Greater Life Church

Kenneth Baker
Greater Life Church

Greater Life Church

  1. NOV 3

    Don't Leave The Leftovers - Audio

    Many people do not like leftovers. However, there are times when we have leftovers out of necessity. We may feel guilty leaving food on the table when we go out to eat. It feels wasteful. Sometimes, we may ask for the uneaten food to be boxed up to take home, only to forget it when we leave the table. The problem is that our bellies are full, and we are so caught up in our conversation that we forget. Our society is so blessed that we throw away almost 40% of the food supply in our market. Some of the food never even makes it to our table because it is misshapen or blemished somehow. There are people around the world who are so hungry that they would do anything to have what we throw away out of our surplus. This same concept applies in the spiritual realm. Some people live in conditions that keep them from openly worshiping, and who would do anything to have the opportunity we have. In times of famine, people will eat whatever they can. It is by God's blessing that we enjoy the bounty and life that we have. The old prayer we recite before meals as children says it is by His hands we are fed. In our plenty, it is all too easy to think that we are providing, but the reality is that ALL blessings and provisions come from God. Even in times of famine, God provides. When Joseph was in Egypt, there was a famine all across the land, but God provided bread in Egypt. Jesus fed the masses with loaves and fishes. He then instructed the disciples to gather the remnants. No matter how little we have, God can take what we have and do something with it. We may be satisfied, but someone needs what we have left. Even a crumb can be sufficient. In our text, the woman comes to Jesus and cries out. Jesus ignores her, and the disciples ask Jesus to send her away. In her desperation, this woman realizes that her crying may make her feel better in the moment, but she needs more; her daughter is still vexed. She moves past crying and begins to worship Him. Jesus told her that because she was a Canaanite woman, it was not proper for him to help her. He refers to her as a dog. Undeterred, she responds with, yes, but even the dogs get the crumbs from the master's table. Jesus tells her, "Great is your faith," and heals her daughter. We need whatever we can get from God. We must position ourselves where we can get something from God.

    50 min
  2. NOV 3 · VIDEO

    Don't Leave The Leftovers - Video

    Many people do not like leftovers. However, there are times when we have leftovers out of necessity. We may feel guilty leaving food on the table when we go out to eat. It feels wasteful. Sometimes, we may ask for the uneaten food to be boxed up to take home, only to forget it when we leave the table. The problem is that our bellies are full, and we are so caught up in our conversation that we forget. Our society is so blessed that we throw away almost 40% of the food supply in our market. Some of the food never even makes it to our table because it is misshapen or blemished somehow. There are people around the world who are so hungry that they would do anything to have what we throw away out of our surplus. This same concept applies in the spiritual realm. Some people live in conditions that keep them from openly worshiping, and who would do anything to have the opportunity we have. In times of famine, people will eat whatever they can. It is by God's blessing that we enjoy the bounty and life that we have. The old prayer we recite before meals as children says it is by His hands we are fed. In our plenty, it is all too easy to think that we are providing, but the reality is that ALL blessings and provisions come from God. Even in times of famine, God provides. When Joseph was in Egypt, there was a famine all across the land, but God provided bread in Egypt. Jesus fed the masses with loaves and fishes. He then instructed the disciples to gather the remnants. No matter how little we have, God can take what we have and do something with it. We may be satisfied, but someone needs what we have left. Even a crumb can be sufficient. In our text, the woman comes to Jesus and cries out. Jesus ignores her, and the disciples ask Jesus to send her away. In her desperation, this woman realizes that her crying may make her feel better in the moment, but she needs more; her daughter is still vexed. She moves past crying and begins to worship Him. Jesus told her that because she was a Canaanite woman, it was not proper for him to help her. He refers to her as a dog. Undeterred, she responds with, yes, but even the dogs get the crumbs from the master's table. Jesus tells her, "Great is your faith," and heals her daughter. We need whatever we can get from God. We must position ourselves where we can get something from God.

    50 min
  3. OCT 13

    The Joyful Sound - Audio

    Our text from Psalms is an encouragement and coach on how to live life. The singer declares that blessed is someone who knows the joyful sound, for they will walk in the light. Life has a way of wearing on us. If we are not careful, we allow life's situations and challenges to set a dark tone over our lives. When we utter the joyful sound noted in this psalm, we rebuke the darkness the enemy wants to cast over us. Far too many people allow the challenges in life to sour their view of how blessed they are. Even amid the most challenging trials, we have hope in the love and faithfulness of God. Happiness is not determined by wealth or the things we possess. Solomon was the wisest and most wealthy man of his time. But even in that, he allowed a shift in his thinking to change his focus, which led to his undoing. We see evidence of this decline in the opening chapters of Ecclesiastics. Solomon mentions himself in the form of I or me forty-three times but only mentions God four times. When we make life about us, there is no room for God. When life is about us, we are miserable to be around. Solomon also began to compare himself to others. When we compare ourselves to others, we often find ourselves lacking or a disparity that we perceive to be not in our favor. Comparison leads to unthankfulness and unthankfulness to resentment. This psalm was written amid the darkest time in Hebrew history. Solomon's undoing had ended the house of David. Israel lay in ruins, and God's people were in captivity. Somehow, the writer looks through all that, turns his focus back to God, and declares a truism that will lift the spirit. God is a covenant-keeping God. Things might have looked bad, but God's promise was still intact. What is that joyful sound? It is praising during trouble with the knowledge that God will sustain and deliver. We must not let life take that joyful sound.

    51 min
  4. OCT 13 · VIDEO

    The Joyful Sound - Video

    Our text from Psalms is an encouragement and coach on how to live life. The singer declares that blessed is someone who knows the joyful sound, for they will walk in the light. Life has a way of wearing on us. If we are not careful, we allow life's situations and challenges to set a dark tone over our lives. When we utter the joyful sound noted in this psalm, we rebuke the darkness the enemy wants to cast over us. Far too many people allow the challenges in life to sour their view of how blessed they are. Even amid the most challenging trials, we have hope in the love and faithfulness of God. Happiness is not determined by wealth or the things we possess. Solomon was the wisest and most wealthy man of his time. But even in that, he allowed a shift in his thinking to change his focus, which led to his undoing. We see evidence of this decline in the opening chapters of Ecclesiastics. Solomon mentions himself in the form of I or me forty-three times but only mentions God four times. When we make life about us, there is no room for God. When life is about us, we are miserable to be around. Solomon also began to compare himself to others. When we compare ourselves to others, we often find ourselves lacking or a disparity that we perceive to be not in our favor. Comparison leads to unthankfulness and unthankfulness to resentment. This psalm was written amid the darkest time in Hebrew history. Solomon's undoing had ended the house of David. Israel lay in ruins, and God's people were in captivity. Somehow, the writer looks through all that, turns his focus back to God, and declares a truism that will lift the spirit. God is a covenant-keeping God. Things might have looked bad, but God's promise was still intact. What is that joyful sound? It is praising during trouble with the knowledge that God will sustain and deliver. We must not let life take that joyful sound.

    51 min

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
5 Ratings

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Greater Life Church

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