Please don’t ask me…How do you know God exist especially since we can’t see, hear or touch Him?

I want you to think about this question for a moment…how would you answer it? We can’t see a tangible presence, we can’t touch him, weigh him or measure him in any way with our senses but we believe in Him, why?

 

There are plenty of things we can’t measure this way but we still believe exist chief among them love. Tell me what love taste like, what it looks like, what it sounds like even what it feels like we know the results of love but love itself does not really exist to our senses but we believe in it.

As Christians, we know that God is Spirit (John 4:24) so we should not be surprised that unlike our dog, house, car i-phone we can not sense Him in the same way, usually because He is spiritual and all of the things I just described are not.

Personal connection

If you are like me, you have a testimony of how the Lord drew you to himself and some way a feeling came over you that all of a sudden you knew you had a relationship with the living God

You may have had a time where you “felt” his presence, “knew” his leading, understood His heart for a certain situation. All of these things are evidence to you that God exists and we pray it will be enough evidence for others but some will say, “that is just emotion or wishing, there is no proof”

Many can argue that a belief system is not correct and some will be persuaded that their belief system is wrong but for the person with a testimony no one can dissuade them from the truth they live in.

Paul used this type of argument often as we see in Acts 26:12-16

One day I was on such a mission to Damascus, armed with the authority and commission of the leading priests. 13 About noon, Your Majesty, as I was on the road, a light from heaven brighter than the sun shone down on me and my companions. 14 We all fell down, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is useless for you to fight against my will.’ 15 “‘Who are you, lord?’ I asked. “And the Lord replied, ‘I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting. 16 Now get to your feet! For I have appeared to you to appoint you as my servant and witness. Tell people that you have seen me, and tell them what I will show you in the future.

He used this to try to convince King Agrippa to faith

Once again that is still not proof for some so let’s point to some evidence that may help.

  1. The Existence of the Universe  In 1915 Einstein came up with the theory of general relativity this theory in summary impacts cosmology this way.

Einstein’s equations can be used to describe the universe as a whole. On the basis of general relativity, physicists, mathematicians and astronomers have developed the so-called big bang models. They describe how our universe evolved from an extremely hot and dense early phase to its present state.

A key property of these models is that the universe has to change over time. Einstein’s equation simply do not allow for a stable, eternally unchanging cosmos. (Big Bang) According to the big bang models, any universe has to either expand or collapse. Our own universe is expanding, with characteristic consequences for astronomical observation.

If this is true Science’s own Albert Einstein proves the existence of God, How you might ask?

If there was a beginning of the universe how did nothing and nothing come together to create something?

Here is the way science would put it everything with a beginning must have a cause.

The universe by definition is time, space, matter and physical energy and the cause must be outside of these elements which sounds like God.

The argument to this is OK if this is true then that everything needs a cause who caused God. The problem with this question is that the only things that need a cause are, as I mentioned earlier, things with a beginning. When Moses asked God who should I say has sent me this was God’s reply

Exodus 3:14

God replied to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. Say this to the people of Israel: I AM has sent me to you.”

The Hebrew is saying God is, always was, and always will be without beginning or end.

Psalm 90:2 and 1 Timothy 1:17 verifies this

Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

All honor and glory to God forever and ever! He is the eternal King, the unseen one who never dies; he alone is God. Amen.

We can summarize the cosmological evidence this way

  1. Whatever begins to exist must have a cause for its existence.
  2. The universe began to exist.
  3. Therefore, the universe must have a cause for its existence.
  4. The attributes of the cause of the universe (being timeless, existing outside of space, and so on) are the attributes of God.
  5. Therefore, the cause of the universe must be God. This is precisely what Christians have always believed. The very first words of the Bible, in the book of Genesis, declare, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”

2) A world exactly created for life

When we take time to look at creation and “witness” how perfectly designed it is…the flowers, the trees, the way our lungs work to pump oxygen our hearts to pump blood. The perfect mix of gases in our atmosphere to sustain life

Psalm 19:1 says this

The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship.

The perfect system of nature should prove God’s existence—the laws and physical constants that govern all the matter in the universe—appear to be precisely balanced and finely tuned for life to occur and flourish.

Some of the perfection and fine tuning

if the neutron were not exactly as it is—about 1.001 times the mass of the proton—then all protons would have decayed into neutrons or all neutrons would have decayed into protons, and life would not be possible.

If the force of gravity, for example, were to change by one part in ten thousand billion, billion, billion, relative to the total range of the strengths of the four forces in nature (gravity, electromagnetism, strong, and weak), conscious life would be virtually impossible anywhere in the universe.

Scientist have discovered 50 of these fine tuned parameters that if they were not exactly so, then life would not be able to be sustained. What makes it more interesting is that each of these parameters is dependent on the others to maintain what they are, that sounds like design to me.

Paul Davies, one of the leading physicists and cosmologists of our day, makes this audacious claim: “I cannot believe that our existence in this universe is a mere quirk of fate. . . . We are truly meant to be here.”* That’s quite a statement for one who doesn’t even claim to believe in a personal God!  *Paul Davies “The mind of God”

3) Basic morality of the universe –

We talked last week about the evil and suffering in the world but we also talked about an objective morality

Except for some mentality disturbed people, the majority of the world has a basic understanding of good and evil

Why is murder, rape, violence toward children generally determined to be morally wrong?

There is nothing in the DNA or in the process of evolution that would cause a conscience to be developed. Morality is not based on DNA or any biological factor it is something that is felt and believed as simply being right.

No one believes that morals have developed out of a quagmire of ooze but if not, where did they come from?

I quoted part of this last week from John Steinrucken’s article “Secularisms on going debt to Christianity”

“An orderly society is dependent on a generally accepted morality. There can be no such morality without religion. Has there ever been a more perfect and concise moral code than the one Moses brought down from the mountain? Those who doubt the effect of religion on morality should seriously ask the question: just what are the immutable moral laws of secularism?”

For atheist it is called the problem of good because there is simply no way from their point of view to explain an objective morality

So where did this intrinsic morality come from…God is the answer! Goodness flows from the very nature of God and even those who do not know God, recognize the basics of right and wrong because of it. Paul puts it this way

Romans 2:15

They demonstrate that God’s law is written in their hearts, for their own conscience and thoughts either accuse them or tell them they are doing right.

We can put this evidence in the form of a simple argument:

  1. If God does not exist, then objective moral values do not exist.
  2. But we know that objective moral values do exist.
  3. Therefore, God does exist.

I’m not saying that atheists cannot recognize moral values or live generally moral lives. I’m certain they can. But recognizing something and even living by it does not mean that one has a real basis for it. The “moral” atheist is simply left hanging in midair on this issue, without any solid footing

Review

– there are some things we believe in like love that we can see the effects of but not see love so we already have a basis to believe in things we can’t see, or touch

– we can know God is real and active because of our own testimony

– the universe has a beginning so therefore it has a cause and that cause most come from outside time, space, matter, and physical energy… therefore God

– our universe is fine tuned to such an exact measure that to assume it happened by chance is a greater gamble than to believe in God

– apart from an objective morality there is no good. There can be no objective morality without God yet there is objective morality so there must be a God.

 

 

 

 

Please don’t ask me….If God is so good why is there so much suffering and evil? Part 2

1 John 3:18,19

My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. 19 And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him.

 

The problem of evil

 Our basic problem with evil is struggling with three things

– If God is good – then why is there evil shouldn’t a good God do the good thing and wipe out evil

– If God is all-powerful – why does he allow evil to exist can’t he simply wipe evil out

– That fact that evil exist at all with an all-powerful all-good God

 

There are several solutions to this problem

Deny God exist and with it the reality of evil

 “Their right is just as right as our right”

If it were not for a loving God that gives us a standard of right and wrong there would be no understanding that anything is evil.

 

Solution #2

Make evil part of God

 if everything is part of god rather than the personal God we believe in, then evil and suffering are part of that god too

 

Solution #3

Diminish God’s power

 Matthew 19:26 But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

 

Solution #4

 Diminish God’s goodness

In other words, we believe God is powerful and he sees all the evil in the world but just doesn’t want to do anything about it, He lacks the goodness to take action against evil

So those were the understandings people must have if they are going to judge God on his character but what do we say to friends to give them hope in their time of need

 

Point of light #1

The world is as Jesus said that it was

“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world, you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

 

Point of light #2

Evil was not caused or created by God

Actually, it is quite the opposite

1 John 4:8

“He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.”

 

Point of light #3

At the root of most of the evil and suffering are humans

Roughly 90% of the suffering in the world comes through human causes: wars, genocide, human trafficking, murders, torture, racial discrimination, domestic abuse, sexual abuse, rape, and the list goes on.

God will stop all of this one day but the time is not now

 

Point of light #4

We live in a fallen world

In Genesis 3 we see because of man’s sin that not only was man cursed but so was the ground.

For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are. 20 Against its will, all creation was subjected to God’s curse. But with eager hope Romans 8:19,20

 

Point of light #5

God will judge evil

Once again many say if God is good and great why doesn’t he get rid of evil…He will but His love constrains Him.

2 Peter 3:9

The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.

 

Last point of light

God can cause good to come out of evil

We quote this scripture often Romans 8:28

“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them”

This is not a verse to use as a cliché but instead use it wisely if the person can understand it

– Beyond this we know according to God will use difficulty in our lives to strengthen our character

– He can use intended evil to give us an eternal perspective

2 Corinthians 4:16-18

That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. 17 For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! 18 So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.

– Evil and suffering can even lead us to the Father

Summarize

 

  • If the question is being asked chances are the person is hurting. Don’t worry about answering the question but love them through to heal the hurt.
  • Don’t freak out if your friends in their hurt say things about God or even your faith, pain tends to speak quite loudly they need you to show them, Jesus not just talk to them about Him
  • Prayer is almost always an appropriate response to a friend in pain, prayer for them and pray for wisdom for you
  • It is hard to explain to someone with no faith or fading faith that God is good and great and allows evil to exist but if you have been touched by similar pain share it is a way of showing you understand and are living proof God can get you through it
  • Don’t underestimate the power of love and encouragement. When you share with them these things they will hear it from you if they have felt that coming from you…Be Jesus to them

 

 

 

 

 

 

Men’s Retreat Mark Moder – The “one another verses”

MEN’S RETREAT 2017

The “One Another” Verses in the New Testament

 

  1. One sex (male or female) is not right while the other one is wrong. They are just different. But women gather and connect naturally and easily. Men are more individualistic and are generally not great communicators. We need to work at being a connector with those around us.

—“According to statistics, the average man over 35 years old does NOT have one close friend.” (See Why Are Men Leaving the Church?, online article by Steve Sonderman for AG Men.)

—About 95% of men say they don’t have male friends. Less than 1/3 of men in church say they have a friend. (See Why Men Matter—Both Now and Forever, Online article.)

  1. The question arises, “Why is this?” One reason is that society tends to condition men to be tough and hard. But we need to redefine manhood as a combination of strength and vulnerability. Showing vulnerability is a strength, not a weakness.

 

FROM BELIEVING TO BELONGING

 

  1. The word church is found in only two passages in the gospels (Matthew 16:18; 18:15-18).

Matthew 16:18 “…I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.”

  1. This refers to the UNIVERSAL church. Local churches may come and go but the universal church will never be stopped.

Matthew 18:15-17 “Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more… . And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church.”

  1. This refers to the LOCAL church. You obviously can’t tell it to everyone in the body of Christ at large. This refers to a local assembly.

—The universal church is invisible. It is a spiritual thing. You can’t see or feel it. It is made up of believers all over the earth.

—The local church is visible. It is a tangible thing. You can join with, be part of and enjoy it.

  1. When we are born again, we are automatically a member of the universal church. But we should take the next step and become a part of a local church. Rick Warren said, “You became part of the human family by your first birth, but you become a member of God’s family by your second birth” (Purpose Driven Life, pg. 118).
  2. “You are called to BELONG, not just BELIEVE. …While your relationship to Christ is personal, God never intends it to be private” (pg. 130).
  3. “The church is indestructible and will exist for eternity. It will outlive this universe, and so will your role in it. The person who says, ‘I don’t need the church,’ is either arrogant or ignorant. …The New Testament assumes membership in a local congregation” (pg. 132).
  4. Though pastors are imperfect and not without fault, every Christian needs a shepherd. There is no such thing as a perfect church, but there is a perfect church for you.
  5. “When it comes to fellowship, size matters: Smaller is better. You can worship with a crowd, but you can’t fellowship with one” (pg. 138).
  6. You can only have fellowship in a smaller gathering. This is why being involved in a small group is so important to becoming connected with other believers.

 

 

 

  1. Rick Warren also said, “Authenticity is the exact opposite of what you find in some churches. Instead of an atmosphere of honesty and humility, there is pretending, …and superficial politeness but shallow conversation. People wear masks, keep their guard up, and act as if everything is rosy in their lives. …It is only as we become open about our lives that we experience real fellowship” (pg. 139-140).

 

TWO LEVELS OF FRIENDS

 

Proverbs 18:24 (MEV) “A man who has friends must show himself friendly, and there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”

  1. The word friend in its various forms is found three times in this verse.

Vs. 18a “friends” – (SC 7453: rea) an associate; a neighbor

Vs. 18b “friendly” – (SC 7489: raa)

Vs. 18c “friend” – (SC 157: ahab) a friend; someone with whom we share real affection

  1. There are two main levels of friendship spoken of in the book of Proverbs.

Vs. 18a “A man who has friends must himself be friendly…”

  1. The first part of this verse talks about associates or neighbors.

Vs. 18b “…but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”

  1. The second part of this verse uses a different Hebrew word for friend and speaks of a close, intimate friend. (See The Beginning of Wisdom, pg. 178, Bob Yandian.)

Proverbs 17:17 (MEV) “A friend loves at all times [NLT: ‘is always loyal’], and a brother is born for adversity.”

  1. Learn to keep confidences. The word “secretary” speaks of one who is entrusted with secrets.
  2. Some relationships are high maintenance and others are low maintenance. Some people are often offended, highly reactive and always upset. This is a high maintenance relationship.
  3. Healthy relationships are low maintenance.
  4. We have friends we may only see once every six months or a year. Sometimes it is even longer. But we pick up right where we left off because are expectations are not too high.

Example: I have taken several personality tests over the years, and I have discovered that I am a true introvert. I get my energy from being by myself and recharging my battery by staying at home. My wife gets her energy from being with others—going out and having fun. I have to force myself to reach out and get together with others. It does NOT come naturally for me.

 

THE “ONE ANOTHER” VERSES

 

  1. There are dozens of Scriptures in the New Testament that contain the phrase “one another” in them. It is almost impossible to walk out these commands if we only come in contact with our fellow Christians for a brief time on Sunday mornings. Many come late, leave early and never actually connect with other believers.
  2. There are over forty-five different “one another” passages in the New Testament. We will be quickly highlighting twenty-five passages below.
  3. We should not be an isolated or unconnected follower of Christ.
  4. The verses we see below are only a partial list:

 

Mark 9:50 “…have peace with one another.”

 

John 15:17 “These things I command you, that you love one another.” (“Love one another” is found in about ten New Testament references.)

Romans 12:10 “Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, …giving preference to one another.”

Romans 12:16 “Be of the same mind toward one another.”

Romans 15:7 “Therefore receive one another…”

Romans16:16 “Greet one another…”

1 Corinthians 12:25 “…care for one another.”

Galatians 5:13 “…through love serve one another.”

Ephesians 4:32 “And be kind to one another…”

Ephesians 5:21 “submitting to one another…”

Colossians 3:9 “Do not lie to one another…”

Colossians 3:13 “bearing with one another, and forgiving one another…”

Vs. 16 “…teaching and admonishing one another…”

1 Thessalonians 4:18 “Therefore comfort one another…”

1 Thessalonians 5:11 “…edify one another…”

Hebrews 3:13 “…exhort one another daily…”

James 4:11 “Do not speak evil of one another…”

James 5:9 “Do not grumble against one another…”

Vs. 16 “Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another…”

1 Peter 3:8 “…having compassion for one another…”

1 Peter 4:9 “Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.”

Vs. 10 As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another…”

 

NO MAN IS AN ISLAND

 

  1. Paul clearly shows us in the New Testament that—as members of the body of Christ—we are not independent. We need one another and the gifts that other members of the body have.

—If you had every gift and every office you would need no one else.

—If you had every gift and office you would be Jesus.

  1. There are three stages of growth in our lives:
  2. Dependence: At this stage, we need others to take care of us. But as we become adults, we grow out of this stage.
  3. Independence: Here we are able to take care of ourselves. This is good but there should be one more stage of growth.
  4. Interdependence: As we mature and grow up, though we can take care of ourselves we still recognize that we are strongest when we work together.
  5. The spirit of love focuses on our similarities. The spirit of division focuses on our differences.

 

  1. A famous quote along these lines says, “In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity.” (Some say this was a quote by John Wesley, others say it originated with Augustine and still others say it was spoken by a 17th century German theologian.)
  2. In essentials, we must be unswerving.

Example: We must not compromise the Lordship of Jesus, His virgin birth, His bodily resurrection, the authority and inspiration of Scripture, etc.

  1. But in non-essentials, we should be sensitive and tolerant.
  2. I won’t allow a minor doctrinal disagreement to hinder my fellowship with a brother or a sister in Christ.
  3. I know that we need to be careful of error and false doctrine. The books of 2 Peter and Jude, amongst others, address this. But just because someone teaches something different than you do, does not automatically make them a false teacher or a false prophet.
  4. We can actually feel justified in our criticism, believing that we are right and that they must be wrong. But remember that the spirit of love never divides.
  5. I won’t curse what God is blessing! I want to rightly divide the Scriptures but I don’t want to walk in a critical spirit.
  6. We all have our favorites and there is nothing wrong with that but we must receive from and embrace the entire body of Christ.
  7. No one person or camp will have the full counsel of God. But collectively, we—the body of Christ—have the mind of Christ. To do this we need to embrace the whole body of Christ.

 

THE POWER/PRINCIPLE OF ONE

 

  1. We must shift from an audience to an army mentality.

—An audience comes to church each week to watch the show (church service). When the show is over they go home to live their lives.

—An army gets connected, get involved and works as a team to reach a common goal.

  1. To walk in healthy, long term relationships, we must understand the principle of one.

 

 

  • The Trinity is three Persons in one essence. “Hear O Israel: The Lord our God,

 

the Lord is ONE” (Deuteronomy 6:4).

  • When we are saved, we become one spirit with the Lord. “He who is joined to

the Lord is ONE spirit with Him” (1 Corinthians 6:17).

 

 

  • When we are married, we become one flesh with our mate. “The two shall become

            ONE flesh” (Ephesians 5:31).

 

 

  • The church is to walk in one accord and one mind. “…being like-minded, having the same love, being of ONE accord, of ONE mind” (Philippians 2:2).

 

 

 

  1. The Bible is a history of the devil attacking the principle of one.

Genesis 11:6 (NIV) “The Lord said, ‘If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them.’”

  1. We can see that there is power in unity—even when the unity goes against the plan of God. This wasn’t even the unity of the Spirit.
  2. There is a difference between unity and uniformity.
  3. unity – harmony, agreement
  4. uniformity – conforming to one pattern
  5. Unity isn’t uniformity. It is coming together with one purpose and one mind.
  6. One minister said, “Broken relationships are never of God. Satan’s math…is always ‘subtraction’ and ‘division.’ God’s math is always ‘addition’ and ‘multiplication.’”
  7. Many believers never get past a spiritual wound. Christians can go to church for years but not really grow or change because they are not healed emotionally.
  8. Resolution seldom comes by sorting out who was right and who was wrong. It is only when the love of God touches wounded hearts that broken relationships can be healed.

Example: Read about the five lessons we can learn from Be as Wise as a Goose. MFM

Men’s retreat with Mark Moder – The Power of Connection

MEN’S RETREAT 2017

The Power of Connection

 

  1. In the early 1990’s relationship counselor John Gray wrote a well known book called Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus. The idea behind the book was that men and women are from distant planets—Mars and Venus—and that each sex is acclimated to its own planet’s society and customs, but not to those of the other.
  2. The premise of the book was that we need to understand and appreciate the differences. And we need to cease expecting our partner to act and feel like we do. We are different for a reason.
  3. Below are a couple of the differences between the sexes that we need to realize in this study.

 

 

  • MEN like to work on their own. They exercise their abilities by solving problems quickly and singlehandedly. WOMEN like to cooperate [with others]. They exercise their feelings through interactive communication with one another.
  • When faced with tough problems, MEN go to their caves. They can become non-communicative so they can work out how best to [solve their problems]. WOMEN become communicative so that others can work out how best to help them.
  • When MEN do communicate, they like to get to the point. They generally only want to listen if they feel the conversation has a point. WOMEN enjoy talking for its own sake. They are happy to listen unconditionally.
  • MEN talk in very literal terms for the purpose of relaying information. WOMEN employ dramatic vocabulary to fully express and relate their feelings.
  • MEN like to sort their thoughts out before communicating them. WOMEN like to sort their thoughts out in the process of communicating them. (See wikisummaries.org.)

 

  1. One sex (male or female) is NOT right while the other one is wrong. They are just different. But women gather and connect naturally and easily. Men are more individualistic and are generally not great communicators. We need to work at being a connector with those around us.
  2. Below are a couple of statistics that we need to be aware of.

 

  • “According to statistics, the average man over 35 years old does NOT have one close friend.” (See Why Are Men Leaving the Church?, online article by Steve Sonderman.)
  • About 95% of men say they don’t have male friends. Less than 1/3 of men in church say they have a friend. (See Why Men Matter—Both Now and Forever, online article.)

 

  1. The question arises, “Why is this?” One reason is that society tends to condition men to be tough and hard. But we need to redefine manhood as a combination of strength and vulnerability. Showing vulnerability is a strength, not a weakness. You don’t have to know it all. You don’t have to be able to do it all.

 

BEWARE OF ISOLATION

 

  1. One of the devil’s greatest weapons is isolation. During this time of isolation, Satan whispers lies to us. I believe his three main devices are isolation, offenses and cares. He whispers…

 

 

—“Nobody has gone through what you are going through.”

—“No one will even notice if you are gone.”

—“You don’t need them anyway. You’ll be just fine on your own.”

  1. Isolation can come from many things, one of which is sin in our lives.
  2. “Besides making us want to run from God, sin also makes us want to isolate ourselves from other believers. In Life Together, Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote:

 

‘Sin demands to have a man by himself. It withdraws him from the community. The more isolated a person is, the more destructive will be the power of sin over him, and the more disastrous is this isolation. Sin wants to remain unknown. It shuns the light’” (Partners in Prayer, pg. 53, John Maxwell).

 

  1. The enemy loves to isolate us. He loves to get us alone. He wants us to be that strong, silent type. He wants us to have an “I don’t need anybody” mentality.
  2. We need to be accountable to others. This means being close enough to someone that they can speak truth into our lives without our going on the defensive.

—The Lone Ranger had Tonto.

—Batman had Robin.

—Ernie has Bert.

—Fred Flintstone had Barney Rubble.

—We, likewise, need someone.

Example: Below is a classic story of pride and isolation in action.

 

“Maybe you’ve heard the story about Muhammad Ali back when he was the reigning heavyweight champion of the world. Ali had just taken his seat in the first-class section of a 747 that was getting ready to take off. The flight attendant came by and asked the champ to fasten his seat belt. Ali looked at the woman and said, ‘Superman don’t need no seat belt.’ The attendant responded, ‘Superman don’t need no plane’” (Finishing Strong, pg. 68, Steve Farrar).

 

  1. You’re not Superman and I’m not either. If we are trying to fly by ourselves, the enemy will end up deceiving us.
  2. If you are close enough to be HELPED by people, you are close enough to be HURT by people. Don’t be afraid to take that risk.

 

THREE TYPES OF CONFESSION FOR THE BELIEVER

 

(1) The believer’s confession of faith based upon the Word of God (Hebrews 3:1).

Hebrews 10:23 (MEV) “Let us firmly hold the [NKJV: ‘confession’] of our faith without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.”

  1. This is the positive side of confession.
  2. This can be speaking the Word of God or resisting the devil and his works.

 

(2) The believer’s confession of sin TO THE LORD when they have broken fellowship       with Him.  

 

 

1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins [TO THE LORD], He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

  1. This is the negative side of confession.
  2. There has been a real emphasis on the message of grace in the last few years. Much of it has been needful and fruit bearing. Some of it has been off base.
  3. We should be righteousness conscious, not sin conscious. However, there is a big difference between sin CONSCIOUSNESS and sin AWARENESS.
  4. We should NOT always focus on our sins and shortcomings. But we do need to be aware when we have missed the mark and have broken fellowship with the Lord.
  5. There is a difference between relationship and fellowship.
  6. Our relationship is secure. It doesn’t change.
  7. Our fellowship can fluctuate, depending on what we do.

Example: In a marital dispute, the couple doesn’t break their relationship. They are still married. They break their fellowship.

  1. When we confess our sins, we are back in fellowship with the Lord once again.

 

(3) The believer’s confession of struggles or sin TO OTHERS to get help to overcome.

  1. Notice that the phrase “each other” is found twice in the following verse.

James 5:16 (NLT) “Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.”

  1. We believe in the priesthood of every believer. (See 1 Peter 2:5 & 9; Revelation 1:5, 6.) By that, we mean that we have direct access to the Lord. We don’t have to go through a priest (a man) to receive forgiveness. But on the other hand, sometimes we need the help of others to get the freedom we desire. God often works in our lives through the help of others.
  2. This cannot be forced. It comes once trust is developed and we know that those we share with have our best interest at heart and also have our back.
  3. Lasting freedom from addiction, drugs, fear, bondage, worry, etc. is available to every believer.

 

∙           Sometimes people are delivered from something instantly. Once Paul Scanlon got saved, he never swore again. He had been a “professional curser.” His friends knew something had happened to him because his language changed so drastically.

∙           Sometimes people are delivered over time—as a process.

∙           Sometimes people are delivered without the help of anyone else. The Lord simply delivers them all by Himself.

∙           Sometimes people are set free through the assistance of others who walk them through the process. We do NOT always achieve freedom on our own.

 

Example: I have been healed instantly and, at other times, over time. I have received directly from the Lord and, at other times, have needed the help of mature believers to help me walk through a valley into victory.

  1. No matter how it comes and through whom, the end result is that absolute freedom is available in Christ.
  2. Someone well said, “If you cannot be free from sin in this life then Jesus is NOT your Savior, death is.” You don’t have to wait until you die to be free. The good news is that Jesus IS our Savior and we have victory over sin, bondage, addiction, etc. because of the cross!

Matthew 6:2 (MEV) “…when you do your charitable deeds, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be honored by men.”

Matthew 6:2, 5, 16 “hypocrites” – (NKJV margin) pretenders

  1. “hypocrites” – (Wuest Nuggets, pg. 80, Volume 3) It refers to a person who played a part on the stage, to an actor, one who pretends to be what he is not.
  2. Warren Wiersbe says this word originally meant “an actor who wears a mask.”

Vs. 2a “…in the synagogues…” – This is where the religious crowd is.

Vs. 2b “…and the streets…” – This is where the world is.

  1. Notice that hypocrites are found both in the world and in the church.
  2. The Lord wants us to take our mask off and be real and transparent.
  3. Connecting is a two way street. We should NOT be an isolated or unconnected follower of Christ. Our Christian walk should be both vertical (with God) and horizontal (with one another).

Genesis 4:9 “Then the Lord said to Cain, ‘Where is Abel your brother?’ He said, ‘I do not know. AM I MY BROTHER’S KEEPER?’”

  1. Actually, the answer to Cain’s question to the Lord was “yes, you are.” We are to be our brother’s keeper. God doesn’t ask questions because He doesn’t know the answer. He was giving Cain the opportunity to tell the truth.
  2. If someone you know is isolated:

 

(1) Pray for them.

  1. Take authority over self pity, depression, isolation, etc. that would keep people in a cave of hopelessness. Pray for them to rise above isolation and to get active in the things of God.

 

(2) Reach out to them in love.

  1. People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.
  2. As we grow up spiritually, we no longer come to church just to get something for ourselves. We come to help others connect with the Lord and with His people.

Example: Call them. Send them a text. Get together with them over coffee or a meal.

Example: I fought against isolation and won when I was by myself at an FCF Leadership Meeting in Tulsa and was asked to move to another seat. I chose to reach out to others (two Rhema students from our church) and not to take offense or feel hurt.

 

THE LONELY EMBER

 

Example: John MacArthur told a powerful story that illustrates the danger of isolation. He said…

 

A member of a certain church, who previously had been attending services regularly, stopped going. After a few weeks, the pastor decided to visit him. It was a chilly evening. The pastor found the man at home alone, sitting before a blazing fire.

 

Guessing the reason for his pastor’s visit, the man welcomed him, led him to a big chair near the fireplace and waited. The pastor made himself comfortable but said nothing. In the grave silence, he contemplated the play of the flames around the burning logs.

 

After some minutes, the pastor took the fire tongs, carefully picked up a brightly burning ember and placed it to one side of the hearth all alone. Then he sat back in his chair, still silent. The host watched all this in quiet fascination.

 

As the one lone ember’s flame diminished, there was a momentary glow and then its fire was no more. Soon it was cold and “dead as a doornail.” Not a word had been spoken since the initial greeting.

 

Just before the pastor was ready to leave, he picked up the cold, dead ember and placed it back in the middle of the fire. Immediately it began to glow once more with the light and warmth of the burning coals around it.

 

As the pastor reached the door to leave, his host said, “Thank you so much for your visit and especially for the fiery sermon. I shall be back in church next Sunday.”

 

  1. Let’s GET connected and let’s STAY connected. We are much getter together than we are apart. Remember that iron sharpens iron. MFM

 

 

Please don’t ask me….If God is so good why is there so much suffering and evil?

James 1:19

So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath;

I think this is what James and John were alluding to when we read these passages

James 2:15,16

If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

1 John 3:18,19

My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. 19 And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him.

When someone is hurting and in lost it is better to hold off on dealing with the words of philosophy and be Jesus to them through love

The problem of evil

Our basic problem with evil is struggling with three things

– If God is good – then why is there evil shouldn’t a good God do the good thing and wipe out evil

– If God is all-powerful – why does he allow evil to exist can’t he simply wipe evil out

– That fact that evil exist at all with an all-powerful all-good God

There are several solutions to this problem

Solution #1

Deny God exist and with it the reality of evil

The idea is this because evil exists then there must not be an all-powerful all-good God!

Quote from serial killer Ted Bundy who raped and murdered over 30 women and girls said this

I learned that all moral judgments are “value judgments,” that all values are subjective, and that none can be proved to be either “right” or “wrong.” . . . I discovered that to become truly free, truly unfettered, I had to become truly uninhibited. And I quickly discovered that the greatest obstacle to my freedom, the greatest block, and limitation to it, consists in the insupportable “value judgment” that I was bound to respect the rights of others. . . . Surely, you would not, in this age of scientific enlightenment, declare that God or nature has marked some pleasures as “moral” or “good” and others as “immoral” or “bad”?

If morality has nothing to do with God then what does it have to do with?

Renowned atheist John Steinrucken in an article entitled what “Secularisms on-going debt to Christianity” is quoted as saying, “I challenge any of my fellow atheist to come up with the “immutable (unchanging) moral laws of secularism”

“Their right is just as right as our right”

CS Lewis quote from Mere Christianity If you haven’t read CS Lewis please do! He is so much more than the Chronicles of Narnia

“My argument against God was that the universe seemed so cruel and unjust. But how had I got this idea of just and unjust? A man does not call a line crooked unless he has some idea of a straight line. What was I comparing this universe with when I called it unjust? If the whole show was bad and senseless from A to Z, so to speak, why did I, who was supposed to be part of the show, find myself in such violent reaction against it?”

“Thus in the very act of trying to prove that God did not exist–in other words, that the whole of reality was senseless–I found I was forced to assume that one part of reality–namely my idea of justice–was full of sense. Consequently, atheism turns out to be too simple. If the whole universe has no meaning, we should never have found out that it has no meaning: just as, if there were no light in the universe and therefore no creatures with eyes, we should never know it was dark. Dark would be without meaning.”

Ironically the problem that caused CS Lewis to not believe in God is the very thing that brought him to God

If it were not for a loving God that gives us a standard of right and wrong there would be no understanding that anything is evil.

Solution #2 

Make evil part of God

You have heard this more than you know

If everything is part of god rather than the personal God we believe in, then evil and suffering are part of that god too

In other words, God is not good but a mix of good and evil. What kind of schizophrenic god is that?

Solution #3

Diminish God’s power

It is a decision to choose to make God not great. It is saying to God that you are powerful but your power is limited.

The problem is the Bible tells us differently

Exodus 15:6 “Your right hand, O Lord, has become glorious in power; Your right hand, O Lord, has dashed the enemy in pieces.

Matthew 19:26 But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Ephesians 1:19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power

Ephesians 3:20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,

Solution #4

Diminish God’s goodness

On the face of it, most of us would deny believing this but in the midst of pain we say to ourselves, “If God is all powerful and he knows this evil is going on in my life but He just doesn’t care, He must not really love me.”

If evidence of the evil in the world is evidence that God does not exist then perhaps beauty, love, and all the many blessings of our homes, families, jobs should be evidence God does exist.

Philippians 4:6,7

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.

We live in a tension to believe that God is good, great, and nevertheless, allows evil in this world for a season for His greater purpose.

These are some of the arguments against God and his being a good loving, Father

It is true that:

God is always good

God is great

evil is real

Next week I am going to share with you a few points of what to say to your friends based on the foundation I have laid today. We will give them and you hope in times of crisis.

If you are here today and are battling God’s goodness or greatness toward you, we can do far more than intellectually and spiritually lay out the arguments we can pray and allow the Lord to meet you here

The Easter story – Opening our eyes once again

Can you imagine seeing Jesus face to face? Jesus main mission was to show us how much God loves us and destroy the power the enemy has over each of us.

More about that later. I love what the character Cleopas said that I’ll never tire of telling people the story

It is fun to imagine what these guys lives might have been like. To put it in perspective let me give you a little background.

Most New Testament scholars believe Cleopas was Jesus Uncle (Joseph’s brother) he was married to the “other Mary” who had been to the cross and went to the tomb. They were also the parents of one of the 12 disciples James the less. He and the “other disciple whomever that was, some believe it was not a man but actually Mary, his wife but whoever it was they were both close enough to Jesus that Jesus felt it important and that they could be trusted with Him appearing to them.

Let’s look at the story the way the Bible shares it…

 

Luke 24:13-35

That same day two of Jesus’ followers were walking to the village of Emmaus, seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 As they walked along they were talking about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed these things, Jesus himself suddenly came and began walking with them. 16 But God kept them from recognizing him. 17 He asked them, “What are you discussing so intently as you walk along?” They stopped short, sadness written across their faces. 18 Then one of them, Cleopas, replied, “You must be the only person in Jerusalem who hasn’t heard about all the things that have happened there the last few days.” 19 “What things?” Jesus asked. “The things that happened to Jesus, the man from Nazareth,” they said. “He was a prophet who did powerful miracles, and he was a mighty teacher in the eyes of God and all the people. 20 But our leading priests and other religious leaders handed him over to be condemned to death, and they crucified him. 21 We had hoped he was the Messiah who had come to rescue Israel. This all happened three days ago. 22 “Then some women from our group of his followers were at his tomb early this morning, and they came back with an amazing report. 23 They said his body was missing, and they had seen angels who told them Jesus is alive! 24 Some of our men ran out to see, and sure enough, his body was gone, just as the women had said.” 25 Then Jesus said to them, “You foolish people! You find it so hard to believe all that the prophets wrote in the Scriptures. 26 Wasn’t it clearly predicted that the Messiah would have to suffer all these things before entering his glory?” 27 Then Jesus took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. 28 By this time they were nearing Emmaus and the end of their journey. Jesus acted as if he were going on, 29 but they begged him, “Stay the night with us since it is getting late.” So he went home with them. 30 As they sat down at the table to eat, he took the bread and blessed it. Then he broke it and gave it to them. 31 Suddenly, their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And at that moment he disappeared! 32 They said to each other, “Didn’t our hearts burn within us as he talked with us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?” 33 And within the hour they were on their way back to Jerusalem. There they found the eleven disciples and the others who had gathered with them, 34 who said, “The Lord has really risen! He appeared to Peter.” Jesus Appears to the Disciples 35 Then the two from Emmaus told their story of how Jesus had appeared to them as they were walking along the road, and how they had recognized him as he was breaking the bread.

 

Everything in the Bible has significance. Nothing is there just as filler.

 

We see in this story that Jesus appeared to people who loved Him, they were broken, down-hearted but he took the time to meet them in their brokenness and share with them the truth that would lift them up.

 

Many people see God as a vengeful God, angry all the time. Does He get angry? Yes! But not the way you may think!

 

– at sin that destroys us and keeps us away from Him

– at the enemy who lies to us and deceives us about who God really is!

– at our decisions that hurt others or ourselves.

 

We are told in the Bible that the Holy Spirit intercedes for us and that word shows us the way God loves us. It means God comes to us in our brokenness, confusion, loss, and/or pain and feels it with us then, understanding our situation takes us by the hand and shows us the way out…That is the God of John 3:16 the one who loves us so much.

You see it is sin that keeps us from God…God is perfect and can’t have imperfection in His presence but our goodness, our hard work can’t make us perfect.

Do you feel perfect today?

That is why Jesus came, no Old Testament animal sacrifice could make a person perfect no work could do the same only Jesus, God in the flesh, taking our sin, our rebellion on the cross and then our acceptance of that sacrifice obliterates that sin and makes us perfect not by what we do but because of His great love for us.

Jesus was proving that to these disciples.

He lovingly reached out to them in a way they could understand. Showing them in the Bible that they had studied all of their lives what would have to happen.

At the end of the teaching notes, either on the website or the app, I have listed a number of prophecies Jesus fulfilled and two of the arguments people raise against them.*

In verse 30 there is an inference that we can not miss. Luke 24:30

30 As they sat down at the table to eat, he took the bread and blessed it. Then he broke it and gave it to them.

The phrase “at the table” in the near east this is not simply written there because it was a convenient place to eat but the phrase relates to the idea of the table in a Jewish home was a sacred place, considered a “mini-temple” in every home.

Someone in this culture would gladly invite you out for a cup of coffee but… To invite you to eat “at the table” was an invitation to friendship.

This is why there was such an offense raised when Jesus said to the hardened sinner Zacchaeus that he would go eat with Him. He was telling the culture, I believe this man to be a friend and we saw the results.

Once the Lord has taken the time to heal our brokenness He is more than willing, if we are willing, to be our friend. He will gladly sit down with us.

To be honest most people have a hard time knowing Jesus as a friend until our hurts, wounds, anger, fear, frustration or whatever are really healed by Him.

 

The battles in our culture, the mindset of this world, are mostly toward the negative, the hopeless, and futility.

Jesus broke all of that on the cross and then he did something prophetically here and perhaps this is why this story is recorded.

Verse 31 Luke 24:31

Suddenly, their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And at that moment he disappeared!

Their eyes were suddenly opened what were they suddenly opened to?

The reality that:

– Jesus was alive

– Jesus was exactly who He said He is

– It meant the promise of heaven, defeating the enemy, victory in our lives was all true

– All that He said was true! God really loves people, knows them, and believes in them, and that hopelessness is broken

 

Let’s quickly look at the scripture that put us all in bondage

 

Genesis 3:6,7

So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked, and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings.

 

Adam and Eve had their eyes opened to their sin, bondage, death, and hell, utter hopelessness

 

But now Jesus has opened our eyes to freedom from sin, bondage, death, and hell

 

Today, I hope you sense that freedom or at least you sense you can have that freedom.

 

There is absolutely no reason for you to live in bondage

 

…whom the Son sets free is free indeed.

 

Jesus did not live, die on the cross and rise again to start a religion he did it so you and I could have our eyes open to having a real loving relationship with the one who loves us the most.

 

However, even some who have a relationship with Jesus, have still chosen to live in bondage…some because of the way they were raised, choices you have made, or sin that you battle but you don’t have to stay there today.

 

If you don’t have a relationship with Him you can get totally free today if you want.

 

In a moment, if you want I am going to pray a prayer of freedom and if you will agree with me, I believe Jesus will open your eyes too.

 

If you are starting your relationship with Jesus walking in His freedom today please after we pray do one of two things or both if you want.

 

Stop at the desk in the lobby and someone will gladly give you a copy of How to grow as a “Christ follower” and/or feel free to e-mail me and we will connect you up in a way that you can grow

 

tim@christiancenter.us

 

Please bow your heads While every head is bowed whether you are a Christian or not if your heart s crying out today for freedom from fear, from a negative world view, from your own brokenness and want a renewed sense of hope just all around the room raise your hand as a sign of agreement with me now let’s pray

 

Some of the scriptures Jesus fulfilled (This is what I promised earlier)

 

*What follows is a brief summary of some of the major prophecies relating to His final few days in Jerusalem.

 

1) He will enter Jerusalem riding a donkey (the colt of an ass) (Zechariah 9:9). Fulfillment: Matt. 21:5; Luke 19:32-37.

2) He will be hated for no reason (Psalm 69:4). Fulfillment: John 15:25.

3) He will be betrayed (Psalm 41:9). Fulfillment: Matt. 27:3-10.

4) More specifically, He will be betrayed by a friend (Psalm 41:9). Fulfillment: Matt. 27:3-10; 26:47-48.

5) The price of his betrayal will be thirty pieces of silver (Zech. 11:12). Fulfillment: Matt. 27:3-10.

6) The betrayal money will be cast onto the floor (Zech. 11:13). Fulfillment: Matt. 27:5.

7) More specifically, it will be cast onto the floor of the Temple (Zech. 11:13). Fulfillment: Matt. 27:3-10.

8) The betrayal money will be used to buy a potter’s field (Zech. 11:13). Fulfillment: Matt. 27:6-10.

9) He will not open his mouth to defend himself (Isaiah 53:7). Fulfillment: Matthew 27:12.

10) He will be beaten and spat upon (Isaiah 50:6). Fulfillment: Matthew 26:67; 27:26-30.

11) He will be “numbered with the transgressors” (Isaiah 53:12). Fulfillment: Jesus was crucified as a criminal in between two thieves (Mat 27:38).

12) He will be pierced (Zechariah 12:10). Fulfillment: John 19:34

13) His hands and feet will be pierced (Psalm 22:16; cf. Zechariah 12:10; Galatians 3:13). Crucifixion foretold. Psalm 22 graphically prophecies the Messiah’s manner of death. At the time the psalm was written (and long after), the penalty for blasphemy was stoning. Therefore, this prediction of the crucifixion is particularly astonishing.

14) The Jewish Passover sacrifice and Jesus Christ’s sacrificial death coincide exactly. The dates on which Jesus was taken by the Roman authorities, and then slain, also coincided precisely with the Jewish Passover. Jesus became the Passover Lamb, “without blemish.” Just as the angel of death passed by those Israelites who put blood on their doorposts – so Jesus’ sacrificial death also results in freedom from death and hell for those who accept His blood.

15) His bones will not be broken (Psalm 34:20; Exodus 12 states that the Passover Lamb’s bones are not to be broken.). Fulfillment: John 19:33.

16) They will divide his clothing and cast lots for them (Psalm 22:18). Fulfillment: John 19:23-24.

17) He will be given vinegar and gall to drink (Psalm 69:21). Fulfillment: Matthew 27:34, 48.

18) He will say: “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Psalm 22:1). Fulfillment: Matthew 27:46.

19) He will be buried with the rich (Isaiah 53:9). Fulfillment: Matthew 27.

20) He will not decay (Psalm 16:10). Fulfillment: Acts 2:31

21) He will be resurrected from the dead (Psalm 16:10). Fulfillment: Acts 2:31, etc.

22) He will ascend into heaven (Psalm 68:18). Fulfillment: Acts 1:9.

 

These are a small selection of some of the prophecies relating to the death of Christ.

 

What is the likelihood that these prophecies would be fulfilled in one person unless He were the Messiah?

 

Objection! Such Fulfilled Prophecies are Coincidental.

 

It is frequently argued that it is mere coincidence that these Old Testament scriptures seem to bear a resemblance to the life and death of Christ. After all, it would be possible to find scriptures that seem to relate to the life of anyone.

This, of course, is true. It is perfectly possible that it is coincidental. Possible…..but very unlikely.

 

If you tried hard you may be able to find a handful of prophecies that relate to Barak Obama or Donald Trump. But you certainly could not find in excess of 60 that clearly match certain incidents in his life.

 

The probability of so many prophecies getting fulfilled in one person by chance is hundreds of thousands to one. Professor Stoner, author of “Science Speaks” says that by using probability theory in relation to just 8 of the prophecies related to Jesus “we find that the chance that any man might have lived down to the present time and fulfilled all eight prophecies is 1 in 1017. That is 1 in 100 000 000 000 000 000.”

 

Objection! Jesus Himself tried to fulfill the prophecies.

 

This would seem to be plausible. For example, Jesus’ last words on the cross were of His choosing. He clearly decided what to say so that it would fulfill the prophecies of Psalm 22.

 

True enough. But a great many prophecies were completely beyond His control.

 

For example, Jesus had no say over how much silver was paid to Judas for his betrayal. What about the manner of His death? The reaction of the people? The mocking and the spitting? The casting die for his clothing? The non-tearing of His main robe?

More than 50% of the prophecies fulfilled in Christ were completely outside His power to influence one way or another.

 

 

 

 

Easter Part 2 Light bulb Moments

For us the story of Easter is 2nd nature. We have heard it so many times it just kind of rolls off of the tongue.

But to those closest to Jesus and to many in our culture today as it is explained it becomes a light bulb moment.

Thomas Edison filed a patent for the light bulb in 1879. With that invention, we are able to flip a switch and viola, light

Side note: As an inventor, Edison made 1,000 unsuccessful attempts at inventing the light bulb. When a reporter asked, “How did it feel to fail 1,000 times?” Edison replied, “I didn’t fail 1,000 times. The light bulb was an invention with 1,000 steps.”

Side note #2 His teachers said he was “too stupid to learn anything.” He was fired from his first two jobs for being “non-productive.”

What you just saw in the video were the disciples having a light bulb moment…a moment in time when they actually got what God was doing and they came from the dark into the light

Have you ever had a light bulb moment?

Luke 24: 1-12

But very early on Sunday morning the women went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. 2 They found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. 3 So they went in, but they didn’t find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 As they stood there puzzled, two men suddenly appeared to them, clothed in dazzling robes. 5 The women were terrified and bowed with their faces to the ground. Then the men asked, “Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive? 6 He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Remember what he told you back in Galilee, 7 that the Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and that he would rise again on the third day.” 8 Then they remembered that he had said this. 9 So they rushed back from the tomb to tell his eleven disciples—and everyone else—what had happened. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and several other women who told the apostles what had happened. 11 But the story sounded like nonsense to the men, so they didn’t believe it. 12 However, Peter jumped up and ran to the tomb to look. Stooping, he peered in and saw the empty linen wrappings; then he went home again, wondering what had happened. 

Have you ever thought about how in the dark and confused Peter was on the morning?

“However, Peter jumped up and ran to the tomb to look. Stooping, he peered in and saw the empty linen wrappings; then he went home again, wondering what had happened.”

That word “wondering” means to kind scratch your head and say, “I don’t know what this means” or “I don’t get it?”

The same Greek word is used in many other places

Luke 2:33 Simeon had just prophesied over and about Jesus and Mary and Joseph’s response was…

“Jesus’ parents were amazed at what was being said about him.”

When Jesus calmed the sea  Luke 8:25 the disciples

Then he asked them, “Where is your faith?” The disciples were terrified and amazed. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “When he gives a command, even the wind and waves obey him!”

What are you wondering about right now?

Do you have a big life altering decision you are facing? Have you made one and everything is still a bit foggy?

Are you trying to think about taking a new job, where to go to school?

Are you thinking about the next step in your career, your family, your job?

Thinking about putting the house on the market or adding on?

Thinking about what future investments you should make?

Let’s take a look at John’s account 20:3-10

Peter and the other disciple started out for the tomb. 4 They were both running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 He stooped and looked in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he didn’t go in. 6 Then Simon Peter arrived and went inside. He also noticed the linen wrappings lying there, 7 while the cloth that had covered Jesus’ head was folded up and lying apart from the other wrappings. 8 Then the disciple who had reached the tomb first also went in, and he saw and believed—9 for until then they still hadn’t understood the Scriptures that said Jesus must rise from the dead. 10 Then they went home.

“they still hadn’t understood the Scriptures that said Jesus must rise from the dead”

Some of the scriptures alluded to here are these ones

Isaiah 53: 3-5

He was despised and rejected—a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care. 4 Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God,  a punishment for his own sins! 5 But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed.

Isaiah 53: 11,12

When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish, he will be satisfied. And because of his experience, my righteous servant will make it possible for many to be counted righteous, for he will bear all their sins. 12 I will give him the honors of a victorious soldier, because he exposed himself to death. He was counted among the rebels. He bore the sins of many and interceded for rebels.

Psalm 22:14-18

I am poured out like water, And all My bones are out of joint; My heart is like wax; It has melted within Me. 15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd, And My tongue clings to My jaws; You have brought Me to the dust of death. 16 For dogs have surrounded Me; The congregation of the wicked has enclosed Me. They pierced My hands and My feet; 17 I can count all My bones. They look and stare at Me. 18 They divide My garments among them, And for My clothing they cast lots.

Add to this the prophesies Jesus spoke about his own resurrection

John 2:18-21 destroy this temple and in three days

Matthew 12:39,40 Jonah in the well so will the son of man be

Matthew 16:21 Jesus says plainly I have to die and then I will rise again on the third day

The Pharisees had better memories than the disciples Matthew 27: 62-64 They told Pilate to guard the tomb because Jesus said after three days he would rise again

You may be in the dark about who Jesus really is for you or for your situation today

Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. John 14:1

All authority on heaven and earth has been given to me. Matthew 28:18

And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. Matthew 28:20

I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. John 3:16-17

Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her. John 8:7

If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me. Matthew 19:21

For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? Mark 8:36

Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Matthew 6:34

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. John 13:34

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Matthew 7:7-8

I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” John 11:25-26

That’s a light-bulb moment! He is risen. He is risen, indeed!

Easter Part 1 Newsflash: Jesus is in control!

Newsflash: Jesus is in control!

We are into the Easter season a time when we rejoice and reflect on what Jesus has done for us

We are here because we believe that Jesus died on the cross for us and rose again but do we believe that He is in control?

Let’s look at this story. Lazarus resurrection took place just a few weeks before Easter

 

John 11:1-3

A man named Lazarus was sick. He lived in Bethany with his sisters, Mary and Martha. 2 This is the Mary who later poured the expensive perfume on the Lord’s feet and wiped them with her hair. Her brother, Lazarus, was sick. 3 So the two sisters sent a message to Jesus telling him, “Lord, your dear friend is very sick.”

Mary and Martha sent a request (prayer) to Jesus for help

 

John 11:4-6

4 But when Jesus heard about it he said, “Lazarus’s sickness will not end in death. No, it happened for the glory of God so that the Son of God will receive glory from this.” 5 So although Jesus loved Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, 6 he stayed where he was for the next two days.

 

Jesus loved Mary, Martha, and Lazarus there are two things I need us to look at here

 

  • Jesus delayed his “answer”
  • Jesus said this sickness was not unto death but Lazarus died.

 

John 11:7-10

7 Finally, he said to his disciples, “Let’s go back to Judea. 8 But his disciples objected. “Rabbi,” they said, “only a few days ago the people in Judea were trying to stone you. Are you going there again?” 9 Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. 10 But if one walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.”

 

This is a great and wonderful promise from Jesus.

– Jesus is in control of your future if you will walk in the light with Him

-Think about it when you have been praying, being in the word, thinking about the Lord do you mess up? Not very often if you do at all

– BUT when you choose to walk in your own light, which is really no light at all you will constantly stumble

Let that sink in for a minute…

John 11:11-15

11 Then he said, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but now I will go and wake him up.” 12 The disciples said, “Lord, if he is sleeping, he will soon get better!” 13 They thought Jesus meant Lazarus was simply sleeping, but Jesus meant Lazarus had died. 14 So he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead. 15 And for your sakes, I’m glad I wasn’t there, for now you will really believe. Come, let’s go see him.”

 

Have you ever been confused by something the Lord has told you? What about something the Lord has done or not done?

It is OK to keep asking questions, keep asking until you get some clarity.

He is in control of death, our future, and especially our enemies!

 

John 11:16

16 Thomas, nicknamed the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let’s go, too—and die with Jesus.”

I need to pause here to correct and save the reputation of someone

This is “doubting Thomas” saying this Didymus (meaning twin) in other books.

 

John 11:17- 27

17 When Jesus arrived at Bethany, he was told that Lazarus had already been in his grave for four days. 18 Bethany was only a few miles down the road from Jerusalem, 19 and many of the people had come to console Martha and Mary in their loss. 20 When Martha got word that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him. But Mary stayed in the house. 21 Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask.” 23 Jesus told her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 “Yes,” Martha said, “he will rise when everyone else rises, at the last day.” 25 Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. 26 Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?” 27 “Yes, Lord,” she told him. “I have always believed you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who has come into the world from God.”

 

Martha was in a, “I believe but help my unbelief moment”

Think about how great your fear of death is!

Death does not have control over us Jesus does and as a Christian there are only two reasons for you to leave this world

 

  • You have completed the task the Lord has laid before you
  • God has asked you to do something and you refuse to do what He asked and that was the only thing he had left for you to do

 

John 11:28-39

28 Then she returned to Mary. She called Mary aside from the mourners and told her, “The Teacher is here and wants to see you.” 29 So Mary immediately went to him. 30 Jesus had stayed outside the village, at the place where Martha met him. 31 When the people who were at the house consoling Mary saw her leave so hastily, they assumed she was going to Lazarus’s grave to weep. So they followed her there. 32 When Mary arrived and saw Jesus, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died.” 33 When Jesus saw her weeping and saw the other people wailing with her, a deep anger welled up within him, and he was deeply troubled. 34 “Where have you put him?” he asked them. They told him, “Lord, come and see.” 35 Then Jesus wept. 36 The people who were standing nearby said, “See how much he loved him!” 37 But some said, “This man healed a blind man. Couldn’t he have kept Lazarus from dying?” 38 Jesus was still angry as he arrived at the tomb, a cave with a stone rolled across its entrance. 39 “Roll the stone aside,” Jesus told them. But Martha, the dead man’s sister, protested, “Lord, he has been dead for four days. The smell will be terrible.”

 

The scene now changes to Jesus’ response to Mary!

Jesus is angry but what is he angry about?

Then he weeps. Why did he weep?

 

Jesus took control of the power of sin and death when he went to the cross and if we choose to trust him then that power has been broken in our lives as well Romans 6: 1-11 and then Romans 8:2

For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.

 

John 11:40-43

40 Jesus responded, “Didn’t I tell you that you would see God’s glory if you believe?” 41 So they rolled the stone aside. Then Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, thank you for hearing me. 42 You always hear me, but I said it out loud for the sake of all these people standing here, so that they will believe you sent me.” 43 Then Jesus shouted, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 And the dead man came out, his hands and feet bound in graveclothes, his face wrapped in a headcloth. Jesus told them, “Unwrap him and let him go!”

 

Remember the definition of fear False Expectations Appearing Real.

 

Have you ever wonder why Jesus called Lazarus to come?

 

What more could He do for you?

 

“I’ve got this, he gave us the preview in Lazarus of his power and authority

 

Because He is in control….

 

  • We can trust him that even though your answer may be delayed He loves you and will fulfill it with the biggest plan possible if you will trust him
  • If He has made a promise to you, He will fulfill it
  • You can have questions and he does not get irritated with you asking until you understand, He is secure in being God so questions are a joy for Him to answer
  • He has taken over the power of sin and death
  • Don’t limit either His power or His love for you both are unending!

 

Allow this to be a beginning thought for celebrating an amazing Easter

 

 

IN CHRIST

WE ARE SAVED (NOT LOST)

Matthew 1:21 (NASB)
21 She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.
Matthew 18:11 (NASB)
11 For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.
Luke 19:10 (NASB)
10 For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.
John 3:17 (NASB)
17 For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.
John 10:9 (NASB)
9 I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.
Acts 4:12 (NIV)
12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.
Romans 5:10 (NIV)

10 For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!

Ephesians 2:5 (NIV)
5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.
Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV)
8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
1 Timothy 1:15 (NIV)
15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.
2 Timothy 1:9 (NIV)
9 He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time,
THIS IS WHO GOD SAYS WE ARE
IN HIS WORD!!!!!

WE ARE SIGNIFICANT (NOT INSIGNIFICANT)
Salt and Light
Matthew 5:13-14 (NIV)
13 You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
14 You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.
Children of God
John 1:12 (NIV)
12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God…
1 John 3:1-3 (NIV)
See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.2 Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears,[awe shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 3 All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.
Branches/Chosen
John 15: 1 (NIV)

I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener… (Keep reading…see verse 5)

John 15:5 (NIV)
5 I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
John 15:16 (NIV)
16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.
Witnesses

Acts 1:8 (NIV)
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
God’s Temple/Temple of God
1 Corinthians 3:16 (NIV)
16 Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?
Body of Christ

1 Corinthians 12:27 (NIV)
27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
A New Creation/Reconciled To Christ/Ministry of Reconciliation
2 Corinthians 5:17-18 (NIV)
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:[a the old has gone, the new is here! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:
Co-Workers
2 Corinthians 6:1 (NIV)
As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain.
Holy People/Saints (KJV)/Faithful
Ephesians 1:1 (NIV)
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To God’s holy people in Ephesus,[a the faithful in Christ Jesus:
Raised Up/Made To Sit Together In Heavenly Places

Ephesians 2:6 (KJV)
6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
His Workmanship
Ephesians 2:10 (KJV)
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Our Citizenship Is In Heaven
Philippians 3:20 (NASB)
20 For our [acitizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;
THIS IS WHO GOD SAYS WE ARE
IN HIS WORD!!!!!

WE ARE SECURE (NOT INSECURE)

John 1:12 (KJV)
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

Romans 8:28 (KJV)
28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Romans 8:35-39(KJV)
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:1 (KJV)
8 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Ephesians 1:13-14 (NASB)
13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.

Colossians 1:13 (NASB)
13 For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son,
Colossians 3:3 (NASB)
3 For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

Philippians 1:6 (NIV)
6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:13 (KJV)
13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

2 Timothy 1:7 (KJV)
7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
2 Timothy 1:7 (NIV)
7 For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.

Hebrews 4:16 (KJV)
16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

THIS IS WHO GOD SAYS WE ARE
IN HIS WORD!!!!!
WE ARE ACCEPTED (NOT REJECTED)

John 15:15 (NASB)
15 No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.
Romans 5:1 (NASB)
5 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

1 Corinthians 6:17 (NASB)
17 But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him.
1 Corinthians 6:20 (NASB)
20 For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.

1 Corinthians 12:27 (NIV)
27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.

2 Corinthians 5:21 (NIV)
21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Ephesians 1:5 (NIV)
5 he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—

Ephesians 2:18 (NIV)
18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.

Ephesians 2:19 (NIV)
19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household,
Ephesians 3:12 (NIV)
12 In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.
Colossians 1:14 (NASB)
14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Colossians 2:10 (NASB)
10 and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority;
THIS IS WHO GOD SAYS WE ARE
IN HIS WORD!!!!!

WE ARE SAVED (NOT LOST)
WE ARE SIGNIFICANT (NOT INSIGNIFICANT)
WE ARE SECURE (NOT INSECURE)
WE ARE ACCEPTED (NOT REJECTED)

Change the world

Changing the world

 

Deuteronomy 28:1-14

“If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully keep all his commands that I am giving you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the world. 2 You will experience all these blessings if you obey the Lord your God: 3 Your towns and your fields will be blessed. 4 Your children and your crops will be blessed. The offspring of your herds and flocks will be blessed. 5 Your fruit baskets and breadboards will be blessed.6 Wherever you go and whatever you do, you will be blessed. 7 “The Lord will conquer your enemies when they attack you. They will attack you from one direction, but they will scatter from you in seven! 8 “The Lord will guarantee a blessing on everything you do and will fill your storehouses with grain. The Lord your God will bless you in the land he is giving you. 9 “If you obey the commands of the Lord your God and walk in his ways, the Lord will establish you as his holy people as he swore he would do. 10 Then all the nations of the world will see that you are a people claimed by the Lord, and they will stand in awe of you.11 “The Lord will give you prosperity in the land he swore to your ancestors to give you, blessing you with many children, numerous livestock, and abundant crops. 12 The Lord will send rain at the proper time from his rich treasury in the heavens and will bless all the work you do. You will lend to many nations, but you will never need to borrow from them. 13 If you listen to these commands of the Lord your God that I am giving you today, and if you carefully obey them, the Lord will make you the head and not the tail, and you will always be on top and never at the bottom. 14 You must not turn away from any of the commands I am giving you today, nor follow after other gods and worship them.

 

What does this mean?

 

If we live lives that honor God, He will…

Cause the divisions in the nations to see our lives by because of us blessing…

 

Our cities and communities

Our children

Our lively hood

AND

He will chase away every enemy

He cause everyone to see us as blessed

He will make the weather work for us

He will break debt off of us and cause us to prosper

He will make you to be at the top of the pile rather than the bottom

 

I know this sounds unbelievable but it was presented as a promise of God to the nation of Israel that they never fulfilled and now it reaches to us if we will trust in him…not simply for our blessing but so the world might know that our God is God. We live so far below God’s expectation if we will but choose to walk in obedience.

I believe this is all part of our destiny so Jesus can be seen in the world

See Jesus further emphasized this point here

Matt 5:14-16

You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. 15 No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

Why do we need to be this…

We have a world out there that is messed up…some of us in here are messed up and we have to push through to bring our world to freedom

We are not the victims of an anti-God society we are the heroes they are waiting for to bring them to freedom

 

How? There has to be a strategy or you have planned to fail

My personal call to encourage everyone to become all the Lord has called them to be. Teaching them to recognize who they are in Christ and the gifts they have and can acquire to fulfill who their destiny.

I believe as we become who God has called us to be; using every skill, gift, our personalities, our time, talent and treasure. We will begin to change the world.

 

What ways are we going to begin preparing to fulfill our destiny

 

  • Teaching – the public and the private challenge of God’s word through weekend meetings, small group sessions, one on one mentoring every person will begin to recognize the gifts and calling. (Explain)

 

They will also learn to walk in righteousness through encouragement, reproof, and correction

2 Timothy 3:16,17.

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

As this scripture states it is by learning the word and walking out the word that we are equipped and prepared for every good work.

The teaching must be a balance between strong theology, apologetics, and an active and accurate understanding of the gifts and fruit of the Holy Spirit.

2 Timothy 3:1-5

But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!

 

Paul warns us that many will fall away if they do not understand the power of God. All of this must also be relevant to our culture and the needs of the community to be able to understand Jesus message.

  • Serving – Jesus said if we want to be the greatest in the Kingdom we must become the servant of all Matthew 23:11. Before we can effectively serve our world and community we must learn to serve each other. (Explain using gifts serving in children church and other areas so others can be blessed)

 

Once we have learned to serve one another we can be more effective serving the world. We are not called to hide behind the doors of the church but to allow the light of the church shine everywhere so all men might come to know and pursue the one that we love because He first loved us.

 

We will focus on strategies to reach our community by meeting their felt needs and in that process showing them Jesus. We must develop and maintain a stellar reputation in the community, (the call Paul gave to all leadership 1 Timothy 3:7 Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.). We will not duplicate the ministry outreaches of others unless there is a proven need for duplication. We will seek the Lord not for good ideas but great ones. There is no end to the need of the poor but we must find what is God-breathed, that will impact our community and encourage our Body.

 

Our impact will go beyond our local community to our state, our nation, and the world. Every dollar, every minute, and every use of talent will be accounted for so as to not waste one of God’s gifts.

 

  • Fellowship – The early church grew stronger and more effective through teaching, prayer, and fellowship with one another Acts 2:42.

“And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.”

If we are going to apply the teaching and begin serving our region, community, state, nation and the world better. We will come into warfare, attacks, as well as blessings, and we will need each other and those relationships for support and encouragement.

Our culture is so busy. We live in a Snapchat, sound bite, Facebook quip, culture but that is not healthy and there is a need in our culture for connection.

Part of this fellowship connection must include, an active mentoring program helping the younger Christians to connect and grow with more mature Christians. Connection groups will also play a part in getting us to the next level

 

  • Worship – Everything that I have just mentioned is worship and add to that singing, prayer, giving and we have pretty much rounded out what worship actually is.

 

Anything we do with God at the center is worship whether it be our work, our singing, our prayers, our serving, our fellowshipping, or our learning. The purpose of worship through prayer and singing is not necessarily to go with the trends but instead to go with those who are truly seeking the Lord in those areas. We have a challenge in singing that there is a need for strategic leadership through example in singing part of worship. All in all, I want to create an environment of worship that our family feels like everything they do here is worship. Each of us connecting in worship with each other and the Lord.

So what does all this mean?

  1. We need to begin to believe that God wants to bless us so that others will see the blessing and want to know the God we serve
  2. We are the light and the only hope the world has and we need to start living like it.
  3. We have to apply a stratgey to impact our world
  4. We must grow and mature we must be willing to serve one another and the world, we must build our relationships with each other and we must learn to worship with every aspect of our lives

These are all the things that are “real” church

The question is are you willing?