Redeeming the time
3/17/2020
Ephesians 5:15-16
15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,
16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.
Taking advantage of mandatory time home
Look for the opportunities we have.
Name three or four
1. See diversity in family giftings recognized and celebrated.
2.See families reconnect spiritually by intentionally including God and prayer into the family routine.
3.See spiritual leadership in the home identified.
4. See the Church respond in creative ways to stand by the families who have stood by her.
If God would help me, I would like to:
1. Impact my family for Christ
2. See my family moved to a closer walk with the Lord
3. Experience a fresh word from God in my own life
4. Help fuel a revival in this generation
5. Help equip others in their walk with God
Think about what it would take to see these things become a reality.
1. Develop a plan
2. Work the plan
Identify this season in our lives.
1. We are encouraged to stay home as much as possible
2. Depending on your age you may be staying home more than others if so a focused energy for our families in prayer could be the difference they need.
3. If you're younger and have a family, you may be keeping them close to you, so your level of influence is really high right now.
Prioritize this season in your life.
Using my example of 4 things I have identified as opportunities I must reprioritize them if they will bring the needed results.
Number 3 must be moved to number 1, and so on with each affecting the other.
1. Experience a fresh word from God in my own life.
2. Impact my family for Christ.
3. See my family moved to a closer walk with the Lord.
4. Help equip others in their walk with God.
5. Help fuel a revival in this generation.
Plan and schedule your day and sleep pattern
Determine not to drift and waste the opportunities we have.
Develop a structure and routine in your home that includes:
1. Mealtime and a family devotion,
2. Mandatory personal quiet time for prayer.
3. At the supper meal simply ask questions with curiosity.
Example… Ask each one what was the worst thing that happened to you today. Followed by what was the best thing that happened to
you.
4. Give time for family feedback at the end of each day and evaluate your productivity. Set new goals for the coming day.
5. At the close of the day have a family meeting where you open the floor for each one to share a prayer request and pray together.
If we are intentional in structure and routine in our homes during the next few weeks it could change our families forever.
Finish The Race
12/29/19
2 Timothy 4:7 (ESV)
6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come.
7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
8 Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.
Fight the fight - engage
Finish the race - focus
Keep the faith - protect
What do we fight ?
The enemy
Personal worldview
The environment around us
Where do we run ?
In our minds
Against perceived limitations
The reality of real life
It’s personal, it’s real !
The reason Christ came
The Christ who empowers
The Christ within
Repeat His Story
12/22/19
Luke 2:11-14
Luke 2:11-14 (ESV)
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
Last week we talked about the influence and power of Cesar Augustus his leadership was both effective and controversial. Uniting Rome after the civil war which followed the murder of Julius Caesar in 44 BC
Augustus initiated an era of relative peace known as the Pax Romana which lasted more than 2 centuries.
Micah 5:2 prophesied Jesus birth in Bethlehem 700 years before he was born. He also said in Micah 5:5 that he (Jesus) would be our peace.
Notice: The peace Jesus offers is relational “he shall be their peace”
Jesus offers peace to man, not just peace around him. More importantly peace in him.
Peace does not have to be elusive, but it is experienced when “Jesus has become our peace”.
Even the pagans of the first century world sensed the need for peace and a savior.
Epictetus, a first century pagan writer, expressed this: “While the emperor may give peace from war on land and sea, he is unable to give peace from passion, grief, and envy; he cannot give peace of heart, for which man yearn for more than even outward peace.”
If you could have peace inside of you right now would you want it?
Are you aware of the offer of peace we have in Jesus Christ?
The appearance of angles a heavenly host announced the messiah to Shepherds in the field who themselves were not on the who's who list of the most influential people of the day. Shepard’s because of their work and nomad lives did not keep the ceremonial purification so their testimony in Jewish court was not respected.
There is nowhere in history or in the Bible that the names of the Shepherds are recorded. These shepherds of sheep represent the countless ordinary people who faithfully fulfill life’s daily duties, and who are often taken for granted, unnoticed and unappreciated. Yet to those who quiet themselves and are aware of the rhythm of God these have been commissioned, empowered and privileged to retell his story. sharing his love, rehearsing his grace and his mercy to men and women, boys and girls. The Christmas message is about the savior. His name is Jesus, his life is the gift, his love was the reason. Repeat his story, repeat his story, tell it over and over and over again. Repeat his story!
Unto us a savior is born
12/15/19
Luke 2:11
Luke 2: 8-14 (ESV)
8 And in the same region there wereshepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the
highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom he is
pleased!”
Retell His Story Celebrate Jesus
Luke chapters 1-24
Luke describes how God’s Son entered human history. Jesus lived as a perfect example of a human. Jesus lived out a perfect ministry and provided a perfect sacrifice for our sin so we could be saved.
Jesus is our perfect leader and savior. He offers forgiveness to all who will accept him as Lord of their lives and believe that what he says is true.
Luke chapters 1-7 There are at least 14 direct references to the work and influence of the Holy Spirit and the establishment of Jesus as the Son of God.
Luke chapters 1-4 There are 7 direct references to the Holy Spirit interacting with man to equip or confirm the coming and purpose of Jesus Christ as God’s Son with a holy mandate from God to man.
The supernatural connect from God to man through the Holy Spirit places mankind in the center of God’s plan and purpose for the Coming of Jesus Christ as our savior.
We have been invited to participate in to 2 specific areas of engagement with God this month that will serve and prepare us for the coming year and help us embrace the purpose of God for our lives.
1st. To pray intentionally:
· Beginning with our family members and special concerns.
2nd To read the book of Luke this month:
· Reading 1 chapter each day correlating the day of the month with the chapter we read.
When we embrace who we are in Christ, engage our faith in relationship with Christ and discipline our priorities around Christ we enjoy the fellowship and promise of Christ.
To be spiritually productive is not vanity, to be spiritually productive embraces who we are and who we are meant to be.
If you are experienced in the Lord or brand new in Jesus by embracing the Word of God and prayer as the one two connection with God, we can finish this year strong and enter the new year open to miraculous personal purpose and spiritual growth in Christ.
“He saved us”
Titus 3:4-7
Titus 3:4-7 (ESV)
4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared,
5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,
6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior,
7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
1 sentence = 4 verses = 1 appearing = 4 questions = 9 principles = 1 outcome
Question:
Truth, us and the Words of God.
Message 10/20/19
Point 1
Matthew 6:25 (ESV)
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?
Point 1:
God sees us completely
Jesus wants us to see past the obvious and understand that past the surface, the skin of what demands our attention, hidden inside of us there is a truth. A truth covered up. More than a truth, the truth about who God created us to be and what God designed us to do.
Even though it’s difficult for us to see ourselves as being more than meets the eye, God has never forgotten why he created us and the purpose for which we are created. God see us completely.
Now and then we have glimpses of God and his purpose for us:
Psalm 139:1-6 (ESV)
139 O Lord, you have searched me and known me!
2 You know when I sit down and when I rise
up;
you discern my thoughts from afar.
3 You search out my path and my lying down
and are acquainted with all my ways.
4 Even before a word is on my tongue,
behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.
5 You hem me in, behind and before,
and lay your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
it is high; I cannot attain it.
Let’s read more in Palm 139: verses 7-15 Message Bible
Message bible 139:7-15
· Do you see yourself as God sees you?
· In his image and breathtaking.
· Marvelously made.
Did you catch verse 14 in the paraphrased message bible?
“I worship in adoration—what a creation!”
We must see ourselves as God sees us to say “what a creation”
Galatians 2:20 (ESV)
20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Closing thought from the inspired Word of God:
1 John 3:1-3 (ESV)
3 See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
2 Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.
3 And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.
Winning over Temptation
Part 4
Matthew 6:25 (ESV)
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?
Matthew 6:22-23 (ESV)
22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light,
23 but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (ESV)
19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,
20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.
Winning against Temptation
9/29/19
Matthew 4:1-11
Part 1
Focus points:
Matthew 4:1-11 (ESV)
The Temptation of Jesus
4 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
2 And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.
3 And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.”
The response of Jesus lays out the principles of Christian warfare and identifies his tactical battle plan that brings victory as outlined by Jesus who isthe captain of our salvation. Hebrews 2:10
4 But he answered, “It is written,
“‘Man shall not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes from the mouth of
God.’”
The Holy Spirit then and Now
Part 6
Empowerment through the Holy spirit
Empowerment to serve with Godly influence and with understanding
Ezekiel 22:30 (NKJV)
30 So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one.
Mosses hands are lifted: the people are in battle
Exodus 17:12 (NKJV)
David is there not a cause: God is disregarded
29 And David said, “What have I done now? Is[a] there not a cause?”
12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
The whole armor of God:
Ephesians 6:10-11(NKJV)
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.
11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Ephesians 6:13-18 (NKJV)
13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;
18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—
The Holy Spirit then and Now
Part 5
Empowerment through the Holy spirit
Empowerment to serve with Godly influence and with understanding
Acts 3:6-7 (NKJV)
A Lame Man Healed
Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.”
7 And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.
Preaching in Solomon’s Portico
Acts 3:14-16 (NKJV)
14 But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you,
15 and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses.
16 And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.
Matthew 16:13-19 (NKJV)
Peter Confesses Jesus as the Christ
13 When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?”
14 So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets
15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
16 Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
17 Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.
18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.
19 And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
The Holy Spirit Then and Now
Part 3
Empowerment through the Holy spirit
Empowerment to serve with Godly influence and with understanding
Luke 24:45-49 (ESV)
45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures,
46 and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead,
47 and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
48 You are witnesses of these things.
49 And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with powerfrom on high.”
John 17:6-8 (ESV)
6 “I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word.
7 Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you.
8 For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truththat I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me.
Matthew 28:18-20 (ESV)
18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Luke 10:17-23 (ESV)
19 Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you.
Jesus Rejoices in the Father's Will
21 In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.
22 All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”
23 Then turning to the disciples he said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see!
Acts 1:8 (ESV)
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth
The Holy Spirit Then and Now
Part 2
8/11/19
“Empowerment through the Holy Spirit”
The Promise of the Holy Spirit
Acts 1:8 (ESV)
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
1 Corinthians 1:17-19 ______________________________________
Isaiah 29:14 ______________________________________
1 Corinthians 1:20-21 ______________________________________
1 Corinthians 2:1-16
______________________________________
Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit
John 14:15-17 (ESV)
15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.
16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever,
17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.
______________________________________
Bulletin inserts
The Holy Spirit Present Then and Now
Aug 4,2019
Part 1
Over the past few weeks we have looked at scripture about the Holy Spirit.
We have expressed the desire to understand how to be filled and walk in the Holy Spirit.
We have taken responsibility to answer 2 questions:
1st. Our own individual response to the Lord’s directive to receive the Holy Spirit.
2nd. Our collective response to the Lordship of Christ in his church and our submission to His direction through the word of God and the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit and the new testament church:
Acts 1:2(ESV)______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Acts 1:8(ESV)______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Acts 1:16(ESV)______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Acts 2:4(ESV)______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Acts 5:3(ESV)______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Acts 5:32(ESV)______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Acts 7:51(ESV)______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Acts 7:55(ESV)______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Acts 13:2(ESV)______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Acts 13:4(ESV)______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Acts 15:28(ESV)______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Acts 16:6(ESV)______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Acts 20:28(ESV)______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Absolute surrender / Holy communion
“Thank you, Lord, for saving my soul”
1 Corinthians 11:23-26 (NKJV)
23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread;
24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”
25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”
26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.
Luke 22:14-22 (NKJV)
14 When the hour had come, He sat down, and the twelve apostles with Him.
15 Then He said to them, “With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer;
16 for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”
17 Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, “Take this and divide it among yourselves;
18 for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”
19 And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”
20 Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.
21 But behold, the hand of My betrayer is with Me on the table.
22 And truly the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed!”
The Baptism of The Holy Spirit
7/14/19
1.What did John the Baptist promise Jesus would do? Matthew 3:11
_________________________________________________
2.How did Peter describe the Gentiles encounter with the Holy Spirit? Acts 11:15-17
________________________________________________
3.What did Jesus tell his disciples they were to do after He ascended to heaven?
Luke 24:49_______________________________________
Acts1:4-5_________________________________________
4. Read the following five accounts of people who received the Holy Spirit in the book of Acts. How did they receive the Spirit? Describe what happened when the people in these
accounts received God’s Spirit.
Acts 2:1-6________________________________________
Acts 8:14-19______________________________________
Acts 9:17-19______________________________________
Acts 10:44-48_____________________________________
Acts 19:1-6_______________________________________
5. Who does the Father give the Holy Spirit to?
Luke 11:13_______________________________________
Application & Reflection
Have you asked to receive God’s Holy Spirit? What did you learn from this lesson? How will you apply it to your life?
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
Spiritual Gifts
The fruit of the Spirit puts Gods character on display (love, joy, peace, patience, etc.) the gifts of the Spirit put Gods power on display. As his representatives on earth, we need to develop both. The fruit and the gifts of the Spirit were given for the common good-so that each of us can help build up the body of Christ
1. List the spiritual gifts Paul mentions in Romans. Romans 12:6-8
____________________________________________________
2. List the leadership gifts God has placed in the church. Ephesians 4:11-12
____________________________________________________
3. List the &manifestation of the Spirt that are given for the common good.
1 Corinthians 12:4-11
____________________________________________________
4. What attitude should we have regarding spiritual gifts? 1 Corinthians 14:1
____________________________________________________
5. What should be our motivation for desiring and using our spiritual gifts?
1 Corinthians 13:1-2
Read 1 Corinthians 14
6. What does Paul say about the gift of prophecy? 1 Corinthians 14
v. 1 ____________________________________________________
v. 3 ____________________________________________________
v. 4 ____________________________________________________
v. 31 ____________________________________________________
7. What does Paul say about the gift of tongues? 1 Corinthians 14
v. 2 ____________________________________________________
v. 4 ____________________________________________________
v. 5 ____________________________________________________
v. 13 ____________________________________________________
v. 14 ____________________________________________________
v. 15 ____________________________________________________
v. 39-40 ____________________________________________________
8. What are we warned not to do?
1 Thessalonians 5:19-20 ____________________________________________
Ephesians 4:30 _________________________________________________
9. What did Jesus promise would happen to the disciples when the Holy Spirit came on them? Acts 1:8
____________________________________________________
Application & Reflection
Have you experienced the Spirits power in your life? How? What did you learn from this lesson? How will you apply it to your life?
____________________________________________________
Outline from The Purple Book Rice Brooks & Steve Murrell page 44-46
The Fruit of the Spirit
6/23/2019
John 15:1-8
Fruitfulness is an important theme in the Bible. The picture of how a grapevine maintained is at the heart of Christ's teaching on our spiritual lives. These vines were not left alone on the ground to be trampled and to grow wild. A fruitful vine was lifted off the ground and constantly card for by an attentive gardener. I t would be absurd to think of a branch growing that was separate from the vine or a vine being fruitful and beautiful with constant help from the gardener.
1. How can we bring glory to the Father?
v.8 __________________________________________
2. What happens with the branches that do not bear fruit?
v.2 __________________________________________
3. What happens to the branches that bear fruit?
v.2 ___________________________________________
4. Why does the Father prune fruit branches?
v.2 ___________________________________________
5. Can we bear fruit of ourselves?
v.4 ___________________________________________
6. What must we do to bear spiritual fruit?
vv.4-5 __________________________________________
7.What does it mean to "remain in the vine"?
vv.4-7 __________________________________________
Jesus said that if we remain in Him, we will "bear fruit," but what does this mean? Not long after Jesus' resurrection, the apostle Paul described what kind of "fruit" a Spirit-led, obedient life produces.
8. List the fruit of the Spirit. Galatians 5:22-23
___________________________________________
9. Which is the greatest? 1 Corinthians 13:13
___________________________________________
10. Where does the Holy Spirit dwell? 1 Corinthians 3:16
___________________________________________
God's Holy Spirit no longer dwells in buildings of brick and stone; he dwells in people! We are God's temple, and we show that we are His temple when we practice the fruit of the Spirit. The "you" in 1 Corinthians 34:16 is plural. Maybe that's because it's hard to practice virtues like love, peace, patience and kindness on our own.
Jesus leaving and the coming Comforter
May 5,2019
John 16:7 King James Version (KJV)
7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
John 16:7 New King James Version (NKJV)
7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.
John 16:7 New International Version (NIV)
7 But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.
John 16:7 English Standard Version (ESV)
7 Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
Expedient:
eks-pe'-di-ent (sumphero): The Greek word translated "expedient" (sumphero) means literally, "to bear or bring together"; with a personal reference, "to be well or profitable." In the New Testament
it never means "profitable" or "convenient" as opposed to what is strictly right. It is translated "expedient" (Joh 11:50, "it is expedient for us," the Revised Version (British and American) "for
you"; Joh 16:7, "It is expedient for you that I go away," i.e. "profitable," "for your good," 18:14; 1Co 6:12; 10:23; 2Co 8:10; 12:1). In Mt 19:10, instead of "not good to marry," the Revised Version
(British and American) has "not expedient." The modern sense of "expediency" as "hastening" or "acceleration," is not found in the New Testament, any more than its bad sense of "mere convenience."
"Nothing but the right can ever be expedient" (Whately).
Written by W. L. Walker
· Expedient
· eks-pe'-di-ent (sumphero): The Greek word translated "expedient" (sumphero) means literally, "to bear or bring together"; with a personal reference, "to be well or profitable."
· ." The modern sense of "expediency" as "hastening" or "acceleration," is not found in the New Testament, any more than its bad sense of "mere convenience." "Nothing
but the right can ever be expedient" (Whately).
According to Whately it is never “acceleration” or mere “convenience”
Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words
1
Strong's Number: g4851
Greek: sumphero
Expedient:
signifies
(a), transitively, lit., "to bring together," (sun, "with," phero, "to bring"), Act 19:19;
(b) intransitively, "to be an advantage, profitable, expedient" (not merely 'convenient'); it is used mostly impersonally, "it is (it was) expedient;" so in Mat 19:10, RV (negatively), AV, "it is
(not) good;" Jhn 11:50; 16:7; 18:14; 1Cr 6:12; 10:23; 2Cr 8:10; 12:1; "it is profitable," Mat 5:29, 30; 18:6, RV; "was profitable," Act 20:20; "to profit withal," 1Cr 12:7; in Hbr 12:10, used in the
neuter of the present participle with the article as a noun, "for (our) profit."
See PROFIT. Cp. the adjective sumphoros (or sumpheron), "profitable," used with the article as a noun, 1Cr 7:35; 10:33.
7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
9 Of sin, because they believe not on me;
10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;
11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.
13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
Why do we Pray?
04/28/19
Father we come to you in prayer because:
· Prayer is the key that opens heaven´s doors.
· We come because prayer is the vehicle that connects people of faith to their God.
· We come in prayer because prayer is the conduit of God to mankind, prayer provides God’s divine energy and strength to those who ask.
· We come in prayer because you Father, are the resource for our wisdom, our understanding, and the grace that we need for today and tomorrow.
We acknowledge:
· You God as sovereign, and in all things, we are subject to you.
· We confess that our wisdom, our knowledge, and our understanding is limited and inadequate.
· We acknowledge you God. We request your help in our lives.
We come in faith believing:
· As promised by you, prayers prayed in faith will be heard and you will respond to all prayers prayed within context of Holy scripture.
· We come expecting your help today Father, to make the right decisions.
· We receive your strength to do the right things because we pray in faith within the context of your promised word.
· Today we trust you to give us wisdom in every matter that presents itself before us.
With a humble heart:
· We are asking these things from you, Heavenly Father, knowing that your counsel will bring good to all who seek it.
· We are asking for your help today so that the trust placed in us by others and the confidence ordered by you through scripture would honor you and bless us.
· Father we come to you humbly asking for your guidance and grace.
In closing:
· We thank you for the privilege to come before such a mighty God with such requests as we have, and we thank you for the assurance that you have heard our
requests.
· We receive the promise of your response to prayers prayed in faith.
· To you be the honor and glory Father, we are asking all these things in the name of Jesus your son. Amen.
Palm Sunday
4/14/19
(ESV)
PEACE TO THE NATIONS
John 12:12-18 (ESV)
The Triumphal Entry
12 The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem.
13 So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!”
14 And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written,
15 “Fear not, daughter of Zion;
behold, your king is coming,
sitting on a donkey's colt!”
16 His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him and had been done to him.
17 The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to bear witness.
18 The reason why the crowd went to meet him was that they heard he had done this sign.
Luke 19:40-42 (ESV)
40 He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.”
Jesus Weeps over Jerusalem
41 And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it, 42 saying, “Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.
Luke 19:44 (ESV)
44 and tear you down to the ground, you and your children within you. And they will not leave one stone upon another in you, because you did not know the time of your visitation.”
John 1:29(ESV)
Behold, the Lamb of God
29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
Zechariah 9:9 (ESV)
The Coming King of Zion
9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!
Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem!
Behold, your king is coming to you;
righteous and having salvation is he,
humble and mounted on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
Zechariah 9:10(b) (ESV)
10…and he shall speak peace to the nations;
his rule shall be from sea to sea,
and from the River to the ends of the earth.
he Story within a Story
Part 4
3/31/2019
The Method of the message
(KJV)
1. Look up-Look in-Look out
· It’s personal
John 4:28-30 King James Version (KJV)
28 The woman then left her water pot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men,
29 Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?
30 Then they went out of the city, and came unto him.
2. Lift your eyes
· It’s public
John 4:34-35 King James Version (KJV)
34 Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.
35 Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.
3. Let God be God
· It’s powerful
John 4:39-42 King James Version (KJV)
39 And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did.
40 So when the Samaritans were come unto him, they besought him that he would tarry with them: and he abode there two days.
41 And many more believed because of his own word;
42 And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.
The Story within the Story
3/10/2019
John 4 is the story of a rejected people, a rejected and lost woman, a plan of redemption, and a a savior.
· This is a graphic real-life illustration of extreme prejudice and hatred.
· The acceptance of rejection and an attempt to hold on to value and self-worth.
· The personal struggles of a specific woman which illustrates the very need and purpose of a Savior for all of mankind.
· The need for personal relationship with the one who died for us.
John 4:1-44(NKJV)
A Samaritan Woman Meets Her Messiah
4 Therefore, when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John
2 (though Jesus Himself did not baptize, but His disciples),
3 He left Judea and departed again to Galilee.
4 But He needed to go through Samaria.
The new King James, English Standard, New International version bibles use the word needed in verse 4 to explain way Jesus went through Samaria rather than another route to Galilee as most Jews would do. The old King James version and the American standard bible use the word must or in Greek (dei). Vines Greek dictionary defines (dei) “of necessity as to what is required that something may be brought about”
The idea that is being communicated is that this must happen so that the next phase can take place. This same word (dei) is used in the following verses which illustrate its meaning in vivid color.
Matthew 24:6 (NKJV)
6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
John 3:14 (NKJV)
14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up,
So, the Lord has a divine appointment to go to Samaria and meet this lady who is has been tagged and rejected by the religious, cultural and social status quo of her day. Through this woman the stage of redemption will be set for an entire region to find Christ.
Throughout this testimony of real life we will be looking for:
· Religious rejection:
· Cultural rejection:
· Social rejection:
5 So He came to a city of Samaria which is called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph.
The cultural and religious rejection for the Samaritans from the Jews is so closely intertwined that though they are identifiable they are inseparable.
Let’s take a moment to explore the origins of the hatred between the Jews and the Samaritans.
The good:
The city of Sychar was ancient Shechem and was the capital city of the Samaritans.
When God decided to separate the children of Israel the (Jewish people) for His example to the nations through which he would demonstrate His love, favor, and protection He would also demonstrate
that He is a jealous God. Exodus 34:14
Genesis 12:6-8 English Standard Version (ESV)
6 Abram passed through the land to the place at Shechem, to the oak of Moreh. At that time the Canaanites were in the land.
7 Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built there an altar to the Lord, who had appeared to him.
8 From there he moved to the hill country on the east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. And there he built an altar to the Lord and called upon the name of the Lord.
Later the grandson of (Abraham) Jacob would dig the well known as Jacobs well he would also build an altar to the Lord, and called it El Elohe Israel (mighty one; God of Israel) (Genesis 33:20)
Also, Joshua 24:32 Records that the bones of Joseph which were brought out of Egypt when God's people were delivered from Egyptian slavery by Mosses were laid to rest in the promise land at Sychar (ancient Shechem) by Joshua.
The bad:
Someone asked what is a Back Side of the Desert Degree? Or lesson learned by personal experience or the school of hard knocks,
The children of Israel, chosen by God, seemed bent on doing things their own way. They were unable to receive directive, advice, reproof, or even instructions on how to live or have meaningful relationship with God.
As a result of Israel rejecting God’s Love, His many attempts to reach them by sending prophets, judges’, and amazing leaders who struggled to convince His people of a better way, God finally allows enemies of Israel to bring a wakeup call to them through adversity. Thus, the School of Hard Knocks and the Back Side of the Desert Degree.
The ugly:
In 720 B.C. the Assyrians captured and subjugated Samaria disbursing many, and those left in Samaria married and breed with foreigners creating the despised cultural rejects known as the Samaritans. Though the Samaritans did not forget the Jewish ancestry it was tainted by superstition brought by the foreigners who they married.
In 597 B.C. the Babylon empire led by King Nebuchadnezzar ll conquered Jerusalem and later took Judaea. Taking the best and brightest of the Hebrews to Babylon, which is now in the Mesopotamia area of Iraq 59 miles southwest of Baghdad. Some Hebrews served in the king’s service which included names of people you know. We have heard of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego the three Hebrew children which were thrown into the fiery furnace and delivered out of the fire by the angel of their God. Daniel the interpreter of dreams the same which was thrown into the den of lions and was delivered by the angel of his God.
Others were held in Babylonian captivity outside of the king’s court.
Later in 539 B.C. the Persian empire conquered Babylon and became the ruling force. During the reign of King Artaxerxes Ezra, the priest and some Jews, including Nehemiah, were permitted to go back to Jerusalem. In time Nehemiah was permitted to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the walls around the city proper. Slowly the Jews repopulated Jerusalem.
When it came time to rebuild the shattered temple in Jerusalem the Samaritans came to help. There help was rejected, and they were treated unworthy to worship or work on the temple.
The response from the Samaritans is what you would expect. Their hatred was feed. They hated the Jews just as much as the Jews hated them.
The Samaritans built their own temple in Mount Gerizim and worshiped there. They rejected the temple in Jerusalem.
In 129 B.C. a Jewish general sacked and destroyed the temple on Mount Gerizim during the Maccabean revolt.
The hatred runs deep between the Jews and Samaritans.
What was the struggle between Judaism and Samaritans?:
Bottom line is worship at Mount Gerizim (Samaritans) or The Temple at Mount Moriah (Judaism)
Wikipedia does a pretty good job of explaining this. According to Wikipedia
The Samaritans are adherents of Samaritanism, a religion closely related to Judaism. Samaritans believe that their worship, which is based on the Samaritan Pentateuch,[16] is the true religion of the ancient Israelites from before the Babylonian captivity, preserved by those who remained in the Land of Israel, as opposed to Judaism, which they see as a related but altered and amended religion, brought back by those returning from the Babylonian Captivity. The Samaritans believe that Mount Gerizim was the original Holy Place of Israel from the time that Joshua conquered Canaan. The major issue between Jews and Samaritans has always been the location of the Chosen Place to worship God: The Temple Mount of Moriah in Jerusalem according to the Jewish faith or Mount Gerizim according to the Samaritan faith
Now that we understand the origins of hatred between the Jews and Samaritans, let’s return to Jesus’ day. Let's return to the Gospel of John, Chapter 4, verse 6
6 Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied from His journey, sat thus by the well. It was about the sixth hour.
The Jewish day starts at 6:00 A.M. and ends at 6:00 P.M. This puts Jesus at the well at 12:00 noon. The heat of the day.
John chapter one reveals Jesus as God with us, the word made flesh who dwelt among us, (and we beheld His Glory the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,)
Now here in chapter 4 we see the fully man side of Jesus the one who is wearied and thirsty the one who is touched with the feelings of our infirmities.
Hebrews 4:15 (NIV)
15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.
7 A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give Me a drink.”.
This verse has always amazed me not only does it show that Jesus understands our humanity in that he is thirsty himself.
It shows us that he does not look down at our efforts. The Lord is not laughing at our struggle to find solutions to our challenges. The Lord Jesus values the best this woman has to offer, and in doing so places value on her. This is important if you are an outcast of the outcasts.
8 For His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.
9 Then the woman of Samaria said to Him, “How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.
· Social rejection: by her own people brought this woman to draw water in the heat of the day rather than the morning hour when the other woman came to the well. The other women came as a group for social and safety reasons. This woman is alone, an outcast of the outcasts.
· Cultural rejection: If there is an ever was example of prejudice, bigotry, bias friction, it is the Jews toward the Samaritans and the Samaritans toward the Jews. However, the Jews feel superior and would walk around Samaria rather than walk through it.
Barkley’s commentary and Clarke's commentary all reference the hatred between these two peoples. No Jew could eat with a Samaritan or drink from the same cup as a Samaritan. It was said that the only purpose for the Samaritan was to keep the fires of hell burning.
When this woman asked Jesus why he, a Jew, would ask a drink from her a Samaritan, she had good reason.
Verse 10 Insert 2 statements into this verse.
10 Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, (which you do not) and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him,(which you don’t) and He would have given you living water.”
She doesn’t know who Jesus is at this point in the next verse she will call Him sir. So, for right now Jesus is a Jew sitting at a well.
In a few more verses this woman will have an epiphany and will recognize Jesus as the messiah telling her everything she ever did.
The well she has been drinking from has no spring. It is a dug-out cistern that only catches water (this is dead water).
Jesus is inviting is inviting you to drink from the springs of living water.
John 7:38 (KJV)
37 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.
38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
11 The woman said to Him, “Sir, You have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. Where then do You get that living water?
This is a reasonable question. This well is 100 feet deep. Way too deep to draw water without the proper provisions. At this point the woman is thinking from a horizontal natural mindset.
Soon her perspective will change. In the beginning we all see with the limitations of the natural man but after being with Jesus we begin to believe, and through faith we receive our own spiritual epiphany of Jesus savior redeemer.
Jesus is about to take this lady to a new spiritual place look at her question.
12 Are You greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank from it himself, as well as his sons and his livestock?”
Absolutely Jesus is superior. That’s the whole point why do you think in John 8:53 when the pharisees are asking are you greater than our father Abraham Jesus Responds before Abraham was, I AM.
John 8:53 & 58 (NKJV)
53 Are You greater than our father Abraham, who is dead? And the prophets are dead. Who do You make Yourself out to be?”
58 Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.”
I am superior to the patriarchs of Israel is exactly what he is saying.
13 Jesus answered and said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again,
14 but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.”
Did you hear that whoever this is the same word?
Jesus uses the same word in John 3:16 (NKJV)
God so loved the world that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
This same thought is transferred in John 1:12 (KJV)
John 1:12 (KJV)
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
Because of the testimony of this woman who met Jesus at the well other Samaritans from the city came to hear for themselves Jesus and they too believed that Jesus is the Christ the savior of the world.
John 4:42 (NKJV)
42 Then they said to the woman, “Now we believe, not because of what you said, for we ourselves have heard Him and we know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world.”
.
Closing with the later part of verse 14
But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.”
John 7:38 (KJV)
38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
This is God's kind of life “eternal life”
· not quantity of life here on this earth
· but quality of life eternal with the Lord.
· The quality of life Jesus spoke about in John 17.
· The quality of life in the garden before the fall.
Faith Foundations
Thinking about God I have eight questions categories to ask you to participate in. The purpose of these questions is honesty about faith and the effects of our faith in our lives.
l. Your faith in God:
· When is the first time you were aware that God was real?
1.
· How old were you?
________________
· Were there other identifiable moments when you remember being distinctly aware that God was with you? identify two.
1.
2.
· What did you feel when you personally responded to God as he was reaching out to you?
1.
2.
ll. Have there been any challenges to your Faith in God?
· Name three things that have challenged your faith in God.
1.
2.
3.
lll. Have you dealt with these faith challenges or are they unresolved shadows in your spirit?
· How have you resolved these challenges to your faith? If so in the order you listed them remind yourself of the process. If they are unresolved just write
unresolved.
1.
2.
3.
lV. Do you think the challenges to your faith were due to your decisions or choices, the decision or choices of others around you, or circumstances that were uncontrollable? An example would be: illness or death?
· In the order you listed the challenges to your faith try and identify a cause.
1.
2.
3.
· Have you specifically talked to God about these things that have challenged your faith? Answer in regular order.
1.
2.
3.
V. When your praying to God do you allow the Holy Spirit to interact with you during your prayer time, as you would if you were having a conversation with a trusted friend?
1. I have listened for God while praying.
2. I sometimes listen for God while praying.
3. I seldom listen for God while praying
Vl. Questions about God: Circle the one that best describes your thoughts.
· Do you think God cares about any of the things that concern you, most of the time, all the time, seldom, or never? Why do you feel this way?
Vll. Questions for God?
· What three questions do you have for God?
1.
2.
3.
Vlll. How do you gauge your faith in God? Circle the one that best describes your thoughts.
· My faith in God is consistently healthy, mostly healthy, sometimes healthy, seldom healthy.
· I invite God to be part of my life and use my faith in God daily, occasionally, seldom.
lX. Questions I should ask myself:
· I am asking God for more faith.
· I want my faith in God to make a difference for me and those around me.
· If God will help my faith to grow in Him, I am willing for Him to use me to make a difference in my world.
· Don’t marry because of the car they drive
· Don’t marry because of the curves she has
· Don’t marry because of their countenance or cuteness or how handsome they are, look beyond the external and see who they are in the inside.
· Don’t marry because of cash (Stuff)
What do you look for in the person you choose to spend the rest of your life with?
· Compatibility
· Character
· Competence
· Communication
· Children
· Cash management
· Continence
· Spiritual Status
· Parental blessing
· Hear from God
ast Sunday 2/17/19 in the morning message entitled “It’s Not About God part 2”. I made a statement that was incomplete and could be interpreted any number of ways. I want to take a few moments
this morning to bring clarity to the statement.
The scripture reference used over the past 2 weeks are the words of Jesus found in Matthew 11:12
Matthew 11:12 (NKJV)
12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.
I gave two examples of the violence that come against the Kingdom of heaven, one of which was the beheading of John the Baptist for speaking out against the unlawful relationship of Herod and
Herodias, found in Matthew 14:3
Matthew 14:3 (NKJV)
3 For Herod had laid hold of John and bound him, and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife.
In a challenge to the church to speak out against the things the word of God speaks against, I referenced unlawful relationships which include unlawful marriage and premarital sex. These are difficult subjects and we must use love and kindness when we speak about them. The cost of being silent in these areas have resulted in a spiraling effect on our children and grandchildren when they enter unlawful relationships that God cannot bless due to our silence and failure to speak truth.
When cautioning us against relationships that are questionable in God’s eyes, my advice to those who are unmarried and those divorced were these words. “If your unmarried seek out a relationship with someone else that is unmarried”. This statement is easy to embrace and needs no clarification. However, the follow up statement was not clear. “If your divorced do not seek out a relationship with another person that is divorced”.
This last comment was an incomplete statement that left room for anxiety and uncertainty regarding those divorced and possible future relationships.
I apologize to the Lord and to you for being unclear.
It is only reasonable that we pause what we are doing to allow scripture to speak for itself regarding divorce, remarriage and marriage. This morning we will look specifically at divorce and follow up with remarriage and finally marriage as outlined in scripture.
Matthew's gospel records The Sermon on the Mount in chapters 5-7. Other than the first two verses in chapter 5 and the last two verses in chapter 7 we hear the heart of Christ.
For 107 uninterrupted verses of scripture, Jesus speaks directly to his disciples and the multitudes that had gathered to hear his teachings.
In this sermon Jesus speaks about various subjects including divorce.
Matthew 5:31-32
31 “Furthermore it has been said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’
32 But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery.
Verse 31 Jesus references and quotes from the law regarding divorce which was permitted by Moses in Deuteronomy 24:1
Deuteronomy 24:1(NKJV)
24:1 “When a man takes a wife and marries her, and it happens that she finds no favor in his eyes because he has found some uncleanness in her, and he writes her a certificate of divorce, puts it in
her hand, and sends her out of his house,
A certificate of divorce: According to these laws, divorce was allowed in Israel, but carefully regulated. Under God’s law, the marriage contract cannot be simply dissolved as soon as one partner
wants out; there must be cause for a certificate of divorce.
Even with cause, divorce was never to be a preferred or easy option.
The Hebrew word translated divorce has as its root the idea of “a hewing off, a cutting apart” – it is the amputation of that which is one flesh.
He writes her a certificate of divorce: God commands here that any divorce be sealed with a certificate of divorce. In other words, it was not enough for a man to just declare, “we’re divorced” to
his wife.
The divorce had to be recognized legally just as the marriage had been, so a certificate of divorce – a legal document – must be issued, and properly served (puts it in her hand). (Guzik)
There are three things stated in Deuteronomy 24:1 that cannot be ignored, first is the process of divorce which includes a legal documentation. Second is the cause for divorce “some uncleanliness in
her” we will come back to this latter. The third is “she finds no favor in his eyes”.
This portion has to do with the ability of the injured party to forgive the spouse for immorality.
There are four realities I want to share regarding forgiveness and marital unfaithfulness before we go back to point two.
If you have walked the road of relational unfaithfulness, this is a pain that only God can heal.
A broken trust and a broken heart are often found in the same sentence that includes an unfaithful spouse.
A wounded spirit is an injury that is delicate and slow to be restored.
Four realities:
· Forgiveness is key to the message of Christ and to us as Christians.
· Forgiveness is not always easy and does not always come quickly, especially in relational infidelity.
· Forgiveness does in no way imply justification for wrongdoing or injury to the innocent person involved.
· There are times that forgiveness is a grace that can only come from God.
Prayer for those injured in relational infidelity.
Refocusing on Moses’ law in Deuteronomy 24:1 which said the cause for divorce was “that he has found some uncleanliness in her”.
So, if a husband finds some uncleanness in her, he has the right to give his wife a certificate of divorce. But he is not obligated to do so.
It must also be that she finds no favor in his eyes because he has found some uncleanness in her. In other words, it must be that the husband is so troubled at his wife’s sexual immorality that he
simply cannot look upon her with favor in his eyes any more.
Fast forward to Jesus and the Pharisees Matthew 19:1-8
Jesus finishes these verses with:
Matthew 19:8 (NKJV) Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, permitted you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so.
Jesus really brings the point home in marriage. There is a relational drift when the heart becomes hard. When insensitivity, apathy, stubbornness and anger replace love and respect. Hardness of the
heart can result in divorce.
There are marriages that look intact from a distance but are filled with only toleration and obligation. Healing in relationships begins with honesty, and the willingness to look internally at one’s
own heart. Harding of the heart need not be the death penalty for a relationship. Christ specializes in new hearts, spiritually and other wise.
Back to Moses and Deuteronomy 24:1
Moses dealt with some serious cultural issues and permitted divorce. He was attempting to curve other problems, but with the escalation of man’s selfish and self-centered purposes, women were
devalued. Women’s physical and emotional survival were jeopardized.
With a corrupt priesthood the certificate of divorce was easy to manipulate. By the time Jesus address the subject the scribes were busy writing divorces for nearly any reason imaginable.
The Jewish Rabbis of Jesus’ day defined this word (uncleanliness) from two different ways.
Some Rabbis from the school of Hillel defined (uncleanness) as anything in the wife which might displease the husband. Some Rabbis taught that if a wife burned her husband’s breakfast, he could
divorce her. (France)
Or if he found another woman more attractive, he could write a certificate of divorcement.
Other Rabbis from the School of Shammai: “Restricted the ‘some indecency’ only to a sexual misdemeanor authenticated by witnesses.” (France)
How does God feel about divorce?
Malachi 2:16 (NKJV)
16 “For the Lord God of Israel says
That He hates divorce,
For it covers one’s garment with violence,”
Says the Lord of hosts.
“Therefore take heed to your spirit,
That you do not deal treacherously.”
Through Malachi God speaks to both the people and the priesthood of Israel, who sadly used divorce for their own benefit. Through this system they replaced the wives of their youth with younger woman
and left the older wives to cry at the same alters where they offered worship to God. They had forgotten the promise, honor, and sacredness made to their wives and to God and to the
world.
The prophet did not say that God hates people who have been divorced. God hates what divorce (all that leads up to it and all that flows from it) does to those he loves and to his purpose for the
covenant of marriage.
The pain of a failing marriage cuts deep in human lives. The hearts of men, women, and children are broken when divorce occurs. The impact of a divorce can last for many years—especially when
children are involved. When promises and covenants are easily broken, the very fabric of society is threatened. This is part of what God “hates” about divorce.
Let’s back up a few scriptures and look at:
Malachi 2:13 (NKJV)
You cover the altar of the LORD with tears… so He does not regard the offering anymore:
The neglected and divorced wives of the priests came and wept at God’s altar.
Than when their priestly husbands offered sacrifice to God at the same altar it was an offense to God.
How did they cover the altar of Jehovah with tears? (Keil commentary) said “namely, by compelling the wives who have been put away to lay their trouble before God in the sanctuary.” (Keil)
Did you hear that? After abandoning their wives, they sent them to the Lord’s house, to His altars to ask Him for help.
Just for the record: if you have suffered being abandoned by husband, wife, mom or dad, read Psalm 27 and look closely at verse 10.
Psalm 27:10(NKJV)
When my father and my mother forsake me, Then the Lord will take care of me.
Admonishment to ministry: (Trapp’s commentary) Said “it is a disgrace if a pastor or preacher’s harsh, neglectful, or unkind treatment of his wife causes her to cry out before God. “You caused your
poor wives, when they should have been cheerful in God’s service… to cover the Lord’s altar with tears, with weeping, and with crying out” (Trapp).
Malachi 2:14 (NKJV)
Because the LORD has been witness between you and the wife of your youth, with whom you have dealt treacherously:
These words are easy to overlook so let’s say it in current jargon. If you’re thinking about trading your wife in for a newer model or upgrading to someone more in line with who you think you
are.
Consider this: “The Lord is a witness” and He is not mocked, what you sow you shall also reap.
Ladies the same goes for you, if your heart is hard toward your husband, ask the Lord for a new heart.
The priests sinned by forsaking the wife they married in their youth, breaking the goal of marriage (she is your companion) and the bond of marriage (your wife by covenant).
(Clarke’s commentary) said “They kept their wives till they had passed their youth, and then put them away, that they might get young ones in their place.” (Clarke)
Move down one verse and Catch the rhetorical question in in Malachi 2:15 (NKJV)
The idea being transferred in 2:15 is that man and woman are made one through marriage for the purpose of Godly offspring. The question asked is “Did He not make them one?”
We referenced Matthew 19:1-8 earlier
Now let's look at Matthew 19:5-6
Jesus said that through marriage a man and women become one flesh.
Matthew 19:5-6 (NKJV)
5 and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? 6 So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what
God has joined together, let not man separate.”
Genesis 2:18-25 (NKJV)
Records the story of man and woman (Adam and Eve). The trust that God had placed in Adam with authority to name every beast of the field and every living creature. Because there was no helpmate for
Adam, God caused a deep sleep to come over him and as he slept God took from his side a rib and created Eve.
Genesis 2:23 and 24 Adam said:
23 “This is now bone of my bones
And flesh of my flesh;
She shall be called Woman,
Because she was taken out of Man.”
24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.
Verse 24 is obviously a revelation from God about the future of mankind and the institution of marriage as a divine order from God. At this point there are no other men or women, moms or dads,
husbands or wives. Adam and Eve have no children of their own.
Adam is looking to the future and he recognizes the covenant marriage makes of a man and woman “one flesh.”
Jesus quotes this very verse in Matthew 19:5-6 which we read a moment ago.
Let’s get ready to close out with Malachi 2:16 and then a quick reference to Ephesians 5:28 as the closing scripture.
Remember how God feel about divorce:
Malachi 2:16 (NKJV)
“For the Lord God of Israel says
That He hates divorce,
For it covers one’s garment with violence.
It covers one’s garment with violence:
Part of the marriage ceremony in Bible times involved the husband covering his wife with his garment as a symbol of the protection he brought her.
But now, their garments were covered with violence. When a wife is forsaken or mistreated the man covers his own garment with violence.
This is because the husband and wife are one, and he cannot mistreat his wife without bringing misery and destruction to himself.
The prophet did not say that God hates people who have been divorced. God hates what divorce (all that leads up to it and all that flows from it) does to those he loves and to his purpose for the
covenant of marriage.
The pain of a failing marriage cuts deep in human lives. The hearts of men, women, and children are broken when divorce occurs. The impact of a divorce can go on for many years—especially when
children are involved. When promises and covenants are easily broken, the very fabric of society is threatened. This is the part of what God “hates” about divorce
We close with these words from the New Testament:
Ephesians 5:28 (NKJV)
…so husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself.
You could say it this way: when you love your wife, you benefit yourself
or you can say it this way: when you neglect your wife, you neglect yourself, and it will come back to hurt you.
Next week we will look at remarriage and the words of Jesus and the apostle Paul.
It’s Not About God
2/10/19
Matthew 11:12 (NKJV)
12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force
Ephesians 6:12 (NKJV)
12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly
places.
It is difficult not to be overtaken by what we feel and see. In the natural, frustration, anger, fear and even desperation can overcome us during difficult times. When we fail to understand the purpose of the violence against the kingdom of heaven or the trials, struggles and temptations we face we are left wondering about God and ask why is He silent when there is so much need?
1 Corinthians 10:13 (NKJV)
13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
The above scriptures point out 3 things:
· there will be violence against the kingdom of heaven
· there will be a trying of our faith “which is common to man”
· there is a battle to fight and we are part of the fight
When we engage in the fight and take our responsibility to heart and come along side of other saints in obedience to scripture, God fights for us. If we choose to be neutral in spiritual matters, we give away our influence to affect our personal concerns and the environment around us.
If God is sovereign can we then reconcile that struggle, temptation and opposition in this life as a tool to serve Gods purpose in us.
I am convinced it is not about God being God but rather are we the sons of God. Are we fighting the fight? Are we the sons and daughters of God combating the evil that is in this world?
Satan is both our adjutant and our adversary. An adjutant to provoke us to fight and an adversary to refine and define our faith. The testing ground of our faith our hope and even our relationship with God is in the adversity of life.
In this context Satan with all his schemes and devices provides opportunity for our spiritual growth and experience.
Gods servant Job is both a difficult and victorious example that our time on this earth is a preparation for eternity that follows.
Job 1:8 (NKJV)
8 Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?”
The call of God on Christianity is a high calling, a calling that identifies and separates us as His children. As the sons and daughters of God we are empowered with a purpose for living. Scripture calls us a holy nation and a royal priest hood.
1 Peter 2:5 (NKJV)
5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
1 Peter 2:9-10 (NKJV)
9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.
Many of life’s battles are not external. In fact many of the greatest challenges we face are internal struggles, struggles with our identity and purpose in Christ.
Many identify as being Christian or a Christ follower but have not identified as being a Christian solider fighting the good fight. A fight that is not limited to our own salvation but rather engages the fight for others who are under attack from the enemy of our soul. The souls of people who are blinded and cannot see the road of destruction in front of them.
The reason for Christ coming is for the lost. Christ came for all of us. All lost, all sinners, all suffering the consequence of sin, except it be for Christ all are lost.
The question “Why God is silent when there is so much need” is answered at Calvary. He hung on a tree bearing our reproach and reconciled us and our relationship to the Father.
He is not silent He has spoken, He has responded, He has loved, He did come, and He provided the sacrificial lamb in Jesus for our sin. Jesus exchanged his life for ours at Calvary.
So, all this is not about God. It is about us, and our becoming the sons and daughters of God shaped in His image and doing His work. It’s about discovering relationship and purpose in Christ. It’s about exercising our faith and asking what the will of the Father is on this earth and moving forward to be an instrument for His use to bring about His will.
Matthew 6:9-13 (ESV)
9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
1 John 1:1-4
Experiential Relationship with God through Jesus Christ
2/3/2019
John speaks to those under his immediate influence in terms of things they had experienced.
John’s words are: “we have heard”; “we have seen”, “we have looked upon (examined)”, “we have touched”.
It is critical we have experiential relationship with God through Jesus Christ. The reason for Christ's coming is to introduce us to God in terms we can understand and relate to. The power of
the gospel is not that it is illusive but that we have access to the Father through it.
The gospel of Jesus Christ is the way to the Father. Jesus is the manifestation of the Word of God or Jesus is “God With us”.
The crux (most important) point John is making here is that God has manifest himself in and through Jesus Christ. The “life” the “word of life” and “eternal life” are made manifest through Jesus
Christ.
1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of
life—
2 the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us—
3 that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.
4 And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.
A personal experiential relationship with Christ is critical to the fullness of joy and fellowship with the Father and the Son. How can I have an experiential relationship?
• I have not heard Jesus with the natural ear
• I have not seen Jesus with the natural eye
• I Have not observed Jesus (examined) looked upon him living in a natural sense
• I have not touched Jesus with my hands
Not for Sale
Part 4
1/27/19
Hebrews 12:2 (NKJV)
2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of
God.
Strong’s G872 aphorao (ä-fo-rä'-ō)
to turn the eyes away from other things and fix them on something
· When we focus on something, we may discover in greater detail the value or purpose.
· This involves being intentional about where we are looking and in this case to whom we are looking to.
· We are looking to Jesus because He has authored and will bring to completion our faith. The idea is that we cannot become people of faith unless we are looking to the one who authored our faith.
1. There are external challenges to our faith.
2. There is internal conflict with our faith.
3. There are unclear expectations from our faith
Only when we look to Jesus the pattern of our faith can our faith become our vehicle to God.
Part 4
Internal conflict with our faith is a failure to recognize faith as a relational trust between God and us and us and God.
Genesis 22:1-8 (NKJV)
22 Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham!”
And he said, “Here I am.”
2 Then He said, “Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.”
3 So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son; and he split the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. 4 Then on the third day Abraham lifted his eyes and saw the place afar off. 5 And Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you.”
6 So Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife, and the two of them went together. 7 But Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, “My father!”
And he said, “Here I am, my son.”
Then he said, “Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?”
8 And Abraham said, “My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.” So the two of them went together.
What faith is not:
· Faith is not a tool to manipulate outcome.
· Faith is not a mind over matter mentality.
What faith is:
· Faith is a relational trust that connects us with God.
· Faith is a response to God’s word in our lives.
Faith is built on relationship and trust:
· God trusts Abraham “Take your son, your only son Isaac”.
2 Then He said, “Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.”
This relational connection of love and trust is three-fold, each involves worship.
· God’s love and trust in Abraham
· Abrahams love and trust in God
· Isaac’s love and trust in both Abraham and God
When we place our faith in the context of relationship and worship, we move away from the fear that either we don’t, or we won’t measure up before the Lord. We understand that our faith in God has much to do with our Love for God.
We are not afraid concerning our love for God we know He loves us, and we have excepted that love and we have faith for our salvation through that love. God knows we love Him, our love for God is reflected by the way He lives out of our lives.
As Abraham and Isaac walk toward the place of offering with wood and fire in hand Isaac asked the obvious question. Where is the sacrifice? Where is the Lamb for the burnt offering?
· Pause for a moment and think about what God has asked of Abraham?
· How could anyone ask a father to sacrifice his only son as a test of his love.
· Abraham had faith in God that He would provide for Himself a lamb for the burnt offering to God. The burnt offering was an atonement for sin. All but the skin of the offering was consumed by the fire and the smoke would rise as a sweet savor before the Lord.
Abraham trust’s God: verse 8 “My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.”
· Do you see the trust that Abraham has for God? “God will provide for Himself”
· Somehow Abraham’s relationship with God enables him to see that God’s plan is greater than what is visible to the natural eye.
· God’s plan will provide a lamb that is sufficient enough to take away the sin of the world.
John 3:16 (NKJV)
16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
Note:
The first-time the word love is used in the Bible is when God recognized the love Abraham has for his son Isaac. Verse 2
The first-time worship is used in relation to God is here when Abraham proclaims, we are going to worship we will be back. verse 5
If faith is a wheel then love is the wheel within the wheel that drives faith, if worship is a wheel then love is the wheel within the wheel that drives worship.
Faith, love, and worship are all components of each other. They can be viewed individually, studied individually but cannot exist individually.
Neither faith or worship exist without love
God’s love for man and man’s love for God dispels fear.
When love for God abounds, true worship is found.
When true worship liberates man, faith flourishes.
Not for sale
Part 3
1/20/19
NKJV
Over the past 2 weeks we have looked at several areas of challenge to our faith from the book of Galatians chapter one.
1st an admonishment not to abandon our deliverance in Christ. Using Numbers 21:8-9 as the shadow of what that deliverance is through Jesus Christ John 3:14-15.
2nd. again, using Galatians chapters one and two to remind us that there is no other gospel or way to God except the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Jesus makes 3 truth claims:
· I am truth
· I am light
· Truth will set you free
We also talked about 3 strong-holds of Satan:
· slavery to sin, rebellion against God
· twisting of truth with lies or partial truth
with the intent to deceive
· religious substitution for the sufficiency
and completeness in Christ
We also asked 3 questions:
· Do II believe in Jesus Christ?
· Have I experienced Jesus Christ?
· Have I witnessed Jesus Christ working in my life?
Today we bring to conclusion the series Not for Sale.
It is only when we look to Jesus as our pattern can our faith
become a finished work in Christ.
Hebrews 12:2 (NKJV)
Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Strong’s G872 aphorao (ä-fo-rä'-ō)
To turn the eyes away from other things and fix them on something.
When we focus on something, we may discover in greater detail the value or purpose.
This involves being intentional about where we are looking and in this case to whom we are looking to.
We are looking to Jesus because He is the author and finisher of our faith.. The idea is that we cannot become people of faith unless we are looking to the One that created it.
1. There are external challenges to our faith.
2. There is internal conflict with our faith.
3. There are unclear expectations from our faith
It is only when we look to Jesus as our pattern can our faith become a finished work in Christ.
Not for Sale
English Standard Version
1/13/2019
Part2
Paul speaks to a primarily Gentile church about the subversion of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
This gospel had been delivered to them through the ministry of Paul and provided for them through Jesus Christ Himself.
These Gentile believers had not only heard about Jesus but through faith in Jesus Christ had experienced deliverance from the bondage of sin.
The problem Paul sees is that not everyone is happy with the liberty the Gentiles have received in Jesus. Some had made it their business to ensnare this new-found liberty with something other than
the Gospel truth.
Paul identifies this attempt to distort the Gospel in chapter 2
Galatians 2:4
4 Yet because of false brothers secretly brought in—who slipped in to spy out our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, so that they might bring us into slavery—
Do you think the gospel (good news) is as disturbing to our culture today as it was when Paul addressed the problem 50 years after Jesus walked on this earth? Why?
a.
b.
c.
Paul identifies a conspiracy against freedom in Christ as a distortion of the Truth claim that Jesus is the only answer sent from God to remedy sin and bring reconciliation to the father in heaven.
Jesus said it this way: John 14:6
” I am the Way and the Truth and the life”. and “No one comes to the father except through Me”.
John 8 record Jesus making these truth claims:
1st. “I am the light of the world”
2nd “the truth will set you free”
John 8:31-36
31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples,
32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
33 They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?”
34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin.
35 The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever.
36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
Three strong holds of Satan on man:
1. the first is slavery to sin rebellion against God and rejection of truth.
2. the second is twisting truth with lies or incomplete truth with the intent to deceive.
3. third is a religious substitution for sufficiency and completeness of Christ and redemption through Him alone.
Exemplified in John 8:39-47
The old testament law had been fulfilled in Jesus, but the Jews were entrenched and refused to embrace Jesus as the promised Messiah of God.
In this conversation Jesus was talking to unbelieving Jews who looked to their own righteousness and rejected the righteousness of God through Jesus Christ. In summary: Jesus unapologetically told them “You Are of Your Father the Devil”.
Though some completely reject Christ others believe in Christ but don’t completely let go of the traditions that had been fulfilled in Jesus the Messiah. These traditions become substitutions for Christ sufficiency.
50 years later Paul is dealing with Christian Jews who believed in Jesus but could not fully trust His sufficiency for salvation.
This is where we pick up the story in Galatians.
These Christian Jews are trying to make the Gentile Jews adhere to Jewish heritage and add to the gospel of faith by the observation and practice of holy days and adhering to dietary traditions and demanding physical circumcision.
I can’t tell you the motivation behind these false teachers, but Paul took both them and their twisted gospel seriously.
Galatians 2:4
Yet because of false brothers secretly brought in—who slipped in to spy out our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, so that they might bring us into slavery—
Anything in addition to Jesus Christ equals abandoning the gospel of truth. “You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free”. (Jesus Christ)
1. Do I believe in Jesus Christ? _______________
2. Have I experienced Jesus Christ? ________________
3. Have I witness Jesus Christ working in my life _________
NOT for SALE
Galatians 1:3-9 The English standard Version of the bible. The ESV employs an “essentially Literal” translation philosophy.
3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5 to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed
Jesus said it this way:
32 …” you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
The Voice translation of Galatians 1:3-9. The voice is considered a modern language, dynamic equivalent translation.
Galatians 1 The Voice (VOICE)
3 May the grace and peace of God the Father and the Lord Jesus the Anointed live in you; 4 He is the very Savior who rescues us from this present, perverse age dominated by evil by giving His life according to our Father’s will to deal with our sins. 5 May God’s glorious name forever receive honor. Amen.
6 Frankly I am stunned. I cannot believe that you have abandoned God so quickly—even after He called you through the grace of the Anointed One—and have fallen for a different gospel. 7 Actually there is only one true gospel of the Anointed, and you—because of divisive prodding by others—are accepting a distorted version which is not the gospel at all!
8 No matter the source of the false gospel, even if it is preached by us or a heavenly messenger, ignore it.May those who add to or subtract from the gospel of Jesus be eternally cursed! 9 Listen again: if anyone preaches to you a gospel other than what you have accepted, may he find himself cursed!
The Message translation Galatians 1:3-9 The Message translation is considered idiomatic (characteristic of a particular language) in this case modern English.
Galatians 1 The Message (MSG)
So I greet you with the great words, grace and peace! We know the meaning of those words because Jesus Christ rescued us from this evil world we’re in by offering himself as a sacrifice for our sins. God’s plan is that we all experience that rescue. Glory to God forever! Oh, yes!
6-9 I can’t believe your fickleness—how easily you have turned traitor to him who called you by the grace of Christ by embracing a variant message! It is not a minor variation, you know; it is completely other, an alien message, a no-message, a lie about God. Those who are provoking this agitation among you are turning the Message of Christ on its head. Let me be blunt: If one of us—even if an angel from heaven!—were to preach something other than what we preached originally, let him be cursed. I said it once; I’ll say it again: If anyone, regardless of reputation or credentials, preaches something other than what you received originally, let him be cursed.
You must choose!
God and man walking together. If that sounds to good to be true a closer look at scripture will reveal that the design of man by God was for relational friendship and sonship. God has chosen us we have not chosen God, we are created in Gods image. Even though God wants to walk with us He still offers man a choice about relationship with Him.
We all know first hand what life without God looks and feels like. Because of our own sinful nature, we all have done it and are prone to it. Without God sin destroys us.
Yet there is something in us that pushes back from sin. Something that will not permit us to destroy ourselves though we have come close. Something more identifiable at times than at other times. It feels like when emptiness, aloneness, dissatisfaction, meaninglessness, hopelessness, regret, pain and internal suffering try to overcome us, they somehow make us aware that God has something better for us and that this is not all God has designed us to be.
So even when we feel distant from God and our pain is the worst, separation from Him makes us aware that God and His love for us is greater than the messes we make of our lives without Him.
Today we will look in both the old and new testaments to discover for ourselves the plain truth about Gods love and His desire to walk with us. God works in direct opposition to the fear that paralyze people which forces them to try life in their own strength rather than with God. The shadows of the past are the results of a life without God. Walking in the light is a result of a life with God. We must choose between the two.