Together in Faith

Date: 1/4/2009
Text: 2 Corinthians 5:14-15
Speaker: David Cranford

14For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.


What motivates us to be the people of God and to follow Christ?

We are compelled...
1. ...by the love of Christ. (v. 14)
John 15:13 shows God's love for us.
Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.
1 John 4:19 We love because he first loved us.

2. ...by the end of ourselves. (v. 14)
He never got to the end of his love for us.

3. ...to share his love. (v. 15)
Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

4. ...by his second-coming.
2 Corinthians 6:2 For he says, "In the time of my favor I heard you,
and in the day of salvation I helped you."[a] I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation.

Footnotes:

1. 2 Corinthians 6:2 Isaiah 49:8


Scripture from www.biblegateway.com

Taking Stock

Speaker: David Cranford - FBC Ponchatoula. Today's message was from Psalm 90.

1. "Take stock" of where we have been. (v.1)

2. "Take stock" of where we are. (vv. 3-12)

Two key truths -

1. Life is short

2. Life is hard

Make every day count!

3. "Take stock" of where we are going. (vv.13-27)

Commit to decisions and act on them!

Psalm 90 A prayer of Moses, the man of God. 1 Lord, through all the generations you have been our home! 2 Before the mountains were born, before you gave birth to the earth and the world, from beginning to end, you are God. 3 You turn people back to dust, saying, “Return to dust, you mortals!” 4 For you, a thousand years are as a passing day, as brief as a few night hours. 5 You sweep people away like dreams that disappear. They are like grass that springs up in the morning. 6 In the morning it blooms and flourishes, but by evening it is dry and withered. 7 We wither beneath your anger; we are overwhelmed by your fury. 8 You spread out our sins before you— our secret sins—and you see them all. 9 We live our lives beneath your wrath, ending our years with a groan. 10 Seventy years are given to us! Some even live to eighty. But even the best years are filled with pain and trouble; soon they disappear, and we fly away. 11 Who can comprehend the power of your anger? Your wrath is as awesome as the fear you deserve. 12 Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom. 13 O Lord, come back to us! How long will you delay? Take pity on your servants! 14 Satisfy us each morning with your unfailing love, so we may sing for joy to the end of our lives. 15 Give us gladness in proportion to our former misery! Replace the evil years with good. 16 Let us, your servants, see you work again; let our children see your glory. 17 And may the Lord our God show us his approval and make our efforts successful. Yes, make our efforts successful!