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Weekly sermons from our Pastor, Barry Wilkinson.
Episodes
Sunday Nov 04, 2018
Sunday Nov 04, 2018
Series: Life With the King
Sermon: The Kingdom Family
Scripture: Genesis 1:26-28
Date: November 4, 2018
Last week's WEEKLY CHALLENGE: Make sure you are a real follower of Jesus and the people around you are real followers of Jesus.
Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth."
Here's some good news today: God is for the family!
Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image... (Genesis 1:26a)
Kingdom families are different from others in their:
- AIM
- "The mission of the family is to reflect God through the advancement of His kingdom and rule on earth. Happiness becomes the natural benefit when this goal is being actualized." -Tony Evans
- We say it here as "Glorifying God by having a great commitment to the Great Commandment and Great Commission".
- Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness." (Genesis 1:26a)
- The world is to know what God is like by looking at us. Your family is to know what God is like by looking at you.
- We are to have children to mirror God's image.
- "The disintegration of the family is the single most devastating internal issue facing our nation in general and our communities in particular." -Tony Evans
- AUTHORITY
- "If and when we seek to build our families on anything other than the stable foundational principles of the Word of God, it will not last when life's trials and challenges come upon us." -Tony Evans
- Where did the family break down? When Adam and Eve quit following God's authority.
- ACTIONS
- If you are going to be a kingdom family, that starts with living a Christian single life.
- As a family, you do the kinds of things Jesus would want you to do.
- You treat each other like you would want Jesus to treat you.
- You get engaged with a church and some Christian friends.
- Pray together.
- Talk about Jesus with each other and others.
- Pray about events around you.
- Give money to advance God's kingdom.
- Let God use you to make others' lives better.
- "To my Dad: Following you taught me to follow Jesus." -Kyle Idleman
- WEEKLY CHALLENGE: Pray about whether following you will lead someone to follow Jesus. Pray and ask God what actions you can take to help your family become a kingdom family.
Wednesday Oct 31, 2018
Wednesday Oct 31, 2018
Series: The Bible Story
Sermon: Why It Was Written
Scripture: Luke 1:1-4
Date: October 28, 2018
Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those things which have been fulfilled among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus, that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed. (Luke 1:1-4)
"The Bible is a unique book. It is one of the oldest books in the world, and yet it is still the world's bestseller. Tyrants have burned the Bible, and believers revere it. It is the most quoted, the most published, the most translated, and the most influential book in the history of humankind." -Norman Geisler
The Bible was written over a period of roughly 1500 years by around 40 different authors from three continents, who wrote in three different languages. These facts alone make the Bible one of a kind, but there are many more amazing details that defy natural explanation.
Shepherds, kings, scholars, fishermen, prophets, a military general, a cupbearer, and a priest all penned portions of Scripture. They had different immediate purposes for writing, whether recording history, giving spiritual and moral instruction, or pronouncing judgment.
They composed their works from palaces, prisons, the wilderness, and places of exile while writing history, laws, poetry, prophecy, and proverbs. In the process they laid bare their personal emotions, expressing anger, frustration, joy, and love.
Yet despite this marvelous array of topics and goals, the Bible displays a flawless internal consistency. It never contradicts itself or its common theme.
Stephen Langton, a professor at the University of Paris and later Archbishop of Canterbury, is credited with dividing the Bible into chapters in 1227. Verses were added in 1551 and 1555 by Robert Stephanus, a Paris printer.
Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those things which have been fulfilled among us... (Luke 1:1)
...just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus, that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed. (Luke 1:2-4)
I am writing the greatest story in the world and nothing but the best is good enough for it.
"Luke, the companion of Paul, put down in a book the gospel preached by him." He also says, "Luke was not only a companion, but also a fellow-laborer of the apostles, especially of Paul." -St. Ireaneus (140-202)
The word "Theophilus" means a friend of God.
The title "most excellent" has by some been supposed to be given to express his character, but it is rather to be considered as denoting rank or office. It occurs only in three other places in the New Testament, and is there given to men in office - to Felix and Festus (Acts 23:26, 24:3, 26:25).
And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name. (John 20:30-31)
For the New Testament, the biggest two criteria were (1) did it come from apostolic circles and (2) was it regularly read with profit in the churches.
After this letter has been read to you, see that it is also read in the church of the Laodiceans and that you in turn read the letter from Laodicea. (Colossians 4:16, NIV)
Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near. (Revelation 1:3, NIV)
...and consider that the long-suffering of our Lord is salvation - as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures. (2 Peter 3:15-16)
"In fact, within about two hundred years after the first century, not only every book but nearly every verse of the New Testament was cited in one or more of the Fathers (the church leaders in the first 2-8 centuries after the apostles died) - over thirty-six thousand citations by the Fathers." -Norman Geisler
Around AD 240, Origen mentioned the 27 New Testament books by name, which he called "trumpets hammered thin," a charming image of a loud anthem played on the thin pages of the Bible.
Athanasius (296-373) wrote a customary Easter Letter as bishop of Alexandria, in which he took up the subject of the New Testament canon. By this stage, however, the process had matured fully and Athanasius could list each of the 27 books of the New Testament as being canonized.
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. (1 John 4:1)
Once discussions resulted in the recognition of the 27 canonical books of the New Testament canon, there have been no moves within Christendom to add to it or take away from it.
The New Testament is far and away the best attested book of ancient history.
Jesus is the reason for the Bible. While Jesus did not write the Bible or any of its books, He is the reason it exists; He is the reason for it. If Jesus had been crucified and not risen from the dead, there would be no New Testament.
Most Christians over the centuries never had personal Bibles. Most were illiterate and only heard the Word during worship.
The average Chinese Bible lasts 3-5 years.
Sunday Oct 28, 2018
Sunday Oct 28, 2018
Series: Life With the King
Sermon: Fake Christians
Scripture: Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43
Date: October 28, 2018
Last week's WEEKLY CHALLENGE: Invite Jesus to invade your life this week with Kingdom power and perspective.
Another parable He put forth to them, saying: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. So the servants of the owner came and said to him, 'Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?' He said to them, 'An enemy has done this.' The servants said to him, 'Do you want us then to go and gather them up?' But he said, 'No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, "First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn."'" ... Then Jesus sent the multitude away and went into the house. And His disciples came to Him, saying, "Explain to us the parable of the tares of the field." He answered and said to them: "He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one. The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels. Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age. The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!" (Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43)
Am I real or counterfeit?
How am I to live in a world and a church that has real and counterfeit?
The wheat represents true Jesus followers.
The weeds, or tares, represent counterfeit followers of Jesus.
Let's talk about the real and the counterfeit in the kingdom:
- Sowing
- He answered and said to them: "He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one. The enemy who sowed them is the devil." (Matthew 13:37-39a)
- Satan is a master counterfeiter.
- "The first 5 days after the weekend are the hardest." -Leigh Anne Tuohy
- Some counterfeits of the enemy:
- A false Jesus
- For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted - you may well put up with it! (2 Corinthians 11:4)
- My Jesus would never do/say that.
- A false gospel
- For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted - you may well put up with it! (2 Corinthians 11:4)
- Some false gospels today:
- Everyone goes to heaven.
- You go to heaven if your good outweighs your bad.
- You go to heaven if you are a good person.
- You go to heaven without repentance.
- You go to heaven if you belong to the right group.
- You go to heaven if you have done the right things: joined the church, walked the aisle, said a prayer, got baptized.
- I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel - which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God's curse! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God's curse! (Galatians 1:6-9)
- False ministers
- For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve. (2 Corinthians 11:13-14, NIV)
- False brothers
- In journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; (2 Corinthians 11:26)
- Don't let a hypocrite or a counterfeit keep you out of heaven.
- A false Jesus
- Growing
- He said to them, 'An enemy has done this.' The servants said to him, 'Do you want us then to go and gather them up?' But he said, 'No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, "First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn."' (Matthew 13:28-30)
- Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you - unless, of course, you fail the test? (2 Corinthians 13:5)
- It's not: let your parents test you.
- It's not: let your SS teacher test you.
- It's not: let your pastor test you.
- It's not: let your friends test you.
- It's not: let social media test you.
- WEEKLY CHALLENGE: Make sure you are a real follower of Jesus and the people around you are real followers of Jesus.
- "Too many church members have been starched and ironed but never washed." -Vance Havner
- Don't let a hypocrite or a counterfeit keep you out of heaven.
- Knowing
- The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all the things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear! (Matthew 13:41-43)
Sunday Oct 21, 2018
Sunday Oct 21, 2018
Series: Life With the King
Sermon: Big Deal from Small Beginnings
Scripture: Matthew 13:31-33
Date: October 21, 2018
Another parable He put forth to them, saying: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field, which indeed is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches." Another parable He spoke to them: "The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened." (Matthew 13:31-33)
God's kingdom starts small and grows big!
Another parable He put forth to them, saying: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field..." Another parable He spoke to them: "The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened." (Matthew 13:31, 33)
My prayer today is that we will be so encouraged by the possibilities in God's kingdom that we will seek God's kingdom first and with faith.
The growth from small beginnings is possible because of:
- Kingdom power
- When we make our lives about the King, God Himself gets on board. Rather, we get on board with God.
- Do you know who the Emperor of Rome was when Jesus was ministering?
- Do you know the best-selling book of all time?
- Kingdom permeates
- He told them still another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough." (Matthew 13:33, NIV)
- The whole point of the parable lies in one thing: the transforming power of the leaven.
- The point is that you invite Jesus into your life and life situation, and He will invade that situation with His presence.
- Have you invited Jesus into your:
- marriage?
- parenting?
- friendships?
- speech?
- finances?
- work?
- school?
- hobbies?
- music?
- social media?
- WEEKLY CHALLENGE: Invite Jesus to invade your life this week with Kingdom power and perspective.
- Kingdom places
- God changing the places of our lives is so encouraging that we should be motivated to invite Him into the places of our lives.
- We are God's mustard seed and God's leaven in this world.
- The one man or woman set on fire for Christ is the person who kindles others.
Wednesday Oct 17, 2018
Wednesday Oct 17, 2018
Series: Freedom in Jesus
Sermon: Faith is Fundamental to Freedom
Scripture: 1 John 5:1-5
Date: October 14, 2018
Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world - our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? (1 John 5:1-5)
Invite Jesus into your stronghold. "Lord, this is the lie that I've been believing. Can you show me where this started?"
Repent and close the door to the agreement.
Remember how much God loves me.
The more you invite God's love into your life, believe it, accept it, and receive it, the less fear you will have.
Remember God has a good plan for your life.
Pray for freedom.
"God, I bring these things that have imprisoned me, and I give them to you. You are the door of freedom, and I come to you through Jesus. I'm walking through the door to freedom - as best I can. I give my life to you, Lord Jesus, and I want to live with, for, and through You. I want to walk through the doors of opportunity You have for me. Take my life."
Faith is fundamental to freedom.
Truths, techniques and prayer will not set us free. Only Jesus will set us free.
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome. (1 John 5:1-3, NIV)
For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. (1 John 5:4-5)
How do you get freedom from worldly stuff like:
- materialism
- popularity
- comparison
- compromising to fit in
- gossip
- dressing immodestly
So, what is essential to being set free by faith? At least, these two essentials:
- We believe what God says is true
- Do we truly believe what God says when He says things like:
- It's better to give than to receive
- The way to living is by dying
- Seeking first the kingdom is better than seeking first money
- Contentment with godliness is great gain
- Love God and love others like ourselves
- We are servants of each other
- Love and pray for your enemies
- Gen Z: born between 2002-2015
- Millennials: born between 1984-2001
- Busters/Gen-Xers: born between 1965-1983
- Boomers: born between 1946-1964
- Elders: born between 1945-earlier
- ENGAGED CHRISTIANS identify as Christian, have attended church within the past six months and strongly agree with each of the following:
- The Bible is the inspired word of God and contains truth about the world.
- I have made a personal commitment to Jesus Christ that is still important in my life today.
- I engage with my church in more ways than just attending services.
- I believe that Jesus Christ was crucified and raised from the dead to conquer sin and death.
- CHURCHED CHRISTIANS identify as Christian and have attended church within the past six months, but do not qualify as engaged according to the previous definition
- "Following Jesus makes your life better and makes you better at life." -Andy Stanley
- Do we truly believe what God says when He says things like:
- We act like what God says is true
- And being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. (Romans 4:21)
- "We don't believe something by merely saying we believe it, or even when we believe that we believe it. We believe something when we act as if it were true." -Dallas Willard
- If you say you believe God loves you but don't act like it...
- If you say you believe there is no condemnation in Christ but don't act like it...
- If you say you believe God's plan is too good to miss but don't act like it...
- If you say you believe God answers prayer but don't act like it...
- If you say you believe God loves a holy life but don't act like it...
- If you say you believe God's commands are for our good but don't act like it...
- If you say you believe Jesus sets you free but don't act like it...
Sunday Oct 14, 2018
Sunday Oct 14, 2018
Series: Life With the King
Sermon: Kingdom Fruit
Scripture: Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23
Date: October 14, 2018
On the same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the sea. And great multitudes were gathered together to Him, so that He got into a boat and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore. Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying: "Behold, a sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them. Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth. But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them. But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He who has ears to hear, let him hear! (Matthew 13:1-9)
Therefore hear the parable of the sower: When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside. But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and than the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. (Matthew 13:18-23)
We love King Jesus and want to please Him.
What's the King looking for?
But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thrity. (Matthew 13:23)
- Hebrews says the fruit of your lips is praise to God.
- Paul said the first people he led to Christ in Achaia are fruit.
- Paul worte to the Philippians and the Colossians about the fruit of righteousness.
- Paul wrote to the Galatians about the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and self-control
We have action fruit and attitude fruit.
Jesus says that the kingdom grows in people according to what kind of hearts we have. We grow in relation to how we obey Jesus' word.
And great multitudes were gathered together to Him, so that He got into a boat and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore (Matthew 13:2)
Whether the seed grows or not depends on the condition of the soil. That means the condition of our hearts to receive and obey Jesus determines if we grow.
What has God been saying to you these days?
Lord, what are you trying to say to me in this?
Therefore hear the parable of the sower: When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside. (Matthew 13:18-19)
There are 4 different kinds of hearts:
- Hard heart
- When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside. (Matthew 13:19)
- What is the biggest cause of a hard heart? When we hear truth and reject it.
- "Why do so many people who say they like Jesus not read the Bible?" -Brant Hansen
- Here's something else that causes a hard heart: we know God wants us to do something and we say we are just not going to do it.
- The single greatest cause of impaired hearing of fresh truth is the refusal to live what we know already.
- The Kingdom does not grow in a hard heart.
- Shallow heart
- But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. (Matthew 13:20-21)
- They just want good gifts from Jesus. It is more of an emotional response than a real decision to go after Jesus.
- Do I find that trials, instead of shattering my faith, actually deepen it?
- After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. (John 6:66)
- The Kingdom does not grow in a shallow heart.
- Crowded heart
- Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. (Matthew 13:22)
- This is the person that has too much going on.
- Jesus does not say, "I understand, life is busy right now and you just don't have time for Me."
- Kingdom people's lives revolve around the King. He is not an add-on.
- "If God's Word is not working, you need to check the ground it landed on, because there is nothing wrong with the seed." -Tony Evans
- The Kingdom does not grow in a crowded heart.
- Obedient heart
- But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty." (Matthew 13:23)
- But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred." (Mark 4:20)
- But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience. (Luke 8:15)
- He who has ears to hear, let him hear! (Matthew 13:9)
- Hebrews says the fruit of your lips is praise to God.
- Paul said the first people he led to Christ in Achaia are fruit.
- Paul wrote to the Philippians and the Colossians about the fruit of righteousness.
- Paul wrote to the Galatians about the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and self-control
- We have action fruit and attitude fruit.
- Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. (James 1:21)
- "Hearing the Bible preaced is like eating an appetizer. Once you hear the sermon, no matter how much you liked it or enjoyed it, all you got was the appetizer. The full meal comes when you take the Word you have heard and process it, digest it, and put it to use in your daily life." -Tony Evans
- The Kingdom does grow in an obedient heart.
Saturday Oct 13, 2018
Saturday Oct 13, 2018
Series: Freedom in Jesus
Sermon: Free From Satan
Scripture: Revelation 12:10-11
Date: October 7, 2018
Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, "Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. (Revelation 12:10-11)
- You're not good enough to be a Christian.
- You call yourself a Christian, and look how you've messed up.
- It's not worth it.
- You're wasting your time while all your friends are partying.
- You should not have the kinds of thoughts you have.
- You are a church leader and still fight against that?
- He (the devil) fights with things like shame, regret, guilt.
These people, who lived in a much more difficult time than we do, overcame the devil.
Stay true to Jesus and you will be so glad you did.
So, how do we overcome the enemy? Revelation 12:11 tells us three very clear components:
- The blood of the Lamb
- And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. (Revelation 12:11)
- Satan's attacks are often accusations.
- What's our defense? Too many Christians try the defense of:
- I'm not that bad...
- I'm not as bad as someone else...
- I saw someone else do something worse...
- I'm not as bad as I could be...
- You cannot win with those weapons.
- Our answer is the blood of Jesus.
- "Jesus paid it all/All to Him I owe/Sin had left a crimson stain/He washed it white as snow."
- Lord, I ask for the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus over this group
- What does that mean?
- It means cleansing.
- If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to fogive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)
- It means protection.
- And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand. (John 10:28-29)
- "Be angry, and do not sin"; do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil. (Ephesians 4:26-27)
- It means cleansing.
- The word of their testimony
- "I ask them whence their victory came/They, with united breath/Ascribe their conquest to the Lamb/Their triumph to his death."
- And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. (Revelation 12:11)
- That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9-10)
- I choose to believe and confess that I'm forgiven.
- If someone says, "How can you call yourself a Christian and act like that?", what is your answer?
- Go all in
- And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony and they did not love their lives to the death. (Revelation 12:11)
- I will die rather than be disobedient.
- Hiding in the Light by Rifqa Bary
- Half-hearted commitment and love for Jesus will not overcome the enemy.
Sunday Oct 07, 2018
Sunday Oct 07, 2018
Series: Life With the King
Sermon: Are You Out of Your Mind?
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 2:12-16
Date: October 7, 2018
Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. For "who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?" But we have the mind of Christ. (1 Corinthians 2:12-16)
Link for Brant Hansen video: https://www.facebook.com/branthansenpage/videos/325463428222560/
This week let's see how God wants to use our minds for His kingdom purposes.
That's where the title comes from: Are you out of your mind?...and into His?
Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. (1 Corinthians 2:12)
What things have been given to you by God?
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)
So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:1, NLT)
But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ. (Philippians 3:20)
Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father." (Galatians 4:6)
But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. (2 Corinthians 2:14)
But people who aren't spiritual can't receive these truths from God's Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can't understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means. (2 Corinthians 2:14, NLT)
"Your greatest problem, and mine, is not what we do. Our greatest problem is the way we think. In order to transform what we do, we must first transform how we think." -Tony Evans
Let's talk about thinking Kingdom ways today. Here are three ways to think Kingdom thoughts:
- The wisdom of Kingdom thoughts
- "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways," says the Lord. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts." (Isaiah 55:8-9)
- Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. (Romans 8:5-6, NIV)
- WEEKLY CHALLENGE: Ask the Holy Spirit to help you think Kingdom thoughts.
- When you have a kingdom mind and you face a decision, you raise certain questions:
- What does Jesus think about this?
- How would He react to this?
- What does Jesus want me to do here?
- What is the loving thing to do?
- What is the right thing to do?
- What is the wise thing to do?
- The warfare of Kingdom thoughts
- The more influence Satan has over your mind, the easier it is for him to take you down the wrong path and get you sidetracked from fulfilling God's agenda for your life.
- But people who aren't spiritual can't recieve these truths from God's Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can't understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means. (2 Corinthians 2:14, NLT)
- How often do you think about God?
- The weapon of Kingdom thoughts
- Now we have received, not the spirir of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. For "who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?" But we have the mind of Christ. (1 Corinthians 2:12, 16)
- Let's try applying that to the real issues:
- Bringing Jesus into a conversation...
- Helping someone see Jesus in a positive light...
- Making family prayer time fun...
- Bringing the love and message of Jesus to someone else this week...
- Using social media to say something about Jesus...
- Helping your family to be on mission with Jesus...
Francis Chan Youtube video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRcr1inmWsA
- start @ 12:35
- end @ 16:33
Wednesday Oct 03, 2018
Wednesday Oct 03, 2018
Sermon: Is That All You Want?
Enjoy a message from our youth pastor, Bro. Emmett Massey!
Sunday Sep 30, 2018
Sunday Sep 30, 2018
Series: Life With the King
Sermon: The King's Mission is Our Mission
Scripture: Matthew 6:10 and John 17:18
Date: September 30, 2018
"Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." (Matthew 6:10)
"As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world." (John 17:18)
"Too many of us merely exist rather than live as if we are called by God to a higher purpose." -Tony Evans
"If it is God's mission, then it should also be the church's mission. It should orient our schedule and priorities. It should dictate our activities and why we do them." -Ed Stetzer
What king of a church would you like to attaned if you were going to attend? It would have to be a place where:
- People are serious about God.
- People care about each other.
- People make a difference in the community.
How do we live as Kingdom people on mission? We must fully know and embrace the:
- King's purpose
- It would have to be a place where people are serious about God.
- We get to seek a glorious God and we have the privelege of beholding His glory.
- To glorify God is to see Him as He really is and say, "Wow!!" Then it is to help someone else see Him as He is and they say, "Wow!!"
- King's particulars
- Jesus answered him, "The first of all the commandments is: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.' And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these." (Mark 12:29-31)
- "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." (John 13:34-35)
- Who have we done something loving for this week with the heart that wants to glorify God?
- We love one another.
- We care about the hurting.
- We forgive unfairness.
- We live with uncommon character.
- We actively serve.
- We worship our King.
- We share our time.
- "Imagine a world where people were skeptical of what we believed but envious of how well we treated one another. Imagine a world where unbelievers were anxious to hire, work for, work with, live next door to Christians because of how well we "one-another" one another and how well we "one-another" them, as well." -Andy Stanley
- Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen. (Matthew 28:19-20)
- "The church, as it turns out, only exists because God is missional (on mission). He is a "sender" as part of His nature. So if the church is going to function the way it's supposed to, we need to condition ourselves to live "sent lives." -Ed Stetzer
- As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. (John 17:18)
- "Do you ever feel like you could use a little bit of caffeine in your Christian cup?" -Tony Evans
- King's place
- People were serious about God.
- People cared about each other.
- People made a difference in the community.
- Are you making a difference?
- What difference does it make that Hopewell is here?
- Too many churches just huddle inside, more concerned with making budget than making a difference.
- WEEKLY CHALLENGE: Pray and meditate on this question: "Lord, where is my unique place to glorify You this week?"