2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1
A Cleansing Because of Immanuel
I. Introduction
-Ill. IGA door lock
1. In Nashville, I locked my car door whenever I was out and about.
2. There were some scary ppl.
3. In Greensburg @ IGA a teen in passenger seat power locked the doors to the car she was in!
4. Am I that scary?
-Emmanuel= God with us
-What's so big about that?
-What does that mean in our day to day lives?
-Let's see what Paul says...
II. Scripture
III. Unequally Yoked
-"Unequally yoked" is more than just marriage advice.
1. True for marriage though.
2. vv. 14-16a deal with a question the church today must ask itself.
3. Are we yoked with the world?
-Could you pick out a Christian in a line up?
-v. 16b "I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them"
1. NIV- "I will live with them" boo!!
2. KJV/ NASB- "I will live in them"
3. Greek word- epsilon, knew
4. Immanuel is more than "with" us like somewhere in the room.
5. Closer to "in" or "within" us.
-If God is going to be with us, he demands that we be holy.
-Ill. Cleansing and necessity of temple utensils to be pure in order to be used for holy purposes.
-Is that an emphasis in the church today?
IV. Christian vs. Sinner
-There should be a dramatic difference.
-The Bible describes it as polar opposites...
1. Life vs. death.
2. Light vs. darkness
3. Good vs. evil
-That's why he deals w/ being unequally yoked!
-"I'm just a sinner saved by grace."
1. No, I'm a new creation.
2. If you've been saved by grace you are not a sinner.
-We believe you can do some good things to appease the bad things.
-That's not how it works.
1. That's work's righteousness.
2. Good things you do, do not cancel out bad things you do.
V. God's Priority
-Do you know that God wants you to have a pure heart, more than doing "great" things for Him?
1. A pure heart more than becoming Billy Graham
2. ....coming to church all the time.
3. ....giving a tithe of your income.
4. ...witnessing to your neighbor.
5. ...being a "big shot" leader in the church.
6. ...anything else!
-Matthew 15:11 "It is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person."
-And where does the mouth stuff come from?
1. Matthew 15:18-19 "But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. [19] For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander."
2. The heart drives your actions.
3. It's an issue of getting the cart before the horse.
-It's the reason so many ppl feel they have to make a sacrifice for God to be "okay."
1. Sacrifice to come to church and be miserable.
2. Sacrifice to be nice to a co-worker.
3. Sacrifice to do good to a neighbor, etc.
-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."
VI. The Dirty Heart Problem
-When we refuse to obey God and receive a cleansing, we create a host of problems in the church.
-Dirty Heart problems:
1. Sinners have the spiritual gift of discernment (seeing phonies) more than some in the church.
2. "Full of hot air"
3. Hypocrisy...
-Ill. "______ is a member of your church!?"
1. They see hypocrisy!
2. Rigorous membership b/c you are billboards for the kingdom of God!
3. "If Nazarenes really lived what they believe, it would be the best church."
4. If Christians...."
5. "We can't help our imperfections." No, you just need a heart cleansing!
-Ill. "Nazarene Church is so strict!"
1. Yes! Exactly! That's the point!
2. There are enough sinners masquerading as Christians causing destruction for the kingdom of God!
-My goal is not to get you to put on a better act, but to have a heart cleansing!
VII. Real Cleansing!
-I've heard there use to be testimonies of miraculous conversions!
1. Drug addicts were delivered!
2. Ppl living together separated and then got married.
3. Murderers repented.
4. Sexual perverts believed and were transformed.
5. Ill. Song- "they baptized Jesse Taylor in Cedar Creek...." Dad met him at Grenada MS @ Johnny Scallion barber shop.
-Why isn't that happening anymore?
1. I admit, the longer I'm in ministry the harder it is to believe!
2. Is the problem God? ...or is it the church?
-Church growth today isn't radical transformations, it's transitions from one church to another.
-Maybe the problem is b/c we don't really believe a cleansing could take place.
-We don't believe b/c it has never really happened in our lives!
-If God cannot take care of the "little sins" in my life, how could he take care of the "big stuff" in the world?
-James 4:2 "You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask."
-We do not ask for these things anymore...
1. I'm not talking about drug addicts, murderers, prostitutes, etc.
2. I'm talking about a cleansing in our own lives.
-Otherwise we have the problem Jesus dealt with in Luke 11:39 "And the Lord said to him, ‘Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.'"
-What kind of things does this cleansing take care of?
1. Pride, hatred leading to anger, unforgiving heart, and self-centeredness
2. 1 John says all unrighteousness
3. James says it cleanses a double-mindedness.
-2 Corinthians 7:1 "Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God."
1. Bringing holiness to completion.
2. Not our own spiritual walk.
VIII. Conclusion
-The church today needs a cleansing.
-Ill. Preachers falling.
1. Lay people leaping back into the world (partly backsliding, but partly they never were saved).
2. Children growing up and leaving the church.
3. We got problems in the church today!
-There is only one solution to the problem of the church!
1. We need a cleansing!
2. We need a transformational work of God in our midst.
-I came across a verse I've read a million times, but it's huge.
-Mark 11:24 "Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours."
-Do you believe that?
-Not in the guy down the street, but in our own hearts!
-Ill. If you cannot swim you cannot be a lifeguard!
1. If you are not cleansed you cannot help someone be cleansed!
2. A dirty church cannot call the community to holiness.
-1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 "Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. [24] He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it."
Response
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Saturday, January 17, 2009
A Form Without Power
2 Timothy 3:1-5
A Form Without Power: Denial of Power
I. Introduction
-This morning I woke up and took a shower. (15 min.)
1. Got dressed, brushed my teeth, combed my hair, shaved, etc. (25 min.)
2. On most days I may take more time to get ready for the day.
-Maybe you took a long time to get ready.
-My question is: How much time did you spend getting ready spiritually?
-Don't we tend to spend more time on our appearance than our soul?
-We sometimes try to work on our spiritual appearance.
1. There's no real substance.
2. But superficially we can fool some people.
II. Scripture
III. "Last Days"
-Paul is writing to the young Timothy to encourage.
-He says in v. 1 "...in the last days..."
1. Then he describes the present for us.
2. We are living in the last days!
3. Last days = everything after the ascension of Christ.
-"in the last days there will come times of difficulty."
-Why? B/c of the people described.
1. "Lovers of self" "Abusive"
2. "Heartless" "ungrateful"
3. "Treacherous" "brutal"
4. Amen! Amen! Amen!
5. All these descriptors are accurate today... even in the church.
-The difficulty we face is a result of these descriptions being a reality in our world and in our own lives.
-But the one I want to focus on is v. 5 "...having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power."
-All the things described are bad descriptions!
-But this one doesn't seem to be too bad.... "the appearance of godliness."
IV. That's Not Bad!
-"...the appearance of godliness."
-Sounds positive & good.
-I've seen a lot of ppl who didn't look very Godly!
-Wouldn't our churches be better off if people had the appearance of godliness?
-I wouldn't be insulted if someone said: "You appear to be a Godly man."
-So why is this bad?
-Ill. Car Junk Yard
1. Man looking for something to work on.
2. Saw a corvette.
3. Worker: "This car is a beauty!"
4. No scratches, no dents, no missing windows, all the seats were in perfect condition.
5. The car wouldn't start.
6. It had no engine.
-The appearance alone denies the power.
-The church today has settled for the appearance of godliness instead of the substance.
-We need more than just the appearance!
V. More than Appearance...
-We have denied the power by settling for appearances.
-There's a big difference between appearance & power.
-Ill. Appearance vs. power.
1. Dress like a policeman.
2. Put on a fire helmet.
3. Walk in front of the White House w/ a cord from my ear into my jacket, but not protect anyone.
4. I could bark like a bull dog, but not tear you up like one.
-Don't settle for the ‘appearance of godliness.'
-"There are three ppl living within your body..."
1. "Who you think you are."
2. "Who others think you are."
3. "Who God knows you are."
4. The only one that matters is the third one.
5. We have put all our attention on the first two.
VI. A Holy Nature
-God desires to make who you are: holy.
1. Not look holy, act holy, seem holy, appear holy, etc.
2. But a change of your very nature, the foundation of who you are, your spiritual DNA.
-2 Peter 1:4 "He has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire."
-Don't settle for appearances, but strive for the power.
-God desires to give us his very essence so it might be at work in our lives!
-And if God's Spirit is at work in our hearts it works it's way out into everyday life w/ power.
-You might...
1. ...know "Amazing Grace" but do you know amazing grace?
2. ...walk into the church every Sunday, but do you walk w/ the Lord on Monday?
3. ...sing praise, but do you live a life of worship?
4. ...know how to talk spiritually, but do you truly speak of what God has done in your life?
5. ...put some money in the offering plate, but have you offered up yourself to God?
6. ...have your name on the membership role, but is it written on the Lamb's book of Life?
7. ...look like a Christian, but are you a Christian?
-Ill. "Keeping Up Appearances."
1. BBC show about a lady trying to appear to be something she is not.
2. Too many Christians today are just ‘keeping up appearances.'
3. And it would be comical if it were not so sad.
-God desires to start a work in our hearts that transforms us from the inside-out!
VII. Appearance and Reality
-This is a concern in the church today, but it is in our church as well.
-Ill. People come to fun stuff.
1. Potluck next Friday, Singin', something for you!
2. People would fill the place.
3. But call a prayer meeting: intercession, tears, clinging to the throne of grace; and nobody shows.
-Where are you on Wednesday night?
1. "The best tv show was on."
2. "I usually just pray at home."
-How many visits have you made to invite someone to church?
1. I'm no good.
2. ...in the last year?
-How many people have been saved as a result of you allowing God to use you? ...ever?
-How much time did you spend in prayer for this service?
1. "Preacher just didn't preach well this morning."
2. But did you pray for the preacher? ...song leader? Etc.
-Too many good ppl mean well, but settle for the appearances of godliness!
VIII. The Whole Church
-Some whole churches have fallen to it.
-God said to the church in Sardis in Rev. 3:2b "I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead."
-Ill. Fisherman
1. He had a beautiful boat, sonar, rod & reel, a net, bait, tackle box, wadin' pants, etc.
2. All top of the line stuff.
3. He would appear to be a great fisherman.
4. But he never caught any fish.
-What about your life?
-We've bought into the idea that if you have your life under control you are okay.
1. As long as I'm not having family troubles
2. No money problems, no major illness, no ‘big' sins, etc.
-But God wants to work in your life.
1. He wants to give you real power.
2. To make you a Christian from the inside to the out.
-Many "christians" today have never experienced this kind of conversion, they've only learned how to keep up appearances.
IX. Conclusion
- Do you know what it really means to walk w/ the Lord?
-You haven't prayed this whole week? ...you only have appearances.
-Don't deny the power of God in your life.
-The worst thing about keeping up appearances is that you can never be honest w/ God.
-You can never admit to a problem you have in your life.
-I want to invite you to shed the appearance of godliness, and take on the nature of God this morning.
-To begin to live in the power of God.
1. The very power at work when Christ rose from the dead.
2. The very power at work at Pentecost.
3. The power that will be revealed to the world when Christ returns.
Response
A Form Without Power: Denial of Power
I. Introduction
-This morning I woke up and took a shower. (15 min.)
1. Got dressed, brushed my teeth, combed my hair, shaved, etc. (25 min.)
2. On most days I may take more time to get ready for the day.
-Maybe you took a long time to get ready.
-My question is: How much time did you spend getting ready spiritually?
-Don't we tend to spend more time on our appearance than our soul?
-We sometimes try to work on our spiritual appearance.
1. There's no real substance.
2. But superficially we can fool some people.
II. Scripture
III. "Last Days"
-Paul is writing to the young Timothy to encourage.
-He says in v. 1 "...in the last days..."
1. Then he describes the present for us.
2. We are living in the last days!
3. Last days = everything after the ascension of Christ.
-"in the last days there will come times of difficulty."
-Why? B/c of the people described.
1. "Lovers of self" "Abusive"
2. "Heartless" "ungrateful"
3. "Treacherous" "brutal"
4. Amen! Amen! Amen!
5. All these descriptors are accurate today... even in the church.
-The difficulty we face is a result of these descriptions being a reality in our world and in our own lives.
-But the one I want to focus on is v. 5 "...having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power."
-All the things described are bad descriptions!
-But this one doesn't seem to be too bad.... "the appearance of godliness."
IV. That's Not Bad!
-"...the appearance of godliness."
-Sounds positive & good.
-I've seen a lot of ppl who didn't look very Godly!
-Wouldn't our churches be better off if people had the appearance of godliness?
-I wouldn't be insulted if someone said: "You appear to be a Godly man."
-So why is this bad?
-Ill. Car Junk Yard
1. Man looking for something to work on.
2. Saw a corvette.
3. Worker: "This car is a beauty!"
4. No scratches, no dents, no missing windows, all the seats were in perfect condition.
5. The car wouldn't start.
6. It had no engine.
-The appearance alone denies the power.
-The church today has settled for the appearance of godliness instead of the substance.
-We need more than just the appearance!
V. More than Appearance...
-We have denied the power by settling for appearances.
-There's a big difference between appearance & power.
-Ill. Appearance vs. power.
1. Dress like a policeman.
2. Put on a fire helmet.
3. Walk in front of the White House w/ a cord from my ear into my jacket, but not protect anyone.
4. I could bark like a bull dog, but not tear you up like one.
-Don't settle for the ‘appearance of godliness.'
-"There are three ppl living within your body..."
1. "Who you think you are."
2. "Who others think you are."
3. "Who God knows you are."
4. The only one that matters is the third one.
5. We have put all our attention on the first two.
VI. A Holy Nature
-God desires to make who you are: holy.
1. Not look holy, act holy, seem holy, appear holy, etc.
2. But a change of your very nature, the foundation of who you are, your spiritual DNA.
-2 Peter 1:4 "He has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire."
-Don't settle for appearances, but strive for the power.
-God desires to give us his very essence so it might be at work in our lives!
-And if God's Spirit is at work in our hearts it works it's way out into everyday life w/ power.
-You might...
1. ...know "Amazing Grace" but do you know amazing grace?
2. ...walk into the church every Sunday, but do you walk w/ the Lord on Monday?
3. ...sing praise, but do you live a life of worship?
4. ...know how to talk spiritually, but do you truly speak of what God has done in your life?
5. ...put some money in the offering plate, but have you offered up yourself to God?
6. ...have your name on the membership role, but is it written on the Lamb's book of Life?
7. ...look like a Christian, but are you a Christian?
-Ill. "Keeping Up Appearances."
1. BBC show about a lady trying to appear to be something she is not.
2. Too many Christians today are just ‘keeping up appearances.'
3. And it would be comical if it were not so sad.
-God desires to start a work in our hearts that transforms us from the inside-out!
VII. Appearance and Reality
-This is a concern in the church today, but it is in our church as well.
-Ill. People come to fun stuff.
1. Potluck next Friday, Singin', something for you!
2. People would fill the place.
3. But call a prayer meeting: intercession, tears, clinging to the throne of grace; and nobody shows.
-Where are you on Wednesday night?
1. "The best tv show was on."
2. "I usually just pray at home."
-How many visits have you made to invite someone to church?
1. I'm no good.
2. ...in the last year?
-How many people have been saved as a result of you allowing God to use you? ...ever?
-How much time did you spend in prayer for this service?
1. "Preacher just didn't preach well this morning."
2. But did you pray for the preacher? ...song leader? Etc.
-Too many good ppl mean well, but settle for the appearances of godliness!
VIII. The Whole Church
-Some whole churches have fallen to it.
-God said to the church in Sardis in Rev. 3:2b "I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead."
-Ill. Fisherman
1. He had a beautiful boat, sonar, rod & reel, a net, bait, tackle box, wadin' pants, etc.
2. All top of the line stuff.
3. He would appear to be a great fisherman.
4. But he never caught any fish.
-What about your life?
-We've bought into the idea that if you have your life under control you are okay.
1. As long as I'm not having family troubles
2. No money problems, no major illness, no ‘big' sins, etc.
-But God wants to work in your life.
1. He wants to give you real power.
2. To make you a Christian from the inside to the out.
-Many "christians" today have never experienced this kind of conversion, they've only learned how to keep up appearances.
IX. Conclusion
- Do you know what it really means to walk w/ the Lord?
-You haven't prayed this whole week? ...you only have appearances.
-Don't deny the power of God in your life.
-The worst thing about keeping up appearances is that you can never be honest w/ God.
-You can never admit to a problem you have in your life.
-I want to invite you to shed the appearance of godliness, and take on the nature of God this morning.
-To begin to live in the power of God.
1. The very power at work when Christ rose from the dead.
2. The very power at work at Pentecost.
3. The power that will be revealed to the world when Christ returns.
Response
Monday, January 12, 2009
At Ease in Zion
Amos 5:21-6:1a
At Ease in Zion: A Complacent People
I. Introduction
-God has blessed us!
-God has blessed our church!
-Greensburg started in 1985 in the basement of the Farm Bureau building.
1. It took some work to seek God's plan to this day.
2. Time, talent, and treasures of many people.
-Ill. Over 350 years ago a shipload of ppl landed on the NE coast of America.
1. First year they established a town site.
2. Second- elected a town government.
3. Third- government planned to build a road running five miles West out of town.
4. Fourth- the ppl tried to impeach their elected officials
5. "Who needs a road five miles West?"
-Ironically they had come over three thousand miles across the Atlantic, but lost sight of what was five miles out of town.
-Same problem I think the Israelites had.
II. Scripture
III. Background
-The kings of the day were Uzziah (Southern kingdom) and Jeroboam II.
-Times were good!
1. There was peace!
2. There was wealth, prosperity, and great times!
-People were religious!
1. They had religious festivals
2. They even had solemn assemblies (boring services).
3. They performed the sacrifices they were suppose to.
4. Even paid their tithe.
5. They sang praise to God.
-But for all the good things, God says He hates, rejects, refuses all of this from them.
-Why? Amos 6:1 "Woe to those who are at ease in Zion, and to those who feel secure in the mountain of Samaria."
IV. Lack of Urgency
-When times are good, we tend to lose our sense of purpose/ urgency.
-Ill. Pain in my foot.
1. If is continues I'll see the doctor.
2. But if it suddenly goes away the urgency is gone.
-We identify spiritual need today by bad circumstances.
1. Economic troubles.
2. Relational troubles.
3. Emotional, family, job.
4. If you have those troubles, you must have spiritual trouble.
-But that's not who Amos is talking to.
-He speaks the comfortable!
1. To a ppl who feel no urgency to act on anything.
2. There is nothing so important to them that needs their attention.
3. Nothing that demands their actions change.
-He speaks to you and I today!
V. Been Through the Wilderness
-The Israelites had been through the wilderness.
1. Through attacks, and wars, and famines, and hardship.
2. Finally they come to a point in their history were there is a little peace.
-And they grow at ease in Zion (ie. Jerusalem)
1. The stronghold.
2. Feel safe on the Mountain of Samaria (N. kingdom capitol).
-Amos proclaims God's truth to them.
-Ill. Geese call to ducks.
1. Ronald Meredith, an author, writes about a night he awoke to the call of geese overhead.
2. He ran to the window and watched them fly over in formation calling.
3. He noticed the tame ducks that lived in the pond next to his house.
4. As the geese honked the tame ducks fluttered a little bit, but the temptation of the corn that Ronald through out was too much.
5. They stayed.
-Amos' call was little more than the geese flying overhead.
-They reject his message.
VI. Ease and Complacency
-Their complacency restricts their ability to do right over time.
-Ill. Dandelions in the garden.
1. Gardner tried everything to get rid of the weed.
2. Nothing worked so he wrote the department of Agriculture.
3. "What shall I try next?"
4. Their response: "Try getting used to them."
-Unfortunately that is the advice Christians tend to take concerning sin in their life.
VII. Greensburg History
-Started in 1985 in the basement of the Farm Bureau building.
-Now in this beautiful building.
1. We can pay our bills.
2. We have a pastor.
3. We are blessed with all kinds of talents.
-I wonder... have we become at ease in Zion?
-The cornerstone of this building says ‘1987' have we been at ease since then? (Church is nice.)
1. Since January when we got a new pastor?
2. Since there haven't been any problems?
3. Since there haven't been any difficulties?
-Praise God for what He has done in our past!
1. We wouldn't be here today if God was not in it!
2. He has blessed us with this building.
3. With resources and talents to continue in ministry, but...
-Are we at ease? ...do we feel comfortable and secure?
-Are we preoccupied with keeping the status quo?
-Are we blinded by yesterday's accomplishments?
1. Garbage Can
2. Awards thrown away.
-What we did yesterday is in the past?
-What Amos asks us, is what we are going to do today?
VIII. Amos Today
-I wonder if our scripture could read for us today?
-"I hate, I reject your revivals, I do not delight in your special services.
Even though you offer up to me elaborate prayers and beautiful songs, I will not accept them.
And I will not even look at your offerings...
-Are you willing to lay down your reputation in this community for Christ?
-Willing to roll up your sleeves and get dirty.
-You know what made the difference in the early church?
1. They never became at ease in Zion.
2. They never came to a point where they were coasting. (Even after Pentecost and the thousands of ppl who became Christians.)
3. They were willing to rock the boat.
-Every great movement of God in history is accompanied by people unwilling to waver from God's Will.
1. Unwilling to be influenced by culture.
2. But fervently seeking God's will in the world.
3. Biblically defined vs. culturally defined Christians
-We need some people who are willing to rock the boat!
-Let's see the vision of what God wants to do...
1. Not grow the Greensburg Church.
2. Build His kingdom in Green county.
3. You could account that to
IX. Conclusion
-You would think that the people, after hearing Amos, would have repented and loosed themselves from the apathy and ease.
-Not the case.
-Amaziah, the priest!, rejected Amos and his message.
-He even went so far as to pursue and attempt to destroy him.
-Will you leave here still at ease in Zion?
Response
At Ease in Zion: A Complacent People
I. Introduction
-God has blessed us!
-God has blessed our church!
-Greensburg started in 1985 in the basement of the Farm Bureau building.
1. It took some work to seek God's plan to this day.
2. Time, talent, and treasures of many people.
-Ill. Over 350 years ago a shipload of ppl landed on the NE coast of America.
1. First year they established a town site.
2. Second- elected a town government.
3. Third- government planned to build a road running five miles West out of town.
4. Fourth- the ppl tried to impeach their elected officials
5. "Who needs a road five miles West?"
-Ironically they had come over three thousand miles across the Atlantic, but lost sight of what was five miles out of town.
-Same problem I think the Israelites had.
II. Scripture
III. Background
-The kings of the day were Uzziah (Southern kingdom) and Jeroboam II.
-Times were good!
1. There was peace!
2. There was wealth, prosperity, and great times!
-People were religious!
1. They had religious festivals
2. They even had solemn assemblies (boring services).
3. They performed the sacrifices they were suppose to.
4. Even paid their tithe.
5. They sang praise to God.
-But for all the good things, God says He hates, rejects, refuses all of this from them.
-Why? Amos 6:1 "Woe to those who are at ease in Zion, and to those who feel secure in the mountain of Samaria."
IV. Lack of Urgency
-When times are good, we tend to lose our sense of purpose/ urgency.
-Ill. Pain in my foot.
1. If is continues I'll see the doctor.
2. But if it suddenly goes away the urgency is gone.
-We identify spiritual need today by bad circumstances.
1. Economic troubles.
2. Relational troubles.
3. Emotional, family, job.
4. If you have those troubles, you must have spiritual trouble.
-But that's not who Amos is talking to.
-He speaks the comfortable!
1. To a ppl who feel no urgency to act on anything.
2. There is nothing so important to them that needs their attention.
3. Nothing that demands their actions change.
-He speaks to you and I today!
V. Been Through the Wilderness
-The Israelites had been through the wilderness.
1. Through attacks, and wars, and famines, and hardship.
2. Finally they come to a point in their history were there is a little peace.
-And they grow at ease in Zion (ie. Jerusalem)
1. The stronghold.
2. Feel safe on the Mountain of Samaria (N. kingdom capitol).
-Amos proclaims God's truth to them.
-Ill. Geese call to ducks.
1. Ronald Meredith, an author, writes about a night he awoke to the call of geese overhead.
2. He ran to the window and watched them fly over in formation calling.
3. He noticed the tame ducks that lived in the pond next to his house.
4. As the geese honked the tame ducks fluttered a little bit, but the temptation of the corn that Ronald through out was too much.
5. They stayed.
-Amos' call was little more than the geese flying overhead.
-They reject his message.
VI. Ease and Complacency
-Their complacency restricts their ability to do right over time.
-Ill. Dandelions in the garden.
1. Gardner tried everything to get rid of the weed.
2. Nothing worked so he wrote the department of Agriculture.
3. "What shall I try next?"
4. Their response: "Try getting used to them."
-Unfortunately that is the advice Christians tend to take concerning sin in their life.
VII. Greensburg History
-Started in 1985 in the basement of the Farm Bureau building.
-Now in this beautiful building.
1. We can pay our bills.
2. We have a pastor.
3. We are blessed with all kinds of talents.
-I wonder... have we become at ease in Zion?
-The cornerstone of this building says ‘1987' have we been at ease since then? (Church is nice.)
1. Since January when we got a new pastor?
2. Since there haven't been any problems?
3. Since there haven't been any difficulties?
-Praise God for what He has done in our past!
1. We wouldn't be here today if God was not in it!
2. He has blessed us with this building.
3. With resources and talents to continue in ministry, but...
-Are we at ease? ...do we feel comfortable and secure?
-Are we preoccupied with keeping the status quo?
-Are we blinded by yesterday's accomplishments?
1. Garbage Can
2. Awards thrown away.
-What we did yesterday is in the past?
-What Amos asks us, is what we are going to do today?
VIII. Amos Today
-I wonder if our scripture could read for us today?
-"I hate, I reject your revivals, I do not delight in your special services.
Even though you offer up to me elaborate prayers and beautiful songs, I will not accept them.
And I will not even look at your offerings...
-Are you willing to lay down your reputation in this community for Christ?
-Willing to roll up your sleeves and get dirty.
-You know what made the difference in the early church?
1. They never became at ease in Zion.
2. They never came to a point where they were coasting. (Even after Pentecost and the thousands of ppl who became Christians.)
3. They were willing to rock the boat.
-Every great movement of God in history is accompanied by people unwilling to waver from God's Will.
1. Unwilling to be influenced by culture.
2. But fervently seeking God's will in the world.
3. Biblically defined vs. culturally defined Christians
-We need some people who are willing to rock the boat!
-Let's see the vision of what God wants to do...
1. Not grow the Greensburg Church.
2. Build His kingdom in Green county.
3. You could account that to
IX. Conclusion
-You would think that the people, after hearing Amos, would have repented and loosed themselves from the apathy and ease.
-Not the case.
-Amaziah, the priest!, rejected Amos and his message.
-He even went so far as to pursue and attempt to destroy him.
-Will you leave here still at ease in Zion?
Response
Friday, January 2, 2009
Are You Sanctified Wholly?
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24
Are You Sanctified Wholly?: How to Know You Are
I. Introduction
-The church has always tried to define what a sanctified person looks like.
-Amish say they wear all black, don't have electricity, or any modern conveniences (what is modern and how long before it isn't anymore?)
-Pentecostals say it's speaking in tongues
-Catholics say it's participating in their liturgy.
-Early ppl of the holiness movement said it was wearing your hair in a bun.
-1. Some went so far as to say it was not wearing deodorant.
-2. Your tie couldn't be more than two inches wide; etc.
-So with all these definitions floating around, how do we know if we are entirely sanctified?
II. Scripture
III. What is Your Heart's Desire?
-What is the single most important thing in your life?
1. What is it that motivates you more than anything else?
2. What drives you every day?
-What do you want on your tombstone?
1. Is it different from what others would put on it?
2. What are ppl going to say about you after you're gone?
-Do you love God w/ all your heart, mind, soul, & strength?
1. Or is He one of many loves?
2. Is he simply on the list of the top ten most important things in your life?
-I've hit on this a lot lately.
1. The Fact: God wants all.
2. The Question: Have we given Him all?
-Does only one desire fill your heart?
-Do you desire to be obedient even to the point of death?
-Do we miss out on simple obedience?
-Ill. Dietrich Bonhoeffer "The Cost of Discipleship"
1. His life of persecution under the Nazi regime
2. He calls this ‘single-minded obedience.'
3. "The elimination of single-minded obedience on principle is but another instance of the perversion of the costly grace of the call of Jesus into the cheap grace of self-justification."
-We have become so self-absorbed that we cease to be obedient to Him!
-We have failed to acknowledge Christ's call to "Deny yourself, take up your cross and follow me."
-We're unwilling to deny ourselves.
1. Cost of Discipleship: "To deny oneself is to be aware only of Christ and no more of self, to see only him who goes before and no more the road which is too hard for us."
2. We don't deny, we give in to the lusts of the flesh!
a. Watch TV instead of pray.
b. Do yard work instead of witnessing to your neighbor.
c. Do this or that instead of going to church.
d. Do something that gratifies the flesh instead of obedience to God.
3. Ill. Set your alarm clock five minutes earlier to get up and pray and see if the flesh doesn't battle you!
-We're unwilling to take up a cross.
1. If I have to suffer for the cause I'm bailing from the ship!
2. If it cost me something, count me out.
3. Money, time, etc. are mine.
4. How sad when Christ shed his blood for our sins.
-We're unwilling to even follow Him.
1. Too busy chasing after self-gratification.
2. Chasing self-fulfillment.
-Do you love Him w/ all you are?
IV. Do You Love Others?
-Is your heart full of love for others?
1. Do you love your brothers and sisters in Christ?
2. Do you love even "enemies", those who mistreat you, the poor, the rejected, the ‘unlikeable', etc.?
-When you love the Lord w/ all your heart that love transfers to all His creation!
-1 John 4:7-8 "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love."
1. We love b/c God is love!
2. If we do not love, we do not know God!
-1 John 4:19-21 "We love because He first loved us. If anyone says, ‘I love God,' and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen."
1. You cannot say you love God, but hate your brother.
2. If you cannot love your brother, you cannot love God.
-We are pretty selective in who we love.
1. It's easy to love ppl in the church.
2. But I sure don't love my boss at work!
3. I just get disgusted about my neighbor living in sin.
-We'll talk about adultery, drug addicts, murderers, etc., but don't mention love!
1. Love is not a virtue for the Christian, it is a necessity!
2. No love, no Christian!
-And that love should permeate the people of God.
-I'm not saying we won't have disagreements.
1. I'm not proposing that we don't confront sin.
2. I'm not suggesting we look the other way to sin.
-But God's Word says we should be active in our love for everybody!
-Is your heart full of love for others?
V. Got Consecration?
-Have you totally consecrated your all to Jesus?
-Consecration is our part in sanctification.
1. Just like repentance is our part in justification.
2. Sometimes called surrender.
-Is there a "hold-out" in your life?
1. Sometimes we battle the Lord for control of our lives.
2. It's hard to surrender.
-Does God have all your time, talent, money, family, future, etc.?
-God will bring to your mind as I talk whatever he has been asking. [pause]
-Have you given that over to Him?
-Have you consecrated your all to Jesus?
VI. Do You Know Victory Over Sin?
-Have you experienced power over sin? (Victory?)
-Would you consider yourself a victorious Christian or defeated?
-Do you know what it means to walk with the Lord just one single day w/ consistency?
-Out of ten temptations, how many times might you fall?
-Some believers are never tempted by any demon, b/c they have made sin such a habit in their life the devil doesn't have to fool w/ them!
-Have you found power from the Spirit to resist willful sin?
-Do you live more in obedience or more in guilt?
1. Do you have power over sin or does sin have power over you?
2. Have you defeated sin in your life or has sin defeated you?
-Sin and the Sanctified...
1. It is not possible to sin (false).
2. It is possible not to sin (true).
-The sanctified believer has been given power not to sin the Holy Spirit.
-*I like to discuss this issue but defining sanctification by how much you sin is like defining your marriage by how much you cheat on your spouse.
VII. Have You the Witness of the Spirit?
-Finally, has the Spirit witnessed to your heart that He has done this work?
-If you are open and honest before the Lord, He will let you know if He has done it in your life.
-If you do not play games of self-deception.
-The Spirit will bear witness w/ your spirit.
-Sure, there will be stronger and weaker times of this "witness of the Spirit."
1. But God's grace will always be evident long term.
2. God's voice in your life will be heard over everything else.
IX. Conclusion
-Are you Sanctified Entirely?
-Ask yourself these questions:
1. Do I love God with all my heart?
2. Do I love my neighbor as myself?
3. Am I living sacrifice to God holy and pleasing to Him?
4. Do I know real victory in Jesus?
5. Does the Holy Spirit bear witness to my spirit?
Response
Are You Sanctified Wholly?: How to Know You Are
I. Introduction
-The church has always tried to define what a sanctified person looks like.
-Amish say they wear all black, don't have electricity, or any modern conveniences (what is modern and how long before it isn't anymore?)
-Pentecostals say it's speaking in tongues
-Catholics say it's participating in their liturgy.
-Early ppl of the holiness movement said it was wearing your hair in a bun.
-1. Some went so far as to say it was not wearing deodorant.
-2. Your tie couldn't be more than two inches wide; etc.
-So with all these definitions floating around, how do we know if we are entirely sanctified?
II. Scripture
III. What is Your Heart's Desire?
-What is the single most important thing in your life?
1. What is it that motivates you more than anything else?
2. What drives you every day?
-What do you want on your tombstone?
1. Is it different from what others would put on it?
2. What are ppl going to say about you after you're gone?
-Do you love God w/ all your heart, mind, soul, & strength?
1. Or is He one of many loves?
2. Is he simply on the list of the top ten most important things in your life?
-I've hit on this a lot lately.
1. The Fact: God wants all.
2. The Question: Have we given Him all?
-Does only one desire fill your heart?
-Do you desire to be obedient even to the point of death?
-Do we miss out on simple obedience?
-Ill. Dietrich Bonhoeffer "The Cost of Discipleship"
1. His life of persecution under the Nazi regime
2. He calls this ‘single-minded obedience.'
3. "The elimination of single-minded obedience on principle is but another instance of the perversion of the costly grace of the call of Jesus into the cheap grace of self-justification."
-We have become so self-absorbed that we cease to be obedient to Him!
-We have failed to acknowledge Christ's call to "Deny yourself, take up your cross and follow me."
-We're unwilling to deny ourselves.
1. Cost of Discipleship: "To deny oneself is to be aware only of Christ and no more of self, to see only him who goes before and no more the road which is too hard for us."
2. We don't deny, we give in to the lusts of the flesh!
a. Watch TV instead of pray.
b. Do yard work instead of witnessing to your neighbor.
c. Do this or that instead of going to church.
d. Do something that gratifies the flesh instead of obedience to God.
3. Ill. Set your alarm clock five minutes earlier to get up and pray and see if the flesh doesn't battle you!
-We're unwilling to take up a cross.
1. If I have to suffer for the cause I'm bailing from the ship!
2. If it cost me something, count me out.
3. Money, time, etc. are mine.
4. How sad when Christ shed his blood for our sins.
-We're unwilling to even follow Him.
1. Too busy chasing after self-gratification.
2. Chasing self-fulfillment.
-Do you love Him w/ all you are?
IV. Do You Love Others?
-Is your heart full of love for others?
1. Do you love your brothers and sisters in Christ?
2. Do you love even "enemies", those who mistreat you, the poor, the rejected, the ‘unlikeable', etc.?
-When you love the Lord w/ all your heart that love transfers to all His creation!
-1 John 4:7-8 "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love."
1. We love b/c God is love!
2. If we do not love, we do not know God!
-1 John 4:19-21 "We love because He first loved us. If anyone says, ‘I love God,' and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen."
1. You cannot say you love God, but hate your brother.
2. If you cannot love your brother, you cannot love God.
-We are pretty selective in who we love.
1. It's easy to love ppl in the church.
2. But I sure don't love my boss at work!
3. I just get disgusted about my neighbor living in sin.
-We'll talk about adultery, drug addicts, murderers, etc., but don't mention love!
1. Love is not a virtue for the Christian, it is a necessity!
2. No love, no Christian!
-And that love should permeate the people of God.
-I'm not saying we won't have disagreements.
1. I'm not proposing that we don't confront sin.
2. I'm not suggesting we look the other way to sin.
-But God's Word says we should be active in our love for everybody!
-Is your heart full of love for others?
V. Got Consecration?
-Have you totally consecrated your all to Jesus?
-Consecration is our part in sanctification.
1. Just like repentance is our part in justification.
2. Sometimes called surrender.
-Is there a "hold-out" in your life?
1. Sometimes we battle the Lord for control of our lives.
2. It's hard to surrender.
-Does God have all your time, talent, money, family, future, etc.?
-God will bring to your mind as I talk whatever he has been asking. [pause]
-Have you given that over to Him?
-Have you consecrated your all to Jesus?
VI. Do You Know Victory Over Sin?
-Have you experienced power over sin? (Victory?)
-Would you consider yourself a victorious Christian or defeated?
-Do you know what it means to walk with the Lord just one single day w/ consistency?
-Out of ten temptations, how many times might you fall?
-Some believers are never tempted by any demon, b/c they have made sin such a habit in their life the devil doesn't have to fool w/ them!
-Have you found power from the Spirit to resist willful sin?
-Do you live more in obedience or more in guilt?
1. Do you have power over sin or does sin have power over you?
2. Have you defeated sin in your life or has sin defeated you?
-Sin and the Sanctified...
1. It is not possible to sin (false).
2. It is possible not to sin (true).
-The sanctified believer has been given power not to sin the Holy Spirit.
-*I like to discuss this issue but defining sanctification by how much you sin is like defining your marriage by how much you cheat on your spouse.
VII. Have You the Witness of the Spirit?
-Finally, has the Spirit witnessed to your heart that He has done this work?
-If you are open and honest before the Lord, He will let you know if He has done it in your life.
-If you do not play games of self-deception.
-The Spirit will bear witness w/ your spirit.
-Sure, there will be stronger and weaker times of this "witness of the Spirit."
1. But God's grace will always be evident long term.
2. God's voice in your life will be heard over everything else.
IX. Conclusion
-Are you Sanctified Entirely?
-Ask yourself these questions:
1. Do I love God with all my heart?
2. Do I love my neighbor as myself?
3. Am I living sacrifice to God holy and pleasing to Him?
4. Do I know real victory in Jesus?
5. Does the Holy Spirit bear witness to my spirit?
Response
Monday, December 29, 2008
Through and Through
1 Thessalonians 5:15-24
Through and Through: Made Entirely Holy
I. Introduction
-Thessalonians could be the oldest book of the NT.
-It was written by the hand of a man who encountered Christ on a road to Damascus.
-Within the NT is the roots of all that we are as Christians
-When we step away from who we are, why do we think the results would be the same as those in the NT?
II. Scripture
III. Background
-This is not just some other doctrine, this is the Word of God.
1. Has it made a difference in your life?
2. Is it a reality in your life?
-Let's get the context.
-1 Thess. 1:1 "Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ"
1. From Paul, Silas, & Timothy
2. To the church (called out... assembly) of Thessalonica.
3. "in God" (not ‘of God')
4. He is speaking to those who don't simply come to church, but those who are the church.
5. Paul is saying: "I want to talk to you who are really in God!"
-1 Thess 1:4 "For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you,"
1. "chosen you" = not a verb, but a noun.
2. It is not talking about what God did, but what you have become.
3. Paul: "I want to talk to you about your election."
4. Not about ‘the act' but about the ‘state of being.'
-I'm not making a doctrinal statement here.
-I'm trying to point out who Paul is writing to...
1. Not people who simply attend church or perform religious duties, but ppl who have become the possession of God.
2. Ppl in whom God exists.
3. Not to people who have declared that God has elected them w/out basis.
4. Those who become the chosen of God, by His son's sacrifice.
-1 Thess 3:9 "For what thanksgiving can we return to God for you, for all the joy that we feel for your sake before our God"
1. Different from Corinthians, these are good people!
2. No need for rebuke, b/c they are good Christians!
3. This is a good church, where God is working!
-1 Thess 3:10 "...as we pray most earnestly night and day that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith?"
1. What!?
2. "lacking in your faith?"
3. Paul is saying: "You are such a blessing! And I am losing sleep at night praying for what you are lacking in your faith."
4. These people are in God, salvation is sure, farther along than most churches today, but they are lacking something in their faith.
-This church had a reputation b/c of what God had done in their midst.
-1 Thess 1:8-9 "For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything. [9] For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God"
1. People w/ a real born-again experience.
2. A testimony of what God had done.
3. People serving the Lord.
4. They were exemplary Christians.
IV. What is Lacking?
-1 Thess 3:11-13 "Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you, [12] and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, [13] so that he may establish your hearts faultless [blameless] in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints."
1. May God do a work in your heart that cleanses everything that might be between you & Him.
2. May He establish your heart so that you will have an absolute cleansing.
-Ill. Car Wash Options
1. First few are only partial.
2. Number five is a full body wash, waxing, & detailing.
-What are we lacking?
1. Forgiveness of our sins.
2. We've "cleaned up our act."
3. We're living for God.
-1 Thess 4:7-8 "For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. [8]There-fore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit [in]to you."
1. Not impurity, but in holiness.
2. You are not disregarding a man (preacher, etc.), but God.
-Ill. What is God doing in Salvation?
1. Ill. Your life = a room.
2. Born again = God coming in and cleaning out the room.
3. He chases the Devil out of the room.
4. Then you take over managing the room & keeping the Devil out.
5. And it is a pushing match w/ the Devil on one side of the door & you on the other.
6. You're just trying to repress sin, to manage/ control it.
7. So as you fight the Devil, you don't get to vacuum or dust or clean up the clutter.
8. What we need is to remove "me" from the room so that the Spirit of God can fill it completely & thus make it completely holy.
-The Church of the Nazarene has gotten away from preaching the holiness that God calls us to.
1. If in the name of church growth & relativity we, as a church, we will fail to prepare ppl for eternity.
2. God's work in ppls lives doesn't change!
3. The problem that has always existed still is the problem today (sin).
4. And the solution is much deeper than forgiveness (the 1st step), it is a cleansing of the heart.
-The day you seek Him w/ your whole heart, He will be found.
-1 Thess 4:3 "For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality."
1. "will of God, that you would be made holy"
2. And abstain from the filth of this world.
3. That regardless of what goes on in this present age w/ it's trends & fads & sinfulness, you would maintain a holy purity.
-Point: I want to speak to those who are in God and are the church.
1. ...about the God you serve, who is holy,
2. ...and about the faith you have embraced, that is not complete.
V. To the Original Scripture
-1 Thessalonians 5:15
1. Jesus said: "Turn the other cheek."
2. How is the world going to change if we act the same way it does?
3. Ill. "Nazarene Nazi"
4. All of our human order, government, civility comes from punishment.
5. Lawsuits, wars, courts, punishments, prisons, fines, etc.
6. Jesus died for something different.
7. He wants a ppl who will live differently.
8. Doing good to everyone; always!
-v. 16
1. Sorrow, depression, misery of our world.
2. Ever told about the reason for your joy?
3. Ever showed your joy?
-v. 17
1. Live in the Spirit.
2. Cannot physically/mentally pray always.
3. This is possible.
-v. 18
-v. 19
1. That happens more in the sanctuary than anywhere else.
2. It could happen anywhere.
-v. 20
1. Do not reject anointed preaching.
-v. 21
1. Test for spiritual falsehood
2. So many false prophets, b/c no one tests the Spirit.
3. Hold fast to the good.
-v. 22
1. Abstain from every form of evil!
2. There is a right & wrong.
3. Stay away from the wrong.
VI. The Main Point
-v. 23 "Now may the God of peace himself make you completely holy; and may your spirit, soul, & body be kept [preserved] faultless when our Lord Jesus Christ comes."
1. Preserved sounds like jars of fruit preservatives.
2. There may be Christians like that... or pickled.
-Body - Soma
1. Physical- Carnal- fleshly
2. Jesus in the flesh = incarnate
3. Baby ultrasounds = view of the Soma (physical)
4. Ultrasound look like weather report (partly cloudy)
5. Sometimes we have twins.
6. Identical twins = genetically the same.
7. When they are born they have the same Soma
8. Hard to tell apart, but not for the mother.
9. Why? B/c they are not alike.
10. B/c inside the Soma is the psyche.
-Psyche - Soul
1. Soul; not a good translation
2. Psyche = personality.
3. Psyche is expressed through the Soma/flesh.
4. Talk w/ your hands, way you move, way you dress is all expression of your Psyche through your Soma
5. Soma limits pysche at times
6. Jesus died not to save your Soma, but your Psyche.
7. Soma made holy so that your flesh will glorify God, by being His ambassador.
8. Flesh is a tool, given temporarily for us to use.
9. But he also wants to make holy our psyche.
10. The unmeasurable, unseen essence of who we are.
11. Our thoughts, our imagination, our desires, our priorities, all brought into a singular focus upon Christ.
-Pneuma - Spirit
1. Paul, in the Spirit, goes further.
2. W/in your pyche is the pneuma, where the breath of God is.
3. There is no way for us to articulate/communicate this part of us so we use physical lanugage.
4. "I feel God." "I hear God."
5. Not true, b/c God is way beyond the flesh.
6. That God's Holy Spirit would breathe upon me.
7. That the Spirit given to me when I was born-again would shape my psyche and ultimately my soma.
8. That God's Will would govern all of me, flesh, soul, spirit.
-What would it be called if this were true in my life?
1. That my spirit, soul, & body be made completely holy.
2. It would be called peace that passes all understanding.
-The conflict between soul & spirit, spirit & body, body & soul,... would be over!
VII. Soma in the Way of Pneuma!
-That's why Paul said it this way: "Now may the God of peace himself..."
-"Preacher, that's impossible."
1. Now we're on the same page
2. It is humanely impossible.
-Ill. How do we defend our beliefs?
1. Like 6 day creation- we fight like crazy!
2. The ESV is the best translation of the Bible- b/c you're stupid & unspiritual. (I did that in the Spirit of Jesus.)
3. How do we defend what we believe about God... fight, destroy, punish.
4. Why? B/c we are still living in the Soma/ flesh.
5. But it is totally out of line w/ the pneuma/ Spirit.
D. We do it b/c we really love God
-How can we be so in love with God yet so out of step with His Spirit?
-And why is it when we're trying our best to stand for/with God that we are so guilty!
VIII. Conclusion
-v. 23
-What if we just allowed God to make us holy?
1. Not through your effort.
2. Not through what you do.
-Just surrendering the conflict between Soma/flesh & Pneuma/spirit and allowing Him to make them all holy.
-"Preacher, I cannot do that."
1. That's why v. 24 says: "He who calls you is faithful; He will surely do it."
2. Zechariah 4:6b "Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts."
-That takes the struggle out of the church.
-Nazarene Nazis... it's the way we do everything... even in the church (force, punish...)
-But God's Word says: He just wants us to open up to His Holy Spirit.
-So that He might adopt not only the title of Savior in your life, but also of Lord. (Spirit, Soul, & Body)
-I talk w/ Christians every week who are in love with Jesus, but have never come into the peace of God.
-The real sign of holiness is something like peace, not something like 'speaking in tongues'.
-This peace, is worth dying for...
-Could you lay all of the things that make you, you on the altar? (Spirit, soul, & body)
-Could you allow God to make you completely holy?
Response
Through and Through: Made Entirely Holy
I. Introduction
-Thessalonians could be the oldest book of the NT.
-It was written by the hand of a man who encountered Christ on a road to Damascus.
-Within the NT is the roots of all that we are as Christians
-When we step away from who we are, why do we think the results would be the same as those in the NT?
II. Scripture
III. Background
-This is not just some other doctrine, this is the Word of God.
1. Has it made a difference in your life?
2. Is it a reality in your life?
-Let's get the context.
-1 Thess. 1:1 "Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ"
1. From Paul, Silas, & Timothy
2. To the church (called out... assembly) of Thessalonica.
3. "in God" (not ‘of God')
4. He is speaking to those who don't simply come to church, but those who are the church.
5. Paul is saying: "I want to talk to you who are really in God!"
-1 Thess 1:4 "For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you,"
1. "chosen you" = not a verb, but a noun.
2. It is not talking about what God did, but what you have become.
3. Paul: "I want to talk to you about your election."
4. Not about ‘the act' but about the ‘state of being.'
-I'm not making a doctrinal statement here.
-I'm trying to point out who Paul is writing to...
1. Not people who simply attend church or perform religious duties, but ppl who have become the possession of God.
2. Ppl in whom God exists.
3. Not to people who have declared that God has elected them w/out basis.
4. Those who become the chosen of God, by His son's sacrifice.
-1 Thess 3:9 "For what thanksgiving can we return to God for you, for all the joy that we feel for your sake before our God"
1. Different from Corinthians, these are good people!
2. No need for rebuke, b/c they are good Christians!
3. This is a good church, where God is working!
-1 Thess 3:10 "...as we pray most earnestly night and day that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith?"
1. What!?
2. "lacking in your faith?"
3. Paul is saying: "You are such a blessing! And I am losing sleep at night praying for what you are lacking in your faith."
4. These people are in God, salvation is sure, farther along than most churches today, but they are lacking something in their faith.
-This church had a reputation b/c of what God had done in their midst.
-1 Thess 1:8-9 "For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything. [9] For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God"
1. People w/ a real born-again experience.
2. A testimony of what God had done.
3. People serving the Lord.
4. They were exemplary Christians.
IV. What is Lacking?
-1 Thess 3:11-13 "Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you, [12] and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, [13] so that he may establish your hearts faultless [blameless] in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints."
1. May God do a work in your heart that cleanses everything that might be between you & Him.
2. May He establish your heart so that you will have an absolute cleansing.
-Ill. Car Wash Options
1. First few are only partial.
2. Number five is a full body wash, waxing, & detailing.
-What are we lacking?
1. Forgiveness of our sins.
2. We've "cleaned up our act."
3. We're living for God.
-1 Thess 4:7-8 "For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. [8]There-fore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit [in]to you."
1. Not impurity, but in holiness.
2. You are not disregarding a man (preacher, etc.), but God.
-Ill. What is God doing in Salvation?
1. Ill. Your life = a room.
2. Born again = God coming in and cleaning out the room.
3. He chases the Devil out of the room.
4. Then you take over managing the room & keeping the Devil out.
5. And it is a pushing match w/ the Devil on one side of the door & you on the other.
6. You're just trying to repress sin, to manage/ control it.
7. So as you fight the Devil, you don't get to vacuum or dust or clean up the clutter.
8. What we need is to remove "me" from the room so that the Spirit of God can fill it completely & thus make it completely holy.
-The Church of the Nazarene has gotten away from preaching the holiness that God calls us to.
1. If in the name of church growth & relativity we, as a church, we will fail to prepare ppl for eternity.
2. God's work in ppls lives doesn't change!
3. The problem that has always existed still is the problem today (sin).
4. And the solution is much deeper than forgiveness (the 1st step), it is a cleansing of the heart.
-The day you seek Him w/ your whole heart, He will be found.
-1 Thess 4:3 "For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality."
1. "will of God, that you would be made holy"
2. And abstain from the filth of this world.
3. That regardless of what goes on in this present age w/ it's trends & fads & sinfulness, you would maintain a holy purity.
-Point: I want to speak to those who are in God and are the church.
1. ...about the God you serve, who is holy,
2. ...and about the faith you have embraced, that is not complete.
V. To the Original Scripture
-1 Thessalonians 5:15
1. Jesus said: "Turn the other cheek."
2. How is the world going to change if we act the same way it does?
3. Ill. "Nazarene Nazi"
4. All of our human order, government, civility comes from punishment.
5. Lawsuits, wars, courts, punishments, prisons, fines, etc.
6. Jesus died for something different.
7. He wants a ppl who will live differently.
8. Doing good to everyone; always!
-v. 16
1. Sorrow, depression, misery of our world.
2. Ever told about the reason for your joy?
3. Ever showed your joy?
-v. 17
1. Live in the Spirit.
2. Cannot physically/mentally pray always.
3. This is possible.
-v. 18
-v. 19
1. That happens more in the sanctuary than anywhere else.
2. It could happen anywhere.
-v. 20
1. Do not reject anointed preaching.
-v. 21
1. Test for spiritual falsehood
2. So many false prophets, b/c no one tests the Spirit.
3. Hold fast to the good.
-v. 22
1. Abstain from every form of evil!
2. There is a right & wrong.
3. Stay away from the wrong.
VI. The Main Point
-v. 23 "Now may the God of peace himself make you completely holy; and may your spirit, soul, & body be kept [preserved] faultless when our Lord Jesus Christ comes."
1. Preserved sounds like jars of fruit preservatives.
2. There may be Christians like that... or pickled.
-Body - Soma
1. Physical- Carnal- fleshly
2. Jesus in the flesh = incarnate
3. Baby ultrasounds = view of the Soma (physical)
4. Ultrasound look like weather report (partly cloudy)
5. Sometimes we have twins.
6. Identical twins = genetically the same.
7. When they are born they have the same Soma
8. Hard to tell apart, but not for the mother.
9. Why? B/c they are not alike.
10. B/c inside the Soma is the psyche.
-Psyche - Soul
1. Soul; not a good translation
2. Psyche = personality.
3. Psyche is expressed through the Soma/flesh.
4. Talk w/ your hands, way you move, way you dress is all expression of your Psyche through your Soma
5. Soma limits pysche at times
6. Jesus died not to save your Soma, but your Psyche.
7. Soma made holy so that your flesh will glorify God, by being His ambassador.
8. Flesh is a tool, given temporarily for us to use.
9. But he also wants to make holy our psyche.
10. The unmeasurable, unseen essence of who we are.
11. Our thoughts, our imagination, our desires, our priorities, all brought into a singular focus upon Christ.
-Pneuma - Spirit
1. Paul, in the Spirit, goes further.
2. W/in your pyche is the pneuma, where the breath of God is.
3. There is no way for us to articulate/communicate this part of us so we use physical lanugage.
4. "I feel God." "I hear God."
5. Not true, b/c God is way beyond the flesh.
6. That God's Holy Spirit would breathe upon me.
7. That the Spirit given to me when I was born-again would shape my psyche and ultimately my soma.
8. That God's Will would govern all of me, flesh, soul, spirit.
-What would it be called if this were true in my life?
1. That my spirit, soul, & body be made completely holy.
2. It would be called peace that passes all understanding.
-The conflict between soul & spirit, spirit & body, body & soul,... would be over!
VII. Soma in the Way of Pneuma!
-That's why Paul said it this way: "Now may the God of peace himself..."
-"Preacher, that's impossible."
1. Now we're on the same page
2. It is humanely impossible.
-Ill. How do we defend our beliefs?
1. Like 6 day creation- we fight like crazy!
2. The ESV is the best translation of the Bible- b/c you're stupid & unspiritual. (I did that in the Spirit of Jesus.)
3. How do we defend what we believe about God... fight, destroy, punish.
4. Why? B/c we are still living in the Soma/ flesh.
5. But it is totally out of line w/ the pneuma/ Spirit.
D. We do it b/c we really love God
-How can we be so in love with God yet so out of step with His Spirit?
-And why is it when we're trying our best to stand for/with God that we are so guilty!
VIII. Conclusion
-v. 23
-What if we just allowed God to make us holy?
1. Not through your effort.
2. Not through what you do.
-Just surrendering the conflict between Soma/flesh & Pneuma/spirit and allowing Him to make them all holy.
-"Preacher, I cannot do that."
1. That's why v. 24 says: "He who calls you is faithful; He will surely do it."
2. Zechariah 4:6b "Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts."
-That takes the struggle out of the church.
-Nazarene Nazis... it's the way we do everything... even in the church (force, punish...)
-But God's Word says: He just wants us to open up to His Holy Spirit.
-So that He might adopt not only the title of Savior in your life, but also of Lord. (Spirit, Soul, & Body)
-I talk w/ Christians every week who are in love with Jesus, but have never come into the peace of God.
-The real sign of holiness is something like peace, not something like 'speaking in tongues'.
-This peace, is worth dying for...
-Could you lay all of the things that make you, you on the altar? (Spirit, soul, & body)
-Could you allow God to make you completely holy?
Response
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Have You Been With God Lately?
Exodus 34:27-35
Have You Been With God Lately?: Revival & God
I. Introduction
-What brings revival?
-As much as we'd like to believe it, we do not.
1. No formula/ no 10-steps to revival
2. "Drink a Ski!"??
-God's presence brings revival/renewal
II. Scripture
III. Getting With God
-Moses fasted 40 days & nights w/ God on the Mt.
-Fasting in the Bible....
1. Esther & Mordecai
2. Jesus, Paul, Anna (prophetess)
3. Cornelius, John's disciples.
-Fasted for 40 days...
1. Elijah, Jesus, Moses...
2. Daniel (3 weeks)
-Fasted during...
1. ...public/private calamities.
2. ...approaching danger.
3. ...ordaining/commissioning.
4. ...in times of sorrow.
5. ...before major decisions.
-But Fasting isn't the solution.
-But Moses, in v. 28, fasted
1. He fasted and communed w/ God
2. The focus was on God
-We don't believe God can handle revival anymore.
1. That's why churches have gotten away from it.
2. "It doesn't work."
3. Like it's an old beat up car.
-We are more focused on being good singers, entertaining preachers, & enlightening teachers, that we are no longer spirit filled.
1. We spend less & less time in the presence of God.
2. Communing w/ God?
-Bring in the right preacher/ singer/ program, etc. & we'll have revival.
IV. Our Focus
-Our focused is dominated with our reputation in the community.
-We want to accomplish what we want to do and what is best for us.
-We have a worldly preoccupation (not spiritual).
-There is very little difference between what we want & what the world wants.
-Query: Do you remember when we still thought "worldly" was a bad thing?
-How do we get the worldliness out of the church?
1. "Beat the Devil out of ‘em."
2. Do good to cancel out evil?
3. No, only the Savior can cleanse.
-Point: The only solution for worldliness and sinfulness in the church is being with God on the mountain of intimacy!
V. Worldly
-In Ch. 32 Moses is up on the Mt. w/ God and he comes back down to see the ppl dancing around the golden calf.
1. Aaron was dumb-founded!
2. Moses was angry.
-Point: If you spend a little time on the mt. w/ God you'll come back down and view things differently!
-How do I know that intimacy w/ God is a problem in the church today?
1. If it weren't I might see it in your face!
2. Being w/ God is powerful.
3. You cannot be the same.
-Biblical illiteracy is an epidemic in the church.
1. "Preacher, I know about Moses, Esther, & the Passion of Christ."
2. "No, you just saw the movie!"
-Parties, picnics, & potlucks have taken the place of prayer meeting!
-Sports, clubs, pageants, jobs, vacation, etc. have all taken precedent over church attendance.
-Feasting has replaced fasting
-Sin has become irrelevant.
1. Last I checked sin was still the problem!
2. We've turned sin into a mistake...
-Ill. A young girl once confessed to her priest that she thought she was guilty of the sin of pride.
1. "When I look in the mirror, I think I am beautiful."
2. Priest: "That's not a sin, that's a mistake."
-My goal is not to get you to read the Bible more or pray more...
1. That's another sermon.
2. You are missing the point.
-Query: Can the world tell you've been with God?
1. No: Have you been with God?
2. The world will be able to tell.
VI. Running from Intimacy
-I think we're running from intimacy.
1. TV, radio, computer, job, family, chores, ‘to-do' list, etc.
2. "So much to do; so little time."
-We are church shopping rather than God seeking.
-Seeker friendly church?
1. We are to seek the lost.
2. They don't care about God.
3. Problem: we're too friendly w/ sin and to foreign to holiness.
-Seeker friendly church = a church where you will be at home if you are seeking God.
-Ill. Somewhere in Acts after Pentecost the Bible says:
1. "One of the members saith unto Peter after the 3000 were baptized: ‘As surely as the Lord liveth thou hast not fed me today. Thou hast not encouraged me and my feelings are sorely oppressed because I have felt the Spirit of the Living God and He hath called me unto repentance. Therefore I have set my face to findth a church where by I might grow strong in the Lord without having to repent or worketh in the harvest."
2. "I'm not being fed."
3. You don't complain about that at the potlucks!
-Lots of churches are built around big personalities, charismatic leaders, gifted preachers, popular/ prestigious people.
1. It's hard to run a PR campaign for God.
2. Fewer & fewer churches are bringing people to Mt. Calvary to look upon the crucified Lord.
VII. Been with God?
-Being w/ God always makes you more like Him.
-v. 29b Moses didn't realize how different he really was b/c he was still focused on God
-Every service, every time God comes, we should leave reflecting the glory of God.
-Conviction is a good thing to us, b/c we want to be as close to God as we possibly can get!
-Some like to hear preaching on murder and homosexual, but do not talk about unsanctified attitudes and w/ words instigating hurt feelings.
1. Don't be proud about the fact you have hurt someone.
2. Ill. Board meeting fist fights
3. Note: "that's just the way I am" is the same excuse homosexuals use!
-Growing in grace does not make you more cranky & hard to get along with!
1. Closer to God = more loving.
2. Growing in grace is not becoming more prideful.
3. It is more humility.
-No sanctified person keeps track of their ‘holiness factor.'
1. Moses was not aware of the skin on his face shining.
2. He was still focused on God!
-Query: What has God done in your life lately?
1. B/c you're not doing a lot of things bad, doesn't mean you're growing/reflecting His glory.
2. Has anyone made a not of how much like Christ you look?
VIII. Cost of Discipleship
-We need to get back to the place where being a Christian cost you something!
-D. Bonhoeffer "Cost of Discipleship"
1. "Well, what's the draw in that?"
2. Hard to market Christianity as it is!
3. The HOLY SPIRIT is the draw!
-Virginia Owens: "Bible bookstores are now papered with announcements of Christian concerts instead of revival meetings."
1. Why is that?
2. B/c we can put on a concert ourselves, but a revival requires a coming of the Holy Spirit!
-Dr. G. Campbell Morgan: "The church patronized is the church paralyzed , therefore the church in peril. The church persecuted is the church prayerful, and thus powerful."
1. Why is that?
2. B/c they have had to be with God.
-Free, free, free salvation?
-It is free, but it will cost you everything!
IX. Christianity Isn't Easy...
-If we continue to proclaim that, we will continue to produce wimpy Christians! (delusion)
-There is peer pressure to conform to the world:
1. Reporters interviewing a 104 year-old woman:
2. "And what do you think is the best thing about being 104?" the reporter asked.
3. "No peer pressure," she said
-Just b/c you're a Christian doesn't mean you won't...
1. ...ever get fired, you will have perfect health,
2. ...or your business will be successful, or you will be rich.
-That's not why you sacrifice and commit to God.
-Point: You commit to Him b/c He is God!
-Ill. From Moses' perspective, the glamor of the world faded.
1. He turned his back on the shallow/easy/worldly but chose desert trial/ wandering with God.
2. He chose reproach of Christ over all the world had to offer. (Heb. 11)
3. It's called sacrificial.
X. Conclusion
-The sin of the church is not...
1. ...that we murdered, lied, committed adultery,
2. ...coveted, stole, worshiped an idol, gossipped, looked at pornography, slandered, cussed, etc.
-Point: The sin of the church today is that we have not been with God!
-2 Chronicles 7:14 "If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land."
1. That's not a formula for revival.
2. Those are all about getting into the presence of God!
-Leonard Ravenhill: "The more men pray the less worldly the become. The less men pray the more worldly they become."
-The sin of the church is that we have never (or rarely ever) been so close to God that it was reflected in our daily lives.
-The preacher preaches Sunday after Sunday... no change.
1. SS. Teacher... no change.
2. Service after service.
3. Bible study after bible study.
-v. 30 others were afraid of Moses b/c of how close he was to God.
1. The world does not know what to do with someone who has been w/ God.
2. Neither does the Devil!
-I fear that most of us have never experienced the kind of spiritual power at work in Moses.
-A real church service has lasting effect on our lives and lives of pppl we come in contact with!
-Point: Getting closer to God isn't preparation for revival... it is revival!
Response:
Have You Been With God Lately?: Revival & God
I. Introduction
-What brings revival?
-As much as we'd like to believe it, we do not.
1. No formula/ no 10-steps to revival
2. "Drink a Ski!"??
-God's presence brings revival/renewal
II. Scripture
III. Getting With God
-Moses fasted 40 days & nights w/ God on the Mt.
-Fasting in the Bible....
1. Esther & Mordecai
2. Jesus, Paul, Anna (prophetess)
3. Cornelius, John's disciples.
-Fasted for 40 days...
1. Elijah, Jesus, Moses...
2. Daniel (3 weeks)
-Fasted during...
1. ...public/private calamities.
2. ...approaching danger.
3. ...ordaining/commissioning.
4. ...in times of sorrow.
5. ...before major decisions.
-But Fasting isn't the solution.
-But Moses, in v. 28, fasted
1. He fasted and communed w/ God
2. The focus was on God
-We don't believe God can handle revival anymore.
1. That's why churches have gotten away from it.
2. "It doesn't work."
3. Like it's an old beat up car.
-We are more focused on being good singers, entertaining preachers, & enlightening teachers, that we are no longer spirit filled.
1. We spend less & less time in the presence of God.
2. Communing w/ God?
-Bring in the right preacher/ singer/ program, etc. & we'll have revival.
IV. Our Focus
-Our focused is dominated with our reputation in the community.
-We want to accomplish what we want to do and what is best for us.
-We have a worldly preoccupation (not spiritual).
-There is very little difference between what we want & what the world wants.
-Query: Do you remember when we still thought "worldly" was a bad thing?
-How do we get the worldliness out of the church?
1. "Beat the Devil out of ‘em."
2. Do good to cancel out evil?
3. No, only the Savior can cleanse.
-Point: The only solution for worldliness and sinfulness in the church is being with God on the mountain of intimacy!
V. Worldly
-In Ch. 32 Moses is up on the Mt. w/ God and he comes back down to see the ppl dancing around the golden calf.
1. Aaron was dumb-founded!
2. Moses was angry.
-Point: If you spend a little time on the mt. w/ God you'll come back down and view things differently!
-How do I know that intimacy w/ God is a problem in the church today?
1. If it weren't I might see it in your face!
2. Being w/ God is powerful.
3. You cannot be the same.
-Biblical illiteracy is an epidemic in the church.
1. "Preacher, I know about Moses, Esther, & the Passion of Christ."
2. "No, you just saw the movie!"
-Parties, picnics, & potlucks have taken the place of prayer meeting!
-Sports, clubs, pageants, jobs, vacation, etc. have all taken precedent over church attendance.
-Feasting has replaced fasting
-Sin has become irrelevant.
1. Last I checked sin was still the problem!
2. We've turned sin into a mistake...
-Ill. A young girl once confessed to her priest that she thought she was guilty of the sin of pride.
1. "When I look in the mirror, I think I am beautiful."
2. Priest: "That's not a sin, that's a mistake."
-My goal is not to get you to read the Bible more or pray more...
1. That's another sermon.
2. You are missing the point.
-Query: Can the world tell you've been with God?
1. No: Have you been with God?
2. The world will be able to tell.
VI. Running from Intimacy
-I think we're running from intimacy.
1. TV, radio, computer, job, family, chores, ‘to-do' list, etc.
2. "So much to do; so little time."
-We are church shopping rather than God seeking.
-Seeker friendly church?
1. We are to seek the lost.
2. They don't care about God.
3. Problem: we're too friendly w/ sin and to foreign to holiness.
-Seeker friendly church = a church where you will be at home if you are seeking God.
-Ill. Somewhere in Acts after Pentecost the Bible says:
1. "One of the members saith unto Peter after the 3000 were baptized: ‘As surely as the Lord liveth thou hast not fed me today. Thou hast not encouraged me and my feelings are sorely oppressed because I have felt the Spirit of the Living God and He hath called me unto repentance. Therefore I have set my face to findth a church where by I might grow strong in the Lord without having to repent or worketh in the harvest."
2. "I'm not being fed."
3. You don't complain about that at the potlucks!
-Lots of churches are built around big personalities, charismatic leaders, gifted preachers, popular/ prestigious people.
1. It's hard to run a PR campaign for God.
2. Fewer & fewer churches are bringing people to Mt. Calvary to look upon the crucified Lord.
VII. Been with God?
-Being w/ God always makes you more like Him.
-v. 29b Moses didn't realize how different he really was b/c he was still focused on God
-Every service, every time God comes, we should leave reflecting the glory of God.
-Conviction is a good thing to us, b/c we want to be as close to God as we possibly can get!
-Some like to hear preaching on murder and homosexual, but do not talk about unsanctified attitudes and w/ words instigating hurt feelings.
1. Don't be proud about the fact you have hurt someone.
2. Ill. Board meeting fist fights
3. Note: "that's just the way I am" is the same excuse homosexuals use!
-Growing in grace does not make you more cranky & hard to get along with!
1. Closer to God = more loving.
2. Growing in grace is not becoming more prideful.
3. It is more humility.
-No sanctified person keeps track of their ‘holiness factor.'
1. Moses was not aware of the skin on his face shining.
2. He was still focused on God!
-Query: What has God done in your life lately?
1. B/c you're not doing a lot of things bad, doesn't mean you're growing/reflecting His glory.
2. Has anyone made a not of how much like Christ you look?
VIII. Cost of Discipleship
-We need to get back to the place where being a Christian cost you something!
-D. Bonhoeffer "Cost of Discipleship"
1. "Well, what's the draw in that?"
2. Hard to market Christianity as it is!
3. The HOLY SPIRIT is the draw!
-Virginia Owens: "Bible bookstores are now papered with announcements of Christian concerts instead of revival meetings."
1. Why is that?
2. B/c we can put on a concert ourselves, but a revival requires a coming of the Holy Spirit!
-Dr. G. Campbell Morgan: "The church patronized is the church paralyzed , therefore the church in peril. The church persecuted is the church prayerful, and thus powerful."
1. Why is that?
2. B/c they have had to be with God.
-Free, free, free salvation?
-It is free, but it will cost you everything!
IX. Christianity Isn't Easy...
-If we continue to proclaim that, we will continue to produce wimpy Christians! (delusion)
-There is peer pressure to conform to the world:
1. Reporters interviewing a 104 year-old woman:
2. "And what do you think is the best thing about being 104?" the reporter asked.
3. "No peer pressure," she said
-Just b/c you're a Christian doesn't mean you won't...
1. ...ever get fired, you will have perfect health,
2. ...or your business will be successful, or you will be rich.
-That's not why you sacrifice and commit to God.
-Point: You commit to Him b/c He is God!
-Ill. From Moses' perspective, the glamor of the world faded.
1. He turned his back on the shallow/easy/worldly but chose desert trial/ wandering with God.
2. He chose reproach of Christ over all the world had to offer. (Heb. 11)
3. It's called sacrificial.
X. Conclusion
-The sin of the church is not...
1. ...that we murdered, lied, committed adultery,
2. ...coveted, stole, worshiped an idol, gossipped, looked at pornography, slandered, cussed, etc.
-Point: The sin of the church today is that we have not been with God!
-2 Chronicles 7:14 "If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land."
1. That's not a formula for revival.
2. Those are all about getting into the presence of God!
-Leonard Ravenhill: "The more men pray the less worldly the become. The less men pray the more worldly they become."
-The sin of the church is that we have never (or rarely ever) been so close to God that it was reflected in our daily lives.
-The preacher preaches Sunday after Sunday... no change.
1. SS. Teacher... no change.
2. Service after service.
3. Bible study after bible study.
-v. 30 others were afraid of Moses b/c of how close he was to God.
1. The world does not know what to do with someone who has been w/ God.
2. Neither does the Devil!
-I fear that most of us have never experienced the kind of spiritual power at work in Moses.
-A real church service has lasting effect on our lives and lives of pppl we come in contact with!
-Point: Getting closer to God isn't preparation for revival... it is revival!
Response:
Friday, December 12, 2008
Faith?
Hebrews 11:1-2,6
Faith?: Faith Defined
I. Scripture
II. Introduction
-Problem of faith = multi-faceted definitions.
-Hard to grasp something so simple as faith.
-Definitions are prevalent.
-Faith can mean a positive attitude.
1. "We have faith it will turn out all right."
2. Emphasis = optimism.
-Faith as a particular religion.
1. Christian faith, Jewish faith,
2. Muslim faith, etc.
- Faith sometimes means a blind leap in the dark.
1. To believe in something w/out reason or evidence.
2. Biblical faith does not abide well with biblical ignorance. (Why?)
-1 Peter 3:15 "but in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you."
-Our culture values faith.
1. Atheists have a strong faith.
2. I am amazed at their faith.
-Point: It is not faith that is significant, but the object of faith.
-Everyone has some degree of faith in something.
1. Who cares?
2. What do you have faith in?
-What you believe in/ have faith in is what matters!
III. Two Kinds of Faith
-1st kind of faith is Belief
-v. 6 "...whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists...."
-Ppl in our post-modern culture have decided that belief is unessential.
1. It doesn't matter what you believe as long as you believe in something.
2. Sincere or sincerely wrong?
-Of course that is only applied in the realm of religion & moral values.
1. But not math.
2. No math teacher wants you to sit down & be broad minded about the rules of math.
3. Math requires precision.
4. What if your CPA was figuring your taxes arbitrarily?
-Physics, geometry, chemistry, etc. require narrow-mindedness.
-Real-life work....
1. Pharmacist, need precision.
2. Surgeon cannot decide where the heart is, it is already set!; etc.
-But our culture has decided we can pick whatever we want to believe b/c it does not matter.
-What you believe matters!
-We should be tolerant (& loving) of people who believe differently, but not tolerant of their beliefs.
IV. Basis for Faith/Belief
-Real faith/belief is bases on reasonable reason.
1. Not a hunch, not an impulse
2. Not a feeling, a fortune cookie, an inclination, etc
-If you believe that the Bible is God's Word, you need to have a reason for your belief.
1. Not just ‘in my heart I know' (that might be assurance of faith)
2. Reasonable reason why.
-If you have no reason, just ‘blind faith' you will land just as easily at Islam's Koran or Book of Mormon.
- I am not saying you have to have proof, just adequate evidence.
-Ill. Professor & student
1. Student: "Evidence of God"
2. Prof: "Don't give me evidence, give me proof!"
3. Most of what we believe is by evidence, not proof.
4. Ill. Sitting in chair w/out proof that it would hold him.
5. Ill. Eating a meal w/out proof that the food his wife fixed was not poisoned.
-Ill. I cannot prove ‘kindness.'
1. I cannot touch it, taste it, see it, heart it, etc.
2. I still believe in it.
3. Why? B/c there is evidence of it!
4. I have found that there are a few ppl who are kind in the world.
-Ill. secularist: "There is no God b/c of how evil the world is."
1. That's like saying:
2. "There are no doctors in the world b/c ppl sick."
-Ill. Atheist Doctor to patient.
1. "Can you hear God [no], can you inhale God [no], can you taste Him [no], can you see God, can you feel Him?"
2. Patient: "Oh yes, I can feel Him."
3. Dr. "Well, I have you 4 to 1, that there is no God."
4. P: "You prescribe medicine for patients in pain. Can you hear pain, can you inhale pain, can you taste pain, can you see pain, can you feel pain."
5. Dr: "Yes, I can feel pain."
6. P: "Well, I have you 4 to 1, there is no such thing as pain."
-Ill. I believe in love.
1. I cannot understand it, explain it or prove it.
2. I can demonstrate it.
3. But that is not proof?
4. Just b/c you cannot prove something does not make it unreal.
5. I can show you evidence of love.
-Ill. "I am in love."
1. "Prove to me that you are in love."
2. There is no math equation, litmus test, or physics formula that will prove it.
3. "You'll just have to take my word for it."
4. You cannot take a drop of blood and find the chemistry.
-Ill. Understand how a plane weighing tons can lift up in the air?
1. But you believe it will!
2. Why? You have evidence that it will, but not proof.
-Point: I believe in God!
1. I cannot understand God, I cannot prove God, I cannot control God, but He does exist.
2. You cannot put the omniscience of God into the human mind any more than you could put all the ocean into a coffee cup.
3. But there is evidence that there is a God!
-Evidence for God:
1. Changed lives!
2. The order of the universe (vs. randomness begets more randomness not order)!
3. As well as scientific, mathematical, physiological, etc.
-Evidence is overwhelming.
1. You would have to forfeit reason & evidence to doubt God's existence.
2. Not talking about proof, but evidence.
3. There is no proof either way (God vs. no God).
-Ill. You see, w/ a coffee cup of the ocean I would have evidence that the ocean exists, but not proof.
V. The Choice
-There is no proof that God exists or that he doesn't, but you must make the step of faith/ your decision.
-Faith must take the next step, by believing.
-The object of your faith is what is important.
-Ill. Spark plug = faith
1. Small part to start the engine
2. Faith ignites your spiritual life!
-Point: We sometimes believe faith holds us to God against reason.
1. Just the opposite is true.
2. Inner ‘feelings' can drive us away from God.
3. Faith coupled with reason helps us through.
4. Difficulty, frustration, grief, sorrow, depression, trial... can lead away from God.
5. Faith thwarts the Devils attacks.
-Ill. Has God ever failed you?
1. But our feelings dictate differently than what reason tells us.
2. Faith is not to keep you with God against the evidence, but to keep you with the evidence against the feelings that would lead you away!
VI. Faith #2: Trust
-Belief alone is inadequate for a definition of faith.
1. It requires Trust.
2. Trust = belief in action.
-Ch. 11 those with faith all did something!
1. By faith Noah built the ark.
2. ...Abraham went into a strange country.
3. ...the ppl of Israel crossed the Red Sea.
-Trust = activated faith!
-Ill. I may believe that a ladder can hold me, but I do not trust that until I get onto the ladder!
-Ill. Trust says let me hold the nail while you hammer.
1. I believe you will not hit my finger.
2. I trust you will not hit my finger.
3. Together they are faith!
4. Belief accepts the evidence.
5. Trust acts on the evidence.
-Hebrews 11:13 "These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth."
1. I not only believe in Heaven.
2. I trust in that fact, b/c I live my life like I'm going there
-Many ppl go through life just believing in God, but never trusting in Him.
-Faith (belief + trust) in God leads us to repentance b/c if we really believe in God we trust in Him!
1. That means we believe he is truth & what he says is too.
2. For example: the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life.
3. If you are living in sin you do not really have faith in God.
-Trust side of faith becomes more personal.
1. Would you really risk eternity by not forgiving your enemy?
2. ...by gossiping & slandering others?
3. ...by sexual immorality?
4. ...by refusing to support the work of God on earth?
VII. Faith for Eternity & Earth
-Faith not only has to do with our heavenly home...
-It also has to do w/ the way we live our lives!
-Faith trusts in Christ as Savior & Lord.
-We trust in Him to get eternal life.
-But do we trust in Him enough to give to Him?
1. "Don't have enough money to tithe."
2. "Don't have enough time to come to church."
3. "Don't have enough time to participate in ministry."
-Ch. 11 Faith "Hall of Fame"
-Ill. Noah had faith w/ his reputation.
1. Faith to do the ridiculous.
2. Neighbors thought Noah was crazy!
3. Poor reputation in the community.
4. We need to be less concerned about what others think about us and more concerned about what God knows about us!
-Ill. Abraham had faith w/ his future & ambition.
1. Agenda, plans, programs
2. We want to write our own script for life.
3. It's why we validate our plans by claiming they are God's will.
4. A strong faith makes obedience look easy.
-Ill. Moses had faith to be sacrificial.
1. Lifestyle, values, to God.
2. He was a prince in the royal family.
3. Ch. 11 gives four verbs to describe his sacrifice...
4. Refused- princely title
5. Chose- to suffer w/ the ppl of God
6. Considered the approach of Christ greater than the wealth of Egypt
7. Endured- by seeing him who is invisible.
8. Two options: Egypt or God.
VIII. Conclusion
-Faith = belief & trust
-Do you have faith this morning?
-Is what you have the real thing?
-Ill. You hear a lot about "death bed conversion."
1. Something we don't like to talk about is "death bed doubters."
2. Why do ppl live their whole lives, sometimes in the church, but never experience faith in God?
3. Would you be afraid of eternity?
-Maybe it is time that you took the step of faith.
-I am too much of a coward to not have Faith in Him!
1. There is too much at stake.
2. There is too much to lose.
-Maybe you have been trying to live for God w/ no avail.
1. Would you like to settle the question by faith?
2. Would you like to unite belief & trust in your life today?
Response
Faith?: Faith Defined
I. Scripture
II. Introduction
-Problem of faith = multi-faceted definitions.
-Hard to grasp something so simple as faith.
-Definitions are prevalent.
-Faith can mean a positive attitude.
1. "We have faith it will turn out all right."
2. Emphasis = optimism.
-Faith as a particular religion.
1. Christian faith, Jewish faith,
2. Muslim faith, etc.
- Faith sometimes means a blind leap in the dark.
1. To believe in something w/out reason or evidence.
2. Biblical faith does not abide well with biblical ignorance. (Why?)
-1 Peter 3:15 "but in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you."
-Our culture values faith.
1. Atheists have a strong faith.
2. I am amazed at their faith.
-Point: It is not faith that is significant, but the object of faith.
-Everyone has some degree of faith in something.
1. Who cares?
2. What do you have faith in?
-What you believe in/ have faith in is what matters!
III. Two Kinds of Faith
-1st kind of faith is Belief
-v. 6 "...whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists...."
-Ppl in our post-modern culture have decided that belief is unessential.
1. It doesn't matter what you believe as long as you believe in something.
2. Sincere or sincerely wrong?
-Of course that is only applied in the realm of religion & moral values.
1. But not math.
2. No math teacher wants you to sit down & be broad minded about the rules of math.
3. Math requires precision.
4. What if your CPA was figuring your taxes arbitrarily?
-Physics, geometry, chemistry, etc. require narrow-mindedness.
-Real-life work....
1. Pharmacist, need precision.
2. Surgeon cannot decide where the heart is, it is already set!; etc.
-But our culture has decided we can pick whatever we want to believe b/c it does not matter.
-What you believe matters!
-We should be tolerant (& loving) of people who believe differently, but not tolerant of their beliefs.
IV. Basis for Faith/Belief
-Real faith/belief is bases on reasonable reason.
1. Not a hunch, not an impulse
2. Not a feeling, a fortune cookie, an inclination, etc
-If you believe that the Bible is God's Word, you need to have a reason for your belief.
1. Not just ‘in my heart I know' (that might be assurance of faith)
2. Reasonable reason why.
-If you have no reason, just ‘blind faith' you will land just as easily at Islam's Koran or Book of Mormon.
- I am not saying you have to have proof, just adequate evidence.
-Ill. Professor & student
1. Student: "Evidence of God"
2. Prof: "Don't give me evidence, give me proof!"
3. Most of what we believe is by evidence, not proof.
4. Ill. Sitting in chair w/out proof that it would hold him.
5. Ill. Eating a meal w/out proof that the food his wife fixed was not poisoned.
-Ill. I cannot prove ‘kindness.'
1. I cannot touch it, taste it, see it, heart it, etc.
2. I still believe in it.
3. Why? B/c there is evidence of it!
4. I have found that there are a few ppl who are kind in the world.
-Ill. secularist: "There is no God b/c of how evil the world is."
1. That's like saying:
2. "There are no doctors in the world b/c ppl sick."
-Ill. Atheist Doctor to patient.
1. "Can you hear God [no], can you inhale God [no], can you taste Him [no], can you see God, can you feel Him?"
2. Patient: "Oh yes, I can feel Him."
3. Dr. "Well, I have you 4 to 1, that there is no God."
4. P: "You prescribe medicine for patients in pain. Can you hear pain, can you inhale pain, can you taste pain, can you see pain, can you feel pain."
5. Dr: "Yes, I can feel pain."
6. P: "Well, I have you 4 to 1, there is no such thing as pain."
-Ill. I believe in love.
1. I cannot understand it, explain it or prove it.
2. I can demonstrate it.
3. But that is not proof?
4. Just b/c you cannot prove something does not make it unreal.
5. I can show you evidence of love.
-Ill. "I am in love."
1. "Prove to me that you are in love."
2. There is no math equation, litmus test, or physics formula that will prove it.
3. "You'll just have to take my word for it."
4. You cannot take a drop of blood and find the chemistry.
-Ill. Understand how a plane weighing tons can lift up in the air?
1. But you believe it will!
2. Why? You have evidence that it will, but not proof.
-Point: I believe in God!
1. I cannot understand God, I cannot prove God, I cannot control God, but He does exist.
2. You cannot put the omniscience of God into the human mind any more than you could put all the ocean into a coffee cup.
3. But there is evidence that there is a God!
-Evidence for God:
1. Changed lives!
2. The order of the universe (vs. randomness begets more randomness not order)!
3. As well as scientific, mathematical, physiological, etc.
-Evidence is overwhelming.
1. You would have to forfeit reason & evidence to doubt God's existence.
2. Not talking about proof, but evidence.
3. There is no proof either way (God vs. no God).
-Ill. You see, w/ a coffee cup of the ocean I would have evidence that the ocean exists, but not proof.
V. The Choice
-There is no proof that God exists or that he doesn't, but you must make the step of faith/ your decision.
-Faith must take the next step, by believing.
-The object of your faith is what is important.
-Ill. Spark plug = faith
1. Small part to start the engine
2. Faith ignites your spiritual life!
-Point: We sometimes believe faith holds us to God against reason.
1. Just the opposite is true.
2. Inner ‘feelings' can drive us away from God.
3. Faith coupled with reason helps us through.
4. Difficulty, frustration, grief, sorrow, depression, trial... can lead away from God.
5. Faith thwarts the Devils attacks.
-Ill. Has God ever failed you?
1. But our feelings dictate differently than what reason tells us.
2. Faith is not to keep you with God against the evidence, but to keep you with the evidence against the feelings that would lead you away!
VI. Faith #2: Trust
-Belief alone is inadequate for a definition of faith.
1. It requires Trust.
2. Trust = belief in action.
-Ch. 11 those with faith all did something!
1. By faith Noah built the ark.
2. ...Abraham went into a strange country.
3. ...the ppl of Israel crossed the Red Sea.
-Trust = activated faith!
-Ill. I may believe that a ladder can hold me, but I do not trust that until I get onto the ladder!
-Ill. Trust says let me hold the nail while you hammer.
1. I believe you will not hit my finger.
2. I trust you will not hit my finger.
3. Together they are faith!
4. Belief accepts the evidence.
5. Trust acts on the evidence.
-Hebrews 11:13 "These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth."
1. I not only believe in Heaven.
2. I trust in that fact, b/c I live my life like I'm going there
-Many ppl go through life just believing in God, but never trusting in Him.
-Faith (belief + trust) in God leads us to repentance b/c if we really believe in God we trust in Him!
1. That means we believe he is truth & what he says is too.
2. For example: the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life.
3. If you are living in sin you do not really have faith in God.
-Trust side of faith becomes more personal.
1. Would you really risk eternity by not forgiving your enemy?
2. ...by gossiping & slandering others?
3. ...by sexual immorality?
4. ...by refusing to support the work of God on earth?
VII. Faith for Eternity & Earth
-Faith not only has to do with our heavenly home...
-It also has to do w/ the way we live our lives!
-Faith trusts in Christ as Savior & Lord.
-We trust in Him to get eternal life.
-But do we trust in Him enough to give to Him?
1. "Don't have enough money to tithe."
2. "Don't have enough time to come to church."
3. "Don't have enough time to participate in ministry."
-Ch. 11 Faith "Hall of Fame"
-Ill. Noah had faith w/ his reputation.
1. Faith to do the ridiculous.
2. Neighbors thought Noah was crazy!
3. Poor reputation in the community.
4. We need to be less concerned about what others think about us and more concerned about what God knows about us!
-Ill. Abraham had faith w/ his future & ambition.
1. Agenda, plans, programs
2. We want to write our own script for life.
3. It's why we validate our plans by claiming they are God's will.
4. A strong faith makes obedience look easy.
-Ill. Moses had faith to be sacrificial.
1. Lifestyle, values, to God.
2. He was a prince in the royal family.
3. Ch. 11 gives four verbs to describe his sacrifice...
4. Refused- princely title
5. Chose- to suffer w/ the ppl of God
6. Considered the approach of Christ greater than the wealth of Egypt
7. Endured- by seeing him who is invisible.
8. Two options: Egypt or God.
VIII. Conclusion
-Faith = belief & trust
-Do you have faith this morning?
-Is what you have the real thing?
-Ill. You hear a lot about "death bed conversion."
1. Something we don't like to talk about is "death bed doubters."
2. Why do ppl live their whole lives, sometimes in the church, but never experience faith in God?
3. Would you be afraid of eternity?
-Maybe it is time that you took the step of faith.
-I am too much of a coward to not have Faith in Him!
1. There is too much at stake.
2. There is too much to lose.
-Maybe you have been trying to live for God w/ no avail.
1. Would you like to settle the question by faith?
2. Would you like to unite belief & trust in your life today?
Response
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)