NCCF Sunday Service - Captured Live on Ustream at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/nccfss
Summary
The speaker encourages the congregation to share what God has laid on their hearts, emphasizing that it is better to offer something imperfect than nothing. Key themes include maintaining confidence in prayer by keeping one's conscience clean, and embracing correction as a means of spiritual growth. The message draws parallels between learning to ride a bike and the continuous, daily effort required to press on toward Christlikeness.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
How do you know that God hears you when you pray?Just as knowing someone is on the other end of a phone call makes conversation easy, having a clean heart without unconfessed sin gives us absolute confidence that God hears our prayers.
Receiving correction from authorities as good newsWorkplace correction can reveal pride and show the need to accept instruction rather than struggling through things alone.
Pressing on to gain Christ every dayLike a child learning to ride a bike who must look straight ahead instead of at the obstacle, Paul continually pressed on daily to gain Christ rather than focusing on his own failures.
Going back to the first works by devouring scriptureWhen God wants to get our attention, he leads us back to foundational practices like deeply meditating on and devouring the inspired word of God.
Not despising the day of small thingsThe enemy uses discouragement to make mountains look overwhelming, but true spiritual growth happens when we humbly deal with the small, ordinary thoughts and sins in our daily lives.
Not by might, nor by power, but by my SpiritProgress and spiritual authority in God's house do not come from self-sufficiency, but are accomplished entirely by the Spirit of the Lord.
Setting your mind on things above to discipline the bodyJust as the vital internal organs are essential for physical life, the heart is guarded when the Holy Spirit keeps the conscience sensitive and our focus is set on heavenly things.
Praising God before the victory is wonKing Jehoshaphat and Paul and Silas demonstrated true faith by singing praises to God in the middle of trials and imprisonment before deliverance arrived.
