Sermon Notes – Bayside Church

Three Life-Changing Commitments

Commitment #1 PUT GOD FIRST WITH MY TIME

A DAILY TIME WITH GOD

The Purpose:

“…Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” JAMES 4:8

The Practice:

“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a

solitary place, where He prayed.” MARK 1:35

The Promise:

“Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners

take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who

meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which

yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers.” PS 1:1-3

The Power of Spending Time With God…

Reconnects you with God – JAMES 4:8

Rekindles your Hope – ISAIAH 6:1

Renews your Confidence – PS 34:4

Renews your Perspective – PS 73:16-17

Releases your Anxieties – 2 CHR 20:1, 12

Restores your Joy – NEHEMIAH 8:10 | PS 16:11

Commitment #2 PUT GOD FIRST WITH MY MONEY

A WEEKLY TITHE TO GOD

The Purpose:

“…where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” MATTHEW 6:21

The Practice:

“On the first day of every week, set aside some of what you have earned and give it as an

offering. The amount depends on how much the Lord has helped you earn.” 1 COR 16:2

The Promise:

“Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running

over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured

back to you.” LUKE 6:38

“I shovel it out, and God shovels it back—but God has a bigger shovel.”

– R. G. LETOURNEAU (who tithed 90% of his income to Christian causes and lived on 10%)

“A checkbook is a theological document. It tells who and what you worship.”

– BILLY GRAHAM

Commitment #3 PUT GOD FIRST WITH MY RELATIONSHIPS

BEING REGULARLY INVOLVED

IN FELLOWSHIP

THE POWER OF CONNECTING…

How Will Small Groups Equip Me For Life?

The Purpose:

“Let us not give up the habit of meeting together….Instead, let us ENCOURAGE each other…”

HEBREWS 10:25

The Practice:

“They met day after day in the temple courts and from house to house.” ACTS 5:4

The Promise:

“Two are better than one, because together they are more effective. If one falls down, the other

can help him up.” ECCLESIASTES 4:9-10.

“As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” PROVERBS 27:17

A GROWTH COVENANT

“…We are making a binding agreement, putting it in writing,

and our spiritual leaders are affixing their seals to it.”

NEHEMIAH 9:39

LUKE 19: 1-6

Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. 3 He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. 5 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.

ROMANS 5: 1-5

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

EPHESIANS 6:21-24

21 Tychicus, the dear brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you everything, so that you also may know how I am and what I am doing. 22 I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage you.

23 Peace to the brothers and sisters, and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.

LUKE 10:38-42

38 Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him as a guest. 39 She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted with all the preparations she had to make, so she came up to him and said, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do all the work alone? Tell her to help me.” 41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things, 42 but one thing is needed. Mary has chosen the best part; it will not be taken away from her.”

EPHESIANS 6:18-20

EPHESIANS 6:18-24

18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. 19 Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should. 21 Tychicus, the dear brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you everything, so that you also may know how I am and what I am doing. 22 I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage you. 23 Peace to the brothers and sisters, and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.

EPHESIANS 6:10-17

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when (not if) the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Winning Life’s Most Important Battles

1. Don’t be : I have an !

“Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.”

Ephesians 6:11

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion

looking for someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy…” John 10:10

Battle for

He said to the woman, “Did God really say…?’ Genesis 3:1

Battle for

“She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.

Then the eyes of both of them were opened Genesis 3:6-7

Battle for the

“I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.”

Matthew 16:18

Battle for

“Be transformed by the renewing of your mind…” Romans 2:2

2. Don’t be !

Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Ephesians 6:11-12

His Tactics:

“…in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.”

2 Corinthians 2:11

He wants to…. You You You

The devil knows your name but calls you by your sin, God knows your sin but calls you by your name. – Ricardo Sanchez

3. You are not !

There are steps to !

“Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.” Ephesians. 6:13

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” John 10:10

“Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith.” 1 Peter 5:8-9

“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 5:6-7

Six Essential Parts of the Armor of GOD

#1 THE BELT OF TRUTH

Fight Deception With Truth

with the Belt Of Truth buckled around your waist,

WINNING SPIRITUAL VICTORIES

“Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:32

EPHESIANS 6:10-13

EPHESIANS 6:1-4

1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— 3 “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.” 4 Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.