3/15/2007 ~ The Work of a Preacher in a
Local Congregation
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... bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, ...
~ 2nd Corinthians 10:5
... lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.
~ 1st Corinthians 9:27
Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, ... ~ Matthew 28:19
Before you become a preacher or an elder, you need to be a disciple.
TEACH
Disciple = Follower
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The emphasis of the Bible is on teaching.
... not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard,
which was preached ... ~ Colossians 1:23
God has made the provision for the subject matter.
Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me,
in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. ~ 2nd Timothy 1:13
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine,
for reproof, for correction, for instruction, ... ~ 2nd Timothy 3:16-17
It is God that has inspired all of these words.
"... Do you also want to become His disciples?" ... ~ John 9:27-28
1. Learner = Student
2. Christian
3. Abide in Him
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... "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. ... ~ John 8:31-32
... And the disciples were first called Chirstians in Antioch. ~ Acts 11:25-26
... "You almost persuade me to become a Christian." ~ Acts 26:28
Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, ...
~ 1st Peter 4:16
"Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, ..."
~ John 15:4
What should be the focus?
┌─> The essence of a local preacher.
... continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God ...
~ Acts 18:11
Commitment.
Primarily it is to preach among the local individuals.
~ He shares, with the congregation, visitation and interest in members.
Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this:
to visit orphans and widows ... ~ James 1:27
... as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those
who are of the household of faith. ~ Galatians 6:10
We all share in this work together.
... appoint elders in every city as I commanded you - ~ Titus 1:5
Called for Structure for the church of Christ:
CHRIST
/ | \
Bishops Bishops Bishops
(Examples) (Elders) (2 or more)
/|\ /|\ /|\
Deacons Deacons Deacons
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This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position ... ~ 1st Timothy 3:1-13
All congregations have their beginning.
└─> Not all have elders and deacons.
└─> There is an obligation to do this.
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Bishop = Overseer = Shepherd = Pastor = Elder
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... To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the
bishops and deacons: ... ~ Philippians 1:1
... Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers,
not by comulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain ... ~ 1st Peter 5:1-4
... take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, ... ~ Acts 20:28
... they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed ... ~ Acts 14:23
... commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
~ 2nd Timothy 2:2
... a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, ...
~ Titus 1:5-9
~ Corruption has crept in through denominationalism.
The word must be taught in the congregation.
... "The laborer is worthy of his wages." ~ 1st Timothy 5:17-18
└─> Elders may be supported by the congregation.
└─> Preachers may also become elders.
... from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia
and Achaia, but also in every place. ... ~ 1st Thessalonians 1:8-10
If the congregation becomes large enough,
other parts of the city (including other cities) should be taught.
The message is turn to the true God
└─> Wait for His Son.
The essence of a congregation comes down to teaching.
... Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke,
exhort, with longsuffering and teaching. ... ~ 2nd Timothy 4:1-4
... when I preach the gospel, I may present the gospel of Christ without charge,
that I may not abuse my authority ... ~ 1st Corinthians 9:18
Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife,
and some also from goodwill: ... ~ Philippians 1:15-18
... commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was
ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead. ... ~ Acts 10:42-43
... Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom,
... ~ Colossians 1:27-29
For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, ...
~ 2nd Corinthians 4:5-6
Do we choose mortal opinion over divine scripture?
Do we teach God’s word, His plan, or mortal arrogance?
We are all here to humble ourselves, not others.
The words of the LORD are pure words ...
You shall preserve them from this generation forever. ~ Psalm 12:6-7
It is Christ's church in which we serve.
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4/19/2007 ~ Who Was Jesus?
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Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: ... ~ Isaiah 7:14
... "Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His
name Immanuel," which is translated, "God with us." ~ Matthew 1:21-23
... He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, ...
~ John 1:1-3
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, ...
~ John 1:14
... And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. ... ~ Isaiah 9:6-7
... wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, "Where is He
who has been born King of the Jews? ... ~ Matthew 2:1-2
... And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and search carefully
for the young Child, ... ~ Matthew 2:8
... they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down
and worshiped Him. ... ~ Matthew 2:11
What was foretold came to pass in Jesus.
... "Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?" Jesus said, "I am. ..."
~ Mark 14:61-64
... "Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM." ~ John 8:56-58
Jesus did not deny His position.
"... he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has
everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, ..." ~ John 5:24-25
"... He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him."
~ John 5:23
"... He has granted the Son to have life in Himself, given Him authority to
execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man. ..." ~ John 5:26-29
"... even so the Son gives life to whom He will." ~ John 5:21
... also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God. ...
~ John 5:18-19
... being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery
to be equal with God, ... ~ Philippians 2:5-8
"For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, ..."
~ John 5:22
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, ...
~ 2nd Corinthians 5:10
Jesus reigns over all creation.
... "Peace be with you." When He had said this, He showed them
His hands and His side. ... ~ John 20:19-28
Jesus taught us through His life, death, and resurrection.
... God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels,
Preached among Gentiles, Believed on in the world, ... ~ 1st Timothy 3:16
... For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; ...
~ Colossians 2:8-10
Jesus came to expose God's own truth.
... I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those
who keep the words of this book. Worship God." ~ Revelation 22:8-9
... "Stand up; I myself am also a man." ~ Acts 10:25-26
Jesus asks us to help one another through our strength.
... a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, "Lord, if You are willing, ...
~ Matthew 8:2
... behold, a ruler came and worshiped Him, saying,
"My daughter has just died, ... ~ Matthew 9:18
... those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying,
"Truly You are the Son of God." ~ Matthew 14:32-33
Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, "Lord, help me!" ~ Matthew 15:25
... kneeling down and asking something from Him. ~ Matthew 20:20
... So they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him. ~ Matthew 28:9
People worshiped Him believing in His steadfast power.
When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted. ~ Matthew 28:17
Good or bad, Jesus extends His love to all.
... but because of Your great mercies. ~ Daniel 9:18
"He is the image of the invisible God, ..." ~ Colossians 1:15-18
Jesus was God in the Flesh.
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4/23/2007 ~ Islam Verses Jesus
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Are we to have religious unity?
Are we just to get along with anything goes?
Christians would have to deny KEY core beliefs!
→ Central to the argument is “Who is Jesus.”
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God. ~ John 1:1
... Word became flesh ... the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,
full of grace and truth. ... ~ John 1:14
... every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh
is not of God. ... ~ 1st John 4:1-3
His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus
before time began, ... ~ 2nd Timothy 1:9
It was God's plan before time began that Jesus Christ, in the flesh,
would expose His word, His will, for us to know.
... "My Lord and my God!" ~ John 20:19-28
... God was manifested in the flesh, ... ~ 1st Timothy 3:16
The first man was of the earth, made of dust;
the second Man is the Lord from heaven. ~ 1st Corinthians 15:47
The Koran does not accept what Jesus declared.
... the likeness of Isa is with Allah as the likeness of Adam; ... ~ Qur'an 3:59
Jesus NOT deity? <─┘
Deity or created? ~ Creator or created?
→ Jesus claimed to be deity.
... that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God. ~ John 5:17-18
"... if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins." ~ John 8:24
I and My Father are one." ... ~ John 10:30-33
... "I AM WHO I AM." ... ~ Exodus 3:14
... only one God; far be It from His glory that He should have a son, ...
~ Qur'an 4:171
The Koran flat out denies Jesus is the only begotten Son of God.
All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made
that was made. ~ John 1:3
↓
~ Jesus the Creator
↑
... His Son, whom He has apppointed heir of all things,
through whom also He made the worlds; ... ~ Hebrews 1:1-2
... not take to Himself a son, and Who has no associate in the kingdom, ...
~ Qur'an 25:1-2
Jesus Accepted Worship
↓ ↓ ↓
... a leper came and worshiped Him, ... ~ Matthew 8:1-4
... worshiped Him, saying, "Truly You are the Son of God."
~ Matthew 14:32.33
... they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him. ~ Matthew 28:9
... a man with an unclean spirit, ... he ran and worshiped Him. ...
~ Mark 5:1-7
... Then he said, "Lord, I believe!" And he worshiped Him. ~ John 9:35-38
┌─> Gibberish.
... that I should say what I had no right to (say); ... ~ Qur'an 5:116
Jesus REFUSE Worship? <─┘
Islam was created by men moreso as an attack on Catholicism’s fallacies.
Jesus knew who He was and without confusion or deceit He fulfilled God’s will.
... I know Him. And if I say, 'I do not know Him,' I shall be a liar like you; ...
~ John 8:55
Jesus Crucified
⭩ ↓ ⭨
... they crucified Him, and two others with Him, ... ~ John 19:14-20
... Jesus Christ and Him crucified. ~ 1st Corinthians 2:2
... Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He
was buried, and that He rose again the third day ... ~ 1st Corinthians 15:1-4
~ The Koran claims Jesus was NOT crucified.
... they did not kill him nor did they crucify him ... ~ Qur'an 4:157
Jesus Resurrected
⭩ ↓ ⭨
... After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, ...
~ 1st Corinthians 15:3-8
... by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; whom God raised up,
... ~ Acts 2:22-24
... He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand
in the heavenly places, ... ~ Ephesians 1:20
Muhammad taught that Jesus never died, thus there was no resurrection.
... they killed him not for sure. ~ Qur'an 4:157
Jesus The Sin Bearer
⭩ ↓ ⭨
... Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. ... ~ Hebrews 9:27-28
... who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, ... ~ 1st Peter 2:24
For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, ... ~ 2nd Corinthians 5:21
Muhammad has Jesus as NOT a sin bearer nullifying Him as a mediator.
... no bearer of burden shall bear the burden of another; ...
~ Qur'an 6:163-164
Jesus the Son of God
↓ ↓ ↓
... that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, ... ~ John 20:30-31
"... He gave His only begotton Son, ..." ~ John 3:16
... "Truly You are the Son of God." ~ Matthew 14:32-33
... Jesus Christ, the Son of God. ... ~ Mark 1:1-2
"In blasphemy indeed are those that say that Allah is Christ the son of Mary.
... ~ Qur'an 5:17
Again, the Koran does not acknowledge Jesus as the Son of God.
... Allah's curse be on them: how they are deluded away from the Truth!"
~ Qur'an 9:30
PROBLEM:
CHRISTIAN
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ISLAM
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● Jesus = God
● Jesus CLAIMED Deity
● Jesus = creator
● Jesus ACCEPTED worship
● Jesus Crucified
● Jesus Raised from dead
● Jesus the Sin Bearer
● The Son of God
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● Jesus NOT God
● Jesus DENIED Deity
● Jesus created
● Jesus NOT ACCEPT worship
● Jesus NOT crucified
● Jesus NOT raised
● NO mediator …
● NOT the Son … Only a messenger
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Would the Bible be corrupted?
To deny Bible teachings then the Koran would also have to claim that
the Bible is corrupted other than making its’ outlandish claims against it.
... We gave Moses the Book, completing (Our favor) to those ... ~ Qur'an 6:154
└─> Law of Moses given by God (inspired).
... to them was entrusted the protection of God's Book, ... ~ Qur'an 5:47
└─> Jews Preserved It.
... Gospel (of Jesus) before this, as a guide to mankind, ... ~ Qur'an 3:2-3
└─> Bible is a Guide.
... We believe in God, and the revelation given to us, ... ~ Qur'an 2:136
└─> Should Believe the Bible.
... believed ... admitted them to gardens of Bliss. ... ~ Qur'an 5:68-69
└─> Believe Bible - Heaven.
Corrupted?
● Given by God – inspired
● Jews preserved it
● Bible a guide unto man …
● Should believe the Bible …
● Believe the Bible → Heaven
NO CHARGES OF CORRUPTION!
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The Koran charges people of failing to follow the Book,
but it pays tribute to the Book (The Bible).
So 600 odd years after Christ, Muhammad decides He is better,
proclaiming over Jesus attacking God's previous annoucements.
Whereas the Bible holds no contradictions,
the Koran is riddled with them.
If Muhammad recognized Jesus as a true prophet of God,
how can he claim His word is NOT truth?
Copies of the Bible We NOW Have
Codex
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Dated
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● Vaticanus
● Sinaiticus
● Alexandrinus
● Ephraemi Rescriptus
● Bezae
● Claromontanus
● Codex Freerianus
|
● 325-350
● 4th century
● 450
● 345
● 450-550
● 550
● Late 4th, early 5th Century
|
|
Translations of the Bible We NOW Have
Translations
|
Dated
|
Language
|
● The Old Latin
● The Latin Vulgate
● Coptic
● Peshitta
|
● As Early as 180
● 382-405
● 292-346
● 400
|
● Latin
● Latin
● Coptic/Egyptian
● Syriac
|
|
The Bible text we have comes from copies, translations,
writings of early Christians, and thousands of parts.
● Muhammad lived from 570 AD to 632 AD.
● We have Bible COPIES – 300’s
● We have Bible TRANSLATIONS – 300’s
● Early writings, fragments, etc…
● He had, knew, and accepted what WE now have
without claiming corruption.
|
The Koran holds NOT the SAME teaching about Jesus!
Hence ANOTHER gospel, doctrine of man.
Hearsay reduces to diminishing truth.
Exalting men over God is not God’s will.
Muhammad
Any proud proclaimer
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=
=
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False Prophet
False Prophet
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... some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But
even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than
what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. ... ~ Galatians 1:6-9
... who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God ...
~ John 3:34-36
Koran believers are at risk of eternal isolation for their denial of Jesus.
"... whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father
who is in heaven." ~ Matthew 10:32-33
Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? ...
~ 1st John 2:22-24
If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, ...
1st Timothy 6:3-5
Islam is Satan’s tool to invalidate Christ.
└─> Islam denies God’s revelation of Love preferring the words of a mere man.
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A man ≠ God in the flesh.
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Jesus was more than just a man.
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5/6/2007 ~ Impact of Jesus
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Impact = To Make a Change
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Freedom to eat. <─┐
... to distinguish between the unclean and the clean, ... ~ Leviticus 11:46-47
"... because it does not enter his heart but his stomach, ..." ~ Mark 7:19
It’s about the new law and access to the promise.
For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father. ...
~ Ephesians 2:18-22
→ Jesus took away the old law.
... For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is
received with thanksgiving; ... ~ 1st Timothy 4:3-5
And He said, "What comes out of a man, that defiles a man. ..."
~ Mark 7:20-23
● Stop looking at what your eating and look inside yourself.
... whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger
of the judgment. ... ~ Matthew 5:21-22
"... whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery
with her in his heart." ~ Matthew 5:27-28
Jesus is changing our standard.
It is a question of one's Heart condition.
... I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good
to those who hate you, and pray for those ... ~ Matthew 5:43-48
~ Don’t look on earth, look to heaven.
... "If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth
and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me. ..."
~ John 8:41-44
He made God the Father.
... pray to your Father who is in the secret place; ... ~ Matthew 6:6
He made God close, not distant.
... if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. ...
~ Romans 8:14-18
Jesus created a personal relationship with God.
Jesus turned death into sleep.
... "Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up."
~ John 11:11
... and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised;
...~ Matthew 27:52
... God spoke in this way: that his descendants would dwell
in a foreign land, ... ~ Acts 7:6
... Some to everlasting life, Some to shame and everlasting contempt.
~ Daniel 12:2
... not ... ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep,
lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. ~ 1st Thessalonians 4:13
... But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits
of those who have fallen asleep. ... ~ 1st Corinthians 15:20-22
I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. ...
~ Revelation 1:18
"... Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on." ~ Revelation 14:13
Has Jesus impacted you?
♥ It is the Power of Heart ♥
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♥
♥
♥
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7/30/2007 ~ Christ In Us
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... He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit, for without Me
you can do nothing. ... ~ John 15:1-8
Are you quiet for God, does His word satisfy you?
How is Christ in us?
└─> If we abide in Him.
... He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son.
~ 2nd John 1:9
... If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also;
and from now on you know Him and have seen Him." ~ John 14:6-8
God the Father was in Him. <─┘
How do we get Jesus to walk in us?
└─> Through the attributes of Jesus.
... being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, ...
~ Hebrews 1:1-4
Jesus envelops the Brilliance of truth to the glory of all.
... He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun,
and His clothes became as white as the light. ... ~ Matthew 17:1-5
If God is with us, Jesus is in us.
What kind of plant are you rooted in?
└─> The fruit that it bears.
People will see Jesus in us.
→ God shows us what the focus should be.
~ People saw God when Jesus walked on the earth,
because He cared and spoke truth.
└─> All others paled in comparison.
Through God’s pure creation, His Son came for us all to enlighten us all.
Our nation and the world is faced with an identity crisis.
... when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. ...
~ 2nd Corinthians 3:13-17
Regardless of any of man’s whims,
~ we NOW come in the presence of God through the gospel of Christ.
... He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself;
he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, ... ~ 1st John 5:9-10
"... But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny
before My Father who is in heaven." ~ Matthew 10:32-33
Do we only want a little religion to look good ...
or pursuing all of its’ brightness so we may reflect Jesus?
~
It’s not about what one does for the self but what one does for others.
It’s not about remembering us, but Christ.
... Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, ...
~ Philippians 2:1-7
Christ showed the embodiment of God
~ by being the ultimate soul of service.
→ He brought light to perpetual darkness.
... that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those
in heaven, and of those on earth, ... ~ Philippians 2:9-11
What do we decide in view of Christ?
→ Stay in scripture, read as much as possible.
"... you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life."
~ John 5:39-40
CHRIST IN YOU
... God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.
~ 1st John 4:12-16
... abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence
and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. ... ~ 1st John 2:28-29
You don’t have to put on a veil but shine as Christ did.
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9/9/2007 ~ Out of a Cloud
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... He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. ...
~ Acts 1:9-11
~ Jesus ascends to heaven.
→ The hope for His return remains.
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotton Son, ..."
~ John 3:16
Jesus is the Son of God.
BEFORE He ascended He was the Son of God.
Whether one believes it or not, He is the Son of God.
... He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. ...
~ Mark 16:19-20
AFTER He ascended, He was received in to heaven.
└─> And they went out and preached everywhere, ...
†
Reign over Death. <─┐
... He was buried, and that He rose again the third day
according to the Scriptures, ... ~ 1st Corinthians 15:1-4
● Christ Died For Us, Our Sins
● He was Buried
● He Rose Again the Third Day
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Death / Burial / Resurrection
But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits
of those who have fallen asleep. ... ~ 1st Corinthians 15:20-22
... "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. ..."
~ Mark 16:14-16
Jesus’ message is: Preach the Gospel.
... if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty
and your faith is also empty. ~ 1st Corinthians 15:12-14
┌─> Peter preached the Gospel on Pentecost.
... let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ
for the remission of sins; ... ~ Acts 2:38
BEFORE: the final ascension of Jesus into heaven
◊ CREATION
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. ~ Genesis 1:1
And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, ... ~ Genesis 2:7
◊ SIN and DEATH
"... the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day
that you eat of it you shall surely die." ~ Genesis 2:15-17
"... to know good and evil. And now, lest he put out his hand and take also
of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever" ~ Genesis 3:17-24
◊ PROPHECIES
"... He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel." ~ Genesis 3:15
└─> God had a plan of salvation.
◊ BIRTH, LIFE
... For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior,
who is Christ the Lord. ... ~ Luke 2:1-14
┌─> No other man can make this claim.
Jesus did not lie. <─┐
... "Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth"; ...
~ 1st Peter 2:21-22
◊ EXAMPLE, MIRACLES, TEACHINGS
... Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders,
and signs which God did through Him in your midst, ... ~ Acts 2:22-24
... teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; ...
~ Matthew 28:18-20
◊ DEATH, BURIAL, RESURRECTION
... Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He
was buried, and that He rose again the third day ... ~ 1st Corinthians 15:1-4
Life is the essential element in the equation of Jesus.
AFTER: the final ascension of Jesus into heaven
◊ KING OF THE KINGDOM
"... Then the King will say to those on His right hand, Come, you blessed of
My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you ..." ~ Matthew 25:31-34
◊ HIGH PRIEST
... He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and
faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, ... ~ Hebrews 2:17
But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, ...
~ Hebrews 9:11-12
◊ SAVIOR
And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son
as Savior of the world. ~ 1st John 4:14
"Him God has exalted to His right hand to be a Prince and Savior, ..."
~ Acts 5:31
┌─> There is just one savior.
... our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life
and immortality to light through the gospel, ... ~ 2nd Timothy 1:8-11
For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait
for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, ... ~ Philippians 3:20-21
◊ MEDIATOR
... one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus.
~ 1st Timothy 2:5
... He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, ...
~ Hebrews 9:15
... to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, ... ~ Hebrews 12:22-24
◊ EXAMPLE
... Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example,
that you should follow His steps: ... ~ 1st Peter 2:21
◊ PROPITIATION
... Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood,
through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, ... ~ Romans 3:21-26
And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, ... ~ 1st John 2:2
... He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
~ 1st John 4:7-10
Jesus is the only atonement for our sins.
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BEFORE
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AFTER
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CREATION
SIN and DEATH
PROPHECIES
BIRTH, LIFE
EXAMPLE, MIRACLES, TEACHINGS
DEATH, BURIAL, RESURRECTION
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KING OF THE KINGDOM
HIGH PRIEST
SAVIOR
MEDIATOR
EXAMPLE
PROPITIATION
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┌─> God is the sustainer of all life.
... He gives to all life, breath, and all things. ... ~ Acts 17:24-28
... seek those things which are above, where Christ is, ... ~ Colossians 3:1-2
Joy
Tearless
Tears
Pain
┌─> Jesus taught with authority.
... "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on the earth. ..."
~ Matthew 28:18-20
... ‘Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the Lord is one. ...' ~ Mark 12:28-33
└─> The commandment of God.
And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these
is love. ~ 1st Corinthians 13:13
Salvation is our faith hoping through our life as a new creation.
... if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; ...
~ 2nd Corinthians 5:17
Jesus ushered in a New Way of Living; one must question
how one lives according to His word delivered once for all.
... by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil,
that is, His flesh, ... ~ Hebrews 10:19-27
Jesus wants you to be with Him ~ You have to want to be with Him.
... and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, ...
~ 1st Thessalonians 1:10
~ ETERNAL LIFE ~
... "Behold, I make all things new." ... ~ Revelation 21:5
There shall be no night there: ... ~ Revelation 22:5
"... no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain,
for the former things have passed away." ~ Revelation 21:4
... they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.
~ Revelation 21:3
"... I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and
I will be their God, and they shall be My people." ~ Hebrews 8:10
We wait for His magnificent appearance.
"... hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand
of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven." ~ Matthew 26:64
... He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him,
even they who pierced Him. ... ~ Revelation 1:7
«◊»
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9/13/2007 ~ The Day God was Evicted
→ from His House
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"Yet I say to you that in this place there is One greater than the temple."
~ Matthew 12:6
God desires a Holy people.
His desire is evident from the very beginning
~ as God walked closely with His first creation, Adam & Eve.
● Then man was rejected from the garden because of sin.
○ God then prepared for a way for His own holy people
that would be befitting and devoted to Him.
... To a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation; ...
~ Genesis 12:1-3
From Abraham's descendants, a nation of holy people would be born.
... "Israel is My son, My firstborn. So I say to you, let My son go
that he may serve Me. ... ~ Exodus 4:22-23
A people that would serve God.
... You shall therefore consecrate yourselves, and you shall be holy;
for I am holy. ... ~ Leviticus 11:44-45
He is God and calls for us to be holy for He is Holy.
→ He then gave His special people a promised land.
David prepared a specific place for the worship of God
~ and Solomon built it.
May the Lord our God be with us, as He was with our fathers. ...
~ 1st Kings 8:57-58
But then Solomon led his people away from the worship of God.
He himself introduced a tremendous amount of idolatry,
● right in Jerusalem. Idols that persisted for centuries.
Solomon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and did not fully follow the Lord, ...
~ 1st Kings 11:6-8
Given to Solomon's civil servant Jeroboam. <─┐
"... I will surely tear the kingdom away from you and give it to your servant."
~ 1st Kings 11:11
Jeroboam then ruled over ten tribes to the north of Jerusalem
~ after Solomon's death.
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Kingdom
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Israel (10 tribes)
- King Jeroboam
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Judah (2 tribes)
- King Rehoboam
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Divided
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○ God promised Jeroboam that he would inherit a holy linage
if he would remain faithful.
... "It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem.
Here are your gods, O Israel, ..." ~ 1st Kings 12:28
Jeroboam led them down the path of idolatry just as Solomon did.
● Israel turned out to be worse than Judah to the south.
~ So God allows Israel to be destroyed and taken into captivity.
For so it was that the children of Israel had sinned against the Lord
their God, ... ~ 2nd Kings 17:7-8
└─> They abandoned God.
135 years after the destruction of Israel, taken captive by Assyria,
~ Judah had continued in idolatry.
"... Behold, you trust in lying words that cannot profit." ~ Jeremiah 7:1-8
The people had their confidence in the temple and not God.
● Institutionalized religion ●
Comparatively, when people see themselves as church members,
in a church, rather than Christians, one's trust is misplaced.
They continued to trust in the temple. <─┐
... you shall speak all these words to them, but they will not obey you. ...
~ Jeremiah 7:27
The need was, and is, to return to God.
┌─> Thank the Lord for His promises.
... after those days, says the LORD: I will put My law in their minds,
and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God,
and they shall be My people. ... ~ Jeremiah 31:33-34
GOD HAS BEEN CLEAR.
THE FALL OF JUDAH
● Daniel was taken into captivity in 605 BC. to Babylonia.
● Ezekiel was taken in 597 BC.
● In 586 BC Jerusalem was destroyed and Jeremiah
chose to stay in Jerusalem.
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ALL THREE GAVE THE SAME WARNINGS TO RETURN TO GOD.
Ezekiel is an almost 30 year old priest. <─┐
... the fifth day of the month, which was in the fifth year
of King Jehoiachin's captivity, ... ~ Ezekiel 1:1-3
God gives Ezekiel visions to help him understand
so he is able to explain to the people why and what is going on .
... in the sixth month, on the fifth day of the month,
as I sat in my house with the elders of Judah ... ~ Ezekiel 8:1
└─> After 5 years of captivity, Ezekiel reaches the age of 30.
He obviously had much training preparing himself to serve in the temple.
┌─> Priests had to be 30 to enter tabernacle duties.
"... from thirty years old and above, even to fifty years old,
all who enter the service ..." ~ Numbers 4:3
... and brought me in visions of God to Jerusalem,
to the door of the north gate of the inner court, ... ~ Ezekiel 8:2-3
Ezekiel is led in a vision to the temple in Jerusalem.
And behold, the glory of the God of Israel was there, ... ~ Ezekiel 8:4
While the glory of God was still there,
the first thing Ezekiel sees is an idol of jelousy.
... great abominations that the house of Israel commits here,
to make Me go far away from My sanctuary? ... ~ Ezekiel 8:5-6
God show Ezekiel the reasons He will be driven out of His own house.
... "Go in, and see the wicked abominations which they are doing there." ...
~ Ezekiel 8:7-12
⭧⭧⭧⭧⭧⭧⭧ ↑↑↑↑↑↑ ⭦⭦⭦⭦⭦⭦⭦
Seventy (In the New Testament, the number of the Sanhedrin)
⭨ of the elders of Israel are practicing idolatry.
They wept for the Sumerian fertility God and not God. <─┐
... to my dismay, women were sitting there weeping for Tammuz.
~ Ezekiel 8:13-14
IDOLS!
... a trivial thing to the house of Judah to commit the abominations
which they commit ... ~ Ezekiel 8:15-18
God was driven far away from His own sanctuary.
Then the glory of the Lord went up from the cherub,
and paused over the threshold of the temple; ... ~ Ezekiel 10:4
God pauses ready to exit the temple.
Then the glory of the Lord departed from the threshold of the temple ...
~ Ezekiel 10:18
And the glory of the Lord went up from the midst of the city ...
~ Ezekiel 11:23
God moved out of His own house because He was evicted.
The people who should have been maintaining it for Him filled it with everything against God’s will. <─┘
... "I do not do this for your sake, O house of Israel, but for
My holy name's sake, which you have profaned ..." ~ Ezekiel 36:22
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; ...
~ Ezekiel 36:26
These people who were spiritually dead had abandoned God.
Yet God offers them a new heart, a coming new covenant.
~ But how could He bring them back to life?
God resurrect the people of Judah?
And He said to me, "Son of man, can these bones live?" ... ~ Ezekiel 37:3
God tells Ezekiel to preach to the dead bones!
... and suddenly a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to bone. ...
~ Ezekiel 37:7-10
When the word of God is preached it brings life back to the dead.
┌─> The unholy people attacking God’s holy people.
... "Behold, I am against you, O Gog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal."
~ Ezekiel 38:2-3
Why do the nations rage, And the people plot a vain thing? ... ~ Psalm 2:1-3
... "We ought to obey God rather than men. ..." ~ Acts 5:27-33
It is the will of evil to attack with force the people of God.
... I am the Lord their God, who sent them into captivity among the nations,
but also brought them back to their land ... ~ Ezekiel 39:27-29
God gives the victory to His people.
... toward the south was something like the structure of a city. ...
~ Ezekiel 40:2-3
A symbolic city of perfection is described where God's people will dwell.
God will prevail with His people.
... The Spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner court; and
behold, the glory of the Lord filled the temple. ... ~ Ezekiel 43:1-5
The idolatry is gone.
The glory of God is where the temple is purified.
This restoration would be accomplished through Jesus Christ,
to bring back His glory.
... and the name of the city from that day shall be: THE LORD IS THERE.
~ Ezekiel 48:35
THE LORD IS THERE:
1. That's what God wanted.
2. What God was denied.
3. What He eventually establishes.
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The Lord wants fellowship with His people.
Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit
who is in you, whom you have from God, ... ~ 1st Corinthians 6:19-20
God expects us to dedicate ourselves to Him as individuals.
We are the temple of God and should not use our bodies for immorality.
... the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God,
who loved me and gave Himself for me. ~ Galatians 2:19-20
... "Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord,
Do not touch what is unclean, ..." ~ 2nd Corinthians 6:14-18
... having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all
filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness ... ~ 2nd Corinthians 7:1
God has promised to be our God and we can be His house (sanctuary).
We need to get rid of:
1. Works of the flesh, immorality.
2. Impurity of the spirit
3. False religion, false doctrine, false practice.
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We have to perfect our holiness in the fear of God.
The challenge is to perfect our holiness.
... I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself
in the house of God, ... ~ 1st Timothy 3:15
God also expects us to dedicate ourselves to Him collectively.
... If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the
temple of God is holy, which temple you are. ~ 1st Corinthians 3:16-17
We need to do the things the way God tells us to.
It is His house and we need to show Him due respect.
... His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who
called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; ... ~ 1st Peter 2:9-10
God's desire is for His own spiritual nation.
We are privalleged to be a part of the kingdom of Jesus Christ.
... He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because
it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy." ~ 1st Peter 1:13-16
God expects us to be holy.
It is the biggest challenge made to us today.
It is the challenge to imitate that holiness in our conduct.
God is incapable of existing permanently in the presence of iniquity.
We need to develop a character that despises sin like God despises sin.
God wants us to live separate from sin.
~ We minimize the significance of sin.
“Oh God won’t judge somebody for that” – Did God say that?
... "A dog returns to his own vomit," and, "a sow, having washed,
to her wallowing in the mire." ~ 2nd Peter 2:20-22
Sin is discusting to God.
All of us have specific battles with self control.
Next time we find our weakness, remember how ugly God sees it.
┌─> God offers us salvation from our ugliness.
... that you may remember and be ashamed, and never open your
mouth anymore because of your shame, ... ~ Ezekiel 16:62-63
We must defeat the enemy within us.
Through God's unlimited love He offers us salvation for our sins.
If we understand the gravity of sin, the depth of His love in saving us,
~ how can we be silent about this?
Do we value what has been delivered?
○ God has wanted His holy nation since He created man.
→ He will have this eternal worship.
~ We have the privilege of being part of that people.
It requires a determination to be holy for He is holy.
Do you truly respect and follow the principles He teaches?
What do you worship, things or God?
... the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt,
afterward destroyed those who did not believe. ~ Jude 1:5
"... All the earth shall be devoured With the fire of My jealousy."
~ Zephaniah 3:8
Does our sin outweigh our righteousness?
Is evil overwhelming the good in us?
○ Pray God help us.
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9/16/2007 ~ What Hung on the Cross?
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... "Do not write, The King of the Jews, but, He said, 'I am the King
of the Jews.' " Pilate answered, "What I have written, ..." ~ John 19:17-24
JESUS OF NAZARETH
THE KING OF THE JEWS
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Jesus hung on the cross along with a sign.
The Jews did not want the sign for it made them look bad.
Pilate wanted it because it made him look good with Caesar.
Pilate did not want to kill this innocent man and wanted
the Jews to feel the brunt of their murderous desires.
It was God’s message to us all.
┌─> We are asked to give up sin.
... putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ,
buried with Him in baptism, ... ~ Colossians 2:11-12
... And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. ...
~ Colossians 2:13-15
One sin is to much to bear upon our death.
┌─> He bore our sins.
... who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we,
having died to sins, might live for righteousness ... ~ 1st Peter 2:24
"And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors." ~ Matthew 6:12
⭨ ↓ ⭩
Our sin makes us debtors.
└─> It’s punishing, eternally damnating.
Do you want to be a debtor when you die?
┌─> A debt you could never repay.
"But as he was not able to pay, ..." ~ Matthew 18:25
He carried our sins on the cross to redeem our souls.
↑
Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle
of them, triumphing over them in it. ... ~ Colossians 2:15-17
└─> You can NOW bank on Jesus.
... the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but
to us who are being saved it is the power of God. ~ 1st Corinthians 1:17-18
└─> This is the power of Christ’s sacrifice for us on the cross.
The death of Jesus was the most powerful death known.
⭨ It represents the will of God. ⭩
Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law,
having become a curse for us ... ~ Galatians 3:13-14
Sacrifice holding unconditional love.
For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, ... ~ 2nd Corinthians 5:21
God has used what is foolishness to man to bring His wisdom to us.
... it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached
to save those who believe. ... ~ 1st Corinthians 1:18-25
... of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, ...
~ 1st Corinthians 1:26-31
On The Cross
1. Jesus' Body
2. Lamb of God
3. Sign
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↑
The death of Jesus was a visible receipt.
I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live,
but Christ lives in me; ... ~ Galatians 2:20
If you want to be a Christian, leave your sin at the cross.
... that our old man was crucified with Him, ... ~ Romans 6:3-7
... Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me,
and I to the world. ... ~ Galatians 6:14
We all hung on the cross.
Our sins dripping across His brow.
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9/23/2007 ~ Unchanging Church of God
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"Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands
all men everywhere to repent, ... ~ Acts 17:30-31
God allows for U-Turns.
Sin is our greatest challenge and salvation our greatest need.
┌─> The men of the church in the Book of Acts were on fire for the Lord.
... "These who have turned the world upside down have come here too."
~ Acts 17:6
The Book of Acts is about Jesus Christ crucified,
His resurection, - Him glorified.
~ Many people did not want to repent, to conform to God.
Our task is to know Christ and to make Him known.
~ It's about converting people to the Lord's way of thinking,
- fully obeidient to Jesus Christ.
"And we are His witnesses to these things, ... ~ Acts 5:32
God's chosen people are not to be as frozen people,
but His Growing and Going people.
... and preached Christ to them. ~ Acts 8:5
... at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him. ~ Acts 8:35
"... and you shall be witness to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea
and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." ~ Acts 1:8
┌─> Thiry years later the Gospel was in Rome. <─┘
( Acts 9:31 )
... preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the
Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding him. ~ Acts 28:30-31
- One theme of Acts is to clarify baptism.
Certainly people should understand and obey the truth of baptism.
→ A person does what the Bible says about baptism
because they want to be obediant to the Lord.
● It is said that the hardest commandment
in the Bible is not baptism, but repentance.
If you get people to change their minds about sin and self
~ and turn to the Lord, then the rest will fall into place.
"Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under
heaven given among men by which we must be saved." ~ Acts 4:12
"... narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life,
and there are few who find it." ~ Matthew 7:13-14
The word of God is not popular but true.
... The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul. ~ Acts 16:14
└─> Her hearing the salvation of Christ opened her heart.
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Person
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Proclamation
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People
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Jesus Christ
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Gospel preached
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Followers/church
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No one will be forced into the Kingdom against their will.
God has made Jesus a center piece of civilization.
Not just opinion, but factual scriptural evidence should persuade one.
... and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart
they should continue with the Lord. ... ~ Acts 11:20-24
"... testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God
and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ." ~ Acts 20:21
"And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself."
~ John 12:32
... reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and demonstrating
that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, ... ~ Acts 17:2-3
Many today are skeptical and have heard the Bible has errors,
→ but really, where are these errors?
~ How do we know the Bible is the inspired word of God?
The Bible itself is a miraculous book with dozens of messianic prophecies
which is history written in advance; - miraculous foreknowledge.
Many say they need a miracle to believe and have faith.
Open the Bible to witness a miracle,
Isaiah 52-53 has at least 15 prophesies about Christ:
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1.
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52:13
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Lifted up in suffering
(on the cross)
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(John 12:32,
Philippians 2:9-11)
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2.
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52:14
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Horribly disfigured in suffering
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(Matthew 27:26,30;
Mark 14:65,
Luke 22:63,
John 19:1-3)
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3.
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52:15
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Savior of nations by sprinkling
(cleansing) in worldwide
spread of gospel
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(Colossians 1:23,
Romans 15:21)
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4.
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53:2
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Born of lowly, unimpressive
origins (Nazareth)
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(Matthew 2:23,
John 1:46,
Philippians 2:5-8)
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5.
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53:3
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Despised and forsaken of men
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(Luke 23:21)
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6.
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53:3
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Endured mental anguish for us
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(Mark 14:34)
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7.
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53:4-6
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Suffered vicariously for our sins
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(Matthew 26:28)
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8.
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53:5
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Pierced through (by crucifixion)
for our transgressions
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(Mark 15:25,
1st Peter 2:24,
3:18)
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9.
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53:7
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Silent as a defenseless lamb
before unjust accusers
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(Matthew 27:14,
Mark 14:61,
1st Peter 2:23)
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10.
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53:9
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Died with criminals
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(John 19:18,
Luke 23:32-33)
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11.
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53:9
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Buried by a rich man
to honor his sinless sacrifice
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(Matthew 27:57-60)
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12.
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53:10
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Raised from the dead
to give birth to the church
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(Acts 20:28,
2nd Corinthians 5:21,
Romans 6:8-10,
Ephesians 1:7-10)
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13.
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53:11
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Provided justification for sinners
by substitutionary suffering
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(1st Peter 2:24,
Romans 5:15-19)
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14.
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53:12
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Interceded for transgressors
while suffering
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(Luke 23:34,
Romans 8:34,
Hebrews 7:25)
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15.
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53:12
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Highly exalted by God
as Lord and Christ
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(Acts 2:33-36)
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Above listing provided by Frank Walton
Found in the dead sea scrolls, the Book of Isaiah is dated from 100 A.D.
- It is proven that Jesus was spoken of and written about
~ before He was born.
Our faith is a reasoned understanding based on evidence.
God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power,
who went about doing good and healing ... ~ Acts 10:38
Jesus' acts were public and widespread.
His miracles were publicly witnessed and verified,
~ unlike tall tales told today of knowing someone who knows someone
who was raised from the dead; miracles never seen.
┌─> David lived 1,000 years before Christ.
... Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption. ... ~ Acts 2:23-28
Messiah not undergoing corruption is evidence of Christ's resurrection.
"... an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh,
He would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne, ..." ~ Acts 2:30
└─> God promised David to sit one of his descendants on his throne.
Acts takes Old Testament prophesies and shows
how Jesus has the unique fingerprint of the Messiah.
~ It's not what the Bible says, it's that it is, God's one and only Book.
"... Behold, He is coming," Says the LORD of hosts. ~ Malachi 3:1
We have a great need for a savior
and we have a great savior for our need.
⭩ ↓ ⭨
... whoever calls on the name of the Lord Shall be saved. ~ Acts 2:21
NAMES OF JESUS IN ACTS.
● Jesus of Nazareth (Son of Man)
● Son of God
● The Christ (Messiah)
● Savior (Jesus)
● Lamb (of God)
● Lord (King) of the Kingdom
● Judge of the living and the dead
● The Prophet
● Prince of Life
● Chief Cornerstone
● God's Servant
● Holy and Righteous One.
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"... God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."
~ Acts 2:36
┌─> Seed refers to the virgin birth.
... And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, ...
~ Genesis 3:15
It was foretold that Christ would crush the devil.
"... And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." ~ Genesis 12:3
The rest of the Bible is a fulfillment of this one verse. <─┘
The scepter shall not depart from Judah, ...until Shiloh comes;
And to Him shall be the obedience of the people. ~ Genesis 49:10
The Messiah was from the tribe of Judah
who was also a descendant of David.
┌─> The Book of Mormon says Jesus was born in Jerusalem which is not so.
"... Bethlehem ... out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler
... From everlasting." ~ Micah 5:2
There were two Bethlehem’s in the Old Testament.
Jesus was born in the southern one which was called the city of David
and raised in the northern one as a Nazarene.
● Our faith is not based on some mindless tradition but on scriptural
evidence that any honest open person can easily read and understand.
... according to the promise, God raised up for Israel a Savior - Jesus -
~ Acts 13:23
Jesus came to rescue us from sin and death.
"For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost." ~ Matthew 18:11
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life
in Christ Jesus our Lord. ~ Romans 6:23
He took on our sin that we might see eternal life.
... who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we,
having died to sins, might live for righteousness ... ~ 1st Peter 2:24
In this culture of blame, we are accountable for ourselves.
Would we reject what Jesus wills us to be?
So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. ~ Romans 14:12
" '... rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.' "
~ Acts 4:11
Everyone should be more like Christ being transformed from the inside.
Strength through peace in view of God’s own truth..
... the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus, ... ~ Acts 3:13
"But you denied the Holy One and the Just, ..." ~ Acts 3:14
"... and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead,
of which we are witnesses." ~ Acts 3:15
For the law was given through Moses,
but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. ~ John 1:17
○ Jesus is right and anyone who disagrees with Him is wrong.
... all who hear me today, might become both almost and altogether
such as I am, ... ~ Acts 26:29
└─> A Christian.
The murderous Rabbi Saul turned in to the faithful Paul.
~ The Lord specializes in lost causes and hopeless cases.
... "Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent; ..." ~ Acts 18:9-10
Those searching for a better life and to overcome the emptiness of sin,
- searching to find the meaning of life, → will find it through the Gospel.
Jesus Christ is the Savior of souls and the builder of men.
The Lord has the power if we have the faith.
... "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on the earth."
~ Matthew 28:18
Acts is an example of the power and workings
of the religion Jesus died to establish.
... and they spoke the word of God with boldness. ~ Acts 4:31
In times of trouble, people tend to turn to the true God.
... the One whom you worship without knowing, Him I proclaim to you: ...
~ Acts 17:22-23
The message has always been turn back to God!
... you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition. ...
~ Matthew 15:6-9
'... And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines
the commandments of men.' ~ Matthew 15:9
These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed
religion, false humility, and neglect ... ~ Colossians 2:23
Men think they are smarter than God.
"God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."
~ John 4:24
TYPES OF WORSHIP
1. Ignorant
2. Vain
3. Self-Chosen
4. In Spirit
5. In Truth
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The focus of worship is to please God first and not ourselves.
Truth without spirit is dead.
Spirit without truth is a delusion.
Religious fervor without divine guidance is blind.
Right attitudes precede the right acts of worship.
We must be prepared in our hearts to worship God.
And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, ...
~ Acts 2:42-47
ATTITUDES OF WORSHIP
1. Awe/Fear
2. Believing
3. Unity of Mind
4. Gladness/Joy
5. Sincerity of Heart
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Then fear came upon every soul, ... ~ Acts 2:43
... devout men, from every nation under heaven. ~ Acts 2:5
... Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. ... ~ Matthew 6:9-10
God is far GREATER and more glorious than any of us.
"... You are of this world; I am not of this world." ~ John 8:23
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Awe or Fear = Great Respect for God
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Serve the Lord with fear, And rejoice with trembling. ~ Psalm 2:11
↑ Happy and glad with respect for God.
Worship should be God centered and not man centered.
~ Our God invites each ONE of us through Jesus Christ,
→ into His throne room, an unspeakable privilege.
Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, ...
~ Acts 2:44
I trust God wholeheartedly and want to please Him.
┌─> Abel was righteous, trusting and obeying God.
By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, ...
~ Hebrews 11:4
... And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil
and his brother's righteous. ~ 1st John 3:10-12
... gone in the way of Cain, have run greedily in the error ... ~ Jude 1:8-11
Cain's casual worship of God was called evil.
But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God
must believe that He is, ... ~ Hebrews 11:6
~ Unity of spirit or mind is called for.
So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, ... ~ Acts 2:46
... of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; ... ~ Acts 4:32
... For we, though many, are one bread and one body;
for we all partake of that one bread. ~ 1st Corinthians 10:15-17
... with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father
of our Lord Jesus Christ. ~ Romans 15:5-6
... First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. ...
~ Matthew 5:23-26
God wants us to be reconciled, for proper and mindful worship.
... if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault
between you and him alone. ... ~ Matthew 18:15
We need to draw close to one another.
● We should be joyful.
If we have gladness in our worship, it eliminates worship weariness.
"And when you offer the blind as a sacrifice, Is it not evil?
And when you offer the lame and sick, Is it not evil? ... ~ Malachi 1:8
┌─> Anything goes babbling to appease men.
Worshipping God ignorantly - we bring Him the blind.
Worshipping God half-heartedly brings Him the lame.
└─> When will this be over?
... with gladness and simplicity of heart, ... ~ Acts 2:46
... walking, leaping, and praising God. ... ~ Acts 3:8-9
And there was great joy in that city. ~ Acts 8:8
⭦\╬/⭧
On what your HEART delights and your soul depends, this is your God.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, ... ~ Colossians 3:16
... singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord. ~ Ephesians 5:19
The only ordained and authorized instrument is the heart.
A true sincere worshipper does not need constant external stimulus
~ to excite them about worship.
→ Worship should come from the inside ←
← and not temporarily forced from the outside. →
ACTS OF WORSHIP
1. Listening to Preaching of God's Word
2. The Breaking of Bread in the Lord's Supper
3. Fellowship in Giving
4. Prayers to God
5. Praise of God
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And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord
Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. ... ~ Colossians 3:17
... in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. ~ Acts 2:42
┌─> He read from morning to mid-day.
... And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, ...
~ Nehemiah 8:5-6
When we listen to scripture we bow in our hearts
~ because God is speaking in view of eternity.
→ We will be judged by how we respond to the word of God.
... When they had read it, they rejoiced over its encouragement. ...
~ Acts 15:30-32
... keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.
~ Revelation 1:3
We need to rededicate our lives each week to the Lord.
He gave His all so that we can give our all to Him.
◈ Jesus must be valued above all or not at all.
We live for Him who died for us.
And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship,
in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. ~ Acts 2:42
... "This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me." ...
~ Luke 22:19-20
Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together
to break bread, ... ~ Acts 20:7
Giving fulfills scriptural needs.
... and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all,
as anyone had need. ... ~ Acts 2:45
... and they distributed to each as anyone had need. ~ Acts 4:34-35
Prayer is the voice of faith, it is the breath of the soul.
... and in prayers. ~ Acts 2:42
... continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, ... ~ Acts 1:14
... they raised their voice to God with one accord ... ~ Acts 4:24
"... but we will give ourselves continually to prayer ..." ~ Acts 6:4
... and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them. ~ Acts 6:6
... constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church. ~ Acts 12:5
Prayer comes from speaking to God from the heart.
... with gladness and simplicity of heart, ... ~ Acts 2:46
When we sing we exalt the greatness of God.
But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, ...
~ Acts 16:25
... continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit
of our lips, giving thanks to His name. ~ Hebrews 13:15
Sincere humble hearts who genuinely exalt
the greatness of God from ◎ within.
How real and ALIVE is God to you?
SING OUT!
Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples
multiplied greatly ... ~ Acts 6:7
Acts tells us what we must do to be saved.
... "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" ~ Acts 16:30
PROCESS OF SALVATION
1. Hear
2. Believe
3. Repent
4. Confess
5. Baptized
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Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, ... ~ Acts 2:37-38
So I said, What shall I do, Lord? ... ~ Acts 22:10
'... Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins,
calling on the name of the Lord.' ~ Acts 22:16
Salvation is rescue from sin and death.
● One moment after death we all will behold eternity before us.
○ Will we have done what God has called us to do?
The pieces have been given for a whole picture of what we must do.
... and a great number believed and turned to the Lord. ... ~ Acts 11:20-24
So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed. ~ Acts 19:20
... "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, ..." ~ Acts 16:31
... "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ
for the remission of sins; ... ~ Acts 2:38
'And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, ... ~ Acts 22:16
... praying and singing hymns to God,
and the prisoners were listening to them. ... ~ Acts 16:23-29
~ Christians are on the edge of eternity.
Christians Suffer for the sake of others, hoping for their transformation
to be returned to the love of God, saved from the fate of sin.
- Sin separates us from God,
the source of light, life, and all that is good.
Hell is in the outer darkness where weeping and gnashing
of teeth is done utterly alone for all eternity.
No one wants to go to hell.
... for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, .... ~ Romans 3:23
"... if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins." ~ John 8:24
Faith is acceptance of something as true, a reliance on that,
→ and then obedience to that.
... he who comes to God must believe that He is, ... ~ Hebrews 11:6
I believe that God is - Trusting and relying in Him as a rewarder
- diligently seeking Him.
○ Our faith needs to be in the Lord and not ourselves.
Our dependence is on God.
"He who believes and is baptized will be saved; ... ~ Mark 16:16
... whoever calls on the name of the Lord Shall be saved. ... ~ Acts 2:21-22
... he rejoiced, having believed in God ... ~ Acts 16:33-34
One has to appeal for the help of God.
... Moreover my flesh also will rest in hope. ... ~ Acts 2:23-32
You can not play games with God and win.
If you look for the minimum requirement,
you will miss the maximum benefit.
... He poured out this which you now see and hear. ... ~ Acts 2:25-35
Prophecy is history written in advance.
┌─> He would be sold for 30 pieces of silver.
... that princely price they set on me. So I took the thirty pieces of silver ...
~ Zechariah 11:13
... They pierced My hands and My feet; ... ~ Psalm 22:16
└─> Before crucifixion was even invented.
... He was wounded for our transgressions, ... ~ Isaiah 53:5
All these prophecies coalesce so that we may know
Jesus the Christ is our one and only savior.
God did all this to win us back.
... "Men and brethren what shall we do?" ~ Acts 2:36-37
Change of mind about sin leads to a change of life.
○ God is right and I am wrong ●
~ It is our will to serve God or to sin.
We all have a conscience, a moral governor of right and wrong;
When we violate that, it is God's means for us to reach out for Him.
... Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. ... ~ Acts 2:5
... "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of
Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; ... ~ Acts 2:38
... many who had believed came confessing and telling their deeds. ...
~ Acts 19:17-19
... So I said, What shall I do, Lord? ... ~ Acts 22:6-10
... I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand ...
~ Acts 22:11
And he was three days without sight, ... ~ Acts 9:9
Belief, repentance ...
"... at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold,
he is praying." ~ Acts 9:11
... Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard from many about this man, ...
~ Acts 9:13
"... he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles,
kings, and the children of Israel." ~ Acts 9:15
'And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, ...' ~ Acts 22:16
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and not of yourselves,
it is the gift of God, not of works, ... ~ Ephesians 2:8-9
The claim is made that baptism is not necessary because it is a work
and sufficient for salvation is just faith and grace.
Why do humans try to set the terms of God?
Many would like to believe that just belief is sufficient for salvation.
"... whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."
~ John 3:16
For "whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." ~ Romans 10:13
It is not said to “only” believe, but it is an appeal to all that Jesus is.
"But why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do the things which I say?"
~ Luke 6:46
You shall march around the city, ... ~ Joshua 6:3
The Lord calls us to action.
... He said to him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam" ... ~ John 9:6-7
The Lord asks us to respond to His word.
Will we take action or ignore His instructions?
~ Baptism is not an avoidable work but a call
upon the name of the Lord for forgiveness.
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TRUST IN MAN ≠ TRUST IN GOD
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We should be elated that we have the opportunity
to regain a relationship with God through Jesus.
The petty minded miss the whole message of God’s declaration.
... created in Christ Jesus for good works, ... ~ Ephesians 2:10
Baptism is the beginning of a life of discipleship
in following Jesus to heaven.
... He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us
from all unrighteousness. ~ 1st John 1:7-9
... To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood.
~ Revelation 1:5
Baptism brings you into the body of Christ paid for by His blood.
For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body
- whether Jews or Greeks, ... ~ 1st Corinthians 12:13
... When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
~ Acts 19:1-5
There is also an antitype which now saves us - baptism ... ~ 1st Peter 3:21
... apostles and beaten them, they commanded that they should
not speak in the name of Jesus, ... ~ Acts 5:40
Baptism is necessary for salvation
but it does not guarantee one will stay in Christ.
And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, ...
~ Acts 2:42
... many believed in His name when they saw the signs which He did.
~ John 2:23
If one hears and believes, there is what must be done.
Baptism saves because God chose it to.
... Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized
by John in the Jordan. ... ~ Mark 1:9-11
... "See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?" ...
~ Acts 8:36-39
Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized
into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? ... ~ Romans 6:3-5
... now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
~ 2nd Corinthians 6:1-2
... "Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts
as in the rebellion." ~ Hebrews 3:12-15
Jesus looks for open joyous humble hearts.
The Kingdom of God is about joy, peace and righteousness.
And we declare to you glad tidings
- that promise which was made to the fathers. ~ Acts 13:32
Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad
and glorified the word of the Lord. ... ~ Acts 13:48-49
And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. ~ Acts 13:52
Christianity is a blessing of comfort.
There are blessings that come with the Gospel.
Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out,
so that times of refreshing may come ... ~ Act 3:19
If you do this a time of refreshing will come.
... "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name
of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; ... ~ Acts 2:38
Blessing of forgiveness.
"... by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which
you could not be justified by the law of Moses." ~ Acts 13:38-39
Through Christ everyone who actively believes is freed from
that which one could not be freed from through Law of Moses.
We can be free of a guilty conscience.
We can be free from being condemned before God.
" '... of Satan to God, that they may receive forgivness of sins and an
inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.' " ~ Acts 26:18
Sinners are on a death march to hell.
Salvation is so great because judgment is so awful.
"... God, having raised up His Servant Jesus, sent Him to bless you,
in turning away every one of you from your iniquities." ~ Acts 3:25-26
"... He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world
in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. ..." ~ Acts 17:30-31
It is a blessing to be able to obey the Gospel.
And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the Lord
Shall be saved. ~ Acts 2:21
"Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under
heaven given among men by which we must be saved." ~ Acts 4:12
"Him God has exalted to His right hand to be a Prince and Savior,
to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins." ~ Acts 5:31
We come to the cross of Christ
and Jesus shields us from the wrath of God.
"In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever
fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him." ~ Acts 10:34-35
... "Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life."
~ Acts 11:18
God is willing to accept any and all.
Jesus is an equal opportunity savior.
One can only make it to heaven with Jesus.
● Key is one must turn to Christ and turn from sin.
Repentance is something you do in your mind and heart.
One takes responsibility for choices.
... and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." ... ~ Acts 8:35-39
'... be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.'
~ Acts 22:16
God does not accept excuses.
You are either marching dead or alive.
- Confident or questioning?
If you believe, why do you delay?
~
We are blessed to have the fullness of spiritual life in the present!
~ In the knowledge of Christ.
"... and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, ..."
~ Acts 3:15
"Go, stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this life."
~ Acts 5:20
"... I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it
more abundantly." ~ John 10:10
Christianity makes you a better person here and now.
↓
We have justification by divine grace and not human legalism.
... who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you
have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe ... ~ 1st John 5:11-13
... why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples ...
~ Acts 15:9-11
"... from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God."
~ Acts 20:24
"... for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and
he who humbles himself will be exalted." ~ Luke 18:9-14
Jesus condemned those who trusted in themselves,
that they were righteous viewing others with contempt.
"But this crowd that does not know the law is accursed." ~ John 7:49
└─> They felt spiritual superior through their efforts.
"And the way of peace they have not known." ~ Romans 3:17
→Salvation through perfect rule keeping is an unbearable yoke.
Faith involves obedience to God through submission to His will.
The Pharisaic approach was a failed approach.
▲ Submissive obedience of faith ▲
and not
▼ Salvation by perfect rule keeping. ▼
Faith looks away from self to the ultimate trust in God
and seeks to draw closer to God by pleasing God.
And there was great joy in that city. ~ Acts 8:8
... eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing. ~ Acts 8:39
"... and they glorified God, saying, "Then God has also granted
to the Gentiles repentance to life." ~ Acts 11:18
... he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of the heart ...
~ Acts 11:23
Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified
the word of the Lord. ... ~ Acts 13:48-49
Joy is a grateful reception of a gift.
How much do you appreciate the Grace of God?
Christians should be the happiest people in the world
because we are children of God.
" '... of Satan to God, that they may receive forgivness of sins and an
inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.' " ~ Acts 26:18
... He would be the first to rise from the dead, and would proclaim light ...
~ Acts 26:23
... "Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent; for I am with you, ...
~ Acts 18:9-10
A Christian has light.
A Christian can see in the light of eternity.
We are blessed in the fellowship of love.
... those who believed were of one heart and one soul; ... ~ Acts 4:32-34
One of the hardest things to do is get along with brethren
because of anger and selfishness.
... they were all afraid of him, and did not believe that he was a disciple. ...
~ Acts 9:26-27
... "We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God."
~ Acts 14:21-22
... gathered the church together, they reported all that God had done
swith them, and that He had opened the door of faith ... ~ Acts 14:27-28
We need to see the BEST in each other.
... walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit,
they were multiplied. ~ Acts 9:31
We have the comfort of the Holy Spirit.
... For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God,
for God does not give the Spirit by measure. ... ~ John 3:34-36
An infinite measure. <─┘
"... for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized
with the Holy Spirit not many days from now." ... ~ Acts 1:5-8
... the lot fell on Matthias. And he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
~ Acts 1:26
When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord
in one place. ~ Acts 2:1
And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak
with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. ~ Acts 2:4
And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born?
~ Acts 2:8
... "Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you,
and heed my words." ~ Acts 2:14
Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done
through the apostles. ~ Acts 2:43
The Apostles received a baptismal measure with power.
... Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. ...
~ Acts 8:15-19
The disciples had a miraculous measure.
"For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off,
as many as the Lord our God will call." ~ Acts 2:39
"And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit
whom God has given to those who obey Him." ~ Acts 5:32
Today, we have a common measure in a relationship with God.
Originally the Holy Spirit guided the Apostles by speaking to them.
HOLY SPIRIT MEASURE
Jesus Christ
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Without Measure
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Apostle's
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Baptismal Measure
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Disciples
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Miraculous Measure
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People Today
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Common Measure
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... the Spirit said to Philip, "Go near and overtake this chariot." ~ Acts 8:29
... the Spirit said to him, "Behold, three men are seeking you." ~ Acts 10:19
... the Holy Spirit said, "Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for ...
~ Acts 13:2
... it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you
no greater burden ... ~ Acts 15:28
... "Thus says the Holy Spirit, ..." ~ Acts 21:11
... walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, ...
~ Acts 9:31
"The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace
through Jesus Christ ..." ~ Acts 10:36
And after they had stayed there for a time, they were sent back ...
~ Acts 15:33
The Holy Spirit directly communicated with 1st century Christians.
Today, we can have peace with God and one another.
We also have the hope of resurrection.
Our faith is we believe.
... concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead ... ~ Acts 23:6
"... Why should it be thought incredible by you that God raises the dead?"
~ Acts 26:6-8
" '... may receive forgivness of sins and an inheritance among those
who are sanctified by faith in Me.' " ~ Acts 26:18
We have hope of a better life to come.
Jesus has died and left us a fortune; An inheritance of eternal life.
... And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed. ~ Acts 13:48
"... the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you
an inheritance among all those who are sanctified." ~ Acts 20:32
Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there). ...
~ Revelation 21:25-27
Heaven’s gates are open with a welcome sign for all.
We can have God's amazing Grace.
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WELCOME!
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Hebrews 9:11
NEW JERUSALEM
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Acts, along with being an instruction manual,
shows us how God delivered His word to us.
... And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, ...
~ Acts 2:42
The Lord's people are distinctive following the word of Jesus Christ.
Without the divine guidance of God, the church becomes a social club
buried under the rubbish of human invention.
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FAITH IN GOD ≠ FAITH IN MAN
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The Lord's church is the Lord's people patterned after the Lord's word.
So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed. ~ Acts 19:20
The Lord's word has power if we have faith in it.
... devout men, from every nation under heaven. ~ Acts 2:5
And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying,
"Be saved from this perverse generation." ~ Acts 2:40
Our response to God is a life or death matter.
... had peace and were edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord ...
~ Acts 9:31
It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. ~ Hebrews 10:31
● The Essence of Reverence is submission to divine authority.
Many people in the religious world say they believe in God or the Bible,
and then they add all kinds of things to religious services,
~ NOT what God has said, ~ but what they want.
→ The fear of the Lord is to respect what God has delivered.
... I worship the God of my fathers, ... ~ Acts 24:14
One can STAKE their life on the word of God.
"The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet ...
~ Deuteronomy 18:15-19
... every soul who will not hear that Prophet shall be utterly destroyed
from among the people. ~ Acts 3:22-23
Jesus is God's ultimate final prophet.
The Koran states Muhammad is the seal or greatest of the prophets.
The Bible states that there would be the prophet, the New Law giver,
- who would be Jesus Christ.
... when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; ...
~ John 16:13
One can only break themselves in not listening to Christ
~ searching for another way.
● Jesus is the divine prophet who speaks the mind God.
○ Jesus is Lord over His Kingdom.
... ... preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things
which concern the Lord Jesus Christ ... ~ Acts 28:31
Does God control your life?
~ It is about what He wants, not what we want.
... He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world
in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. ... ~ Acts 17:31
Jesus will be our final judge.
We are all free to think, to say, and to do, what we want to,
... but we will have to take responsibility for that.
→ God made us free willed moral agents.
The conservative way to scripture is the only safe way to obey God's will.
● If we respect divine Biblical authority,
we need to reject human standards of divine authority.
┌─> Emotionally moved (deceived). A long time (tradition). <─┐
... he had astonished them with his sorceries for a long time. ~ Acts 8:9-11
└─> Claiming greatness (Religious shyster). They all gave heed. <─┘
There can be a circle of madness or mass hysteria.
The majority of people in religion can be wrong
~ especially if people have the herd mentality.
If it is past Apostolic age of divine revelation in the first century,
then it has no foundation in original God inspired truth.
... he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God
and the name of Jesus Christ, ... ~ Acts 8:12
~ Key to understanding is what does the Bible say?
Much of what the Bible says is common sense
and it does include specifics.
"Remember Lot's wife." ~ Luke 17:32
└─> A command, an example.
God either instructs us by showing us or telling us directly
or gives us information which we are to infer or deduce from.
... "No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back,
is fit for the kingdom of God." ~ Luke 9:62
Use of common sense,
God's pattern on any subject is that you take what God has said
on that subject and stay within that.
Some say the Lord's Supper is to common if it is done every week.
Some say doing it once a year makes it more special.
What does the Bible say?
... in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, ...
~ Acts 2:42
The Lord's Day, the day of Pentecost fell on a Sunday (an example)
with an inference of weekly.
┌─> First day of the year?; quarter?; month?; - Week! - (Apostolic example).
Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together
to break bread, ... ~ Acts 20:7
┌─> We are commanded not to forsake the assembly of those faithful.
... not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, ... ~ Hebrews 10:24-25
┌─> Collections are for the saints.
Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders ... so
you must do also: On the first day of the week ... ~ 1st Corinthians 16:1-2
└─> Another example of frequency of assembly.
Benevolence out of the collective treasury was for saints only.
... and divided them among all, as anyone had need. ~ Acts 2:44-45
... and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, and laid them
at the apostles' feet; ... ~ Acts 4:34-35
They contributed to the treasury.
Peter had a treasury available to him.
... "Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: ..."
~ Acts 3:2-6
This is an example of someone who had a benevolent need
that was not helped out of the church treasury where they were
helping those who were church members out of the church treasury.
All are called to help as ambassadors of Christ.
... as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, ... ~ Galatians 6:10
This is an individual responsibility. <─┘
... So when they had appointed elders in every church, ... ~ Acts 14:23
└─> Example of plurality of elders in every church.
Some churches have a single pastor or elder
and this is not a new testament pattern.
Silence beyond the scriptures is prohibitive,
that is a lack of authorization.
Why is it that the church of Christ has none of the following:
NOT FOUND IN WORSHIP
1. Gym
2. Kitchen
3. Sponsored ball team
4. Choirs and instrumental music
5. etc.
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Silence of the scriptures does not mean permissive but rather prohibitive.
Teaching doctrines with no authority. <─┐
... some who went out from us have troubled you with words,
unsettling your souls, ... ~ Acts 15:24
Do not assume beyond what God has said, and teach that.
Our faith ends where the light of divine revelation goes out.
- The practical power of the word of God.
... I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, ... ~ Acts 20:32
The word of God will change you from the inside out.
If you are not being transformed from the inside out,
you are not letting the word sink in.
... receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save
your souls. ~ James 1:21
... I myself thought I must do many things contrary to the name of Jesus ...
~ Acts 26:9-11
... fallen to the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me and saying in the
Hebrew language, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? ... ~ Acts 26:14
└─> Changed his mind when confronted with the truth.
Paul who formerly hated Christ became the foremost purveyor of Christ.
● It is Christ's power within us that changes us. ○
... had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that
with purpose of the heart they should continue with the Lord. ~ Acts 11:23
From sinner to Saint.
Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through Me." ~ John 14:6
~ Jesus wants to change you for the better
and take you to heaven with Him.
... and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.
~ Acts 17:11
To read a chapter in the Bible takes 10 minutes.
Many people watch television 4 hours a day.
How much time do you give to God's word?
How much do you thirst God?
... for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught
a great many people. ... ~ Acts 11:26
~ They had regular Bible study.
Participation shows your spiritual health, if you have a spiritual appetite.
~ They were comforted in the word of God.
... had peace and were edified. ... ~ Acts 9:31
There will be those that despise the word of God.
... he killed James the brother of John with the sword. ~ Acts 12:1-2
Herod killed James and arrested Peter.
... because he did not give glory to God. And he was eaten by worms
and died. ... ~ Acts 12:23-24
God's purpose will not be defeated.
... - to whom we gave no such commandment - ... ~ Acts 15:24
... to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden
than these necessary things: ... ~ Acts 15:28
... When they had read it, they rejoiced over its encouragement. ...
~ Acts 15:30-33
... teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, ... ~ Acts 15:35
Focus on what the word teaches.
"... take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me."
~ Acts 27:20-25
God is greater than any problem that we face.
We read the Bible to know that we are not alone,
to join our hearts with the eternal truth.
Acts shows each member having an
active involvement in their faith.
... those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word. ~ Acts 8:4
"For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard."
~ Acts 4:20
The mentality was each one teach one.
... encouraged them all that with purpose of the heart they should
continue with the Lord. ~ Acts 11:23
... grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, ...
~ Acts 4:29-31
One must go from a static saint to an active disciple of Jesus.
So the churches were strengthened in the faith,
and increased in number daily. ~ Acts 16:5
There are core members in the church down to people on the fringe,
strong members verses weak members.
~ There are the 5,2,1, talent members.
... to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, ...
~ Matthew 25:14-18
However, every Christian must be trained and equipped
to be the strongest and best Christian they can be.
Each of us must be willing to be in a pattern of growth.
→ We are not going to heaven if we are not willing to grow
... and to help others to grow also.
~ Christianity builds on itself.
... And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch. ~ Acts 11:26
What is a Christian?
~ A Christian is a follower of Christ.
● Job number one for Jesus was saving souls.
If Jesus had a heart for the lost, we should have a heart for the lost.
→ Jesus' passion was to teach the Gospel.
We could all use a faith lift as active messengers of Jesus.
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Saint = One dedicated to the Lord.
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... And they realized that they had been with Jesus. ~ Acts 4:12-13
One's faith through Jesus allows one to see
through the delusions of this world.
Distractions do not lead to God.
1st CENTURY CHRISTIANS REALIZED:
● God is real
● Sin is black
● Judgment is certain
● Hell is hot
● Heaven is freely offered
● Salvation is only in Jesus Christ
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... and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke
the word of God with boldness. ~ Acts 4:29-31
Jesus transforms us to have boldness in the courage of calm.
... looking steadfastly at him, saw his face as the face of an angel. ~ Acts 6:15
A devout believer shines the light of God.
~ If we do not have anything worth dying for,
... then we don't have anything worth living for.
... praising God and having favor with all the people. ... ~ Acts 2:47
... the people esteemed them highly. ~ Acts 5:12-13
Our lives must match the message we proclaim.
Do you walk the talk?
~ One must live the word.
Jesus makes one genuine and not a hypocrite.
... "Do yourself no harm, for we are all here." ... ~ Acts 16:22-30
They kept their poise under persecution.
... they entered the temple early in the morning and taught. ... ~ Acts 5:19-21
~ You can kill us but you can't stop us.
● There is an urgency for the Gospel to be spread.
Currently, 5 people die per second from the Earth,
to pass into vast and never-ending eternity.
That's 432,000 people dying per day.
→ Sin is the cancer of the soul.
○ The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the cure.
Checklist:
□ Do you believe in God?
□ Do you believe the Bible is the word of God?
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↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑
These are the essentials, then it is a lifelong process of discipleship.
The central thing is are you willing to follow Jesus.
"... not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. ..."
~ Acts 6:2-4
Don't get sidetracked from preaching the Gospel.
... describing the conversion of the Gentiles; and they caused great joy
to all the brethren. ... ~ Acts 15:2-4
Issues will arise but don't loose the focus of saving souls.
... "Lord, do not charge them with this sin." And when he had said this,
he fell asleep. ~ Acts 7:60
It involves a heart of compassion for the lost.
Compassion motivates you to say the right things.
... serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears and trials ...
~ Acts 20:19-21
So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, ...
~ Acts 8:30
... he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and with the Gentile
worshipers, and in the marketplace daily ... ~ Acts 17:16-17
... Paul wanted to go in to the people, the disciples would not allow him. ...
~ Acts 19:30-31
There is a zeal to make contact with the lost.
We can have ongoing motivation if we have joy in serving the savior.
... rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name. ...
~ Acts 5:40-42
Are you a Christian that lives to keep from going to hell
~ instead of a Christian that lives to go to heaven?
Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous
Spirit. Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, ... ~ Psalm 51:12-13
Are you excited about being a Christian?
... I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense
toward God and men. ~ Acts 24:14-16
Paul maintained a sincere conscience before God.
- The most miserable person is the one
○ with one foot in the church and one foot in the world. ●
~ "I ought to go to church but I really don't like to." ~
Either you get in or you get out.
Struggling in our choices may mean that our heart is divided.
For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. ~ Philippians 1:21
One's faith has to be clear.
"... but also all who hear me today, might become both almost and
altogether such as I am, except for these chains." ~ Acts 26:25-29
No matter the circumstance,
one's faith will supply the confidence to endure.
For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed,
... ~ 2nd Timothy 1:12
... "Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent; for I am with you, ...
~ Acts 18:9-10
God and one faithful believer is a majority anywhere.
... The LORD is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid? ~ Psalm 27:1
The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? ~ Psalm 118:6
The Lord has the power if we have the faith.
We need to get in touch with that part of us that will live forever.
... the hope and resurrection of the dead I am ... ~ Acts 23:6
There is a hope of the resurrection of life beyond the present.
... For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time
and then vanishes away. ~ James 4:14
... sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared
with the glory which shall be revealed in us. ~ Romans 8:18
... For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things
which are not seen are eternal. ~ 2nd Corinthians 4:17-18
... Stephen. And they were not able to resist the wisdom
and the Spirit by which he spoke. ~ Acts 6:9-10
Wisdom is the practical application of knowledge.
... But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews
who dwelt in Damascus, proving that this Jesus is the Christ. ~ Acts 9:19-22
One gains wisdom through the study of the word
and association with fellow mature Christians.
~ Do you believe that if you do God's will you will go to heaven?
Do you believe that if you don't do God's will you won't go to heaven?
⭨ This is what the Bible teaches. ⭩
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one
may receive the things done in the body, ... ~ 2nd Corinthians 5:10
All are at different stages of devotion.
... they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews.
They also had John as their assistant. ~ Acts 13:5
... they came to Perga in Pamphylia; and John, departing from them,
returned to Jerusalem ~ Acts 13:13
John Mark was a quitter.
... John called Mark. But Paul insisted that they should not take with them
the one who had departed from them in Pamphylia, ... ~ Acts 15:36-39
... She who is in Babylon, elect together with you, greets you;
and so does Mark my son. ... ~ 1st Peter 5:13
... Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry.
~ 2nd Timothy 4:11
One failure in life does not make you a flop.
Learning is part of being successful.
Christians are saved to serve.
... keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of
our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. ... ~ Jude 1:20-25
~ Is your faith in the Lord, not man (yourself)?
God has delivered and He waits to see what we will deliver
as individuals.
We need to find the LIGHT from within.
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BELIEVE ● REPENT ● CONFESS ● BAPTIZED ● SAVED
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9/30/2007 ~ How Is This Working For You?
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"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find;
knock, and it will be opened to you." ... ~ Matthew 7:7-12
There are extremes that will take you away from God.
Where does one need to pursue for spiritual blessings.
┌─> It is a difficult course to follow Christ and we have to search for it.
"... difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it."
~ Matthew 7:13-14
Do you go with the flow or determine your own direction?
Is God your destination or lunch?
Buy the truth, and do not sell it, Also wisdom and instruction
and understanding. ~ Proverbs 23:23
~ Yearning for God and His truth is our most precious treasure.
... inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. ...
~ Matthew 7:15-20
There are those that say they believe in God yet hold no ground.
"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of
heaven, but he who does the will of My Father ..." ~ Matthew 7:21-23
Faith only does not work for God if you do not follow His word in action.
Don't you realize that He kills herds of mindless cattle
~ and looks for lost sheep?
For as the body without the spirit is dead,
so faith without works is dead also.
~ James 2:26
Open your Heart.
... but have not love, I am nothing. ... ~ 1st Corinthians 13:1-3
└─> Works without love is worthless.
Magnificent works does not mean you are with God.
~ You can do things without serving God.
... "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." ...
~ Romans 4:1-4
One must turn to God.
He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but
was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, ... ~ Romans 4:20-25
... and after that they shall come out and serve Me in this place. ...
~ Acts 7:2-8
By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place ...
~ Hebrews 11:8-10
Abraham followed God without reservation.
... that faith without works is dead? ... ~ James 2:20-24
Faith is believing and then following God in righteousness.
→ Pursuing His word.
Work without Faith = Trust in Self
≈
Faith without Work = Trust in Self
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God wants us as devoted individuals building on Him.
... whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him
to a wise man who built his house on the rock: ... ~ Matthew 7:24-27
So how do you teach the Gospel?
... if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual
restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, ... ~ Galatians 6:1
It’s not what one says, it’s what one does.
PRAISE THE LORD!
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9/30/2007 ~ A Fork in the Road
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... that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself
His own special people, zealous for good works. ~ Titus 2:11-14
We should look forward to those wonderful things promised zealously.
... and he went on his way rejoicing. ~ Acts 8:36-39
└─> The eunuch was energized and excited about being a Christian.
We all have times in our lives where we have to make decisions.
(food, clothing)
┌──── 1) Superficial Choices – short term decisions.
│
───────┼──── 2) Longer Term – job, career, home, spouse
│
└──── 3) Spiritual Choices – determines fate of the soul.
(Whom we assemble, desires)
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Our spiritual choices would include doctrines we decide to follow or not.
He said to another, "Follow Me." But he said, "Lord, let me first go ...
~ Luke 9:57-62
God is waiting for to see what we commit to.
... "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!"
~ Matthew 17:5
Hear and obey OR justify self.
... But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus,
"And who is my neighbor?" ... ~ Luke 10:25-33
Our good actions do not necessarily mean submission to God.
● Individual
● Community
● Advocate
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├─
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Decision Groups.
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God ultimately desires devoted individuals 24/7.
... "Let us go into the house of the LORD." ~ Psalm 122:1
The most important things in life
~ many are told they can’t talk about in school.
Individual Soul Salvation.
"... But the sound of singing I hear." ~ Exodus 32:17-18
└─> They forgot the Lord.
... And about three thousand men of the people fell that day. ~ Exodus 32:28
People get killed for there choice to go against God. <─┘
And you, by all means abstain from the accursed things, lest you become
accursed when you take of the accursed things, ... ~ Joshua 6:18-21
The warning has always been.
... Achan answered Joshua and said, "Indeed I have sinned against the Lord
God of Israel, and this is what I have done: ... ~ Joshua 7:18-26
└─> For those that should know better, the consequences are real regardless.
Direct defiance of God's instructions have led to death.
People continued to turn from God. <─┐
... you have built for yourselves an altar, that you might rebel this day
against the Lord? ~ Joshua 22:10-16
There are consequences for our decisions, choices in life.
... an altar, not for burnt offering nor for sacrifice, but that it may be a
witness between you and us and our generations after us, ... ~ Joshua 22:26-27
└─> They wanted a more permanent commitment of unity for God.
Now no chastening seems to be joyfull for the present, but painful;
nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit ... ~ Hebrews 12:11-13
We should be glad to have those that help correct each other.
... warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak,
be patient with all. ~ 1st Thessalonians 5:14
... Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation?
~ 2nd Corinthians 11:29
Paul earnestly desired all to repent
and none led into sin were without his intense concern.
... and I shall mourn for many who have sinned before and have not repented
of the uncleanness, fornication, and lewdness ... ~ 2nd Corinthians 12:20-21
... he who turns a sinner from error of his way will save a soul from death
and cover a multitude of sins. ~ James 5:19-20
... fervent love for one another, for "love will cover a multitude of sins."
~ 1st Peter 4:8
What is your choice?
┌─> Jesus drew the line.
"If you love Me, keep My commandments." ~ John 14:15
... "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him,
and We will come to him and make Our home with him. ... ~ John 14:23-24
Do you want to be at home with God?
Either you are with God 100% or you are against Him
"He who is not with Me is against Me, ... ~ Luke 11:23
"... because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot,
I will vomit you out of my mouth." ~ Revelation 3:15-16
↓ ↓ ↓
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Are you HOT for God and His message?
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10/21/2007 ~ Mindset on Higher Things
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... those who are in the flesh cannot please God. ~ Romans 8:6-8
MIND ~ FLESH
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MIND ~ SPIRIT
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Hostile to God
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Desires to be with God
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Death
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Life and Peace
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Resists Submission
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Wants to be in Submission
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Seeks Things Below
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Seeks Things Above
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Exposed to Danger
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Hidden in Christ
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... For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. ...
~ Colossians 3:1-5
Are we appealing to the flesh or spirit?
... who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their
senses exercised to discern both good and evil. ~ Hebrews 5:12.14
As Christians, we have to exercise control over our minds.
... wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing
to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality ... ~ James 3:13-17
The way of life winds upward for the wise,
That he may turn away from hell below. ~ Proverbs 15:24
We can set our minds on those things above or below.
The backslider in heart will be filled with his own ways, ... ~ Proverbs 14:14
With a constant bombardment of fleshly media frenzies,
How can Christians and their families remain strong?
I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
~ Galatians 5:16
A developing Christian undergoes much more temptations
or torments because they are aware of God’s word.
... fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect
in love. ... ~ 1st John 4:17-19
It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
~ Hebrews 10:31
... why has your countenance fallen? ... ~ Genesis 4:6-7
One must choose God over the pleasures of man to be sure.
... and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts. ~ Romans 13:12-14
Much of who we are is in what we value and invest our time in.
"... For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks." ~ Luke 6:45
We can find strength or weakness through what we subject ourselves to.
~
Through choices made in Repetition and Rehearsal,
Strong Emotions are embedded building permanent memories.
It is where our strong emotions lie that we will become who we will be.
Are you for God or the world?
... "You are from beneath; I am from above. ... ~ John 8:23
Is it God whom you depend or the world?
... You, who keep Your covenant and mercy with Your servants
who walk before You with all their hearts. ~ 1st Kings 8:22-23
True Christians open their souls to God's will.
... as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts
which war against the soul, ... ~ 1st Peter 2:11-12
Our faith is in what God has promised.
... promises, ... afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed
that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. ~ Hebrews 11:13
... the world is passing away, and the lust of it;
but he who does the will of God abides forever. ~ 1st John 2:15-17
We should embrace fellow Christians in the word of God.
... test the spirits, whether they are of God; ... ~ 1st John 4:1
To love God is to be free of this world.
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10/28/2007 ~ Understanding the Will of God
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See that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise,
redeeming the time, because the days are evil. ... ~ Ephesians 5:15-17
... The Preacher sought to find acceptable words; and what was written
was upright-words of truth. ... ~ Ecclesiastes 12:8-11
Teaching knowledge is principal to God’s will.
And he continued there a year and six months,
teaching the word of God among them. ~ Acts 18:11
... Of making many books there is no end, and much study is wearisome
to the flesh. ~ Ecclesiastes 12:12
We have to understand
what has been presented
to understand God’s will.
~ Words are the vehicle of thought.
... whatever God does, It shall be forever. Nothing can be added to it,
And nothing taken from it. ... ~ Ecclesiastes 3:14
Give thanks to all men whom He has given to a free flowing universe.
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. ~ Genesis 1:1
God Existed
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BEGINNING ◎
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Christ Existed
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Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness;
... ~ Genesis 1:26
God is a plural word.
By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God,
... ~ Hebrews 11:3
God created all from nothing.
┌─> As for Peter, he was given the keys to open God’s word.
... whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, ... ~ Matthew 16:19
What was already ordained in heaven came through Peter. <─┘
Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized
in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; ... ~ Acts 2:38
┌─> After baptism, sincere repentance and prayer as an antidote to sin.
"Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps
the thought of your heart may be forgiven you." ~ Acts 8:22
Peter gave us the now known 2nd law of pardon. <─┘
┌─> Peter delivered the word to the Gentiles.
And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. ...
~ Acts 10:48
One’s actions on earth will have effects in heaven.
One’s choices will dictate a rising to heaven or a fall to hell.
Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven. ~ Psalm 119:89
God's order and His will is solid as a rock, His rock.
His word is complete settled by His coming.
God’s covenant today is set in His living stones set upon His cornerstone.
... leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ,
let us go on to perfection, ... ~ Hebrews 6:1-2
└─> To carry the burden; → Gather the gumption to be real.
└─> Personal serenity is surrendering to God and His work.
... do not be children in understanding; however, in malice be babes,
but in understanding be mature. ~ 1st Corinthians 14:20
... for prophecy never came by the will of man, ... ~ 2nd Peter 1:20-21
The word of God is written so that all may understand.
~ It comes from God and not from man.
... leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: ... ~ 1st Peter 2:21
We must copy Christ in all that He Is.
We need to earnestly examine the life of Christ
and follow Him, and His will, as students.
New and additional doctrines henceforth will be superfluous. <─┐
What never needs to be repeated. <─┐ |
... contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered
to the saints. ~ Jude 1:3
└─> An urgency to get busy or hurry up; → learn.
baptizō
Dipped. <─┐ ↓ ┌─> Immersed.
... "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name
of Jesus Christ ..." ~ Acts 2:38
Small men argue over the petty missing the whole simple will of God.
baptō
... And having dipped the bread, ... ~ John 13:26
baptō
... dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; ... ~ Luke 16:24
baptō
He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called
The Word of God. ~ Revelation 19:13
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Baptizō is a derivative of Baptō
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Baptism (immersion) is not a casual event and is necessary for salvation
with a continual personal commitment of growth searching out God’s will.
The conscience of conscious should be for the good will of God.
It is unwise to use the word of God to invalidate the word of God.
... if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; ...
~ Acts 5:38-39
Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
~ Ephesians 5:17
● Do you have the remission of sins?
● Have you obeyed God’s simple will?
→ If not, any and all is done in vain.
... Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. ~ Luke 11:2
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11/4/2007 ~ Apparel
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What is the basis for God’s clothing of men and women?
And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.
~ Genesis 2:25
Shame came with defiance.
... they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together
and made themselves coverings. ~ Genesis 3:6-7
Apparently, God was not pleased with the fig leaves.
... for Adam and his wife the Lord God made tunics of skin, and clothed them.
~ Genesis 3:20-21
TUNIC: A loose, gownlike garment
or blouse–like garment covering
the shoulders down past the thighs.
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So public nakedness is a sign of sin, shameful.
→ We do not want to bring shame to God.
┌─> Men
... in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest
apparel, with propriety and moderation, ... ~ 1st Timothy 2:1-10
~ This is not rocket science;
the moral barometer is within each of our hearts.
We are all billboards for or against God.
... he shaved, changed his clothing, and came to Pharaoh. ~ Genesis 41:14
One does not come before the leader in filthy rags.
... he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment. ...
~ Matthew 22:11-14
... With the attire of a harlot, and a crafty heart. ~ Proverbs 7:9-10
Skimpy clothing is a sign of disrespect and or an evil continence.
... resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall
in our brother's way. ... ~ Romans 14:12-13
Should we promote the flesh or the glory of God?
Anything that shows off bodily image should be avoided.
Why we should dress appropriately:
1. PLEASE GOD
2. INFLUENCE ON OTHERS
3. NOT A STUMBLING BLOCK FOR OTHERS
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God wants flesh in public covered up.
~ It should be modest.
This involves all the time, not just at worship or church.
E
X
T
R
E
M
E
S
can be taken.
I
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... Do not let your adornment be merely outward ... ~ 1st Peter 3:1-4
Wearing proper attire does not guarantee a proper
inward attitude of heart.
Do you look at things according to the outward appearance? ...
~ 2nd Corinthians 10:7
1. What we wear outwardly matters
2. We should place a higher emphasis on our inner attire
3. Our outward appearance should reflect our inner glory for God
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... you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes ... ~ James 2:1-4
Fine apparel does not mean you want to get close to God.
... But you have dishonored the poor man. ... ~ James 2:5-9
Clearly, some of the closest to God are ones dressed poorly.
... for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.
~ 1st Samuel 16:7
"... They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders
of their garments." ~ Matthew 23:1-5
We don’t want to be an elitist society scaring off the humble hearted.
The emphasis should be about getting closer to God
and how are we helping others?
~
Some have attitudes of, “It doesn’t matter what I wear.”
If one truly cares, rudeness is a consideration.
... does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, ...
~ 1st Corinthians 13:4-5
~ Do you not come to worship because you have nothing to wear?
It’s not about fashion, it’s about modesty.
God wants us and accepts those for worship in school clothes,
~ just from work clothes, overalls, any modest wear;
→ some of these people are the most devoted.
● In most parts of the world, a man in a suit scares people away.
Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. ~ Galatians 6:2
We have an obligation to help the underprivileged dress appropriately.
We must bear the burdens of brethren if their need is genuine.
Overly exposed flesh is an instinctive visual temptation.
"... whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed
adultery with her in his heart." ~ Matthew 5:27-28
We need to confront inappropriately dressed brethren in private.
It’s not about us, it’s about Christ.
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→ The FOCUS is CHRIST!
/ | \
... cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. ...
~ Romans 13:12-14
... in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; ...
~ Titus 2:1-15
We must dress to suit the situation in order that God is always glorified.
... if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone
turns him back, ... will save a soul from death ...~ James 5:19-20
... you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness,
considering yourself lest you also be tempted. ~ Galatians 6:1
... "put away from yourselves the evil person." ~ 1st Corinthians 5:9-13
... "Evil company corrupts good habits." Awake to righteousness, ...
~ 1st Corinthians 15:33-34
"Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment."
~ John 7:24
... put on the breastplate of righteousness, ... ~ Ephesians 6:14-18
... put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering;
bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, ... ~ Colossians 3:8-13
But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.
~ Colossians 3:14
We are all members of Christ,
~ do we
reflect that?
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12/16/2007 ~ Come Rest In The Lord
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"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden,
and I will give you rest. ..." ~ Matthew 11:28-30
... in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. ~ Galatians 6:9
♥
It will be a labor to follow Jesus.
~ We will receive a rest from the burden of sin.
It gives one strength to move forward.
Alternatively, to fall behind brings weakness.
... take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand
in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. ~ Ephesians 6:10-13
... the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; ... ~ Ephesians 6:14-18
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PUT ON
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TRUTH
RIGHTEOUSNESS
GOSPEL OF PEACE
FAITH
SALVATION
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THE BURDEN
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~ Is it for the glory of GOD or SATAN ?
↓
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. ~ Matthew 6:21
Do you assemble with others to worship? ● Why not?
... "Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell
who are at my house." ... ~ Luke 9:57-62
Does our wealth deliver us to ambivalence?
One can always learn more about Jesus.
~ People want the hope of eternal salvation
→ but don’t take the time to learn from Him.
Do you have the energy for God?
Learn from Me. <─┘
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GENESIS = JESUS CHRIST = REVELATION
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Always the focus should be God first.
◎ I want to know and love God more.
Jesus never gave up and was always in control.
A hard order to fill or live up to. <─┘
We must submit to the Lord’s way to find our rest.
More time and experience is the suave of salvation.
→ Swallow your pride and stop what you are doing wrong
~ and you will find the pleasure of peace.
Put away sin.
... Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? ... ~ Job 38:1-11
†
For all that God is and has done,
He wants to be personal with us through His Son.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God. ~ John 1:1
By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, ... ~ Psalm 33:6
... the worlds were framed by the word of God, ... ~ Hebrews 11:3
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory,
... ~ John 1:14
God the Creator's word is filled with promise for the individual soul.
"I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you." ~ John 14:18
... the Lord Himself will give you a sign:
Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, ... ~ Isaiah 7:14
"... and they shall call His name Immanuel," which is translated,
"God with us." ~ Matthew 1:21-23
For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; ... ~ Colossians 2:9
He came that we would know Him and who He Is; what He expects.
~ He came to us at the appointed time.
But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son,
born of a woman, born under the law, ... ~ Galatians 4:4
... made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant,
and coming in the likeness of men. ~ Philippians 2:5-7
... but He does give aid to the seed of Abraham. ... ~ Hebrews 2:14-17
He came for those that would believe in His Love and Truth.
... sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin:
He condemned sin in the flesh, ... ~ Romans 8:3
And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem
according to the custom of the feast. ~ Luke 2:42
"... I must be about My Father's business ..."~ Luke 2:49-50
... "A prophet is not without honor except in his own country,
among his own relatives, and in his own house." ~ Mark 6:3-4
The Jewish leadership condemned Him
as a heretical man threatening their authority.
... "Then the sons are free. ..." ~ Matthew 17:24-27
He wants us to be open and free with Him, owing nothing.
└─> An awesome God concerned as everyone's advocate.
"... And why do doubts arise in your hearts? ..." ~ Luke 24:36-43
... He Himself has suffered, being tempted,
He is able to aid those who are tempted. ~ Hebrews 2:18
... Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. ... ~ Hebrews 4:14-15
He asks that we wholeheartedly hold to our faith.
... "Away with you Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the LORD
your God, and Him only you shall serve.' " ... ~ Matthew 4:1-11
For all that is in the world - the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and
the pride of life - is not of the Father but of the world. ~ 1st John 2:16
... found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient
to the point of death, even the death of the cross. ~ Philippians 2:8
He came to assure us of His eternal genuineness.
... release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime
subject to bondage. ~ Hebrews 2:14-15
... we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses,
... ~ Hebrews 4:15
... For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned
to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. ~ 1st Peter 2:21-25
"... I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep" ~ John 10:15
Men rarely accept that from above.
It’s not what you don’t do, it’s what you do do.
Find confidence in resting in the Lord.
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12/23/2007 ~ Household of God
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... do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.
~ Galatians 6:10
The focus on the family is Focus on God.
┌─> New commandment: L♥ve ♥ne an♥ther as I have l♥ved y♥u.
"... Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life
for his friends." ~ John 15:12-13
Our relationship must serve God and one another.
→ God wants us as His children.
... Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!"
~ Galatians 4:6
... you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father."
... ~ Romans 8:15-17
Do we cherish this Father son relationship? - We must.
God waits for eager submitting heartfelt associations.
... having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, ...
~ Ephesians 1:3-6
Jesus was created that we might unite in Him.
He wants a tender open relationship.
IT FACTORS:
*
***
*****
*******
*********
* FAITH *
* LOVE *
* SERVICE *
*****************
*
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TREE OF LIFE
To worship God is to bring these together with the ones we share.
... in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another
in the fear of God. ... ~ Ephesians 5:15-21
Are we happy to come to worship at the assembly?
... consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not
forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, ... ~ Hebrews 10:24-25
It is a matter of concern if it is a chore over anticipation.
"But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind."
~ Luke 14:13
Do you care for the humanity of it? - You should.
... But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. ~ Proverbs 18:24
All look for a bond thicker than blood.
Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; ... ~ Acts 2:41-47
It is when you come to Christ that unity abounds.
Jesus reached out to people. <─┐
... the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, "This Man receives sinners
and eats with them." ~ Luke 15:1-2
To stay in the family of God, one needs to read the Bible and pray.
~ Friends in the faith define God’s family.
... God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come
to the knowledge of the truth. ~ 1st Timothy 2:3-4
"... as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." ~ Joshua 24:14-15
G♥d is the primary association.
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12/30/2007 ~ The Working Word
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The words of the LORD are pure words ...
You shall preserve them from this generation forever. ~ Psalm 12:6-7
The Lord gave the word; Great was the company of those who proclaimed it:
... ~ Psalm 68:11
... written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort
of the Scriptures might have hope. ... ~ Romans 15:4
... you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word
of God, which also effectively works in you ~ 1st Thessalonians 2:13
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One does honor to God when acknowledging His word.
/ | \
... You have magnified Your word above all Your name. ~ Psalm 138:2
... "Is not My word like a fire?" says the Lord, ... ~ Jeremiah 23:28-29
For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any
two-edged sword, ... ~ Hebrews 4:12-13
... the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; ... ~ Ephesians 6:17
... our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed ...
~ 2nd Corinthians 4:16
The Lord wishes all to be enlightened in His gems of truth.
... this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house
not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. ~ 2nd Corinthians 5:1
What choices you make to feed your soul matters.
... Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come. ~ 1st Thessalonians 1:9-10
Our preferences determine our character.
~ Our character determines our inheritance.
We must leave our idols to serve God; be it greed or earthly desires.
~ We need to wait on the Lord free of this speck called earth.
... desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow ... ~ 1st Peter 2:2
↑
P
Do you TRULY desire God’s word?
"... Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."
~ Revelation 19:9-10
┌─> ... called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!
In this we honor God by doing it in His way.
~ STAND TO HONOR HIM ~
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Daliy Living to Please God
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Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God?
... ~ 1st Corinthians 6:9-11
... no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has
any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. ... ~ Ephesians 5:5-7
It is easier to work in the negative rather than the positive.
... present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God,
which is your reasonable service. ... ~ Romans 12:1-2
The work begins in ourselves.
Owe no one anything except to love one another, ... ~ Romans 13:8-14
... a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word. ...
~ Psalm 119:9-10
So what can we do?
... receive with meekness the implanted word,
which is able to save your souls. ~ James 1:21
... let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.
~ 1st John 3:18
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, ... ~ James 1:22-25
... Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. ...
~ Galatians 5:16-21
... fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. ~ Galatians 5:22-23
... we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.
~ Galatians 5:5
... be an example to the believers in the word, in conduct, in love,
in spirit, in faith, in purity. ... ~ 1st Timothy 4:12-13
... Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. ...
~ Colossians 3:1-17
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and ...
~ Colossians 3:16
... "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, ..."
~ John 14:22-26
STAND TO HONOR HIM.
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ,
for it is the power of God to salvation ... ~ Romans 1:16
... a worker who does not need to be ashamed,
rightly dividing the word of truth. ~ 2nd Timothy 2:15
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine,
for reproof, for correction, for instruction, ... ~ 2nd Timothy 3:16-17
Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. ... ~ 2nd Timothy 4:2
Jesus is the highest answer for all that is all.
He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called
The Word of God. ~ Revelation 19:13
Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, ... ~ James 1:18
Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, ...
~ 1st Timothy 4:16
So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
~ Romans 10:17
... shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, ...
~ Philippians 2:14-16
"... the word of the Lord endures forever." ... ~ 1st Peter 1:22-25
THANK GOD.
†
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