Sermon Seedbed



MONDAY MORNING PREACHER’S PACKAGE

Monday Morning, May 25, 2009

Sermon Outlines by Eddie Lawrence



Contents:

~Five Sermon Outlines

1. How to Have A Clean Heart (Plus 4 more optional titles)

2. Believe and Be Blessed (Plus 4 more optional titles)

3. If You Were Granted One Wish… (Plus 4 more optional titles)

4. Getting Ready for Revival (Plus 4 more optional titles)

5. Spiritual Warfare 101 (Plus 4 more optional titles)

~Two Captivating Introductions

~Two Compelling Illustrations

~Three Tidbits of Advice for Pastors

~Surprise of the Week (10 Great Quotes About God)

~Money Saver Recommendation

~25 Bonus Titles with Bible References

~PDF ebook – Freeze Frame Living

Sermon Outline One

HOW TO HAVE A CLEAN HEART

Optional Titles

Confess and Be Blessed!

Help me! I’m Dirty!

The Power to Cleanse A Dirty Heart

What Jesus Does with An Unclean Heart

Text-- 1 John 1:3-10

Introduction

Dad coming home from the coal mines

A Lady who confessed her sin said Sin makes me feel dirty. I take several baths a day to try to feel clean on the inside.”

A man who was about to go to prison was in turmoil in his soul, he finally confessed what he had done to a minister, he said, “I just have to confess this to someone.

We are wired internally so that we cannot rest if our conscience is stained by sin. Confession is a wonderful privilege when you understand what happens when we truly confess our sin and turn in repentance from it.

John writes and shares the evidence of a clear conscience

1 John 1:3 Fellowship with the Father

4 Fullness of Joy

5 Not walking in darkness

I want to have a clear conscience and a clean heart, don’t you? It is important to have a clean heart. I want to share with you from the Word of God three observations about having a clean heart which will help us to understand the joy of having a clean heart.

I. THE BLOOD OF THE SAVIOR

The reason that we can have a clean heart is because of the blood of Jesus Christ.

Notice verse 7.

Matthew 26:28

Acts 20:28

Col. 1:14

Rev. 12:11

Satan cannot stand the blood, but the saint treasures the blood.

Some have voted to exclude the mention of the blood from their hymnals, but I still like to sing:

There is power, power, wonder working power......

What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus....

There is a fountain filled with blood drawn from Immanuel’s veins.....

You will never experience a clean heart apart from the blood of the Savior.

II. THE BARRIER OF SIN

Notice verses 8,10

There are three truths about sin that all of us need to know:

A. The Depravity of Sin--”If we say we have no sin...” vs Rom. 3:23

Illus—Michael Phelps and you race across the pacific.....don’t categorize sin!

He may swim farther and faster than you, but both of you will still drown because the distance is too great.

B. The Deception of Sin--”We decieve ourselves”

Illus--Eskimoes way of killing wolves with frozen blades. They would coat a knife blade with blood and stick it upside down in the frozen snow. The wolves will begin to lick the blood. The sharp blade slices their tongues. They end up dying drinking their own blood and don’t even realize it. This is what sin does. It deceives us until we are destroyed by our own actions.

C. The Destruction of Sin--It will eventually get your body, but it doesn’t have to get your

soul.

Illus--Story of the Scorpion and the Turtle in Aesops fable. The Turtle gives the Scorpion a ride across a creek. Half away across the Scorpion stings the Turtle in the back of the neck. The Turtle says, Why did you do that knowing we would both drown. The Scorpion says, It’s my nature. It is the nature of sin to destroy!!

III. THE BLESSING OF SURRENDER

Notice v 9.

Our part--Confess

Give up the struggle.!

Get honest with God

God’s Part--Forgive and Cleanse

These are two powerful words.

God wants us to see sin as He sees sin.

Illus--The rattlesnake in the crib. If you saw a rattlesnake in your baby’s crib and realize it had bitten your child, what would you want to do to that snake? Kill it right? When God sees sin in our life, He sees the thing that killed his Son.

Options--Continue in guilt feeling dirty and shameful or enter into the blessing of joy of having a clean heart.

Sermon Outline Two

BELIEVE AND BE BLESSED

Optional Titles

How to Deal With Famine in Your Life

Faith that Finds A Way

A Little Lady with A Big God

What Happens When A Faith and Famine Collide

1 Kings 17:1 And Elijah the Tishbite, of the inhabitants of Gilead, said to Ahab, "[As] the Lord God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, except at my word." 2 Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying, 3 "Get away from here and turn eastward, and hide by the Brook Cherith, which flows into the Jordan. 4 "And it will be [that] you shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there." 5 So he went and did according to the word of the Lord, for he went and stayed by the Brook Cherith, which flows into the Jordan. 6 The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening; and he drank from the brook. 7 And it happened after a while that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land. 8 Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying, 9 "Arise, go to Zarephath , which [belongs] to Sidon, and dwell there. See, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you." 10 So he arose and went to Zarephath . And when he came to the gate of the city, indeed a widow [was] there gathering sticks. And he called to her and said, "Please bring me a little water in a cup, that I may drink." 11 And as she was going to get [it], he called to her and said, "Please bring me a morsel of bread in your hand." 12 So she said, "As the Lord your God lives, I do not have bread, only a handful of flour in a bin, and a little oil in a jar; and see, I [am] gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it, and die." 13 And Elijah said to her, "Do not fear; go [and] do as you have said, but make me a small cake from it first, and bring [it] to me; and afterward make [some] for yourself and your son. 14 "For thus says the Lord God of Israel: `The bin of flour shall not be used up, nor shall the jar of oil run dry, until the day the Lord sends rain on the earth.' " 15 So she went away and did according to the word of Elijah; and she and he and her household ate for [many] days. 16 The bin of flour was not used up, nor did the jar of oil run dry, according to the word of the Lord which He spoke by Elijah.

17 Now it happened after these things [that] the son of the woman who owned the house became sick. And his sickness was so serious that there was no breath left in him. 18 So she said to Elijah, "What have I to do with you, O man of God? Have you come to me to bring my sin to remembrance, and to kill my son?" 19 And he said to her, "Give me your son." So he took him out of her arms and carried him to the upper room where he was staying, and laid him on his own bed. 20 Then he cried out to the Lord and said, "O Lord my God, have You also brought tragedy on the widow with whom I lodge, by killing her son?" 21 And he stretched himself out on the child three times, and cried out to the Lord and said, "O Lord my God, I pray, let this child's soul come back to him." 22 Then the Lord heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came back to him, and he revived. 23 And Elijah took the child and brought him down from the upper room into the house, and gave him to his mother. And Elijah said, "See, your son lives!" 24 Then the woman said to Elijah, "Now by this I know that you [are] a man of God, [and] that the word of the Lord in your mouth [is] the truth."

In this passage of Scripture we see that God will meet you in the trenches of life and touch you where you hurt the most.

In this passage we see that she was blessed by believing. When someone will believe God to do great things, He will use that to draw lost people to Himself.

Illus-- In Franklin Graham’s autobiography he tells of his struggles as the son of world renown evangelist, Billy Graham. I was intrigued at how God opened up his heart to receive Christ into his life. One of the incidences that made an impact on him occurred when he was 19. He had taken a semester out of college in the fall of 1971 to do some mission work in Mathrov, Jordan. He enjoyed the adventure of being in a foreign country, but he really had no interest in the Lord’s work. He said that he would spend the evenings on the roof of one the buildings in the desert, smoking his ceigarettes, drinking from a bottle of scotch, and listening to his brand of music on the voice of America radio. Every Friday the missionaries and workers would gather together to pray for the needs of the mission. He was amazed at how specifically that they would pray. Aileen and Eleanor were two of the missionaries that worked in the mission hospital. One Friday they prayed telling the Lord that in order to keep operating they needed exactly $1355.00. As they prayed they also reminded the Lord that it was His work and His name that was on the line. It was also their particular practice never to tell people of the outside world about their needs. They simply prayed and trusted God to do the rest. Franklin was amazed the next week when Aileen and Eleanor received a letter from a person stating that they felt led to support the work of the hospital in Mathrov in the great work they were doing. Enclosed was a check written out in the amount of $1355.00. God had provided. Franklin stated that he witnessed God time and time again answer the specific prayers of the missionaries.

SHE WAS:

I. SURROUNDED BY PRESSING CIRCUMSTANCES

The whole region was in a famine. People were on the verge of starvation.

Why? Ahab had:

A. Rejected the Man of God

B. Rejected the Word of God

C. Rejected the Power of God

Illus--A nation whose leadership rejects God’s men, God’s Word, God’s power will suffer judgement for it. In America what does it mean when same sex marriages are considered being legalized, marijuana is considered being legalized, killing unborn babies is legal, pedaling pornography is legal and a debate is raging about being able to assist people to commit suicide. I believe it means that somewhere along the way we have rejected the men of God, the Word of God, and the Power of God. We are seeing the fulfillment of the O.T. prophesy that there would come a time when men will call evil good and good evil.

II. IN THE MIDST OF A PERSONAL CRISIS

Some people can be in an area that is going through tough times and remain unaffected by it. This widow was feeling the pinch.

This woman was scraping the bottom of the barrel. Have you ever been there?

This woman was staring death in the face.

III. FACED WITH A PROPHETIC CHALLENGE

She was challenged to receive the man of God, the Word of God, and the Power of God. God is always looking for people to believe Him.

A. It Was A Costly Challenge

A widow such as this was primarily dependent on charity, and yet this is who God chooses to take care of His prophet. It has been said that

“God tries our faith that we might try His faithfulness.” (quote)

An old preacher once offered this prayer in a meeting: “Lord, help us to trust Thee with our souls.” Many voices responded with a hearty, old fashioned “Amen!” “Lord, help us to trust Thee with our bodies,” he continued. Again the repsonse was a vociferous “Amen!” Then with still more warmth he said, “And Lord, help us to trust Thee with our money.” Not an “Amen” was heard in the house, except that of an impoverished little old lady.

She was called upon to put God before her own needs and the needs of her own family.

“About two of our little ones we have no anxiety. They rest in Jesus’ bosom. And now, dear brother, though the tears will not be stayed, I do thank God for permitting one so unworthy to take part in this great work, and do not regret having engaged in it. It is His work, not mine or yours; and yet it is ours--not because we are engaged in it, but because we are His, and one with Him whose work it is.” J. Hudson Taylor

Illus-There is a story of two men, one o fwhom asked the other for a contribution for his church. The reply was that the church was always wanting money. The other friend said, “When my lad was a boy he was costly; he always wanted boots, shoes, socks, and clothes, and wore them out fast, and the older and stronger he grew the more money had to spent on him. My son died and now does not cost me anyhting.”

A faith that does not move in action is a dead faith.

B. It Was A Courageous Challenge

This was a non-Jewish widow who honored a prophet (Note the Luke 4 reference). Luke 4: 24 Then He said, "Assuredly, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own country. 25 "But I tell you truly, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, and there was a great famine throughout all the land; 26 "but to none of them was Elijah sent except to Zarephath , [in] [the] [region] of Sidon, to a woman [who] [was] a widow.

Surely the town’s people mocked this widow for giving a Jewish prophet all she had. Do you really think that a strange man living in a house with a widow with a young boy would not stir up talk?

IV. RESPONDED WITH A PROFOUND COMMITMENT

A. It was a Decisive Commitment

This woman gave God her all without asking where her next meal would come from. She put her life in the hands of God.

Faith is like a toothbrush, you must use your own and not someone else’s. (quote)

The widow had personal faith in what God had said he would do.

Zeraphath was in Jezebel’s homeland. It was right in the middle of Baal’s territory. Ps. 23 “Thou preparest a table for me in the presence of mine enemies.” The widow put herself at risk.

B. It was a Daily Commitment

The miracle of the flour and oil does not note a massive supply but that they always had what was needed when it was needed. Every time they used it, it required faith that God was going to fill it again. In this way, Elijah and the widow had to put their trust daily in the provider rather than the provision.

Part-time faith like a part-time job will not support you. (quote)

Faith is not like gasoline that runs out as you use it; it is like a muscle, it grows stronger as you use it. (quote)

As Hebert Lockyer says, “She found that in making God’s will her first concern, He made her need His first concern.”

C. It was a Deep Commitment

If you will give God all he asks, you will receive all he promises. (quote)

Some people feel their faith is strong enough to take them to heaven, but it does not take them to church.

This passage of Scripture moves me to examine my own unbelief. Do I believe in the supernatural power of God? I declare to you this morning on the authority of the Word of the Living God that He is a God of miracles and signs and wonders. He is every bit as concerned for you today as He was the widow of Zerephath. For too long we have sought ways to explain away the power of God rather than living in the power of God. How do we know what God will do among us today unless we take off the mental handcuffs that bind us in unbeleif. I do not believe that we are going to make God do anything against His will. But, I do believe that unbelief will keep God from doing doing things He would otherwise do. He will not bless unbelief. Don’t be afraid to believe God to do more than you can ask or think. Don’t be afraid to trust God to do the impossible.

Never put a question mark where God puts a period. (quote)

Man says, “Seeing is believing.” God says, “Believing is seeing.”

The world says, “show me and I’ll believe.” Christ says, “Believe me and I’ll show you.”

This woman found out that God could provide her with what the world around her could not. She learned that to trust is to triumph.

ARE YOU READY TO TRUST GOD WITH ALL YOU HAVE? ARE YOU WILLING TO BELEIVE GOD AND BE BLESSED? ARE YOU AT THE POINT WHERE YOU ARE READY TO ABONDON YOUR UNBELIEVING SPIRIT AND BELEIVE IN GOD?

Sermon Outline Three

“IF YOU WERE GRANTED ONE WISH...”

(1kings3:1-15)

Optional Titles

The Ingredients of A Wise Decision

Five Steps That Lead to Right Discernment

Five Things to Remember When You Need Direction

How to Make the Right Call

1 Kings 3:1 Now Solomon made a treaty with Pharaoh king of Egypt, and married Pharaoh's daughter; then he brought her to the City of David until he had finished building his own house, and the house of the Lord, and the wall all around Jerusalem. 2 Meanwhile the people sacrificed at the high places, because there was no house built for the name of the Lord until those days. 3 And Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statutes of his father David, except that he sacrificed and burned incense at the high places. 4 Now the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for that [was] the great high place: Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. 5 At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, "Ask! What shall I give you?" 6 And Solomon said: "You have shown great mercy to Your servant David my father, because he walked before You in truth, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with You; You have continued this great kindness for him, and You have given him a son to sit on his throne, as [it] [is] this day. 7 "Now, O Lord my God, You have made Your servant king instead of my father David, but I [am] a little child; I do not know [how] to go out or come in. 8 "And Your servant [is] in the midst of Your people whom You have chosen, a great people, too numerous to be numbered or counted. 9 "Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?" 10 The speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing. 11 Then God said to him: "Because you have asked this thing, and have not asked long life for yourself, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have asked the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern justice, 12 "behold, I have done according to your words; see, I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has not been anyone like you before you, nor shall any like you arise after you. 13 "And I have also given you what you have not asked: both riches and honor, so that there shall not be anyone like you among the kings all your days. 14 "So if you walk in My ways, to keep My statutes and My commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days." 15 Then Solomon awoke; and indeed it had been a dream. And he came to Jerusalem and stood before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, offered up burnt offerings, offered peace offerings, and made a feast for all his servants.

A guy was in a cave, looking for treasure. He found an old lamp, rubbed it, and a genie came out. The genie said "I will grant you three wishes, but your ex-wife will get double." The man agreed, and said "I wish I had a mansion." The genie granted it, and his ex-wife got two mansions. The man said "I would like a million dollars." The genie again granted it and his ex-wife got two million dollars. Then the man said, "Scare me half to death."

Introduction: If God were to appear to you and tell you that He would grant you one request, anything you wanted, what would you ask for?

Solomon asked wisdom to do what God had called him to do. As we look at Solomon’s request we can find some truth that will strenghten our own prayer life. I desire to share with you that there five positive characteristics that Solomon possessed that we need to possess. Notice the first characteristic:

I. REMEMBER YOU ARE A SERVANT

“You have made YOUR SERVANT king instead of my father David….v7

His request centered upon asking God to give him what he needed to do what God had called him to do.

Illus-When you enlist in the Army they take upon themselves the responsibility of providing you with everything you need to be a soldier. Your responsibility is to commit and submit yourself to them. The army trains you for it wants you to do and then sends you where they want you to be sent.

We avoid a lot of frustrations when we learn that we exist to serve.

II. STAY SMALL IN YOUR OWN EYES

“I am a little child....v7”

This demonstrates that Solomon was realistically aware of his own inability, he needed help. Pride will not make such a request.

Illus--A man who will drive past a 100 service stations lost before he will stop and ask for help.

Humiltiy = I am sorry, I am wrong, I need help, I don’t know. I am not better than you. I do not know more than you. I

III. THINK OF OTHERS

“this great people.v9”

Solomon cared about the people over whom he would be ruling. He wanted to be the kind of king they needed.

Illus—Little boy at orphanage who gave his candy to a smaller child.

Illus—I met with a man two days ago. He sat and cried as he shared with me about the people he had left in Africa that needed to hear about Jesus.

IV. REMEMBER RIGHT AND WRONG

“discern between good and evil...v9”

“An understanding heart”

A teacher was giving a lesson on blood circulation... Trying to make the matter clear, she said, "Now, class, if I stood on my head, the blood, as you know, would run into it, and I would turn red in the face."

"Yes," the class said.

"Then why is it that while I am standing upright the blood doesn't run into my feet?"

The answer came from the back of the class, "Cause your feet ain't empty."

Sometimes an answer sounds good but it is not the right answer.

V. DENY YOURSELF

V11

Solomon did not ask for:

1. Long life (Health)

2. Riches (Wealth)

3. Vengenance (Peace)

Yet God gave him:

1. An understanding heart

2. Riches

3.Long life (conditioned upon obedience)

Private William McGee of Indianopolis 304 th of 76th infantry division

Mosselle River Mullhiem Germany Mar 18 1945 Medal of Honor

In making the supreme sacrifice, PVT Mcgee demonstrated a concern for the well being of his fellow soldiers that transcended all considerations for his own safety and gallantry in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service.

Jim Elliott—He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.

Sermon Outline Four

GETTING READY FOR REVIVAL

Optional Titles

Four Questions to Reveal Your Revival Readiness

Are You Ready for Revival?

A Holy Interrogation

It’s Time for a Checkup!

2CHRONICLES 7:13-14

INRODUCTION-I love the part of this passage where God says, “I will hear from heaven. I will forgive. I will heal the their land.” In the context of the verse it meant he would “send rain.” upon the famine land. There were conditions set forth. We see in the economy of God, there is a correlation between obedience and blessing.

Illus-

Desert Storm invasion (early 90’s)--the night before it rained and it had not rained in weeks. The rain exposed 85% to the Iraqi landmines. The wind also changed. When God sends rain in response to our repentance it refreshes us for sure, but it also exposes landmines of the enemy. It also comes upon the wind which is the power of the Holy Spirit.

4 QUESTIONS CONCERNING REVIVAL (or optional title)

1. HAVE YOU STRAYED FROM GOD?

-Develop context

-Prone to wander Lord I feel it

Prone to leave the God I love

Illus- Two pigs were talking in the pig pen.

One said to the other don’t root around

the trunk of the tree, you’ll kill it.

Who cares about the tree as long as we

have all these acorns.

2. ARE YOU WILLING TO HUMBLE YOURESELF?

The Hebrew word for humble means :

1. To bend the knee

2. To fold together

3. To be low, to be humbled

We have to dismount our high horse in order to get low before God.

Big God little you instead of Big you and little god.

3. ARE YOU WILLING TO PRAY AND SEEK GOD’S FACE?

The Hebrew word for seek means to find someone to love, to inquire of and to make requests to.

Is 55:6 “Seek ye the Lord while He may be found.”

Illus- We have all seen teenage girls with that ring that is about 5 sizes too big on their finger. That class ring is a sign that She is dating only one person. She might say “He’s my steady.” Or “He’s my one and only.” The christian’s life should be surrounded by evidence that He alone has your heart. You have tuned away form all other “gods” and belong only to Him.

Illus-Trying to find a freind at a ballgame. You are scanning the crowd but there is only one face that will capture your attention. There is only one you are seeking.

Watchman Nee “Many of the blessings of God have

acummalated in heaven because He had not yet

found an outlet for them. The Church has not yet prayed.”

4. ARE YOU WILLING TO TURN FROM YOUR WICKED WAYS?

Illus--When a man marries a woman, he is promising that She will be the only one and he turns away from all others. If he doesn’t it damages the relationship.

-Notice the word “wicked”

-Something not necessarily wicked becomes

wicked when you put it before God

The way you are living your life is either making you more or less like Jesus Christ. Life is built on character. Your character is determined by the decisions you make. Warren Wiersbe says that “the decisions you make, small and great, do to your life what the scuptor’s chiesel does to the block of marble. You are shaping your life by your thoughts, attitudes, and actions and becoming either more or less like Jesus Christ.”

Conclusion-When we do these things God responds by

1. Forgiveness--removing our guilt

2. Healing--Straightening out the mess

Sermon Outline Five

SPIRITUAL WARFARE 101

Optional Titles

3 Facts Christians Must Face

Spiritual Battle Boot Camp

How to Have Success in the Trenches

Why Must We Fight?

2 Corinthians 10:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare [are] not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.

INTRODUCTION

TRANSITION This morning I want us all to recognize the turmoil that spiritual strongholds bring into our life and to tear them down that we might experience the wonderful freedom that Jesus Christ died to give us. There are three simple truths that I am praying will help us in this important area of our Christian life:

I. WE ARE AT WAR

1. Satan

2. System of this World

3. Self--fleshly nature

The battle is for the souls of men and to render ineffective those who already belong to Christ. Satan wants us to be spiritual POW’s in the strongholds of his prison house.

Attitude toward war:

-Complacent

-War Weary

-Ignore it

-Engage it

II. WE HAVE A WEAKNESS

We must not fear the enemy but we must realize that our fallen nature is his entrance into our thinking to seduce us into his actions.

It is the flesh through which the enemy brings his information across into sanctified territory.

Fleshly or carnal is different than the worldly.

Carnal speaks of the battle within is, worldly speaks of the battle around us.

Romans 8: 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those [who] [live] according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded [is] death, but to be spiritually minded [is] life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind [is] enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. 8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.

Our flesh is stubborn!

Illus—Proverbs challenges us not to be like the Mule

Our flesh must be reckoned as dead through the Crucifixion of Christ.

A Stronghold is a wrong way of thinking.

It is stinking thinking.

It is thinking that is contrary to truth.

Illus-If you can convince a man that he is going North when he is going South you will have him moving in the direction he thinks he wants to go but moving farther away from where he wants to end up.

III. WE HAVE A WEAPON

Actually we have several weapons. I will focus on one here:

Eph 6:18 The Word of God; but we must use it.

Illus--We had some fancy towels in our bathroom. I needed a towel and could not find an everyday towel so I wiped oreo cookie on those to “be seen only” towels. It upset my wife. But I thought what good is it if you don’t use it. The Word must be used! A Bible on the shelf want do what a Bible in the heart will do!

Matt.4--Jesus countered the wrong thinking of Satan with Scripture.

YOU CAN USE IT TO AGAINST THE LIES OF SATAN

Ps. 119:11--Thy Word have I hid....

How do you use it?

Jealousy--- “Rejoice with those who rejoice”

Lust-- “Esteem others....” “Love thy neighbor as thyself.” “Flee youthful

lusts”

Hatred-- “Bless those who curse you” “If any man love not his brother, how

dwelleth the love of God in him?”

Tongue-- “Whatsoever is lovely, praiseworthy,...” “Sweet and bitter water....”

Discouragement-- The Holy Spirit is within me. Greater is he... I can do

all....We are more than...

Procrastination-- Today if you will... Today is the day of salvation.. Don’t

boast thyself..

God doesn’t care-- birds of air... For God so loved ....God demonstrated..

You’ll Never hold out-- My sheep hear my voice.. He who had begun.. I know

whom I have beleived..

You can’t witness -- And ye shall be my witnessess...

The Word is powerful.

We should love it.

We must obey it.

Illus-- In 1988 in the Commission Magaazine there was an article about a woman in Togo who crawled 2 miles to hear the word of God. Missionary Larry Bailey told the story.

Think of level of desire and passion in her heart for God’s Word that would compel her to literally crawl to the place across hot African dirt to where she could hear it preached.

Captivating Introduction One

Assumption

(The following is an introduction that can be used to introduce a sermon that is going to present to the audience something specific that God’s Word says about something. Example: What You Can Know About the Will of God!”

A good assumption can bring great blessing into your life. A wrong assumption can land you in a heap of trouble. Let me ask you a question:

Before you went to sleep last night, “What did you assume about your tomorrow?” (Pause and let what you have said sink in. Repeat it.)

Note that I said, “What did you assume about your tomorrow?” I did not say, “presume about your tomorrow.’ The Bible warns us about the sin of presumption, but there are certain things that we can safely assume. Knowing what you can assume can become a great asset in your life.

When I go to bed at night, I can assume that every tomorrow, if and when it comes, will be a gift from God. That helps me to remain humbled by how little I have to do with the really big things other than receive and rejoice in God’s gifts..

I can assume that if tomorrow comes, God will be working everything I face for good. That’s His promise and it keeps me positive.

I can assume that even though tomorrow in not promised -- eternity is. This keeps me focused on the right things.

What you assume about anything in time or eternity tells you a lot about yourself and about what you believe in God.

This morning I want to ask you, What do you assume to know about…..(build a bridge to sermon subject and tie is in with what God says about it. You can assume what He says is safe, right?)

Captivating Introduction Two

Viral Influence

(This is an introduction that could be used to tie into a sermon on Church growth, Christian influence, Evangelism, Missions)

I am going to announce a word, so get ready to listen,---- ready -----VIRUS! (Say it authoritatively with a little dread in your voice). We read about the power of VIRUS in the newspaper. Recently, the media has been keeping us posted about the spread of the swine flu—VIRUS! We deal with it within our computers at work and home—VIRUS! Often in airports, people are wearing surgical masks because they do not want to catch a VIRUS!

The online dictionary says that virus is an “infectious agent that replicates only within the cells of living hosts…..” In other words, a virus looks for something that is alive and attaches itself to that life and begins to multiply. In computer terms, the online dictionary says a virus is a “segment of self-replicating code planted illegally in a computer program, often to shut down a system or network.”

In the world of the internet, the term viral marketing has become a buzz word. And it is easy to see how things can sell rapidly as product news spreads to people through Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, YouTube, and Squidoo.

So the term viral means that something is spreading like a virus. Are we Christians viral? Is our Church viral? Are we spreading the good news so that it can become embedded into lives all around the world. Instead of destroying the good stuff, the Good News overcomes the evil. So what can we do to become Twitter Christians and YouTube Evangelists. It’s time to go Viral!

These are thoughts to ponder as we consider these truths today concerning (growth, evangelism, missions, etc)

Compelling Illustration One

Imagine what the game of bowling would be like if you couldn't see the pins you were trying to hit. In 1933, Bill Knox did just that -- and bowled a perfect game. In Philadelphia's Olney Alleys, Bill had a screen placed just above the foul line to obscure his view of the lane. His purpose was to demonstrate the technique of spot bowling, which involves throwing the ball at a selected floor mark on the near end of the lane. Like many bowlers, Bill knew that you can do better if you aim at a mark close to you that's in line with the pins. He proved his point with a perfect 300 game of 12 strikes in a row. (Aug. 4, 1992; Daily Bread Devotional)

In a similar way, we can be sure that if we live life right in front of us with our eyes on the mark, we will be moving in a direction that will move us toward God's will for our lives, even the part we cannot yet see. When you are blinded by obstacles, or time, or tough circumstances, just keep your eyes on what you can see right where you are. Paul said to the Philippians, that the mark we were to place our eyes on was "Jesus." Keep your eyes on him, he knows where he is going, even if you don’t.

Compelling Illustration Two

Some years ago a young man approached the foreman of a logging crew and asked for a job. "That depends," replied the foreman. "Let's see you fell this tree." The young man stepped forward and skillfully felled a great tree. Impressed, the foreman exclaimed, "Start Monday!" Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday rolled by, and Thursday afternoon the foreman approached the young man and said, "You can pick up your paycheck on the way out today." Startled, he replied, "I thought you paid on Friday." "Normally we do," answered the foreman, "but we're letting you go today because you've fallen behind. Our daily felling charts show that you've dropped from first place on Monday to last on Wednesday." "But I'm a hard worker," the young man objected. "I arrive first, leave last, and even have worked through my coffee breaks!" The foreman, sensing the boy's integrity thought for a minute and then asked, "Have you been sharpening your ax?" The young man replied, "I've been working too hard to take the time." (William Boyd)

The truth is we will all drop into a spiritual stall, if we don’t pray. No matter how fast we may start out, it is prayer that will help keep us going to outlast all the tricks of the enemy. Is your ax dull from much use on trees but little time under the file of skilled craftsman? Filing takes time but filing saves time. So spend some time letting the Spirit of God file on you, PRAY. It will hurt “good” but giving you the cutting edge you need in life.

Surprise of the Week

10 Quote Pack

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Every evening I turn my worries over to God.  He's going to be up all night anyway.  ~Mary C. Crowley

God loves each of us as if there were only one of us.  ~St. Augustine

A man can no more diminish God's glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word, 'darkness' on the walls of his cell. ~C.S. Lewis

Young man, young man, your arm's too short to box with God.  ~James Weldon Johnson

I can see how it might be possible for someone to look around on earth and not believe in God, but I cannot conceive how anyone could look up into the heavens and say there is no God. ~Abraham Lincoln

Any fool can count the seeds in an apple.  Only God can count all the apples in one seed.  ~Robert H. Schuller

God understands our prayers even when we can't find the words to say them.  ~Author Unknown

We must live with people to know their problems and live with God to 'help' solve them. ~Author Unknown

Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in. Aim at earth and you get neither. ~C.S. Lewis

What comes into our minds when we think about God, is the most important thing about us. ~A.W. Tozer

Three Tidbits of Advice for Pastors

by Eddie Lawrence

(This week’s Tidbits can also be used for a sermon outline but be sure to preach it to yourself first)

1. Don’t dwell on negative comments made by your detractors. In ministry, you will be will contractors and detractors.

The contractors will feel their call toward you is to build you up. They will help decorate your life with blessing and beauty. Their motive is to encourage you. They trust that God is at work in your life. They will share their insights about where you may need to improve if asked in honestly. They will speak the truth in love to you. True contractors will not simply be “yes” people but “bring out the best people” in your life. They will not share what you have shared in confidence with them. These folks are easy to be around and you feel safe in their presence. We all need contractors in our lives.

The detractors are a different story. They will feel their call toward you is to keep you in line. They will constantly point out those things that do not see as beautiful and blessed to their lives. Their motive is to strip you down because it is seen to lift them up. They will always tell you what they think as well as tell everyone else what they think about you. They will speak truth at times but it is fueled with a desire to pierce and wound. You never truly feel comfortable around detractors. You find it difficult to trust them.

You must love both the contractor and the detractor. Know that the Lord will reward and chasten where it is needed. Don’t allow detractors to push your buttons. If you do, you will begin to lead by agenda and vindictiveness instead of humility and vision. Remember that God can use the ungodliness of detractors for good in our lives if we will listen, love and live in the will of God. The detractors crucified Jesus. They wounded and pierced him. Look at how God used that!

2. Work on your physical life. We preachers can easily become consumed by ministry with all its social requirements, eating, fellowshipping, late nights and early mornings. No matter how much you love Jesus, you alone are responsible to steward the body he has given you. I am not saying that you should be in shape enough to do a Bowflex commercial, but by consciously taking into account how much you eat and what you eat will pay great dividends for your health. In addition, if you are not already, begin to walk 30-40 minutes 3 days per week unless your doctor says “no” due to existing health issues. Eating and exercise can impact your ministry because it will impact YOU!

3. Take Praise Breaks. Develop the habit of periodically each day of stopping and spending 30 seconds just praising the Lord. Doing this several times per day will help keep your heart aligned with Heaven. There is a big pull from the world to get us out of balanced. These praise breaks added to your regular prayer times will be boosters to you. Just try it and see.

Your 25 BONUS TITLES with BIBLE REFERENCES

Title Ideas by Eddie Lawrence

Sermon Seedbed

I USED THE NKJV FOR THESE IDEAS!

1. WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU NEED MERCY (PS. 123:2)

2. THREE THINGS TO REMEMBER WHEN YOU ARE AFRAID (PS 27:1)

3. WHAT TO TAKE UP WHEN THE ENEMY WANTS TO TAK E YOU DOWN (Eph. 6:13)

4. TWO ASSURANCES THAT WILL GIVE YOU STRENGTH (2 TIM. 4:18)

5. TAKE A LAUGH BREAK (ECCL. 3:4)

6. THE COST OF BEING CLOSE TO JESUS (JOHN 12:10)

7. AN OVERCOMING ORPHAN(ESTHER 2:7)

8. WHEN ITS HARD TO PRAY (MATT. 26:40-41)

9. WHAT TO DO IN THE HOUR OF NEED (MATT. 26:40-41)

10. TWO THINGS TO DO DURING THE HOUR OF TEMPTATION (MATT. 26:40-41)

11. WHERE TO BE ON THE LORD’S DAY AND EVERY OTHER DAY (REV. 1:10)

12. IT JUST GETS BETTER! (PROV. 4:18)

13. WHEN HATE IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO (REV. 2:6)

14. A MAN AGAINST THE WALL (NEHEMIAH 4:1)

15. DO YOU WANT TO BE BLESSED?(ACTS 20:35)

16. HAD AN URGE LATELY? (1 COR. 4:16 NKJV)

17. FOUR + ONE = FIVE (PHIL. 4:9)

18. DON’T GIVE ME THE CREEPS! (LEV. 11:44)

19. WHERE DOES YOUR MASTER LIVE? (EPH. 6:9)

20. THE KIND OF HEART YOU NEED FOR YOUR HOME (PS. 101:2)

21. ARE YOU SOUNDING OFF ABOUT SOMETHING? (1 THESS. 1:8)

22. A YOUNG PERSON’S SIX PACK (1 TIM. 4:12)

23. AN OUT OF THIS WORLD WAY OF LIFE (JOHN 18:36)

24. WHEN YOU CAN’T TALK BUT IT WOULDN’T HELP IF YOU COULD. (MATT. 22:11)

25. WHEN IT HURTS FOR DADDY TO HAVE HIS WAY (MARK 14:36)

Money Saver Recommendation

I work on internet related projects during the week so I have learned a lot about making online purchases. Occasionally at the end of each Monday Morning Preacher’s Package, I may make a money saving recommendation for you. If I do, then it will meet the following criteria:

1. It will be a true money saver (not smoke and mirrors)

2. It will be for a product or service that most preachers already spend money on.

3. It will be shared in a no pressure way.

4. It will for products I personally use or have checked out. Sometimes I may offer items I purchase regularly and have an affiliate account with.

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