Mt. Olive Baptist Church: Recent Episodes
Pastor Mark Silvey
"If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." John 8:31, 32
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 3/31/24
Looking At Death The Way Jesus Did
John 11
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Jesus described death as “sleep”.
If it is a sleep, then there is a future hope.
Three Aspects of Sleep:
- It is a time of rest (2 Corinthians 5:1-8, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)
- It is a time of waiting (Revelation 6:10)
- It is a time of awakening
Only Jesus can do the work of wakening people from their sleep of death.
Jesus has the power of resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:20)
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 3/31/24
Resurrection in the Old Testament
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The world seeks after living for forever. But as soon as God says, “I will give you eternal life” they say, “No thank you.”
God is the only way we can have life.
Resurrection in the Old Testament:
- Genesis 3:22-24
- Job 19:25-27
- Psalm 22:19-21, 27-29
- Psalm 37:27-29
- Isaiah 66:22-24
- Jeremiah 30:5-8
- Ezekiel 43:7-9
- Daniel 12:1-3
- Malachi 4:1-3
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 3/17/24
John 4:21-24/Romans 8:1-6
Walking in the Spirit: Our Minds
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The truest worship is those who worship God in spirit and truth.
We have a choice of a higher, a more powerful way to live - living according to the Spirit.
Our mind is the key.
If we set our minds on the sinful things of the flesh, it will pull us to walk in sin. But if we look up and set our focus on the things of the Spirit, then we will choose to walk according to the Spirit.
This takes repeated effort, day after day. And that’s when you grow and get stronger.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 3/10/24
Genesis 12:6-9
The Altars of Abraham
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The altars were a tool for Abraham to pursue his relationship with God.
What An Altar Was:
- It was an altar of sacrifice
A blood sacrifice is required to cover sin.
We don’t have to build altars today because Jesus came and was sacrificed for us on the altar of the cross.
- It was an altar of worship
After we come to the first altar of Shechem, then we come to the second altar of Bethel.
Worship means that we give everything to God and hold anything back.
- It was a testimony to the future generation
We need to build altars of testimony that speak to the next generation.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 3/10/24
Romans 7:6
The Newness of the Spirit
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The Old Testament law shows us that we do not have the ability to keep the law in our own strength.
We have power to overcome our sinful flesh through the power of Jesus and the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is a gift to us from Jesus.
The Holy Spirit gives us the power to do things that we wouldn’t normally do on our own.
The Holy Spirit empowers us to live in obedience to Christ and to have the boldness to preach Christ.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 3/3/24
Genesis 12:4-5
Obeying When God Doesn't Give You All The Answers
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The great example of Abraham is that he obeyed God.
God didn’t tell Abraham where he was going.
This is actually pretty common in our walk with God. We walk by faith.
Abraham trusted God, even when God didn’t give him all the answers.
Abraham had a mature and respectful faith.
We can trust the plans God has for us down the road, even if we don’t know them fully.
The core issue in life is: the Creator God wants His creation to obey Him.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 3/3/24
Ezekiel 36:22-32
I Will Give You A New Heart
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God’s plan is that when we are saved (have repented of our sins and put our trust in Jesus), He sends us His Holy Spirit inside of us.
The Holy Spirit goes with us to help us live a life of obedience to God.
Sanctification is growing in our strength to obey God more and more.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 2/18/24
Matthew 14:22-33
Trusting God Through the Storm
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In a sin cursed world, storms are inevitable.
This was an overwhelming kind of storm, where the water was going up over their heads and it seemed like there was no hope.
Everything that is overwhelming to us, Jesus can walk right on top of it and not have any problems.
Jesus didn’t take the storm away.
It is not God’s plan to take away every storm in our life. There are times when He will make us get in a boat to go through a storm that we really don’t like.
The key to making it through the storm is that we know and keep our eyes on the Savior who can walk on the water.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 2/18/24
John 6:35-48
God’s Election and Man’s Response
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No one will come to Jesus to be saved on their own - Psalm 14, Romans 3:23
Salvation is ultimately a work where God is choosing and not man. We do have to make a choice to respond to God’s call.
Man’s response comes at the tail-end. God’s choice comes first.
We do not know who is elect and who is not. We are to share the Gospel with all.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 2/11/24
Genesis 12:3
Six Divine Decrees of God, Part 3
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The Divine Law of Nations
Divine Decree #3: I will bless those who bless the nation of Israel, and curse those who curse Israel.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 2/11/24
Isaiah 51:7-8, John 10:26-30, 1 Peter 1:3-5
Salvation: It Is Forever
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Once we are saved, there is no possibility of losing that.
We are not holding onto Jesus, He is holding onto us.
Hebrews 6:1-9: The writer changes from talking about the basics of salvation to areas of obedience.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 1/28/24
Genesis 12:1-9
Six Divine Decrees of God, Part 1
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God has a divine will and plan for His creation.
Anytime you deal with the mind of God, you have depths that are unexplorable.
Four different categories of God’s will:
- God’s sovereign will
- God’s providential will
- God’s permissive will
- God’s conditional will
Divine Decree #1: I will give Abraham and his descendants a land.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 1/28/24
Acts 20:20
Salvation: A Response of the Heart
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Man’s response to God’s salvation is in our hearts, not in our hands.
Romans 10:5-10
All God is looking for is a heart of repentance.
Repentance is to have a change of mind; to turn from sin.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 1/21/24
Genesis 11
The Significance of the Tower of Babel
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This town was man trying to assert his will and compete with God. This was the same mentality that Satan had.
Babel lives on today. It is man’s foolishness and pride in thinking he can compete with Almighty God.
The result in fighting against God is defeat and confusion.
Abram is a stark contrast to Nimrod:
- He was a man of faith
- He was a godly father
- He was a friend of God
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 1/14/24
Genesis 10
Three Nations from Noah
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Everyone today goes back to one of the three sons of Noah.
Each one of these nation groups have interesting characteristics to them and are very significant.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 1/7/24
Genesis 10:1
The Importance of Time
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We only have a certain number of days on the earth, and it is important how we use them.
Psalm 90 - “number our days”: make the most of.
We need to give thought and energy and prayer to how God wants us to use our time.
We need to trust God with our future time (James 4:13-16).
We need to redeem our time for what is good, because the days are evil (Ecclesiastes 5:15-16).
We need to make our time count for the kingdom of God. As saved people, this needs to be our top priority.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 1/7/24
Matthew 16:24-27
The Rewards of Good Works
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True salvation produces works.
In the end when everything is over, God is going to reward everyone for their good works.
We can’t take credit for these works, because none of us would do them unless God had worked in our lives.
The reward: a crown of righteousness (2 Timothy 4:6-8). This is a literal crown (Revelation 4). There are also robes of righteousness (Revelation 19:8).
Living for Jesus is a daily fight against our sinful flesh, and renewing our minds in God’s truths.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 12/31/23
Genesis 9:18-29
Life Lessons From Noah
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- The dangers of alcohol
Drunkenness causes people to be irresponsible
It ruins fathers and families
- The dangers of indecency
Both men and women need to dress modestly
This is an important issue to God
- Honor your father and your mother
God takes seriously the fifth commandment
Our relationship with our earthly father parallels our relationship with our Heavenly Father
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 12/31/23
Revelation 2, 3
I Know Your Works
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The first thing Jesus said to each of the seven churches was, “I know your works.”
Works show whether or not faith is sincere.
Jesus is looking for works to come out of our salvation.
We need to seek to be zealous to be doing everything we can for Jesus in this new year.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 12/24/23
Isaiah 9:6-7
From the Cradle to the Crown, Part 2
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The completion of Christ’s work will be when He takes the crown.
The Kingdom of Jesus will bring true perfection to the governance of this earth.
The Kingdom of Jesus will bring a permanent government.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 12/24/23
Galatians 2:16-21, James 2:14-26
Salvation: By Faith
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Justification was a legal term in the Roman justice system to describe when a criminal was declared to be free.
Paul is talking about how we are saved. James is talking to Christians about living out their salvation.
Works later verifies that the faith was real.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 12/17/23
Isaiah 9:6-7
From the Cradle to the Crown, Part 1
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Christ was born as a human, but was more than that. He was God come in the flesh.
This was a promise to Israel, and to us today.
The title of “the Son” communicates His deity as the Son of God.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 12/17/23
Ephesians 2:8-10
Salvation: Not of Works But For Good Works
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God’s gift of salvation is given freely.
We don’t have to do anything for justification, but God wants us to pursue good works for sanctification.
If we don’t have good works in our life after salvation, then what testimony do we have?
James - works say that faith is not dead.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 10/22/23
1 Peter 2:13-15
Six Ways Christians Are To Be Involved In The Government
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Christians need to be involved in these six ways to bring a godly influence into government that is God’s system.
- Obey the laws of the land
It is a good testimony for Christians when we obey the law.
- Pay our taxes
“pay taxes to whom taxes are due” even if they might be excessive.
- Participate in voting
In our country, we have the privilege of electing our officials
- Pray for our elected officials
We are to pray that they will either do what is right or be saved
1 Timothy 2:1-4
- Communicate with our elected officials
We need to participate in the system
- Serve in the government
Our government was set up to be “of the people, by the people, for the people”.
Story of Peter and Friedrich Mullenburg
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 10/15/23
Genesis 4:1-15
The First Birth and The First Murder
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Eve proclaimed the truth that life comes from God.
Life begins at conception.
The blood sacrifice was important because it was a picture of how God would provide salvation for the world.
Cain’s offering was a picture of works salvation.
Anger can move us to do things we shouldn’t do.
Satan hates the nation of Israel because God used them to bring the Savior into the world.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 8/6/23
Exodus 24:1-13
Genesis - The Book of Origins
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In Exodus we find the first account of when the Bible was beginning to be written.
Moses was a special prophet of God.
All of the prophets were ordinary human beings who had weaknesses and made mistakes, but they were used by God.
Just like God worked mightily in their lives, He can use our lives to accomplish His work.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 8/6/23
Revelation 16:8-9
The Heavens Declare the Glory of God, Pt. 5
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We are currently approaching the solar maximum with the sun cycle. That is the reason why we are having higher temperatures, not carbon emissions.
Scientists are completely ignoring the factor of the sun cycle.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 7/30/23
Mark 16:19-20
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Each of the gospels have a primary theme of how Jesus was God who came down to earth to die, be buried, and rise from the dead to pay for the sins of the world.
The secondary theme for Mark is: The Compassionate Healer
Mark is typically shorter in his accounts, but when it comes to accounts of healings, especially with children, he is longer than the other writers.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 7/30/23
Psalm 19:1-6
The Heavens Declare the Glory of God, Pt. 4
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 7/23/23
Mark 16:17-20
Signs and Miracles, Pt. 2
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While these things are true and we can benefit from the truth that God has the power to do these things, we need to be on guard about misunderstanding these statements and getting distracted into areas that are basically false teaching.
The major thing that God wants us to focus on is sharing His Word.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 7/23/23
Psalm 19:1-6
The Heavens Declare the Glory of God, Pt. 3
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Evolution is a rejection of God and not wanting to give God the glory.
Just like the sun gives us life on the earth, God’s Son, Jesus, gives us life.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 7/16/23
Mark 16:14-20
Signs and Miracles
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It is a very important principle to let Scripture interpret Scripture.
These signs were to help empower the apostles’ preaching in the first century.
Toward the end of the apostles’ ministry, these gifts began to trail off.
God can still do miracles today, but the pattern in Bible history is that God allowed certain prophets to do miracles to validate their messages, and then they began to diminish.
The main thing here is not the miracles - it is the sharing of God’s Word with people.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 7/16/23
Psalm 19:1-6
The Heavens Declare the Glory of God, Pt. 2
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The sun shows God’s power, and it is a part of what should motivate us to worship and be in awe of Him every day.
At it’s core, the sun is twenty-seven million degrees Fahrenheit. At its surface, it is ten thousand degrees Fahrenheit.
You can fit one million earths in the sun.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 7/9/23
Mark 16:14-20
Send the Light
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The first thing Jesus does when He appears to the disciples is rebuke them for their unbelief.
The work of salvation cost Jesus everything, but He gives it to us freely as a gift.
Peter is not saying here that you have to be baptized to be saved.
The gospel: “good news”
God could have spread this news any way He wanted to, but He chose to use His people on the earth as messengers.
Our job is not to save people, but to send the light.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 7/9/23
Psalm 19:1-6
The Heavens Declare the Glory of God, Pt. 1
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The vastness of the universe declares the glory of God.
If all-powerful God stretched out something, then that’s big.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 6/25/23
Revelation 12:1-12
Satan Exposed
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We are in a war, and Satan is our enemy.
A basic part of warfare is understanding the enemy.
The name Satan means “adversary”.
Satan’s goal is to trick us to follow him and not God.
We overcome Satan by putting our trust in the blood of Jesus and putting God as number one in our lives.
We are on the winning side.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 6/18/23
Mark 15:42-47
The Day A Man Became A Man of God
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When Joseph of Arimathea saw Jesus laying down His life, he was emboldened to step up and be a man.
A true man lives by faith in Jesus Christ - the perfect Man.
The second Adam came to give other men courage to follow God and to stand up for what is right.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 6/18/23
Isaiah 14:12-15
Outward Beauty - Another Powerful Tool of Satan
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Satan’s heart was lifted up in pride because of his beauty.
Satan tries to trip people up in the same way he did.
We need to renew our hearts and minds to have godly thinking and not be overly focused on the outward appearance.
Since the beginning, Satan has used music and outward beauty to get people to follow him and not God.
Music and the outward appearance are two big things that drive the world today.
In the Old Testament, the coastal area of Tyre and Sidon became very corrupt.
Today in our country, it is very prominent around the coastlines that people sin greatly by being indecent.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 6/11/23
Mark 15:37, 38
The Veil Torn
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The animal sacrifices pointed to Jesus’ sacrifice and teach us that sin is a serious matter.
Jesus brought His own blood into the heavenly temple to the mercy seat and offered it to atone for the sins of mankind.
Did God accept Jesus’ offering?
The tearing of the veil communicates that God did accept Jesus’ sacrifice.
The tearing of the veil means that we no have access to the throne of grace ourselves.
To come before God’s presence and for Him to accept us, we must forsake our sin.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 6/11/23
Ezekiel 28:12-17
Music - A Powerful Tool of Satan
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God gave Satan special abilities with music to praise Him, but Satan is now using those abilities to promote evil.
Music either worships and exalts God or worships and exalts Satan.
Music is not neutral. If music is neutral, then why does the world love it so much?
Music can stir up emotions, but it shouldn’t be the main thing.
God’s music will stir up our emotions toward worshiping Him.
Satan’s music will stir up emotions toward sin.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 6/4/23
Mark 15:33-41
The Sixth Hour
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We have three different speakers in this passage.
The Father spoke
God sent darkness on the earth.
This communicated that all the sins of the world were being put on Jesus, and also the sadness of God the Father over sin and the death of His Son.
The Son spoke
Jesus makes two statements with His cry from the cross:
- He was pointing people to the prophecy in Psalm 22
2.“It is finished” - a financial term that means “the debt is paid in full”.
The Centurion spoke
We each have a response before God - whether or not we accept this work that was done for us.
The difference in this choice is whether we’ll spend eternity in heaven or hell.
This is not just a prayer that you pray and you move on. It is a life-changing experience.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 6/4/23
Ezekiel 28:11-16
The Angels' Covering
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The angels cover themselves in the presence of God as an act of respect for God’s awesomeness.
We are to follow the angels’ lead with our worship of God.
Satan’s sin was that he wasn’t satisfied with the privileged position that God had given him, but he wanted God’s place.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 5/28/23
Mark 15:16-32
The Rejected King
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In Jesus’ rejection came His great victory.
Jesus went through excruciating pain from start to finish of his because of His great love for us.
Jesus was:
- The Rejected King
- The Crucified King
- The Victorious King.
As Jesus died, He was victorious over sin and death and accomplished salvation for the world.
The greatest king is one who would die to save his nation.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 5/28/23
Revelation 4:6-11
The Angels’ Song
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The angels sing about God’s holiness.
Two different types of angels:
Seraphim - “burning/fire”
Cherubim - name meaning unknown
Fire has a purifying aspect of making things holy.
Satan’s music is everything that is unholy and promoting the feelings of the flesh.
Good, angelic music does not have any impure words or elements.
*Correction: Michelangelo painted the Sistine Chapel
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 5/21/23
Mark 15:15
Pilate’s Mistake
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The thing that caused Pilate to sentence Jesus to death was that he wanted to please the crowd.
The first sin came through Adam following what his wife wanted him to do instead of what he knew God wanted him to do.
Exodus 23:2 - “You shall not follow a crowd to do evil.”
God has given us three aids to help us follow Him:
- The Human Conscience
- Voices of Wise Counsel
- The Law
Satan uses the crowd to force the minority to follow everyone else in doing evil.
This all comes down to: We are to listen to God and His Word above anyone else.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 5/21/23
Revelation 5:11
Three Activities of the Angels
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Angels are spirit beings created by God.
Three activities of the angels are:
- They praise God through singing.
- They deliver messages for God.
- They cover things.
Music is a big part of God’s work.
We follow the lead of the angles in worshipping God.
Music is not neutral, and it is one of the things that God has made that Satan has corrupted.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 5/14/23
Mark 15:1-15
Pilate’s Response to Jesus
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- Pilate marvels at Jesus.
This is a proper response to Jesus.
- Pilate begins to manipulate the situation.
This is the human reaction most of the time.
- Pilate mishandles the situation.
Pilate knowingly commits an innocent man to death.
If Pilate had refused to deliver Jesus to be crucified, God’s plan would still have been carried out, but Pilate would have saved himself.
The crowd was more important to Pilate than Jesus.
It is better to speak up and stand alone for Jesus than to follow the crowd.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 5/14/23
Judges 5:6-9
Most of the time Deborah’s story is used to counteract motherhood.
A mother:
- Helps meet needs
- Has a supporting role
- Gives instruction and wisdom
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 5/7/23
Mark 14:51-72
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Living for God will not be accomplished through our own power.
We need the power of Christ in our lives.
The wrong perspective of the disciples is that they were trying to figure out a way to help Jesus.
In allowing Himself to be arrested, Jesus shows great strength.
The power of Christ overcomes everything.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 5/7/23
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66 books, written through 40 authors, that fit together in one story in a perfect way.
God uses human instruments as tools to accomplish His work on the earth.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 4/30/23
Joshua 1:8-9
The Betrayal of Judas and The Failure of Peter
In this account we see:
- The Betrayal of Judas
A betrayal is someone turning on a person they are supposed to be loyal to.
Jesus calling Judas “friend” was His offering him forgiveness.
- The Deception of Judas
Judas used a form of greeting to betray the Son of God.
To everyone else, Judas looked like a true follower; but his heart was very far from Jesus.
- The Failure of Peter
The Bible tells us that there is a time to fight and a time not to fight.
The Kingdom of God is not accomplished through the physical sword, but through the spiritual sword of the Word of God.
In all of this human failure, Jesus is shinning brightly.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 4/30/23
Joshua 1:8-9
This Book of the Law
- "Shall not depart from your mouth"
The Bible is to be our guide for everything we deal with in life.
- "You shall meditate on it day and night"
We are to think deeply on God’s Word and what it teaches so that we can understand it.
- "Then you will have good success"
To be successful in life, we must live by this Book.
“Have I not commanded you this?”
This is not just a suggestion. This is a command from our Creator God.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 4/23/23
Mark 14:32-42
The Importance of Prayer
Two very important benefits of prayer:
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We will be prepared for spiritual battle
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The power that will come through prayer
Jesus gained power through prayer to have strength to go to the cross.
Because Peter didn’t pray, he couldn’t even stand up to a servant girl.
Two essentials for the Christian life are reading the Bible and praying.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 4/23/23
John 8:31-36
Being A Disciple = Abiding in God’s Word
Learning and living by God’s word is directly connected to us being a disciple of Jesus.
As we abide in God’s Word, we will know the truth, and the truth will make us free.
If we are not in God’s Word, we won’t be focused on the truth and we will be vulnerable to the sin system of the world and following its lies.
It is important to memorize Scripture to help us follow Jesus in moments when we face temptation.
To get the benefit of the power of God’s Word we have to do some practical things: Read it, believe it, and live by it.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 4/16/23
Mark 14:32-42
The Shepherd Praying
Jesus entered into a time of sorrow and great stress prior to going to the cross.
Jesus sought His Heavenly Father for help.
Mark gives us an explanation of what Jesus was praying.
The writer of Hebrews says that Jesus’ prayer was answered.
When we pray, we need to remember to say, “Not what I will, but what You will.”
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 4/16/23
Romans 10:17
Faith Comes By Hearing the Word of God
The Bible is a vehicle through which we worship God.
Our faith will grow by daily reading the Word of God.
The opposite of faith is sight.
If we are not living by the Word of God, then we really don’t believe that it’s true.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 4/9/23
Mark 14:327-31
The Shepherd Struck
God will strike the Shepherd
The shepherd’s job was to protect the sheep from the enemy, even if it meant sacrificing himself.
The brutal Roman beating before the crucifixion was carried out knowing that the person was not going to survive.
The cross was designed to make death as slow and cruel as possible.
The cross shows the greatness of God’s love and the seriousness of our sin.
The only hope we have is resurrection, and that is what Jesus accomplished.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 4/9/23
Mark 4:3-20
The Importance of God’s Word
Think about what our life would be like if we didn’t have the Bible.
The Parable of the Sower is about the seed - the Word of God.
We will not have a healthy spiritual life if we are not feeding on God’s Word.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 4/2/23
Mark 14:26
They Sung A Hymn
Families worshiping together in the home is a very important work.
The fathers are to lead in that.
Families worshiping together is a key part in how homes will be strong spiritually.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 4/2/23
Romans 1:20
God’s Character - Holiness and Love
God’s holiness and His love are inseparably linked together.
People today focus on God’s love and deny His holiness.
God will not change who He is for His creation. We are to surrender and conform to who He is.
Hell is an expression of God’s holiness and His love.
Even if we don’t understand something, God is always acting out of holiness and love.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 3/26/23
Mark 14:22-26
The Symbolism of the Fruit of the Vine
God has chosen to forgive sins through a blood sacrifice.
The blood shows us:
- The seriousness of our sin
- The sacrifice of God’s salvation
- This symbolic ceremony helps us to remember
The blood of Jesus over the doorposts of our heart will be the only thing that saves us and allows God to pass over us.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 3/26/23
Romans 2:1-5
The Attributes of God - Love
God’s love is that He does what is best for His creation.
Love is sacrificing yourself to do what is best for another person.
Jesus is the definition of love.
People in the world often doubt and question the love of God.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 3/19/23
Mark 14:22-36
The Symbolism of the Unleavened Bread
The Israelites had to make unleavened bread to be able to cooperate with God’s plan of leaving Egypt in haste.
Israel’s slavery in Egypt and deliverance pictures our salvation today.
These symbolisms are important because they pictured Jesus.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 2/26/23
Romans 1:18-25
The Attributes of God: All-Powerful
God’s attributes are clearly seen. The question is: do we see them?
One way we can see God is by the things He has made.
Because God is all-powerful, that should affect how we look at life.
Are we focusing on the things God has made, or on the God who made those things?
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 3/12/23
Mark 14:10-21
The Betrayal of Judas and God’s Sovereignty
God can take the sinful actions of people and use them for His good purposes.
In all the darkness, Jesus is actually winning and showing His control through it all.
Judas sold Jesus for thirty pieces of silver - the price of a slave. Judas was a slave to money and sin.
Before we start throwing stones at Judas, we need to step back and realize - that’s use.
No one is beyond salvation. The only one who is beyond salvation is the one who refuses to receive it.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 3/12/23
Romans 1:18-25
The Glory of God
God’s glory is the expression of His greatness, and it is represented by a bright light.
In Revelation there is no need of the sun or moon, because God’s glory will be the light.
Like the moon reflects the sun, our white robes will most likely have the ability to reflect God’s light.
The greatness of Jesus is that He set aside His glory to become an ordinary man and die on the cross.
The lie of sin is to seek the corruptible creature instead of the glorified Creator.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 3/5/23
Mark 14:1-9
The Truth That Mary Knew
Because Mary sought God’s Word to know it, then she had insight about what God was doing on the earth.
Leviticus 2 - The grain offering had oil poured on it. Jesus was going to be the grain offering.
The unleavened bread pictured sinlessness.
Mary understood that Jesus’ body was going to be the bread of the Feast of Unleavened Bread that needed to be anointed with oil.
Mary has an eternal reward because she helped the Son of God in preparing for His death.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 2/26/23
Mark 13:28-37
The Lesson of The Fig Tree
Jesus gives us some answers about the end times, while still keeping the mystery of these future events.
God may not give us all the answers because we may not be able to handle such knowledge.
Lessons from the fig tree:
- There are going to be some things that happen that will clue us in on when the end is near.
- We won’t know the exact day or hour.
- We are to watch and pray.
Jesus tells us three times here to “watch”.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 2/19/23
Mark 13:24-27
The Final Climax of God’s Work
Jesus is coming back with great power.
Jesus is coming back with great glory.
Jesus is going to gather all of the elect to Himself.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 2/19/23
Genesis 2:22-24
What Makes A Family?
A family is a man and a woman who commit to join their lives together for the rest of their life. This relationship would produce children to bring new life to the earth.
Matthew 19:4 - Jesus defines what makes a marriage and a family.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 2/12/23
Mark 13:20-23
The End of the Age
Jesus said that at the end, false christs and false prophets will rise up.
At the very end, there will be a climax of this with the Anti-Christ and False Prophet.
Indications of the Anti-Christ:
- A false resurrection
- A false peace treaty
- A false god
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 2/12/23
Psalm 11
The Family - The Foundation of Life
In order to destroy righteousness on the earth, the wicked go after the foundations.
The issues that the world is pushing attack the foundation of the family.
Romans 1 warns us of different stages of the unraveling of a society.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 1/29/23
Mark 13:8-13
The Tribulation
There are three stages in Jesus’ answer to the disciples here:
- The Beginning of Sorrows
- The Tribulation
- The Great Tribulation
Jesus predicts a great time of persecution for His followers
Paul says that there will be strong delusion in the end, and that most of the world will follow the Anti-Christ.
The rebuilding of the temple is a sign that the end is near.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 2/5/23
1 Timothy 2:12-15, 3:1
A Man’s Call to Leadership
It is a man’s job is to be a leader in teaching God’s Word in the home and standing up for it in the world - defending it, and leading people to follow it.
God created different roles, and He assigned leadership to the men.
This is not a question of ability or non-ability; it is an issue of the roles that God assigned.
We do the same in businesses.
Women have the role of teaching other women.
Men need to accept and take that responsibility in humility; it’s not so much about them, but about God’s assignment.
Jesus is the “second Adam” who always did what His Heavenly Father said.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 1/29/23
Deuteronomy 6:1-8
A Father’s Responsibility
A father’s responsibility is to be the spiritual leader and teach the Word of God in the home.
In our churches today where there is such a focus on youth and children’s ministry, we don’t see a generation coming up that is holding the line. We see a generation that is sliding.
Whenever you see the training of children mentioned in the Bible, you always see it directed to the parents, particularly the father.
Ephesians 6 - Paul doesn’t tell the church to start a youth ministry. He tells the fathers to bring their children up in the training and admonition of the Lord.
The phrase “there is more caught than taught” is a false dichotomy.
Deut. 6 says that fathers are to do both formal teaching and teaching by how you live.
If it’s not taught, then it’s not going to be caught.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 1/22/23
Mark 13:1-8
The Beginning of Sorrows
Daniel tells us that God has a timetable for Israel in the end.
God’s stopwatch is paused right now. When the temple is rebuilt, that stopwatch is started again.
Jesus stressed the importance of not being deceived when these things start to happen.
Josephus gives us details about the destruction of the temple in A.D. 70.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 1/22/23
Proverbs 1:1-9
The Five Stages of Child Training
These stages build on each other toward a goal.
The main goal is to get wisdom.
You can have knowledge, but if you don’t have morality and wisdom, your life will end in utter failure.
The Five Stages:
- Obedience - teaching children that there is a punishment for doing something wrong.
- Knowledge - teaching children about God’s world.
- Understanding - children understanding the truth behind the knowledge.
- The Fear of the Lord - children realizing that there is a Creator God who they can have a relationship with and who is the top authority they need to submit to.
- Keeping Wisdom - children leaving the home and walking in what they were taught.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 1/8/23
Luke 10:38-42
One Thing Is Needed
This situation was a question of priorities: the Word of God and work.
The Word of God takes priority over work.
Work is “a” priority, but not “the” priority.
“Seek first the kingdom of God, and all these things will be added to you.”
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 1/1/23
Matthew 2:1-12
The Wise Men: A Picture of Christ’s Second Coming
Jesus had two groups of visitors at His birth, separated by a space of time.
The shepherds pictured Jesus’ first coming as the Lamb of God who would take away the sins of the world.
The wise men pictured Jesus’ second coming as the Lion of Judah who would reign as King.
Just like how we don’t know how long it was before the wise men came, we don’t know how long it will be before Jesus comes back the second time.
Whenever a king went to visit another king, he would bring gifts.
We are to follow the example of the wise men to:
- Worship Jesus as our Lord and Savior
- Obey God in our life
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 1/1/23
Proverbs 1:7
The Call of Family Discipleship
One of the key roles of the family is for the father and mother to teach their children.
Satan has moved people away from that, because he knows how important it is.
The one who teaches the next generation is the one who shapes the world.
Satan moved on Karl Marx’s mind to put this as the tenth plank in his communist manifesto: state controlled, state funded, public education for all children.
Today, the public education system is the indoctrination center for all the evil we see in the world.
The Hebrew model/God’s model is: parents teaching their children in the home and teaching them wisdom.
The word philosophy today has taken on somewhat of a connotation away from the Biblical meaning.
True philosophy is loving God’s wisdom and truth.
Steps to a complete education of a child:
- Wisdom in the heart (Proverbs 3)
- Knowledge in the mind (1 Kings 4:29-34)
- Skill in the work of the hands (Proverbs 6:6-11/Proverbs 31:13-14)
The Greek model’s excessive focus on sports undermines a work ethic.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 12/25/22
Luke 2:25-33
The Peace of Christ’s Coming
Many times with the event of Christ’s coming, peace is declared.
Peace - a calm confidence about life now, and about the future.
The path of peace is to be a follower of God, and not a fighter against Him.
Man will never achieve peace on his own.
Jesus is the true source of peace.
The secular world longs for world peace, but they are not receiving the way to have that peace.
Only when Jesus comes back and removes all enemies of God on the earth will there be peace on the earth.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 12/18/22
Proverbs 1:8
God’s Plan For The Teaching of Children
The family is foundational in God’s work.
The Greek model rejected God’s way and His Word.
The Greek system replaced parents with philosophers.
God’s way works better.
God has given parents an instinct to protect and do what’s best for their children.
The home is to be a place of teaching - Deuteronomy 6:1-8, Ephesians 6:4
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 12/11/22
Proverbs 1:7
The Pathway of True Wisdom
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The pathway of true knowledge is the fear of the Lord.
The Greek model can accomplish some things for a time, but it eventually collapses; Alexander the Greek is an example of that.
The key question the world is seeking after is: what is wisdom?
The Greek philosophers were not seeking true wisdom, but a cheap substitute.
Proverbs 2:16 - Wisdom warns us against sexual immorality, which destroys a society.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 12/4/22
Proverbs 1
Solomon vs. Socrates
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There are two different system of child training - The Hebrew System (given by God) and The Greek System (which seeks wisdom without God).
Wisdom is knowing the difference between right and wrong, and having the wisdom to make the right choice.
The failure of the Greek system was that they determined right and wrong by themselves.
Moses, David, and Solomon were philosophers, but they were much more than that because they were prophets of God.
The world talks about Socrates but ignores Solomon.
Most Christians are enamored with and talk about Socrates, but don’t talk about Solomon.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 11/20/22
Mark 12:38-41
Weakness From Within
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These priests who were supposed to be leading in God’s work were actually working for the enemy.
False teachers will receive stricter judgement from God.
There is nothing that gets lower than a traitor turning on his fellow soldiers and sabotaging the team’s efforts.
Satan has worked this way because he knows how damaging it is.
We are witnessing betrayal from within in our own country.
The two biggest issues that God will judge our nation for are: abortion and homosexuality.
Many Christians are compromising on these issues.
What happened to the scribes happened one compromise at a time.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 11/20/22
Ephesians 5:18
Do Not Be Drunk With Wine
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The wine that is mentioned in the Bible is not equivalent to the wine that is sold and drank today.
There are three different terms for wine in the Bible: “strong drink” (shekar), “new wine” (gleukos), and “wine” (oinos).
When we read in the New Testament that they drank wine, it was a wine that was diluted down with water to be a low alcoholic content, for the purpose that it would not intoxicate through normal use.
Ancient records to show the diluting of wine with water: The Jewish Mishnah, Aristotle, Roman historian Pliny, Poet Horace, The Odyssey.
Even the secular Greeks and Romans saw the problem of not diluting wine with water. And that is what the Bible supports.
The issue is not the label on the drink, but how much alcoholic content it has.
We have to look at what the definition of “drunk” is.
Our minds are to only be controlled by the Holy Spirit, and we are to avoid anything that would compete with that.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 11/13/22
Mark 12:35-37
Jesus Presents His Authority As The King
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Jesus turns the tables on the scribes and asks them a question.
A king ruled in Israel until he died. Because Jesus was resurrected and is alive today, He is eternally the High Priest and King.
The Kingdom of God is the greatest reality in life.
A truth to keep in our mind: Jesus is Lord over all the earth, and we serve Him.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 11/13/22
Ephesians 5:18/Galatians 5
A Spirit Controlled vs A Flesh Controlled Mind
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Galatians 5 gives us two lists of what results from being controlled by the flesh or the spirit.
Alcohol is a big part of bad things being produced.
It is very important to define what “drunk” is.
It takes the Holy Spirit helping us to get on this second list in Galatians.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 10/30/22
Mark 12:28-34
Jesus, The Great Teacher
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Jesus condensed and summarized the whole Old Testament into two statements.
Jesus affirmed that God does demand obedience to His commandments.
The correct motivation for that is love.
If you talk about following God’s commandments today, you will be labeled a legalist.
God would much rather us obey Him first than come to Him afterward and say, “Would you please forgive me?”
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 10/30/22
Ephesians 5:8-18
Christ’s Work Of Sanctification In Us
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Sanctification is the process of growing more and more in following God and what is right.
The mind is the key.
Jesus is our captain, and He is leading and walking with us on this journey of sanctification.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 10/23/22
Mark 12:18-27
A Question About The Resurrection
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The Sadducees didn’t know what they were talking about because they didn’t know: 1) The Scriptures and 2) The power of God.
The Bible highly values generational names and faith being passed down.
In the age to come, we won’t be in a state of dependence on another mate. We are going to exist on a level more powerful, like the angels.
God used a present verb tense “I AM” to speak to the doctrine of life after death.
Unless we are in the Scriptures each day, we will be mistaken and misguided in life.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 10/23/22
Ephesians 5:18
The Baptism And Filling Of The Holy Spirit
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The baptism of the Holy Spirit happens at the moment of salvation and is a one-time thing.
The filling of the Holy Spirit is a repeated empowering in the Christian’s life to obey God.
Being filled with the Spirit is letting Him and God’s Word guide you, and not some emotional, supernatural experience of performing miracles or speaking in tongues.
Being filled with the Holy Spirit is like plugging an appliance into an electrical outlet. But we have to turn on the power switch for it to work.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 10/16/22
Mark 12:13-17
Do I Have To Pay Taxes To Caesar?
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The Pharisees thought they had a foolproof plan to trap Jesus in His words.
Jesus gives us two truths in His answer: 1. Government is a legitimate, God-given function on the earth. 2. Pay to God the things that are God’s.
What belongs to God?
Psalm 24 - The earth, and all the people in it.
Psalm 139 - Your life belongs to God because He made it.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 10/9/22
Mark 12:1-12
The Parable of the Vineyard
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Jesus foretells His own death with this story.
This parable shows us:
- The purpose of God
God is carrying out a work in this world that He has made.
God wants to receive fruit from His vineyard today.
- The person of Jesus
The most important question God will ask of us is: what did you do with My Son I sent to you?
- The rejection of Israel
It is disrespectful to look at what Jesus did on the cross and say, “No, I don’t want that.”
Are you going to build your own house out of your own materials, or are you going to accept what God has provided - Jesus, the true cornerstone?
Our works are insufficient because they are tainted by sin.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 10/9/22
John 4:14-26
Witnessing to People Like Jesus Did
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When you start talking about people’s sins, they will most likely try to change the subject.
Jesus addresses the woman’s question quickly, and then redirects it back to the issue of salvation.
A doctor doesn’t enjoy telling a patient that they have cancer, but he has to because there is a need to deal with the sickness.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 10/2/22
Mark 11:27-33
The Authority of Jesus Today
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Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
God set up the world to operate under authority and submission.
Jesus is the head of every institution of life: the family, the church, and the government.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 10/2/22
John 4:6-19
Living Water
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Water is essential for life, and people are fascinated by it. This gives us an opportunity to talk about salvation.
A question to ask people: “Have you ever had living water?”
Old testament references that talk about living water: Jeremiah 2:13, Isaiah 1:16-18
The three “W’s” we can use in witnessing:
- Wonders of Jesus (He did miracles to show His love for people, to show that He was God, and to show that He could heal us spiritually.)
- Weather (most people talk about the weather, and this is an easy way to bring God into the conversation.)
- Water (we can use physical water to then talk about “living water”.)
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 9/25/22
Mark 11:27-33
The Question of the Authority of Jesus
The priests bring up a very important question, but they are on the wrong side of the answer.
The priests’ real authority was their popularity with the people.
In the end, God will examine our life to see if we submitted to His authority, or tried to run our own life.
We don’t own ourselves. God is the one who made us, keeps us alive every day, and gives us breath to breathe. He’s the authority.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 9/25/22
John 4:1-19
The Doctrine of Jesus and Salvation, Part 4
Jesus went out of His way to express unusual kindness.
He takes the conversation from the physical and switches it to the spiritual.
An easy transition is simply to bring up God. That is what Jesus did here.
Our job is not to save or convert anyone. Our job is to share the truth with them.
We don’t have Jesus’ supernatural power to know a person’s sins, but we do have the 10 Commandments.
Jesus will help us in witnessing to the Samaritans at the well.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 9/18/22
Mark 11:25-26
The Freedom of Forgiveness
Jesus talks about vertical and horizontal forgiveness.
God won’t forgive you for wronging somebody else if you won’t forgive somebody else for wronging you.
“Even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.”
Unforgiveness takes a toll on us mentally, physically, and emotionally.
Unforgiveness is like being in a prison.
What does forgiveness look like?
Forgiveness is not dependent upon the other person’s apology. It’s you releasing the wrong and giving it to God.
Forgiveness is giving up any notion of trying to get back at the other person.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 9/18/22
Isaiah 43:1-3, 9-12
The Doctrine of Jesus and Salvation, Part 3
God’s work in the nation of Israel is something we can use to witness to people.
We can use the Old Testament prophesies of the Messiah to witness to Jewish people.
Three times God took Israel out of the land and brought them back.
Never has a people lost their nation and then regained it. That is a testimony to the hand of God.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 9/11/22
Mark 11:20-24
Have Faith in God
This is one of the most misunderstood texts by many Christians.
Context guides us in how to understand a section of Scripture.
Have faith in God: we have to be in tune with God and His will.
Jesus did not curse the fig tree just on a whim. It was to picture Israel’s judgment.
Most of God’s miracles are to picture His master plan.
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We can have faith that God’s judgments will be carried out.
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We can have faith that God can accomplish whatever He wills.
God uses His servants to accomplish His will, but that servant has to believe that He can.
1 John 5:14-15 - We have to pray according to the will of God.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 9/11/22
John 3:1-18
The Doctrine of Jesus and Salvation, Part 2
Nicodemus is like a lot of people that we will encounter.
Most people have some sort of belief in God.
It was the miracles of Jesus that got Nicodemus’ attention.
Jesus turned the conversation from the physical to the spiritual by talking about spiritual healing.
The greatest miracle that Jesus did was to save us from our sins.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 9/6/22
Mark 11:15-19, 1 Corinthians 3:16-17
You Are The Temple of God
Our bodies are the temple of God.
God’s spirit in us allows us to discern what is true.
Jesus does not want sin in our “temple”.
Our temple should reflect that God dwells in us.
The heart IS the most important thing, but God wants the outside as well as the inside.
Our temples should look different because of God’s work in us.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 9/6/22
John 3:16
THE DOCTRINE OF JESUS AND SALVATION, PART 1
God’s motivation for giving salvation was love.
We don’t share Jesus with others because of a lack of love for the other person.
We have to ask God to help us to love other people like He loves them.
God has chosen to involve us in the process of people being saved.
Three Ways That Jesus Communicated With People:
- He went out into a public area and preached
- He would do a Bible study in a house
- When he encountered people, He would speak to them about spiritual truths.
Jesus would transition from the physical to the spiritual.
Talking points for transitioning from the physical to the spiritual.
A challenge for us.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 8/28/22
Mark 11:15-19
What Is A Temple?
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A place where God’s presence is manifested
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A place of holiness where sin is cleansed
The temple was manifested ever since the beginning with the altar and then the tabernacle.
Jesus and Paul tell us that the temple will be rebuilt in the future.
Animal sacrifices in the future temple will be looking back on what Christ did.
Baptism and the Lord’s Supper are things we do today looking back as an act of worship.
If the temple was going to be done away with, then Jesus was wasting His time here cleansing it.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 8/28/22
Romans 5:20-21; 6:1-2
The Doctrine of Man and Sin, Part 5
God saved us so that we could die to sin.
Until we figure out the dynamics of dealing with sin, we will have continual defeat.
The formula - If you set your mind on the things of the flesh, you’re going to live according to the flesh. If you set your mind on the things of the Spirit, you’re going to live according the the spirit.
Romans 6 - The life of a Christian: dying to sin
Romans 7 - We can’t deal with sin on our own
If we become weak in our spirit, the flesh is always there waiting for us.
We should never underestimate sin.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 8/21/22
Cleaning House
Mark 11:15-19
Jesus demonstrates here that there is a proper time for righteous indignation.
Everything about the temple is a picture of Jesus.
Ezekiel 43 - the temple will be rebuilt and will be the place of Jesus' throne.
Malachi 3:1-3 - this was fulfilled in Mark 11, and there will also be a final fulfillment in the future.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 8/21/22
Genesis 3
The Doctrine of Man and Sin, Part 4
The first outward result of sin.
Adam and Eve hid because of the issue of clothing.
The first thing God did was to clothe them.
Isaiah gives us direction as to what is considered nakedness.
This is not about legalism, but about holiness and obedience to God.
The world focuses on clothing BIG TIME.
What is modest dress?
We can look at what the world is pursuing and know that is what we need to avoid.
Paul - Do not put a stumbling block in the way of your brother, and make no provision for the flesh to fulfill its lusts.
Sin is very conditioning.
When you're around sin, you get more accepting to it.
Jesus called us to be different, and clothing is a part of that.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 8/14/22
The Barren Fruit Tree
Mark 11:12-14
Jesus is justified in being upset about the fig tree not being in season because it was not the original design of God, and it was a manifestation of what sin did to the world.
God is never happy with seasons of disobedience.
It is very easy for us to get accustomed to our sin and downplay it.
God’s purpose is for us is to bear fruit for Him.
The fruit - A life of obedience to God.
Two elements of bearing fruit:
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The Word of God
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The Holy Spirit
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 8/14/22
Galatians 5:19-21, Romans 1:18-23
The Doctrine of Man and Sin, Part 3
The Destructive Progression of Sin:
- The lust of the flesh
- Vile passions
- A debased mind
God’s people compromising with sin allows a society to go downward.
In the 1960’s in our country, the family unit began to unravel when they gave themselves over to the lust of the flesh.
Rock and roll music was a big force in this.
Today, we are somewhere between 2 and three (in some parts of our country, it’s at 3).
When society gets to this point, it implodes upon itself.
We can see this in history with the Roman and Greek empires, and even Israel.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 8/7/22
The Presentation of the King to Israel
Mark 11:1-11
Zechariah 9:9 - Prophecy fulfilled
Jesus came first riding a donkey as a servant; He will come the second time riding a white horse as the King.
No matter how much it looks like sin is winning, the kingdom of Jesus will triumph in the end.
Israel’s rejection was even used as a part of bringing about salvation.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 8/7/22
Romans 5:12-15
The Doctrine of Man and Sin, Part 2
No matter how good it looks on the outside, sin = death.
Sin is very contagious.
Two ways that sin spreads:
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Deception
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Following other people
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 7/31/22
Mark 10:46-52
Overlooking Blind Bartimaeus
Bartimaeus represents people who are lost and spiritually blind, and Christians who are near-sighted.
What the disciples did, and what we usually do, is ignore these people.
Steps of someone coming out of spiritual blindness:
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They hear the truth
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They call out to Jesus
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They have a life and heart change and follow Jesus
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 7/31/22
Romans 5:12-15
The Doctrine of Man and Sin, Part 1
Sin is the #1 problem in the world.
When did death start?
Sin - violating/going against the will of God.
Sin is defined by God.
Two types of sin: omission and commission
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 7/24/22
Mark 10:35-44
Kingdom Greatness
- We live to serve
God does not call us to a life of self-exaltation, but to a life of service and self-sacrifice.
The way to the top in Jesus' kingdom is the bottom.
We are so corrupt that we can even serve with the wrong motive.
- We are called to sacrifice for others
Jesus modeled self-sacrifice for us.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 7/10/22
Mark 10:32-34
Why We Can Trust Jesus
1. We can trust Jesus because He knows the future
In your life, Jesus is out ahead of you, leading the way.
He may lead you down paths you wouldn't choose yourself, but we can have confidence that Jesus knows what He is doing and follow wherever He may lead.
2. We can trust Jesus because of His great love for us
The cross seemed like the worst thing for Jesus, but it was the best thing for all mankind.
We have to trust that God is carrying out good purposes, even when things don't look good.
3. We can trust Jesus because He has power over sin and death
He is the only one who has gone through death and come out victorious.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 7/3/22
Mark 10:21-31
The Danger of Money
The most crucial decision in our life is whether or not we accept Jesus.
Money can keep a lot of people from coming to Jesus.
If we have money, it's very easy for us to trust in it and love it. (1 Timothy 6:9, 10)
Salvation in a person is a work from God.
There is a great reward for whatever sacrifices we may make for Jesus.
Some who will be thought to get the greatest reward in God's kingdom will be last.
Jesus judges on inner character and motives.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 6/26/22
Mark 10:17-22
The Question of How to Live Forever
Romans 5:12 - our sin condition.
Jesus tried to turn this young man's focus off himself and onto God.
We have to acknowledge our sin to receive eternal life.
Jesus used the second half of the Ten Commandments that addresses our sins against other people.
We can't do anything to earn eternal life; we just receive it.
This young man loved his riches more than his own life, and in the end he lost both.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 6/26/22
Roe v. Wade Overturned - The Right To Life
Genesis 9:5-7: God's law of the right to life
What happened with Roe v. Wade in 1973
Does the 4th Amendment give a woman the right to get an abortion?
A person's right to do what they want with their body ends when it harms another person
The Supreme Court didn't take the Roe decision as far as they should have
We have an abortion mentality in our country today. We need to have a LIFE mentality.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 6/19/22
Mark 10:13-16
Jesus - The Perfect Model of Manhood
The history of The Blessing
A key part of father leadership is trying to affect a future outcome in a future generation.
Tracing the origins of The Blessing
Just as the Hebrew men would pray a blessing over the younger generation before they died, Jesus prayed for these children as He was on His way to the cross.
God's plan is for the older generation to affect the younger generation.
This is lost in our churches today with segregated groups.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 6/19/22
The Doctrine of Creation, Part 2
Genesis 1
Two opposite views: Man's Word & God's Word
What glory does God get in the theory of evolution?
Evolution could not happen because of the interdependency of all creation.
God's crowning work of creation - mankind
Human beings are distinct from the animals and are not part of the animal kingdom.
Evolution is mathematically impossible.
The order of the creation of mankind is the basis for leadership roles - 1 Timothy 2:11-14
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 6/12/22
Mark 10:13-16
Children - A Picture of The Kingdom of God
Genesis 48:8-16 - The Blessing
The way that God set up family relationships pictures the spiritual truths in God's Kingdom.
Children are humble; salvation requires humility.
Pray about everything; don’t assume anything.
Children are trusting; we must become like little children who completely trust their Heavenly Father.
Childlike trust is a good thing, but it all depends on where you put your trust
Children are teachable; we need to have a balance of being teachable AND standing firm on God's truth.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 6/12/22
The Doctrine of Creation, Part 1
Genesis 1:1 - God answers the question of origins.
People try to interpret Genesis 1 according to what man and "science" says.
The real evidence supports the biblical account of creation in Genesis, not billions of years.
Charles Darwin, a seminary student, rejected the Bible and turned his back on God.
Christians try to bend over backwards to make the Bible accommodate the evolutionary theory.
Mark 10:6 - Jesus affirms an early creation of human beings.
If we accept any notion of billions of years, then Jesus’ words aren't accurate.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 6/5/22
Mark 10:1-12
Jesus' Answer on the Question of Divorce, Part 2
God's will is that there be no divorce, but that a couple stays together and works out their problems.
Two sinners living together will have problems.
Can a person get divorced and not sin?
Matthew 19:3-9 - Jesus says that unrepentant sexual immorality is an exception, but every effort should be made to save the marriage first.
1 Corinthians 7:10-16 - If an unbeliever is not willing to stay with the believer, then the believing mate is free to re-marry.
The issue of abuse addressed in verse 11.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 6/5/22
Ephesians 6:10-18
The Doctrine of the Spirit Realm, Part 3
How do we fight against the lies of Satan? By taking up the whole armor of God.
We don't do this for two reasons: we're either ignoring the battle, or we underestimate the power of the enemy.
There are distinct battle lines. There is no middle ground.
Defensive and Offensive armor
Prayer - radio communication on the front lines.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 5/29/22
Mark 10:1-12
Jesus' Answer on the Question of Divorce
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 5/29/22
Mark 5:2-5/1 Kings 18:27, 28/Leviticus 19:27, 28
The Doctrine of the Spirit Realm, Part 2
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 5/22/22
Genesis 3/Daniel 10/Ephesians 6:10-13
The Doctrine of the Spirit Realm, Part 1
-The Spiritual War Between Light And Darkness
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 5/1/22
The Doctrine of the Scriptures, Part 5
- Three Ways God's Word Guides Our Life
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 4/24/22
The Doctrine of the Scriptures, Part 4
-The Guide For Our Life
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 4/17/22
The Doctrine of the Scriptures, Part 3
-Archeology and the Bible
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 4/10/22
Mark 9:14-29
Mark's Theme - The Compassionate Healer
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 4/10/22
The Doctrine of the Scriptures, Part 2
-Supernaturally given by God
-Translation: the majority texts vs. the Alexandrian texts
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 3/20/22
The Doctrine Of The Holy Spirit, Part 3 & "Be Watching"
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 2/6/22
The Doctrine Of God - The Son
The Trinity - God the Son
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | January 30, 2022
The Doctrine Of God, Part 3
The Trinity - God the Father
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | January 16, 2022
The Doctrine Of God, Part 1
Isaiah 43:10-13
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | January 9, 2022
Mark 7:24-30
The Great Faith of the Phoenician Woman
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | January 9, 2022
The Doctrine Of The Last Days, Part 4
Revelation 6:9-11
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | January 2, 2022
Matthew 2:1-12
The People Who Responded To Jesus' Birth - The Wise Men
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | January 2, 2022
The Doctrine of the Government & The Last Days, Part 3
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | December 26, 2021
Luke 2:36-38
The People Who Responded To Jesus' Birth - Anna
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | December 26, 2021
The Doctrine of the Government & The Last Days, Part 2
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | December 19, 2021
Luke 2:21-35
The People Who Responded To Jesus' Birth - Simeon
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | December 19, 2021
The Doctrine of the Government & The Last Days, Part 1
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | December 12, 2021
Luke 2:1-20
The People Who Responded To Jesus' Birth - The Shepherds
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | December 12, 2021
The Doctrine of the Church, Part 3
Our Spiritual Heritage
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | December 5, 2021
Mark 7:1-23
The Commandment of God vs The Tradition of Men
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | December 5, 2021
The Doctrine of the Church, Part 2
2 Timothy 4:1-5
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | November 28, 2021
Mark 6:53-56
The Great Faith At Gennesaret
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | November 28, 2021
The Doctrine of the Church, Part 1
Matthew 16:13-19
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | November 21, 2021
The Doctrine of the Family, Part 4
Seven Purposes Of A Man:
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Teaching your children
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Protecting your children
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Praying for your children
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | November 14, 2021
Mark 6:30-44
The Lesson Of The Feeding Of The Five Thousand
- Jesus was showing them that you seek your spiritual food first (the Word of God), and then you trust God to take care of your physical needs.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | November 14, 2021
The Doctrine of the Family, Part 3
Seven Purposes Of A Man:
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Loving your family
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Providing for your family
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Disciplining your children
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | November 7, 2021
When It Seems Like The Bad Guys Win - Mark 6:14-29
We have to look at the big picture:
- Jesus taught us that, for the Christian, the way that we win in the world is by losing. Many times we as Christians have to lose physically to win spiritually.
- What determines who wins and loses is the final judgement of God in eternity.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | November 7, 2021
The Doctrine of the Family, Part 2 - The Leader Of The Family
Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-6
- The first purpose of man - To lead his family in keeping the commandments of God.
- The attack today on men as leaders of their families.
- Why God set up the family this way.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | October 31, 2021
The Apostles Sent Out - Mark 6:7-13
- The calling for Jesus’ disciples is a calling for all of us.
- Dealing with the occult in our Western world today.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | October 24, 2021
A Glimpse Into The Family Life of Jesus
Mark 6:1-6
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | October 17, 2021
Faith Over Fear
Mark 5:21-43 - Two people who sought Jesus in their needs.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | October 17, 2021
The Doctrine of the Holy Spirit and Sanctification, Part 3
John 17:17-19
- Sanctification - To be set-apart
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | October 3, 2021
The Spiritual Battle Between Light and Darkness
Mark 5:1-20 / Parallels between the demonic man and demonic activity in our world today.
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | October 3, 2021
The Doctrine of the Holy Spirit and Sanctification, Part 2
John 14:15-24
Works of the Holy Spirit:
- To obey Jesus - the difference between a commandment keeper and a legalist.
- To be a witness for Jesus
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | September 19, 2021
The Doctrine of the Holy Spirit and Sanctification, Part 1
Ephesians 5:18 / John 14:15-18
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | September 12, 2021
Mark 4 - A Lesson On The Sea
- Lesson #1 - We need to live by faith and not fear when storms come into our life
- Lesson #2 - We are going to have problems
- Lesson #3 - Seeing the greatness of Jesus
Mt. Olive Baptist Church | September 12, 2021
The Doctrine of Jesus and Salvation - God's Election and Man's Free Will
John 6, 10