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2010-04-18: LLYWD

Sermon: LLYWD
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Duration: 32:23
Size: 14.8 MB

Romans 13:11-12 “This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living.”

The truth is that we are all terminal.

Jesus not only came to give me eternal life in heaven, but He also came to give me abundant life here and now.

Ecclesiastes 8:8, John 10:10

1. Live with a sense of urgency.

Maybe the most dangerous word in the English language is the word someday.

Someday, I will __________.

Just as we must let God’s grace and mercy cover the past, we must let God’s care and providence cover our future.

Matthew 6:27-30, Psalm 118:24

2. Live with a sense of eternity.

As much as it is a mistake to take today for granted, it is an even bigger mistake to take eternity for granted.

You must personally receive the gift of salvation made possible by Jesus’ death on the cross.

Hebrews 9:27, II Corinthians 4:18

3. Live with a sense of priority.

When I live with a kind of a bi-focal vision, one eye on eternity and one eye on the gift of today, then I can really begin to prioritize my life and actions.

Take off… your frantic pace of life.

Put on… more time for relationships.

Living like you were dying is…
More about today, less about tomorrow
More about people, less about possessions
More about God’s priorities, less about my plans
More about the eternal, less about the temporal

Psalm 46:10

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2010-03-28: Lasting Returns — Faithfulness

Lordship Living — God Provides

Sermon: Lasting Returns — Faithfulness
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Duration: 27:17
Size: 12.4 MB

What Good Is a Coat of Many Colors
If It Has a Stain on It?

The Book of Genesis closes with the remarkable story of the Old Testament character Joseph and his family. The life of Joseph has some strong parallels to the life of Jesus Christ. Both were gifted, both lived holy lives, both suffered, and both were responsible for the salvation of lives (although in Joseph’s case, it was physical salvation, rather than spiritual).

Among the many attributes Joseph possessed was that of longevity—endurance. He was true to his God, whether things were going well or not so well.

Endurance is a characteristic God wants to cultivate in each one of us. Today, let’s examine the life of Joseph and see if we can’t learn some of his secrets for Lordship Living.

Today’s Focus: God rewards those who are faithful to Him.

Food for Thought: I will put my time, talent, treasure, and touch to work for the Kingdom.

Lasting Returns

  1. When we model unfaithfulness, others are affected by our actions.
  2. When we model faithfulness, we influence others to be faithful!

Faithfulness Is a Choice

  1. It’s not always easy to follow through on our choices.
  2. Faithfulness is a choice, and it’s one we have to stick with if we are to please God.

Through Our Faithfulness, We Gain Lasting Returns

  1. The natural inclination of every one of us is to cling to the things we have.
  2. God wants us to be generous—with Him and with others.

Waldo Weaning’s Three Levels of Giving

  1. You have to (Law)
  2. You ought to (Obligation)
  3. You want to (Grace)

God Gives Us Gifts and Talents for a Reason

  1. God has given you gifts for a reason, and that reason is to bless others.
  2. In God’s eyes, all gifts are equal because they equally serve the Body—His Church.

How much do you own in that direction?

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2010-03-21: How Am I Doing? — Trust

Lordship Living — God Provides

Sermon: How Am I Doing? — Trust
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Genesis 22:1-18
Duration: 28:36
Size: 13.0 MB

“What Would You Sacrifice?”

Have you ever sacrificed anything to help someone else? What did you give up? Did you miss it? Has anyone ever sacrificed anything to help you?

The Old Testament story of God’s command for Abraham to sacrifice his beloved son Isaac may cause us to wonder, “What was God thinking?” But the real issue wasn’t the survival of the boy, but rather the trust of Abraham—and whether he loved the Lord enough to obey Him—even when it involved the life of his precious child.

Today, let’s look at this amazing story and mine it for nuggets of truth to help us better understand how God works in this journey of Lordship Living.

How Am I Doing?

  1. If the story of Abraham and Isaac models any expectation God has for us, surely it is total reliance on God.

The God and Abraham Story

  1. Abraham passed God’s strange test of faith by living through the trial with a completely surrendered heart.
  2. Abraham’s total compliance to God proved his total reliance on God.

Clue Number One

  1. A surrendered heart is always ready to sacrifice regardless of the confusion.
  2. God was not after Isaac’s death; God was after Abraham’s life!

Clue Number Two

  1. A surrendered heart is always willing to worship regardless of the cost.
  2. Abraham was obliged both in duty and devotion, even with gratitude, to part with Isaac, because he was offering his beloved son to a trusted friend.

Clue Number Three

  1. A surrendered heart is always open to obedience regardless of the countermand.
  2. Abraham and his son traded their undeniable devastation for indescribable celebration.

Trust

  1. Partial obedience is perfect disobedience!
  2. Total reliance on God is total obedience to God!

God doesn’t want dead martyrs as much
as He desires living sacrifices.

Next week: Lasting Returns