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Poignant Prayer—A study in Ephesians;  Notes 4 (8/1)

Ephesians 1:15-23   Review: Verses 1-14:   Christian Remembrance!

Chosen By the Father!

        Redeemed by the Son!

                        Sealed By the Holy Spirit!

I.        Reaction: Verses 15-23: Christian Responsibility?  

Part 1:  Saints, Savior and Sovereign Lord…For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, ¹⁶I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.

Part 2:  Here and Now Plans--¹⁷I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.

a.       Spirit of Wisdom (general enlightenment) and revelation (specific enlightenment) …both “Know HIM Better”

Inference: There is a deeper knowledge and growing knowledge of who Jesus is and who we are in Him…it’s not about just being saved and waiting to die and then going to heaven—no!

Part 3: Now and Later plans ¹⁸I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, ¹⁹and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, ²⁰which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, ²¹far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. ²²And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, ²³which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

Introduction: Hope: Not wishful thinking…But rather a steadfast, absolute, rock solid knowing.  Based on the reveled will of God in Jesus Christ.

Inheritance and Power: The premise is simple: The power given to the saints is not just for the here and now to manipulate, but rather our lives now are empowered to follow the path as seen in the life of Jesus.  The power that took Jesus and not just raised him from the dead but also crowned Him King of all Kings and Lord of the only way of Salvation—That same power that raised Jesus and set Him in heaven is now infused in you and me—God will bring the subjects to their King. Meaning?  Raise us from the dead and someday seat us with Jesus. John 3:16  For God so loved the world (God wants all to be saved) that He gave (God wants all to accept His way back to Him) His only begotten Son (Jesus is the key, to think inclusively concerning other religions, At best,  insults the work of the cross and states,  it is not good enough and at worst, is pure heresy) that whosoever believes in His should not perish but have everlasting life.  Our “inheritance” is found in everlasting life or in other words our life in Heaven someday with Jesus. 

Heaven: 5 big Questions:

1.        The word “Heaven”  in the Bible

a.       Heaven that we can see with our eyes          Gen. 1:9

b.      Heaven that we can see with telescopes      Gen.22:7

c.       Heaven that we can only see with our eyes of faith—the abode of God himself…                                           2Cor.12:2

2.       What is Heaven Like?

a.       Eye has not seen nor ear heard…                     1 Cor.2:9

b.      3 thing’s for sure in heaven:

1.       Christ Himself                                                                   Heb. 9:24

2.       The Throne of God the Father                   Rev. 4:2-11

3.       The New City: Jerusalem             John14:2, Heb.11:16

3.       What will be missing in Heaven and what goes on in Heaven?

4.       Who gets to Heaven and what about babies?

5.       What about our Heavenly bodies?

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Poignant Prayer—A study in Ephesians;  Notes 3 (7/25)

Ephesians 1:15-23   Review: Verses 1-14:   Christian Remembrance!

Chosen By the Father!

        Redeemed by the Son!

                        Sealed By the Holy Spirit!

I.        Reaction: Verses 15-23: Christian Responsibility?  

Part 1:  Saints, Savior and Sovereign Lord…For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, ¹⁶I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.

Part 2:  Here and Now Plans--¹⁷I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.

a.       Spirit of Wisdom (general enlightenment) and revelation (specific enlightenment) …both “Know HIM Better”

Inference: There is a deeper knowledge and growing knowledge of who Jesus is and who we are in Him…it’s not about just being saved and waiting to die and then going to heaven—no!

Part 3: Now and Later plans ¹⁸I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, ¹⁹and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, ²⁰which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, ²¹far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. ²²And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, ²³which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

Introduction: Hope: Not wishful thinking…But rather a steadfast, absolute, rock solid knowing.  Based on the reveled will of God in Jesus Christ.

Inheritance and Power: The premise is simple: The power given to the saints is not just for the here and now to manipulate, but rather our lives now are empowered to follow the path as seen in the life of Jesus.  The power that took Jesus and not just raised him from the dead but also crowned Him King of all Kings and Lord of the only way of Salvation—That same power that raised Jesus and set Him in heaven is now infused in you and me—God will bring the subjects to their King. Meaning?  Raise us from the dead and someday seat us with Jesus. John 3:16  For God so loved the world (God wants all to be saved) that He gave (God wants all to accept His way back to Him) His only begotten Son (Jesus is the key, to think inclusively concerning other religions, At best,  insults the work of the cross and states,  it is not good enough and at worst, is pure heresy) that whosoever believes in His should not perish but have everlasting life.  Our “inheritance” is found in everlasting life or in other words our life in Heaven someday with Jesus. 

Heaven: 5 big Questions:

1.        The word “Heaven”  in the Bible

2.       What is Heaven Like?

3.       What will be missing in Heaven and what goes on in Heaven?

4.       Who gets to Heaven and what about babies?

5.       What about our Heavenly bodies?

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Poignant Prayer—A study in Ephesians;  Notes 2  (7/11)

Ephesians 1:15-23  For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, ¹⁶I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. ¹⁷I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit^[a] of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. ¹⁸I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, ¹⁹and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, ²⁰which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, ²¹far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. ²²And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, ²³which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

I.        Review: Verses 1-14:   Christian Remembrance!

Chosen By the Father!

        Redeemed by the Son!

                        Sealed By the Holy Spirit!

II.      Reaction: Verses 15-23: Christian Responsibility?  

Last Week: For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, ¹⁶I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.

Saints: Those who are growing to make Jesus not just savoir, but Lord! PMC!  As you hear His praise of you, you begin to hear His plans for you

1.       Here and Now Plans--¹⁷I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.

a.       Spirit of Wisdom (general enlightenment) and revelation (specific enlightenment) …both “Know HIM Better”

Inference: There is a deeper knowledge and growing knowledge of who Jesus is and who we are in Him…it’s not about just being saved and waiting to die and then going to heaven—no!

Ephesians 4 ¹¹It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, ¹²to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up ¹³until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.  ¹⁴Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.

Being a Christian is not just being a “religious” or even a “good” person:  not being as good as a Muslim, a Jew, a Hindu, -no, all other religions are trying to work to get into God’s good graces, Christianity is based on the fact that through Christ we already are in His good graces…not a call to laziness or haughtiness, but a realization that we have found a treasure worth sharing…

EX. Words of Jesus in Matthew 13: The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.  ⁴⁵"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. ⁴⁶When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.

b.      Know Him better?  All true saints want to know him better

Better than just a distant historical figure

                Better than just a great religious individual

                                Better than just a sacrificing Savoir

                                                Better than just One who called us to be His

                                                                Better than just the Son of God

                                                                                Better than just MY Lord

Better than just a way of living that pleases me, but moves to pleasing Him because with all my heart I want to, not have to…I am His and He is mine!

c.       How do we come to know Him better?

Communication 

Commitment                                                                         Collaboration

Consecration

At the Center: communion: Question to our self:  Do I really want to know Him better or am I too occupied with my own feelings of not living up to my standards in my Christian faith? Question of Him: Do you love me; No… do you desire me; No… do you want me?  Will you let me love you? Truth: we are born to communicate; we are born again to commune

Communication: Question to our self: Am I really in a relationship with God or am I just seeing Him as someone to be there to get things from?  Question of Him:  Talk to me?  Tell me your joys and your sorrows?  Are you so out of touch that you feel guilty, uncomfortable, even trying to establish a dialog with me?  Are you willing to hear as well as talk? Truth: His heart beckons us to come and talk, He is waiting till our hearts feel the same way.

Commitment: Question to our self: When was the last time I told someone what He has done for me.  When was the last time I tithed?  When was the last time I felt that I could mess a lot of things but not going to church?  Question of Him; Did you know that I need you?  Will you give me back the hands I have created, the mouth, the feet, the time, the talent, the giftedness?  Truth: Our level of commitment simply reflects His level commitment

Collaboration: Question to our self:  Do other people desire my ideas, my leadership, my initiative, my opinions and at the same time am I really with a group of people where I find I can look and find godly desires, and leadership and initiative, and opinions.  Are we a dysfunctional family as a church or a Christ-centered team who just happen to be family?  Question of Him: Just by chance…do others really know you are disciples because of your love for each other?  Truth:  We always need help from on high, but we need more help from those who we stand beside.

Consecration: Question to our self:  If my life was a checkbook of Kingdom value, how big of a check could God cash? What is my credit score with Jesus? Where do I really desire to go treasure hunting?  Would he mind if I told him that the answer to all the questions above were centered more on me than Him…and if so, would he accept the me that I am right now if I simply give all that I have, all that I am, all that I will ever be to Him?  Question of Him: What are of your life do you really believe that I don’t know about.  If you are willing to be totally mine, will I now return the favor?  Truth: every journey starts with a first step.

Knowing Him better is all about perspective: the better we come to know Him to better we come to know ourselves and others…the question this morning is: how is your perspective doing about life and church and parenting, and friends and mostly about my relationship with the One who says come follow me.  Very few things are more important that knowing Him better.

When it’s all been said and done…Robin Mark

When it's all been said and done
There is just one thing that matters
Did I do my best to live for truth?
Did I live my life for you?

When it's all been said and done
All my treasures will mean nothing
Only what I have done
For love's rewards
Will stand the test of time

Lord, your mercy is so great
That you look beyond our weakness
That you found purest gold in miry clay
Turning sinners into saints

I will always sing your praise
Here on earth and in heaven after
For you've joined me at my true home
When it's all been said and done
You're my life when life is gone.

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Poignant Prayer—A study in Ephesians (7/11)

Ephesians 1:15-23  For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, ¹⁶I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. ¹⁷I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit^[a] of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. ¹⁸I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, ¹⁹and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, ²⁰which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, ²¹far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. ²²And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, ²³which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

I.        Review: Verses 1-14:   Christian Remembrance!

Chosen By the Father!

        Redeemed by the Son!

                        Sealed By the Holy Spirit!

II.      Reaction: Verses 15-23: Christian Responsibility?  

a.       Am I My brother’s Keeper?  For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, ¹⁶I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.

Distinguishing Characteristics: Faith in Christ: Love for others; especially other believers

Tale-tale sign of a church: Sense of being a child of God AND a sense of belonging to the family of God

Question: Why don’t Christian people love each other?  Personality differences, familiarity, EGR people, laziness, one word to describe Christian not loving Christian: SIN

EX—Some Christian churches spend more time loftily “loving” their enemies and hating their family members, it makes Jesus choice of our family members a sham, a mistake, a slap in His face…

EX—Jesus said:  John 13:35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."  Paul Said:  1 Corinthians 13:  If I speak in the tongues^[a] of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. ²If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. ³If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames,^[b] but have not love, I gain nothing.

Key to being a Loving Keeper- Kristsian ?

Answer lies in the difference between Savoir and Lord…

Savoir—PTL

1)      Jesus is in your life

2)      You are going to heaven

3)      You are under the Holy Spirit’s influence

4)      You mean to live the Christian life the best you can

5)      Other Christians are important

6)      I enjoy a good sermon and great music!

7)      I help out when I am needed…

Lord—PMC

1)      Jesus is your life

2)      You are experiencing heaven now

3)      You are in the Holy Spirit’s control

4)      My purpose is to let Christ live through me

5)      Other Christians are imperative

6)      I marvel just being in HIS presence

7)      My life is His, where He leads I will go, when He says do this, I do

The two factors that I must decide:

1)      Where is Jesus is my Life?

2)      Where am I in my Life?                                                                

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Joy in the Pursuit--notes (7/4)

Hebrews 12:2  ²Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

I.         Introduction: Declaration of Independence:  "Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" is one of the most famous phrases in the United States Declaration of Independence, and considered by some as part of one of the most well crafted, influential sentences in the history of the English language^[1]. These three aspects are listed among the "unalienable rights" or sovereign rights of man.                   --Wikipedia

Assertion Number 1: Jesus understood joy was to be part of establishing His Kingdom

(John 15:11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete)

Assertion Number 2: Our Forefathers understood joy (Happiness) was to be a part of establishing our nation

Question: If joy and happiness are to be integral parts of building a Kingdom and a Nation, why not a Christian life…? As Christian people living in a Christian nation why aren’t we grasping onto joy with all that is in us…after all, if you cannot be happy what are you living for?

II.      God’s Voice on vacation: “Joy is what people need…I know. No you don’t…!  YOUR JOY.  People will learn more about me by your joy than a hundred sermons concerning theology… Joy proves that I am worth it.  Lord teach me about joy.  First, It’s all about keeping a right balance.

Salvation: John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

                                    ________________________

                                    Loving

                                    _______________________mind

                                    Holy

                                    ________________________

Sin: Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

                                                ________________________

                                                Loving

                                                _______________________mind

                                                Holy

                                                ________________________

Sour: Galatians 3: ¹You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. ²I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard? ³Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?

                                    ________________________

                                    Loving

                                                                                    mind

                                    Holy

                                    ______________________

Sluggish: 1 Corinthians 5 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that does not occur even among pagans: A man has his father's wife. ²And you are proud! Shouldn't you rather have been filled with grief and have put out of your fellowship the man who did this?

                                    ________________________

                                    Loving

                                                                                    mind

                                    Holy

                                    ______________________

 Sinful, Sluggish or Sour, think about the joy not achieved when it comes to the Bible, Others, Church attendance, Evangelism, Service… Joy comes as we determine to keep a right

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A  Great Dad—who can find? (June 20)

From His Word we learn that…

1)      Our Heavenly Father is Holy                 (1 Peter 1:16)

The word “holy” means to be perfect in righteousness, sinless, separate from sin and sinners.  This establishes a big problem between God and us.  He is holy, but we are sinful.  Romans 3:23 states, For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.  God is in heaven.  We are on the earth.  God is Holy.  We are sinners.  This separates us from God.  Isaiah 59:2 states, But your iniquities have separated you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, and He will not hear.  God will always be Holy.  He will not change for us.  Something must change about us if we are to get to know Him as our Father and eventually go to be with Him in heaven.  We must somehow get rid of our sins and every sin that we have ever committed to be worthy enough to stand before Him because as the scriptures states, He is Holy and sinless. 

2)      Our Heavenly Father is Just   (Isaiah 45:21)

“Just” comes from the word “justice” As a just judge, God must pardon the innocent and condemn the guilty. (Deuteronomy 25:16)  As we have seen, no one is innocent.  Romans 3:10 states, There is none righteous, no, not one.  God must condemn the guilty or else he would be unjust.  A judge in your town who lets guilty criminals go free would be removed from the bench.  A good judge must serve justice.  He must condemn the guilty.  God is a good judge.  As sinners, we are thus in line to be rightfully condemned.  Yet, John 3:18 states, he that believeth on Him is not condemned, but he that believeth not on Him is condemned already, because he has not believed in the Name of the only begotten Son of God.   Is there really a way out? So far we see that we are sinners, we are guilty, and we are worthy of being condemned by a just God.  Romans 6:23 reminds us, for the wages of sin is death.  

3)      Our Heavenly Father is Love                 (1 John 4:8)

Here is the good news!  God’s love is active.  A Mother who sees her toddler running into the street will spring into action to try save her child.  In the same way, God did all he could to save us.  What active action did God spring forth for us?  John3:16-17 states, For God s o loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world but that the world might be saved through Him.  God in His righteousness judged that the only payment that He would be satisfied with for our sin was shed blood. Hebrews 9:22 says, without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin. Many people think that they can satisfy God through their own good works.  But only the shed blood of the perfect sinless Christ can ever satisfy God’s demand for justice and judgment.  If another human being shed his blood for you, God would not and even could not be satisfied, for that person is a fellow sinner.  Only a sinless, perfect sacrifice would do.  Only God’s only Son could pay for our sins.  Thus, Romans 5:8-9 states, But God commendeth His love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us, much more then, being now justified by His Blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him (Christ) 

4)      Conclusion about our Heavenly Father

Because only Christ could and did satisfy God our Fathers just demand for a sinless sacrifice, Christ then is the only way to heaven and a continuous and glorious relationship with our Heavenly Father. Jesus said in John14:6, I am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the father except through me. Only Jesus can literally wash away every sin that we have committed and put us in the place of fellowship and someday being with our Father forever.  The choice however is ours.  Jesus died on the cross, but he also was resurrected from the dead.  He reaches out to you and I  and asks, will you receive what I have done for you.  It’s a great gift.  But it means that you need to take action.  Simply pray, Lord Jesus, I am a sinner and need a savior.  I accept what you have done for me and believe that you want to cleanse me from all my sins.  Come into my heart, and be my boss—take control and help me to live for you in a good way.  Amen.   As to the question can we find a great dad—certainly let Jesus introduce you to His!

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The Chosen—A Possessed People --A Study of Ephesians notes (June 13)

Introduction: Part I: The Position of the Christian (1:1-3:21)

1.                   Praise for Redemption  1:1-14

a.       Salutation for Paul (1:1-2)

b.      Chosen by the Father (1:3-6)

c.       Redeemed by the Son (1:7-12)

d.      Sealed by the Holy Spirit (1:13-14)

 ³Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. ⁴For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love ⁵he^[c] predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— ⁶to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. ⁷In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace ⁸that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. ⁹And he^[d] made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, ¹⁰to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment—to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.  ¹¹In him we were also chosen,^[e] having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, ¹²in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. ¹³And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, ¹⁴who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory.

I.         The Situation:  Selected, Saved, Sealed: The Trinity’s Work

a.        Foundation for the Christian Individual

1.       How you see yourself: OF GOD

2.       How your approach life: WITH GOD

3.       How you view others: FOR GOD

b.      Foundation for the Christian Community

1.       How we see ourselves: OF God (light, salt)

2.       How we approach church: WITH GOD (Love)

3.       How we view others: FOR GOD (congregation, community, country, civilization)

Acts 1:8 ⁸But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

II. The Seal   ¹³And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,

EX.  Sphragizo –To stamp (with a signet or private mark) for security or preservation; By implication to keep secret, to attest

1.       Implication:   God the Father is our Creator, God the Son is our Redeemer,                 God the Holy Spirit is our Sustainer but more, our Purchaser and Possessor

III. The Success  Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, ¹⁴who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory.

1.       Inferred  Eschatology: End times Summary :  Last Name, Last Coming, Last Times, Last Battle, Last Enemy

2.       Realized Eschatology:  Present day Living: Conviction and Comfort, Perception and Power

IV.  The Suggestion John 20 ¹⁹On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" ²⁰After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.  ²¹Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." ²²And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit.

Salvation: Ask for Proof                                 Sanctification:   Ask for Power

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The Chosen—A Soldier’s story --A Study of Ephesians (May 30)

Introduction: The rack: A witness to what He stands for and who He is.

EX. Joel: Recruitment, Reeducation, Refocus, Realization

Part I: The Position of the Christian (1:1-3:21)

1.                   Praise for Redemption  1:1-14

a.       Salutation for Paul (1:1-2)

b.      Chosen by the Father (1:3-6)

c.       Redeemed by the Son (1:7-12)

d.      Sealed by the Holy Spirit (1:13-14)

⁷In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace ⁸that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. ⁹And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, ¹⁰to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment—to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.  ¹¹In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, ¹²in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.

a.       Recruitment---Verses 7-8 ⁷In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace ⁸that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.

1.       Law verses Grace:

Human Perspective: As Hunan beings we want to be able to work out our own salvation: 10 Commandments

Gods Perspective: Rom. 6:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Redemption is all about change of heart that changes our actions, not a change of actions that will change our hearts.

Human wisdom says only religious should be recruited for the Lord

God’s wisdom says only remorseful can be recruited for the Lord.

Ex  Are you washed in the Blood  

Are you washed in the blood,
In the soul cleansing blood of the Lamb?
Are your garments spotless? Are they white as snow?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

Have you talked with the Great Recruiter?

b.      Reeducation—Verses 9-10  ⁹And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, ¹⁰to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment—to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.  

1.      Trail to heaven: Jesus came to offer a taste of Sinless Heaven to a Sin filled earth: Jesus is coming again to reform a Sin filled Earth to a Sinless heaven; Rev 21: And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ⁴He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."  ⁵He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true."

2.      Trial here on earth:  Physical, Emotional, Psychological, Spiritual

The problem with most Christian’s isn’t that they are so heavenly minded that they are no earthly good—it’s that they are so earthly minded they are not any heavenly good 

God’s Big Picture for each of His Children: Know Who you are; grow to Who you can be; show others Who they should see, Go to see Who you brought with you.. Reward is the crowd not the crown

Has anyone explained the Big picture to you?

c.       Refocus Verses 11 ¹¹In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will

1.       Savior verses Lord

a.       When he is savior it’s all about what He has done for me

b.      When he is Lord, it’s all about what I can do for Him

Scriptures most Perplexing Verse: John 3: 30 He must increase, but I must decrease. 

Scriptures most Paradoxical Verse: Matthew 16  ²⁵For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

The King became a pauper so that paupers could become kings

Have you accepted the fact that you are on the winning side?

d.      Realization Verse 12 ¹²in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.

1.       As  a committed Christian the greatest benefit are the ones who come to know Christ because of you.  

2.       First is not meant to be the last…

If you Bless me, I will Bless you: If you serve me, I will literally serve you.  A soldier makes soldiers…

Conclusion: What do people see when they get around you? How are you wearing your Christian faith. 

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The Chosen Unfrozen—A Study of Ephesians (note from May 23)

Introduction: Ephesians is written to a group of believers who are indescribably rich in Jesus Christ, but living a beggarly existence because they are ignorant of their wealth.  And because they have not appropriated their wealth, they are walking like spiritual “paupers.” Paul begins by describing in chapters 1-3 the content of the Christians spiritual “bank account”; adoption, acceptance, redemption, forgiveness, wisdom, inheritance, the seal of the Holy Spirit, life, grace, citizenship—in short, every spiritual blessing!  Drawing upon that huge spiritual endowment, the Christian has all the resources he or she needs to live “to the praise and glory of His grace” (1:6).  Chapters 4-6 resemble an orthopedic clinic, where the Christian learns a spiritual walk rooted in his and her spiritual wealth. 

Key Word: Building the Body of Christ—Knowing and Growing 

Key Verses: (2:8-10; 4:1-3): “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

“‘I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to have a walk worthy of the high calling with which  you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

Part I: The Position of the Christian (1:1-3:21)

I.                    Praise for Redemption  1:1-14

a.       Salutation for Paul (1:1-2)

b.      Chosen by the Father (1:3-6)

c.       Redeemed by the Son (1:7-12)

Sealed by the Holy Spirit (1:13-14)

I.                    Prayer for Revelation 1:15-23

II.                  Position of the Christian  2:1—3:13

a.       The Christian’s Position Individually 2:1-10

1.       The Old Condition: Dead to God 2:1-3

2.       The New Condition: Alive to God 2:4-10

b.      The Christian’s Position Corporately  2:11-3:13

1.       Reconciliation of Jews and Gentiles 2:11-22

2.       Revelation of the Mystery of the Church  3:1-13

III.                Prayer for Realization  3:14-21

Part II: The Practice of the Christian (4:1—6:24)  

I.                    Unity of the Church 4:1-16

a.      Exhortation to Unity  4:1-3

b.      Explanation of Unity    4:3-6

c.       Means for Unity: the Gifts  4:7-11

d.      Purpose of the Gifts  4:12-16

II.                  Holiness in Life  4:17-5:21

a.      Put off the Old Man 4:17-22  

b.      Put on the New Man  4:23-29

Grieve not the Holy Spirit  4:30-32

a.      Walk as Children of Light  5:1-17

b.      Be Filled with the Holy Spirit 5:18-21

II.                  Responsibilities in the Home and at Work 5:22-6:9

a.      Wives: Submit to your Husbands 5:22-24

b.      Husbands: Love your Wives 5:25-33

c.       Children: Obey your Parents 6:1-4

d.      Service on the Job 6:5-9

III.                Conduct in Conflict 6:10-24

a.      Put on the Armor of God 6:10-17

b.      Pray for Boldness 6:18-20

c.       Conclusion 6:21-24

Salutation for Paul (1:1-2)  Ephesians 1:1-6  ¹Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints in Ephesus, the faithful^] in Christ Jesus: ²Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  ³Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.

Father Ordains, Son Redeems, Spirit Sustains…God’s choices are eternal (he who began a good work in you will complete it…Philippians 1:6

A Christian’s perspective: Chosen by the Father (1:3-6)—⁴For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love ⁵he  predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— ⁶to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.

How does the Father choose?   Not based on Past, Present, or Future  Performance

Ex.  Football, AAA Boxing, Princeton, Salvation

a.       Not based on Family Reputations, Traditions, or Convictions

b.      Not based ON anything that has to do with us other than his love;  the father’s choices can only be attributed to His discretion;  For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God,  by the Sovereignty of God and through the Sacrifice of Jesus, and Sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit.  

What Did God know about us?! 1.  We would have an opportunity to hear the Gospel message. 2.  We would have an openness to responding to the gospel message

What Does God expect from us ? to be holy and blameless in his sight. 1. Set our hearts on being a child of God.  2.  Align Our lives to live like one.

a.       In Jesus, we are Eternally justified

b.      Through the Holy Spirit we are being entirely Sanctified

c.       Through our lives God is Glorified

It all boils down to: Attitude.   In love ⁵he  predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will ⁶to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.

a.       The choices:  only  Three

1.       Resist  in an attempt to be Politically correct and fair

2.       Run in an attempt to be Free to be ourselves…

3.       Relish in an attempt to find our destinies…

One choice we cannot make—we cannot avoid Him.  Some day we shall behold Him…

EX.  Sandi Patty

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Boo—who; what am I up to?  notes from 5/16

Part I: The Basis of Fellowship (1:1-2:27)

I.                    Introduction 1:1-4

II.                  The Conditions for Fellowship (1:5-2:14)

a.       Walk in the Light  1:5-7

b.      Confession of Sin 1:8-22

c.       Obedience to His commands 2:3-6

d.      Love for One another 2:7-14

III.                The Cautions of Fellowship 2:15-27

a.       Love of the World 2:15-17

b.      Spirit of the Anti-Christ 2:18-27

Part II: The Behavior of Fellowship (2:28-5-21)

I.                    Characteristics of Fellowship 2:28-5:3

a.      Purity in Life 2:28-3:3

b.      Practice of Righteousness   3:4-12

c.       Love in deed and Truth   3:13-24

d.      Testing the Spirits  4:1-6

e.      Love as Christ Loved  4:7-21

II.                  Consequences of Fellowship 5:4-21

a.      Victory over the World  5:1-5—Live Knowing You are a Child of God

Assurance of Salvation   5:6-13—Live Knowing that God Chose You

a.      Guidance in Prayer   5:14-17—Live Knowing God cares for You

b.      Freedom from Habitual Sin 5:18-21—Live Knowing God desires that you Choose Him

1. His Ways, His Priorities,  His Life

Questions He asks of us as individuals and as a Fellowship:

1.       Are we going to be Kingdom Builders or Kingdom Dwellers…?

2.       Are we going to be determined to seek His Hand or His Heart?

3.       Are we content to live knowing that He loves us, or shall we make the choice to live proving our love for Him?

John 8:36  ³⁶So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed…Free? To be.

Boo—who; what am I up to?   

I John 5:18-21   ¹⁸We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the one who was born of God keeps him safe, and the evil one cannot harm him. ¹⁹We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. ²⁰We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true—even in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.  ²¹Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.

I.         Freedom to Fight—EX.  AAA Jr. Olympics

1.       Make some choices:

a.        Was I going to be a Fighter?

b.      Was I going to let others expectations deter me?

                                c.     Was I going to see myself as a winner?

d.    Was I going to keep the right priorities ?

I.         Freedom from Sin---¹⁸We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the one who was born of God keeps him safe, and the evil one cannot harm him…

1.        There is an Enemy.

2.       Two--Two step processes in dealing with Him: James 4:6-8  ⁷Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. ⁸Come near to God and he will come near to you.

a.       Submit to God—Resist the devil –Verbally

b.      Draw Near to God—God draws near to you—Physically—Ex. Bible on Head

Make a choice to be Holy…

II.       Freedom from Expectations ¹⁹We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.

1.       “Children” infers dependence, not maturity…

Ephesians 4:  ¹⁴Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. ¹⁵Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.

2.       Maturity recognizes influences set against us as Christians: Outward by Satan, Inside by Our Flesh, around by the World

Make a Choice to not let others expectations of us deter us…

III.    Freedom to Be  ²⁰We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true—even in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life

It’s not just avoiding Eternal Separation in the sweet bye and bye: John 3:16 ¹⁶"For God so loved the world that he

1.       gave his one and only Son,^[a] that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life

2.       “Understanding” is all about Birth Right—Eternal Relationship

And He tells me I am His own, And the joy we share as we tarry there, None other, has ever, known!

Make a choice to see yourself as a winner!

I.       Freedom to Walk ²¹Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.

1.       Look at all that you have going for you: Freedom from Sin, Freedom from Expectations, freedom to see yourself as a winner, Freedom in other words to get and to keep the right perspective on who you are, whose you are, where you have been in your life and where you now are headed, and  how much others really need to hear and to know what you have in Christ---Keep the right perspective in your life and in your fellowship.  Walk with God day and day, year after year, decade after decade—all the time helping one another to not be pulled away from anything that might get any of us off track---idols.

Make  a choice to keep the right priorities…

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Boo—who; what is God up to? notes from 5/2

Part I: The Basis of Fellowship (1:1-2:27)

I.                    Introduction 1:1-4

II.                  The Conditions for Fellowship (1:5-2:14)

a.       Walk in the Light  1:5-7

b.      Confession of Sin 1:8-22

c.       Obedience to His commands 2:3-6

d.      Love for One another 2:7-14

III.                The Cautions of Fellowship 2:15-27

a.       Love of the World 2:15-17

b.      Spirit of the Anti-Christ 2:18-27

Part II: The Behavior of Fellowship (2:28-5-21)

I.                    Characteristics of Fellowship 2:28-5:3

a.      Purity in Life 2:28-3:3

b.      Practice of Righteousness   3:4-12

c.       Love in deed and Truth   3:13-24

d.      Testing the Spirits  4:1-6

e.      Love as Christ Loved  4:7-21

II.                  Consequences of Fellowship 5:4-21

a.      Victory over the World  5:1-5

b.      Assurance of Salvation   5:6-13

Guidance in Prayer   5:14-17

a.      Freedom from Habitual Sin 5:18-21

I John 5:14-17   ¹⁴This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. ¹⁵And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.  ¹⁶If anyone sees his brother commit a sin that does not lead to death, he should pray and God will give him life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that he should pray about that. ¹⁷All wrongdoing is sin, and there is sin that does not lead to death.

Boo—who; what is God up to?

I.        Ex.  Was I yelling…Or was he not ready to hear? 

1.       The volume scared Him

2.       It was totally unexpected

3.       He was in His own little world

4.       He didn’t recognize my voice.

II.       Asking is Easy… But Listening is Hard    ¹⁴This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. ¹⁵And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.  

5.       God’s Will? 3 facts

a.        Begins with My Will

b.      Perfect or Permissive

c.       Every opportunity to seek is an invitation to intimacy

If we are walking in assurance of our relationship with Him (Vs.6-13) , we learn that talking to Him comes easier and easier.  When being in His will for our lives becomes our heart’s true desire, then we ask believing that God will indeed provide for us as any good parent would.  The real issue?  First, having that kind of intimate relationship and second, believing that God still speaks to us personally. 

EX.  Does God still speak?                  Walking with God   John Eldridge

(Psalm 139: 1-18; 2 Chronicles 15:2; Jer.24:7; Zech 1:3; James 4:8, Hebrews 10:22; Acts 9:10-15; Isa. 50:4; Psalm 95:7; John 10)

I.        Pray for Me!  O, Yea!  Pray for them?  O, No …¹⁶If anyone sees his brother commit a sin that does not lead to death, he should pray and God will give him life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that he should pray about that. ¹⁷All wrongdoing is sin, and there is sin that does not lead to death.

Jesus told us to love our enemies, and pray for those who persecute us (Matthew 5: 44).  We don’t have a problem praying for our loved ones…even at times, for our distant enemies…But our real problem comes with those who “commit a sin” usually that has directly affected us.  Why should we pray for God to give them Life?  What about fire from Heaven? Why should we leave room for the biblical teaching—Vengeance is mine says the Lord (Hebrews 10:29-31)!

EX.  What is God up to?         Walking with God   John Eldridge

(Romans 8:29-30 MSG; John 10:10) In our willingness to pray for those who uncaringly transgress against us, is proof positive of God’s work of ultimate transformation within us.  We get the Life!  

A guided Prayer for us today:  My Father who is in heaven and who also is with me through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.  Holy is your great Name, Your great deeds, your great thoughts toward me.  May your soon coming Kingdom really come, as it has in my life.  But more, until Jesus comes again, may I learn to really seek you and walk with you in such intimacy, that your Will is simply the way I live my life.   You know what’s best in heaven and what’s best for me here on earth.  Grant that this day, I may have all my needs met as I look to you; emotional needs, physical needs, mental needs, financial needs, all my needs—I refuse to worry about them because I’m yours and you are my Father.

And Lord, forgive me in advance for the mistakes that I’m going to make as I deal with people and especially as I deal with myself. 

Remind me that I am not perfect, that I can pass that grace along to those who do me harm.  Keep my eyes on you, my feet on your path, my hands busy doing your work, my mouth full of your praises and my heart overflowing with your joy, that no earthly temptation will arrest my attention and lead me astray.   You are my Rock.  You are my Life.   Your Kingdom is my Home; now and forever. Amen.  

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“Got Life…? notes from 4/18 & 4/25

Ex.  Fanny Crosby--(March 24 1820 – February 12 1915) A lifelong Methodist, she was one of the most prolific hymnists in history, writing over 8,000 despite being blind since infancy.

Blessed Assurance

vs.1

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine! (There was a time when Jesus came into my life)
O what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.                                             I am Saved!

Refrain:
This is my story, this is my song, 
praising my Savior all the day long;
this is my story, this is my song,
praising my Savior all the day long.

vs.2
Perfect submission, perfect delight!                (There are times when Jesus is with me now)
Visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
Angels descending bring from above
Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.                                                 I am Special!

(Refrain)

vs.3
Perfect submission, all is at rest!  (There will be a time someday when I will be with Him)
I in my Savior am happy and blest,
Watching and waiting, looking above,
Filled with his goodness, lost in His love.                                                I am Secure!

The Wonder of Assurance: Jesus Calls, Jesus Convinces, Jesus Converts, Jesus Keeps, Jesus will Take me home: Key=Faithfulness of Jesus 

Ephesians 2 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature^[a] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. ⁴But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, ⁵made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. ⁶And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, ⁷in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. ⁸For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—

The Why of Assurance:  Not to live in bondage to Sin, Not to live in fear of Death, Not to settle to live below our Familial Status bestowed upon me.

1 John 3 ¹How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!

The Way of Assurance: 1 John 5:6-13

I.         The Exegesis: 8 verses; 16 truths

 ⁶This is the one who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood.

1.      Life of Christ: Blood at Human Birth; Water at Spiritual Birth

2.      Cross of Christ: Wounded heart; Wounded Spirit

3.      Paradox of Christ: Human Water washing vs. God Blood cleansing

4.      Person Of Christ: John profoundly saw that Jesus came not  merely as an Enlightener (with the water) but above all as Redeemer (with the Blood) , that men need to be saved not from ignorance as much as from sin, that man’s need lies not so much in deficiency of knowledge as corruption of character.  Mans’ trouble  today is not that the darkness of his mind needs to be taken away, it is that his guilt must be removed, his passions cleaned, and his will possessed and redirected by God.—(TIB)

And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth 

5.      Holy Spirit: 3^rd Person of the Trinity; the family spokesperson!

John 16: I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. ¹³But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. ¹⁴He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. ¹⁵All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you.  Jesus is in control! 

Jesus is the Way, the TRUTH and the life; the Holy Spirit knows the truth ABOUT Jesus better than anyone else!  He was present  at Christ’s Conception, Birth, Baptism, Trials, Resurrection, and

1.      Thus, He is sent by the Father and Son to be a Comforter, Convictor, Reminder, Indweller, Sealer, Advocate, and Guide to Jesus followers.  His main ministry is to provide assurance to believers while prompting curiosity to soon to become believers.  He reveals the will of Jesus more than anyone else!   

⁷For there are three that testify: ⁸the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement.

2.      Jewish law: By a witness of three…validity of a testimony

3.      Christian Doctrine: Spirit (Regeneration), Water  (Baptism), Blood (Lord’s Supper)

 ⁹We accept man's testimony, but God's testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son.

4.      What did God say?  Luke 9: ³⁵A voice came from the cloud, saying, "This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him

5.      What did God do?  John 3:16 ¹⁶"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

 ¹⁰Anyone who believes in the Son of God has this testimony in his heart.

6.      Beyond all that others or even God says concerning who Jesus really is, is the inner testimony of a person’s heart, convincing the person of what Jesus did for them, is doing for them and will do for them.   Assurance comes greater and deeper as Christ is accepted as both Lord and Savior.

1 Peter 1: 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy,

Anyone who does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because he has not believed the testimony God has given about his Son

Those words should frighten the man who ignores or rejects the gospel, for they convict him of blasphemy and insult.  The pretentions of refusal of the meaning of the Incarnation are seen as ridiculous, as if this little man were shaking his fist at the universe and crying, “Liar, Liar.”   (TIB)

.¹¹And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

1.      Everyone already has eternal life---that is not the issue.

2.      Life that God offers is new life, new family, new gifts, new direction, new purpose, new heart, new passions, new in every way—always undergirded with the reality that I have found a treasure and because He is worth it, I can really live determined to fulfill:

The Great Commandment: Matthew 22  ³⁶"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" ³⁷Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'^{[a] 38}This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'

The Great Commission:  Matthew 28Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in^[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

¹²He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.

3.      Do you have the Son?  The real question is, does the Son have you?  Great statement of assurance for the true believer.  Great statement of  aggravation for the rebellious unbeliever or the pseudo-Christian

 ¹³I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.

4.      In your head, in your heart, in our soul.  I am Saved, I am Special, I am Secure. 

EX.   John Henry Newton (July 24, 1725 – December 21, 1807)

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“What Burns Me Up?” notes for 4/11/10

Part I: The Basis of Fellowship (1:1-2:27)

I.                    Introduction 1:1-4

II.                  The Conditions for Fellowship (1:5-2:14)

a.       Walk in the Light  1:5-7

b.      Confession of Sin 1:8-22

c.       Obedience to His commands 2:3-6

d.      Love for One another 2:7-14

III.                The Cautions of Fellowship 2:15-27

a.       Love of the World 2:15-17

b.      Spirit of the Anti-Christ 2:18-27

Part II: The Behavior of Fellowship (2:28-5-21)

I.                    Characteristics of Fellowship 2:28-5:3

a.       Purity in Life 2:28-3:3

b.      Practice of Righteousness   3:4-12

c.       Love in deed and Truth   3:13-24

d.      Testing the Spirits  4:1-6

e.      Love as Christ Loved  4:7-21

II.                  Consequences of Fellowship 5:4-21

a.       Victory over the World  5:1-5

b.      Assurance of Salvation   5:6-13

Guidance in Prayer   5:14-17

a.       Freedom from Habitual Sin 5:18-21

I John 5:1-5  ¹Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. ²This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. ³This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, ⁴for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. ⁵Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

I.         Victory over Self—4 truths in two verses  (Vs.1-2)

John 3 ¹Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. ²He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him."  ³In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.^[a]"  ⁴"How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!"  ⁵Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. ⁶Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit^[b] gives birth to spirit. ⁷You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You^[c] must be born again.'

1.      Born again to love God --¹Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father

2.      Born again to love Christ--¹Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well.

3.      Born to  again to Love Other Christians --²This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God

4.      Born again to Love to Learn to Love --. ²This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands

Victory over the “world” starts with Victory inside oneself—

EX.  Linear Life vs. Abundant Life:

I.        Victory Over the World—Faith that Overcomes (Vs. 3-5)  ³This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, ⁴for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. ⁵Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

John 13 ³⁴"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. ³⁵By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

Mathew 22  ³⁶"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" ³⁷Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'^{[b] 38}This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'^{[c] 40}All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

John14 ²⁰On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. ²¹Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.

EX.  4 Pictures of “victorious” living

Unholy Living                         God

Passions—(Character)

                                                SELF

            Priorities (Commitments)                    Pursuits (Choices)

Semi-Holy Living

Passions—(Character)

            God                              SELF                            

            Priorities (Commitments)                    Pursuits (Choices)

The cyclical nature of Judges is lived: Sin, Suffering, Salvation, and Sin

Holy Living

Passions—(Character)

            Self                              God                             

            Priorities (Commitments)                    Pursuits (Choices)

Truly Victorious Living!

Passions

Passions—(Character)

                        Priorities                      God                              Pursuits

            Priorities (Commitments)                    Pursuits (Choices)

I.         Victory Burn out: What is the true great passion that is influencing every area of your life? For the Christian, the answer is simple: Christ.  The question is how do I fan to flame the fire within…?

Believe with all of your heart that Christ loves YOU

Undo all the silly emotional strings that have you now

Resist the temptation to believe that you cannot make a difference

Never neglect reading the Word, Prayer, Fellowship, Discipleship, and especially sharing your Faith in Jesus with other Believers and Non--believers...

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“The Wonder of it all…” notes from 4/4

Luke 24: 1-12

I.                   The Wonder of Easter:  verb (used with object)

to speculate curiously or be curious about; be curious to know: to wonder what happened.  

a.       Frustrated—I can’t figure it out 

b.      Fearful—No one here to explain it to me

c.       Forlorn-ed—I’ll never figure it out

d.      Fascinated—I don’t have to understand how, just that it works!

–noun something strange and surprising; a cause of surprise, astonishment, or admiration

II.                The Wonder of the Missing   (Vs.1-3) ¹On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. ²They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, ³but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. ⁴While they were wondering about this.

a.       Where was Jesus?  Decree, Death, Departed

b.      Where are they?  Panicked, Peeved, Pondering

c.       Were there any clues?  Connect the Dots…

Ex.  Text itself:  1) One Grave Marker---Rock:“Big” Stone  (Vs. 1)

                                2)  Two Angels  (Vs. 4)

                                3)  Three Women (Vs.10)

                                4)  One Grave Disciple—Rock: “Little” Stone ( Vs.12)

III.              The Wonder of the Messiah (Vs. 4-8) ⁴While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. ⁵In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? ⁶He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ⁷'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.'

a.       Tale of Two Christ’s

Perception of the Jews                                                 Perception of Jesus

Conquer Oppressors                                                      Conquer Oppression

Freedom to live like they wanted            Freedom to live like they should   

Future for their Land                                      Future of the Promised Land

Earthly Security                                                Eternal Security

EX.  Check which column you desire most…Wonder Vs. Wonder

I.                  The Wonder of the Message (Vs. 9-12) .  ⁹When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. ¹⁰It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. ¹¹But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. ¹²Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.

a.       Why do Christians have to talk about Jesus?

1.       General revelation Vs. Specific revelation

2.       One to One--¹⁰It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles.

b.       Doesn’t it matter what people think about them? The real question is not people’s opinion, but God’s…

Ex. C.S. Lewis If you read history you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were precisely those who thought most of the next. It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this.

1.        Realization: Some will believe, some won’t

2.       See the unseen--¹¹But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. ¹

c.        For the curious…¹²Peter, however, got up and…He was ready to check it out for himself—how about you? Will you take a chance of moving from verb to noun?

d.   The essence of the Christian Message:

1.  We matter to God. He made us, and He wants to have a relationship with us.

2. We rebelled against God. Both actively and passively, we've all disobeyed Him. And our sins have separated us from Him, and broken off the relationship.

3. To varying degrees, most of us are aware of our distance from God. I know I was, and you may be, too. And so we start doing all kinds of things to try to get back to Him, like being a helpful neighbor, paying our taxes, going to church, and giving money to charities. There's nothing wrong with these, but the Bible makes it clear that none of them can earn us God's forgiveness or re-establish our relationship with Him. Furthermore, the sins we've committed must be punished, and the penalty we owe is death, which means both physical death as well as spiritual separation from God for eternity, in a place called hell.

 
4. The good news, as was referred to earlier, is that we matter to God. In fact, He loves us so much that He did for us what we could never do for ourselves. He provided a bridge over which we can find His forgiveness and restore our relationship with Him. He built it by coming to earth as one of us, and dying on the cross to pay the death penalty we owed.

5. This is a picture of what the central message of the Bible is all about. And that's what God wants each of us to understand. But it's not enough to just know about this or even agree with it. We've got to act upon it. God wants us to move over to the other side.

We can move to the other side by humbly admitting to God that we've rebelled against Him and need His forgiveness and leadership. That simple act of trust and obedience results in our sins being pardoned and our debt being paid. Our relationship with God is firmly established, because we're immediately adopted into His family as His son or daughter.

I.                   The Wonder in Me

a.      Frustrated—I can’t figure it out  (Verb)

b.      Fearful—No one here to explain it to me (Verb)

c.       Forlorn-ed—I’ll never figure it out (Verb)

d.      Fascinated—I don’t have to understand how, just that it works!   (NOUN)

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“A Hands-Down Choice” notes from 3/24

Matthew 21: 1-11

I.        The Wave in  the stadium : 4 parts…Anticipation, Realization, Exaltation, Expectation

1.       Anticipation=sitting

2.       Realization= standing

3.       Exaltation= lifting

4.       Expectation=praying

II.       The wave on the street:

1.        Anticipation—(Vs.1-3) ¹As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, ²saying to them, "Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. ³If anyone says anything to you, tell him that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away."

a.       Sitting—why were they sitting around?

Long Time?  400 years of God’s Silence

a.       Where was God?

b.      When is He going to show up?

c.       How would we even recognize Him?

Right Time?  3 years of Godly Speculation

a.       Jerusalem—“foundation of peace” Home of Earthly King and Unearthly God

b.      Mount of Olives—Home of Prophets and Prayer

c.       Bethphage—“house of figs”    Ground for Fig trees to grow and friends to rise—home of feasts and friends

Jesus was where people knew Him

Jesus was where people loved Him

Jesus was where people believed in Him

On Time!  Today…was God here now?  Is God showing up on a donkey?  Do we recognize Him in the person of Jesus?  Some did not, but others dared to believe…some things never change…he who has eyes to see…Jesus

Realization—(Vs.4-5) ⁴This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:

1.        ⁵"Say to the Daughter of Zion,
      'See, your king comes to you,
   gentle and riding on a donkey,
      on a colt, the foal of a donkey.' "^[a]

a.       Standing—what made them get to their feet?

A Prophecy Fulfilled--Zechariah 9:9  ⁹ Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion!
       Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king ^[a] comes to you, righteous and having salvation,  gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

A Prophet Foretold—Son of David—Son of Man; A King? A Messiah?

A Puzzle For us—A Mighty conqueror?  Isaiah 42: ² He will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets. ³ A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice; ⁴ he will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth..  A Conqueror of what?  O if they only knew!  The puzzle is still for us to try to figure out!

                EX.  Unshakable Kingdom—Sandy Patti

Some dared to look within and see…

2.       Exaltation—(Vs.6-10) ⁶The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. ⁷They brought the donkey and the colt, placed their cloaks on them, and Jesus sat on them. ⁸A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. ⁹The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,
   "Hosanna^[b] to the Son of David!"
   "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!"^[c]
   "Hosanna^[d] in the highest!"

a.       Lifting—what allowed them to believe?  

Open minds and Tender hearts—“yes, I feel its right”

Hands lifted and branches lowered—“yes, I’m acting right”

Doubts silenced and voices raised—“yes, I’m speaking right”

Why did they feel, act and speak right---without knowing psychologically, the perceived spiritually:  Listen to the translation

                "Hosanna^[b] to the Son of David!"—literally is an expression of praise; interestingly, the word translated means “save “or save me

                "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" –Psalm 118

                ¹⁹ Open for me the gates of righteousness;  I will enter and give thanks to the LORD.  ²⁰ This is the gate of the LORD  through which the righteous may enter.  ²¹ I will give you thanks, for you

answered me;  you have become my salvation.  ²² The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone;  ²³ the LORD has done this,  and it is marvelous in our eyes.  ²⁴ This is the day the LORD has made;  let us rejoice and be glad in it.  ²⁵ O LORD, save us;  O LORD, grant us success.  ²⁶ Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD. 

"Hosanna^[b] to the Son of David!"—literally is an expression of praise; interestingly, the word translated means “save “or save me

They were literally speaking words of belief, words of faith! How could they not lift their hands?

1.       Expectation—(Vs.10-11) ¹⁰When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, "Who is this?" ¹¹The crowds answered, "This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee."

a.       Praying—why did they simply resign themselves to pray?

Jesus had passed close to them but kept going—in faith they followed

Jesus had pleased their hearts—in faith they kept declaring

Jesus had propelled their hope—in faith they waited

I.         The wave at the Sinner

a.        Why are you sitting around—Jesus is close

b.      What is going to get you to take a stand—Jesus is waiting

c.       Why   don’t you allow yourself to believe—Jesus is cool

d.      Will you pray—Jesus is listening

1.       Some considerations: Don’t let Jesus pass you by—look around at all who still follow Him

2.       How is your heart these days—look around and see how many are truly happy just to declare that Jesus is their Lord and Savior.  

3.       When was the last time you really out your hope in anything that lasted—believe it or not, there are people praying for you right now, waiting to see what the Lord is going to do in you and for you. 

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“In Love, with God—part 2”  notes from 3/14

Part I: The Basis of Fellowship (1:1-2:27)

I.                    Introduction 1:1-4

II.                  The Conditions for Fellowship (1:5-2:14)

a.       Walk in the Light  1:5-7

b.      Confession of Sin 1:8-22

c.       Obedience to His commands 2:3-6

d.      Love for One another 2:7-14

III.                The Cautions of Fellowship 2:15-27

a.       Love of the World 2:15-17

b.      Spirit of the Anti-Christ 2:18-27

Part II: The Behavior of Fellowship (2:28-5-21)

I.                    Characteristics of Fellowship 2:28-5:3

a.       Purity in Life 2:28-3:3

b.      Practice of Righteousness   3:4-12

c.       Love in deed and Truth   3:13-24

d.      Testing the Spirits  4:1-6

e.      Love as Christ Loved  4:7-21

II.                  Consequences of Fellowship 5:4-21

a.       Victory over the World  5:4-5

b.      Assurance of Salvation   5:6-13

Guidance in Prayer   5:14-17

a.       Freedom from Habitual Sin 5:18-21

Part Two —John 4: 13-21   ¹³We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. ¹⁴And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. ¹⁵If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. ¹⁶And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.    God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. ¹⁷In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. ¹⁸There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.  ¹⁹We love because he first loved us. ²⁰If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. ²¹And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.

Introduction:  Love as Christ loved:  Christ loved, totally (sold out), realistically (in word and deed), sacrificially (the unlovely and unlovable)

I.        Christ was able to love because:  John 17

He knew who He was (John 17:1) After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: "Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you.

He knew what He came to do (John 17:2-10) 2For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. ³Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. ⁴I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. ⁵And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began. ⁶"I have revealed you^[a] to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. ⁷Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. ⁸For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. ⁹I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. ¹⁰All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them.

He knew where He was going (John 17:11a) ¹¹I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father,

He knew what He was building. (John 17:12-26) ¹²While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled. ¹³"I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. ¹⁴I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. ¹⁵My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. ¹⁶They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. ¹⁷Sanctify^[b] them by the truth; your word is truth. ¹⁸As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. ¹⁹For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.  ²⁰"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, ²¹that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. ²²I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: ²³I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. ²⁴"Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. ²⁵"Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. ²⁶I have made you known to

them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them

I.         We are able to love as Christ loved….when we

1.       Proclaim and not Deny (Vs. 13-16)  ¹³We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. ¹⁴And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. ¹⁵If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. ¹⁶And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.    God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.

a.       Ownership: “Lives”=Meno: abides, dwells, remains…

2 Corinthians 1 ²¹Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, ²²set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.                                                        b. Relationship: “acknowledge”

2 words Homo-lugeo:

 1. Confess and profess…inner unction that forces itself out into an outward conviction…Rom.10:9 ⁹That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

 2. Son and Savoir: 2 roles—Son of God, Savoir of World

3.  Lives and Lives: 2 Manifestations-- God in me, Me in God

                                                                c. Son-ship: “Know and rely”

2 Words Ginosoko-Pisteo

1.       Understand with assurance, and more, have complete trust in...what?

2.       Love God has for us…”agape” perfect love

3.       Love that woos us, calls, claims us, fills us, adopts us, grafts us, and keeps us, more,  love that assures us that we are HIS CHILD!

1 john 3 How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!

Stop denying the fact that you belong to God and start proclaiming “I am a child of God!”  To love like Christ loved, you have to Know who you are!

2.        Push on and not Fear (Vs.17-18) ¹⁷In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. ¹⁸There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.  

Minor emphasis: “Day of judgment” Unbelievers according to their works; Believers according to their obedience, One; keeping the law, one walking in grace; One; wages, one-rewards…have confidence!

Major emphasis: “we are like Him” Jesus life 3 words: holy, helpful, hopeful: he exampled Holiness: he lived helpfulness; but he offered hopefulness and people loved and hated Him for raising that hope.

Motivating emphasis: Perfect love drives out fear... Because we are like Him, we need not fear acting, doing, and being like him.

Stages of Christian Fear:

Level One---Association Fear—loss of friends: We get over it.

Level Two—Confirmation Fear—loss of confidence: We get over it.

Level Three--- Sanctification Fear—loss of focus:  We get over it.

Level Four—Validation Fear—Loss of effectiveness: We get over it.

Level Five—Control Fear—loss of ego: We never get over it, but we try

1.        We are faced with the question: how much do I really love Him…We know how much He loved us.

2.       We are faced with the question: How much of an impact are we really making for kingdom issues, how many lives am I really affecting positively, how many are I leading to the Lord by what I say or how I am…Jesus answer: Let me lead, let me take control. 

John 15 "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. ⁶If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. ⁷If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. ⁸This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

Stages of Christian Confidence:

Level One—He loves me; Level Two—He has gifted me; Level Three—He has a plan for me; Level Four—We can work out that plan together; Level Five—I have eternal life, thus, I will be with Him someday; Level Six—I want Him to be proud of me, thus, I will not fear—my heart is right!  Push On and do not fear: you can love like Christ loved when you know what you are here for a purpose and you have assurance where you are going. 

3.        Protect and not hate ²⁰If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. ²¹And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.

Love the fellowship of Believers; but also love your enemies and those who are not yet, in the fellowship…why: God will take care of all recompense; Vengeance is mine says the Lord.  My call is to love totally, realistically, and sacrificially… when I begin to live this way, I can love like Christ and thus, protect and not hate and more, know that I am building the Kingdom with Christ and for Christ.   

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“In Love, with God”  Part 1 notes from 3/7

Part I: The Basis of Fellowship (1:1-2:27)

I.                    Introduction 1:1-4

II.                  The Conditions for Fellowship (1:5-2:14)

a.       Walk in the Light  1:5-7

b.      Confession of Sin 1:8-22

c.       Obedience to His commands 2:3-6

d.      Love for One another 2:7-14

III.                The Cautions of Fellowship 2:15-27

a.       Love of the World 2:15-17

b.      Spirit of the Anti-Christ 2:18-27

Part II: The Behavior of Fellowship (2:28-5-21)

I.                    Characteristics of Fellowship 2:28-5:3

a.       Purity in Life 2:28-3:3

b.      Practice of Righteousness   3:4-12

c.       Love in deed and Truth   3:13-24

d.      Testing the Spirits  4:1-6

e.      Love as Christ Loved  4:7-21

II.                  Consequences of Fellowship 5:4-21

a.       Victory over the World  5:4-5

b.      Assurance of Salvation   5:6-13

Guidance in Prayer   5:14-17

a.       Freedom from Habitual Sin 5:18-21

Part One—John 4: 7-12    ⁷Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. ⁸Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. ⁹This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son^[a] into the world that we might live through him. ¹⁰This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for^[b] our sins. ¹¹Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. ¹²No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

Ex. Double entendre—double meaning; a figure of speech in which a spoken phrase is devised to be understood in either of two ways. Often the first meaning is straightforward, while the second meaning is less so…little twist that redirects the obvious...

Ex.  The title of reality television show, The Biggest Loser, has double entendres. The title could be interpreted in many different ways; "biggest" could be interpreted as meaning obese, or referring to the amount that they are a "loser". Also, the "loser" could be interpreted as meaning they lose a lot of weight, or it could be more subtly derogatorily implying that they are socially deficient.

Ex. In love with God…or in love, with God Section 4:7-21 full of double entendres...little twists…Let’s take a look at them in part one of this two sermon section

a.       Our Completeness—Love one another    ⁷Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.

1.        Love One another, Loves, Born, Knows…

Little Twist: Ex.  Palindrome: Greek: “running back again” Racecar; A man, a plan, a canal – Panama!; Madam, I’m Adam

2.       Knows, Born, Loves, Loves One another

Love for others is a sign of our completeness in God…

God’s Character---God is Love ⁸Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

a.       God’s Commitment .  God Loved  ¹⁰This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for  our sins.

John 15:13 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. ¹³Greater love has no one than this that he lay down his life for his friends.

1.       In love, He laid down Him life as a sacrifice so we may know Him and find forgiveness

Little Twist: Romans 12: 1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual^[a] act of worship

2.       In Love, we lay down our lives as a sacrifice so that others may find forgiveness and know Him. 

God’s commitment changes and challenges our life focus.

b.      Our Character—God is Love ¹¹Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

1.       Theological point:  Since God loved, we ought to love one another—it’s must; one proves the other.  Argument or Agreement? Little Twist:

2.       Philosophical point: Since we love one another, we ought to love God—it’s a must! One proves the other.  Argument or agreement?

Our Character longs to match the loving character of God

c.       God’s Completeness—Love one another ¹²No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

1.        No one can gaze upon God; He is hidden Little Twist:

2.       Anyone can get a glimpse of God; He is revealed

I John 4 ²⁰If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.

Love for others is a sign of God’s completeness in us.

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“Truth or Consequences”  Notes from 2/28/10

Part I: The Basis of Fellowship (1:1-2:27)

I.                    Introduction 1:1-4

II.                  The Conditions for Fellowship (1:5-2:14)

a.       Walk in the Light  1:5-7

b.      Confession of Sin 1:8-22

c.       Obedience to His commands 2:3-6

d.      Love for One another 2:7-14

III.                The Cautions of Fellowship 2:15-27

a.       Love of the World 2:15-17

b.      Spirit of the Anti-Christ 2:18-27

Part II: The Behavior of Fellowship (2:28-5-21)

I.                    Characteristics of Fellowship 2:28-5:3

a.      Purity in Life 2:28-3:3

b.      Practice of Righteousness   3:4-12

c.       Love in deed and Truth   3:13-24

d.      Testing the Spirits  4:1-6

e.      Love as Christ Loved  4:7-21

II.                  Consequences of Fellowship 5:4-21

a.      Victory over the World  5:4-5

b.      Assurance of Salvation   5:6-13

c.       Guidance in Prayer   5:14-17

d.      Freedom from Habitual Sin 5:18-21

Ex.  Truth or Consequences

I.         Overview: What Christians believe about Jesus

Nicene Creed: I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds; God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God; begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made. Who, for us men and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was buried; and the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again, with glory, to judge the quick and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end. And I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of Life; who proceeds from the Father and the Son; who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; who spoke by the prophets. And I believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins; and I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

a.       5 Foundational Truths:

1)   Jesus is God: very God of very God

2)   Born of a Virgin: was incarnate

3)   Was Crucified for Our Sins: our salvation

4)   Was Resurrected: He rose again

5)   He is coming back again: He shall come again

John 8:  ³¹To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. ³²Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

II.       What “others” Believe about Jesus: James 2 19You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.

a.        Jews:  Jesus only a teacher: Jesus was not the Messiah, not a real King, did not bring peace; still waiting…  

b.      Muslims: Born of a virgin by power of Allah.  A great prophet like Moses, but not Son of Allah. Not crucified!

c.       Atheists: Jesus not a God at all

d.      Agnostics: no opinion.  Jesus may or not be a God, Could be Avatar as far as they’re concerned.

e.      Buddhists: Christ not a Deity.  Does not affirm the existence of a living God

f.        Cabala: Only two Gods. Hidden God of nothing and Mystical God of religious experience.

g.       Hare Krishna: Jesus a Guru, Krishna is God.

h.      Hindus: No need for personal savoir, each person can become a god through “cosmic consciousness”

i.        Jehovah’s Witness: Jesus is a Michael the created archangel and died as a good man.  Recreated in heaven as Michael.  Deny trinity

j.        Mormons (LDS):  Jesus born in heaven as a spirit child of Elohim, by one of his wives, and Jesus brother was Lucifer, who became Satan.  Jesus one of many gods.  

k.       Scientology: Everyone is a god including Christ.

I.        Dealing with “Religious” people in our Fellowship

Be Informed: : 1 John 4:1-6   ¹Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. ²This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, ³but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.

1.       Know the Basics: 5 truths

2.       Know the Battle: False Prophets and Spirit of Anti-Christ

a.        False Prophets: Always preach Christ, but with conditions added.

b.      Sprit of Anti-Christ: Always present Christ, but with inclusion demanded

The battle is a cosmic one, Satan desires everyone to be religious.  He cannot rob you of saving faith, but uses doubt to render Christians ineffective.   Live the creed, just don’t love the cross. Serve God is you have to, just don’t share Christ because you want to.

Be In tuned:   ⁴You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.

a.       Test your Faith: Do I have Holy Spirit in me?

1.       Did receiving Jesus as Savior change me?

2.       Do I love Him although I have never seen Him?

3.       Do I have a hunger for the Bible, to be around other Christians, to pray, a great desire to know and serve Christ, a certainty about my faith and my eternal destiny?

Be Insightful:  ⁵They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them.

a.       Trust  your Fellowship: Followers of Christ alone, Emphasis on Bible, Love for Jesus, Love for others hearing the Gospel, Openness to accept new people, Wisdom concerning the enemy’s ways, Salvation is not optional, His agenda is most important, I am expected to grow in my faith, People like, love and believe in me.

Be Intentional; ⁶We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit^[a] of truth and the spirit of falsehood

a.       Transfer your Focus: Mark 12  ³⁰Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength

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“Being in this thing together—Cont.”  Notes from 2/21/10

I.  Exegetical Vs. Topical Sermon Series:

1 John…bring your Bible  

          a. Introduction

1.  Keyword=Fellowship; Being in this thing together

Part I: The Basis of Fellowship (1:1-2:27)

I.                   Introduction 1:1-4

II.                The Conditions for Fellowship (1:5-2:14)

a.      Walk in the Light  1:5-7

b.      Confession of Sin 1:8-22

c.      Obedience to His commands 2:3-6

d.      Love for One another 2:7-14

III.             The Cautions of Fellowship 2:15-27

a.      Love of the World 2:15-17

b.      Spirit of the Anti-Christ 2:18-27

Part II: The Behavior of Fellowship (2:28-5-21)

I.                   Characteristics of Fellowship 2:28-5:3

a.     Purity in Life 2:28-3:3

b.     Practice of Righteousness   3:4-12

c.     Love in deed and Truth   3:13-24

d.     Testing the Spirits  4:1-6

e.     Love as Christ Loved  4:7-21

Consequences of Fellowship 5:4-21

a.     Victory over the World  5:4-5

b.     Assurance of Salvation   5:6-13

c.     Guidance in Prayer   5:14-17

d.     Freedom from Habitual Sin 5:18-21

1)      The Aroma of Love             Vs. 13-15 '¹³Do not be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates you. ¹⁴We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death. ¹⁵Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him.  

a)      Christian Reality:  Smelly Separated

2 Corinthians 2:14-16  ¹⁴But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. ¹⁵For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. ¹⁶To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life. And who is equal to such a task

Ex. “according to scientists, smell is often called the sense tied most closely to human memory.  It profoundly influences people’s ability recall past events and experiences.”             Lynette Sparks  

b)      Spiritual Reality:  Testy Tension

“The fragrance of God in your life, reminds people of all the things they have done or should have done—“

“The first step on the way to victory is to recognize the enemy.”
Corrie Ten Boom

C)  Emotional Reality:   Christ-like Character

Not get on their level but rise above, not fight back but love back, not lose your faith, but display your faith.  Christ changes your heart to be able to love your enemy. Real Hate (The kind that allows one to kill another’s reputation, or take away their life) is a sign that your heart is no different from those without Christ.

“Forgiveness is an act of the will, and the will can function regardless of the temperature of the heart.”
Corrie Ten Boom

The Way of Love            Vs. 16-20 ¹⁶This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.

1)     ¹⁷If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? ¹⁸Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. ¹⁹This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence ²⁰whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.

a)      Love is an Attitude:  Vs.16

1)   World Attitude: Look at me, look out for me, I’m important.  Heart’s hunger: on a quest to find a cause that is worth living for---greater than me…

2)  Christian Attitude:  Look to Christ, look out for others, He is important, Heart’s hunger:  on a quest to help others find the greatest reason for living—greater than all.

b)      Love is an Action: Vs. 18-20

1)     Our actions mature….

Duty—Biblical Creed---As a person, I am concerned for others…

          Donation---Cause of Christ—as a disciple, I am crucified with Christ…

                    Devotion---Cross of Christ---as a Child, all I do is for Him, He is sovereign and I am not, He may use me, he may not, people may that me, but I choose to love them, why? Because he loves them…I belong….

2)     The Security of Love             Vs. 21-24 ²¹Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God ²²and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him. ²³And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. ²⁴Those who obey his commands live in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.

a)     Definition: Confidence= Trust or faith in a person or thing. 2. A trusting relationship:

“It’s not about perfection, it’s about perception”   James 3  We all stumble in many ways

a)     Clarification; Salvation

Ephesians 2:9 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ⁹not by works, so that no one can boast.

Confidence arises out of the fact that He chose us; we did not chose Him, even our ability to accept Him as Lord is given to us. Because he called us, wooed us, and died for us, He must believe in me, this because He died for me, I can live for Him.  

b)      Illumination: Sanctification

Philippians 2:   ¹²Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, ¹³for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.

We are not finished products!  Until we are in heaven, we will always battle:  Satan, and our sinful flesh, and the sin-filled world in which we live.  But its not a lost cause. 

Little by little in every way, little by little in every way, I am becoming more like Jesus --                  Gram Edwards

c)      Exaltation: Realization We know it by the Spirit he gave us  

Jesus to Nicodemus: You must be born again…

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                                       One Plus One =? Notes from 2/14/10

Acts 3:1-10

 Introduction

 "The world is yet to see what God will do with and for and through and in and by the man who is fully consecrated to God!"

 -- Henry Varley

 What type of a person does God use to bless others?

 1. People who are doing the right things v. 1

 2. People who are willing to be interrupted vs. 2-3

 "Interruptions can be viewed as sources of irritation or opportunities for service, as moments lost or experience gained, as time wasted or horizons widened.  They can annoy us or enrich us, get under our skin or give us a shot in the arm, monopolize our minutes or spice our schedules, depending on our attitude toward them."

-- William A. Ward

 3. People who pay attention to needs v. 4

 Givers are not people with less needs than others.  They are people who believe it is more blessed to give than receive.

 4. People who inspire hope in others vs. 4-5

             How to have "charisma"  -- Be more concerned about making others feel good about themselves than you are in making them feel good about you.

 5. People who use what they have v. 6

             Givers always look for a way to give.

 6. People who realize their source of getting is God v. 6

             Peter and John realized:

             God's   Power - His ability to give.

            God's  Provision - His willingness to give.

             God's Partnership - His reason to give.

 There is not a significant event since creation that God has brought to pass without the assistance of man.

 Partnership}            God Supplies

                        Man Shares

 Partnership}            God is the Creator

                   Man is the Channel

 Partnership}            God Pours it in

                        Man Pass in on

 We are in trouble when we feel...

 (1)   Independent   We are the source and supply.

             (2) Inadequate - There is no source and supply.

 7 .People who are willing to try and trust God to do the rest vs. 7-10

             Giving contains a lot of faith in God.

 8. Peopel who want God to receive the Glory!  vs. 11-12

 God gave through Peter and John because they were willing to give what they had.  How about us?

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If God Owns It All, What Am I Doing With It? Matthew 25:14-30 -notes from 1/31/10 & 2/7/10

Biblical Principles of Money Management

1. God owns it all _____________________ vs. 14-19

Implications:

(1) God has the right to do whatever He wants with the possessions that He’s given me

The owner has Right .

The steward has the Responsibility .

(2) Stewardship is the use of God Given Resources’ for the accomplishment of God Given goals

2. Every Spending decision is a spiritual decision vs. 20-23

Ron Blue says: "You can't fake stewardship. Your checkbook reveals all that you really believe about stewardship. A life story could be written from a checkbook. It reflects your goals, priorities, convictions, relationships, and even the use of your time. A person who has been a Christian for even a short while can fake prayer, Bible study, evangelism, going to church, and so on, but he can't fake what his checkbook reveals."

(1) Money and possessions are a very effective

Tools that God uses in our lives.

Two Responses During a Major Financial Change:

Mature Believer - "God, what do you want me to learn?

Immature Believer - "God, why are you doing this to me?"

(2) Money and possessions are a very effective

Tests that God uses in our lives.

"So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else's property, who will give you property of your own?" Luke 16:11-12

(3) Money and possessions are a very effective

Testimony that God uses in our lives.

Too many live for the world that is Temporal instead of the world that is Eternal.

3. The amount is not important vs. 21-23

The amount you have is unimportant to God, but how you handle what you have been entrusted with is very important.

4. Stewardship requires action vs. 24-30

The wicked slave knew what to do, but he did nothing. Many of us know what to do but we disobey or delay. Today we have a chance to change this.

If God Owns It All...What Am I Doing With It?

Today we have learned that God owns EVERYTHING. Our willingness to tithe certainly is a contradiction to this truth. The Lord spoke through Moses and said, "The tithe... is the Lord's!" (Leviticus 27:30) Exclamation point -- not a question mark.

That statement means that 10% of our income should be given each week, or each month to the work of the Lord through His church. The other 90% should also be managed wisely.

Five Biblical Reasons Every Christian Should Be a Tither

1. OBEDIENCE Genesis 14:20 tells us that Abraham tithed before the Law was given by Moses at Sinai.

Malachi 3:10 summarizes what the Law required. Everyone was required to tithe everything they had.

Matthew 23:23 shows us that our Lord Jesus recommended everyone to tithe.

I Corinthians 16:2 indicates that tithing is still a part of God's expectations from His children.

2. HONESTY In Malachi 3:8-10 the Bible teaches that if we do not tithe, we are robbing God! Isn't it unthinkable that a Christian would steal from anyone--much less his God? We must continually remind ourselves that we do not give the tithe we simply return it! It already belongs to God. 3. LOVE In John 14:15 Jesus said, "If you love me, keep my commandments." Nothing will loosen the purse strings like good, old fashioned Christian love! We give the best gifts to those we love!

4. GRATITUDE In Psalm 116:12-14 the Lord reminds us that since we have received so much, we should respond by giving much! We have received God's Son, His salvation, His presence, His blessings and we will receive His Heaven... How can we think of giving him less than a tithe?

5. FAITH God has promised a blessing to those who are faithful in the Stewardship of Giving! See Malachi 3:10-11; Proverbs 3:9-10; Matthew 6:33; Luke 6:38. Faith in God's promises is reflected by obedience to His Word!

REQUIREMENT "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse..."

RESPONSE "...and test me now in this..."

REWARD "...open for you the windows of heaven, and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows." (Malachi 3:10) My Response --

My commitment to tithe is based upon the following truths: 1. God owns everything (my tithe is returned, not given). 2. God expects me to tithe (Malachi 3:10). 3. God promises to meet the needs of a faithful steward (tithing is an issue of trust).

Therefore, I commit the first 10% of my income to the Lord through this church.

‘ I will begin tithing ‘ I already tithe

Name ___________________________________________

City, State, Zip ____________________________________

Giving Number ______________

(Answers: God owns it all, God has the right to do whatever He wants with the possessions that He’s given me, the rights, the responsibility, God given resources to accomplish God given goals, Every Spending decision is a spiritual decision, tools, Mature Believer, Immature Believer, Tests, testimony, The amount is not important, Stewardship requires action)

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Poverty or Prosperity -- notes from 1/24/10

Which is Biblically Correct?

Matthew 6:24

I John 2:15

"Do not love the world, nor the things in the world.  If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him."

 III John 2

"Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers."

 "Serve" _________                   to be a slave________________

 "Master"            ___________absolute ownership_________

 Three words describe the owner/slave relationship:

             1.         _________Choice___________________________

             2.         __________Control_________________________

             3.         ___________Confidence_____________________

 No test of our true character is more conclusive than how we spend our time and our money.

 The _Calendar and the Checkbook = Reflections of our priorities.

 ___Materialism —The theory that physical well-being and worldly possessions constitute the highest value and greatest good in life.

Range Of Theological Perspectives of Prosperity

____________________________________________

 Poverty Theology                    Stewardship Theology                   Prosperity Theology

  Observations:

            1.            _Each Perspective has verses to support it________

             2.            _We pick a position, usually based on our experience or desire

                                    Three Perspectives Contrasted

The Problems With a Poverty Theology:

             1.            _There is an assumption that anyone doing well financially must be doing something dishonest.

             2.            _It exaggerates to role of sacrificial work

             3.            _They are extremely naïve___________________

             4.            __It can become a manipulative lifestyle________

  The Problems With a Prosperity Theology:

             1.            _Prosperity is a sign of God’s Approval___________

             2.            _It produces guilt____________________________

             3.            _It creates wrong motives_____________________

 The Difference Between Seed Planting and Tithing:

             Tithing is __Initiated by God_________________________

            Seed planting is __Initiated by Man ___________________

            Tithing deals with what you ___Have__________________

            Seed planting deals with what you ___Want____________

 Financially blessed Christians often fall for one or more of these errors:

             1.            _They take credit for prosperity__________________

             2.            __Ingratitude________________________________

             3.            _  Guilt_____________________________________

             4.            __Dependence upon prosperity_________________

  Am I Faithful to God in My:          Time?               ________

                                                 Talents?            ________

                                                 Tithe?               ________

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“The Benefits of Lifestyle Stewardship-II” notes from 1/17/10

 Stewardship Messages:

1.     The Benefits of Lifestyle Stewardship Part 1

2.     The Benefits of Lifestyle Stewardship Part 2

3.     Poverty or Posterity; which is it?

4.     If God owns it, why do I have it?

5.     One Plus One =?

How to develop a Lifestyle of Giving

1.     Totally give yourself to God

2.     Learn the benefits of biblical giving

3.    Apply those principles to our lives

1.     You must ask God to provide and meet the Needs we have …

2.    If you and I are going to receive what God has for us, we must be generous in our giving. 

14 Benefits of Lifestyle Giving—John Maxwell

1.       It puts material wealth into a biblical perspective  Matt. 6:33

"But see ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."

God has never promised He will give us more than we need.  However, He has promised to give us what we need.

2. It teaches us that giving should not be separated from behavior

Matt. 5:23,24

"...first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift."

The test of our stewardship is not what our money is doing for us, but what our money is doing to us.

3.       It is the key test of spiritual commitment  Luke 16:11

"If you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven?"

A checkbook is a theological document.  It indicates who and what we worship.

4.       It protects against financial enslavement  Matt. 6:24

"You cannot serve two masters:  God and money.  For you will hate one and love the other, or else the other way around."

5.       It gives me victory over materialism   I Tim. 16:17-19

"Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all the things to enjoy.  Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed."

Each time we give it breaks the materialism syndrome of "I've got to have more."

6.       It strengthens my faith   Malachi 3:10

"'Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this,' says the Lord of hosts, 'if I will not open for you the windows of heaven, and pour out for you a blessing until there is no more need.'"

7.       It makes me happy    I Chron. 29:9

"Then the people rejoiced because they had offered so willingly, for they made their offering to the Lord with a whole heart, and King David also rejoiced greatly."

8.       It blesses me in return   Luke 6:38

"Give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, they will pour into your lap.  For whatever measure you deal out to others, it will be dealt to you in return."

9.       It keeps me from losing my assets and my abilities Luke 16:1-2

"Now He was also saying to the disciples, "There was a certain rich man who had a steward, and this steward was reported to him as squandering his possessions.  And he called him and said to him, 'What is this I hear about you?  Give an account of your stewardship for you can no longer be steward.'"

          God will give to us what He knows will flow through us.

10.     It’s the proof of my love  II Cor. 8:7-8

"But just as you abound in everything, in faith and utterance and knowledge and in all earnestness and in the love we inspired to you, see that you abound in this gracious work also.  I am not speaking this as a command, but as proving through the earnestness of others the sincerity of your love also."

We can give without loving but we cannot love without giving.

11.     It focuses on the eternal rather than the temporal     Matt. 6:19

"Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth... But lay up treasures in heaven."

12.     It will bring right recognition from the body of Christ Phil 2:29

"Welcome him back in the Lord with great joy and honor men like him."

13.     It will bring right recognition from God  Mark 12:43-44

"I tell you the truth, 'He said, 'this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others.  They all gave out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty, put in everything -- all she had to live on.'"

14.     It makes me more like God  John 3:16

          "For God so loved the world that He gave..."

                   "There are two kinds of people on earth today,

                   Just two kinds of people, no more, I say.

                   Not the good and the bad, for 'tis well understood

                   That the good are half-bad and the bad half-good

                   Not the two kinds of people on earth I mean

                   Are the people who lift and the people who lean."

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“The Benefits of Lifestyle Evangelism”  notes from 1/10/10

5 Stewardship Messages:

1.      The Benefits of lifestyle Evangelism Part 1

2.     The Benefits of Lifestyle Evangelism Part 2

3.     Poverty or Posterity; which is it?

4.     If God owns it, why do I have it?

5.     One Plus One =?

Luke 6:27-38

"But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, ²⁸bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. ²⁹If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. ³⁰Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. ³¹Do to others as you would have them do to you.  ³²"If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' love those who love them. ³³And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' do that. ³⁴And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' lend to 'sinners,' expecting to be repaid in full. ³⁵But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. ³⁶Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.  ³⁷"Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. ³⁸Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."

Observations

1.     This behavior is to be our lifestyle

2.     This behavior sets us apart from the world (32-34)

3.     This behavior is modeled after our Heavenly Father (vs.36)

4.     This behavior will reap many benefits ( 35, 37-38)

How to develop a Lifestyle of Giving

 1.     Totally give yourself to God

 Story:   Fries

a.      Where they came from…

b.     I can take them…

c.      I can overwhelm him…

d.     I can get my own…What I really wanted was for Him to be willing to share what I already had given …

2.     Learn the benefits of biblical giving

Source: God’s Word

 3.    Apply those principles to our lives

Search: Concordance

a.      Believe  272 x

b.     Prayer    371x

c.      Love       714x

d.     Giving     2,162 x

3x more than love, 7x more than prayer, eight times more than belief.  You’ll find that giving and being a giver is peppered throughout the Bible from beginning to end.  God wants us to understand that we are to be givers in life.  One thing is clear; God wants to provide us with the necessities in life.  That’s a fact.  God desires to take care of your needs and my needs.  For God to take care of our physical and financial needs there are two things we must do: 

 1.     You must ask God to provide and meet the Needs we have …

2.    If you and I are going to receive what God has for us, we must be generous in our giving. 

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“In the Arms of an Angel” notes for 1/3/10

Hebrews 1:14 Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?

Ex.  “Angel”                                        Sarah McLachlan

I.                   Angel Angles:

1.    219 References to angels in scriptures.

2.      Most imply: Heavenly Beings on a Human Mission.  Some Imply:  Human Beings on a Heavenly Mission (Acts 12: Peter in Jail; Rev. 2: All the churches addressed to “angels” (pastors, overseers, elders, deacons)   Are not all angels…To have a heart of an angel in ministry is completely possible…It really is the heart issue that enables the arms issue!

II.                 Our “Ministering Spirits:”  

1.    Deacons (1 Timothy 3) Compassion and Sympathy, Mercy; Lord’s Heart and Hands

2.    Elders (Titus 1)  Organization and Symmetry, Mission; Lord’s Message and Method

III.              4 Valves of an Angel’s heart—How to see oneself as a Ministering Spirit serving those who will inherit salvation  (Elder/Deacon) 

1.    Position of Privilege: Heavenly Mission; Good in the sight of God

1 Cor. 12 ²⁷Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. ²⁸And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues

                a. God is in the business of building up His Church

          b. Whom God call Calls, He equips:  Whom God equips, He places; Whom God places He blesses to do, but more to become….Like Jesus is his plan for you.

1.    Post of Prestige:  Human Mission: Good in the sight of the People

Titus 1 ^5-9I left you in charge in Crete so you could complete what I left half-done. Appoint leaders in every town according to my instructions. As you select them, ask, "Is this man well-thought-of? Is he committed to his wife? Are his children believers? Do they respect him and stay out of trouble?" It's important that a church leader, responsible for the affairs in God's house, be looked up to—not pushy, not short-tempered, not a drunk, not a bully, not money-hungry. He must welcome people, be helpful, wise, fair, reverent, have a good grip on himself, and have a good grip on the Message, knowing how to use the truth to either spur people on in knowledge or stop them in their tracks if they oppose it.

a.     Committed to Family, Committed to Kindness, Committed to Justice, Committed to Christ=Being and Acting Shows your commitment to God, but more, your showing off God allows others to make a commitment.

2.    Purpose of Preparation:  Honored Mission: A Plan for God’s People 

Hebrews 1:14 Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?

a.     Are people making their way around the bases? Base of Membership, Base of Maturity, Base of Ministry, Base of Mission;  A Plan for God’s People 

3.    Place of Passion:  Hero’s Mission: a Passion for God’s People  

Col 3: 17 ¹⁷And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Matt.22 ³⁷Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'

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“The Way of Jesus”  notes on 12/27/09

Matthew 28:16-20  ¹⁶Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. ¹⁷When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. ¹⁸Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in^[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

I.                  Full time Commitment—Jesus

a.    4 seasons of Jesus life complete: Born, Lived, Died, Resurrected

b.    Great Commission: “I did my part, now its time you do yours…”

c.     2009—Another year has passed; 4 seasons come and gone, now what? 

II.              Full Time life Commitment—the local Church

a.    Our part of carrying on Jesus work:

1.      Therefore go…Relational Evangelism

2.      make disciples—Intentional Discipleship

3.      baptizing them—Familial Fellowship

4.      teaching them to obey everything—Critical Partnership

b.    Great Communion: “God is most glorified in me, when I am most satisfied in Him.”

Full Time Vocational Commitment—the Universal Church

a.    Pray—Luke 22:  yet not my will, but yours be done."

b. Assess—Matthew 6  ²⁵"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? ²⁶Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? ²⁷Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life^[b]?  ²⁸"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. ²⁹Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. ³⁰If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? ³¹So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' ³²For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. ³³But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

c.     Offer-- Rom 12: ¹Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual^[a] act of worship. ²Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.  

d.    Step Out—James 4 ¹⁴Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. ¹⁵Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that."

e. Great Collaboration: Romans 10 ¹³for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." ¹⁴How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? ¹⁵And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"

IV.  Hand it Over…

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“The Joy of Jesus” notes on 12/20/09

Matthew 2  ¹After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi^[a] from the east came to Jerusalem ²and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east^[b] and have come to worship him."  ³When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. ⁴When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ^[c] was to be born. ⁵"In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written:
 ⁶" 'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,  are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler  who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.'^[d]"  ⁷Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. ⁸He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him."  ⁹After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east^[e] went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. ¹⁰When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. ¹¹On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. ¹²And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

I.                  Cradle characters—supporting cast of 6

a.    Joseph:  Confused He was a working class; blue collar guy. A carpenter who we know little about and disappears from the story of Christ early on.  Thought to have passed away.  Confused because of the circumstances of Mary’s pregnancy, the dream concerning the baby’s birth. Still, at the cradle His Confusion gave way to joy.  A Boy!

b.    Mary:  Wonder  She was the innocent teen; so much time ahead.  She would stay by Jesus side all of His life and eventually live with John the Apostle.  Wonder because her life was not going to go like she had planned, but  it was heaven directed.  Still, at the cradle her wonder gave way to joy.  A Son!

Shepherds: Amazed  They were the underemployed of the day.  Publically

a.    ostracized.  Amazed because they knew so much of the wonder of creation, but personally knew so little of the Creator of the creation.  Still, at the cradle their amazement gave way to joy. A Baby!

b.    Heavenly Host:  Alarmed  These were heavenly beings delegated with an earthy mission.  Alarmed because they understood the fragility and the danger of sending God’s one and only Son into a world that  was subject to sickness, pain, and death—all that were never present in their heavenly abode.  Still, at the cradle alarm gave forth to joy.  A Savior!

c.     Magi:  Excited  These three Persian Holy Men or wise men or kings, were Priests by  trade and astronomers by training.  Excited because of the ancient prophecies they saw unfolding before them, the starry Light guiding their path.  Still, at the cradle excitement gave way to joy.  A King!    

d.    Herod: Fearful   Known as the madman who killed family and friends to preserve his rule.  Would later order the slaughter of scores of babies in His quest to silence those who said a new King was born.  Fearful, of the unknown. Fearful of losing control.  Fearful of life.   If only He had made his way to the cradle…if only he would have given Jesus a chance.  If only…if only  

Cradle Characters

I.                  —2 main characters

a.    Jesus  Joyful 

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“The Name of Jesus” notes on 12/13/09

Luke 1:26-32  ²⁶In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, ²⁷to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. ²⁸The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you."  ²⁹Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. ³⁰But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. ³¹You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. ³²He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David,

I.                  His Familiar Name: God, Lord, Word, Messiah, Alpha & Omega, Savoir, Redeemer, Light of the World, Lamb of God, Ruler of Creation, Mediator, Bread of Life, but to Mary…Jesus

EX.  Jesus, there is something about that Name.  Bill Gaither

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,

There’s Just something about that Name

Master, Savoir, Jesus,

Like the fragrance after the Rain.

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus

Let all heaven and earth proclaim,

King s and Kingdoms

Will All Pass away

But there’s something about that Name!

II.              His Family Name

Ιησούς Χριστός  __________  __________

III. His Fundamental Name Isaiah 9:6 ⁶ For to us a child is born,
       to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.

a)        For to us a child is born….He is a Man, not a Myth (Fully Man)

b)        to us a son is given…bequeathed to beseech  (Fully God)

c)        and the government will be on his shoulders. Invisible Kingdom in the midst of all the visible kingdoms… (Fully King)

½ Verse teaches us that this One named Jesus, is the God-man, sent by God the Father, to plead with all who would listen and accept, to become a part of a Kingdom that indeed is eternal and Unshakable. 

EX.  Unshakable Kingdom                  Sandi Patti
      

IV. His Fantastic Name   And he will be called
       Wonderful Counselor,  Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

a)     Wonderful…Pele….Marvelous; most marvelous

b)     Counselor…Ya’ats….Advisor, Guide, Way

c)     Mighty God…Gibbor El….All Poweful warrior, the incredible Valiant One God above all gods….

d)     Everlasting Father…Ad. Ab…for perpetuity (time without end) leteral and immediate Father

e)     Prince of Peace…Sar. Shalom…Head, captain, general, guardian, Keeper, Lord, master, principle Ruler, Steward,

½ verse teaches us that this One named Jesus, offers to become to us and for us, a great and wonderful Guide for all of our lives; doing so as one that Guards and fights for us, as a Father, as a Captain, as One who can only give to us a peace that will last. 

His Favorite Name ________________. 

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“Devil made me do it….”  notes on 11/29/09 

Part I: The Basis of Fellowship (1:1-2:27)

I.                   Introduction 1:1-4

II.                The Conditions for Fellowship (1:5-2:14)

a.      Walk in the Light  1:5-7

b.      Confession of Sin 1:8-12

c.      Obedience to His commands 2:3-6

d.      Love for One another 2:7-14

III.             The Cautions of Fellowship 2:15-27

a.      Love of the World 2:15-17

b.      Spirit of the Anti-Christ 2:18-27

Part II: The Behavior of Fellowship (2:28-5-21)

I.                   Characteristics of Fellowship 2:28-5:3

a.     Purity in Life 2:28-3:3

b.     Practice of Righteousness   3:4-12

1 John 3:4-12 ⁴Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness. ⁵But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin. ⁶No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him.  ⁷Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. He who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. ⁸He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work. ⁹No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God. ¹⁰This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother.  ¹¹This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. ¹²Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother's were righteous.

Last sermon, John taught us about purity: the reason we strive to remain pure is for others…now he moves on as he cautions us and our fellowship against our  collective, real stumbling block: sin.  Sin obscures our purity.

I.                 A Ceded        Condition ⁴Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness

A.     A Human Definition—Romans 3:23 ²³for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

1.      It is Inherited

2.      It is Innate

3.      It is Irritating

B.  A Theological Definition:  From the nature of sin and the intrinsic evil of it. It is a contrariety to the divine law: Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also (or even) the law (or, whosoever committeth sin even committeth enormity, or aberration from law, or from the law); for sin is the transgression of the law, or is lawlessness, v. 4. Sin is the destitution or privation of correspondence and agreement with the divine law, that law which is the transcript of the divine nature and purity, which contains his will for the government of the world, which is suitable to the rational nature, and enacted for the good of the world, which shows man the way of felicity and peace, and conducts him to the author of his nature and of the law. The current commission of sin now is the rejection of the divine law, and this is the rejection of the divine authority, and consequently of God himself.                                         --Matthew Henry

1.  We are influenced from Within=Flesh

2.  We are influenced from Above=Satan

3.  We are influenced from Around= World

C. A Practical Definition:  We simply choose to do things that we should not and choose not to do things that we should. 

II.  A Cosmic Battle . ⁵But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin. ⁶No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him.  ⁷Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. He who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. ⁸He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work. ⁹No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God.

a.      There is a battle Above:  Both want us to listen to their plea to “follow me…”

1.      Savoir (Jesus) Do what is right…

2.      Satan (Devil) Do what you want…

Real Question is: Who’s your Daddy? 

        b. There is a battle Within: Romans 8 ¹⁵I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. ¹⁶And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. ¹⁷As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. ¹⁸I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature.^[c] For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. ¹⁹For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. ²⁰Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.  ²¹So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. ²²For in my inner being I delight in God's law; ²³but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. ²⁴What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? ²⁵Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!

Real Question is: ⁹No one who is born of God will continue to sin,

Facts: 1) Every sin can be forgiven 2) We will always struggle with certain sins 3) We should be striving to be delivered from certain sins 4) It’s a lifelong process.  5)  Its both attitude and action that counts. 

III.  A Certain Success ¹⁰This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother.  ¹¹This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. ¹²Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother's were righteous.

a.    An Attitude  toward others: John 13  ³⁴"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. ³⁵By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

b.    An Awareness of self:

Original Humanity                       Fallen Humanity

Saved Humanity                         Maturing Humanity

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“Making Right Choices”  notes on 11/15/09

We left off last week talking about anti-Christ’s, now that we are aware we can prepare to live a truly Christian life…

1 John 2:28-3:3 ²⁸And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming.  ²⁹If you know that he is righteous, you know that everyone who does what is right has been born of him.  ¹How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. ²Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears,^[a]we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. ³Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure.

Part I: The Basis of Fellowship (1:1-2:27)

I.                   Introduction 1:1-4

II.                The Conditions for Fellowship (1:5-2:14)

a.      Walk in the Light  1:5-7

b.      Confession of Sin 1:8-12

c.      Obedience to His commands 2:3-6

d.      Love for One another 2:7-14

III.             The Cautions of Fellowship (2:15-27)

a.      Love of the World 2:15-17

b.      Spirit of the Anti-Christ 2:18-27

Part II: The Behavior of Fellowship (2:28-5-21)

I.                   Characteristics of Fellowship 2:28-5:3

a.     Purity in Life 2:28-3:3

Born to Be Born- Anew.  ²⁸And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming.  ²⁹If you know that he is righteous, you know that everyone who does what is right has been born of him.

a.     Be Accepting of Baby Christians—1 Corinthians 3:1-3

 ¹Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly—mere infants in Christ. ²I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. ³You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men?

1.  We all were physical babies at one time

2.  We all were spiritual babies at one time

3.  We all are supposed to grow to maturity.

4.  Not all do…why?

a.      Poor Leadership—Equip the Saints

b.      Pesky Laziness-neglect the Word

c.      Pitiful Lethargy—reject the Responsibility  

God’s Goal is for us to help one another to grow in grace…

b. Be Admonishing to Carnal Christians—Romans 8:5-7 ⁵For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.  ⁶For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.  ⁷Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

1.  As a Non-believer, we are influenced more by our carnal (base, lower) Nature

2.  As a Believer, we are to be influenced more by our Spiritual (higher) Nature.

3.  To do both is to be carnally—minded; immature, lukewarm, lacking in joy, conviction, and purpose.  Some use this dysfunction in leadership positions in the church-wreak havoc

God’s Goal is for us to encourage one another to grow…

c. Be Appreciative of Maturing Christians—Ephesians 4:11-14

¹¹It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, ¹²to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up ¹³until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.  ¹⁴Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.

                1.  What is maturity?  Jesus put it this way…¹³Those on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. ¹⁴The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life's worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. ¹⁵But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop. FRUITFULNESS

God’s Goal is for us to grow to be fruit inspectors and fruit producers…

I.                  Born below to Live-Above  ¹How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. ²Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears,^[a]we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is

EX.  The truth about eyeballs   Hebrews 12:2 ²Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

                                                            1.      Eschatological Hope

                                                            2.      Escalating Joy

                                                            3.      Entertaining Life

John 10:9-11 ⁹I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.^[a] He will come in and go out, and find pasture. ¹⁰The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.  ¹¹"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

                                                            1.      Ever-Increasing Priorities  

He died for me, the real question is, will I live for Him. 

II.              Born to Decide to Decide. ³Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure.

                                                            1.      Reconcile our Past

                                                            2.      Recognize our Propensities

                                                            3.      Rekindle our Passion

It’s not about perfection but purity…its not so much a question of how as why…

EX.  Thank You.   

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“Anti-up Your Understanding” notes on 11/8/09

Part I: The Basis  of Fellowship (1:1-2:27)

I.                   Introduction 1:1-4

II.                The Conditions for Fellowship (1:5-2:14)

a.      Walk in the Light  1:5-7

b.      Confession of Sin 1:8-22

c.      Obedience to His commands 2:3-6

d.      Love for One another 2:7-14

III.             The Cautions of Fellowship 2:15-27

a.      Love of the World 2:15-17

b.     Spirit of the Anti-Christ 2:18-27

1.  Forming Mystic Confusion

¹⁸Children, time is just about up. You heard that Antichrist is coming. Well, they're all over the place, antichrists everywhere you look. That's how we know that we're close to the end.  ¹⁹They left us, but they were never really with us. If they had been, they would have stuck it out with us, loyal to the end. In leaving, they showed their true colors, showed they never did belong

The Gospel needs more heart knowledge...cannot be that narrow

Pluralism-- a term used to describe the acceptance of all religious paths as equally valid, promoting coexistence—(Accept)

Universalism-- In Christianity Universalism is the belief that all people will, eventually, be saved and reconciled to God. It generally accepts the idea of a real heaven, but denies the existence of an eternal Hell. (Deny)

Syncretism- attempt to combine teachings and doctrines from different and apparently divergent traditions, for example Roman Catholicism and Protestantism, or from Christianity and Buddhism. (Include)  

Gnosticism -- teaching that humans are divine souls trapped in a material world created by an imperfect god.  We all have a spark of the Divine. Denies the goodness of creation and the humanity of Jesus. (Delay)

2.  Forming Classic Cults

^20-21But you belong. The Holy One anointed you, and you all know it. I haven't been writing this to tell you something you don't know, but to confirm the truth you do know, and to remind you that the truth doesn't breed lies.  ^22-23So who is lying here? It's the person who denies that Jesus is the Divine Christ, that's who. This is what makes an antichrist: denying the Father, denying the Son. No one who denies the Son has any part with the Father, but affirming the Son is an embrace of the Father as well.

The Gospel needs more head knowledge…cannot be that simple

Religious Cults: The Popular View
What exactly are religious