How to Thrive in Tough Times

/ Don McGarvey / Leave a comment

Troy Mills Christian Church

Sunday, November 7, 2021

Scripture Reading: Psalm 119:17-24 “Be good to your servant, that I may live and obey your word. Open my eyes to see the wonderful truths in your instructions. I am only a foreigner in the land.
Don’t hide your commands from me! I am always overwhelmed with a desire for your regulations.
 You rebuke the arrogant; those who wander from your commands are cursed. Don’t let them scorn and insult me, for I have obeyed your laws. Even princes sit and speak against me, but I will meditate on your decrees. Your laws please me; they give me wise advice.” (NLT)

Text: 2 Timothy 1:7

Timothy—Paul’s spiritual son

Spirit of Fear—

          Being timid—

          Blurred Vision—

          Slaves to Circumstances—

          Paralysis–

          Romans 8:37—More than Conquerors

Power—

          Acts 1:8—

          Romans 8:11—

          Ephesians 3:20-21–

Not only have we been given power to say no to sin, but we have also been granted the power to say “yes” to the things of God. The more we say “yes” to the things of God, the less sin will have a place in our lives. Saying “yes” to the things of God is the key to victory over sin!

Love—

          Romans 5:5—

          Galatians 5:22–

Sound Mind—

          1 John 5:4–

Fake News About Christianity

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Troy Mills Christian Church

Sunday, October 31, 2021

Bible Reading: Psalm 119:9-16 “How can a young person stay pure? By obeying your word.
 I have tried hard to find you—don’t let me wander from your commands.  I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. I praise you, O Lord; teach me your decrees.  I have recited aloud all the regulations you have given us.  I have rejoiced in your laws as much as in riches. I will study your commandments and reflect on your ways. I will delight in your decrees and not forget your word.” (NLT)

Text: Job 23:10-12

  • The story of Job–

Fake News Item #1—Christianity has changed

  • John 10:10
  • Ephesians 3:20-21
  • Numbers 23:19
  • Proverbs 14:12

Fake News Item #2—All good people go to heaven

  • John 3:3

Fake News Item #3—A good God, wouldn’t send anyone to hell

  • John 3:16-17
  • 2 Peter 3:9

Fake New Items #4—Christianity is a brainless religion

  • Mark 12:30

Fake News Item #5—There are many roads to God/heaven

  • John 14:6
  • The rest of Job’s story

20 Old Testament Prophecies about the Messiah Fulfilled in the New Testament

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In last Sunday’s teaching, October 24, 2021, I referenced a list of 20 Old Testament Messianic prophecies that Jesus fulfilled. The list came from one of my favorite books, “Don’t Check Your Brains at the Door” by Josh McDowell and Bob Hostetler, written in 1992, published by Thomas Nelson.

There were actually 40 or more Old Testament prophecies written about the Messiah, all of which came to pass. According to McDowell and Hostetler, the odds of that happening are 1 in 10 to the 157 power. That’s 10, followed by 157 “0’s.” Too many (0’s) for me. Only a supernatural God could do that.

Old Testament Prophecy                                                      New Testament Fulfillment

  1. Born of a virgin—Isaiah 7:14                                     1. Matthew 1:18-25
  2. Of the tribe of Judah—Genesis 49:10                         2. Luke 3:23, 33
  3. Descended from Jesse—Isaiah 11:11                         3. Luke 3:32
  4. Of the House of David—Jeremiah 23:5                       4. Luke 3:31
  5. Born in Bethlehem—Micah 5:2                                  5. Matthew 2:1
  6. Preceded by a Messenger—Isaiah 40:3                       6. Matthew 3:1-2
  7. Enter Jerusalem on a donkey—Zechariah 9:9            7. Luke 19:35-37
  8. Betrayed by a friend—Psalm 41:9                              8. Matthew 48-50
  9. Betrayed for 30 pieces of silver—Zechariah 11:12       9. Matthew 26:15
  10. Silent before His accusers—Isaiah 53:7                      10. Matthew 27:12
  11. Hands and feet pierced—Psalm 22:16                        11. Luke 23:33; John 20:25
  12. Crucified with thieves—Isaiah 53:12                          12. Matthew 27:38
  13. Interceded for His persecutors—Isaiah 53:12              13. Luke 23:34
  14. Garments divided—Psalm 22:18                                14. John 19:23
  15. Lots cast for garments—Psalm 22:18                         15. John 19:24
  16. Gall and vinegar offered to Him—Psalm 69:21            16. Matthew 27:34
  17. His bones not broken—Psalm 34:20                           17. John 19:33
  18. His side pierced—Zechariah 12:10                             18. John 19:34
  19. He was buried with the rich—Isaiah 53:9                   19. Matthew 27:57-60
  20. His resurrection—Psalm 16:10                                  20. Acts 2:31

From the book, “Don’t Check Your Brains at the Door” written by Josh McDowell and Bob Hostetler, published by Thomas Nelson in 1992.

Fake News About the Bible

/ Don McGarvey / Leave a comment

Troy Mills Christian Church

Sunday, October 24, 2021

Bible Reading: Psalm 119:1-8 “Joyful are people of integrity, who follow the instructions of the Lord. Joyful are those who obey his laws and search for him with all their hearts. They do not compromise with evil, and they walk only in his paths. You have charged us to keep your commandments carefully. Oh, that my actions would consistently reflect your decrees! Then I will not be ashamed when I compare my life with your commands. As I learn your righteous regulations, I will thank you by living as I should! I will obey your decrees. Please don’t give up on me!” (NLT)

Texts: 2 Timothy 3:16-17 & 2 Peter 1:19-21

The Bible—

          Written by 40 different writers

          Written over a period of 1600 years

          Written on three different continents

          Written in three different languages

The Reliability of the Bible—

Fake News Item #1—The Bible contains fictional stories—

          Man swallowed by a gigantic fish

          Talking Donkeys

          Men walking on water

          Thousands fed with a few pieces of bread and fish

          Dead people raised back to life

Fake News Item #2—The Bible contains coincidences

          The Bible contains 48 major prophecies about the Messiah

          Micah—

          Zechariah—

          David—

All forty-eight fulfilled. The odds of this are 1 in 10 to the power of 157 or 1 chance in10 followed by 157 zeroes.

2 Peter 1:21 “for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.”

Fake News About the Resurrection

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Troy Mills Christian Church

Sunday, October 17, 2021

Bible Reading: Psalm 121 “I look up to the mountains—does my help come from there? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth! 3 He will not let you stumble; the one who watches over you will not slumber. Indeed, he who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps. 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: 1 Corinthians 15:1-8

The Resurrection of Christ is the basis for all of Christianity. Without the resurrection, nothing really matters. It is the foundation of our faith.

Three Fake News Items:

#1—The Swoon Theory

            A Flagrum—

            Simon, a Cyrenian (Mark 15:21-22)

            Certified by a Roman Centurion to be dead (Mark 15:44-45)

#2—The Wrong Tomb Theory

            The women

            Peter & John

            An angel

            A known tomb

            A secured tomb

#3—The Stolen Body Theory

            Matthew 28:11-15

The TRUTH is that Jesus died and was resurrected on the THIRD DAY, according to the Scriptures. He was resurrected to save you, not to condemn you. He was resurrected to set you free from sin, from guilt, from shame, from disease and from death. He was resurrected so you could have a rich and satisfying like, both here on the earth and with Him through eternity.

Fake News About Jesus, Part II

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Troy Mills Christian Church

Sunday, October 10, 2021

Scripture Reading: (From the writings of John. John 1:14, John 3:16-18; 1 John 4:9)

“So, the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son. “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. “There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son. God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him.”

Text: 1 Peter 3:15; Ephesians 4:22-32

What does it look like to “sanctify the Lord in your heart?”—

Jesus clears the Temple—Matthew 14:12-13

          Verse 14—Look what happens next

Jesus came for Samaritan women—John 4:4-26

Jesus came for a Roman centurion—Matthew 8:5-13

Jesus came for a Canaanite woman—Matthew 15:21-28

Jesus came for hated tax collectors—Luke 19:1-10

Jesus came for diseased lepers—Mark 1:40-42

Jesus came to be a “friend of sinner”—Luke 5:31-32

Jesus did not, nor does He see our differences—Galatians 3:26-28

Jesus came for you—John 3:16

Fake News About Jesus

/ Don McGarvey / Leave a comment

Troy Mills Christian Church

Sunday, October 3, 2021

Scripture Reading: Colossians 1:15-20 “Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, 16 for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see—such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him. 17 He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together. 18 Christ is also the head of the church, which is his body. He is the beginning, supreme over all who rise from the dead.  So, he is first in everything. 19 For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, 20 and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross.”

Text: 1 Peter 3:15

The Fake News items:

  • Jesus was only a good teacher
  • Jesus was only a prophet

#1—Jesus is God with us (Immanuel)

          Isaiah 7:14

          Jesus is fully God—Colossians 2:9

          John 14:7

#2—Jesus was fully man and fully God

Philippians 2:5-8

#3—Jesus was God’s “one and only Son”

          John 3:14-17

#4—Jesus is the only way to the Father

          Acts 4:12; John 3:36

Ten Books of the Bible to Read Over and Over

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I mentioned in our “Take Ten with Pastor Don” earlier today how my friend Steve has been reading these ten books of the Bible over and over for the past couple of years. His level of understanding increases each time he reads them through.

I can say the same thing. The more you read the Word, the more you learn about God. The more you learn about God, the more you change how you think and the more you change the way you think, the more you live differently.

Our actions are always preceded by thoughts. And our thoughts are the product of what we allow to influence us.

Here are the Ten Books and why I think you should read them.

Genesis—It’s the book of Beginnings. The beginning of all creation, the beginnings of God’s relationship with man and His disapproval of sin. It’s the beginning of humanity and God’s desire for how we should live. It is also an account of the first sin and its consequences upon mankind.

John—John introduces us to Jesus in a way the other three Gospels don’t. He is introduced to us as God. John uses seven miracles (signs), seven “I AM” statements; and seven sermons to show us the Deity of Jesus.

Romans—Perhaps the most profound theological book in the Bible, Paul shows us the hopelessness of sin; the hope of salvation; and the help of God’s Spirit in our life.

Psalms—Every emotion you will ever experience is found in this book of poetry. The “poems” were the worship songs of Israel. They are raw at times; they are full of complaints at times but they always conclude with a crescendo of God’s greats and mighty power overcome evil and to reveal Himself to us.

Ephesians—The words of this great letter reveal to us the love of God for His Church. Each chapter shows us a different picture of what God has for us, as His people.

Proverbs—The wisdom of God comes through in each verse of the book. It’s a “how to” manual for life and gives us the start on our path to discover wisdom.

Philippians—This book of “joy” will challenge us to seek after God no matter what may come along. Also, we discover insight about how we are to live as servants, because Jesus did, it will challenge us about what is to become influential in our life and it build confidence in how God will help us in troubling and difficult times.

1 John—This short book, five chapters, will help us to love, to forgive, to live in victory, and remind us of our hope of eternal life through Jesus.

James—Faith in Action is a great way to describe the message of this book, written by Jesus’ younger brother, James. It’s a practical “how to” message for those who want to go deeper in their walk with God.

Isaiah—Written 700 years before the birth of Christ, Isaiah introduces us to the Messiah in ways that no other prophet did. Isaiah provides for us a great picture of the Messiah, His life, His death, and the victory that is ours as we put our faith in Him.

Dust Bunnies & Prayers

/ Don McGarvey / Leave a comment

I read a great story in Josh McDowell’s book, “Don’t Check Your Brains at the Door” published by Word Publishing in 1992.

A little boy was praying to God. He confessed his doubts but proceeded to say, “God, if you are really there and care about me, then put $1million dollars under my bed when I wake up in the morning in one-dollar bills.

When he woke up, it wasn’t there. Disappointed, he told his mom about it, adding that God must not be real since his prayer wasn’t answered.

His mom mentioned to him that perhaps God had not answered his prayer because there wasn’t room under his bed. She began to pull things out from under his bed and there were games, even some dirty socks, not to mention all the dust bunnies. She was sure there wasn’t room for all that money, especially in one-dollar bills.

I started wondering about my prayers. I’ve never asked for $1 million in one-dollar bills but I wonder if I have prayed about things without leaving room for God to answer.

Perhaps when I pray, I need to make sure there is room in my life for God to answer.

I’m convinced this is what the Apostle John was talking about in 1 John 5:14-15 “This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him.” (NASB)

What have you been believing God for? What steps do you need to take for God’s answer to come about? Is there some dirty laundry or dust bunnies that need to be dealt with? Maybe some of the games you have been playing need to be removed. Have you made room for God to answer your prayers?

He’s willing and ready!

Always in Pursuit!

Don

Fake News…..About God

/ Don McGarvey / Leave a comment

Troy Mills Christian Church

Sunday, September 19, 2021

 Bible Reading: Psalm 139:7-12 “I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! 8 If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there. 9 If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, 10 even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me. 11 I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night—12 but even in darkness I cannot hide from you. To you the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are the same to you.” (NLT)

Text: 1 Peter 3:15 “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;” (NKJV)

Fake News Item #1: God is a kill joy.

John 10:10

1 Peter 5:8

Fake News Item #2: God is distant and cannot be known.

Proverbs 8:17

Jeremiah 29:12-13

Fake News Item #3: God is like a vending machine.

2 Chronicles 7:14

Jeremiah 29:13

James 5:16

1 John 5:14