Closing sermon prayer (8/31/2025)
8/31/2025 morning worship service Pastor Anthony Fields "180—"Turn it Around" EXODUS 14:20; Ecclesiastes 12:13 Turning your back on the ways of the world and toward coming into the kingdom "Why do worldly principles still hold sway over Christians?.... Because we have not turned our back on the things of the world." When the Israelites were in Egypt in slavery, and they were going through such a hard time, what did they do and what God do? Exodus 14:20, Galatians 5:1, Romans 8:6, 12:2 2 Corinthians 10:5, Ecclesiastes 12:13, Romans 7:6 Romans 2:14-15 What the World says versus What the Word of God says. 1. "Follow your heart!" Jeremiah 17:9 "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure, who can understand it?" 2."Be True To Yourself" Matthew 16:24, "Then Jesus said to His disciples 'Whoever wants to be My disciple must deny themselves,..... .....take up their cross and follow Me." 3. "Believe in Yourself John 14:6 & 11 ""I am the way, the truth, and the life, No one comes to the Father except through Me." ""Believe Me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me."" 4. "Live Your Truth" John 8:31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed." 5. "As long as you are happy that's all that matters' Romans 8:6 , The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. Ecclesiastes 12:13 "Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind." ____________________ "In our words and in our lives: may your will be done. Psalm 146:1-3 "Halleluiah! Praise the Lord, O my soul!: I will praise the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being. Put not your trust in rulers, nor in any child of earth: for there is no help in them. When they breathe their last, they return to earth: and in that day their thoughts perish. In our words and in our lives : may your will be done." ________________________ "Lord, Help us not to contorm to the patterns of this world but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. Give us a new imagination so that we might live in ways that do not compute to the logic of materialism and militarism. Make us into holy nonconformists so that we might see the kingdoms of this world transformed into your glorious kingdom.Amen." _________________________ " "THINK ON THIS: Turn Your Eyes Toward Jesus" A redirection of focus: Hebrews 12:2 "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith..." "Looking unto Jesus" means focus and trust Jesus Christ for strength, guidance, and salvation, rather than on worldIy distractions or personal limitations. It involves seeing Him as the author and finisher of faith, the perfect example to follow, and the source of hope, healing, and deliverance in every aspect of life. Spiritual clarity: When we focus on Him, things of the world grow 'strangely dim'. We begin to see and perceive things differenly. We are encouraged, as believers, to fix our gaze on Jesus, turning away from distractions and focusing on Him as the one who began and completed the Christian faith, allowing us to endure difficulties with His example in mind." _____________________ " "The Key to Freedom" Galatians 5:1-15, Matthew 26:6-13 Have you ever heard the old story of the monkey and the jar? A monkey reaches into a jar to grab a treat he desires, but because he refuses to let go, he can't get the treat out of the jar — and he can't get his fist out, either. If he was willing to let go of the treat, he'd be free. But as long as he clenches his fist, he's trapped. — Is there an area in your life you've been desperate to have control over? — What would it look like to loosen your grip on that thing by giving generously? —Spend time in prayer. Tell God that you trust Him – and be honest about the places you're struggling to trust fully. Ask Him to remind you that He is your provider and source."
