Living By The Book

Harvest Church

Give App

Living By The Book

Part 4

June 30, 2024 • Pastor Brody Christian

Give

PROVERBS 2:1-11 TPT

My child, will you treasure my wisdom? Then, and only then, will you acquire it. And only if you accept my advice and hide it within will you succeed. [2] So train your heart to listen when I speak and open your spirit wide to expand your discernment—then pass it on to your sons and daughters. [3] Yes, cry out for comprehension and intercede for insight. [4] For if you keep seeking it like a man would seek for sterling silver, searching in hidden places for cherished treasure,

then you will discover the fear of the Lord and find the true knowledge of God. [6] Wisdom is a gift from a generous God, and every word he speaks is full of revelation and becomes a fountain of understanding within you. [7-8] For the Lord has a hidden storehouse of wisdom made accessible to his godly ones. He becomes your personal bodyguard as you follow his ways, protecting and guarding you as you choose what is right. [9] Then you will discover all that is just, proper, and fair, and be empowered to make the right decisions as you walk into your destiny. [10] When wisdom wins your heart and revelation breaks in, true pleasure enters your soul. [11] If you choose to follow good counsel, divine design will watch over you and understanding will protect you from making poor choices.

THIS BOOK WILL KEEP YOU FROM SIN,

OR SIN WILL KEEP YOU FROM THIS BOOK

DUSTY BIBLES ALWAYS LEAD TO DIRTY LIVES

(when you read your bible)

1. YOU WILL DEEPEN YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD

WE KNOW MORE ABOUT THE SCRIPTURES THAN WE KNOW ABOUT THE GOD OF THE SCRIPTURES.

1 CORINTHIANS 2:9 niv

9 However, as it is written:

“What no eye has seen,

what no ear has heard,

and what no human mind has conceived”

the things God has prepared for those who love him—

The gift of salvation is FREE, but to have a real relationship isn’t cheap

2. YOU BECOME MORE OPEN AND INTIMATE WITH GOD

PSALM 1:2

but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,

and who meditates on his law day and night.

3. YOU BECOME OPEN TO CHANGE

ROMANS 8:29 msg

29God knew what he was doing from the very beginning. He decided from the outset to shape the lives of those who love him along the same lines as the life of his Son.

COLOSSIANS 2:6-7

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him,

rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

SET SOME GOALS

1 Timothy 4:15

Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress.

ADJUST YOUR EXPECTATIONS

PROVERBS 4:20-27MSG

20-22 Dear friend, listen well to my words;

tune your ears to my voice.

always Keep my message in plain view, at all times

Concentrate! Learn it by heart!

Those who discover these words live, really live;

body and soul, they’re bursting with health.

23-27 Keep vigilant watch over your heart;

that’s where life starts.

Don’t talk out of both sides of your mouth;

avoid careless banter, white lies, and gossip.

Keep your eyes straight ahead;

ignore all sideshow distractions.

Watch your step,

and the road will stretch out smooth before you.

Look neither right nor left;

leave evil in the dust

ISAIAH 40:8 TPT

"But even though grass withers and the flower fades, the word of God stands strong forever!"

What To Do When Bitterness Takes Over

August 25, 2024 • Pastor Brody Christian

"All bitterness starts out as hurt, and your emotional pain may well relate to viewing whoever or whatever provoked this hurt as having malicious intent. When a person becomes bitter, there’s often a sense of betrayal about how life has treated them. A victim mindset can take hold. The problem snowballs when the hurt, bitter person gives in and gives up. Instead, taking action can make the difference between an isolated life and a connected one. Anger and resentment is what we are likely to experience whenever we conclude that another has seriously abused us. Left to fester, that righteous anger eventually becomes the corrosive ulcer that is bitterness. HEBREWS 12:14-15 NIV 14 Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. QUALITIES OF BITTERNESS 1. BITTERNESS IS A HIDDEN DESTROYER BITTERNESS IS LIKE DRINKING POISON HOPING IT KILLS YOUR ENEMY AN INVISIBLE ROOT ALWAYS YIELDS VISIBLE FRUIT 2. BITTERNESS ALWAYS POISONS OTHERS HEBREWS 12:15 NIV 15 See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. DEFILE MANY – GREEK WORD – MIAINO – STAIN, POLLUTE, OR CONTAMINATE HATRED AND HOLINESS CAN’T COEXIST IN THE SAME HEART. HOW DO YOU KILL A ROOT OF BITTERNESS? 1. EXPOSE THE OBJECTS OF YOUR BITTERNESS EPHESIANS 5:11 NIV 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. YOU CANNOT HEAL FROM WHAT YOU ARE UNWILLING TO ADMIT. HEBREWS 12:15 15 See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. 1. CANCEL THEIR DEBT MATTHEW 18:21-35 NIV The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant 21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” 22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.[https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matthew%2018%3a20-35&version=niv#fen-niv-23750a] 23 “Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.24 As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold[https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matthew%2018%3a20-35&version=niv#fen-niv-23752b] was brought to him.25 Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt. 26 “At this the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ 27 The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go. 28 “But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins.[https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matthew%2018%3a20-35&version=niv#fen-niv-23756c] He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded. 29 “His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.’ 30 “But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt.31 When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened. 32 “Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. 33 Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ 34 In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. 35 “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.” 3. SPEAK A BLESSING OVER THEM LUKE 6:27-28 NIV 27 “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. Bless – speak well of EPHESIANS 4:31-32 NIV 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

NO OFFENSE

August 18, 2024 • Pastor Brody Christian

DO YOU EVER FEEL LIKE CHRISTIANITY ISN'T WORKING??? JOHN 14:1-4 NIV “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.” 5-6 NIV Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” 6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. LUKE 19:1-9 He entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 And there was a man called by the name of Zaccheus; he was a chief tax collector and he was rich. 3 Zaccheus was trying to see who Jesus was, and was unable because of the crowd, for he was small in stature. 4 So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=luke%2019%3a1-10&version=nasb1995#fen-nasb1995-25736a]sycamore tree in order to see Him, for He was about to pass through that way. 5 When Jesus came to the place, He looked up and said to him, “Zaccheus, hurry and come down, for today I must stay at your house.” 6 And he hurried and came down and received Him [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=luke%2019%3a1-10&version=nasb1995#fen-nasb1995-25738b]gladly. 7 When they saw it, they all began to grumble, saying, “He has gone [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=luke%2019%3a1-10&version=nasb1995#fen-nasb1995-25739c]to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” 8 Zaccheus stopped and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, half of my possessions I [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=luke%2019%3a1-10&version=nasb1995#fen-nasb1995-25740d]will give to the poor, and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=luke%2019%3a1-10&version=nasb1995#fen-nasb1995-25740e]will give back four times as much.” 9 And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he, too, is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” JOHN 3:16-17 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=john%203%3a16-17&version=nasb1995#fen-nasb1995-26137a]only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. IF GOD DIDN’T SEND JESUS TO JUDGE THE WORLD…HE DEFINITELY DIDN’T SEND YOU TO JUDGE THE WORLD

No Offense

August 11, 2024 • Pastor Brody Christian

EPHESIANS 4:26-27 NIV 31-32 26 “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. EPHESIANS 4: 26-27 26 “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold. BEING OFFENDED IS INEVITABLE. LIVING OFFENDED IS A CHOICE. FOOTHOLD – (GREEK) TOPOS – A PLACE OR ROOM THE THREE D’S OF THE ENEMY - DIVIDE FAMILIES, FRIENDS, AND CHURCHES - DISTRACT CHRISTIANS FROM THEIR MISSION - DISCREDIT YOUR WITNESS Ephesians 4:26 – don’t let the sun go down on your anger THE DAY OF YOUR HURT, SHOULD ALSO BE THE SAME DAY AS YOUR HEALING EPHESIANS 4:29 29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 1. NEVER CALL NAMES 2. NEVER RAISE YOUR VOICE 3. NEVER GET HISTORICAL 4. NEVER SAY “NEVER” OR “ALWAYS 5. NEVER THREATEN DIVORCE 6. NEVER QUOTE YOUR PASTOR DURING A FIGHT VS. 31NIV 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. VS 32 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. IT TAKES TIME TO LOVE UP CLOSE IF YOU JUST WANT TO BE RIGHT ALL THE TIME, YOU’RE FORFEITING GOD'S CALL TO BE LOVING PSALM 139:23-24 NIV Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. EPHESIANS 4:32 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.