Provoking Children?

John MacArthur, "Successful Christian Parenting", 1998 ~ "Parents, take inventory in your own hearts. Do you thirst for God as the deer pants after the water? Or is your own life sending your children a message of hypocrisy and spiritual indifference? Is our own commitment to Christ what you hope to see in your children’s lives? Is your obedience to His Word the same kind of submission you long to see from your own kids? These are crucial questions each parent must face if we really want to be successful parents and good role models for our children. Parents who are lax in these areas virtually guarantee that their sons and daughters will fail spiritually."

Ephesians 6:4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

Colossians 3:21 Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.

Right and Almost Right

"Discernment is not a matter of simply telling the difference between right and wrong; rather it is telling the difference between right and almost right." ~ C.H. Spurgeon. 

God's Word is absolute. We need to know it so well that we can pick out even the smallest lie. Beware of mixing traditions, philosophy, opinion, and preferences with God's Word.

2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.

Godly Counsel

Thankful for the counsel of God's Word and those He places in my life to give godly counsel. Times of trial serve to bring me closer to Him... not to drive me away. And, yes, at times my flesh and heart fails just as the Psalmist David's did, but God is my strength. The trial simply provides me another opportunity to proclaim His working in my life.

Psalm 73:24-26, 28 - Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. 25 Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. 26 My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever. 28 But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all thy works.

Ministry Passion

Many of you wonder what we do in our ministry. In this past Sunday night's message Dan shared our ministry testimony and focus. The title of the message is: "Don't Believe a Lie". Hopefully this will help you understand why were are so passionate about it. 

 

 

Sermon download page of www.churchhelps.org. All sermons are in mp3 format.

Know the Word...

Spiritual discernment is a powerful resource to keep you from falling into the clutches of a false teacher. Bible study and memorization are the tools that will increase your spiritual discernment. You must know Scripture; it must become a part of you. 

Weigh the words of those that teach and preach to you from God's Word. This would include Sunday school teachers, Bible study leaders, small group leaders, mentors, counselors, radio and television "preachers" not just pastors and evangelists standing in the pulpit.

1. Do they add opinions or preferences? 
2. Do they add traditions? 
3. Do they add popular worldly thoughts, beliefs, or ideas? 
4. Do they twist God's Word to make it say something it does not?
5. Do they fail to teach the "whole counsel" by leaving things out?

If so, you may have discovered a false teacher... a wolf in sheep's clothing.

1 John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

Forgive

Forgive. As a word it is a transitive verb meaning: 1) it shows action, and 2) it must have a direct object, or someone or something to receive the action. Forgiveness requires that we cease to feel resentment toward someone, to give up a claim of wrong, or that we grant relief from some sort of payment. Forgiveness is not a natural action for our flesh. However, the Bible is clear on matters of forgiveness. We do not need to wait to forgive. We do not need to be asked by someone to forgive. We simply must FORGIVE. To not forgive is to tread upon the blood of our Savior.

Colossians 3:13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

Luke 6:36 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. 37 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:

More than Book Learnin'

Wisdom is more than book learnin' although that is part of it. A good education is not to be discounted. But wisdom also includes the ability to discern inner qualities and relationships. It is the ability to perceive right from wrong, true and untrue. It is the ability to make good decisions. That is where Bible study comes in. Wisdom is the combination of knowledge (education), insight (Bible study) and judgment (good sense). Don't neglect Bible study; it is a vital part in gaining wisdom.

Proverbs 4:5 Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. 7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. 13 Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life.

WHY?  Proverbs 4:

6 Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee. 

 

8 Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her. 

 

9 She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee. 

 

12 When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble. 

 

22 For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.