Notes: Loving What God Loves

TITLE: Loving What God Loves

TEXT: Psalm:1-8

PREACHER: Dr. Robb Thompson

DATE: Dec.3, 2009 (CHC-Schaumburg)

Precious Few Comprehend The Power Of The Holy Scriptures In The Life Of A Believer… This Is An Immense Oversight, And Grave Danger To The Future Of The Universal Church. While So Many Choose To Hide Certain Words In Their Hearts That They Might Be Forgiven, Those Who Understand The Believer’s Destined End Of “Knowing Him” Choose To Hide All Of His Word In Their Hearts That They Might Not Sin Against Him… His Word Is Perfect, Just, Trustworthy And Pure… It Is Able To Make Us Wise, To Show Us Who We Truly Are, To Reveal To Us What Must Be Changed, And To Instruct Us In Every Fathomable Situation. We Are “The Wise” When We Choose To Take It Seriously…

Psa. 119:1-8 ; Luke 10:38-42

Jesus Held The Scripture Above All Else…

John 10:35

God Exalted His Word Above His Name…

Psa. 138:2

Realize,

You Do Not Love God More Than You Obey His Word…

John 14:21,23

You Do Not Know God More Than You Obey His Word…

1John 2:3,4

You Do Not Fear God More Than You Obey His Word…

Is. 66:2 ; Eccl. 12:13 ; Acts 23:1-5

Remember, Satan Is Not After You… He Is Attacking Your Foundation… Let Me Explain Why…

Psa. 11:3 ; 1 Cor. 3:9-11

Three Stages Or Phases Of Building Your Life On God’s Word…

Stage 1 – Baby

1pet. 2:1,2

Stage 2 – Young Man

Matt. 4:4

Stage 3 – Mature Man

Heb. 5:14

Let Me Give You 3 Thoughts To Help You Activate God’s Word In Your Life::

1.) The Intake Of Bible Doctrine Brings Greater Change To A Man’s Life Than Anything Else In All Of Recorded History …

2 Tim. 3:16,17 ; 1Tim. 4:13-16 ; 2 Tim. 2:15

2.) Unless The Word Of God Becomes Your Focus, How Do You Know That The Jesus Whom You Worship Is Not An Imposter?

John 1:1 ; John 4:39-42 ; Matt. 22:29

3.) The Only Escape From The Jaws Of This Life Is To Fall Prostrate Before “The Word Of His Grace”…

Acts 20:28-32 ; Eph. 2:8-10

Notes: Our Greatest Delight (Psalm 119:65-103)

TITLE: Our Greatest Delight

TEXT: Psalm 119:65-103

PREACHER: Dr. Robb Thompson

DATE: Nov. 29, 2009  (FHC- Tinley Park, IL.)

The Life Of David Was Devoted To The Pursuit Of Becoming Free From All Spiritual Flaws And Defects… Every Step He Took Was Calculated To Bring Him One Step Closer To God… It Is The Lengthiest Chapter In The Bible, With 176 Verses… It Corresponds With The Hebrew Alphabet, Which Has 22 Letters… Every Set Of 8 Starts With Its Corresponding Letter… The Talmud Refers To This Psalm As The Repetition Of 8… While The Number 7 Represents The Power Of This World Which Was Created In 7 Days… The Number 8 Symbolizes The Release From The Power Of It… Which Distract A Person From Their Spiritual Aspirations…

Let’s Look At Ps. 119:65-103…

1.) A Deep Hunger For The Lord’s Correction Is More Valuable Than All The Riches This World Could Ever Offer…

Tet - The Key Words In This Series Of Verse Beginning With Tet “Tes” Is Goodness. This Is A Succinct Description Of Torah, The Talmud Teaches That If A Person Sees The Letter “Tes” In His Dreams It Is A Good Omen For Him. In Fact, The Very First Time The Torah Uses This Letter Is For The Word “Good” (Gen. 1:4). Moreover, The Talmud Teaches That A Person Who Fulfills The Symbolic Lessons Of All The Letters Preceding “Tes” Will Be Blessed With Goodness.

Psa. 119:65-72

2.) The Man Who Remains Steadfast To Good Conduct And Godly Character Will Discover That They Are Accompanied By The Twins Named “Grace And Mercy”.

Yud – The Smallest Letter In The Hebrew Alphabet, Yud Contains As Much Meaning As The Rest Of The Hebrew Alphabet Combined. Yud Signifies Creation Itself And, On Its Own, Stands As An Important Symbol For The Creator The Talmud Teaches That The World To Come Was Created With “Yud” The Smallest Of All The Letters, Because A Relatively Small Number Of People Will Enter The Kingdom Of God.  The Talmud Says That “Yud” Stands For The Word “Inheritance” – The Righteous Who Follow God And Put Themselves In His Hands Will Inherit Good Fortune For Themselves And Their Descendants

Psa.119:73-74

David: (When I Understand Your Commandments And Fulfill Them Properly, I Shall Succeed In All My Ways. Others Who Revere And Serve You Shall Observe My Success And Rejoice, When They Realize That Whatever Rewards I Gain Are Destined For Them As Well, Because They Emulate My Ways…  People Can Look To Me For Inspiration And Joy Because I Provide An Example Of What It Means To Be Committed To The Scriptures…)

Psa. 119:75

(There Are Times When That Which Seems Difficult Is Actually The Very Thing That Keeps Us On The Path That Leads To God…)

Psa. 119:76-78

(The Rabbis Tell Us That The Very Essence Of David’s Being Was Permeated With The Spirit Of The Torah, To The Extent That Whoever Gazed Upon David’s Face Could Remember All The Torah Study He Had Forgotten. Despite Any Adversity, He Would Constantly Speak Of And Discuss God’s Precepts)…

Psa. 119:79-80

(A Person Knows In His Heart When He Has Sinned And Is Deeply Ashamed Of It. Prov. 14:10 States, The Heart Know Its Own Bitterness…)

3.) The Reverent Heart Is Satisfied With Nothing Less Than The Comfort Of God’s Never Ending Promises.

Caph – This Verse Begins The Section Of The Letter “Chaf” Which Literally Means The Palm Of The Hand. Indeed, The Shape Of The “Chaf” Resemble The Cupped Palm. In The Following Verses David Expresses His Yearning To Be Sheltered In The Palm Of God’s Hand, Especially At The Time Of Redemption From Exile. The Talmud States That The Letter “Chaf” Stands For “Crown”… The Person Who Is Devoted To God And Places Himself In God’s Hands Will Eventually Be Crowned With Divine Glory…

Psa.119:81-86

(David Knew That According To The Authentic Teachings Of Torah, God Would Be Faithful To Him And Protect Him From His Enemies, For He Was A Defenseless Fugitive And God Protects The Weak And Humble…)

Psa. 119:87

(No Matter How Bleak The Situation Appeared, David Stood His Ground. He Did Not Abandon His Faith In God, And Adhered To God’s Precepts…)

Psa. 119:88

4.) All Earthly Good Has Its Limits, While The Goodness Of God Remains Inexhaustible…

Lamed – The Letter Lamed Is Unique Because It Is The Tallest Letter…It Is Also The 12^th Letter Or Central Letter Of The Entire Hebrew Alphabet. Because Of Its Centrality, It Is Said To Represent The “King Of Kings.” The Meaning Is “To Sting, To Prick, To Incite” As A Shepherd May Prod Cattle…It Comes From An Ancient Word Meaning “To Teach.” The Spelling Is Said To Be An Acronym For “A Heart That Understands Knowledge.”

Psa.119:89

(This Implies That Creation Is A Continuing Process, Requiring God’s Constant Intervention. If The Eternally Reverberating Word Of God Was To Be Silenced For But A Moment, All Of Creation Would Instantly Disintegrate Into Nothingness….)

Psa. 119:90-92

David: My Only Comfort Is That Your Word Does Not Change…  Heaven And Earth Bear Testimony To Your Enduring Faithfulness. I Know That I Can Trust The Promises You Made Me, Assuring Me Of Ultimate Salvation And Victory Over My Evil Foes.)

(The Talmud Teaches That When A Person Who Is Threatened By Affliction Immerses Himself In The Study Of Torah, He Grows Calm And Tranquil. But If He Fails To Study Torah, His Heart Drowns In Bitterness And He Can Merely Resign Himself To His Fate…)

Psa. 119:93-96

(Not Only Is The Total Body Of Torah Wisdom Endless, But Also Each Individual Commandment Of The Torah Is Infinitely  Broad In Scope…. One Small Commandment Sets Tremendous Spiritual Forces Into Action…)

5.) The First Step To Hating What God Hates Is Learning To Love What God Loves…

Mem – Literally, “The Word” – Massive, Overpowering, Creation; Moses Was Given The Revealed Evidence Of The Creator’s Sovereignty Over His Creation; It Is Said That An Embryo Is Created In Forty Days…

Psa.119:97

(David Declares That He Reamin Enamored Of Torah No Matter How Much He Discusses It Or Meditates On It… He Love It Even Though It Is His Topic Conversation All The Time…  (Deut. 6:7 – Speak Them While Sitting, While Walking, While Reclining And When Awaking…)

When A Man Loves The Torah, He Loves Life Itself.)

Psa. 119:98-101

David: Whenever I Helf Myself Back From Any Evil Act, I Was Not Motivated By Fear Of Public Opinion Or Even By Fear Of Divine Punishment. Rather My Sole Purpose Was To Please God And To Keep His Word Because I Serve Him Out Of Love And Not Fear…

Psa. 119:102-104

Notes: Cultivating Gratitude…

TITLE: Cultivating Gratitude

TEXT: 2 Kings4

PREACHER: Dr. Robb Thompson

DATE: Nov. 26, 2009  (City Harvest – Schaumberg )

Gratitude Is The Substance Of A Heart Poised To Show Appreciation Or Thankfulness; It Is Not Simply An Emotion, Which Involves A Pleasant Feeling That Can Occur When We Receive A Favor Or Benefit From Another Person, But Rather The Combination Of A State Of Being Coupled With Emotion; Often Accompanied By A Desire To Reciprocate….

Let Me Share A Few Quotes With You…

John F. Kennedy

As We Express Our Gratitude, We Must Never Forget That The Highest Appreciation Is Not To Utter Words, But To Live By Them.

William Arthur Ward

“Feeling Gratitude And Not Expressing It Is Like Wrapping A Present And Not Giving It.” -

Henry Ward Beecher

The Unthankful Heart… Discovers No Mercies; But Let The Thankful Heart Sweep Through The Day And, As The Magnet Finds The Iron, So It Will Find, In Every Hour, Some Heavenly Blessings!  ~

BECOMING GRATEFUL

1.) The Hebrew Term For Gratitude Is Recognition For The Good Another Has Done For You.  Grateful People Look Forward To Helping People That Have Helped Them.

2 Kings 4 – Elisha Asked The Woman What He Could Do For Her After Acknowledging What She Had Done For Him.

2.) Gratitude Is Rooted In Remembrance.  We Must Make A Conscience Effort To Recall How Others Have Helped Us.  The Bible Tells Us Of A Great Favor Joseph Bestowed Upon Pharaoh’s Cupbearer And Asked Him To Remember Him.

3.) Gratitude Is A Pre-Requisite For Happiness.  The Mindset Of A Grateful Person Is “Look For What Someone Has Done For Me” While The Mindset Of An Ungrateful Person Is “The Only Reason Someone Has Helped Me Is To Make Sure That I Will Reciprocate”.  An Ungrateful Person Reveals A Suspicious And Mean Spirited Disposition And How Unloved They Feel.  Ungrateful People Cannot Imagine That Others Care Enough For Them To Be Generous Without Expecting Something In Return.

4.) Let Your Gratitude Last For A Lifetime.

1 Kings 2:7 On David’s Death Bed, He Told Solomon To Show Kindness To The Son’s Of Barzillai Of Gilead And Let Them Sit At Your Table.  Remember Those Who Have Helped You At Different Moments In Life….Family, Friends, Employers, Teachers, Even Those Who Are No Longer In A Position To Help.

5.) Remember And Acknowledge The Good That Has Been Done Even By Those Who Later Do What Is Wrong.

6.) Express Gratitude To Your Family And Friends.  Never Take The Closest Of Those To You For Granted.

7.) Show Gratitude Not Only To Those Who Help You, But Also To Those Who Help The Ones You Love.

Ruth 2:11-16 – Boaz

8.) Help Not Just The Person That Has Helped You But Also Their Family And Friends.

2 Samuel 9 – David Sought Out Jonathans’ Family To Help Them In Gratitude For All Jonathan’s Help

9.) Minimize The Favors You Have Done For Others While Maximizing The Things They Have Done For You.

10.) Repay One’s Kindness By Being Kind To Someone Else.

1. Your Perception Of Life Significantly Dictates Your Attitude Towards It….

A Different Perspective…

2kings 6:14-17

Jesus Didn’t Allow Him To Gain The Wrong Perspective…

Mark 5:35,36

2. The Greatest Weakness ‘Attitude’ Possesses Is In Its Inability To Remain Hidden.

Countenance: A Mental State Revealed On A Man’s Face… (A Man’s Attitude Can Always Be Seen)

John 12:3-8 ; Gen. 4.5-7 ; 1kings 10:1-7 ; Psa. 150:1-6

3. Never Allow The Gifts That Have Been Bestowed Upon You To Ever Eclipse The One Who Bestowed Them…

James 1:17 ; Psa. 107:8

Notes: Our Citizenship Is In Heaven (Phil.3:17-21)

TITLE: Our Citizenship Is In Heaven ( Phil.3:17-21 )

TEXT: Phil.3-16-17

PREACHER: Dr. Robb Thompson

DATE: Nov. 15, 2009 (FHC-Tinley Park IL. Sunday P.M.)

The Philippian Christian Community Had Been Especially Responsive To And Supportive Of Paul, And He In Turn Reveals In This Letter A Special Affection For Them As He Urges Them To Greater Unity Among Themselves And To A More Profound Reliance On Christ’s Saving Power.

With This Community He Could Freely Share His Own Varied Feelings As He Sat In Chains, Facing A Possible Death Sentence (Phil. 1:12-26). In One Of His Most Moving Passages He Offered Them A Veritable Spiritual Last Will & Testament (3:1-4:1).

In Recounting His Own Situation, Paul Invited The Philippians To Observe How Christ’s Power Has Been At Work In Him And To Imitate This In Their Own Lives. Paul Also Urges His Audience To Imitate The Total Self-Surrender To Christ Himself (2:1-13). Using An Older Christian Poetic Composition That Recalled Christ’s Descent Into The Physical World, His Death, And His Exaltation By God (2:6-11), Paul Challenged The Philippians To Turn From Self-Centeredness To A Giving Of Themselves For Others.

Phil.3:16-17

Mark Them – Look At, Fix One’s Attention Upon, To Mark And To Follow

Brethren, Be Followers Together Of Me – A Minister Of The Gospel, A Parent, Or A Christian Of Any Age Or Condition, Ought So To Live That He Can Refer To His Own Example, And Exhort Others To Imitate The Course Of Life Which He Had Led.

Walk – To Conduct One’s Life

Ensample – That Which Is Formed By A Blow Or Impression, Pattern, Type, Example

And Mark Them Which Walk So As Ye Have Us For An Ensample – Two Kinds Of Professing Christians In Every Church –Those Who Imitate The Savior, And Those Who Are Worldly And Vain.

Phil.3:18

For Many Walk –There Were Many, Even In The Church, Whom It Would Not Be Safe For Them To Imitate.

And Now Tell You Even Weeping – No One In The True Spirit Of Christ Desires To Go And Blazon Others’ Inconsistencies Abroad; None With The Heart Of The Savior Finds Pleasure In Others’ Inconsistencies. If There Is Any Thing That Should Make Us Weep, It Should Be That There Are Those Who Dishonor Their Profession.

Weeping – To Weep Audibly; The Stress Of Paul’s Grief Lay In The Fact That They Degraded The True Doctrine Of Liberty.

That They Are The Enemies Of The Cross Of Christ – Strangers To The Gospel; Not Necessarily  Avowed Enemies Of The Cross. They Did Not Deny That The Lord Jesus Died On The Cross To Make An Atonement. They Were Merely Living In A Manner Which Showed That They Were Strangers To The Truth. An Immoral Life Is Enmity To The Cross Of Christ; For He Died To Make Us Holy.

Phil.3:19

Whose End Is Destruction – They Have No True Religion, They Must Perish In The Same Manner As All Sinners. A Mere Profession Will Not Save Them. Unless They Are Converted, And Become The True Friends Of The Cross, They Cannot Enter Heaven.

Destruction – Utter Ruin

Whose God Is Their Belly – Who Worship Their Own Appetites; Or Who Live Not To Adore And Honor God, But For Self-Indulgence And Sensual Gratification

Belly – A General Term To Include All That Most Essentially Belongs To The Bodily, Fleshly Life Of Man And Therefore Perishable

They Not Only Sinned, But Boasted Of It And Gloried In That Of Which They Ought To Have Been Ashamed. Sin Is The Sinner’s Shame, Especially When It Is Gloried In. They Value Themselves For What Is Their Blemish & Reproach.

Who Mind Earthly Things – That Is, Whose Hearts Are Set On Earthly Things, Or Who Live To Obtain Them. Their Attention Is Directed To Honor, Gain, Or Pleasure, And Their Chief Anxiety Is That They May Secure These Objects. This Is Mentioned As One Of The Characteristics Of Enmity To The Cross Of Christ.

Phil. 3:20

Conversation – Used To Refer To Conduct In General; Means That They Were Citizens Of The Heavenly World, In Contradistinction From A Worldly Community.

Conversation – Citizenship; The Word Means The State, The Constitution To Which Citizens Belong; The Functions We As Citizens Perform

Our Greatest Privileges And Concerns Lie In Heaven. This World Is Not Our Home.

From Whence Also We Look For The Savior – One Of The Characteristics Of The Christian Is That He Believes That The Lord Jesus Will Return From Heaven, And That He Looks And Waits For It.

Look – Expect Eagerly And Wait Patiently

Phil.3:21

Who Shall Change Our Vile Body – Properly Mean “The Body Of Humiliation;” That Is, Our Humble Body. It Refers To The Body As It Is In Its Present State, As Subject To Its Infirmities, Disease, And Death. It Is Different Far From What It Was When Man Was Created, And From What It Will Be In The Future World.

Change – To Refashion; To Change Outward Form Or Appearance

Vile – Lowly, Humble, Insignificant

Fashioned – Conformed; The Changing Of The Inward And Outward Substance, Conforming To Or With Something

Working – The Active And Productive Power Of God At Work

Subdue – To Place Under One’s Authority

Notes: Faith For Winning

TITLE: Faith For Winning

TEXT: 1John 4:4

PREACHER: Dr. Robb Thompson

DATE: Nov. 15, 2009 ( FHC – Tinley Park IL. Sunday A.M. )

1John 4:4 Ye Are Of God, Little Children, And Have Overcome Them: Because Greater Is He That Is In You, Than He That Is In The World.

1John 5:4 For Whatsoever Is Born Of God Overcometh The World: And This Is The Victory That Overcometh The World, Even Our Faith.

J.C. Penney’s First Venture As A Retail Proprietor – A Butcher Shop In Longmont, Co-Opened In 1899 And Failed Almost Immediately After He Refused To Bribe An Important Local Hotel Chef With A Weekly Bottle Of Bourbon. “I Lost Everything I Had,” Said Penney, “But I Learned Never To Compromise.”  Penney’s Unwavering Faith In The Maxims Of His Youth Roused Skepticism, But His Credo Underlay His Success. At His Death In 1971, Penney, 95, Left A 1,660-Store Empire That He Built Without Compromising The Stiff Principles He Had Absorbed From Three Generations Of Baptist Preacher Ancestors. He Had No Personal Vices… And Demanded The Same Abstemious Conduct From His Employees. “I Believe In Adherence To The Golden Rule, Faith In God And The Country,” He Often Said. “ I Would Rather Be Known As A Christian Than As A Merchant.”

1Cor. 9:24-27

Lift Up A Standard…

Is. 59:19 ; Phil. 3:16 ; 2 Tim. 1:13

Jesus Came As God’s Word… He Lived By The Word Of God…He Will Return As God’s Word…

John 1:1 ; Matt. 4:3,4 ; John 10:34,35 ; Rev. 19:11-13

Here Are 6 Thoughts To Help You Raise The Bar In Your Life:

1.) Your Relationship With God Is Only As Deep As Your Relationship To His Word…

John 1:1 ; Rev. 19:13

The Importance Of God’s Word And His Sayings Must Never Be Underestimated… These Are The Principles That Give Us Life… There Are Levels/Stages Of Understanding And Maturity God Wishes Us To Embrace…

Stage 1 – Desire The Sincere Milk Of God’s Word…

1 Pet. 2:1,2

Stage 2 – Desire The Bread/Substance Of God’s Word…

Matt. 4:4

Stage 3 – Desire The Meat Of God’s Word…

Heb. 5:14

2.) The Thoughts That Run Wild Through Your Mind Are No More Than Fugitives Of The Past Seeking Refuge…

(Every Thought That Introduces Itself To You Is Simply Not Yours… When The Devil Reminds You Of Your Past… Just Remind Him Of His Future!)

Story: When I Went Into My Closet Every Day To Pray Because I Was Tormented And Ashamed Of The Way I Thinking…  I Then Took My Thought To Jesus And Those Thoughts Began To Leave Me…

2 Cor. 10:3-5 ; Rom. 12:2 ; Prov. 4:20-22

3.) Believing In Jesus Requires Little Of Me While Following Him Leaves Nothing Left Out…

James 2:17,18 ; John 8:31 ; Psa. 119:1-8

4.) Humility Is The Only Power Great Enough To Force Pride To Its Knees…

(Pride: To Steal From God, His Right To Decide The Difference Between Right And Wrong… Good And Evil… As Well As True And False…)

Gen. 3:1-6 ; Prov.3:34 ; James 4:6,10 ; 1Pet. 5:5,6

5.) Those Who Refuse To Forgive, Burn The Bridge They Must Cross The Moment They Require Forgiveness…

Matt. 18:21-30 ; Mark 11:25 ; Eph. 4:32

6.) A Gift Is Not What You Give… A Gift Is What It Cost You To Give It…

Mark 12:41-44

Notes: The Laws Of Love

TITLE: The Laws Of Love

TEXT: Matthew 7:24-27

PREACHER: Dr. Robb Thompson

DATE: Nov. 14, 2009  ( Ignite )

There Is Little Doubt The Moment One Begins To Ask The Question… “What Is Love”… It Is Defined In So Many Ways… Desire… Need… Attraction… For Us As Believers, It Is Defined As Overlooking The Faults Of Others… Forgiving… Giving To The Poor… Helping Others Who Are Suffering… The List Goes On And On… But Where Do They Have The Basis Of Their Truth From? Many Times We Seem To Place The Cart Before The Horse… For It Is Only When We Put Things In God’s Divine Order That We Can Know That We Have Done Those Things That Have Been Asked Of Us…

Matt. 7:24-27 ; James 1:26,27

Is There A Wrong Way To Do This?

2Th. 3:10-15 ; 1John 4:7,8

1.)  The Law Of Truth

Love Is Misrepresented The Moment One Attempts To Define It By Emotion, Opinion Or Human Logic… But It Finds Its Full Expression When It Is Defined By That Which Is Written…

2Tim. 3:16 ; John 10:34,35 ; Gal. 4:16

Don’t Tell Me You Love Me… Show Me…

1John 3:17,18

Speak The Truth In Love…

Eph. 4:14,15

2.)  The Law Of Consideration

It Is Only When You Humbly Consider Another Man’s Conscience That You Have Truly Loved Them…

Titus 3:2 ;Rom. 12:9,10 ; Rom. 15:1-4 ; 1 Cor. 8:4-13 ; 1 Cor. 10:23-33

3.)  The Law Of Confrontation

I Would Rather You Hate Me For Telling You The Truth Then For You To Love Me For Telling You Lies…

A Friend Is Willing To Risk The Friendship In The Hopes Of Rescuing His Friend…

Prov. 27:5,6

The Man Came Running, But He Left Walking…

Mark 10:17-20

Jesus Loved Him And Therefore Confronted That Which Caused Him To Walk Away…

Mark 10:21,22 ; Gal. 4:16

Paul Confronted Peter…

Gal. 2:11-14

Nathan Confronted David…

2sam. 12:1-7

What About Us…? Are We Ready To Truly Love God 1^st… Then To Love Others According To The Way He Has Prescribed For Us To Love Them?

Matt. 22:35-39

Notes: Raising The Bar (Part 4)

TITLE: Raising The Bar  (Part 4)

TEXT: Psalm 119:1-8

PREACHER: Dr. Robb Thompson

DATE: Nov. 8th, 2009 ( Singapore – Sunday P.M. Service )

We Must Never Neglect The Bible… It Is The Key To Our Well Being… The Combination To Our Success… It Is The Most Precious Gift God Has Ever Given Us… Let Us Bear In Mind The Bible’s Importance… There Is An Attack On Its Relevance In A Mans Life, For Without It There Is No Conversion… We Must Never Lose Sight Of The Fact That Their Are Billions Of People Who Have Never Even Seen One, But Long For The Day In Which They Do… In This Hour I Wish For The Healthy Argument Of Which Translation We Will Use Instead Of The One Which Is @ Our Door That Bellows That We Must Never Use One At All…

We Can Never Allow The Memory To Slip That Men And Women From Previous Centuries Laid Down Their Lives In Sacrifice To Preserve The Bible For You And Me… Let Us Treat It With Reverence… Let Us Be Respectful Toward The Bible, For It Is The Way That God Comes Into Our Lives…

Psa. 119:1-8

God’s Word Causes Us To Become Like Our Father…

2 Pet. 1:3,4

God’s Word Works In Us When We Believe It…

1 Th. 2:13

Jesus Held The Scripture Above All Else…

John 10:35

God Exalted His Word Above His Name…

Psa. 138:2

Realize,

You Do Not Love God More Than You Love His Word…

John 14:21,23

You Do Not Know God More Than You Know His Word…

1John 2:3,4

You Do Not Fear God More Than You Fear His Word…

Is. 66:2 ; Eccl. 12:13 ; Acts 23:1-5

7 Results Of Believing The Bible…

1.Faith Comes Alive The Moment You “Hear The Word Of God”…

Rom. 10:17

The Ethiopian Eunuch

Acts 8:26-31

2.Without God’s Word A “Genuine Conversion” Is Impossible…

Psa. 19:7 ; James 1:18 ; 1pet. 1:22,23

3.The Man Who Would Become What God Has Chosen Him For, Must Prefer His Spiritual Food Over That Which Just Increases The Size Of His Belly…

John 4:32-34

Baby

1pet. 2:2

Young Man

Matt. 4:3,4

Mature Believer

Heb. 5:14

4.The Heavens Open Wide For The Man That Makes God’s Word His Guiding Light…

Education Is Not Light…

Psa. 119:130 ; Eph. 1:17

5.God Had One Thing In Mind When He Sent Us The Bible… Our “Healing”…

Psa.107:17-20 ; Prov.4:20-22

6. Walking In Freedom Is Impossible Until Te Moment You Embrace God’s Word…

1cor. 15:57 ; Psa.119:9-11

7.The Fastest Way To Know What You Look Like Is To Look Inside God’s Word…

Psa. 119:5-7 ; James 1:23-25

Notes: Raising The Bar (Part 3)

TITLE: Raising The Bar  (Part 3)

TEXT: Psalm 15:1-5

PREACHER: Dr. Robb Thompson

DATE: Nov. 8th, 2009  ( Singapore -Sunday A.M. Service )

James Cash Penney’s First Venture As A Retail Proprietor – A Butcher Shop In Longmont, Co-Opened In 1899 And Failed Almost Immediately After He Refused To Bribe An Important Local Hotel Chef With A Weekly Bottle Of Bourbon. “I Lost Everything I Had,” Said Penney, “But I Learned Never To Compromise.”  Penney’s Unwavering Faith In The Copybook Maxims Of His Youth Roused Skepticism In A Mercenary Age, But His Credo Underlay His Success. At His Death In 1971, Penney, 95, Left A 1,660-Store Empire That He Built Without Compromising The Stiff Principles He Had Absorbed From Three Generations Of Baptist Preacher Ancestors. He Neither Smoked Nor Drank, And For Years Demanded The Same Abstemious Conduct From His Employees. “I Believe In Adherence To The Golden Rule, Faith In God And The Country,” He Often Said. “ I Would Rather Be Known As A Christian Than As A Merchant.”

With Annual Sales Of $4.1 Billion, J.C. Penney Today Ranks As The Nation’s 5^th Merchandising Company. Penney’s Persona; Holding Of Its Stock Was Worth $24 Million.

Psa.15:1-5

Lift Up A Standard…

Is. 59:19 ; Phil. 3:16 ; 2tim. 1:13

Jesus Came As God’s Word… He Will Return As The Word…

John 1:1 ; Rev. 19:11-13

Embracing Jesus As Lord…

Matt. 7:24-27

“Who Do You Say That I Am?”…

Matt. 16:13-19

The Process Of Revelation:

1.   Confrontation – There Was A Direct, Person-To-Person Confrontation Between Jesus And Peter. There Was No One In Between Them—No Mediator Or Priest…

Matt. 16:13-15 ; Acts 9:4-6

2.   Revelation – Peter Received A Revelation That Was Not A Product Of His Reasoning Or Intellect The Father Revealed It To Him Supernaturally…

Matt. 16:16,17

3.   Acknowledgement – Peter Acknowledged The Revelation, Which Is Important. It Is One Thing To Receive A Revelation; It Is Another Thing To Acknowledge It…

Matt. 16:16

4.   Public Confession – Peter Made A Public Confession Of What He Acknowledged… He Said Out Loud, In Public, “You Are The Christ [Messiah], The Son Of The Living God.”  Jesus Said, “On This Rock [This Acknowledgement Or Confession] I Will Build My Church”…

Matt. 16:16

Here Are 5 Thoughts To Help You Raise The Bar In Your Life:

1.) Your Relationship With God Is Only As Deep As Your Relationship To His Word…

John 1:1 ; Rev. 19:13

The Importance Of God’s Word And His Sayings Must Never Be Underestimated… These Are The Principles That Give Us Life… There Are Levels/Stages Of Understanding And Maturity God Wishes Us To Embrace…

Stage 1 – Desire The Sincere Milk Of God’s Word…

1pet. 2:1,2

Stage 2 – Desire The Bread/Substance Of God’s Word…

Matt. 4:4

Stage 3 – Desire The Meat Of God’s Word…

Heb. 5:14

2.) Thoughts That Run Wild In Your Mind Are No More Than Fugitives Of Your Past Seeking A Hostage…

(Every Thought That Introduces Itself To You Is Simply Not Yours… When The Devil Reminds You Of Your Past… Just Remind Him Of His Future!)

Story: When I Went Into My Closet Every Day To Pray Because I Was Tormented And Ashamed Of The Way I Thinking…  I Then Took My Thought To Jesus And Those Thoughts Began To Leave Me…

2 Cor. 10:3-5 ; Rom. 12:2 ; Prov. 4:20-22

3.) Believing In Jesus Requires Little Of Me While Following Him Leaves Nothing Left Out…

James 2:17-19 ; John 8:31 ; Psa. 119:1-8

4.) Humility Is The Only Power Great Enough To Force Pride To Its Knees…

(Pride: To Steal From God, His Right To Decide The Difference Between Right And Wrong… Good And Evil… As Well As True And False…)

Gen. 3:1-6 ; Prov.3:34 ; Prov.29:23 ; James 4:6,10 ; 1pet. 5:5,6

5.) Those Who Refuse To Forgive Burn The Bridge They Must Cross The Moment They Require Forgiveness…

Matt. 18:21-30 ; Mark 11:25 ; John 17:3,4 ; Eph. 4:32

Notes: Raising The Bar (Part 2)

TITLE: Raising The Bar  (Part 2)

TEXT: Ruth 1:11-18

PREACHER: Dr. Robb Thompson

DATE: Nov. 7th, 2009 ( Singapore – Saturday P.M. Service )

Ruth Was A Young Moabitess Who Was Widowed Early On In Her Marriage. By Law And By Tradition, It Was Permissible For Her As A Widow To Return To Her Home In Moab And Marry Again. Even Her Mother-In-Law Encouraged Her To Do So, As It Was A Prize To Be A Mother And A Shame To Be Childless. No One Would Have Considered Her Sinful For Returning To Her Homeland And Seeking A Husband; It Was An Acceptable Thing. But She Chose The Higher Way, Raising Her Standards And Disregarding The Low Ideals Of Her Tradition To Remain With Naomi And Serve God In A Place Where She Knew No One.

Ruth 1:11-18

Ruth Was Giving Up The Possibility Of Ever Bearing Children As Well As Turning Her Back On Her Ancestral Religion. She Was Redeemed By Boaz, Provided For Naomi, And Bore A Son Who Became A Part Of The Lineage Of David And Ultimately Jesus Christ.

Lift Up A Standard…

Is. 59:19 ; Phil. 3:16 ; 2tim. 1:13

Jesus Came As God’s Word… He Will Return As God’s Word…

John 1:1 ; Rev. 19:11-13

Digging Deep…

Luke 6:46-49

“Who Do You Say That I Am?”…

Matt. 16:13-19

The Process Of Revelation:

1.   Confrontation – There Was A Direct, Person-To-Person Confrontation Between Jesus And Peter. There Was No One In Between Them—No Mediator Or Priest…

Matt. 16:13-15 ; Acts 9:4-6

2.   Revelation – Peter Received A Revelation That Was Not A Product Of His Reasoning Or Intellect. The Father Revealed It To Him Supernaturally…

Matt. 16:16,17

3.   Acknowledgement – Peter Acknowledged The Revelation,

Matt. 16:16

4.    Public Confession – Peter Made A Public Confession Of What He Acknowledged

Jesus Said, “On This Rock [This Acknowledgement Or Confession] I Will Build My Church”…)

Matt. 16:16

Here Are 5 Thoughts To Help You Lift The Standard In Your Life:

1. Never Forget…Walking With God Requires Complete Surrender…

What Does It Mean To Have A Perfect Heart?

It Means To Have A Heartfelt Desire To Do Right And To Please God.

A Person Who Has A Perfect Heart Truly Loves God, Though He Himself May Not Be Perfect.

2 Chr. 16:9

Surrender: Cease Resistance To And Submit… Abandon Oneself Entirely To…

(Take For An Example A Pen Or My Jacket…  A Pen Is Absolutely Surrendered To The One Who Is Writing…  This Jacket Is Absolutely Given Up To Me…)

Rom. 12:1 ; Heb. 11:5 ; Amos 3:3 ; 1 Kings 20:4 ; Mark 8:34

2. As God Declared His Love For Us Through Jesus Christ, We Declare Our Love For Him By Obeying His Desires.

John 14:21,23 ; John 15:14 ; John 14:15

3. Success Becomes A Reality The Moment You Choose To Walk In The Footprints Of The Successful Who Have Lived Before You…

Joshua…  Elisha… Disciples… Timothy…

Prov. 13.20

4. Foolish Is Crowned As King The Instant We Believe We Determine Our Future… While Wisdom Cries Out That The Future Is Determined By Those To Whom We Grant Access…

Psa. 1:1 ; 1Cor. 15:33

There Are Three Types Of People In Your Life At All Times…

1) Compromisers: Always Trying To Get You To Compromise Your Standards… It’s Ok… You Don’t Have To Be So Stiff And Rigid All The Time…

Past Friends; Acquaintances;

2) Companions: Those That Are Neither Good Nor Bad For Your Future… It Is Nearly Impossible To Tell Their Effect…

Friends; Family… The Fun People, But Take You Nowhere…

3) Committed: Those Who Are Undoubtedly Committed To Your Success.

5. In Order To Achieve The Future You Desire, You Must 1^st Be Willing To Walk Away From Your Present Desires…

Samson’ Mother

Judg. 13:7,21-25

He Wanted Someone He Shouldn’t Have Wanted

Judg. 14:1-3

Deceived By His Wife

Judg. 14:17-20

Prostitute

Judg. 16:1

Delilah

Judg. 16:4,5

He Chose His Relationship With Delilah Over His Relationship With God…

Judg. 16:15-17

His Eyes Were Gouged Out

Judg. 16:19-21

Joseph

Gen. 39:6-9

Joseph Was Put In Charge Of All Of Egypt…

Gen. 41:12-14,37-44

Notes: Raising The Bar (Part 1)

TITLE: Raising The Bar  (Part 1)

TEXT: 1Cor. 9:24-27

PREACHER: Dr. Robb Thompson

DATE: Nov. 7th, 2009  ( Singapore – Saturday A.M. Service)

Finally The Moment Has Come… Your eyes scan the sportsmen who Have Been Waiting and training strenuously Now For Four Years And Are Now Awaiting The Greatest Athletic Contest Of All Time To Begin… Those Who Are The Best And Most Honored Athletes In The World complete Their Final Preparations To Make Their Mark On History… And The Games Begin… One By One, They Do Their Best… And One By One They Are Eliminated by mere fractions of points, Until One Emerges As The Greatest athlete Of All Time…

But How Do Champions Achieve Such Tremendous Feats? Do They Just Sign Up for the games And Show Up when the races begin? I Think Not… Let’s Take A Look At How Heaven Says We Can Get To The Winner’s Circle…

1Cor. 9:24-27

The Bible Is A Book Of Standards… Written About Those Who Kept Them And Those Who Did Not…

Lift Up A Standard…

Is. 59:19 ; Phil. 3:16 ; 2Tim. 1:13

Jesus Came As God’s Word… He Will Return As The Word…

John 1:1 ; Rev. 19:11-13

No Other Foundation…

1 Cor. 3:9-11 ; Matt. 16:13-19

The Process Of Revelation::

1.   Confrontation – There Was A Direct, Person-To-Person Confrontation Between Jesus And Peter. There Was No One In Between Them—No Mediator Or Priest…

Matt. 16:13-15 ; Acts 9:4-6

2.   Revelation – Peter Received A Revelation That Was Not A Product Of His Reasoning Or Understanding. The Father Revealed Jesus To Him Supernaturally…

Matt. 16:16,17

3.   Acknowledgement – Peter Had To Acknowledge The Revelation,

Matt. 16:16

4.   Public Confession – Peter Made A Public Confession Of What He Acknowledged… He Said Out Loud, In Public, “You Are The Christ [Messiah], The Son Of The Living God.”  Jesus Said, “On This Rock [This Acknowledgement Or Confession] I Will Build My Church”…

Matt. 16:16

Here Are 4 Thoughts To Help You Raise The Bar In Life:

1. As Long As You’re Fixed On What You’re Going Through You’ll Never Discover The Life God’s Planned For You…

Ruth 1:19-21 ; Hab. 3:17-19 ; 2 Cor. 4:17-18

2. Stop Trying To Apply The Word To Your Life And Begin Applying Your Life To The Word…

Psa. 119:9-11 ; John 8:31 ; 2tim. 2:15 ; 2tim. 3:14,15

3. Every Failure In Life Can Be Traced Back To A Compromise In Our Character.,,

(It Is Important That You Focus More On Building Your Character Than Anything Else… More Than Money, More Than Relationships, More Than Your Career, Etc.)

Prov. 10:9 ; Prov. 11:3

4. The Surest Law In All Of Life Is This: The More You Give The More You’ll Have…

Luke 6:38 ; 2 Cor. 9:6,7 ; Prov. 11:24,25