Rescued: Set free

Rom 6:1-12
1. God's grace demands that we fight against sin. v1-2 Should we continue sinning so grace will increase? NO! BUT - we often actually do this, we continue in our pet sins knowing that God is full of grace and mercy.
2. We are dead to sin. v2b However;  sinless perfection is not possible, and we do not lose our desire to sin. Gal 5:17. When Jesus rescues us, we are released from the power of sin.
3. Christ has made provision for our fight against sin. v3-8 Jesus died to save us from our sins, but he rose again so we can walk with him everyday.
4. We must make a conscious choice NOT to sin. v11-12 We need to consider ourselves dead to sin, and don't let sin control us - that's our job. Sin is not my master, Christ is my master.

Rescued: In The Beginning

God loves the broken me that I am right now, and wants to rescue me from my miserable, pathetic self.
Gen 1:1, 26-28; God created mankind.
Gen 2:25 all is well with God - beautiful verse; 3:6-9 Adam and Eve made masks to hide from God, "sin management," v8 naked and ashamed, they hid from God
Rom 5:12; 7:18-20, 24-25 Who will rescue me from my sin and death? Jesus!
We try to fix/rescue ourselves with:
- Ourselves - we can't fix ourselves
- Others - other people can't fix us
- The world - the things of the world won't fix us, they may numb us but not rescue us
- Religion - more Godly behavior does not fix us
Only the Lord can rescue us from sin and death.

Grace: Future Grace 8/30/14

1Pet. 1:13-16 Looking forward to the grace that will come to us when Jesus comes back
Our goal is to meet Jesus.  We don't think like that today, we don't pray like that.  Our mindset should be that of meeting Jesus, of being in perfect relationship with each other and with our Father.  "Therefore" - 1Pet 1:3-5 remember your salvation, remember the resurrection of Jesus and our salvation.  God's strength and power is shielding us (surrounding us like a military formation) until Jesus comes back.
Keep your mind on Jesus. v.13 "alert and fully sober" - be ready to fight, realizing that Satan wants to destroy us. 1Pet. 5:8-9.
Be holy. 1Pet 1:14-16 be obedient and holy. Titus 2:11-14 Say "no" to ungodliness and worldly passions, live self-controlled, upright and godly lives.  We are a new creation, and should live like it, and strive to look more like God every day.

Prayer: Prayer and Fasting

Fasting - a Christian's voluntary abstinence from food for spiritual purposes.
Mt 6:16-18 There is an expectation that we will fast. Our fast should be between us and God, not outwardly visible. Fasting was practiced throughout the Bible.
It is to be done with a purpose. (guidance, direction, deliverance, perfection, overcome temptation, to humble yourself, for spiritual focus, etc.)
Isa 58
- v3 fasting is not about religious activity. It's easy to get distracted by religious activities, and forget that we need to have a heart that is connected with God.
- v3 it's not about manipulating God. Our fasting should be about praying and being connected to God.
- v3-4 do not let fasting bring out anger.
- v7 let fasting make your thoughts more like God's thoughts, and care about others.
- v8 if we fast in the proper way, God will hear our prayers and answer them, He will make us more like Jesus. God will have our back.

Prayer: House of Prayer 9/20/14

Mt 21:12-17 Jesus cleared the temple
What should have been a beautiful act of worship, was turned into an ugly business where they could make profit. They were focused on the wrong thing.
Jer 7:1-11 v4 the people were trying to justify their sinful actions because they were going to church. Den of robbers equals religious activity without a heart change.
Isa 56:3-7 House of prayer is for all who love God and serve him. All who truly love him are welcome. Come with a heart that is broken and full of love, and God will accept you.
What does a house of prayer look like?
There is healing. Mt 21 v14 Jesus healed. Jesus saves. v15 wondrous equals more than just what man could do.
There is praise. v15-16 Hosanna to the son of David means that a savior has come. 2 Chron 7:1-4 The glory of the Lord filled the temple.

Prayer: Big God, Big Prayers

Jeremiah 33:1-3
1. We have been given an incredible invitation. v.3 Call on me.
- it is personal - from Yahweh
- it is powerful - God is all-powerful. The power behind the offer is based on the competency of the one making the offer.
2. We have been given an incredible promise. v.3 And I will answer you.
Psalm 139:1-16, Mt 10:29-32, Eph 1, Psalm 135:6, Ex 32:9-14  God would love to say yes to our prayers. Luke 11:9-13 Ask for the Holy Spirit to guide us. Jer
32:26-27 There is nothing we can bring before God that he doesn't know or can't handle.

Grace: Sufficient Grace

Have you ever felt like God disappointed you?
2Cor 12:1-10
1. We all have the tendency to become conceited. Paul's boasting in his own weaknesses challenges our preoccupation with ourselves.
2. The thorn was given to Paul. God allowed it. The thorn tormented Paul and it was ongoing. It caused him to cry out to God to take it away.
3. Sometimes God's best answer is No. 2Cor 12:9. Maybe the thing we want to get rid of is the thing that makes us reliant upon God. No matter what we are facing or dealing with, God's Grace is sufficient.
4. Let God's Grace rest upon you. 2Cor 12:9. "Rest" means "to pitch a tent over." God drapes over us like a tent. Sufficient grace does not promise us life without struggles, but it does promise us that God will be draped over us. 2Cor 12:10. How about you? Will you rest in God's Grace and strength?