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Weekly sermons from our Pastor, Barry Wilkinson.
Episodes
Wednesday Mar 27, 2019
Wednesday Mar 27, 2019
Series: Bring the Joy
Sermon: Nurturing Joy in Others
Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 3:6-10
Date: March 24, 2019
But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and brought us good news of your faith and love, and that you always have good remembrance of us, greatly desiring to see us, as we also to see you - for now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord. For what thanks can we render to God for you, for all the joy with which we rejoice for your sake before our God, night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face and perfect what is lacking in your faith? (1 Thessalonians 3:6-10)
3 lessons they learned:
- Social connections are really good for us; loneliness kills
- The quality of your relationships matter more than the quantity.
- Good relationships protect our brains.
He suggested 3 actions points:
- Replace screen time with personal time.
- Do something new with your family.
- Reach out to family you've not been connected to.
Who is joyful because of you today?
"Be kind. Everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle." -Philo of Alexandria
What a great goal it would be if all of us aspired to be joy builders and not joy killers.
Here are a few ways we can bring the joy to each other:
- Believe the best about each other
- "Don't assume nothing about nobody." -Kay Warren
- Offer non-judgmental and non-critical love
- God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.
- God, grant me the serenity to accept the people I cannot change, the courage to change the one I can, and the wisdom to know it's me.
- Appreciate each other
- How can YOU bring joy to someone this week?
Wednesday Mar 27, 2019
Wednesday Mar 27, 2019
Series: Unhindered
Sermon: Unhindered Through Church Struggles
Scripture: Acts 6:1-7
Date: March 24, 2019
He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ - with all boldness and without hindrance! (Acts 28:31, series verse)
LAST WEEK'S WEEKLY CHALLENGE: Give that biggest fear to God and take an action step toward being unhindered by it.
Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, "It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word." And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch, whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them. Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith. (Acts 6:1-7)
How God can use church challenges to unhinder us:
- Growth includes struggles
- "I'd rather be a part of a growing church with problems than a dead church that has none." -Adrian Rogers
- The devil has tried to destroy the infant church by persecution from without, then by deception within, and now by sowing seeds of dissension from within.
- God does not play favorites.
- "Murmuring is a half-uttered, half-concealed complaint - not that a person comes out and says to the right person, at the right time, in the right spirit, for the right reason, that something needs to be done." -Adrian Rogers
- Guidance necessitates the Spirit
- How does God want us to handle the challenges?
- Purpose (Acts 6:2, 4)
- People (Acts 6:3)
- Good reputation
- Full of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23)
- Are you going to be a help or a hindrance?
- How does God want us to handle the challenges?
- Growth occurs in struggles
Sunday Mar 24, 2019
Sunday Mar 24, 2019
Series: Bring the Joy
Sermon: Choosing Joyful Actions
Scripture: Psalm 118:24
Date: March 17, 2019
This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. (Psalm 118:24)
"Heaven's Value System":
- ...whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith - the salvation of your souls. (1 Peter 1:8-9)
- God's worth is incomparable
- God's word is reliable
- God's works are awe-inspiring
- God's ways are loving
The more we live with and for God's glory, the more joy we will have. The more we are committed to glorifying God by having a great commitment to the Great Commandment and Great Commission, the more joy we'll experience.
Let's purpose to be joy builders - not joy killers.
How do you nurture your own joy in Jesus? Here are a few ways:
- Focus on grace
- Joy does not come from doing everything right.
- If you can't sin, you're going to have a terrible time in the Christian life.
- Rule-keeping does not naturally evolve into living by faith, but only perpetuates itself in more and more rule-keeping. (Galatians 3:12, The Message)
- Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. He is so rich in kindness and grace the he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. (Ephesians 1:4-7, NLT)
- "Christ died for men precisely because men are not worth dying for; to make them worth it." -C. S. Lewis
- To God, we are never a bother or a burden - but his beloved.
- Therefore, as the elect of god, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, long-suffering;... (Colossians 3:12)
- Trust God for the future
- Very few things kill joy faster than worry.
- "Joy is the settled assurance that God is in control of all the details of my life, the quiet confidence that ultimately everything is going to be all right, and the determined choice to praise God in all things." -Kay Warren
- God wants us to gaze at Him and glance at our problems.
- You can throw the whole weight of your anxieties upon him, for you are his personal concern. (1 Peter 5:7, Phillips)
- So don't be anxious about tomorrow. God will take care of your tomorrow, too. Live one day at a time. (Matthew 6:34, Living Bible)
- I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you. (Psalm 32:8, NIV)
- Fight for joy
- Joy practices:
- Laugh
- A merry heart does good, like medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones. (Proverbs 17:22)
- Spend time with friends & family
- Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of a friend springs from their heartfelt advice. (Proverbs 27:9)
- Thank God
- Thank you! Everything in me says, "Thank you!" (Psalm 138:1, The Message)
- Some benefits of gratitude: happiness, improved relationships, elevated health
- Walk outside
- Sing
- Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth. Sing to the Lord, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day. (Psalm 96:1-2)
- Laugh
- Joy practices:
A cheerful disposition is good for your heath; gloom and doom leave you bone-tired. (The Message)
Wednesday Mar 20, 2019
Wednesday Mar 20, 2019
Series: Unhindered
Sermon: Unhindered Acts
Scripture: Acts 5:17-25
Date: March 17, 2019
He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ - with all boldness and without hindrance! (Acts 28:31, series verse)
LAST WEEK'S WEEKLY CHALLENGE: Take the best action step you know to get unhindered from complacency.
Then the high priest rose up, and all those who were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with indignation, and laid their hands on the apostles and put them in the common prison. But at night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, "Go, stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this life." And when they heard that, they entered the temple early in the morning and taught. But the hight priest and those with him came and called the council together, with all the elders of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. But when the officers came and did not find them in the prison, they returned and reported, saying, "Indeed we found the prison shut securely, and the guards standing outside before the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside!" Now when the high priest, the captain of the temple, and the chief priests heard these things, they wondered what the outcome would be. So one came and told them, saying, "Look, the men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people!" (Acts 5:17-25)
Because Patrick was unhindered by fear, God used him for 29 years to baptize over 120,000 Irishmen, plant 300 churches, and to be one of the earliest identifiable anti-slavery activists in western civilization.
By Patrick's death on March 17, 461, or shortly thereafter, the Irish ended their slave trading, and they did not take it up again.
Christ be within me, Christ behind me, Christ before me, Christ beside me, Christ to win me, Christ to comfort and restore me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ inquired, Christ in danger, Christ in hearts of all that love me, Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.
What we know is that God will not use us much if fear controls our lives.
God's word to you today: Do not be afraid!
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. (2 Timothy 1:7)
Let's talk about 3 things God uses to unhinder us from fear:
- Recognize the object
- What fear keeps you from following Jesus with a whole heart?
- what people think
- what might happen
- you feel like you don't know enough
- it might cost you too much
- what people might say
- it's too hard
- I may have to give up too much
- letting God run your life instead of you
- it might be dangerous
- rejection
- I don't know enough
- "Do not fear" does not mean you will not feel fear.
- WEEKLY CHALLENGE: Give that biggest far to God and take an action step toward being unhindered by it.
- Then the captain went with the officers and brought them without violence, for they feared the people, lest they should be stoned. (Acts 5:26)
- Which is more valuable to us: what God thinks or what people think?
- What fear keeps you from following Jesus with a whole heart?
- Resolve to obey
- Are we going to be ok with disobedience or obedience?
- But at night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, "Go, stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this life." (Acts 5:19-20)
- How many of you know God can open gates of prisons?
- "Go, stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this life." And when they heard that, they entered the temple early in the morning and taught. (Acts 5:20-21a)
- "Wherever God wants you to go, if you can fly, fly out there; if you can't fly, drive there; if you can't drive, jog; if you can't jog, walk; if you can't walk, get somebody to put you in a wheelchair; if you can't get in a wheelchair, then stand up and get somebody to push you toward the will of God." -Arthur Blessitt
- Release the outcome
- If we obey God, we can be good with the outcome. Let's see what the outcomes were:
- More people hear about Jesus.
- "Go, stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this life." (Acts 5:20)
- More persecution comes.
- And they agreed with him, and when they had called for the apostles and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name. And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ. (Acts 5:40-42)
- Jesus, this is for you.
- More obedience with joy.
- Simply put, such rejoicing is not natural, but supernatural! Such rejoicing is 'impossible,' but it is 'Him-possible!"
- So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name. (Acts 5:41)
- Sometimes, the things we feared doing the most for and with Jesus brought us great joy!
- More people hear about Jesus.
- If we obey God, we can be good with the outcome. Let's see what the outcomes were:
Wednesday Mar 20, 2019
Wednesday Mar 20, 2019
Series: Bring the Joy
Sermon: Heaven's Value System
Scripture: 1 Peter 1:8-9
Date: March 3, 2019
...whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith - the salvation of your souls. (1 Peter 1:8-9)
Let's learn and choose to rejoice in what God rejoices in.
God values character over comfort, faith over fear, mercy over judgment, justice over injustice, people over possessions, truth over falsehood, humility over pride, hope over despair, love over apathy. In other words, God values the things that will last.
"To embrace God's point of view, however briefly, is to be joyful." -Mike Mason
1 Peter says the people in that day could rejoice with great joy because they chose to believe some things.
"Joy begins with our convictions about spiritual truths we're willing to bet our lives on, truths that are lodged so deep within us that they produce a settled assurance about God. The more we know and understand God, the more easily we recognize that the joy of the Lord is our only true strength." -Kay Warren
Here are 5 unchanging attributes of God to help us rejoice in Him:
- God's worth is incomparable
- The majesty, magnificence, and might of God are far beyond description.
- Praise the Lord, because he alone is great. He is more wonderful than heaven and earth. (Psalm 148:13, NCV)
- God's word is reliable
- The Bible does not get confused. God is a God of joy, and His word is a Word of joy.
- Kay Warren writes that in the NIV version of the Bible, there are 545 references to joy, merriment, happiness, laughing, and rejoicing.
- Your words were found, and I ate them, and Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; for I am called by Your name, O Lord God of hosts. (Jeremiah 15:16)
- The orders of the Lord are right; they make people happy. The commands of the Lord are pure; they light up the way. (Psalm 19:8, NCV)
- I will follow your rules forever, because they make me happy. (Psalm 119:111, NCV)
- God's works are awe-inspiring
- God's works are so great, worth a lifetime of study - endless enjoyment. (Psalm 111:2, The Message)
- Then the trees of the forest will sing for joy before the Lord. They will sing because he is coming to judge the world. (1 Chronicles 16:33, NCV)
- Lord, you have made me happy by what you have done; I will sing for joy about what your hands have done. (Psalm 92:4, NCV)
- God's ways are loving
- We have to place our circumstances before the cross.
- Praise God, everybody! Applaud God, all people! His love has taken over our lives; God's faithful ways are eternal. Hallelujah. (Psalm 117:1-2, The Message)
- God's will is good
- What does God value?
- character over comfort
- faith over fear
- mercy over judgment
- justice over injustice
- people over possessions
- truth over falsehood
- humility over pride
- hope over despair
- love over apathy
- THINGS THAT WILL LAST
- What does God value?
Sunday Mar 10, 2019
Sunday Mar 10, 2019
Series: Unhindered
Sermon: Unhindered From Complacency
Scripture: Acts 5:12-16
Date: March 10, 2019
He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ - with all boldness and without hindrance! (Acts 28:31, series verse)
And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon's Porch. Yet none of the rest dared join them, but the people esteemed them highly. And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them. Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed. (Acts 5:12-16)
WEEKLY CHALLENGE: Take the best action step you know to get unhindered from complacency.
God frees us from complacency by the:
- Promise of relationships
- Are you the kind of person that smells like Jesus?
- Promise of the remarkable
- Promise of redemption
When we are complacent...
...we don't shine as brightly.
...we don't share our faith as readily.
...we miss opportunities to talk about Jesus.
...we do not attract people to Jesus very well.
...we misrepresent Jesus.
...we are not very pleasing to God.
Wednesday Mar 06, 2019
Wednesday Mar 06, 2019
Series: Unhindered
Sermon: Unhindered From Being a Pretender
Scripture: Acts 4:36-5:6
Date: March 3, 2019
He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ - with all boldness and without hindrance! (Acts 28:31, series verse)
LAST WEEK'S WEEKLY CHALLENGE: Pray Acts 4:30 for Hopewell this week. Ask God to do what only God can do so people will see the reality of Jesus.
And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus, having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet. But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphire his wife, sold a possession. And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles' feet. But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God." Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last. So great fear came upon all those who heard these things. And the young men arose and wrapped him up, carried him out, and buried him. (Acts 4:36-5:6)
The sons of Benjamin: Bela, Baker, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Ehi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim, and Ard. (Genesis 46:21)
Could it be that we care more about what people think about us than what God knows about us?
How many of you know that living like a pretender or hypocrite is harmful to your relationship with the Lord and your witness for the Lord.
Here are three helps to unhinder us from pretending:
- Faithfulness to God
- And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus, having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet. (Acts 4:36-37)
- What would the people around you nickname you?
- And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus, having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet. (Acts 4:36-37)
- Are we doing what we are doing for God or to be noticed?
- Fear of God
- having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet. But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphire his wife, sold a possession. And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles' feet. But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God." Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last. So great fear came upon all those who heard these things. And the young men arose and wrapped him up, carried him out, and buried him. (Acts 4:37-5:6)
- The failure here is not that they did not give all of it, but that they misrepresented what they gave.
- Now it was about three hours later when his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. And Peter answered her, "Tell me whether you sold the land for so much?" She said, "Yes, for so much." Then Peter said to her, "How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out." Then immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. And the young men came in and found her dead, and carrying her out, buried her by her husband. (Acts 5:7-10)
- So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things. (Acts 5:11)
- For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. (1 Corinthians 11:30)
- We need to be real with God.
- Faith in God
- Do you really believe God for yourself?
Sunday Feb 17, 2019
Sunday Feb 17, 2019
Series: Unhindered
Sermon: Unhindered From What Might Happen
Scripture: Acts 4:1-4
Date: February 17, 2019
He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ - with all boldness and without hindrance! (Acts 28:31, series verse)
Now as they spoke to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came upon them, being greatly disturbed that they taught the people and preached in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. And they laid hands on them, and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. However, many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand. (Acts 4:1-4)
Are you willing to get in trouble with and for Jesus?
WEEKLY CHALLENGE: Decide that you are willing to get in trouble with and for Jesus.
We saw that being unstuck was about a life of repentance.
Here are three ways I think God will use to unhinder us from what might happen:
- Prepare for the reality
- The Jewish officials arrested Jesus. They bound him and brought him first to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jewish leaders that it would be good if one man died for the people. Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. Because this disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the high priest's courtyard, but Peter had to wait outside at the door. The other disciple, who was known to the high priest, came back, spoke to the servant girl on duty there and brought Peter in. "You aren't one of this man's disciples too, are you?" she asked Peter. he replied, "I am not." It was cold, and the servants and officials stood around a fire they had made to keep warm. Peter also was standing with them, warming himself. (John 18:12b-18)
- Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and others of the high priest's family. (Acts 4:8)
- Is Jesus worth being thought of as a "big" weird?
- They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: "By what power or what name did you do this?" (Acts 4:7)
- Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: "Rulers and elders of the people!" (Acts 4:8)
- "What's the difference in Peter now and Peter then before these guys? Before, he was outside, warming himself at a fire, denying the Lord; and now he is inside, on fire, declaring the Lord." -Skip Heitzig
- Pray to be filled with the Spirit daily.
- Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. (2 Timothy 3:12)
- "This all started the day before when two ordinary men went to church on an ordinary day with an extraordinary God." -Skip Heitzig
- What might an extraordinary God do with an ordinary person?
- Proclaim the resurrection
- The only way to get unhindered from what might happen is to face it.
- They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: "By what power or what name did you do this?" (Acts 4:7)
- If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. (Acts 4:9-10)
- If you want to be unhindered from what might happen, do something good - something you think God wants you to do.
- Saying, "What shall we do to these men? For, indeed, that a notable miracle has been done through them is evident to all who dwell in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it." (Acts 4:16)
- The greatest argument for the power of Christ is a changed life.
- A person with a testimony beats a person with an argument any day.
- This is the 'stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.' 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 4:11-12)
- The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This was the Lord's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. (Psalm 118:22-24)
- But so that it spreads no further among the people, let us severely threaten them, that from now on they speak to no man in this name." So they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. (Acts 4:17-18)
- But Peter and John answered and said to them, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard." So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way of punishing them, because of the people, since they all glorified God for what had been done. For the man was over forty years old on whom this miracle of healing had been performed. (Acts 4:19-22)
- What's the issue for Peter and John? What is right.
- We cannot speak or we cannot but speak.
- A witness is what you have seen and heard!
Wednesday Feb 13, 2019
Wednesday Feb 13, 2019
Series: Bring the Joy
Sermon: Joy in Trials
Scripture: James 1:1-4
Date: February 10, 2019
James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad: Greetings. My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. (James 1:1-4)
God can actually bring joy in the hard times of life. We are actually commanded to see joy in the hard times of life.
I will not leave you, and I will actually make this bummer a blessing.
"Christian joy is a good feeling in the soul, produced by the Holy Spirit, as he causes us to see the beauty of Christ in the word and in the world." -John Piper
"Joy is a matter of attitude that stems from one's confidence in God - that He is at work, that He is in full control, that He is in the midst of whatever has happened, is happening, and will happen." -Charles Swindoll
"Joy is the settled assurance that God is in control of all the details of my life, the quiet confidence that ultimately everything is going to be alright, and the determined choice to praise God in all things." -Kay Warren
Let's see three things from these verses that will help us rejoice in Jesus during hard times:
- Decision
- My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials. (James 1:2)
- Dear brothers and sisters, whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy. (James 1:2, NLT)
- When all kinds of trials and temptations crowd into your lives my brothers, don't resent them as intruders, but welcome them as friends! (James 1:2, Phillips Translation)
- You might think of stopping to count up what this will mean for you. What else will you do with the trials and where will that get you?
- It denotes deliberate and careful judgment stemming from external proof, not subjective judgment based on feelings.
- "Our values determine our evaluations. If we value comfort more than character, then trials will upset us. If we value the material and physical more than the spiritual, we will not be able to 'count it all joy!' If we live only for the present and forget about the future, the trials will make us bitter, not better." -Warren Wiersbe
- "We are not just to act joyful, in reluctant pretense, but to be genuinely joyful. It is a matter of will, not of feelings, and should be the conscious, determined commitment of every faithful believer." -John MacArthur
- "The Joy I give you doesn't depend on what kind of day you're having. No matter what's happening in your life - whether wonderful or terrible - it's possible to be joyful with Me." -Jesus Calling
- "Father, I want to choose joy in my life. Rekindle hope in my heart. Help me to keep seeking the joy that belongs to me in Jesus Christ. In the name of Jesus, amen." -Kay Warren
- Development
- James is not saying the trials are joyful in themselves but are a means to an end which is joyful. They are not to impair us but to improve us. Not to destroy us but to develop us.
- Knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. (James 1:3-4)
- Let's see two reasons we can rejoice in trials:
- we rejoice because of the revealing work
- Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. (James 1:2-3, The Message)
- "Trials and tribulations are very good for us in that they help us to know ourselves better than we knew ourselves before." -D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
- we rejoice because of the reforming work.
- Knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. (James 1:3-4)
- we rejoice because of the revealing work
- Here are a few places trials helps us to grow:
- Trials help us grow in patience.
- Perseverance is our supreme effort of refusing to believe that our hero is going to be conquered.
- Trials help us grow in maturity.
- Trials help us know what really matters and was is really important.
- Trials help us grow in patience.
- Desire
- "I'll admit I've told God, I'm okay with staying a spiritual baby; I'll live with remaining immature and underdeveloped because growing hurts. But in my heart of hearts, that's not what I want. I want my faith-life to be sturdy and strong, mature and well-developed." -Kay Warren
- About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. (Acts 16:25, NIV)
- The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted, "Don't harm yourself! We are all here!" The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He then brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" (Acts 16:27-30, NIV)
- "Joy is the settled assurance that God is in control of all the details of my life, the quiet confidence that ultimately everything is going to be alright, and the determined choice to praise God in all things." -Kay Warren
- The jailer wanted what they had. Their settled assurance about God, their quiet confidence that ultimately everything would be alright, and their determined choice to praise God in all things opened the door of salvation for the jailer and his loved ones.
- The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God - he and his whole household. (Acts 16:34)
- What do you allow to hold you back from living a life of joy?
- "I would believe in their salvation if they looked a little more like people who have been saved." -Friedrich Nietzsche, commenting on the Christians he knew
Sunday Feb 10, 2019
Sunday Feb 10, 2019
Series: Unhindered
Sermon: Don't Get Stuck Here
Scripture: Acts 3:11-22
Date: February 10, 2019
He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ - with all boldness and without hindrance! (Acts 28:31, series verse)
Last week's weekly growth suggestion: Ask God regularly for divine appointments where you can share His love and/or message with someone. Give something away this week.
Now as the lame man who was healed held on to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the porch which is called Solomon's, greatly amazed. So when Peter saw it, he responded to the people: "Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? Or why look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go. But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses. And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all. Yet now, brethren, I know that you did it in ignorance, as did also your rulers. But those things which God foretold by the mouth of all His prophets, that the Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled. Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began. For Moses truly said to the fathers, 'The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear in all things, whatever He says to you.'" (Acts 3:11-11)
The closer they are to what Jesus is doing in the life of His friends the more likely they are to get unhindered.
We don't want to be stuck:
...lost and not knowing Jesus.
...living in fear.
...living for other people's approval.
...living in apathy.
...living in procrastination.
...living in pride.
...living as a slave to busyness.
The Bible's key to not being stuck is to repent.
Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord. (Acts 3:19)
I want us to see three things to help us repent, keep getting unhindered, and not to get stuck:
- Stop setting Jesus as a threat
- Even after Jesus was raised from the dead, they held on to their old ways of doing things rather than give their life to Him.
- The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go. But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses. (Acts 3:13-15)
- Is Jesus a threat to you today? Is He a threat to your lifestyle?
- Jesus is a threat to your:
- procrastination
- desire to not speak up for Him
- sexual immorality
- complacency
- tradition
- language
- The sins are the big threat!
- The procrastination is really not helping you.
- You really would like to say to your marriage partner that they are the only one.
- The fear really is no fun.
- The pride really does get in the way of good relationships.
- The complacency really is not getting you where you want to go.
- Hanging on to traditions can really get in the way of worshipping Jesus.
- Start seeing Jesus as someone to trust
- And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all. (Acts 3:16)
- When you and I repent, turn to Jesus, and allow Him to make some changes where we are stuck, we will be eternally glad we did.
- That backpack may have:
- fear of what others think
- need of other people's approval too much
- fear of letting go
- holding on to traditions or old ways of doing things
- closed into yourself
- Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:28-30, NIV)
- Simply share what Jesus has done as a testimony
- And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all. (Acts 3:16)
- Repent, therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began. (Acts 3:19-21)
- Let's not miss what Jesus offers us today.