11/1/09 Offering God Something that Cost me Nothing
2 Samuel 24:18-24 – On that day Gad went to David and said to him, "Go up and build an altar to the LORD on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite." So David went up, as the LORD had commanded through Gad. When Araunah looked and saw the king and his men coming toward him, he went out and bowed down before the king with his face to the ground. Araunah said, "Why has my lord the king come to his servant?" "To buy your threshing floor," David answered, "so I can build an altar to the LORD, that the plague on the people may be stopped." Araunah said to David, "Let my lord the king take whatever pleases him and offer it up. Here are oxen for the burnt offering, and here are threshing sledges and ox yokes for the wood. O king, Araunah gives all this to the king." Araunah also said to him, "May the LORD your God accept you." But the king replied to Araunah, "No, I insist on paying you for it. I will not sacrifice to the LORD my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing." So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen and paid fifty shekels of silver for them.
• Rather than living by faith, David was living on sight
• Repentance: Is to change directions
• David repented because of God’s mercy
How do we respond when God offers us an opportunity to get in on His work and the opportunity comes with a cost?
We see from the life of David how he handled one of these opportunities. He was instructed by his seer or Prophet Gad to purchase a threshing floor to build an altar.
The seer Gad came to David to tell him what he should do as a result of his repentance and God’s mercy.
Go up and build an altar. The altar was not built simply to please God but to serve as a reminder to David and the Israelites of the presence of God.
Because of David’s sin, the people were suffering.
When david made his proposal to Araunah, Araunah quickly asked to give the land to David. But David, recognizing his stewardship before God, said, “No, I insist on paying you for it. I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God Burnt offerings that cost me nothing.”
(Araunah felt there were things David wouldn’t give up)
The truth is something that costs you nothing is worth nothing. To offer something which costs one nothing would contradict the essential idea of sacrifice. It is like serving God on the cheap.
The word “sacrifice” means to “make sacred”. If we do give up something as a sacrifice, it is only so that we may take it back in a new transfigured way.
• What are we tied to?
• What would we not even give up to God?
• What are you not willing to sacrifice?
• God’s opportunities come at a cost
• The altar is a reminder of the presence of God
• In the message of the bible for the Scriptures here: to offer sacrifices that aren’t sacrifices
• 2 Chronicles 3:1 – Then Solomon began to build the temple of the LORD in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the LORD had appeared to his father David. It was on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite, the place provided by David.
• We have sinned, and we continue to sin every day
• Romans 6:23 – For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
• 1 John 1:10 – If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.
• We are given the opportunity to repent
• John 1:12-13 – Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.
• We are children of God, and Stewards
• Every thing is a gift from God
• Psalm 24:1 – The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it;
• 2 Corinthians 8:1-5 – And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God's will.
•
• We are living in Thanksgiving not obligation
• Now as children of God, everything is the stewardship of God
• 2 Corinthians 8:8-9
• What cost us nothing is worth nothing
• When we sacrifice, we are willing to live a balanced life and understand the obligation to God
• Do in the service to the Lord
I. Sacrifice honors what Jesus Christ has done for us
• You obey God because you love Him
• 2 Corinthians 8:8-9 – I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.
• Philippians 2:5-8 - Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross!
• Sacrifice in our society is like swimming upstream
• Its difficult for people
II. Sacrifice reveals what is important to us
• The question is: How much do we keep? And not what we give
• Reveals what is important to us
• Matthew 19:21-22 – Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.
Jesus Christ only told him that because this man could not live by faith, but by sight
• Luke 21:1-4 – As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. "I tell you the truth," he said, "this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on."
•
• Our sacrifices reveal what is important
• Luke 7:44-47 – Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little."
•
• When people love what God has done
• When they understand that Jesus Christ said that He is preparing a room for us, that He gives us life, then you love much!
• A high price is paid
III. Sacrifice promotes spiritual growth
Matthew 16:24-26 – Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?
What does that mean?
Grace is free, discipleship is costly
The best time to learn to grow, is when you think you cant
IV. Sacrifice brings God
Luke 6:38 – Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."
Applies to all that we do in life
When we’re givers, our hands are open
Acts 20:35 – In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'
Giving spirit results in living longer and healthier
2 Corinthians 9:6-11 – Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written: "He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever." Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
Give away what God has given to you
Give freely
God always provides ability to give something
David understood that his sacrifice had to cost something
Every day God gives us opportunity to get in on His work and the opportunity always comes with a cost. We should never entertain the thought that we as believers can offer God something that costs us nothing. To offer God something which costs one nothing contradicts the essential idea of sacrifice.
How can I avoid offering God something that cost me nothing?
• Pray the Scriptures concerning giving and sacrifice
• Plan how to be a giver, saver, and spender
• Put your prayers and plan into action
~ Dr. Phil Lineberger
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Sermon: Why Missions?
October 25, 2009 – Why Missions?
Matthew 28:19-20 – Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.
• Why are we so involved in missions?
• Several Baptists in the past didn’t think the bible spoke about missions
• Acts: Church is scattered through Jerusalem and the world
• It is the scattered message of Jesus Christ
• It should be done on purpose
• We are going with His Presence
• Luke 11:46 – Jesus replied, "And you experts in the law, woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them.
Jesus condemns the religious people
Where you go should make a difference in people’s lives. In fact, Jesus said that “as we go, we should make disciples.”
From the time of Christ to the year 300, the center of Christianity moved from its epicenter in Jerusalem to Armenia, which is the oldest Christian country. By AD 500, the center of faith had moved west to Greece and Rome. In the next 500 years, the center of gravity of the church continued to move further west in Europe, where it became synonymous with culture and art. In the next 1000 years, the center of the Christian Church moved even further west, into North and South America. While the Pope remained in Europe, all the cultural action, innovation, change and life in the Church was focused in the Americas. By AD 2000, the United States in particular came to see itself as the headquarters of Christian belief, now removed halfway around the world from its origins. In other words, for the past 2000 years, the center of Christianity has steadily moved west.
These huge demographic swings already in motion suggest several things. One, unless Christianity in the United States does a better job of evangelization and discipleship, what happens in North American Christianity in the next 500 years will simply be a slideshow. The main event will happen elsewhere around the globe. (The Fermi Project)
I. Going on Purpose
• Missions will not turn somebody to be just like you
• We want them to have a purpose in Jesus Christ
• Matthew 23:15 – “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are.
• Making disciples involves a heart and a head
A personal encounter with Jesus Christ
• The Great Awakening was about falling in love with Jesus
• Romans 8:1-4 – Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.
God doesn’t condemn you
So why condemn yourself?
• God’s laws are met because of Jesus Christ who resides in us when we accept Him as our Lord and Savior
• Jesus Christ becomes God’s righteousness
• We don’t go for one thing – we go to help the people be set free
• We tell them they are set free
• Ephesians 2:10 – For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Not just saved to go to Heaven, but saved to serve
Share the Good news with someone else
• Teaching “all” things
• John 14:25-26 – "All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
• John 16:12-13 – "I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.
• We’re afraid to witness because we may not have an answer
But realize that the Spirit of God leads you
Have to Love God and love each other
Matthew 22:36-40 – "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 'This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
Teach to love God with all their hearts
• We are afraid to go witness
• All laws, prophets hang onto loving God and your neighbor
• John 13:33-34 – "My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come. "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." Simon Peter asked him, "Lord, where are you going?" Jesus replied, "Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later." Peter asked, "Lord, why can't I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you." Then Jesus answered, "Will you really lay down your life for me? I tell you the truth, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!
• When we disciple ,tell them to love and serve God
• Matthew 8:5 – When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help.
• The bible tells us that when we welcome a child in the name of Jesus Christ we welcome Him in as well
• John 13:14-17 – Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
• Being blessed means to be happy and healthy
• If you serve others and God, then you’ll be a happy person
• God instructed us to be more blessed when we give
• Many Christians done know who God is
II. Going with His presence.
• John 14:18-20 – I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.
• Received Christ – His presence is in us and always will be
• Acts 1:8 – “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.”
• All we have to do is release the power
• You are going on purpose and you will go with His presence
Jesus’ final instructions to his disciples are relevant to every believer today: As you go make disciples – where you go make disciples! When we go on PURPOSE, we have HIS PRESENCE AND HIS POWER as we share the Good News of God’s Love in Jesus Christ.
- Dr Phil Lineberger
Matthew 28:19-20 – Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.
• Why are we so involved in missions?
• Several Baptists in the past didn’t think the bible spoke about missions
• Acts: Church is scattered through Jerusalem and the world
• It is the scattered message of Jesus Christ
• It should be done on purpose
• We are going with His Presence
• Luke 11:46 – Jesus replied, "And you experts in the law, woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them.
Jesus condemns the religious people
Where you go should make a difference in people’s lives. In fact, Jesus said that “as we go, we should make disciples.”
From the time of Christ to the year 300, the center of Christianity moved from its epicenter in Jerusalem to Armenia, which is the oldest Christian country. By AD 500, the center of faith had moved west to Greece and Rome. In the next 500 years, the center of gravity of the church continued to move further west in Europe, where it became synonymous with culture and art. In the next 1000 years, the center of the Christian Church moved even further west, into North and South America. While the Pope remained in Europe, all the cultural action, innovation, change and life in the Church was focused in the Americas. By AD 2000, the United States in particular came to see itself as the headquarters of Christian belief, now removed halfway around the world from its origins. In other words, for the past 2000 years, the center of Christianity has steadily moved west.
These huge demographic swings already in motion suggest several things. One, unless Christianity in the United States does a better job of evangelization and discipleship, what happens in North American Christianity in the next 500 years will simply be a slideshow. The main event will happen elsewhere around the globe. (The Fermi Project)
I. Going on Purpose
• Missions will not turn somebody to be just like you
• We want them to have a purpose in Jesus Christ
• Matthew 23:15 – “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are.
• Making disciples involves a heart and a head
A personal encounter with Jesus Christ
• The Great Awakening was about falling in love with Jesus
• Romans 8:1-4 – Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.
God doesn’t condemn you
So why condemn yourself?
• God’s laws are met because of Jesus Christ who resides in us when we accept Him as our Lord and Savior
• Jesus Christ becomes God’s righteousness
• We don’t go for one thing – we go to help the people be set free
• We tell them they are set free
• Ephesians 2:10 – For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Not just saved to go to Heaven, but saved to serve
Share the Good news with someone else
• Teaching “all” things
• John 14:25-26 – "All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
• John 16:12-13 – "I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.
• We’re afraid to witness because we may not have an answer
But realize that the Spirit of God leads you
Have to Love God and love each other
Matthew 22:36-40 – "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 'This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
Teach to love God with all their hearts
• We are afraid to go witness
• All laws, prophets hang onto loving God and your neighbor
• John 13:33-34 – "My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come. "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." Simon Peter asked him, "Lord, where are you going?" Jesus replied, "Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later." Peter asked, "Lord, why can't I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you." Then Jesus answered, "Will you really lay down your life for me? I tell you the truth, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!
• When we disciple ,tell them to love and serve God
• Matthew 8:5 – When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help.
• The bible tells us that when we welcome a child in the name of Jesus Christ we welcome Him in as well
• John 13:14-17 – Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
• Being blessed means to be happy and healthy
• If you serve others and God, then you’ll be a happy person
• God instructed us to be more blessed when we give
• Many Christians done know who God is
II. Going with His presence.
• John 14:18-20 – I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.
• Received Christ – His presence is in us and always will be
• Acts 1:8 – “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.”
• All we have to do is release the power
• You are going on purpose and you will go with His presence
Jesus’ final instructions to his disciples are relevant to every believer today: As you go make disciples – where you go make disciples! When we go on PURPOSE, we have HIS PRESENCE AND HIS POWER as we share the Good News of God’s Love in Jesus Christ.
- Dr Phil Lineberger
Sermon: The Kingdom of Non-Sense
10/18/09 Sermon by Griff Martin: The Kingdom of Nonsense
“If the Lord is indeed our shepherd, then everything goes topsy-turvy, losing becomes finding and crying becomes laughing. The last become first and the weak become strong…if the Lord is our host at the great feast, then the sky’s the limit.” ~ Freerick Buechner
Mark 10:32-34
• Jesus explains that He will die, the final time they are walking down to Jerusalem
• We avoid dealing with death because it hurts
Mark 10:35-37
• James and John are yearning to ask Him something
• How do we react to this great request
• Do we pray for “ourselves”?
Protect me
Fix me
Make my prayers come true
• Maybe we get angry with that request
Perhaps because we feel that is our place
• Every time that Jesus talks about death, he also talks about denial
• Maybe the disciples don’t understand because they were expecting an earthly king
• We cannot judge because we do not know everything
• Maybe we were sad because of the faith they had and the courage they had
Mark 10:38-40
• Our Jesus Christ of love and grace doesn’t rebuke them
• Maybe Jesus Christ see their faith too
• Jesus then asks, “can you be like me”
• Jesus listens to the questions, asks a question and they says “yes”
• Perhaps its empathy in His voice
• Love will do anything form hurting someone they love
• His answer is that they will have to suffer, but yet the choice isn’t His to make
Mark 10:41-45
• Jesus Christ says they are asking for power in a powerless world
• Power isn’t good, we shouldn’t be involved in it
• We have worked hard to get somewhere, and then realize that is a treadmill we are one, since we have to work harder and harder to keep going
• The powerful one’s are the ones whose names we do not know
• To be like Jesus Christ is to be a salve
• God didn’t come into the world to be served, but to serve
“This much is for sure: whether we can make sense of it or not, serving is how we will transform the world, not from top down, but from bottom up. The ultimate trickle up effect. Our leaders can be servants, and the best ones will be, but we must never surrender our power to the powerful. The power of God has given us is the strongest stuff in the world, the power to serve.” – Barbara Brown Taylor
• May you let go the need for power
• May you see that real power is found in service
• May you see that the way of the Lord is not the way of this world
• May you be called to a life of serving, a life that will make a difference, a life of the Servant
• May you go and serve, and in serving, find life and love
We can either go home, or Follow Jesus Christ
Pastor Griff Martin
“If the Lord is indeed our shepherd, then everything goes topsy-turvy, losing becomes finding and crying becomes laughing. The last become first and the weak become strong…if the Lord is our host at the great feast, then the sky’s the limit.” ~ Freerick Buechner
Mark 10:32-34
• Jesus explains that He will die, the final time they are walking down to Jerusalem
• We avoid dealing with death because it hurts
Mark 10:35-37
• James and John are yearning to ask Him something
• How do we react to this great request
• Do we pray for “ourselves”?
Protect me
Fix me
Make my prayers come true
• Maybe we get angry with that request
Perhaps because we feel that is our place
• Every time that Jesus talks about death, he also talks about denial
• Maybe the disciples don’t understand because they were expecting an earthly king
• We cannot judge because we do not know everything
• Maybe we were sad because of the faith they had and the courage they had
Mark 10:38-40
• Our Jesus Christ of love and grace doesn’t rebuke them
• Maybe Jesus Christ see their faith too
• Jesus then asks, “can you be like me”
• Jesus listens to the questions, asks a question and they says “yes”
• Perhaps its empathy in His voice
• Love will do anything form hurting someone they love
• His answer is that they will have to suffer, but yet the choice isn’t His to make
Mark 10:41-45
• Jesus Christ says they are asking for power in a powerless world
• Power isn’t good, we shouldn’t be involved in it
• We have worked hard to get somewhere, and then realize that is a treadmill we are one, since we have to work harder and harder to keep going
• The powerful one’s are the ones whose names we do not know
• To be like Jesus Christ is to be a salve
• God didn’t come into the world to be served, but to serve
“This much is for sure: whether we can make sense of it or not, serving is how we will transform the world, not from top down, but from bottom up. The ultimate trickle up effect. Our leaders can be servants, and the best ones will be, but we must never surrender our power to the powerful. The power of God has given us is the strongest stuff in the world, the power to serve.” – Barbara Brown Taylor
• May you let go the need for power
• May you see that real power is found in service
• May you see that the way of the Lord is not the way of this world
• May you be called to a life of serving, a life that will make a difference, a life of the Servant
• May you go and serve, and in serving, find life and love
We can either go home, or Follow Jesus Christ
Pastor Griff Martin
Sermon: Is Baptism Necessary for Salvation?
October 11, 2009
Acts 2:38 - Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
One of the criticisms of the Baptist Church centers around the meaning of baptism. Some people think that Baptists do not believe in salvation apart from baptism. In fact, the people who broke away from the Anglican Church in England in the 17th century, Separatists who eventually were called Baptists struggled with the mode of baptism for decades. In reading the Scriptures for themselves, they came to believe that salvation resulted from a personal profession of faith, and baptism to symbolize salvation occurred after that profession of faith. For that teaching Baptists were persecuted, imprisoned and killed.
What do the Scriptures Teach? Is Baptism necessary for Salvation?
I. The history of Baptism
• First profess your faith, then you get baptized.
• History of baptism goes back into most religions.
• Most religions have some sort of ritual to indicate cleansing as a new form of a new life
• Lustration: form of Baptism used by the Jews on the Gentiles and they were henceforth admitted to all the privileges
Immersed in water
• Taught that Baptism washes away the old life symbolically
• It was never taught as effective, that baptism made the person a Jew
• It was a symbol that the old life has been washed away
• John was Baptizing as a Jew, baptized for the repentance of sins
• Mark 1:4
• It was a symbol that they repented and were preparing for the messiah
• Jesus came meeting all the right requirements
• Came and got baptized, and sacrificed, He was the messiah
• Final commandment from Jesus:
• Matthew 28:19-20
Make disciples and baptize them
Did not say, make disciples by baptizing them
• Sacramental baptisms are practiced by other Christian faiths:
They baptize to bring in grace of life to the children
Way of saving that child
Sin of child is forgiven
Its effective, not symbolic
Predestination b/c they were predestined by God to be saved
• Church of Christ:
teaches that you don’t have a complete experience with Christ to be saved until you are obedient to get in water and when you come up out of water, then you are saved
use Acts 2:38 as authority for Baptismal regenerates
Baptism regenerates you
Teach at same time, when you come out of water, then the Holy Spirit dwells in you
Alexander Campbell forms disciples of Christ in Church of Christ in 1830’s
• Early Baptists didn’t believe that you cant sing in church, no music
• Campbell: formed Church of Christ, based theology on Mark 1:1-10 (Jesus came out of water, saw Heaven and Spirit descend on Him)
• See that Holy Spirit doesn’t come to life till you come out of water, b/c that is what happened to Jesus Christ
• Jesus was Father, Son, Holy Spirit all at once
Holy spirit was giving testimony
Acts 2:38 – repent and be baptized
II. Is Baptism necessary for salvation?
• Some don’t want to be dunked
• Does that mean you are not save?
• No
• Not according to scripture
• John 3:16 -
You profess your faith, you are saved
• Luke 23:43
2 thieves on Cross, says to Jesus, remember me
And Jesus says, that he’d be in Paradise
That man never had the opportunity to be baptized
That one incident that person does not have to be baptized to be saved
• Nothing about baptism in John 3:16
III. Why is baptism important to believers?
• Baptists were called “dunkers” at first
• Because purpose behind baptism is to declare publicly one’s personal faith in Jesus Christ
• Acts 2:41 –
Those who accepted message were baptized
Believe, then were baptized
• Acts 8:12-13
Believe, then baptized
• Acts 16:13-15
• Acts 18: 7-8
• Opened heart to message, then were baptized
• Anglican church says sprinkling and they are believers
• But the bible doesn’t teach that
• The book of acts is the history of the early church
• The early church never baptized before they believed
• Romans 6:3-5 (baptism is symbolic)
Cant get that out of sprinkling/pouring water
Get that out of dunking someone
• Baptize: created by those who translated by KJV
• Baptizio: to dip, immerse, or submerge (never says pour, sprinkle)
• When translators were translating, they recognized they could not translate it or they would have to start dunking believers, they made new word
• Resurrection: to stand and again (to stand again)
Will die, but will stand again
• Baptism: depicts death, burial and resurrection
• Symbol of passing from death to life
• Cant get that symbol out of sprinkling
• Baptism: (John 5:24)
Go Down: death
Up: Resurrection
• Galatians 3:26-27
• Baptism is at the heart of the Christian faith
• It is a symbol that one belongs to Jesus Christ; included being into the church
• It gives us a new identify
• Baptism is identified with the belonging to Christ
• Important because it is being Obedient to the command of Christ
• Last command by Jesus was to baptize
Very important because it comes from Jesus Christ
• We don’t have to be baptized to be saved
• It acknowledges the inward grace outwardly
• It is your choice
• Baptism symbolizes that it is God who has saved us
• It is not the water nor the act of baptism that saves
• The outward act does no produce the inward grace
• Grace is not something we ear, but something we receive as a gift
• Baptism simply acknowledges that inward grace in an outward symbol
~ Dr. Phil Lineberger
Acts 2:38 - Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
One of the criticisms of the Baptist Church centers around the meaning of baptism. Some people think that Baptists do not believe in salvation apart from baptism. In fact, the people who broke away from the Anglican Church in England in the 17th century, Separatists who eventually were called Baptists struggled with the mode of baptism for decades. In reading the Scriptures for themselves, they came to believe that salvation resulted from a personal profession of faith, and baptism to symbolize salvation occurred after that profession of faith. For that teaching Baptists were persecuted, imprisoned and killed.
What do the Scriptures Teach? Is Baptism necessary for Salvation?
I. The history of Baptism
• First profess your faith, then you get baptized.
• History of baptism goes back into most religions.
• Most religions have some sort of ritual to indicate cleansing as a new form of a new life
• Lustration: form of Baptism used by the Jews on the Gentiles and they were henceforth admitted to all the privileges
Immersed in water
• Taught that Baptism washes away the old life symbolically
• It was never taught as effective, that baptism made the person a Jew
• It was a symbol that the old life has been washed away
• John was Baptizing as a Jew, baptized for the repentance of sins
• Mark 1:4
• It was a symbol that they repented and were preparing for the messiah
• Jesus came meeting all the right requirements
• Came and got baptized, and sacrificed, He was the messiah
• Final commandment from Jesus:
• Matthew 28:19-20
Make disciples and baptize them
Did not say, make disciples by baptizing them
• Sacramental baptisms are practiced by other Christian faiths:
They baptize to bring in grace of life to the children
Way of saving that child
Sin of child is forgiven
Its effective, not symbolic
Predestination b/c they were predestined by God to be saved
• Church of Christ:
teaches that you don’t have a complete experience with Christ to be saved until you are obedient to get in water and when you come up out of water, then you are saved
use Acts 2:38 as authority for Baptismal regenerates
Baptism regenerates you
Teach at same time, when you come out of water, then the Holy Spirit dwells in you
Alexander Campbell forms disciples of Christ in Church of Christ in 1830’s
• Early Baptists didn’t believe that you cant sing in church, no music
• Campbell: formed Church of Christ, based theology on Mark 1:1-10 (Jesus came out of water, saw Heaven and Spirit descend on Him)
• See that Holy Spirit doesn’t come to life till you come out of water, b/c that is what happened to Jesus Christ
• Jesus was Father, Son, Holy Spirit all at once
Holy spirit was giving testimony
Acts 2:38 – repent and be baptized
II. Is Baptism necessary for salvation?
• Some don’t want to be dunked
• Does that mean you are not save?
• No
• Not according to scripture
• John 3:16 -
You profess your faith, you are saved
• Luke 23:43
2 thieves on Cross, says to Jesus, remember me
And Jesus says, that he’d be in Paradise
That man never had the opportunity to be baptized
That one incident that person does not have to be baptized to be saved
• Nothing about baptism in John 3:16
III. Why is baptism important to believers?
• Baptists were called “dunkers” at first
• Because purpose behind baptism is to declare publicly one’s personal faith in Jesus Christ
• Acts 2:41 –
Those who accepted message were baptized
Believe, then were baptized
• Acts 8:12-13
Believe, then baptized
• Acts 16:13-15
• Acts 18: 7-8
• Opened heart to message, then were baptized
• Anglican church says sprinkling and they are believers
• But the bible doesn’t teach that
• The book of acts is the history of the early church
• The early church never baptized before they believed
• Romans 6:3-5 (baptism is symbolic)
Cant get that out of sprinkling/pouring water
Get that out of dunking someone
• Baptize: created by those who translated by KJV
• Baptizio: to dip, immerse, or submerge (never says pour, sprinkle)
• When translators were translating, they recognized they could not translate it or they would have to start dunking believers, they made new word
• Resurrection: to stand and again (to stand again)
Will die, but will stand again
• Baptism: depicts death, burial and resurrection
• Symbol of passing from death to life
• Cant get that symbol out of sprinkling
• Baptism: (John 5:24)
Go Down: death
Up: Resurrection
• Galatians 3:26-27
• Baptism is at the heart of the Christian faith
• It is a symbol that one belongs to Jesus Christ; included being into the church
• It gives us a new identify
• Baptism is identified with the belonging to Christ
• Important because it is being Obedient to the command of Christ
• Last command by Jesus was to baptize
Very important because it comes from Jesus Christ
• We don’t have to be baptized to be saved
• It acknowledges the inward grace outwardly
• It is your choice
• Baptism symbolizes that it is God who has saved us
• It is not the water nor the act of baptism that saves
• The outward act does no produce the inward grace
• Grace is not something we ear, but something we receive as a gift
• Baptism simply acknowledges that inward grace in an outward symbol
~ Dr. Phil Lineberger
Sermon: Is Personal Faith in Jesus a Western Heresy?
10/4/09
Is personal faith in Jesus a Western Heresy?
Romans 10:9-13 – That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame." For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
In a recent newspaper article, the new Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, told delegates to the group’s triennial meeting in Anaheim, California, that the overarching connection to the problems facing the Episcopalians has to do with the “great western heresy – that WE CAN BE SAVED AS INDIVIDUALS, THAT ANY OF US ALONE CAN BE IN RIGHT RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD…That individualistic focus is a form of idolatry, for it puts me and my word sin the place that only God can occupy, at the center of existence, as the ground of being.”
The article basically says that we cant have a personal relationship with Christ.
What does Scripture teach about a personal faith in Jesus Christ?
• God knows us like no one else knows us, and He still loves us
• He died for us (John 3: 16), there must be something in me worth dying for
• Because Christ came to earth, flesh and blood, it angers people (reject idea)
• The Episcopal church is basically a form from the Anglican church, hence the Catholic church
• They have 2 Sacraments (which are just symbols that convey grace) (grace from God is conveyed to you if you do them) – these are two necessaries
o Holy baptism
o Lord’s Supper
• Comes from western Catholic church
• Catholic means “universal”
• Psalm 51:5 – Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
o If a child is conceived in sin, the church felt that they had to do something, so they baptize as a sacrament, not a person’s confession
o Since Adam sinned, everybody who came after Adam received that trait, DNA, someway physically that DNA passed and the person became a sinner
o Early fathers decided to baptize, a sacrament, into the life of child, so the child can be considered “child of God”
• More authoritive than Scripture
• They believe in traditions more than the authority of Scripture
• Romans 10:9-13 – says to confess with the mouth, believe with your and then you are saved
• Justified (Declared not guilty) and being saved (rescued from eternal hell) is a theological belief
• Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved
I. There are two elements to personal faith
• First: Belief
• A fetus cannot believe
• Kids have trouble believing
• Romans 10:9, 10:10
• John 5:24
• John 6:40
• John 11:25 – He who believes will live even though he dies
• Death, burial, and resurrection provides our justification
• Belief is personal, no one else can believe for you
• Romans 6:5-10 – if we believe, then we a have a “personal” relationship with Christ
• Galatians 2:15-16 – justified in faith in Christ, not by observing the law
• Saved by faith, not by the laws or works, so its personal
• One element is belief
• Second: Confession
• Romans 10:9 – confess, then saved
• Romans 10:10-11, 10:13
• If you confess with your mouth then you are saved
• Publicly confess, by that confession, are joined by the church (referring to marriage)
• You say your prayer, you ask Christ, publicly say that you want Him to be your savior
• Anyone who trusts in Him will never be put to shame
• You also need to confess
II. Personal faith is an individual experience
• Parents cant confess for kids
• No teaching in all Scripture where a parent believes and confesses for kids
• Presbyterians sprinkle infants to bring them into church
o because they believe that you are predestined to be saved
o baptism confirms you are predestined to be saved
• Grace of God that goes before the child
• Before child can profess faith, the Grace of God acts (John Calvin)
• Wesley: kept tradition of sprinkling the infants
• Symbol becomes vehicle of grace
• Kids aren’t sinners from birth
• Romans 5:12 –Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned—
o Because Adam sinned, we have same tendency
o Because all sinned
o Death may have entered world through Adam, but you are a sinner only when you sin
• Matthew 18:10 – God takes care of little children unlike anyone else
• Matthew 18:14 – God takes care of those who are incapable of helping or believing for themselves
• Martin Luther protested teaching of Catholic Church, but never broke off the sprinkling of Baptism (accommodates himself)
• Romans 10:9 (singular) (personal, not saved as a group)
• Romans 10:10, 11 (Singular)
• Romans 10:13
• John 3:16 (whoever)
• Acts 8:34-36 (not the act of church, act of individual)
• Luke 12:8 (whoever)
• Galatians 1:1 (sent by Jesus Christ and God the Father)
• Paul did not worry about being sanctioned by the church, that he had a personal relationship with God
Is personal faith a western heresy? Absolutely not! Personal faith is a sound biblical teaching stressed by Jesus himself. The faith of the New Testament is a personal faith where each person must make a decision for himself or herself whether Jesus died for his or her sins.
That’s what makes you a follower of Christ or unbeliever, No need for symbols, can happen
Phil Linerberger
Is personal faith in Jesus a Western Heresy?
Romans 10:9-13 – That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame." For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
In a recent newspaper article, the new Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, told delegates to the group’s triennial meeting in Anaheim, California, that the overarching connection to the problems facing the Episcopalians has to do with the “great western heresy – that WE CAN BE SAVED AS INDIVIDUALS, THAT ANY OF US ALONE CAN BE IN RIGHT RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD…That individualistic focus is a form of idolatry, for it puts me and my word sin the place that only God can occupy, at the center of existence, as the ground of being.”
The article basically says that we cant have a personal relationship with Christ.
What does Scripture teach about a personal faith in Jesus Christ?
• God knows us like no one else knows us, and He still loves us
• He died for us (John 3: 16), there must be something in me worth dying for
• Because Christ came to earth, flesh and blood, it angers people (reject idea)
• The Episcopal church is basically a form from the Anglican church, hence the Catholic church
• They have 2 Sacraments (which are just symbols that convey grace) (grace from God is conveyed to you if you do them) – these are two necessaries
o Holy baptism
o Lord’s Supper
• Comes from western Catholic church
• Catholic means “universal”
• Psalm 51:5 – Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
o If a child is conceived in sin, the church felt that they had to do something, so they baptize as a sacrament, not a person’s confession
o Since Adam sinned, everybody who came after Adam received that trait, DNA, someway physically that DNA passed and the person became a sinner
o Early fathers decided to baptize, a sacrament, into the life of child, so the child can be considered “child of God”
• More authoritive than Scripture
• They believe in traditions more than the authority of Scripture
• Romans 10:9-13 – says to confess with the mouth, believe with your and then you are saved
• Justified (Declared not guilty) and being saved (rescued from eternal hell) is a theological belief
• Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved
I. There are two elements to personal faith
• First: Belief
• A fetus cannot believe
• Kids have trouble believing
• Romans 10:9, 10:10
• John 5:24
• John 6:40
• John 11:25 – He who believes will live even though he dies
• Death, burial, and resurrection provides our justification
• Belief is personal, no one else can believe for you
• Romans 6:5-10 – if we believe, then we a have a “personal” relationship with Christ
• Galatians 2:15-16 – justified in faith in Christ, not by observing the law
• Saved by faith, not by the laws or works, so its personal
• One element is belief
• Second: Confession
• Romans 10:9 – confess, then saved
• Romans 10:10-11, 10:13
• If you confess with your mouth then you are saved
• Publicly confess, by that confession, are joined by the church (referring to marriage)
• You say your prayer, you ask Christ, publicly say that you want Him to be your savior
• Anyone who trusts in Him will never be put to shame
• You also need to confess
II. Personal faith is an individual experience
• Parents cant confess for kids
• No teaching in all Scripture where a parent believes and confesses for kids
• Presbyterians sprinkle infants to bring them into church
o because they believe that you are predestined to be saved
o baptism confirms you are predestined to be saved
• Grace of God that goes before the child
• Before child can profess faith, the Grace of God acts (John Calvin)
• Wesley: kept tradition of sprinkling the infants
• Symbol becomes vehicle of grace
• Kids aren’t sinners from birth
• Romans 5:12 –Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned—
o Because Adam sinned, we have same tendency
o Because all sinned
o Death may have entered world through Adam, but you are a sinner only when you sin
• Matthew 18:10 – God takes care of little children unlike anyone else
• Matthew 18:14 – God takes care of those who are incapable of helping or believing for themselves
• Martin Luther protested teaching of Catholic Church, but never broke off the sprinkling of Baptism (accommodates himself)
• Romans 10:9 (singular) (personal, not saved as a group)
• Romans 10:10, 11 (Singular)
• Romans 10:13
• John 3:16 (whoever)
• Acts 8:34-36 (not the act of church, act of individual)
• Luke 12:8 (whoever)
• Galatians 1:1 (sent by Jesus Christ and God the Father)
• Paul did not worry about being sanctioned by the church, that he had a personal relationship with God
Is personal faith a western heresy? Absolutely not! Personal faith is a sound biblical teaching stressed by Jesus himself. The faith of the New Testament is a personal faith where each person must make a decision for himself or herself whether Jesus died for his or her sins.
That’s what makes you a follower of Christ or unbeliever, No need for symbols, can happen
Phil Linerberger
Sermon: Fear
9/27/09
Destructive Attitudes Most Difficult to Change: Fear II Timothy 1:1-7
II Timothy 1:1-7 – Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, according to the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus, To Timothy, my dear son: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. I thank God, whom I serve, as my forefathers did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (fear), but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.
God did not give us a spirit of fear.
So where did that fear come from?
Basil King, author of THE CONQUEST OF FEAR, points out that fear causes more misery than all the sin and sickness of our lives combined. We are not sick all the time. We are not sinning all the time. But most people are afraid of something or somebody all the time.
Sometimes we feel like we are afraid of everything, we are afraid of ourselves. We are afraid of people, we are afraid of the future. We are afraid of the past, we are afraid of life, we are afraid of death.
Over and over again the message of the Bible is clear: FEAR NOT, FEAR NOT! Over seventy times this emotion, fear, is mentioned in the bible – more than any other human emotion. Paul, writing to his young disciple Timothy reminded him, “God has not given us a spirit of timidity (fear), but to love, power and a sound mind.”
If you’re afraid, it didn’t come from God.
How do we change the destructive attitude of habitual fear?
I. Fear is a normal emotion
• Fear can be destructive
• Psychologist identified the fight or flight syndrome
• When we are afraid, our body releases adrenaline, our heart beats faster, because we have to make a decision
• That’s a normal reaction
• God has created us with these abilities
• Fear is a real, common/human emotion
• The first real deep emotion felt was felt in the Garden of Eden by Adam and Eve
• Adam and Eve hid
• Genesis 3:10 – He answered, "I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid."
o I was afraid, a common human emotion
• Mark 4:35-41 – That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, "Let us go over to the other side." Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?" He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?" They were terrified and asked each other, "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!"
• 2 Corinthians 7:5 – For when we came into Macedonia, this body of ours had no rest, but we were harassed at every turn—conflicts on the outside, fears within.
o Conflicts on outside, fear within
• Fear is a normal reaction
• Don’t have to be afraid of yourself if you fear certain things
• Fear has been with us since the beginning of creation
• We’re not abnormal, God created us in this way
II. Fear has its reasons
• Psalms:
• It could be an employer, spouse, child, teacher
• There are things that cause us to be afraid
• One: we overestimate the problems and underestimate our resources
• Numbers 13:31-33 – But the men who had gone up with him said, "We can't attack those people; they are stronger than we are." And they spread among the Israelites a bad report about the land they had explored. They said, "The land we explored devours those living in it. All the people we saw there are of great size. We saw the Nephilim there (the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim). We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them."
o God told the Israelites to live in a home He got for them
o The spies saw the land, and knew God had the strength to get them there, but saw the people and were afraid
o We have the grasshopper mentality
o The job is bigger, challenges are bigger than we are
• We’re afraid because we think everything is bigger than us
• Two: We fear because we feel we face problems no one else has or feels
• Young adults think they discovered everything
• We think we face problems no one else has ever faced
o Marital/careers/health problems never faced in all of history
• Romans 8:28-39 – And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered. "No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
o Who are these people that scare you?
o Jesus is interceding for you?
o Will God love you to the very end? Will God love you?
o Nothing you face is new to God
o You do not have a unique problem
• A psychologist uses the term “neurosis” – you are unique with your problem
• You are the only one who is stressed/but you are not
• Sometimes we give people more power over us than we really should
• Proverbs 29:25 – Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe.
o Keeps us from being whom God wants us to be
o Nobody is that important
• Jesus had little child sit on His lap
o Jesus said you should listen to the kid
o you get into the Kingdom of God by being like a little kid
III. Fear can be transformed
• fear can hold you prison or faith can set you free
• John 14:27 – Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
o Jesus left us His peace
• Faith in God transforms fear
• Loving God with all our hearts, and doubting with all our minds
• Genesis 26:24 – That night the LORD appeared to him and said, "I am the God of your father Abraham. Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bless you and will increase the number of your descendants for the sake of my servant Abraham."
o The immense presence of God
• God became man, flesh and blood
• Unique to all religions of the world, dwelled with us
• Psalm 56:3 – When I am afraid, I will trust in you.
o Says when Im afraid
• Isaiah 41:10 – So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
• Fear can be transformed as we place our trust in God
• Deuteronomy 1:21 – See, the LORD your God has given you the land. Go up and take possession of it as the LORD, the God of your fathers, told you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."
• Deuteronomy 20:3-4 – He shall say: "Hear, O Israel, today you are going into battle against your enemies. Do not be fainthearted or afraid; do not be terrified or give way to panic before them. For the LORD your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory."
• There is never a time that you go anywhere without God
• You take God everywhere
• Hebrews 13:6 – So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?"
o What can man do
o Being strengthened, encouraged
• Matthew 8:26 – He replied, "You of little faith, why are you so afraid?" Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.
• Faith has a way of transforming our fears
• Faith in God, faith in God’s power
• Our Father owns the land on both sides of the river (death)
• 1 John 4:18 – There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
• John 10:27-30 – My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. I and the Father are one."
• God has given us a wonderful gift to transform our fears
• Its not that we wont have fears, we’re just human
• Faith in Him, in His power, in His love
• “therein lies freedom” – allow faith to transform you
• Isaiah 12:2 – Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation."
• What can I do to transform my fear?
• Do I believe in a personal God?
o Ask yourself.
o One who can contact me and I can contact Him?
• How do I know who that God is? What kind of God? How do I know who God is?
o No greater picture of God through Jesus Christ
• How powerful is the God I believe in?
o Is he the creator of the Universe?
o Did he really raise the dead?
o How powerful is the person who can bring life out of death
• How much does God love me?
o That He so loved the world that He gave His own son.
o He gave all He had
Fear is a very normal emotion. It is God’s gift to us to help us to avoid destructive behaviors and circumstances. But abnormal and habitual fear can paralyze and destroy us. God provides us with a faith so powerful that we can be set free from paralyzing fear.
~ Dr. Phil Lineberger
Destructive Attitudes Most Difficult to Change: Fear II Timothy 1:1-7
II Timothy 1:1-7 – Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, according to the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus, To Timothy, my dear son: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. I thank God, whom I serve, as my forefathers did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (fear), but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.
God did not give us a spirit of fear.
So where did that fear come from?
Basil King, author of THE CONQUEST OF FEAR, points out that fear causes more misery than all the sin and sickness of our lives combined. We are not sick all the time. We are not sinning all the time. But most people are afraid of something or somebody all the time.
Sometimes we feel like we are afraid of everything, we are afraid of ourselves. We are afraid of people, we are afraid of the future. We are afraid of the past, we are afraid of life, we are afraid of death.
Over and over again the message of the Bible is clear: FEAR NOT, FEAR NOT! Over seventy times this emotion, fear, is mentioned in the bible – more than any other human emotion. Paul, writing to his young disciple Timothy reminded him, “God has not given us a spirit of timidity (fear), but to love, power and a sound mind.”
If you’re afraid, it didn’t come from God.
How do we change the destructive attitude of habitual fear?
I. Fear is a normal emotion
• Fear can be destructive
• Psychologist identified the fight or flight syndrome
• When we are afraid, our body releases adrenaline, our heart beats faster, because we have to make a decision
• That’s a normal reaction
• God has created us with these abilities
• Fear is a real, common/human emotion
• The first real deep emotion felt was felt in the Garden of Eden by Adam and Eve
• Adam and Eve hid
• Genesis 3:10 – He answered, "I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid."
o I was afraid, a common human emotion
• Mark 4:35-41 – That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, "Let us go over to the other side." Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?" He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?" They were terrified and asked each other, "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!"
• 2 Corinthians 7:5 – For when we came into Macedonia, this body of ours had no rest, but we were harassed at every turn—conflicts on the outside, fears within.
o Conflicts on outside, fear within
• Fear is a normal reaction
• Don’t have to be afraid of yourself if you fear certain things
• Fear has been with us since the beginning of creation
• We’re not abnormal, God created us in this way
II. Fear has its reasons
• Psalms:
• It could be an employer, spouse, child, teacher
• There are things that cause us to be afraid
• One: we overestimate the problems and underestimate our resources
• Numbers 13:31-33 – But the men who had gone up with him said, "We can't attack those people; they are stronger than we are." And they spread among the Israelites a bad report about the land they had explored. They said, "The land we explored devours those living in it. All the people we saw there are of great size. We saw the Nephilim there (the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim). We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them."
o God told the Israelites to live in a home He got for them
o The spies saw the land, and knew God had the strength to get them there, but saw the people and were afraid
o We have the grasshopper mentality
o The job is bigger, challenges are bigger than we are
• We’re afraid because we think everything is bigger than us
• Two: We fear because we feel we face problems no one else has or feels
• Young adults think they discovered everything
• We think we face problems no one else has ever faced
o Marital/careers/health problems never faced in all of history
• Romans 8:28-39 – And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered. "No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
o Who are these people that scare you?
o Jesus is interceding for you?
o Will God love you to the very end? Will God love you?
o Nothing you face is new to God
o You do not have a unique problem
• A psychologist uses the term “neurosis” – you are unique with your problem
• You are the only one who is stressed/but you are not
• Sometimes we give people more power over us than we really should
• Proverbs 29:25 – Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe.
o Keeps us from being whom God wants us to be
o Nobody is that important
• Jesus had little child sit on His lap
o Jesus said you should listen to the kid
o you get into the Kingdom of God by being like a little kid
III. Fear can be transformed
• fear can hold you prison or faith can set you free
• John 14:27 – Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
o Jesus left us His peace
• Faith in God transforms fear
• Loving God with all our hearts, and doubting with all our minds
• Genesis 26:24 – That night the LORD appeared to him and said, "I am the God of your father Abraham. Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bless you and will increase the number of your descendants for the sake of my servant Abraham."
o The immense presence of God
• God became man, flesh and blood
• Unique to all religions of the world, dwelled with us
• Psalm 56:3 – When I am afraid, I will trust in you.
o Says when Im afraid
• Isaiah 41:10 – So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
• Fear can be transformed as we place our trust in God
• Deuteronomy 1:21 – See, the LORD your God has given you the land. Go up and take possession of it as the LORD, the God of your fathers, told you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."
• Deuteronomy 20:3-4 – He shall say: "Hear, O Israel, today you are going into battle against your enemies. Do not be fainthearted or afraid; do not be terrified or give way to panic before them. For the LORD your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory."
• There is never a time that you go anywhere without God
• You take God everywhere
• Hebrews 13:6 – So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?"
o What can man do
o Being strengthened, encouraged
• Matthew 8:26 – He replied, "You of little faith, why are you so afraid?" Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.
• Faith has a way of transforming our fears
• Faith in God, faith in God’s power
• Our Father owns the land on both sides of the river (death)
• 1 John 4:18 – There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
• John 10:27-30 – My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. I and the Father are one."
• God has given us a wonderful gift to transform our fears
• Its not that we wont have fears, we’re just human
• Faith in Him, in His power, in His love
• “therein lies freedom” – allow faith to transform you
• Isaiah 12:2 – Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation."
• What can I do to transform my fear?
• Do I believe in a personal God?
o Ask yourself.
o One who can contact me and I can contact Him?
• How do I know who that God is? What kind of God? How do I know who God is?
o No greater picture of God through Jesus Christ
• How powerful is the God I believe in?
o Is he the creator of the Universe?
o Did he really raise the dead?
o How powerful is the person who can bring life out of death
• How much does God love me?
o That He so loved the world that He gave His own son.
o He gave all He had
Fear is a very normal emotion. It is God’s gift to us to help us to avoid destructive behaviors and circumstances. But abnormal and habitual fear can paralyze and destroy us. God provides us with a faith so powerful that we can be set free from paralyzing fear.
~ Dr. Phil Lineberger
Sermon: Negativism
9/20/09 Destructive Attitudes Most Difficult to Change: Negativism
Philippians 4:8-9 – Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
PD Ouspensky wrote, “The strangest and most fantastic fact about negative emotions is that people actually worship them.”
Paul wrote the words in Philippians 4:8-9 to counter the addiction to negativism. In order to change a negative attitude there are some things we need to understand about our thinking processes and the disciplines needed to effect change.
We should think about the good things
• Negative thinking becomes a bad habit, which over time, becomes an addiction
• In order to change, we need to understand the thinking process
• We need to fill our minds on what is:
o TRUE
o noble
o and all the good things about life
o the best
o the beautiful
• And put all that into practice and God will work you into His excellent harmonies
Thoughts are Powerful
• Positive thoughts produce positive results
• Negative thoughts produce negative results
• All bad things in life came from an idea, which led to action
• From those thoughts have come terrible wars and other terrible crimes
• Our personal lives where we are today, is a result of many thoughts
• Thoughts, if persisted in, can produce results
• Negative thinking: (raises/increases)
o Raises blood pressure
o Fatigue
o Worry
o Stress
• Can wellness be cured by positive-ness?
• Norman Cousins:
o Did a research study lasting for 5 minutes which led him to sleep, experimented with laughing therapy
o Result: People who are more positive news and laughter recover faster
• The bible says laughter is good medicine
It is much easier to be negative than to be positive
• There is a negativity bias
• For the human mind, bad is stronger than the good in our minds
• It takes 5 positive comments to overcome one negative comment because the human brain has a negative bias
• A negative emotion distracts us to emotions rather than decisions
• With positive emotions, we think better and are open to considerations
• Luke 6:45 – The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.
o Prayer, bible studies, good deeds are all stored in your mind
o When you have to respond, you should respond with the strength that is stored up
Negative thinking must be treated like any addiction
• How can we make better decisions?
• God created us with the ability to supervise over decision making process
• Philippians 4:8 – Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
o Disciples
o A disciple knows what to do when they should do it
o According to the Williams New Testament: Practice thinking on what is true
o Practice – is a command in Greek
o
• Verse 9 – Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
o Practice to think and do
o 2 full thrusts of human life
• Supervise brain
• Practice what is true
• The worse a story is the more we believe it is true
• Paul says to practice thinking this whole world is a temple of God
• Think of pure, lovely, pleasing, attractive thinks
• Anything “fair speaking”
• Our minds should be on winsome thoughts
• How:
1.) Look within
Jesus resides in us
John 14:20 – On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.
John 16:33 – "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
Can look at the media for Jesus Christ
Don’t let the bad things settle in your mind
Turn them into good things
Philippians 4:13 – I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
Can do through Jesus Christ
The earth is the Lord’s
Psalm 24:1 – The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it;
1 Timothy 4:4 – For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving,
Look within the World
2.) Look above
Change Things
Philippians 4:6-7 – Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Spend time in prayer
2 Timothy 3:16-17 – All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
God did not create us to spend our life in a negative stupor. Jesus came that we might have life and have it abundantly. Part of the abundant life comes “by filling our minds and meditating on the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse.”
This Week we can re-orient our minds
1.) Take a notebook, in 10 minutes, write down the good things that happened to you
2.) Write down the good things you did for yourself
3.) Write down the good you did for someone else
Why do this? Because we tend to forget the good and remember the bad
Writing down the good re-programs us!
Dr Phil Lineberger
Philippians 4:8-9 – Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
PD Ouspensky wrote, “The strangest and most fantastic fact about negative emotions is that people actually worship them.”
Paul wrote the words in Philippians 4:8-9 to counter the addiction to negativism. In order to change a negative attitude there are some things we need to understand about our thinking processes and the disciplines needed to effect change.
We should think about the good things
• Negative thinking becomes a bad habit, which over time, becomes an addiction
• In order to change, we need to understand the thinking process
• We need to fill our minds on what is:
o TRUE
o noble
o and all the good things about life
o the best
o the beautiful
• And put all that into practice and God will work you into His excellent harmonies
Thoughts are Powerful
• Positive thoughts produce positive results
• Negative thoughts produce negative results
• All bad things in life came from an idea, which led to action
• From those thoughts have come terrible wars and other terrible crimes
• Our personal lives where we are today, is a result of many thoughts
• Thoughts, if persisted in, can produce results
• Negative thinking: (raises/increases)
o Raises blood pressure
o Fatigue
o Worry
o Stress
• Can wellness be cured by positive-ness?
• Norman Cousins:
o Did a research study lasting for 5 minutes which led him to sleep, experimented with laughing therapy
o Result: People who are more positive news and laughter recover faster
• The bible says laughter is good medicine
It is much easier to be negative than to be positive
• There is a negativity bias
• For the human mind, bad is stronger than the good in our minds
• It takes 5 positive comments to overcome one negative comment because the human brain has a negative bias
• A negative emotion distracts us to emotions rather than decisions
• With positive emotions, we think better and are open to considerations
• Luke 6:45 – The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.
o Prayer, bible studies, good deeds are all stored in your mind
o When you have to respond, you should respond with the strength that is stored up
Negative thinking must be treated like any addiction
• How can we make better decisions?
• God created us with the ability to supervise over decision making process
• Philippians 4:8 – Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
o Disciples
o A disciple knows what to do when they should do it
o According to the Williams New Testament: Practice thinking on what is true
o Practice – is a command in Greek
o
• Verse 9 – Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
o Practice to think and do
o 2 full thrusts of human life
• Supervise brain
• Practice what is true
• The worse a story is the more we believe it is true
• Paul says to practice thinking this whole world is a temple of God
• Think of pure, lovely, pleasing, attractive thinks
• Anything “fair speaking”
• Our minds should be on winsome thoughts
• How:
1.) Look within
Jesus resides in us
John 14:20 – On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.
John 16:33 – "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
Can look at the media for Jesus Christ
Don’t let the bad things settle in your mind
Turn them into good things
Philippians 4:13 – I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
Can do through Jesus Christ
The earth is the Lord’s
Psalm 24:1 – The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it;
1 Timothy 4:4 – For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving,
Look within the World
2.) Look above
Change Things
Philippians 4:6-7 – Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Spend time in prayer
2 Timothy 3:16-17 – All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
God did not create us to spend our life in a negative stupor. Jesus came that we might have life and have it abundantly. Part of the abundant life comes “by filling our minds and meditating on the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse.”
This Week we can re-orient our minds
1.) Take a notebook, in 10 minutes, write down the good things that happened to you
2.) Write down the good things you did for yourself
3.) Write down the good you did for someone else
Why do this? Because we tend to forget the good and remember the bad
Writing down the good re-programs us!
Dr Phil Lineberger
Sermon: Forgiving Myself
9/13/09 Destructive Attitudes Most Difficult to Change: Forgiving Myself 1 John 1:5-10
The inability to experience forgiveness – God’s forgiveness or our forgiveness of ourselves – destroys our sense of happiness and fulfillment. That sense of guilt – the feeling that something or someone is out to get us – causes us to live tentatively instead of abundantly as God wishes us to live.
We’re always watching the next step. Always wondering, when we’ll get paid back. Rather than living abundantly as God says.
The Key to forgiveness is confession – being honest – saying the same thing about sin God says about sin.
We face the problem of not forgiving ourselves
1 John 1:5-10 – This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.
What is forgiveness?
• If we confess our sins, He is faithful to us and forgives us
• Forgiveness is the result of a payment for a sin
• Atonement: payment
• Romans 3:21-28 – But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus. Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. On what principle? On that of observing the law? No, but on that of faith. For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law.
o Comes through faith in Jesus Christ, not in ourselves
o For all people sin and fall short of the glory of God
o Are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Jesus Christ
o Through faith in His Blood, being Just
• Christianity is a peculiar faith
o Foolishness, gentile
o A righteousness we do not deserve, but receive
• Matthew 26:28 – This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
o To take away sins
• Luke 4:18 – “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed”
o “Release” the oppressed
• Luke 24:46-47 – He told them, “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.”
o Repentance and forgiveness of sins
o Taking away of one sins
• Acts 10:43 – All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.
o Forgiveness through faith
• Ephesians 1:7 – In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace
• Galatians 1:13-14 – For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. I was advancing in Judaism beyond many Jews of my own age and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers.
o Cross and payment for sins go together
• Hebrews 10:15-18 – The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says: "This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds." Then he adds: "Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more. “And where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin.”
o No price we can pay for forgiveness
o No reason for me to be afraid that something will make me pay that price
o No sacrifice I can pay for it
• Forgiveness and atonement go together
• Forgiveness is release from guilt
• Romans 8:1-4 – Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.
• God became human, took all our sins, took it to the cross, buried and rose again
• No other faiths believe God would become human
• Colossians 2:14 – having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross.
o Impossible to live a perfect life
o Jesus took it all away
• Continues to take it away
• Hebrews 10:14 – because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy
• Justification: just as if I’d never sinned, declared not guilty even though I’ve done wrong
• Sanctification: because I have been declared not guilty, I’ll learn how to live as a Christian committed life
• By one sacrifice we’ve been made perfect forever and being made holy – becoming a different person
Why do we need forgiveness?
• We need forgiveness because of guilt
• A value system
• Guilt: everything in life has to be paid for
• Owing a debt that one knows that eventually must be paid
• Known as the great “black mailer”
• Always hurting others; give gifts to pay back
• Guilt makes us do things
• Sin has disappeared from our language systems
• Willful disobedience to God’s standards
• 1 John 3:4 – Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness
• Sin: breaking God’s law
o Sin is a barrier that separates us from God
o Slide across/ slip from slippery rode/temptation
o Lawlessness
o Debt or duty we owe to God or others
• Pushing God to the side
Why do we have difficulty with forgiveness?
• We have difficulty because we deny we are sinners
• Not admitting we’ve done wrong, we rationalize by saying “everyone is doing it” or we feel undeserving of forgiveness
• Ephesians 2:9-10 – not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
o Not by works, but faith through grace that we’re saved
• 1 Timothy 1:15-17 – Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
• God displays forgiveness to us and to Paul (he felt he was the worst)
• Then God uses Paul to write most of the New Testament
How do we learn to forgive ourselves?
Use notes during devotion with Bible
Do it in quietness for a few minutes each day: whatever causes you to feel guilty/whatever your sin is, whatever you’ve done
1) Recognize that all have sinned
• Romans 3:23 – for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God
• All could not have sinned without our having sinned (that means all of us)
• Write down word “all” – that means me
2) Confess your sins
• 1 John 1:9 – If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness
• We make forgiveness more difficult than God does
• Simple word: if we confess: if we say the same thing that God says about sin then the Bible says he’s faithful and just and He will forgive us our sins.
• Doesn’t say we have to do anything (like make sacrifices, pay homage to Israel, cut your skin) to pay for our sins, just confess
• We have a hard time with that
• That’s why we rationalize it, because we have a hard time setting aside our pride and saying it’s a sin
3) God has done all to forgive us our sins
• God has done all that needs to be done to forgive us our sins
• Hebrews 9: 24-28 – For Christ did not enter a man-made sanctuary that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God's presence. Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. Then Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.
• Hebrews 10:8-10 – First he said, "Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them" (although the law required them to be made). Then he said, "Here I am, I have come to do your will." He sets aside the first to establish the second. And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
• Hebrews 10: 15-18 – The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says:
“This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.” Then he adds: "Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more. "And where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin.
• Make notes, all have sinned, confess, God has done all!
4) “ACCEPT” your cleansing
• Don’t deny God the opportunity of His gift of grace
• That’s what He’s come to do
• For us to hang on to our sin, whatever it may be, just confess it, then accept the cleansing
• For us to think of the sin, just confess it, accept the cleansing
When we violate the laws of God, we suffer greatly. We experience guilt in our hearts and we bring harm to ourselves physically and emotionally, but forgiveness is the great restoring power in our relationships, the relationship between us and God.
Restores the relationship with others. Can enter into the life of freedom.
What a joy and freedom forgiveness brings to our spirits. The Psalmist rejoiced in his own forgiveness. It is by the pure love and mercy of Jesus Christ that forgiveness is offered. When we accept that forgives, God Promises, our guilty feelings are taken away.
Dr Phil Lineberger
Work your way through whatever that guilt sin is.
The inability to experience forgiveness – God’s forgiveness or our forgiveness of ourselves – destroys our sense of happiness and fulfillment. That sense of guilt – the feeling that something or someone is out to get us – causes us to live tentatively instead of abundantly as God wishes us to live.
We’re always watching the next step. Always wondering, when we’ll get paid back. Rather than living abundantly as God says.
The Key to forgiveness is confession – being honest – saying the same thing about sin God says about sin.
We face the problem of not forgiving ourselves
1 John 1:5-10 – This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.
What is forgiveness?
• If we confess our sins, He is faithful to us and forgives us
• Forgiveness is the result of a payment for a sin
• Atonement: payment
• Romans 3:21-28 – But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus. Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. On what principle? On that of observing the law? No, but on that of faith. For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law.
o Comes through faith in Jesus Christ, not in ourselves
o For all people sin and fall short of the glory of God
o Are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Jesus Christ
o Through faith in His Blood, being Just
• Christianity is a peculiar faith
o Foolishness, gentile
o A righteousness we do not deserve, but receive
• Matthew 26:28 – This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
o To take away sins
• Luke 4:18 – “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed”
o “Release” the oppressed
• Luke 24:46-47 – He told them, “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.”
o Repentance and forgiveness of sins
o Taking away of one sins
• Acts 10:43 – All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.
o Forgiveness through faith
• Ephesians 1:7 – In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace
• Galatians 1:13-14 – For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. I was advancing in Judaism beyond many Jews of my own age and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers.
o Cross and payment for sins go together
• Hebrews 10:15-18 – The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says: "This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds." Then he adds: "Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more. “And where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin.”
o No price we can pay for forgiveness
o No reason for me to be afraid that something will make me pay that price
o No sacrifice I can pay for it
• Forgiveness and atonement go together
• Forgiveness is release from guilt
• Romans 8:1-4 – Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.
• God became human, took all our sins, took it to the cross, buried and rose again
• No other faiths believe God would become human
• Colossians 2:14 – having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross.
o Impossible to live a perfect life
o Jesus took it all away
• Continues to take it away
• Hebrews 10:14 – because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy
• Justification: just as if I’d never sinned, declared not guilty even though I’ve done wrong
• Sanctification: because I have been declared not guilty, I’ll learn how to live as a Christian committed life
• By one sacrifice we’ve been made perfect forever and being made holy – becoming a different person
Why do we need forgiveness?
• We need forgiveness because of guilt
• A value system
• Guilt: everything in life has to be paid for
• Owing a debt that one knows that eventually must be paid
• Known as the great “black mailer”
• Always hurting others; give gifts to pay back
• Guilt makes us do things
• Sin has disappeared from our language systems
• Willful disobedience to God’s standards
• 1 John 3:4 – Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness
• Sin: breaking God’s law
o Sin is a barrier that separates us from God
o Slide across/ slip from slippery rode/temptation
o Lawlessness
o Debt or duty we owe to God or others
• Pushing God to the side
Why do we have difficulty with forgiveness?
• We have difficulty because we deny we are sinners
• Not admitting we’ve done wrong, we rationalize by saying “everyone is doing it” or we feel undeserving of forgiveness
• Ephesians 2:9-10 – not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
o Not by works, but faith through grace that we’re saved
• 1 Timothy 1:15-17 – Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
• God displays forgiveness to us and to Paul (he felt he was the worst)
• Then God uses Paul to write most of the New Testament
How do we learn to forgive ourselves?
Use notes during devotion with Bible
Do it in quietness for a few minutes each day: whatever causes you to feel guilty/whatever your sin is, whatever you’ve done
1) Recognize that all have sinned
• Romans 3:23 – for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God
• All could not have sinned without our having sinned (that means all of us)
• Write down word “all” – that means me
2) Confess your sins
• 1 John 1:9 – If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness
• We make forgiveness more difficult than God does
• Simple word: if we confess: if we say the same thing that God says about sin then the Bible says he’s faithful and just and He will forgive us our sins.
• Doesn’t say we have to do anything (like make sacrifices, pay homage to Israel, cut your skin) to pay for our sins, just confess
• We have a hard time with that
• That’s why we rationalize it, because we have a hard time setting aside our pride and saying it’s a sin
3) God has done all to forgive us our sins
• God has done all that needs to be done to forgive us our sins
• Hebrews 9: 24-28 – For Christ did not enter a man-made sanctuary that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God's presence. Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. Then Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.
• Hebrews 10:8-10 – First he said, "Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them" (although the law required them to be made). Then he said, "Here I am, I have come to do your will." He sets aside the first to establish the second. And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
• Hebrews 10: 15-18 – The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says:
“This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.” Then he adds: "Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more. "And where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin.
• Make notes, all have sinned, confess, God has done all!
4) “ACCEPT” your cleansing
• Don’t deny God the opportunity of His gift of grace
• That’s what He’s come to do
• For us to hang on to our sin, whatever it may be, just confess it, then accept the cleansing
• For us to think of the sin, just confess it, accept the cleansing
When we violate the laws of God, we suffer greatly. We experience guilt in our hearts and we bring harm to ourselves physically and emotionally, but forgiveness is the great restoring power in our relationships, the relationship between us and God.
Restores the relationship with others. Can enter into the life of freedom.
What a joy and freedom forgiveness brings to our spirits. The Psalmist rejoiced in his own forgiveness. It is by the pure love and mercy of Jesus Christ that forgiveness is offered. When we accept that forgives, God Promises, our guilty feelings are taken away.
Dr Phil Lineberger
Work your way through whatever that guilt sin is.
Sermon: To Hell & Back
9/6/09 Mike Massar: To Hell and Back
• It is a Christ like command
• So many people are living and going to hell
• Hell is no longer a negative meaning in our society
o We say things like: “what the hell is this?”
• What is hell to you?
• It was personal for Jesus
• He went to Hell for our sake
• To go to hell for Christ’s sake
Jonah:
• loved to preach
• He was good at it
• One day he asked God where he should go
• God spoke back to him and told him to go to Nineveh
• He puts God off, dismisses the crowd and goes to the opposite place
• He fell asleep on a ship when there is a bad storm
• All the sailors feel like they are being punished by God so they start confessing
• Jonah tells them the truth and how its all his fault
• They asked to know about his God
• Jonah goes into the water, gets swallowed up by a large whale and he starts praying inside the whale
• Jonah made the whale sick and it threw up and Jonah ended up on the beach of where God told him to go to begin with
• Does God change His mind? He did with Sodom & Gomorrah.
o He did at Mt. Sinai when He was about to wipe out the people
• We, too have a 2nd chance
• Jesus prayed, asking the Lord to take this cup from His hands
o Why would Jesus ask God if God didn’t change His mind?
• God So Loved the World…
• It is our calling to go to hell for heaven’s sake (on earth)
• There are people living in hell here on earth
• If we know about it, then we are responsible for them
• Christ asked us to “stand up”
• Nothing can separate you from the love of Christ
• Our calling: is to go to the hardest places we don’t want to go to
• Romans 5:
o Jesus goes to be ungodly
o Because Christ came for the ungodly
• It is a Christ like command
• So many people are living and going to hell
• Hell is no longer a negative meaning in our society
o We say things like: “what the hell is this?”
• What is hell to you?
• It was personal for Jesus
• He went to Hell for our sake
• To go to hell for Christ’s sake
Jonah:
• loved to preach
• He was good at it
• One day he asked God where he should go
• God spoke back to him and told him to go to Nineveh
• He puts God off, dismisses the crowd and goes to the opposite place
• He fell asleep on a ship when there is a bad storm
• All the sailors feel like they are being punished by God so they start confessing
• Jonah tells them the truth and how its all his fault
• They asked to know about his God
• Jonah goes into the water, gets swallowed up by a large whale and he starts praying inside the whale
• Jonah made the whale sick and it threw up and Jonah ended up on the beach of where God told him to go to begin with
• Does God change His mind? He did with Sodom & Gomorrah.
o He did at Mt. Sinai when He was about to wipe out the people
• We, too have a 2nd chance
• Jesus prayed, asking the Lord to take this cup from His hands
o Why would Jesus ask God if God didn’t change His mind?
• God So Loved the World…
• It is our calling to go to hell for heaven’s sake (on earth)
• There are people living in hell here on earth
• If we know about it, then we are responsible for them
• Christ asked us to “stand up”
• Nothing can separate you from the love of Christ
• Our calling: is to go to the hardest places we don’t want to go to
• Romans 5:
o Jesus goes to be ungodly
o Because Christ came for the ungodly
Sermon: Sin difficult to overcome: Gossip
8/30/09
Habitual Sin most difficult to overcome: Gossip
Romans 1:18, 28-32 - The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness.
Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.
Carl Sandberg wrote: “There is an eagle in me that wants to soar; but there is also a hippopotamus within me that wants to wallow in the mud.” GOSSIP is that Hippopotamus within that wants to wallow in the mud. Gossip is one of those habitual sins which is most difficult to overcome because it’s a natural past time.
1. What is Gossip?
• Scriptures take gossip seriously
• Romans 1:18 – The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness
Suppress the truth
• 2 Corinthians 12:20 – For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder.
“whisperer” is the original word used
Done under secrecy
Hint of evil in others
• Psalm 41:7 – All my enemies whisper together against me; they imagine the worst for me, saying
To imagine the worst in me
• 2 Thessalonians – We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies
• 1 Timothy 5:13 – Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things they ought not to.
• It is stated in the old testament, that God hates a false witness
• Proverbs 6: 16-20 – There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers. My son, keep your father’s commands and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.
We have the most difficulty with these
• Gossip: white lies
2. What does gossip Accomplish?
• Gossip can kill a person’s reputation , prevent a sense of communion
• Proverbs 11:13 – A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy man keeps a secret
• Proverbs 16:28 – A perverse man stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates close friends
• Gossip pushes and guides in the wrong direction
3. Why do people gossip?
• We know we shouldn’t
• Psychologists say its because:
people are bored with their own lives
People have a great desire for attention
Prestige
Have something that no one else has and want to share it
• People who gossip, according to research, have an inferiority complex
• People gossip for the desire for security
Maybe we are insecure about ourselves
4. What can one do to overcome gossip?
• To overcome gossip
a) The bible says bring every fault in obedience to Christ
2 Corinthians 10:5 – We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ
We cant keep the thought coming to our mind, but we can bring it into captivity
b) Lean on the Holy Spirit
John 14:25-27 – "All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid”
c) Think the best of all people, different challenges
Ephesians 4:25-29 – Therefore, each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. He has who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need. Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
We don’t want to be judged on the 5% times we have been bad, but on the 95% we have been good
Ephesians 4:14-15 – Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ
Don’t borrow trouble
Luke 6:41-42 – "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,' when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.”
Rather than borrowing trouble, pay attention to your own business
• Mind your own business
• Gossip is a serious business
• God says: Your mind can be redirected, bring it in obedience to Christ
Until we can love others as God love s them, we cannot judge others as God judges them. ~ Dr Phil Lineberger
Habitual Sin most difficult to overcome: Gossip
Romans 1:18, 28-32 - The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness.
Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.
Carl Sandberg wrote: “There is an eagle in me that wants to soar; but there is also a hippopotamus within me that wants to wallow in the mud.” GOSSIP is that Hippopotamus within that wants to wallow in the mud. Gossip is one of those habitual sins which is most difficult to overcome because it’s a natural past time.
1. What is Gossip?
• Scriptures take gossip seriously
• Romans 1:18 – The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness
Suppress the truth
• 2 Corinthians 12:20 – For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder.
“whisperer” is the original word used
Done under secrecy
Hint of evil in others
• Psalm 41:7 – All my enemies whisper together against me; they imagine the worst for me, saying
To imagine the worst in me
• 2 Thessalonians – We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies
• 1 Timothy 5:13 – Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things they ought not to.
• It is stated in the old testament, that God hates a false witness
• Proverbs 6: 16-20 – There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers. My son, keep your father’s commands and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.
We have the most difficulty with these
• Gossip: white lies
2. What does gossip Accomplish?
• Gossip can kill a person’s reputation , prevent a sense of communion
• Proverbs 11:13 – A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy man keeps a secret
• Proverbs 16:28 – A perverse man stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates close friends
• Gossip pushes and guides in the wrong direction
3. Why do people gossip?
• We know we shouldn’t
• Psychologists say its because:
people are bored with their own lives
People have a great desire for attention
Prestige
Have something that no one else has and want to share it
• People who gossip, according to research, have an inferiority complex
• People gossip for the desire for security
Maybe we are insecure about ourselves
4. What can one do to overcome gossip?
• To overcome gossip
a) The bible says bring every fault in obedience to Christ
2 Corinthians 10:5 – We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ
We cant keep the thought coming to our mind, but we can bring it into captivity
b) Lean on the Holy Spirit
John 14:25-27 – "All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid”
c) Think the best of all people, different challenges
Ephesians 4:25-29 – Therefore, each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. He has who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need. Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
We don’t want to be judged on the 5% times we have been bad, but on the 95% we have been good
Ephesians 4:14-15 – Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ
Don’t borrow trouble
Luke 6:41-42 – "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,' when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.”
Rather than borrowing trouble, pay attention to your own business
• Mind your own business
• Gossip is a serious business
• God says: Your mind can be redirected, bring it in obedience to Christ
Until we can love others as God love s them, we cannot judge others as God judges them. ~ Dr Phil Lineberger
Sermon: Gossip
8/30/09
Habitual Sin most difficult to overcome: Gossip
Romans 1:18, 28-32 - The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness.
Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.
Carl Sandberg wrote: “There is an eagle in me that wants to soar; but there is also a hippopotamus within me that wants to wallow in the mud.” GOSSIP is that Hippopotamus within that wants to wallow in the mud. Gossip is one of those habitual sins which is most difficult to overcome because it’s a natural past time.
1. What is Gossip?
• Scriptures take gossip seriously
• Romans 1:18 – The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness
Suppress the truth
• 2 Corinthians 12:20 – For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder.
“whisperer” is the original word used
Done under secrecy
Hint of evil in others
• Psalm 41:7 – All my enemies whisper together against me; they imagine the worst for me, saying
To imagine the worst in me
• 2 Thessalonians – We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies
• 1 Timothy 5:13 – Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things they ought not to.
• It is stated in the old testament, that God hates a false witness
• Proverbs 6: 16-20 – There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers. My son, keep your father’s commands and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.
We have the most difficulty with these
• Gossip: white lies
2. What does gossip Accomplish?
• Gossip can kill a person’s reputation , prevent a sense of communion
• Proverbs 11:13 – A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy man keeps a secret
• Proverbs 16:28 – A perverse man stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates close friends
• Gossip pushes and guides in the wrong direction
3. Why do people gossip?
• We know we shouldn’t
• Psychologists say its because:
people are bored with their own lives
People have a great desire for attention
Prestige
Have something that no one else has and want to share it
• People who gossip, according to research, have an inferiority complex
• People gossip for the desire for security
Maybe we are insecure about ourselves
4. What can one do to overcome gossip?
• To overcome gossip
a) The bible says bring every fault in obedience to Christ
2 Corinthians 10:5 – We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ
We cant keep the thought coming to our mind, but we can bring it into captivity
b) Lean on the Holy Spirit
John 14:25-27 – "All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid”
c) Think the best of all people, different challenges
Ephesians 4:25-29 – Therefore, each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. He has who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need. Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
We don’t want to be judged on the 5% times we have been bad, but on the 95% we have been good
Ephesians 4:14-15 – Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ
Don’t borrow trouble
Luke 6:41-42 – "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,' when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.”
Rather than borrowing trouble, pay attention to your own business
• Mind your own business
• Gossip is a serious business
• God says: Your mind can be redirected, bring it in obedience to Christ
Until we can love others as God love s them, we cannot judge others as God judges them. ~ Dr Phil Lineberger
Habitual Sin most difficult to overcome: Gossip
Romans 1:18, 28-32 - The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness.
Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.
Carl Sandberg wrote: “There is an eagle in me that wants to soar; but there is also a hippopotamus within me that wants to wallow in the mud.” GOSSIP is that Hippopotamus within that wants to wallow in the mud. Gossip is one of those habitual sins which is most difficult to overcome because it’s a natural past time.
1. What is Gossip?
• Scriptures take gossip seriously
• Romans 1:18 – The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness
Suppress the truth
• 2 Corinthians 12:20 – For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder.
“whisperer” is the original word used
Done under secrecy
Hint of evil in others
• Psalm 41:7 – All my enemies whisper together against me; they imagine the worst for me, saying
To imagine the worst in me
• 2 Thessalonians – We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies
• 1 Timothy 5:13 – Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things they ought not to.
• It is stated in the old testament, that God hates a false witness
• Proverbs 6: 16-20 – There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers. My son, keep your father’s commands and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.
We have the most difficulty with these
• Gossip: white lies
2. What does gossip Accomplish?
• Gossip can kill a person’s reputation , prevent a sense of communion
• Proverbs 11:13 – A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy man keeps a secret
• Proverbs 16:28 – A perverse man stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates close friends
• Gossip pushes and guides in the wrong direction
3. Why do people gossip?
• We know we shouldn’t
• Psychologists say its because:
people are bored with their own lives
People have a great desire for attention
Prestige
Have something that no one else has and want to share it
• People who gossip, according to research, have an inferiority complex
• People gossip for the desire for security
Maybe we are insecure about ourselves
4. What can one do to overcome gossip?
• To overcome gossip
a) The bible says bring every fault in obedience to Christ
2 Corinthians 10:5 – We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ
We cant keep the thought coming to our mind, but we can bring it into captivity
b) Lean on the Holy Spirit
John 14:25-27 – "All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid”
c) Think the best of all people, different challenges
Ephesians 4:25-29 – Therefore, each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. He has who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need. Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
We don’t want to be judged on the 5% times we have been bad, but on the 95% we have been good
Ephesians 4:14-15 – Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ
Don’t borrow trouble
Luke 6:41-42 – "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,' when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.”
Rather than borrowing trouble, pay attention to your own business
• Mind your own business
• Gossip is a serious business
• God says: Your mind can be redirected, bring it in obedience to Christ
Until we can love others as God love s them, we cannot judge others as God judges them. ~ Dr Phil Lineberger
Sermon: A place For you
8/23/09 Welcome Home: A place for you Romans 12:1-8
What makes people happy?
• Growth of materials doesn’t make people feel better about themselves
• With the growth of the industries and more people having more things and additions to their lives and homes, the assumption is that money and more things make you happy
• But rather, people are feeling worse
• This is due to high levels of stress which lead to dissatisfaction, and is in correlation to the quality of a social community
o There is less time spent with other people, less intimacy in terms of closeness and emotions
• Romans 12:1-8 – Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will. For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Just as each of us had one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form on body, and each member belong to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let us. If it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.
o Renew your mind, we are connected to Christ
In Romans 12:1-8, Paul addresses this concept of community and belonging by challenging every believer to offer their bodies as “living sacrifices”. How does one make his body a living sacrifice? He does so by first connecting with others and second by contributing to others. (Forming a Christian community). Connecting with others and contributing to others is what Paul labels “Our spiritual act of worship”. The true worship, the really spiritual worship is the offering of one’s body, and all that one does every day with it, to God. Real worship is not the offering of elaborate prayers to God; it is not the offering to God a liturgy, however symbolic that may be. Real worship is offering the everyday life to God in service of others.
• Offer your body and contribute
• Worship God – God is worth it
BEING A PART OF THE CHURCH, THE BODY OF CHRIST, GIVES US A PLACE TO CONNECT AND A PLACE TO CONTRIBUTE.
1) A place to Connect
• In Romans 12:3-5 – (For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Just as each of us had one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form on body, and each member belong to all the others.)
o we form one body in Christ
• According to research, attending religious services has an effect on how long people live
• If a person goes to church once a month, they tended to live longer, and reduce negative symptoms by a third
• They’re immune system works betters
• Its because they belong to a relative community which fosters social networks
• Religion gives a positive aspect
• Paul speaks of a community
• When we belong to Jesus Christ, we belong to a community and we become ONE
• 1 Corinthians 12:7 – Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.
o The body is a unit
o Forms one body by one Spirit
• 1 Corinthians 12: 25-27 – So that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
• No longer need to compete but connect
• Ephesians 4:11-15 – It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
o The body of Christ will be built up
• The church is an organism not an organization
o It is a network not bureaucracy
o We are sold to Jesus Christ
• Romans 12: 6-8 – We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let us. If it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.
o Each person is given different gifts
• John 5:24 – “I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.”
• John 10: 27-29 – “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.”
2) A place to Contribute
• You don’t have to be here forever to contribute
• Romans 12:3-7 – For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Just as each of us had one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form on body, and each member belong to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let us. If it is teaching, let him teach
o We know ourselves and need to accept ourselves
o Use the gifts given unselfishly for others
• When contributing rewarding
• Romans 12:6 – we have different gifts, according to the grace given us
• 1 Peter 4:10 – Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms
• Ephesians 4:16 – From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work
o Things are possible
o The Bible promises that each one of us is given a spiritual gift
• Don’t think of the past, think of the possible
• To be gifted and expected
• How do we express love?
o By expressing the spiritual gifts given (Ephesians 4:16)
• The human brain is more happy when a person gives a gift of monetary value than when they receive money themselves
• We are chemically more happy to do for others than when we are presented with a gift
This is a place for each one of us in the BODY OF CHRIST, HIS CHURCH. There is a place of CONNECTING WITH OTHERS and THERE IS A PLACE OF CONTRIBUTING TO OTHERS. DON’T MISS YOUR PLACE IN HIS BODY. -Dr Phil Lineberger
What makes people happy?
• Growth of materials doesn’t make people feel better about themselves
• With the growth of the industries and more people having more things and additions to their lives and homes, the assumption is that money and more things make you happy
• But rather, people are feeling worse
• This is due to high levels of stress which lead to dissatisfaction, and is in correlation to the quality of a social community
o There is less time spent with other people, less intimacy in terms of closeness and emotions
• Romans 12:1-8 – Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will. For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Just as each of us had one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form on body, and each member belong to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let us. If it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.
o Renew your mind, we are connected to Christ
In Romans 12:1-8, Paul addresses this concept of community and belonging by challenging every believer to offer their bodies as “living sacrifices”. How does one make his body a living sacrifice? He does so by first connecting with others and second by contributing to others. (Forming a Christian community). Connecting with others and contributing to others is what Paul labels “Our spiritual act of worship”. The true worship, the really spiritual worship is the offering of one’s body, and all that one does every day with it, to God. Real worship is not the offering of elaborate prayers to God; it is not the offering to God a liturgy, however symbolic that may be. Real worship is offering the everyday life to God in service of others.
• Offer your body and contribute
• Worship God – God is worth it
BEING A PART OF THE CHURCH, THE BODY OF CHRIST, GIVES US A PLACE TO CONNECT AND A PLACE TO CONTRIBUTE.
1) A place to Connect
• In Romans 12:3-5 – (For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Just as each of us had one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form on body, and each member belong to all the others.)
o we form one body in Christ
• According to research, attending religious services has an effect on how long people live
• If a person goes to church once a month, they tended to live longer, and reduce negative symptoms by a third
• They’re immune system works betters
• Its because they belong to a relative community which fosters social networks
• Religion gives a positive aspect
• Paul speaks of a community
• When we belong to Jesus Christ, we belong to a community and we become ONE
• 1 Corinthians 12:7 – Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.
o The body is a unit
o Forms one body by one Spirit
• 1 Corinthians 12: 25-27 – So that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
• No longer need to compete but connect
• Ephesians 4:11-15 – It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
o The body of Christ will be built up
• The church is an organism not an organization
o It is a network not bureaucracy
o We are sold to Jesus Christ
• Romans 12: 6-8 – We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let us. If it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.
o Each person is given different gifts
• John 5:24 – “I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.”
• John 10: 27-29 – “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.”
2) A place to Contribute
• You don’t have to be here forever to contribute
• Romans 12:3-7 – For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Just as each of us had one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form on body, and each member belong to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let us. If it is teaching, let him teach
o We know ourselves and need to accept ourselves
o Use the gifts given unselfishly for others
• When contributing rewarding
• Romans 12:6 – we have different gifts, according to the grace given us
• 1 Peter 4:10 – Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms
• Ephesians 4:16 – From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work
o Things are possible
o The Bible promises that each one of us is given a spiritual gift
• Don’t think of the past, think of the possible
• To be gifted and expected
• How do we express love?
o By expressing the spiritual gifts given (Ephesians 4:16)
• The human brain is more happy when a person gives a gift of monetary value than when they receive money themselves
• We are chemically more happy to do for others than when we are presented with a gift
This is a place for each one of us in the BODY OF CHRIST, HIS CHURCH. There is a place of CONNECTING WITH OTHERS and THERE IS A PLACE OF CONTRIBUTING TO OTHERS. DON’T MISS YOUR PLACE IN HIS BODY. -Dr Phil Lineberger
Sermon: Let Go & Let God
8/2/09 Two Endings (Griff Martin) Let go And Let God
The essence of spirituality is contained in this phrase: complete and utter abandonment to the will of God. Jean Peirre De Caussade
Let go and Let God:
• Addicts do this very well
• The rest struggle to let go and Let God
Two journeys…
Luke 15:11-32
Jesus continued: "There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them.
"Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
"When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.' So he got up and went to his father.
"But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
"The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'
"But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate.
"Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 'Your brother has come,' he replied, 'and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.'
"The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, 'Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!'
"'My son,' the father said, 'you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' "
• Most Horrific: The father lets the son walk away
• Father sees son coming, has hope that one day his son will return, he always looks at horizon
1 Corinthians 3:5-9
What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants though whom you came to believe – as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his labor. For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.
• Paul starts a lot of things, but doesn’t finish much
• He’s a starter and leaves congregation to someone else to finish
• Paul gives it all to God
To let go…
• To let go is difficult
• We love control
• We cant wait to get our hands on stuff
o (Adam and Eve couldn’t wait to get their hands on the fruit to be like God)
• Abraham’s call to let go of Isaac (The Promised Son)
• Ester’s call to let go of her fears
• Scripture echoes a theme of letting go
• What are we going to let go today?
• Stop being so controlling and grabby
o Let go of:
A sin (something you’ve been struggling with for a long time)
A problem
A person who keeps doing what they’re doing
Someone who has gone on wrong path
Don’t need to walk away, but stop being so controlling
• With Grace: We are told to let go and God echoes with “Let Me”
o Let God take control
o We’re giving it to the One who is All Powerful and Wise
To let Him…
• Let God
• We cant do it alone, but with God all things are possible
• That’s why we struggle, because we cant do it alone
• Truth: We cant fix others
• Have enough trouble trying to fix ourselves that we cant fix others
• We can only do so much, with God all things are possible
• With faith: Let God take over
• Might be surprised with what happens
• Get so lost in faith and appreciate it and let God take over
• Ocean: So deep, sometimes can get lost and wonder if its safe – respect
• My plans and God’s plans may be different
• When Abraham lets go, Isaac lives
• When Ester lets go and lives in the kings chamber, she saves a nation
• When Mary lets go, she brings Christ into the world
• Mary’s calling takes 9 months to develop, then takes a lifetime for her to understand
The Tension…the waiting…
• We are in the waiting place
• We don’t like to be the one who waits
• We need to find hope, that when we let go, we’re letting God work
• God works in His timetable and not ours
• Its not easy, but it’s the one that makes sense
• What do the stories have in common: Let go and Let God,
reminded that God is there
the waiting place isn’t that bad
something to let go and let someone else deal with it
• No easy call, but in long run, it makes sense
• Truth: He’s got the whole world in His hands, and that means we don’t have to
• There’s only so much that you can do
• Let go of all that God is calling you to let Go of
• And find hope in the fact that it is in His Hands
It’s no easy call – but in the long run, its really the only on that makes sense
And it takes us back to another simply truth, truly He’s got the whole world in His hands. And that means you don’t have to carry it in yours
So this morning let go. Realize that you are only human; there is only so much you can do and that is fine.
Let go of all that God is calling you to let go of,
And let God.
Let God be God
Find hope in the fact that its in His hands
Be still and cooperate with the mystery that God is unfolding…let it be. Sue Monk Kidd
The essence of spirituality is contained in this phrase: complete and utter abandonment to the will of God. Jean Peirre De Caussade
Let go and Let God:
• Addicts do this very well
• The rest struggle to let go and Let God
Two journeys…
Luke 15:11-32
Jesus continued: "There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them.
"Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
"When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.' So he got up and went to his father.
"But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
"The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'
"But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate.
"Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 'Your brother has come,' he replied, 'and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.'
"The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, 'Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!'
"'My son,' the father said, 'you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' "
• Most Horrific: The father lets the son walk away
• Father sees son coming, has hope that one day his son will return, he always looks at horizon
1 Corinthians 3:5-9
What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants though whom you came to believe – as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his labor. For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.
• Paul starts a lot of things, but doesn’t finish much
• He’s a starter and leaves congregation to someone else to finish
• Paul gives it all to God
To let go…
• To let go is difficult
• We love control
• We cant wait to get our hands on stuff
o (Adam and Eve couldn’t wait to get their hands on the fruit to be like God)
• Abraham’s call to let go of Isaac (The Promised Son)
• Ester’s call to let go of her fears
• Scripture echoes a theme of letting go
• What are we going to let go today?
• Stop being so controlling and grabby
o Let go of:
A sin (something you’ve been struggling with for a long time)
A problem
A person who keeps doing what they’re doing
Someone who has gone on wrong path
Don’t need to walk away, but stop being so controlling
• With Grace: We are told to let go and God echoes with “Let Me”
o Let God take control
o We’re giving it to the One who is All Powerful and Wise
To let Him…
• Let God
• We cant do it alone, but with God all things are possible
• That’s why we struggle, because we cant do it alone
• Truth: We cant fix others
• Have enough trouble trying to fix ourselves that we cant fix others
• We can only do so much, with God all things are possible
• With faith: Let God take over
• Might be surprised with what happens
• Get so lost in faith and appreciate it and let God take over
• Ocean: So deep, sometimes can get lost and wonder if its safe – respect
• My plans and God’s plans may be different
• When Abraham lets go, Isaac lives
• When Ester lets go and lives in the kings chamber, she saves a nation
• When Mary lets go, she brings Christ into the world
• Mary’s calling takes 9 months to develop, then takes a lifetime for her to understand
The Tension…the waiting…
• We are in the waiting place
• We don’t like to be the one who waits
• We need to find hope, that when we let go, we’re letting God work
• God works in His timetable and not ours
• Its not easy, but it’s the one that makes sense
• What do the stories have in common: Let go and Let God,
reminded that God is there
the waiting place isn’t that bad
something to let go and let someone else deal with it
• No easy call, but in long run, it makes sense
• Truth: He’s got the whole world in His hands, and that means we don’t have to
• There’s only so much that you can do
• Let go of all that God is calling you to let Go of
• And find hope in the fact that it is in His Hands
It’s no easy call – but in the long run, its really the only on that makes sense
And it takes us back to another simply truth, truly He’s got the whole world in His hands. And that means you don’t have to carry it in yours
So this morning let go. Realize that you are only human; there is only so much you can do and that is fine.
Let go of all that God is calling you to let go of,
And let God.
Let God be God
Find hope in the fact that its in His hands
Be still and cooperate with the mystery that God is unfolding…let it be. Sue Monk Kidd
Sermon: Managing God's Money
7/26/09
Spiritual Disciplines Most Difficult to Practice: Managing God’s Money 2 Corinthians 9:6-15
Money is a medium of exchange for goods and services. It is a method we use rather than using the barter system of exchanging goods for goods or cervices. Money is neither good nor evil, but can be good or evil.
• The two most private areas in a person’s life are sex and money
o And we have more problems in those areas than any other place
• We don’t study or talk about them
• People have difficulty managing money
• 2 Corinthians 9:6-15 – Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written: "He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever. "Now he who supplies seed to the sewer and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
o how we deal with God’s creation
o Paul is taking a collection for the poor saints, he’s talked to the people about offering
• Giving and confession of faith are tied together
• There’s an assumption that God exists, it’s His, and He has a plan
• Too many choices in America
• 96% of Americans believe in God
• 87% of Americans believe religion is important
• We’re a nation of believers
• Believers in what?
o We believe in Christ, Scriptures are our guide for faith and practice and how we behave
• How do we practice what we believe? Huge challenge for everyone
• Manage God’s money (or economy)
• Proverbs 30:7-9 – (give balance – not too much, or I may forget the Lord, or too little then am tempted to steal)
• "Two things I ask of you, O LORD; do not refuse me before I die: Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, 'Who is the LORD ?' Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.”
• Problem with balance is that we work for security to surround us
• Our secret balance is what we make or store against us
• So how do we get the balance?
How does a believer manage God’s Money?
1. Practice God’s Law of the Harvest
• You reap what you sew
• Galatians 6:7-8 – Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.
Wont fool God
• Quality and quantity is bound to what is sewn
• We’re asked to share what God shares
• What is God’s? Everything.
• Psalm 24:1 – “the earth is the Lords, everything in it, the world and all who live in it”
• God only asks for 10%
• Malachi 3:10 – Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.
• Proverbs 11:23-25 – The desire of the righteous ends only in good, but the hope of the wicked only in wrath. One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.
God provides for you, so you will can be generous to others
2. Follow a Planned Approach
• One of the most difficult things
• 2 Corinthians 9:7 – Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver
• Each man should give what he had decided.
• Decided: prefix pro, determine beforehand what you do with God’s money
• It’s the decision Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver
• Giving is about surpluses, what you do first, not last
• Decide what your going to give before you get there
• Psalm 14:1 – The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good”
• Psalm 19:14 – May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.
• Psalm 37: 30-31 – The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks what is just. The law of his God is in his heart; his feet do not slip.
• Matthew 6:21 – For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also
• Decisions of matching God’s plans are from the heart
• When you reap what is good, then it becomes stored up inside
When you make decisions it comes up from you
• Study of brain says that the brain tends towards negativity
• Bible says to tap into something positive
• Life is how we live with what we have
• God is giver of every good thing
• Christianity gives balance and goodness to our lives
• Issue that comes to marriage is about money
• Plan Should be:
Give 10% First
Save 10%
Live off of 80%
• Eliminating choices reduces stress
3. Trust in God’s Grace
• Generosity from trusting God’s grace
• 2 Corinthians 9:8 – God’s grace is abounding; God’s grace is all you need
• Grace is in you, through you
• God’s grace touches every thing we touch
• Trust God
• God gives what you need to get done what God needs you to
• Luke 6:38 – “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
• Discipline is not easy!
One author has called giving “the door to the good life” and “God’s blueprint for the good life.” Everything belongs to God. As believers in Jesus Christ, we are to be faithful managers of all that God gives to us. Faithful management means trusting God’s promise of sowing and reaping.
Spiritual Disciplines Most Difficult to Practice: Managing God’s Money 2 Corinthians 9:6-15
Money is a medium of exchange for goods and services. It is a method we use rather than using the barter system of exchanging goods for goods or cervices. Money is neither good nor evil, but can be good or evil.
• The two most private areas in a person’s life are sex and money
o And we have more problems in those areas than any other place
• We don’t study or talk about them
• People have difficulty managing money
• 2 Corinthians 9:6-15 – Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written: "He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever. "Now he who supplies seed to the sewer and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
o how we deal with God’s creation
o Paul is taking a collection for the poor saints, he’s talked to the people about offering
• Giving and confession of faith are tied together
• There’s an assumption that God exists, it’s His, and He has a plan
• Too many choices in America
• 96% of Americans believe in God
• 87% of Americans believe religion is important
• We’re a nation of believers
• Believers in what?
o We believe in Christ, Scriptures are our guide for faith and practice and how we behave
• How do we practice what we believe? Huge challenge for everyone
• Manage God’s money (or economy)
• Proverbs 30:7-9 – (give balance – not too much, or I may forget the Lord, or too little then am tempted to steal)
• "Two things I ask of you, O LORD; do not refuse me before I die: Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, 'Who is the LORD ?' Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.”
• Problem with balance is that we work for security to surround us
• Our secret balance is what we make or store against us
• So how do we get the balance?
How does a believer manage God’s Money?
1. Practice God’s Law of the Harvest
• You reap what you sew
• Galatians 6:7-8 – Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.
Wont fool God
• Quality and quantity is bound to what is sewn
• We’re asked to share what God shares
• What is God’s? Everything.
• Psalm 24:1 – “the earth is the Lords, everything in it, the world and all who live in it”
• God only asks for 10%
• Malachi 3:10 – Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.
• Proverbs 11:23-25 – The desire of the righteous ends only in good, but the hope of the wicked only in wrath. One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.
God provides for you, so you will can be generous to others
2. Follow a Planned Approach
• One of the most difficult things
• 2 Corinthians 9:7 – Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver
• Each man should give what he had decided.
• Decided: prefix pro, determine beforehand what you do with God’s money
• It’s the decision Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver
• Giving is about surpluses, what you do first, not last
• Decide what your going to give before you get there
• Psalm 14:1 – The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good”
• Psalm 19:14 – May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.
• Psalm 37: 30-31 – The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks what is just. The law of his God is in his heart; his feet do not slip.
• Matthew 6:21 – For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also
• Decisions of matching God’s plans are from the heart
• When you reap what is good, then it becomes stored up inside
When you make decisions it comes up from you
• Study of brain says that the brain tends towards negativity
• Bible says to tap into something positive
• Life is how we live with what we have
• God is giver of every good thing
• Christianity gives balance and goodness to our lives
• Issue that comes to marriage is about money
• Plan Should be:
Give 10% First
Save 10%
Live off of 80%
• Eliminating choices reduces stress
3. Trust in God’s Grace
• Generosity from trusting God’s grace
• 2 Corinthians 9:8 – God’s grace is abounding; God’s grace is all you need
• Grace is in you, through you
• God’s grace touches every thing we touch
• Trust God
• God gives what you need to get done what God needs you to
• Luke 6:38 – “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
• Discipline is not easy!
One author has called giving “the door to the good life” and “God’s blueprint for the good life.” Everything belongs to God. As believers in Jesus Christ, we are to be faithful managers of all that God gives to us. Faithful management means trusting God’s promise of sowing and reaping.
Sermon: Spiritual Disciplines Most Difficult to Practice: Being Joyful in Every Situation
7/19/09
Spiritual Disciplines Most Difficult to Practice: Being Joyful in Every Situation
James 1:1-4
The letter of James was written to people who, because of their confession of faith in Jesus Christ, had been driven from their homeland.
This was the root of the troubles they were facing
They were dislocated from family, work and familiar surrounding and were suffering the pain of that dislocation
They were faced with a difficult choice-deny their faith in Jesus Christ and return to what was familiar and comfortable or turn their suffering into meaning and purpose
Dr. Ralph Sockman said “In life there are three types of troubles:
1) The troubles we can avoid;
2) The troubles we cannot avoid;
3) The troubles we must not avoid
The believers addressed in James’ epistle are FACING TROUBLES THEY MUST NOT AVOID.
These are the troubles which help us grow spiritually.
What does it mean to “consider it joy”? How can we consider everything joy?
“Consider it joy” means looking at trials in a certain way, evaluating trials in a certain way, and responding to trials in a certain way.
• God created us to be sad and have emotions
• So how can we be happy at sad or other situations?
• Profess faith in Jesus Christ and the family disowns them, lose work etc.
o Pure Joy has a purpose
o Face trials (Fallen into)
o Surrounded (fall in many trials)
• Multiplicity of troubles
• “trials of many kinds”
o Many face trials
• James: consider joy because it is the testing of faith which helps us grow spiritually
• Every story has a villain, bad person
• A world without trouble
• Bible speaks of reality of evil
• Bible speaks of God, who works with evil evaluating trails to out response
Three Troubles
1. We can avoid
2. Accidents
3. James speaks of this
a. Consider it joy is a command
i. Leads to spiritual discipline
b. Have to have a vision of what that trouble means to us
c.
1) Look at Trials In a Certain Way
• Sometimes were surrounded by trails
• They should be accepted with joy because it has something to do with growing up
• Purpose of trial
• Practice spiritual discipline
• First ask: What kind of purpose is this?
• What kind of faith do you have? Is this the faith strong in all circumstances-good and bad?
• Paul says our faith should be in God because God gets us through this
• Romans 5:1-5 – Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
• Suffering produces hope
• Trials looked at in the right way expand life rather then reducing it
• Something that can help you develop
• Hebrews 12:1-3 – Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
o Did Jesus enjoy what happened to Him? No
o But Joy set before Him, the joy would produce resurrection, put death to death
• Matthew 26:42 – He went away a second time and prayed, "My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.”
o He knew something good will come from it
o It is the foundation, and growing of faith
o See it as a strengthening of faith
2) Evaluate Trials in a Certain Way
• Peter 1:3-7 – Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In this, you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.
• You may suffer grief now (grief tells us that there is pain in a separation) we should rejoice because our faith is being refined
• Perseverance
• Growth isn’t easy
• Peter is saying to look at it joyfully
• Matthew 5:12 – Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
o Its not about what’s happening, but what comes out of it
• In robbing presence of its reality (by looking at the past), and there’s a certain danger
• Make opportunities, and take advantage of bad situations
• If a person keeps looking at the past, then the life becomes meaningless
• Have the tendency to go to the past
3.) Respond to Trials in a certain Way
• Respond by counting joy
• Not lacking anything
• Face with Christian joy
• Joy: is based on an outcome; requires faith and hope which are eternal lasting
• Enjoy: is based on a process; its circumstances pass away
o It is a personal fulfillment
• Flesh wont enjoy pain, but spirit has chance to grow
• The outcome is where the joy is
• Hardships can be enjoyed and inspired from
• You choose your attitude in any given situation
• Consider it all joy (choice)
• Choose your attitude
• Encourages: us to develop
• James reminds us that we find ourselves surrounded by trials we should conscious decisions to confront them with joy
• This joy is not some giddy happiness that denies the reality of trial, but a joy confident in a God who works in all things to bring about good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose
• DON’T WASTE YOUR TRIALS!
• Look at what God’s doing for me
• What kind spiritual disciplines can we develop at this time
Spiritual Disciplines Most Difficult to Practice: Being Joyful in Every Situation
James 1:1-4
The letter of James was written to people who, because of their confession of faith in Jesus Christ, had been driven from their homeland.
This was the root of the troubles they were facing
They were dislocated from family, work and familiar surrounding and were suffering the pain of that dislocation
They were faced with a difficult choice-deny their faith in Jesus Christ and return to what was familiar and comfortable or turn their suffering into meaning and purpose
Dr. Ralph Sockman said “In life there are three types of troubles:
1) The troubles we can avoid;
2) The troubles we cannot avoid;
3) The troubles we must not avoid
The believers addressed in James’ epistle are FACING TROUBLES THEY MUST NOT AVOID.
These are the troubles which help us grow spiritually.
What does it mean to “consider it joy”? How can we consider everything joy?
“Consider it joy” means looking at trials in a certain way, evaluating trials in a certain way, and responding to trials in a certain way.
• God created us to be sad and have emotions
• So how can we be happy at sad or other situations?
• Profess faith in Jesus Christ and the family disowns them, lose work etc.
o Pure Joy has a purpose
o Face trials (Fallen into)
o Surrounded (fall in many trials)
• Multiplicity of troubles
• “trials of many kinds”
o Many face trials
• James: consider joy because it is the testing of faith which helps us grow spiritually
• Every story has a villain, bad person
• A world without trouble
• Bible speaks of reality of evil
• Bible speaks of God, who works with evil evaluating trails to out response
Three Troubles
1. We can avoid
2. Accidents
3. James speaks of this
a. Consider it joy is a command
i. Leads to spiritual discipline
b. Have to have a vision of what that trouble means to us
c.
1) Look at Trials In a Certain Way
• Sometimes were surrounded by trails
• They should be accepted with joy because it has something to do with growing up
• Purpose of trial
• Practice spiritual discipline
• First ask: What kind of purpose is this?
• What kind of faith do you have? Is this the faith strong in all circumstances-good and bad?
• Paul says our faith should be in God because God gets us through this
• Romans 5:1-5 – Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
• Suffering produces hope
• Trials looked at in the right way expand life rather then reducing it
• Something that can help you develop
• Hebrews 12:1-3 – Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
o Did Jesus enjoy what happened to Him? No
o But Joy set before Him, the joy would produce resurrection, put death to death
• Matthew 26:42 – He went away a second time and prayed, "My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.”
o He knew something good will come from it
o It is the foundation, and growing of faith
o See it as a strengthening of faith
2) Evaluate Trials in a Certain Way
• Peter 1:3-7 – Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In this, you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.
• You may suffer grief now (grief tells us that there is pain in a separation) we should rejoice because our faith is being refined
• Perseverance
• Growth isn’t easy
• Peter is saying to look at it joyfully
• Matthew 5:12 – Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
o Its not about what’s happening, but what comes out of it
• In robbing presence of its reality (by looking at the past), and there’s a certain danger
• Make opportunities, and take advantage of bad situations
• If a person keeps looking at the past, then the life becomes meaningless
• Have the tendency to go to the past
3.) Respond to Trials in a certain Way
• Respond by counting joy
• Not lacking anything
• Face with Christian joy
• Joy: is based on an outcome; requires faith and hope which are eternal lasting
• Enjoy: is based on a process; its circumstances pass away
o It is a personal fulfillment
• Flesh wont enjoy pain, but spirit has chance to grow
• The outcome is where the joy is
• Hardships can be enjoyed and inspired from
• You choose your attitude in any given situation
• Consider it all joy (choice)
• Choose your attitude
• Encourages: us to develop
• James reminds us that we find ourselves surrounded by trials we should conscious decisions to confront them with joy
• This joy is not some giddy happiness that denies the reality of trial, but a joy confident in a God who works in all things to bring about good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose
• DON’T WASTE YOUR TRIALS!
• Look at what God’s doing for me
• What kind spiritual disciplines can we develop at this time
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