Ezekiel 18:1-7a, 9b-11,13b-14, 18-32
Who’s Responsible?: Generational Curses & God’s Grace
I. Introduction
-Ill. I have a problem.
1. My wife bought me a bag of jelly beans.
2. I think she’s been giving them to Jacob.
3. "I want beans; I want beans."
-He likes jelly beans, just like me.
-I wonder how much like me, he will be.
1. Will he have my faults?
2. Will he have my strengths?
3. Will he have my mannerisms?
4. Will he be a Christian?
-Long reading this morning, please stay w/ me.
II. Scripture
III. Background
-Powerful chapter in the book of Ezekiel.
-Ill. I look like my father.
1. Cheek pinching old ladies.
2. You’re going to be a preacher... just like him.
3. I am, but that’s not why.
-You’ve heard the saying:
1. "Like father, like son."
2. "A chip off the old block."
-How true is that though?
IV. A Non-Proverb
-God is dealing w/ a common proverb among the ppl of Israel that was not a Biblical one.
1. There is a lot of that today.
2. "God helps those who help themselves."
3. Reality: God causes the rain to fall on the just & unjust.
-"The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge."
1. This proverb is saying more than a parent’s actions will influence their children.
2. It is saying that children will pay the consequences [spiritually] for their parents’ actions.
-God says: Don’t say this anymore.
-Preface: Parents have more influence in your life than any other human being.
1. However, they cannot choose for you whether you will serve Christ.
2. They cannot dictate religious experience.
-Let’s look at four major things God is saying to Ezekiel.
V. #1: Righteous Father & Sinful Son
-First scenario includes a parent who is righteous.
1. Avoids evil & pursues righteousness.
2. A godly parent.
3. He shall live.
-But the son is lost in sinfulness.
1. Participates in the world’s sin.
2. Lost w/out Christ.
3. v. 13b "He shall surely die; his blood shall be upon himself."
-If your parents are saints of God, that doesn’t automatically include you in the hosts of heaven.
-Your parents relationship with God is theirs. You must establish yours.
-"God has no grandchildren... only children."
- There is no salvation by association.
1. You can be related to 100 preachers, 50 missionaries, and the pope, but that doesn’t guarantee you anything.
2. You can go to a good church where God is at work and ppl seek to serve him, but that doesn’t reserve you a seat in heaven.
-The reason the church drifts away from the God’s Word and into complacency is the next generation didn’t really get "it."
-Some good ppl work to convince their kids they are okay.
1. Your responsibility as a parent is not to convince your child they are a Christian!
2. You responsibility is to help convince them they have a sin problem that only Jesus can solve!
-To 2nd generation Christians: Some of you have never experienced a personal walk w/ God.
1. You life is riding the spiritual momentum of those who have gone before.
2. Seek God for yourself!
VI. #2: Sinful Father & Righteous Son
-Second scenario includes the son from the 1st scenario.
-That sinful son become a sinful father.
-v. 14 "Now suppose this man fathers a son who sees all the sins that his father has done; he sees, and does not do likewise:"
-That son will live!
-Good News: Whether your parents choose to live for Christ or not, you still have a choice!
-If your parents are... ...you can still...
1. ...drug addicts ... be sober!
2. ...liars .... tell the truth!
3. ...divorced ... your marriage can last!
4. ...gossips ... speak words that edify & build up.
5. ...sexually immoral ... you can keep sex sacred!
6. ...murderers ... you can preserve life!
7. ...walking on the broad path that leads to destruction ... travel on the narrow path that leads to life!
-Psychological debate between nature vs. nurture.
1. I don’t know anything about all that stuff.
2. All I know is that God’s Word is true and He says you don’t have to continue on in the sinfulness of your forefathers!
-Generational Curses?
God says No.
-Instead: v. 20 "The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not suffer for the iniquity of the father, nor the father suffer for the iniquity of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself."
-Note: The death and life God is talking about is not physical but spiritual. "The soul that sins shall die."
VII. Blame Game
-Ill. John Killinger tells about the manager of a minor league ball team.
1. He was disgusted w/ the center fielder’s playing & ordered him to the dugout.
2. He assumed the position himself.
3. 1st ball came that came into center field took a bad hop and hit the manager in the mouth.
4. 2nd was a high fly ball, he lost in the sun--it bounced off his forehead.
5. 3rd was a hard line drive that he charged with outstretched arms; if flew between his hands and smacked his eye.
6. Furious, he ran back to the dugout, grabbed the center fielder by the uniform, and shouted. ’You idiot! You’ve got center field so messed up that even I can’t do a thing with it!
-We are looking for an out/an excuse for our sins.
-We blame everything on...
1. Our chromosomes/ genes
2. Alcoholism, homosexuality
3. "It’s just my personality."
4. "It was b/c of my raisin’"
-God says you can choose.
-James 1:14-15 "But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. [15] Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death."
VIII. #3: Sinful Person who Repents
-Third scenario, in v. 21, tells of a sinful person who repents of "all his sins."
-Two-Fold Point:
1. Warning: The path of sinfulness leads to death.
2. Good News: If you turn from your wicked ways & embrace righteousness = life!
-If you are lost today & bearing the condemnation of sin know this:
1. If you repent, turn from sin to walk in righteousness, you will live.
2. v. 22 "None of the transgressions that he has committed shall be remembered against him; for the righteousness that he has done he shall live."
-A life shift is necessary.
1. More than a good cry at an altar.
2. An encounter w/ the living God that always leads to a life change!
-God’s desire is that the lost would find Him! (v. 23)
-Some ppl expect to continue in sin and God ignore it on judgement day.
1. If you continue in your sin you will go to Hell of your own choosing.
2. This is God’s warning & promise.
IX. #4: Righteous Person who turns to sin
-Fourth scenario, in v. 24, tells of a righteous man who turns to the same abominations as the wicked.
-Note: The church has stopped believing in God’s ability to cleanse hearts of all unrighteousness.
-Some of you think, b/c you are a Christian, you can sin and it is okay... not so!
-We’ve opted instead to try & manage sin in our lives.
-As long as I don’t...
1. ...tell big lies, I can tell small ones.
2. ...murder, I can hate.
3. ...lose my job, I can be an addict.
-Let me get a little closer to home for everybody.
-Some of you are trying to manage your sin instead of being cleansed of it.
-You are managing your...
1. ...pornography addiction.
2. ...alcoholism.
3. ...gambling addiction.
4. ...shopping/spending addiction.
5. ...hateful, unforgiving attitude.
6. ...grudge (divorcees?)
-Some of you haven’t opened in your Bible, except on Sunday, in years.
-Some of you haven’t knelt in prayer since the day you were supposedly born-again.
-Ezekiel 18:24 "But when a righteous person turns away from his righteousness and does injustice and does the same abominations that the wicked person does, shall he live? None of the righteous deeds that he has done shall be remembered; for the treachery of which he is guilty and the sin he has committed, for them he shall die." (v. 26 says the same thing)
X. Conclusion
-Understanding God’s work in your life is not as complex as you might believe.
1. There is no trickery here.
2. Just this: He only works as you are obedient to Him.
-What about you?
1. Did your parents eat sour grapes?
2. Did life deal you some sour grapes?
3. Are you willing to turn from sin both great & small?
4. Have you slipped back into who you use to be before you knew Christ?
-Here is the truth:
1. The wages/pay of sin is always death.
2. But the gift of God is eternal life.
-Ezekiel 18:30-32 "Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, declares the Lord God. Repent and turn from all your transgressions, lest iniquity be your ruin. [31] Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed, and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O house of Israel? [32] For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord God; so turn, and live."
Response
Monday, March 30, 2009
Monday, March 23, 2009
A New Year's Message
Luke 13:1-9
Bearing Fruit in the Next Year: One More Year
I. Introduction
-Procrastination
1. Many things can be put off.
2. Someone once said: "Why do today, what you could do tomorrow?"
3. That just makes sense!
-The value of procrastination:
1. "The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese."
2. College papers (Bible & Theology papers) receive Holy Spirit inspiration when done moments before they are due.
3. If you do something early, you have nothing more to look forward to!
4. There is a thrill associated with accomplishing something at the last second... you never know what might pop up!
-Gloria Pitzer wrote this:
"Procrastination is my sin,
It brings me naught but sorrow
I know that I should stop it,
In fact, I will–tomorrow!"
-One wife said: "When a man needs to do a household job, he goes through three periods: contemplating how it will be done, contemplating when it will be done, & contemplating."
-But Spiritual Procrastination is one of the most dangerous things imaginable.
1. It is not a joking matter.
2. It is a serious problem... even among Christians.
II. Scripture
III. Focus on vv. 1-5
-Here we are in a vineyard this evening.
-In vv. 3 & 5 it says: "Unless you repent you will all likewise perish."
-I want to focus quickly on four words: All, likewise, perish, & repent
-#1- "All"
1. The story of the Galileans whose blood was mixed w/ the sacrifices was told to Jesus.
2. Implied is that the Galileans had, in some way, done something more evil.
3. Idea, even in Job, that suffering & tragedy in your life had to be a result of the judgement of God for your sin.
4. Rich = Good Christian.
5. Trials & suffering= sinful person.
6. What does your theology of suffering and sin call for in the face of this kind of tragedy?
7. Their sin wasn’t extraordinarily horrible, it was ordinarily horrible!
8. It was just as bad as our sin.
9. Jesus says that we are all just as deserving of the fate of the Galileans and those in Jerusalem who had a tower fall on them.
10. Example: Hurrican Katrina & Twin Towers in NY
11. Jesus is saying that all/ everyone is extremely sinful in God’s eyes.
12. Rom. 3:23 "All have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God."
13. Rom. 3:10 "There is none righteous, no not one."
14. Point: What should amaze us in our sin is not that some are taken in calamity, but that we are all spared and given another day to repent.
15. The really amazing thing is not that sinners perish (that is a given); but that God is slow to anger and has mercifully allowed us one more opportunity to repent.
-#2- "Likewise"
1. "Unless you repent you will all likewise perish."
2. "Likewise perish" can't just mean die, since that's going to happen even to those who repent.
3. So what does Jesus mean when he says that all unrepentant people will likewise perish?
4. The end those ppl came to was unexpected (they knew they would die; just that it wouldn’t end like that).
5. Unless we repent, that is the way it will be for us... a shock/surprise in the end.
6. Some casual Christians will be surprised on judgement day.
7. Some half-hearted disciples will be shocked at the Great White Throne.
8. In that sense you will likewise perish.
9. Luke 17:27-30 "They were eating and drinking and marrying and being given in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. [28] Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot—they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building, [29] but on the day when Lot went out from Sodom, fire and sulfur rained from heaven and destroyed them all— [30] so will it be on the day when the Son of Man is revealed.
10. Only repentance can make you ready to meet God.
-#3- "Perish"
1. "Unless you repent you will all likewise perish."
2. "Perish" must mean more than physical death.
3. Even repentant ppl die.
4. Perish has to do with what happens beyond the physical grave.
5. John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."
6. Matthew 25:46 about the separation of sheep from the goats, says: "The one will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."
7. Perishing is eternal spiritual death; it is torment in the lake of fire. It is an abode in hell for eternity.
8. That’s how serious sin is!
9. Ill. All you can lose is your earthly life w/ disease, murder, violence, etc.
10. Luke 12:4-5 "I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do. [5] But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him!"
11. If our world is willing to pour millions into heart disease & AIDS research why are we who know the most important cure so unwilling to do whatever it cost to awaken our world to the real danger of sin?
-#4- "Repent"
1. "Unless you repent you will all likewise perish."
2. Repentance involves believing God over the lies of Satan.
3. It is being convinced that the path I pave leads to destruction.
4. It is an acknowledgment that only Christ can deal with my sinfulness.
5. It is an acceptance of Christ’s Will in my life.
6. It includes sorrow & grief over past sins.
7. It includes a hatred for present evil tendencies in my life.
8. And it involves turning from evil ways.
VI. Now to vv. 6-9
-Now to illustrate this Jesus tells a short story/parable.
-#1- The owner of the tree made a reasonable request!
1. It was his tree. He planted it.
2. He planted a fig tree... to produce figs!
3. He cultivated it, cared for it, watched over it, and, in the end expected it to produce fruit.
4. It was in a vineyard (where trees and vines are cared for).
5. There is no excuse for you not to bear fruit if you are apart of this church.
6. The tree was specifically planted in a suitable place. (It was not a ‘volunteer’ on a rocky ledge.)
7. The owner wanted fruit.
8. Is that unreasonable? Is that unjust? Is that unfair?
9. God expects to find some fruit hanging on your tree!
10. "You can’t pink slip God & expect a bonus check of His bountiful blessings."
11. But every time the owner came, the tree had no fruit.
12. For three years it gave no fruit. (Fig trees produce annually.)
13. He gave it time to grow & mature.
14. He didn’t have unfair expectations that it would produce more figs than any other tree.
15. But it didn’t even produce one fig.
-#2- Fruitlessness requires eradication.
1. "Cut is down!"
2. I planted it, I protected it and I cared for it, yet it has produced no fruit; Cut it down!"
3. "Why should it use up the ground?"
4. John 15:2 "Every branch of mine that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit."
5. John 15:4-6 "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. [5] I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. [6] If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch & withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned."
-I’d rather be watered & fertilized than cut down.
-I’m glad that the vinedresser asked to spare the tree another year!
VII. Self-Centered Christianity
-People today view Christianity as something you take on as you journey through life.
-We market it that way.
1. We make God’s blessings material things.
2. We make His blessings happy "feel good" emotions.
3. Warm fuzzies, etc.
4. "God’s going to bless you in the new year."
-Point: God is not concerned about the new year; God is concerned about the new you!
-Too many Christians are the same old fruitless tree they always were with a new sign that says: fig tree.
1. You never see any figs.
2. In fact, we don’t expect figs anymore.
-We have become fruitless trees in the vineyard.
-Take, take, take... give me, give me, give me!
1. How selfish & self-centered!
2. To be given so much by God, to be provided for and nurtured by Him and to be fruitless.
3. Unacceptable!
-All we do is just keep expecting more from God.
1. A demanding, fruitless ppl.
2. Serve me! Amuse me! Entertain me! Educate me! Provide for my children!
3. Accept me w/out changing me! Don’t correct me! Don’t challenge me!
-But we’re not getting any better.
1. Year after year we are fruitless!
2. That’s why our churches are closing/ being cut down!
3. That’s why "Christians" are unfaithful, uncommitted, & uncaring about Kingdom things!
-We have wasted God’s grace & have become useless... just using up the ground.
1. We waste God’s grace by taking advantage of God’s undeserved, unmerited, loving action toward us.
2. We cheapen His grace by our unwillingness to forfeit our way, our will, our plans and accept His.
3. We remain fruitless b/c we remain unwilling to pay the price for true spiritual victory.
4. No fruit is produced b/c we refuse to take up our cross & follow Him.
VIII. Conclusion
-So if we have been barren and unproductive, the reasonable response to the Lord is that of committing ourselves to bearing fruit this next year.
-Luke 3:8a "Bear fruits in keeping with repentance."
-What is this fruit?
-Galatians 5:22-23 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, [23] gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."
-Query: "Why do today, what you could do tomorrow?"
1. B/c tomorrow is not guaranteed.
2. B/c it is a reasonable request of God for us to produce fruit.
-Now is the time to repent and live lives of fruitfulness.
-And the next time that the owner of the vineyard comes with His reasonable request for fruit (that could be any day now), with joy, you can give Him all that He desires.
-How can I repay the Lord for all he has done for me?
1. You can’t.
2. But you can allow him to nurture the fruit of His Spirit in you!
Response
Bearing Fruit in the Next Year: One More Year
I. Introduction
-Procrastination
1. Many things can be put off.
2. Someone once said: "Why do today, what you could do tomorrow?"
3. That just makes sense!
-The value of procrastination:
1. "The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese."
2. College papers (Bible & Theology papers) receive Holy Spirit inspiration when done moments before they are due.
3. If you do something early, you have nothing more to look forward to!
4. There is a thrill associated with accomplishing something at the last second... you never know what might pop up!
-Gloria Pitzer wrote this:
"Procrastination is my sin,
It brings me naught but sorrow
I know that I should stop it,
In fact, I will–tomorrow!"
-One wife said: "When a man needs to do a household job, he goes through three periods: contemplating how it will be done, contemplating when it will be done, & contemplating."
-But Spiritual Procrastination is one of the most dangerous things imaginable.
1. It is not a joking matter.
2. It is a serious problem... even among Christians.
II. Scripture
III. Focus on vv. 1-5
-Here we are in a vineyard this evening.
-In vv. 3 & 5 it says: "Unless you repent you will all likewise perish."
-I want to focus quickly on four words: All, likewise, perish, & repent
-#1- "All"
1. The story of the Galileans whose blood was mixed w/ the sacrifices was told to Jesus.
2. Implied is that the Galileans had, in some way, done something more evil.
3. Idea, even in Job, that suffering & tragedy in your life had to be a result of the judgement of God for your sin.
4. Rich = Good Christian.
5. Trials & suffering= sinful person.
6. What does your theology of suffering and sin call for in the face of this kind of tragedy?
7. Their sin wasn’t extraordinarily horrible, it was ordinarily horrible!
8. It was just as bad as our sin.
9. Jesus says that we are all just as deserving of the fate of the Galileans and those in Jerusalem who had a tower fall on them.
10. Example: Hurrican Katrina & Twin Towers in NY
11. Jesus is saying that all/ everyone is extremely sinful in God’s eyes.
12. Rom. 3:23 "All have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God."
13. Rom. 3:10 "There is none righteous, no not one."
14. Point: What should amaze us in our sin is not that some are taken in calamity, but that we are all spared and given another day to repent.
15. The really amazing thing is not that sinners perish (that is a given); but that God is slow to anger and has mercifully allowed us one more opportunity to repent.
-#2- "Likewise"
1. "Unless you repent you will all likewise perish."
2. "Likewise perish" can't just mean die, since that's going to happen even to those who repent.
3. So what does Jesus mean when he says that all unrepentant people will likewise perish?
4. The end those ppl came to was unexpected (they knew they would die; just that it wouldn’t end like that).
5. Unless we repent, that is the way it will be for us... a shock/surprise in the end.
6. Some casual Christians will be surprised on judgement day.
7. Some half-hearted disciples will be shocked at the Great White Throne.
8. In that sense you will likewise perish.
9. Luke 17:27-30 "They were eating and drinking and marrying and being given in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. [28] Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot—they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building, [29] but on the day when Lot went out from Sodom, fire and sulfur rained from heaven and destroyed them all— [30] so will it be on the day when the Son of Man is revealed.
10. Only repentance can make you ready to meet God.
-#3- "Perish"
1. "Unless you repent you will all likewise perish."
2. "Perish" must mean more than physical death.
3. Even repentant ppl die.
4. Perish has to do with what happens beyond the physical grave.
5. John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."
6. Matthew 25:46 about the separation of sheep from the goats, says: "The one will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."
7. Perishing is eternal spiritual death; it is torment in the lake of fire. It is an abode in hell for eternity.
8. That’s how serious sin is!
9. Ill. All you can lose is your earthly life w/ disease, murder, violence, etc.
10. Luke 12:4-5 "I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do. [5] But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him!"
11. If our world is willing to pour millions into heart disease & AIDS research why are we who know the most important cure so unwilling to do whatever it cost to awaken our world to the real danger of sin?
-#4- "Repent"
1. "Unless you repent you will all likewise perish."
2. Repentance involves believing God over the lies of Satan.
3. It is being convinced that the path I pave leads to destruction.
4. It is an acknowledgment that only Christ can deal with my sinfulness.
5. It is an acceptance of Christ’s Will in my life.
6. It includes sorrow & grief over past sins.
7. It includes a hatred for present evil tendencies in my life.
8. And it involves turning from evil ways.
VI. Now to vv. 6-9
-Now to illustrate this Jesus tells a short story/parable.
-#1- The owner of the tree made a reasonable request!
1. It was his tree. He planted it.
2. He planted a fig tree... to produce figs!
3. He cultivated it, cared for it, watched over it, and, in the end expected it to produce fruit.
4. It was in a vineyard (where trees and vines are cared for).
5. There is no excuse for you not to bear fruit if you are apart of this church.
6. The tree was specifically planted in a suitable place. (It was not a ‘volunteer’ on a rocky ledge.)
7. The owner wanted fruit.
8. Is that unreasonable? Is that unjust? Is that unfair?
9. God expects to find some fruit hanging on your tree!
10. "You can’t pink slip God & expect a bonus check of His bountiful blessings."
11. But every time the owner came, the tree had no fruit.
12. For three years it gave no fruit. (Fig trees produce annually.)
13. He gave it time to grow & mature.
14. He didn’t have unfair expectations that it would produce more figs than any other tree.
15. But it didn’t even produce one fig.
-#2- Fruitlessness requires eradication.
1. "Cut is down!"
2. I planted it, I protected it and I cared for it, yet it has produced no fruit; Cut it down!"
3. "Why should it use up the ground?"
4. John 15:2 "Every branch of mine that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit."
5. John 15:4-6 "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. [5] I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. [6] If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch & withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned."
-I’d rather be watered & fertilized than cut down.
-I’m glad that the vinedresser asked to spare the tree another year!
VII. Self-Centered Christianity
-People today view Christianity as something you take on as you journey through life.
-We market it that way.
1. We make God’s blessings material things.
2. We make His blessings happy "feel good" emotions.
3. Warm fuzzies, etc.
4. "God’s going to bless you in the new year."
-Point: God is not concerned about the new year; God is concerned about the new you!
-Too many Christians are the same old fruitless tree they always were with a new sign that says: fig tree.
1. You never see any figs.
2. In fact, we don’t expect figs anymore.
-We have become fruitless trees in the vineyard.
-Take, take, take... give me, give me, give me!
1. How selfish & self-centered!
2. To be given so much by God, to be provided for and nurtured by Him and to be fruitless.
3. Unacceptable!
-All we do is just keep expecting more from God.
1. A demanding, fruitless ppl.
2. Serve me! Amuse me! Entertain me! Educate me! Provide for my children!
3. Accept me w/out changing me! Don’t correct me! Don’t challenge me!
-But we’re not getting any better.
1. Year after year we are fruitless!
2. That’s why our churches are closing/ being cut down!
3. That’s why "Christians" are unfaithful, uncommitted, & uncaring about Kingdom things!
-We have wasted God’s grace & have become useless... just using up the ground.
1. We waste God’s grace by taking advantage of God’s undeserved, unmerited, loving action toward us.
2. We cheapen His grace by our unwillingness to forfeit our way, our will, our plans and accept His.
3. We remain fruitless b/c we remain unwilling to pay the price for true spiritual victory.
4. No fruit is produced b/c we refuse to take up our cross & follow Him.
VIII. Conclusion
-So if we have been barren and unproductive, the reasonable response to the Lord is that of committing ourselves to bearing fruit this next year.
-Luke 3:8a "Bear fruits in keeping with repentance."
-What is this fruit?
-Galatians 5:22-23 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, [23] gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."
-Query: "Why do today, what you could do tomorrow?"
1. B/c tomorrow is not guaranteed.
2. B/c it is a reasonable request of God for us to produce fruit.
-Now is the time to repent and live lives of fruitfulness.
-And the next time that the owner of the vineyard comes with His reasonable request for fruit (that could be any day now), with joy, you can give Him all that He desires.
-How can I repay the Lord for all he has done for me?
1. You can’t.
2. But you can allow him to nurture the fruit of His Spirit in you!
Response
Monday, March 16, 2009
He Cares About the Spirit
Ezekiel 20:1-3, 6-9, 12-14, 18-22, 31-32, 37-44
He Cares About the Spirit: Don’t Inquire of Him w/out a Life Change
I. Introduction
-At some point you will inquire of the Lord.
1. Times will grow difficult.
2. Desperation for answers will grow to critical mass.
3. You will cry out to Him.
-Some cry out for the wrong things.
1. Stuff, intelligence, ‘bail-out,’ etc.
2. All "me" centered.
-Ill. Bible Professor’s prayer
1. "Lord, help them recall all that they studied."
2. No, I want God to give me the answers!
-But God doesn’t care about a lot of the stuff we think He does.
1. He cares about your soul first & foremost.
2. If you aren’t right with Him, He doesn’t want to talk about anything else.
-Example: the ppl of Israel...
II. Scripture
III. Inquiring of the Lord
-God refused to respond to their inquiries b/c of their sin.
1. The only prayer I can guarantee God will answer is a prayer of repentance/ plea for mercy.
2. Everything before that is trivia, which God is unconcerned about.
-Ill. Ppl call the church for assistance...
1. My 1st question: "Where do you go to church?"
2. Spiritual questions!
3. Some are offended.
4. They don’t realize what is most important.
-Point: If your soul isn’t right with God, it doesn’t matter if you lost your job, can’t pay the water bill, are sick, etc.
-You can pray until you are blue in the face, but if you aren’t living right you are wasting your time!
-Prayer is a privilege.
1. Some view it as an obligation.
2. It is a privilege to the born-again Christian.
3. A blessing to walk & talk w/ God.
4. Don’t take that lightly.
-Ill. Saul’s partial obedience.
1. He was suppose to wipe out the pagan enemy and all their material wealth.
2. He thought God "blessed" him w/ the material possessions.
3. Query: Has it ever occurred to you that God’s action/will for your life may not be to always get you that promotion or material wealth?
4. 1 Samuel 15:22 "And Samuel said, "Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams."
5. Obedience is better than sacrifice!
-Ill. We give God a "token holy act" to guarantee our bail out (and put Him "on call").
-Example...
1. Don’t inquire of God w/ finances if you’re buying lottery tickets!
2. Don’t... w/ health if you’re over eating, smoking, drinking, etc.
3. Don’t... w/ family problems if you’re not bringing them to church!
4. Don’t... w/ marriage issues if you’re not following biblical mandates on marriage.
-Reality is inquiring of God is usually just demanding of God our will be done.
-Point: At some point you will have to determine whether you are going to do things your way or His way in your life.
-Ephesians 1:3 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places."
-Point: Christ does not give us life, assist in life, or better our life... He is our life!
-Query: My kingdom or His?
1. My will or His?
2. My life or His?
3. My way or His?
IV. Wanting the World
-Real Issue: We’ve never really broken from this world’s values.
-v. 32 "What is in your mind shall never happen—the thought, 'Let us be like the nations, like the tribes of the countries, and worship wood and stone.'"
-For example...
1. Immoral business practices (lie, cheat, etc.)
2. Divorce rate the same as the world.
3. Sexual immorality
4. Grudges, bitterness, gossip, etc. (sometimes worse in the church).
-Churches all over this nation will be cancelling tonight to watch a football game.
1. Shame, shame, shame!
2. Ppl skipped church this morning to go to the girl’s b-ball game in Richmond.
3. What are we telling our kids?
4. (We’ll panic at some point & inquire of God why they went astray... but too late.)
5. And football... let them cancel for the Lord!
6. For you who are staying home tonight to watch football... I hope the Lord doesn’t come back!
7. "Preacher, you’re making me feel bad."
8. Well, that’s not my goal. My goal is to help you see your values!
V. God Draws the Line...
-v. 39 "As for you, O house of Israel, thus says the Lord God: Go serve every one of you his idols, now and hereafter, if you will not listen to me; but my holy name you shall no more profane with your gifts and your idols."
-Paraphrase: "Do whatever you’re going to do, but don’t claim to be my ppl. (profane my name)"
-Quit claiming to be a Christian but continue to walk in sin.
1. And don’t make excuse for your sinfulness.
2. "I just have a temper."
3. "It’s just how I was raised."
4. Blah, blah, blah.
-Fine, but don’t act all spiritual when you get to church.
VI. What God Wants to do... in You
-v. 41 "I will accept you with your sweet savour, when I bring you out from the people, and gather you out of the countries wherein ye have been scattered; and I will be sanctified in you before the heathen."
1. "bring you out"
2. "manifest my holiness"
-The only way He will accept you, is if you allow Him to change you.
-Ill. Change you can believe in."
1. Only change consistent in politics is that at some point they will raise taxes and move farther from God.
2. God alone brings real change!
-He wants to change you for His name’s sake!
-So the world can see the awesome power of God.
1. The power to change the course of a human life.
2. The power to make you new!
-Some of you think you’ve changed enough.
1. Dangerous place to be.
2. God is still working!
3. Don’t be afraid of the altar.
-Ask God to change your heart if there are some things you don’t like.
1. Don’t like to go to church?
2. Don’t like to witness?
3. Don’t like to love your neighbor?
4. God can change that!
-Some things you like that are sinful/ vain/ worldly?
1. God can change your heart about that too!
2. Worldly music won’t be so entertaining anymore!
3. Worldly wealth doesn’t have to entrap you any longer!
4. God can change you!
-God is not interested in a tribute from you... but just you!
-Obedience is better than sacrifice!
VII. Conclusion
-Young ppl/ families: Passionately pursue Christ now!
-v. 44 "And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I deal with you for my name's sake, not according to your evil ways, nor according to your corrupt deeds, O house of Israel, declares the Lord God.""
-Aren’t you glad that God deals w/ you according to His name, and not our evil ways or corrupt deeds?
-His grace, life changing, real grace, is available to you today.
-Why don’t you inquire of that today?
-God wants to deal with your spirit!
Response
He Cares About the Spirit: Don’t Inquire of Him w/out a Life Change
I. Introduction
-At some point you will inquire of the Lord.
1. Times will grow difficult.
2. Desperation for answers will grow to critical mass.
3. You will cry out to Him.
-Some cry out for the wrong things.
1. Stuff, intelligence, ‘bail-out,’ etc.
2. All "me" centered.
-Ill. Bible Professor’s prayer
1. "Lord, help them recall all that they studied."
2. No, I want God to give me the answers!
-But God doesn’t care about a lot of the stuff we think He does.
1. He cares about your soul first & foremost.
2. If you aren’t right with Him, He doesn’t want to talk about anything else.
-Example: the ppl of Israel...
II. Scripture
III. Inquiring of the Lord
-God refused to respond to their inquiries b/c of their sin.
1. The only prayer I can guarantee God will answer is a prayer of repentance/ plea for mercy.
2. Everything before that is trivia, which God is unconcerned about.
-Ill. Ppl call the church for assistance...
1. My 1st question: "Where do you go to church?"
2. Spiritual questions!
3. Some are offended.
4. They don’t realize what is most important.
-Point: If your soul isn’t right with God, it doesn’t matter if you lost your job, can’t pay the water bill, are sick, etc.
-You can pray until you are blue in the face, but if you aren’t living right you are wasting your time!
-Prayer is a privilege.
1. Some view it as an obligation.
2. It is a privilege to the born-again Christian.
3. A blessing to walk & talk w/ God.
4. Don’t take that lightly.
-Ill. Saul’s partial obedience.
1. He was suppose to wipe out the pagan enemy and all their material wealth.
2. He thought God "blessed" him w/ the material possessions.
3. Query: Has it ever occurred to you that God’s action/will for your life may not be to always get you that promotion or material wealth?
4. 1 Samuel 15:22 "And Samuel said, "Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams."
5. Obedience is better than sacrifice!
-Ill. We give God a "token holy act" to guarantee our bail out (and put Him "on call").
-Example...
1. Don’t inquire of God w/ finances if you’re buying lottery tickets!
2. Don’t... w/ health if you’re over eating, smoking, drinking, etc.
3. Don’t... w/ family problems if you’re not bringing them to church!
4. Don’t... w/ marriage issues if you’re not following biblical mandates on marriage.
-Reality is inquiring of God is usually just demanding of God our will be done.
-Point: At some point you will have to determine whether you are going to do things your way or His way in your life.
-Ephesians 1:3 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places."
-Point: Christ does not give us life, assist in life, or better our life... He is our life!
-Query: My kingdom or His?
1. My will or His?
2. My life or His?
3. My way or His?
IV. Wanting the World
-Real Issue: We’ve never really broken from this world’s values.
-v. 32 "What is in your mind shall never happen—the thought, 'Let us be like the nations, like the tribes of the countries, and worship wood and stone.'"
-For example...
1. Immoral business practices (lie, cheat, etc.)
2. Divorce rate the same as the world.
3. Sexual immorality
4. Grudges, bitterness, gossip, etc. (sometimes worse in the church).
-Churches all over this nation will be cancelling tonight to watch a football game.
1. Shame, shame, shame!
2. Ppl skipped church this morning to go to the girl’s b-ball game in Richmond.
3. What are we telling our kids?
4. (We’ll panic at some point & inquire of God why they went astray... but too late.)
5. And football... let them cancel for the Lord!
6. For you who are staying home tonight to watch football... I hope the Lord doesn’t come back!
7. "Preacher, you’re making me feel bad."
8. Well, that’s not my goal. My goal is to help you see your values!
V. God Draws the Line...
-v. 39 "As for you, O house of Israel, thus says the Lord God: Go serve every one of you his idols, now and hereafter, if you will not listen to me; but my holy name you shall no more profane with your gifts and your idols."
-Paraphrase: "Do whatever you’re going to do, but don’t claim to be my ppl. (profane my name)"
-Quit claiming to be a Christian but continue to walk in sin.
1. And don’t make excuse for your sinfulness.
2. "I just have a temper."
3. "It’s just how I was raised."
4. Blah, blah, blah.
-Fine, but don’t act all spiritual when you get to church.
VI. What God Wants to do... in You
-v. 41 "I will accept you with your sweet savour, when I bring you out from the people, and gather you out of the countries wherein ye have been scattered; and I will be sanctified in you before the heathen."
1. "bring you out"
2. "manifest my holiness"
-The only way He will accept you, is if you allow Him to change you.
-Ill. Change you can believe in."
1. Only change consistent in politics is that at some point they will raise taxes and move farther from God.
2. God alone brings real change!
-He wants to change you for His name’s sake!
-So the world can see the awesome power of God.
1. The power to change the course of a human life.
2. The power to make you new!
-Some of you think you’ve changed enough.
1. Dangerous place to be.
2. God is still working!
3. Don’t be afraid of the altar.
-Ask God to change your heart if there are some things you don’t like.
1. Don’t like to go to church?
2. Don’t like to witness?
3. Don’t like to love your neighbor?
4. God can change that!
-Some things you like that are sinful/ vain/ worldly?
1. God can change your heart about that too!
2. Worldly music won’t be so entertaining anymore!
3. Worldly wealth doesn’t have to entrap you any longer!
4. God can change you!
-God is not interested in a tribute from you... but just you!
-Obedience is better than sacrifice!
VII. Conclusion
-Young ppl/ families: Passionately pursue Christ now!
-v. 44 "And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I deal with you for my name's sake, not according to your evil ways, nor according to your corrupt deeds, O house of Israel, declares the Lord God.""
-Aren’t you glad that God deals w/ you according to His name, and not our evil ways or corrupt deeds?
-His grace, life changing, real grace, is available to you today.
-Why don’t you inquire of that today?
-God wants to deal with your spirit!
Response
Monday, March 9, 2009
What's This Church All About?
1 Corinthians 1:1-3
What’s This Church All About?: Our Values
I. Introduction
A. There is a lot of stuff in the world today that passes itself off as the church.
1. The reality is that they are no more Christian than the Devil.
2. We have watered down God’s Word, disregarded it, and perverted it.
3. We have settled for cheap Christianity, a compromised faith, and a half-hearted service to the King.
B. We have adopted worldly theology about God.
C. We have rejected foundational Biblical Doctrine.
D. In this setting it is difficult to know what the Church really is!
II. Scripture
III. Background
A. Re-Wording of v. 2
"To the [church] called out of God that are in Greensburg, to those [sanctified] set apart for God’s work in Christ Jesus, called to be holy ones together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours."
B. Word meanings:
1. Church = called out
2. Sanctified = Made Holy = Set apart for God’s purposes
3. Saints = Holy Ones
C. Together with all those who in every place call upon ...Jesus.
1. You don’t have to go to this church to make it into Heaven.
2. But you do have to be a part of The Church... The body of Christ.
IV. Some Values:
We are an Accepting Church...
...The world is driven by popularity, who’s who, high man on the totem pole, etc.
...But not the church.
...James 2:1 "My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory."
- He gives an ill. of a rich man & a poor man and their seating.
- James 2:9 says it is sin.
- 2 Peter 1:1 "Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ"
...The ground is level at the foot of the cross.
...Age discrimination.
...Gender discrimination
...Economic discrimination
...Education discrimination
God’s Word is central for our beliefs and Christian living...
...2 Timothy 3:16 "All Scripture is breathed out [inspired] by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness."
...Our beliefs are not just based on Scripture they reside w/in Scripture.
...Theological opinions are irrelevant and worthless unless they are in agreement w/ Scripture.
...We don’t care what somebody thinks about God, we want to know what God’s Word says about Him!
...We also operate according to Scripture.
...We deal w/ problems by consulting God’s Word.
...Money issues, division/disagreement in the church, sin among believers, family issues, etc
...All preaching is worthless outside of God’s Word!
That leads into the next thing...
Preaching the Word of God is central to our Worship Services...
...Worship is more than a series of notes or an order of service.
...No worship leaders here, only song leaders, preacher, etc.
...Worship is a choice you make.
Worship is a life you live.
..."I just cant’ worship." Boo.
...There are situations where it is more difficult to worship than others, we try to be conducive to you making a decision to worship.
...Your response to the Gospel proclaimed is the greatest act of worship.
...Worship = appropriate response to God’s grace
...1 Thessalonians 1:5a "...because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction."
...A lot of churches today are moving away from "preaching."
"It’s old fashion."
"It doesn’t work anymore."
...C. William Fisher: "Have we really outgrown our methods, or have we outrun our spirituality? Have our methods become stale, or have we? Are our methods obsolete, or are we too depleted spiritually to use them effectively?"
...It is a means of calling the lost to be born-again!
...1 Cor. 1:21b "It pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe."
...Most sinners do not enjoy preaching... it is folly to them.
...1 Cor. 1:17-18 For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. [18] For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God."
...When I was ordained, this Scripture was quoted by the GS:
...2 Tim. 4:1-5 "I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: [2] preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. [3] For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, [4] and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. [5] As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry."
We are a Missional Church...
...Matthew 28:19-20 "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, [20] teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."
...We expect to grow!
...Even numerically.
...Like the early church consistently grew, we expect to too.
... "It’s not about numbers."
- "No, it’s about souls!"
- Somebody tell the person that counted in the book of Acts.
...2 Cor. 2:14-16 But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. [15] For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, [16] to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things?
...Strong statement: You are not Christian if you are not participating in the commission that Christ gave His church.
...Acts 9:31 "So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied."
We are a Holiness Church...
...Ill. Piano maker had one purpose for the piano... music.
-We might use it for picture gallery, filing cabinet, etc.
-But it still has one perfect reason for existence given by its creator.
...Note our Scripture this morning.
-Holiness & Sanctified are same root words in original language.
- Have to do w/ the working of the Holy Spirit.
...Phineas Bresee: "Without the manifest presence of the Holy Ghost any church is a failure."
- Manifest? ...perceivable, observable, trackable, etc.
- Changed lives, changed attitudes, changed families, Spirit filled believers.
...1 Cor. 2:12-13 "Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. [13] And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual."
...God continually & consistently calls His people to be a holy people (in the OT & NT).
IV. Conclusion
A. But there are also some expectations of you.
B. You are expected to grow in the Lord.
1. To Change!
2. We expect Christians to act like Christ.
C. E. Stanley Jones: "Before we can go farther, we must first go deeper."
D. We cannot enter this next year expecting to enjoy the presence of the Lord, see ppl born-again, have great revival, see believers baptized in the Holy Spirit, etc...
1. ...IF we are not willing ourselves to go deeper in Christ.
2. ...IF we are not willing to mature in Christ & try solid food.
E. Will you make that commitment?
F. Will you commit to... ??
1. ...pursuing the presence of Christ (personally & corporately)
2. ...giving to the Lord (time, talent, treasure, & self)
3. ...bearing the fruit of the Holy Spirit.
G. It will begin with obedience to the Holy Spirit.
What’s This Church All About?: Our Values
I. Introduction
A. There is a lot of stuff in the world today that passes itself off as the church.
1. The reality is that they are no more Christian than the Devil.
2. We have watered down God’s Word, disregarded it, and perverted it.
3. We have settled for cheap Christianity, a compromised faith, and a half-hearted service to the King.
B. We have adopted worldly theology about God.
C. We have rejected foundational Biblical Doctrine.
D. In this setting it is difficult to know what the Church really is!
II. Scripture
III. Background
A. Re-Wording of v. 2
"To the [church] called out of God that are in Greensburg, to those [sanctified] set apart for God’s work in Christ Jesus, called to be holy ones together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours."
B. Word meanings:
1. Church = called out
2. Sanctified = Made Holy = Set apart for God’s purposes
3. Saints = Holy Ones
C. Together with all those who in every place call upon ...Jesus.
1. You don’t have to go to this church to make it into Heaven.
2. But you do have to be a part of The Church... The body of Christ.
IV. Some Values:
We are an Accepting Church...
...The world is driven by popularity, who’s who, high man on the totem pole, etc.
...But not the church.
...James 2:1 "My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory."
- He gives an ill. of a rich man & a poor man and their seating.
- James 2:9 says it is sin.
- 2 Peter 1:1 "Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ"
...The ground is level at the foot of the cross.
...Age discrimination.
...Gender discrimination
...Economic discrimination
...Education discrimination
God’s Word is central for our beliefs and Christian living...
...2 Timothy 3:16 "All Scripture is breathed out [inspired] by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness."
...Our beliefs are not just based on Scripture they reside w/in Scripture.
...Theological opinions are irrelevant and worthless unless they are in agreement w/ Scripture.
...We don’t care what somebody thinks about God, we want to know what God’s Word says about Him!
...We also operate according to Scripture.
...We deal w/ problems by consulting God’s Word.
...Money issues, division/disagreement in the church, sin among believers, family issues, etc
...All preaching is worthless outside of God’s Word!
That leads into the next thing...
Preaching the Word of God is central to our Worship Services...
...Worship is more than a series of notes or an order of service.
...No worship leaders here, only song leaders, preacher, etc.
...Worship is a choice you make.
Worship is a life you live.
..."I just cant’ worship." Boo.
...There are situations where it is more difficult to worship than others, we try to be conducive to you making a decision to worship.
...Your response to the Gospel proclaimed is the greatest act of worship.
...Worship = appropriate response to God’s grace
...1 Thessalonians 1:5a "...because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction."
...A lot of churches today are moving away from "preaching."
"It’s old fashion."
"It doesn’t work anymore."
...C. William Fisher: "Have we really outgrown our methods, or have we outrun our spirituality? Have our methods become stale, or have we? Are our methods obsolete, or are we too depleted spiritually to use them effectively?"
...It is a means of calling the lost to be born-again!
...1 Cor. 1:21b "It pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe."
...Most sinners do not enjoy preaching... it is folly to them.
...1 Cor. 1:17-18 For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. [18] For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God."
...When I was ordained, this Scripture was quoted by the GS:
...2 Tim. 4:1-5 "I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: [2] preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. [3] For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, [4] and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. [5] As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry."
We are a Missional Church...
...Matthew 28:19-20 "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, [20] teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."
...We expect to grow!
...Even numerically.
...Like the early church consistently grew, we expect to too.
... "It’s not about numbers."
- "No, it’s about souls!"
- Somebody tell the person that counted in the book of Acts.
...2 Cor. 2:14-16 But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. [15] For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, [16] to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things?
...Strong statement: You are not Christian if you are not participating in the commission that Christ gave His church.
...Acts 9:31 "So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied."
We are a Holiness Church...
...Ill. Piano maker had one purpose for the piano... music.
-We might use it for picture gallery, filing cabinet, etc.
-But it still has one perfect reason for existence given by its creator.
...Note our Scripture this morning.
-Holiness & Sanctified are same root words in original language.
- Have to do w/ the working of the Holy Spirit.
...Phineas Bresee: "Without the manifest presence of the Holy Ghost any church is a failure."
- Manifest? ...perceivable, observable, trackable, etc.
- Changed lives, changed attitudes, changed families, Spirit filled believers.
...1 Cor. 2:12-13 "Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. [13] And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual."
...God continually & consistently calls His people to be a holy people (in the OT & NT).
IV. Conclusion
A. But there are also some expectations of you.
B. You are expected to grow in the Lord.
1. To Change!
2. We expect Christians to act like Christ.
C. E. Stanley Jones: "Before we can go farther, we must first go deeper."
D. We cannot enter this next year expecting to enjoy the presence of the Lord, see ppl born-again, have great revival, see believers baptized in the Holy Spirit, etc...
1. ...IF we are not willing ourselves to go deeper in Christ.
2. ...IF we are not willing to mature in Christ & try solid food.
E. Will you make that commitment?
F. Will you commit to... ??
1. ...pursuing the presence of Christ (personally & corporately)
2. ...giving to the Lord (time, talent, treasure, & self)
3. ...bearing the fruit of the Holy Spirit.
G. It will begin with obedience to the Holy Spirit.
Monday, March 2, 2009
A Raging Trickle
Ezekiel 47:1-12
A Raging Trickle: Let the Water Flow
I. Introduction
-These two questions seem unrelated...
1. What kind of impact is God capable of in our world today?
2. What in the world is there to be thankful for?
-May I argue that they are connected.
-Today we have given God thanks for His impact in the life of Eula Lobb and the life of our church.
-Most of our T-giving tends to be self-centered.
1. Very little thanks is offered to God.
2. Mainly to the cook and the football coach, if your team wins.
-Ill. Instilling thanksgiving into my son
1. Bed time prayer...
2. "Thank you for Mommy, Hannah, Cat...."
3. "What about me?"
4. "And me?
II. Scripture
III. Background
-Chapter 1 is all about the fact that God’s glory/presence is what is really relevant... & now this!
-The last chapter (48) ends with "And the name of the city from that time on shall be, The Lord is there."
-I want to start at the end of this river and work my way back.
IV. Where the Water Ends Up
-It goes all the way to the Dead Sea.
-Dead Sea
1. aka- Salt Sea
2. Tributaries in bring salt water, but no way for the minerals to leave.
3. Dead- b/c no fish or life can live in such a high salt concentration.
4. The only value during this time was the salt deposits.
-But when the water from the temple hit the Dead Sea... it came alive.
1. Living creatures swarm
2. Dead water is made alive.
3. Salt water is made fresh.
4. In fact it becomes a place where fishermen can earn a living!
-v. 9b "everything will live where the river goes."
-I believe that everywhere God’s presence is, there is life & healing!
1. The dead become alive!
2. The enslaved become free!
3. The wounded become whole!
4. The lost are found.
5. The salty death is made fresh!
V. The Banks of the River
-But even on the way God is at work.
-Before the water even got to the Dead Sea it says...
1. v. 9 "And wherever the river goes, every living creature that swarms will live...so everything will live where the river goes."
2. v. 12 "And on the banks, on both sides of the river, there will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves will not wither, nor their fruit fail, but they will bear fresh fruit every month, b/c the water for them flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for healing."
-I think what we need is this river to run through our lives!
-Ill. Living in Eastern KY.
1. Hills & Hollers
2. A real fast, hard rain = a "gully washer"
3. The rain would land on the hill top and run down into the holler/gully and wash out leaves, dirt, debris, etc.
-We need a gully washer!
-Some of you need God in your...
1. ...marriage, family.
2. ...finances, workplace.
3. ...private place/behind closed doors
4. We’ll try everything but what brings real healing.
-The trees on the side of the river produce fruit every month!
-The leaves of the trees bring healing!
-Some have given God lip- service, when what He wants is your life.
-You can sit in a church on T-giving Sunday and say "thanks."
1. But some of you are thinking about your 401K (don’t you believe that God will take care of you?)
2. Some are thinking about your project at work.
3. Worrying about your grade at school.
4. Whether everyone will like the casserole you brought.
-Some of you won’t be in church next Sunday b/c...
1. ...you’ll be doing something "more important."
2. ..."on vacation"; working on a school assignment;
3. ..."tired" b/c you’re so busy;
4. ...etc.
-But look where this stream starts!
VI. The Door of the Temple
-It starts in the temple!
1. In the house of God.
2. In the sanctuary.
-Point: All healing starts with God.
1. All life begins in Christ!
2. All revival is introduced by the Holy Spirit!
-As short as our time is together, this could be (& is meant to be) the most important hour of your week!
1. Your feet should get wet!
2. The raging river should begin with a trickle right here!
-Someone said: "We need to remember that all renewal in the church or in the world flows by God’s grace from God’s presence and is not something we generate or control."
-Note: The river had no tributaries.. God doesn’t need anything else... So what are we waiting for?
1. No additives needed.
2. No need to add anything!
-It starts as a trickle in the temple and ends by bringing life to the Dead Sea!
VII. The Temple is Only the Beginning
-What happens "in church" is only the beginning!
-The water didn’t stay in the temple!
1. It flows out ward!
2. We are conduits & conductors of it!
-One commentator said it this way: "The imagery tries to state that the appearance of God in His sanctuary in the midst of His ppl does not create a self contained ‘holy place.’ All the preparation of the sacred place... is meant in the last resort to serve God’s intention to allow life & healing to flow out from there into the land. This life & this healing are to be effective precisely where unnatural disease & hostility [death & violence] are most obviously operative."
-The true Spirit of God cannot be contained here!
1. This may be where He starts His work... but it isn’t where it ends!
2. It leaves here with you!
-vv. 2b-5
-It just gets deeper from here.
1. Your walk with God can get deeper & fuller.
2. Broader and more intimate.
3. Richer and more divine!
-Ill. "He got in over His head."
1. Maybe this is one time that is a good thing.
2. Maybe too many are too timid to dive into the holiness of God!
-Point: Maybe sin doesn’t ‘snowball’ rather revival & renewal (from God’s glory) does!
1. In a thankless world...
2. In a world it may be hard to give thanks in...
3. Maybe God still holds His throne!
-Maybe I can truly be thankful!
-I am thankful for...
1. ...material blessings (house to live in, vehicles, bed, couches, food to eat, (but more than that))
2. ...a beautiful, talented, intelligent, Christian wife.
3. ...two healthy, perfect children.
4. ...a church family that truly cares for their pastor.
5. ...perfect health!
6. ...parents who love & pray for me, in-laws who love & pray for me (best in-laws a person could have)
7. ...two brothers who desire to serve the Lord, a grandfather who is a man of God.
8. ...a background/foundation in the church.
9. ...the opportunity to serve my Lord & Savior.
10. ...the ability to do this (take a breath)
11. ...the gift of speech to be able to say: "Hallelujah! Praise be to God!"
12. ...the agent of grace which is the Holy Spirit convicted me in a church service & I responded in obedience w/ repentance and was saved.
13. ...the fact that He has delivered [me] from the domain of darkness and transferred [me] to the kingdom of his beloved Son. (Col. 1:13)
14. ...the joy, peace, and hope that wells up in my soul from Christ!
15. ...for the river of healing & cleansing that has washed over my heart, soul, & mind and created something new.
-What are you thankful for?
-This trickle has become a raging river.
1. And it’s bringing healing!
2. And it’s bringing life!
3. And it’s bringing wholeness!
4. It is the living God to who we give thanks this morning.
VIII. Conclusion
-Revelation 22:1-2 "Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb [2] through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations."
-My feet are wet!
-What about yours?
-He is worthy of our praise!
-Let’s give Him thanks this morning!
Response
A Raging Trickle: Let the Water Flow
I. Introduction
-These two questions seem unrelated...
1. What kind of impact is God capable of in our world today?
2. What in the world is there to be thankful for?
-May I argue that they are connected.
-Today we have given God thanks for His impact in the life of Eula Lobb and the life of our church.
-Most of our T-giving tends to be self-centered.
1. Very little thanks is offered to God.
2. Mainly to the cook and the football coach, if your team wins.
-Ill. Instilling thanksgiving into my son
1. Bed time prayer...
2. "Thank you for Mommy, Hannah, Cat...."
3. "What about me?"
4. "And me?
II. Scripture
III. Background
-Chapter 1 is all about the fact that God’s glory/presence is what is really relevant... & now this!
-The last chapter (48) ends with "And the name of the city from that time on shall be, The Lord is there."
-I want to start at the end of this river and work my way back.
IV. Where the Water Ends Up
-It goes all the way to the Dead Sea.
-Dead Sea
1. aka- Salt Sea
2. Tributaries in bring salt water, but no way for the minerals to leave.
3. Dead- b/c no fish or life can live in such a high salt concentration.
4. The only value during this time was the salt deposits.
-But when the water from the temple hit the Dead Sea... it came alive.
1. Living creatures swarm
2. Dead water is made alive.
3. Salt water is made fresh.
4. In fact it becomes a place where fishermen can earn a living!
-v. 9b "everything will live where the river goes."
-I believe that everywhere God’s presence is, there is life & healing!
1. The dead become alive!
2. The enslaved become free!
3. The wounded become whole!
4. The lost are found.
5. The salty death is made fresh!
V. The Banks of the River
-But even on the way God is at work.
-Before the water even got to the Dead Sea it says...
1. v. 9 "And wherever the river goes, every living creature that swarms will live...so everything will live where the river goes."
2. v. 12 "And on the banks, on both sides of the river, there will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves will not wither, nor their fruit fail, but they will bear fresh fruit every month, b/c the water for them flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for healing."
-I think what we need is this river to run through our lives!
-Ill. Living in Eastern KY.
1. Hills & Hollers
2. A real fast, hard rain = a "gully washer"
3. The rain would land on the hill top and run down into the holler/gully and wash out leaves, dirt, debris, etc.
-We need a gully washer!
-Some of you need God in your...
1. ...marriage, family.
2. ...finances, workplace.
3. ...private place/behind closed doors
4. We’ll try everything but what brings real healing.
-The trees on the side of the river produce fruit every month!
-The leaves of the trees bring healing!
-Some have given God lip- service, when what He wants is your life.
-You can sit in a church on T-giving Sunday and say "thanks."
1. But some of you are thinking about your 401K (don’t you believe that God will take care of you?)
2. Some are thinking about your project at work.
3. Worrying about your grade at school.
4. Whether everyone will like the casserole you brought.
-Some of you won’t be in church next Sunday b/c...
1. ...you’ll be doing something "more important."
2. ..."on vacation"; working on a school assignment;
3. ..."tired" b/c you’re so busy;
4. ...etc.
-But look where this stream starts!
VI. The Door of the Temple
-It starts in the temple!
1. In the house of God.
2. In the sanctuary.
-Point: All healing starts with God.
1. All life begins in Christ!
2. All revival is introduced by the Holy Spirit!
-As short as our time is together, this could be (& is meant to be) the most important hour of your week!
1. Your feet should get wet!
2. The raging river should begin with a trickle right here!
-Someone said: "We need to remember that all renewal in the church or in the world flows by God’s grace from God’s presence and is not something we generate or control."
-Note: The river had no tributaries.. God doesn’t need anything else... So what are we waiting for?
1. No additives needed.
2. No need to add anything!
-It starts as a trickle in the temple and ends by bringing life to the Dead Sea!
VII. The Temple is Only the Beginning
-What happens "in church" is only the beginning!
-The water didn’t stay in the temple!
1. It flows out ward!
2. We are conduits & conductors of it!
-One commentator said it this way: "The imagery tries to state that the appearance of God in His sanctuary in the midst of His ppl does not create a self contained ‘holy place.’ All the preparation of the sacred place... is meant in the last resort to serve God’s intention to allow life & healing to flow out from there into the land. This life & this healing are to be effective precisely where unnatural disease & hostility [death & violence] are most obviously operative."
-The true Spirit of God cannot be contained here!
1. This may be where He starts His work... but it isn’t where it ends!
2. It leaves here with you!
-vv. 2b-5
-It just gets deeper from here.
1. Your walk with God can get deeper & fuller.
2. Broader and more intimate.
3. Richer and more divine!
-Ill. "He got in over His head."
1. Maybe this is one time that is a good thing.
2. Maybe too many are too timid to dive into the holiness of God!
-Point: Maybe sin doesn’t ‘snowball’ rather revival & renewal (from God’s glory) does!
1. In a thankless world...
2. In a world it may be hard to give thanks in...
3. Maybe God still holds His throne!
-Maybe I can truly be thankful!
-I am thankful for...
1. ...material blessings (house to live in, vehicles, bed, couches, food to eat, (but more than that))
2. ...a beautiful, talented, intelligent, Christian wife.
3. ...two healthy, perfect children.
4. ...a church family that truly cares for their pastor.
5. ...perfect health!
6. ...parents who love & pray for me, in-laws who love & pray for me (best in-laws a person could have)
7. ...two brothers who desire to serve the Lord, a grandfather who is a man of God.
8. ...a background/foundation in the church.
9. ...the opportunity to serve my Lord & Savior.
10. ...the ability to do this (take a breath)
11. ...the gift of speech to be able to say: "Hallelujah! Praise be to God!"
12. ...the agent of grace which is the Holy Spirit convicted me in a church service & I responded in obedience w/ repentance and was saved.
13. ...the fact that He has delivered [me] from the domain of darkness and transferred [me] to the kingdom of his beloved Son. (Col. 1:13)
14. ...the joy, peace, and hope that wells up in my soul from Christ!
15. ...for the river of healing & cleansing that has washed over my heart, soul, & mind and created something new.
-What are you thankful for?
-This trickle has become a raging river.
1. And it’s bringing healing!
2. And it’s bringing life!
3. And it’s bringing wholeness!
4. It is the living God to who we give thanks this morning.
VIII. Conclusion
-Revelation 22:1-2 "Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb [2] through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations."
-My feet are wet!
-What about yours?
-He is worthy of our praise!
-Let’s give Him thanks this morning!
Response
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