1. Life in His Story Part 17

2. James 1:22-25 (NIV) 22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror

3. James 1:22-25 (NIV) 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it--he will be blessed in what he does.

4. Isaiah 30:15-18 (NIV) 15 This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says: "In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it. 16 You said, 'No, we will flee on horses.' Therefore you will flee! You said, 'We will ride off on swift horses.' Therefore your pursuers will be swift!

5. Isaiah 30:15-18 (NIV) 17 A thousand will flee at the threat of one; at the threat of five you will all flee away, till you are left like a flagstaff on a mountaintop, like a banner on a hill." 18 Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!

6. 1. Think about your motivation.

7. Philippians 2:3 (NIV) 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.

8. John 13:34-35 (NIV) 34 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

9. 2. What are some of the things you are doing with wrong motives?

10. James 4:1-3 (NIV) 1 What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? 2 You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God.

11. James 4:1-3 (NIV) 3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

12. 3. Do some pruning.

13. Colossians 3:1-5 (NIV) 1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

14. Colossians 3:1-5 (NIV) 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

15. Colossians 3:1-5 (NIV) 5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.

16. 4. Wait for Him.

17. Isaiah 40:28-31 (NIV) 28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. 29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.

18. Isaiah 40:28-31 (NIV) 30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; 31 but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

19. Vineyard Community Church 100 County Road Big Pine Key, FL 33043 Now meeting in Big Pine Key & Ocala For information, times of services and locations, please visit our website at www.keysvineyard.com or call 305-872-3404

20. Life in His Story Part 18 Join us next week for