July/23/ 2017
Psalm 119:105 “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.”
4. It opens our eyes
verse 12-13 “A man named Ananias came to see me. He was a devout observer of the law and highly respected by all the Jews living there. 13 He stood beside me and said, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight!’ And at that very moment I was able to see him.”
APPLICATION:
3 things I must do with God’s word.
1. I must accept it’s authority.
Proverbs 30:5 “Every word of God is flawless.”
Psalm 119:96 “Nothing is perfect except Your word.”
2. I must assimilate it’s truth.
Psalm 119:11 “I will hide his word in my heart…”
Psalm 119:97 “How I love Your teachings, I think about them all day long.”
3. I must apply it’s principles.
John 13:17 “Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.”
James 1:22-25 “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.
PRAYER:
God let your word get in me and change me and help me to get your word to others.
July/16/ 2017
SOAP
Week 3
Acts 15
SCRIPTURE:
Acts 15:36-41 “Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the believers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing.” 37 Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, 38 but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. 39 They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, 40 but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the believers to the grace of the Lord. 41 He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.”
verse 39 “They had a sharp disagreement”
OBSERVATION:
Conflict happens, even among Christians
1. Unresolved conflict hinders your peace
Psalm 55:12-14 “If an enemy were insulting me, I could endure it; if a foe were rising against me, I could hide. 13 But it is you, a man like myself, my companion, my close friend, 14 with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship at the house of God,
as we walked about among the worshipers.”
2. Unresolved conflict hinders your prayer
Matthew 11:24 "Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it and it will be yours."
Verse 25 "and when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive your sins."
Matthew 5:23-24 "So if you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the Temple and suddenly you remember that someone has something against you, leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God."
3. Unresolved conflict hinders your progress
Amos 3:3 “Do two walk together unless they have agreed to do so?”
APPLICATION:
Matthew 5:9 “Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called children of God.”
1. Speak the truth in love
2. Apologize when I’m wrong
James 5:16 "Therefore, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you might be healed."
3. Let it go and move on
PRAYER:
God help us to learn to live in your peace in all of our relationships