NEW LIBERTY CHURCH

January 1, 2012

Did you know 90% of the choices you make as a Christian involve areas where Scripture says surprisingly little? What you wear, where you go, how you spend your free time—you won’t find many explicit instructions in the Bible. But you can find plenty of rules and strictures in the various spheres of evangelicalism, many of them unhelpful and even harmful (and not only in the fundamentalist camp).
Of course Scripture forbids all clear-cut sins such as lying, cheating, stealing, murdering, or committing adultery. The Bible also clearly calls us to pursue Christ and grow in our faith. No Christian seriously questions whether he should read the Bible, pray, or tell others about Christ. Scripture is unambiguous about those things.
There is, however, one class of questions that seems to fall somewhere in the middle. These are the issues dealing with Christian freedom—things that fall between what God prohibits and what He commands. What entertainment is acceptable? What kind of music is okay? What can a Christian do or not do on Sunday? What about what you wear, what you eat and drink, or how you spend your free time—does the Bible address those things?
Some would say, "No, the Bible doesn't address those things. Those are gray areas, so do what you want to do—you're free in Christ!" While it is true that the Bible doesn't specifically list every possible decision you'll face in life, it does address all choices with principles that govern Christian freedom. When you run your choices through the following grid of principles from God's Word, you'll find both clarity and true freedom to live your life to God's glory.

Will it benefit me spiritually?
All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up. (1 Cor. 10:23).
A "profitable" thing is useful, helpful, or to your advantage to do; and the idea behind "edify" is to build up spiritually. So based on this verse, ask yourself, "Will doing this enhance my spiritual life? Will it cultivate godliness? Will it build me up spiritually?" If not, you should seriously question whether that behavior is the best choice.  Act towards others in a way that will not inhibit the Gospel.

Will it bring bondage?
All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything. (1 Cor. 6:12).  The Corinthians were using prostitutes with the belief that bodily appetites were separate from their Christianity. 
In the second part of this verse, Paul is saying, "I will not be brought under the power of anything." If what you are considering can be habit-forming, why pursue it? Don't allow yourself to be in bondage to anything or anyone. You are a bond-servant of the Lord Jesus Christ, and Him alone.

Will it defile God's temple?
Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. (1 Cor. 6:19-20).
Don't do anything that you know will harm your body or bring shame—it is the only instrument you have to glorify God. Romans 6:13 says, "Present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God." How you choose to use your body should always reflect your concern to honor Jesus Christ.

Will it cause anyone to stumble?
Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. 9 But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. 10 For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol's temple, will he not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols? 11 And so by your knowledge this weak person is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died. 12 Thus, sinning against your brothers and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble. (1 Cor. 8:8-13).
This is the principle of love. As Romans 13:10 says: "Love does no wrong to a neighbor; love therefore is the fulfillment of the law." If you know that your choice—what you consider "in bounds" and approved—causes another Christian to stumble and sin, love that brother or sister enough to restrict your own freedom. That is not very popular in our self-absorbed society, but it is biblical. To continue to indulge in a legitimate freedom that causes problems for another Christian is a sin. For "by sinning against the brethren and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore," Paul said, "if food causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again, that I might not cause my brother to stumble" (1 Cor. 8:12-13).

Will it further the cause of evangelism?
Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved. (1 Cor. 10:32-33).
Whether you are aware of it, what you allow or disallow in your behavior affects your witness for Christ, and the world is watching. It's an issue of testimony—what your life says about God. Your testimony either tells the truth about God, or it tells a lie. The choices you make in areas where Scripture speaks principally rather than specifically should reflect your concern not to bring offense to God's reputation but to bring Him praise instead.

Will it violate my conscience?
But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin. (Rom. 14:23).

In training there is a concept of an untrained person being "unconsciously incompetent" meaning that they don't know what they don't know.  An example would be people before the law was given.  They did not know they were sinning against God. 

When you train someone, the goal of the trainer is to practice with the trainee until they are "unconsciously competent"  or they can perform the operation without thinking about it.  A good example would be the shifting of a manual transmission or even better example would be using signal lights for a turn.  In the beginning you have to think about signaling.  After repeated practice, it becomes an automatic response.  I have signalled inadvertently going around 90 degree curves.  A humorous thought came to me this week because many people in the area do not use their signal light.  A comedian once said if the car in front of you has their signal light on, then it must have been that way when they bought it.  Our Christian responses to sin should be an automatic "NO" without thinking about it.  How do we get a Christian conscience?  By reading God's Word, being in Sunday School, Church, listening to the  Gospel preached by conservative pastors.
First Corinthians 10:25-29 contains three references to abstaining from a certain practice "for conscience sake." Never train yourself to violate your conscience. If your conscience is troubled by what you consider, don't do it. If you aren't sure about it, don't do it. It is hard to overstate the value of a clean conscience, but it is worth keeping your conscience clear so that your relationship to God will not be hindered. If you'll keep yourself in prayer and the study of God's Word, you will inform your conscience so you can "walk as children of light...finding out what is acceptable to the Lord" (Eph. 5:8, 10).
Will it bring glory to God?
So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. (1 Cor. 10:31).
That verse is clearly both the summary and the goal of all the principles listed above. Isn't our heart's cry to glorify our Lord and Savior with our lives? Think about your decision—Will He be glorified, honored, and praised through it? May we say along with Jesus" I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do.” (John 17:4).
So the next time you face a decision where Scripture is less than specific or overt, run it through those principles.

December 18, 2011 notes
Why did Jesus come to earth?
Heaven knew but earth was oblivious
Too many people are content to stop at the fact that He came to earth as if there is some redeeming value in that.
They never follow up to find out why He came.
Why did Jesus come to Earth.
To present God – YES
To teach Truth – YES
To fulfill Law – YES
To offer His Kingdom – YES
To teach those who do not understand about God? – YES
To reveal love? – YES
To heal the sick? – YES
All secondary reasons. The primary reason – Jesus came to suffer and to die.
Bethlehem only happened so Calvary could happen.
He was a born as a baby so He could die as a man, 33 years later.
Those baby hands fashioned by God in Mary’s womb were made to be nailed to a cross.
Those baby feet, unable to walk would 33 years later walk the hill to Calvary.
That little baby body wrapped in swaddling clothes would 33 years later be pierced by a spear to reveal a broken heart.
Man was meant to have dominion over everything but he fell into sin and lost his dominion.
Man should be a king but man isn’t. He is a slave, slave to sin.
Jesus came to suffer and die so that man could become what he could never be without Him.
Five things that Jesus was because He died.
1 – He was our substitute
2 – Our salvation captain
3 - Our Sanctifier
4 - Our Satan conqueror
5 – Our sympathetic high priest.

1 –Jesus was made a little lower than the angels so that He could die for every man. He came as a substitute. The prophet Ezekiel said in the OT “The soul that sinneth it shall die” .Paul said in the NT “The wages of sin is death.” If I then sin I will die. If I bear my own punishment and I die physically, spiritually, and eternally; I am sentenced to hell for all eternity. Jesus, God’s only Son was born to die in our place as a substitute. He paid the penalty for our sin and His death substituted for our death. God saw men were going to die because of sin. Because He loved us He sent Someone, His only son Jesus to bear our punishment; to die our death sentence because of sin But it is not universal, we have to trust Him as our Lord and Savior. We should then obey Him. There is a Latin phrase Coram Deo which means “Living before the face of God.” That is what we should be doing from that day forward.
2 – Verse 10 – He became our salvation captain. God’s plan is to bring sons and daughters into the Kingdom. In verse 10 the word used is archegos which can be translated captain, pioneer, leader, founder, or author. Jesus started, He is the founder, leader, author of our eternal salvation. In John 14:6, Jesus said “I am the way, no man cometh to the Father except through me.” There is no way we can come into the presence of God and eternal heaven with our unpunished sin. Jesus died to pay for our sin so that we can come into the presence of our eternal God but we must claim Him as our Lord and Savior.
3 – Verse 11 - Sanctifier – Comes from a word hagiazo which means “to make holy”. Jesus is holy so he can make you and I holy. He is holy and the faithful are holy because of His death. Through His death and our faith in Him believing and receiving Him as Savior we are declared holy. This means that God cannot hold me responsible in terms of judgment for any sin. Jesus has paid for every sin you’ll ever commit. There is no degrees of holy. Faith and trust in Jesus makes you positionally holy. He took away our iniquity and made us holy. We are made holy and sanctified through the offering of the body and blood of Jesus. He calls His followers brethren. Brothers are the sons of the same father.
4 – Verse 14 – Satan conqueror – Jesus became flesh , the same as we are so that he could conquer death. One thing that Satan has over all men is death. Satan knows the wages of sin is death. If Satan can keep a man living in sin he has him for eternity. Someone had to break the curse of sin. Jesus broke the power of Satan when he conquered death and rose from the tomb on Easter morning. O death where is thy sting? Grave where is thy victory.
5 – Sympathetic High Priest – A high priest is the mediator between God and man. The perfect high priest would be
someone who by experience knew the mind of God and the mind of man. Jesus Christ was that perfect High priest. He was God and He was man, the perfect mediator. Just as we are, He was hungry, He got tired, He slept, He wept, He was glad, he was sad, He was grieved, He loved, He was troubled, He was tempted but without sin, He knew our condition. Hebrews 4:15 – “For we have not a high priest who cannot be touched with the feelings of our infirmities.

December 11

Sermon Notes 12/11/11
Genesis 1 : 1) In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.
Evolution is NOT scientific: Creation cannot be replicated and was not observable by man;
1) Evolution is not reasonable, possible, or rational;
2) Matter on any level cannot organize itself chemically;
3) Louis Pasteur proved over 100 years ago that biogenesis cannot occur;
4) Matter will only organize itself downward, never upward to a higher life form;
a. Individual exceptions in a species always seeks center of that species;
b. Mutants don’t improve the species but results in a decline in that species;
5) Species die out, eg. Dinosaurs, saber tooth tigers, etc., – explains other fossil records;
6) Natural selection (Darwin) is only downward;
7) Evolution relies on chaos, random circumstances, chance;
8) Inorganic matter cannot organize itself into organic matter.
Wilder Smith, a great scientist is quoted “The necessary information to build man does not reside in the few elements it takes to compose him.”
1) Cannot explain man by the components that he can be reduced to in a lab;
2) Genetic information cannot come from nowhere;
3) Genetic information cannot rise spontaneously and organize itself into some higher level.
Vs 1 & 2 - God created the heavens and the earth. Out of nothing. Human law of Thermodynamics
Day 1 – Vs -3 - 5 – God created light. Separated it from darkness.
Day 2 – Vs – 6 – 8 –God created the heavens.
Day 3 – Vs 9 -13 - God created dry land, grass, trees.
Day 4 – Vs 14 – 19 – God created Sun and Moon.
Day 5 – Vs 20 – 23 - God created birds and fish – be fruitful
Day 6 – Vs 24 – 31 – God created cattle and man
Day 7 –Chapter 2 God rested and is still resting from creating anything.

July 17th Outline

Seven Foundations of a True Church
Matthew 16: 13 – 28
1) The Great Confession;
2) The Great Communication:
3) The Great Contrast;
4) The Great Conquest;
5) The Great Conflict;
6) The Great Contradiction; and
7) The Great Consummation.
13) Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?"
14) And they said, "Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets."
15) He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"
16) Simon Peter replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
17) And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.
18) And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock[a] I will build my church, and the gates of hell[b] shall not prevail against it.
19) I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed[c] in heaven."
20) Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.
21) From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.
22) And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, "Far be it from you, Lord![d] This shall never happen to you."
23) But he turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance[e] to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man."
24) Then Jesus told his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
25) For whoever would save his life[f] will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

26) For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?
27) For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done.
28) Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom."

This is my notes for July 10, 2011.  I study from this and rather than read them - I preach the content.  This is what I would say if I had perfect recall. JKJ

The Believer's Relationship to Sin

Romans 7: 14 - 17
A rather flippant young man asked a preacher on one occasion somewhat mockingly this question. "You say that unsaved people, people who don't have a personal relationship with Christ carry a weight of sin." Well, he said, "I feel nothing. How heavy is sin, 10 pounds, 40 pounds, 80 pounds, 200 pounds?" The preacher pointedly replied, "If you laid a 400 pound weight on a corpse, would it feel the load?" The young man replied, "No." And the preacher drove home the point, "the spirit that knows not Christ is equally dead and feels not the load of sin."
It is true that people who don't know Christ, people who are not Christians haven't really come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ feel guilt, feel bad about doing bad very often because doing bad creates bad circumstances. But they do not understand the true weight of sin. Because they do not understand the law of God, nor do they love the God they have offended. But a believer, one who has come to know God, has a great sensitivity to sin. He is no indifferent to sin, but hypersensitive to it. A great saint of God once said, "I fear nothing but sin."
An unbeliever, when confronted with a message of salvation by grace, free in Christ said, "Well, if I believed your doctrine that salvation was by grace and free for the taking, then I would believe it and take it and then fill my life with sin." To which the gospel messenger replied, "Well, how much sin do you think it would take to fill a true Christian to satisfaction?" Listen, a true Christian finds no satisfaction in sin. Though we have received salvation by grace through faith, that does not make license. That does not create an attitude in a truly converted person that I want to sin and I will fill my life with sin because I know it's all forgiven anyway. Not so. A true Christian feels the real weight of sin, the sinfulness of sin, the heinousness of sin, the offense that it is to God and thus he hates the evil. Seeks not to fill his life with it, but to empty his life of it.
Now there are many reasons why a Christian would want to avoid sin. First of all, it grieves the Holy Spirit. Secondly, it offends God. Also, it causes our prayers to be unanswered and the Bible says sin makes our life powerless, our praise inappropriate, our blessings are withheld, our joy is removed. It brings us into chastening from God. It hinders our growth. It limits our service. It pollutes our fellowship. It endangers our life. But the bottom-line is it's really contrary to our desires.
Thomas Watson, that great puritan divine, wrote in his classic Body of Divinity several centuries ago these very insightful words. He said, "A sign of sanctification is an antipathy against sin. A hypocrite may leave sin, yet love it. As a serpent sheds its coat, but keeps its sting. But a sanctified person can say he not only leaves sin, he loathes it." He said, "God has changed your nature and made you like a king's daughter all glorious within. He has put on you the breastplate of holiness, which though it may be shot at can never be shot through."
When you become a Christian as we saw in our last study, you're united with Jesus Christ, you die in his death and his sacrifice for sin pays the penalty for your sin. You are buried with him as it were in that death and you rise with him in his resurrection to walk as a new creation. Though you are a new creation with all new desires and impulses and longings after holiness, there's still a conflict.
You do have a sanctified conscience. Do you know what conscience is? Well, maybe you would be able to understand if I said it this way. Conscience is part of the defaced image of God in which you were made. Conscience was put there to stimulate righteous behavior. Conscience feeds off your mind, what you know to be true in your mind activates your conscience which moves your impulses through action. When you became a Christian, there's a sense in which God sanctified your conscience. And now that much defaced image of God is restored to some degree and your conscience is now sanctified and it's giving you good impulses, it's telling you what is right and holy and good. Your conscience is not just stimulated by your mind, but it is stimulated by the Word of God, which your mind apprehends and by the Spirit of God who is moving within you so the Word and the Spirit move the conscience to move you to that which is holy, just, and good.
So the testimony of the believer is that there is within him a righteous impulse. There is a holy longing. There is a desire after God. There is a love of God and a love of His Word and a love of His truth and a desire to live by and think like it. But there's also something else there, and that is the presence of sin. That's there too. It could be said that once you were only a sinner, and some day you will be only a saint. But right now you are a sinner-saint and therein lies the struggle.
We find the Apostle Paul in the throws of that struggle in Romans 7. He's in the middle of it. He is looking at it from his own personal vantage point. And what you have here is not one of his reasoned, logical, exercises in theology. Not one of his presentations of some systematic truth, but what you have here is a bleeding heart, an aching spirit. What you have here is a man caught in sorrow. A man who is lamenting his condition. A man who is hurting deep within, because there are such holy longings in him and he doesn't seem to be able to fulfill them because of ever present sin.
Three laments appear in this passage. They are very similar. In each lament, there are three parts. There is a condition by which he describes what causes him to lament or weep or be sorrowful. There is the proof of that condition, and then he touches back to the source of that condition. Now I want you to look at these laments, because I think they're going to put you in touch with your own personal experience as a Christian struggling with holy longings that collide with sinful impulses.
Let's look at the first lament in verses 14 to 17. In verse 14, we find the condition. He describes the cause for his sorrow. "For we know that the law is spiritual; but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin." This is not your run of the mill guy. This is maybe the finest Christian that ever lived and the noblest of all believers. We would probably concur the greatest of all preachers apart from Christ Himself. This is a man who not only knew what others taught him, but knew what God taught him personally by way of revelation.
This is a man who had a number of personal visitations from the risen glorified Christ. This is not some extraordinary person; however, in spite of all of that, this is a man who identifies with us in the very struggle of spiritual living. He says, "I know the law is spiritual. I know it." What do you mean by that? I know the law of God has come from the Holy Spirit. I know it is a divine standard. I know it is God's Word. I know it is accurate. I know it is honorable. I know it is true. I know it is believable. I know it is authoritative. I know it is inerrant. All of that, I affirm the Word of God.
Back in verse 12 of this chapter he says, "The law is holy. The commandment is holy and righteous and good." And so he says as a believer, the new creation in me affirms all of that. It affirms the holiness of God's law and the righteousness and the goodness of it. I don't question that. I know that it is spiritual. "I love thy law," the Psalmist said. "Oh how I love thy law." "It is my delight," he said.
Well, Paul is saying the same thing. God's law is divine and he's affirming the divine character of it as offered by the Holy Spirit. And God's law is holy and it's good and it's righteous. And so he says, "I have in me that which longs to see that law and understand that law and love that law and obey that law." But there's something else going on. I am of flesh. Literally I am fleshy. I am fleshy. What do you mean by that?
Well, he says “there's still something about me that's carnal. Something about me that's earthy, fleshy.” This means simply that there are impulses in me that are contrary to the law of God, contrary to what I long for and love and seek. He's not saying the flesh is sovereign, but he is saying the flesh is surviving. Even though I died in Christ and rose to walk in newness of life and I'm a new creation, I've still got an old flesh clinging to me.
And I'm not saying that the flesh is reigning, but it is residing. Its dominion was broken. We know that from Chapter 6. He says that at least three times in Chapter 6. "Sin no more has dominion over me." It isn't reigning and it isn't sovereign, but it is there. And he says, "I'm fleshy." I am not in the flesh, but the flesh is still in me. I'm not in total bondage to the flesh like I once was, but every once in a while I sell myself as a part-time slave. That's what he's saying.
Verse 14, I find myself sold into bondage to sin which isn't even my master. How ludicrous, how idiotic. When I have...according to Romans Chapter 6 you'll remember traded in my servitude to sin for servitude to righteousness. Traded in my bondage to sin for bondage to God and now God is my new master and righteousness is my new master and I've made that exchange. Why in the world do I go back and sell myself to sin as a part-time slave?
This is his lament. And his sanctified conscience keeps a record of his sin. And his sanctified conscience accuses him. And his sanctified conscience judges him. And his sanctified conscience executes him with the punishment of guilt. He's not unlike David who said, "surely, I have been a sinner from birth."
And so the Apostle Paul looks at his own life and he says, "I'm not what I ought to be." It's very much like he said in Philippians 3 when he said, "I haven't attained, I haven't reached the mark. I haven't attained the prize of Christ likeness. I'm not there yet." I'm still fleshy. I still have two things in conflict and every once in a while I sell myself as a part-time slave to sin. Does that sound familiar to you? Does that sound like life for a Christian?
No unregenerate person can really identify with this. A person who has never come to Christ doesn't understand this because they don't understand the sinfulness of sin, and they don't love the law of God. But when you become a believer and God plants within you the love of His of Word and the love His of truth and love of Himself and the love of His Son, and longings after holiness and righteousness and what is good, whenever you see sin in your life, it is a heinous thing.
The unregenerate man sees only the externality of the law, sees it only as an imposition. Sees it only as a threat to his freedom and a threat to his liberty and he doesn't want to conform himself to it. The Christian sees it as that which is totally desirable. That which he and his deepest longings would love to keep all the time and never violate. So you don't have to worry. They'll say if you preach grace, if you preach grace, salvation by grace, salvation by grace, people will get saved and abuse it. No, because when you're truly saved, God gives you a new nature with a new holy longing and a hatred of sin.
Cranfield writing years ago on Romans said, "the more seriously a Christian strives to live from grace and submit to the discipline of the gospel, the more sensitive he becomes to the fact that even his very best acts and activities are disfigured by the egotism which is still powerful within him and no less evil because it is often more subtly disguised informally."
What he's saying is twofold. As you grow as a Christian and become more mature and more mature and more mature and walk with the Lord longer and longer and longer, you're not going to have a decreasing sensitivity to sin you're going to have an increasing one. And even though sin may be less frequent, it will seem more heinous when it appears. Furthermore, it is also true that as you grow in grace and Satan attempts to become more subtle in your sinning and your temptation so that you tend to overlook it, you'll become more and more sensitive even to its subtleties.
Just know that you'll never get to the place where you're not sensitive to your own sin. Where you're not burdened over you own sin, and I would submit to you that every Christian will live his or her entire lifetime on this earth in a certain lament with a certain kind of pervasive sadness, with a certain kind of sorrow that just goes on all the time because you will always be aspiring to a holy standard which you cannot live by completely.
Therein lies the sadness. And so the Christian then laments along with the Apostle Paul. I know the law is spiritual and it's holy and it's just and it's good and I love it, but I see myself fleshy, a part-time slave to sin.
The old commentator Thomas Scott said it well when he wrote, "when the believer compares his actual attainments with the spirituality of the law and with his own desire and name to obey it, he sees that he has yet to a great degree carnal in the state of his mind and under the power of evil propensities from which like a man sold for a slave, he cannot holy emancipate himself. He is fleshy. An exact proportion to the degree in which he falls short of perfect conformity to the law of God."
That is the sinfulness of sin. That it is residual even in the redeemed and at times it takes us captive. Impulse says here's the proof of it. Here's the proof that that's the condition. Verse 15, "for that which I am doing, I do not understand. For I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate." There's the proof. He says you questioned that condition, then let me tell you something, I don't even understand myself. I don't even understand what I'm doing. I am not doing what I want to do, but I'm doing the very thing I hate. Can you identify with that?
That's how the believer looks at himself. That's the proof. Hey, the self-righteous moral man deceives himself, the Christian doesn't. The Christian says I have proof of indwelling sin. I have proof of it. What's the proof? I keep doing what I don't want to do and I don't do what I want to do. Something is at work in me that restrains me. I'm not perfect. I'm not all I ought to be. My will is frustrated. My sanctified conscience speaks independently of my will. Yes, that is true. My...my sanctified conscience is God spy in my heart. God's policemen to arrest me, but sometimes I even overpower my sanctified conscience.
My will is to do what is right, but it gets frustrated. I have a good will and an evil will engaged in conflict and sometimes that evil impulse wins. And then he says, here's the source of it, where's this coming from? We don't want to blame God. We don't want to say, "hey, God, you saved me, you sure made a mess out of this. You didn't give me much." We don't want to say, "well, Lord you said I died in Christ and I was buried and I rose to walk in newness of life. If this is newness of life, something's missing here." If this is the new creation doing this, if this is the new me doing this, if this is my redeemed self acting this way, if this is the life of God in me, if this is the power of the Holy Spirit, something isn't right.
He's not going to blame God like that, because God cannot be blamed for sin. There's no sin in Him at all. So he puts the problem where it has to go. Look at the source of it, verse 16. "If I do the very thing I do not wish to do, I agree with the law confessing that it is good so now no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which indwells me." What a statement.
He says the problem is sin is still there. Sin is still there. I was all sinner, someday I'll be all saint. Now I overlap. That's my problem. I did receive a saintly nature, a new creation. I did receive life in Christ, but the old is still there too. And he says, I do agree with the law, I do love the law. The real I, the new I, the new I that lives, "I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live," and that new I that lives, that new holy righteous good creation loves the law of God. But there's something else at work in me and it is he says, "sin which indwells me." I still have that.
Where did we get our sin? Remember way back in Chapter 5? In Christ we received life, but through Adam we received what? Death. In Christ came righteousness, through Adam came sin. And so Adam the father of the race sends down through the whole human stream sin. And everybody is born a sinner. We're all born sinful. And so he says, I'm still have my Adamic character. I still have human genetics operating in me. I'm still a person. I'm still earthly. And it's in that humanness that my sin dwells.
I see God's holy perfect law and yet I battle to fulfill it because of my sinfulness. And he gets a little bit frustrated in trying to find where this is. Because he says in verse 17, "So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me," he almost wants to say, "it isn't really me, it's the sin that's there." It is me, but isn't me. It's not me, the new me, but it's me the old me.
It's not really the new creation and he's splitting some hairs here. From my salvation on, it's no longer...it's no longer I that does evil, it's sin that's in me. And all he's doing is helping us to locate this so we understand it. After salvation the sin still resides in us. And so he says one my condition sorrow. I am a mess because I'm in a spiritual battle. The proof of it? I don't do what I want to do and I find myself doing the things I hate. Where does it come from? It comes from sin that dwells in me. And that's the source. And so beloved that's how it is with all us. How it is with me, you, everybody in this life.
You see we're a lot like an unskilled artist who goes out on a beautiful afternoon and looks at a phenomenal scene of mountain, streams, trees, a meadow on a blue sky with puffy white cloud kind of day, and as he looks at this marvelous scene, his eyes can see it all and his brain can grasp it all. The picture is clear, it's breathtaking, it fits perfectly into his mind. He can discern it all, absorb it all, and he knows exactly what he wants to put on the canvas, but he's unskilled and his brush won't do it.
There's nothing wrong the scene, the scene is perfect. There's nothing wrong with his mind, his mind can perceive the scene in its perfection. The problem is he doesn't have the physical capability to transfer the scene to the canvas. And that is precisely the conflict in which a Christian lives. The scene is perfect.
It is presented here. This is the perfection of God's scene. The spiritual mind that Christ has given us can perceive the scene. We see the righteous standard. We see what is holy and just and good and noble and excellent. The problem is we have limitations in this flesh that disallow us from getting it from that conception to the canvas.
And so Paul says I am sorry over this. I grieve over this. And he moves to lament number two in verse 18. This lament follows the same pattern. It's first a condition. "I know that nothing good dwells in me." Now that is an amazing statement. You say now wait a minute. Well, he says, yeah "that is in my flesh." And now he gives us a further definition.
Back in verse 17, he said "sin indwells me." Here he tells you where it dwells. It dwells in his what? Flesh, that's where it is. It's in my flesh. Nothing good is in there, in my flesh. I'm not talking about the new me, I'm talking about the flesh, that...that locates the seat of this sin.
What is flesh? Listen carefully, unredeemed humanness. It's all you got from Adam folks, that's what it is. It's not just your physical body. It's your physical body, but your emotional, mental impulses, your will, your thoughts, all that came from Adam. It isn't just physical, it's mental, emotional, volitional. All you got in Adam. He says that's where sin is. It's...it's in that part of me that I inherited through the human stream in my unredeemed flesh.
Do you know what a Christian is? In the new creation, perfect, holy, righteous, good, incarcerated in unredeemed flesh, and trying to live through that flesh like the artist who can conceive the scene, but can't make his hand paint it because of the lack of skill in the physical. So he says that's my condition and he's weeping again. This is sad. This is lament.
And then he moves again as he did the first time from the condition to the proof. You're questioning this? You're questioning that this is true of me. Verse 18, "For the wishing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. For the good that I wish I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not wish." Does that give you enough proof? I...same story again, I don't do what I want to do and I do what I don't want to do. Does that prove the point?
I suppose there are people in the world who expect Christians to be perfect all the time. I would guess that they don't have the expectation nearly to the degree we do, right? I expect that of myself, and I can't perform it. And that is my greatest frustration in life. I confess that to you all. I have said through the years I preach a better message than I can live. I set a higher standard than I can attain to. I can see the picture and I can discern it clearly, but I can't paint it the way I see it. Because I'm struggling against my unredeemed humanness just like all of you are. Paul says, I want it, I just can't do it. And then what makes you so mad is the times you want it and do it, you feel proud you did it and that forfeits it.
A Godly man is prone to see only his sin. And you see Paul...you say, somebody want to say to Paul, "Paul, you need to go to a counselor, you've got a bad self image." I mean, you can't be pining away about all this pride. Look who you are. Look what you've attained. The Godly man is prone to overestimate his sinfulness. Why? Because he hates it. That's the...that's the very, very essence of Godliness. It exaggerates it if it could be exaggerated. Or it appears to exaggerate the sinfulness of sin.
By the way this is the real source of humility, may I say. Humility doesn't come from counting up what you've done for the Lord and figuring it isn't that important. Saying well, I don't preach and I don't teach and I don't sing and I don't lead groups and boy who am I? I'm...I'm nothing. That's not the source of humility. The source of humility is not counting what you've done for God and finding it wasn't much. The source of humility is being overwhelmed with what you failed to do because of your flesh.
January 9, 2011

Principles: Teach us to Pray/Forgiveness

Luke 11:4

The basic assumption is the heart of the Christian Gospel.  Not only for salvation which is first and foremost but for progessive sanctification.  Because we sin. 

The forgiveness of sin is the greatest need of Christianity.  It should be on-going. Verse three talks about our physical needs - give us this day our daily bread. We need that so that we may live and then we live and ask for forgiveness on a daily basis. 

We know there is one and only one problem with mankind and that is sin.  Sin causes a dysfunctional relationship with God and even to others.  Romans 3:23 - All have sinned - not some have sinned but ALL have sinned and come short of the glory of God.  We have missed the mark,we have stumbled,we have sinned against holy God. God is not soft on sin.  Every sin ever commited by every person who has ever lived will be punished.  Exodus 23:7 says "I wil not acquit the guilty, all sin will be punished.  Psalm 5:5 God hates those who do iniquity. No one escapes God's wrat.  Sin is sin, not just an error in judgement.  No sin is greater than another.  The most insignificant sin is just as grievous to God as breaking a major commandment.

THE GOOD NEWS

A Christian's sins have already been punished.  Jesus Christ bore our punishment.  We owe a great debt to Him.  Forgiveness of sin is our greatest need in our daily walk with Him. Nothing comes close.We need bread and we recognize God as the source of it.  We need spiritual bread far greater and that require4s forgivess.  Forgiveness for sin of omission and commission.  ! John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

In our daily walk and prayers, we should always be asking God to forgive us.  We cannot neglect that.

These are the notes I studied for 1/2/11 Message         

                What we all would like to see in 2011
When people in our society evaluate a year, they evaluate it in ways perhaps differently than we do as Christians. We look at things through a heavenly perspective. But it is kind of interesting to see how our world evaluates itself.
Our society is all about technology, its consumer habits, its materialism, its communications, its problems. But as we look at a year to try to evaluate what happened as I said, we look at it spiritually. And we've all heard recently the prognosticators telling us what the future might bring. As we look at the future we hear people around us telling us the things that might happen or might not happen. And all of that is somewhat insignificant to us when compared with eternal things. And so for this morning as we look to the new year that we're embarking on this week, I want to share with you some of my own personal desires for 2011. I can't tell you what's going to happen but I can tell you what I'd like to happen. And I want to give you just a few of the things that I would like to see begin to happen in 2011.
First of all, I would like to see the world be the way God intended it to be. I mean, when God first created it, it says in Genesis 1, that He looked on everything He had made and said it is...what?...it's good. And now He looks on it and says it's bad. The earth was good and all that was in it was good. And then came sin and the Fall and the curse and we look at a world today and we really can't see the world the way God intended it to be. I mean, not even the created earth, I mean the pre-Fall mountains and streams and valleys and meadows and trees and animals and birds and all of that were somewhat different than we know them even now. There was a glory and a grandeur in the created world that we've never seen. I mean, we're familiar with famine and we're familiar with a lack of food and the earth's inability to produce what needs to be produced in a certain climate. We're familiar with plagues. We're familiar with distended little stomachs on children who have flies crawling all over their face and sores all over their body. We're familiar with diseases. We're familiar with disabilities and handicaps. We're familiar with disasters. We see whole villages in a rubble after an earthquake. We see people caught in an avalanche or a mudslide or whatever. We're familiar with hatred. We're familiar with battles and wars and murders and crimes and death. It's all around us. And we really have never seen the earth the way God intended it to be. And I get tired of the way it is, don't you? I mean, get weary of all of the problems that the earth has, all of the terrible disasters that it somehow entertains and seemingly supports. And we live in the constant fear that some little man somewhere is going to push a button and blow us all into bits by setting off a nuclear chain reaction. I mean, the world lives in fear. The world lives in fear that is real, connected to real events and fear that is unreal connected to what might happen. The world is not the way God made it to be. And that's why in Romans 8 the Apostle Paul says the whole creation longs, the whole creation travails, the whole creation has pain until the day that it comes to its fullness, until it enters into the manifestation of the sons of God.
I would like to see the world the way God made it to be...a world of unrivaled inexplicable unstained unmarred beauty, a world where all of creation lives in absolute harmony. I would like to see what the Bible calls the regeneration of the world, the times of restitution, the fullness of times, the times of refreshing. I would like to see how it is in the world when the curse is lifted and the lion lies down with the lamb and the children of a wild...the cubs of a wild bear can lie down beside a sheep. I would like to see how it is when children can play in snake pits. I would like to see the world when the desert blossoms like a rose. I would like to see the world when the blind can see and there are no deaf and the lame leap as deers. I would like to see the world as Joel 2 describes it where there's plenty of food, the latter rain, the former rain come together and there's an abundance of food, food for everybody, food for all the needs of all the people. I would like to see the world of Isaiah 29:8, a world of health. I would like to see the world that is restored to all of the glory that God ever intended at the first, without pollution where people have a long and happy and peaceful and joyous life...where there is no fear of man or beast.
You say, "You're a dreamer." That's the world I'd like to...you see, I'd like to see that begin to unfold in 2011. That's what I'd like to see. I mean, we've had basically enough of the one we've got.
There's something else as long as I'm wishing for this year, I've got more. A second thing is I would like to see perfect human life. I would like to see man as man was meant to be. I mean, I would like to see people who are just the way God really intended man should be. You see, life is so defeating and basically its bottom line problem is that man is frustrated by his inability to be what he senses inside he ought to be or wants to be. It's in the heart of the preacher who writes in Ecclesiastes, what does he say? "Vanity of vanities, vanity of vanities, all is vanity." The word vanity means emptiness, nothingness, pointlessness, uselessness, meaninglessness. It's the meaninglessness of a philosopher who looks at life...you say, "Well maybe the guy doesn't have anything." No, he's got everything. Most likely his name is Solomon and he has everything...all the money you could want, all the power you could want, all the authority you could want, all the land you could want, all the women you could want, and more. Everything you could possibly want and it's all meaningless, he says. It doesn't mean anything. What profit has a man of all his labor which he takes unto the sun? You work hard and you get it all and what good is it? It doesn't do any good at all, it's meaningless. One generation passes away and another generation comes. And now he goes in to these cycles. People live and people die, and people live and people die and people live and people die and the sun rises and the sun goes down and it hastes the place where it rose...the sun comes up, the sun goes down...he's in to the cycles now. The wind goes toward the south, then turns to the north and it whirls on around continually and the wind returns again according to its circuits. Everything just keeps going on, everything goes on. It's all so endless, so meaningless. No progress, right? Starts here, comes back to there again...that's it. All the rivers run to the sea, what has to happen? The sea is not full, evaporation takes it back over the land, it drops it where the rivers start and it goes through the cycle again.
So it is with man. He works, he eats so he can work so he can eat so he can work so he can eat. The thing that hath been is that which shall be, that which is done is that which shall be done and there is no new thing under the sun. It's very boring, very cyclical.
That's kind of a sad way to live, isn't it? It's meaningless. He says in the midst of all this meaninglessness I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things. I decided that I'd get educated and get wisdom and so I pursued all of that and this severe travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith. Man is stuck with trying to figure out the meaning to all this meaninglessness.
I've seen all the works that are done under the sun. And behold, all is meaninglessness and vexation of spirit. That which is crooked can't be made straight and that which is lacking can't be numbered. In other words, you can't have what you don't have and you can't change what you can't change, and life goes on and it's all meaningless...it's all meaningless. I spoke to my own heart and I said...Lo, I am come to great estate and have gotten more wisdom than all they that have been before me in Jerusalem, yea my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge and I gave my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly, I perceived that this also is nothing but vexation of spirit, for in much wisdom is much grief and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow. The more you know the sadder you are because you know so much and so much of what you know makes you sad.
Now that's the way you look at life. And you know, really that is a very profound philosophical statement. That's the substance of what Sarte wrote in his book "Nausea" which is his view of life, which says the same thing. That's the view of Hedonistic philosopher. That's the view of a man without God. That's the view of man captured in this world who looks at it and says it all seems so meaningless, you just live and die and then somebody else lives and dies and nothing really means anything. And life is like that. And in the midst of it there is pain and there is sorrow and there is distress. He says I tried pleasure and it was unfulfilling. I tried pain and it was unfulfilling. I sought wealth, in chapter 2 he goes on to talk about all the things that he would pursue and all of that was unsatisfying. Anything that I looked at I got and that was unsatisfying. I mean, the world is a painfully debilitating place. Man has the sense of unfulfillment. He has the sense of never arriving. That's why he longs for something better. That's why he anticipates something in the future. Man just can't cut it. He can't be what he was made to be. He's debilitated. He's captive. He's tied down.
Its symbolized most beautifully by a bumper sticker. It says, "It's hard to soar with eagles when you live with turkeys." There's something in a man that wants to soar with eagles but he knows he's living with a bunch of turkeys.
But imagine on the other hand that the fulfillment of Romans 8, the manifestation of all that man could ever be, the whole creation becoming all that it could be, imagine man with perfect knowledge, perfect wisdom, perfect power, perfect wholeness, perfect love, perfect goodness, perfect joy, perfect strength, perfect self-control. I mean, you get tired of a world where people kill each other, don't you? You tire of a world where people are unkind to each other, where parents abuse little children and where their children abuse the parents. Tired of people that can't make relationships meaningful and that go through life just hurting everybody that they touch. Tired of people who kill and maim. Tired of people who step on the necks of others to gain things for themselves and then live with horrifying guilt and pain. Tired of people who give bad answers to good questions. You get weary of so-called education which educates nobody toward the truth. And you'd like to see man be all that man could be. So I'd like to see that.
I have a third thing that I'd like to see begin to happen this year. I would like to see the salvation of millions of people all over the globe. I would like to see the salvation of millions of people all over the globe. I would like to see a world-wide preaching of the gospel that resulted in world-wide salvation that wasn't the result of some human enterprise, that wasn't the result of some man-made Madison Avenue evangelistic technique. I would like to see a world-wide movement of salvation that could only be ascribed to the power of God. I would like to see all of the battles that missionaries fought and have fought and do fight to conquer evil and unbelief and the false religions of the world won on the behalf of Christ. I would like to see the pagans of the world kneeling at the feet of Jesus Christ. I would like to see the evangelism that we've done and found so hard to do all of a sudden made easy in the power of God as a world-wide belief in Jesus Christ takes place. I would like to see those in darkness come running into the light. I would like to see those who are condemned come to Christ. I want to see the time come when all Israel is saved. I want to see the time come when they as Revelation 7 describes it out of every people and tribe and tongue and nation fall down before the Lamb and cry out "salvation unto our God." I would like to see the whole world of people exposed to the gospel and a world-wide belief in Christ come to pass.
Boy, you say, you are a dreamer. Well that's what I'd like to see. I would like to see the world the way God intended it to be. I would like to see man as man was made to be and I would like to see the salvation of multitudes across this world.
There's a fourth thing I'd like to see. I would like to see the full glory of believers. You know, we all struggle, don't we? I'd like to see what you're like when you're perfect. Really. I mean, we are difficult for each other, aren't we? I mean, you've probably thought that about a lot of people in your life. If you could just eliminate their imperfections they'd be wonderful. I mean, wouldn't it be great to see Christians being all that they really were meant to be? If all the believers entered into the full glory of the image of Jesus Christ, wouldn't you like to see your husband like Jesus Christ? Men, wouldn't you like to see your wife like Christ? Wouldn't you like to see those people that sort of bother you perfect? And you could handle it because you'd be perfect too.
I mean, wouldn't it be wonderful to get out of Romans 7 forever?...forever? Wouldn't it be glorious to never have to be made humble so that you could be made strong? You don't need to know a weakness in order to experience a strength. Wouldn't it be great if we didn't have to encourage the faint hearted because there weren't any faint hearted? We wouldn't have to support the weak because there weren't any weak. We wouldn't have to confine the unruly because there weren't any unruly. And all believers were functioning on all cylinders using all capacities for the glory of God. Wouldn't it be marvelous to see believers become all that you've longed that they should be? I think of the Apostle Paul who in his heart of hearts could say of those he had seen redeemed in Christ Jesus, "I have travail in my soul until Christ be formed in you." In other words, I have pain until I see Christ formed in you. Anyone who serves Jesus Christ should feel that way. And oh what a fulfillment it would be to see that pain end because the person is like Christ. What a marvelous thing.
Wouldn't it be great to see people who have entered into the fulfillment of 1 John 3 where John writes, "When we see Him we shall be...what?... be like Him for we shall see Him as He is"? Wouldn't it be marvelous to meet believers whose mortality had become immortal, whose corruptibility had become incorrupt, who had entered in to the eternal glory of a glorified body and a glorified soul forever and ever and ever? I mean, that's what I'd like to see. I'd like to see the just...the spirits of just men made perfect. I'd like to stand in that general assembly, the church of the firstborn, the innumerable company of angels that stands in the glories of eternal heaven and there and there alone is absolute and eternal perfection. That's what I'd like to see. I mean, if we're going to make a wish, let's make a good one.
Something else I want to see. I want to see Satan get what he deserves. I want to see the world be what God wants it to be. I want to see man be perfected as man was made to be. I want to see the full glory of believers and I want to see on the other hand Satan get what he deserves. I'm tired of him. I'm tired of the fact that he attacks God. I'm weary of the fact that not only did he begin in a rebellion, and you can read about that in Isaiah 14, Ezekiel 28, other places, Christ talks about him as lightning fallen from heaven. He has rebelled against God. He has defamed God's name. He has blasphemed God's character. He has denied God's work. He has counterfeited God's truth. He has fought against God's rule. He has tried to halt God's authority. He curses God. He curses Christ. He curses the Holy Spirit every way possible. He has attacked Jesus Christ. We see him attacking Christ in the temptation. We see him attacking Christ to keep Him from the cross, when He goes to the cross he tries to hold Him on the cross. When He goes to the grave he tries to keep Him in the grave. When He goes into heaven he tries to rub out the church by persecution. He attacks Christians. I mean, wouldn't it be wonderful to live at a time when you didn't even have to put on any armor because there wasn't any devil going around shooting arrows, fiery darts? No more slander, no more doubts, no more temptations from him, no more persecutions, no more divisions, no more sowing tares among the wheat, no more discord. I'd like to see Satan get exactly what he deserves.
You know, the whole world, it says in 1 John 5:19, lies in his lap. He holds the whole world captive to death and hell and I would like to see him get what he deserves for such a thing. I would like to see him go to the place prepared for him, mentioned in Matthew 25:41. I feel sometimes like the martyrs under the altar in Revelation 6 who cry out, "How long, O Lord, how long?" Or like David who says, "How long are You going to allow these things, God, without stepping in? How long are You going to tolerate these kings of things?" I want to see Satan chained and bound and cast into the bottomless pit, the lake of fire which burns with fire and brimstone forever and ever. That's what I want to see. I'd like to see that begin to unfold this year.
And there's something else I want to see. I want to see Jesus worshiped as He deserves to be. I understand a little bit of what David felt when he cried out in zeal for God that he felt the pain that was put upon God, Psalm 69:9, the reproaches that fall on You are falling on me. In other words, when God was dishonored, he felt the pain. I understand that a little bit. I think a little bit, a very small amount, I understand what it was like for Jesus to go into the temple and see it blasphemed and desecrated and to make a whip and start throwing people out of there. He wanted His Father to be honored. I understand a small part of what Henry Martine must have felt when he came out of a Hindu temple in India and cried out with tears in his face, "I cannot endure existence if Jesus is so dishonored." I mean, I get weary of those who dishonor Christ, of those who take His name in vain, of those who mock His cross, of those who deny His name, of those who refuse His salvation, those who reject His deity, and so forth and so on. I get weary of that. I feel a righteous indignation in me over that. I see a cult or something and I want to make a whip and throw them out, but I just don't have the whatever it takes to do that. I mean, He suffered enough humiliation, I think. He came unto His own, His own received Him not. He was in the world, the world was made by Him, the world knew Him not. He was despised and rejected of men, a man of sorrows acquainted with grief. He was without comeliness or beauty, undesirable, the form of a servant, sacrifice, His humiliation, even His brothers didn't believe in Him. People hated Him, mocked Him, spit on Him, cursed Him, refused to believe in Him. He was betrayed, denied, persecuted, mocked, killed and continues to be so to this day. People are continually in a sense killing Him by rejection. And I think it's time for Him to enter into the essence of Philippians chapter 2 where he says that the one who was humiliated is now exalted and at His name every knee should bow and every tongue confess Jesus as Lord to the glory of God the Father. I would like to see Him enter into His glory. I would like to see the whole of the heavenly hosts falling down on their knees crying out, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive glory and honor and riches and power and wisdom and strength and blessing." I would like to see Him enter into full glory riding on a white horse coming as King of kings and Lord of lords. He's had enough humiliation. He's had enough mockery, enough unbelief.
Those are the things that I want to see. There's one more. I want to see Jesus Christ. Many of you have been Christians longer than I have, some of you have been less. But anyone who has known the Lord Jesus Christ for any length of time and prayed with Him and communed with Him and studied His Word and walked in His way and studied the things that marked His life and tried to emulate them in his or her own life, anyone who has lived in proximity to Christ and loved Christ with a whole heart longs for the fullness of communion with Christ. Sometimes I wish there were no barriers of space or time or sight or sound between myself and the living Christ. I long to be like Peter was, in His presence or John or others of the Twelve.
I understand what they must have felt when He said, "I'm going to go away," and they went into instant panic. And He said, "Stop letting your heart be troubled, I'm going to come back and take you where I am." I understand a little bit of what Paul meant when he said, "For to me to live is Christ, to die is gain. Better to be absent from the body, be present with the Lord."
I couldn't be sorry for one who had ascended the heights of glory and was in the presence of Jesus Christ...with all that stuff behind him. I want to be with Jesus. You see, it's not that you're looking for an event, it's that you're looking for a person, right? This is what I wish. That's what I long for...to start happening in 2011.
You say, "Well now wait a minute. How can all that happen?" Well what I really want to see happen in 2011 can be reduced to this, if I want to see the world the way it was created to be, men the way they were made to be, believers fully glorified, Satan getting what he deserves, Jesus Christ being exalted, and if I want to be with Him, then what I really want to see in 2011 is...what?...the Rapture of the church because that's event number one that sets in motion all the rest of those promised realities. And so I say with John at the end of the book of Revelation, "Even so, come, Lord Jesus." I'm looking for the day when the last trump sounds, when the dead in Christ shall rise first and those that are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the air to meet the Lord and to ever be with Him. I'm looking for that day when in the moment, in the twinkling of an eye we are transformed, we're changed. I'm looking for the coming of Jesus Christ. I wish the Lord Jesus Christ would come in 2011. I'm not that old but I've had enough of all this stuff. And it isn't that I don't love what I love here, I do. I just want to love it with a perfect love and I want to love it in its perfection.
And so, I trust you can say, "Even so, come, Lord Jesus," nothing greater could happen in 2011. Only God knows? Maybe it will. We ought to live every moment as if it will. For John says, "He that hath this hope in him purifies himself." It is a purifying hope to live that way. It is a purifying anticipation to live that way. Peter says, "Seeing you know all these things are coming to pass, what kind of person should you be?" Spotless, he says, blameless, growing in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We should be those of whom Paul spoke when he said, "Those who love His appearing...who love His appearing..."
I don't know what's going to happen with technology, . I don't know what's going to happen with the economy. I don't know what's going to happen in all those things. But I know one thing that is going to happen, and this is it, Jesus Christ is coming for His church. Now I don't know when it's going to happen but nothing could be more wonderful to me than it happening in 2011. And I guess the question I would ask you is if indeed it does, are you prepared for that? And if you are prepared for that, are you living in the light of that so that when the Lord does come He finds you in a place of faithfulness, purity, loving His appearing? Let's bow in prayer.
December 12 sermon notes

People that missed Christmas

The story is told of a little girl that was chosen by her family to pass out presents at Christmas.  After she had passed out all the presents she started crying.  When asked why she was crying she said, "This is Jesus's birthday and no one bought Him any presents!"

I remember a disagreement that I had with a man when I first went to Caterpillar in East Peoria.  We were discussing Christmas and he said that December 25 was not Jesus's birthday.  We disagreed but I started asking other Christians, my pastor and also did some research on it.  My faith was shaken somewhat (but only temporarily)  because I found out that December 25  is not His birth day but what we Christians have set aside to celebrate.

In the 4th century, the Bishop of Jerusalem had sent word to the Bishop of Rome inquiring the exact date of Jesus's birth.  The Bishop of Rome replied back saying December 25.  By the end of the 4th century it was pa o the Christian culture.  The Bishop of Rome set December 25 because the pagans had feasts during the month of December and it was his effort to infuence and sanctify the month of December.

The Romans worshiped Saturn, the god of agriculture. Bring on the Spring with drunken parties and everything that goes on with that.  They gave a gift to each other of an idol made of either clay, silver or marble.  They were also big on evergreens that they spread throughout the house because of the fragrant smell.

The Barbarians to the north celebrated yule. Drunken parties, orgies, and what not.

The Druids were involved in demonic and occult practices directed towards friendship and peace.  The people would march out into the oak woods behind their white robed priests that carried sycthes.  The priests would climb the oaks where the mistletoe grew and cut it and drop it down to the people.  Mistletoe would be hung above the door and anyone that entered was immediately hugged and kissed no matter who it was.  It was an effort to reconcile people.

Martin Luther in the 1500's cut down a fir tree and put candles in it to simulate the sparking sky and shining stars.

Holland gave us their favorite saint, St Nicholas or Santa Claus.  It was told that he rode through the streets of Holland where the boys and girls put out their shoes and he would put goodies in their shoes if they had been good.  He left a switch if they had been bad.

Christmas cards began in 1946 by an enterprising printer in England who wanted to make lots of money.  The scenes he put on the first Christmas cards were tavern drinkig scenes.

So, no wonder our culture is all messed up on the real meaning of Christmas.  Luke chapter 2, verse 7.

First person to miss Christmas was the innkeeper. He was too pre-occupied with the activities of many people in Bethlehem to even acknowledge Joseph and Mary who was about to deliver.  Th world is like that today - preoccupation with this and that activity that we miss the real meaing of Chriistmas.  That squeezes out Christ and if we think of Him, it is just a birth of another baby, not the birth of a Savior.

Second person to miss Christmas was Herod.  An evil man who was so jealous of his power he killed his broher-in-law the chief priest, then his wife (still had 9 left), and his two sons who he thought was competition.  When he was dying, he had all the prominent people in Jerusalem jailed and then killed when he died so that their would be tears shed in Jerusalem.  He knew there would be no tears shed for him.

Herod was not even a Jew but an Edomite whose father was influential with Rome.  Highly political, he was named the king of the Jews by Rome.  When the wise men came asking where the King of the Jews was born, he was extremely jealous.  He wanted to kill that baby.  Today we are so wrapped up in our own interests and what we get or going to get that we forget the true meaning of Christmas.  Christmas is giving not getting. Giving of ourselves to Jesus, most of all.

The third group of people to miss Christmas was the chief priest and scribes.  They knew that the King of the Jews was gong to be born 6 miles away in Bethlehem, a short walk away.  But they did not even go.  People who knew and answered Herod on the place but did not go.  Even a slow runner can go 6 miles in one hour, walking maybe 2-3 hours. but they did not go.  These people were the religious leaders of the day but they did not go.  Today. millions of people will not go to hear the Gospel preached.  We have churches throughout the world with larger seating capacity than people in them.  Many millions of others will go this Christmas season, one of the two times that they will attend church and think they have done their duty. Self-righteous were the priests and scribes and we have not changed in 2000 years.

The city of Jerusalem missed Christmas. Shepherds saw and went.  Shepherds were considered the lowest class of people because they could not observe all the Jewish festivities.  Ironically they were the ones that provided the animals for sacrifice.  No credit for sacrifice.  Are we too wrapped up in RELIGION that we miss the ones that are less fortunate or the needy?  A person can be LOST in thei religion and not see Jesus, the object of our salvation.

Romans missed Christmas.  They were there before and after Jesus was born.  Never did recognize Jesus for who He was. 

Nazareth missed Jesus.  It is hard to understand how a city can miss, Jesus who lived almost 30 years in their city but they did.  Nazareth was known as a rough city.  Nathaniel asked the question  "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" when called to be a disciple.

Let's not miss Christmas, anytime throughout the year.  People talk about the spirit of Christmas at this time of the year, meaning the love, forgiveness. giving, helping,and so on.  But the Spirit of giving should be the giving of ourselves to Jesus and then throughout the year giving our lives (Romans 12:1) for His sake.

Amen

November 7, 2010

God’s Will For Your Life

This subject of God’s Will has been on my mind for some time. Many Christian’s think that it only applies to young people but I am convinced from God’s Word that it applies to every stage of our life; from starting a career to the absolute end of our life. Just because you are 60, 70, 80 or even 90, or we are terminal ill, we need to be seeking God’s Will for our life. There is no free pass to ignore His Will or to think that we have accomplished and there is no more to do. There is more to do as long as we have breath.
I am reminded of a story I read about a young person who said that they were afraid to seek His will because God might ask him to be a missionary and go to some dangerous, disease ridden foreign field.

Another thought that Christian’s hold is that God’s Will is hidden and difficult to find. It’s like some Easter Egg hunt and God has hidden the eggs. So they stumble around praying that God will reveal it in some trauma or mysterious event in their life. I remember reading a story about a businessman whose organization had numerous creditors and he decided to look in the Bible for the answer to his problem. He closed his eyes, opened the Bible and stuck his finger on the answer. He went to the county clerk and filed for CHAPTER 13 bankruptcy. Not the way to find God’s Will.

Another idea that Christian’s have is that God’s Will is like the brass ring on a merry-go-round. You have to keep grabbing the rings in life until you find the right one and you might not grab the brass ring so you have to settle for something less than God’s Will for your life.

I have known people in my life who struggle with life’s questions “What college should I go to?”; “Should I buy this house?”; “Should I marry this person?” “What church should I go to?”; “I have these different job opportunities to pursue. Which one should I take?”
Wrong questions if you want to find God’s Will. Let’s open our Bibles to II Peter 3:9 - 9The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
I Timothy 2:3& 4 - This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4) who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

The number one step to knowing God’s Will is to be saved. If you are not saved then obviously you have not obeyed God and He is not leading you. God does not lead those who do not know Him. He leads Christians to salvation but to those who reject His salvation, God does not lead them. Romans 8:14 - For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. Jesus said there are multitudes of sheep without a shepherd, nobody is leading them. They are really on their own. So if you are not saved you are on your own. John 10:4 - When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. Jesus leads His own. Until you are in Christ, you’re not involved in the process of God’s unfolding purpose and will.

In Mark 3, beginning at verse 31is the account of Jesus’s mother and family coming to get Him because they were concerned about Him. Verse 35 - For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother."

The will of God is for men & women, boys & girls to believe in the Son. The Gospel is a command, not an invitation. The Bible does not invite people to come to Christ. The Bible commands people to come to Christ. The Father commands “This is my beloved Son, hear Him. This is my beloved Son, follow Him, believe in Him.” Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved. Confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord and believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead and you will be saved. Those all are commands not invitations. Relationships in and to this world does not mean anything. Our relationship to Jesus means everything.

Ephesians 5 is the next component of God’s will. In Ephesians 5:17 - Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.   Another word for foolish is “stupid”. Don’t be stupid, understand what God’s will is.

The next verses: 18)And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, 19) addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, 20) giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21) submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
The second thing in the will of God is to be spirit-filled. First thing is to be saved and the second is to be spirit-filled. People believed then as some people do now that people needed an out of body experience. In the euphoria of sexual immorality or drunkenness they could commune with the deity. Back in the 1960’s a hippy influence was Dr Timothy Leary that taught that people could elevate their religious experience and consciousness through taking LSD. In some Eastern religions they believe that self-hypnosis can elevate your religious experience. In the American Indian and Latin American culture they take a drug called peoti that produces stupor elevate them into a higher level of consciousness. Paul is talking about being filled with Christ not resulting to these other devices.

The Holy Spirit controls you. That is what moves you through life, the dominant feature in your life, the wind beneath your sails, the actions and behaviors that are evident in your life. The actual Greek word used “pleroo” expresses the idea of wind filling the sails of a ship. An analogy would be like Alka-Seltzer that is dropped into water. If it just lays there on the bottom, it is not doing anything, but if it acts like it is supposed to, it fizzes and churns up the entire glass and it becomes equalized throughout and is going to produce it proper impact.

That is what it means to be spirit-filled. It dominates your entire life, it influences your actions and behaviors. The spirit-filled life is living in the consciousness of the presence and power of Christ. Christ consciousness.

The third element is sanctification. I Thessalonians 4 :1Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more. 2) For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. 3) For this is the will of God, your sanctification:

Knowing the will of God for your life can be summed up in these three things, Be saved, be spirit-filled, and be sanctified.

You may be puzzled now because I did not give you specific answers to the day to day decisions, the mundane and the important decisions we may make during the day, week, month, and years.

Last Bible passage this morning – Psalm 37:4 Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Now listen to this. Delight in the Lord and He’ll give you the desires of your heart. Now let me ask you a question. If I’m saved, if I’m Spirit-controlled, and if I’m sanctified, am I delighting in the Lord? Sure...sure. And if I’m delighting in the Lord, He will give me the desires of my heart. You know what that means? That doesn’t mean He’ll give me what I want simply, it means He’ll make me want what He wants for me. Did you get that? He will give me the desires of my heart. He will give me His desires.

You say, “Where are you going with this?” Just this, if I’m saved, Spirit-filled, sanctified, do you know what God’s will is? You know what it is? Whatever you want. You say, “Wait a minute, whatever I want? Whatever I want is God’s will?” Right, because who is controlling your wants? When people ask, “Why did you go to New Liberty Church,” and you say, “I wanted to.” You wanted to? How did you know it was God’s will? Because I wanted to and I believe that if I delight in the Lord, He’ll give me the desires of my heart. God’s Will will move you as you go.

Let’s pray.

August 22, 2010

What does “turning the other cheek” really mean?

Matthew 5:38 & 39

38) "You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.'
39) But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.

The principle of forgiveness was a feature of Christ’s teaching from the beginning. The Sermon on the Mount includes a whole section instructing the disciples to suffer patiently when wronged. It is important to understand that Christ was not teaching pacifism. That cannot be because Romans 13:3 & 4 reads: For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, 4) for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer.

Civil authorities are given the right as servants of God to use force, including deadly force when necessary. A policeman who kills a criminal in order to stop a commission of a crime or an executioner who kills someone judged guilty of a capital crime is acting with an explicit mandate from God.

Also, the passage does not rule out self-defense in criminal acts. Jesus is teaching how we should respond to insults against our personal dignity not criminal threats to life and limb. It does not suggest that a husband or wife not defend their families. Those who see it that way have twisted Jesus’ intent.

Third, Christ was not nullifying any principle of the Old Testament law. He was correcting the abuse of the law found in rabbinical traditions. The eye for an eye principle was given by divine inspiration to Moses and therefore could not be an evil principle. Leviticus 24: 19 - 20 : 19) If anyone injures his neighbor, as he has done it shall be done to him, 20) fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; whatever injury he has given a person shall be given to him.

Christ was not declaring the OT principle void because He said in Matthew 5:17 & 18: 17)"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.
18) For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.

The eye-for-an-eye principle was given to government for matters of civil justice. It set limits for judges giving out punishment that was appropriate to the crime and that they could not go beyond. It is a merciful principle limiting the punishment to the seriousness of the crime. The civil judges were to give out punishment not the victim or their family. The OT never gave an individual the justification to inflict punishment.

Jesus corrected the misconceptions by defining the distinctions between private and public offenses and between profound and petty ones. A slap on the cheek is no real injury. But if a slap becomes an assault, then the Christian should go through the proper lawful process of civil law and let others determine guilt and apply punishment. The Bible does not give anyone person the right of personal retaliation.

Matthew 5:39 sums up the principle that applies to petty personal offenses. But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.

One cult in the 1970’s applied this verse in the extreme, going so far as to worship Satan alongside Christ. Christ in verse 39 was not teaching that evildoers be allowed to have their way in all circumstances. Jesus Himself resisted evildoers when He drove people out who were profaning God’s house.

The Bible instructs us to resist the devil (James 4:7) Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

The turn-the-other cheek principle cannot be meant to keep civil government from punishing evildoers. That would be turning society over to chaos. Civil government is ordained by God. Justice obligates us to uphold the law and to insist others do so. Reporting crime is a civic responsibility and an act of compassion. To excuse or cover up crime is an act of evil.

So there is no place in scripture that says our response to evil should always be passive. What Jesus was doing is forbidding personal retaliation, revenge, spite, hate & resentment, in the face of personal or petty injury.

Romans 12: 17 – 19: Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18) If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19) Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord."

We can overcome evil by doing good.
August 8, 2010

                                                           What must and can people do towards their own conversion?
Ezekiel 18:30 - 32
30)"Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, declares the Lord GOD. Repent and turn from all your transgressions, lest iniquity be your ruin. 31) Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed, and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O house of Israel? 32) For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord GOD; so turn, and live."

The Bible tells of man’s helplessness to save himself, but even though man is unable to save himself and forgive himself of his sins, he has responsibilities once he accepts the free grace of Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior.

Man cannot be subject to God’s law – Romans 8:7 - For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot.

Man cannot please God – Romans 8:8 - Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

Man cannot come to Christ – John 6:44 - No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.

Man can do nothing spiritual without Christ – John 15:5 - I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

Man cannot believe without God – John 5:44 - How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and(A) do not seek the glory that comes from(B) the only God?
John 12:39 & 40 – 39) therefore they could not believe. For again Isaiah said, 40) He has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, lest they see with their eyes, and understand with their heart, and turn, and I would heal them."

Man cannot do good – Romans 3:12 - All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one."

Jeremiah 13:23 - Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard his spots? Then also you can do good who are accustomed to do evil.

Man cannot yield good fruit – Matthew 7:17 - So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit.

Man cannot think spiritual thoughts – II Corinthians 3:15 - Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts.

But fallen man’s inability does not provide an excuse for sin. Man cannot option out of his moral responsibility by pleading inability. Human endeavors cannot earn merit or favor when it comes to salvation. Men and women, boys and girls who have been regenerated by the grace of Jesus Christ are required to act and behave with what is right and true.

Unconverted people may in material terms act like converted people. They attend church and have a knowledge of God. They may be moral and may consider the nature of their sin. They may justify and admit the law of God is right and true. They may be conscientious and careful, reading the Bible. They may even quote the Bible better than the converted. But in their heart of hearts they deny the living Christ.

God defines sin. Mankind has tried to redefine and modify sin and its penalties. Many unconverted people are just like the burglar that has been caught, they are sorry; sorry that they were caught. They ask forgiveness of judges and law enforcement to hopefully reduce the penalties of their sin. Then they become educated in how not to get caught and when caught, how to plead for forgiveness. Unfortunately, many unconverted people are like that. They lead a double life, a life that has the appearance to the world and their families of a Christian but in their black hearts they lead a second life that condones sin in their hearts and life. They ignore the fact that nothing is hidden from God I Corinthians 4:5 - Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart.

We are accountable to many obligations in this world but most of all we are accountable to God. We talked Wednesday night about when Moses got close to the burning bush and realized that it was the living God, he turned away. That is the way that we would all be. When confronted with God, we see our wretched condition in full color. The sin in our heart that makes us unworthy to
be in His presence, let alone be talking to Him. When we come in front of the living God we won’t have any excuses, cover-up, or spin. Sin is exposed and we see it as black and rotten. We cannot escape the sight of it in the presence of God. It is exposed for others to see. We can fool others but we cannot fool God. Romans 14:11 - As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God."

We are always under obligation to repent of our sin and ask forgiveness, converted or unconverted. The converted especially because of our knowledge. We too often take God for granted. That He is some celestial genie that we can manipulate to our will. That is what I mean when I say “too often God is made in our image rather than we are made in God’s image.”
We know better or should. God is holy. God is to praised. That is what we will be doing in heaven, praising and glorifying God. Let’s do more of that here in this foreign land.

Let’s bow our heads.

The Holy Spirit may have been working on you. That truth of the Gospel of Jesus and the knowledge of God is convicting you of your sin and you need to do something about it. But you don’t know how to escape His judgment. Nothing you have tried so far has given you peace. No forgiveness from yourself or others works. You still have the guilt that is eating you up and you try to think of temporary pleasures that help you forget for a while. But it comes back with a vengeance, harder than before. You need relief. The only one that can forgive us eternally is Jesus. He is the Lord and Savior, accept Him today.

Abomination of Destruction July 11, 2010

Matthew 24:15 - So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand),
16) then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.
17) Let the one who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house,
18) and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak.
19) And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days!
20) Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath.
21) For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be.
22) And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.
23) Then if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or 'There he is!' do not believe it.
24) For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.
25) See, I have told you beforehand.
26) So, if they say to you, 'Look, he is in the wilderness,' do not go out. If they say, 'Look, he is in the inner rooms,' do not believe it.
27) For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.
28) Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.
29) "Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
30) Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
31) And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

There are two parts of prophecy here, the near and the far or soon and not yet.

The disciples had asked concerning when the time will be that Christ was talking about. That is the not yet or future. Christ did not give them an answer to the when. But they also asked “What shall be the sign?” That question is the near. That question He answered fully. His prophecy tells of the destruction of Jerusalem, the end of the Jewish church and state, the calling of the Gentiles, and the setting up of Christ’s kingdom in the world.

What Christ said was more pointed to the not yet. The not yet pointed to caution and a warning rather than to satisfy their curiosity but to prepare them for the events that would happen. Christ told His disciples, which include us today, to be aware of false teachers. He tells of wars and great calamities and commotions that disturb nations and people. Christians are not to be comfortable in this world. If we are not battling the forces of evil and sin in this world then we are the problem. Christians should never expect the world to love us.

The Jews rejected Christ and He has temporarily set them aside and left their house desolate. The sword has never left them since that time. People and nations hate the Israelites. There is war even when it looks like peace. This is a lesson to us as Christians, the world will make nice to us but Satan has blinded them so much that they inwardly hate us.

See what happens to people who reject Christ. They will never have peace but will always have war on earth and the ultimate punishment; Hell. Those who will not hear the messenger of peace will hear the messenger of war. The greatest earthly punishments are but the beginning of sorrows for those who reject Christ.

The end of the world will not happen till the Gospel has done its work. The work of grace is available to those that hear and accept the Gospel. Rejection of that Grace will spell doom to that person. We should be as Christians in prayer knowing what we do about this world. World peace is a myth and false assurance. There will never be peace between nations and between individuals as long as sin reigns. Although we must take what happens in this world, we must pray against sufferings knowing that God is going to take care of us. There is going to be a false peace and Israel will lean on the Anti-Christ who appears to be their peace and salvation. Instead of leaning on the Rock of Ages they will lean on the Anti-Christ who will turn against them and make himself god. In the Great Tribulation 2/3 rds of the nation of Israel will be killed. The world has never seen that type of desolation. A remnant will lean on the Lord for their salvation.

II Thessalonians 2:1 – 5 Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers, not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.

Suffering in this world for Christ should sharpen holy resolution. The Gospel of Christ has always met with opposition. Un-regenerated man is an enemy of God and do not want to hear it because of the possibility of becoming convicted of their sin. They want to enjoy their sin AND to die in their sin. Men, women, boys, and girls need to come under the power of Godly faith. To not tell someone that is involved in sin is a sin in itself. It is a great motive to sincerity to know that God not only sees what we do, knows our thoughts, and searches our hearts to find our motives. Nothing is hidden from God. There is coming a day when the world will mourn. It will be too late for them. It is our work now in these last days to preach and teach the Gospel. We must love everyone enough to tell them of Jesus, Tell and re-tell. That is our challenge.

We must be diligently seeking Christ and His Gospel with all sincerity. We must be proclaiming Christ’s Gospel at every opportunity. We must be humbly serving Him until our last breath looking forward to that reward that He has proclaimed. 
                                              

                                      The New Birth – May 16, 2010
John 3: 1 – 10 (ESV)
Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him." Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." Nicodemus said to him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?" Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit." Nicodemus said to him, "How can these things be?" Jesus answered him, "Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things?

The preceding events leading up to today’s message in Chapter two of John was Jesus’s miracle of turning the water into wine at the wedding feast and the cleansing of the temple of the moneychangers that represented the reverence that He had for God and His house. Jesus could not tolerate anybody who did not give glory to God.
But the passage I want to dwell on this morning before we get to the message are chapter 2, verses 23 – 25 - Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing. But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man.

Jesus knew the heart of man then and He knows the heart of man now. Parents and especially mothers often can discern what their child is thinking but Jesus had perfect knowledge. He knew people’s sin problems before they even voiced them. He knew their sin problems when they may not have had a clear understanding. He reasoned with them not for His clarification but so that they clearly see. Many times we need to voice our problems to Jesus before we can recognize them for ourselves. We need to bring our sin problems to Jesus and ask forgiveness from a broken heart. He knew in John 2: 23 -25 that people were acknowledging Him for the wrong reasons. The Bible shows us that even the devils know the name of Jesus. He knew their character. He knows our character today. When I was interviewing at New Liberty, I kept praying that I could communicate my heart, my character and so on but we cannot with our inadequate speech. Jesus can. He knows our heart, He knows when we are broken or when we cannot voice our prayers so that others can understand, Jesus understands the cry of our heart. Others don’t need to understand, Jesus does. When we are in spiritual or physical pain because of what someone said or did or because our body hurts from disease or illness, He understands. He hears the cry of our heart. Even though we have wandered away through sin or neglect, He welcomes us as we bow humbly in faith to His will.

In today’s message, Nicodemus came to Jesus by night. Now this could be because he did not want others to see him or it could be because both were busy. It doesn’t matter, the meeting was at night. Now Nicodemus was a ruler of the Jews, a Pharisee, but the name is a Greek name meaning “victor over the people”. The Pharisees were hyper-legalists. But they were right in many respects such as man’s moral responsibility, they taught immortality, the resurrection of the body, the existence of spirits, and so on. They had great teachers like Gamaliel who taught Paul and Josephus, a great historian. All good quality type people. All from the Old Testament. But the Pharisees had a big problem, they externalized religion. They had a form of godliness with no reality. Nothing in the heart. That is why Jesus called them whited sepulchers because they looked clean on the outside but were rotten on the inside.

They had almost 600 laws. One of the laws was that you could not eat an egg laid by a chicken on the Sabbath unless you killed the chicken the next day. Another one was that one of the common medicines used in that day was vinegar, especially for a cold or sore throat. On the Sabbath, you could swallow it but you could not gargle because that was considered work. They were really hung up on the rules. That was one reason why Jesus said they strain at a gnat and swallow a camel.

So Nicodemus came and: …said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him." Fantastic miracles that is beyond human hands. Now remember that there had been an absence of any prophets in 400 years. Nicodemus isn’t sure who Jesus is. God is drawing Nicodemus. This is the beginning. Somewhere before John chapter 19, before Christ’s death, Nicodemus gets converted. God begins to draw a man and it takes time. Salvation experience is a flash but leading up to it, depending on how hard our heart has become, takes time.

Jesus gets right to the point: "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." Now Nicodemus had not even asked a question but Jesus knew what was on his mind. But what was on his mind and every other Jew is: How can I get into the kingdom? Nicodemus saw the OT promised kingdom. Nicodemus’s whole struggle in life was to be a part of that kingdom. When the Bible uses Kingdom of God, it is referring to God’s dominion. For example right now all Christians are a part of the Kingdom of God. The millennial reign for a thousand years with Christ as the head. It was future for Nicodemus and he wanted to be a part of it. As a Christian, it is now, it also has a millennial aspect and an eternal aspect.

Nicodemus has been working all his life towards the future aspect of the Kingdom of God. He has observed the law, made the sacrifices, all the rituals, all the feasts, all the tithes, everything. Jesus is telling him that it all for nought. You have to start over, ye must be born again. Nicodemus was expecting to add a few things more and he would be there in the Kingdom of God. Maybe observe this, do that and Nicodemus you are there. Kingdom of God. Instead Jesus is saying start over – A new birth. You need to be re-created.

Nicodemus had observed religion all his life. Religion is a nine letter word. Religion can be a false security blanket that gives a humanistic security of works and external observance that does not penetrate to the heart and lifetime behavior.

Nicodemus does not want to accept the words so he asks a rhetorical question: "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?" Nicodemus is smart. What he is saying is that I am too old to start over. He knows that Jesus is speaking on a spiritual level not on the human. I have done this all of my life, I just can’t accept this now after all my life’s work.
Jesus answers Nicodemus: "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.
The King James Version uses the words, verily, verily. That is what most of us grew up on but it’s the same meaning truly and verily. Jesus is not talking about H2O here. Some of our brothers use this as an argument for immediate baptism and keep the baptismal waters warm all the time. This is not what how the construction of the sentence goes. There is no comma between the water and the spirit, they are connected together. In the OT, it was a symbol of purification. It has no spiritual cleansing. Romans chapter three and Ephesians chapter two says that salvation is by faith.

In the physical birth, the newborn is born in a sack of water. Nicodemus, you were born naturally and now to enter the Kingdom of God, you have to be born spiritually. That was John the Baptist’s baptism, a symbol of cleansing inside. That is what it is still about today. You have heard it said that it is an outward symbol of an inward change. Christ is now in my heart, old things have passed away, all things are new. So, essentially, Christ I ssaying “Except a man be cleansed, purified, he can’t enter the Kingdom of God. The agent of purification is the Word of God. Ephesians 5:25 & 6 - Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,

The Spirit of God purifies us by the water of the word at salvation. It’s all done inside by the Spirit. When a person is cleansed by the washing of the Word and the Spirit of God re-creates them, then they can enter the Kingdom of God. The Holy Spirit must re-create them, regenerate them, and He does that cleansing by the power of the word of God.

Jesus uses the known to explain the unknown: “The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit." Nicodemus, you have nothing to do with it. You can’t re-create yourself. W ehave all heard people say “well, I need to get my life in order before I come to Christ. No , no , no , no. Trust Jesus, in faith believing. Come as you are. You don’t have to rationalize it, just believe Him.

Then Jesus ends in verse ten: Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? Religion can blind a mind from reality. Seeing Jesus and turning control of your life over to Him.
May 9, 2010

A Godly Woman

Our text this morning will be taken from I Samuel chapters 1 & 2. I will be reading selected verses from those two chapters.
I am concerned about what is happening to families. I have been for many years and have prayed for God to be present and number one in families, not only in my own but in all families. We live in an apostate and lost world, where God is not honored or even recognized. In a recent survey, 7% of the people in the United States live in a traditional family of a breadwinner father and a homemaker mother. We have changed the name of the White House Conference on the Family to White House Conference on Families because they did not want anyone to assume that they thought there was only one kind of family with a male father and a female mother. A psychiatrist from Milwaukee, Wisconsin said “ A child will never come to full psychological development and maturation in adulthood unless that child has had a mother in the home. That is a pretty strong statement from a psychiatrist. A recent article about weddings talks about in many weddings the phrase “as long as you both shall live” is being replaced by “As long as you both shall love.” People are getting into marriage anticipating that they are going to get out.
The Divorce rate in America after the first marriage is from 41% to 50% while the divorce rate after the second marriage is from 60% to 67% and after 3 marriages the US divorce rate is from 73% to 74%. Divorce rates vary by state, Nevada has the lowest with 30% and Delaware has the highest with over 64%. Divorce rate statistics show that couples without children have a higher divorce rate in America. US divorce rates in couples who have children is slightly lower. The children of divorced parents are prone to divorcing 4 times more than the children of couples who are not divorced.
One writer said that “No nation is ever greater than its mothers, for they are the makers of men. The Bible exalts motherhood. The Bible says that women are saved in childbearing, and it irritates me when people say that people should not have babies, especially Christian people because of the ugliness of the world situation. I believe that babies are an heritage from the Lord. It is a holy calling from God. The Bible exalts motherhood with women like Sarah, Rachel, Deborah, Ruth, Elizabeth, and Mary.
The background of the story this morning in Israel is that Samson had died and there was no great leader in the land. The enemies of the Israelites, the Philistines were gaining ground. The Israelite priesthood was corrupt with vile and sinful men in the priesthood. It was a wretched time with gross evil and no moral compass to guide them. No prophets and turmoil in the land. God was going to raise up a man to bring the people of Israel back just as he has done many times before. They needed a revival in their land just as many of us believe that we need a revival in ours.

Hannah was a special lady who really knew God. She had a divine perspective.
If you look at chapter one verse one, you read about Elkanah who had two wives, Hannah and Peninnah. Elkanah was a Levite which was the priestly family. Remember that in the Jewish society, husbands and wives were expected to have children and they were not as respected if they did not have any. Penniah had children and Hannah did not. Many theologians believe that Hannah was the first wife and when she could not have children, Penniah became the second wife and gave him children. The Bible says that she irritated Hannah grieviously because Elkaniah loved her more and gave her double portions.
1) She had a right husband relationship;
Elkaniah believed and worshipped God and Hannah shared in that worship. I believe that godly fathers make for better mothers. They had a common bond of worship, she went with him to worship. He was not a perfect man, he was a polygamist but because his first wife was childless, it was allowed in Jewish society to raise up children. Wives and husbands are not perfect but we can find love for each other in our common expression and mutual worship of the Lord. Marriage is not only spiritual but physical, emotional, and psychological. Our society often forgets the spiritual aspect of marriage. Hannah knew that Elkaniah loved her.
2) She had a right heavenly relationship;
When Penniah was teasing her she did not lash out at her husband. She showed grace under pressure. She showed understanding. She showed forgiveness. Where did she get this? She went directly to the Lord. Verse 10 - She was deeply distressed and prayed to the LORD and wept bitterly.

3) She had a passion for God’s best;

You know what God’s best is? Children. Verse 11 - And she vowed a vow and said, "O LORD of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head."
Children are an heritage from the Lord. They are a blessing. She was not selfish. She did not want a child to prove her womanhood. She wanted a child because she believed that a child was God’s best gift. She was willing to accept the responsibility.
4) She was a woman of prayer;
She prayed to God because she knew that her husband wasn’t the source of children, but God is. Every child that is conceived in this world is a gift from God. Her passion was children; that passion turned to prayer.

Since the 1973 Rowe vs Wade decision, there has been approximately 57 million abortions or a rate of well over a million babies a year. BTW, today May 9th is the 50 anniversary of the birth control pill.
5) She was a woman of presentation; verse 11
Remember me, remember me, don’t forget me Lord – I’ll vow a vow, here’s my life, remember me, and give me what I desire, a male child and I will give him unto the Lord all the days of my life. She would give back the gift that the Lord gives her; she presented the gift back to the Lord.
6) She was a woman or purity & virtue;
7) She was a woman of patience;
8) She believed God
She poured out her heart to the Lord. V18 - And she said, "Let your servant find favor in your eyes." Then the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad. V-19 They rose early in the morning and worshiped before the LORD; then they went back to their house at Ramah. And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the LORD remembered her. 20) And in due time Hannah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Samuel, for she said, "I have asked for him from the LORD

9) She praised God. - I Samuel chapter two verse one & two - And Hannah prayed and said, "My heart exults in the LORD; my strength is exalted in the LORD. My mouth derides my enemies, because I rejoice in your salvation. "There is none holy like the LORD; there is none besides you; there is no rock like our God.”

May 2, 2010

Hebrews 11:4 - By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks.

The philosopher Moffat wrote these words – Death is never the last word in the life of a righteous man. When a man or woman leaves this world whether he be righteous or unrighteous, they leave something. Man can leave hatred and resentment, a poison that effects future generations or may leave a legacy of Godliness that sustains eternity. Dead men do tell tales. The end of verse 4 says “he still speaks”.
But what can a man from the beginning of the earth, second generation man have to teach us? God’s dealing with people has had to change over the centuries. What can he have that will speak to us in the 21st century? We are going to be preaching on one important word that is the same today as it was when the earth was new.
Adam and Eve walked and talked with God. They were living in the Garden of Eden with little need for faith. Faith actualizes the future into the present. Their son Abel never lived in the Garden and so he was the first generation, first man of faith. He had to believe in a God who he had not seen only heard about from his parents. We could say that he had to believe in God from a second-hand source. He bet his life on it.
There was a series of movies several years ago called “Back to the Future”. Faith is just the opposite of that “Forward to the Future”.
All people living today have faith in something. Many have faith in honorable things. We can walk over to the faucet and have faith in the Millstone Water District to supply us water or have faith in the electric company that when we flip the switch, the lights will come on. A Bride and Groom have faith in each other that they will be true to each other until death do them part. Sometimes our faith in those things are not rewarded by a reaction to our action. Those things are secondary and subject to fallible faith. They are subject to this world and original sin’s consequences. There could be a water main break, a power failure or the actions of an unfaithful spouse.
Hebrews establishes the superiority of Christ and the New Covenant over the Old Testament covenant. Then the writer goes on to say that the only way to come into the New Covenant is by faith. The Old Covenant was a prescribed ritual and obedience to that form. Faith in Jesus Christ is the New Covenant rather than continual obedience in animal sacrifices. Old Covenant with continual sacrifices and a multitude of priests while the New Covenant with one sacrifice and one high priest, Jesus Christ. No longer, no access to God but now with the New Covenant access to God through Jesus Christ. Simple way to enter into the New Covenant is to have faith, believe in Jesus Christ. Stake your life, your future on Jesus Christ. Believe in Him, believe His promises in the Bible.
Have faith that you trust your life to Him. The story is told of a lady who disliked flying and had never flown but had to fly to visit a relative. She was asked how the flight was and she related that she did not rest until she was down on the ground. She did not have faith in the pilot, plane or airlines with her life. She did not think she would survive the flight. She did not believe the facts that flying is safer than driving. She only heard of the catastrophes that happened before. We don’t hear about every car accident but we do about plane crashes all over the world because of the large number of people losing their life.
We can have faith in Jesus Christ because He is creator, Lord, and master of everything. He is infallible, perfect in His ways. He is good and loves us with an unfailing love. He is faithful when everything else around us is unfaithful.
In verse 1 of Chapter 11, the English Standard Version - Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Two words that anchor the verse – assurance and conviction. Assurance of things hoped for. Christ has promised us many things in His Word. We can have assurance that he will deliver. Conviction is a pre-determined response. That response for true Christians is yes to Christ. The future is now. Our faith in Jesus Christ allows us to persevere the present cares, stresses, disappointments, and evil of this world because of our assurance of our future in Christ and the conviction or pre-determined response to present events.
Faith takes the promised events of the future and actualizes them into the present.
Faith secures the approval of God. …God commending him by accepting his gifts. By faith men receive the approval of God.
Lastly, faith enables a man to understand what logic does not allow him to understand. Verse 3 - By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. Faith sees what the philosopher or scientist cannot see or understand. Faith says that God created the world out of nothing. Faith enables us to comprehend that which is not visible to the senses. Faith is believing the future promises based on past performance by God. Faith is future but benefits are present. Christians live by faith in Jesus Christ. There are no gray areas in faith. There is no wiggle or waver room in faith. You either have faith or you don’t. Maybe a beginning faith or growing faith. It is as simple as that. The world has fabricated many examples of hoaxes proclaimed to be the missing link. Countdown is a little book written by a scientist named Hardy has investigated the different hoaxes that are still in educational textbooks. One quote from his book “ The search for the missing link is Mr. Hyde at its best. If the evolutionist was using a scientific approach he would be looking at three million missing links. For that is an estimate of how many are needed to prove his theory of a missing link. Dead or alive they cannot produce a single scientifically acceptable trace of intermediate life.” And another quote “the Nebraska man was built up from a single tooth and later found to be a tooth from an extinct pig.” The Colorado man was similar except a tooth from a horse, Colorado ape man was someone’s pet monkey, The Piltdown man was an elaborate hoax that fooled people for 40 years was a borrowed jawbone of a modern ape. I could go on and on. The missing link is MISSING!
Evolutionists say that there is no way that creationist could be right because the first man could not have been very smart. In Genesis 2:20 - The man gave names to all livestock and to the birds of the heavens and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper fit for him. Now Adam had to be very smart to do this. I can’t comprehend the brain power that it would take to do that.
Faith in Jesus Christ is living the present with the promises of the future. Forward to the future. We believe and are committed to the promises of the future that Christ has promised and using that faith to live in the present world.

April 25, 2010

II Peter 3:18

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

We use the expression around here “Glorify God” How do we do that? This morning I am going to express six ways that we can glorify God. I want to list them here at the beginning:
1) Confess Jesus as Lord & Savior;
2) Gear our whole life to the glory of God;
3) Confess our sins: Keep our sin accounts, zeroed:
4) Trust Him;
5) Be fruitful; and
6) Praise Him.

This message is about the Christian life. We want to grow in maturity to be more like Christ, what I call progressive sanctification. II Peter 3:18 is Peter’s last exhortation, his final instruction is to grow, grow, grow towards maturity in Jesus Christ. Our entire life should be focused on glorifying God.

The first way we can glorify God is confess Jesus as Lord & Savior. In Philippians 2:11 it reads:“and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. A life that is growing spiritually and glorifies God is committed to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Salvation is the starting point. Submission to Christ as Lord and Savior is the beginning and progressive sanctification, growing in the knowledge and truth of Jesus Christ. This is the beginning of progress towards Christian maturity.

The second way we can glorify God is to gear our whole life to God. That should be our aim, our purpose, our direction in life. I Corinthians 10:31 says: “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” Every single function in life from the simple to the complex should be directed at glorifying God. That means I will do His will no matter the cost. That means that when His name is dishonored, I feel the pain because I am so closely identified with Him. That means that we are not jealous when outdone by others who do the same thing we do, as long as the Lord gets the glory. Our life is aimed at glorifying Him.

The third principle by which we glorify God is by confessing sin. Joshua 7:19 “Then Joshua said to Achan, "My son, give glory to the LORD God of Israel and give praise to him. And tell me now what you have done; do not hide it from me."

Achan took some things out of Jerico after being told to not take anything and buried them in the ground in his tent. His sin of disobedience resulted in a defeat of Israel by AI in the next battle. Joshua instructed Achan to confess his sin so that when God acted in a holy way against Achan’s sin, there would be no one who could accuse God of an unjust act.

When we confess our sin, we admit to God that it is indeed our sin. We admit we are sinners and agree with God’s assessment. And if God justly acts toward us, then we cannot accuse Him of being unfair. We give God glory when we confess our sin.

The fourth way in which we glorify God is by trusting Him. Romans 4: 19 & 20: He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah’s womb. 20) No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God,

Abraham had faith in God that He would deliver what he had promised.
We say we believe God. Our theology tells us that God is trustworthy and good but our anxieties deny it. Sometimes we live as if we did not trust God at all. Trying to control everything in our environment and worrying and speculating about things we have no control over, which casts doubt on the trustworthiness of God. When unbelieving people see us in that condition, they wonder if our God is the kind of God they want to give their life to. When we believe God, when we trust God, and confidently live our life knowing that he is God who keeps His promises, then we are glorifying God.

The fifth way we can glorify God is with our fruitfulness. That is defined as Christ’s righteousness produced within us. John 15:8 - By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. A productive Christian is glory and honor to God. It is a testimony to God’s power, His might, and His goodness and grace. When it is used for Christ, His people are blessed and God is glorified. It honors God when we bear fruit. When we influence and lead others to Christ.

The Sixth way we can glorify God is to praise Him. Not just once in a while but continuously. Psalm 50:23: The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me;to one who orders his way rightly I will show the salvation of God!" When we praise Him in private or in public, we glorify Him. When we meditate on His goodness, His blessings and thank Him because of all that He has done for us, we glorify Him. When we sing praises to Him, we glorify Him. We can praise Him when we cannot do anything else. When we are laying in a hospital bed or recovering from an illness, we can offer praise. When we achieve success or experience abject failure, we can praise Him. We can praise Him at any time and any place even if we cannot do anything else. Psalm 86:9: All the nations you have made shall come and worship before you, O Lord, and shall glorify your name. and then verse 12: I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever.

In these verses, worship, praise, and glorifying God are all linked together. Worship is praising God. Praising God glorifies God. They belong together. When we do that, we bring Him glory.

Psalm 92: 1 & 2 - It is good to give thanks to the LORD, to sing praises to your name, O Most High; to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night, It is good to give thanks. In the morning and in the evening. All the time, we should be meditating on His goodness throughout the day, every waking moment. Incredible, that God has condescended to us, vile sinners, so that we may have the capacity to praise His Glory because of the transformation of us through Jesus Christ. In Paul’s words “an earthen vessel in which there is a treasure of glory.”

In John 4: 23 & 24: But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth."

The Father seeks true worshippers. It is the goal of salvation to create worship. Worship of God. We were not saved to for our own sake. We were saved that we might worship. Worship God in spirit and in truth. We were redeemed to praise and glorify God.

I Chronicles 16 beginning at verse 23 and continuing through 27: Sing to the LORD, all the earth! Tell of his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples! For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, and he is to be held in awe above all gods. For all the gods of the peoples are idols, but the LORD made the heavens. Splendor and majesty are before him;
strength and joy are in his place.

I Chronicles 16 is a call to worship, the call to praise Him. When we say we want to glorify God, we want to do it through these things: Meditating on God’s attributes: that is what praise is; Glorious is the Lord, Almighty is the Lord.

Meditating on His acts:past, present, and future. What He has done, what He is doing presently, and what He has promised to do. How do we do that? By reading His word, the Bible. By fellowshipping with other believers, telling unbelievers of His works. The third way to glorify God is prayer. Our prayers should be in Jesus name, consistent with His name, His will, His purpose, His person, His sovereign design. The name it and claim it is bogus and is an affront to God.

We glorify God by our unity. We are working toward the same things. Lead unbelievers to become believers. We do not live to ourselves. We build each other up. We encourage each other. We work together towards the goal of preaching and teaching Jesus Christ to all.

Let us pray.
 

Please understand these are my study notes rather than the sermon given on Sunday.  I study and summarize these readings to deliver the message under the Holy Spirit's direction. JKJ

The Example of the Cross
We look to the death of Jesus Christ and we focus on its redemptive sense. We look at it, and properly so, as the act of substitutionary atonement for which our sins are forgiven. We look at the irreproducible part of Calvary, that which was once for all never to be repeated, and fittingly. We look at the one offering that perfected forever them that are sanctified. We look at the one sacrifice that did what all the offerings of bulls and goats throughout all of history in the nation Israel could never do. We look at that which can never be done again. And we celebrate the redemptive work of Christ.
But this morning I want us to look at the cross from a different perspective, not from the viewpoint of what was done that can never be done again, not the redemptive, not the single solitary unique act of Christ in satisfying the justice of God for the sins of those who believe, but I want us to look at the cross for the value of its example, in the sense that it gives us in the very character and expression of Christ patterns which we are to follow. There are things about the death of Christ that are to be reproduced in our lives. Obviously we cannot pay for the sins of all humanity. We cannot by our death satisfy the justice of God for others. We cannot offer a perfect sacrifice. We can't and we don't need to, it's been done. But there are some elements of the death of Christ which we must follow and reproduce.
Peter had that in mind when he said this, "Christ suffered for you," 1 Peter 2:21, "Christ suffered for you leaving you an example to follow in His steps." Now in what sense is the death of Jesus Christ an example that we are to follow? We can't die for the sins of the world. We can't satisfy the justice of God. We can't offer a perfect sacrifice. We can't do anything that's once for all. In what sense then did Christ suffer leaving us an example that we're to follow?
The answer is absolutely wonderful, convicting, challenging, encouraging and apt preparation for us as we come to this table. When Jesus was dying on the cross Scripture records that He uttered seven different sayings. We call them the seven last words of Christ. Each of them has been studied from many, many viewpoint, rehearsed and repeated and proclaimed and taught and preached, written about. But I don't know that I've ever approached them in this particular way, and I think it's such an important way.
In the seven sayings of Christ we have seven principles which we are to follow. Seven sayings of Christ that give to us an example that we are to follow. To put it another way, in His dying we learn how to live.
Let's take the first one. According to Luke chapter 23 and verse 34 Jesus first said, "Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing." In that moment He was forgiving those who crucified Him. Here is an example we can follow. The principle is this, He died forgiving those who sinned against Him. Man had done its worst deed ever. The one by whom the world was made had come into the world but the world knew Him not. The Lord of glory had tabernacled among men but He was not wanted. The eyes which sin had blinded could see in Him no beauty that He should be desired. At His birth there was no room for Him at the inn which foreshadowed the treatment He would receive all through His life. Shortly after His birth Herod tried to kill Him and this intimated the hostility that His person evoked and forecast really the cross and the climax of man's hatred. Again and again his enemies attempted His destruction and now their vile deeds have reached success. The Son of God has yielded Himself up into their hands. A mock trial has taken place and though the judge has found no fault in Him, they have nonetheless yielded to the harangue and the clamor of an insistent crowd who keeps screaming, "Crucify Him."
The awful deed has been done. And no ordinary death could satisfy His implacable foes, a death of intense suffering, a death of ignominy, a death of shame, public humiliation and embarrassment was decided upon. A cross had been secured and the Savior had been nailed to it and there He was hanging silent. Presently His lips move. Is He crying for pity? No. Is He about to curse His crucifiers? No. Is He pronouncing malediction upon those who had caused his death? No.
He's asking God to forgive them. "Forgive them, Father, they don't know what they're doing." Our Lord understood the sinfulness and blindness and depravity of the human heart. The sin was enormous. They were killing the Son of God. They didn't know they were killing the Prince of life. They didn't know they were killing the Creator of all, the Messiah, the Lord Christ, the Savior of the world. And it shows how blind people are and how the carnal mind is at frightening odds with God.
Man needs nothing more than forgiveness. There is no greater need than forgiveness because it is forgiveness that keeps him separated from God forever. It is unforgiven sin that sentences men to hell and to the judgment of God. Forgiveness is man's greatest need and there was Jesus dying on the cross and praying for the forgiveness of God to be given to the ones who executed Him.
That is a marvelous example for us to follow, isn't it? It matters not how people treat us, it matters not how we may be abused. It matters not how we may be misjudged, misrepresented, falsely accused. It matters not how our affections and our love may be returned with hatred and animosity. All that matters is that we have a heart of forgiveness.
Stephen understood that, didn't he?, in Acts chapter 7 as he was being crushed under the bloody stones of his executioners who were snuffing out his life by dropping huge boulders on his head. He responded by saying, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them," following the pattern that he had seen in Jesus at the cross and he asked God to forgive them.
This is lesson number one on how to live, forgive. Not a popular virtue in our culture, is it? A culture filled with vengeance. We're to live with a forgiving heart to those who wronged us even if they wronged in heinous ways. No one has ever been wronged to the degree that Jesus Christ was wronged. And He forgave and He's our pattern. Christ died forgiving the very ones who cruelly and without cause murdered Him. What an example that is to follow. Less severe treatment, for sure, has been laid on us and we are...we are so unworthy anyway. Can we find it in our hearts to forgive a lesser deed to a lesser person? Christ set the example.
The second thing that Jesus said on the cross is recorded in Luke 23 verse 43. He looked to a thief that was crucified beside him and He said, "Today you shall be with Me in paradise. I say this to you truly, it's a fact." Here's a second principle, a second example. He died bringing the truth of eternal life to a damned soul. Jesus no matter where He was, even at this moment, never lost the sense of His mission. Life never became so unbearable that He lost the sense of what He was to do. He had come to seek and to save that which was lost, according to Luke 19:10, and there was a lost man just a few feet away and though He could well have been preoccupied with His own suffering and His own agony, it was His concern to bring the truth of eternal life to a damned soul. And during the most incredible pain He never lost the sense of His mission.
And how dramatically God had set the scene for Him to bring in that lost sinner to paradise. It was no accident. It was no accident that the Lord of glory was crucified between two thieves. It was no accident who they were either. There are no accidents in a world governed by God, much less could there have been any accident on that day of all days in the middle of that event of all events, the day in the event that lies at the center of human history. No, God was presiding sovereignly over everything. From all eternity He decreed the death of Jesus Christ in all of its attendant circumstance, and in fact who it would that would be hanging right next to Him. Nothing was left to chance, nothing was left to caprice, or the whim of men. All that God had decreed had come to pass exactly as He had ordained it. God had placed a thief beside the Lord Jesus who was chosen from before the foundation of the world to be a part of the Kingdom. And Jesus was so sensitive to that man's spiritual response.
In Luke 23, one of the criminals of the two was hurling abuse at Jesus, according to verse 39. "Are You not the Christ? Save Yourself and us." A mocking jeer, really. But the answered and rebuked him saying, "Do you not even fear God since you're under the same sentence of condemnation and we indeed justly for we are receiving what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong. And he was saying, `Jesus, remember me when You come in Your Kingdom.'"
That dying thief had a pretty substantial theology. He understood the sinlessness of Christ. He said He's done nothing wrong. He understood the sovereignty of Christ. He said, "When You come in Your Kingdom," he knew He was a King. He understood the Saviorhood of Christ, he said, "Remember me." He was asking to be delivered from the consequence of sin and death. He did not have “works” - His works were evil but Jesus forgave him.
He even believed in the resurrection power of Christ. How else could he say, "Remember me when You come in Your Kingdom." Nobody is going to have a Kingdom who dies and stays dead. He testified much about who Christ was.
It's an amazing thing that has happened in this man's heart. Instead of attributing the salvation of lost sinners to the matchless grace of God, such as was obviously working in that thief's heart, many professing Christians seek to account for it by human influence. And they imagine that for someone to enter into the Kingdom, all the circumstances have to be exactly right. And you've got to create some kind of an ethos, some kind of an environment to make it all sort of go down, you know? But in the case of this thief, everything would have said...This is not God's Son, this is not the Savior, this is not the Messiah. I mean, everything on the outside looked like it was not convincing. Christ seemed to be in a position where He had lost all power to save either Himself or others. This thief had marched, by the way, along with the Savior through the streets of Jerusalem and seen Him collapse under the weight of the cross and have it given to someone else to carry. It's very probably that since he followed an occupation as a thief and a robber, this may have been the first time he ever set eyes on Jesus, so how it is that he could become so quickly convinced when all he saw was weakness, disgrace, humiliation, embarrassment, shame? In fact, Jesus' friends had forsaken Him so he couldn't even find a group of people who could give testimony to His virtue. Public opinion was unanimously against Him and that was being led by the religious leaders who were supposed to be in the know when it came to God.
His very crucifixion was regarded utterly inconsistent with anybody's view of a messiahship. His lowly condition was a stumbling block to everybody. The circumstances of His death only intensified that. Frankly there was nothing in Him that was beautiful, as Isaiah said, nothing made Him desirable.
And by the way, nobody in the crowd stood up and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world." All they did was spit on Him and yank the hair out of His beard, jam a crown of thorns on His head, pound nails through His hands and feet, stick Him up in the sky. How...how could a thief come to the conclusion that this was the Savior who could deliver him from sin and death and bring him into the kingdom of God? And the answer is, it was a miracle, like every conversion. It is not the result of all the circumstances, it is the result of divine intervention and supernatural operation and a miracle of grace. And it could happen. And here is the illustration in the most unlikely and not conducive circumstances. The thief in the midst of all of this apprehended the reality that this was the Savior, the living God in human flesh, the Lord Jesus Christ, and he placed his life time and eternity into His care.
I don't know what that does for you, but it gives me great hope about my taking the opportunity to share Jesus Christ in what may be the most unlikely circumstances. And by the way, the conversion of this thief took place before the darkness, before the earthquake, before the rocks split, before the graves opened, before the people were resurrected, before the veil in the temple split from the top to the bottom, none of that had happened. And you might have assumed that that would be the stuff that would really push him over the edge, right? That hadn't happened yet.
In other words, in the most unfavorable and unconvincing circumstances imaginable, he was saved. And Jesus Christ was faithful to gather up that miracle of grace into His arms and promise him the Kingdom that very day. He never ever lost sight of His mission, ever.
Two malefactors were crucified together, equally near to Christ. Both of them saw and heard all that transpired during those fateful six hours and both were notoriously wicked, both suffering acutely and justly. But dying, both needing forgiveness. One of them died in his sins, died as he had lived, hard and impenitent. And the other repented of his wickedness, believed in Jesus Christ, called on Him for mercy and that day went to heaven. And Jesus was ready to receive him. He is an example for us.
No matter what may be going on in our lives, no matter what pain we may be bearing. No matter how difficult the circumstances of life may be. Our mission is ever and always to put our arms around some repentant sinner near by and bring him to the Kingdom. What an example.
The third words of Jesus that I remind you of are given in John's gospel chapter 19 verses 26 and 27. And Jesus looks down from the cross and He sees Mary on the one hand and John, His beloved disciple, and He says, "Woman...to His mother...behold your son," has her look at John and He says to John, "Behold your mother." What is this? This is Jesus giving John the beloved Apostle the care of His mother. No doubt Joseph was dead. She not having a husband would be a widow and be alone, and now her son was dying.
You say, "Well didn't she have other children?" Yes she did, but they did not believe, it tells us in John chapter 7, yet, until later. She needed to be in the care of someone who loved Jesus and believed in Him, someone who was a fellow believer as well as one who would love and care for and meet her needs. And so here we find another principle to follow, He died expressing selfless love. He died forgiving. He died embracing a sinner. He died loving someone else.
Standing at the foot of the cross that day was a special little group. They weren't looking from a distance. They weren't mixed and mingled into the morbid crowd. They just were all huddled together, it says in John 19:25, together at the foot of the cross. There was Mary, now realizing with full force the words of Simeon many years before that it would be a sword that would go through her heart with this Son. She had all the love a mother could hold for an absolutely sinless Son. She hurt. She had pain. She was baffled, paralyzed, and yet bound by love to the cross. She stands there without strength, no hysteria, no wailing, no fainting, suffering in unbroken silence. The crowds are mocking. The soldiers are gambling for His clothes, clothes she might have made. Her Son is bleeding and dying. With her is her sister, perhaps Salome the mother of James and John, then there's Mary the wife of Cleopas, Mary Magdalene, and one man, one disciple, John. And He commits His mother to the care of John. And there is a marvelous example in the death of Christ, an example of selfless love. He is dying but it is not His own pain that burdens His heart, it's the pain of His mother. Occupied as He is with the weight of the world's sin, with the most stupendous agony ever conceived or known by any person, a sin engulfs the sinless One under a burden that no creature could ever come close to bearing, feeling the wrath of Almighty God, more pain than you can ever imagine, and yet who is He thinking of? His mother.
That's how we're to live. No matter how difficult life is, no matter how trying, no matter how deep the pain, we're always to be concerned with others. The magnificence of selfless love was never better demonstrated, neither was the magnificence of commitment to the evangelistic mission, and neither was the heart of forgiveness. Its most magnanimous and magnificent illustration is at the cross.
Fourthly, in Matthew 27:46 the writer records that Jesus also said, "My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?" And here's another exemplary principle. He died understanding the seriousness of sin. In His dying He tells us how to live, we live forgiving, we live evangelizing, we live loving, and we live understanding the seriousness of sin. He knew what sin did, it separates from God, it alienates. It severs intimacy
Paul felt it, "O wretched man that I am." David felt it, "Restore to me the joy of Thy salvation." Sin can do what nothing else can do, it can separate the Son from the Father. It can separate, it can break the intimacy, it can violate the fellowship. He understood the seriousness of sin. He who enjoyed uninterrupted communion, perfect communion within the trinity is now forsaken. He could feel it coming as He was in the garden, "Let this cup pass from Me," I think was much more a prayer that if there was any way He could be relieved He would want to be relieved, not so much of the physical pain, but of the anticipated sin-bearing and separation.
Those are words of unequalled pathos, by the way. They mark the climax of His suffering. The soldiers had cruelly mocked Him. They had arrayed Him with a crown of thorns. They had scourged Him. They had struck Him in the face with their fists, pounding on Him. They went so far as to spit all over His face. They plucked the hair from His beard. They fouled His garments. They made Him naked. They put Him to open shame. He suffered through it all in absolute silence. Then they dragged Him through the city, as you well know, took Him to the hill, nailed Him to a cross, dropped the cross in a hole in a socket, it must have ripped and torn His flesh as it hit bottom. He endured it all and never said a word.
He never talks about His pain. Never says a word about it. Never says, "I'm...I'm hurting." But this pain He does talk about. "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" That's a cry that ought to melt the hardest heart. He felt separation. He felt the curse of God, Galatians 3 talks about. He was experiencing how much God hates sin, the violent punishment of sin, it came at three P.M. in the afternoon, after six hours of hanging on the cross. And this He screamed out loudly. He died feeling the seriousness of sin. And that's how we're to live. We're to live with a sensitivity to sin, feeling and understanding and comprehending its seriousness because it will separate us from God's blessing and God's peace and joy and power.
Fifthly on the cross, He said something very human. John 19:28, He said, "I'm thirsty." Here's another principle we can follow, He died experiencing human suffering. He died experiencing human suffering. This is evidence of His real humanity, He was thirsty. The New Testament tells us occasionally about those things in His life and it reminds us there were times when He was weary, and hungry, and sleepy, and sad, and happy, and even grieved and groaning in His spirit. Times when He was disappointed. And by the way, they tried to give Him a drug earlier, people just didn't get crucified without some drug to mitigate the unbelievable pain. He refused it. But now He's thirsty. That's so human...that's so human.
It's an ordinary thirst. Just like you and I would have. Sitting out under the sun for six hours, naked, dehydrated, in the agony of death, His mouth parched, His throat dry. The crowd alone must have kicked up an incredible amount of dust which would settle all over Him. Here is the Lord God Christ experiencing life at its most basic level. I'm thirsty. It's just a window to see that He was so sympathetic to the simple needs of human life. We're to live like He died, sensitive to the humanity around us. We live forgiving, we live evangelizing, we live loving, we live sensitively to sin, and we live sympathetic to the suffering around us. This has been a wonderful time for us to live that way, hasn't it? To show our love to those who have suffered.
The sixth statement that I bring your attention to is in John 19 verse 30. Jesus said, "It is finished...It is finished." Here's another thing we can follow. Here's another exemplary part of His dying. The principle is this, He died but only after completing the work God gave Him to do. He died but only after completing the work God gave Him to do. He didn't say I'm finished, He said it is finished. This is not a cry of defeat, "I'm finished," this is a cry of triumph, "It is finished. I completed the work You gave Me do to. My life work is over."
He came to do the Father's will and He did it. A lot of people run in the marathon of life, some finish, some just quit. There's a difference in quitting and finishing, isn't there? I don't know about you but I don't want to...I don't want to just leave, I want to finish. I want to know so well what God has called me to do and do it that some day I can say I'm ready to die cause I'm done.
What has God given you to do? What Kingdom enterprise have you poured your life into so that when you come to the end you don't just leave, you finish? He came to take away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. He did it. It was done. He came to bear our sins, condemn sin in the flesh, defeat Satan. He did it.
I want to come to the end of my life, I hope you do, like Paul and say, "I finished my course, get me out of here, I'm ready." What are you pouring your life into? Is it just going to be said "He lived and he died, she lived and she died?" Or is it going to be said "She lived and she finished...He finished?" What work, what giftedness, what calling has God given you?
And the last thing, in Luke 23:46 Jesus said, "Father, into Thy hands I commit My Spirit." He died entrusting Himself to God. That's how we're to live. He died entrusting Himself to God. The cup of wrath was drained. The storm of divine fury was over. Darkness was passed. Fellowship with the Father was waiting after death. This is an act of trust. I'm going to give My life now cause I'll trust You that You'll give it back to Me." That's what He was saying.
He believed that God would raise Him from the dead. His trust was in God. I'll give My life, I will bear sin as I have borne it. I will take the full weight of sin. You can crush Me under Your wrath, I yield up My life in the confidence that You'll give it back to Me. He trusted God with His life. What an example to us.
He died trusting God in the darkest moment. That's how we're to live. We trust God when disease hits. We trust God when an earthquake hits. We trust God in everything. We trust God when we face death. Stephen, same situation, his life being crushed says, Acts 7:59, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." He didn't fear dying because he believed in resurrection. He trusted Christ to bring him out of death.
We have that hope, don't we? There's much to be seen in the death of Jesus Christ from a redemptive perspective. There's much to be seen in the death of Christ that is irreproducible, that is absolutely unique, that is solitary. But there are also things in the death of Jesus Christ that become examples for us and all of our lives are to be lived according to the pattern they set. We are to live forgiving no matter what is done against us. We are to live evangelizing, embracing every person around us, never losing sight of our mission, but bringing as many into the Kingdom we can no matter how difficult and no matter how contrary circumstances might appear. We are to live loving selflessly and not preoccupied with our own things but the things of others, no matter how tough it is. We are to live sensitive to the damage that sin can do. We are to live sympathetically knowing that everybody around us feels the pain of just being human. We are to live so that when it comes to the end we'll finish and not just end. And we are to live trusting God for everything.
Christ suffered for you, says Peter, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps.
 

II Timothy 3: 1 - 9
 

Nominal Christianity
1) But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty.

2) For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud,
arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful,
unholy,
3) heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal,
not loving good,
4) treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure
rather than lovers of God,
5) having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power.
Avoid such people.
6) For among them are those who creep into households and
capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by
various passions,
7) always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the
truth.
8) Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also
oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified
regarding the faith.
9) But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all,
as was that of those two men.
DIFFICULT TIMES
But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. (3:1) In the intervening 2,000 years, the apostle’s divinely revealed prediction of difficult times has come true as heresies have become progressively more characteristic of nominal Christianity. In this passage he gives the most serious possible command to avoid, expose, and oppose spiritual impostors in the church.
Throughout church history the full counsel of God has been unpalatable to many who have claimed the name of Christ. In his book Damned Through the Church (Minneapolis: Bethany, 1970), John Warwick Montgomery discusses the difficult times as he offers a list of what he calls “the damnable epochs of church history.” He identifies and discusses seven specific movements or theological orientations—from the sacramentalism of the Middle Ages (Also called the Dark Ages) to the subjectivism that is so rampant in our own day—that are clearly unbiblical, ungodly, and destructive of the body of Christ. As the title of the book implies, these false gospels are damning to their adherents.
 

In each of those difficult times, men’s ideas were substituted for God’s truth and therefore for God Himself. Under sacramentalism, the church replaced God; under rationalism, reason was god; under orthodoxism, god was sterile, impersonal orthodoxy; under politicism, god was the state; under ecumenism, god was uncritical fellowship and cooperation among nominal Christians; under experientialism, god became personal experience; and under subjectivism, which still reigns in much of Christendom, self has become god.
 

It would be appropriate to add to Montgomery’s list the current emphases on mysticism, which seeks to determine truth about God by intuition and feeling, and on pragmatism, which attempts to determine what is true by what produces desired effects. These movements do not come and go but come to stay, so that as the years go on, the church accumulates them, and the battles continue.
Besides our present text, the only other prediction Paul made to Timothy is found in the first letter, in which he gives a similar warning: “The Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron” (1 Tim. 4:1–2).
That problem was not new to God’s people. Jeremiah wrote, “The Lord said to me, ‘The prophets are prophesying falsehood in My name. I have neither sent them nor commanded them nor spoken to them; they are prophesying to you a false vision, divination, futility and the deception of their own minds’ ” (Jer. 14:14). Later he relates that “among the prophets of Jerusalem I [the Lord] have seen a horrible thing: The committing of adultery and walking in falsehood; and they strengthen the hands of evildoers, so that no one has turned back from his wickedness. All of them have become to Me like Sodom, and her inhabitants like Gomorrah” (Jer. 23:14). The prophet then warned, “Thus says the Lord of hosts, ‘Do not listen to the words of the prophets who are prophesying to you. They are leading you into futility; they speak a vision of their own imagination, not from the mouth of the Lord’ ” (v. 16).
The most serious and lamentable aspect of such rejection of God and His Word is that the danger comes from within the church. As noted several times, near the end of his third missionary journey Paul sent for the Ephesian elders to meet with him at Miletus. Pouring out his heart to them, he warned, “I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them” (Acts 20:29–30, emphasis added).
 

Although our Lord assures us, “I will build My church; and the gates of Hades shall not overpower it” (Matt. 16:18), He did not promise that His people would be free from spiritual danger and harm. Much to the contrary. Near the beginning of His ministry, in the Sermon on the Mount, He warned, “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves” (Matt. 7:15). In the guise of spiritual shepherds and prophets, who were noted for wearing wool garments, they devour and destroy the very ones they profess to lead and protect. Zechariah spoke of such men as those who “put on a hairy robe in order to deceive” (Zech. 13:4). Earlier in His revelation to that prophet, the Lord declared, “For behold, I am going to raise up a shepherd in the land who will not care for the perishing, seek the scattered, heal the broken, or sustain the one standing, but will devour the flesh of the fat sheep and tear off their hoofs. Woe to the worthless shepherd who leaves the flock! A sword will be on his arm and on his right eye! His arm will be totally withered, and his right eye will be blind” (11:16–17).
 

Near the end of His ministry, Jesus expanded the warning cited above from Matthew 7. “Many false prophets will arise, and will mislead many,” He said. “And because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold.… For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect” (Matt. 24:11–12, 24).
Similar warnings are given in the epistles. Peter warned that “false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves. And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned” (2 Peter 2:1–2). John warned, “Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have arisen; from this we know that it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, in order that it might be shown that they all are not of us” (1 John 2:18–19). Jude warned that “certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ” (Jude 4).
Those warnings were about the contemporary as well as the future condition of the church. The dangers that plagued the New Testament church would continue and become worse throughout the church age, as “evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived” (2 Tim. 3:13).
 

The twin dangers are the closely related evils of ungodly teaching and ungodly living, of false doctrine and sinful lifestyle. As Jesus pointed out in the quotation above from Matthew 24:11, as “false prophets will arise,… lawlessness is increased,” and as Jeremiah predicted,“the committing of adultery and walking in falsehood” are companion evils (Jer. 23:14). Those enemies of God and of God’s people originated at the Fall and will continue to thrive until the Lord returns and takes back the world for Himself. In the meanwhile, the alliance of false teaching and ungodly living will continue to afflict the church.
 

The conjunction but indicates a change of direction, from the admonition to be a godly “vessel for honor,” one characterized by kindness, patience, and gentleness (2:21–25), to the admonition to be a responsible and fearless guardian of God’s people, protecting them from false doctrine and immoral living.
 

Realize this translates a Greek present tense, which, as often noted before, carries the ideas of constancy and continuity. As long as Timothy was given breath and energy to serve the Lord and the Lord’s people, he was to heed Paul’s warning.
In Scripture, the phrase last days can have several meanings. In his prophecies about “the latter days,” Daniel referred to the entire sweep of history from the time of King Nebuchadnezzar of ancient Babylon to the time when “the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which will never be destroyed” (See Dan. 2:28–45). In Isaiah’s prophecy, the phrase refers to the time just prior to and including Christ’s second coming, when “the mountain of the house of the Lord will be established as the chief of the mountains, and will be raised above the hills; and all the nations will stream to it” (Isa. 2:2; cf. Micah 4:1).
 

The writer of Hebrews declared that “God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world” (Heb. 1:1–2, emphasis added; cf. James 5:3). It seems clear that these last days, which began with the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ, are the ones about which Paul is speaking here. Explaining the miraculous descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, Peter made clear that “this is what was spoken of through the prophet Joel: ‘And it shall be in the last days,’ God says, ‘That I will pour forth of My Spirit upon all mankind’ ” (Acts 2:16–17; cf. Joel 2:28, emphasis added). The Messiah, Jesus Christ, initiated these last days, the continuation of which was attested by the descent of His Holy Spirit at Pentecost and the birth of the church.
 

In John’s first epistle, he warned his readers in the early church that “it is the last hour,” which, in this context, is the equivalent of the last days. “And just as you heard that antichrist is coming,” he continued, “even now many antichrists have arisen; from this we know that it is the last hour” (1 John 2:18). We are still living in the messianic time between Christ’s first and second comings, all of which may properly be called the last days.
 

In those days, Paul says, difficult times will come. Chelepos (difficult) carries the ideas of perilous or grievous, as some English versions translate the word. In Matthew 8:28, referring to the Gadarene demoniacs, it is translated “violent” (NASB). The famous Greek writer Plutarch used the term to describe an ugly, infected, and dangerous wound.
Times does not translate chronos, which, as one would guess, indicates chronological time, but rather kairos, which refers to periods of time, to seasons, epochs, or eras. The plural times may indicate the epochs of varying degrees of danger and difficulty the church would experience throughout its history. As Paul makes clear a few verses later, these perilous times will become more and more frequent and intense, whereas the intervening periods of relative tranquility will become less frequent and peaceful, as the return of Christ nears.
 

Science & the Bible
March 14, 2010
Apologetics is applying Biblical truths to respond to attacks against the Christian faith using the integrity of the Bible.
Today’s message is on Science & the Bible. Science has and is discovering what the Bible has been saying for centuries. The message today is one of the great proofs, as if we need one, that the Bible is a product of divine inspiration and is scientifically accurate.
Aldous Huxley, an atheist, once said “Modern science makes it impossible to believe in a personal God.” Bertrand Russell who had a habit of making irresponsible statements once said “That man is the product of causes which had no pre-vision of the end they were achieving. That his origin, his growth, his hopes, his fears, his loves, and beliefs are but the outcome of accidental co-location of atoms. That all the labors of the ages are destined to extinction in the vast death of the solar system, if not quite beyond dispute, are yet so certain that no philosophy which rejects them can hope to stand.” Essentially, he is saying that his belief in science (and no God) is infallible and that it is not open to any debate. The science is settled. Today’s message will show that.
Others have said that science has made God smaller. They say discoveries of scientific fact has eliminated the need for God who was once considered the almighty. Now science is the almighty. As Christians, we are constantly bombarded by the supposed conflict of Christianity and science on the airwaves, in our public schools, and in society. God is no longer the Creator and science explains the evolutionary process of our world. Society tries to force us as Christians to choose science or Christianity but not both.
The definition of science is “The investigation of natural phenomena through observation, theoretical explanation, and experimentation, or the knowledge produced by such investigation. Science makes use of the scientific method, which includes the careful observation of natural phenomena, the formulation of a hypothesis, the conducting of one or more experiments to test the hypothesis, and the drawing of a conclusion that confirms or modifies the hypothesis. “ In other words, science begins and ends with man and his opinion. Many of the things that are passed off to us are not science but a hypothesis that is a fancy sounding word for man’s opinion. Many times, it is used as a corporate “mugging” to rob us of our money. There is no question in our mind that the Bible is total authority for our life but science also makes that claim. G.H. Clark says “The scientific method is the sole gateway to truth.”
Scientists demand that science has absolute authority and Christianity comes along and that God’s Word have absolute authority. Science says that “You can only know truth as you discover it.” While the Christian says that “You cannot discover truth on your own.” Romans 11:33 - O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
We say that ultimate truth is revealed by God Himself, no man can discover ultimate truth. You cannot trust experience, you cannot trust experiment to find ultimate truth.
Science says that it must be observable or discovered by experiment, yet they violate their own rules about such things as carbon dating and evolution. Neither one was observed and neither one has been replicated in a test tube or anywhere else. Science says that the beginning came from a one celled living thingie floating in a pond that replicated itself. But wait! Where did the pond come from and furthermore where did the one celled living thingie come from? Science is silent on those questions. As I said earlier, they violate their own rules of observation and experimentation. Any thought, even shallow thought, at all would blow their hypothesis or theory out of the pond. Sorry, couldn’t resist the pond comment. What science is trying to do is eliminate the need for God. Science finds it necessary to not only believe it themselves but to try and convince others.
I want to say that there is no conflict between Christianity and science. The problem is man’s interpretation. Science is not religion but unbelievers treat it as their religion. That way they can manipulate it to fit their needs and it will overlook their sin, no judgment. They do not want judgment, so they think that by denying the existence of God, they can escape it. Science becomes their idol, their golden calf that they can worship in their own way. In other words, the science believers say, my way is correct and I don’t have a need for God, certainly not a God that would restrict my fun. Denying something doesn’t make it fact.

Science uses the concept of uniformity. The theory of uniformity says that everything in nature happens at a uniform rate from the past and continue to the future. So a scientist will take processes that go on today and work backwards at the same rate to arrive at hypotheses that says that the world is billions of years old and that man has been here millions of years. He does not know that, he was not there and it was not produced in a test tube experiment.
In II Peter chapter three verse four through six “4)And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. 5) For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: 6) Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:
There is no conflict between science and the Bible. There is only a conflict between man and God. Man is fighting against God. Man is an enemy of God. For a scientist or any one to believe in uniformity requires a greater faith than the man who believes in the Bible. The Bible chronicles the beginning and then catastrophes and that contradicts the scientist’s concepts of uniformity. Rocks formed by molten lava from volcanoes in Hawaii are carbon dated as millions of years old. Shark fossils were recently found in Kansas. The final decision of how we believe is moral. Henry Morris says it well: ” The Bible does provide a perfectly sound basis for understanding physical processes. It serves well as a textbook on science within which we can satisfactorily explain all the data of science and history. The issue is not between science and scripture. The issue is whether man wants to submit to the Word of God or does not, and it boils down to Romans 1:28 which defines man in these terms “ they did not want to retain God in their knowledge. And so having dumped God, then they had to come up with some explanation. Having rejected His revelation, they came up with the only other option. If God didn’t make it, then it just happened.”
There are several things in the Bible that would have saved past scientists’ time in many of the subsets of science. Science deals with the three basic things: matter, energy, and space/time in which everything acts. You cannot have matter existing without energy and in a time and space. All three are tied into the basics and any scientist would agree with that. In Genesis 1:1 the Bible says “In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth.” That verse includes all three basic things; matter, energy, and time/space. Matter is never lost. Once the universe had been created, all three of those exist, for example, in different forms like water does, in liquid, ice, and gas but they still exist. In Genesis 2:2 the Bible says “ God ended His work which He had made.” Science says there was an initial beginning and from that the cycle of reproduction. The complete cessation of creative activity has been recognized by modern science as the first law of thermal dynamics. The universe conserves that created matter and energy in one form or another but is never more or less than the original. Nehemiah 9:6 says: “Thou, even Thou art Lord alone: Thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, all things that are in it, the seas and all that is in them and Thou preservest them all.” And then in Ecclesiastes 3:14 “ I know that whatsoever God does, it shall be forever: nothing can be put to it, nor anything taken from it. That which hath been is now, and that which is to be hath already been.”
The 2nd law of thermodynamics is the law of increasing disorder. This law says that although there is no gain or loss in matter itself, there is a breakdown loss and eventually becomes random. Disorder instead of order. Science tells us that eventually the universe will be dead. At first thought that doesn’t sound right with the Bible but deeper thought produces; yes it does. Science has never figured out how that works but with they just place their trust in it. We know from the Bible that the fall of man and sin entering the world is the proof of the 2nd law of thermal dynamics. In Genesis 3:17 God says: “Cursed is the ground.” Everything is affected by sin and the fall, man and creation. Romans 8:20 “The creation was made subject to vanity, not willing, but by reason of Him who hath subjected the same in hope, because ethe creation itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know the whole creation groans and travails in pain together until now.”
God is going to end the breakdown of this universe’s processes and restore believers and creation. A new heaven and a new earth where there will be no more pain, sorrow, regrets, trouble, death, hurting and many, many more no mores.
Hydrology is the study of the cycle of water. Ancient people believed there was a giant reservoir of water beneath the earth. We know that water comes from the clouds and waters the earth runs into streams, lakes and rivers into the sea. We know that evaporation occurs when the sun draws the reformed water from those same lakes, rivers, and seas into the clouds to start the process all over again. In Isaiah 55:10 it says: “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there without watering the earth.” And in Psalm 135:7 it says: “ He causes the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth. He makes lightning for the rain.” Vapor goes up and rain comes down. And Job 36:27-28, the Bible says: 27) For he maketh small the drops of water: they pour down rain according to the vapour thereof: Which the clouds do drop and distil upon man abundantly.
That is the cycle of water and it is found in God’s Word. There is no conflict with science and God’s Word.
The Bible agrees with science about astronomy, geology, gravity, meteorology, and physiology, which is the study of the body and health. Is the Bible true? Science tells me that it is. Science does not refute the Bible but confirms it. Jesus said in John 17:17 “Thy Word is truth.” 
Pastor Jerry 

PSALM 51: 1 – 6 (NASB) February 28, 2010

1 Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your loving kindness; According to the greatness of Your
compassion blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity And cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I know my transgressions, And my sin is ever before me.
4 Against You, You only, I have sinned And done what is evil in Your sight, So that You are justified
when You speak And blameless when You judge.
5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me.
6 Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being, And in the hidden part You will make me know
wisdom.

There's something about the life of the church that is joyous. We all understand that. We've expressed that joy, we've laughed already this morning. We laugh rather easily around here because we have so much joy in our hearts. It just bubbles on the surface and easily comes out. And the reason we have so much joy is that our eternity is settled, that we have no fear of death, we have no fear of the future. We don't live in terror about Satan doing something to us, overpowering God in some way. We know that can never happen. We know that our lives are secure in the purposes of God in the salvation of God granted to us in Christ. He takes care of us, He meets our needs, He provides for us everything that we will need in time and eternity and promises to bring us to glory and His Word is true. So we live in this trust, we live in this hope and this confidence that produces joy.
And so you're going to find if you come to an experience of true Christians there will be a joy, a joy that's not necessarily connected to contemporary circumstances. But we have aches in our hearts that are deep and great and everybody understands what it is to live in a fallen, suffering world. We all understand the great pain and difficulty of life. But there's still something overwhelmingly joyous about having confidence that God is in charge of absolutely everything and our eternity is settled in the promise of heaven.
But while we do experience joy, even in the midst of the challenges of life, we also are a very sober-minded people. We also move easily to deep contemplation. We move easily from celebration to confession, don't we? One minute we're eager to praise the Lord and sing at the top of our voices about the glories of the cross and the wonders of heaven and we love hearing that beautiful music, and those things lift our hearts in celebration. But in the next minute, here we are ready to confess our sins. We live in the ambivalence of celebration and confession and that's really the way it ought to be. In fact, the church is the one and only organization where members meet regularly to acknowledge themselves as wretched sinners, worthy of nothing but damnation.
In the true church of Jesus Christ, there is a kind of obsession with sin. Now that's not popular today. The more Christian a church is and the more mature its people are, the more sensitive it is to sin. I heard about a church recently where the first thing the pastor said was, “Welcome to our worship, we're going to worship the Lord together.” And he said, “Let's pray.” And the first words out of his mouth as he articulated his prayer, “O Lord, we deny anything that is negative, we deny anything that takes away our joy. We reject all thoughts of loss. We reject anything that would steal our dreams, our ambitions, our goals, our desires,” and he went on and on with this kind of thing for rather extended period of time.
I thought to myself, that certainly is as infantile and as immature as a Christian prayer could ever be because the heart and soul of a true believer who comes to worship is, first of all, to come to grips with the reality of his or her own sinfulness. We come to confess things that are negative. We come to confess our weakness, our inabilities, our deceptiveness, our tendency to be dishonest, disloyal, unloving, unkind, the fallen-ness of our flesh, the constant recycling of our tendencies toward iniquity and sins in the same kind of categories.
Churches like that talk about only good things and don't ever speak of sin, don't ever lead the people to serious contemplation and confession of sin. We call that immature, people who only feed and want the milk, not the meat. They are not concerned about progressive sanctification, growing in the Lord into a deeper knowledge. When we gain more knowledge of our Holy God, then we become more introspective about ourselves and our sin. We see our sin more clearly when we gain a deeper understanding of our God.
The more mature believer is, the more likely a believer is to open his mouth in any expression of worship and come out, first of all, with a confession of his own unworthiness. It was Isaiah, you know, who was the best man in his nation, he was the prophet of God, he was the noblest of all who in Isaiah 6 said, “I am a man of unclean lips and I come from a people of unclean lips.” And he pronounced a curse on himself for his own wretched sinfulness. It was the Apostle Paul in Romans chapter 7 who said, “O wretched man that I am, who will deliver me from the body of this death?” He was the best, he was the best of us, maybe the noblest Christian that ever lived, a missionary among missionaries and he was really distraught and overwhelmed by his own wretched sinfulness.

Whenever the church gathers to worship on a Sunday, it gives the opportunity for one of us to pray a prayer and part of that prayer prayed in the service usually after the reading of the Scripture is to acknowledge our unworthiness, our sinfulness. To acknowledge that not only are we sinful and unworthy, but our dreams and ambitions and desires and goals are corrupted. The notion that we're supposed to come to church to tell God He needs to fulfill everything we want couldn't be further from the truth. We come to say, “Lord, the things that I want may be worldly things and earthly things and passing things and temporal things and even sinful things and even corrupting things, rather I want what You want for me, the highest and the best and the good. But I confess that none of that is in me.”
The church never worships more purely than when it confesses its own sinfulness because that's the platform in which we enter into worship, recognition of our own sinfulness and our own unworthiness.

Everybody understands David was a great worshiper, wasn't he? Great worshiper. He wrote many, Psalms. But David also understood the wretchedness of his own heart and he was a true worshiper who knew that while it was one thing to come to God and give Him glory, it was also an equal critical thing to come to God and recognize His own unworthiness. He was not a spiritual novice, this David, he was a man after God's own heart.
He didn't write Psalm 51 at some immature moment in his life. He wrote it at the pinnacle of his life, at the very pinnacle of divine blessing on his life. He was a man after God's own heart. He was a man who hated iniquity and unrighteousness in others but hated it even more in himself.

Look at Psalm 51 for a moment. Its characteristic is true confession, that's what it's about. He is the broken and the contrite heart that he describes in verse 17. That's him. And he knows God will not despise a broken and contrite heart. This Psalm bears the mark of deep guilt. This Psalm bears the mark of penetrating debilitating remorse over sin. This is a Psalm written out of pain, anxiety, fear and reveals the essence of a true confession.
Now David had some problems. He was a man after God's own heart. He was a great worshiper, a great writer of Psalms, a singer of Psalms. He had known the blessing of God. He had declared the blessedness of God. But he had problems. He was a man and he was a sinful man even though he had been forgiven by God. And he particularly seemed to have a problem with women. He used his position and power as king to satisfy his desires. When he wanted a woman, he took her no matter who she might have belonged to. And his story is a sad story when you look at it from the vantage point of his many escapades with women and his wives. And he taught his dissolute lessons to his son very well, for Solomon far exceeded his own father's sins with women.
II Samuel chapter 11 is the whole sordid story. It was at the height of his power, it was the height of his time of blessing under the goodness of God that he became infatuated with the beautiful Bathsheba who was the wife of one of his military officers, a man of valor who would be compared to our Green Berets or Navy Seals. His name was Uriah. She put herself in a position to be seen by the king from the top of his palace, she was sunbathing, as it were, on her own roof. In those days, the king went into battle with his men. I don't think she was innocent at all in what she was doing and David certainly was not innocent, being attracted to her. He knew she was the wife of Uriah the Hittite. You know the rest of the story. He went to her and she became pregnant. IMHO, this proves that King David did not care for Bathsheba at that time because of his reactions. David now has a dilemma. He sought to solve his dilemma by arranging to have her husband who is out fighting in the defense of his nation and his kingdom. King David brought Uriah back thinking that Uriah would go home to Bathsheba and then the sin could be covered up. Uriah did not but stayed at King David’s door and did not go home. King David even got him drunk but he still did not go back home to his wife. You see the mighty men of valor were committed to the King and would not go back to family until the war was over. In II Samuel verse 11 is particularly disturbing. 11Uriah said to David, "(M)The ark and Israel and Judah are staying in temporary shelters, and my lord Joab and (N)the servants of my lord are camping in the open field. Shall I then go to my house to eat and to drink and to lie with my wife? By your life and the life of your soul, I will not do this thing."

After that loyalty, King David sent Uriah back to battle and told Joab, his general to push a small group of men forward into conflict with the enemy and make sure Uriah was in the group and then have everybody else retreat, leave Uriah there where he will be killed. And that is exactly what they did and he was killed. It was a murder de-facto.
Then conveniently forgetting his intrigue, David gave the man a military funeral with all honors and proceeded as if it was some noble act to marry his widow. Sin can be forgiven by God if we ask, he is faithful and just to forgive us. But sin has lasting consequences outside of forgiveness. There are many Old Testament historians who would date the beginning of the breakup of the Unified Kingdom of Israel with this particular sin. It finally shattered after the reign of Solomon, but this may have been where the seeds were sown. And the child...the child died. And there were other children born to David and Bathsheba, most notable Solomon. His life was certainly a troubled life. The other children had trouble as well, heart-breaking life experiences.
But for David, the whole ugly scene left its impact on him. He became obsessed with this sin. It preyed on his mind. It weighed him down until he got relief through real confession. And that is what you see in Psalm 51. Here is the confession of a man who feels the full burden of his own guilt.
If I were to sum up what David was feeling, I might say it like this, “Sin had made him dirty and he wanted to be clean. Guilt had made him sick and he wanted to be well. Disobedience had made him lonely and he wanted to be reconciled. Rebellion had made him fearful and he wanted to be pardoned.”
That's what comes out of Psalm 51, a man who feels dirty, sick, isolated and afraid...all consequence of his sin. And out of that, he pours forth this confession and it has all the right perspectives of a true confession would be threefold...see your sin for what it is, see God for who He is, and see yourself for who you are. Any true confession is going to have to interact with those components.
First of all, it's clear from this Psalm that David understood his sin for what it was and there are at least five aspects to his perspective on his sin.
Number one, he knew that his sin deserved judgment...he knew that his sin deserved judgment. In fact, at the end of verse 4, notice he says, “So you are justified when you speak and blameless when you judge.” If you speak judgment against me, if you judge me for this sin which would mean death and hell, if I am to be forever separated from you, if this is a damning sin, if this is permanently end for us, you are blameless, you are blameless. This is a confession of his own guilt and it deserves judgment.
Going in to verse 1, however, let's look at it from the perspective of the opening statement, “Be gracious to me, O God.” Or in the second line, “According to the greatness of Your compassion.” He is appealing to grace and compassion. Why? Because he cannot appeal to justice. He cannot appeal to law. He cannot appeal to merit. He cannot appeal to achievement. He understands what he deserves. And he knows God would be blameless if He damned him. He cries for the only thing he can cry for and that's grace which implies that he knew he deserved judgment. In Psalm 103:10 it says, “He has not dealt with us according to our sins nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.” If we received what we should receive, we would all perish everlastingly. Psalm 130 verse 3 says, “If the Lord should mark our iniquities, who could stand?”
So he knows what every true penitent knows, that he deserves judgment. He feels the weight of judgment. This is humility. He deserves the wages of sin which is death. There's a great illustration of this among many in Scripture in what I think is probably the most instructive prayer in the Old Testament, it's in Daniel 9, as Daniel prays for his people. It has this same sense that what they all deserve is judgment. Daniel 9 verse 4, “I prayed to the Lord my God confessed and said, ‘Alas, O Lord, the great and awesome God who keeps His covenant and loving kindness for those who love Him and keep His commandments, we have sinned, committed iniquity, acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from Your commandments and ordinances.'” And then in verse 7, “But righteousness belongs to You, O Lord, to us open shame.” Verse 8, “Open shame belongs to us because we sinned against You.” Verse 11, “All Israel has transgressed Your Law.”
So the curse has been poured out on us. We deserve it. That's where true confession begins, with a recognition that we deserve judgment, even as a believer, a recognition that I need to be chastened for my sin. David was a believer. He wasn't talking here about everlasting eternal judgment in the more personal sense. He is saying, “I know that I deserve whatever just judgment should fall upon me for this iniquity.”
There's a sense in which as believers then, we know that all the time we live in this world, God at any point has a right to bring judgment on our heads, to discipline us. We can appeal only to mercy and that's the second point.
True penitence deserves judgment. True penitence recognizes its appeal is only to mercy. “According to Your loving kindness, be gracious to me. According to Your compassion.” He's pleading for compassion. The word loving kindness is an Old Testament word for grace, or mercy. I can plead for nothing else. I can only ask for mercy or grace. What is that? Undeserved favor, undeserved consideration, undeserved, unmerited withholding of judgment.
The sinner understands then because he deserves judgment, because he cannot earn righteousness, he can only plead for grace. This is the essence of all Old Testament genuine salvation...sinners who knew they cannot get from God by their own desserts and deserving anything but judgment, pled for mercy and grace.
Thirdly, in his perspective on sin, a truly penitent person not only understands that he deserves judgment, he desperately needs grace, but he also understands his guilt...he understands real guilt. “Blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity.” Notice these personal pronouns. Cleanse me from my sin. I know my transgressions and my sin is ever before me. Boy, there are a lot of me's and my's, right? Personal guilt.
And David uses all the words for evil. He says, “Blot out my transgressions, wash me from my iniquity, cleanse me from my sin,” then uses the word transgression again, then the word sinned in verse 4. The three words, standard words for evil, transgression, iniquity, sin, he uses them all, implying the comprehensive problem that has fouled his life. He is overwhelmingly guilty of sin by every definition...by every definition. “I am guilty.”
What this is saying is, a fourth element, he accepts all responsibility. He knows he deserves judgment. He needs grace. He is genuinely guilty and he has to take full responsibility. Please notice, he blames only himself...my iniquity, my sin, my transgression, my sin. Verse 4, “Against You, You only I have sinned and done what is evil in Your sight.” He doesn't blame others. It's my sin, it's my iniquity, it's my transgression, I did it. Violence against Your holy majesty, rebellion against Your will, disobedience against Your Word, blasphemy against Your name, and I have done it...I have done it. I am fully responsible. He places no blame on circumstances, no blame on Satan, no blame on God. This is the essence of a true, true confession. He takes full responsibility. And again that is carried in the last words of verse 4 by the statement again, “You will be justified where You need to judge me. You would be blameless where You would have damned me and condemned me.”
Don't blame anybody else. Don't blame Satan. Don't blame your circumstances. Don't blame God. Don't undo your confession by minimizing your responsibility. You are the sinner. You are guilty. You need grace and you are fully responsible.
And there's one other component. He understands this is part of who he really is, this is part of his nature. This is powerful. Verse 5, “Behold...wow, in the vernacular, it's a superlative...I was brought forth in iniquity. In sin my mother conceived me.”
What a statement! He doesn't mean he was an illegitimate child, he wasn't. He doesn't mean he was born out of some adulterous affair, he wasn't. What he means is that from conception he was a sinner. You can't come to worship and say, “We reject all negative thoughts about ourselves.” You can't do that. You're a wretched, corrupt sinner from conception on. What David is saying is that this is not an anomaly, this is not, “Oops, something went wrong here, I'm basically a good person.” This is David saying, “In all honesty, this is really who I am.” This is full admission you are born a sinner, that you have congenital depravity. And who can make a clean out of an unclean? The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. In the flesh is no good thing and the flesh is still here, isn't it?
You want to make a true confession of your sin? Then acknowledge that you deserve judgment and the Lord would be blameless if He judged you with the severest judgment. Acknowledge that you can appeal only to grace because you can't merit God's mercy and forgiveness and restoration. Understand that you are guilty and need deliverance from that guilt by the mercy of God. Accept full responsibility for your sin, laying the blame on no one but yourself. And be honest enough to admit this is you...this is you. That is a broken and a contrite heart and that the Lord will not despise.

 Running the Race February 21, 2010

Hebrews 12: 1 – 4 (ESV)

The sermon today is taken from Hebrews chapter 12, the first four verses. One of the most familiar and a great text of the Bible. One of the simplest to understand, yet one of the most profound. Wonderful truths and realities concerning the Christian. The Bible uses many analogies for the Christian life. This is an encouragement to us when we need a second wind in the race of life. When the daily physical and mental grind of life threatens to overwhelm us, we can focus on Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith and not grow weary in this marathon. The author and finisher of our faith as the King James version states.

1) Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
2) looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
3) Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.
4) In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.

The Christian life is abstract in the sense that it is spiritual and not a physical identity. But we use or better said, misuse the word “Christian” referring to it as a physical identity so that we can understand it better. Christianity is spiritual and is not an adjective modifying a noun. It is a noun referring to a person and their faith and daily walk in Jesus Christ.

The Bible uses many different analogies or metaphors for the Christian walk. Paul uses the word “Warfare” in 2 Timothy chapter 2 and Ephesians 6. This is where Paul speaks about the armor of the Christian, and about being a soldier of Jesus Christ. In Ephesians 6 Paul describes the Christian life as a wrestling match and says that “I don’t shadowbox, I don’t fight as one that beats the air.”

Paul also compares the Christian life to a form of slavery and we are bond-servants of Jesus Christ. In 2 Timothy 2:6, he describes the Christian life as a farming operation and he states that a “Hard-working farmer is likened unto a faithful Christian, who works diligently to plant his crop and then waits to see God give a harvest.”

In Romans chapter 7, the Christian life is likened to marriage. It says that your old marriage partner, the law, died and you are married to a new partner, Jesus Christ. In many other texts in the new Testament, the Holy Spirit likens the Christian life to the relationship between a father and a son. We are often called the sons or children of God.

Today, the message is about the race of life. You have probably heard the story of a tired, weary husband coming home from work and telling his wife “In the rat race of life, I think the rats won today!”
In 1 Corinthians 9:24, Paul says that “I run that I may obtain”. He goes on to say “The worldly runners run to obtain a corruptible crown, but we, an incorruptible. So we are striving to be temperate, to control our bodies, to strive for the mastery, and that we might run to win.”
In Galations 5, he reminds them that “You used to run well. Who has hindered you?” In 2 Timothy 4, he says “I fought a good fight. I have literally run my course.”

As Christians in 2010, we are running a race, for some of us it has been a marathon. Last week I spoke about the American Indians and the gauntlet as they called it. It was employed by the Indians as a form of torture that played out like a game where a prisoner would be subjected to running between two lines of Indians with clubs. If the prisoner survived the gauntlet line they were allowed to escape and run into the desert pursued by the Indians. Only the strong and the brave could suvive.
That is what we feel as Christians sometimes, a race through obstacles that try to make our life miserable, whether it is physical or mental. We suffer the blows of life, persecution, loss of a job, divorces, death or illness of loved ones, abuse of our love or forgiveness, and on and on.

In verse one, 1) Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
Notice the plural pronouns, we and us. We are not alone in the race of life. We have fellow Christians that are running with us. Most importantly, we have Jesus Christ as the designer of the race course. He built it for us. He knows the best ways to run the course. He developed a map and wrote the instructions on how we can navigate the course. He created the world and set it in action. The instructions are called the Bible.

He is the great Physician and is able to clean our wounds when we fall and heal us so that we can continue the race. He is the crowd cheering us on along life’s race-course. He is the “living water” that we all need. Drinking from that well, we will never thirst again. He is the bread of life that empowers and sustains us during the race. Marathon runners load up with carbohydrates like spaghetti and such before the race that gives them sustained energy for the long term and sugar laden food right before the race.

He is the light that illuminates the course when the race track gets dark. In our darkest hours, Jesus Christ is there alongside us every step of the way encouraging us to persevere. Lay aside every weight. A marathon runner will get the lightest shoes possible weighing just a few ounces. They wear the lightest clothes possible shedding as much weight as possible so not to slow them down.

Verse two, 2) looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Verse three - 3) Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.
Jesus endured the cross in anticipation of the joy of being Savior of His people when the necessary suffering was over. Jesus left the joy of heaven and suffered death for His people. He knew that the cross was before Him but that was nothing compared to the love he has for His people.
It is painful to be falsely accused. When you are following God and serving Christ, being falsely accused causes us to suffer and become fainthearted or weary. But that is only a pinch compared to what our Lord endured. He suffered in His humanness what no man should go through. Falsely accused, whipped with a Roman whip that had glass and sharp pieces of metal in the end that inflicts deep bloody wounds. After loss of blood, He was made to carry and drag the heavy instrument of His death; the cross through the streets. He was completely innocent but found guilty in a trial that was illegitimate according to Jewish law. He willingly sacrificed His life because of His great love for us.

Verse four - 4) In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.

Whatever we as followers of Christ do in our race is so small compared to what our Lord and Savior did for us. He made the ultimate sacrifice, once for all who believe in Him. The race is almost over. We may not see the finish line but Jesus runs with us and He is waiting there at the finish line if we have placed our trust in Him as our Lord and Savior.

If you have not done that, we urge you to take care of that today. Ask Him into your heart by praying for forgiveness of your sins and make him Lord of your life and Savior. Ask Him to help you run this difficult race that is impossible without Him.

Pastor Jerry

November 22, 2009

PSALM 100 November 1, 2009

Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth! Serve the LORD with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the LORD, he is God! It is he who made us, and
we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise!
Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the LORD is good; his
steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all
generations.

Some of us can only make a joyful noise. I remember when I first when to Peoria, Illinois in 1966 and attended Bethany Missionary Church in East Peoria where my brothers and their wives were members. As most of you know we attended and where I was saved at the small church in Tunnel Hill and the attendees were mostly all related. So we sang loud and some of us only making a joyful noise. I was sitting next to my sister-in-law and was singing away and she elbowed me and whispered: “not so loud”. As someone aptly said at our last business meeting, “We all have different talents.” I have often wondered if I will be able to carry a tune in heaven. I think I will. Every two years there is a T4G – Together for the Gospel in Louisville, Kentucky and I have already registered myself and my son to go. It is in April, around the income tax deadline during the week. We have attended every two years since it started in 2006. There are probably 10,000 men there, pastors from all over the states and even foreign missionaries. The acoustics in the convention center is tremendous and the sound is awesome. We tried different seats but the best position is close to the front. It sent goose bumps all over my flesh because to my untrained ear it was beautiful. It was blended and no particular voice stood out.
I get to hear two of my favorite pastors: Drs’ John MacArthur and RC Sproul. The other pastors that speak are also great communicators and the Holy Spirit works through them to open God’s Word to us. Another benefit is the free books that I get that I will read and then donate to the Church library. I also purchase books and the last time I spent well over 100 dollars. The Bible & commentary by Sproul that I use in the pulpit was given to me at the last conference and I had it autographed by RC Sproul when we were in Florida recently.

This is a well know psalm that expresses the Kingship of God. This is a call to praise and thanksgiving and verses 3 & 5 are the reasons for that worship.
We have so much to be thankful for throughout the year, not just at Thanksgiving time. God has given us so much, not only in material blessings but also in spiritual blessings. He has blessed us greatly here at New Liberty. We have a new building that is coming along and we do not have any debt on that building. Many churches have had to cut their outreach because of the debt they incurred. We do not want that to happen. We do not want to short our outreach for our convenience of occupying a new facility. The work of the church is more important than a building. Yes, it is a tribute of thanksgiving to the Lord but we must remember that the church is God’s people not a structure.
The word “know” is a word of assurance of truth. The word “know” implies experience in trusting and being completely assured of God’s truth. All truth is God’s truth. The truth that the Lord Jehovah is the only true God. He is the One that made us and blessed us.

We are His People and His Sheep. Our family never raised sheep on the farm but I am told that it is an accurate analogy of the way Christians should be. Sheep are dependent on the shepherd. We all know the Psalm of David - Psalm 23:1 - The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

That says that the Lord sustains us. Our very existence depends on Him. That is one big reason why we should, in our daily lives be thankful for His provision. He leads us and makes us lie down in green pastures. When I think of green pastures, I think of a field World) that is beautiful and green and contains everything I need. He provided that field just as He provided this world. I can rest knowing that the Shepherd, the Lord Jesus Christ is in control.

I am told that sheep will not drink from running waters. It has to be still or they will thirst to death. Our Shepherd, the Lord Jesus Christ leads us. How does He do that? By us being obedient to His Word and glorifying and thanking Him in whatever we do.

He gives us rest. A shepherd moves us to another pasture when it is needed. When we are dependent on Him, he focuses our mind on the important things. If we try to go our own way we get lost. We must follow Jesus. His way is righteousness. When we focus on His righteousness and not our own then we know true righteousness. That righteousness is recognized by other Christians as belonging to Jesus Christ and they give Him glory. We want to be used by Jesus Christ, the very definition of righteousness.

Valley of the shadow of death. I see a picture in those words of a path that leads through two rocks. We have a path in our bluff in Bloomfield that is wide enough for a big guy like me to walk through that leads to the top. But, I cannot turn around, I have to continue going forward or walk backwards to escape if something is in the path. I could be bitten by snakes from above or in the path.
All of us have experienced attacks to our Christianity by the enemy, Satan. It should be expected. Our Christianity and love of Christ is exhibited by the godly actions and behavior that we display. It is His righteousness coming out of us. Satan does not like that. Satan wants people to worship him or at the least not worship Christ. When these attacks by Satan occur, we should not be reacting like Satan’s world. We should be keeping our confidence in Him even through the darkest days. Yes, it may be tragic like the death of a loved one, divorce, health, and so on and grieving is human. The only way we as Christians can deal with and go through that situation is with the help of the Lord Jesus. We may never get over the situation, we have to go through it with His loving kindness. God is faithful and keeps His promises to us.

I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me We must remember that God will care for us, whether it will be in this world but certainly in the Heaven to come. And He will judge Satan and his followers with an everlasting Hell. That is our confidence and our comfort in this present age. God has blessed us in this present life but nothing compared to the future life with Him in heaven.

John 1:1 - 5 (ESV)

1) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2) He was in the beginning with God.
3) All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.
4) In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
5) The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

John uses two words that are particular to John; “word” and “light”.

Several years ago, I decided to camp-out in a small cave at the back of our property in Bloomfield during deer season. It is inset in a bluff and elevated. My friends and I had discussed the effect on deer we had in traveling to our deer stands. In most cases we were walking through the area that we expected deer to wander by our tree stands. We thought we were scaring the deer out of the hunting area. So it was a warm Fall like it has been this Fall and I decided to camp-out.
There were many interesting sounds that occurred during that night but I had a loaded 12 gage next to me to give me assurance.
The next morning I ate my cold breakfast and moved to a rock that overhung a deer trail about 50 yards away. It was a clear morning and I had a great view of the stars. Then I saw headlights and it startled me because they were so visible. We always parked our vehicles at the beginning of the ¼ mile lane that connects to the property and I was at the back of the 50 acres, so I was at least ½ mile away. I was able to follow the light of each of my three friends walking towards their tree stands.
When the sun came up, I was not able to see them through the trees even though they were wearing blaze orange. That is what light does; it reveals.

The Gospel of John has always been regarded as the most theological of the four Gospels. John Calvin said “The first three exhibit Christ’s body but John shows His soul.”
Christ is the Word, Christ is the Light. Our Lord is the light of the world. Man’s beginning is the creation. Jesus is fully and eternal God and always existed. Jesus co-existed with God when the world was created. The Trinity relationship of God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit were complete with no need of man. John uses three steps to understand the Lord Jesus Christ: The Word became flesh; the Word made His dwelling place among us; and the Word revealed His glory. Christ is our redeemer but He is also our Creator.

Genesis 1:26 - Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

God spoke the word and the world was created. No “big bang” but the spoken word of the almighty God. John used the term “Word” not only from the Old Testament but also from Greek philosophy in which the term was essentially impersonal, signifying the rational principle of divine reason, mind or wisdom. It was understandable to both Jews and Greeks. But John expressed it in Old Testament and Christian meaning bridging it to God’s creation and to Jesus Christ. The Greek construction of the sentence expresses that the Word, Jesus Christ, had all the essence and attributes of deity.
When Jesus came to earth, He voluntarily emptied Himself and took on a genuine human nature and body. The term “was” in verse one instead of the term “came into being” indicates the existence of Jesus Christ for all eternity and was the author and founder of our existence. He is the living God.
Without Him nothing was made, from the highest angel to the smallest cell. He made all things. We worship the Creator of the world and on whom all creatures depend. Jesus is well qualified for the work of redemption and salvation because He made us. In Him was and IS life. Man lives by more than bread alone - Matthew 4:4. Man has light from Him.
Life in man is something greater and nobler than any other creature. Man’s existence is rational and not merely animal. We are made in the image of God. Our life and our light is in Jesus Christ. Man shares in life and light when they respond to the Gospel message and accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Apart from Him we are in darkness because of the fall of man.
John uses the word “life” 36 times in his gospel, more than any other New Testament book. It not only refers to this world that Jesus created but to eternal life that he has given to those who believe.
In the Bible, light refers to biblical truth while darkness refers to sin and wrongdoing. Darkness has special significance because Satan and his demons rule temporarily in this present world (I John 5:19). He is the prince of the power of the air promoting spiritual darkness and rebellion against God. (Ephesians 2:2). John uses the term darkness 14 times of the 17 times that it appears in the New Testament.
This degenerate world is not able to comprehend darkness. This world continues on in darkness; fat, dumb, and hapless unaware of that they are in darkness. One of the speakers at the Leadership conference that Elaine and I attended described a medieval castle in England that had a grand lighted room where knights received their knighthood. But below that floor was a dungeon that contained several four foot by four foot cells where prisoners were kept in total darkness and complete isolation until they became insane. A four by four cell will not allow a person to lay down or stand up which would be bad enough. But the thing that would drive men insane was the total absence of light. That is the way the world is; living in a world without light; without the knowledge of Jesus Christ, their Creator. The darkness of sin caused their understanding to be in error. Just like the veil on Moses’s face when he delivered the Ten Commandments, there was a veil on people’s hearts. Existing but dead in their trespasses and sin.
Light overcomes darkness. A single candle can overcome a room filled with darkness. Darkness is the absence of light. Jesus Christ is the light that can overcome the powers of darkness in a person’s heart because of His Person and the finished work on Calvary. Don’t cover that light but proclaim it. Let us pray.

Elaine and I took a week to attend the first Ligioner Ministries Church Leadership Conference in Sanford, Florida.  It was our first week off since beginning the pastorate last August.  Mat Bebout preached for me during our absence.  

I now know why pastors approaching their golden years are "called" to Florida, lol.  The weather in mid-October was in the 80's and they had been experiencing a drought.  The native Floridians said that was their "cool" season".   We still prefer Texas because of the lack of humidity.

The speakers were Drs' R.C. Sprowl, Sinclair Ferguson, Ligon Duncan, and Steven Lawson.  I purchased several books and will read and donate to the church library.  I stood in line to get them signed by each of the authors. 

I am registered along with my son for the T4G (Together for the Gospel)  in Louisville, Kentucky around mid-April, 2010.  Also, at T4G is Dr. John McArthur who along with Dr Sprowl are more than worth the price of admission.  Also, there are free books to read and donate to the church Library.  My oldest daughter lives in Louisville so we will be staying with her.

One of the signs on the highway that alarmed me in Florida was the "bear crossing" signs which are just as prevalent as our "deer crossing" signs in Southern Illinois.  We did not see any bears but we became vigilant.  A bear of any size and a VW Beetle collision would not be a good sight.  Before the signs became apparent, we were wondering what the high fences around some houses were all about.

 

October 4 - Communion Sunday

I Corinthians 11:17 - 34
The Lord’s Supper
17) But in the following instructions I do not commend you, because when you come together it is not for the better but for the worse.
18) For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you. And I believe it in part,
19) for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized. 20) When you come together, it is not the Lord’s supper that you eat.
21) For in eating, each one goes ahead with his own meal. One goes hungry, another gets drunk.
22) What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I commend you in this? No, I will not.
23) For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread,
24) and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, "This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me."
25) In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me."
26) For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
27) Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord.
28) Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup.
29) For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.
30) That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died.
31) But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged.
32) But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world.
33) So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another—
34) if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home—so that when you come together it will not be for judgment. About the other things I will give directions when I come.

11:23–26 While the information was not new to the Corinthians, because Paul had previously “delivered” it, it is an important reminder. This description of Christ’s final supper with His disciples is one of the most beautiful in all of Scripture, yet it was given in the midst of a strong rebuke of carnal selfishness. If this letter was written before any of the gospels (see Mt 26:26–30; Mk 14:22–26; Lk 22:17–20; Jn 13:2), as most conservative scholars believe, then Paul’s instruction was the first biblical record of the institution of the Lord’s Supper—given directly from the Lord and not through his reading of any other apostles (cf. Gal 1:10–12).
11:25 new covenant in My blood. The Old Covenant was practiced repeatedly by the blood of animals offered by men; but the New Covenant has been ratified once and for all by the death of Christ (cf. Heb 9:28). in remembrance of Me. Jesus transformed the third cup of the Passover into the cup of remembrance of His offering (see note on 10:16).
11:26 The gospel is presented through the service of communion as the elements are explained. They point to His physical incarnation, sacrificial death, resurrection, and coming kingdom.
11:27, 29 in an unworthy manner. I.e., ritualistically, indifferently, with an unrepentant heart, a spirit of bitterness, or any other ungodly attitude.
11:27 guilty. To come to the Lord’s Table clinging to one’s sin does not only dishonor the ceremony, but it also dishonors His body and blood, treating lightly the gracious sacrifice of Christ for us. It is necessary to set all sin before the Lord (v. 28), then partake, so as not to mock the sacrifice for sin, by holding on to it.
11:29 judgment. I.e., chastisement. not judge the body rightly. When believers do not properly judge the holiness of the celebration of Communion, they treat with indifference the Lord Himself—His life, suffering, and death (cf. Ac 7:52; Heb 6:6; 10:29).
11:30 sleep. I.e., are dead. See note on 15:18. The offense was so serious that God put the worst offenders to death, an extreme but effective form of church purification (cf. Lk 13:1–5; Ac 5:1–11; 1Jn 5:16).
11:32 Believers are kept from being consigned to hell, not only by divine decree, but by divine intervention. The Lord chastens to drive His people back to righteous behavior and even sends death to some in the church (v. 30) to remove them before they could fall away (cf. Jude 24).
11:34 There is no point in gathering together to sin and be chastened.
 

September 27, 2009

Romans 15:23 – 33 (ESV)

23) But now, since I no longer have any room for work in these regions, and since I have longed for many years to come to you,
24) I hope to see you in passing as I go to Spain, and to be helped on my journey there by you, once I have enjoyed your company for a while.
25) At present, however, I am going to Jerusalem bringing aid to the saints.
26) For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make some contribution for the poor among the saints at Jerusalem.
27) For they were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have come to share in their spiritual blessings, they ought also to be of service to them in material blessings.
28) When therefore I have completed this and have delivered to them what has been collected, I will leave for Spain by way of you.
29) I know that when I come to you I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ.
30) I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf,
31) that I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints,
32) so that by God’s will I may come to you with joy and be refreshed in your company.
33) May the God of peace be with you all. Amen.

15:23, 24 Careful and sensible planning does not demonstrate a lack of trust in God’s providence. But plans must always be subject to the Lord’s control and alteration—just as Paul’s were (cf. Pr 16:9).
15:23 no further place. Paul believed he had covered the region with the gospel sufficiently and could move on to other areas. a longing to come to you. See notes on 1:10–13.
15:24 Spain. The city and region referred to in the OT as Tarshish (1Ki 10:22; Jon 1:3), located on the far western end of the European continent. It had become a major center of commerce and culture, made accessible by the vast network of Roman roads. Its most famous ancient son was Seneca, the philosopher and statesman who tutored Nero and served as prime minister of the Empire. helped on my way there by you. Paul hoped the church at Rome would supply him with an escort and supplies to make the journey to Spain.
15:25 serving. See note on Ac 6:2.
15:26 Macedonia and Achaia. See notes on Ac 16:9; 1Th 1:7. Paul ministered in these regions during his first and second missionary journeys. contribution. The Gr. word carries the basic idea of sharing and is usually translated “fellowship” or “communion.” The context indicates that here it is the sharing of a financial gift to help support the poor in Jerusalem (1Co 16:1; 2Co 8:2–4; Gal 2:9, 10).
15:27 their spiritual things. The “things” were gospel truths first preached to the Gentile believers by the Jewish apostles, prophets, teachers, and evangelists.
15:28 this fruit. The financial gift for the Jerusalem church; the fruit of their genuine love and gratitude. Spain. See note on 15:24.
15:30 the love of the Spirit. This phrase occurs only here in Scripture and refers to Paul’s love for the Holy Spirit, not the Spirit’s love for him (cf. Ps 143:10).
15:30, 31 prayers … that I may be rescued. Many Jews in Judea rejected the gospel and were prepared to attack Paul when he returned. Aware of the trouble that awaited him (Ac 20:22–24), he wanted the Roman Christians to pray for his deliverance only so he could complete the ministry the Lord had given him. Their prayers were answered in that he met with success in Jerusalem (Ac 21:17, 19, 20) and was delivered from death, but not imprisonment (Ac 21:10, 11; 23:11).
15:31 may prove acceptable. Paul wanted the Jewish Christians in Jerusalem to receive the financial gift from the Gentiles with loving gratitude, recognizing it as a gesture of brotherly love and kindness.
15:32 the will of God. See note on 1:10. find refreshing rest in your company. Paul eventually found the joy and rest he was looking for (Ac 28:15).
15:33 the God of peace. Just as He is the God of hope (see note on v. 13), God is also the source of true peace (cf. Eph 2:11–14; Php 4:7).
 

September 20, 2009

Romans 15: 13 -22

13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
14 And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.
15 Nevertheless, brethren, I have written the more boldly unto you in some sort, as putting you in mind, because of the grace that is given to me of God,
16 That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.
17 I have therefore whereof I may glory through Jesus Christ in those things which pertain to God.
18 For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed,
19 Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.
20 Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man’s foundation:
21 But as it is written, To whom he was not spoken of, they shall see: and they that have not heard shall understand.
22 For which cause also I have been much hindered from coming to you.
23 But now having no more place in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come unto you;

15:13 God of hope. God is the source of eternal hope, life, and salvation, and He is the object of hope for every believer (see note on 5:2). by the power of the Holy Spirit. The believer’s hope comes through the Scripture (cf. 15:4; Eph 1:13, 14), which was written and is applied to every believing heart by the Holy Spirit.
15:14–22 Not wanting to jeopardize his relationship with the believers in Rome by seeming to be insensitive, presumptuous, or unloving, Paul sets out to explain how he could write such a forthright letter to a church he did not found and had never visited.
15:14 goodness. High moral character. The believers in Rome hated evil and loved righteousness, attitudes their lives clearly displayed. knowledge. Refers to deep, intimate knowledge indicating that the Roman believers were doctrinally sound (Col 2:2, 3), illustrating the fact that truth and virtue are inseparable (cf. 1Ti 1:19). admonish. To encourage, warn, or advise—a comprehensive term for preaching (1Co 14:3) and personal counseling (see note on 12:1). Every believer is responsible to encourage and strengthen other believers with God’s Word and is divinely equipped to do so (2Ti 3:16).
15:15 as to remind you. In spite of their spiritual strength, these Christians needed to be reminded of truths they already knew but could easily neglect or even forget (cf. 1Ti 4:6; 2Ti 2:8–14; Tit 3:1).
15:16 minister. “Minister” was a general Gr. term used of public officials. But in the NT it is used most often of those who serve God in some form of public worship (e.g., Php 2:17; Heb 1:7, 14; 8:1, 2, 6), including that of a priest (Lk 1:23). to the Gentiles. Although Paul’s practice was always to present the gospel to the Jews first in every city he visited (see note on Ac 13:5), his primary apostolic calling was to the Gentiles (11:13; Ac 9:15). my offering. Having referred to himself as a minister, a word with priestly overtones, Paul explains that his priestly ministry is to present to God an offering of a multitude of Gentile converts.
15:17 boasting. Paul never boasted in his accomplishments as an apostle, but only in what Christ had accomplished through him (1Co 1:27–29, 31; 2Co 10:13–17; 12:5, 9; Gal 6:14; 1Ti 1:12–16).
15:19 signs and wonders. See notes on Ac 2:19; 2Co 12:12. God used them to authenticate true preaching and teaching. Illyricum. The region that roughly corresponds to former Yugoslavia and current northern Albania. In Paul’s day, this area was more commonly known as Dalmatia (2Ti 4:10). Jerusalem to Illyricum covered some 1400 miles.
15:20 gospel. See note on 1:1. another man’s foundation. Paul’s goal was to reach those who had never heard the gospel—the primary function of a NT evangelist (Eph 4:11). But for pastor-teachers, building on the foundation laid by such an evangelist is the crucial part of their ministry (cf. 1Co 3:6).
15:21 it is written. Quoted from Is 52:15; see note on 3:10. The OT quotation refers primarily to Christ’s second coming, but in its broader application it refers to the process of evangelism that began in Paul’s day and continues throughout church history until Christ returns.
15:22 prevented from coming. The form of this Gr. verb indicates an ongoing problem, and that something external created the hindrance. Paul was providentially being prevented by God from going to Rome (cf. Ac 16:7).
 

September 13, 2009

Romans Chapter 15: 1 - 13
Self-denial on Behalf of Others

1 Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves.
2 Each of us is to please his neighbor for his good, to his edification.
3 For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, “THE REPROACHES OF THOSE WHO REPROACHED YOU FELL ON ME.”
4 For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
5 Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus,
6 so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
7 Therefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God.
8 For I say that Christ has become a servant to the circumcision on behalf of the truth of God to confirm the promises given to the fathers,
9 and for the Gentiles to glorify God for His mercy; as it is written, “THEREFORE I WILL GIVE PRAISE TO YOU AMONG THE GENTILES, AND I WILL SING TO YOUR NAME.”
10 Again he says, “REJOICE, O GENTILES, WITH HIS PEOPLE.”
11 And again, “PRAISE THE LORD ALL YOU GENTILES, AND LET ALL THE PEOPLES PRAISE HIM.”
12 Again Isaiah says, “THERE SHALL COME THE ROOT OF JESSE, AND HE WHO ARISES TO RULE OVER THE GENTILES, IN HIM SHALL THE GENTILES HOPE.”
13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Christian liberty is allowed, not for our pleasure but for the glory of God and the good of others. When we please others, it is for the good of their soul. We should not be ignoring or serving his sin as we would be serving men and not Christ. We know that Christ’s whole life was self-denying and sought only to please God. Christ is our model for living. His life of spotless purity and holiness and complete focus on pleasing God should be our goal. Christ carried the penalty of our sin, the just carried the wrath of God for the unjust; you and I . Christ carried the sins of many over the ages, we are called to only bear the failings of the weak. We should be humble, self-denying and ready to consider one another in love and forgiveness since we are members of one another. The Bible is written for our use and our benefit just as much as it was to those who first received it in the first century. Those who are most learned in the Bible receive the most benefit, comfort, and encouragement. The comfort we receive is the surest and sweetest and encourages us to the greatest hope in this life. God’s Holy Spirit is one of our greatest gifts that comforts us in our sorrows. The same characteristics of humbleness and self-denial that Christ exhibited should be evident in the conduct of the Christian’s life. The objective of this conduct is that God may be glorified. Love and kindness, humbleness of spirit, forgiveness and unity should be attributes of the Christian so that God might be glorified.
As Gentiles, we are adopted into God’s family and we should never downgrade the Jews but be fellow companions in patience and tribulation. The Jews are God’s chosen people, if we have accepted Christ as our Lord and Savior, then we are God’s chosen people. We have that abiding hope of eternal life through the sanctifying righteous power of Jesus Christ and the comforting power of the Holy Spirit. We have no righteousness apart from the saving power of Jesus Christ. We can only have lasting joy and peace through the powerful working of the Holy Spirit.

15:1 we who are strong…. to bear. The word means “to pick up and carry a weight.” It is used of carrying a pitcher of water (Mk 14:13), of carrying a man (Ac 21:35), and figuratively of bearing an obligation (Ac 15:10). The strong are not to simply tolerate the weaknesses of their weaker brothers; they are to help the weak shoulder their burdens by showing loving and practical consideration for them (Gal 6:2; cf. 1Co 9:19–22; Php 2:2–4). weaknesses. See note on 14:1.
15:2 edification. To build up and strengthen. This is essentially the same appeal Paul made earlier (14:19), only with the additional qualification of self-sacrifice (1Co 10:23, 24; cf. Php 2:2–5).
15:3 Christ did not please Himself. His ultimate purpose was to please God and accomplish His will (Jn 4:34; 5:30; 6:38; 8:25, 27–29; Php 2:6–8). it is written. Quoted from Ps 69:9. The reproaches … fell on Me. “Reproaches” refers to slander, false accusations, and insults. Men hate God, and they manifested that same hate toward the One He sent to reveal Himself (cf. Jn 1:10, 11, 18).
15:4 whatever was written in earlier times. The divinely revealed OT. written for our instruction. Although Christians live under the New Covenant and are not under the authority of the Old Covenant, God’s moral law has not changed and all Scripture is of spiritual benefit (1Co 10:6, 10, 11; 2Pe 1:20, 21). Paul’s description of the benefits of Scripture certainly includes the NT, but speaks primarily about “the sacred writings”—or the OT (2Ti 3:15–17). perseverance. See note on 5:3. encouragement. The Word of God not only informs believers how to endure, but it also encourages them in the process. hope. See note on 5:2. Without the clear and certain promises of the Word of God, the believer has no basis for hope (cf. Ps 119:81, 114; Eph 2:12; Jer 14:8).
15:5 to be of the same mind with one another. Paul urges the strong and the weak (see notes on 14:1–13), despite their differing views on these non-essential issues, to pursue loving, spiritual harmony in regard to matters on which the Bible is silent.
15:6 with one accord … one voice. Our unity should be both real (“one accord”) and apparent (“one voice”). But the consummate purpose of unity is not to please other believers but to glorify God. God and Father. This expression emphasizes the deity of Christ. Jesus is not an adopted son of God; He is of the same essential being and nature as God. This is such an important connection that it appears frequently in the NT (2Co 1:3; 11:31; Eph 1:3; Col 1:3; 1Pe 1:3).
15:7 accept. See note on 14:1. as Christ … accepted us. If the perfect, sinless Son of God was willing to bring sinners into God’s family, how much more should forgiven believers be willing to warmly embrace and accept each other in spite of their disagreements over issues of conscience (Mt 10:24; 11:29; Eph 4:32–5:2).
15:8 a servant to the circumcision. Jesus was born a Jew (see note on Mt 1:1), and as a child, He was circumcised and identified physically with the sign of the covenant (see notes on 4:11; Ge 17:11–14). promises given to the fathers. The covenant with Abraham that God reiterated to both Isaac and Jacob (see note on 4:13).
15:9–12 To show that God’s plan has always been to bring Jew and Gentile alike into His kingdom and to soften the prejudice of Christian Jews against their Gentile brothers, Paul quotes from the Law, the Prophets, and twice from the Psalms—all the recognized divisions of the OT—proving God’s plan from their own Scriptures.
15:9 for the Gentiles to glorify God for His mercy. Because He extended His grace and mercy to a people outside the covenant (see notes on 10:11–21; 11:11–18). it is written. Quoted from 2Sa 22:50; Ps 18:49. The psalmist sings praise to God among the nations, which alludes to Gentile salvation.
15:10 Quoted from Dt 32:43.
15:11 Quoted from Ps 117:1.
15:12 Quoted from Is 11:10. root of Jesse. A way of referring to Jesus as the descendant of David, and thus of David’s father Jesse (see note on Rev 5:5).
15:13 God of hope. God is the source of eternal hope, life, and salvation, and He is the object of hope for every believer (see note on 5:2). by the power of the Holy Spirit. The believer’s hope comes through the Scripture (cf. 15:4; Eph 1:13, 14), which was written and is applied to every believing heart by the Holy Spirit.

September 6, 2009

Romans 14: 13 - 23
13 Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this—not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother’s way.
14 I know and am convinced in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself; but to him who thinks anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean.
15 For if because of food your brother is hurt, you are no longer walking according to love. Do not destroy with your food him for whom Christ died.
16 Therefore do not let what is for you a good thing be spoken of as evil;
17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
18 For he who in this way serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men.
19 So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another.
20 Do not tear down the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are clean, but they are evil for the man who eats and gives offense.
21 It is good not to eat meat or to drink wine, or to do anything by which your brother stumbles.
22 The faith which you have, have as your own conviction before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves.
23 But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and whatever is not from faith is sin.

14:13 judge. See note on v. 3. but rather determine. The same Gr. word translated “judge” (14:3, 10, 13) is here translated “determine.” In vv. 3, 10, 13a the meaning is negative: to condemn. In v. 13b, the meaning is positive: to determine or make a careful decision. The point of Paul’s play on words is that instead of passing judgment on their brothers, they should use their best judgment to help fellow believers. stumbling block. Anything a believer does—even though Scripture may permit it—that causes another to fall into sin (1Co 8:9).
14:14 I know and am convinced in the Lord Jesus. This truth was not the product of Paul’s own thinking or the teaching of others, but of divine revelation (cf. Gal 1:12). See note on 1Co 7:12. nothing is unclean in itself. See note on Ac 10:15; cf. Mk 7:15; 1Ti 4:3–5; Tit 1:15). unclean. The Gr. word originally meant “common” but came to mean “impure” or “evil” (see note on Ac 10:14). to him who thinks … to him it is unclean. If a believer is convinced a certain behavior is sin—even if his assessment is wrong—he should never do it. If he does, he will violate his conscience, experience guilt (cf. 1Co 8:4–7; see note on 2:15), and perhaps be driven back into deeper legalism instead of moving toward freedom (see note on v. 5).
14:15 hurt. The Gr. word refers to causing pain or distress. A weak believer may be hurt when he sees a brother do something he believes is sinful. But still worse, the strong believer may cause his weaker brother to violate his own conscience (cf. 1Co 8:8–13). love. See notes on 1Co 13:1–13. Love will ensure that the strong Christian is sensitive and understanding of his brother’s weaknesses (1Co 8:8–13). destroy. This refers to complete devastation. In the NT, it is often used to indicate eternal damnation (Mt 10:28; Lk 13:3; Jn 3:16; Ro 2:12). In this context, however, it refers to a serious devastation of one’s spiritual growth (cf. Mt 18:3, 6, 14). him for whom Christ died. Any Christian (cf. 1Co 8:11).
14:16 good thing. The rightful exercise of one’s Christian liberty (cf. 1Co 10:23–32). spoken of as evil. To blaspheme. When unbelievers see a strong Christian abusing his freedom in Christ and harming a weaker brother, they will conclude that Christianity is filled with unloving people, which reflects badly on God’s reputation (cf. 2:24).
14:17 kingdom of God. The sphere of salvation where God rules in the hearts of those He has saved (see notes on Ac 1:3; 1Co 6:9). eating and drinking. Non-essentials and external observances. righteousness. Holy, obedient living (cf. Eph 6:14; Php 1:11). peace. The loving tranquillity, produced by the Spirit, that should characterize believers’ relationships with God and each other (Gal 5:22). joy in the Holy Spirit. Another part of the Spirit’s fruit, this describes an abiding attitude of praise and thanksgiving regardless of circumstances, which flows from one’s confidence in God’s sovereignty (Gal 5:22; 1Th 1:6).
14:18 approved by men. This refers to approving something after a careful examination, like a jeweler inspecting a stone to determine its quality and value. Christians are under the microscope of a skeptical world that is assessing how they live with and treat each other (cf. Jn 13:35; Php 2:15).
14:20 work of God. A fellow Christian who has been redeemed by the efforts of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, not his own (cf. v. 15; Eph 2:10). All things … clean. The discretionary liberties which God has given to believers and are good in themselves (cf. vv. 14, 16). who eats and gives offense. One who uses those God-given liberties carelessly and selfishly, offending his weaker brother.
14:21 stumbles. See note on v. 13.
14:22, 23 The strongest Christian can bring harm to himself in the area of Christian liberty by denouncing or belittling the freedom God has given him (Gal 5:1), or by carelessly flaunting his liberty without regard for how that might affect others (cf. 1Co 10:23–32).
14:22 have as your own conviction before God. Paul urges the strong believer to understand his liberty, enjoy it, and keep it between God and himself. what he approves. The strong believer maintains a healthy conscience because he does not give a weak believer a cause to stumble.
14:23 who doubts is condemned. When the weak brother violates his conscience, he sins. whatever is not from faith. The thoughts and actions that our conscience condemns.
August 16, 2009

Romans 13 (KJV)
1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordaineda of God.
2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:
4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.
5 Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.
6 For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.
7 Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.
8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. .
11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
13 Let us walk honestlyb, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.
14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

13:1 be in subjection. This Gr. word was used of a soldier’s absolute obedience to his superior officer. Scripture makes one exception to this command: when obedience to civil authority would require disobedience to God’s Word (Ex 1:17; Da 3:16–18; 6:7, 10; see note on Ac 4:19). governing authorities. Every position of civil authority without regard to competency, morality, reasonableness, or any other caveat (1Th 4:11, 12; 1Ti 2:1, 2; Tit 3:1, 2). there is no authority except from God. Since He alone is the sovereign ruler of the universe (Pss 62:11; 103:19; 1Ti 6:15), He has instituted 4 authorities on earth: 1) the government over all citizens; 2) the church over all believers; 3) the parents over all children; and 4) the masters over all employees. established. Human government’s authority derives from and is defined by God. He instituted human government to reward good and to restrain sin in an evil, fallen world.
13:2 opposed the ordinance of God. Since all government is God-ordained, disobedience is rebellion against God. condemnation. Not God’s judgment, but punishment from the government for breaking the law (see note on v. 4).
13:3 not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Even the most wicked, godless governments act as a deterrent to crime. Do what is good … have praise. Peaceful, law-abiding citizens need not fear the authorities. Few governments will harm those who obey their laws. In fact, governments usually commend such people.
13:4 minister of God … for good. By helping restrain evil and protecting life and property. Paul took advantage of his government’s role in promoting what is good when he exercised his rights as a Roman citizen to obtain justice (Ac 16:37; 22:25, 29; 25:11). bear the sword. This symbolizes the government’s right to inflict punishment on wrongdoers—especially capital punishment (Ge 9:6; cf. Mt 26:52; Ac 25:11). brings wrath. Not God’s wrath, but the punishment inflicted by the civil authorities.
13:5 be in subjection. See note on v. 1. for conscience’ sake. Out of a sense of obligation to God and to keep a clear conscience before Him (see note on 2Co 1:12), not merely to avoid punishment from the civil authorities.
13:6 because of this. Because God ordained human government and demands submission to it (vv. 1–5). taxes. The Gr. word referred specifically to taxes paid by individuals, particularly those living in a conquered nation to their foreign rulers—which makes the tax even more onerous. That tax was usually a combined income and property tax. In this context, however, Paul uses the term in the broadest possible sense to speak of all kinds of taxes. Jesus explicitly taught that taxes are to be paid—even to the pagan Roman government (Mt 22:17–21). He also set an example by willingly paying the temple tax (Mt 17:24–27).
13:7 Render to all what is due. “Render” translates a Gr. word signifying the payment of something owed—not a voluntary contribution—and is reinforced by the word “due.” The apostle reiterates that paying taxes is mandatory (see note on v. 6). custom. Tolls or taxes on goods. fear … honor. God demands that we show sincere respect and an attitude of genuine high esteem for all public officials.
13:8 Owe nothing to anyone. Not a prohibition against borrowing money, which Scripture permits and regulates (cf. Ex 22:25; Lv 25:35–37; Dt 15:7–9; Ne 5:7; Pss 15:5; 37:21, 26; Eze 22:12; Mt 5:42; Lk 6:34). Paul’s point is that all our financial obligations must be paid when they are due. See notes on Dt 23:19, 20; 24:10–13. love one another. Believers are commanded to love not only other Christians (Jn 13:34, 35; 1Co 14:1; Php 1:9; Col 3:14; 1Th 4:9; 1Ti 2:15; Heb 6:10; 1Pe 1:22; 4:8; 1Jn 2:10; 3:23; 4:7, 21), but also non-Christians (Mt 5:44; Lk 6:27, 35; cf. Lk 6:28, 34; Ro 12:14, 20; Gal 6:10; 1Th 5:15). fulfilled the law. See note on 13:10.
13:9 To demonstrate that love fulfills the law, Paul cites 4 of the Ten Commandments dealing with human relations and ties them in with an overarching OT command. He quotes Ex 20:13–15, 17 (cf. Dt 5:17–19, 21). summed up … LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF. This command, quoting Lv 19:18, encompasses all of God’s laws concerning human relationships (Mt 22:39); if we truly love our neighbor (anyone with whom we have contact, cf. Lk 10:25–37), we will only do what is in his best interest (13:10).
13:10 love is the fulfillment of the law. If we treat others with the same care that we have for ourselves, we will not violate any of God’s laws regarding interpersonal relationships (Mt 7:12; Jas 2:8).
 

CHAPTER 12
August 2 2009 AM

1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:
5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;
8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness

This is a summary of the first 11 chapters, so we see the word "therefore".

12:1 Therefore. This refers to the last refrain of his doxology of praise in 11:36. Since all things are for His glory, we must respond by offering ourselves for that purpose. urge. This Greek word comes from a root which means “to call alongside to help.” Jesus used a related word, often translated “comforter,” in reference to the Holy Spirit (Jn 14:16, 26; 15:26; 16:7). This family of words later came to connote exhorting, encouraging, or counseling. Paul was speaking as a counselor to his readers, but his counsel carried the full weight of his apostleship. mercies of God. The gracious, extravagant, divine graces Paul expounded in the first 11 chapters, including God’s love (1:7; cf. 5:5; 8:35, 39), grace (1:6, 7; 3:24; 5:2, 20, 21; 6:15), righteousness (1:17; 3:21, 22; 4:5, 6, 22–24; 5:17, 19), and the gift of faith (1:5, 17; 3:22, 26; 4:5, 13; 5:1; 10:17; 12:3). present your bodies a living … sacrifice. "living … sacrifice" an oxymoron.  The closest model that I am aware are the first two women in my life, my mother and my wife.  Both mothers were totally life dedicated to their husbands and their children.  They would have given up their life for their family.  I was totally blown away as a teenager when my mother and her sister was talking about the Great Depression.  My mother and my aunt were talking about the shortage of food during that time.  My mother and dad married in 1931 and my older brothers Bob, Daryl and Delbert was all born during the 30's.  I remember mom saying that if the boys had not had enough to eat she would have stolen to feed them.  It never came close to that but I did not understand  at the time how my gentle, caring, loving mother could ever think of doing that.  Elaine has sacrificed and still does for her children and grandchildren.  She is most happiest when they are around.  Aches and pains are forgotten until they leave.

The Romans understood the word sacrifice because of the animal sacrifices performed in the Old Covenant.  But living sacrifice brought a new meaning.  Under the Old Covenant, God accepted the sacrifices of dead animals. But because of Christ’s ultimate sacrifice, the OT sacrifices are no longer of any effect (Hebrews 9:11, 12). For those in Christ, the only acceptable worship is to offer themselves completely to the Lord. Under God’s control, the believer’s yet-unredeemed body (Romans 6:6, 12; 7:5; cf. 8:11, 23) can and must be yielded to Him as an instrument of righteousness (Romans 6:12, 13; cf. 8:11–13). spiritual service. In light of all the spiritual riches believers enjoy solely as the fruit of God’s mercies (Romans 11:33, 36), it logically follows that they owe God their highest form of service. Understood here is the idea of priestly, spiritual service, which was such an integral part of OT worship.
 

12:2 do not be conformed. “Conformed” refers to assuming an outward expression that does not reflect what is really inside, a kind of masquerade or act. The word’s form implies that Paul’s readers were already allowing this to happen and must stop. this world. Better translated, “age,” which refers to the system of beliefs, values—or the spirit of the age—at any time current in the world. This sum of contemporary thinking and values forms the moral atmosphere of our world and is always dominated by Satan (cf. 2 Corinthians 4:4). transformed. The Gr. word, from which the Eng. word “metamorphosis” comes, connotes a change in outward appearance. Matthew uses the same word to describe the Transfiguration (Matthew 17:2). Just as Christ briefly and in a limited way displayed outwardly His inner, divine nature and glory at the Transfiguration,

Christians should outwardly manifest their inner, redeemed natures, not once, however, but daily (cf. 2Co 3:18; Eph 5:18). renewing of your mind. That kind of transformation can occur only as the Holy Spirit changes our thinking through consistent study and meditation of Scripture (Psalm 119:11; cf. Collosians 1:28; 3:10, 16; Phillipians 4:8). The renewed mind is one saturated with and controlled by the Word of God. good … acceptable … perfect. Holy living of which God approves. These words borrow from OT sacrificial language and describe a life that is morally and spiritually spotless, just as the sacrificial animals were to be (cf. Leviticus 22:19–25).
12:3 grace. The divine, undeserved favor that called Paul to be an apostle and gave him spiritual authority (Romans 1:1–5; cf. 1Corinthians 3:10; Gal 2:9) and also produced sincere humility (1Timothy 1:12–14). sound judgment. The exercise of sound judgment, which will lead believers to recognize that in themselves they are nothing (cf. 1 Peter 5:5), and will yield the fruit of humility (cf. 3 John 9). measure of faith. The correct proportion of the spiritual gift—or supernatural endowment and ability—the Holy Spirit gives each believer (see note on 1 Peter 4:10) so he may fulfill his role in the body of Christ (1Corinthians 12:7, 11). “Faith” is not saving faith, but rather faithful stewardship, the kind and quantity required to use one’s own particular gift (cf. 1Corinthians 12:7, 11). Every believer receives the exact gift and resources he needs to fulfill his role in the body of Christ.
12:4–8 One of two NT passages (cf. 1 Corinthians 12:12–14) listing the general categories of spiritual gifts. The emphasis in each list is not on believers’ identifying their gift perfectly, but on faithfully using the unique enablement God has given each. The fact that the two lists differ clearly implies the gifts are like a palette of basic colors, from which God selects to blend a unique hue for each disciple’s life (1Co 12:12–14).
12:4 many members … one body. Just as in the natural body, God has sovereignly given the body of Christ a unified diversity (see note on 1Corinthians 12:14–20).
12:5 in Christ. Ephesians 1:3–14.
12:6 gifts. See note on 12:3. according to the grace given. Undeserved and unmerited (see note on v. 3). The gift itself (1Corinthians 12:4), the specific way in which it is used (1Corinthians 12:5), and the spiritual results (1Co 12:6) are all sovereignly chosen by the Spirit completely apart from personal merit (1Corinthians 12:11). prophecy. See note on 1Co 12:10. This Gr. word means “speaking forth” and does not necessarily include prediction of the future or any other mystical or supernatural aspects. Although some prophets in Acts did make predictions of future events (11:27, 28; 21:10, 11), others made no predictions but spoke the truth of God to encourage and strengthen their hearers (15:32; cf. vv. 22–31). The evidence does suggest, however, that in the first century, before the NT was complete and the sign gifts had ceased (see note on 1Co 13:8–10), this word may have had both non-revelatory and revelatory facets. In its non-revelatory sense, the word “prophecy” simply identifies the skill of public proclamation of the Word of God (see notes on 1Corinthians 14:3, 24, 25; 1Peter 4:11). the proportion of his faith. Lit. “the faith,” or the full revealed message or body of Christian faith (Jude 3; cf. 2Ti 4:2). The preacher must be careful to preach the same message the apostles delivered. Or, it could also refer to the believer’s personal understanding and insight regarding the gospel (see note on v. 3).
12:7 service. From the same Greek word as “deacon,” “deaconess” come from, it refers to those who serve. This gift, similar to the gift of helps (1Co 12:28), has broad application to include every kind of practical help (cf. Acts 20:35; 1Corinthians 12:28). teaching. The ability to interpret, clarify, systematize, and explain God’s truth clearly (cf. Acts 18:24, 25; 2Ti 2:2). Pastors must have the gift of teaching (1Ti 3:2; Tit 1:9; cf. 1Ti 4:16), but many mature, qualified laymen also have this gift. This differs from preaching (prophecy), not in content, but in the unique skill for public proclamation (see note on v. 6).
12:8 exhortation. The gift which enables a believer to effectively call others to obey and follow God’s truth (see note on v. 1). It may be used negatively to admonish and correct regarding sin (2Timothy  4:2), or positively, to encourage, comfort, and strengthen struggling believers (cf. 2Co 1:3–5; Heb 10:24, 25). gives. This denotes the sacrificial sharing and giving of one’s resources and self to meet the needs of others (cf. 2Co 8:3–5, 9, 11; Eph 4:28). liberality. Simplicity, single-mindedness, and openhearted generosity. The believer who gives with a proper attitude does not do so for thanks and personal recognition, but to glorify God (cf. Mt 6:2; Acts 2:44, 45; 4:37–5:11; 2Co 8:2–5). leads. Lit. “standing before.” Paul calls this gift “administrations” (1Co 12:28), a word that means “to guide” and is used of the person who steers a ship (Ac 27:11; Rev 18:17). In the NT, this word is used to describe only leadership in the home (1Timothy  3:4, 5, 12) and the church (1Co 12:28; 1Ti 5:17; cf. Ac 27:11; Rev 18:17). Again, the church’s leaders must exercise this gift, but it is certainly not limited to them. shows mercy. One who actively shows sympathy and sensitivity to those in suffering and sorrow, and who has both the willingness and the resources to help lessen their afflictions. Frequently, this gift accompanies the gift of exhortation. cheerfulness. This attitude is crucial to ensure that the gift of mercy becomes a genuine help, not a discouraging commiseration with those who are suffering .

1:1–36 In this section Paul answers the question that logically arises from 10:19–21: “Is God’s setting aside of Israel for rejecting Christ permanent?” At stake is whether God can be trusted to keep His unconditional promises to that nation (cf. Jer 33:19–26
19 And the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah, saying, 20 Thus saith the LORD; If ye can break my covenant of the day, and my covenant of the night, and that there should not be day and night in their season; 21 Then may also my covenant be broken with David my servant, that he should not have a son to reign upon his throne; and with the Levites the priests, my ministers. 22 As the host of heaven cannot be numbered, neither the sand of the sea measured: so will I multiply the seed of David my servant, and the Levites that minister unto me. 23 Moreover the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, saying, 24 Considerest thou not what this people have spoken, saying, The two families which the LORD hath chosen, he hath even cast them off? thus they have despised my people, that they should be no more a nation before them. 25 Thus saith the LORD; If my covenant be not with day and night, and if I have not appointed the ordinances of heaven and earth; 26 Then will I cast away the seed of Jacob, and

).
11:1 rejected. To thrust away from oneself. The form of the question in the Gr. text expects a negative answer. Despite Israel’s disobedience (Romans 9:1–13
1 I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, 2 That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. 3 For I could wish that myself were accurseda from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh: 4 Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenantsb, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; 5 Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.
6 Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: 7 Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. 8 That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed. 9 For this is the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sara shall have a
God has not rejected His people
May it never be! The strongest form of negation in Gr. (see note on 6:2).
11:2 whom He foreknew. See note on Romans 8:29 foreknew. Not a reference simply to God’s omniscience—that in eternity past He knew who would come to Christ. Rather, it speaks of a predetermined choice to set His love on us and established an intimate relationship—or His election (cf. Ac 2:23 rule of Gr. grammar, called the Granville Sharp rule, equates [pre]determination and “foreknowledge”; see notes on 1Pe 1:1, 2, and cf. with 1:20—the term must be interpreted the same in both verses). See notes on election in 9:11–23. predestined. Lit. “to mark out, appoint, or determine beforehand.” Those God chooses, He destines for His chosen end—that is, likeness to His Son (see notes on Eph 1:4, 5, 11). conformed to the image of His Son. The goal of God’s predestined purpose for His own is that they would be made like Jesus Christ. This is the “prize of the upward call” (Php 3:14; cf. Eph 4:13; Col 1:28; Php 3:20, 21; 1Jn 3:2). firstborn. The preeminent one, the only one who is the rightful heir . Israel’s disobedience does not nullify God’s predetermined love relationship with her. Elijah. See note on 1Ki 17:1.
11:3 Quoted from 1Ki 19:10. And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.
 

11:4 Quoted from 1Ki 19:18. BAAL. 18 Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.

11:5 a remnant. Although the nation had rejected Jesus, thousands of individual Jews had come to faith in Him (cf. Ac 2:41; 4:4; 6:1). God’s gracious choice. God did not choose this remnant because of its foreseen faith, good works, spiritual worthiness, or racial descent, but solely because of His grace. Ephesians 2:8
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

11:6 by grace … no longer … of works. Human effort and God’s grace are mutually exclusive ways to salvation. Galatians 2:16
16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

June 7, 2007 AM Service

ROMANS 10: 12 - 21

12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.

13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?

17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

18 But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.

19 But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you.

20 But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me.

21 But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people. 10:12 there is no distinction. Eph 2:11–13; Ephesians 2:11-13 11 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; 12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: 13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. 10:13 Paul quoted Joel (2:32) And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call. to further emphasize that salvation is available for people of all nations and races.

CALL ON THE NAME. This familiar OT expression (105:11 O give thanks unto the LORD; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people. ) does not refer to some desperate cry to just any deity but to the one true God as He has revealed Himself—a revelation which now includes recognition of Jesus as Lord (v. 9) and of the One who raised up Jesus from the dead (Romans 10: 9). That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

10:14, 15 Paul’s main point in this series of rhetorical questions is that a clear presentation of the gospel message must precede true saving faith. True faith always has content—the revealed Word of God. Salvation comes to those who hear and believe the facts of the gospel.

10:15 BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THOSE WHO BRING GOOD news. Quoted from Is 52:7 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth! . It is the message of good news which those feet carry that is so welcome.

10:16 heed the good news. The good news is not only a gracious offer but a command to believe and repent (Romans 1:4–6; 4 And declareda to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: 5 By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedienceb to the faith among all nations, for his name: 6 Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ.) .

BELIEVED OUR REPORT. Quoted from Is 53:1 Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LOR

Matthew 6: 9- 15 (KJV)
Model Prayer
9) After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10) Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11) Give us this day our daily bread.
12) And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13) And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power,
and the glory, for ever. Amen.
14) For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
15) But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Prayer is God-focused not man-focused.

Six petitions in the Lord’s model prayer: the first three related to God and His Glory; 1) our Father/paternity; 2) Hallowed be thy name, God’s priority; and 3) Thy Kingdom come/thy will be done; that’s God’s program and purpose.

The last three petitions are related to man and his need: 1) daily bread, God’s provision; 2; forgiveness, God’s pardon; and 3) deliverance; God’s protection.

Every single petition in this prayer promises us something that God already guarantees so prayer is simply claiming what God has already given us and is already ours. We are not begging for something new. We are laying claim to the promises.

“Our” is a plural pronoun which indicates a corporate body and not an individual, not “me and Jesus” type but the body of believers.
“Father” Personal noun that expresses paternity/authority. We are adopted and loved.
“Which art in Heaven” KJV uses“which art”; ASV – uses “who art”; ESV – “Our Father in Heaven”. We don’t know what heaven is like but our Master is in heaven and we want to be with Him.
“Hallowed be thy name.” Hallowed - Set apart as holy, regard as sacred.
“Thy kingdom come” We are living IN and THROUGH the kingdom every day. There is no life activity that is separate from the kingdom for a Christian. Kingdom opportunities to share the Good News is prevalent in every activity.
“Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” A Christian’s wants and emotions take second place to God’s desires in your life.
“Give us this day our daily bread.” We plan with God’s providence but we should not worry. Lean on God, thank Him for His blessings and lean not on our own. Every blessing comes from above. God’s people motivated by the love of the Savior blesses each other. Matthew 4:4.

Verse 12 deals with past sins and verse 13 deals with future possibilities of sin. God takes care of the sin in our lives with forgiveness and God takes care of the moral standard of our life by guiding us away from sin. A true Christian is just as concerned about your future sins being avoided as your past ones being forgiven. We don’t want forgiveness to be a license for future sins.
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. This debt is our sin debt. Earthly debt is temporary while sin debt is eternal. Sin debt separates our fellowship with God and man. God grants us forgiveness – I John 1:9 - If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
If we can fully understand that forgiveness, then we are more able to forgive others that sin against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: True Christians are just as concerned about future sins being avoided as past ones being forgiven. We are really happy that our past sins have been forgiven but a genuine expression of saving faith is that our concern we be delivered from future ones. We are not going to keep on sinning that grace may abound – Romans 6:1. We need preservation, not presumption. We need deliverance. Yes, we need to be forgiven when we sin, but we need to be delivered so we don’t sin. Christians should not seek a license to keep on sinning as a way to “force” God to constantly forgive, but rather we should be seeking sanctification to avoid sin in our lives.

God does not lead us into temptation and trials. James 1:13 says: Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God," for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. And, in James 1:2a it reads: Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds …

The expression: And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: is a cry and pain of the heart that despises and hates the potential of sin in our lives. Theologians have a dilemma with this because it doesn’t fit the “theological frame of reference” but makes complete sense when you realize it is the cry of the Christian’s heart and desire to avoid sin. Only Christ is able to deliver us from that. Nobody seeks trials. We run from and avoid trials but when it catches us, we know joy that Christ and Christ only can deliver us. Christ, in the garden prayed in Matthew 26:39 - And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, "My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will."

Lord, if you can spare me the trial, do it, but if I have to go into this trial, then deliver me from the evil potential. It is based on self-distrust. I cannot go through this alone. I am a sinner, I sense my debt, I am battered and bruised by a fallen world around me, I need your help. God, please deliver me from these things. I am overwhelmed by this thing and I cannot fight this in my own strength and overcome.

We live in a fallen world of natural disasters like earthquakes, floods, tornadoes, wind storms, pestilence, ice storms (southern Illinois), etc., that bombard us.

We live in an intellectual fallen world that is humanistic, greedy, lustful, relativistic thinking existence that leaves God out and leads to destruction. Material gain makes liars out of all men. Intellects are ruled by lust for power or money. Human opinions are valued over God’s truth. Love is trampled and a dirty word. Grief, care, and anxiety rule over God’s truth. Prisons and mental institutions mark the moral and emotional downfall of man. When we ignore God, what is left but mankind most pitiful.

We live in a world where churches are diluting the Gospel for monetary gain and a large congregation. God’s truth is compromised where He is a divine genie that fulfills your every wish without conditions. Love is preached and man is elevated. Sermons about sin and the holiness of God is avoided. Politically correct and “Feel good” sermons to uplift mankind and avoid “stepping on toes” are preached. Pastors’ rely more on church tenure than on God’s providence. Dr Sinclair Ferguson in the October 2009 Church Leader’s Seminar said; “The problem with most pastors today is that no one wants to kill them anymore!” Biblical and church history detail the deaths of pastors’ who have defied kings, queens, and evil governments. In the U.S. today, pastors move on to pastorates that accept God’s truth.

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. A doxology of truth. You just say it, you just think it, you just offer it up to God, you don’t analyze it. It is truth – His is the Kingdom, the glory, and the power forever and ever.

 On Wednesday nights, we have spent studying the Lord's prayer.

Matthew 6: 9- 15 (KJV)
Model Prayer
9) After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10) Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11) Give us this day our daily bread.
12) And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13) And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power,
and the glory, for ever. Amen.
14) For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
15) But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Prayer is God-focused not man-focused.

Six petitions in the Lord’s model prayer: the first three related to God and His Glory; 1) our Father/paternity; 2) Hallowed be thy name, God’s priority; and 3) Thy Kingdom come/thy will be done; that’s God’s program and purpose.

The last three petitions are related to man and his need: 1) daily bread, God’s provision; 2; forgiveness, God’s pardon; and 3) deliverance; God’s protection.

Every single petition in this prayer promises us something that God already guarantees so prayer is simply claiming what God has already given us and is already ours. We are not begging for something new. We are laying claim to the promises.

“Our” is a plural pronoun which indicates a corporate body and not an individual, not “me and Jesus” type but the body of believers.
“Father” Personal noun that expresses paternity/authority. We are adopted and loved.
“Which art in Heaven” KJV uses“which art”; ASV – uses “who art”; ESV – “Our Father in Heaven”. We don’t know what heaven is like but our Master is in heaven and we want to be with Him.
“Hallowed be thy name.” Hallowed - Set apart as holy, regard as sacred.
“Thy kingdom come” We are living IN and THROUGH the kingdom every day. There is no life activity that is separate from the kingdom for a Christian. Kingdom opportunities to share the Good News is prevalent in every activity.
“Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” A Christian’s wants and emotions take second place to God’s desires in your life.
“Give us this day our daily bread.” We plan with God’s providence but we should not worry. Lean on God, thank Him for His blessings and lean not on our own. Every blessing comes from above. God’s people motivated by the love of the Savior blesses each other. Matthew 4:4.

Verse 12 deals with past sins and verse 13 deals with future possibilities of sin. God takes care of the sin in our lives with forgiveness and God takes care of the moral standard of our life by guiding us away from sin. A true Christian is just as concerned about your future sins being avoided as your past ones being forgiven. We don’t want forgiveness to be a license for future sins.
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. This debt is our sin debt. Earthly debt is temporary while sin debt is eternal. Sin debt separates our fellowship with God and man. God grants us forgiveness – I John 1:9 - If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
If we can fully understand that forgiveness, then we are more able to forgive others that sin against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: True Christians are just as concerned about future sins being avoided as past ones being forgiven. We are really happy that our past sins have been forgiven but a genuine expression of saving faith is that our concern we be delivered from future ones. We are not going to keep on sinning that grace may abound – Romans 6:1. We need preservation, not presumption. We need deliverance. Yes, we need to be forgiven when we sin, but we need to be delivered so we don’t sin. Christians should not seek a license to keep on sinning as a way to “force” God to constantly forgive, but rather we should be seeking sanctification to avoid sin in our lives.

God does not lead us into temptation and trials. James 1:13 says: Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God," for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. And, in James 1:2a it reads: Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds …

The expression: And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: is a cry and pain of the heart that despises and hates the potential of sin in our lives. Theologians have a dilemma with this because it doesn’t fit the “theological frame of reference” but makes complete sense when you realize it is the cry of the Christian’s heart and desire to avoid sin. Only Christ is able to deliver us from that. Nobody seeks trials. We run from and avoid trials but when it catches us, we know joy that Christ and Christ only can deliver us. Christ, in the garden prayed in Matthew 26:39 - And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, "My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will."

Lord, if you can spare me the trial, do it, but if I have to go into this trial, then deliver me from the evil potential. It is based on self-distrust. I cannot go through this alone. I am a sinner, I sense my debt, I am battered and bruised by a fallen world around me, I need your help. God, please deliver me from these things. I am overwhelmed by this thing and I cannot fight this in my own strength and overcome.

We live in a fallen world of natural disasters like earthquakes, floods, tornadoes, wind storms, pestilence, ice storms (southern Illinois), etc., that bombard us.

We live in an intellectual fallen world that is humanistic, greedy, lustful, relativistic thinking existence that leaves God out and leads to destruction. Material gain makes liars out of all men. Intellects are ruled by lust for power or money. Human opinions are valued over God’s truth. Love is trampled and a dirty word. Grief, care, and anxiety rule over God’s truth. Prisons and mental institutions mark the moral and emotional downfall of man. When we ignore God, what is left but mankind most pitiful.

We live in a world where churches are diluting the Gospel for monetary gain and a large congregation. God’s truth is compromised where He is a divine genie that fulfills your every wish without conditions. Love is preached and man is elevated. Sermons about sin and the holiness of God is avoided. Politically correct and “Feel good” sermons to uplift mankind and avoid “stepping on toes” are preached. Pastors’ rely more on church tenure than on God’s providence. Dr Sinclair Ferguson in the October 2009 Church Leader’s Seminar said; “The problem with most pastors today is that no one wants to kill them anymore!” Biblical and church history detail the deaths of pastors’ who have defied kings, queens, and evil governments. In the U.S. today, pastors move on to pastorates that accept God’s truth.

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. A doxology of truth. You just say it, you just think it, you just offer it up to God, you don’t analyze it. It is truth – His is the Kingdom, the glory, and the power forever and ever.
 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    12) Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, (Titus 2:12 - training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,) Reading God’s Word will enable us to live our lives in accordance with His Will and to make life’s decisions. The Bible is the map and life markers that guides our path. As Christians we know where we are going. It only makes logical sense to follow that map. We never travel to a distance place without a map and road markers otherwise we will lose our way. In Alice in Wonderland the rabbit tells Alice “If you don’t know where you are going, any road will take you there.” Or in the words of a Yankee philosopher “If you don't know where you are going, you might wind up someplace else.”

13) while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. Beginning of the chapter.
2 Timothy 3:1 – 7 - But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth.
(Revelation 11:22 - Let the evildoer still do evil, and the filthy still be filthy, and the righteous still do right, and the holy still be holy.")

Knowing God’s Word will enable us to know the difference between false teaching and truth. All truth is God’s truth and God’s truth is found in His Word. That is why it is important to read and study God’s Word. Psalm 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

14) But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 15) and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

Paul is referring to Timothy’s mother, Eunice and his grandmother Lois. Church historians think that Timothy’s father and grandfather were either dead or not Christians.

It is even more important today that parents and grandparents teach their children and grandchildren by example and application of God’s Word in our lives. Children see their parents and grandparents reading God’s Word and then applying it to their lives. People talk about legacy but that is true legacy. Christianity runs in families because of the faithfulness and service to the Lord of parents and grandparents. When they show that in their lives, children naturally follow the Lord. I am not talking about teenage rebellion that lasts for some people into the rest of their lives, because that occurs.

That is the mystery that we have all seen, how children of the same parents can be so different. One child follows and serves the Lord while another rebels against God’s truth. That hurts us as parents and grandparents but we must remember that their rebellion is against God not against their parents. They know the way but they have rebelled against the truth. If they are not rooted in God’s Word then when the world shows the false promises that lead to eternal death then they will be seduced.

We must continue to pray for them and serving God. It is our job as parents and grandparents to continue being faithful to and serving God and being a witness to them. Our duty does not end at 18 or whenever they leave home but for our entire lives.

What our New Liberty ladies are doing with the young people is exactly what we should be doing and encouraging. Instead of regretting what’s not being done with other age groups we should be supporting them in every way possible to spread the Gospel. The ladies are not interested in their legacy but they are serving the Lord influencing and being ambassadors for Jesus Christ reconciling boys and girls to God. That is true legacy. They are interested in presenting the Gospel of Jesus Christ so that young people will be prepared for the challenges in life. In my humble opinion that is the most natural way to salvation, to grow up immersed by family.

The highest two attendances we have had here at New Liberty in the last year and a half has been with the young people’s programs. I do not know the spiritual condition of everyone that attends BUT I do know that they hear God’s Word. Especially, we do not know what will happen in their future lives BUT we do know that they know God’s truth. Their rejection and rebellion is not up to us because we want the best for them and that is to follow and serve God. Our job is to tell God’s truth. The Holy Spirit will do the heavy lifting.

16) All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,

17) that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.

We must be defenders of the faith no matter the cost. If we have a strong faith in the inerrancy, supremacy, and sufficiency of God’s Word, then we make that our deeply rooted in our life. When the world beats on our door and minimizes God, then we should stand up and say as in:
Joshua 24:15
And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

Yes, man penned the books of the Bible but God breathed it or expired it. Man was the servant, the one obedient and committed to God’s authority. Expired out by God to committed men who penned it so that we might be inspired to trust and serve. We must be committed to the divine authority to the Word of God. In John 10:35, Jesus said that the scripture cannot be broken. The Old Testament lead people to God because it showed how incapable and inept mankind is. It shows how man runs into desperation to the only One who can provide the salvation we need.
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.