Scriptures that have spoken to us

—Scriptures that have spoken to us

  • Sandra, Roselyn & Elliot – Mar 20, 2016

 
 
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Breaking down fortresses

How God has spoken to me through
Amos 6:8

—Sandra

Amos 6:8 (NLT)

I despise the arrogance of Israel and I hate their fortresses

Verses I speak out

  • “Don’t be afraid. For there are more on our side than on theirs.” (2 Kings 6:16–17 NLT)
  • “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Rom 8:1)
  • “As we live in God, our love grows more perfect” (1 Jn 4:17 NLT)

More verses I speak out

  • “Do not be anxious of anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God and the peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus” (Phil 4:6–7 NIV)
  • “Casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ” (2 Cor 10:5 NKJV)

Summary:

  • Because he is persistent, we need to be prepared.
  • Dig deep into the word of God and have it ready to speak out.
  • That is making God your fortress and breaking down the walls that have been your security.

He who began a good work in you will be faithful…

How God has spoken to me through
Philippians 1:6

—Roselyn

Philippians 1:6

“He who began a good work in you will be faithful to bring it to completion at the day of Christ Jesus.”

Outline

  1. How I interpreted it
  2. How I relied on it
  3. The challenge of understanding it in its entirety

1. How I interpreted Philippians 1:6  

“He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion” period.

  • God invested:
  • Personal history: 2003 in Paris;
  • Biblical history: through the Red Sea;
  • Psalm 121:1,2
    “Where does my help come from?
    My help comes from the Lord…”

2. How I relied on it

  • Groaning to God: Psalm 13:1,2
    “How long, O Lord?… How long must I wrestle with my thoughts, and day after day have sorrow in my heart?…”

2. How I relied on it

  • Nov. 28th, 2012: Remembering God’s provision
  • Psalm 22:2
    “My God, I cry out by day… by night, but I find no rest.”

2. How I relied on it

  • Groaning is still talking.
  • Romans 8:28
    “And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness… we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us in our weakness, in our groanings.”

3. The challenge of understanding it in its entirety

  • Missed a phrase: “He who began a good work in you will be faithful to bring it to completion at the day of Christ Jesus.”
  • right up to the time of His return.
  • not an investment with a pay-off coming, but…
  • a continuous work: until [achri] the day of Jesus Christ. 

Recap:

“He who began a good work in you will be faithful to bring it to completion… until the day of Christ Jesus.”

  1. How I interpreted it: God’s investment in me;
  2. How I relied on it: remembering that & counting on it; and
  3. The challenge of accepting the promise in its entirety.

God will always be working on me, right up to the time of His return…

Summary:

  • Look back on your trail, and track what God has done for you.
  • Remember it:
    • In practicing thanksgiving,
    • we cultivate trust.

Elliot 2.0

How God has spoken to me through
Matthew 6:33

—Elliot

Matthew 6:25–33 (NIV)

  1. “…do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?
  2. Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?
  3. Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
  4. “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.
  5. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.

Matthew 6:25–33 cont’d

  1. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?
  2. So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’
  3. For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
  4. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Three Elements:

  1. My need for his grace, and growing desire for him
  2. Getting a grasp on the depth of his love - there’s no time I can’t go to him
  3. His sovereignty, my humility: changing the way I pray

Practical Effect:

  1. More time listening, genuinely wanting to know what he has to say to me
  2. Learning to plan in the knowledge that my intent is subject to his direction
  3. Trusting that he’s a good Father releases confidence

The Challenge:

  • I want to chose God’s direction as a better outcome, all the time!
  • “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (v.33)
  • To hold on to desiring him and trust that God will keep me