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Asking the Right Questions by Ps Justin Spina

The Answer You Have Been Looking For - Week One

February 19, 2023 • Ps. Justin Spina

Key #1 - What is Jesus asking?

John 1:35-38 NLV

The next day John the Baptist was standing with two of his own followers. 36 Jesus walked by. John looked at Him and said, “See! The Lamb of God.” 37 John’s two followers heard him say this and followed Jesus. 38 Jesus turned around and saw them following. He said to them, “What are you looking for?”

 

Key #2 - Ask With the Right Motives

James 4:2-3

You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it. 3 And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure.

 

Key #3 - Make room for the answer

Luke 10:25-29 NLT

One day an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus by asking him this question: “Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?”

26 Jesus replied, “What does the law of Moses say? How do you read it?”

27 The man answered, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

28 “Right!” Jesus told him. “Do this and you will live!”

29 The man wanted to justify his actions, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

Spring Cleaning

February 26, 2023 • Ps. Jared Terpenning

Key Scripture LUKE 10: 38-42 (NLT) 38 As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. 39 Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. 40 But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.” 41 But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! 42 There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.”   Clutter: Any unnecessary, disorganized, or unused objects, thoughts, or beliefs that occupy physical, emotional, or spiritual spaces in our lives.   Point #1 - DECLUTTER YOUR DIET   1 CORINTHIANS 6:12 (TLB) I can do anything I want to if Christ has not said no, but some of these things aren’t good for me. Even if I am allowed to do them, I’ll refuse to if I think they might get such a grip on me that I can’t easily stop when I want to.   1 CORINTHIANS 7:35 (NLT) I am saying this for your benefit, not to place restrictions on you. I want you to do whatever will help you serve the Lord best, with as few distractions as possible.   Point #2 - DECLUTTER YOUR SPACE   HEBREWS 12:1 (NLT) Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.   ECCLESIASTES 3:6 (NLT) A time to search and a time to quit searching. A time to keep and a time to throw away.   Point #3 - DECLUTTER YOUR FINANCES   JUDGES 6:14-16 (NLT) 14 Then the Lord turned to him and said, “Go with the strength you have, and rescue Israel from the Midianites. I am sending you!” 15 “But Lord,” Gideon replied, “how can I rescue Israel? My clan is the weakest in the whole tribe of Manasseh, and I am the least in my entire family!” 16 The Lord said to him, “I will be with you. And you will destroy the Midianites as if you were fighting against one man.”   JUDGES 7:2 (NLT) The Lord said to Gideon, “You have too many warriors with you. If I let all of you fight the Midianites, the Israelites will boast to me that they saved themselves by their own strength.   JUDGES 7:4 (NLT) But the Lord told Gideon, “There are still too many! Bring them down to the spring, and I will test them to determine who will go with you and who will not.”   JUDGES7:7 (NLT) But the Lord told Gideon, “There are still too many! Bring them down to the spring, and I will test them to determine who will go with you and who will not.”   Point #4 - DECLUTTER YOUR CALENDAR   Point #5 - DECLUTTER YOUR PAST   PHILIPPIANS 3:13b-14 (NLT) I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

WHEN LIFE GETS TOO LOUD

March 5, 2023 • Ps. Justin Spina

1 Kings 19:11-13 “Go out and stand before me on the mountain,” the Lord told him. And as Elijah stood there, the Lord passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And a voice said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”   Question #1 - What is the loudest voice in your life? James 1:19 Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.   Question #2 - When, where and how do you listen? Proverbs 18:13 To answer before listening—that is folly and shame Romans 12:8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully   Question #3 - Do you believe God will speak? Isaiah 41:13 I am yahweh, your mighty God! I grip your right hand and won’t let you go! I whisper to you: don’t be afraid; I am here to help you!