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SERMON DATE AND TITLE: 20190811 THE SECRET OF LIFEThis page streams the audio-only sermon, when available, in downloadable SWF flash format. It begins playing shortly after opening this page
Senior Pastor Phil Roland Pastor Ray Scott
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The Secret of Life SERMON STARTER
The Secret is a best-selling 2006 self-help book by Rhonda Byrne, based on the earlier film of the same name. It is based on the belief of the law of attraction, which claims that thoughts can change a person's life directly. The book has sold 30 million copies worldwide and has been translated into 50 languages. It was the 2008 that Oprah came out of the closet about her New Age beliefs and as an advocate of the New Age.
Byrne re-introduces a notion originally popularized by persons such as Madame Blavatsky and Norman Vincent Peale that magical thinking about certain things will make them appear in one's life. Byrne provides examples of historical persons who have allegedly achieved this. Byrne cites a three-step process: ask, believe, and receive. This is based on a quotation from the Bible's Matthew 21:22: "And whatever things, you ask in prayer, believing, you willl receive." Byrne highlights the importance of gratitude and visualization in achieving one's desires, along with alleged examples. Later chapters describe how to improve one's prosperity, relationships, and health, with more general thoughts about the universe. My sermon this morning is a reaction to my mother’s final years of apathy regarding life, and a bit of a reaction to Oprah’s “religious, philosophical” system of thought she calls, “The Secret.” Jesus, too, advanced His secret to living a meaningful life more than two thousand years ago. It’s hard-to-impossible to beat His way of thinking.
Pastor Phil Roland <><<
"Knowing the Secret can grant you, happiness, health and wealth." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=san61qTwWsU
Sheepfold Ministries, August 11, 2019 Pastor Phil Roland
The Secret of Life 1 John 5:11-13 – John 6:44-47 “Human life is transient and impermanent. Cultural values are touted as the goal of life: position, power and prestige. Public recognition, accolade and acquisition of ‘stuff’ is not our goal. Jesus is our goal.” Pastor Phil <><<
“He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.” 1 John 5:12 GREEK, Eternal Life = ζωή = dzo-aye = Zoe BIOS = Biological Life ZOE = Eternal Life from God
I. THERE ARE THREE SECRETS OF BIOLOGICAL LIFE A. Biological Life is Transient 1. We live in a “Kinetic Universe” a. Energy = basis for all life and existence: organic / non b. All Organic / Non-Organic Matter is in constant change C. Organic Matter is either in a state of Composition or decomposition 2. The Kinetic Universe is in a Constant Change or Flux a. Flow of positive to negative b. Flow of Order to Disorder c. Delta Factor in mathematics, Change / Uncertainty 3. Human Life is Short a. Three-Score and Ten - 70 years b. U.S. Current Mortality Rates - 84, men / 86, women 4. Time Poem I have only just a minute, But It's up to me Only sixty seconds in it, To use it. Forced upon me- I must suffer if I lose it Can't refuse it; Give account if I abuse it. Didn't seek it Just a tiny little minute Didn't choose it; But, eternity is in it!
5. Time Statistics If a person lives to 70 years, they will spend an average of: 15 years sleeping; 19 years working; 9 years playing; 9 years watching TV, Computer Monitors, Cell phones 6 years traveling; 6 years eating; 4 years sick; 2 1/2 years dressing themselves;
The Secret of Life, cont., p.2
B. Biological Life is about the Journey, not the Goal 1. Is your Journey one of Growth and Maturity? a. Some make the journey and never grow b. Others are constantly derailed from their journey 2. Human life isn’t about rushing to your goal a. Making more money b. Acquiring Fame and Fortune c. Making a name for yourself 3. Stop the mad pace and use the senses God has given you a. Enjoy the roses b. Smell their sweetness c. Feel their velvety, moist texture 4. Touch the hem of Jesus’ Garment a. Spend time with Him b. You love what you spend time with c. Do you love Him? . C. Biological Life’s about Living in the Moment 1. Live where your shoes are 2. Enjoy each breath you take 3. Live in the “Golden Now” 4. Alan Langstaff, “The Best Time is Now!” - Ephesians 5:16 "Redeeming....the time, for the days are evil “ 5. Use your moments of time wisely Supposing I credited to your bank account each morning $86,400, but with certain conditions. No balance of the money would be carried over from one day to the next. Whatever cash was left over at the end of the day would be canceled out! What would you do with an arrangement like that? (Ask audience) DRAW OUT EVERY CENT EACH EVENING BEFORE CLOSING? Well, each of you do receive a substantial amount in the “Bank of Life!” That substantial amount is called, "TIME.” Every morning Life credits you with 86, 400 SECONDS! Every evening, Life debits as lost, the time you failed to invest! There's no going back! There's no drawing against tomorrow! Make a good investment each day on life's most precious commodity: T I M E !
II. APOSTLE JOHN’S SECRET OF ETERNAL LIFE - Text “He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.” 1 John 5:12 A. Eternal Life is only in Jesus – v. 12a “He who has the Son has life” (Zoe) The Secret of Life, cont., p.3
1. Know Jesus, Know Life / No Jesus, No Life 2. Knowing Jesus is John's Secret 3. Not like the world’s secret – Oprah, “The Secret” a. People must visualize what they want b. “The Law of Attraction” c. “Like attracts Like” – Your thoughts are like magnets d. Positive thoughts attract positive events e. Negative thoughts attract negative events B. No Life without Jesus – v. 12b “he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.” 1. “Dead Men Walking” – Capital Punishment Convicts 2. “Edicts to Kill” Fatwa's Issued by Islam Wahhabism Imams a. Beheaded Victims of Fatwa b. Offended the Muslim Faith, esp. the Qu'ran 3. Revenge / Death, Natural Result of human life w/o Jesus C. Leaving this Life is Gain because of Jesus – Phil. 1:21 “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”
THE SECRET OF LIFE 1 John 5:11-13
John 6:44-47
POSSESSER OF THE WORLD'S "SECRET" Billionaire Jeffrey Epstein was found dead in his Suicide Watch cell yesterday morning. In his lifetime he got everything he wanted: Ownership of an isolated island with its mansion where he could do what he Visualized: trafficking with young girls for sexual exploitation. He attracted other pedophiles like himself. Prominent, well know public figures visited his island "Paradise," joining him in the abuse and exploitation of young females. Mr. Epstein is now in the Hands of the Living God. His deeds follow him to stand before the final judge. . . God's Secret of Life? 12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. 1 John 5:12
“TIME” POEM I have only just a minute, Only sixty seconds in it, Forced upon me- Can't refuse it; Didn't seek it Didn't choose it; But It's up to me To use it. I must suffer if I lose it Give account if I abuse it. Just a tiny little minute But, eternity is in it!
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