"The Purpose of Your Good Deeds" - Sermon

    This week, to finish off our lesson series on good works I've attached a sermon link and I really hope you will make time to listen to it, with an open bible and an open heart!

    The sermon is titled, "The Purpose of Your Good Deeds," it is presented by Andy Cantrell and was part of a Youth Series at Embry Hills church of Christ in Atlanta, Georgia.

    The things I would like you to focus on while you listen:

1. Good works are not about magnifying you, they are to magnify God! (Matthew 5:16, Ephesians 2:8-10)
2. As Christians, your behaviours/actions/words directly influence what the others perceive about God (Matthew 5:13-16)
3. You cannot be lukewarm! (Revelation 3:15)
4. You are the lens by which the world sees God - do you increase His greatness (make Him look magnificent) or do you decrease/minimize His greatness?

    God's reputation is on the line! You represent Him to the world!

    Throughout this week, if the Lord wills, take time to read and study the book of Titus! Ask God to help you "maintain good works," open your eyes and heart to the opportunities that are all around you. Be a beautiful representative of God!!

"...these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men." (Titus 3:8 NKJV)

"For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works." (Titus 2:11-14 NKJV)

You can do it! So can I!!

Link to listen to sermon "The Purpose of Your Good Deeds":

https://embryhills.com/listen-study/all-sermons/2010/05/01/purpose-of-your-good-deeds 

Nature Magnifies God

    Good morning! I've chosen a new theme for the next few weeks: Nature. This week, as trees are once again flourishing, plants are growing daily in our gardens, and the birds and bunnies are abundant in our hedgerows, we will consider how Nature magnifies God and how it declares His greatness?

"The heavens declare the glory of God;

And the firmament shows His handiwork.

Day unto day utters speech,

And night unto night reveals knowledge.

There is no speech or language

Where their voice is not heard.

Their sound has gone out through all the earth,

And their words to the end of the world.

In them He has set a tent for the sun,

Which is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber,

And rejoices like a strong man to run its race.

Its rising is from one end of heaven,

And its circuit to the other end;

And there is nothing hidden from its heat."

(Psalm 19:1-6 NKJV)

    As small children, our very first understanding of God comes from our joy of nature - the feel of the cool grass under our toddling feet, the bright endless sky, the squint-causing sunshine, the soft breezes that carry bubbles and dandelion fuzz in swirls around us, and the feel of oh-so-fluffy, furry soft animals.

    All of it declares the greatness of the Master Creator.
    All of nature magnifies God to us!

"For since the creation of the world 

His invisible attributes are clearly seen, 

being understood by the things that are made, 

even His eternal power and Godhead [deity]..." 

(Romans 1:20 NKJV)

    Step outside this week, or sit where you can look out a window, and appreciate the beauty God has created. Let it tell you of His mighty power and His wondrous creativity!

    All of creation declares God's greatness. We, as part of God's creation - the part He declared as "very good" (Genesis 1:31) - should make use of EVERY opportunity to magnify Him to others!

"Oh, magnify the LORD with me,

and let us exalt His name together."

(Psalm 34:3 NKJV)

You can do it! So can I!!

Wives Who Magnify and Glorify God

    Glorifying God is a wonderful way to live each day!

    Today, let's focus again on how we, as women, can declare God's greatness to ourselves and to the people we daily interact with. Specifically, we will look at the role of wives.

"Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord." (Ephesians 5:22 NKJV)

"Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord." (Colossians 3:18 NKJV)

"...be submissive to your own husbands..." (1 Peter 3:1 NKJV)

    Today, "submission" and being submissive is considered an ugly thing. It is frowned upon by women of the world as archaic and oppressive. Submission equates slavery, or so the world wants you to think, but God says that it is what a wife is to do, so what now?

A Bible dictionary defines "submit" (as found in Ephesians 5:22) in this way:

1. to arrange under, to subordinate
2. to subject, put in subjection
3. to subject one's self, obey
4. to submit to one's control
5. to yield to one's admonition or advice
6. to obey, be subject

    A Greek military term meaning "to arrange [troop divisions] in a military fashion under the command of a leader." In non-military use, it was "a voluntary attitude of giving in, cooperating, assuming responsibility, and carrying a burden."

    After reading this definition, I feel some of the ugliness of the word is removed, don't you? If you truly see your husband as the leader and you, as his wife, arrange yourself and your children under his command, you are showing a spirit of cooperation instead of contention. You are helping him to 'carry the burden,' by doing what you are responsible for and allowing him to do what he is responsible for. When you do it God's way and submit (obey, yield, etc.) to your husband's leadership you become part of the solution, not part of the problem.

    Some may be quick to say, " Yes, that's all well in good in an ideal world, but you don't know my husband!"

    All too often, women don't see their husband as a capable leader and so they begin to fill in the gaps and little by little 'pull at the reins' (taking over more and more), creating a sense of "constant dripping" (Proverbs 19:13, 27:15) until finally their husband relinquishes all control and leadership in the family and in the home. Losing confidence in themselves they become more and more the man their wives have believed them to be: weak, unable to lead, unable to make quality decisions, unattached to the needs of the family. The wives in these cases do not even acknowledge their own involvement in this downward spiral, they just resent their husbands more and more for doing less and less. It's an unfortunate and unlawful decline that is all too easy to get pulled into!

    When we do it God's way and submit to our husbands - truly submit - seeing our own husband as the leader God wants him to be, even if he is not that leader now, he will be. When you do your part and submit to his leadership, he will become the leader he needs to be. Please read 1 Peter 3:1-2.

    We need to stop thinking we know better. We need to start doing it God's way! We need to stop making fun of our husbands, belittling him and/or his decisions/ideas to our friends. We need to stop criticizing his every word of advice and every decision he makes. We need to give him control - hand back the reins. Believe him to be the leader God wants him to be. 

    Not every man is a born leader, but a good and loving wife will encourage him to become just that! When he knows that you fully trust him as your leader he will put more time, thought, and energy into the family he leads! He will do his best to do the best for you and the family. If he makes a mistake, don't belittle him, instead stand beside him and help him see it through. Don't give up on him. Encourage him to try again. Tell him how much you believe in him and his ability to successfully lead your family! Tell him this often!! Pray for him. And again I say, pray for him! Support him by doing what you are responsible for (house, children, etc.) and leave his responsibilities to him.

Can you see the difference between the two possible outcomes?

1. Ugly downward fall when the wife takes over
2. Beautiful steps forward that occur when a wife follows God's instruction

    Today, stop seeing submission as an ugly thing. Start seeing it as a beautiful instruction from God! Yes, it will take work, but anything worth having is going to take work! Let your husband become the leader that God wants him to be, let him flourish in that role! Submit to your husband and be his help meet, his cheerleader, his wife! Let God be magnified in your homes by exemplifying this instruction! Let people see through your example of obedience that the will of God is good and acceptable and perfect (Romans 12:1-2)!

"Do not let your adornment be merely outward - arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel - rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands..." (1 Peter 3:3-5 NKJV)

    A wife who, with a gentle and quiet spirit, is submissive to her own husband, is very precious in the sight of God! That is a picture of complete and perfect beauty!!

    Let's try to do our very best to be the best wife we can be to our own husbands, by doing it God's way!!

You can do it! So can I!!

Women Who Magnify God

    What better way to declare God's way as the best way than to know His will and joyfully fulfill it in our lives! When we find instruction, let's have a heart that is open to receiving it and applying it, so we, as women, can declare God's greatness to the world around us!

    As women, we have opportunity to use our talents to help others (Tabitha/Dorcas, Acts 9:36, 39). There is also more specific instruction given to older and young women in Titus 2:3-5:

"The older women likewise*, that they be reverent in behaviour, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things - that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed." (NKJV)

    Every single item in these verses applies to older women. How can you teach something that you, yourself, do not already know and do?

    And if you think you still have some years before these verses for "older women" apply to you, think again! If there is any woman younger than you, with whom you can influence by your example, you too are an 'older woman!' Begin now to understand the beauty and importance of fulfilling God's will in your role as a woman!

~ Note the asterisk (*) I added beside the word 'likewise' in the above passage. When we see the word 'likewise' we need to realize that a commonality is being expressed between two parties. In this case, there is an instruction given to the older men (in verse 2), that the
older women are also to adhere to.

"... the older men be sober, reverent, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience; the older women likewise..." (Titus 2:2-3a NKJV)

    From this same passage we can understand the instruction to young women: love your husband's, love your children, be discreet, homemakers, good, obedient to your own husbands.

    So, older women are to be examples as well as teachers to the young women - likely one on one as a mother would be with a daughter, but I would love to see this stretch beyond the bonds of only teaching or feeling a realm of influence on our own daughters. Let each one of us embrace the women younger than us as daughters; women we can be examples to, whom we can influence toward godly goals.

    Older women, love and care for the hearts and souls of the young women. Look for opportunity to teach and influence them toward the things listed in Titus 2.

    Young women, look to the older women for guidance and encouragement. Respect them and their accumulated knowledge/experience/wisdom. Allow them to instruct you and teach you.

    The world around us wants us to see these verses in Titus as asphyxiating and constraining us from the 'freedom we deserve' as women. I want you to love God and understand His love for you, enough to see the absolute beauty He has given us to embody as women! We have a most wonderful role to fulfill - a role that takes us a lifetime to accomplish. Each day, let us grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ and take the steps necessary to apply what we are instructed to do in Titus 2.

    Why are we to do this? Why are we, as older women, supposed to take care to obey these commands/instructions and be examples and teachers to the young women? Why should young women listen to the older women's teaching and advice - don't they understand that times are different now and their experience is antiquated? Why are we to fulfill these instructions? 

    Read the last part of Titus 2:5 to find the answer: "that the word of God may not be blasphemed." 

    We follow these instructions, we fulfill God's command to us as women, so that when others observe us they see that we're on to something that truly works! They see us loving our husbands - not abusing them to our friends. They see us loving our children - raising them in an environment of nurturing and in the admonition of the Lord. They will observe women who are happy! Happy to help, happy to take care of their homes, happy to work; "doing the will of God from the heart"(Ephesians 6:6)! No one can make fun of God's word when they see it beautifully personified in our actions and behaviours! When they see how well it works and benefits us and those with whom we can have an influence; they will want to know more about Him - another opportunity to shine God's light into the darkness!!

You can do it! So can I!!

    Next week, the Lord willing, we will continue our theme of 'Women Who Magnify God' by examining of the role of a wife. 

Cultivating Pure Hearts So We Can Magnify God

    Good morning!! This week I would like each one of us focus on our heart - the source of our thoughts and words (Proverbs 23:7, Luke 6:45).

    In order to declare God's greatness to the world around us we need to uproot the weeds of complaining, comparison, jealousy, envy, lust, gossip, and anger, to name only a few.

    From wherever you are right now, begin to remove the weed-enhancing influences in your life: soap operas/TV shows/movies/online videos full of immorality, gossip, and bad language; music and/or books that fills your mind with impurities like lust, adultery and fornication. Maybe for you it's idle mind time where you indulge your negative imaginings/anxieties and let the 'worst case scenario' play out in your mind's eye or it could be that you allow yourself to look back on memories of your sinful past with longing. Whatever it is, get to the source and work to remove it from your life.

"... brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy - meditate on these things." (Philippians 4:8 NKJV)

    We should be determined each day to do the work and make the necessary choices/changes that will keep us heading toward a purer heart (1 John 3:1-3). Make time to be with others who are also trying to live right before God:

"Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart." (2 Timothy 2:22 NKJV)

    When we change our heart, our motives will become loving, our attitudes will improve, our words will reflect the peace and contentment that comes from acknowledging God's blessings of provision in all things!

    We can do this! We can polish our armour and reflect light into the darkness of this world! Let's purify our hearts and magnify God, declaring His greatness and the greatness of His way!

"Let them shout for joy and be glad, who favour my righteous cause; And let them say continually, "Let the LORD be magnified, who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant." And my tongue shall speak of Your righteousness and of Your praise all the day long." (Psalm 35:27-28 NKJV)

You can do it! So can I!! 

Magnifying God

    Good morning!! Today is another opportunity to prove to the world that doing God's will really is the best way to thrive!! Consider these verses as you go about your day:

"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." (Romans 12:1-2 NKJV)

“I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall makes its boast in the LORD; the humble shall hear of it and be glad. Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt His name together.” (Psalm 34:1-3 NKJV)

    When we magnify God we declare His greatness! What descriptive words come to mind when you think of God?

    Glorious, Magnificent, Majestic, Loving, Merciful, Holy, Patient, Pure, Powerful…

How Can We Magnify God In Our Daily Walk?

•         Sanctify God in Your Hearts - Determine to seek God with your whole heart, your whole soul, and your whole mind (Matthew 22:37, 1 Peter 3:15). Renew this determination every day!
•          Read His Word - How can we know God without reading His Word? Dig in! (Psalm 119:11-16, 17-18)
•          Pray - Get comfortable communicating with Him! Never give up on prayer! (1 Thessalonians 5:17)
•          Grow Your Gratitude - The more you tune your focus to appreciating the blessings you receive from God, the more likely you are be able to say, “His praise shall continually be in my mouth.” (Psalm 34:1, I Thessalonians 5:18)
•          Bear the Fruit of the Spirit - Our actions indicate who we belong to. If we bear the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23), everyone will know we belong to God (John 15:1-8, 1 Peter 2:11-12)!
•          Make Mention of Him - If our heart is filled with God’s Word, if we talk with Him daily, are thankful for everything, and we are bearing fruit, the natural outgrowth will be to declare His greatness to others! “...For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks” (Luke 6:45). People you interact with are bound to ask you about your positive and patient attitude, your loving and helpful nature, and your firm faith (1 Peter 3:15). Give God the glory!! Magnify His greatness!

    God is worthy of our praise! God’s greatness is worthy to be magnified!! What can you do today that will allow you, like Mary, to say, “My soul magnifies the Lord” (Luke 1:46)? Magnify Him today!!

You can do it!! So can I!!