Learning lessons on a swing set

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Learning lessons on a swing set
Luke had lots of endurancecould go over over.
I crossed once, excused myself from further
proofs of my manhood. But it taught me something
about faith in Heb. 1032-39.
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Talking about FAITH THAT ENDURES
My faith looks up to You, Lord, until . . .
the medicine stops working the disease comes
back the power goes off I cant pay the
bills my job goes sour, or Im laid off at a
critical time I lose my mate of my child A
hurricane or earthquake kills 100s some of my
?s are answered. The pain lasts longer than I
think I can stand. It just doesnt stop it
wont go away!
James 12-4 the testing of your faith produces
endurance.
1. Faith is not enoughendurance is the keylet
it run its course. 2. We learn endurance 1 day at
a time.
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Talking about FAITH THAT ENDURES
Chp. 11 shows many severe trials endured by faith
thru the past ages proof positive that it is
possible to live by faith that endures.
1. He lists 17 people with enduring
faith--people just like us no halo, no
perfect upbringing people who struggled,
sometimes failed, doubted had times when was
difficult to keep the faith but kept on going
some w/o names but lengthy, brutal testssome
w/happy ending, some w/disastrous ending, but
all endured by faith
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But . . . Im not that kind of person! Im not
on their level!
Abel raised, sold animalsnot ordained Noah
farmerconstruction for 100 years Abram
businessmanraised by idolatrous parents Sarah
homemaker Jacob businessman, animal
broker Joseph slave, convict, politician,
ruler Moses princesheep herder Rahab
harlot Judges mostly shepherds farmers David
shepherd, songwriter, soldier, king
Noah drunkeness shamed by Canaan Abram lied
about Sarah on occasion to save his own
skin Sarah laughed at Gods promise Jacob
deceiver, chiseler Moses seen as
murder/fugitive resisted Gods assignment Rahab
background of promiscuity lust Samson pride,
uncontrolled passions
We tend to see their best qualities and say
When I reach their level, then I can live by
faith!
Point were already there. They simply
believed that God is and gave themselves to
Himeven with personal failures weaknesses
finally trusting in Him instead of in themselves.
Most had weaknesses to deal with
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How does that kind of faith relate to our
circumstances?
A. The odds always are going to be overwhelming
e.g., what odds?
of the flood occuring? a 90 year old woman
conceiving? Against nature. the Red Sea
opening up? Unthinkable. The walls just falling
down? Impossible.
B. The final outcome is not always pleasant.
Must not believe that if we have faith, nothing
will go wrong. Faith may not change my
circumstances, but it can change me and the
way I handle my circumstances Faith may not
restore a loss, bring a cure, fix my marriage,
cause my child to obey the gospel, or keep a
hurricane from hitting, but it can enable me
to handle whatever comes. My glasses dont alter
what is on the screen, but they do alter my
perception of whats there. --Faith does not
alter my circumstances it alters my perception
of my circumstances.
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CONCLUSION I LEARNED 2 THINGS ON THE SWINGSET
1. Lukes muscles could do me no good at all
neither can someone elses faith.
2. I didnt need more muscles I just needed to
exercise those I already had.
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FAITH IS (by Pamela Reeve)
Faith is confidence in Gods faithfulness to me,
in an uncertain world, on an uncharged
course, in an unknown future Faith is recognizing
that God is the lord of time, when my idea
of timing doesnt agree with His. Faith is
resting in the fact that God has an objective in
leaving me on the scene, when I feel useless
to him and a burden to others. Faith is claiming
Gods strength to accept and endure weariness,
pain, and decline, with patience. Faith is
refusal to worry when I havent the faintest clue
to what God would have me do with my
life. Faith is cooperating with God in changing
me, rather than in taking refuge in piously
berating myself. Faith is realizing that God is
the God of now, carrying on His purposes in
every tedious, dull, boring, empty minute of my
life. Faith is refusing the thinking that God
loves the popular, attractive, talented
Christian more than He loves plain old me. Faith
is thanking God that, when I am left with
shattered plans, He has better plans.
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We have such a High Priest!
Having such a High Priest...
What do we have?
11-728
81-1018
1019-1325
A High Priest Who Is
He is more than H.P.
Therefore, let us...
104
Divine
801
The King
Draw near
1022
210
Redeemer
802
Minister in the heavens
Hold fast
1023
301
Apostle
415
Perfect
Consider each other
1024
806
Mediator of a better covenant
703
Eternal
726s
Suits Us
Live by faith
111

• Holy
• Innocent
• Undefiled
• Set Apart
• Exalted
• Offered Himself
• Son made perfect

913s
Sacrifice w/o spot that cleanses our conscience
Throw off every-thing that hinders
121
Show our gratitude to God
1228
924
Our entrance into Gods presence
Love each other
1301
Go to Him
1313
Offer sacrifices of praise good deeds
1315
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We have found him! The light of the world the
Lamb of God who takes away the sins of
the world! Come and see!
the Gospel of John
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Presenting
THE GOSPEL OF TESTIMONY
N
H
J
O
Hmmvery strange! His conclusion is his
introduction! So, to begin correctly, read
2030-31 and then tell us . . .
John begins at the end!?
W H Y
HE WROTE THIS GOSPEL.
SIGNS
BELIEF
LIFE
THE 3 KEY WORDS ARE _______________
_______________ _______________
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Excluding the resurrectionlocate identify all
7 of the miracles John records in his gospel
Miracle
Where Found
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.
Water to wine
21-11
Noblemans son
446-54
Impotent man
51-9
Fed the 5000
61-14
Walked on water
616-21
Man born blind
91-12
Raised Lazarus
111-46
Many other signs Jesus also performed in the
presence of the disciples, which are not written
in this book but these have been written so that
you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son
of God and that believing you may have life in
His name. 2030-31
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We have found him! The light of the world the
Lamb of God who takes away the sins of
the world! Come and see!
the Gospel of John