"How to See Better & Live Better" - Pt. 2, Change Your Perspective

"How to See Better & Live Better" - Pt. 2, Change Your Perspective
Trouble can be a opportunity for greater focus 
2 Cor 12:7 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.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Psychologists did a study of elite athletes who were struck with injury or adversity. They initially felt isolated and developed doubts about their abilities. In the time, they gained a desire to help others and realize greater strengths in themselves. It called "adversarial growth" or "post traumatic growth." We say, "That which does not kill me makes me stronger." 
The struggle against an obstacle propels a fighter to a new level of functioning. After Simone Biles almost fell off the balance beam, she came back the next day and earned an almost perfect score.
Action is commonplace, correct action is not commonplace. Everything must be done in the service of the greater purpose.  In life, it doesn’t matter what happens to you or where you came from. It matters what you do with what happens and what you’ve been given. And the only way you’ll do something spectacular is by using it all to your advantage. (Ryan Holiday)
Through good perspective, we can always greet our obstacles:
with energy with persistence
with a coherent and deliberate process
with iteration and resilience (Like Thomas Edison finding better filament for light bulb)
and an eye for opportunity and pivotal moments
What seems to be failure is just “feedback” giving you precise instructions on how to improve (Ryan Holiday)
God offers you higher thoughts and higher ways to help change your perspective
 ”Isa 55:8-9: "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," says the LORD. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts

"How to See Better & Live Better" - Pt. 1, The Power of Healthy Perception

How to See Better & Live Better
Pt 1 The Power of Good Eyes
“The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!" – Matthew 6:23-24
How we see or perceive is one of the important keys to victorious living, success, and fruitful ministry. 
"Perception is how we see and understand what occurs around us—and what we decide those events will mean. Our perceptions can be a source of strength or of great weakness. Faulty perceptions lead to misdirection & disconnection. We participate in creation and destruction of our obstacles.
So what are your perceptions today?" (Ryan Holiday, The Obstacle is the Way)
There things in life that we can and cannot control. Our perception is one of the things we can control. We want to have "healthy eyes," which is seeking things as they are and through the Word of God. Bad perception taints our world and our reality. As Jesus said, when your eyes are healthy, your whole body (life) is full of light. On the other hand, when you eyes are unhealthy, your body is full of darkness.
One key to healthy perception is to be objective. 
Definition: not influenced by personal feelings, interpretations, or prejudice; based on facts; unbiased. Intent upon or dealing with things external to the mind rather than with thoughts or feelings, as a person or a book.
Unhealthy perception often comes from being subjective:
Based on feelings or opinions rather than facts; Pacing emphasis on one's own feeling, mood, attitude, and opinions
[Simone Manual gold medal performance: http://www.newcovenant.org/Simone.mp4]

Fight the Good Fight of Faith: Doing Good, Not Growing Faint

Fight the Good Fight of Faith
Doing Good, Not Growing Faint
1 Tim. 6:11 But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses
2 Cor. 2:14, Now thanks be unto God, who always causes us to triumph in Christ, and makes manifest the fragrance of his knowledge by us in every place.
2 Timothy 4:6, For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing
Hebrews 12:1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.
Sometimes you want to win because of who is watching. That is the value of living in the light and letting people see your good works. 
We don't fight the good fight of faith to win. We fight the good fight because we have already won. That's why is a GOOD fight!
Have you ever recorded a basketball game to watch later, only to have someone tell you the score before you had a chance to watch the recording? When you found out that your team lost, your don't want to watch it. Why? Because a good fight is when your team wins.
We fight a good fight because in Jesus Christ, WE WIN! 
When you watch a recording of the game in which your team won, the outcome was not in doubt. As a matter of fact, if I record a game, I prefer in advance to know if my team won. For me, know that my team fought a good victorious fight, and watching it, is more enjoyable.
Galatians 6:9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith
The good fight of faith is not about fighting for what you already have or already see. The good fight is about not growing weary while doing good. 
The good fight of faith is all about continuing to do good, knowing that in due season you will reap....if you don't faint or lose heart

True Worship: The Lifestyle of Spirit & Truth

True Worship: The Lifestyle of Spirit & Truth 
 2 Cor. 13:5 Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified. 6 But I trust that you will know that we are not disqualified. 
Timothy 4:1, Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron 
 John 4:23 "But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. 24] God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." 
 Deuteronomy 26:8 'So the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and with an outstretched arm, with great terror and with signs and wonders. 9] He has brought us to this place and has given us this land, "a land flowing with milk and honey"; 10] and now, behold, I have brought the firstfruits of the land which you, O LORD, have given me.' Then you shall set it before the LORD your God, and worship before the LORD your God. 11] So you shall rejoice in every good thing which the LORD your God has given to you and your house, you and the Levite and the stranger who is among you. 
 Worship is an all encompassing, all inclusive experience. It is both spiritual and physical; temporal and eternal. It involves the total person, spirit, soul, body and even our possessions. We must challenge ourselves to worship God in fullness and in the release of everything to Him. 
 It is human nature to worship according to our own preferences and pleasures—like the Samaritan woman. However, the problem with such worship is that it is unbalanced and conveniently neglects that part of worship which is undesirable. 
 God requires that we worship Him at two levels at all times: “In Spirit” and “In Truth.” 
 a. “In Spirit” addresses the supernatural dimension of our walk with God and the transcendent nature of His presence 
 b. “In Truth” addresses the practical, everyday actions we engage in obedience to the Truth. Jesus said, “Your Word is Truth.” 
 ROM 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service (“your act of spiritual worship” -NIV).

Perfected Love Casts Out Fear

Perfected Love Casts Out Fear
1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. 
Fear distracts and dominates the lives of too many people. The Bible says that "Fear has torment..." Faith and fear both have the power to influence and attract. Some leaders use fear to influence people to be afraid other people. It’s called xenophobia which is, “fear and hatred of strangers or foreigners or of anything that is strange or foreign.”
Leaders should inspire people and offer solutions. 
Fear is defined as "expectation of danger or harm." Faith attracts God's favor, blessings, and overcomes all fear!  
Here is a story that in that illustrates how fear distracts and torments when faith could have resolved the problem: 
Matthew 8:23 Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him. 24 And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep. 25 Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!”26 But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. 27 So the men marveled, saying, “Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?” 
Jesus asked His disciples (and us): "Why are you fearful?" 
The disciples woke up Jesus (who are sound asleep during a storm!) to ask Him to do something they should have done. Jesus was resting in the boat after a long day of ministry. A sudden storm made the disciples afraid. They allowed their fear to interfere with their faith and forget that Jesus was on the boat with them! Because of this, Jesus called the disciples' faith “ little.” He expected much more from men who had been trained first hand. 
When storms come, or big opportunities are presented, let your faith rise, not your fears. 
Phobias and fears arise when a lifestyle and mindset of faith are absent. If we claim to be Christians and disciples, Jesus FULLY expects us to trust Him. When you feel like you have respond with fear, remember that the Miracle Worker is with you. 
People are tormented by fear because of the absence of God, who is love, dwelling in them. Torment is the negative thought, the scenario, or the drama that plays out in our minds over and over again. 
Perfect love, that is God’s perfect love that is in you, will cast out all fear. If there are things you need to do, but that you are afraid to do, God’s love and presence will remove all those fears. Rather than expecting something bad to happen, you expect something good to happen because your "Father” is right there with you! 
There is a real emotion of fear generated by imminent danger that requires action. However, most fears are imagined and therefore not real and best summarized by the acrostic: 
F-alse E-evidence A-ppearing R-eal 
For believers in Christ, there is an overarching reality to embrace summarized by this text:
2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 

Study in Romans 13 | What is the Role of Governing Authorities and the Police?

Romans 13:1 Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. 4 For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience. 6 This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. 7 Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe ta

How to Stand Victorious in Times of Compromise

"How to Stand Victorious in Faith by Grace in Times of Compromise"
At the beginning of this series on faith, we defined faith in two ways: 1) Faith has belief, trust, obedience and acting on God word and promises. 2) What we believe, the doctrines that guide our actions, our understanding of the Bible.
By grace we stand in faith, but make no mistake, WE NEED TO STAND.
Romans 5:1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Jude 3:3 Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.
1 Timothy 4:1, Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron
2 Tim 4:1 I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: 2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.
2 Thessalonians 2
The Great Apostasy
1 Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, 2 not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us as though the day of Christ had come. 3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.
 Apostasy:  A total desertion of or departure from one's faith, principles, and cause. People turning away from the principles of the gospel
John 6:66 - From that [time] many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.
2 Cor. 13:5 Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified. 6 But I trust that you will know that we are not disqualified.
How do you test yourself? How would you test yourself as a driver? Operation of vehicle, understanding of rules of the road, physical capability.
Testing your faith involves:
Corresponding actions (Words and deeds)
Attention to the one who saved us an to Whom we belong
Obedience to basics: Prayer, reading the Bible, doing the word (obedience), worship (vertical love), fellowship with believers at church meetings (horizontal love), giving and serving.

Faith and Corresponding Actions

"Faith and Corresponding Action" 
The faith walk is about believing God's promises and acting with confidence on those promises. Faith is not a leap into the dark. Faith in God is a leap and a walk into the LIGHT!
James 2:14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your[d] works, and I will show you my faith by my  works. 19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! 20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? 23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”[g] And he was called the friend of God. 24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. 25 Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?
26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
Paul wrote Ephesians 2:8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
We don’t work to be saved, but good works is the best evidence of a saved lifestyle.  
Galatians 2:16, knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.
Our works are distinctive to believers in Christ. Every lifestyle and “religion” or “non-relligion” has their form of works. 
Exodus 23:24, You shall not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor do according to their works; but you shall utterly overthrow them and completely break down their sacred pillars 
Matthew 23:5, But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments
We are doing the works of God that need to be seen. These works glorify the Lord, not ourselves.
Matthew 5:16, Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven 
John 9:4, I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work 
We are empowered by Jesus Christ.
John 14:12  “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father 

Act Like Men: Mandate, Malady & Motivation

1 Cor 16:13 Be on your guard; stand firm
in the faith; be courageous; be strong. 14 Do everything in love. 15 You know
that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and they
have devoted themselves to the service of the Lord’s people. I urge you,
brothers and sisters, 16 to submit to such people and to everyone who joins in
the work and labors at it. 17 I was glad when Stephanas, Fortunatus and
Achaicus arrived, because they have supplied what was lacking from you. 18 For
they refreshed my spirit and yours also. Such men deserve recognition.
 1 Cor 16:13 (NASB) Be on the alert,
stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. 14 Let all that you do be
done in love.
This is sound advice for men and fathers
(and everyone by example). The first four are in the context of military
service
1.    Be on the alert
2.    Stand firm in the
faith
3.    Act like men
4.    Be strong
5.    That all that you
do be done in love
Greek word for "act like men"
meaning, "to make a man of or make brave...to show one's self a man, be
brave"

How to Have the Victorious Spirit of Faith

How to Have the Victorious Spirit of Faith
But since we have the same spirit of faith, according to whatis written, "I believed and therefore I spoke," we also believe andtherefore speak (1 Cor, 4:13)
There is a “Spirit of Faith,” which is an attitude or atmosphereof faith in God that becomes a lifestyle. We all know how the power of habitscan affect our lives and good and bad ways. The Spirit of Faith is the habit oftrusting God, speaking according to promises of God, and possessing a livinghope. Come out this morning and learn how to have the victorious spirit offaith through Jesus Christ!
1 Corinthians 5:7, For we walk by faith, not by sight.
Hebrews 11:6   Butwithout faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God mustbelieve that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
Romans 1:16, ForI am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ for it is the power of God tosalvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for theGreek.  17] For in it therighteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written,"The just shall live by faith."
When you have the "spirit of faith," hard things are"light" because you know Jesus empowers you and is helping youtransform tough circumstances into pavement for a road towards a better future:
1 Corinthians 4:17 For our light affliction, which is but fora moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things whichare not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things whichare not seen are eternal.