Sermon Notes...But God (Easter)

Subject... But God
Scripture... 1 Kings 17 (New Living Translation) Now Elijah, who was from Tishbe in Gilead, told King Ahab, “As surely as the Lord, the God of Israel, lives—the God I serve—there will be no dew or rain during the next few years until I give the word!” 2 Then the Lord said to Elijah, 3 “Go to the east and hide by Kerith Brook, near where it enters the Jordan River. 4 Drink from the brook and eat what the ravens bring you, for I have commanded them to bring you food.” 5 So Elijah did as the Lord told him and camped beside Kerith Brook, east of the Jordan. 6 The ravens brought him bread and meat each morning and evening, and he drank from the brook. 7 But after a while the brook dried up, for there was no rainfall anywhere in the land. 8 Then the Lord said to Elijah, 9 “Go and live in the village of Zarephath, near the city of Sidon. I have instructed a widow there to feed you.” 10 So he went to Zarephath. As he arrived at the gates of the village, he saw a widow gathering sticks, and he asked her, “Would you please bring me a little water in a cup?” 11 As she was going to get it, he called to her, “Bring me a bite of bread, too.” 12 But she said, “I swear by the Lord your God that I don’t have a single piece of bread in the house. And I have only a handful of flour left in the jar and a little cooking oil in the bottom of the jug. I was just gathering a few sticks to cook this last meal, and then my son and I will die.” 13 But Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid! Go ahead and do just what you’ve said, but make a little bread for me first. Then use what’s left to prepare a meal for yourself and your son. 14 For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: There will always be flour and olive oil left in your containers until the time when the Lord sends rain and the crops grow again!” 15 So she did as Elijah said, and she and Elijah and her family continued to eat for many days. 16 There was always enough flour and olive oil left in the containers, just as the Lord had promised through Elijah.

17 Some time later the woman’s son became sick. He grew worse and worse, and finally he died. 18 Then she said to Elijah, “O man of God, what have you done to me? Have you come here to point out my sins and kill my son?” 19 But Elijah replied, “Give me your son.” And he took the child’s body from her arms, carried him up the stairs to the room where he was staying, and laid the body on his bed. 20 Then Elijah cried out to theLord, “O Lord my God, why have you brought tragedy to this widow who has opened her home to me, causing her son to die?” 21 And he stretched himself out over the child three times and cried out to the Lord, “O Lord my God, please let this child’s life return to him.” 22 The Lord heard Elijah’s prayer, and the life of the child returned, and he revived! 23 Then Elijah brought him down from the upper room and gave him to his mother. “Look!” he said. “Your son is alive!” 24 Then the woman told Elijah, “Now I know for sure that you are a man of God, and that the Lord truly speaks through you.”

Introduction:God is, was and will be in essence the same. Hebrews 13:8 says "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever." However, his energies (resources, reservoirs and revenues) change frequently...

Transition: 1 Kings 17 demonstrates God's fluid energies more than any other biblical passage. It vividly displays that no matter the severity of the situation, a 'But God' can give you favor in a famine!

Exposition: Famine comes to us all and pushes our backs against the wall, But God...

Provides the needs of his children (verses 1-7)

Guides his children from hiding to a higher quality of living (verses 8-16)

Revives hope in his children's future (verses 17-24)

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Sermon Notes...I've Had Enough (Wealth)

Genesis 41 (New Translation) Read today's text here

Introduction: Money matters! Ecclesiastes 10:19 says "A party gives laughter, wine gives happiness, and money gives everything!" Money matters when you have it and it really matters when you don't.

Transition: If you keep doing the same thing, you'll keep getting the same results. So today, we've come making the declaration that I've Had Enough! Enough of struggling, enough of trying to make ends meet, enough of pay check to pay check living! We want to shift from not enough to more than enough!

Recap of Wednesday's Prayer Call (from this passage)...3 Do's
-Work: my acknowledgement that no one owes me anything
-Save: wisdom for beyond today
-Budget: if your outgo exceeds you income, it will soon be your downfall

Exposition: 4 Don'ts

1) Don't squander wise advice...verses 33-40
Information without application is of no use to your situation.

2) Don't abuse prosperity...verses 47-49
Walkerism: If money always burns a hole in your pocket, there'll never be any money in your pocket!

3) Don't underestimate famine...verses 53-55
Hard times come to every one, no matter your status. Brace yourself for the worst of the worst.

4) Don't break the piggy bank too soon...verses 55-57
A new outfit is not a necessity or an emergency!!! Real problems are coming and will be savings account worthy.

Sermon Notes for Kelly Scholorship Banquet (Dublin, GA)

Psalm 23:4 (New Living Translation) "Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me."
~Survival Training For The Valley

Introduction: John 16:33 admonishes us with the words of Jesus, "...Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

Transition: This poetic pericope prepares us for life's valleys, with practical tips. The answers that we've been searching for are all found in the confines of the sacred canon.

Exposition: Let's extricate three facets for the sake of exegesis...

1) Be Consistent "Even when I walk through the darkest valley"

-Don't give up on yourself

-Don't be paralyzed by current context

2) Be Courageous "I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me"

-Maintain strong determination

-The company you keep matters to your morale

3) Be Confident "Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me"

-God guards us (defending)
-God guides us (delivering)

I've Had Enough! Part 1 of 2...Health

Mark 5:25-34 (New Living Translation) "A woman in the crowd had suffered for twelve years with constant bleeding. ²⁶ She had suffered a great deal from many doctors, and over the years she had spent everything she had to pay them, but she had gotten no better. In fact, she had gotten worse. ²⁷ She had heard about Jesus, so she came up behind him through the crowd and touched his robe. ²⁸ For she thought to herself, “If I can just touch his robe, I will be healed.” ²⁹ Immediately the bleeding stopped, and she could feel in her body that she had been healed of her terrible condition. ³⁰ Jesus realized at once that healing power had gone out from him, so he turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my robe?” ³¹ His disciples said to him, “Look at this crowd pressing around you. How can you ask, ‘Who touched me?’” ³² But he kept on looking around to see who had done it. ³³ Then the frightened woman, trembling at the realization of what had happened to her, came and fell to her knees in front of him and told him what she had done. ³⁴ And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace. Your suffering is over.”

Introduction: Our salvation doesn't make us immune to illness. Since we only get one body, it's our chief priority to live with good health to the best of our ability. At some point, we should declare that I've Had Enough of an unhealthy life, that doesn't honor God and intentionally be healthy!

The Bible & Your Body: Scripture isn't silent about your health...

Proverbs 17:22 "A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength."

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 "Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body."

1 Corinthians 10:31 " So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."

3 John verse 2 "Dear friend, I hope all is well with you and that you are as healthy in body as you are strong in spirit."

Exposition: When you've had enough, you'll...

1) Assess your situation...verses 25-26
-Be honest with you about you
-Don't be afraid of the facts
-Consistence and persistence pays

2) Improve from where you are...verse 28
-Keep hope that your current condition doesn't have to be your life story
-You can only eat an elephant one bite at a time
-Don't allow your pain to keep you from progress

3) Enlist the help of the non-negative...verse 34
-People may not be kind in your quest for health
-The reward for your decision and action to be healthy, isn't about other people but peace

4) Make healthy living a lifestyle...verse 34
-Know the key to move from bleeding to better; faith
-There's a decree over your life that empowers you to be healthy "Your suffering is over.”

***Throughout the week, we'll post healthy habits that will help you change your lifestyle for the better. Check here daily and on Facebook, for articles, recipes, exercises meditative thoughts.
***Next Sunday, we'll study the second half of the mini-series I've Had Enough...Wealth. You've got to hear this message, because it will revolutionize your financial habits!

This Sunday at Grace Corner...

Come hang out with us this Sunday! You don't want to miss this message on the bible and your body! It will be a word of instruction, inspiration and empowerment. If you've had enough, it's time to fight back and reclaim your life! Come on time for the café and to mingle with new friends. It's going to be crazy good!

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