Achieving your potential is possible as we abide in the vine; Jesus according to John 15. Jesus is the answer to what is going on in our word of crime, hate, war, poverty, division, murder, and sexuality that is destroying families and governments. So let look at what we need to do? 3. In bad Government polices. 1 Samuel 8:19-22.
19 Nevertheless the people refused to
obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us;
20 That we also may be like all the nations; and that our king
may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles.
21 And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he
rehearsed them in the ears of the LORD.
22 And the LORD
said to Samuel, Hearken unto their voice, and make them a king. And Samuel said
unto the men of Israel, Go ye every man unto his city.
What
would of happen if they would of chosen Gods way and not want their way? Only
God knows for this has been man biggest fault; doing it my way!!!
4. In Heathen practices 11Kings 17:15-17 15 And they
rejected his statutes, and his covenant that he made with their fathers, and
his testimonies which he testified against them; and they followed vanity, and
became vain, and went after the heathen that were round about them, concerning
whom the LORD had charged them,
that they should not do like them.
16 And they left all the commandments of the LORD their God, and made them molten
images, even two calves, and made a grove, and worshipped all the host
of heaven, and served Baal.
17 And they caused their sons and their daughters to pass
through the fire, and used divination and enchantments, and sold themselves to
do evil in the sight of the LORD,
to provoke him to anger.
5. In
following bad examples Matthew 23:2-7. 1. Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his
disciples,
2 Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat:
3 All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that
observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.
4 For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and
lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move
them with one of their fingers.
5 But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make
broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,
6 And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats
in the synagogues,
7 And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men,
Rabbi, Rabbi.
E. Our self-image as a Christian is in a battle 24 hours a day
spiritually. We need to forget the past and ask God to forgive us and move on
in Faith believing it is going to become better!!
1. Bible-HOPE
2. Prayer
3. Worship
4. Reverence
5. Faith
F. It’s an inward battle Romans 12:1-21 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the
mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy,
acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by
the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and
acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
1.
Spiritual weapons are required. 2 Corinthians 10: 4-6
4 (For the
weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the
pulling down of strong holds;)
5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that
exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every
thought to the obedience of Christ;
6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when
your obedience is fulfilled.
2. We are fighting invisible foes. Ephesians 6:12 3. Young soldiers are enlisted 1 Timothy 1:18 4. It’s a fight of faith 1 Timothy 6:12 5. Demands entire consecration 2 Timothy 2:4
Our Souls have many enemies in its five senses. 1. Imagination 2. Reason 3. Memory 4. Consciences 5. Affection Note Psalms 86:14; Jeremiah 2:34, 18:20; Ezekiel 13:18, 22:25; Luke 22:31; Ephesians 6:13 and 1 Peter 5:8 to name a few.
Be prepared! Be alert! Watch!
1. Thank the Lord for weapons and armor. 1 Samuel 17:45; 2 Corinthians 10:4; Ephesians 6:17-19; Hebrews 4:12 & Revelations 112:11. 2. Loins gritted about with truth. Ephesians 6: 14 3. Breast Plate- Isaiah 59:17 Ephesians 6:14 and 1 Thessalonians 5:8 4. Helmet of Salvation Isaiah 59:17; Ephesians 6:17 and 1 Thessalonians 5:8. 5. Shield of Faith Ephesians 6:16 6. Feet covered with gospel of Peace. Ephesians 6:15.
Note your comfort zone--- words + picture + emotions = reality. Example: Hey! You’re wanted on the phone! 1. Emergency ---Word 2. Car wreck-----Picture 3. Fear for loved ones---Feelings.
Heaven – Hell – Words
Paradise-Torment-Picture
Joy unspeakable-Weeping- gnashing of Teeth-Feelings
Everything we do needs to be based on whom do you chose? God or Satan?
I x V = R Imagination times Vividness equals reality.
So what is once recorded we’re stuck with it? True or False? If you chose to make a change in yourself image, you can use positive imagination to create a new subconscious picture of yourself and this will bring about a change you desire, true or false? Can you see why man can become God in his own right? The strong can overcome the bad habits and attitudes, but how about the weak and the poor? I. Self esteem cycle. 1. Positive self talk 2. Reinforcement forces 3. Controls 4. Performance reality 5. Stimulates either positive or negative enforcement. II. How does this cycle work? 1. We are born empty buckets. A. Curse of sin upon all. We have to learn right behavior and attitude. Genesis 3:15-24; Psalms 51:5; Matthew 15:19; James 1:15, 4:1; Isaiah 64:6; Romans 3:23 and 1 John 1:8. B. Parent’s sins are passed on. Exodus 20:5, 34:7; Leviticus 26:39, numbers 14:18, 33; Job 21:19; Isaiah 14:21 and Jeremiah 32:18. C. Begin to interact with environment. Family and Home. 1. Filial Obedience-Son or Daughter-Parents –Authority. 2. Honor. 3. Children’s domestic duties. 4. Parental duties. 5. “Experts” evaluate our every performance and our self-talk records the opinion. 6. Negative and positive thoughts and feeling are deposited like rocks in the respective buckets. Computer of the brain stored for further use. 7. Rocks accumulate and we lean in one direction or the other. Right or wrong. 8. An attitude is now formed; we lean toward or away from good. 9. Just as there is right and wrong, so it is with good and bad. III. How are good attitudes and behaviors formed? Genesis records man as communicating with God in the Garden of Eden in the morning and evening; time of blessing and instruction for the day. 1. Saw-God He talked with Adam. 2. Desired- To hear from Him. 3. Gave- No took.
IV. How are bad attitudes and behaviors acquired or formed? Genesis 3:6. 1. See. Looks good! 2. Desired- no different than the others. 3. Took- it’s created by God so lets do it! 4. Gave-misery loves company. 5. Hid-had to cover wrong up. We see the same thing much latter when Joshua lost the battle of Ai Joshua 7: 26
V. Self -Esteem Cycle-How do we value ourselves? By using self talk as a negative or positive force. It has a pattern. 1. Begins with performance. a. How we act. b. How others evaluate our actions. 2. This “Stimulates a mental evaluation through my self talk or affirmations”. 3. How do I react to my evaluation or others evaluation of my experience or performance? 4. This reinforces either a positive or a negative subconscious self-image or attitude of how I feel about my self.
To Be Continued |