XA ~ May 31st, 2011 ~ Pastor Brad

Kelly--When unexpected things happen you can react in 2 ways:
1) Walk away or 2) Run harder
We are required to take the first step then God will always meet us where we are at.


War Between the Spirit and the Flesh
Romans 7:14-8:2
1 Thessalonians 5:21-23


We have 3 parts: Spirit, Soul, Body
--Body = The thing that lays in the casket when you die. It lets you experience the 5 senses.
--Soul = Mind, Will & Emotions
Your Body + Your Soul = Flesh


Before salvation the Spirit is along for the ride. It has no choice or voice because the flesh sins.


When you are saved your Spirit and the Holy Spirit come together.


At this point you have a choice about sin: You can choose to give into the sin of the flesh or you can listen to the Holy Spirit.

Fear of consequences is not enough to keep an unsaved person from sinning.


So as we are saved and desire not to sin but instead live Holy lives we need to Minimize the voice of the flesh with discipline and maximize the voice of the Holy Spirit by enhancing it.


How?? Starve the Flesh & Feed the Spirit!

1) Read God's Word.
--Because your flesh doesn't want to but your Spirit needs its fill.
--The more of God's Word you have hidden in your heart the more you have to draw from.


2) Fast.
--Your flesh doesn't want to because it's being disciplined but the more we silence the flesh the more we can hear the voice of the Holy Spirit.


3) Prayer.
--Move around to stay awake!
--Give God time to talk.


4) Worship!


These four steps are how you get rid of habitual sin.

James 4:7-8

Habitual sin will be there your whole life if you try to combat it yourself... God holds the key to victory.

Get rid of it by:
1) Strengthening your Spirit through Reading the Word, Fasting, Prayer, and Worship!
2) Accountability by confessing to your brothers/sisters in Christ about the sin and asking them for prayer and guidance. The more transparent we are with each other the more light there is in our lives which leads to more victory.


Sin separates us from God. The first depiction of this is when Adam and Eve hid from God in the Garden of Eden after they had sinned.


The problem is habitual sin. The answer is to draw near to God! Intimacy with God means God fights the battle for you. Embrace the answer instead of fighting the problem.

XA ~ May 24th, 2011 ~ Pastor Brad

Leaving A Spiritual Legacy

People that do something significant for Jesus leave a legacy. Be a person that leaves a legacy of Faith.

Paul's legacy was Timothy. Timothy was the pastor of the church of Ephesus (Whom the book of Ephesians was written to).

1 Timothy 1:1-7

Verse 5: "The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith."
--This is how you leave a legacy.

Who have you influenced & lead to the Lord? These people and the people they influence are your "downline." How many people are in your downline?


You have to love people before you can lead them. This means we need to Love God and Love our neighbors as ourselves. (Matthew 22:36-40) Getting people saved is a by-product of loving them.


Breakdown of Verse 5:
Pure Heart: This means we need to have unconditional love and give it freely.
--Do you give to get? Or give?


Good Conscience: This means we need to be uncompromising in our walk with God. Because we are our brothers keeper we need to be living so that we look like Jesus at ALL times, not just when we are at church, XA, Bible study, or around certain people. Are people encouraged or discouraged when they watch your life?


Sincere Faith: Are you consistent in the time you spend with God? How about your investment in others and in church?
 --Does your faith change the way you operate? Or does the way you operate change your faith?

If we follow the model depicted in this verse we will leave a legacy.