Fremont Community Church: Recent Episodes
Pastor Josh Hawkins
Jeremiah 1:5“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”
Joshua 1:9Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
2 Corinthians 5:17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
1 John 1:9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Ephesians 2:10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Luke 12:7Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.
Isaiah 41:10Fear 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.
Zephaniah 3:17The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.
Galatians 2:20I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Philippians 3:20But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,
Ephesians 2:22In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
1 Corinthians 12:27Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.
Psalm 27:10For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the Lord will take me in
1 Peter 5:6-7Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.
Ephesians 2:19So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,
Ephesians 1:3-6Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly
places
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He predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,
Romans 5:8But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Philippians 4:13I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
Ephesians 2:8For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
Romans 8:31What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
Romans 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.
Ephesians 2:4-5 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Isaiah 43:4Because you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you, I give men in return for you, peoples in exchange for your life.
Romans 6:23For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Acts 1:8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Psalm 139:1-24To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. O Lord, you have searched me and known me! 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. ...
1 John 4:10In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
1 John 3:1See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.
1 Peter 5:6-76 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.
2 Thessalonians 3:3But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.
Philippians 4:19And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
1 Corinthians 15:57But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 8:38-39For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:28And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
1 Peter 2:9But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
2 Timothy 1:7For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
2 Corinthians 5:21For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
1 Corinthians 6:19Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,
Romans 8:37-39No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 5:1Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Matthew 5:14“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.
Isaiah 53:5But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed.
Psalm 86:15But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.
Deuteronomy 7:9Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations,
Revelation 3:20Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.
1 John 4:16So 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.
John 1:12But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,
Luke 1:37For nothing will be impossible with God.”
Isaiah 26:3You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.
Psalm 138:3On the day I called, you answered me; my strength of soul you increased.
Psalm 136:26Give thanks to the God of heaven, for his steadfast love endures forever.
Exodus 15:2The Lord is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt him.
1 John 3:1-3See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.
2 Peter 1:3His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence,
Colossians 3:12Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,
Ephesians 6:10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.
Ephesians 5:8For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light
Ephesians 4:24And to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness
John 15:15No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.
Isaiah 12:2“Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.”
Proverbs 3:5-6Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
Psalm 118:6The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?
Deuteronomy 31:6Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you
Revelation 21:3-4And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
The Lord bless you(A)
‘
and keep you;(B)
25
the Lord make his face shine on you(C)
and be gracious to you;(D)
26
the Lord turn his face(E) toward you
and give you peace.
asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit[f] of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 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, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe.
6 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
I pray that you would be surrounded by and filled with and located in and anchored to our Savior Jesus Christ Christ above you that you may walk in wisdom and rest in his love. Christ below you that you may never stumble or fall Christ on your right in your strength Christ on your left and your weakness Christ going before you to prepare the way for you And Christ walking behind you to clean up all your messes. Christ within you filling you to overflowing today, tomorrow and forever AMEN.
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We continue our exploration of the Real Jesus to encounter Jesus, Immanuel, God with us.
According to Acts 2:52 and following a healthy Church sees everything through the lens of Jesus Teaching, Prayer, and our connection to each other. Today we talk about the prayer piece of that equation.
- Prayer Liturgy
Bible Reading 2. What is prayer for?
1. to “get God to do something”?
* Does God answer our prayers? YES YES YES!
+ the Bible is clear - when we pray something happens
+ God calls us to pray as part of our cooperation with Him
* Does God do a lot more than answer our prayers?? YES YES YES.
+ If God just gave us whatever we asked for we would not be better off!
+ God hears our requests and answers in the most loving way
2. to form us.
* Prayer is never about changing God - Prayer is about being changed
+ God already knows what you are going to pray for - He knows better than you do what you need!
- Matt 6:7
+ God is always present and at work!
+ God cares about this more than you do!
* Prayer is never about convincing God - it is about moving into alignment with His will and His power - About learning to fully surrender to Him and fully RELY upon Him.
* Prayer changes us - prayer FORMS us.
+ Prayer shuts down unhealthy thought patterns and opens up healthy ones.
+ Prayer quiets anxiety, prayer fosters hope,
+ prayer reminds us of the truth, prayer reveals the lies,
+ prayer opens us to hear the voice of God.
+ Pray reminds and enables us to forgive and to show grace.
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Who Taught you to pray? - If prayer is so important who taught you to do it?
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Most of us just stumble along and figure things out. We might have a little instruction but most of us were never taught HOW to pray
- This is why prayer is so hard for so many people - if they have to make it all up themselves it is difficult! They pray for a few minutes and run out of things to say.
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When we feel like we are constantly failing it will never become a pattern in our lives
- How does one teach others to pray?
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Luke 11:1It happened that while Jesus was praying in a certain place, after He had finished, one of His disciples said to Him, "Lord, teach us to pray just as John also taught his disciples.” 2And He said to them, "When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. 3Give us each day our daily bread. 4And forgive us our sins, For we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation.'"
- Why should I pray other people’s prayers?
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to have something to say when you don’t know what to say - why isn’t tongues enough?
- 2 Cor 14:13Therefore, the 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 then shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind. I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind.
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If prayer forms us and we are making up our own prayers then our formation is bound to be limited
- making up your own prayers is still going to be good for you because God is in the midst
- but it won’t change you as deeply because its just MORE of you.
- Angry people pray angry prayers, violent people pray violent prayers, greedy people etc...
- So What prayers should we pray
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You need to pray the word of God!
- Jesus gave us a prayer to pray - we should be praying it!
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The book of Psalms has been the prayer book of God’s people for over 3000 years
- You need a Wise liturgy given to you by the great tradition of 2000 years of lovers of Jesus.
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Prayers that have stood the test of time
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Prayers that have been helpful for generation of Jesus followers
- You need a liturgy that is going to take you into encounter with Jesus but then also outward into encounter with the world
- You need a liturgy that you can come back to over and over again.
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that stays the same
- the lattice, the skeleton
- that makes room for change and variety
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Matthew 28:19-20
Gotherefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,20teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."
- We always focus on the “go” and that’s good but what are we going to do?
- make disciples
- how?
- Baptizing them
- there is a life change a death and a new life
- Surrounding and penetrating them with the nature of Father Son and Holy Spirit
- Teaching them to observe all I commanded you
- This is not just to “do” or a list of tasks
- this is to watch over to guard to hold in one state of being - to focus or concentrate on without distraction
- Love the Lord
- Love your neighbor as I have loved you
- Behold I am with you
- being his disciple requires his presence
- Baptizing them
Jesus has called us to become his followers. Beings saved is not just about saying a prayer or signing a card it is about becoming an apprentice of Jesus Christ.
Act 2:1 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. Act 2:2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Act 2:3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. Act 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.
- We are pentecostals we love this verse!
- There is a fundamental reality about this moment that we usually miss.
- This is a story about a COMMUNITY being filled with the Holy Spirit
- Yes it is made up of individuals who are filled
- The Point however is that the Holy Spirit moved upon them as a family
- Luke makes a point of this:
- all in one place
- in one accord
- fire rested on EACH ONE OF THEM
- the were ALL FILLED
- Let’s walk those points out
- All in one place - you have to be present to be in community
- Heb. 10:25 - do not neglect the gathering!
- in one accord
- Adam Clarke: With one accord, ὁμοθυμαδον; this word is very expressive: it signifies that all their minds, affections, desires, and wishes, were concentred in one object, every man having the same end in view; and, having but one desire, they had but one prayer to God, and every heart uttered it. There was no person uninterested - none unconcerned - none lukewarm; all were in earnest; and the Spirit of God came down to meet their united faith and prayer. When any assembly of God’s people meet in the same spirit they may expect every blessing they need.
- fire rested on EACH ONE OF THEM
- don’t think others can be filled enough for the both of you. You have to do the work of being filled with the Holy Spirit.
- Eph 5:18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,
- the Greek BE BEING FILLED
- Eph 5:18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,
- don’t think others can be filled enough for the both of you. You have to do the work of being filled with the Holy Spirit.
- They were ALL filled
- this is important because of who was in the crowd
- men, women, apostle, non apostle - older and younger - the filling of the Spirit is for everyone!
- All in one place - you have to be present to be in community
The CHURCH is the dwelling place of the Spirit of God:
- 2Ch 7:1 As soon as Solomon finished his prayer, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the LORD filled the temple. 2Ch 7:2 And the priests could not enter the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD filled the LORD's house.
- The day of pentecost was the dedication of the NEW TEMPLE the CHURCH - the new dwelling place for the Spirit and Glory of the Lord.
- 1Co 3:16 Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?
- the “you” here is actually “y’all” it is plural meaning they AS A GROUP are the dwelling place of the Spirit.
- Eph 2:19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, Eph 2:20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, Eph 2:21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. Eph 2:22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
A people of Worship and Prayer:
1Pe 2:5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
If we had only listened to our "Mommas" we would be acting toward one another far more Biblically
When its hard to hear -
- Have you asked Him?
- how many times - "have you talked to God about this?" "Well no”
- 7"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8"For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 9"Or whatman is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone? 10"Or if he asks for a fish,he will not give him a snake, will he? 11"If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children,how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!
- Doubt - it is unavoidable but it should not go unchallenged
- What are God’s promises?
- John 10:27
- Jeremiah 33:3
- Matt 7:7 - Ask you will receive - Seek you will find -
- What is God’s Character? - How does He feel about you?
- Matt 7:10 - if you ask for something good He will give it to you
- James 1:5 - if any of you lack wisdom ASK
- God will give you advice
- God will not find fault!
- John 17:23 - 23I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me.
- Return to a promise you CAN believe and use it as a safe place to move forward
- Was that me or just my imagination? -
- this question is not helpful - “Is it true?”
- God will use your imagination as a screen upon which to project his voice
- What are God’s promises?
- Static - those other voices we talked about last week can act as static to make it hard to hear the Lord
- find a place -
- a quiet place or at least a place where it is easier to concentrate
- turn off your phone / tv / radio
- maybe play wordless music
- for me I need moving air and natural light if possible
- be ruthless with the static - if one of those other voices intrudes deal with it quickly
- note pad - write it down to get it out of your head
- if the enemy is saying things then SHUT HIM UP -
- if you have not eaten or you aren’t feeling well go eat something take a nap!
- if you are emotionally compromised it is not a good time to try and hear God - just go to Him and let Him heal and calm your heart THEN try and get direction!
- find a place -
- You may be hearing God and just not realizing it - Balaam’s donkey - the angel etc.
- God often speaks in pictures and memories
- when a picture or a memory pops into your head ask Jesus - is that you? Especially if it won’t go away
- Then ask him to interpret it for you - or take it to someone else for interpretation
- some of the most powerful words I’ve ever received I could not interpret without help.
- Coincidence
- there truly is no such thing as luck or happenstance
- Psalm 37:23 the steps of a righteous man are ordered of the Lord
- Wise Counsel
- Prov 11:14
- God often speaks in pictures and memories
- Has he already answered this question?
- Sometimes the Lord will not answer again a second time if he has already answered and we did not obey
- Do you really want to hear?
- sometimes there are things the Lord wants to talk to us about and we do not want to hear the answer.
- we are afraid
- we are ashamed
- we are sensitive
- we are rebellious
- we don’t want to do what we know the Lord wants us to do
- Tuning in - Jesus is there anything you have wanted to say to me that I have refused to hear?
Phil 4:4 Rejoice and again I say rejoice
On a day 2000 Year’s ago Jesus walked into his home town and almost got killed for what he said. This is what he said...
Isaiah 61
Exaltation of the Afflicted
1The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, Because the LORD has anointed me To bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to captives And freedom to prisoners;
- I have good news for the afflicted
- The ones having trouble of some kind
- The poor
- The meek
- The humble
- To bind up the broken-hearted
- The ones broken in pieces
- He will put you back together
- He will hold your disparate pieces together
- All the prisoners go free
- A divine get out of jail free card
- He will open the doors for the ones who want out
- He will go in and carry out the ones who cannot remove themselves
2To proclaim the favorable year of the LORD And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfortall who mourn,
- To tell you the time is NOW! WAITING IS OVER!
- To comfort all who mourn
- All that is lost will be returned
- All that has been stolen returned!
3To grant those who mourn [in] Zion, Giving them a garland instead of ashes, The oil of gladness instead of mourning, The mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.
- No longer a time for sadness
- Celebration not sorrow
- You thought all chance at happiness was over but this is the beginning not the end!
- You will do a victory dance not the walk of shame not giving up but winning
- Towering sumbols of life and stability
- Unshakable
- Deeply rooted
- People will wonder if you ever weren’t strong
4Then they will rebuild the ancient ruins, They will raise up the former devastations; And they will repair the ruined cities, The desolations of many generations.
- Then the restoration will move backward
- Restoring what past generations have lost
- Rebuilding dreams that have died
5Strangers will stand and pasture your flocks, And foreigners will be your farmers and your vinedressers.
6But you will be called the priests of the LORD; You will be spoken of [as] ministers of our God.You will eat the wealth of nations, And in their riches you will boast.
7Instead of your shame [you will have a] double [portion], And [instead of] humiliation they will shout for joy over their portion. Therefore they will possess a double [portion] in their land,Everlasting joy will be theirs.
8For I, the LORD, love justice, I hate robbery in the burnt offering; And I will faithfully give them their recompense And make an everlasting covenant with them.
9Then their offspring will be known among the nations, And their descendants in the midst of the peoples. All who see them will recognize them Because they are the offspring [whom] the LORDhas blessed.
10I will rejoice greatly in the LORD, My soul will exult in my God; For He has clothed me with garments of salvation, He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness, As a bridegroom deckshimself with a garland, And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
11For as the earth brings forth its sprouts, And as a garden causes the things sown in it to springup, So the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise To spring up before all the nations.
Matt 23:1-12 - the opposite of humility is arrogance
Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples,
Mat 23:2 “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat,
Mat 23:3 so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice.
Mat 23:4 They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger.
Mat 23:5 They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long,
Mat 23:6 and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues
Mat 23:7 and greetings in the marketplaces and being called rabbi by others.
Mat 23:8 But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers.
Mat 23:9 And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven.
Mat 23:10 Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ.
Mat 23:11 The greatest among you shall be your servant.
Mat 23:12 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
Mark 10:35-45
“James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.”
“What do you want me to do for you?” he asked.
They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.”
“You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said. “Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?”
“We can,” they answered.
Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared.”
When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John. Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all[…]”
1 Peter 5:6 humble yourself under the hand of God that in due time he might exalt you.
Arrogance robs from us
- It robs us of each other -
- you become my adversary. I’m locked in an endless struggle to stay better/bigger than you
- I can never receive from you
- I can never cooperate with you
- It robs us of ourselves
- We have to lie to ourselves constantly - maintaining the story - explaining away the brokenness
- We have to keep others at a distance so they stay fooled
- It robs us of God
- We cannot need him
- We cannot be honest
- We cannot admit failure or problem
Humility is a key to happiness:
- Mistakes are allowed. In fact expected
- Failure becomes a Friend because it does such a great job teaching
- No more competition
- No more shame
- No need to pretend
- No need to hide
- It’s not up to you to make things happen
- We get to trust in and receive from Jesus
Humility flows from:
- a revelation of God - when we see him we can’t brag about ourselves
- Honesty about ourselves
- Pain brings humility Pain plants the flag of reality in the fortress of a rebel heart.
We come to the subject of Hope. We are a people who have REAL hope because of Jesus so we must BE hope in our world.
The Lord has designed us to be joyful. He is joyful! We only find true Joy in being deeply and powerfully satisfied in God himself!
We finish our Second series in the Believe Journey - Give - We talk about giving and what it really means
We Begin the last section of the Believe series - BE We love Him because He first loved us!