Blessed to be a blessing XII

Genesis 17: 17 Then Abraham bowed down to the ground, but he laughed to himself in disbelief. “How could I become a father at the age of one hundred?” he wondered. “Besides, Sarah is ninety; how could she have a baby?”

• God knows what is in your heart!
• 1 Sam 16:7, Ro 8:27

• Abraham was at a place that could be dangerous for him, if he stayed there. The place of doubt in his heart.
• He was in a position of worship, but he still doubted.

1 Samuel 16: 7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t make decisions the way you do! People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at a person’s thoughts and intentions (heart).”

Romans 8: 27 And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will.

• DANGER! What is in our hearts if allowed to stay there will eventually be produced in our lives.  

Matthew 15: 8 “‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. 9 They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.’”

• He laughed to himself. His intention was not outward, not for everyone to know. But God knew.
• He laughed to himself in disbelief!
• Doubt is only dangerous if we let it stay and takeover control of our lives. What were his doubts?

• How could I
• The first danger is basing what God can do with you. What God can do with the material that you handing him. Remember what can do with a hand full of soil? He made man. * The mistake that it depends on your ability.
• How could she
• The other misconception is that what others have to offer is not enough.

Proverbs 4: 23 Above all else, guard your heart, for it affects everything you do.

Guard your heart

How can we guard our hearts so that what we don’t want to happen won’t?

1. Choose what you think about

Philippians 4: 8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

1. Use Creative self talk

Ephesians 5: 19 Speak to one another (selves) with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

• Sing and make music in your heart.
• If you surround yourself with songs of praise they will get inside.
• Give thanks to God.
• We are not thankful until we lose something, or almost lose it. No? Let’s pray that God will take it all away. No home, job, wife, family, money, what you have now!

Psalm 34: 3 (Magnify) Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt his name together.

Magnify: to have the power of causing objects to appear larger than they are. (Only in the case of God we do not make him appear bigger than he is, we make him appear bigger to people by bringing them closer to him)

Another word closely related to magnify is glorify!

What are we making big?

1. Begin to magnify the good in people.

• Not their faults, but the things that are good. But you say “It is the truth Jerry! I know but you can still magnify the good truth not the bad. When you do this people will try to grow to the image that is given or visa versa.
• Why do we do this? We think it is our Job to change everyone.
• We need to stop magnifying

What is the magnifying glass of the heart? Our mouths!

James 3: 9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be.

            What should come out? Both the same! Which one? PRAISE for both!

1. Check your heart often
• How? Hebrews 4: 12 for the words of God are full of living power. It is sharper than the sharpest knife, cutting deep into our innermost thoughts and desires. It exposes us for what we really are.

o   The word of God is the spot light that reveals all.

There is a God who not only knows, but he is constantly speaking to our hearts. How many of you want to live right? Love people? Be a good person? Are we jus all the same or do we realize, that is God speaking to your hearts!

That shows you that God is interested in your life and wants the best for you, But did you know that you can come closer to him and that you can know him in a more intimate way?

God wants you to come into a relationship with him, come into his family. He loves you.

He doesn’t only want to speak to your heart he wants to live there, be the center of your attention. Lead you daily to better life and when this life is over to an eternal relationship with him.

• You can begin a new life with God.
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