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February 7, 2010
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Going through the BIG Change!
Week 4
People think of Discipline as things they need to do that they
don’t want to do.
I think of Discipline as doing the
things I don’t want to do now; so that I
can do the things I truly want to do!
There are 5 things I KNOW God uses to
change people’s lives:
All athletes practice strict self-control. They do it to win a
prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize.
So I run straight to the goal with purpose in every step. I am
not like a boxer who misses his punches. I discipline my body
like an athlete, training it to do what it should.
1 Corinthians 9:25-27
Spend your time and energy in training yourself for spiritual
fitness. Physical exercise has some value, but spiritual
exercise is much more important, for it promises a reward in
both this life and the next. This is true, and everyone should
accept it.
1 Timothy 4:7-9
"Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men,
to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from
your Father in heaven.
Matthew 6:1 NIV
“Acts of Righteousness” = Personal
disciplines
When you give a gift to someone in need, don't shout about it
as the hypocrites do — blowing trumpets in the synagogues and
streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I assure
you, they have received all the reward they will ever get.
But when you give to someone, don't tell your left hand what
your right hand is doing. Give your gifts in secret, and
your Father, who knows all secrets, will reward you.
Matthew 6:2-4
WHAT IF YOU REALLY BELIEVED THAT JESUS REWARDED YOU FOR YOUR
GIVING?
The reason a lot of people don’t give is they don’t believe.
The issue is NOT money. The issue is
YOUR FAITH IN GOD.
"No one can serve two masters. For you
will hate one and love the other, or be
devoted to one and despise the other.
You cannot serve both God and money.”
Matthew 6:24
JESUS wants you to TRUST Him!
He wants you to trust Him with every
breath just like you trust Him for when
you draw your last Breath.
For this to happen we need to exchange
some thing.
The tension you feel around this issue
is an issue of faith.
The REAL QUESTION is “Can God/Will God
take care of you
if you put Him 1st in the area of your
finances?”
EVEN when you UNCHEERFULLY give you
begin to transfer your trust from your
Wealth to your heavenly Father.
God sees that and He is going to reward
it!
"And now about prayer. When you pray,
don't be like the hypocrites who love to
pray publicly on street corners and in
the synagogues where everyone can see
them. I assure you, that is all the
reward they will ever get.
Matthew 6:5
But when you pray, go away by yourself,
shut the door behind you, and pray to
your Father secretly. Then your Father,
who knows all secrets, will reward you.
Matthew 6:6
Everyone prays in an emergency …
Here is my Challenge for you:
Set the amount of time:
_______________________________
Just try it and see ...
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