Boldly Persevering by God's Spirit

“Boldly Persevering Through the Spirit”
Haggai 2:1-9

1 On the twenty-first of the seventh month, the word of the Lord came by Haggai the prophet saying, 2 "Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to the remnant of the people saying, 3 'Who is left among you who saw this temple in its former glory? And how do you see it now? Does it not seem to you like nothing in comparison? 4 'But now take courage, Zerubbabel,' declares the Lord, 'take courage also, Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and all you people of the land take courage,' declares the Lord, 'and work; for I am with you,' declares the Lord of hosts. 5 'As for the covenant which I made you when you came out of Egypt, My Spirit is abiding in your midst; do not fear!' 6 "For thus says the Lord of hosts, 'Once more in a little while, I am going to shake the heavens and the earth, the sea also and the dry land. 7 'I will shake all the nations; and they will come with the wealth of all nations, and I will fill this house with glory,' says the Lord of hosts. 8 'The silver is Mine and the gold is Mine,' declares the Lord of hosts. 9 'The latter glory of this house will be greater than the former,' says the Lord of hosts, 'and in this place I will give peace,' declares the Lord of hosts."

Proposition: Church, it is time for us to bodly perservere by God’s Holy Spirit.
TE: Haggai’s prophecy gives us three clear instructions to make us a changing presence in this world.

I. Do not be discouraged.

A. We are so easily discouraged.

B. Discouragement keeps us from acheiving God desires.

II. Don’t be afraid.

A. God remembers His covenant and stands to His ancient promises.
The Apostle writes, “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, and love, and discipline.

B. The Spirit of God remains with us.
As the Spirit writes to the church in Sardis “Wake UP!” Wake up for I will come like a thief in the night!

C. God will go before us.

D. God will provide.

III. Live by faith.

A. Be strong.

B. Live righteously.
"Behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be."
"Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord."

Conclusion: Zech 4:6 “Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' says the Lord of hosts.” Church, we need to boldly persevere by God’s Spirit.

False Prophets

Here are the videos from the sermon: "My What Big Teeth You Have!"

Here is Pat Robertson making a false prophecy for 2007



Here is a conversation between Robert Schueller and Billy Graham gladly saying that anyone can be part of the Body of Christ, even if they never heard of Jesus or know His name.



Again Billy Graham denying Jesus is the only way to the Father.



Here is Joel Osteen refusing even to say that Athiest will not go to heaven. Look how he tries to dodge the issue.



Lastly, here is disgusting huckster and false prophet John Hagee denying Jesus is the Messiah trying to sell his latest Zionist book. It will probably be a best seller.



Finally, listen to the recent clip from the TV show ER. The world is looking for truthful answers that God has given in His Word. Will you stand up and tell them the truth or will you equivocate?

Forgiveness and the Cross, January 13, 2008 am

“Forgiveness and the Cross”
Colossians 1:19-23

Introduction:
A. The cross of Jesus Christ declares certain things as well.
I Cor. 1:22-24 we’re told: "Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God."

Colossians 1:19-23
19 For it pleased the Father that in Him all fullness should dwell. 20 And through Him having made peace through the blood of His cross, it pleased the Father to reconcile all things to Himself through Him, whether the things on earth or the things in Heaven. 21 And you, who were once alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled 22 in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy and without blemish, and without charge in His sight, 23 if indeed you continue in the faith grounded and settled, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which you have heard and which was proclaimed in all the creation under Heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.

Proposition: The Cross is an enduring reminder that forgiveness is essential to every human being.

I. The Cross declares that there’s Sin to be Shed.
TEXT 2:21 “And you, who were once alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works,..
Romans 3:23 “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.”

When you are confronted with this declaration of the cross you will do one of five things.
First four are mistakes..


II. The Cross declares that there is a Price to be Paid
Romans 5:6-8 For we yet being without strength, in due time for the ungodly. For one will with difficulty die for a righteous one, yet perhaps one would even dare to die for a good one. But God commends His love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.

A. And that cost is restitution
Romans 6:23 "the wages of sin is death..."
TEXT 20 And through Him having made peace through the blood of His cross, it pleased the Father to reconcile all things to Himself through Him

III. The Cross declares there is a Hope to be Had.

A. The cross also declares to us that God loves us.
John 3:16 tells us "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son…"

"He paid a debt He did not owe;
I owed a debt I could not pay.
I needed someone to wash my sins away.
And now I sing a brand new song; Amazing Grace!’
Christ Jesus paid a debt that I could never pay."

TEXT 21-22 “And you, who were once alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy and without blemish, and without charge in His sight,”

IV. The Cross declares there is a Life to be Lived.
Romans 6:1-6 “What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin"

A. The cross justifies us.
TEXT 22 Christ will “present you holy and without blemish, and without charge in His sight, 23 if indeed you continue in the faith grounded and settled, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which you have heard

Conclusion: Have you listened to the declarations of the Cross and received His forgiveness?
Illustration: Father’s Love Letter video

“Unlocking the Floodgate in 2008”

Click Here to Begin Sermon Audio


Malachi 3:6-12 6"I the LORD do not change. So you, O descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed. 7 Ever since the time of your forefathers you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you," says the LORD Almighty.
"But you ask, 'How are we to return?'
8 "Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me.
"But you ask, 'How do we rob you?'
"In tithes and offerings. 9 You are under a curse—the whole nation of you—because you are robbing me. 10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. 11 I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit," says the LORD Almighty. 12 "Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land," says the LORD Almighty.

Proposition: We can unlock God’s floodgate in 2008.

Key #1. G iving

A. Bible lessons on giving.
History of Jews in Egypt.

B. Obstacle to giving.
Exodus 20 “Love the Lord your God, with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.
TEXT 8 "Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. "But you ask, 'How do we rob you?' "In tithes and offerings.

C. Plan for giving in 2008.
1. Time
Prayer, Bible, Assembling, Discipleship, Opportunities to serve God:
2. Talent
Computer, publishing, decorate, teaching, baptistry, nursery, building,
3. Treasure.

Key #2. A ttendance

A. Bible lessons on Attendance.
1. Blessings come from Attending to God’s plan.

B. Obstacles to Attendance.
1. God is testing us. Our faifulness.
2. Self reliance problem.
TEXT 7 Ever since the time of your forefathers you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you," says the LORD Almighty.
TEXT 9 You are under a curse—the whole nation of you—because you are robbing me.

C. Plan for Attending in 2008.
1. Obedience to God’s plan of sanctification through Discipleship.
2. Living by God’s plan. You don’t have to.
a. Apostle’s doctrine - Bible. (31% claim to read Bible through) Reading plan
b. Fellowship - Personal discipleship, Friends in the church
c. Breaking Bread - Lord’s supper/Communion.
d. Prayers - Not blessing - with others - by yourself. Prayer list.
e. Stewardship - A good manager with your blessings - Blessings can become curses.

Key #3 T esting

A. Bible lessons on Testing God.
1. Having the faith to follow God’s leading.

B. Obstacles to Testing God.
1. Fear/trust problem
2. Egypt afraid to test God.
TEXT 10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.

C. Plan for Testing God in 2008
1. Give and don’t hold back.
2. Believe and don’t fear.
3. Act and don’t hesitate.

Key #4 E vangelizing

A. Bible lessons for Evangelizing.
1. Glory/Boasting
TEXT 11 I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit," says the LORD Almighty. 12 "Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land," says the LORD Almighty.
2. Evangelizing by Boasting on God.
Gal 6:14 But may it never be for me to boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified to me, and I to the world.

B. Obstacles to Evangelizing.
1. Not counting your blessings.
2. Focusing on perceived negatives.

C. Plan for Evangelizing in 2008.
a. Be that person that draws people to God.
b. Talk up what God is doing in your life, your family, and your church.
c. Be aware of how you are effecting others for Christ.
1. Attendance
2. Removing distractions in Church.
3. Singing. Not optional. 95 times
Psa 9:11 Sing praises to the LORD, who dwells in Zion; declare among the nations His deeds.
Conclusion: You have received the Biblical keys to God’s floodgate. Will you use them in 2008?


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