Valor: Do not let that be us!

Notes: Valor: Do not let that be us!

Galatians 1

Pastor Adam

9/29/15

There is no power on this planet that is as powerful as the Gospel.

Romans 1:16 NKJV

[16] For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.

Acts 1:8 NKJV

[8] But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."

The Gospel is powered by the Holy Spirit.

We all receive the gospel by people telling us.

Paul's whole mission was that people would know and share the gospel.

Paul was willing to give up his own salvation just to be able to share the gospel.

Galatians 1:1-10 NKJV

[1] Paul, an apostle (not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead), [2] and all the brethren who are with me, To the churches of Galatia: [3] Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, [4] who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, [5] to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. [6] I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, [7] which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. [8] But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. [9] As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. [10] For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.

The book of Galatians is a book about the gospel. It explains the gospel, wha it is and what it is all about.

Galatians 1:3-5 NKJV

[3] Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, [4] who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, [5] to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

This is all Gods will, Paul is writing to convey the teachings of God.

Paul is clearing up the fact that there is no other gospel. That no one should follow any other teachings.

Judiazers were attacking Pauls credentials because they were attacking the power of the Gospel.

Galatians 1:6 NKJV

[6] I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel,

Galatians 3:1 NKJV

[1] O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified?

                                                  

Paul does not tolerate people messing with the true gospel. Paul wants the power of God in the churches he planted.

There are three mistakes we see in this writing that we also can make.

1. We make the mistake of adding to the gospel.

Many of us change from the one who saved us to the actions of an outward appearance of righteousness.

Paul is calling the Galatians out on leaving Jesus out of their faith.

If we study but don't grow closer to Jesus then we are deserting Him for our works.

We don't do our homework to impress our group leader, but to grow closer to Jesus.

2. We use the Gospel to cover us on sins we do after we are saved. (Sinning more just so grace may abound... Is not acceptable)

Do not take advantage of the Gospel. It needs to invade your life, not cover you tracks.

3. We can misunderstand the gospel.

It's not just about good morals and conveying comfort it is so much more.

The gospel is the Good News of Jesus Christ.

The gospel is the greatest news you will ever hear. You need to focus on that.

The gospel is the power of God to deliver salvation and that is all about Christ.

If you can approach the gospel and not think about Jesus, then you are doing it wrong.

Do not let that be you!

The Importance of Prayer in the Life of the Believer

Notes: The Importance of Prayer in the Life of the Believer

Ephesians 6

Luke 11

SPEAKER:

Greg Laurie

WORSHIP TEAM:

Harvest Worship Band

SERIES:

What Every Growing Christian Needs to Know

Thursday, September 24, 2015 — 7:00 p.m.

Every believer should acknowledge that there is a long way to go. We all need to keep growing spiritually.

Some start their Christian race with a burst of energy and succeed and some fail.

We make our choices and then our choices make us.

It all comes down to discipline.

Planned neglect.

2 Timothy 2:22 NKJV

[22] Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

If you want to be a growing Christian:

1. You must read, study and love the word of God.

Joshua 1:8 NKJV

[8] This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

2. To be a growing Christian, you must have a prayer life.

Ephesians 6:18 NKJV

[18] praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints-

Pray always with all prayer.

We should pray all ways and always.

The Lord hears all prayers anywhere and everywhere.

You don't have a better chance of being heard in certain places.

The main thing is praying always.

Daniel 6:10 NKJV

[10] Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.

Nehemiah 2:5 NKJV

[5] And I said to the king, "If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, I ask that you send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers' tombs, that I may rebuild it."

Some times we have time for prayer, other times we only have time for a quick prayer.

1. Why should I pray?

Jesus told us too.

Luke 18:1 NKJV

[1] Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart,

John 11:41-43 NKJV

[41] Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, "Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. [42] And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me." [43] Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come forth!"

Jesus was a great role model for us about how to pray.

Do not give up in your prayer.

2. We should pray because prayer is Gods appointed means for obtaining things.

James 4:2 NKJV

[2] You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask.

3. Prayer is the way by which God helps to overcome our anxiety and worry.

Philippians 4:6 NKJV

[6] Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;

Turn your worries into prayers.

4. Prayer is one of the ways in which we can prepare ourselves for Jesus coming.

When you pray about something God may say no, grow or go.

If the request is wrong, God says no.

If the time is wrong God says slow.

If you are wrong God says grow.

The Lords Prayer is not just a prayer to pray, but it is also a template of how to pray.

Luke 11:1-4 NKJV

[1] Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples." [2] So He said to them, "When you pray, say: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. [3] Give us day by day our daily bread. [4] And forgive us our sins, For we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one."

Contemplate the awesomeness of God.

A.C.T.S.

Adoration

Confession

Thanksgiving

Supplication

The secret to answered prayers:

1. You must pray according to the will of God.

Never be afraid to ask God to overrule your prayer.

The objective of prayer is to get into alignment with God.

1 John 5:14 NKJV

[14] Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.

Nothing lies outside the reach of God, but there is a lot outside of the will of God.

With a big God we have small problems!

2 we must surrender to the will of God.

3. We must forgive others.

Luke 11:4 NKJV

[4] And forgive us our sins, For we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one."

Forgiven people should be forgiving people.

Matthew 5:23-24 NKJV

[23] Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, [24] leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

Right now, are you harboring a grudge towards someone?

The person getting hurt in holding a grudge is the person with the grudge.

Ephesians 4:32 NKJV

[32] And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

4. As much as you can, stay out of the place of temptation.

Luke 11:4 NKJV

[4] And forgive us our sins, For we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one."

5. Don't give up!

Luke 11:5-10 NKJV

[5] And He said to them, "Which of you shall have a friend, and go to him at midnight and say to him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves; [6] for a friend of mine has come to me on his journey, and I have nothing to set before him'; [7] and he will answer from within and say, 'Do not trouble me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give to you'? [8] I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs. [9] "So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. [10] For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.

Ask, Seek, Knock! Don't give up!

Luke 11:9 NKJV

[9] "So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

Ask- implies requesting

Seek - denotes asking but adds action.

Knock - adds persevering.

Maybe your prayer has no power in it because it has no heart in it.

Do you really know how to pray?

Valor - Letters to Live By Introduction

Notes: Valor - Letters to Live by Introduction

September 22, 2015

Harvest OC

First night

Greg is challenging us all to come to every Valor Men's Study.

We will worship, then listen to a pastor teach and then break into small groups every Tuesday.

We are going through the epistles of Paul while in prison, plus Ephesians.

We are all called to be experts on the Bible, to strive to know the Word and their truths.

We are going to study the word and what that means to us, and how to live it out.

When we study we need to listen to how it speaks to us, it's not homework. We need to listen to how it leads us.

These books are written to guide us. Paul's words are written to liberate the people.

Jesus is the greatest liberator that has ever lived. He has freed us from sins and death.

Jesus will speak to us from the thrones of Heaven and in our hearts.

We will see how Jesus is the deity of God, and how He is a servant to man.

We will get to see a high view of Jesus. Ephesians, Colossians, Philippians and 2 Timothy.

We have started this race tonight but we are called to finish our spiritual race well.

Some of us here are excited and grounded in the Lord; others are here in need and desperation.

God will meet all of our needs.