Day 9 25/8/2015: What's on earth am I here for?

WHAT MAKES GOD SMILE?

Rick Warren

 

 

      “You (God) created everything, and it is for your pleasure that they exist and were created!"        Rev. 4:11b (NLT)

     

      “The Lord takes pleasure in His people.”  Ps 149:4 (GN)

 

        WORSHIP: Living a life bring pleasing to God.

        Worship is not benefit for you. 

        

        How do we bring God smile?

 

      “Because of God's great mercy...  Offer yourselves as a living sacrifice to God, dedicated to his service and pleasing to him.  This is the true worship that you should offer.” 

      Rom. 12:1 (GN)

 

      “Noah was a pleasure to the Lord.”  Gen. 6:8 (LB)

  

WE GIVE GOD PLEASURE...

1.   WHEN WE LOVE HIM ABOUT EVERYTHING ELSE.

      "I don't want your sacrifices-- I want your love!  I don't want your offerings--I want you to know me!”  Hosea 6:6 (LB)

 God want a relationship with you. 

      “Noah consistently followed God's will and enjoyed a close relationship with him.” 

      Gen. 6:9b (NLT)

 

      “God’s unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ.  And this gave him great pleasure” Eph. 1:5 (NLT)

     

     

2.  WHEN WE TRUST HIM COMPLETELY. 

       That's called FAITH

      “The Lord takes pleasure in those who honor him and trust in his constant love.”  

      Ps. 147:11 (GN)

 

      “By faith, Noah built a ship in the middle of dry land.  He was warned about something he couldn't see, and acted on what he was told...  His act of faith drew a sharp line between the evil of the unbelieving world and the rightness of the believing world.  As a result, Noah became intimate with God.”  Heb. 11:7 (Mes)

 

      God: “I want you to trust me in your times of trouble, so I can rescue you and you can give me glory.”       Ps. 50:14 (LB)

     Don't limit God. Trust God completely. It brings him pleasure and a smile of God.

 

3.  WHEN WE OBEY HIM WHOLEHEARTEDLY. 

      “We please God by what we do and not only by what we believe.”     

       James 2:24 (CEV)

Obedience bring pleasure to God. 

      

      “Noah obeyed and built a boat...”     Heb. 11:b (CEV)

     

      “Noah did everything exactly as God commanded him.”  Gen. 6:22 (NLT)

 

      “Just tell me what to do and I will do it, Lord.  As long as I live I'll wholeheartedly obey.”     Ps. 119:33 (LB)

Do it instantly, not delay. Partial obedience - disobedience. 

Serve the Lord joyfully. 

     

      “Those who live by their natural inclinations can never be pleasing to God.”

      Rom. 8:8 (NJB)

4.  WHEN WE FULFILL HIS PURPOSES.

      “Then God blessed Noah and his sons, and said to them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth!”  Gen. 9:1 (KJV)

      “The steps of the godly are directed by the Lord.  He delights in every detail of their lives.”         Ps. 37:23 (NLT)

Use you ability to serve. Offer yourself.

 

      “God takes particular pleasure in acts of worship -a different kind of  "sacrifice"—that take place in kitchen and workplace and on the streets.”    Heb. 13:16b (Mes)

 

Yielding and surrender... To God. 

      “This is the crisis we're in: God’s light streamed into the world, but men and women everywhere ran for the darkness...because they were not really interested in pleasingGod.” 

      John 3:19 (Mes)

 

      “The Lord looks down from heaven on all mankind to see if there are any who arewise, who want to please God.”  Ps. 14:2 (LB)

 

      “Everything that goes into a life of pleasing God has been miraculously given to us by getting to know, personally and intimately, the One who invited us to God.” 

      2 Peter 1:3 (Mes)

God will provide the power to please him. Jesus is the one, he will provide you the power to please God. 

 

Day 8 24/8/2015: What's on earth am I here for?

PLANNED FOR GOD’S PLEASURE

Rick Warren

 

 

"You (God) created everything, and it is for Your pleasure that they exist and were created.”       Rev. 4:11b (NLT)

 

“Love the Lord your God...  This is the first and greatest commandment.”  

Matt. 22:37-38 (NIV)

 

 

      MY 1^ST PURPOSE IS TO WORSHIP GOD.

 

 

“Because of God’s great mercy to us...  Offer yourselves as a living sacrifice to God, dedicated to His service and pleasing to Him.  This is the true worship that you shouldoffer.”  Rom. 12:1 (TEV)

 

1. WORSHIP is my respond to God’s love.

 

2. WORSHIP is giving back to God.

 

 

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.”  Mark 12: 30 (NCV)

 

 

GOD WANTS ME TO LOVE HIM...

 

         Thoughtfully  “with my mind”

 

         Passionally  “with my heart and soul”

 

         Practically   “with my strength.

 

1.   WORSHIP IS FOCUSING MY ATTENTION ON GOD.

      “You have looked deep into my heart, Lord, and You know all about me.  

        You know when I am resting or when I am working...       

       You notice everything I do and everywhere I go.”  Ps. 139:1-3 (CEV)

 

       “Focusing on yourself is the opposite of focusing on God.  Anyone completely absorbed in self ignores God, and ends up thinking more about self than God.”  

       Rom. 8:7 (Msg)

 

“Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking.  Instead, fix your attention on God.”         Rom. 12:2a (Msg)

 

“Find a quiet, secluded place so you won't be tempted to role-play before God.  Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage.  The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense His grace.” Matt 6:6 (Msg)

 

“Worship Him continually.”  Ps. 105:4 (TEV)

 

“You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in You, whose thoughts are fixed on You!”       Isa. 26:3 (NLT)

 

                                               

2.   WORSHIP IS EXPRESSING MY AFFECTION TO GOD.

“We love Him, because He first loved us.”  1 John 4:19 (KJV)

 

      “I don't want your sacrifices – I want your love!  I don't want your offerings – I want you to know Me!”  Hosea 6:6 (LB)

 

“He is a God who is passionate about His relationship with you.”  Ex. 34:14b (NLT)

 

      “Give yourselves completely to God since you have been given new life.”  Rom. 6:13 (NLT)

        Fear is the thing that hold us back when we wish to give ourselves completely to God. 

 

3.   WORSHIP IS USING MY ABILITY FOR GOD.

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as though you were working for the Lord and not for people.”  Col. 3:23 (TEV)

     

      “Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering.”   Rom. 12:1a (Msg)

 

      “So we make it our goal to please Him...” 2 Cor. 5:9 (NIV)

 

Day 7 23/8/2015: What's on earth am I here for?

EMBRACING THE VISION: THE PURPOSE DRIVEN LIFE

Rick Warren

“It is in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for… part of theoverall purpose He is working out in everything and everyone.”  Eph.  1:11 (Mes)

      “Everything, absolutely everything...  got started in Him and finds its purpose in Him.” 

       Col. 1:16 (Mes)

     

1.  GOD PLANNED ME FOR HIS PLEASURE. 

“You God created everything, and it is for Your pleasure that they exist and were created!”  Rev. 4:11b (NLT)

      “The Lord takes pleasure in His people.”  Psalm 149:4 (GN)

“Long before He laid down earth's foundations, God had us in mind, and settled on us as the focus of His love.” Eph.  1:4 (Mes)

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.  This is the first and greatest commandment.”  Matt.  22:37-38 (NIV)

“I don't want your sacrifices – I want your love!  I don't want your offerings – I want you to know Me!”  Hosea 6:6 (LB)

               THE 1^st PURPOSE OF LIFE IS: TO KNOW AND LOVE GOD.

      “Some people have missed the most important thing in life – they don't know God.”

      1 Tim.  6:21 (LB)

      “People who don't know God are always worrying.”    Matt.  6:32a (CEV)

     

2.  GOD FORMED ME FOR HIS FAMILY.

      “God’s unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into His own family by bringing   us to Himself through Jesus Christ.  And this gave Him great pleasure.”  Eph. 1:5 (NLT)

“God has given us the privilege of being born again so that we are now members of God's own family.”   1 Pet.  1:3 (LB)

      “That family is the church of the living God, the support and foundation of the truth.”

      1 Tim.  3:15 (NCV)

      “Love your spiritual family.”  1 Peter 2:17 (Mes)

               THE 2^nd PURPOSE OF LIFE IS: LEARN TO LOVE OTHERS.

                     

      “We belong to each other and each of us needs all the others.”  Rom.  12:5 (NLT)

       We learn to love people, not only love the ideal people. 

     

3.  GOD CREATED ME TO BECOME LIKE CHRIST.

      “From the very beginning God decided that those who came to Him--and all along He knew who would--should become like His Son.” Rom.  8:29 (LB)

      “We look at the Son and see God’s original purpose in everything created.”    Col 1:15 (Mes)

     

      “In your lives you must think and act like Christ Jesus.”  Phil.  2:5 (NCV)

      “As the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like Him.”

      2 Cor.  3:18b (NLT)

            THE 3^rd PURPOSE OF LIFE IS: TO GROW UP SPIRITUALLY. 

     

      “Some people have such shallow soil of character that when their emotions wear off and difficulty arrives, there’s nothing to show for it.”  Mark 4:17 (Mes)

     

4.  GOD “SHAPED” ME TO SERVE HIM.

      “You shaped me first inside, then out; you formed me in my mother's womb.” 

      Ps.  139:13 (Mes)

     

                      Spiritual Gifts

                      Heart

                      Abilities

                      Personality

                      Experiences

“God made us what we are.  In Christ Jesus, God made us to do good works, which Heplanned in advance for us to live our lives doing.”  Eph.  2:10 (NCV)

     

      “God has given each of you some special abilities; be sure to use them to help each

      other, passing on to others God's many kinds of blessings.”  1 Peter 4:10 (LB)

       THE 4^th PURPOSE OF LIFE IS: SERVE GOD BY SERVING OTHERS.

     

5.  GOD MADE ME FOR A MISSION.

Jesus: “In the same way that you gave me a mission in the world, I give them a mission in the world.”  John 17:18 (Mes)

      “Where there is no vision, the people perish.”  Pr. 29:18 (KJV)

      “Those who embrace My ways are most blessed.”  Pr. 8:32 (Mes)

“Jesus included everyone in His death so everyone could be included in His life, a far better life than people ever lived on their own.”      2 Cor.  5:15 (Mes)

      “Open your eyes and see how good God is!  Blessed are you who run to Him.” 

      Ps.  34:8 (Mes)

 Jesus: “Are you tired?  Worn out?  Burned out on religion?  Come to Me for real rest…and you’ll recover your life…and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”  Matt.  11:28-30 (Mes)

“It makes no difference who you are or where you're from—if you want God and are ready to do as He says, the door is open.”  Acts 10:35 (Mes)

     

A PRAYER OF PURPOSE

Dear God, thank You for creating me and loving me.  I want to fulfill the purposes that You created me for.  So starting today, I really want to get to know and love and trust You.  I want my life to bring You pleasure and I want to become a part of Your family.  Help me to grow more like Your Son Jesus, and to use my life to follow and serve you.  Thank You for sending Jesus to die for me.  In the weeks ahead, help me to understand Your vision and mission for the rest of my life.

 

Day 6 22/8/2015: What's on earth am I here for?

UNDERSTANDING THE SEASONS IN LIFE

Ecclesiastes 3:2-8

Rick Warren

"As long  as the earth remains, there will be springtime and harvest, cold and heat, winter and summer, day and night."  Gen. 2:22 (LB)

"There is a time for everything, and

a season for every activity under heaven."  Eccl. 3:1

"... everything on earth has its special season."  (NCV)

5 FACTS ABOUT THE SEASONS OF LIFE

1.  They are beyond my control.

       "God controls the times and the seasons.  He makes and unmakes kings."  Dan. 2:21 (GN)

2.  They are often confusing.

       "... God does everything just right and on time, but people can never completely understand what he is doing."  Eccl. 3:11 (NCV)

3.  God has a purpose for each season.

       "We know that all that happens to us is working for our good IF we love God and are fitting into his plans."  Rom. 8:28 (LB)

4.  The seasons include both good and bad times.

       Eccl. 3:2-8 "There is a time to...

       be born/die                  plant/uproot                 heal/kill                 build/tear down

       laugh/cry                     dance/grieve                gather/scatter       hug/not hug

       find/lose                       keep/throw away         repair/tear            speak up/be quiet 

       love/hate                      peace/war                                 

5.  What I sow in one season, I'll  reap in another.

       "Let us not be weary in well doing; for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not."Gal. 6:9 (KJV)

HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF EACH SEASON

4 Questions to Ask

1.  WHAT CAN I LEARN IN THIS SEASON OF LIFE?

       "Remember what you have learned about the Lord through your experiences with him."  Deut. 11:2 (GN)

       "(This happened) ... so we might learn to trust, not in ourselves, but God..."  2 Cor. 1:9 (Ph)

 Keep a journal. Write down the lesson that you had learned. 

2.  WHAT CAN I ENJOY IN THIS SEASON OF LIFE?

       "People ought to enjoy every day of their lives."  Eccl. 11:8 (NCV)

       "Give thanks in all circumstances; this is God's will for you."  1 Thess. 5:18 (NIV)

       "I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances." Phil. 4:11 (NIV

 James 4:14 

3.  WHAT IS IMPORTANT IN THIS SEASON OF LIFE?

       "Live life, then, with a due sense of responsibility, not as those who do not know the meaning and purpose of life but as those who do.  Make the best use of your time, despite all the difficulties these days."  Eph. 5:15-16 (Ph)

4. HOW CAN I HELP OTHER IN THIS SEASON OF LIFE?

       "Whenever you are able, do good to people who need help." Proverbs 3:27 (NCV)

       Regret the pass, worry for tomorrow is the two thing that cause most of the people can't enjoy the season of life. 

       "If you wait for perfect conditions, you will never get anything done."  Eccl. 11:4 (LB)

Day 5 21/8/2015: What's on earth am I here for?

WHY DOES IT MATTER WHAT I BELIEVE?

Rick Warren

      

1.      WHAT’S A WORLDVIEW? 

       MY WORDVIEW: The beliefs I build my life ON

·         “The one with most toys wins” ~ MATERIALISTIC 

      Jesus: “A man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”        

      Luke 12:15 (NIV)

·         “I’Ve GoT to THiNK OF ME FIRST” ~INDIVIDUALISTIC

      Jesus: “If you try to keep your life for yourself, you will lose it.  But if you give up your life for me, you will find true life.” Matt.  16:25 (NLT)

·         “Do whatever feels good” ~HEDONISM 

      “Are you addicted to thrills?  What an empty life!  The pursuit of pleasure is never satisfied.”  Proverbs 21:17 (Mes)

·         “Whatever works for you” ~pragmatism 

      “There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.”  Proverbs 14:12 (NIV)

·         “God doesn’t exist or matter” ~NATURALISM

“From the beginning of creation, God has shown what He is like by all He has made.  That's why those people don't have any excuse.  They know about God, but they don't honor Him or even thank Him...  They claim to be wise, but they are fools.”  Rom.  1:20-22 (CEV)

·         “You are your own god” ~HUMANISM

      “They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshipped created things rather than the Creator.”  Rom.  1:25 (NIV)

·         “God made ME for his purposes” THEISM 

      “For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible...  everything got started in Him and finds its purpose in Him.”  Col.  1:16 (Mes)

2.   WHY DOES IT MATTER WHAT I BELIEVE?

      “Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts.”  Proverbs 4:23 (TEV)

      “If people can't see what God is doing, they stumble all over themselves; but when they attend to what He reveals, they are most blessed.” Proverbs 29:18 (Mes)

      “Always be ready to give a logical defense to anyone who asks you to account for the hope that is in you, but do it courteously and respectfully.”     1 Peter 3:15 (Amp)

3.  HOW CAN I STRENGTHEN MY WORLDVIEW? 

       LEARN WHAT IS TRUE. 

      “Learn the truth and never reject it.  Get wisdom, self-control, and understanding.” 

      Proverbs 23:23 (NCV)

       DISCERN WHAT IS FALSE.

      “Don't believe everything you hear.  Carefully weigh and examine what people tell you.  Not everyone who talks about God comes from God.  There are a lot of lying teachers loose in the world.” 1 John 4:1 (Mes)

       TURN FROM THE WORLD TO THE WORD.

      “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - His good, pleasing and perfect will.”      Rom.  12:2 (NIV)

      “A wise person is hungry for truth, while the fool feeds on    trash.”   Proverbs 15:14 (NLT)

     CONCERN YOURSELF WITH GOD’S AGENDA.

      “God will give you all you need from day to day if you make the Kingdom of God your primary concern.”  Luke 12:31 (NLT)

     We can't have two God in our heart. 

     God said, put him first, he will take care the rest. 

      “Stop thinking like children.  In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults.” 1 Cor. 14:20 (NIV)

Day 4 20/8/2015: What's on earth am I here for?

WHERE TO FIND THE HOPE YOU NEED

Rick Warren

 “May God, the source of hope, fill you with joy and peace through your faith in Him.  Then you’ll overflow with hope…” Rom. 15:13 (GWT)

“In Your name I will hope, for Your name is good.”  Ps. 52:9

Jehovah Shammah = “God is always there!”

BECAUSE GOD IS ALWAYS WITH ME… 

1.  HIS PRESENCE IS WATCHING OVER ME

“Don’t worry, because I am with you.  Don’t be afraid, because I am your God.  I will make you strong and will help you.  I will support you…” Is. 41:10 (NCV)

“I will guide you along the best pathway for your life.  I will advise you and watch over you.”  Ps. 32:8 (NLT)

       “I have hope when I think of this: The Lord’s love never ends; His mercies never stop.  They are new every morning.”  Lam. 3:21-23 (NCV)

2.  HIS PURPOSE IS WORKING IN ME

       “We know that God causes all things to work together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose.”  Rom. 8:28 (NAS)

       

        God is doing good thing in my life even when the situation is that bad.   

        Hope is something make sense regarding the power that turns up. 

       (God)  “I have good plans for you, not plans to hurt you.  I will give you hope and a good future.”  Jer. 29:11 (NCV)

“God began doing a good work in you and I am sure He will continue it until it is finished when Jesus Christ comes again.”  Phil 1:6 (NCV)

3.  HIS PLACE IS WAITING FOR ME

       “Don’t be troubled.  You trust God, now trust in Me…  I am going to prepare a place for you.”  John 14:1-2 (NLT)

       “God has reserved for His children the priceless gift of eternal life; it is kept in heaven for you…  And God, in His mighty power, will make sure that you get there safely to receive it because you are trusting Him…  So be truly glad!  There is wonderful joy ahead, even though the going is rough for a while down here.”  1 Peter 1:4-6 (LB)

“He will wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying, nor pain.  All of that has gone forever.”  Rev. 21:4 (LB)

“Listen!  I have upheld you since you were conceived and I have taken care of you from your birth.  Even when you are old, I will be the same.  Even when your hair has turned gray, I will take care of you.  I made you and will take care of you.  I will carry you and save you.  Can you compare Me to anyone?  No one is equal to Me or like Me!”  Isa.  46:3-5 (NIV & NCV)

“In God’s great mercy He has caused us to be born again into a living hope, because Jesus Christ rose from the dead.”  1 Pete 1:3 (NCV)

When you face the crisis :

1. Remember the presence of God

2. Receive from God's people 

3. Rely on God's promises. 

 

“Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”  Isa, 40:31 (NIV)

Day 3 19/8/2015: What's on earth am I here for?

THE PATH TO PERSONAL PEACE

Rick Warren

3 SOURCES OF TENSION

• When circumstances are uncontrollable.
• When people are unchangeable.
• When problems are unexplainable.

Jehovah Shalom = "I am the God of Peace"

"I am leaving you with a gift – peace of mind and heart! And the peace I give isn't fragile like the peace the world gives. So don't be troubled or afraid."John 14:27 (LB)

THE PATH TO PERSONAL PEACE

1. ACCEPTANCE  OF WHAT CANNOT BE CHANGE

"I have learned to be satisfied with the things I have and with everything that happens. I know how to live when I am poor, and I know how to live when I have plenty. I have learned the secret of being happy at anytime in everything that happens … I can do all things through Christ, because He gives me strength."Phil 4: 11-13 (NCV)

learning through out tough time... 
Is your demand for explanation not God. God doesn't owe you an explanation. 
just like Job, no explanation has given.

THE SERENITY PRAYER

"God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference."

2. TRUST

 IN GOD LOVING CARE. 
"You, Lord, give true peace to those who depend on You because they trust You."Isa. 26:3 (NCV)

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and don't lean on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths."Pr. 3:5-6 (NIV)

"Don't worry about anything; instead pray about everything; tell God your needs and don't forget to thank Him for His answers. If you do this, you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand."Phil. 4:6-7 (LB)

3. SURRENDER

 TO GOD LOVING CONTROL

"If a person's thinking is controlled by his sinful self, then there is death. But if his thinking is controlled by the Spirit, then there is life and peace."Rom. 8:6 (ICB)

"Those who love your teaching will find true peace, and nothing will defeat them."Ps. 119:165 (NCV)

"Since we have been made right in God's sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us."Rom. 5:1 (NLT)