Sermon

Benefits for Believers

Benefits for Believers

Sean Vickers

Psalm 103

Bless the Lord, O my soul and all that is within me, bless His Holy Name.
Bless the Lord, O my soul and forget none of His benefits.
He forgives all your sin; He heals all your diseases.
He redeems your life from the pit, He crowns your with faithful love and compassion.

He satisfies you with goodness, your youth is renewed like the eagle.

This is a Psalm of David that is a song of praise. In this Psalm David does not request anything. He simply praises his God.

I wonder how long you could talk to the Lord without asking for anythings? <- try it out

In verses 1-5, David mentions three things to remember that lead to a life that remembers to praise God.

1. Forgiveness Psalm 103:3

  • Perfect creation corrupted by sin
  • Hospital visitation

2. Redemption Psalm 103:4

  • Boaz the kinsman redeemer in the book of Ruth
  • President James Buchanan would purchase slaves in Washington D.C. and let them go in Pennsylvania.

3. Satisfaction Psalm 103:5

It Is Well
Bethel Music

Verse 1
Grander earth has quaked before
Moved by the sound of His voice
Seas that are shaken and stirred
Can be calmed and broken for my regard

Chorus
And through it all, through it all
My eyes are on You
And through it all, through it all
It is well

And through it all, through it all
My eyes are on You
It is well with me

Verse 2
Far be it from me to not believe
Even when my eyes can’t see

And this mountain that’s in front of me
Will be thrown into the midst of the sea

Chorus
Through it all, through it all
My eyes are on You
Through it all, through it all
It is well
It is well

Bridge x3
So let go my soul and trust in Him
The waves and wind still know His name (repeat last line during 3rd run)

It is well with my soul
It is well with my soul
It is well with my soul
It is well with my soul
It is well it is well with my soul x3

Chorus x2 (softly slowly)
Through it all, through it all
My eyes are on You
Through it all, through it all
It is well with me.

Identity – Powerful

Identity – Powerful

Sean Vickers

Ephesians 3:14-21

#1 POSTURE OF THE HEART Ephesians 3:14-15

#2 PRAYER FOR POWER THROUGH THE SPIRIT Ephesians 3:16-17a

#3 POSSESSING MEASURELESS LOVE Ephesians 3:17b-19

#4 GOD’S POWER TO DO THE IMMEASURABLE Ephesians 3:20

#5 PRAISE FOR OUR GOD FOREVER Ephesians 3:21

Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21 (NIV)

Identity – Confident

Identity – Confident

Sean Vickers

Ephesians 3:1-13

#1 CAPTIVE OF CHRIST Ephesians 3:1,13

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.                                                   Matthew 16:24-25 (NIV)

#2 THE MARVELOUS MYSTERY OF THE GOSPEL Ephesians 3:2-6

This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 3:6 (NIV)

#3 GOD’S SELFLESS SERVANT Ephesians 3:7-11

For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near.                                                       2 Timothy 4:6 (NIV)

#4 CONFIDENT CONNECTION TO GOD Ephesians 3:12-13

Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:19-25 (NIV)

IDentity Citizen

IDentity Citizen

Sean Vickers

Ephesians 2:1-10

#1 REMEMBER YOUR LIFE BEFORE CHRIST  Ephesians 2:11-12

For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Romans 5:10 (NIV)

#2 ACCESS TO GOD THROUGH THE BLOOD OF CHRIST Ephesians 2:13-18

It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. Acts 15:19 (NIV)

#3 YOUR NEW IDENTITY Ephesians 2:19-22

  • Citizens of the Kingdom of God
  • Members of God’s Family
  • Stones in God’s Temple

#4 YOUR RESPONSIBILITY

  • Personally
  • Corporately
Identity Alive

Identity Alive

Sean Vickers

Ephesians 2:1-10

#1 DEAD DESERVING THE WRATH OF GOD Ephesians 2:1-3

It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Hebrews 10:31 (NIV)

#2 ALIVE WITH CHRIST Ephesians 2:4-5

#3 EXPRESSIONS OF GOD’S GRACE Ephesians 2:6-7

#4 NO BOASTING CORPSES ALLOWED Ephesians 2:8-9

As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. Romans 3:10-12 (NIV)

“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day.                                 John 6:44 (NIV)

ID CHECK #2    [] DEAD    or    [] ALIVE

#5 MAGNUM OPUS FOR HIS SERVICE Ephesians 2:10

Identity – Valuable

Identity – Valuable

Sean Vickers

Ephesians 1:15-23

#1 FAITH AND LOVE MAKE A LASTING IMPACT Ephesians 1:15-16

#2 PRAYER 1: Growing Knowledge of God Ephesians 1:17

#3 PRAYER 2: Illuminated hearts for God Ephesians 1:18

  • Hope
  • Value
  • Power

#4 MIGHTY STRENGTH FOR LIFE IN CHRIST Ephesians 1:19-21

#5 THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH: JESUS! Ephesians 1:22-23

Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:9-11 (NIV)

Alive! Post 1

Alive! Post 1

Sean Vickers

He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!

After Resurrection Sunday Jesus appeared to His disciples over a period of 40 days before He ascended to Heaven. Acts 1:3 Believers in Christ can celebrate our Savior who is Alive! He is not only Alive, but He is interested in us.

#1 Jesus PURSUES us where we are. John 21:1

#2 Life with Jesus is an ADVENTURE. John 21:6

#3 Passion for Jesus is Rewarded with His PRESENCE. John 21:7

#4 Jesus INVITES us to join Him in His work on Earth. John 21:9; John 20:21

#5 Time with Jesus is CRITICAL and cannot be replaced. John 21:12

Our Great Savior is Alive!

Easter Changes Everything!

Easter Changes Everything!

Sean Vickers

EasterBanner

#1 Easter Changes Brokenness to SERVICE  John 20:1-2

#2 Easter Changes Questions to FAITH  John 20:5-8

#3 Easter Changes Grief to GLADNESS  John 20:10-18

#4 Easter Changes Fear to PEACE  John 20:19-20

#5 Easter Changes Fate to PURPOSE  John 20:21

#6 Easter Changes Doubt to BELIEF  John 20:24-28

#7 Easter Change EVERYTHING!  John 20:30-31

Overcoming Obstacles

Sean Vickers

joshua6Joshua 6 records the Victory that the Nation of Israel had when God gave them victory at Jericho. From this chapter and other scriptures there are 7 ways to overcome the obstacles that keep you or your church from being where God wants you to be.

  1. Realize that God has a PLAN. Joshua 6:2-5, Jeremiah 29:11
  2. Understand the place of PURITY in your life. Joshua 3:5, Joshua 5:2-10
  3. Exercise you FAITH in God. Joshua 6:7, Hebrews 11:1
  4. Practice PATIENCE on the Journey. Joshua 6:15, Psalm 40:1
  5. Control your SELF. Joshua 6:1, Proverbs 16:32
  6. Claim the PROMISES of God. Joshua 21:45
  7. Have confidence in the Spiritual LEADERS in your life. Joshua 6:27

A Heart towards God

Sean Vickers

But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.”  1 Samuel 16:7

There is a fascinating account in the Bible in 1 Samuel 16. When it was time to replace King Saul, Samuel went to Bethlehem and called together Jesse and his sons. Each of Jesse’s sons were presented to Samuel and God would select a new King. As seven sons passed by Samuel there was no suitable replacement found. Samuel asked if all of Jesse’s sons were there. Jesse had one more son, David, who was tending the sheep. They called for David and he was the one and was anointed by Samuel to be the future king of Israel.

This compelling story raises the question: What was the difference between David and his brothers? 1 Samuel 16:7 demonstrates that it was a matter of the heart. We tend to look at the exterior and God looks and the interior, the heart. 2 Chronicles 16:9

What does God see when He looks at your heart?

  • Pride – Proverbs 21:4, Jeremiah 17:9
    Our hearts will naturally focus on me, myself and I.
  • Guilt – Matthew 5:19
  • Brokenness – Psalm 51:17
  • Emptiness – King Saul – 1 Samuel 13:14
  • Belief – Romans 10:10
  • Jesus – Ephesians 3:14-19

What should we do?

  • Examine our OWN hearts
  • Eliminate pride and sin by confession and repentance
  • Turn our hearts toward God
  •  Trust Christ to dwell in our hearts as Savior and Lord