How do you live a life pleasing to God?

Living by the Spirit. (vs. 16)

1) Quench the Spirit (1 Thess. 5:19, Acts 7:51)

2) Grieve the Spirit (Eph. 4:30)

How to live a Spirit-filled life:

1) Acknowledge the presence of the Spirit. (1 Cor. 3:16, Jn. 14:17)

2) Admit our inability. (Rom. 7:18, 8:7)

3) Ask for the Spirit’s control. (Ezek. 36:26-27)

4) Act in faith. (Gal. 5:5-6, 2:20)

I.    The Need

        To train for godliness.  (Heb. 12:14, 1 Tim. 4:7-8)
        To draw closer to God. (Isa. 55:2b-3a)

II. The Goal

        Creating space for God  in your day.

III. The Benefits of the Word

        a) it restores us. (Ps. 19:7)
        b) it gives us hope. (Rm. 15:4)
        c) it brings us freedom. (Ps. 119:45, 2 Pet. 1:4)
        d) it overcomes evil. (Ps. 119:11, Eph. 6:17)

IV. The Basics of a Devotional Life

        1) Create a regular space.
        2) Create a physical space.
        3) Create variety in your space.

V. The Covenant

    By God’s grace, I covenant to create a regular space for God at least 4-5 times per week for the next 6 weeks, in order to grow more intimate in my relationship with Him.

Signed: ______________________  Dec. 10, 2006

I.  The Cause

      HIV/AIDS

• Currently about 40 million people are living with HIV
• Since AIDS was first identified in the 1980's, 25 million people have already died.
• More than 3 million people die each year as a result of AIDS.

15 million children worldwide have lost one or both parents as a result of AIDS.  12 million of these children are in sub-Saharan Africa.  By 2010 this number will go up to 20.2 million worldwide; 15.7 million in sub-Saharan Africa.

IV. CBC’s Commitment

      Project: Rwanda – Nyarutovu

V.  Next Steps

      Approve
      Inform
      Donate
      Sponsor

“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”   Jas. 1:27

I. We give Him worries; He gives us peace.

      Doing so we remember:

1) God is in control.

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear.  Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?  Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not much more valuable than they?"  Matt. 6:25-26

2) God cares

"Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."  1 Pet. 5:7

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives.  Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."  Jn. 14:27

How: prayer

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."  Phil. 4:6-7

"Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life; you stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes, with your right hand you save me."  Ps. 138:7

How:  ministy

"[God] who  comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God."  2 Cor. 1:4

"But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord."  Lk. 2:10-11

"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."  Rom. 5:8

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast."  Eph. 2:8-9

How: accepting Jesus

"Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water."  Jn. 4:10

"That if you confess with your mouth 'Jesus is Lord' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead,  you will be saved."  Rom. 10:9

Introduction

God – our Father is worthy of our fear and respect

We are called to accomplish His will

We need God every moment of our lives

The Kingdom of God will triumph eventually

Conclusion