Ezekiel 18:1-7a, 9b-11,13b-14, 18-32
Who’s Responsible?: Generational Curses & God’s Grace
I. Introduction
-Ill. I have a problem.
1. My wife bought me a bag of jelly beans.
2. I think she’s been giving them to Jacob.
3. "I want beans; I want beans."
-He likes jelly beans, just like me.
-I wonder how much like me, he will be.
1. Will he have my faults?
2. Will he have my strengths?
3. Will he have my mannerisms?
4. Will he be a Christian?
-Long reading this morning, please stay w/ me.
II. Scripture
III. Background
-Powerful chapter in the book of Ezekiel.
-Ill. I look like my father.
1. Cheek pinching old ladies.
2. You’re going to be a preacher... just like him.
3. I am, but that’s not why.
-You’ve heard the saying:
1. "Like father, like son."
2. "A chip off the old block."
-How true is that though?
IV. A Non-Proverb
-God is dealing w/ a common proverb among the ppl of Israel that was not a Biblical one.
1. There is a lot of that today.
2. "God helps those who help themselves."
3. Reality: God causes the rain to fall on the just & unjust.
-"The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge."
1. This proverb is saying more than a parent’s actions will influence their children.
2. It is saying that children will pay the consequences [spiritually] for their parents’ actions.
-God says: Don’t say this anymore.
-Preface: Parents have more influence in your life than any other human being.
1. However, they cannot choose for you whether you will serve Christ.
2. They cannot dictate religious experience.
-Let’s look at four major things God is saying to Ezekiel.
V. #1: Righteous Father & Sinful Son
-First scenario includes a parent who is righteous.
1. Avoids evil & pursues righteousness.
2. A godly parent.
3. He shall live.
-But the son is lost in sinfulness.
1. Participates in the world’s sin.
2. Lost w/out Christ.
3. v. 13b "He shall surely die; his blood shall be upon himself."
-If your parents are saints of God, that doesn’t automatically include you in the hosts of heaven.
-Your parents relationship with God is theirs. You must establish yours.
-"God has no grandchildren... only children."
- There is no salvation by association.
1. You can be related to 100 preachers, 50 missionaries, and the pope, but that doesn’t guarantee you anything.
2. You can go to a good church where God is at work and ppl seek to serve him, but that doesn’t reserve you a seat in heaven.
-The reason the church drifts away from the God’s Word and into complacency is the next generation didn’t really get "it."
-Some good ppl work to convince their kids they are okay.
1. Your responsibility as a parent is not to convince your child they are a Christian!
2. You responsibility is to help convince them they have a sin problem that only Jesus can solve!
-To 2nd generation Christians: Some of you have never experienced a personal walk w/ God.
1. You life is riding the spiritual momentum of those who have gone before.
2. Seek God for yourself!
VI. #2: Sinful Father & Righteous Son
-Second scenario includes the son from the 1st scenario.
-That sinful son become a sinful father.
-v. 14 "Now suppose this man fathers a son who sees all the sins that his father has done; he sees, and does not do likewise:"
-That son will live!
-Good News: Whether your parents choose to live for Christ or not, you still have a choice!
-If your parents are... ...you can still...
1. ...drug addicts ... be sober!
2. ...liars .... tell the truth!
3. ...divorced ... your marriage can last!
4. ...gossips ... speak words that edify & build up.
5. ...sexually immoral ... you can keep sex sacred!
6. ...murderers ... you can preserve life!
7. ...walking on the broad path that leads to destruction ... travel on the narrow path that leads to life!
-Psychological debate between nature vs. nurture.
1. I don’t know anything about all that stuff.
2. All I know is that God’s Word is true and He says you don’t have to continue on in the sinfulness of your forefathers!
-Generational Curses?
God says No.
-Instead: v. 20 "The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not suffer for the iniquity of the father, nor the father suffer for the iniquity of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself."
-Note: The death and life God is talking about is not physical but spiritual. "The soul that sins shall die."
VII. Blame Game
-Ill. John Killinger tells about the manager of a minor league ball team.
1. He was disgusted w/ the center fielder’s playing & ordered him to the dugout.
2. He assumed the position himself.
3. 1st ball came that came into center field took a bad hop and hit the manager in the mouth.
4. 2nd was a high fly ball, he lost in the sun--it bounced off his forehead.
5. 3rd was a hard line drive that he charged with outstretched arms; if flew between his hands and smacked his eye.
6. Furious, he ran back to the dugout, grabbed the center fielder by the uniform, and shouted. ’You idiot! You’ve got center field so messed up that even I can’t do a thing with it!
-We are looking for an out/an excuse for our sins.
-We blame everything on...
1. Our chromosomes/ genes
2. Alcoholism, homosexuality
3. "It’s just my personality."
4. "It was b/c of my raisin’"
-God says you can choose.
-James 1:14-15 "But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. [15] Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death."
VIII. #3: Sinful Person who Repents
-Third scenario, in v. 21, tells of a sinful person who repents of "all his sins."
-Two-Fold Point:
1. Warning: The path of sinfulness leads to death.
2. Good News: If you turn from your wicked ways & embrace righteousness = life!
-If you are lost today & bearing the condemnation of sin know this:
1. If you repent, turn from sin to walk in righteousness, you will live.
2. v. 22 "None of the transgressions that he has committed shall be remembered against him; for the righteousness that he has done he shall live."
-A life shift is necessary.
1. More than a good cry at an altar.
2. An encounter w/ the living God that always leads to a life change!
-God’s desire is that the lost would find Him! (v. 23)
-Some ppl expect to continue in sin and God ignore it on judgement day.
1. If you continue in your sin you will go to Hell of your own choosing.
2. This is God’s warning & promise.
IX. #4: Righteous Person who turns to sin
-Fourth scenario, in v. 24, tells of a righteous man who turns to the same abominations as the wicked.
-Note: The church has stopped believing in God’s ability to cleanse hearts of all unrighteousness.
-Some of you think, b/c you are a Christian, you can sin and it is okay... not so!
-We’ve opted instead to try & manage sin in our lives.
-As long as I don’t...
1. ...tell big lies, I can tell small ones.
2. ...murder, I can hate.
3. ...lose my job, I can be an addict.
-Let me get a little closer to home for everybody.
-Some of you are trying to manage your sin instead of being cleansed of it.
-You are managing your...
1. ...pornography addiction.
2. ...alcoholism.
3. ...gambling addiction.
4. ...shopping/spending addiction.
5. ...hateful, unforgiving attitude.
6. ...grudge (divorcees?)
-Some of you haven’t opened in your Bible, except on Sunday, in years.
-Some of you haven’t knelt in prayer since the day you were supposedly born-again.
-Ezekiel 18:24 "But when a righteous person turns away from his righteousness and does injustice and does the same abominations that the wicked person does, shall he live? None of the righteous deeds that he has done shall be remembered; for the treachery of which he is guilty and the sin he has committed, for them he shall die." (v. 26 says the same thing)
X. Conclusion
-Understanding God’s work in your life is not as complex as you might believe.
1. There is no trickery here.
2. Just this: He only works as you are obedient to Him.
-What about you?
1. Did your parents eat sour grapes?
2. Did life deal you some sour grapes?
3. Are you willing to turn from sin both great & small?
4. Have you slipped back into who you use to be before you knew Christ?
-Here is the truth:
1. The wages/pay of sin is always death.
2. But the gift of God is eternal life.
-Ezekiel 18:30-32 "Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, declares the Lord God. Repent and turn from all your transgressions, lest iniquity be your ruin. [31] Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed, and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O house of Israel? [32] For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord God; so turn, and live."
Response
Showing posts with label salvation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label salvation. Show all posts
Monday, March 30, 2009
Monday, March 16, 2009
He Cares About the Spirit
Ezekiel 20:1-3, 6-9, 12-14, 18-22, 31-32, 37-44
He Cares About the Spirit: Don’t Inquire of Him w/out a Life Change
I. Introduction
-At some point you will inquire of the Lord.
1. Times will grow difficult.
2. Desperation for answers will grow to critical mass.
3. You will cry out to Him.
-Some cry out for the wrong things.
1. Stuff, intelligence, ‘bail-out,’ etc.
2. All "me" centered.
-Ill. Bible Professor’s prayer
1. "Lord, help them recall all that they studied."
2. No, I want God to give me the answers!
-But God doesn’t care about a lot of the stuff we think He does.
1. He cares about your soul first & foremost.
2. If you aren’t right with Him, He doesn’t want to talk about anything else.
-Example: the ppl of Israel...
II. Scripture
III. Inquiring of the Lord
-God refused to respond to their inquiries b/c of their sin.
1. The only prayer I can guarantee God will answer is a prayer of repentance/ plea for mercy.
2. Everything before that is trivia, which God is unconcerned about.
-Ill. Ppl call the church for assistance...
1. My 1st question: "Where do you go to church?"
2. Spiritual questions!
3. Some are offended.
4. They don’t realize what is most important.
-Point: If your soul isn’t right with God, it doesn’t matter if you lost your job, can’t pay the water bill, are sick, etc.
-You can pray until you are blue in the face, but if you aren’t living right you are wasting your time!
-Prayer is a privilege.
1. Some view it as an obligation.
2. It is a privilege to the born-again Christian.
3. A blessing to walk & talk w/ God.
4. Don’t take that lightly.
-Ill. Saul’s partial obedience.
1. He was suppose to wipe out the pagan enemy and all their material wealth.
2. He thought God "blessed" him w/ the material possessions.
3. Query: Has it ever occurred to you that God’s action/will for your life may not be to always get you that promotion or material wealth?
4. 1 Samuel 15:22 "And Samuel said, "Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams."
5. Obedience is better than sacrifice!
-Ill. We give God a "token holy act" to guarantee our bail out (and put Him "on call").
-Example...
1. Don’t inquire of God w/ finances if you’re buying lottery tickets!
2. Don’t... w/ health if you’re over eating, smoking, drinking, etc.
3. Don’t... w/ family problems if you’re not bringing them to church!
4. Don’t... w/ marriage issues if you’re not following biblical mandates on marriage.
-Reality is inquiring of God is usually just demanding of God our will be done.
-Point: At some point you will have to determine whether you are going to do things your way or His way in your life.
-Ephesians 1:3 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places."
-Point: Christ does not give us life, assist in life, or better our life... He is our life!
-Query: My kingdom or His?
1. My will or His?
2. My life or His?
3. My way or His?
IV. Wanting the World
-Real Issue: We’ve never really broken from this world’s values.
-v. 32 "What is in your mind shall never happen—the thought, 'Let us be like the nations, like the tribes of the countries, and worship wood and stone.'"
-For example...
1. Immoral business practices (lie, cheat, etc.)
2. Divorce rate the same as the world.
3. Sexual immorality
4. Grudges, bitterness, gossip, etc. (sometimes worse in the church).
-Churches all over this nation will be cancelling tonight to watch a football game.
1. Shame, shame, shame!
2. Ppl skipped church this morning to go to the girl’s b-ball game in Richmond.
3. What are we telling our kids?
4. (We’ll panic at some point & inquire of God why they went astray... but too late.)
5. And football... let them cancel for the Lord!
6. For you who are staying home tonight to watch football... I hope the Lord doesn’t come back!
7. "Preacher, you’re making me feel bad."
8. Well, that’s not my goal. My goal is to help you see your values!
V. God Draws the Line...
-v. 39 "As for you, O house of Israel, thus says the Lord God: Go serve every one of you his idols, now and hereafter, if you will not listen to me; but my holy name you shall no more profane with your gifts and your idols."
-Paraphrase: "Do whatever you’re going to do, but don’t claim to be my ppl. (profane my name)"
-Quit claiming to be a Christian but continue to walk in sin.
1. And don’t make excuse for your sinfulness.
2. "I just have a temper."
3. "It’s just how I was raised."
4. Blah, blah, blah.
-Fine, but don’t act all spiritual when you get to church.
VI. What God Wants to do... in You
-v. 41 "I will accept you with your sweet savour, when I bring you out from the people, and gather you out of the countries wherein ye have been scattered; and I will be sanctified in you before the heathen."
1. "bring you out"
2. "manifest my holiness"
-The only way He will accept you, is if you allow Him to change you.
-Ill. Change you can believe in."
1. Only change consistent in politics is that at some point they will raise taxes and move farther from God.
2. God alone brings real change!
-He wants to change you for His name’s sake!
-So the world can see the awesome power of God.
1. The power to change the course of a human life.
2. The power to make you new!
-Some of you think you’ve changed enough.
1. Dangerous place to be.
2. God is still working!
3. Don’t be afraid of the altar.
-Ask God to change your heart if there are some things you don’t like.
1. Don’t like to go to church?
2. Don’t like to witness?
3. Don’t like to love your neighbor?
4. God can change that!
-Some things you like that are sinful/ vain/ worldly?
1. God can change your heart about that too!
2. Worldly music won’t be so entertaining anymore!
3. Worldly wealth doesn’t have to entrap you any longer!
4. God can change you!
-God is not interested in a tribute from you... but just you!
-Obedience is better than sacrifice!
VII. Conclusion
-Young ppl/ families: Passionately pursue Christ now!
-v. 44 "And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I deal with you for my name's sake, not according to your evil ways, nor according to your corrupt deeds, O house of Israel, declares the Lord God.""
-Aren’t you glad that God deals w/ you according to His name, and not our evil ways or corrupt deeds?
-His grace, life changing, real grace, is available to you today.
-Why don’t you inquire of that today?
-God wants to deal with your spirit!
Response
He Cares About the Spirit: Don’t Inquire of Him w/out a Life Change
I. Introduction
-At some point you will inquire of the Lord.
1. Times will grow difficult.
2. Desperation for answers will grow to critical mass.
3. You will cry out to Him.
-Some cry out for the wrong things.
1. Stuff, intelligence, ‘bail-out,’ etc.
2. All "me" centered.
-Ill. Bible Professor’s prayer
1. "Lord, help them recall all that they studied."
2. No, I want God to give me the answers!
-But God doesn’t care about a lot of the stuff we think He does.
1. He cares about your soul first & foremost.
2. If you aren’t right with Him, He doesn’t want to talk about anything else.
-Example: the ppl of Israel...
II. Scripture
III. Inquiring of the Lord
-God refused to respond to their inquiries b/c of their sin.
1. The only prayer I can guarantee God will answer is a prayer of repentance/ plea for mercy.
2. Everything before that is trivia, which God is unconcerned about.
-Ill. Ppl call the church for assistance...
1. My 1st question: "Where do you go to church?"
2. Spiritual questions!
3. Some are offended.
4. They don’t realize what is most important.
-Point: If your soul isn’t right with God, it doesn’t matter if you lost your job, can’t pay the water bill, are sick, etc.
-You can pray until you are blue in the face, but if you aren’t living right you are wasting your time!
-Prayer is a privilege.
1. Some view it as an obligation.
2. It is a privilege to the born-again Christian.
3. A blessing to walk & talk w/ God.
4. Don’t take that lightly.
-Ill. Saul’s partial obedience.
1. He was suppose to wipe out the pagan enemy and all their material wealth.
2. He thought God "blessed" him w/ the material possessions.
3. Query: Has it ever occurred to you that God’s action/will for your life may not be to always get you that promotion or material wealth?
4. 1 Samuel 15:22 "And Samuel said, "Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams."
5. Obedience is better than sacrifice!
-Ill. We give God a "token holy act" to guarantee our bail out (and put Him "on call").
-Example...
1. Don’t inquire of God w/ finances if you’re buying lottery tickets!
2. Don’t... w/ health if you’re over eating, smoking, drinking, etc.
3. Don’t... w/ family problems if you’re not bringing them to church!
4. Don’t... w/ marriage issues if you’re not following biblical mandates on marriage.
-Reality is inquiring of God is usually just demanding of God our will be done.
-Point: At some point you will have to determine whether you are going to do things your way or His way in your life.
-Ephesians 1:3 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places."
-Point: Christ does not give us life, assist in life, or better our life... He is our life!
-Query: My kingdom or His?
1. My will or His?
2. My life or His?
3. My way or His?
IV. Wanting the World
-Real Issue: We’ve never really broken from this world’s values.
-v. 32 "What is in your mind shall never happen—the thought, 'Let us be like the nations, like the tribes of the countries, and worship wood and stone.'"
-For example...
1. Immoral business practices (lie, cheat, etc.)
2. Divorce rate the same as the world.
3. Sexual immorality
4. Grudges, bitterness, gossip, etc. (sometimes worse in the church).
-Churches all over this nation will be cancelling tonight to watch a football game.
1. Shame, shame, shame!
2. Ppl skipped church this morning to go to the girl’s b-ball game in Richmond.
3. What are we telling our kids?
4. (We’ll panic at some point & inquire of God why they went astray... but too late.)
5. And football... let them cancel for the Lord!
6. For you who are staying home tonight to watch football... I hope the Lord doesn’t come back!
7. "Preacher, you’re making me feel bad."
8. Well, that’s not my goal. My goal is to help you see your values!
V. God Draws the Line...
-v. 39 "As for you, O house of Israel, thus says the Lord God: Go serve every one of you his idols, now and hereafter, if you will not listen to me; but my holy name you shall no more profane with your gifts and your idols."
-Paraphrase: "Do whatever you’re going to do, but don’t claim to be my ppl. (profane my name)"
-Quit claiming to be a Christian but continue to walk in sin.
1. And don’t make excuse for your sinfulness.
2. "I just have a temper."
3. "It’s just how I was raised."
4. Blah, blah, blah.
-Fine, but don’t act all spiritual when you get to church.
VI. What God Wants to do... in You
-v. 41 "I will accept you with your sweet savour, when I bring you out from the people, and gather you out of the countries wherein ye have been scattered; and I will be sanctified in you before the heathen."
1. "bring you out"
2. "manifest my holiness"
-The only way He will accept you, is if you allow Him to change you.
-Ill. Change you can believe in."
1. Only change consistent in politics is that at some point they will raise taxes and move farther from God.
2. God alone brings real change!
-He wants to change you for His name’s sake!
-So the world can see the awesome power of God.
1. The power to change the course of a human life.
2. The power to make you new!
-Some of you think you’ve changed enough.
1. Dangerous place to be.
2. God is still working!
3. Don’t be afraid of the altar.
-Ask God to change your heart if there are some things you don’t like.
1. Don’t like to go to church?
2. Don’t like to witness?
3. Don’t like to love your neighbor?
4. God can change that!
-Some things you like that are sinful/ vain/ worldly?
1. God can change your heart about that too!
2. Worldly music won’t be so entertaining anymore!
3. Worldly wealth doesn’t have to entrap you any longer!
4. God can change you!
-God is not interested in a tribute from you... but just you!
-Obedience is better than sacrifice!
VII. Conclusion
-Young ppl/ families: Passionately pursue Christ now!
-v. 44 "And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I deal with you for my name's sake, not according to your evil ways, nor according to your corrupt deeds, O house of Israel, declares the Lord God.""
-Aren’t you glad that God deals w/ you according to His name, and not our evil ways or corrupt deeds?
-His grace, life changing, real grace, is available to you today.
-Why don’t you inquire of that today?
-God wants to deal with your spirit!
Response
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Relevant?
Ezekiel 1:1-5a, 15-16a, 22, 26-28; 2:1-2
Relevant?: Ezekiel #1
I. Introduction
-Why are you here this morning? (Israel History)
-Does what happens here make a difference in your life?
-If you had to tell about one thing God did in your life, or how being a Christian made a difference, could you?
-We would like to believe we are more technologically advanced than ever before, more civil, more wealth, more secure, etc.
1. So how does this book [Bible] have any bearing on our lives?
2. Why & How can it tell us how to live?
3. Or a man [Jesus] who lived 2000 years ago.
-How can these things be relevant?
-Relevant is a buzz word in the church today.
-What is relevant to your life?
II. Scripture
III. Relevant
-Relevant means: having significant bearing on the matter at hand
-You might hear:
1. "That's not relevant to this discussion."
2. "Ask only relevant questions to the topic at hand."
3. Presidential debates: their answers aren't relevant to the questions.
-If you go into a Christian bookstore & into the ministry section you will see the word ‘relevant' in a lot of book titles.
-"Relevant" is a buzz word.
-They say: "The church has to make its ministry relevant to the world."
-In other words: "Ministry must be done in such a way that it has significant bearing on the matter at hand."
IV. Problem 1
-Ministry is geared toward ppl loving the church rather than God.
-If you participate in that kind of ministry you will begin to believe that if ppl like you, your ministry is successful.
-Ministry success is not based on whether ppl like you.
1. It's not based on whether everyone thinks you're cool.
2. It's not based on whether you are best buddies w/ someone.
3. Just b/c you are friends w/ a Christian, doesn't mean you'll make it to heaven.
4. You must be friends w/ Christ.
-Therein lies the problem: We sometimes seek for ppl to like the pastor more than the Savior.
1. The church, pastor, ppl, eclipse the Messiah.
-Then, I leave the church b/c I do not like the pastor.
1. I leave the church if I do not like a member.
2. I leave the church if my feelings get hurt.
-God calls ppl to churches just like He does pastors.
-You can make it to heaven w/out being best friend w/ everyone!
1. Some ppl just meld better than others.
2. I just get along better w/ some ppl than others.
V. Problem 2
-Ministry looks more like the world.
-Ministry is based on disguising the Gospel.
1. Repentance is tucked away.
2. "We look like you!"
-Ministry is not based on whether ppl think you are like them.
1. Point: It's really hinged on whether you are different than them.
2. What do you have to offer if you are the same.
-Some "relevance" based ministry seeks to convince you that it is alright if you stay the same as long as you like what is happening.
-Real ministry says, you cannot remain the same.
1. Truth changes your life... & the way you go about it.
2. Interacting w/ God is a change of heart, a renewing of the mind, a washing of your actions, & a cleansing of pride & motives!
-Sometimes we ask for the preacher's messages to be relevant.
1. Wouldn't we like more self-help kind of sermons.
2. They are all the craze.
-Some pastors preach on nothing but your finances, your human relationships, how to get a good job, how to have your best life now, how to...
1. That seems more relevant.
-But is that more relevant than a message on the Holiness of God?
1. Is that relevant in light of eternity?
2. Is that relevant in light of the glory of God?
VI. What is Relevant?
-You don't really decide what is relevant, you prioritize your life.
1. Truth is truth. It is never irrelevant.
2. Truth is always relevant!
-Ill. Gravity, you cannot really ignore it.
1. You can fight it...parachutes
2. But it doesn't become obsolete, or irrelevant.
-Ill. "This is a youth service, you don't have to wear a tie."
1. I didn't come to fit-in, but to proclaim the Gospel.
2. I didn't come to be cool, I came to lift up Jesus!
3. I didn't come to entertain, I came to preach Christ crucified... a stumbling block for Jews and foolishness to Gentiles!
-Query: To minister to...
1. ...teens do I have to wear frayed jeans, grow a goatee, & fix my hair like I've not combed it?
2. ...those in the nursing home do I have to get a hearing aid, use a walker, and wear glasses?
3. Is my ministry [and yours] limited by our age, our dress, our income, our racial background?
4. Do you have to be black to minister to blacks?
5. Do you have to be rich to minister to the rich?
6. Do you have to be a doctor to minister to a doctor?
7. Do you have to be from KY to minister to those from KY?
8. Do you have to be 20 something to minister to 20 something's?
-O what limitations we have placed on God!
1. What boundaries we have placed around His power.
2. What restrictions we have placed on salvation!
-Lie (Satan): you can minister only to ppl just like you.
-Definition: having significant bearing on the matter at hand
1. So what is the matter at hand?
2. Is it how much money you make?
3. Is it what job you have?
-What about in raising your children? Is the real issue...
1. ...how smart your kids are?
2. ...whether they are popular or not?
3. ...whether they are successful?
4. ...whether they are a sports star?
5. ...whether they are homecoming queen?
6. What has significance/ bearing to the issue at hand? Are they holy/godly?
-What issue trumps all others?
-The world is screaming that God is irrelevant!
1. He has no bearing on anything.
2. Can you see past that?
3. Have you been bogged down in that?
-What about eternity?
-Point: We need a new vision of His glory!
-A desire for "relevance" leads to sin.
1. Learn to be okay w/ being different.
2. "Fitting in" drives/moves toward sin.
-If kids cannot deal w/ being different when it comes to style (adults too) how can they resist the temptation to conform to this world!?
1. I don't want my kids dressing like ball stars b/c they may also conform to their sins!!
2. I want them to be different!
VII. Hard to See How Relevant.
-Even for Christians it is hard to see how relevant God is to us.
-Ill. Time magazine said $20 billion in US for porn movies
1. estimated $57 billion worldwide
2. Is God that relevant or not?
-The world is screaming that God is irrelevant.
-Do you believe that?
-What about when...
1. ...you go to work on Monday, and listen to the profane, vulgar conversations.
2. ...you hear about the immorality running rampant among your co-workers.
3. ...you go on vacation see the loose & lurid behavior of the wicked.
4. ...you walk through your neighborhood and see the hurting families destroyed by divorce, abuse, affairs, & alcohol.
5. ...your kids come home from school talking about what they learned at school, playing vulgar & sinful music, flippantly talking about sex.
6. ...you turn on the TV and watch holly wood blaspheme all that is holy, idolize the wicked & immoral behavior, and dismiss biblical conscience.
7. ...loneliness is oppressive, hopelessness ushers in despair, and the chaos pushes us to the limit...
8. Then the temptation is to think that this [church, Bible, faith, God] is irrelevant.
-And ppl ask:
1. At the point I am dealing w/ a death in the family, why would a man named Jesus dying 2000 years ago have any bearing on my situation?
2. At the point I have lost my job and am unable to pay my bills, what difference does it make that God made a covenant with Abraham?
-The Israelite in captivity w/ Ezekiel asked: What difference does God make now?
VIII. The Real Problem
-This problem is old as time.
1. We are trying to make God relevant to us (bring Him to our level).
2. Rather than trying to be relevant to God.
-Ill. On Judgement day
1. He won't ask us: "Do you know me?"
2. He will say: "Depart from me, for I do not know you."
-The problem is we've diminished His glory.
1. We've rejected it for materialism, lusts of the flesh, and rusted things of this world.
2. The church has accepted a counterfeit!
-Ill. Famous Atheist Richard Dawkins, author of ‘The God Delusion,'
1. ...about his visit to a 12,000 strong evangelical church here in America:
2. "I worry that these ‘born-agains' are being persuaded to return to childish certainties. That the only truth they need is God..."
3. That's it... the atheist got it!
-We all affirm that God is the most important thing in life, but do you live it?
1. Would your calendar be different if you lived that way?
2. ...check book... family... church... be different?
-Ill. It will take more than an hour on Sunday.
1. Commercial: 20 min/day for 3 wks for killer abs.
2. We apply that to spiritual matters
3. To be Christian will take more than 20/min a day 3 days a week!!
IX. God is Relevant
-Ezekiel got a vision of the Glory of God.
1. That vision of glory gave him something worth saying.
2. It gave him a life worth living.
3. ...a purpose worth fulfilling.
4. ...a mission worth accomplishing.
-How relevant is your life?
-To SS teachers: "Point to Jesus!"
-To song leaders: "What is relevant, is not what we sing, what notes we hit, or what style it is; but who we sing to!"
-To preachers: "What is relevant is not the latest fad or popular thing in the church, but Christ and Him crucified. Preach that!"
-To parents: "Christ is the most important thing in your child's life."
-To couples: "Christ is the most important thing in your marriage."
-To teens: "Christ is the most important thing in your life!"
-To children: "Christ is the most important thing in your life!"
-Don't say it, Live it!
X. Conclusion
-Do you see the glory of God?
-Does God eclipse everything else in your life?
-So many ppl are investing their lives in good things, but irrelevant things.
1. They are missing the glory of God!
2. They are missing the most important thing.
-Why are all these other things not relevant?
1. Why is God/ the Gospel so relevant?
2. B/c the most fundamental need of humanity is still a spiritual need.
-Ezekiel fell on his face when he saw the glory of God.
-But the Spirit picked Him up and set him on his feet... and he heard God.
-You can ignore it, or you can live with new relevance.
1. God is relevant.
2. Do you see that?
Response
Relevant?: Ezekiel #1
I. Introduction
-Why are you here this morning? (Israel History)
-Does what happens here make a difference in your life?
-If you had to tell about one thing God did in your life, or how being a Christian made a difference, could you?
-We would like to believe we are more technologically advanced than ever before, more civil, more wealth, more secure, etc.
1. So how does this book [Bible] have any bearing on our lives?
2. Why & How can it tell us how to live?
3. Or a man [Jesus] who lived 2000 years ago.
-How can these things be relevant?
-Relevant is a buzz word in the church today.
-What is relevant to your life?
II. Scripture
III. Relevant
-Relevant means: having significant bearing on the matter at hand
-You might hear:
1. "That's not relevant to this discussion."
2. "Ask only relevant questions to the topic at hand."
3. Presidential debates: their answers aren't relevant to the questions.
-If you go into a Christian bookstore & into the ministry section you will see the word ‘relevant' in a lot of book titles.
-"Relevant" is a buzz word.
-They say: "The church has to make its ministry relevant to the world."
-In other words: "Ministry must be done in such a way that it has significant bearing on the matter at hand."
IV. Problem 1
-Ministry is geared toward ppl loving the church rather than God.
-If you participate in that kind of ministry you will begin to believe that if ppl like you, your ministry is successful.
-Ministry success is not based on whether ppl like you.
1. It's not based on whether everyone thinks you're cool.
2. It's not based on whether you are best buddies w/ someone.
3. Just b/c you are friends w/ a Christian, doesn't mean you'll make it to heaven.
4. You must be friends w/ Christ.
-Therein lies the problem: We sometimes seek for ppl to like the pastor more than the Savior.
1. The church, pastor, ppl, eclipse the Messiah.
-Then, I leave the church b/c I do not like the pastor.
1. I leave the church if I do not like a member.
2. I leave the church if my feelings get hurt.
-God calls ppl to churches just like He does pastors.
-You can make it to heaven w/out being best friend w/ everyone!
1. Some ppl just meld better than others.
2. I just get along better w/ some ppl than others.
V. Problem 2
-Ministry looks more like the world.
-Ministry is based on disguising the Gospel.
1. Repentance is tucked away.
2. "We look like you!"
-Ministry is not based on whether ppl think you are like them.
1. Point: It's really hinged on whether you are different than them.
2. What do you have to offer if you are the same.
-Some "relevance" based ministry seeks to convince you that it is alright if you stay the same as long as you like what is happening.
-Real ministry says, you cannot remain the same.
1. Truth changes your life... & the way you go about it.
2. Interacting w/ God is a change of heart, a renewing of the mind, a washing of your actions, & a cleansing of pride & motives!
-Sometimes we ask for the preacher's messages to be relevant.
1. Wouldn't we like more self-help kind of sermons.
2. They are all the craze.
-Some pastors preach on nothing but your finances, your human relationships, how to get a good job, how to have your best life now, how to...
1. That seems more relevant.
-But is that more relevant than a message on the Holiness of God?
1. Is that relevant in light of eternity?
2. Is that relevant in light of the glory of God?
VI. What is Relevant?
-You don't really decide what is relevant, you prioritize your life.
1. Truth is truth. It is never irrelevant.
2. Truth is always relevant!
-Ill. Gravity, you cannot really ignore it.
1. You can fight it...parachutes
2. But it doesn't become obsolete, or irrelevant.
-Ill. "This is a youth service, you don't have to wear a tie."
1. I didn't come to fit-in, but to proclaim the Gospel.
2. I didn't come to be cool, I came to lift up Jesus!
3. I didn't come to entertain, I came to preach Christ crucified... a stumbling block for Jews and foolishness to Gentiles!
-Query: To minister to...
1. ...teens do I have to wear frayed jeans, grow a goatee, & fix my hair like I've not combed it?
2. ...those in the nursing home do I have to get a hearing aid, use a walker, and wear glasses?
3. Is my ministry [and yours] limited by our age, our dress, our income, our racial background?
4. Do you have to be black to minister to blacks?
5. Do you have to be rich to minister to the rich?
6. Do you have to be a doctor to minister to a doctor?
7. Do you have to be from KY to minister to those from KY?
8. Do you have to be 20 something to minister to 20 something's?
-O what limitations we have placed on God!
1. What boundaries we have placed around His power.
2. What restrictions we have placed on salvation!
-Lie (Satan): you can minister only to ppl just like you.
-Definition: having significant bearing on the matter at hand
1. So what is the matter at hand?
2. Is it how much money you make?
3. Is it what job you have?
-What about in raising your children? Is the real issue...
1. ...how smart your kids are?
2. ...whether they are popular or not?
3. ...whether they are successful?
4. ...whether they are a sports star?
5. ...whether they are homecoming queen?
6. What has significance/ bearing to the issue at hand? Are they holy/godly?
-What issue trumps all others?
-The world is screaming that God is irrelevant!
1. He has no bearing on anything.
2. Can you see past that?
3. Have you been bogged down in that?
-What about eternity?
-Point: We need a new vision of His glory!
-A desire for "relevance" leads to sin.
1. Learn to be okay w/ being different.
2. "Fitting in" drives/moves toward sin.
-If kids cannot deal w/ being different when it comes to style (adults too) how can they resist the temptation to conform to this world!?
1. I don't want my kids dressing like ball stars b/c they may also conform to their sins!!
2. I want them to be different!
VII. Hard to See How Relevant.
-Even for Christians it is hard to see how relevant God is to us.
-Ill. Time magazine said $20 billion in US for porn movies
1. estimated $57 billion worldwide
2. Is God that relevant or not?
-The world is screaming that God is irrelevant.
-Do you believe that?
-What about when...
1. ...you go to work on Monday, and listen to the profane, vulgar conversations.
2. ...you hear about the immorality running rampant among your co-workers.
3. ...you go on vacation see the loose & lurid behavior of the wicked.
4. ...you walk through your neighborhood and see the hurting families destroyed by divorce, abuse, affairs, & alcohol.
5. ...your kids come home from school talking about what they learned at school, playing vulgar & sinful music, flippantly talking about sex.
6. ...you turn on the TV and watch holly wood blaspheme all that is holy, idolize the wicked & immoral behavior, and dismiss biblical conscience.
7. ...loneliness is oppressive, hopelessness ushers in despair, and the chaos pushes us to the limit...
8. Then the temptation is to think that this [church, Bible, faith, God] is irrelevant.
-And ppl ask:
1. At the point I am dealing w/ a death in the family, why would a man named Jesus dying 2000 years ago have any bearing on my situation?
2. At the point I have lost my job and am unable to pay my bills, what difference does it make that God made a covenant with Abraham?
-The Israelite in captivity w/ Ezekiel asked: What difference does God make now?
VIII. The Real Problem
-This problem is old as time.
1. We are trying to make God relevant to us (bring Him to our level).
2. Rather than trying to be relevant to God.
-Ill. On Judgement day
1. He won't ask us: "Do you know me?"
2. He will say: "Depart from me, for I do not know you."
-The problem is we've diminished His glory.
1. We've rejected it for materialism, lusts of the flesh, and rusted things of this world.
2. The church has accepted a counterfeit!
-Ill. Famous Atheist Richard Dawkins, author of ‘The God Delusion,'
1. ...about his visit to a 12,000 strong evangelical church here in America:
2. "I worry that these ‘born-agains' are being persuaded to return to childish certainties. That the only truth they need is God..."
3. That's it... the atheist got it!
-We all affirm that God is the most important thing in life, but do you live it?
1. Would your calendar be different if you lived that way?
2. ...check book... family... church... be different?
-Ill. It will take more than an hour on Sunday.
1. Commercial: 20 min/day for 3 wks for killer abs.
2. We apply that to spiritual matters
3. To be Christian will take more than 20/min a day 3 days a week!!
IX. God is Relevant
-Ezekiel got a vision of the Glory of God.
1. That vision of glory gave him something worth saying.
2. It gave him a life worth living.
3. ...a purpose worth fulfilling.
4. ...a mission worth accomplishing.
-How relevant is your life?
-To SS teachers: "Point to Jesus!"
-To song leaders: "What is relevant, is not what we sing, what notes we hit, or what style it is; but who we sing to!"
-To preachers: "What is relevant is not the latest fad or popular thing in the church, but Christ and Him crucified. Preach that!"
-To parents: "Christ is the most important thing in your child's life."
-To couples: "Christ is the most important thing in your marriage."
-To teens: "Christ is the most important thing in your life!"
-To children: "Christ is the most important thing in your life!"
-Don't say it, Live it!
X. Conclusion
-Do you see the glory of God?
-Does God eclipse everything else in your life?
-So many ppl are investing their lives in good things, but irrelevant things.
1. They are missing the glory of God!
2. They are missing the most important thing.
-Why are all these other things not relevant?
1. Why is God/ the Gospel so relevant?
2. B/c the most fundamental need of humanity is still a spiritual need.
-Ezekiel fell on his face when he saw the glory of God.
-But the Spirit picked Him up and set him on his feet... and he heard God.
-You can ignore it, or you can live with new relevance.
1. God is relevant.
2. Do you see that?
Response
Friday, August 8, 2008
A Different Kind of Battle
1 Samuel 17:1-11, 26, 31-40
A Different Kind of Battle: Where is Your Battle Line?
I. Scripture
-Note a few things in the Scripture we read...
1. v. 2 "drew up in line of battle"
2. v. 8 "servants of Saul"
3. v. 11 "dismayed & greatly afraid."
4. v. 26 "armies of the living God."
II. Church is Losing
- We're losing "the battle."
- Ill. Teen Soap Opera "Gossip Girls" ads use borderline pornographic pictures.
1. Even secular critics are appalled by the tv series.
2. The ads use negative critique comments.
- Ill. New studies everyday show how many young adults are abandoning the church.
1. Age 18-22 leave the church, most, never to return.
2. This is not just a ‘phase,' it is Satan coming onto the Church's turf and dragging our children away!
- Ill. The church now looks the other way when it comes to most sin.
1. Everybody does, including the pastor, the leaders, the teachers, etc.
2. Scandal among clergy are common place!
- Ill. Abortion is all but a lost cause for the church.
1. Politicians will no longer stand for Christian values (Dem or Rep)
2. The church is in full retreat in the cultural battle.
- Query: Is the real battle a cultural battle?
III. The Real Battle
- Long before Chapter 17 a major battle was lost by the Israelites.
1. It was the battle for a righteous King.
2. In Ch. 15 "the Lord Rejects Saul" as king.
- If the Lord rejected Saul for his actions, I believe He has rejected our culture for the heinous and blatant sinfulness that we have come to tolerate!
- By Ch. 17 the Israelites were fighting the wrong kind of battle!
1. Against the Philistines
2. But they were not fighting the spiritual battle they should be fighting!
- We are fighting the wrong battle(s) too!
- Ill. "One" campaign to end poverty.
1. Jesus said you will always have the poor!
2. Wrong battle!
- We fight...
1. ...physical, emotional, political, and financial battles.
2. ...for our children, marriage, job, reputation/fame, to make a name for ourselves, etc.
- All wrong battles!
- There is a Goliath in our lives today and we are "dismayed and greatly afraid" of Him!
IV. Battle Lines
- Just as the Israelites drew up battle lines so we have drawn up lines with the world.
- Problem is we cannot win the battle b/c we're fighting it on the world's terms.
- The Gospel is polluted when sinful methods are used to gain holy ends.
1. The holiness of God has been subtracted to make way for our sinfulness when, just the opposite, is what God expects!
2. Disguised Evangelism and the Gospel message.
- Ill. Church bill board ad w/ half naked woman advertising sermon on modesty!?
- Christians too often are fighting the Devil on his terms!
1. We think we are helping God.
2. We are actually subtracting from His Holiness and the significance of the cross.
V. God's Victory
- God gets glory when by earthly standards He does the impossible.
- The reality is that everything is within the realm of the possible with God!
- Example: Healings in Scripture
1. Blind, lame, leprous
2. Lazarus raising from the dead.
- Example: virgin birth
1. Resurrection of Christ
2. Saul => Paul (conversion)
- Is God in control? Or are we?
- Ill. Flipping coins.
1. At best we can theorize and work out equation to calculate the probablity that the coins will turn up a certain way. (Two flips = heads & tails)
2. (If #1 gets heads then...)
3. Probability tells us that #2 will flip and we will get tails.
4. This is an educated, philosophical, guess, but actually a shot in the dark!
- But before the coin was ever created, before you were ever born, before the sun was ever formed in the hands of God, He knew all that would come to pass and that we would be standing here on July 27th [date preached] waiting to see what the coin flip turned out to be.
- It is no surprise to Him, because nothing is impossible to Him!
VI. What Can HE Do?
- Isaiah 54:17 "No weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall confute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their vindication from me, declares the Lord."
- 1 Samuel 17:34-36 "But David said to Saul, ‘Your servant used to keep sheep for his father. And when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a sheep from the flock, I went after him and struck him and delivered it out of his mouth. And if he arose against me, I caught him by his beard and struck him and killed him... and the uncircumcised Philistine will be like him.'"
1. He had done it with animals and this was no different for God.
2. David is fighting a whole different battle than everyone else!
- Point: Part of our problem is we have failed to identify the real enemy.
- We think the church is ineffective is because...
1. ...it is unpopular to the world (thus our battle is to make it popular).
2. ...we don't have the resources/talents/etc. the world has (battle then is to adopt them).
3. ...we don't have the programs the world has (battle to compete with them).
4. ...we don't have the advertising and publicity the world has (battle to sell ourselves to the world).
5. ...it's not as exciting as the world is (we're boring).
- And we draw up the wrong battle line!
- Ephesians 6:12 "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places."
1. Two enemies identified: the rulers over the sinfulness/ darkness of this world
2. And spiritual forces of evil
VII. Effective Weaponry
- Point: May I propose that the reason the church is ineffective in our world today is because we have failed to pick up the proper weapons available to us!
- As soon as Saul thought he found somebody naive enough to risk his life he saddled him with armor.
1. David wasn't fighting that kind of battle.
2. David said in v. 39 "I cannot go with these, for I have not tested them."
3. He knew God would provide, but nothing else would for sure!
- As soon as we think we've found a movie star or a sports star or celebrity of some kind, we parade them around in front of the world like a "sow at the county fair" and say: "See we're getting more famous people on our side."
- What we don't realize is that our own "Christian" singers are running out the back door to the harlot that is called fame and fortune.
1. "I kissed a girl and I like it" Pop hit sung by Katy Perry, previously "Christian artist"
2. Jaci Velasquez acted in a movie in which she posed in only lingerie.
3. Southern Gospel singers = same thing
4. Ill. Paris Hilton's claim of salvation and then attendance at a playboy party!?
5. But we don't care as long as the world has formed a fan club for them.
6. God cares!
- Isaiah 54:14, 16a "In righteousness you shall be established; you shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear; and from terror, for it shall not come near you.[16a] Behold, I have created the smith who blows the fire of coals and produces a weapon for its purpose."
- I don't care if you're a millionaire, movie star, famous musician, or just an average person.
- My question is can you get down on your knees and reach heaven with your prayers that will make a difference in eternity to your family and to your neighborhood and to your church?
- Prayer is our weapon!
- I want to know if ... Psalm 40:8 "I desire to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart."
1. And if...
2. Psalm 119:11 "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee."
- God's Word/ Sword is our weapon!
- Salvation is our armor!
1. Faith, Hope, & Love these are our resources!
- Have you tapped into the Holy Spirit.
- The reasons our churches/ Christians today are ineffective is b/c they do not have the Spirit! (We have everything but the Spirit.)
- Acts 6:5 And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, ...
1. Acts 6:8 "And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people."
- Holiness!
1. God doesn't take out ads in the local paper or on the radio... you are it!
2. God doesn't have a public relations department... you are it.
3. God doesn't have a seat on the UN... you are his ambassador!
4. But only when he has re-created you in His likeness... in holiness!
VIII. Conclusion
- Query: Who/what is our battle against if not all these other things?
- It is NOT...
1. ...a political party, human,
2. ...another church, the world,
3. ...hardship, or even the Devil.
- None of these things can separate us from the love of God. (Rom 8)
- Your Goliath is... (mirror)...you.
- The only solution: kill that person [crucify the self].
1. They have to die out.
2. Then the Spirit can live in the shell.
- All those weapons are to get rid of you to make room for the Spirit.
- The only way God is going to get the glory in your life, is if you fight the right battle.
1. A battle to the death.
2. A battle w/ the self!
- Then the Spirit has all of you!
1. Then the Spirit can completely fill you!
2. Then the Spirit can make you holy through and through!
A Different Kind of Battle: Where is Your Battle Line?
I. Scripture
-Note a few things in the Scripture we read...
1. v. 2 "drew up in line of battle"
2. v. 8 "servants of Saul"
3. v. 11 "dismayed & greatly afraid."
4. v. 26 "armies of the living God."
II. Church is Losing
- We're losing "the battle."
- Ill. Teen Soap Opera "Gossip Girls" ads use borderline pornographic pictures.
1. Even secular critics are appalled by the tv series.
2. The ads use negative critique comments.
- Ill. New studies everyday show how many young adults are abandoning the church.
1. Age 18-22 leave the church, most, never to return.
2. This is not just a ‘phase,' it is Satan coming onto the Church's turf and dragging our children away!
- Ill. The church now looks the other way when it comes to most sin.
1. Everybody does, including the pastor, the leaders, the teachers, etc.
2. Scandal among clergy are common place!
- Ill. Abortion is all but a lost cause for the church.
1. Politicians will no longer stand for Christian values (Dem or Rep)
2. The church is in full retreat in the cultural battle.
- Query: Is the real battle a cultural battle?
III. The Real Battle
- Long before Chapter 17 a major battle was lost by the Israelites.
1. It was the battle for a righteous King.
2. In Ch. 15 "the Lord Rejects Saul" as king.
- If the Lord rejected Saul for his actions, I believe He has rejected our culture for the heinous and blatant sinfulness that we have come to tolerate!
- By Ch. 17 the Israelites were fighting the wrong kind of battle!
1. Against the Philistines
2. But they were not fighting the spiritual battle they should be fighting!
- We are fighting the wrong battle(s) too!
- Ill. "One" campaign to end poverty.
1. Jesus said you will always have the poor!
2. Wrong battle!
- We fight...
1. ...physical, emotional, political, and financial battles.
2. ...for our children, marriage, job, reputation/fame, to make a name for ourselves, etc.
- All wrong battles!
- There is a Goliath in our lives today and we are "dismayed and greatly afraid" of Him!
IV. Battle Lines
- Just as the Israelites drew up battle lines so we have drawn up lines with the world.
- Problem is we cannot win the battle b/c we're fighting it on the world's terms.
- The Gospel is polluted when sinful methods are used to gain holy ends.
1. The holiness of God has been subtracted to make way for our sinfulness when, just the opposite, is what God expects!
2. Disguised Evangelism and the Gospel message.
- Ill. Church bill board ad w/ half naked woman advertising sermon on modesty!?
- Christians too often are fighting the Devil on his terms!
1. We think we are helping God.
2. We are actually subtracting from His Holiness and the significance of the cross.
V. God's Victory
- God gets glory when by earthly standards He does the impossible.
- The reality is that everything is within the realm of the possible with God!
- Example: Healings in Scripture
1. Blind, lame, leprous
2. Lazarus raising from the dead.
- Example: virgin birth
1. Resurrection of Christ
2. Saul => Paul (conversion)
- Is God in control? Or are we?
- Ill. Flipping coins.
1. At best we can theorize and work out equation to calculate the probablity that the coins will turn up a certain way. (Two flips = heads & tails)
2. (If #1 gets heads then...)
3. Probability tells us that #2 will flip and we will get tails.
4. This is an educated, philosophical, guess, but actually a shot in the dark!
- But before the coin was ever created, before you were ever born, before the sun was ever formed in the hands of God, He knew all that would come to pass and that we would be standing here on July 27th [date preached] waiting to see what the coin flip turned out to be.
- It is no surprise to Him, because nothing is impossible to Him!
VI. What Can HE Do?
- Isaiah 54:17 "No weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall confute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their vindication from me, declares the Lord."
- 1 Samuel 17:34-36 "But David said to Saul, ‘Your servant used to keep sheep for his father. And when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a sheep from the flock, I went after him and struck him and delivered it out of his mouth. And if he arose against me, I caught him by his beard and struck him and killed him... and the uncircumcised Philistine will be like him.'"
1. He had done it with animals and this was no different for God.
2. David is fighting a whole different battle than everyone else!
- Point: Part of our problem is we have failed to identify the real enemy.
- We think the church is ineffective is because...
1. ...it is unpopular to the world (thus our battle is to make it popular).
2. ...we don't have the resources/talents/etc. the world has (battle then is to adopt them).
3. ...we don't have the programs the world has (battle to compete with them).
4. ...we don't have the advertising and publicity the world has (battle to sell ourselves to the world).
5. ...it's not as exciting as the world is (we're boring).
- And we draw up the wrong battle line!
- Ephesians 6:12 "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places."
1. Two enemies identified: the rulers over the sinfulness/ darkness of this world
2. And spiritual forces of evil
VII. Effective Weaponry
- Point: May I propose that the reason the church is ineffective in our world today is because we have failed to pick up the proper weapons available to us!
- As soon as Saul thought he found somebody naive enough to risk his life he saddled him with armor.
1. David wasn't fighting that kind of battle.
2. David said in v. 39 "I cannot go with these, for I have not tested them."
3. He knew God would provide, but nothing else would for sure!
- As soon as we think we've found a movie star or a sports star or celebrity of some kind, we parade them around in front of the world like a "sow at the county fair" and say: "See we're getting more famous people on our side."
- What we don't realize is that our own "Christian" singers are running out the back door to the harlot that is called fame and fortune.
1. "I kissed a girl and I like it" Pop hit sung by Katy Perry, previously "Christian artist"
2. Jaci Velasquez acted in a movie in which she posed in only lingerie.
3. Southern Gospel singers = same thing
4. Ill. Paris Hilton's claim of salvation and then attendance at a playboy party!?
5. But we don't care as long as the world has formed a fan club for them.
6. God cares!
- Isaiah 54:14, 16a "In righteousness you shall be established; you shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear; and from terror, for it shall not come near you.[16a] Behold, I have created the smith who blows the fire of coals and produces a weapon for its purpose."
- I don't care if you're a millionaire, movie star, famous musician, or just an average person.
- My question is can you get down on your knees and reach heaven with your prayers that will make a difference in eternity to your family and to your neighborhood and to your church?
- Prayer is our weapon!
- I want to know if ... Psalm 40:8 "I desire to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart."
1. And if...
2. Psalm 119:11 "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee."
- God's Word/ Sword is our weapon!
- Salvation is our armor!
1. Faith, Hope, & Love these are our resources!
- Have you tapped into the Holy Spirit.
- The reasons our churches/ Christians today are ineffective is b/c they do not have the Spirit! (We have everything but the Spirit.)
- Acts 6:5 And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, ...
1. Acts 6:8 "And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people."
- Holiness!
1. God doesn't take out ads in the local paper or on the radio... you are it!
2. God doesn't have a public relations department... you are it.
3. God doesn't have a seat on the UN... you are his ambassador!
4. But only when he has re-created you in His likeness... in holiness!
VIII. Conclusion
- Query: Who/what is our battle against if not all these other things?
- It is NOT...
1. ...a political party, human,
2. ...another church, the world,
3. ...hardship, or even the Devil.
- None of these things can separate us from the love of God. (Rom 8)
- Your Goliath is... (mirror)...you.
- The only solution: kill that person [crucify the self].
1. They have to die out.
2. Then the Spirit can live in the shell.
- All those weapons are to get rid of you to make room for the Spirit.
- The only way God is going to get the glory in your life, is if you fight the right battle.
1. A battle to the death.
2. A battle w/ the self!
- Then the Spirit has all of you!
1. Then the Spirit can completely fill you!
2. Then the Spirit can make you holy through and through!
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