Posts by Matthew Shorack
Pray For Your Bully
Pray For Your Bully Romans 12:17-19 17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. Why does God want us to pray for the people who bully us and others? We…
“How Dare You!” The Connection Between Pride And Anger
“How Dare You!” The Connection Between Pride And Anger Why does Satan use our negative emotions to set off conflict? Ephesians 6:10-12 10 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. 12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers…
Pride Divides Us
Pride Divides UsJames 4:6b “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.What does it tell us about God that He opposes the proud? God openly stands against us if we are prideful. If we trust ourselves more than Christ, we declare battle with God. If pride causes fights, then humility brings peace. If we want our relationships with our family members to improve, then we need to practice humility. God will empower us to change if we humble…
What Is The Source Of Your Joy?
God isn’t focused on your comfort He’s concerned about your Character. We are so focused on making our lives easier, while God has a completely different perspective. 1 Timothy 6:6-7 Godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. Are you content with what you have? We’ve all heard the saying, “He who dies with the most toys wins”, but none of us gets to take any of…
What purpose could God possibly have in letting us endure pain?
What purpose could God possibly have in letting us endure pain? Hebrews 12:1-2 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at…
Humility Keeps Us Standing
Humility Keeps Us StandingIs there any area of your life where pride has gotten a foothold? What do you think caused this to happen?1 Peter 5:5-7 Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” 6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, 7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for…
Our Purpose Comes From God’s Revelation
Our Purpose Comes From God’s Revelation How have your goals affected other people? When you seek God first, how do your goals change? Jeremiah 17:5-10 “Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from the Lord. 6 That person will be like a bush in the wastelands; they will not see prosperity when it comes. They will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land…
New Sermon Series
New Sermon Series With a new war between Russia and Ukraine that has ties to many apposing countries, and a divided country, full of anger and hate here at home, it’s important to remember that God is in charge, and nothing is outside of His authority. Join us as we follow Daniel’s life in our new series. Daniel: Serving God In A Godless Culture (Series). In the book of Daniel, we will see major events in the world that seem…
Don’t Live With A Guilty Conscience
Don’t Live With A Guilty Conscience How have you seen guilt affect you physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually? Do you want to things to change? So, lets turn to His word. Romans 3:22-24 This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God doesn’t just give us a few times to…
Experiencing Real Change In Your Life
Have you looked for truth in other places than God’s word for your life?Nike’s tag line is “Just do it,” and that’s the message we hear over and over in many areas of life. Tony Robins and other self-help Gurus have sounded that horn for decades. The secret to changing your life isn’t will power, it’s knowing and facing head on, the truth through God’s word. Ephesians 4:20-24 That, however, is not the way of life you learned 21 when…
Pray Before You Push Send!
Online rage is a lot like road rage. We are the captain of our own area, and no one should dare to challenge our authority. We are so full of ourselves when we take command of our lives that we see differing ideas as a personal attack. If you find yourself getting in online battles, try something new and you might experience a different outcome. Remember, “Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Before push send and launch your missiles…
What Can You Do When You Are Anxious And Suffering?
What Can You Do When You Are Anxious And Suffering?Do you really want God’s will to be done in your life?What if it comes at great cost?Mark 14:32-38They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.”³³ He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled.³⁴ “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” he said to them. “Stay here…
God Is Bigger Than Our Problems
King Jehoshaphat learn that armies from Edom had banded together to wage war against him and his people. What did Jehoshaphat do in response? Did he run, hide, puff up? 2 Chronicles 20:3-9 Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the Lord, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah. 4 The people of Judah came together to seek help from the Lord; indeed, they came from every town in Judah to seek him. Then Jehoshaphat stood up in the assembly…
What’s the danger of living your life according to your feelings?
What’s the danger of living your life according to your feelings? Hebrews 11:27 By faith Moses left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible. We live in a world that believes in doing whatever feels good at the moment, but living by our feelings makes us easy to manipulate. Feelings are very real, but they are often false. Feelings can make us anxious, even when we when there is nothing to fear.…
Do You Find Prayer A Duty Or A Delight?
Do You Find Prayer A Duty Or A Delight? Why is God’s goodness vital to our motivation to pray? If, knowing who God is, shapes the way we pray, then what is God really like? God is all-knowing and all-powerful. He is holy, just, kind and loving. Psalm 100:5 For the Lord is always good. He is always loving and kind, and his faithfulness goes on and on to each succeeding generation. How has God’s goodness affected the way you…
What’s holding you back from serving God now?
What’s holding you back from serving God now? Jeremiah 1:5 “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.” God is outside of time as the creator of time. All believers are set apart for service and ministry that God appointed us to accomplish before we were born. It’s His work that we are called to carry out. Ephesians 2:8-10 For it…