Don't Pass Me By

Luke 10:31-33     The Samaritan had compassion. The Priest and Levite just went on by.
Compassion moves us.

Do we show compassion for someone in need.  Especially the elderly.  Getting old is normal. The world abandons the elderly.  Can't be bothered or are too busy to care.  Mindset is young and fit.

Isa 46:4  Even to your old age I am He. And to gray hairs I will carry you. I have made and I will bear. I will carry and will save.

Psm. 92:14  They still bear fruit in old age

So much money goes into trying to stay young. The Lord looks at the heart and the world looks at the outside.  Sickness happens.
IITim 3:1-3
We need to not become cold-hearted
We need to honor others young and old.  We need to take time with others!

                                                            Integrity of Worship




Taking flight - Handling our differences.  Unable to communicate.  This generation has a hard time working through relationships.  Remove any hinderance, we have to be right with people
1Sam. 15:22-23

1.  True worship is enhanced by better relationships.
Jesus demands us in doing whatever we can to right relationships.
Rom. 12:18

We need to think about how we have offended someone.  Examine ourselves.
What stirs our emotions, thats where your heart is.
We have a hard time humbling ourselves to someone else.

If we are honest with people, we will be honest with God.

2.  Reconciliation must preceede worship.  Unresolved conflict has priority and must be settled.  Unresolved conflict is sinful behavior.

Your heart must match your life.

Generational Revival

We need to talk to our children and grandchildren about God.  We need to love God and show them the way. They need to see our love for God in action.  

1.  Keeping God alive in our hearts.  Spending quality time with god daily in prayer and reading His word.  That our family will come to know Him for themselves.  Learn to defend our faith.

2.  Danger is, we slowly loose fellowsip.  We take the things of God for granted.  Loosing contact.  We need to develop good habits.  Hopefully there is someone in the family getting close to God.

3.  Cause of loss of intimate relationship in Judges 1:28, their compromise became the next generation standard.  because they had never totally conquered the Canaanites.

What are your convictions.  God pours His Spirit on open humble hearts.  Live by faith.  In Joel God will pour out His Spirit upon our sons and daughters.

4.  God won't let every battle be won by a miracle. We grow through fresh battles.

According to Phil 3 we need to press in.

Forgiveness & Sin

Mother Theresa once said, “The most terrible poverty is loneliness and the feeling of being unloved."

Everyone needs someone to watch over their soul.    

Mk  2:3-5 

And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four. And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay. When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.  

This forgiveness went deeper than mere domestic disputes. Jesus was speaking with a quiet authority which went down into the paralyzed man’s innermost being. 

Forgiveness is the most powerful thing in the world, but because it is so costly.

We have to find ways of bringing healing and forgiveness to our

families & others. 

 Matthew 6:15

  * But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.  Proof that the living God is at work. Within us! ..

"Real Faith is Faith That Carries Burdens"

Text- Mark 2 vs 1-5 

     Vs.3. "Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men." 

\\ In this text a man who is paralyzed is brought before Jesus to be healed. The four men that carried him faced some obstacles to get this man healed but they were persistent and because of their faith this man was healed. Sometimes as Christians' we will face obstacles and our faith will be tested, will we find a way to reach Jesus no matter how impossible it may seem? These four men could have given up at the door when no one budged to make room for their friend. They could have stopped when Jesus didn't come out and meet them. Friend, being a Christian is more then God always moving for you, you're going to have to make some moves for Him. We need to not allow discouragement from people or from the circumstances of life keep us from reaching Jesus. When this man finally got before Jesus, he saw the faith from these men and the paralytic was immediately healed. They were UNSTOPPABLE! Let me ask you, do you have a unstoppable faith? Sometimes life will let you down, people will let you down, but you may be let down right at the feet of Jesus. Allow your faith to be BIGGER than your situation. \\

Sailing

It is so encouraging to know as believers that God is in control, thru the good and the bad!

Sometimes as we go thru things I think we forget we have this great big powerful God that has our situation in control. If we just accept our situations and let God be in control he will help us keep it all together.

As Christians we also have to lay down our pride and allow our brothers and sisters in Christ encourage us and help us thru our crisis. The bible over and over repeats how we need to help one another and be there for each other.

A great example for us to follow is Job. When all the pressure came down he held onto God and his promises. He didn't crumble or break, he didn't run away, he faced the problem head on with God on his side!

Hebrews 6:19 says " We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure..."; this is how we need to live. Hanging onto the anchor of hope in Christ Jesus!