Inner Space

Faith on Vacation?

2011-10-18T05:18:00.001-07:00

Jesus is the author and finisher of my faith (Hebrews 12:2); however, it is my responsibility to increase it. It is not Christ's responsibility to increase my faith (Luke 17:6), but it is mine. I cause it to increase by use. (Luke 17:6-10). I exercise my faith as I refuse to surrender to my circumstances by standing firm trusting what God says about my situation. I must never give my faith a day off until it has finished accomplishing it's task.

How to Snub Sin

2011-10-17T15:23:00.000-07:00

Unbelief is caused by what you believe. Do you believe in God's power to keep His Word even when it contradicts your situation, or do you believe in Satan's power to keep you in bondage to what is contrary to God's Word? Don't have any regard to your situation if it contradicts God's Word. Ignore it. If you don't, problems cause doubt. Doubt is thinking two things at once. (doubt=double) Unbelief is when you know what to believe, but don't. The purpose of prayer is the reshift the focus from your problem to the solution who is God Himself. (Mark. 9:14-29) After you talk to God about your problem, then talk to your problem about your God. Shift the focus by praising God for his deliverance whenever doubt arises in your mind. Learn to answer every doubt immediately with the Word of God. Resist doubt like any other sin. If you speak doubts outloud it will become doubt of the heart because you've planted it there in your subconscious mind by speaking them. Doubt of the heart short circuits faith to make our words and prayer useless. Remember God has given us the power to move mountains with our words if we'd only believe Him. (Mark 11:22-26)

The Vocabulary of Silence

2011-10-17T15:06:00.000-07:00

You cannot surrender to Satan's pressure without flinging away your confidence in God and His word. What I say is lying if it contridicts fact because a lie is trying to convince someone that something is true which isn't. Begin to say some things that don't appear to be true on the surface. Instead of speaking the problem speak what God says about your situation if you'd only believe Him. Speak God's Word or shut up. You have to make a stand on the Word of God to fight off the enemy. You'll win more battles with the vocabulary of silence than talking the situation. (Mark 4:17)

Sinking Feeling

2011-10-17T10:43:00.000-07:00

In Matthew 15:22-33, Peter wasn't sure that it was Jesus, but he was sure that Jesus had the ability to walk on the water. Peter was convinced that Jesus could walk on water; however, he doubted that Jesus could reproduce this miracle in his own life. Peter's small faith in what Jesus had said was exposed by his great faith in his own enviroment of the wind and the waves. For Peter to look at the wind and the waves, he had to take his eyes of Jesus. When he took his eyes off Jesus, he sank. We too can live a victorious Christian life like Jesus if we'd only believe him and get our eyes off ourselves. (Matthew 19:26)

Altered States

2011-10-17T08:40:00.001-07:00

To receive God's word, first clear out the thorns and the stones which is unwillingness and distractions. (Good ground must first be prepared by removing hindrances). I must read God's word for application. If I use what I have, I'll be given more understanding to apply more. If not, I'll soon forget what I've read, and it will be as if I've never read it. The crowd were casual hearers, but his disciples where hearing for the purpose of applying. Therefore, his disciples received more. Understanding of God's word accummulates. For me to accummulate God's word, I must be a scribe. A scribe keeps records of what God is teaching them. A scribe is accummulating knowledge. (v. 52) God's words are sown into my thoughts. (God's word must take root to alter my thoughts and behavior). Circumstances on the short term contradict God's word, which tempt us to reject it. We must focus on God's word and off of circumstances. (Matthew 13)

Test for My True Self

2011-10-17T08:17:00.001-07:00

What I think about is what I really value or treasure. Eventually, what I'm thinking will spill out into my speech and ultimately show up in my actions. I am commanded by Jesus to change my tree, heart, or my subconscious mind by choosing to think good thoughts. If I don't do this, I'll just naturally think about bad thoughts that will eventually show up in my words and actions. I am being justified or condemned by what I say in my casual speech which is spilling out from my subconscious mind. What I say when I'm just expressing myself comes from my true self. I should fill my subconscious mind just like I do my belly. First, fill your subconscious mind by choosing to speak God's word even if it contradicts your sitaution. Then, those words get down into your subconsious mind and you'll begin to believe them over what you feel and see. God's Word will eventually show up in your subconsious words and actions. Work on your heart to change your words and actions. Words are vocalized thoughts and actions are acted upon thoughts. Actions are just thoughts in action. Thought proceeds all behavior. What we see, what we hear, and what we think upon pollute our behavior. (Matthew 16:33-37, Matthew 16:16-20, Proverbs 4:20-24)

Undiluted Faith

2011-10-17T08:07:00.000-07:00

If God speaks to us at the very moment that we need to be spoken too, isn't that the way He speaks to us all the time? Is the reason that we don't hear God speaking is because our minds are focused upon the problem instead hearing His voice in the midst of the problem? God speaks to us instantly in the moment that His word is required. Worry interferes with my ability to hear God and His ability to speak to me. Worry is having faith in both God and my circumstances at the same time. Faith in something else blocks my ability to hear from God. Faith begins by saying something that at the time doesn't appear to be true. (Luke 8:50,52)

Stay at God's Door

2011-10-17T08:00:00.000-07:00

Ask - form a request to God with your lips. Seek- look expectantly for fulfillment. Knock- stay at God's door. Don't look elsewhere for relief. (Matthew 7:7-8)

Dangerous Thoughts

2011-10-17T07:59:00.001-07:00

We take a thought by saying it. We get rid of a thought by saying something else. Jesus taught us to not take dangerous thoughts by saying them. (Matthew 6:31 KJV)

Words are my Servants

2011-10-17T07:53:00.000-07:00

The key to being in authority is to be under authority. Words carry authority, and are my servants. Distance and time have no effect on God's word. Great faith has faith in words. Faith never ends with a question mark. We have to speak only God's word. We have to believe it when we can't see it. I must trust in the Word of God as if to God Himself. The centurion believed in God's word even before he heard it. (Matthew 8:5-13)

Sovereignty = Free Will?

2011-05-04T07:35:00.000-07:00

The very fact that I know some things about the past does not make me responsible for the bad things that I know that have happened. In the same way, God knows not only the past, but also the future completely. The very fact that He knows them does not make Him responsible for all the bad things that will happen or have happened.

Before God made creation, He decided in His sovernty that He would create people like Him with a free will. Because God knows the future as well as the past, He knew that the very first man and woman would make a bad decision, which would bring death upon all His creation. Knowing this, God still decided to create the world with people made with a free will like Him.

Before God created the world, He decided to send His Son into the world to save us because He already knew that we would fall. If we will allow God to save us through Jesus' death for us, He will. Although God knew before He created the world who would come to Him through Christ and who wouldn't, this does not mean that everyone still does not have a choice to make.

After we come to God through Christ, we belong to Christ. This is commonly known in the Bible as being "In Christ" or "In Him". God decided before He made the world that everyone who would be restored to Him through Jesus would be holy and blameless (Eph. 1:3). If you are "In Christ", holy and blameless is God's will for you, and God is working to make you like that. (Romans 8:29)

It is still God's will for everyone to be saved from judgment through Christ and to be like Christ(I Tim. 2:4); however, since you are made in God's image, He respects your decision to refuse (John 3:16). The decision is still up to you. The Bible teaches that if you ultimately reject Him in your life upon earth God will respect your decision for all eternity. The Bible teaches that an eternity without God will be a living hell (Matt. 25:41).

God does not promise that our lives "In Christ" on earth will be easy (John 16:33) ; however, He does promise to make all the bad stuff to work out for His positive end, which is for us to be like Him (Romans 8:28). Think about this love of God that I've described, and ask "How can such a loving God be rejected? Jesus, I surrender to you my everything (I John 3:19).

What Would Judas Do?

2011-04-07T06:17:00.000-07:00

If we have surrendered to Jesus as Lord, but have made it about me, it is a betrayal. Outwardly, if I've been going through the motions like Judas' kiss, but inwardly if it's about me, it is a betrayal. Lord, I've too been a fake like Judas. Forgive me.

The Devil Didn't Make Me Do It

2011-04-06T12:24:00.000-07:00

In James 4:7b he said, "Resist the Devil, and he will flee from you." In this passage, we are commanded to get our minds off the temptation and resist the source of the temptation, which is the Devil. Why are we commanded to resist the Devil if it is God who is supposed to be the one doing it? If we don't resist the Devil, does this command imply that God will step in and do it for us? Nope! If you won't resist the Devil, then you are own your own. God will allow whatever you allow. God never blesses disobedience. If you do resist him, then God will come to your aid. (Phil. 2:13)

Seeds and Soil

2011-04-06T12:06:00.000-07:00

Words are like seed, and your heart is like soil. The heart does not decide what you reap. It will produce whatever you decide to sow into it. God had furnished His word, but it's up to you to plant His word into your heart. Then, you can reap God's word in your words and actions. You make the decision what you reap at the point of sowing. Whatever you sow you will reap. If you sow man's words, then that is what you'll get, and its final outcome.(Matthew 13:1-30)

Faith Lost?

2011-04-06T11:57:00.000-07:00

If we couldn't lose out faith, then why were we commanded to hold on to it? We must choose to believe God, and then refuse to entertain any thought that contradicts that belief. (Hebrew 10:23 & 2 Cor. 10:3-5)

The Toaster Test

2011-04-06T11:52:00.000-07:00

What you actually believe is what you say when the pressure comes and something just pops out. (Matthew 12:36)

The Difference Test

2011-04-06T11:38:00.000-07:00

God tests our faith when He reveals to us His will, and then puts us in a situation that exactly contradicts it.(Psalm 105:19) This difference tests whether our loyalty is to Him or to our desire. The test is like a oven which bakes within us character. When character comes, it manifests itself in words and actions. (James 1:2-4, 12)

Mind Lighter

2011-04-06T11:31:00.000-07:00

Empathically speaking thoughts out loud is a way of highlighting those thoughts in our subconscious minds.(Psalm 45:1B)

Is Your God, God?

2011-04-06T10:55:00.000-07:00

If you magnify your problems or even yourself in prayer, it is offensive to God. Whatever you magnify is in reality your god. A purpose of prayer is to train yourself to look at life through God's perspective and keep that perspective even after you finish praying. When you pray, refocus on your great big God and shrink your problems and anxiety with His perspective. (Psalm 34:3)

Prayers that God Won't Answer

2011-04-06T10:37:00.000-07:00

Although God is all powerful, He will not break His word. Therefore, God will not break His word even to answer your prayers. When you pray, ask yourself, is this promised in scripture with conditions? Are there conditions in that promise that I'm not keeping? Ask God please give me the insight to understand what changes that I need to make to qualify for this request? (I John 5:14)

The Human Will

2011-04-04T16:06:00.000-07:00

Our sovereign God respects the human will and will not even save us against our will. What He's looking for from us is a surrendered will. For us to humbly acknowledge the desperation of our situation without Him, and then yield our will to Him in faith is His will. To be desperate or guilty is not enough to save us, it takes a surrendered will in humility. We are not saved because we willed to be saved. We are saved because God willed it, and we took Him up on His offer (James 4:6 & 2 Peter 3:9).

Are the Needy Saved?

2011-04-04T15:38:00.000-07:00

The whole world has a desperate need for salvation; however, the whole world is still not saved. God does not save us on the basis of our need, but on the basis of our faith in Christ. (Eph. 2:8-10)

Pretending = Deception?

2011-04-04T10:36:00.000-07:00

Pretending to know something that you don't actually know is a form of deception. It's origin then would be of Satan. Certainly not a good leadership style for a Christian. (John 8:44)

The Clenched Fist

2011-04-03T12:14:00.000-07:00

Sin is a clenched fist in the face of God. It is failing to bow the knee. It is high treason against the King of kings. Unbelief is the parent sin. It was Adam's sin of unbelief that caused him to sin by disobeying God. (notes from Adrian Rodgers)

Does God Trust You?

2011-04-02T15:47:00.000-07:00

You can have as much of God as He can trust you with. The fullness of the Spirit is for those who are under the control of the Holy Spirit. If you are not interested in the brakes, He won't trust you with the acclerator. (Adrian Rodgers notes)

Has Christianity Failed?

2011-04-02T15:42:00.000-07:00

The question is not has Christianity failed, but has Christianity ever been tried? (Adrian Rodgers notes)

The Greater Sin

2011-04-02T15:11:00.000-07:00

An automobile has a engine. Without gas, the autombile becomes a burden because you have to push it. It must be filled to work. When God saved you, God gave you a faith with a engine in it. We shouldn't have to push our faith either. Are you being filled with and empowered by the Holy Spirit? God has commanded you to be filled. If you are not being filled, you are in disobedience to God. It is a greater sin to not be filled with the Holy Spirit than to be drunk with wine. The church has a greater problem with people not being filled with the Spirit than with them being drunk. How horrible it is for someone to come to the platform to speak and not be filled with the Holy Spirit since this sin is worse. Why did Paul contrast & compare being filled with the Spirit to drunkenness? Because drunkenness influences how we talk, walk, and think, even so the Holy Spirit must control how we talk, walk, and think. (Eph. 5:18 and Adrian Rodgers notes)

God, Space, and Time

2011-04-02T15:05:00.000-07:00

God does things in 3s. Space is height, width, & depth. God is Father, Son, & the Holy Spirit. Time is past, present, and future. Jesus arose after 3 days. The temple had an outer court, inner court, and innermost court. (Adrian Rodgers notes)

Roommates

2011-04-02T15:01:00.000-07:00

God will not live in a dirty house. He dwells with those who have a humble and contrite spirit. Give him a key to every room. Give Him your bedroom, your remote control, your check book. Everything becomes His business. There must be complete surrender. The Holy Spirit has one mission which is to exalt Jesus. (Isaiah 57:15 & notes from Adrian Rodges)

Body & Soul

2011-04-02T14:48:00.000-07:00

Animals have a mind, will, emotion, but not a spirit. They cannot know God. Plants have a body, but no mind, will, or spirit. Man has a mind, will, emotion, and a spirit. We know God through our spirit. (I Thes. 5:23 & Adrian Rodges notes)

You Might Die Twice

2011-04-02T14:42:00.000-07:00

If you're born once, you die twice. If you're born twice, you die once. (Adrian Rodgers notes and John 3)

The Little Lonely Sin

2011-04-02T09:54:00.000-07:00

I heard a little loney sin gently knocking at the door. After I cracked the door open, all hell forced its way in. (Adrian Rodges)

Mental Recitals

2011-04-02T09:24:00.000-07:00

In Genesis 6, God flooded the ancient world because of their imaginations or their thought life. There is a difference between the mind and the brain. The brain is what the mind thinks with. If the piano is the brain, then the mind is the pianist. Satan knows that if he can control our minds, then he can control us. We are to bring every thought into captivity. We can choose our thought life just like we can choose our firends. Don't allow Satan build a stronhold in your mind to launch a war against God. (notes from 2 Cor. 10:3-5 and Adrian Rodgers notes).

Truth = Free?

2011-04-02T09:17:00.000-07:00

Jesus said that "you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free (John 8:32)," but you will not be free until you've come to know the truth. Become of student of who you are now in Christ. (Eph. 1:3, 2 Cor. 5:21 & Adrian Rodgers notes)

The Undertaker

2011-04-02T09:09:00.000-07:00

God brings tests into our lives, and then waits for us to understand that we can't solve them. To be a conqueror, you must first be conquered by God. God will test our obedience. Orders don't have to make sense to us but to God. We are not ordered to understand, but to undertake. (Adrian Rodgers notes)

Consensual Sins

2011-04-02T08:45:00.000-07:00

God is completely whole; therefore, Satan cannot attack His desires. When we become a friend of God that makes us a enemy of Satan. God tests our friendship to prove to us that we can stand, but Satan tempts us to fall. Satan cannot destroy us without our consent. Sin is like a sedution. However,it is an inside job. It overflows out of our hearts. It's like a courtship that leads to consent. We are drawn away like a trapper or a fisherman uses bait. It begins with a flirtation. Satan lights the match on the gas of an unholy desire, but the sinner has to say I do. We are free to choose the point of choice, but we cannot choose the outcome. The conception of the sin is a choice. The mother is an inward appetite. The father is an outward attraction. It births a sin. Sin is designed to kill me. First it fascinates, then it assassinates. (Adrian Rodgers notes from James 1:12-17)

The Broken Ticker

2011-04-01T13:06:00.000-07:00

A clock that is broken is at least right twice a day. A clock that runs 5 minutes slow is always wrong. Satan works to get us off just a little. Even a small degree is more dangerous because it appears right. He attempts to get our minds off the truth, and get us to forget the biggest truth, which is God. The thought is father to the deed. Satan's wanting to convert us to his religion, and please him. Satan tries to get us to think negatively about God. He tries to get us to believe that God will not punish. 1/2 the truth becomes a lie. Rules without punishment is only advice. Those who understand the least about sin are the deepest into it.(notes from Adrian Rodgers)

Praise Thief

2011-04-01T12:48:00.000-07:00

In John 14:30, Jesus referred to Satan as the Prince of this world. Satan was created perfectly wise and perfect in beauty. He was a cherub or the ruling angel in God's presence. As the High Priest of heaven, he took the praise of angels and offered them to God until Satan was corrupted by pride and iniquity was found in him. The merchandise that passed through Satan's hands was the praise of angels. He stole the praise that belonged to God. Therefore, he fell from his exalted position. At that point, the angels had to choose who to worship. (Ezekiel 28:11-19 & notes from Adrian Rodges)

The Satanic Wars

2011-04-01T12:18:00.000-07:00

Satan is at war with God, but he can't get to God, so he comes after you. The earth is a giant concentration camp of Satan. He tries to deceive you into believing that you're struggling against flesh and blood, and not against him. (Eph 6:12) To defeat Satan, we must strategically attack from above with an aerial assault. In Eph. 2:6, Paul talked about rising from the death with Jesus, and already being seated by God's side with Jesus. Spiritually, we are already seated at the right hand of God in Christ. We must pray from heaven to earth, and not the other way around. This is what Jesus meant in Matthew 16:18 when He said, "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever we loose on earth has already been loosed in Heaven." We conquer Satan by the blood of Jesus, our testimony, and our willingness to die for Jesus. (Rev. 12:11) My testimony is that part of God's word, which is active in me. (taken from Adrian Rodgers notes)

The Demonic Kingdom

2011-04-01T11:16:00.000-07:00

Satan entices you to think that he is not a person at all. Satan is not currently in hell, but he is on the earth. (I Peter 5:8) The Bible refers to him as a deceiver, a liar, an accuser, and a predator. He has a kingdom of fallen angels, which we call demons. When Jesus was tempted, Satan offered his demonic kingdom to Him. (Luke 4:5-7 & Matthew 12:26) In Rev. 16:14, Satan is seen as herding the nations of the earth towards destruction. His demon spirits are working in the world's leaders to destroy their nations. This is not a war between human beings, but Satan is planning an all out war against God. In 2 Cor. 4:4, Satan is called the god of this age, and He is planning an open revolt against God Almighty. In Isaiah 14:13, he is Lucifer, which means light bearer; however, he brings darkness. In John 8:44, he is referred to as a murderer and his method is deception. Wiles are his methods, and he is designing tactics to kill you. He uses devices, snares, and lies to take you by force. (I Tim. 2:26) Spiritualism is New Ageism and Astrology. Sorcery means pharmacy or drug abuse. Sorcery uses drugs to create an instant heaven, which leads to an instant hell. (Read I John 4:1, Lev. 19:31, and Rev. 9:21) Recognize Satan for who he is. Are you in collusion or collision with the devil? In Matthew 26:40, Jesus' disciples were told by Him to watch for temptation and pray. God would not have us to ask for deliverance if it was not His will to do it. We must rely upon God's sovereign protection from Satan. We must keep our focus upon the glorious Kingdom of God. We don't have to fear, fall, or faint, but to stand in God's protection. God's Kingdom is absolute. A nuclear plant does not create power, but releases it. We have the Holy Spirit's power, and faith in God through prayer in Jesus' name releases it. (John 14:13) When your reason for asking and God's reason for answering are the same, your prayer will be answered. We are to pray for God's glory. We have access to a Father who hears, and an absolute King who answers. (notes taken from Adrian Rodgers). When you pray, do you expect an answer?

Yellow Light

2011-04-01T11:00:00.000-07:00

Doubt is to your spirit what pain is to your body. Doubt is good when it comes as a warning signal against participating in something wrong. Doubt is bad when it makes you hesitate to follow the promptings of the Holy Spirit. Either way doubt is a signal that something is wrong in the spirit. (includes notes from Adrian Rodges) Romans 14:23b HCSB "Whatever that is not from faith in sin."

Materialism = Money?

2011-03-31T13:18:00.001-07:00

Materialism is not how much you have, but how preoccupied by how much you have or don't have. Both poor and rich people can be materialistic.

Jesus = God?

2011-03-31T12:35:00.000-07:00

God is a title like emperor. Knowing God by name get His attention. In Bible times, the name of the person indicated his or her character. The name that now gets God's attention is Jesus. (John 14:13-14) Praying in the name of Jesus is not meant to just attach Jesus' name on the end of our prayers. It means that we are to align our prayers with who He is. If our prayers are in harmony with Jesus's character, plan, and heart, then God will do it. The Old Testament origins for Jesus' name come from the name God gave to Moses, which is in Hebrew Yahweh or in English I AM. God gave the name I AM to Moses when He delivered the Israelites from slavery. The neat thing about the name I AM is it can be used in conjunction with whatever you need. I AM is always present tense. I AM is forever unchanging. In John 8:59, Jesus told His people that He was I AM in human form. It almost got Him stoned. Notice God's name is not I Give. It's not about what He can give you, but He's all about a personal relationship with you. In John 6:35 when the crowd was craving bread, He actually told them that they were craving Him. Remember when Jesus said I AM the bread. Was Jesus really asking "why are your always seeking something from me when what you're really craving is me?" The name of Jesus means I AM SAVIOR, which is taken from the Old Testament name Joshua. You might remember that Joshua lead God's people into all of what God had promised to His people. In John 5:39 Jesus said, you carefully study the scriptures trying to find life, but you won't come to me, so that you might actually have it.

Test = Temptation?

2011-03-31T11:48:00.000-07:00

Satan tries to get us to doubt God's timetable, and tempts us to wander off from God to take care of ourselves. When we do that, we are venerable to a Satanic attack. God turns temptation against Satan and uses it to purify our motives. For us to be tested, God signs off on the test. One of Satan's tactics is to attempt to convince us that God is not good or even dependable. Yes, God does cause us to wait; however, God allows us to wait to strengthen our loyalty to Him and Him alone while maturing our dependence upon Him. To overcome test, we too must hunger for dependence upon God over instant gratification. When God is causing you to wait, instead of plotting a escape ask God for His perspective. His perspective will keep you from wandering away to chase Satan's bait. God's gifts to us are not only perfect, but perfectly timed. Not only are they uninterruptedly coming down upon us, but also strategically spaced and timed like the rays are strategically timed and spaced from the sun, moon, and stars which give us constant light. Think of temptation like a test that's misread. If you feel temptation tugging, refocus on God's perspective, and you'll escape. In fact, you'll rejoice instead of complaining because you'll recognize your being remade into God's image.

Fishing = Witnessing?

2011-03-31T11:34:00.000-07:00

Don't waste your time sharing Jesus with people who couldn't care less. (Matt. 7:6) They will only discourage you. When you fish, don't you think about when & where the fish might be biting? Just like fishing when you're witnessing... Study who might be willing to listen, where might they be, what strategy do I need, and when is the best time to approach ? Don't let disinterested people discourage you. Change fishing spots.

God = Generous?

2011-03-31T11:29:00.000-07:00

Our inabilty to give reflects negatively upon our belief that God is generous.

Money and Time

2011-03-31T11:15:00.000-07:00

Money is like a gun. It can be used to provide food or to murder. How does your money define you. Money creates margin for you to do what you want. It's like compressed time. Can your money and time be described as good or evil? How does your money and time define you?

Going Home Alone?

2011-03-31T11:13:00.000-07:00

The highest form of selfishness is the person who is content to go to heaven alone.

The Temptation Test

2011-03-31T10:50:00.000-07:00

Sin is like a predator. We are to be on the look out for it and pray. Sin attacks us when we fail to see beyond the immediate. We must draw the curtain in our minds upon God when we sin. How could we do it knowing that He is watching? In temptation ask... 1. Does it build me up spiritually? 2. Does it bring me under its power? 3. How will it make me feel afterward? 4. How would I feel if this sin went public? We must live with eternity in mind, and see beyond the immediate. The amount of our sin is a great measurement of our love for our Father. If we really love Him, do we really want to cause Him pain?

Tug of War Prayers

2011-03-31T10:15:00.000-07:00

Do you pray tug of war prayers? Are you attempting to get God to do your will instead of asking for His will and then surrendering to it? If the purpose of your prayer is to get God to do your will, expect silence.

Can God Be Trusted?

2011-03-31T10:03:00.000-07:00

Do you believe that God is real? Can you trust Him? Can He trust you? Our faith is based upon the character of God. It is based upon what God has told us about Himself in the Bible. Doubting anyone questions the character and motives of the other person. Don't doubt God when He relates to you from what He knows is good for you instead of what you think is good for you from your limited vantage point. (notes from Jimmy Jackson)

Is the Master in Charge, Really?

2011-03-31T09:42:00.000-07:00

Who is really in charge of your life? To act outside of Jesus' lordship is a sin. Even after we surrender the lordship of our lives to Jesus, we continue to struggle with Him over the control of our lives. We must be sure that Jesus remains Lord. Jesus willingly came to earth. We too must want to obey. Remember that forced obedience is disobedience. Is Jesus your Lord, really? That one decision settles the possessions issue. If Jesus is Lord, He is Lord of your stuff. How can we ask God for provision when we disobey Him by stealing from Him. Ask what do you want done with your stuff, Lord? Whoever or whatever is #1 in your life is your Lord. Whoever is #1 determines where you go, what you read, and what you look at. It settles the provision issue. God does not give us what we need from our prospective, but from His. (notes from Jimmy Jackson)

God's Will = Out Will?

2011-03-31T09:34:00.000-07:00

God stretches past our comfort zone into the unknown to reach people. We are not to focus on our provision but on our mission. Sometimes we confuse God's will with our will. Asking for things outside of God's plan will harm our faith when God refuses to answer. God's will can only be discerned by what God has said in His word and the Holy Spirit. (Romans 12:2 ESV and Jimmy Jackson)

The Sin Barrier

2011-03-31T09:21:00.000-07:00

Sin creates a barrier that hinders God's presence. If we habitually sin, God chooses not to hear us. (Is. 59:1,2) Sin numbs us to the Holy Spirit. (I Tim. 4:2) When a person denies the commands of God, he is denying the God of the commands. Sin is to step across an invisible line, which God has drawn. Sin is an act of rebellion against God. Rebellion is the same as the occult. Rationalism does not excuse rebellion, but it just attempts to cover it up. (notes from Jimmy Jackson)

Why Doesn't God Hear Me?

2011-03-31T09:09:00.000-07:00

Don't focus on what God is not doing, but what I am not doing that is hindering God's work. It takes humility to admit to God that your problems are more than you can handle. (read Proverbs 3:34) God wants our best, and He is so wise that He know what is best. That's where trust comes in. When we pray, our motive is to speak with God and not to impress others. Prayer is the surrendering of our will to God's will, so that God my act. Persist in prayer, and keep a record of when the prayer is answered. (notes from Jimmy Jackson)

Drifting from God?

2011-03-31T09:03:00.000-07:00

God's word is the anchor that keeps us from drifting from God into the world. (Jimmy Jackson)

Connect the Dots

2011-03-31T08:12:00.000-07:00

The law of harvest is that what you sow, you will reap. In addition, how much you sow is how much you will reap. (Gal. 6:6-7) The law of dissimulation is that you must sow if you want to reap. If you sow love, you reap love. If you sow strife, you reap strife. What you sow into your children, you'll reap out of your children. Your character is the harvest of your habits. The law of anticipation is that you reap later than you sow. If we persevere, we reap if we don't give up. (2 Cor. 6:9). The law of multiplication is that we reap more than we sow. Sow if you want to be rich. Grasp if you want to be poor. If a farmer eats all his corn during the famine, he will have not crop. There is a risk to sow to experience the harvest. If ou regard the wind, you will not sow. The law of cultivation is that you must cultivate your own heart. We reap what others have sown. Your sin always comes out. Repentance connects the dots between sowing and reaping.(John 4:37-38) (from notes taken from Terry Herald & Jimmy Jackson) Sow a thought. Reap an act. Sow an act. Reap a habit. Sow a habit. Reap a character. Sow a character. Reap a destiny.

Own Up

2011-03-30T13:23:00.000-07:00

Talk to God to His face about your sin. Stop making excuses and passing the blame. We must accept the truth about where we are weak to become free. Own up to your mistakes. Focus on what you can change, which are your attitudes and actions. Understand that you made a series of decisions to get into trouble. Now, you've got to make a series of right decisions to escape. We navigate through life by the decisions that we make. We are where that we are today because of the decisions that we made yesterday.

Jesus in Me = Holy

2011-03-30T13:12:00.000-07:00

Remember, Jesus did not commit sin, He was made sin. We do not commit righteousness, we are made righteous when we surrender to Jesus as Lord. I can be everything that Jesus is through Jesus. In Christ, I am Holy as God is Holy based upon what Jesus did for me. (2 Cor. 5:17-21) Currently, I am working out in my words and actions what I know to be true in me. (Phil. 2:12-13)

Take a Sip

2011-03-30T12:44:00.000-07:00

Through one man's sin, sin flooded the world. It filled it up. The whole earth became flooded by a curse, which was death. However, through the righteousness of Jesus, righteousness has swept away the curse of death with a tidal wave of righteousness and life. Righteousness is but a breath away to anyone who will believe this good news. Because of Jesus, all you have to do is to surrender to God by opening your mouth and inviting the Holy Spirit in while confessing Jesus as your ruler. Heaven needed a funnel to pour righteousness into the earth, and that funnel is Jesus. He is the funnel or the door for God's righteousness. It's like we're drowning in salvation. Just open your mouth, and take a sip. (Read Romans 5, Romans 10, & John 10:9)

Be God inside minded!

2011-03-30T12:36:00.000-07:00

Be God inside minded (I John 4:4). Don't think of God as if He is at a distance.

Eye God?

2011-03-30T12:28:00.000-07:00

Faith is based upon the integrity of the one you are basing your faith upon. If you doubt God, you are ineffect calling Him a liar, and that really ticks Him off. If you're doing this don't expect anything from God. Don't swing back and forth between what you see and what God says. If you believe what you see instead of God, your eyes have ineffect become your God.

Picture Prayer

2011-03-30T11:45:00.000-07:00

I will look to see what He will say to me. (Hab. 2:1c NIV) God's voice is usually visual. An idea in your mind. If you know the right channel, you can tune into pictures on your TV. God too speaks to us with mental pictures in our mind. It's not weird. In Psalm Asaph said, "Until I entered the sanctuary of God. Then I saw the whole picture: the slippery road you've put them on, with a final crash in a ditch of delusions (Psalm 73:16:17 MSG)." Satan does not counterfeit something that does not exist. Has anyone attempted to counterfeit a $4 bill? They can't because it doesn't exist. Biblical mediation is mediating on God and His word. Satanic mediating is mediating on something other than God. To see pictures,you must calm your mind down. You do this by calming your body down. Take 3 or 4 deep breaths. Blow out slowly. Clear your mind, so that you can listen. God talks to those who take the time to listen. Habakkuk climbed a tower and stood at His guard post just listening. Then, he told God his concerns and waited for God's response(Habakkuk 2:1). Moses said that you can find God if you will just search for Him with all your heart and soul (Deut. 4:29). Remember prayer is not a monolog. The purpose of prayer is not the acquistion of things, but to tune your heart to the voice of God. Pause to hear God's voice. Pauses are normal in any conversation. Inner calm is the intercom to God's voice within your heart. Take time to listen to God. God didn't put you on earth for you to just check off your to do list.(notes taken from Rick Warren)

Paper Prayers

2011-03-30T11:37:00.000-07:00

Start writing your prayers down. When you write them down you are praying them, when you read them you are praying them, and when you speak them you are praying them. This is called journaling, and is what David is doing in much of the Book of Psalm. People love to read journals, and learn from your mistakes. The shortest pencil is longer than the longest memory. Take a yellow piece of paper. Draw a line down the middle. One one side put what you said to God, and on the other side put what God said to you. Or... on one side put the prayer request and on the other side put the date the prayer was answered. This will build your faith. taken from Rick Warren notes)

How to Listen to God

2011-03-30T08:08:00.000-07:00

You must calm your mind down. You do this by calming your body down. Take 3 or 4 deep breaths. Blow out slowly. Clear your mind, so that you can listen. God talks to those who take the time to listen. Habakkuk climbed a tower and stood at His guard post just listening. Then, he told God his concerns and waited for God's response(Habakkuk 2:1). Moses said that you can find God if you will just search for Him with all your heart and soul (Deut. 4:29). Remember prayer is not a monolog. The purpose of prayer is not the acquistion of things, but to tune your heart to the voice of God. Pause to hear God's voice. Pauses are normal in any conversation. Inner calm is the intercom to God's voice within your heart. Take time to listen to God. God didn't put you on earth for you to just check off your to do list.(notes taken from Rick Warren)

Empty Water Jars

2011-03-29T18:37:00.000-07:00

Wine is a symbol of joy. Six is a number of a man. The six water pots are made of clay like people. The clay jars represented religious ceremonies, but Jesus would fill them with His Spirit. The servants drew out water from the well, which is a limitless source. He fulfills the requirements of the law. We should do whatever Jesus tells us that we should do like Jesus' mother told the servants. The servants know the inside workings of the house. Jesus uses servants to perform miracles. We must obey Jesus when it is unreasonable. Like the servants we don't have to understand to obey. When we obey Jesus miracles happen. Like the wine Jesus provides the best last. Satan provides his best first. (taken from notes from Adrian Rodges & John 2:1-11)

The Blind will See

2011-03-29T18:07:00.000-07:00

A sign is a miracle for the purpose of teaching. Spiritual blindness make beggars of us all. The blind need more than light to see. A miracle must occur before anyone can see. Clay speaks of our humanity that seals out the light. The pool's name means sent represents Jesus who is the only one sent to take away our darkness. Opened eyes can see the light, but they must learn to see. If you tell people what you don't know, they will believe you in what you do know. Light received increases light. Light refused increases darkness. (Read John 9 & these notes from Adrian Rodgers)

Impossible + Unreasonable + Jesus = Miracle

2011-03-29T17:51:00.000-07:00

The impossible plus the unreasonable plus Jesus equals a miracle. Jesus wants us to know and recognize the desperation of our situation without Him in the picture. We must give all that we have to Jesus. He doesn't ask us what we don't have, but what we do have. Jesus can transform what you transfer to him. I may be to big for Jesus to use, but never to small for Him to use. Jesus cares why we seek Him. Nothing comes to me that He does not cause or allow. God engineers situations to mature me. Faith is like film. It is best developed in the dark. Jesus waits for our darkest hour to reveal Himself to me. Don't forget who Jesus is, His presence, and His past benefits in connection with your present situation. The will of God will not take me where the grace of God will not keep me. Remember whatever is over my head is already under His feet. He does not promise smooth sailing, but a safe landing. Jesus takes full responsibility for any life totally surrendered to Him. (from the notes taken from Adrian Rodger and John 6:1-27)

2011-03-29T17:35:00.000-07:00

People grow old by deserting their ideas. I am as young as my faith, but as old as my doubt. (Adrian Rodgers)

A Good Spanking

2011-03-29T17:22:00.000-07:00

Bring your kid's friends into your home. Guard your kid's friendships. Don't put off a child who asks why. Correct consistency. The child must learn that he or she is not his or her own moral authority. When you spank, use a neutral object. Only spank as a last resort A good spanking should last for several years. If the child is still sullen, then you are not done with the spanking. Do not do it angry. Teach as you spank. Pray with the child after the spanking asking God for forgiveness for the child. Use creativity in training each individual child after their individual bent. Use Bible games. Christian magazines. Compellingly. (Notes from Adrian Rodgers)

Wisdom vs Knowledge

2011-03-29T17:19:00.000-07:00

Knowledge is learned, but wisdom is given. Wisdom is the way to apply knowledge. Wisdom is related to skill. I must surrender my wisdom to receive God's wisdom.(Adrian Rodgers)

Anger Defined

2011-03-29T17:12:00.000-07:00

Anger that stems from hatred of sin and love for the things that God loves is good. Unrighteous anger is centered upon a person and not upon a cause. We must focus on the sin and not the sinner.(Adrian Rodgers)

Lack of Faith is a Moral Problem

2011-03-29T17:04:00.000-07:00

Don't dictate how and when God will answer your prayers. Lack of faith is a moral problem. It is not you can't believe. It is that you will not believe. I can believe if I will believe. Faith is in response to God Himself. It is based upon the character and person of whom we are trusting. (Romans 10:14,17) If I rest in God's Word, we don't hurry, but we are resting in His promised future events. (Psalms 37, Psalm 23, and notes from Adrian Rodgers)

Lights in a Dark World

2011-03-29T16:58:00.000-07:00

Jesus is called the Word of God. Both have come from God. Both endure forever. Both are lights in a dark world. Both are truth. Both are alive and powerful. Both are spiritual seed. Who God is, and what He says are the same. (John 4:46-54 & notes from Adrian Rodgers)

Our Authority in Christ

2011-03-29T16:10:00.000-07:00

If I am in a barrel in the Mississippi River, I too am in the Mississippi River. If I am in Christ and Christ is at the right hand of God, then I too am at the right hand of God (Col. 3:1-3). In Luke 7:1-10, Jesus marveled at the centurion's statement. Then, I should pay close attention to what the centurion said. My amount of authority is determined by whose authority I am under. (I John 4:17) As He (Christ) is in the world, so are we in the world. I am united with Jesus in His death, resurrection, and ascension. If Satan and demons are subject to Jesus, they are subject to me. (I Peter 3:22) Since Jesus has all authority, His authority has to be obeyed. If you never know the restraint of the Holy Spirit, you will never know the force of the Holy Spirit. (Luke 4:11) Jesus was subject to the Holy Spirit, the Father, and civil authorities. If Jesus was subject to authority, who are we not to be subject to authority. Jesus gave us authority over all the power of the enemy. (Read John 17:4, Luke 2:51, Matt. 17:27, Luke 10:17-18, Heb. 2:8, 2 Peter 1:3, Romans 8:22-23) Even the devils are subject to us through Jesus' name. Kingdom authority must be appropriated by faith. We must be right with God to have it. We must pray from our position in Christ, which is from heaven to earth. Also, we are to speak what God has done in our lives (Rev. 12:11). To be even saved, we must surrender to Christ, which puts Him in control. Commitment allows us to stay in control. However, we must surrender complete control to have kingdom authority. In addition, we are sealed by the Holy Spirit, which is a legal seal for the transfer of property to God. We are owned by Christ. No man can break this agreement. (I Cor. 6:19, Eph. 1:13-14) (notes from Adrian Rodgers)

Faith Test

2011-03-29T16:06:00.000-07:00

What kind of faith do you have? Little Faith believes God can do it. Much Faith believes God will do it. Great Faith believes God has done it. (notes from Charles Stanley)

How to halt Satan in His Tracks

2011-03-29T15:46:00.000-07:00

Satan's strategy are schemes, tactics, or assaults upon a person for harm. He uses deceit and craft to make us believe something that is untrue to be true. Satan blinds the minds of the unbeliever. He redirects our attention from God to a specific need or desire. He gets you to focus on what you don't have, and forget what you do have. Satan narrows or pinpoints your thinking forgeting about future consequences and focus on immediate desires. He chooses our weakest moments such as when you are Hungry, Angry, Lonely, and Tired. (H + A + L + T = HALT) Do you know your weakest moments? Ask what were the conditions of your failures in the past? Satan works to get you to doubt God's word. He will get you to ask is this really what scripture means? He will get you to misinterpret and rationalize. Satan works to get you in debt. He tries to engage you into conversation. How to survive a Satanic attack. His attacks are well calculated. To go to battle, you've got to be able to identify the enemy. Stand firm. Don't debate with Satan. Get ready before the battle occurs. Satan opens doors of opportunity for tempting. He waits for the critical moments of our lives. I must pre-decide what God wants me to do. We must wear the Breastplate of righteousness which means to protect our hearts. We have to be careful what we allow in our heart. (notes from Charles Stanley)

Wise Heart

2011-03-29T15:42:00.000-07:00

A wise man stores up wisdom. Stay determined to walk in wisdom. We must learn to be sensitive to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. He can't protect me if I don't trust Him. (notes from Charles Stanley)

Anticipate God

2011-03-29T15:33:00.000-07:00

Look for God's presence throughout the day. Evaluate. How did He reveal His presence? God will draw you so close that sin will lose its appeal. Remember that God speaks consistently with His written word. He will wake you up at night, so expect it. If so, look for an idea, an answer to prayer, or direction. Anticipate it. Listen for when He is speaking. Write it down. He will draw you to a passage. He will give your strength. Get on your knees. Tell Him that I need to feel your presence. He will be with you during trials. (notes from Charles Stanley)

How does God Think?

2011-03-29T15:26:00.000-07:00

Ask in scripture how does God think? Why did He act this way? Did He do this in someone else's life? Is this a principle in scripture that I can claim? (notes from Charles Stanley)

Holy Spirit Praying

2011-03-29T13:45:00.000-07:00

Don't focus prayer on requests, but in your personal, intimate relationship with God. The Holy Spirit prays through us as we surrender to His leadership. Don't stifle the Spirit, but let Him lead. Ask, make me sensitive to what is really going on around me. The Holy Spirit interprets out prayers by asking the Father to meet our real needs. He changes our petition to match God's plan. He reveals to us what our real need is. Ask in prayer for your needs to be provided, or to change your perception of your needs to match His will. Each answer to prayer is one more brick in your foundation of Faith. The Holy Spirit clarifies the will of God. He straightens out our prayers, so that God will answer prayer as if we would ask if we knew all that He knows. The Holy Spirit teaches us God's mind. Convicts us of sin. He helps us escape from sin. He sounds the sin alarm (John 16:7). Confirms the payment by Christ's blood. He recharges us when we are spiritually and emotionally drained. He is our moral compass. He lives in us the life that God knew that we never could alone. (taken from notes from Charles Stanley)

Adversity's Divine Purpose

2011-03-29T13:28:00.000-07:00

God has a divine purpose even if we bring it upon ourselves. (Rom. 8:28) Adversity gets my attention. The more self-sufficiency bring on more adversity. We determine the amount of ad- versity. God's purpose for us is to deal with our pride, cause us to hate sin, remind us of our indecency. 1. View everything comes through God no matter what. 2. Pray asking God for His goal in the adversity. 3. Surrender to the unknown will of God. 4. Rest in God's trustworthiness. (notes from Charles Stanley)

Keeping your Kids

2011-03-29T11:46:00.000-07:00

Never alienate your children relationally. Stay involved and in tune, so you will not lose your influence. Build accountability to God for your children. Teach children to practice God's presence and listen to His voice. Their friends determine the direction and quality of the their lives. Ask how am I influencing the people in my child's lives? He who walks with wise men will be wise. (notes from Andy Stanley)

Break Loose

2011-03-29T11:38:00.000-07:00

If I continually serve myself, I eventually will be by myself. When we decide to serve, we break the hold of selfishness. (notes from Andy Stanley)

People with Secrets

2011-03-29T11:33:00.000-07:00

People with secrets can't get right with God. We over react in the area of our secret. We expect punishment for our secrets. God is not a God that delights in judgment, but in deliverance. (notes from Andy Stanley)

Hot Passion

2011-03-29T11:18:00.000-07:00

To covet is to hotly pursue what I want. The problem is that I'm not getting what I want. We are a combination of appetites, which cannot be fully satisfied. They are unquenchable, and cannot be fulfilled. Pause. Say, I'm not getting my way. Ask Jesus with the same fervency that you seek in the world to obtain the desire. Channel it into Him. Unload on Him. Don't pray politely. He may say no, but He can handle it. Learn to take no for an answer. If something is important to you, it will be important to Him. Go to Him. He is the only one who can do something about it. If you have offended someone, say I know what's part of the problem. It's that I'm not getting my way. (notes from Andy Stanley)

Pay Back

2011-03-29T11:06:00.000-07:00

Forgiveness is a debt, and a debt is something that has been taken from you. You may say that someone owes you an apology, but to forgive is a gift. Forgiveness does not make sense as long as you do not understand the forgiveness provided to you by God through Christ. Identify who you are angry with. Determine what was taken from you. Decide to cancel that debt without being asked. Use 3 by 5 cards by jotting down what people owe you. Do something to signify the debt is cancelled. When painful thoughts come back, say no to them because that debt is cancelled. Then, focus on the debt that was cancelled for you. An apology from that person will not payback what was taken from you. Neither can we pay God back.(notes from Andy Stanley)

Over the Edge?

2011-03-29T09:22:00.000-07:00

Culture baits us to the edge, and then mocks us when we go over it. If married, don't chat on line with members of the opposite sex. Don't have lunch or dinner with members of the opposite sex. Don't drive in the car alone with a member of the opposite sex. Men allow your wives to screen your assistant. If you are uncomfortable with someone in the office, tell your spouse who they are and their name. Don't confide in a member of the opposite sex with personal problems. (Andy Stanley sermon notes)

Financial Margin

2011-03-29T09:14:00.000-07:00

Financial Margin is cash sources minus cash usage. We must keep lifestyle in check (Luke 15:11) Figure out annual income. Income equals debt payment plus intake equals available income. Set some margin goals with what % you would like to save for the future and giving away. Set a giving goal. Giving goal minus savings goal plus available income equals consumable monthly income Come up with a plan. How do we get to a place of margin? Track where your money is going. It's not your money. Be a % giver and saver. Debt eliminiation and lifestyle go to the bottom line. Rank 1. God 2. Future. 3. Gov't 4. Debt 5. Me.(Sermon notes from Andy Stanley)

Making Margin

2011-03-29T08:45:00.000-07:00

Margin is the amount available beyond what we actually need. Margin is the space between what I actually have, and what I have to have. Stress levels go up with margin. When margin decreases, stress increases. Our focus narrows. We are more self absorbed. We have less room for error. Our relationships suffer. Relationships take place in the margins. Intimancy goes away. Why don't we create margin? We are afraid of missed opportunities. We try to keep up with others. We don't want our kids to fall behind other kids. We are afraid that we might not matter. Giving up personal margin is a recipe for failure. God creates us with limits. We can only be in one place at a time. We are relational beings. We are born from a relationship. We are to have a lifestyle that cultivates relationships. Sabbaths because we shall not pack our schedules full. The year of Jubilee is for one year not to plant. Tithe for thou shall not spend all your money. We know God in the margin. We must create space, and develop a sustainable lifestyle. When margins are squeezed in, God gets squeezed out. Surrender to God your schedule, and give God your fears. Time is limited. All time is going to be spent. Our lives are winding down. Someone will determine how our limited time will be spent. Important things get replaced by urgent things. Say to God that I will surrender my life and time for God knows how much I have left. Every single day matters. Days are numbered for the wise in heart. (Ps. 90:12) Prioritize accordingly. Ask what is the wise thing to do? Wisdom will lead to margin. When we prioritize correctly, this increases capacity. When you put things in the right order, capacity increases. (Matthew 6:33) Make God 1st in your time and money. Force margin. I'm not really good at a whole lot of things. When I'm doing what I am good at, I accomplish a lot. Of all the things I'm asked to do, I am only good at a couple of things. Discover what I do well, and focus on it. Then, delgate your weaknesses. Write down your idea job description. (Sermon notes from Andy Stanley)

Principle of the Path

2011-03-29T08:41:00.000-07:00

How foolish to choose a path if you have not examined where the path will ultimately lead. Every path has a predetermined destination. Stop and evaluate. Look where you are heading and where it will ultimately lead. Listen to wise observers. Learn from the scriptures about others who have taken the paths previously. (Andy Stanley)

What is Right?

2011-03-29T08:38:00.000-07:00

Generally, we know what is right, but this is about doing what is right. When you are tested, and there is a decison to be made. (Andy Stanley)

Match Game

2011-03-29T08:30:00.000-07:00

Are your concerns matching up with the things that concern God? God is concerned with the eternal destiny of others. Ask what must God take from me to teach me to think like Him? (Andy Stanley)

Burn or Build

2011-03-29T08:26:00.000-07:00

Asking advice honors others. Compliment often. Exhort sparingly. Thank specifically. Brag on others publicly. Words burn or build. (Andy Stanley)

Effective Speaking

2011-03-29T08:21:00.000-07:00

1. Stop and think before speaking. 2. Don't speak to win an argument. 3. Don't say everything because it is true. 4. Speak for the benefit of others. 5. You can't honor God with your words if you dishonor others with your words. 6. Honor your wives so your prayers will not be hindered. (1 Peter 3:7)(Andy Stanley)

Voice of Influence

2011-03-29T08:15:00.000-07:00

What you listen to will influence what you do. What you don't want to hear is generally what you need to hear. The voice of the many generally cannot be trusted. We have been shaped by the words that have been spoken into our lives. (Andy Stanley) Don't let any unwholesome word come out of your mouth, but only what is helpful for building up others. According to their needs that it may benefit those who listen. (Eph. 4:29)

Sensitvity to Truth

2011-03-29T08:01:00.000-07:00

Eyes tune your body into your environment. (Good eye = Clear) A good eye is a body accurately informed by it's environment. (Bad eye = pornea) Be careful that what comes into your eyes are not impure. What comes into your eyes influences your sensitivity to truth. Walk in the light to understand darkness. If you want to understand sin, don't sin. Look at things that honor God. You won't miss out on anything good. You'll stay informed. Ask what do you have to unplug or change? (Andy Stanley)

How to Understand

2011-03-29T07:51:00.000-07:00

Focus on Jesus and you'll see everyone else more clearly because Jesus is the light of the world. (John 8:12) The higher the light the brighter the light. Light reveals the entire room. The more that you focus on Jesus' Lordship of your life the brighter His light will become. Light reveals truth, which increases understanding. Therefore, focusing on Jesus' Lorship of your life increases your understanding.

Pursuit of Life

2011-03-29T07:48:00.000-07:00

The direction of your eyes determine the direction of your life. What do you gaze at? What you look at determines what you pursue... Andy Stanley

Your True Love

2011-03-29T07:46:00.000-07:00

What do you desire and love? Look at your checkbook. This is where your treasure is... Andy Stanley