Just Look Around

WHEN GOOD THINGS HAPPEN TO ORDINARY PEOPLE

Just Look Around

Pastor Mark Johnson , February 17, 2008

 

Matthew 25:31-46

Those on the right have been blessed by Him.  They receive their inheritance. 

Those on the left are instructed to “depart you who are cursed”

. 

 

Ephesians 2:8

Works are not a matter of earning salvation.

Works are a matter of the condition of the heart.

 

When man invites Christ into his life, it becomes the closest of relationships that man can experience.

 

My attitude toward the needy of the world is a place to analyze my walk with God.  Is it a religion or is it a relationship.

 

God cares for the poor and needy. This is spoken throughout His Word.

 

If our heart is as God’

s heart, we will do something to help the poor.

 

What if you don’

t care?

1.  Recognize your condition

2.  Ask God to heal your heart

3.  Repent and start helping while asking God to plant     His love in your heart

 

 

Those on the right don’t simply get blessed on the Day of Judgment – they have been living under God’

s blessing.

 

This is a sure path to living under the favor of God.

 

Deuteronomy 15:10-11, Psalm 112:1-9, Proverbs 19:17

Some of God’

s Promises:

1.  God will bless you in all your work.

2.  God will bless you in all you put your hand to.

3.  His children will be mighty and blessed.

4.  When things are going bad for others, he will live in ‘light.’

5.  He will not fear bad news, for he trusts in God.

6.  He will be honored.

7.  He will be rewarded.

 

There are many more promises to those who look out for the needy.

 

Jeremiah 22:15

 

What does your heart and actions say about your relationship with God?

The Essential Ingredient

WHEN GOOD THINGS HAPPEN TO ORDINARY PEOPLE

The Essential Ingredient
Glynnis Shryock
Sunday, February 3, 2008

I Samuel 15:22-23

Obedience is reflected in our ATTITUDE.

COMPLIANCE does not equal obedience.
Matthew 23:27-28

Isaiah 64:6
Our righteousness is like filthy rags! This fact alone should keep us HUMBLE and DEPENDENT on the Spirit of God. Romans 8:9

Obedience is demonstrated in our ACTIONS.
I Samuel 15:13–23
I Samuel 15:27–29

Obedience brings God’s BLESSING; disobedience brings CONSEQUENCES.

David was not a perfect man:
•    A man after God’s own heart (I Samuel 13:14)
•    A disobedient king (II Samuel 11:1)
•    A repentant sinner (Psalm 51: 1 – 12)

Obedience can become an ATTRIBUTE.
I Kings 9:4; I Kings 11:4

Are you more like the REPENTANT David or the RATIONALIZING Saul?

Table: Beliefs and Behaviors of Disobedient Christians

God will not bless what he has already CURSED.
I Samuel 15:29

Will you prize obedience as an attitude?
Will you pursue obedience in your actions?
Will you possess obedience as an attribute?

Do you want God’s favor? Do you want His blessing? Then we must understand that OBEDIENCE is the essential ingredient in our spiritual life.

Are You Sure That’s What You Want?

WHEN GOOD THINGS HAPPEN
TO ORDINARY PEOPLE
Are You Sure That’s What You Want?
Pastor Mark Johnson
January 27, 2008

Galatians 6:7-10

A man reaps what he sows.

Are you sure you are planting what you want to harvest?

Planting is key to harvesting.

Remember – what you plant doesn’t come back in its simplified form. It comes back in its magnified form.

A few seeds:
1.    Lying = you reap a harvest of mistrust: not only to those you lied to, but with those who know you lied.
2.    Temper = broken relationships: tension, stress, pressure, and eventually loneliness.
3.    The parent who undermines authority = eventually undermines their authority. Proverbs 17:13
4.    Evil for good = a devastating seed. Evil will never leave your house.

This is why the Bible seems so confusing at times. We don’t understand the law of sowing and reaping.

Matthew 5:11-12, Matthew 5:43-45, Luke 6:27-28, Luke 6:32-36, Romans 12:19-21

These verses are not just for their sake, they are for our sake. Why? Because we reap what we sow.

In your actions and reactions you are planting seeds. We need to ask ourselves, “Are we sure this is what we want?”

Places we can reap a positive seed:

1.    With authority – Romans 13:1-5
2.    Giving – Malachi 3:8-12
3.  Generosity – Psalm 112:5, Proverbs 11:25, Proverbs 22:9
3.    Doing good to others – Galatians 6:7
4.    Prayer – Matthew 7:7

The reason many people find life falling apart around them is because they don’t understand the law of sowing and reaping.

James 1:18

Some Good Tips for Sober Judgement

• Never in your life say, “It’s not my job.”
• Keep track of what you do; someone is sure to ask.
• Never bring your boss a problem without some solution.  You are getting paid to think, not to whine.
• Long hours don’t mean anything; results count, not effort.
• Write down ideas; they get lost like good pens.
• Always arrive at work early.
• Don’t hang out with the complainers, gossips, or the ‘we’re smarter than them’ crowd.
• Assume no one can/will keep a secret.
• Sometimes you’ll be on a roll and everything will click; take maximum advantage.  When the opposite is true, hold steady and wait it out.
• Unless you are in physical danger, don’t quit until you have a new job.  Don’t quit just because you had a bad day or just because your boss had a bad day.
• Understand the skills and abilities that set you apart.
• Always remember that over one billion working-age people in the world today cannot find a job – be thankful for yours.
• If you can’t stand doing what you do, get some career advice.  DON’T JUST QUIT.
• Those who advance are those who succeed where they are.
• Always be willing to help a co-worker when they are in need, and then make sure your work is done as well, even if you need to work late. You’ll never know when you’ll have a need.
• Never say, “It can’t be done” just because it would take a lot of work.

Are you Really One of These?

WHEN GOOD THINGS HAPPEN TO ORDINARY PEOPLE
Are you Really One of These?
Pastor Mark Johnson
January 20, 2008

Seeing Ourselves

Proverbs 11:2; 13:10; 16:18; 29:23

What is the fruit of pride?
Embarrassment, arguments, destroyed relationships, and lack of honor.

Do you think how we see ourselves matters?

In Philippians, Paul reminds us of the attitude of Jesus that we should emulate.

Philippians 2:2-9
The result is: “Therefore God exalted him.”

A proper view of ourselves is important in finding God’s favor.

Today let’s examine ourselves in one area of life: How good of a worker are you?

Proverbs 14:23; 18:9; 20:4; 21:25; 28:19

This calls for sober judgment of our lives.
Everyone thinks they are a hard worker.

What is a good, hard worker?

Work Ethic:
1.    Do I show up to work everyday?
2.    Am I early or late?
3.    Am I willing to stay to get the job done?
4.    When I am at work, am I at work?
5.    What is the quality of the work compared to others’ work?

Proverbs 20:4; 21:25; 28:19
Ephesians 6:5
Proverbs 22:29

How to Know What you Don’t Know

WHEN GOOD THINGS HAPPEN TO ORDINARY PEOPLE – Week 2 Notes
How to Know What You Don’t Know
Pastor Mark Johnson
Sunday, January 13, 2008

Proverbs 2:1-11

Have you ever heard the saying…
What you don’t know won’t hurt you.

There is no ignorance immunity.

Have you ever looked back on your life and thought,
If I had just known then what I know now, things would be different.

Here is where we get into one of the “principles that work for everyone.”

Proverbs 12:15, Proverbs 13:10, Proverbs 19:20, Proverbs 15:22, Proverbs 8:33-34, Proverbs 13:13, Proverbs 16:20, Proverbs 11:14

Key Verse
Proverbs 12:15 The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice.

Are you open to advice?

When we seek out advice we have the opportunity to use experience that we don’t have.

Seven places in life we should all seek advice:        1. Health        2. Faith
3. Finances        4. Marriage
5. Careers        6. Children
7. Education

These are places that your life can get better and easier if you seek out advice, counsel, and wisdom.

There are three types of people:

I.    Advice Adverse

Their motto is ‘I want to learn from my own mistakes.’

Proverbs 12:15

II.   Advice Challenged

They get advice; it’s just from the wrong sources.

Matthew 15:14

Bad advice can be worse than no advice.

III.   Advice Inclined

These are people who have a tendency to
seek out wisdom before they act.  To try
to learn what they don’t know.

Where do we get that kind of advice?
A.     Experts
B.     Experience

The Principle Rule:
All good advice has roots in the Word of God.

Proverbs 8:10-11; 8:33-34

Assignment for the week:
Pray about each of the seven places in life we need advice.  Are you adverse, challenged or inclined?

Notes for Series Introduction

Please feel free to comment or ask questions regarding this message series!

WHEN GOOD THINGS HAPPEN TO
ORDINARY PEOPLE
Introduction
Pastor Mark Johnson
January 6, 2008
Proverbs 2:1

There are two ways to ask the question, “Why me?”
1.    Why did something bad happen?
2.    Why do good things happen?

Here are two truths:
1.    We don’t get to know all of the “whys” in our lives.
2.    There are ways to live that will improve your life.

I believe in the blessing of God.

Let’s be clear-
You can have the blessing of God in one area of your life and miss it in another area of your life.

Proverbs 2:9

Weeks 1 & 2: Biblical principles that work for everyone.
Weeks 3 & 4: Spiritual laws that, when applied, will happen.
Weeks 5 & 6: Pathway to the favor of God.

If you apply these biblical truths to your life, I believe people will start believing you are one of the luckiest people they know.

There is a beginning principle. God, by nature, is love, and He wants good things for us.

Getting in the place of God’s blessing begins with an understanding of who God is in your life. Start with prayer.

Luke 11:1

Hallowed can mean “set apart”.

The eight compound names of God found in the Old Testament:
1.  Jehovah-rohi/Jehovah My Shepherd/Deliverance

2.  Jehovah-nissi/Jehovah My Banner/Feed or Companion

3.  Jehovah-jireh/Jehovah My Provider/Meets Every Need

4.  Jehovah-rophe/Jehovah My Healer/Heals, Restores, Cures

5.  Jehovah-shammah/Jehovah is There/The Ever Present One

6.  Jehovah-shalom/    Jehovah is Peace/Harmony and Contentment

7.  Jehovah-m’kaddesh/Jehovah Who Sanctifies/Who Purifies Us

8.  Jehovah-tsidkenu/Jehovah Our Righteousness/ Purified from Sin

Pray through these names each day and ask for a clearer insight into God’s work in your life.