Following God

Isaiah

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Troy Mills Christian Church

Sunday, July 17, 2022

Bible Reading: Psalm 121:5-7 “The Lord himself watches over you! The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade. The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon at night. The Lord keeps you from all harm and watches over your life. The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever.” (NLT)

Text: Isaiah 51:11

Isaiah’s Message

Part I—The Savior will come

Isaiah 1-12–Prophecies against the nations of Israel and Judah

Isaiah 13-27—Prophecies against the nations of the world

Messianic Prophecy #1—Isaiah 7:14; fulfilled in Matthew 1:18-25

Messianic Prophecy #2—Isaiah 9:6; fulfilled in Matthew 1:18-25

Messianic Prophecy that Messiah would be of David’s lineage—Isaiah 11:1; fulfilled in Luke 3:23, 32

Part 2—The Savior will live and die

Messiah would do many miracles—Isaiah 35:6-7a; Matthew 9:35

Isaiah 53—prophecies about the Messiah offering Himself as the ultimate “once and for all” sacrifice for sin

Part 3—The Savior will come back again

The Millennial Kingdom–Messiah will return and establish a literal kingdom, on the earth—Isaiah 2:2-5; 32:1-8; chapter 35.

Conclusion:

The world of Isaiah was in upheaval. Times were corrupt, confusing, abusive, and immoral. Integrity was a lost character trait. But God spoke a message of great hope through the prophet.

Isaiah 40:1 “Comfort, yes, comfort My people!” says your God

“When God comforts us, not only does He console but He strengthens us to continue to move forward.”

Good News from God’s Word

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Ephesians 1:4-5 “For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 hepredestined us for adoption to sonship[c] through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will”

Isaiah 54:9 “when I swore that the waters of Noah would never again cover the earth. So now I have sworn not to be angry with you, never to rebuke you again.”

James 1:17 “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”

Numbers 23:19 “God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?”

Malachi 3:6 ““I the Lord do not change.”

Hebrews 13:8 “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”

Psalm 102:25-27 “In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. Like clothing you will change them and they will be discarded. But you remain the same, and your years will never end.”

Psalm 118:6 “The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?”

Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Psalm 34:18-19 “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all;”

1 John 4:4 “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.”

Elijah

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Troy Mills Christian Church

Sunday, July 10, 2022

Bible Reading: Psalm 145:1-3 “I will exalt you, my God and King, and praise your name forever and ever. I will praise you every day; yes, I will praise you forever. Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise! No one can measure his greatness.” (NLT)

Text: James 5:17-18

Highlights of Elijah’s ministry

#1—1 Kings 17:1—God told Elijah to confront the wicked King Ahab

#2—1 Kings 17:17-24—Elijah prays for a widow’s son to come back to life…and he does

#3—1 Kings 18:20-40—Elijah confronts 450 prophets/priests of Baal on Mount Carmel

#4—1 Kings 19:11-18—Elijah goes into hiding from the threat of the wicked Queen Jezebel

#5—1 Kings 21:17-29—Elijah once again confronts the wicked King Ahab. Ahab repented

#6—2 Kings 2—Elijah confronts the new king, Ahaziah, the son of Ahab. He too is wicked

“Elijah was a man with a nature like ours”

  • Elijah runs from Jezreel to Beersheba, 100 miles
  • Elijah prays to die
  • God confronts Elijah

Two reasons Elijah’s prayers were answered:

          Elijah was a righteous man……not perfect but righteous

          Elijah prayed, and prayed, and prayed…. earnestly

Your Story

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Troy Mills Christian Church

Sunday, June 26, 2022

Bible Reading: Romans 8:38-39 “And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (NLT)

Text: 2 Corinthians 5:17-20

#1–A picture of what happens when we come to Christ as our Savior

          Revelation 3:20

          Romans 10:14

#2—The Samaritan Woman at the Well

          John 4:1-38

          John 4:28-39—She left her waterpot

          John 4:39—Her story

          John 4:42—The result of her telling her story

#3—Your Story & Your Place of Influence

          John 3:16

          2 Peter 3:9

          1 Peter 3:15

          Romans 10:14

#4—Other influential stories in Scripture

          Esther—Esther 4:13-17; 7 & 8

          The Demoniac of Gadara—Mark 5:1-20; 8:1-10

          Four lepers and a Syrian Treasure—2 Kings 7:1-16

Repent

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Troy Mills Christian Church

Sunday, June 19, 2022

Bible Reading: Psalm 34:4-5, 8 “I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears. Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces. Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!” (NLT)

Text: 2 Peter 3:9

#1–Definition of the word repentance: to change the way we think about God

Mark 12:29-30—“…..love the Lord your God…….”

#2–The Kingdom of God in the New Testament

          Matthew 3:1-3—John the Baptist

          Matthew 4:17—Jesus

#3—Repentance & Relationship

          Genesis 3:8—Sin disrupted the relationship with God

          Genesis 3:23-24—Sin separated man from God

#4—The Curtain torn in two

Matthew 27:51

#5—Our direct access to God

          Psalm 139:4-9

          Psalm 103:2-5

          2 Corinthians 5:17-19

Why

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Troy Mills Christian Church

Sunday, June 12, 2022

Bible Reading: Isaiah 41:10 “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.” (NLT)

Text: Genesis 3:15

#1–Two Trees in the Garden of Eden

          Genesis 2: 8-9; 15-17

Tree of Life–

Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil –

Evil or wickedness is anytime we live/think contrary to the ways of God

          2 Chronicles 7:14

#2—Results of sin—

          Painful childbirth

          Hard work, thorns & thistles

          Death–

          Spiritual Separation—Genesis 3:22-24

          Physical Separation—Genesis 5:3

          God’s warning to Cain—Genesis 4:6-7

Sin gave birth to fear, shame, lying, and placing blames on others and not accepting responsibility for our own behavior

#3—Started the battle between the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Satan

          Genesis 3:15; Matthew 24:7 (kingdom against kingdom); 1 Peter 5:8

#4–Sin is always a choice–

Deuteronomy 30:15-18a

Last Days, Part 2

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Troy Mills Christian Church

Sunday, June 5, 2022

Bible Reading: Romans 8:14-16 “For all who ae led by the Spirit of God are children of God. So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. (NLT)

Text: Acts 1:9-11

#1—First Event of the Last Days

          Pentecost—Acts 2:1-4

          Purpose of Pentecost—Acts 1:8

          Salt & Light—Matthew 5:13-14

#2—Why has His return been delayed?

His return promised- Acts 1:11

          His return delayed—1 Peter 3:9

#3—Events leading up to His return

          Matthew 24:4-8

          Wars & Rumors of Wars

          Earthquakes—

          Kingdom against kingdom

          John 10:10

#4—Parable of the Wheat & Tares

          Matthew 13:24-30

          John 16:33

          1 John 4:4

Last Days

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Troy Mills Christian Church

Sunday, May 29, 2022

Bible Reading: Psalm 95:1-7 “Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods. In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land. O come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker! For he is out God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.” (ESV)

Text: Acts 1:9-11

#1–The Last Days—

          From start to finish—Acts 1:9-11

          The first event of the Last Days—

                    Acts 2:1-4

          Why was this the first event?

                    Acts 1:6-8

#2—Matthew 24:4-8

          Wars & Rumors of War–

          Earthquakes—

          Disease—

          Violence–

          Kingdom against Kingdom—

                    Genesis 3

                    John 14:30

                    John 10:10

#3—Parable of the Wheat and Tares

          Matthew 13:24-30

          2 Timothy 3:1

#4—Do not Despair—

          John 16:33

          1 John 4:4

Seasons

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Troy Mills Christian Church

Sunday, May 22, 2022

Bible Reading: Psalm 37:3-5, 7a, 39-40 “Trust in the Lord and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper. Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires. Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you. Be still in the presence of the Lord and wait patiently for him to act. The Lord rescues the godly; he is their fortress in times of trouble. The Lord helps them, rescuing them from the wicked. He saves them, and they find shelter in him.” (NLT)

Text: Joshua 1:1-9; 3:4-5

Backstory to Joshua 1

#1—Moses my servant is dead—1:2

#2—as I was with Moses, so I will be with you—1:5b

#3—obey the Word of God—1:7

          Obey the Word of God

          No compromise

          You will have success as you act wisely

#4—be strong and of good courage—1:9

#5—follow God—3:4

#6—sanctify yourself—3:5

Taste & See

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Troy Mills Christian Church

Sunday, May 15, 2022

Bible Reading: Psalm 34:1-8 “I will praise the Lord at all times. I will constantly speak his praises. I will boast only in the Lord; let all who are helpless take heart. Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness; let us exalt his name together. I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears. Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces. In my desperation I prayed, and the Lord listened; he saved me from all my troubles. For the angel of the Lord is a guard; he surrounds and defends all who fear him. Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!” (NLT)

Text: Psalm 34:1-8

Backstory to Psalm 34—1 Samuel 21

#1—Two eggs, over easy, perfectly cooked

          Psalm 34:8

#2—Proper care of “non-stick” pans

          Hebrews 10:24-25

#3—”Emptying the refrigerator” soup

          Hebrews 4:12

Conclusion: We need to “taste & see;” use the proper tools; and from time to time we need to “empty the refrigerator, cut away the things that don’t need to be there, and enjoy the good things of God for our lives. Taste & See