Christian Outreach Church: Recent Episodes
Christian Outreach Church
Weekly sermons from one of seven different elders/teachers (With the occasional guest speaker) at Christian Outreach Church in Hillsboro, MO.
Bios for some of the speakers you may encounter on our podcast:
Wayne DeCloux: Wayne DeCloux has been a part of Christian Outreach Church since 1977. He is a graduate of the Christian Outreach School of Ministries. Along with Tricia, his wife of more than 35 years, they have three adult daughters and one adult son. Wayne worked 25 years as a firefighter-paramedic and is now retired.
Warren Henriksen: Warren Henriksen has been a part of Christian Outreach Church since 1982. Warren is the founder of Trinity New Testament Ministries. Warren has been a missionary to the Philippines since 1997, establishing Living Water School of Ministry in 2004. Warren and his wife, Anita, were married in 1962. They have three adult children and a bunch of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
David Houser: David Houser and his wife, Mona, have been married for more than 50 years. They have five adult offspring and whole passel of grandkids. David and Mona served as missionaries in Papua New Guinea for ten years. They became a part of Christian Outreach Church in 1977. David has served at Christian Outreach School since 2001. He is also a member of the Civil Air Patrol.
Daniel Kennedy: Daniel Kennedy was born in Nigeria, and was raised primarily on the mission field. In 1972, he moved with his parents and siblings to Hillsboro where his father became part of the staff of Christian Outreach School of Ministries. Daniel has four adult children and one grandchild. He has been the main worship leader at Christian Outreach Church since 2008. Daniel is married to Joy.
Tom Kraeuter: Tom Kraeuter has been a part of Christian Outreach Church since 1978. He was the primary worship leader for the congregation from 1984 until 1998. Tom is a writer and itinerant speaker, and also coordinates JeffCo Christians United, a coalition of churches here in Jefferson County. He and his wife, Barbara, have three adult children.
Steve Miller: Steve Miller came to Family Bible Camp at Christian Outreach every year as he was growing up. After graduating from college, Steve taught various grade levels at Christian Outreach School. For ten years he lived in Guiyang, China, with his family, teaching English and doing (as they say in China) "M" work. He and his wife Cathy have four children, and currently teach and serve as administrators of Christian Outreach School.
Daryl Roth: Daryl Roth is often referred to as our resident "walking concordance." Not many people can match the amount of Scripture he has memorized. Daryl has worked for DRS Technologies in High Ridge for nearly 30 years. He's a big fan of country music. Daryl has been married to Donna for more than 30 years. They have three adult daughters and a growing number of grandkids.
Matthew Intro 1 (Jesus and the Old Testament) - Stephen Kraeuter:
The Book of Matthew Intro #1 Jesus and the Old Testament To read a book it is always helpful to know a little about your author… Matthew was tax collector Left everything to follow Jesus Matthew wants us to see the beauty of God’s mercy and grace Matthews Gospel deals more with money than any other Gospel Matthew has a Jewish audience in mind He writes a detailed and layered account that will require day and night meditation just like the Shema. Deuteronomy 6:4-7 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. Matthew Old Testament 1:1 Book of Genesis Genesis 2:4; 5:1 1:1-17 son of Abraham Genesis 12-26 1:18-25 Joseph the Dreamer Genesis 37 2:1-12 Magi Nations to Egypt for Joseph; Promise to Abraham 2:13-15 Herod kills children Exodus 1-2 Pharaoh kills children 2:14 Jesus rescued, flees Exodus 2 Moses rescued, flees 2:19-23 Jesus returns to Israel Exodus 3-4 Moses returns to Egypt 3:1-12 John announces judgement Exodus 5-12 Moses/Aaron bring judgement 3:13-17 Jesus passes through waters Exodus 16 Exodus from Egypt 4:1-11 Temtpation in wilderness Exodus 17-19 Israel tempted 4:18-22 Jesus calls disciples Exodus 18 Moses appoints rulers Chapters 5-7 Sermon on the Mount Sinai and the giving of Torah 8:1 Leave mountain with crowds Numbers 10:11 Israel leaves Sinai, following cloud 8:2-4 heal a leper Numbers 12:1-16 Miriam cleansed of leprosy healings Wilderness with overlay of Isaiah 35 10 "follow" and 10 Miracles Numbers 14:22 10 Rebellions 9:34 opposition from Pharisees Numbers 16 opposition from Korah, Dathan, Abiram 9:36 sheep without a shepherd Numbers 27:27 "sheep without shepherd" 10:1 authority to apostles Numbers 27:18-24 glory to Joshua 12 sent into land double overlay: 12 spies of Numbers 13-14 Chapter 10 discourse on mission Deuteronomy instructions for conquest 11:1-19 "this generation" Numbers 13-14 Exodus generation fails to enter rest 11:25-30 Jesus offers rest Joshua 11:23 Joshua achieves rest 12:1-8 Jesus as David 1 Samuel 21 David and showbread 12:7 compassion, not sacrifice 1 Samuel 15:22-23 obedience not sacrifice Jesus persecuted by leaders David persecuted by Saul 12:14 Pharisees plot murder 1 Samuel 27:1 Saul plots to kill David 12:15 Jesus withdraws 1 Samuel 27:2 David withdraws to Philistia 12:23 "Son of David" David as warrior 12:27-28 exorcisms by Spirit 1 Samuel 16 David calms Saul because of Spirit 12:34 mouth speaks from heart 1 Samuel 24:13 wickedness comes from wicked 12:42 greater than Solomon 1 Kings 3-4 Solomon's wisdom Chapter 13 Parables of Kingdom 1 Kings 4:32 "Parables" of Solomon 14:1-12 Herod kills John 1 Kings 19 Jezebel tries to kill Elijah 1 Kings 21 Naboth John's death 2 Kings 2 Elijah's departure Herod vs Jesus Divided Kingdom; Omrides vs Prophets 14:13-21 Jesus multiplies loaves 2 Kings 4:42-44 Elisha multiplies loaves 14:22-33 Jesus rescues Peter 2 Kings 6:1-7 Elisha makes axehead float 15:14 blind leading the blind 2 Kings 6:8-23 Elisha blinds and give sight to Aramean soldiers 15:21-28 Syro-Phoenician woman 2 Kings 4:8-37 Elisha raises Shunammite's son 15:23 disciples keep her away 2 Kings 4:27 Gehazi pushes Shunammite away Syro-Phoenician woman Overlay with Elijah: raises son in Sidon, 1 Kings 17 15:29-31 healing on mountain 2 Kings 4:27 Elisha on mountain when Shunammite seeks help; (compare to - 2 Kings 1:9 Elijah sitting on mountain; sick king) 15:32-39 4,000 fed 2 Kings 4:38-44 Elisha's food miracles 16:5-12 Leftover bread/leaven 2 Kings 4:42-44 leftover bread 16:13-20 Peter's confession Jesus compared to "Elijah" Announcement of death Jesus suffers like prophets, Elijah and John 16:16 "the Christ" Elisha is only anointed prophet, 1 Kings 19:16 "anointed for entry to city" Jehu is the anointed Norther king 16:24 "follow me" 2 Kings 2 Elisha following Elijah 16:28 "Son of Man" in glory 2 Kings 2 Ascenssion of Elijah 17:1-13 transfiguration 2 Kings 2 Elijah's departure; John as Elijah (Elijah and Moses outside the land - now on mountain inside the land) 17:1-13 transfiguration 2 Kings 6:15-19 Elisha surrounded by angels 17:12 "do not fear" 2 Kings 6:16 "do not fear" 17:14-21 Disciples fail to heal 2 Kings 4:29-31 Gehazi fails to heal 17:24-27 fish and tax money Elisha's odd miracles Chapter 18 community discourse rules for the "sons of the prophets" 19:1 into Judea Southern Kingdom 20:17 Preparing for Jerusalem 2 Kings 11-12 Joash cleansing temple 20:29-34 healing at Jericho 2 Kings 2:19-22 heals waters at Jericho 21:1-11 Triumphal entry 2 Kings 9 Jehu rides on robes 21:12-13 temple action 2 Kings 10 Jehu destroys temple of Baal; Joash 21:13 robbers' den Jeremiah 7:11 robbers' den 21:18-21 withered fig tree Jeremiah 8:13 "no figs"; "leaf shall wither" 21:33-46 parable of vineyard Jeremiah 12:10-11 "ruined my vineyard" 21:35 beaten servant Jeremiah 20:2 Jeremiah beaten Chapter 23 temple discourse Jeremiah 7, 26 24:30 Son of Man coming on the clouds Daniel 7:13-14 with the clouds of heaven came one like the Son of Man Chapters 24-25 Olivet discourse Ezekiel 8-11 (Jeremiah 7:14 with 24:2) 26:28 blood of covenant Jeremiah 31:27-40 (with Exodus 24:8) 26:28 "remission of sins" Jeremiah 31:34 26:38 soul sorrowful to death Lamentations 3:20 soul downcast within me 26:50-66 Jesus falsely accused Jeremiah 26 Jeremiah falsely accused 27:3-10 Judas recants Jeremiah 18, 32 (with Zechariah 11): explicit fulfillment 27:4, 24 "innocent blood" Jeremiah 26:15 "innocent blood" 27:25 blood on heads Jeremiah 51:35 blood on Chaldea 27:30 struck on head Lamentations 3:30 offer cheek to strike 27:30 gall Lamentations 3:19 "wormwood and bitterness" 27:39 abuse from those who pass Lamentations 2:15 "all who pass… shake their heads" 27:45 darkness… My God why have you forsaken me Lamentations 3:2-3 darkness no light… turned hand against me… 28:18-20 great commission 2 Chronicles 36:23 Cyrus' commission But what does that all mean… Why should I care? 1. You should always want to know what the writer was doing and how he wanted us to read it… If we don't understand what he was doing and what he wanted us to see we'll be apt to read it wrong, make it mean things that it wasn't meant to mean… If we don't understand what it meant to his original audience we'll have a harder time knowing what it should mean to us… 2. Matthew, the tax collector who left everything behind to follow Jesus, wants us to see that Jesus is greater than everything and everyone… Ever! He wants us to follow Him with everything we are! To love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind! And dwell on His words day and night… search out the riches of His word… It is packed to the brim with insights into who He is and how he functions… 3. He wants us to see that if He is for us… who can be against us… So, give Him everything you have and in your daily going out… heal the sick, cast out demons, bring life wherever you go… Be holy as He is Holy… Bring life as He is life… And make disciples…
How Do We Respond… Part 2 – No Fear
A balanced approach: Look at and stand on the truth of God’s Word.
When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. (Psalm 56:3-4)
“Everything is being canceled. The NBA games. The NHL games. March Madness. Broadway plays. Flights. Cruises. Cancellations, everywhere! But can I tell you the one thing that has not and WILL not be canceled? God will never cancel his promise to take care of us. Do not interpret the presence of problems as the absence of God. God has promised, ‘Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.’ He is with us. He is for us. He offers us peace in the face of uncertainty, and hope in exchange for heaviness.” [Max Lucado, https://maxlucado.com/listen/peace-in-the-face-of-uncertainty/]
When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul. (Psalm 94:19, ESV) When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul. (NIV)
“The enemy is vicious but he is not Victorious. I may sometimes feel afraid, but I don't have to live afraid. Most importantly, I can remember that fear doesn't have to pull me away from trusting God. Fear can actually be the catalyst for me choosing to trust God more than ever. Some things and situations have happened in the last week that could put me in a huge state of fear. Have I been a little anxious? Yes, but I am choosing to put my trust in the One who has been faithful and will continue to be faithful.” [Michelle Hoffman, posted on Facebook, 26 March 2020]
But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.” (Isaiah 43:1-2)
Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. (John 14:1)
“Drenched head to toe from the rain and seawater, Captain Wessler clung to the ropes that kept him upright as the ship climbed and dove over every large wave. He and his crew were weathered, experienced sailors, but three days of nothing but storm and wave, lightning and thunder, will take the starch out of anyone. Three days of storm meant three nights with no stars, no moon, no sightings. With nothing to navigate by, they could only keep their bow pointed into the waves and hope for the best. Who knows what might confront them out of the dark and rain? How long could this blasted storm continue? The worst part was the feeling of helplessness. At sea in the middle of a storm, there’s only so much you can control. Captain Wessler was doing his best to keep up the spirits of his sailors, but they all knew that their fate didn’t rest in their own hands.” [John Barcanic, Uncertain Seas, ©2020, Intersekt, pages 21-22]
Roller coasters: We’re not in control.
"In his 6th-century commentary on the Book of Job, St. Gregory pointed out that the Lord’s ways are very mysterious in that he sometimes allows GOOD things to happen to GOOD people. Back then, they expected
the Christian life to involve suffering and sacrifice, and used to worry if they were not suffering enough. Today, suffering is seen as a problem without easy answers. The general insight from Christianity is that, while suffering is not good in itself, there is no suffering in this life that cannot be turned into an instrument for good." [Andrew Pinsent, quoted by Leonard Sweet on Facebook]
I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)
Make a “thanksgiving list.”
ADDITIONAL NOTES FOR FURTHER STUDY AND MEDITATION:
Pastor Joel Christensen on Facebook: “Anxiety blinds us to the power of God. As we find ourselves becoming anxious, stop and pray! His peace will guard our hearts and minds!” Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)
A.W. Tozer once said, "What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us." So, for example, if we think of God as being distant—we talked about that last week—then difficulties will jolt us far more easily than if we see Him as near, as close, as intimate.
You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it. Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. If I say, "Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night," even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you. (Psalm 139:2-12) The God who is the Creator of everything is with us. He knows us intimately and still loves us. He knows every detail of your life, and He’s crazy about you. And if He’s taking care of sparrows and flowers, what are we worried about?
God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. (1 Corinthians 1:9) …casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. (1 Peter 5:7) Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to
him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:28-31) Tim Keller on Facebook: “Difficulties take away earthly comforts and then, through prayer and reflection on the Word, we are driven closer to God to get His unique consolations. The process is long and in many parts painful, but the fruit is a spiritual poise that no trouble can dislodge.”
One of our congregation posted this on Facebook: Me: Okay, God, here's the thing. I'm scared. I'm trying not to be, but I am. God: I know. Want to talk about it? Me: Do we need to? I mean, you already know. God: Let's talk about it anyway... We've done this before. Me: I know, I just feel like I should be bigger or stronger of something by now. God: waiting patiently, unhurried, undistracted, never annoyed. Me: Okay. So, I'm afraid I'll do everything I can to protect my family and it won't be enough. I'm afraid of someone I love dying. I'm afraid the world won't go back to what it was before. I'm afraid my life is always going to feel a little bit unsettled. God: Anything else? Me: EVERYTHING ELSE. God: Remember how your son woke up the other night and came running down the hall to your bedroom? Me: Yes. God: You were still awake, so when you heard him running, you started calling out to him before he even got to you... remember? Do you remember what you called out to him? Me: I said, "You're okay! You're okay! You're okay! I'm here." God: Why did you call to him? Why didn't you just wait for him to get to your room? Me: Because I wanted him to know that I was awake, and I heard him, and he didn't have to be afraid until he reached the end of the dark hallway. God: Exactly. I hear you, my child. I hear your thoughts racing like feet down the dark hallway. There's another side to all of this. I'm there already. I've seen the end of it. And I want you to know right here as you walk through it all, you're okay. I haven't gone to sleep, and I won't. Me: crying. Can we sit together awhile? Can we just sit here a minute before I go back to facing it all? God: There's nothing I'd enjoy more.
Beholding the Beauty of Righteousness – March 8, 2020 – Steve Miller
We are in the season of Lent, the 40-day period before Easter. The idea of observing Lent is not for us to try to earn something or do penance for anything, but rather it is an intentional reminder for us to focus on Jesus’ love and His suffering and death to bear sin in our place.
As we remind ourselves of the passion of Jesus, we see an ugly, horrible scene caused by our sin. But we also see the most beautiful demonstration of the love and righteousness of God towards us, His wayward children.
Isaiah 53:1-12
When we look at Jesus on the cross, we see the appalling ugliness of the results of our rebellion against our loving Father God.
At the same time, though, the cross is also the greatest picture of the beauty of the Lord. It’s the most heroic act ever done. It demonstrates greater love than any person has ever had, to lay down one’s life for another. It’s the greatest comeback victory ever won over the worst enemy ever. It’s the most perfect leadership ever demonstrated. It’s the most generous gift ever given. Most importantly, in Jesus’ death, we see the death of our old sinful self. And in His resurrection, we receive His new life and perfect righteousness.
Walter Wangerin, Jr., in his devotional Reliving the Passion, describes why it’s so important for us to remember what Jesus did on the cross:
“The passion of Christ, His suffering and death, is such a mirror. Are the tears of my wife [that I caused] hard to look at? Well, the pain in the face of Jesus is harder. It is my self in my extremest truth. My sinful self. The death He died reflects a selfishness so extreme that by it I was divorced from God and life and light completely: I raised my self higher than God! But because the Lord God is the one true God, my pride did no more, in the end, than to condemn this false God of my self to death. For God will be God, and all false gods will fall before Him.
So that’s what I see reflected in the mirror of Christ’s crucifixion: my death. My rightful punishment. My sin and its just consequence. Me. And precisely because it is so accurate, the sight is nearly intolerable.
Nevertheless, I will not avoid the mirror! This mirror is not passive only, showing what is, it is active, creating new things to be. It shows me the new me behind the shadow of a sinner. For when I gaze at His crucifixion, I see my death indeed – but my death done! His death is the death of the selfish one, whom I called ugly and hated to look upon.
And resurrection is another me.”
In Jesus Christ is the death of our sinfulness, and our rebirth in His righteousness. In Him we are made alive by the Holy Spirit, and we are empowered and led by the Spirit to live in His righteousness.
Romans 8:1-11
Hallelujah! By faith in Christ Jesus our sinful flesh is declared dead and we are indeed made alive and new by the Holy Spirit! But now that we are made new, Paul tells us that the Spirit will give life to our mortal bodies and fulfill the righteous requirement of the law as we walk according to the Spirit. And how do we walk according to the Spirit? By setting our minds on the things of the Spirit rather than on the things of the flesh.
Our minds are a battleground. The mind can set the course toward the flesh’s desires or toward the Spirit and righteousness. To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. We are the gatekeepers of what knocks on the door of our minds. We, led by the Holy Spirit, can set the mind’s agenda. We have the authority to kick out what doesn’t belong and choose to think on those things that are beautiful and good.
Spiritually speaking, there are a lot of vacuum salesmen out there wanting to dump dirt on the carpet of our minds that they have no intention of cleaning up.
Colossians 3:1-10
Again Paul tells us to set our minds on things above. For the born-again believer, the flesh is legally dead and powerless. Our enemy can only lead us into sin by deception. So Paul teaches us to put to death those thoughts that lead to sin. With the Holy Spirit in us, we can rid ourselves of those earthly, sinful things. The Christian life is a life of ongoing renewal in knowledge and the image of our Creator.
Philippians 4:8 – Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
We can choose to behold the Lord’s beauty and think upon His goodness. All the beautiful things of God will encourage our hope in Him and remind us of our identity, purpose, and future in Him. They will help us walk in heaven even as we are on earth. In what ways can we think upon His beauty?
· Remember Jesus’ death for you on the cross as we regularly take the Lord’s supper.
· Read the Bible and listen to Godly teaching.
· Meditate on the promises of the Bible.
· Meditate on the goodness of God's commands.
· Remember the faithful things He has done for you and tell others about them.
· Give thanks for all He has done.
· Sing and praise the Lord for His greatness.
· Pray in the Spirit with tongues and with understanding.
· Take time to listen to the Spirit’s voice when you pray.
· Speak what is true and good.
· Ask God for wisdom.
· Choose wisely what you watch, listen to, read, and otherwise put into your mind.
Let’s live by the Spirit, setting our minds on things above, not earthly things, and continually gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and His righteousness. In this we will be renewed in knowledge and the image of our Creator.
Psalm 27:4 – One thing I ask from the Lord,
this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
to gaze on the beauty of the Lord
and to seek him in his temple.
THE HEALING OF OUR NATION
2 Chronicles 7:14 God’s promise to heal our land If we:
Humble ourselves – Pray and seek His face – Turn from their wicked ways.
Genesis 18:23-26;32 How will we get the whole Christian community to do this?
Ezekiel 22:30 This verse suggests that if God would have found just one.
Matthew 18:18-20 Who is waiting on who? Most of the church is waiting on God.
While God is waiting on the church to make the first move!
2 Corinthians 5:7 “For we walk by faith, not by sight.”
2 Corinthians 4:13 Give voice to your faith.
2 Corinthians 1:20 Agree with God’s promise!
James 2:17-22 Put legs on your faith.
1 Timothy 2:1-4 Make praying for those in authority a priority.
James 1:17 Paul’s mandate inspires the church to pray for those in authority.
ARE YOU ONE OF THOSE WHO WILL STAND IN THE GAP IN FAITH FOR OUR NATION DAYLY?
Receive the Gift of Jesus – December 22, 2019 – Steve Miller
Isaiah 9:6 - For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
How should you receive a son?
- Michael and Lydia received a son last month. I’m sure he’s been the catalyst of great changes in their lives and family lifestyle.
- We’ve received our two sons back from college this past week. Their visit has altered our activities and shifted our priorities so that we may spend quality and quantity of time with them while they are with us.
But the Son mentioned in Isaiah is one different and greater than all others, and a gift far more precious to all of us. He is Christ, the King of the whole universe, who has come to bring us salvation!
Isaiah 9:1-7
Let’s talk about this Child who was born, this Son who has been given to the world.
- He will deliver those who were in distress from our gloom. Why had God humbled Zebulun and Naphtali in the past? Because of Israel’s sin, they were the first tribes conquered by the Assyrians in 700 B.C., because of their rebellious breaking of their covenant with God. But then they are the first places (Galilee) where Jesus brought His ministry of restoration of covenant.
- He shattered the yoke that burdens us, as in the day of Midian’s defeat. This was the story of Gideon in the book of Judges.
- He will reign on David’s throne and rule His kingdom forever, and of the greatness of His government and peace there will be no end.
- The zeal of the Lord will accomplish this. God really, really desires to deliver His people and establish His perfect kingdom with us forever!
Psalm 2 speaks of how people ought to receive this Son, the Christ.
Psalm 2:1-12
This psalm gives the picture of people rebelling against the God, Father, and King who made them, taking secure membership in His family and kingdom to be shackles of oppression.
- He laughs at the arrogance of their foolish rebellion. How and why should men rebel against their Creator who loves us and has the best in mind for us?
- This is a prophecy about Christ, whose kingdom began with His death and resurrection on Mount Zion, in Jerusalem.
- The inheritance Jesus received is the nations, we people whom He redeemed with His blood.
- We are warned for our own good to “kiss the son,” or submit to His rule in our lives with godly fear. In this we rejoice and celebrate, for we are blessed to belong to such a good Lord.
Matthew Henry Commentary: 2:10-12 To welcome Jesus Christ, and to submit to him, is our wisdom and interest. Let him be very dear and precious; love him above all, love him in sincerity, love him much, as she did, to whom much was forgiven, and, in token of it, kissed his feet, Lu 7:38. And with a kiss of loyalty take this yoke upon you, and give up yourselves to be governed by his laws, disposed of by his providence, and entirely devoted to his cause. Unbelief is a sin against the remedy. It will be utter destruction to yourselves; lest ye perish in the way of your sins, and from the way of your vain hopes; lest your way perish, lest you prove to have missed the way of happiness. Christ is the way; take heed lest ye be cut off from Him as your way to God.
We have an example of how kings ought to receive God’s gift of His Son, the King of Kings.
Matthew 2:9-11 – 9After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
- Firstly, they stopped what they were doing and made a great journey to come to Him.
- They were overjoyed at the prospect of His coming.
- Finding Him, they bowed down and worshiped Him.
- Finally, they paid tribute to Him with treasures.
We live in a time and generation with a high amount of selfishness and distraction. When Jesus was born in Bethlehem, there was no room for Him in the inn. Think of what we declare when we sing the carol “Joy to the World.” Are our hearts preparing Him room? Are we receiving our King better than the town of Bethlehem did that night, or do we go about our daily business oblivious to Him?
Joy to the world, the Lord has come!
Let earth receive her King!
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And heaven and nature sing!
There were some who did receive Jesus that night, though. They were doing the job they’d been given to do – keeping watch.
Luke 2:8-11
These shepherds, while waiting for the Messiah like everyone else, were doing their job, and God made sure they didn’t miss out on the event. Like them, we are waiting for Jesus to come. Like the shepherds and the magi, we will see a shining event in the sky. Like them, we must keep watch and not become distracted or fall asleep.
Mark 13:32-36
What task has the Master given you to do while you await His coming? Are you doing it? Are you keeping watch over your flocks by night? Who are the people He has given us to minister to? If we keep watch over the people and work He’s given us, we will see Him when He comes and know when He is moving.
As we celebrate Christmas, have you received the gift from God, the gift of salvation, the gift of life, the gift of health, the gift of His Spirit? Let’s learn from the examples we see in Scripture, and receive the Royal Son with holy fear and with joy, for He is everything could want or need.
John 16:24 – Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.
HIGHLY FAVORED AND BLESSED
Like 1:26-38 First thing the angel Gabriel said was “Rejoice”.
Vs 29 Trouble = disturb wholly, agitate with alarm.
Vs 30-34 How can this be?
Vs 35 Overshadow you = cast a shadow upon, envelop.
Vs 36-37 Gabriel encouraged Mary’s faith.
Vs 38 Mary’s response of faith and obedience.
WHAT DOES A LIFE OF HIGHLY FAVORED AND BLESSED LOOK LIKE?
Matthew 1:18-25 Joseph’s concerns were answered by God in a dream.
Matthew 2:13-15 They had to flee to Egypt as the government trying to kill Jesus.
Matthew 13:55-56 Jesus had four brothers and several sisters.
Luke 4:29 Elders were mad because Jesus claimed to be the Messiah.
Mark 3:20-21 His own people = Greek expression here denotes Jesus immediate family.
NUGETS WE CAN GLEAN FROM MARY’S HIGHLY FAVORED AND BLESSED LIFE.
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Along with God’s favor you can expect some adversity.
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God desires to partner with those who will trust Him through everything. (Mike Bickel)
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Sometimes the fulfillment of God’s promises seem delayed.
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God’s promises are just as sure when they seem delayed or when facing adversity.
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Romans 8:28 Rejoice and persist, God is never late, stand firm on His promises.
God Is the Author
In the Bible, God has many titles.
But there is one title that we don't consider enough: Author
“Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk? The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him. But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, and you killed the Author of life...” (Acts 3:12-15) Hebrews 2:10: Author of salvation Hebrews 12:2: Author and perfecter of our faith
So, what does He write?
God is working with real, live human beings to whom He has granted a free will.
God could have made us all robots that are completely under His control and will always do exactly what He wants us to do. But He didn’t.
In understanding this, it is important for us to see our own stories from God’s perspective. When we only look at our stories from our own limited perspective we’re not thinking the way that God does.
Abraham God gave him a promise that his offspring would be more numerous than the sands on the seashore.
In hope he [Abraham] believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, "So shall your offspring be." He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah's womb. No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. (Romans 4:18-21)
By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God. (Hebrews 11:8-10)
David
David’s name is mentioned more than 50 times in the New Testament, always in a positive light. He is the ideal pattern of the Old Testament kings.
David's New Testament story sounds so much better than the day-by-day depiction we read in the Old Testament.
Our stories sound so much better when they are told by the Author.
Because of the death and resurrection of Jesus the sin is gone. It’s actually not there anymore. We are new creatures in Him.
Moses When Pharaoh heard of it, he sought to kill Moses. But Moses fled from Pharaoh and stayed in the land of Midian. (Exodus 2:15)
By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible. (Hebrews 11:24-27)
He left because He was following God.
We tend to rehearse history in our minds, replaying it over and over.
But we only see our limited perspective. We only see a small piece of a gigantic puzzle.
People tend to live up to what they really believe.
You should allow God to read your story to you. Climb up on Daddy’s lap and let Him tell you the real story. Because His is so much better than what you think.
His is a story of how you have been made holy and righteous. How you are pure and spotless. How you have been made clean and perfect. How you have been transferred from darkness to light. How you are a “chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for [God's] own possession...” (1 Peter 2:9) How you were once alienated from God but now have been brought near. How God has adopted you into His family and made you His child. It’s an amazing story of love and forgiveness.
What we have to recognize is that we are in Christ.
"There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." (Romans 8:1)
In Christ: Our status, our state of being.
So if you're in Christ, whatever is true about Christ is true about you.
God sees you – as He sees Jesus, because you are in Him.
"For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God." (Colossians 3:3)
=video=
Sarah Walton’s story
What if you truly saw yourself as being in Christ?
Allow God – the Author – to read you His version of your story.
The Gifts of Tongues and Interpretation - November 2, 2019 - Steve Miller
As I was praying about this message some time ago, I felt like the Lord gave me three analogies to illustrate the purpose of speaking or praying in tongues.
- Lighter fluid – Sometimes conditions aren’t ideal for starting a fire. Lighter fluid (or “boy scout water,” as my brother and nephew call it) gives your fire a “supernatural” boost.
- A key – There’s no way to enter through a locked door, but a key is a small but precisely effective way to open the way that was impossible without it.
- A spark plug – You can have a perfectly designed car, plenty of good fuel, and plenty of air being mixed precisely right, but without the spark plug firing, fuel won’t ignite so you’ve got no power. Spark plugs need to keep firing consistently for your car to keep running powerfully over the long haul.
Acts 2:4 - All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
Acts 10:44-46 - 44While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. 45The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. 46For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God.
Acts 19:6 - When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.
I want to start out by saying that I believe that at least some form of the gift of tongues is available for every believer. Later in the message, we’ll look at distinctions between different varieties of tongues or functions of the gift, and what Paul means in 1 Corinthians 12 when he asks “Do all speak with tongues?” (The implied answer is “no.”) And we do not teach that a person needs to speak in tongues in order to be a true Christian or to be baptized with the Holy Spirit. But in the three passages above, it’s pretty clear that in these three groups of early believers, all involved received an ability to speak in tongues, not just a selected few. So let’s start by looking at the nature and purpose of speaking in tongues, which tends to seem like a strange and ambiguous activity to us in the first place.
Did you ever wonder why the Holy Spirit enables believers to speak in tongues and what is going on when we do?
When we speak in tongues, who is speaking?
- We are speaking. The Holy Spirit is speaking. (See the verses above.)
- It's a cooperative effort. When we speak in tongues, the Holy Spirit is providing words for us to speak, bypassing our cognitive thinking process. Therefore, it's not unreasonable to say that when we speak in tongues we are declaring the Word of God. We are speaking truth. The words we speak are just the right ones, for they come from the Holy Spirit, our Helper.
So when we speak in tongues, just what are we speaking?
- 1 Corinthians 14:1-2 - Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. 2For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit.
- When we speak in tongues, we speak to God. He understands what we are praying even though we don't.
- Strong's: mustérion (moos-tay'-ree-on): a mystery, secret, of which initiation is necessary; in the NT: the counsels of God, once hidden but now revealed in the Gospel or some fact thereof; the Christian revelation generally; particular truths or details of the Christian revelation.
- HELPS Word-studies: mystḗrion (the root of the English term, "mystery") – mystery. In the Bible, a "mystery" is not something unknowable. Rather, it is what can only be known through revelation, i.e. because God reveals it.
- This agrees with what Jesus said about sending the Holy Spirit:
- John 16:12-15 - 12 I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. 15 All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.
- According to Jesus, one of the Holy Spirit's main purposes is to reveal truth to us. How much? He has all the thoughts and wisdom and powerful Word that belongs to the Father and Jesus! And Jesus promised that the Spirit will take of what is His and declare it to us. That's rich.
- 1 Corinthians 14:13-17 - 13Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret. 14For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful. 15What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also. 16Otherwise, if you give thanks with your spirit, how can anyone in the position of an outsider say “Amen” to your thanksgiving when he does not know what you are saying? 17For you may be giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not being built up.
- It's reasonable to ask the Spirit to give you interpretation or understanding of the things you pray in tongues. In 1 Corinthians 14, Paul makes it clear that an interpretation is necessary if someone gives a prayer or message in tongues in the public meeting. But if we ask, we should expect that the Holy Spirit will give us some interpretation when we pray in tongues privately, especially since Jesus said that communicating revelation from God to us is one of His chief activities.
- It's definitely prayer, or communication with God.
- It can be thanksgiving and praise to God.
- We can be declaring the wonders of God. Acts 2:11 – (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!
- I believe that this declaration in tongues is not just limited to praising God for the wonders that He has done in the past, although that is powerful. It also includes declaring what He is doing now in the present, as well as what He will do in the future. In this way, we can be making declarations prophetically and speaking life and God’s will into situations with His authority, which will bring powerful and transformational results.
- It can be used in intercession.
- John Bevere shares a storyof a young woman he led into the baptism of the Holy Spirit in college at Purdue University. The Spirit awoke her the next morning and impressed her to pray in tongues. While doing so, she asked the Spirit to give her an idea of what she was praying about, and the impression came that she was praying for an older man in a life-and-death emergency. Later, after feeling a release that she was finished, she soon discovered that she had been praying for her roommate's grandfather who had suffered a heart attack at exactly that time, and that his life had been saved.
- A parent at our school tells about a dream that she had in which she was praying in tongues about a car crash that happened, and the next day she saw in the news that a similar accident had actually happened during that night, and the parties involved had survived.
- Ephesians 6:18 - And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord's people.
What kinds of speaking or praying in tongues are there? Can any believer potentially have this gift, or just selected ones of us?
- Now, doesn't 1 Corinthians 12 teach that we all have differing gifts? It asks, "Do all speak in tongues?" The implied answer is "no." But what particular gift of tongues is that referring to? David Pytches, in his book Spiritual Gifts in the Local Church, explains that the Bible shows different types or uses the gift of tongues:
- "There are apparently three distinct manifestations in the area of 'tongues':
- The use of tongues where utterance is not understood by the speaker, but overheard by members of the public, and, without interpretation, understood by those whose own language it is.
- This is tongues used as a sign, like happened in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost.
- Cathy tells about young Mark and Mike Knudsen understanding a word in tongues given in the service here several weeks after they had been adopted from India.
- John Bevere tells of a woman on his staff who sat near the back of a service while he was preaching, and in a relatively quiet voice, prayed in tongues for him. After the service had ended, the man sitting in front of her turned around and said, “Ma’am, may I say that your French is excellent!” She responded that she didn’t speak French. He replied that he was a French teacher, and throughout the service she had been speaking perfect French in a special, very old dialect. In fact, every time she would speak something in French, John would follow by preaching the same idea in English!
- The use of 'tongues' in public worship. The 'language' used is unknown and should be followed by an interpretation given by the Holy Spirit.
- The use of 'tongues' in private which needs no interpretation, though apparently this could be asked for. Most of those who use the gift in private have never exercised it in public worship. Public exercise is a distinct anointing, yet a link between the public and private use appears to exist, i.e. any person who exercises the gift of tongues in public almost invariably uses the gift in private."
What are the benefits or fruit of praying in tongues?
- 1 Corinthians 14:4 - The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church.
· Jude 20-21 - 20But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, 21keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.
· You are built up, or edified (as in building a house), when you pray in tongues.
· Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, so it’s not unreasonable to expect that praying in tongues can bring healing, refreshment, rest to our bodies. Busy ministers testify that regular prayer in tongues helps prevent them from burnout.
· Joseph Prince shared this testimony: “Doris, a young woman from Singapore, shared how she started to worry when her menstrual cycle stopped. For two years, she believed God for restoration of a regular cycle and described how her journey was like a roller coaster ride with some very low points when it got really difficult to stay in faith.
“One day, she watched a sermon I had preached on praying in tongues. In that video, I taught on how tongues was like rivers of living water flowing out of the belly, pushing out defilement, edifying the spirit, and repairing the house of God — our bodies. She remembered how I had shared that the word for “belly” was also the word for “womb,” and she started to pray often in the Spirit every day and to partake of the Holy Communion each morning.
“Doris shared, ‘This has become part of my morning routine. Through it, I have grown closer to the Lord in my spirit and I feel such shalom-peace in my heart every day. I also experienced my restoration after more than two years! Praise Jesus!’”
· Joseph Prince continues: “Now please don’t think that in talking about physical healing, I am downplaying the importance of building up your inner man ... Many times, when it comes to healing, God goes to the root first, removing your deep-seated fears, anxieties, past hurts, and erroneous beliefs — mental strongholds that need to be demolished — before He deals with your physical body. The medical profession has been telling people how chronic stress, worry, fears, and depression can lead to all kinds of physical ailments. So, certainly, take full advantage of praying in the Spirit to fortify your inner man and build yourself up in faith and in the love of God (ref.: Jude 1:20–21). But as you do, be cognisant of the truth that praying in tongues can also repair your physical body. God wants you whole in every way, inside out!”
· In her book Chasing the Dragon, Jackie Pullinger tells about how she ministered to heroin addicts in Hong Kong in the 1970's. When these new, Spirit-filled believers experienced the awful withdrawal symptoms, they were told to pray in their prayer language, and as long as they did, the symptoms went away. In this way, they were able to be delivered from heroin addiction.
· Praying in tongues seems to be a key for receiving inspiration from the Holy Spirit. Jesus said that He had much more to say to us, but that when the Holy Spirit comes, He will guide us into all truth. John Bevere talks about how, as he is writing his books, if he gets stuck, he will take time to pray in the Spirit, and as he does, inspired ideas and words will start coming into his mind. He tells a story about a time he was preaching in Mexico, and just before the meeting his host found out about some unexpected trouble from the local authorities. John went outside and prayed in tongues, and the Lord gave him specific direction about what to preach. The authorities who came to break up the meeting ended up getting saved.
· John Bevere tells of very busy ministers who testify that regular praying in tongues brings them rest and refreshment that helps them avoid burnout.
· Joseph Prince teaches about this rest effect of praying in tongues: “It is not just the daily demands and responsibilities of family and work that are stressing us out. We have an enemy called the devil and one of his objectives is to “wear out the saints of the most High” (Daniel 7:25, KJV). He does this by stirring up storms in our lives (quarrels, crises, stressful situations), planting anxious thoughts in our minds, and invoking in us feelings of inadequacy and panic. Many times, we respond by leaning on our own efforts to manage and solve a hundred and one things! After a while of running around trying to do this and that to make things work, we end up mentally and physically exhausted, ready to just fall apart.
“Friend, if I have just described you, I want you to know that God did not design you to live a life of stress but to enjoy a life of rest. He has given you a powerful weapon to counter stress: praying in the Spirit, which is able to rebuild and repair your entire self from the inside out. It costs you nothing, has no bad side effects, and isn’t dependent on external factors such as a quiet surrounding with mood lighting and soothing pan flute music. Tranquil environments are great — I myself like to take long walks in the park or along the beach. But what happens when you “come back to reality,” to the sound of blaring car horns, or your kids throwing their toys around and screaming at each other?
“You need something that is more robust and goes deeper — God’s peace that surpasses understanding. And you can come to this wonderful place of rest and refreshing as you pray in tongues and sense His presence and love. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty (ref.: 2 Corinthians 3:17). Let His Spirit free you from stress, worry, and anxiety as you unwind through your heavenly language.
“Perhaps you already know how to pray in the Sprit, but for some time now, you have not exercised this wonderful grace gift. Can I encourage you to start doing it again?
“Beloved, the Lord beckons you to draw near to Him today as you pray in the Spirit. He invites you to come to Him if your heart is full of labour and heavy with worry, and He Himself will rest you (ref.: Matthew 11:28). Let Him drive out all fear and confusion.”
· The edifying effects of speaking in tongues tend to be different from one person to another. Larry Christenson, in his book Speaking in Tongues, wrote: “When you get closer to people who have had this experience, and watch them over a longer period of time, you actually discover great variety in their experiences. Perhaps the working of the gift is something like this: As a person prays in tongues, he is edified – built up – in that part of his life where he most needs building up. This would seem consistent with the working of the Holy Spirit, for He always deals with us as individuals.”
· Christensen reports of one woman who experienced a building up of her assurance of salvation, which had previously been an area of struggle. Another man reported that through tongues the Holy Spirit took away some habits that would have been hard to do by himself, such as smoking cigarettes. One evening, after work, he lit up a cigarette. “All at once,” he told, “that cigarette tasted so lousy it made me sick. I thought it was because I had a big cold in my head. I spit it out of my mouth – and I haven’t touched one since. I tell you, the Lord just took that habit out of me by the roots. Man, when the Lord cleans you out, He really cleans you out good!”
· Cathy and I have both experienced times in our lives when we’ve been attacked by irrational fears or phobias. At those times, when we have prayed in tongues, we’ve both experienced calming and peace as we did so.
· Christensen again: “The edification which one experiences through the exercise of speaking in tongues is on a highly individual basis. Your own program of sanctification is tailor-made by the Holy Spirit according to your individual need, and according to the place He is preparing you for in the Body of Christ.”
· I feel like the gift of tongues is like a box full of wonderful treasures for my own life and for others, and I want to do so more and more with the expectation of wondering what great thing the Holy Spirit wants to do in me, my circumstances, the lives of those I know, and even believers, unbelievers, leaders, and nations around the world that I don’t even know!
How can I receive my prayer language in tongues or become more fluent in using it?
- This is Bob Heil's testimony of his struggle to learn to use his prayer language from his book Lessons From the Furnace (p. 39-42). As a Lutheran pastor, Bob had been prayed for by a group of pastors to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and He had felt a strong feeling of faith and even a physical “electricity” sensation at that time from God as a confirmation that he had received it. But he had not started speaking in tongues.
That night I was sound asleep at about two o’clock in the morning when the Lord came into the room. Again there was the sensation of electricity going through me – wave after wave of it. I awoke and could hardly breathe. I knew the Lord was standing there. I could not hear Him; I could not see Him or touch Him, but I knew He was there and that He wanted me to pray. I went into the living room in the dark and began to pray. I tried desperately to pray in tongues.
There had been an earlier day when I had despised tongues, when I had said, “God, give me the Holy Spirit, but not tongues.” I had thought it was the kookiest thing I had ever heard of. But sudden conviction had come from God, and He had spoken to me.
“Who are you to despise My gift?”
I said, “Oh, Lord, I am sorry, but it is the least of all Your gifts.”
The Lord replied, “Who told you it is the least of My gifts? The Scriptures do not say that. Besides, who are you that you think you deserve more than the least of My gifts?” I repented that instant.
Now I was asking God to give me the gift of tongues. I did not want to miss any blessing from God.
I knelt there in the dark crying out to God for the gift. I pointed to my mouth, saying, “Ah, ah.” But nothing came. Finally I said, “All right, God, then help me to pray in English. Guide my thoughts and help me to pour out my heart to You, for I must pray.” Suddenly my mind welled forth with thoughts and I poured them out to God.
For almost two hours I was there on my knees in the living room. The prayer was in English, but now the Lord guided the thoughts! It was never repetitious, never hum-drum. What a blessing! It was rich and alive – the most powerful prayer session I had ever had.
I could have prayed in tongues then, or in any of the weeks and months that followed, but I did not know how. Finally after four months of desperation I cried, “God, I give up. I just give up; I can’t wait any longer. I will just make sounds to You. I will dedicate the sounds and you will have to put them together. I don’t know how, but I have got to do something.” I began to make sounds and spoke what was about two sentences worth of sounds and stopped. I said, “No, that was only me,” and I did not do it again for several weeks.
Again I became so hungry for the blessing. I yearned to pray in tongues, because I wanted every bit of edification I could get my hands on. So once again I decided to pray sounds to God. I began making these utterances and this time I went on for what was perhaps a few paragraphs. Then I stopped. I thought to myself, “Was that me or not?” It was enough to turn me off so that for several weeks I said nothing else in tongues.
Finally I was at a regional convention of the Full Gospel Business Men. There was a great sermon that morning and I became so thrilled and happy. During the prayer time afterwards I made up my mind to just keep making sounds until something happened. It took about five minutes, but gradually I began to feel my heart break through. I grew bolder and began to trust more and more new sounds. I stopped worrying whether it was me or not. I had dedicated the language to God. It began to flow more and more and my heart began to rise like a rocket off the launching pad. My praise ascended to God.
Ever since that day it has been sweet and beautiful. By dedicating new sounds to my baby prayer language, it quickly blossomed forth full-grown. Then I realized it had been there all along – just waiting for me to use it. Just as I prayed in English, I was to do the praying in tongues. God had not put it in my mind or my throat. He had put it in my spirit. Not only that, but I could use it whenever I wanted. It was God’s gift and God does not take back His gifts. He says “His gifts and callings are without repentance” (Rom. 11:29). If you have ever had it, you have still got it. Just open your heart and your mouth and pray to God in sounds. Leave the results and any correction up to Him.
- In teaching the Corinthian church about using tongues in the church meeting, Paul says a couple things that imply that the personal prayer language gift is available to all believers.
- 1 Corinthians 14:5a - 5Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy.
- 1 Corinthians 14:18 - I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you.
- The Lord promises us that when we sincerely and earnestly ask Him for a deeper relationship with the Holy Spirit, He will not disappoint us.
- Jeremiah 29:13-14a - 13"You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity."
- Luke 11:13 - "If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
- Basically, to receive the gift of tongues we should sincerely ask for it. It's a good thing, and Jesus is encouraged us to believe confidently that our Father will give us the Holy Spirit and the good gifts that He may bring. As Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 12:31: "But earnestly desire the higher gifts," and as we read earlier, 1 Corinthians 14:1 echoes: "earnestly desire the spiritual gifts."
- If you've never prayed in tongues, what should you expect? Does the Holy Spirit possess you and you start speaking uncontrollably? No, it's generally a cooperative effort. Acts says that "they spoke in tongues as the Spirit enabled them."
- What should we do? A good word is "yield." John Bevere uses the imagery of wading into a gentle river or creek. You can fight to stand up straight and not be moved by the current, or you can relax, yield to it, and let it carry you along. It seems that a key part of cooperation with the Holy Spirit is surrender or yielding. It is saying "yes" to Him.
- I have been a believer in Jesus since I was very young, but I was never taught about the baptism of the Holy Spirit until I was a 5th-grader at Family Bible Camp here at COC. I remember that Leslie Barker taught us in the morning kids’ lesson in the old fellowship building, and then the kids from here (perhaps Cathy included) gathered around my brother Tim and me and laid hands on us and prayed for us. They said that we should expect to pray in tongues, but I wasn’t sure what it would be like or how to do it. I did believe it and expected to receive the gift, though. So during my growing up, I knew I had been baptized with the Spirit, and I prayed in tongues a little, but sometimes had doubts about whether I was really praying in the Spirit or if it was just me. Then, during the summer after I had just graduated from college, I was at summer camp here and Bob Heil had returned to preach at it. That night here in the chapel, he taught about the baptism of the Holy Spirit, sharing his own testimony and struggle about receiving the gift of tongues, and inviting anyone who hadn’t ever prayed in tongues or had doubts about it to stay afterward, and he would get us praying in tongues. So a friend and I stayed in the chapel with Bob and others, and I remember kneeling in the back row as he told us to just start believing and yield our mouths to speak. I started speaking in tongues with great confidence, and at the same time I was overtaken by hilarious belly laughter, and so was my friend. I knew that this was a manifestation of the Holy Spirit, not just me being silly. I was full of joy and realized that the Holy Spirit was reaffirming in me a confidence that, yes, He indeed had given me this gift and I should never again doubt it, but use it confidently. Praise the Lord!
John 16:7 - 7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.
Ephesians 6:18 – And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord's people.
I sincerely believe that the devil greatly fears a Church who makes good use of the gift of tongues, so it’s no wonder that he works in many ways to keep us from believing in it, or receiving it, or making use of it. Let’s eagerly desire and pursue this gift in our lives and expectantly see what the Holy Spirit will do with it in our lives, our families, our church, and in the world around us!
I CORINTHIANS 12:10 THE GIFT OF WORKING OF MIRACLES
Most people put the working of miracles and the gifts of healings in the same category.
Healing is a work God does in your body to bring it back into health.
A miracle takes you over into the creative power of God.
Understanding the difference can really help in how we minister to people.
A miracle is a supernatural intervention in the ordinary course of nature, a temporary suspension of the accustomed order through the Spirit of God. Just shows up as the Spirit wills.
OLD TESTAMENT EXAMPLES:
Exodus 7-14 All the plagues God put on Egypt through Moses.
Water became blood – Frogs – Lice – Flies - Livestock disease – Boils – Hail – Locusts – Darkness –
Death to the first born of Egypt.
Exodus 14:21-22 Moses divided the Red Sea. Two gifts in operation here, gift of miracles and Faith
II Kings 1:10-12 Elijah called down fire from heaven.
II Kings 4:1-7 Elisha and the widow’s oil.
Judges 16:1-3 Samson used in gift of miracles even if he had character flaws.
NEW TESTAMENT EXAMPLES: John 2:1-11 Water to wine with just six words.
John 6:5-14 Jesus feed five thousand with a little boy’s lunch. 12 baskets of leftovers.
John 6:15-21 Jesus walks on water – Boat an all passengers transported to land.
A FEW OF THE TINGS I HAVE SEEN GOD DO:
INDIA - feed thousands of people two nights in a row.
Eighteen year old boy received his sight – at least two gifts in operation here.
Orphanage worker received instant miracle healing from stroke and heart attack.
PHILIPPINES – seen the Lord heal three blind people instantly – four deaf people now hearing.
Nineteen year old deaf mute instantly healed in 2017. Several deliverances.
Thousands saved in the last twenty three years.
God built a debt free Bible School that’s turning out quality graduates every year.
AMERICA – Pastor in WI lump behind ear for over twenty years.
Lady in WI legs were all red and swollen instantly healed as we watched.
Man in Wentzville instantly healed of chronic back pain.
GIFT OF FAITH – GIFTS OF HEALINGS – WORKING OF MIRACLES – PART I
These three gifts are often called the power gifts because they demonstrate God’s power.
First we will look at the supernatural gift of faith.
There are four distinctions of faith but all the same word in the Greek (Pistis). = persuasion, credence, moral conviction of religious truth, reliance of truthfulness of God and His teachings, assurance, belief, believe, fidelity.
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Ephesians 2:8 - Saving faith which comes at salvation
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Romans 12:3 – Measure of faith which is a measured portion of God’s faith for daily life.
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Galatians 5:22-23 – The fruit of faith which helps develop the nature of God in you.
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I Corinthians 12:9 – The gift of faith can come after the baptism in the Holy Spirit.
Gift of faith takes you beyond the ability of your normal measure of faith and doesn’t grow like your measure of faith because it is already supersized to meet a need!
It’s a special extraordinary faith that comes upon you as the Holy Spirit wills to meet a need!
So what might that look like?
1.When this gift manifest you will feel a tremendous boldness, and no doubt will be able to get in when under the anointing of the gift of faith.
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You will have absolute confidence to believe for the impossible.
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Sometimes an electric current can be felt by you or the one your praying for.
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Gift of faith will work even if no one else believes.
Daniel 6:16-23 Daniel in the lion’s den. No one believed for a second that Daniel would be saved.
I Kings 17:2-6 Elijah believed God for provision.
Remember there is an absolute confidence that comes when the gift of faith is in operation.
Haiti young woman delivered in church service.
Philippines woman delivered in A/G church service.
Remember the gift of faith is a supernatural infusion of God’s faith to believe for a need to be met.
God can only be limited by our disobedience, be obedient to step out of your comfort zone. To walk on the water you must first get out of the boat!
SUPERNATURAL GIFTS OF HEALINGS
1 Corinthians 12:9 Healings that God does without the help of the medical profession.
The plural suggests as there are many sicknesses and diseases therefore gifts of healings. Some people have anointing in certain areas of healing with greater success in those areas.
Gifts of Healings are God’s way of helping us when mans limited knowledge fails. Are they for today? Romans 11:29 “For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.” They are all over the New Testament where we now live.
Purpose of the Gifts of Healings is to deliver the sick and destroy the works of the devil in the human body. Acts 10:38 Settle it in your heart – the devil is the oppressor – God is your healer!
HEALING IN THE ATONEMENT: Isaiah 53:4-5; Matthew 8:16-17; 1Peter 2:24; Galatians 3:13.
HEALING THE WILL OF THE FATHER: Exodus 15:26; Exodus 23:25-26; Psalm 91:10,16; Psalm 103:2-3; Psalm 107:20; Isaiah 55:11; Matthew 7:11; James 1:17; Matthew 8:2-3; John 8:38.
HEALING THE WORKS OF JESUS: Acts 10:38; John 10:10; Matthew 9:35; Matthew 15:30-31; Hebrews 13:8. HEALING MINISTRY OF THE CHURCH: John 14;12; Mark 16:15,17-18; James 5:14-15; III John 2.
Sometimes when someone is sick and they can’t find a medical cure, the reason could be demonic oppression.
TWO TRUE EXPERIANCES: Woman in Texas 28-30 years ago. Woman in Philippines 10 years ago.
John 3:16-18 God wants to save and heal people, but we have to choose to believe! We receive the promises of God in our lives by faith, they don’t just fall on us. We must posses the promise by faith in our hearts. The proof of ownership, the title deed is in your heart it is yours, you have ownership of that particular promise in your life!
Exodus 16:26 One of the names of God is JEHOVAH RAPHA meaning (The Lord Who Heals). It is always God’s will to heal, His name and His Word make that very clear. If it wasn’t God’s will why would He make provision for healing through the tremendous sacrifice of Jesus the Christ, and then give us gifts of healings for the very purpose of delivering us from sickness and disease, destroying the works of the devil in human bodies.
The gifts of healings come upon a believer as the Spirit wills to minister to the sick in the power of the Spirit with a divine grace gift.
SO WHAT MIGHT THAT LOOK LIKE? When operating in the gifts of healings it is often tangible were you can feel the anointing. Other times you don’t feel anything but the one your praying for does. Example, man in wheel chair in March in the Philippines.
Woman in northern Missouri healed of stage 4 diabetes – Doctor talking about amputation.
When ministering in the gifts of healings it’s important to do so in a spirit of love, faith and expectancy. If you expect nothing you will get nothing! Mix your faith with the one your praying for and with the Word of God, believing and agreeing with the Word. Remember healing is a process. Keep believing and thanking God. Helps if you and the person your praying for can visualize them healed.
The Gifts of the Holy Spirit – Intro
“If we’re not careful, we can settle into a functional deism, where we say we believe in God’s power to heal, but we rarely if ever pray boldly and expectantly for healing to happen.” [Alan Kraft, More: When a Little Bit of the Spirit Is Not Enough, ©2014] Dr. Ramsay MacMullan … [said] that early Christians “took miracles quite for granted. That was the general starting point. Not to believe them would have made you seem more than odd.” [Dr. Ramsay MacMullan, Christianizing the Roman Empire: A.D. 100-400 (New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 1984) 22. 2.]
Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8 To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills. (1 Corinthians 12:4-11)
Nobody is left out.
Use it. Stir it up.
Brady Boyd, New Life Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado: “The Holy Spirit at work through us to glorify Jesus and to help people.”
As a Christian, you are a gateway to the supernatural.
The gifts of the Spirit are grace gifts from God.
His kingdom is being more fully established as we use the gifts to help people. And it’s because we are redeemed children of God that we can use those gifts.
Community
In community, there is a collective-ness to our faith.
“I try to pray in a team whenever possible. Multiple people listening in prayer helps lessen the sense of pressure we feel to always hear the Spirit.” [Alan Kraft, More: When a Little Bit of the Spirit Is Not Enough, ©2014]
Word gifts
Writing a letter Brady Boyd and his teenage son Roy Libby, engineer with Kodak
Faith, healing and miracles
The faith to be healed and to pray for the sick is nothing other than childlike trust in the loving character and purpose of our Heavenly Father. ... True Christian faith in all its expressions looks away from self to God and what he has done for us in Jesus Christ. The real question is not: “Do I believe strongly enough to be healed or to pray for the sick?” but, “Is God the sort of person I can trust, and am I willing to be open to his love?” [Ken Blue, Authority to Heal, (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1987), 103]
Are we approaching our Father in childlike faith?
Ultimately, healing is God’s responsibility. So, we leave the results in His hands.
Types and shadows.
“Gods fellow workers.” (1 Corinthians 3:9) “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13) “For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me...” (Romans 15:18) “But the people of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites...” (vs. 21) “Manasseh did not drive out the inhabitants of Beth-shean and its villages...” (vs. 27) “And Ephraim did not drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer...”(vs. 29) “Zebulun did not drive out the inhabitants of Kitron...” (vs. 30) “Asher did not drive out the inhabitants of Acco...” (vs. 31) “Naphtali did not drive out the inhabitants of Bethshemesh...” (vs. 33)
“For you shall drive out the Canaanites, though they have chariots of iron, and though they are strong.” (Joshua 17:18) “And the Lord was with Judah, and he took possession of the hill country, but he could not drive out the inhabitants of the plain because they had chariots of iron.” (Judges 1:19) “But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then those of them whom you let remain shall be as barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides, and they shall trouble you in the land where you dwell.” (Numbers 33:55, see also Judges 2:1-3) “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.” (John 14:12) It is a faith issue.
“From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force.” (Matthew 11:12)
“We walk by faith, not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7)
Our job is to bring the kingdom more fully, more completely into this world. “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10)
He has given us the necessary tools—His eternal Word and the gifts of the Holy Spirit—to advance His kingdom. “Holy Spirit, what are You saying to me in this?”
Time to Set Sail
Review from last week:
1) The Bible blurs the line between the physical and non-physical worlds.
2) Rich images from Biblical poetry are rooted in images from earlier Biblical narratives. That is how metaphor works in the Bible. You need the narratives to understand the poetic images and the images reveal deeper meaning in to those narratives. - Bible Project
Genesis 1:6-10 – God separates the waters above from the waters below and then brings land up out of the water.
Genesis 7:11-12 – Waters above and below again cover the land.
Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the belly of the fish, saying, “I called out to the Lord, out of my distress, and he answered me; out of the belly of Sheol I cried, and you heard my voice. For you cast me into the deep, into the heart of the seas, and the flood surrounded me; all your waves and your billows passed over me. - Jonah 2:1-3
Ezekiel 26:19-20, Psalms 18:4-5, 2 Peter 3:5-6
Going down into the waters is to go down into Sheol (i.e. the grave).
Because they formerly did not obey, when God's patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, - I Peter 3:20-21
- Being brought up or through are equivalent. The important part is you are coming out of the water.
End of the flood is the start of a new creation.
Boat comes to rest on land that came out of the water, Dove is hovering over the water, Noah receives a blessing from God that looks very similar to Adam's (i.e. Be fruitful and multiply, etc.)
Being brought up or through the waters is a sign of new creation.
Moses and the 10 Plagues
10 Plagues are a De-Creation Event
Destruction of the three parts to Creation: Water, Land and Skies; Creatures don’t stay in their designated areas; Instead of creation of the firstborn human, there is death of the firstborn humans.
If there is a de-creation event, then what is the new creation event?
The Exodus story - New Creation Event - Moses brings Israel out of the waters
How does the Bible think about large bodies of water?
You rule the raging of the sea; when its waves rise, you still them. You crushed Rahab like a carcass; you scattered your enemies with your mighty arm. - Psalms 89:9-10
Psalms 65:5-8, Psalms 18:16-17, Psalms 69:1-4, Isaiah 17:12-13, Isaiah 51:4-5, Psalms 74:12-14,
Isaiah 27:1, Jude 1:10-13
Large bodies of water from the Biblical View symbolize Chaos in bringing disorder through de-creation.
People can represent water in being opposed to God
God has power over the sea, people and death; all three images that are represented in chaotic waters.
The waters are divided as they were divided on the second day. The sea is separated from the dry ground as it was on the second day. Israel is the dry ground taken up out of the sea and the Egyptians are consigned to the abyss and the deep. The Egyptians and the Israelites, formerly mixed together, are going to be separated in YHWH’s new act of creation. - Alastair Roberts
Jesus and the Sea of Galilee
By the sea Jesus calls disciples – Mark 1:16, 19, 20; Teaches and heals the crowds – Mark 2:13; 3:7; 4:1; Jesus crosses the sea freely – Mark 4:35; 5:1, 18, 21; 6:53, 54; 8:10, 13; Commands his disciples to cross the sea before him- Mark 6:45
Jesus calms the sea - “Peace! Be still!” (Mark 4:35-41), Jesus heal a demon possessed man (Mark 5:1-20), Jesus raises Jairus's Daughter from the dead (Mark 5:21-43)
The manifestations of Jesus' power by the sea are to be interpreted in the light of the manifestations of Jesus on the sea, and vice versa. - Elizabeth Struthers Malbon
Jesus sends the disciples on to Bethsaida (Mark 6:45), Jesus is on land praying (Mark 6:47), Disciple’s were “making headway painfully” (Mark 6:48b), Jesus walks on the water to them (Mark 6:48c), Water is as land to Jesus, Jesus calms the storm again (Mark 6:51a)
Behind all of this emphasis on the sea and fish lurks the boat as an entity that mediates between the sea and the land, a small piece of the land afloat on the sea. – Alastair Roberts
The fact that Jesus teaches from a boat shoved out in the sea perhaps gives us an image of the church—the church is a little ark, a little bit of Israel, tossed about on the sea of nations. But there’s no danger, because the Lord of the church walks on the sea as on dry land. – Peter Leithart
Connie talked on June 22 about unhooking the boat and setting sail.
Jesus comes through the Chaotic Sea (Matthew 12:38-42 and Romans 6:9)
Paul comes through the Chaotic Sea (Acts 27:44b-28:1 and Acts 28:3-5)
Final Hope
And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. - Revelation 20:13
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. - Revelation 21:1
The gospel brings an overcoming of the opposition between the land and the sea. - Alastair Roberts
Theology You Can Get Your Hands On
Modern Christian search is for comprehensive Christian information and to get it all straight. - Esther Meek
The goal is not certain comprehensive information; there is something better than that. You don't settle for less, you hold out for more and that more is ongoing communion. - Esther Meek
1) The Bible blurs the line between the physical and non-physical
Examples
Jesus' resurrection
Worship - raising hands, kneeling, etc. are a fundamental part of Biblical worship
David playing for Saul - I Samuel 16:23
Laying on of hands healing, spiritual gifts, etc - 2 Timothy 1:6, Luke 4:40
Anointing with oil
Baptism - Matthew 28:19
Lord's supper - Luke 22:14-23
Marriage Relationship/Adultery - Songs of Songs and Hosea 1:2
Parenting - God as our Father - Luke 12:29-31, Matthew 6:26, 2 Corinthians 1:3
Suffering - Hebrews 5:8
Sickness and pain
Sin - 1 Corinthians 11:28-30
Time - Feast of Firstfruits (Leviticus 23:4-8) and Pentecost (Feast of Weeks) (Leviticus 23:15-22)
Luke 2:20 and Acts 2
2 Thessalonians 2:13
Power over the snake - Exodus 4:1-4 and Acts 28:3-5
Rich images from Biblical poetry are rooted in images from earlier Biblical narratives. That is how metaphor works in the Bible. You need the narratives to understand the poetic images and the images reveal deeper meaning in to those narratives. - Bible Project
Light
Genesis 1 - Creation movement from darkness to light from night to day
1 Timothy 6:16, Psalm 36:9, 1 John 1:5, John 3:16-21
Judgement -
Psalm 37:6, Genesis 19:15, Genesis 19:23-24, Exodus 14:23-25
Blessing
James 1:17, Psalms 89:15-16, Psalms 80:19 Genesis 32:29-31
Jesus has power over darkness
John 1:4-5, Luke 4:40
2) Biblical Knowing
Genesis 15:7-9, Leviticus 23:42-43, Luke 22:19b
Leviticus - An entire book of rituals that impact every aspect of a Jewish person’s life.
Ritual and Liturgy
Spirit charged rituals are tangible ways for God to get hold of us and reorient us and empowers us to be His image bearers. They are the ways for the Spirit to meet us where we are as embodied creatures of habit. - James Smith
Spiritual disciplines and liturgical practices are not just expressive means of showing my devotion to God. They are formative practices through which the Spirit re-habituates and re-narrates my identity. - James Smith
Karate kid
3) What do we do with this?
Living out the Law
Paul - Deuteronomy 25:4 and 1 Timothy 5:17–18
Jesus and leprosy
Spiritual Gifts
1 Corinthians 12
All made in the Image of God
Gideon
Use the gifts that God gives you, innate or otherwise.
You Are Laborers in God’s Harvest – August 4, 2019 – Steve Miller
I remember that sometime when I was growing up we had a little poster in my room that quipped: “Work for the Lord. The pay may not be much, but the benefits are out of this world.”
Think about the following questions. When you see the word “work,” think not just about jobs that you get paid for, but any kind of work or activity that you spend time, energy, and talents to do.
- How do you feel about work? Do you enjoy it?
- What is your motivation for working?
- Does God profit from what you do? Does your work result in eternal benefits for anyone?
- How do you think God feels about your work?
- Are you laboring in God’s harvest in the world? If so, how?
- Do you think the work you’re currently doing is fulfilling God’s calling for your life?
Luke 10:1-12 - 1After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go. 2And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.
What an awesome privilege and responsibility God has called us to and entrusted to us, that we should be laborers in His harvest! What authority He has vested in us! Jesus’ command here starts with us praying earnestly for the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. Also, a key aspect of our labor is to work where He sends us. But we must keep mindful that He is not asking us to toil in our own strength, but to labor in Him. He means to be the wind in our sails, the engine in our machine.
Matthew 11:28-30 – 28Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
When Adam and Eve fell into sin in the garden, part of the curse became fruitless toil. God said that we would toil to get food from the ground, battling thorns and thistles along the way. We would get bread by the sweat of our brow until we return to the ground. This idea does not just apply to farming, but to all of life and all kinds of labor, including producing the works that please God and fulfilling His calling in our lives.
However, there is good news. God provided a Sabbath for His people, a rest from the fruitless toil. And ultimately, the Sabbath is not just a day of the week or a law, for Jesus Himself is the full fulfillment of God’s Sabbath rest for us. He redeemed us from fruitless toil by delivering us from the curse of sin and restoring us to the state of righteousness, fruitfulness, and authority in which we were meant to live and serve Him.
Ephesians 2:10 – For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
It’s interesting to look at the connection God makes throughout the Bible between food and work, and to compare God’s view of the subject to humans’ thinking about it.
John 4:31-38 – 34Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.
Jesus said that His “food” is to accomplish the work leading to the harvest of souls that His Father put in front of Him to do. Food is what drives and energizes us to keep going and what makes us profitable. He gives us rest, He gives us help, and He shares His power, authority, and anointing in the Holy Spirit (a.k.a., the Helper) to accomplish what He has called us to do. He wants us to be joyful and fruitful.
But that grace does not mean that we should sit back and do nothing. We were not put in this world to be entertained. We live in a time and culture where God’s people need to be vigilant not to fall into the selfish philosophy of the world around us.
Jesus understood that the works that He, the Lord of the Sabbath, was doing on the Sabbath to set people free from the effects of sin embodied the concept of true Sabbath rest, setting people free from all kinds of bondage.
John 9:1-7 – 4We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work.
The time, life, energy, and gifts that we have been given by God are His gift to enable us to be fruitful, to have opportunity to share in His joy of accomplished work, and to receive rewards from Him in eternity. Our days in this life are finite, but extremely important and full of opportunity and potential.
Psalm 90:12-17 – 12So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.
17Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands!
This is Moses’ earnest prayer – crying out to the Lord for His grace, His help, His power, and His favor to establish the work of our hands. Humans have many needs, but a man’s deepest desire is to be successful in his work.
To do this, we must seek the Lord to show us and equip us for His will and calling for our lives. This cannot be done outside of right relationship with Him through repentance of sin and faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Along with that, we must be baptized with the Holy Spirit whom Jesus promised to give us to guide, help, encourage and empower us. Being filled with the Spirit is not just a one-time event, but a daily lifestyle. (Reading His Word, listening to Him, worshiping Him, fasting and prayer, fellowship with His people.) As we walk with Him, God’s grace enables us to do the work that He has chosen for us, joyfully and fruitfully.
Psalm 127:1-2 – 1Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.
Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.
2It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep.
1 Corinthians 15:58 – Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
In Christ You Are Holy – Sunday, June 30, 2019 – Steve Miller
Did you brush your teeth this morning?
From Wikipedia: “Individuals that practice oral hygiene have 1,000 to 100,000 bacteria living on each tooth surface, while less clean mouths can have between 100 million and 1 billion bacteria on each tooth.”
What does it mean to be God’s holy people? I believe He gave me this analogy:
“I have called you by name; you are Mine. Live, therefore, as My holy people. You are holy if you trust in Me. The one who believes in Me does not live in sin, just as a person who takes a shower does not live in dirt and grime after he gets dirty. You don’t go to work in the morning without brushing your teeth. You can’t help the bacteria growing in your mouth at night, but you brush them away every morning and night. You don’t embrace them. Grace makes you My clean people, My holy people. Being holy, you put on My righteousness by the means of grace every day. Be holy, then, as I am holy. You are My offspring, holy in Me.”
It’s really true that we live in an environment that is prone to splatter us with spiritual dirt. Although born again, we still live in mortal bodies with our sinful nature – the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak Although growing in Christ, we are not fully mature The enemy tempts us – prowls about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour We live among sinful people – challenging to properly relate to them, walking in love and forgiveness while hating sin and avoiding falling into it Wrong ideologies surround and influence us – lies and confusion lead to sin and problems – how to understand and believe the truth so that we can live in abundant life? Temptations to sin – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life
Distractions abound that waste our time and draw us away from our true calling and purposes The world hates us – “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated Me first.”
It’s easy to see how daily these factors can multiply around us like germs multiply in our mouths and under our armpits. How can we continue to live daily as God’s chosen, holy people?
1 Peter 1:13-16 – 13Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. 14As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”
Greek: hágios – different (unlike); for the believer, it means "likeness of nature with the Lord" because "different from the world." It implies something "set apart" and therefore "different" – because special to the Lord. Even though we live in a world corrupted by sin, selfishness, rebellion and all kinds of things that are contrary to God’s nature, when we were saved, were born again and made new and holy like God, through faith in Jesus and the work of the Holy Spirit who came to dwell in us. We were adopted into God’s family and given the righteousness of Christ. We were given restored purpose in the world as brothers and sisters of Jesus in God’s family. We are different from the world; we are special to the Lord.
Colossians 3:1-14
How can we clothe ourselves in righteousness by his means of grace every day? What means do we have? Family – We are in God’s family, part of a community of faith in Jesus. One means of grace is that God has not left us alone to live out our faith in this world.
Firstly, He has given us the Holy Spirit to dwell with us and in us, to facilitate direct communication between us and God and to download all the resources of love, power, and truth that our Father and Savior have provided for us in Christ. He is our Advocate, Helper, Counselor and Defender. Secondly, He has given us brothers and sisters in the faith. He has transformed, equipped, called, and empowered each of us to be real and effective help to grow to maturity and successfully navigate this life while accomplishing God’s purposes for us individually and corporately. None of us were ever meant to walk the Christian life alone, nor would God want us to. We are His body and His family, meant to function together as a unit. Repentance of sins – We repented when we came to Christ, but there is another sense of repentance that is a daily necessity in our relationship with God and with His people. The first way to deal with the sins we commit as Christians and our day-to-day failures is to repent – to confess it to the Lord and receive His forgiveness and healing. Yes, Christ has already paid the price for all of our sins – past, present, and future – but sin is destructive to our relationships, our health, and even our faith when it is not dealt with, and we should never ignore it or choose to dwell in it.
In this process we have two other allies: the Holy Spirit who lives within us, and our brothers and sisters in the body of Christ.
James 5:16 – Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
Hebrews 10:19-25 Washing with the Word of God – God’s Word is truth, and it is living and active through the Holy Spirit when we read or hear it. His Word washes us with truth and cleans us from spiritual muck that sticks to us daily.
Ephesians 5:25-27
John 15:3
John 17:17 Walking in God’s purposes for our lives Philip Goodson of Living Light Church in Kenosha, WI: “What made a bowl holy? What made the lampstand holy? (This is not the whole thing of holiness, but it’s a part of it.) That bowl was holy when it was used for what God intended it to be used for. It was the fact that it was consecrated and set apart and was to be used for a particular purpose. If you want to experience some holiness in your life, understand what God has created you and made you and called you to do, and do it, and you’re holy.” “Holiness is not just about me walking in a sinless perfection, which we’re not going to do anyway. It’s not about just being that part or looking that part, or overcoming that sin in my life. But am I being used for what God created me to be used for? And if I’m being used for that, I’m holy unto the Lord.”
How do we know whether we are being used for the purposes God created us for? The first step is to yield to Him, to offer ourselves to what He wants for our lives and submit to His Lordship. In that frame of mind, then seek Him and ask Him to reveal Himself and His truth to us. Praise and thank Him for your life and your salvation, and ask Him to show you His purposes and open the right doors for you to walk through with Him.
1 Thessalonians 2:13-14 – 13But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as firstfruits to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. 14He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
THE GREAT INVESTMENT
Galatians 2:20 Crucified with Christ.
Ephesians 2:6 Seated together in Christ.
Romans 3:19-26 Unpack this one:
Vs 22 Righteousness of God through faith
Vs 23 All fall short of the glory of God
Vs 24 Justified by grace and redeemed
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Vs 25 Propitiation = Atone for sin by His blood through faith.
1 Corinthians 1:2-3 Sanctified = Purified positionally.
Romans 5:11 Reconciliation = exchange – restoration to Divine favor.
2 Corinthians 1:20-22 Promises of God = Word of truth that sets you free!
Investments are always made with expectations of a good return!
John 2:12-14 Have overcome – past tense = subdue, conquer, prevail, conquest, get the victory.
2 Peter1:3-4 We have everything needed to live life as Jesus did.
Romans 8:11 Same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you!
Fear = False – Evidence – Appearing – Real. Smoke and mirrors by your enemy.
1 Timothy 4:12-16 Neglect is not an option.
John 14:12-18 When you step out you are not alone – Love will come to your aide.
A Love Story from Christ
Luke 15:11-32 (NKJV) - The Parable of the Lost Son
Today as we take a fresh look at the Parable of the Prodigal Son, we want to look more deeply into what the Scripture says about the ramifications of the Father’s relationship with the elder brother.
In the story Jesus told we see the elder son come home from toiling in the fields to find a party going on. He asked one of servants what is happening and he is told that his father has slain the fatted calf to celebrate his younger brother’s return.
The elder son is angered and refuses to go in. Notice the elder son does not refer to the younger son as his brother but rather “that son of yours.”
Next we see the elder son attempt to justify his superiority over his younger brother because of the good works he has done. Value is not in what we do but why we do what we do. Character comes from the soul and the best works for the wrong motivations gain the doer nothing in God’s eyes.
It could well be that the elder son resents that his father takes him for granted and seems to show preference for the younger son.
The father’s reply is insightful. Son, you are always with me! Always in my heart and prayers. Always in my loving care. And all that I have is yours!
A few years back Father God through the Holy Spirit asked me, “Why are you angry with Me?” I didn’t even realize that I was angry with God, but when I looked at my heart I knew it was true. I was angry with God. I was angry that my life was not all peaches and cream. I was frustrated by the needless toil of life. I was angry because it seemed that God did not answer my prayers.
Yet I live in the most prosperous nation in the world. I have a nice house, food on my table, fairly good health, clean water and a personal relationship with the Creator of the universe.
The Holy Spirit then spoke again to my understanding and said, “I am faithful. I do not lie. My Word is true. I love you more than you can even know. If it seems otherwise the issue is not with Me.”
I was the elder son. I resented God my Father for not giving me heaven here on earth. And yet, Jesus said in John 14:31-14:
John 14:13-14 (NKJV)
What was my problem?
First Jesus said if I ask in His Name… that is if I ask what He would ask.
Second Jesus said in Mark 11:24, 24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.
Third, in James 4:1-3 we are told: What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? 2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.
Fourth I allowed disillusionment and discouragement to steal my faith and change my world view that Jesus has given all authority to me to do the works that He did and greater works than that in His name.
I cannot obtain the future by looking to my past. I must keep my eyes on God’s Word.
Again, all that God has is ours. But we receive it on His terms, not our terms. Salvation, the gate into God’s kingdom is on God’s terms, through Jesus Christ, not on our terms.
Now if we want to be used of God to further His kingdom on earth and enrich our lives in so doing, we must do it on God’s terms and not be resentful of God because His ways are better than ours. This begins with remembering and believing that all God has, He has given to us.
2 Peter 1:2-4
He has given us all things pertaining to life and godliness! He has given them to us in the form of exceedingly great and precious promises. God has done His part and doesn’t change. It is now our part to appropriate the exceedingly great and precious promises through faith.
Come to God’s throne of grace boldly to find help in time of need.
Take God’s kingdom to the world boldly being aware that it is His good will to give you His kingdom!
Luke 12:31-32
It is imperative that we understand what Father God is saying to us through the story of the father and his elder son. “All that I have is yours!” All that God has is yours! Accept it on His terms! Use it on His terms!
Both the younger son and the elder son were sinners. Still their father loved them and gave all he had to both of them. Let us not be like the younger son and squander the God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. Let us not be like the older son and forget that all our Father has is ours.
Be bold! Take all that God has given you and invest it in His kingdom work.
Let’s pray!
In Christ We Are Spiritual People
– Sunday, May 5, 2019 – Steve Miller
Our cat Leo is very carnal. He is a “foodie,” motivated by his appetites, especially for food, but also physical affection, his toys, and … more food. God did not design or intend for us to think and act like Leo.
As we learn about who we are in Christ, it's important to be mindful that we are spiritual beings. We are not just physical beings, as some believe. Likewise, we are not just spirits living in the physical container of a body, as has been taught. As human beings, we are a complexly woven together combination of body, soul, mind, and spirit. Our rationalistic culture tends to believe only in that which is visible or measurable, chases constantly after physical and emotional pleasure and material possessions, and values physical skills and cognitive knowledge. We need to be careful not to neglect the fact that we are spiritual beings.
John 4:23-25 – 23But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. 24God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.
We need to be aware and discerning of the spiritual, both in us and around us.
Proverbs 20:27 – The spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord, searching all his innermost parts.
Proverbs 4:23 – Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.
Ephesians 6:12 – For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
When sin came into the world, it started working death in our spirits, just as it did in our bodies. It took the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit working through grace to restore the life of God to our spirits. The Holy Spirit is the source of renewed life in our spirits.
Titus 3:4-7
John 3:3-8
Paul describes the difference between a person born of the Spirit and someone who hasn't been reborn spiritually. Notice the close connection and importance of fellowship between the believer's spirit and the Holy Spirit:
1 Corinthians 2:10-17
The born-again spirit of the believer, empowered by the Holy Spirit, wants to do the will of God.
Romans 7:21-23
The Holy Spirit affirms in our spirits our understanding of our position as beloved children of God and facilitates our relationship with Him.
Romans 8:15-16
The Spirit does not just enable us to be reborn, but also guides us to live for Him, bearing his fruit.
Galatians 5:25 – If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.
We need to develop and exercise our spirits, just as much if not more than we do our bodies, minds, and souls. Arthur Burke points out that our spirits come into the world at a developmental advantage over our minds, emotions, and bodies, but we quickly lose that spiritual developmental advantage because of the emphasis modern society places on developing those other areas, while often ignoring spiritual things. But as we have seen in Scripture, the spirit man, in cooperation with the Holy Spirit, should be directing our bodies, minds, and souls in serving God. It is through our spirit that the Lord feeds and renews our other members.
How can we develop our spirits? Walk with and listen to the Holy Spirit. Spend time in fellowship with Him.
2 Corinthians 13:14 – The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
Proverbs 13:20 – Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.
Ephesians 3:16 – I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being
2 Corinthians 4:16 – So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.
The description here is of the Holy Spirit strengthening our spirit from within, which in turn strengthens, heals, and encourages our minds, souls, and bodies. Renewal, health, and refreshment comes from God through the inside, working it's way out via our spirits. Likewise, our beauty and pleasantness to God come from within.
1 Peter 3:3-4
Psalm 51:6, 10-12, 17
In order to develop our spirits, we need to do those things which involve fellowship with the Holy Spirit, including being aware of His presence, talking with Him, worship, reading His Word, sharing daily adventures with Him, listening to His voice, and praying in tongues.
1 Corinthians 14:4-5a – 4The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church. 5Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy.
This is what I felt the Holy Spirit saying:
“Blessed are you, for you watch daily at My doors and incline your ear to Me. Do so more and more, for there is no limit to the riches of wisdom and grace in My words, and they come infused with power, love, and encouragement. Listen to My Spirit, and your spirit will grow, for the company you keep influences you for good or bad, but My Spirit strengthens you, sharpens you, and makes you holy. I regenerate you and renew you in your inner man. Your inner man is your source for life and righteousness and health and love, for it is that part of you that connects and fellowships with My Holy Spirit. Through your spirit I feed and direct the rest of you: your body, soul, and mind. You can't see your spirit, just as you cannot see your internal organs, but you can learn to recognize how your spirit works in relation to the other parts of your being. You are of great value and wonderfully made. I want every facet of you to fully function as I designed you to. Don't let your spirit grow flabby or dormant. Don't be ignorant of how to feed your spirit, like a person who ignorantly and impulsively feeds his body junk food without paying attention to how his eating habits affect his health and well-being.”
Since we live by the Spirit, let us fellowship with Him and keep in step with Him!
A Love Story from Christ
Luke 15:11-32 (NKJV) The Parable of the Prodigal Son
A parable is a story that makes a point. Other than the point, we really cannot derive doctrine from the story. If we can find other Scriptures that are not parables that can substantiate some of the specifics of the story then we can derive useful doctrine for living.
As we take a fresh look at the Parable of the Prodigal Son, I believe we can more fully understand how much God truly loves us; how much God truly loves you!
The main character in the parable:
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The loving, forgiving father, whose character remains constant throughout the story, and is a picture of God the Father.
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The younger son symbolizes the backslidden as he was previously a member of the family.
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The elder brother represents the self-righteous.
The prodigal son realizes he had no right to claim a blessing upon return to his father’s household, nor does he have anything to offer, except a life of service, in repentance of his previous decisions.
We see the father waiting for his son, perhaps daily searching the distant road, hoping for his appearance. The father notices him while he was still a long way off and ran to him. Obviously the father was longing for his son’s return.
When the father reaches his son, he throw his arms around him despite the stench sweat and pig’s excrement.
The father is so filled with joy at his son’s return that he doesn’t even allow his son to finish his confession. He doesn’t question or lecture him; instead, he unconditionally forgives him and accepts him back into fellowship.
God our Father greatly loves us, and patiently waits for us to repent so he can show us His great love.
Ephesians 2:4-5 (NKJV)
Titus 3:4-5 (NKJV)
1 Peter 1:3 (NKJV)
This prodigal son was satisfied to return home as a servant, but is restored back into the full privilege of being his father’s son. He had been transformed from a state of destitution to complete restoration. That is what God's love does for us!
The father orders the servants to bring:
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The best robe, (as sign of the prodigal’s acceptance back into the family)
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A ring for the son's hand (a sign of authority and sonship)
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Sandals for his feet (as only servants did not wear shoes.)
All these things represent what we receive in Christ upon salvation:
The robe of the Christ's righteousness:
Isaiah 61:10 (NKJV)
Romans 8:15 (NKJV)
Galatians 4:4-5 (NKJV)
Ephesians 1:4-6 (NKJV)
The authority to drive out demons and heal the sick:
Matthew 28:18-20 (NKJV)
Matthew 21:19-21 (NKJV)
Luke 10:18-19 (NKJV)
Feet fitted with the preparation of the gospel of peace:
Ephesians 6:14-15 (NKJV)
Notice that the prodigal son was previously a member of the father’s household. Unsaved or backslidden they both have been victimized by sin and through their choices have become enslaved to sin.
It amazes me that the father would even recognize his emaciated son while he was still a long way off. I would think that his hair would be a mess, his clothing rags, his stride faltering from lack of nourishment and water.
How do you picture yourself after you have sinned? Do you see yourself as a mess? Do you see yourself as spiritually emaciated having nothing to offer your heavenly Father for His mercy?
God knows you. He knows you are flesh. When you sin He knows that you will return to Him. He is looking for your return. He is not waiting to tell you how stupid you are or how you should have known better.
When the prodigal returned his father gave him a new robe. When we return God restores us with the robe of righteousness. He places a signet ring on our finger symbolizing the authority of His kingdom and he gives us shoes with which to take His kingdom to the lost.
I would submit that we need all three in order to accomplish God’s will for us. We obviously need the robe of righteousness that gives us right standing before God, allowing us to come boldly before His throne of grace.
Hebrews 4:16
When you pray do you come boldly with confidence before God’s throne in time of need? One cannot do that looking at how deserving or undeserving they are. Do you pray as the elders in Luke 7:1-5 (NKJV)?
The elders of the Jews did not have confidence to request Jesus’ mercy and grace in time of need so they come before him attempting to convince Jesus as to how deserving the Centurion is. They replaced right relationship with Jesus, with works.
We need the signet ring of God’s kingdom that gives us the authority to do the works that Jesus did and even greater works than those. John 14:12
But there is one more item that we need in order to use the previous three gifts that we received. That item is to understand how much God loves us!
1 John 3:1a (NKJV)
Ephesians 3:17-19 (NKJV)
I don’t know what hurts are buried in your souls. I do know that God the Father is looking for you to turn to Him, to receive His forgiveness because Jesus Christ took it all onto himself on the cross. Like him you can say it is finished!
You Are a Child in God's Family – March 24, 2019 – Steve Miller
When I was a teenager, every time my brothers or I would leave the house to go out somewhere, my mom would send us off with this directive: “Remember whose you are!” This truth, if I believed it and kept it in mind, would have a big impact on my confidence and the choices that I made.
Galatians 3:23 – 4:7
26So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, 27for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
4But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. 6Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” 7So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.
We should not be afraid, for God is with us. For we are His children, and He is our good Father. We should not take lightly what that means for us. We are sons and daughters in the same family in which Jesus is a Son. We are beloved by the Father and co-heirs with Christ. We have been made new and given entrance into the family of God.
Romans 8:14-17, 28-30
14For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” 16The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
Again it says that we are heirs of God, and co-heirs with Christ. The concept reminds me of the cartoon character Little Orphan Annie, who was adopted by the wealthy and powerful industrialist Daddy Warbucks. Imagine the ways that this new relationship impacted her life, and what protection, care, influence, and resources she became heir to, not just what she would own after he died, but even more with him looking after her as a father.
Now think about the grace that Jesus walked in as He lived His life as a man on earth. Although He is God, He laid aside His heavenly glory and lived as a true man filled with the Holy Spirit. So we now, as God's children filled with the same Holy Spirit, have access to the same grace, power, and resources to live God-pleasing lives and bring the influence of the Kingdom to the world around us! Are we mindful of this?
Romans 8:28-30
28And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 29For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
We are members of a household, God's household. We are being built together into a house, God's dwelling. We're like the Brady Bunch, only better and not dressed in plaid bell-bottoms.
Ephesians 2:19-22
19Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.
I think about how our family has grown from our marriage until now. With hope, prayer, and training of our children, I look forward to what we will be in the future. In the same way, we are growing and maturing and adding to God's family. In Christ the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord.
1 John 3:1-3
1See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 3All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.
Now we must remain in His love, remembering who we are and Whose we are. He will never leave us, neglect us, or abandon us. He will not abuse us, for He is a good Father, and we are His true children by faith. Our Father has loved us, and we must love our brothers and sisters in His family. Because we are His, that is who we are.
John 15:9-12
9“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.
We live under grace, and not through our performance. Yes, God wants us to please Him, but He provides the grace and love that empowers us to do that. God loves His children! He provides for us and trains us so that we will mature, growing to be like Jesus. He wants us to put our trust and hope in Him, for He has promised to be good to us. All this He has accomplished at the cross.
You Are the Body of Christ – February 10, 2019 – Steve Miller
I gained a greater appreciation of my right arm when I fractured it. Every body part is important.
1 Corinthians 12:27 says: Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
In Numbers 2, when Israel was in the wilderness, the Lord prescribed a specific place for each of Israel's tribes in the camp surrounding His tabernacle:
· On the east, toward the sunrise, was the camp of Judah: the tribes of Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun. They were to set out first.
· On the south was the camp of Reuben: the tribes of Reuben, Simeon, and Gad in their.
· In the middle, around the tabernacle, were to camp the divisions of the tribe of Levi. They would carry the tabernacle when traveling, and set out next.
· On the west side was the camp of Ephraim: the peoples of Ephraim, Manasseh, and Benjamin. They would set out third.
· On the north was the camp of Dan: the tribes of Dan, Asher, and Naphtali, the last in line.
Do not despise your brothers and sisters. In preparing for this message, this is what I felt the Lord was saying:
“You are all My children. There is not one of you who is not important to Me. Just as I surrounded My tabernacle in the wilderness with the tribes of Israel, so I surround Myself with My people and dwell in your midst. I have a place and purpose for each one of you, so do not despise your place. Do not despise your brothers and sisters, My children. The sons of Jacob thought they could cut off their brother Joseph, but he ended up delivering them from death. Thankfully, he did not respond by cutting them off.”
We know the story of Joseph and his brothers from Genesis, how they despised him for reasons that we generally might agree with, to be honest, if we were in their shoes:
Genesis 37:3-11
Like the Israelites in the Old Testament, we are the body of Christ; we are God's children. Everyone who has faith in Jesus as Lord is a member of Abraham's family. But we must remember that there is only one Lord in our family. Paul writes about this to the Ephesians:
Ephesians 4:1-8
Joseph's brothers were jealous of the gifts Jacob gave to Him. Are we ever envious of brothers and sisters for the gifts they've been given? The calling God has given them? The station in life and circumstances He's put around them? How do you think Paul felt about his position: “Prisoner for the Lord”? Do we ever despise our own place and calling that the Lord has given us?
Do we despise other believers because they've got it wrong? Their style is different. Their personality is different. Their doctrine is messed up. (We know because it's different than ours.) They sin. They're immature. They haven't got it all together like Jesus and we do.
Remember that we come into God's family by repenting of sin and giving over our lives to Jesus as Lord, and He responded by putting His Spirit in us to renew and empower us. He's the One in charge, and He has our best interests at heart. He's the One who loved us enough to die for us. This same Lord Jesus is the One with a plan for each of our lives, and has given special grace to each one of us for His purposes.
1 Corinthians 12:1-31
12Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.
24But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. 27Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
There are two overarching messages here:
· First, the Lord is the One who has made each of us who we are and placed us in the unique calling and place in His body that He wants us to function in. It's His plan, not ours. We are not all the same, but we are all important.
· Secondly, we need and depend on each other. If I or someone else is missing or not functioning, you and I and all of us will suffer. On the other hand, if we are all present and working together, we're all blessed and successful. We are a body, and we are His body.
Here's the remainder of the message I felt the Lord telling me as I was preparing:
“You are all My children, and I love you. Now dwell in My love. It is a roof over your house that protects you from the cold and the elements. My love will bind you together as one body. You cannot survive without My love, just as the parts of the body cannot survive without blood. I am your life. I shed My blood that you may have life abundantly. This happens only when you remain in My love and share it with one another.”
The body is dead without love. No matter how gifted or right or effective or important we might think we are, without love, each of us is more non-functional in the body of Christ than my fractured arm was for me. So let's examine Paul's most excellent way, which is love:
1 Corinthians 13:1-7 – 1If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
We can think we're completely right – and yet be totally wrong. Our enemy works by deception. So we need to become experts at what love really is. We need the Spirit's revelation,conviction,grace and empowerment to see and live out God's love in the midst of His body. I exhort each one of us to meditate on these last four verses that define love for us, asking that the Holy Spirit will do His work to change us by His grace as we yield to Him as Lord.
WELCOME TO YOUR LIFE
What is the goal of the Christian life?
One goal is the key to achieving all of our other goals.
Colossians 3:14 – Put on God’s love (agape’)
Ephesians 3:14-19
Being rooted and grounded in God’s love is the requirement for putting on love. Like Jesus, we reveal God’s true nature to this world when we walk in His love.
When we are rooted and grounded in God’s love for us, know who we are in Christ and have had the Gifts of the Spirit activated in our lives, we are then fully empowered to do to the works that Jesus did on a regular basis.
Biblical evangelism and the making of disciples. Nowhere in the Bible am I aware of the command to get people “saved”.
Matthew 28:16-20 (NKJV)
Whether “Go” in Go make disciples is the imperative form (Go!) or the passive form (going) I found much controversy and confusion. Does it really matter? Whether we go or as we are going isn’t the important thing that we are making disciples?
2 Timothy 2:1-3 - Replication of ministries - Disciplining and committing our ministry to others who are faithful and able to make disciples of others.
The Holy Spirit would not have inspired Ephesians 4:11, calling some to equip the church to the work of ministry, which includes making disciples.
For those not called as Ephesians 4 ministers, for those of us living in exile in this world until we return to the place of our true citizenship, as Stephen so well taught us a couple of weeks ago there is Jeremiah 29:4-7
The spiritual principle taught here instructs us that as we are going about everyday life that we are multiply and bring increase to the Kingdom of God.
Why is this important? It doesn’t matter if you are called to go or as you are going, you are to be making disciples.
Being rooted and ground in God’s love, we understand who we are in Christ.
Being filled with the fullness of God, and having the gifts of the Holy Spirit active in our lives, we may do the work of Christ, which is revealing the true nature of God the Father, and the truth of the Bible.
This is what our lives as Christians should be about. We should be “Jesus” with flesh on, in every place we go and in everything we do.
Philippians 3:12-15a
God does not want us looking behind but pressing forward to attain the high calling which He has given us.
Jeremiah 29:11-14
Going forward, we all have an opportunity and a choice. We can choose to actively press on in the Holy Spirit and be amazed at what God is doing in and through us.
Or we can settle for where we are today and be dismayed.
How do we press on into God?
By cooperating with what the Holy Spirit is doing in our midst. As the Bereans, take what we teach you and search the Scripture to see if it so. By doing the work of the ministry. And by prayer and supplication, hungering and seek for more of God’s love.
Kingdom of God
Gospel or Good News – Euangelion
Son of Man – Daniel 7
Son of God - 2 Samuel 7:14-16, Psalm 2:7 and Ps 89:27
Theme so far – Ruling and kingdom
Is Jesus ruling the world now?
Mark 9:1, Matthew 16:28 and Luke 9:27
Matthew 28:18, Matthew 11:27, John 3:35, John 13:3, and John 17:2
Jesus is ruling over all of creation and the rulers of this world are overthrown.
How can you say Jesus became King when God has always been King of this world?
Psalm 29:10 and Psalm 96
What about how messed up the world still is?
Matthew 13 (see also Mark 4:26-34)
Luke 19:11
Ephesians 1:20-21
What is our role in all of this?
Ephesians 3:10-11
Subdue the earth
Genesis 1
Fill the earth
Genesis 1
Upside-down kingdom
Revelation 3:21 (also see Revelation 12:11)
Romans 12: 19-21, 1 Peter 5: 8-10, Psalm 34, and I Peter 3:13-17,
How does suffering bring the kingdom?
1) Opens up others to the conviction of sin through the Holy Spirit
Luke 23:47 – “Certainly this man was innocent”
2) It prevents evil from gaining control of God’s people
Proverbs 15:1
Matthew 26:52
3) We grow in our knowledge of God
Romans 5:3-4
Christians often misunderstand the Holy Spirit. We have these false assumptions.
We must resist evil, or be overcome by evil.
If we do not defend our way of life, we will be forced to surrender our faith.
Where do we go from here?
How will you live what we discussed in your job, family, and all of creation?
What are areas where God is calling you to be more involved?
On Earth as it is in Heaven and the Resurrection
Temples
Jesus as the New Temple
John 2:18-22 and John 1:43-51
We are the temple because of Jesus dwelling in us
1 Corinthians 3:16-17
See also: 1 Corinthians 6:19, 2 Corinthians 6:16, Ephesians 2:19-22, Hebrews 3:6,
1 Peter 2:4-5
What is a temple?
Isaiah 6:, 1 Kings 8:27-30, Exodus 25:22 and Exodus 29:42-46
So a temple is where _________ and _________ overlap.
What about before the Temple or Tabernacle?
Exodus 19:9-12, Exodus 3:1-6, Genesis 28:10-17
In the beginning...
Genesis 1 and 2
Genesis 3
In Revelation ....
Revelation 21 and 22
Revelation 21:3b and Revelation 21:22
Importance of the Creation:
Genesis 2:7, Genesis 1:28, Genesis 8:16-17, Genesis 12:1-3, Jeremiah 29:4, John 3:16, Matthew 28:16-20, Romans 8:19-21
Resurrection
What is resurrection according to the New Testament?
It is bodily _________________________.
What is the Old Testaments perspective on resurrection?
Ezekiel 37:1-4, Daniel 12:1-2, Job 19:25-27
Did Jesus talk about a final resurrection?
John 5:19-30, Luke 20:27-37, Matthew 22:23-33 and Mark 12:18-27
New Spiritual and Physical Life
Romans 8:9-11 or similarly Romans 6: 7-11
Romans 8:23
New Creation
John 1:1, John 20:1, John 20:11-18, Romans 8:20-21
What if I am still happy with the view that going to Heaven is what happens when I die?
We are to be rescued from ______.
If our bodies ______ in the ground we are accepting _____________of God’s good image bearing creatures.
How does that change how I live today?
1 Cor. 15:58, 1 Corinthians 16:1-4
What you do with your _______ in the present matters because God has a great ________ in store for it.
Prepared for the Bridegroom – December 16, 2018 – Steve Miller
It's true – the shadows are lengthening; the day is drawing to a close.
· It's the end of 2018. Didn't we just start 2018? For that matter, didn't we just start the 21st century? And now we're almost a fifth of the way through it?
· Jesus said, “Yes, I am coming soon.” That was almost 2,000 years ago.
· Our babies are in all in high school and college. Many of you are grandparents (or a great-grandparents). The new buildings here are thirty years old. You've got grey hair. I have no hair.
· Besides the passing of time, we see Biblical signs that the end of the age is nearing. There are earthquakes, wars, and rumors of war. We see Christians hated by all nations because of Christ. There's an increase of wickedness, and the love of many has grown cold (Matthew 24). Many are going here and there, and knowledge has increased (Daniel 12:4).
John 9:4 – 4As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work.
The thought that our time here is limited can bring sadness, anxiety, or regret, but for us, God's people, that night will be a glorious one: the wedding feast of the Lamb!
Our Bridegroom is coming!
Revelation 19:6-9 – 6Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: “Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. 7Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. 8Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.” (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of God’s holy people.)
9Then the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!” And he added, “These are the true words of God.”
Revelation 21:1-4
What an awesome future is coming for God's people, His Bride! But how should a bride prepare to be wed to her husband? The most important thing is to be pure and faithful to Him. But any honest person will realize that we have not been completely pure and faithful to Christ. That's why the Gospel is good news for us:
1 Corinthians 6:9-11 – 9Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, 10nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
Our Bridegroom has made us pure. Grace makes us pure and empowers us to live faithfully. Have you accepted his grace? Have you by repentance, faith, and baptism, exchanged your unrighteousness for His purity? Do you continue to daily walk in that grace so that you may live your life faithfully for Him in this world?
Consider the words of one of the Christmas carols we sing the most:
O come, all ye faithful,
Joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye, to Bethlehem.
Come and behold Him,
Born the King of angels;
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.
Peter gives advice to wives about how to win over and be beautiful to their husbands. We can apply some of these principles to our preparation for our eternal union with Christ:
1 Peter 3:1-6
The key word there for us is to submit ourselves in obedience to Christ as Lord. Allow the Holy Spirit in us to produce His fruit which is true beauty in Jesus' sight. Do not let any kind of fear sway you from trusting obedience to Him.
1 Corinthians 10:13-14 – 13No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. 14Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry.
The Song of Solomon is reflects Christ's feelings for His redeemed and sanctified people:
Song of Solomon 4:9 – You have stolen my heart, my sister, my bride; you have stolen my heart with one glance of your eyes, with one jewel of your necklace.
The Lord is passionate about His relationship with us, and He wants us to grow more deeply in love with Him as we live out our days in this life. When Cathy and I were engaged, we spent just about all of our time outside of sleep and work time with each other. We talked about the future; we made plans for the wedding and our home together; I ate dinner with her and her family just about every evening. But most importantly, we spent a lot of time adoring each other. We were both singularly focused on each other. Similarly, the Lord wants our eyes to be fixed captivatedly on Him, getting to know Him more and more.
Hebrews 10:19-25
1 Chronicles 16:29 – Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; bring an offering and come before him. Worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness.
The Lord is calling us to draw near to Him, to fix our gaze on Him, to increasingly see and know Him in all His goodness, splendor, and holiness. Spend time worshiping Him, talking to Him, listening to Him, meditating on His words and deeds. Bring all kinds of offerings to Him, for what we invest in, we will increasingly love and be devoted to. Be excited about our Lord Jesus, for the day is soon approaching when we will be united with Him in our eternal home!
Growing in Grace to Maturity – November 18, 2018 – Steve Miller
We watched a video clip of a football defensive lineman who fell down and stayed lying on the turf while the play kept going around him. His team gave up a touchdown because he wasn't chasing the quarterback.
Would you lie down on the road? No, that's dangerous. You keep upright and alert in case a car comes through.
In the same way, God wants us to walk uprightly before Him. Living by His Word will keep us upright. Some Christians today might say, “Oh, that's the Law. We're saved by grace, so we don't need to teach that.” Well, no, actually, it is grace. Grace goes much deeper than just being our ticket to heaven.
Titus 2:11-15 – 11For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 12It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.
15These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you.
How does grace teach us self-controlled, upright, godly behavior? Stephen built a great scriptural foundation for us last week about the work of the Holy Spirit through His love that manifests in our lives.
Matthew Henry explains it this way in his commentary on Titus 2:12: “He loved us, and gave himself for us; and what can we do less than love and give up ourselves to him! Redemption from sin and sanctification of the nature go together, and make a peculiar people unto God, free from guilt and condemnation, and purified by the Holy Spirit. All Scripture is profitable. Here is what will furnish for all parts of duty, and the right discharge of them. Let us inquire whether our whole dependence is placed upon that grace which saves the lost, pardons the guilty, and sanctifies the unclean. And the further we are removed from boasting of fancied good works, or trusting in them, so that we glory in Christ alone, the more zealous shall we be to abound in real good works.”
Unfortunately, in many Christian circles today, it has become unpopular to teach about saying “No” to ungodliness. Some churches avoid Bible doctrine (which means Scriptural teaching) because they view it as divisive. Many churches don't teach the function of grace as our inward teacher that empowers us to grow into maturity – living self-controlled, upright, and godly lives.
Hebrews 5:11-6:3
Christian author John R.W. Stott, who spent much time traveling has been quoted as saying the greatest need of the Church around the world is maturity. He said we are 16 million miles wide and about a sixteenth of an inch thick.
God is our Father, so those of us who have children, either physically or spiritually, can identify with His feelings and desires for us, His children. He wants us to be victorious in this life, not defeated.
Chip Ingram, from his teaching series Living on the Edge: “God has a dream for your life that is right and good and wonderful, and it grows out of His kindness, His love and His goodness and His concern for you. And He wants to develop everything about you, but at the heart of what He wants to develop is your character. He wants to make you like His Son. That's the big agenda. More than where you were, more than specifics about how this turns out or that turns out, that's the heart of God.”
Christian psychologists Dr. Henry Cloud & Dr. John Townsend, in their book Raising Great Kids, echo God's dream in their teaching about human parenting: “Good kids are a product of the real goal of parenting: mature character. When children grow up with mature character, they are able to take their place as adults in the world and function properly in all areas of life. Character growth is the main goal of child rearing.”
So what is their definition of character?
“We view character as the structures and abilities within ourselves that make up how we operate in life. In other words, character is the sum of our abilities to deal with life as God designed us to.”
They outline five aspects of character:
· Attachment – the ability to form relationships
· Responsibility – taking ownership
· Reality – dealing with sin, loss, failure, and evil
· Competence – developing God-given gifts and talents
· Conscience – an internal sense of right and wrong
· Worship – spiritual growth, right relating to God
This definition of character is not Scripture, but God's Word has much to say about these aspects of mature character, and urges us to work on developing them in our lives. The good news is that it is the Holy Spirit's work in us that does it, and in fact, He even causes us to want to grow to be like Jesus.
Philippians 2:12-16 - 12Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.
14Do everything without grumbling or arguing, 15so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky 16as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain.
God wants us to immerse ourselves in His Word, and we will gain wisdom, which will guard us, lead us, and keep us on the right path. His love for us keeps us off of paths that lead to death.
Proverbs 2
Cloud and Townsend say that the ingredients that God has provided that produce growth in children are grace, truth, and time. We, His children, have His grace at work teaching, motivating, and empowering us to walk uprightly. His Word leads us in truth, which keeps us on right paths. And His Spirit is walking with us daily – it's a process – as we go through our lives, using our experiences to help us grow to maturity as beloved daughters and sons formed in the likeness of Jesus.
God Is Righteous – August 26, 2018 – Steve Miller
What does it mean to be righteous?
From dictionary.com: characterized by uprightness or morality; morally right or justifiable
But who determines what is right? Many people justify in their own minds behaviors and beliefs that are clearly wrong.
Avengers Infinity War: Would it be right to euthanize half the universe in order to save the other half?
In our modern world, many don't believe in absolute truth regarding right and wrong. The result of this thinking is that often “Might makes right.”
We believe that God is righteous, and it is He who determines what is right. And although God is almighty, He doesn't use that attribute to cause His mere whims to be “right.” He is righteous because He is love.
1 John 4:7-8 – 7Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 8Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.
1 John 4:16 – So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.
Jesus Himself boiled down all righteousness to loving God and other people:
Matthew 22:35-40 – 35And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. 36“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38This is the great and first commandment. 39And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”
God gave the Law to Moses and Israel in the Old Testament in order to show them the right way to live. Israel's obedience to it was the basis of God's covenant with them.
Deuteronomy 6:4-5 – 24The Lord commanded us to obey all these decrees and to fear the Lord our God, so that we might always prosper and be kept alive, as is the case today. 25And if we are careful to obey all this law before the Lord our God, as he has commanded us, that will be our righteousness.
That's not good news. Even when we think we do righteous acts, they aren't, because they flow out of corrupt hearts with wrong motives like selfishness, pride, or fear.
Isaiah 64:6 – We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.
Israel failed to keep their covenant with their righteous God, and it resulted in judgment.
Daniel 9:14 – The LORD did not hesitate to bring the disaster on us, for the LORD our God is righteous in everything he does; yet we have not obeyed him.
If that's the case, are we then without hope? No – praise God! Paul teaches amazing truths about God's righteousness in Romans:
Romans 3
10As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one;
20Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.
21But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify.
22This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.
23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
25God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— 26he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.
God's righteousness is demonstrated most through His greatest act of love and mercy!
Jesus is the One who justifies us; He, through His death on the cross, is our only source of righteousness.
Does that mean that God doesn't care how we live? Certainly not. The grace of God within us through Jesus is an overflowing source of love for all of us who believe. We've been given new garments of righteousness to wear.
Ephesians 4:20-24 – 20That, however, is not the way of life you learned 21when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
We have a new covenant with righteous God through the blood of Jesus. By repentance we can take off those filthy garments tainted by sinful motives and failure, and daily put on new ones. The redeemed life is one of constant renewal and regeneration in His righteousness.
John 15:9-11 – 9As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. 11These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
Our righteousness comes through abiding in relationship with our righteous Lord!
The God of All Comfort
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort... (2 Corinthians 1:3) If you need comfort, it’s important to go to the right source. Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. (John 16:7, ESV) But I tell you the truth; it is better for you that I go away, for if I may not go away, the Comforter will not come unto you, and if I go on, I will send Him unto you. (John 16:7, YLT) As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you. (Isaiah 66:13) The word comfort, as a verb, means “to make feel better.” Sources of comfort. If God offers us comfort, it suggests that we need some measure of comfort from something. “It is easy for us when we are happy and do not need comforting, to believe that our God is the ‘God of all comfort,’ but as soon as we are in trouble and need it, it seems impossible to believe that there can be any comfort for us anywhere. It would almost seem as if, in our reading of the Bible, we had reversed its meaning, and made it say, not ‘Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted,’ but ‘Blessed are they that rejoice, for they, and they only, shall be comforted.’ [Hannah Whitall Smith, The God of All Comfort.] Dr. John Henry Jowett: “You seem to imagine that I have no ups and no downs, but just a level and lofty stretch of spiritual attainment with unbroken joy and equanimity - but by no means is this the case! I am so often perfectly wretched, and everything appears most murky much of the time.” Charles Spurgeon: “I am the subject of depressions of spirit so fearful that I hope none of you ever get to such extremes of wretchedness as I go to.”
The Apostle Paul: “For we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself.” (2 Corinthians 1:8) God comforts us from at least 4 different things: loneliness afflictions and trials fears – specifically fear of the future sinfulness 1. LONELINESS And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you. (Psalm 9:10) The Holy Spirit is called the parakletos — “comforter.” You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. (Psalm 139:5, ESV) I look behind me and you’re there, then up ahead and you’re there, too—your reassuring presence, coming and going. (Psalm 139:5, MSG) Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. (Matthew 11:28-29) 2. AFFLICTIONS AND TRIALS The Thirty Years’ War was one of the longest and most destructive conflicts in human history. Rev. Martin Rinkart—40 funerals in a day. Now thank we all our God, with heart, and hand, and voices. Who wondrous things hath done, in whom His world rejoices; who from our mothers’ arms has blessed us on our way with countless gifts of love, and still is ours today.
And
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. (2 Corinthians 1:3-5) “In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) 3. FEARS—specifically fear of the future The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. (Psalm 23) When Moses asked God His name, the Lord said, “I Am.” I am your comfort. Whatever you need, He will be that for you. By day the Lord commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with me... (Psalm 42:8) God is already there, in the future. 4. SINFULNESS Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned... (Isaiah 40:1-2) He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him. (Psalm 103:10-13) There may be times when you find the convicting power of the Holy Spirit to be unsettling, but God is not out to get you.
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:1-2) For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:15-16) No eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him… (1 Corinthians 2:9) He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young. (Isaiah 40:11) Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10) A bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench… (Isaiah 42:3) “Has the kingdom of God been overadvertised, or is it only that it has been underbelieved; has the Lord Jesus Christ been overestimated, or has He only been undertrusted?” [Hannah Whitall Smith, The God of All Comfort.] Promise after promise says that He is with us. He has said that He won’t leave us or forsake us. He’s for us, not against us. He loves us. How do we not trust the comfort of a God like that?
The God of Peace – July 22, 2018 – Steve Miller
Have you ever heard a parent say how much they enjoy it when siblings fight and argue with each other? Me neither. I've also never heard my mom say how glad she feels that my brothers and sisters and our families are each living in separate states or countries. I know that my parents' favorite thing in all the world is when we're all together for reunion and having good fellowship with one another. They like peace and wholeness in our family. God feels that same way about His children, His Church.
Romans 15:33 - The God of peace be with you all. Amen.
HELPS Word-studies: eirḗnē(from eirō, "to join, tie together into a whole") – properly, wholeness, i.e. when all essential parts are joined together; peace (God's gift of wholeness).
Last week Tom taught about God's good kind of jealousy for us, His Bride. I think we can understand that the God of peace (or wholeness) wouldn't want His Bride to be suffering from multiple personalities disorder, both for our sakes and for His. Yet in reality, we often see a lack of wholeness and unity in the greater Body of Christ, in local communities, within individual congregations, and in our own Christian families and marriages. We need the God of peace to be with us to give us peace.
Romans 16:20
Philippians 4:9
1 Thessalonians 5:23
Hebrews 13:20-21
If the promised blessing for us is that the finished work of Christ on the cross has equipped us to do His will and works in us what is pleasing to Him, then what is His will and desire? How are we enabled?
Colossians 3:12-15 - 12Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. 15Let the peace of Christ rule (umpire) in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.
We are God's chosen, holy, and dearly loved people, but we need to be clothed with godly character, attitudes, words, and deeds. The fact that we are chosen and loved by God gives us the proper clothes, but we still have to put them on. The lack of any of these characteristics will threaten peace in our relationships.
Greater peace will come to the Church if we let the Lord and the clear teachings in His Word be the judge of our doctrine, and value relationships with our brothers and sisters more than propping up the views we ourselves hold.
Romans 14:1
(NIV) Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters.
(NLT) Accept other believers who are weak in faith, and don't argue with them about what they think is right or wrong.
(ESV) As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions.
HELPS Word-studies dialogismós (from /dialogízomai, "back-and-forth reasoning") – reasoning that is self-based and therefore confused – especially as it contributes to reinforcing others in discussion to remain in their initial prejudice.
To be sure, there are some doctrines (or teachings) that are non-negotiable to the Christian faith. Jesus is the Son of God. He died and rose again to save us from sin. We are saved by grace through faith.
1 Corinthians 11:19 - No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God's approval.
There are other doctrines in the Church that are mistaken, but do not keep a person from salvation. For example, the belief that the gifts of the Spirit have ceased today contradicts clear Scriptures, but those who espouse it, while missing out on part of God's will for them, still have a relationship with the Lord.
Philippians 3:15-16 - 15All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. 16Only let us live up to what we have already attained.
Still other teachings are not clearly explained in Scripture, and we will do well not to impose them on our brothers and sisters. God does not call all of us to the same habits and methods, nor are we walking at the same level of maturity all at once. God asks each of us to live by faith with a sincere conscience and to genuinely love one another.
Romans 14:1-9
What about the denominational divisions that are already in place in the body of Christ? What about marriage and family relationships that have been harmed or broken by a lack of peace? How can we overcome barriers and divisions that already exist between us as groups or as individuals?
Ephesians 2:13-18
If God can unite Jews and Gentiles, then He can also break down the dividing walls we've made. It's the cross of Jesus that has brought us into God's family, so the cross and the Holy Spirit also empower us to love one another as brothers and sisters within His family.
One of the enemy's chief strategies to harm and weaken us is to tempt us to strife and division in our churches and families. It's a regular battle we must fight. Therefore God gives us strategy for maintaining His peace.
Philippians 4:2-9
God is eternal. He always was and always will be AND He lives outside of time. So what does all this mean for us? 1. Only an eternal God could truthfully offer men eternal life.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” (John 3:16-17)
If God wasn’t eternal, then His promise of eternal life would be empty. 2. We need to see from God’s perspective Everything that you and I do and see and experience is wrapped up in time. But God’s perspective is an eternal one.
Romans 8:30 tells us that “those whom he justified he also glorified.” “He also glorified.” That’s past tense. It’s already done. What if we saw one another like that?
- We would be less concerned about the here and now “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself.” (Matthew 6:25-34) Casting Crowns, “Already There” We don’t need to be concerned about what’s ahead because God is already there. We will face difficulties in this life. There will be trials, testings and challenging situations. But God is there with us. Because God is eternal – outside of time – He is never caught by surprise. The eternal God is your dwelling place and underneath are the everlasting arms. (Deuteronomy 33:27) You can trust God because He is alive – right now – in your tomorrow.
Christian Outreach Church, 9 April 2018
God Is Eternal “You thought I was like you.” (Psalm 50:21) Martin Luther wrote to Erasmus, “Your thoughts of God are too human.” One of the greatest differences between God and us is that He is eternal. Abraham ... called there on the name of the Lord, the Everlasting God. (Genesis 21:33) Your throne is established from of old; you are from everlasting. (Psalm 93:2) Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God... (Isaiah 40:28) The Lord is the God who lives forever… (NCV) For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. (Romans 1:20) Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. (Hebrews 13:8) “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” (Revelation 1:8)
Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. (Psalm 90:1-2) We had a starting point. God had no beginning, and He’ll have no ending either.
God’s attributes impact one another. If God is not eternal then He’s not immutable. If God were not eternal, then He is also not almighty.
If we want to somewhat grasp eternity, then we need to somewhat understand time.
Time had a beginning. …eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began (Titus 1:2) (NIV: before time began) God, who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began... (2 Timothy 1:8-9) But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages... (1 Corinthians 2:7)
time-space-matter video
“God dwells in eternity, but time dwells in God. He has already lived our tomorrows, and He has lived all our yesterdays.” [A.W. Tozer (in The Knowledge of the Holy)]
Physicist John Wheeler said, “Time is what keeps everything from happening at once.” God’s experience of time is qualitatively different than ours, because He’s outside of time.
We human beings see one point at a time. God sees all things as present.
Remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose. (Isaiah 46:9-10)
Prophecies in the Bible are simply history written down before it happens.
Philosophers have disagreed for centuries as to the exact nature and definition of time. St. Augustine said this about time, “If no one asks me I know, but if I wish to explain it to someone who asks I do not know.” William Lane Craig said that apart from the idea of God, there is no concept “so profound and so baffling as that of time.” Because God is eternal, He exists outside of time. He can be in all times all at once.
God Is Good - Sunday, January 28, 2018 - Steve Miller
What is good? The word "good" can have kind of a vague meaning. How do we define this word? Are these things good?
· This dog is good. (obedient, friendly)
· Pecan pie a la mode (using Bryers ice cream) is good. (desirable)
· Adam Vinatieri's Super Bowl XXXVI game-winning field goal against the Rams was good. (accurate, successful) And like me, you probably feel that was definitely NOT good!
· Captain America is good. (moral, virtuous, powerful)
· Mozart was good. (talented)
So what does it mean when we say that God is good?
Mark 10:17-18
Psalm 119:65-68
Every week we say this truth about God's character: "God is good -- all the time! All the time -- God is good!" But what does it mean in our lives? Do we really know Him this way, as good?
Bill Johnson - "Whenever God reveals something about His nature, it always comes with the invitation to know Him in that way. Never does the understanding of His nature come to us just to make us more theologically sound. That's important, but it is secondary. What's important is to know Him in that way, to encounter Him. So when He says, 'I'm your provider,' I don't want to walk away from that revelation without provision. When He says, 'I am your holiness,' I don't want to walk away the same way that I came in. I want to leave changed because I have encountered Him, and now relationally I come to know Him in that way."
In both the Old Testament and New Testament, God revealed Himself to us as our Good Shepherd. Let's look at what His goodness is as He describes Himself in that role in our lives. At the same time, we want to pay attention to what that says about who we are in Christ.
John 10:11-15 - 11“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
What makes Him good is His being willing to lay down His life for us.
Because He has already demonstrated His goodness to us in this way, we can trust Him for all other matters in our lives:
Romans 8:32
Psalm 23 is one of the greatest descriptions of the goodness of God toward us. Let's look at it.
Psalm 23:1-6 - 1The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2He makes me lie down in green pastures.
· Sheep that lie down are well fed and satisfied. The word used for "green" denotes new, fresh, or tender grass.
He leads me beside still waters.
· It's a place of peace, sustenance, and rest for His sheep.
· Psalm 36:7-9
3He restores my soul.
· Many things we encounter in life wound, damage, or discourage our souls. Our own sins cause damage, and the sins of others take their toll. He provides healing and restoration from both.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name’s sake.
· In so many situations and areas of life, we have no clue what is the best way to go or right choice to make.
· Proverbs 3:5-6
· Psalm 119:68
4Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
· Palestine is known for its gloomy and treacherous ravines. There is no denying that we will walk through dangerous and discouraging situations as we go through life. The encouragement and confidence we have is in knowing that He is with us and that He is good: capable, powerful, wise, righteous, desirable, and committed our best interests.
· John 16:33
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
· His rod comforts us in defending us against peril from enemies that may attack.
· The old cartoon character Pogo famously said, "We have met the enemy, and he is us!"The Lord's staff comforts us from our own tendency to wander off the path and away from His guidance, provision, and protection. He is committed to keep pulling us back to His path and presence.
5You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
· This shows victory over the devil and the world, protection from attacks, overcoming persecution for Christ's name, loving your enemies, rejoicing in the midst of trials.
· Romans 8:28
· Story of Dimitri's Heart Song from The Insanity of God by Nik Ripken.
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
· We think of David, anointed king of Israel by Samuel many years before, waiting on the Lord while Saul was still alive and hunting David down to kill him. Yet God was with David and blessing him. Anointing with oil represents God's calling for us to minister, pouring out His Holy Spirit on us, and filling us with joy and gladness.
· 1 Samuel 16:13
· Isaiah 61:1-3
6Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
· The Hebrew word for "follow" here means to pursue or chase after, like a predator chases down the prey. Imagine - no matter what circumstances you go through - God always causes goodness and mercy to continually chase you down, no matter what difficulties or discouragement or fearful things you may encounter!
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.
· We couldn't hope to dwell in God's house forever if He did not desire it.
Ezekiel 34
So since the Lord is our Good Shepherd, what does that say about who we are in Him?
· He wants us to utterly depend on Him for all things in life.
· He desires us to trust in Him, because He is good. Know He will not fail us nor abandon us.
· We must feed on His rich Word and His presence, so that we will remain strong and grow.
· We can face any difficulty with confidence and peace, knowing His goodness.
· We must follow His leading on right paths. Even when we tend to stray, He knows how to pull us back on His way.
· The anointing and blessing He provides for us should overflow to those around us. His goodness and mercy will follow us throughout our lives, even in the sense that those in our wake are blessed by His goodness as well.
God Restores, Redeems. Renames and Resurrects
And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” (Revelation 21:5)
Jesus’ death and resurrection changed all the rules. He undid the curse. Through dying and rising back to life, He is making all things new.
Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. (Isaiah 43:19)
Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand-new. It’s bursting out! Don’t you see it?
There it is! I’m making a road through the desert, rivers in the badlands. (from THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved.)
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. (2 Corinthians 5:17)
Because of His new mercies, He restores and reorients us toward Himself each day. It’s not a one-time thing.
God speaks into the situations in our lives and those situations are altered because of what God says about them.
God restores
Jacob said, “Few and evil have been the days of the years of my life…” (Genesis 47:9)
Jacob, looking back on his life, talked about, “the God who has been my shepherd all my life long to this day.” (Genesis 48:15) He went on to say that he had been “redeemed ... from all evil.” (Genesis 48:16)
Sam Gamgee: “I thought you were dead! But then I thought I was dead myself! Is everything sad going to come untrue?” (The Lord of the Rings)
“I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten…” (Joel 2:25)
God is the One who restores what has been stolen and even what we’ve squandered.
God redeems (in the sense of the redeemer kinsman)
The book of Ruth – an amazing story of God’s redemption.
Naomi said, “I went away full, and the Lord has brought me back empty.” (Ruth 1:21)
“The unique emphasis of the redemption/salvation/vindication associated with the kinsman-redeemer is the fact that this action is carried out by a kinsman on behalf of a near relative in need.”
(https://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionaries/bakers-evangelical-dictionary/kinsman-redeemer.html)
“I know that my redeemer lives.” (Job 19:25)
Do not move an ancient landmark or enter the fields of the fatherless, for their Redeemer is strong... (Proverbs 23:10-11)
Too often we live in the past. We live in our past mistakes.
Yet we have a Redeemer Who has brought us – and continues to bring us – into newness of life.
What if Joseph, in the Old Testament – after he was vindicated – continued to act like he was in prison?
That’s what the people of Israel did in the Old Testament. God rescued them from slavery in Egypt but they continued to live with a slavery mentality.
God renames
In the Bible, names often carried a lot of significance. But what I think is even more significant is the renaming of people in Scripture.
Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands. (Isaiah 49:16)
New Century Version:
See, I have written your name on my hand.
We are that special to God that He wants be sure to remember us.
I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it. (Revelation 2:17)
If you ever start thinking that God is far off, impersonal, beyond our reach, remember that He is going to give you a new name that only He and you know.
God today is saying you’re His child, you’re forgiven, you’re loved by Him.
You’re a new creature in Christ and you have a new identity. Use it. Act like it.
God resurrects
Ravi Zacharias has frequently said, “God didn’t come to make bad people good. He came to make dead people alive.”
Through the death and resurrection of Jesus, God resurrects us.
If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you. (Romans 8:11)
An ongoing action. That same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead keeps on giving life to our mortal bodies.
“But I haven’t seen it yet.”
· David taking food to his brothers at the front lines in the standoff with the Philistines.
· Saul of Tarsus on the road to Damascus.
· Lazarus just before Jesus cried out, “Lazarus, come forth.”
· The woman with the issue of blood for 12 years.
In an instant, everything can change.
Christian Outreach Church, 31 December 2017
Discord
“I did not grow up in a Christian fellowship or in a family that went to church. When I started going to church, I had no history, either good or bad, with being part of a church community. I came into the family of God with a blank slate. Over the coming years, I was amazed at how kind and loving Christians were. For the most part, they reached out to me, tried to help me figure out how to walk with Jesus, and cheered me on. A lot of them even prayed for me and encouraged me as I was growing up in the faith. With time, I got so close to some Christians that I discovered they loved me enough to tell me when I was making a dumb choice or living in a way that did not honor God. These people actually cared enough to point out where I was messing up and helped me learn to read the Bible, make better choices, and receive the grace of God when I stumbled and fell. I have to say it, and say it loud and clear: I am a big fan of Christians!” [Reckless Faith, Kevin G. Harney]
Rather than walk that through the situation in a godly manner, people got hurt feelings and walked out.
When those kinds of things happen repeatedly, there is a pattern that is established, and a spiritual atmosphere that is established.
“The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.” (Galatians 5:19-21, NIV)
Webster’s 1828 Dictionary
Discord – “Disagreement among persons or things. Between persons, difference of opinions; variance; opposition; contention; strife; any disagreement which produces angry passions, contest, disputes, litigation or war. discord may exist between families, parties and nations.”
In the New Testament, the Greek word – éris
éris literally means “quarrel, i.e. (by implication) wrangling”
It is translated various ways, including:
· strife
· contentions
· making trouble
· fighting
· quarreling
· cutthroat competition
· rivalry
There is a huge difference between this word – discord – and disagreement.
When you and I have a disagreement, rather than being my brother or sister in Christ, you become my adversary.
“There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.” (Proverbs 6:16-19, ESV)
“When the authorities arrested and imprisoned a house-church pastor and father of seven children, they also placed his wife under house-arrest. The pastor’s wife was told that she was allowed to leave her home only to shop at the local market. That didn’t seem to matter much to her; she had no money to purchase food at the market anyway. She had to rely on faithful fellow house-church members for food. As it turns out, they provided for her well. She would wear a baggy smock with large pockets over her other clothes when she went to her village’s open-air market. Walking slowly through the crowd as she wandered in and out among the stalls, she would notice a nudge here and a tug there until she had walked through the entire market. By the time she reached home, her pockets would be filled with tomatoes and onions and other items. Sometimes there was money in a pocket. She always seemed to come home with just enough food to feed her family of eight for another day. Occasionally, when those seven children got really hungry, the mother would be surprised to find a chicken on her front steps. One day her oldest son was offered a job in a nearby city—and there just happened to be a bicycle leaning up against their front door. Seemingly out of the blue, the boy had transportation to and from work.” [Nik Ripken, The Insanity of God]
That wouldn’t happen if believers are at odds with one another.
“We call ourselves Christian but we are not known for the kind of love Jesus said would mark his followers.” (Ted Dekker, Waking Up: To Who You Really Are)
If an arm or a foot or a finger is amputated, that part of the body dies. (see 1 Corinthians 12)
But what if we are genuinely attached to the Body – a local Christian community – but another part is cut off?
Even if you’re not the one who is cut off, there is still an underlying awareness – at least at some level – that that person is supposed to be connected.
When you have an inclination to speak against someone, ask yourself a question: Is that person is a believer – a follower of Christ.
When I frame it like that, then the other things are far less significant.
We need to remember that according to Ephesians 2, Jesus died not only to reconcile us to the Father, but also to one another. His death and resurrection causes us to be united with the Father and with one another.
“We are members of one another.” (Ephesians 4:25)
“If one member suffers, all suffer together…” (1 Corinthians 12:26)
“Some people tempt me out of the flow of the Spirit. They judge me, and I feel discouraged. They dislike me, and I feel rejected. They are a black hole of need and drain me. They throw roadblocks in my path and discourage me. They anger me. They scare me. They depress me. Plus I don’t like them.” (John Ortberg, The Me I Want to Be)
“Honestly, I don’t really like dealing with other people’s problems. I’ve got enough problems of my own. In fact, I don’t like dealing with needy people in general. Needy people require time and resources and emotional investment and phone calls in the wee hours of the morning and the occasional bailing out of jail. Being around them is draining. I would rather be around people who have something to offer. You know, funny people or smart people or popular people or rich people. People who make me feel good about myself. People who let me be a burden to them instead of the other way around.” [Stephen Altrogge, Untamable God: Encountering the One Who Is Bigger, Better, and More Dangerous Than You Could Possibly Imagine]
We generally hold others to a higher standard than we hold ourselves to.
What if we chose to view each other, not as the old sinful, argumentative, cantankerous folks that we know, but as new creatures in Christ?
How we see each other – as old creatures or as new creatures – changes how we interact with one another.
“You’re familiar with the old written law, ‘Love your friend,’ and its unwritten companion, ‘Hate your enemy.’ I’m challenging that. I’m telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best — the sun to warm and the rain to nourish — to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that.
“In a word, what I’m saying is, Grow up. You’re kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you.”
(Matthew 5:43-48, from THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved.)
“But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready, for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way?”
(1 Corinthians 3:1-3, ESV)
If having jealousy and strife means we are babies, then if you were the enemy, what would you want to do?
What’s your heart’s desire in this area?
Christian Outreach Church, 10 September 2017
Build on the Faith You've Been Given - 8/13/17 - Steve Miller
Jesus commanded us to go and make disciples of all nations, starting at home. The reason we have Christian Outreach School is because God has called us to help parents disciple our children into the calling that they have from Jesus. He's the One who said, "Follow Me."
Eric Johnson: Do we follow Jesus like we follow someone on Twitter or Instagram? To follow Him is to go where He goes and do what He does with Him.
Someone gave me a packet of giant pumpkin seeds, but I didn't do anything with them, so I have no giant pumpkins.
2 Peter 1:1-2
Through the grace and righteousness of Jesus, you have been given a faith of equal standing with that of Peter's and the other apostles!
If that's true, then why is the experience of most of us different than that of the apostles?
2 Peter 1:3-4
If someone gave you a new, high-powered Macbook laptop computer and made sure that your electric bill was all paid up and you had unlimited high-speed internet wi-fi, what would you do with it? That's what God is asking us about this faith He's given us. What are we going to build on it?
2 Peter 1:5-7 - 5For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.
A look at the meaning of the key Greek words used here, with the help of Helps Word Studies:
supplement = epixorēgéō lavishly supply, as it is suitable (apt) to outfit all that is needed to accomplish a grand objective.
Make every effort to lavishly supply with these things in order to accomplish God's grand objective for your life.
virtue = arétēmoral goodness; moral excellence; righteousness. This is the same word as used of God at the end of verse 3.
Supplement your faith with virtue. As you are walking with Jesus, you will do the same things He does, not through your strength, but through His. It's the natural fruit of faith.
Galatians 5:22-25
knowledge = gnṓsis functional ("working") knowledge gleaned from first-hand (personal) experience, connecting theory to application; "application-knowledge," gained in (by) a direct relationship.
Supplement virtue with knowledge. This knowledge is knowing how your relationship with Him works out in your daily life and ministry.
Acts 4:13
self-control = egkráteia (from en, "in the sphere of" and krátos, "dominion, mastery") dominion within – proceeding out from within oneself, but not by oneself. For the believer, self-control can only be accomplished by the power of the Lord.
Supplement your knowledge with self-control. Knowledge shows you what to do, but self-control enables you to put it into practice.
John 15:5
steadfastness = perseverance, patient waiting for hypomonḗ (from hypó, "under" and ménō, "remain, endure") – properly, remaining under, endurance; steadfastness, especially as God enables the believer to "remain (endure) under" the challenges He allots in life.
Supplement your self-control with perseverance. What will you do when the going gets tough, or when everything seems to be going great?
James 1:12
godliness = eusébeia (from eú "well" and sébomai, "venerate, pay homage") – properly, someone's inner response to the things of God which shows itself in godly piety (reverence). eusébeia ("godly heart-response") naturally expresses itself in reverence for God
Supplement your steadfastness with godliness. We must learn to take Him seriously and treat Him with the honor and worship He is due.
brotherly affection = philadelphía (from phílos, "loving friend" and adelphós, "a brother") – properly, affection for the brethren (fellow-believers).
Supplement your godliness with brotherly affection. If we've got the right way to reverence and relate to the Lord our Heavenly Father, then we also need to grow in fellowship with all other believers, our brothers and sisters in God's family. What does our Father God think when we reject our brothers and sisters over disagreements, offenses, or differences?
Psalm 133:1-3
love = agápē – properly, love which centers in moral preference. So too in secular ancient Greek, (agápē) focuses on preference; likewise the verb form (agapáō) in antiquity meant "to prefer". In the NT, (agápē) typically refers to divine love (= what God prefers)
John 15:12-13
Finally, supplement your brotherly affection with love. We are to not only fellowship with other believers, but to sacrifice for them.
What are the results of all this building or supplementing to the faith, the relationship with Him He's given to us through Jesus Christ?
2 Peter 1:8-11
What a tragedy and what a waste for us believers to end life being ineffective and unfruitful in our relationship with Jesus! All of us, young and old, need to actively participate in Jesus' personalized discipleship program for us, following Him through life step by step, day by day. He has rich rewards waiting at the end of this path for those of us who walk with Him.
2 Peter 1:12-15
Have you heard any of these things before? That's okay. We drill God's truths into you so that they will become concrete reality in your life, and that you will pass them on to the next generation.
An Introduction to Abundance - The Lens of Outgiving God
Luke 18:28- 30
2 Corinthians 9:6-15
In urging the Corinthian believers to give generously, Paul is aware that he must address a very human concern in a world of limited resources Paul assures them that in God’s economy things work differently.
2 Corinthians 9:6 6 But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
Proverbs 11:24-25 (NKJV)
24 There is one who scatters, yet increases more; And there is one who withholds more than is right, But it leads to poverty.
25 The generous soul will be made rich, and he who waters will also be watered himself.
1. GOD’S SUPPLY: He is the source of every blessing in my life!
Psalm 50:7-12
2. GOD’S DESIGN: He created us to be a channel of blessing, not a container!
2 Corinthians 9:8 8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.
John 7:37-38 37 On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. 38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”
Acts 20:35 35 I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
2 Cor. 9:11 11 while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God.
3. GOD’S CYCLE: The more I give away, the more there is to give away!
2 Corinthians 9:11 11 while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God.
Luke 6:38 (NKJV) 38 Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”
Malachi 3:10 (NKJV) 10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this,” says the Lord of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it.
Acts 3:6 (NKJV) 6 Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.”
Philippians 4:19 (NKJV) 19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Matthew 6:19-21 (NKJV) 19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
We started by saying God loves a cheerful giver. A giver can only give cheerfully that which he or she does not treasure.
Our Father Provides - July 2, 2017 - Steve Miller
Do you feel like a child or an adult? Here are some thoughts someone compiled on the subject.
· Growing old is mandatory. Growing up is optional.
· Boys never grow up. Just their toys get bigger and bigger!
· We never really grow up, we just learn how to behave in public.
· Some people are like trees - they take forever to grow up.
· I haven't changed. I just see things differently now.
Mark 10:13-16 - He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”
What does Jesus mean when He says we must receive the kingdom of God like a little child?
Do any of these sayings sound familiar to you?
· You've got to pull yourself up by your own bootstraps.
· God helps those who help themselves.
· You have to earn a living.
· You have to make your own way in this world.
· You have to provide for yourself.
We live in America, a culture of independence and self-reliance. There is some truth in the statements above. Hard work is good, and so is acceptance of responsibility. But as Christians, children in God's family, we need to see things differently than our culture does. Specifically, our culture worries a lot about money.
Matthew 6:25-34 - So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
The key concept Jesus is telling us is that we have a Father who takes responsibility to provide for our needs. We who are in Christ are members of His family, His children.
Even in our culture, children are not meant to carry the burden of providing basic necessities of food, clothing, shelter, health care, and education for themselves. Likewise, then, if God is indeed our Father, the responsibility for provision for our basic needs falls on Him.
Is this a message of irresponsibility?
The key verse in Jesus' teaching is this: But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. In any proper family, children are given work to do by their parents.
Growing up, I was never concerned about paying for any of life's necessities. My parents never laid that burden on me. But they didn't let me grow up as a lazy person, either. They gave me work to do.
This is the meaning of "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." As children in God's family, our responsibility is to find out what He asks us to do and do it to the best of our ability. His responsibility is to provide for us all that we need. Sometimes it seems that those two concepts are connected, in the form of our paycheck. But sometimes they are not, and all of us would do well to keep the two concepts, the work God assigns to us and His provision for us, separate. Understanding this truth helps us to trust God and not worry.
If my primary goal after graduating from college had been to provide for myself financially, I would not have followed the career path that Cathy and I have. Sometime I learned to yield my path to the Lord's will, praying that He would lead me to the work that He wanted me to do. Cathy and I could tell myriad testimonies of the Lord's provision in our life together. Although our tax forms might suggest we are poor, we live a life of ample provision.
God's career and provision path for us will not be the same as His path is for you, but He will show you the same fatherly faithfulness.
Paul taught about living as children in God's family in broader scope and greater depth in Ephesians 1.
Ephesians 1:3-14
· Our membership in God's family is an adoption that comes in Christ Jesus through His grace. How many times does this repeat some form of the phrase "in Christ"? Your provision as God's child, of whatever kind you may need, comes to you by grace in Christ Jesus.
· His provision for us, like every other spiritual blessing we receive from the Father, is for the praise of His glory. No credit for provision goes to us. The reason that we belong to God's family and have everything that we need is because God is awesome, plain and simple.
· Our earthly provision is just the tip of the iceberg of the manifold inheritance that we have from our adoption into God's family.
What we need is to see ourselves and our provision the way God sees us, in the light of the Gospel. We need a revelation from Him, a change in our earthly thinking and viewpoint. That is one of the jobs of the Holy Spirit with whom we were marked. Here is Paul's prayer for the Ephesians and for us:
Ephesians 1:15-23 - I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.
I remember a time when I was three years old when I failed to trust my dad to keep me above water in the swimming pool. Of course, I was totally safe in his arms.
In the same way, we need to believe that our heavenly Father knows what we need and has promised to provide it for us. Then we are freed from worry about those things, and can seek His kingdom and His righteousness for our lives each day. Holy Spirit, give us Your wisdom and revelation, that we may know our Father better.
The Responsibility of Marriage
Responsibility to honor and esteem marriage
“Let marriage be held in honor among all…” (Hebrews 13:4)
The word “honor” in the Greek is the word “timios”
1 Peter 1:19 talks about how we have been redeemed “with the precious blood of Christ.”
1 Peter 2:4 talks about how Jesus is “chosen and precious” in the sight of the Father.
“For your Maker is your husband, the Lord of hosts is his name…” (Isaiah 54:5)
Clearly, from God’s perspective, marriage is a big deal.
Jesus’ very first miracle was done at a wedding. He was esteeming marriage.
Too many today hold marriage in low esteem.
Responsibility to fulfill the commitment that we made in marriage.
Background of the word “responsibility.”
There is a responsibility that is involved in marriage.
Marriage is “‘til death parts us,” not “until I’m tired of trying.”
Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm, for love is strong as death… Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it. If a man offered for love all the wealth of his house, he would be utterly despised. (Song 8:6-7)
Clara Gantt story.
What does the commitment mean practically?
Genesis 1: “It was good.” Over and over.
Chapter 2: “It’s not good.” Something was wrong. And it was that fact that Adam was alone.
“He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord.” (Proverbs 18:22)
“Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” (Genesis 2:24)
And we should recognize that there are multiple aspects to marriage.
Ruth Ryan, Covering Home -- My Life with Nolan Ryan.
Responsibility to continue to love unreservedly
Walking in love makes you vulnerable and puts you at risk.
That’s exactly what happened to Jesus.
Pastor Benjamin Karner quote from Unity in the Body.
Ideally, taking advantage of the other person shouldn’t happen in a Christian marriage relationship. Both partners should be trying to outlove, outgive the other.
If you’re married, you’re married to a person who has a sinful nature.
The tendency is to be less extreme in love.
When you make the decision to not love fully, there’s a part of you that begins to die.
Cyrus the Great and the Armenian prince and princess.
Responsibility to keep the physical relationship pure
As followers of Christ, there should be no crudeness or innuendo or revealing of intimate secrets in a public setting.
“It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret.” (Ephesians 5:12, NIV)
Lust is desiring what you don’t have. It is the opposite of contentment.
Rosaria Butterfield quote from The Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert.
Only God can redeem sin.
Missing the mark.
“Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled.” (Hebrews 13:4)
Be Careful, Eyes and Mind - April 30, 2017 - Steve Miller
Overconfident in my war against the COC campus vines, I ignored warnings to be careful and ended up with with a bad case of poison ivy.
When you were a young child, did you learn this song?
Oh, be careful, little eyes, what you see,
Oh, be careful, little eyes, what you see,
For your Father up above is looking down in love,
So be careful, little eyes, what you see.
It's a childish melody, but it's message is a dead serious one. Jesus said:
Matthew 6:22-23 - 22“The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. 23But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!"
Are our eyes taking in things that are good and holy and true? Then we will be full of light. Do we look on sinful things? Then we're filling ourselves with darkness. That's destructive.
We live in a day and age when if we're teaching about marriage, we must address the issue of pornography and lustful or adulterous thinking.
The temptation of lust is as old as sinful humanity.
Job 31:1 - “I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a young woman."
Unfortunately, we're often prone to ignore God's warnings and think that these kinds of sights, forms of entertainment, or wandering thoughts are harmless. We use rationales like these:
That's normal society. We have to live in the world, right?
If I'm aware that it's wrong, I won't let it hurt me.
God is a gracious God. He understands I'm not perfect.
It's not bad if I'm just thinking about it and not actually doing it.
If you don't understand the ways of the world, you'll be naive and vulnerable to them.
It's just a romance book, and it's even by a Christian publisher.
However, Jesus didn't view temptations to sin lightly.
Matthew 5:27-30 - 27“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell."
Martin Luther: "You can't prevent the birds from flying over your head, but you can keep them from building a nest in your hair."
The important thing is how we choose to respond when tempting sights or thoughts appear.
James 4:7 - Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
The wisdom of Proverbs explains the far-reaching effects of what we choose to look at and think about:
Proverbs 4:23 - Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.
A famous saying teaches us wisdom:
“Watch your thoughts, they become words;
watch your words, they become actions;
watch your actions, they become habits;
watch your habits, they become character;
watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.”
From Casting Crowns' song "Slow Fade":
Be careful little eyes what you see,
It's the second glance that ties your hands
As darkness pulls the strings.
Be careful little feet where you go,
For it's the little feet behind you that are sure to follow.
It's a slow fade when you give yourself away,
It's a slow fade when black and white are turned to gray,
And thoughts invade, choices are made,
A price will be paid
When you give yourself away.
People never crumble in a day,
It's a slow fade.
The journey from your mind to your hands
Is shorter than you're thinking.
Be careful if you think you stand
You just might be sinking.
People never crumble in a day,
Daddies never crumble in a day,
Families never crumble in a day.
So how can we vigilantly guard what our eyes see and our minds think?
· Develop the fear of the Lord in our lives, and practice awareness of His presence.
· 1 Corinthians 10:6-12
· God's love for us is constant and unfailing, but our thoughts, words, and actions can either please or displease Him.
· Realize that what you view and think about ultimately affects others around you.
· Meditate on the Word of God and truth. Practice thanksgiving.
· Psalm 119:9-16
· Develop relationships with brothers or sisters with whom you can be honest and pray.
· Rich Mullins' story about Amsterdam
· James 5:16 - Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
What if I have been caught in this trap? There is hope.
· Repentance is the way out.
· 1 John 1:9 - If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
· Remember who you really are.
· Romans 6:3-7
· Ephesians 2:10 - For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
The Resurrection – So What?
Remind them of these things… (2 Timothy 2:14)
He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces… (Isaiah 25:8)
What if you could write a letter to one of the early apostles?
Lambs
Sin separates us from God.
· But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear. (Isaiah 59:2)
The Lamb of God – Jesus – bore our sins
· …the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb… (1 Peter 1:19)
· Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed… (1 Corinthians 5:7)
Jesus bridged that chasm by paying our penalty.
· There is no other name given under heaven by which we can be saved. (Acts 4:12)
Charles Spurgeon: “Beloved, the dying Christ has purchased for us our justification, but the risen Christ will see that we get it.”
I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” (1 Corinthians 15:50-55)
Sesame Street -- Mr. Hooper
There will be a resurrection – because Jesus rose from the grave.
Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples went back to their homes.
But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). (John 20:1-16)
Dr. W. A Criswell – morning is coming.
But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14)
If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead… (1 Corinthians 15:13-20)
God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. (Acts 2:24)
I am the One who lives; I was dead, but look, I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys to death and to the place of the dead. (Revelation 1:18-19, NCV)
For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. (1 Corinthians 15:3-8)
Why I believe: witnesses and evidence.
For we know that if the tent, which is our earthly home, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. (2 Corinthians 5:1)
William Sangster: “It is terrible to wake up on Easter morning and have no voice with which to shout, ‘He is risen!’ but it would be still more terrible to have a voice and not to want to shout.”
Marriages that Influence Future Generations - March 26, 2017 - Steve Miller
Story: "Why the Old Man Planted Trees" by Dan Murdoch
Of all the things that we appreciate from those who have gone before us, and that we hope to give to those who come after us, what is the most important? Jesus expressed what really concerned Him:
Luke 18:8 - However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?
What is God's purpose for marriage? There are multiple good purposes for godly marriage, but perhaps the most important one in God's eyes is that through godly marriage we pass on the faith to future generations.
In Genesis 1-2, God created man and woman to be one flesh. This union is imperative to God's purpose to fill the earth with godly offspring and rule it in righteousness, not only for biological reasons, but for spiritual ones as well.
After Adam and Eve fell into sin, Genesis 4 and 5 show two genealogies: one for Cain's line and one for Seth's line. Between the two lists, it states that "At that time people began to call on the name of the Lord."
According to Genesis 6, after the offspring who kept the knowledge of the Lord intermarried with the unbelievers, the whole human race became unbelieving, violent, and wicked to the point where God regretted making mankind and determined to destroy all but Noah's family.
Genesis 6:1-8
After the Great Flood, God chose Abraham's family to be His vehicle to preserve and spread the knowledge of Him and His ways to the future generations of the world.
Genesis 18:18-19 - 18Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and all nations on earth will be blessed through him. 19For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just, so that the Lord will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him.”
God has always been concerned about passing on faith and knowledge of Him to the next generation. This was His main concern with Israel, and much of the responsibility of this he put on families.
Deuteronomy 6:4-9
When the Lord brought His people into the Promised Land, He commanded and warned them to constantly teach their children His laws and His ways, to rid the land of idols, and to not intermarry with unbelievers.
Deuteronomy 7:1-6
What are you, whether single or married, doing to pass on the faith to future generations?
After Israel had occupied much of the Promised Land, Joshua again challenged the people and reminded them to serve God and keep His covenant.
Joshua 24:14-15 - "But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”
In our western culture, we Christians sometimes underestimate the command for parents to disciple our own children. They are meant to have a spiritual advantage, a head start.
Mark 10:14-15
If we do not teach our children to know and love the Lord from a young age, the world will surely step in and lead them the other way.
Judges 2:6-13
Chip Ingram, in Effective Parenting in a Defective World: Children will learn most by seeing what we do and how we live. Our marriages will teach and influence our children's faith even more than our words.
Malachi 2:10-16 - 15Has not the one God made you? You belong to him in body and spirit. And what does the one God seek? Godly offspring. So be on your guard, and do not be unfaithful to the wife of your youth.
We live in a society full of temptation and examples of selfishness. We are not immune to temptation. But as Christians, with the grace of the Lord Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit living in us, the thought that our response to temptation will influence the lives and eternal destiny of our children and grandchildren is a very sobering stop sign.
Not only that, but our marriages present a picture of the relationship between Christ and His Church to our children. Husbands demonstrate who Christ is, and wives demonstrate how we respond to Him.
Ephesians 5:21-27
If we consider this message honestly, we will all find some point or another where we have failed. But there is good news. Godly marriage and parenting is another part of our lives that we must bring to the cross in repentance to seek forgiveness and grace from Jesus. It's not too late. If we humble ourselves before the Lord, and our spouses, and also before our children, He will lift us up and pour His grace upon us. Do not be afraid to repent to your family members; it's one of the most necessary and powerful things we can do.
Finally, if you are a parent who is divorced or married to an unbelieving spouse, don't feel discouraged or condemned about your situation. For Paul writes that a believing parent brings a sanctifying influence over his/her children.
1 Corinthians 7:12-14
Just how great of an influence does God want to exert on future generations through your life, your marriage?
Why Should We Pray in Tongues? - February 12, 2017 - Steve Miller
The past three weeks we've been focusing on declaring the Word. Today we're going to be reminded about a different aspect of declaring the Word that we don't always think of in that respect.
Recently the Lord encouraged me: "You don't know the edification and the fruitfulness that comes from praying in tongues. You are a man (We are a congregation) who loves the Word. My Word flows like a fountain when you pray in tongues."
Acts 2:4 - All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
Acts 10:44-46
Acts 19:6
When we speak in tongues, who is speaking?
- It's a cooperative effort. When we speak in tongues we are declaring the Word of God. The words we speak are just the right ones, for they come from the Holy Spirit, our Helper.
So when we speak in tongues, just what are we speaking?
- 1 Corinthians 14:1-2 - Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. 2For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit.
· When we speak in tongues, we speak to God.
· Strong's: mustérion: a mystery, secret; in the NT: the counsels of God, once hidden but now revealed in the Gospel or some fact thereof; particular truths or details of the Christian revelation.
· HELPS Word-studies: mystḗrion – mystery. In the Bible, a "mystery" is not something unknowable. Rather, it is what can only be known through revelation, i.e. because God reveals it.
- John 16:12-15 - 12 I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. 15 All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.
· According to Jesus, one of the Holy Spirit's main purposes is to reveal truth to us.
- 1 Corinthians 14:13-17
- It's reasonable to ask the Spirit to give you interpretation or understanding of the things you pray in tongues.
- It's definitely prayer, or communication with God.
- It can be thanksgiving and praise to God.
- It can be used in intercession.
- Ephesians 6:14 - And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord's people.
-
David Pytches, in his book Spiritual Gifts in the Local Church, explains that the Bible shows at least three different types of the gift of tongues:
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The use of tongues where utterance is not understood by the speaker, but overheard by members of the public, and, without interpretation, understood by those whose own language it is. This is tongues used as a sign, like happened in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost.
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The use of tongues in public worship.
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The use of tongues in private which needs no interpretation, though apparently this could be asked for.
What are the benefits or fruit of praying in tongues?
- 1 Corinthians 14:4 - The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself
· You are built up, or edified (as in building a house), when you pray in tongues.
· Jude 20 - But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit
How can I receive my prayer language in tongues or become more fluent in using it?
- Bob Heil's testimony of his struggle to learn to use his prayer language from his book Lessons From the Furnace (p. 39-42)
- 1 Corinthians 14:5a - Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy.
- 1 Corinthians 14:18 - I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you.
- Jeremiah 29:13-14a - 13"You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity."
- Luke 11:13 - "If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
- Basically, to receive the gift of tongues we should sincerely ask for it. It's a good thing, and Jesus is encouraged us to believe confidently that our Father will give us the Holy Spirit and the good gifts that He may bring. As Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 12:31: "But earnestly desire the higher gifts," and as we read earlier, 1 Corinthians 14:1 echoes: "earnestly desire the spiritual gifts."
- If you've never prayed in tongues, what should you expect? Does the Holy Spirit possess you and you start speaking uncontrollably? No, it's generally a cooperative effort. Acts says that "they spoke in tongues as the Spirit enabled them."
- We need to yield to the Holy Spirit. John Bevere uses the imagery of wading into a gentle river or creek. You can fight to stand up straight and not be moved by the current, or you can relax, yield to it, and let it carry you along.
Take advantage of your advantage.
- John 16:7 - 7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.
Warren Henriksen, February 2017:
PROPER PROCLAIMATIONS
Who we are in Him.
I Peter 2:9-19
Romans 11:17
Galatians 4:4-7
Hebrews 4:12 Word is living and powerful.
John 8:32 Truth will set you free.
Proverbs 18:20 Life and death are in the power of the tongue.
James 3:4-8 The proclamations you make can effect every area of your body.
Philippians 4:19 Proclaim the promise not the problem.
Isaiah 53:4-5 Proclaim the Word not the worry.
I Peter 2:24 Proclaim the answer not the anxiety.
Mark 11:22-23 Jesus teaching on proclaiming out of the abundance of heart.
Today’s Proclamations:
I am who the Bible says I am!
I can do what the Bible says I can do!
I can have what the Bible says I can have! Amen!
The Power of Proclamation
PROCLAIM defined
- To promulgate; to announce; to publish; as, to proclaim a fast; to proclaim a feast.
Isaiah 61:1-2 (NKJV)
To proclaim liberty to the captives,
2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, And the day of vengeance of our God;
- To declare with honor; as, to proclaim the name of the Lord, that is, to declare his perfections.
Exodus 33:17-20 (NKJV)
19 Then He said, “I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before you.
DE-CLARE': To make a declaration; which means to proclaim or avow some opinion or resolution in favor or in opposition; to make known explicitly some determination;
We already know how to declare things. We need to learn is how to start declaring God's Word.
1 Peter 2:9
Psalm 71:18
Psalm 89:2
2 Timothy 4:2
2 Preach (declare, proclaim) the word! Be
Proverbs 18:20-21
Mark 11:23
Isaiah 55:11
Romans 10:8-10 (NKJV)
8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach [Kerysso]): 9 that if you confess [homologeō] with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession [homologeō] is made unto salvation.
Greek word for Proclaim is Kēryssō:
- to be a herald, to officiate as a herald
- to proclaim after the manner of a herald
- always with the suggestion of formality, gravity and an authority which must be listened to and obeyed
- to publish, proclaim openly: something which has been done
used of the public proclamation of the gospel and matters pertaining to it,
Confession [homologeō]
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to say the same thing as another, i.e. to agree with, assent
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to profess, to declare openly, speak out freely
Proclamation without faith is empty words, devoid of the life. Proclamation requires both faith in the heart and speaking with the tongue.
The purpose of proclamation is to speak the answer not the problem. The answer is what God says about the situation.
In “proclamation prayer” we use the authority of Jesus Christ to make pronouncements over a person or group or event or situation, commanding that it will come into alignment with God's perfect will for it.
So what do we proclaim? We can proclaim whatever the Word of God proclaims!
Philippians 4:13
1 John 4:4 - You can personalize it as you declare it… I am of God, I am a child of God, and have overcome the world because He who is in me is greater than he who is in the world. Just be careful to say what the Word is saying!
Isaiah 41:10-13
Personalized you might proclaim, “I will not fear for God is with me. I will not be dismayed because Jehovah is my God. He will strengthen me, yes He will help me. He will uphold me with His righteous right hand. All of those who are incensed against me shall be ashamed and disgraced; they shall be as noting, and those who strive me shall perish. I shall seek them and not find them – Those who contended with me. Those who ware again me shall be as nothing. As a nonexistent thing. For the Lord my God will hold my right hand, saying to me, “Fear not, I will help you.”
So what does proclamation accomplish?
· It takes our eyes off of the problem and puts them on the Problem Solver
· It reminds us of God’s faithfulness
· It strengthens our faith as we agree with what God says
· It changes head knowledge to heart belief
· I personally believe there is power in the spoken word that comes from my mouth when that which comes from my mouth comes from a heart of faith. [The Lord Jesus said, Speak to the mountain and it will move! He did not say pray to God to move the mountain, he said speak to the mountain. Do not doubt in your heart but believe what you say will happen and it will.
As elders we believe that proclamation is an important key to overcoming the enemy. That is what Jesus did when tempted by the Devil as recorded in Matthew 4.