended this to happen for his own good and purpose.
*Satan is doing everything he can to make you give up
*So never give up!
**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**
3 October 2010
*There are times we have been disappointed with God
*No matter how much work you put in, you do not get the grades you want
*Some of us pray so much for the person to be healed but no miracle comes and that person leaves earth
*You feel God has let you down
*Some of us want to be married and thought he/she was the one but it did not work out
*Habakkuk 1:1-4:
The oracle that Habakkuk the prophet received
How long, O Lord, must I call for help,
but you do not listen?
Or cry out to you, "Violence!"
but you do not save?
Why do you make me look at injustice?
Why do you tolerate wrong?
Destruction and violence are before me;
there is strife, and conflict abounds.
Therefore the law is paralyzed,
and justice never prevails.
The wicked hem in the righteous,
so that justice is perverted.
*About a guy brutally honest with how he feels
*He is crying out on behalf of others about violence, death
*There is story after story crying out for personal needs but not this story
*Habakkuk 1:5
"Look at the nations and watch-
and be utterly amazed.
For I am going got do something in your days
that you would not believe,
even if you were told.
*He has waited for an answer but now he is getting exited because God answered him
*Habakkuk 1:6
I am raising up the Babylonians,
that ruthless and impetuous people,
who sweep across the whole earth
to seize dwelling places not their own.
*This is not the answer Habakkuk was expecting
*God said that there are more violent people around and He will ask them to wipe all the violence and injustice Habakkuk was crying about
What do you do when God does not answer what you want?
*We might be spiritually exhausted and walk away
*Why should we hang in there when we got every reason to walk out?
1. The Coke Machine
*Sometimes you get 'fanta' instead of 'coke' or even worse, nothing
*It does not matter how frustrated, confused, inconsistent you are by the coke machine. The coke machine is the only thing that can give you coke
*We should ask God to be the God of your life
*When we hang on, we would get an answer that is confusing but he is the only one that can give you an answer
*You would never see God working in your life if you run away from him
2. Loving Father
*God is way better than a coke machine
*He is personal, he knows your heart and every problem in your life
*Luke 11:11-13:
"Which is you father, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? if you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven five the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"
*Your heavenly father is way better than any earthly Father around
*God is always consistent and personal in our lives
3. My Place in God's Story
*Romans 8:28: And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
*God will put all the devastating and evil things and leverage it for our own good
*He uses our own evil, broken lives and transform them and find place in His Story to fulfill his purposes like redeeming people
*For people struggling with singleness, when we are single, we can focus better on God
*When we are married, we have to focus on both spouse and God
"Following God is about trading a starring role in a tiny story for any role in the biggest, most incredible story of all time"
-Louie Giglio-
*No matter how disappointing you can be, He will use our story to be involve in a bigger story of His
*Joseph forgave his brothers because he knew God intended this to happen for his own good and purpose.
*Satan is doing everything he can to make you give up
*So never give up!
**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**
Death
For none of us lives to himself alone and none of us dies to himself alone. If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So. whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.
-Romans 14:7-8-
**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**
-Romans 14:7-8-
**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**
Saturday, October 2, 2010
We can do a part!
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.
-2 Corinthians 1:3-4-
**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**
-2 Corinthians 1:3-4-
**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**
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