Kindling Ministries, Ron Allen's Blog

Overcoming Temptation

Here is the outline of my message this morning at Heartland Church. The podcast can be downloaded at www.hccfw.com

James 1:12-18 "Happy is the man who doesn't give in and do wrong when he is tempted, for afterwards he will get as his reward the crown of life that God has promised those who love Him."

There are two types of tests. 1. Tests from God to promote growth.  2. Temptations from Satan to cause sin.  

How to avoid sining when you are tempted.  1. Be realistic. v.13  2. Be responsible. v.13  3. Be ready. v14-16.  

1 Corinthians 10:13  "No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make a the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it."  

Satan doesn't use a gun, he uses a con.

God is preparing me for what He has prepared for me.

The following outline is what I shared this am at Heartland Church. The podcast can be downloaded at www.hccfw.com

Zachariah says to not dispise the day of small beginnings. Paul says to the Galatians not to grow weary in doing the right things, for in due season we will reap if we don't give up. Harvest is not the only season. There is also sowing and cultivating. There is winter and there is spring. Each phase is necessary for the next. If we are faithful in little, God will trust us with much. It is too soon to give up, give out, or give in. Even when I feel stuck, I am confident that God is up to something that will be redemptive. God is preparing me for promotion. The road to greatness often goes through smallness first. 

Romans 4:17-22  1. Remember what God can do. v.17  2. Rely on what God has said. v. 18  3. Face the facts with faith. vv. 19-20  4. Expect God to act. v. 20  5. Trust God to add His grace to our efforts. v. 21

Heartland Focus

Here is my outline from what I shared Sunday 10 am August 9. The podcast can be downloaded at www.hccfw.com

Galatians 2:20 "I am crucified with Christ. I no longer live, yet Christ lives in me. And the life I now live, I live by faith in the Son of God who loves me and gave Himself for me."

1. We are committed to passionately entertain God's presence. We want to be irresistible to the Holy Spirit. We are radically pursuing God's touch.

2. We are committed to compassionately care for one another. We want to bear one another's burdens and fulfill the law of Christ. We want to be as radical in getting each other to Jesus as the lame man's friends who got him through the roof to Jesus.

3. We are committed to embrace and extend the Kingdom of God. We pray, "Your Kingdom come, your will be done on earth, in me, through me, as it is in heaven." We are to exercise Kingdom authority against the powers of darkness, till the kingdoms of this world become the kingdoms of our God.

Waiting on God...

Here is an outline for the talk I gave Aug. 2 at the 10 am service. The full podcast can be downloaded at www.hccfw.com 

2 Peter 3:8-9, "God is being patient with you."

God's timing is perfect, but often inconvenient to us. What do we do while we are waiting on God?

1. Don't fear, instead practice the presence of God. Is. 41:10

2. Don't fret, instead trust God's timing. Ps. 37:7,8

3. Don't faint, instead be persistent and pray. Gal. 6:9

4. Don't forget, instead remember God's blessings. Ps. 103:2

Faith works by love... Gal. 5:6

“The just shall live by his faithfulness.” Hab. 2:4  The Enemy wants to undermine our faithfulness. He wants us to doubt, fear, and rebel against the revelation of God’s Word. Faithfulness is doing what God last asked us to do, till He gives us new direction.  Having started in faith, like the Galatians (3:3),  we may indeed start in the Spirit, walking in faithfulness, but if he can the Enemy will derail us and stir us to abandon trust in God and begin to trust only in ourselves and our own understanding. Matt. 20:20ff, Salome came to Jesus with her two sons, James and John,  in worship, then the scripture says, and she had a request for Jesus for favor for her sons. Her right approach was sabotaged by her agenda. She did the right thing but with the wrong motive. Our motives are the needs or desires that drive us to act. They may be good or bad. But if our faithfulness does not work by love, it will become religion working out of selfishness. God knows our heart. If we fail to manipulate God to get what we want, and we will, we will quit and abandon our faith. James 4:3. When Jesus returns will He find faith and faithfulness? Is it enough that He died on the cross for our sins? Is it enough that we are adopted as children? Is it enough that God will never leave us or forsake us? Is it enough that we have His protection and provision? Is it enough that we have Heaven as our destiny? Or did we, “Marry Jesus for His money?”  And if it gets difficult as God trains us, will we abandon faithfulness? Will we quit church, Bible reading, fasting and praying if we don’t get immediate satisfaction? Will we give up on our marriages, family and friends? Are we seeking the face of Jesus more than His hand? Is worshipping and serving Him in love and faithfulness going to be our commitment?

Memorial Weekend, 2009

Here is a summary of my talk this morning for our intergenerational service. Such fun. The podcast can be downloaded at www.hccfw.com.

Fear and faith both ask us to believe in what we can't see. Hebrews 11 is God's memorial chapter of heroes of the faith. Without faith it is impossible to believe God. We must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. Fear comes by hearing and hearing by the lies of the enemy. Faith works by love. Fear works by selfishness. We stand firm in faith, not entertaining doubt and fear. We walk by faith not by sight.