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My House
1. My house is a house of people Luke 14:23
Poor vs 21 The common people heard him gladly
Plan- go out and compel to come in 21-23
Purpose- that my house may be filled 1 Corinthians 12:24-25
2. My house is a house of provision Malachi 3:10
Provider- Ye
Provision- tithe
Promise-open the windows of heaven
3. My house is a house of prayer Luke 14:46
Person - My house
Purpose - prayer
Perversion- a den of thieves
John 6:1-14
1. The lad (Verse 9)
God used "a little maid" to get Naaman to God and healing. 2 Kings 5 God used a little youth (David) to defeat Goliath 1 Sam 17 God uses the weak things and foolish things to confound the wise 1 Corinthians 1:27
2. The lunch (Verse 9)
God used Moses' rod, Balaam's ass, and now the lad's lunch and He will use what you have if you give it to Him
3. The Lord (Verse 11)
"Without me you do nothing" Heb 11:5 Truly, "Little is much when God is in it."
Church Signs
1. Church Parking Lot Sign...FOR MEMBERS ONLY Trespassers will be baptized!!
2. "No God-No Peace. Know God-Know Peace."
3. "Free Trip to heaven. Details Inside!"
4. "Try our Sundays. They are better than Baskin-Robbins."
5. "Searching for a new look? Have your faith lifted here!"
6. An ad for one Church has a picture of two hands holding stone tablets on which the Ten Commandments are inscribed and a headline that reads, "For fast, fast, fast relief, take two tablets."
7. When the restaurant next to another Church put out a big sign with red letters that said, "Open Sundays," the church reciprocated with its own message: "We are open on Sundays, too."
8. A singing group called "The Resurrection" was scheduled to sing at a church. When a big snowstorm postponed the performance, the pastor fixed the outside sign to read, "Resurrection is postponed."
9. "People are like tea bags-you have to put them in hot water before you know how strong they are."
10. "God so loved the world that He did not send a committee."
11. "Come in and pray today. Beat the Christmas rush!"
12. "When down in the mouth, remember Jonah. He came out alright."
13. "Sign broken. Message inside this Sunday."
14. "Fight truth decay-study the Bible daily."
15. "How will you spend eternity-Smoking or Non-smoking?"
16. "Dusty Bibles lead to Dirty Lives":
17. "Come work for the Lord. The work is hard, the hours are long and the pay is
low. But the retirement benefits are out of this world."
18. "It is unlikely there'll be a reduction in the wages of sin."
19. "Do not wait for the hearse to take you to church."
20. "If you're headed in the wrong direction, God allows U-turns."
21. "If you don't like the way you were born, try being born again."
22. "Looking at the way some people live, they ought to obtain eternal fire insurance soon."
23. "This is a ch _ _ ch. What is missing?" ---------(U R)
24. "Forbidden fruit creates many jams."
25. "In the dark? Follow the Son."
26. "Running low on faith? Stop in for a fill-up."
27. "If you can't sleep, don't count sheep. Talk to the Shepherd."
Whose Hands?
A basketball in my hands is worth about $19.
A basketball in Michael Jordan's hands is worth about $33 million.
It depends whose hands it's in.
A baseball in my hands is worth about $6.
A baseball in Mark McGuire's hands is worth $19 million.
It depends whose hands it's in.
A tennis racket is useless in my hands.
A tennis racket in Pete Sampras' hands is a Wimbledon Championship.
It depends whose hands it's in.
A rod in my hands will keep away a wild animal.
A rod in Moses' hands will part the mighty sea.
It depends whose hands it's in.
A sling shot in my hands is a kid's toy.
A sling shot in David's hand is a mighty weapon.
It depends whose hands it's in.
Two fish and 5 loaves of bread in my hands is a couple of fish sandwiches.
Two fish and 5 loaves of bread in God's hands will feed thousands.
It depends whose hands it's in.
Nails in my hands might produce a birdhouse.
Nails in Jesus Christ's hands will produce salvation for the entire world.
It depends whose hands it's in.
As you see now it depends whose hands it's in.
So put your concerns, your worries, your fears, your hopes, your dreams,
your families and your relationships in God's hands because --
It depends whose hands it's in.
The Tongue
1. Set on fire of hell- James 3
2. Set on fire of heaven- Acts 2
The Book of Acts
1. The Savior Goes Up: Acts 1
2. The Spirit Comes Down: Acts 2
3. The Saints Go Out: Acts 3-28
The Christian Alphabet Poem
A lthough things are not perfect
B ecause of trial or pain
C ontinue in thanksgiving
D o not begin to blame
E ven when the times are hard
F ierce winds are bound to blow
G od is forever able
H old on to what you know
I magine life without His love
J oy would cease to be
K eep thanking Him for all the things
L ove imparts to thee
M ove out of "Camp Complaining"
N o weapon that is known
O n earth can yield the power
P raise can do alone
Q uit looking at the future
R edeem the time at hand
S tart every day with worship
T o "thank" is a command
U ntil we see Him coming
V ictorious in the sky
W e'll run the race with gratitude
X alting God most high
Y es, there will be good times and yes some will be bad, but
Z ion waits in glory...where none are ever sad!
The shortest distance between a problem and a solution is the distance between your knees and the floor. The one who kneels to the Lord can stand up to anything.
The Law of Guidance
Proverbs 16:1-9
by Dr. Stephen F. Olford
Introduction: One of the exciting things about our Christian faith is that God has a plan for all of His children. In other words, He has not left us to grope in the darkness of confusion or indecision. Guidance involves a threefold demand from all of us.
I. The Personal Commitment of Our Lives to God (v. 3)
The phrase "your works" includes not only the thought of what we do, but also of what we are. God is more concerned with what we are than what we do, for if what we are does not meet His divine requirements, then what we do is of no worth whatsoever.
1) The Commitment of Our Selfhood to God (v. 3)
Literally this means that we are to "roll" or "transfer" the burden of living onto the Lord. Since what we do is largely determined by what we are, the commitment of ourselves to the Lord is of primary importance. Only when we are "living sacrifices" (Rom. 12:1-2) can we be laboring servants.
2) The Commitment of Our Service to God (v. 3)
The transcendent God is interested in the work of our hands. It matters not whether the areas of our service are religious, domestic or commercial. God is interested and involved. The value of the work that we undertake is not to be judged by where it is or what it is, but rather by the fact that we are acting in accordance to the divine will.
II. The Practical Adjustment of Our Lives by God (v. 3)
Guidance is largely determined by the adjustment of our lives by divine influences, and this is a very practical matter for it comes down to the minutest detail of our lives.
1) Our Plans are to be Adjusted by the Word of God (v. 3)
The first principle of divine guidance is that all we do must conform to the Word of God, because God never expects us to contradict or disobey His revealed will. There is no point in expecting divine guidance if we do not move in the orbit of His will, through obedience to His Word.
2) Our Plans are to be Adjusted by the Witness of God (v. 3)
The witness of God is the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives (Rom. 8:16). The Holy Spirit never works in opposition to the Scriptures. He will either clear or check our consciences before we act in any given situation.
3) Our Plans are to be Adjusted by the Wisdom of God (v. 3)
James 1:5 contains the promise and the proviso that we can ask repeatedly for wisdom without tiring God or being scolded by Him. Wisdom is the right application of knowledge, and God gives us wisdom through pastoral counsel and providential circumstances.
III. The Purposeful Fulfillment of Our Lives in God (v. 3)
Where there is commitment to God and adjustment by God, there is the glorious fulfillment in God. In the light of our text and associated passages of Scripture, we learn that there is a threefold fulfillment in a guided life.
1) There is the Fulfillment of Peace (v. 3)
There is nothing more settling and restful than to know the confirmation of God's will in our lives. When peace becomes our guardian against all the attempts of the enemy to dissuade us from doing the will of God, there is a blessed sense of fulfillment and the ability to cope with the testings and tribulations of life.
2) There is the Fulfillment of Pleasure (v. 3)
There is nothing more pleasing in all the world than to do the will of God. It is good because it is profitable, acceptable because it is pleasurable, and perfect because it is purposeful (Rom. 12:2). If we would know a true sense of fulfillment, then we must yield our wills to His will.
3) There is a the Fulfillment of Prosperity (v. 3)
What God establishes or confirms always has his blessing. Others may not evaluate our works as successful, but in the sight of God whatever has the benediction of His peace and pleasure also has the benediction of His prosperity. This is the sole objective of our divine guidance, and nothing else matters.
Conclusion: In a world of nebulous thinking, frustrated living, and unspeakable sinning, it is precious to know that we can be guided by God in a pathway of unclouded light and abundant life. The guided life is a guarded life, for when we walk the pathway of His direction, we know the power of His protection.
1 Corinthians 1:26-31
Message by Dr. Stephen Olford in Memphis Tennessee
He is probably the premiere Bible Expositor and has conferences on Expository preaching and a center for preaching in Memphis. He sends out messages like this free and you can get on the mailing list by writing him at
omi@olford.org.
Introduction: Paul now proceeds to show how strife and contention can result from wrong ideas concerning the community of the Christian Message. The Corinthian Christians were vying with one another under the banners of their respective party leaders. However, the apostle deals with this problem by describing God's method of selecting, electing and protecting His witnessing community.
I. God Selects His Witnessing Community through the Simplicity of the Christian Message (v. 26)
Using the imperative mood, Paul invites his readers to survey the church at Corinth and observe those who constituted its membership. Quite obviously, there were very few within that community who might have been termed "wise," "mighty" or "noble." The implication is clear and plain:
1) The Selective Simplicity of the Gospel Does Not Appeal to Many People of Intellectual Attainments (v. 26).
There is a natural tendency in the unregenerate person to think independently of God. Unless a person is prepared to repent, or change his mind in favor of God's wisdom, he cannot be saved. The world cannot know God by wisdom (v. 21).
2) The Selective Simplicity of the Gospel Does Not Appeal to Many People of Influential Achievements (v. 26).
There is a natural tendency to work independently of God. The word "mighty" is a general term for people who have gained a place of influence through their own achievements. Unless this pride of influence is crucified in the church of Jesus Christ, there is always lurking trouble.
3) The Selective Simplicity of the Gospel Does Not Appeal to Many People of Inter-social Advancements (v. 26).
There is a natural tendency in the unregenerate person to live independently of God. Most commentators are agreed that the word "noble" implies to family connections and indicates those of high social standing. While there are exceptions, it seems that very few of noble rank seem to be attracted to the Christian message.
II. God Elects His Witnessing Community Through the Supremacy of the Christian Message (vv. 27-28)
To teach man forever that no flesh should glory in His presence, God has designed that His electing grace should demonstrate the utter supremacy of the Gospel.
1) God Has Chosen to Save Foolish Humanity (v. 27)
The word used to describe humanity is the one from which we derive our term "moron." It means "dull," "sluggish," "silly" or "stupid." In His grace God picks up such material and transforms it by the redemptive work of Christ. Human philosophy, psychology and science can never explain this transforming change of regeneration.
2) God Has Chosen to Save Feeble Humanity (v. 27)
Paul speaks of those who do not know the saving grace of God as "weak" -- a word meaning
"strengthless" or "impotent." Man is powerless to work out his own salvation. Only the message of the cross takes feeble humanity and confounds, or puts to shame, the things that are considered mighty.
3) God Has Chosen to Save Fallen Humanity (v. 28)
Here Paul employs three expressions to describe the utter "fallenness" of humanity. "Base things" refers to that which is low-born and morally worthless, "things which are despised" signifies that which is contemptible," and "things which are not" conveys the idea of the nonentities of this world.
III. God Protects His Witnessing Community Through the Sufficiency of the Christian Message (v. 30)
For those who do respond to the selective and elective Gospel, there is a full sufficiency in the Lord Jesus Christ. The revelation of the wisdom of God, as seen in Christ, has made available:
1) A Salvation for Our Past Needs (v. 30)
This means our justification. In Christ we attain a state of life impossible otherwise and elsewhere. It is the assurance of pardon for sin and peace of heart. More than this, it grants us a standing before God that no devil in hell, no man on earth, or no angel in heaven can assail.
2) A Salvation for Our Present Needs (v. 30)
Sanctification is both positional and progressive. It is the very life of Christ indwelling us moment by moment. And since all the fullness of the Godhead resides in our Savior, there is no demand upon our lives which is not adequately met by the sufficiency of which is in Christ.
3) A Salvation for Our Prospective Needs (v. 30)
Here redemption means "final escape from all bondage." It refers to the future and not to the past or present This is the assurance of ultimate deliverance from all bondage and limitation, when Christ releases us from the very presence of sin. This is the day when He will fashion anew the body of our humiliation and conform it to His glory.
Conclusion: That which divides the church is the carnality which glories in human knowledge, influence or reputation. But the apostle Paul has shown that no man has anything to glory in, save in the Lord Jesus Christ. To recognize the Savior in this sense is to be leveled to a common ground, united in a common life, and satisfied in a common glory.
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