Russellville Christian Center

1 Cor 13-Taken from Rick Renner's Greek Word Study on Love:  Love patiently and passionately bears with others for as long as needed. Love doesn't demand others to be like itself; rather, it is so focused on the needs of others that it becomes what others need it to be.  Love is not ambitious, self-centered, or so consumed with itself that it never thinks of the needs or desires that others possess.  Love doesn't go around talking about itself all the time, constantly exaggeration and embellishing the facts to make it look more important in the sight of others.  Love does not behave in a prideful, arrogant, haughty, superior, snotty, snobbish, or clannish manner.  Love is not rude and discourteous---it is not careless or thoughtless, nor does it carry on in a fashion that would be considered insensitive to others. Love does not manipulate situations or scheme and devise methods that will twist situations to its own advantage.  Love does not deliberately engage in actions or speak words that are so sharp that they cause an ugly or violent response.  Love does not deliberately keep records of wrongs or past mistakes. Love does not feel overjoyed when it sees someone get what others perceive they deserve. Love rejoices only in truth.  Love protects, shields, guards, covers, conceals, and safeguards people from exposure.  Love strains forward with all its might to believe the very best in every situation.  Love always expects and anticipates the best in others and the best for others.  Love never quits, never surrenders, and never gives up.  Love never gives up its position of the highest level of love. Love will never disappoint. 

CUT the ROPES 9/3/23 susan allen   Acts 27:13 NIV When a gentle south wind began to blow, they thought they had obtained what they wanted; so they weighed anchor and sailed along the shore of Crete. 14 Before very long, a wind of hurricane force, called the "northeaster," swept down from the island. 15 The ship was caught by the storm and could not head into the wind; so we gave way to it and were driven along. 16 As we passed to the lee of a small island called Cauda, we were hardly able to make the lifeboat secure. 17 When the men had hoisted it aboard, they passed ropes under the ship itself to hold it together. Fearing that they would run aground on the sandbars of Syrtis, they lowered the sea anchor and let the ship be driven along. 18 We took such a violent battering from the storm that the next day they began to throw the cargo overboard. 19 On the third day, they threw the ship's tackle overboard with their own hands. 20 When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved. 21 After the men had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up before them and said: "Men, you should have taken my advice not to sail from Crete; then you would have spared yourselves this damage and loss. 22 But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed. 23 Last night an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve stood beside me 24 and said, 'Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.' 25 So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me. 26 Nevertheless, we must run aground on some island." 27 On the fourteenth night we were still being driven across the Adriatic Sea, when about midnight the sailors sensed they were approaching land. 28 They took soundings and found that the water was a hundred and twenty feet deep. A short time later they took soundings again and found it was ninety feet deep. 29 Fearing that we would be dashed against the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern and prayed for daylight. 30 In an attempt to escape from the ship, the sailors let the lifeboat down into the sea, pretending they were going to lower some anchors from the bow. 31 Then Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, "Unless these men stay with the ship, you cannot be saved." 32 So the soldiers cut the ropes that held the lifeboat and let it fall away.   Prov 3:3-amp Let not mercy and kindness [shutting out all hatred and selfishness] and truth [shutting out all deliberate hypocrisy or falsehood] forsake you; bind them about your neck, write them upon the tablet of your heart. 4 So shall you find favor, good understanding, and high esteem in the sight [or judgment] of God and man.5 Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. 6 In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths. 7 Be not wise in your own eyes; reverently fear and worship the Lord and turn [entirely] away from evil. 8 It shall be health to your nerves and sinews, and marrow and moistening to your bones.   Sometimes it may seem difficult to discern between thoughts, which ones are from God? Which ones are from you?  

1. ASK GOD JAMES 1 says to ask for wisdom. Ask and don’t doubt.

Heb 11:6-NIV And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. 7 By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith. Fasting- does not MOVE GOD…it MOVES YOU to a position of LISTENING WHEN YOU ask, put yourself in the atmosphere to hear: Worship, The Word, times of quietness, fasting, wise counsel, nature… 1 Kings 19:11-NIV The Lord said, "Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.”Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"    “pray through” = Stay there in the atmosphere of prayer until peace comes

2. Pray in the spirit

Rom 8:26-NIV In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will. 28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.   HIS WAY is THE LIFE WAY