What Do You Live For?

Notes: What Do You Live For?

Greg Laurie

Series: Happiness

Thursday, March 16, 2017

Philippians 1:21–26

Music: Harvest Worship Band

Is it an alarm clock or a calling that gets you up in the morning?

1. There are some who say that "to live is to live"

2. Some would say "to live is for pleasure"

Living for pleasure is one of the least pleasurable things to do.

Some would "live to get even."

3. Some "live for possessions"

You have never seen a hurse pulling a trailer.

4. Some "live to acquire knowledge."

If you forget God in your pursuit of knowledge then you have learned nothing.

What are you passionate about?

Only those who are prepared to die are ready to live.

To live is Christ, to die is gain.

The theme of the book of Philippians is happiness and joy.

Paul wrote this book while on house arrest.

Philippians 1:12-18 ESV

[12] I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, [13] so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. [14] And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. [15] Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. [16] The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. [17] The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. [18] What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice,

Guard by guard they were coming to Christ.

1. When you live for Christ, you will accept Gods will for your life.

Philippians 1:12 ESV

[12] I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel,

You are where you are because God wants you there right now.

Philippians 1:14 ESV

[14] And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

Examples of evangelism can spark more evangelism.

2. When you live for Christ, you will be a person of prayer.

Philippians 1:9-11 ESV

[9] And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, [10] so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, [11] filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

Paul prays they grow in love and discernment.

Some people are discerning but not loving, others are loving and not discerning.

A mark of real love is that you love your Christian brothers and sisters.

Romans 5:5 NLT

[5] And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

2. Paul prays that we would grow in knowledge.

Real spirituality is practical.

The first century Christians changed the world.

Death for a Christian, is a promotion, graduation, coronation.

When you live for Christ, then you are not afraid to die.

2 Corinthians 5:1-3 NLT

[1] For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands. [2] We grow weary in our present bodies, and we long to put on our heavenly bodies like new clothing. [3] For we will put on heavenly bodies; we will not be spirits without bodies.

When you live for Christ, one day you will be with Him in Heaven.

If we train people to be consumers instead of commuters, then we will get customers not disciples.

Philippians 1:23 NLT

[23] I'm torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me.

All our questions will be answered in Heaven.

1 Corinthians 13:12 NLT

[12] Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.

Most importantly, you will be home with Christ.

Philippians 1:21-26 ESV

[21] For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. [22] If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. [23] I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. [24] But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. [25] Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, [26] so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.

To live is Christ, to die is gain.

Our Father

Notes: Our Father
Pastor Adam Eaton
March 2, 2017
Harvest OC
Mathew 6:9

Learning how to pray.

Being out in God's creation seems to point us towards his creation. We just feel small in awe of creation.

Most people feel that they don't pray enough.

The message tonight: The reason we don't pray enough is that we forget who we are praying too.

Matthew 6:5-8 ESV
[5] "And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. [6] But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. [7] "And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. [8] Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

Matthew 6:9-13 ESV
[9] Pray then like this: "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. [10] Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. [11] Give us this day our daily bread, [12] and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. [13] And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

God wants His people to remember what He has done for them.

Yet we tend to forget what God has done for us.

1. We don't pray because we forget God is God. (And we are not)

God is eternal.

Psalm 90:2 ESV
[2] Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

God is unchangeable.

James 1:17 ESV
[17] Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

God is all knowing.

Psalm 139:1 ESV
[1] O LORD, you have searched me and known me!

God is ever present.

Jeremiah 32:27 ESV
[27] "Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is anything too hard for me?

There is nothing too small or too large for God to handle.

We can know all kind of information about God without knowing God.

Ephesians 2:1-3 ESV
[1] And you were dead in the trespasses and sins [2] in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience- [3] among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.

Ephesians 4:17-24 ESV
[17] Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. [18] They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. [19] They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. [20] But that is not the way you learned Christ!- [21] assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, [22] to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, [23] and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, [24] and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

That is what you once were. Now you are saved.

The longer you walk with the Lord the more you are susceptible to believing the enemy in thinking you got this all by yourself. The more you think you got this, the more you rely on yourself and try to be god.

God is God and He has saved you to this life.

Remember who God is.

When you stop preaching the Gospel to yourself you forget who God is.

2. We forget who we pray to when we don't relate to the fact that God is the Father.

Galatians 4:7 ESV
[7] So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.

God has brought us into His family.

Many relate God to their earthly father, and we were let down by that father.

We don't serve a Father that is abusive. 

God is the one who sets the standard.

God loves when His children talk to Him.

Ephesians 2:4-10 ESV
[4] But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, [5] even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ-by grace you have been saved- [6] and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, [7] so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. [8] For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, [9] not a result of works, so that no one may boast. [10] For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

God did it all. He saved you.

Do We God identity or Self Identity

Notes:
Pastor Justin Hoeppner
Coast Hills
February 19, 2017
Hebrew 10:35 -11:3,6

Hebrews 10:35-39 ESV
[35] Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. [36] For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. [37] For, "Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay; [38] but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him." [39] But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.

Hebrews 11:1-3 ESV
[1] Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. [2] For by it the people of old received their commendation. [3] By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.

Hebrews 11:6 ESV
[6] And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

Do we God identity or self identity?

What is my faith if it costs me absolutely nothing? Then what's it worth.

Faith is always about more than just believing. Trusting in God.

Hebrews 10:35-36 ESV
[35] Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. [36] For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.

We learn that when we live with God, it is a journey. It is a journey of constant trust.

We need endurance. Drop your anchor in faith and hold onto it.

1 Timothy 1:18-19 ESV
[18] This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, [19] holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith,

This requires us to be alive in our faith and wage the good warfare. 

Our battle is spiritual and our response is faith and a good conscience.

Proverbs 4:23 ESV
[23] Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.

Fix your heart, fix your life.

The Spirit is willing, the flesh is weak.

Every opportunity is a chance for faith, growth or not.

We can no longer walk with faith as inward belief.

Hebrews 10:37-38 ESV
[37] For, "Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay; [38] but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him."

Hebrews 10:39 ESV
[39] But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.

We are called to believe that God is who He says He is.

Hebrews 11:1-3 ESV
[1] Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. [2] For by it the people of old received their commendation. [3] By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.

Romans 4:17-23 ESV
[17] as it is written, "I have made you the father of many nations"-in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. [18] In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, "So shall your offspring be." [19] He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah's womb. [20] No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, [21] fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. [22] That is why his faith was "counted to him as righteousness." [23] But the words "it was counted to him" were not written for his sake alone,

Maybe circumstances are the need for us to drop our anchor deeper in faith.

Psalm 63:1-4 ESV
[1] O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. [2] So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory. [3] Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. [4] So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands.

Selah: Hebrews 11:1 ESV
[1] Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

The Danger of the Compromised Life

Notes: The Danger of the Compromised Life
World Changers 
Greg Laurie
World Changers
Sunday, February 5, 2017
Hebrews 11, Exodus 5
Music: Harvest Worship Band

Prior to knowing Jesus Christ, we are under the power of the devil and held captive by him.

The devil is a liar and he ripped us off. He makes us think he doesn't exist. 

Accepting Jesus is the greatest event in our lives.

It has been said "Conversion has made our hearts a battlefield."

Faith and fear can not coexist.

Hebrews 11:27 ESV
[27] By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible.

Because Moses had faith, he did not have fear. Moses kept his eyes on God.

Exodus 5:1-3 ESV
[1] Afterward Moses and Aaron went and said to Pharaoh, "Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, 'Let my people go, that they may hold a feast to me in the wilderness.'" [2] But Pharaoh said, "Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, and moreover, I will not let Israel go." [3] Then they said, "The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Please let us go a three days' journey into the wilderness that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God, lest he fall upon us with pestilence or with the sword."

Moses confronted Pharaoh, let my people go.

Ever think you are doing the will of God and all the doors shut in your face?

Moses does not backdown!

Exodus 7:10-13 ESV
[10] So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and did just as the LORD commanded. Aaron cast down his staff before Pharaoh and his servants, and it became a serpent. [11] Then Pharaoh summoned the wise men and the sorcerers, and they, the magicians of Egypt, also did the same by their secret arts. [12] For each man cast down his staff, and they became serpents. But Aaron's staff swallowed up their staffs. [13] Still Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he would not listen to them, as the LORD had said.

God brings 10 judgments against the Egyptians.

Satan is not the equal of God. He is powerful but no where close to God.

One of the devils most effective tactics is imitation.

Just because someone says they are Christian does not mean they are. We can only see their actions, not their heart.

Whoever said sin made sense?
Bottom-line: Sin makes you stupid.

Plague 1: Nile turns to blood.

The Nile river was regarded as a God to the Egyptian people.

Anything that replaces God in your life can be considered a God to you.

Exodus 7:23 ESV
[23] Pharaoh turned and went into his house, and he did not take even this to heart.

Plague 2: Frogs
Exodus 8:1-4 ESV
[1] Then the LORD said to Moses, "Go in to Pharaoh and say to him, 'Thus says the LORD, "Let my people go, that they may serve me. [2] But if you refuse to let them go, behold, I will plague all your country with frogs. [3] The Nile shall swarm with frogs that shall come up into your house and into your bedroom and on your bed and into the houses of your servants and your people, and into your ovens and your kneading bowls. [4] The frogs shall come up on you and on your people and on all your servants."'"

Egyptians worshipped frogs.

When the frogs were dead, the land stank.

Pharaoh hardened his heart.

Exodus 8:15 ESV
[15] But when Pharaoh saw that there was a respite, he hardened his heart and would not listen to them, as the LORD had said.

Exodus 10:1 ESV
[1] Then the LORD said to Moses, "Go in to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart and the heart of his servants, that I may show these signs of mine among them,

After Pharaoh kept hardening his heart, God then strengthened Pharaoh in hardening his heart.

Even when people see miracles they won't believe.

Our sign to the lost world is that Jesus died and came back to life.

How does one get a hardened heart? The continual exposure to the word of God and rejecting it over and over again.

The same sun that softens the wax, hardens the clay.

Plague 3: Gnats

Exodus 8:25-28 ESV
[25] Then Pharaoh called Moses and Aaron and said, "Go, sacrifice to your God within the land." [26] But Moses said, "It would not be right to do so, for the offerings we shall sacrifice to the LORD our God are an abomination to the Egyptians. If we sacrifice offerings abominable to the Egyptians before their eyes, will they not stone us? [27] We must go three days' journey into the wilderness and sacrifice to the LORD our God as he tells us." [28] So Pharaoh said, "I will let you go to sacrifice to the LORD your God in the wilderness; only you must not go very far away. Plead for me."

Pharaoh was trying to get Moses to compromise.

Compromise never works.

2 Corinthians 6:14-15 NLT
[14] Don't team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness? [15] What harmony can there be between Christ and the devil? How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever?

Exodus 10:10-11 NKJV
[10] Then he said to them, "The LORD had better be with you when I let you and your little ones go! Beware, for evil is ahead of you. [11] Not so! Go now, you who are men, and serve the LORD, for that is what you desired." And they were driven out from Pharaoh's presence.

Did you know the devil wants your kids?

He can't have them if you raise your children up in the way of the Lord.

Drawing your kids to Christ, requires that they see your life modeled in the way of the Lord.

Glorifying God Together Through Outreach

Notes: Glorifying God Together Through Outreach

Pastor Chet Lowe

2 Kings 4, Luke 4, John 4

January 29, 2017

Coast Hills Community Church

Outreach is not a program to teach, outreach is a person to understand.

Acts 2:5-12 ESV

[5] Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. [6] And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. [7] And they were amazed and astonished, saying, "Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? [8] And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? [9] Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, [10] Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, [11] both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians-we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God." [12] And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "What does this mean?"

Jesus' custom was to go to church every week.

Luke 4:16-22 ESV

[16] And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. [17] And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written, [18] "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, [19] to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." [20] And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. [21] And he began to say to them, "Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing." [22] And all spoke well of him and marveled at the gracious words that were coming from his mouth. And they said, "Is not this Joseph's son?"

Jesus's mission was to preach the Gospel. He pronounced His mission. He then a few months later empowered His disciples to go preach the Gospel.

Luke 4:21 ESV

[21] And he began to say to them, "Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing."

Today this scripture is also being fulfilled.

Galatians 2:20 ESV

[20] I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Jesus is now in you and He is using your body to do His mission.

Jesus wants to use us.

Acts 10:19-21 ESV

[19] And while Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, "Behold, three men are looking for you. [20] Rise and go down and accompany them without hesitation, for I have sent them." [21] And Peter went down to the men and said, "I am the one you are looking for. What is the reason for your coming?"

Jesus didn't go to Cornelius, He sent Peter.

No longer are we raising our children in Jerusalem, we are raising our children in Babylon. Today may be different but Jesus is still on the move.

Where sin abounds, grace abounds even more.

Proverbs 11:30 ESV

[30] The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and whoever captures souls is wise.

We need to let good deeds define us.

2 Kings 4:32-37 ESV

[32] When Elisha came into the house, he saw the child lying dead on his bed. [33] So he went in and shut the door behind the two of them and prayed to the LORD. [34] Then he went up and lay on the child, putting his mouth on his mouth, his eyes on his eyes, and his hands on his hands. And as he stretched himself upon him, the flesh of the child became warm. [35] Then he got up again and walked once back and forth in the house, and went up and stretched himself upon him. The child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes. [36] Then he summoned Gehazi and said, "Call this Shunammite." So he called her. And when she came to him, he said, "Pick up your son." [37] She came and fell at his feet, bowing to the ground. Then she picked up her son and went out.

1. We need to be a people who see.

We need the eyes to see all the [spiritually] dead people around us.

2 Kings 4:32 ESV

[32] When Elisha came into the house, he saw the child lying dead on his bed.

God had been setting this woman up to see the power of God.

Jesus is about bringing spiritually dead people to life!

2. We need to be people who pray.

2 Kings 4:33 ESV

[33] So he went in and shut the door behind the two of them and prayed to the LORD.

We are not saving people... The Holy Spirit is doing all the hard work.

3. We need to be people of action.

2 Kings 4:34 ESV

[34] Then he went up and lay on the child, putting his mouth on his mouth, his eyes on his eyes, and his hands on his hands. And as he stretched himself upon him, the flesh of the child became warm.

Elisha believed that God was in the business of bringing people back to life.

Romans 1:16 ESV

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

The Gospel is simple and it is powerful.

John 4:35 ESV

[35] Do you not say, 'There are yet four months, then comes the harvest'? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest.

You have to look up so you can see all the spiritually dead people around you and Jesus can do His work through you.

Jesus sent His disciples to Samaria, not for food but to see the people who needed Jesus.

Jesus doesn't send you to work for your career, He sends you to do His work.

You don't need an evangelism class, you need to let people know what Jesus did for you..."I once was blind and now I see."

Jesus loved and enjoyed people. It's His job to save them, it's our job to love them.

4. We need to be people who endure.

We are in a race against time.

1 Corinthians 9:24 ESV

[24] Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.

5. We need to be people who rejoice!

2 Kings 4:35b-37 ESV

[35]b The child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes. [36] Then he summoned Gehazi and said, "Call this Shunammite." So he called her. And when she came to him, he said, "Pick up your son." [37] She came and fell at his feet, bowing to the ground. Then she picked up her son and went out.

This child is now alive. The woman, didn't say, "all he did was sneeze" she was amazed the boy is alive.