The Way To Live | Bishop Kyle Searcy | 10am

THE WAY TO LIVE

1 Thess 5:16-18

Rejoice always, 17  pray without ceasing, 18  in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in

Christ Jesus for you.

I. GOD WANTS US TO BE OK

- Bible 365 times Fear Not

- Let not your heart be troubled…

- Rejoice or be Joyful. 430 times

We are emotional Beings. Ex. Limbic / Prefrontal Cortex

II. JOY IS OUR GOD DESIGNED STATE

1. It’s what we experience when close to him

Psalm 16:11

You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right

hand are pleasures forevermore

2. It’s in our spirit.

Galatians 5:22

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness,

faithfulness, 23  gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

3. Joy produces optimal functionality.

Neh. 8:10

Then he said to them, “Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send

portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord.

Do not sorrow, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”

4. Christ is a Joy Dispenser

Isaiah 61: 1,3

“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, Because the LORD has anointed Me… To

console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy

for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be

called trees of righteousness, The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.

5. It’s Medicine.

Proverbs 17:22

A merry heart does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones.

The Benefits of Laughter

Physical Health Benefits: Mental Health Benefits:

 Boosts immunity

 Lowers stress hormones

 Decreases pain

 Relaxes your muscles

 Prevents heart disease

 Adds joy and zest to life

 Eases anxiety and fear

 Relieves stress

 Improves mood

 Enhances resilience

III. JOY KILLERS

1. Choosing not to walk in joy.

Psalm 118:24.

This is the day the LORD has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.

2. Not putting things in proper Perspective

Rule 1 – Don’t Sweat the small stuff

Rule 2 – It’s all small Stuff

3. A Vengeful Spirit.

Romans 12:19

Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is

written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.

4. Worrying about what others think.

1 Corinthians 4:2-4

Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful. 3  But with me it is

a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by a human court. In fact, I

do not even judge myself. 4  For I know of nothing against myself, yet I am not

justified by this; but He who judges me is the Lord.

5. Being a Perfectionist (results in condemnation).

Psalm 131

LORD, my heart is not haughty, Nor my eyes lofty. Neither do I concern myself

with great matters, Nor with things too profound for me. 2 Surely I have calmed

and quieted my soul, Like a weaned child with his mother; Like a weaned child

is my soul within me.

6. Sin.

Psalm 51:8

Make me hear joy and gladness, That the bones You have broken may rejoice.

Portrait of the way to Live…

1 Thess 5:16-18

Rejoice always, 17  pray without ceasing, 18  in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in

Christ Jesus for you.

LACED WITH GRACE

LACED WITH GRACE

I. THE BEAUTY OF GRACE

Eph 2:8-9

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the

gift of God, 9  not of works, lest anyone should boast

2 Cor. 9:8

And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all

sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.

II. ENABLING GRACE

1 Tim 1:12

And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me

faithful, putting me into the ministry

2 Cor 12:7-9

And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a

thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be

exalted above measure. 8  Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times

that it might depart from me. 9  And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for

My strength is made perfect in weakness.”

III. SUSTAINING GRACE

Psalm 55:22

Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the

righteous to be moved

Psalm 16:8

I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be

moved

Isaiah 40:31

But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with

wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.

IV. RESTRAINING GRACE

Gen 20:3-6

But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, “Indeed you are a

dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is a man’s wife.”

4  But Abimelech had not come near her; and he said, “Lord, will You slay a righteous

nation also? 5  Did he not say to me, ‘She is my sister’? And she, even she herself said,

‘He is my brother.’ In the integrity of my heart and innocence of my hands I have

done this.” 6  And God said to him in a dream, “Yes, I know that you did this in the

integrity of your heart. For I also withheld you from sinning against Me; therefore I

did not let you touch her.

V. GREAT GRACE

Acts 4:32-33

32  Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither

did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all

things in common. 33  And with great power the apostles gave witness to the

resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all.

VI. EMERGENCY GRACE

Heb 4:14-16

Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens,

Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15  For we do not have a High

Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as

we are, yet without sin. 16  Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that

we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT PARENTING

WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT PARENTING

1. They are Assigned to you

Jer. 1:5

“Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I

ordained you a prophet to the nations.” 6  Then said I: “Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, I cannot

speak, for I am a youth”

Psalm 139:15-16

15 My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought

in the lowest parts of the earth. 16 Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.

And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there

were none of them.

There may be unplanned pregnancies but there are no unplanned children

2. Heritage

Psalm 127:3

Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb is a reward

Heritage - Property given to you that cannot be sold.

3. Put the Word in them

Deut. 6:6-7

“And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. 7  You shall teach

them diligently to your children and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when

you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.

Deut 4:9

Only take heed to yourself, and diligently keep yourself, lest you forget the things your

eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. And teach

them to your children and your grandchildren.

Isaiah 54:13

All your children shall be taught by the LORD, And great shall be the peace of your

children.

4. Trian Them

Prov 22:6

Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it

Train – Make Narrow, initiate, dedicate, disciple. (Indoctrinate)

Modeling the Behavior…They do what they see and hear

5. Discipline Them

Prov 29:17

Correct your son, and he will give you rest; Yes, he will give delight to your soul.

Prov 13:24

He who spares his rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him promptly

Prov 22:15

Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; The rod of correction will drive it far from

him

a. Teach absolute truth and morality

b. Teach them consequences of their actions

c. Apply some form of pain or discomfort to wrong actions

d. Love them and affirm them especially when they express remorse

6. Show Compassion

Psalm 103:13

As a father pities his children, So the LORD pities those who fear Him.

Pities – Love, have mercy, have compassion

You have to get in their world and understand their feelings and emotions

7. Do not provoke them

Col 3:21

Fathers do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.

Eph 6:1-4

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2  “Honor your father and

mother,” which is the first commandment with promise: 3  “that it may be well with you,

and you may live long on the earth.” 4  And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to

wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.

Provoke - to cause someone to feel resentment—‘to make resentful, to make someone

bitter.’

8. You are the Glory of your Children

Prov 17:6

Children’s children are the crown of old men, And the glory of children is their father.

Glory – Ornament, decoration, splendor

No matter what they say realize how important you are to your children

9. Acquaint them with Holy Spirit

Joel 2:28

“And it shall come to pass afterward That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons

and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams

10. Do your Best and Leave the Rest

Ezekiel 18:20

The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father

bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and

the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.

God has dignified every human being with the ability to make choices that affect

Eternity. God allows it and so must we

The Loving King | Pastor Chris

The Parable of the Wedding Banquet

Jesus goes to Jerusalem to continue his ministry. And is met by then Chief Priests who

questioned him “By what authority are you doing these things?”

He responds with:

The Parable of the Two Sons Matt 22:28-32

28  “What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’

29  “ ‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.

30  “Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go.

31  “Which of the two did what his father wanted?”“The first,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors

and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you.

32  For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the

prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.

Parable of the Tenants 22: 33-46

Land owner builds a beautiful farm lets it to tenants who don’t pay him his share. He sends his servants twice and they beat and kill

them both times. Then he sends his son and they do the same saying “let us take his inheritance.” So the vineyard owner cast them

out and replaced them.

Parable of the Marriage Feast - Matthew 22:1-14

1  Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying:

2  “The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son.

3  He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but

they refused to come.

4  “Then he sent some more servants and said, ‘Tell those who have been invited that I have

prepared my dinner: My oxen and fattened cattle have been butchered, and everything is ready.

Come to the wedding banquet.’

5  “But they paid no attention and went off—one to his field, another to his business.

6  The rest seized his servants, mistreated them and killed them.

7  The king was enraged. He sent his army and destroyed those murderers and burned their city.

8  “Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not

deserve to come.

9  So go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.’

10  So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, the bad

as well as the good, and the wedding hall was filled with guests.

11  “But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing

wedding clothes.

12  He asked, ‘How did you get in here without wedding clothes, friend?’ The man was

speechless.

13  “Then the king told the attendants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the

darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

14  “For many are invited, but few are chosen.”