The Power to change people's lives

Here are my notes, from Sunday morning’s message......

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July 24, 2011 -THE POWER......TO CHANGE PEOPLE’S LIVES
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GRAB YOUR BIBLES 1 Corinthians 2:1-5
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Today my message is going to be about...Power:
The power.....to really change people’s lives!
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Satan hates this power: Because he wants people in bondage to sin;
Therefore Satan will be trying to “gum-up-the-works”.......as much as he can!
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LETS READ THE TEXT 1 Corinthians 2:1-5
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In this passage were going to see.....the real danger of trusting.....”the wrong things:”
(And where our faith aught to be placed!)
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V.1A “And I, brethren,”
-PAUL’S GENUINE CONCERN......ABOUT THE BRETHREN-
(“The ministry” was more than just a job.....to Paul
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He really cared about the people....he ministered to!
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V.1B “when I came to you,”
-THE MAIN POINT....BEING MADE IN THIS PASSAGE-
(The way the LORD....led Paul to minister in a different way
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By teaching him.....to care more for the Lord....than the people!
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V.1C “came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom,”
-HOW THIS EFFECTED.......THE WAY HE MINISTERED TO THEM-
(He was backing away...from using fancy words
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He wasn’t concerned...about impressing people...at all!
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V.1D “declaring unto you the testimony of God.”
-THE MAIN CONCERN PAUL HAD....ABOUT HIS MINISTRY-
(That he would be....”God’s man”
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Saying only...what the Lord...wanted him to say!
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V.2A “For I determined”
-A CONVICTION THAT THE LORD....HAD PLACED WITHIN PAUL-
(That He took very seriously
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Paul was determined...that He was going to do things God’s Way!
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V.2B “not to know any thing among you,”
-AN AREA......THAT PAUL NEEDED THE LORD’S HELP IN-
(Unlearning...some of the things he had been taught
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Because “man’s way” of doing things.....was not “God’s way”!
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V.2C “save Jesus Christ,”
-THE PERSON....THAT PAUL ALWAYS TALKED ABOUT-
(The Lord Jesus Christ
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Because He was the only person.....who had the power:
To “really” change people’s lives!
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V.2D “and him crucified.”
-THE ONE EVENT.....THAT HIS MINISTRY CENTERED AROUND-
(The Lord’s crucifixion
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The event.....that really changed our lives!
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V.3A “And I was with you”
-THE DELIBERATE IMPRESSION.......THAT PAUL LEFT WITH PEOPLE-
(Because he wanted people to remember Jesus
And not him:
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Paul didn’t let his personal pride:
Get in the way of His ministry to others!
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V.3B “in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.”
-THREE WAYS TO BE USED BY GOD.....MORE EFFECTIVELY-
(That will allow Him....to be “lifted up”
Not yourself:
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-ALLOWING YOUR PERSONAL WEAKNESSES....TO BE SEEN BY OTHERS-
“weakness” Both physical and emotional:
We don’t have to be perfect.....to be used by the Lord!
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-ALLOWING YOUR PERSONAL NEEDS....TO BE SEEN BY OTHERS-
“fear” Our fear of the LORD:
And....our absolutely need for the Lord’s help!
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-ALLOWING YOUR PERSONAL VULNERABILITIES....TO BE SEEN BY OTHERS-
“much trembling” The fact that “even we” can fall away:
If we don’t keep draw neigh to the Lord!
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V.4A “And my speech and my preaching”
-PAUL’S UNUSUAL.....STYLE OF PREACHING-
(He really was...a “down to earth” kind of guy
So that you wouldn’t know that he was...”The Great Apostle Paul”!
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A lot of people were disappointed by his personal appearances.
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V.4B “[was] not with enticing words of man’s wisdom,”
-PAUL’S DELIBERATE INTENT....TO DISREGARD HIS EDUCATION-
(By not using.... high sounding words
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This is the “exact opposite”:
Of what all the false prophets.....were doing!
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V.4C “but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:”
-THE REAL REASON BEHIND.....GOD HAVING PAUL DO THIS-
(To get him out of the way..of the Holy Spirit.)
So that people’s lives...could really be changed:
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This is the whole point of “the ministry”:
To allow the LORD to change people’s lives!
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-THE SUPERNATURAL QUALITY.....OF BIBLE PREACHING-
It is totally dependent upon the LORD:
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Therefore.....the harder we work....at it developing a sermon:
The less the Lord will be in it!
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Don’t get me wrong: ....... Bible study is labor intensive:
But developing sermons....should not be:
Because they should be “from the LORD”!
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V.5A “That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men,”
-THE LORD’S BIG PLAN........FOR LEADING PAUL IN THIS DIRECTION-
(To direct people to Himself
And not to Paul:
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God knew that Paul..... “would let people down”:
Just like we all do!
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V.5B “but in the power of God.”
-A POWER.....THAT IS AS REAL.....AND AS TANGIBLE.....AS ELECTRICITY-
(The power of God
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God has the power....to deliver anybody....from anything!
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