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Weekly sermons from our Pastor, Barry Wilkinson.
Episodes
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?"
Wednesday Sep 26, 2018
Wednesday Sep 26, 2018
Series: Freedom in Jesus
Sermon: The Real You
Scripture: 1 John 3:1-3
Date: September 23, 2018
Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. (1 John 3:1-3)
What is true about you?
Are we willing to believe what God says about us?
In order to have freedom in Christ, we need to believe what God says is true about us. Let's believe what God says about us in these three areas:
- Know and believe who you are
- Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of god; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. (1 John 3:1-2)
- Who I Am in Christ
- ...God's child (John 1:12)
- ...a friend of Jesus Christ (John 15:15)
- ...justified (Romans 5:1)
- ...united with the Lord, and one with Him in Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:17)
- ...bought at a price and belong to God (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
- ...a member of Christ's body (1 Corinthians 12:27)
- ...chosen by God and adopted as His child (Ephesians 1:3-8)
- ...redeemed and forgiven of all my sins (Colossians 1:13-14)
- ...complete in Christ (Colossians 2:9-10)
- ...direct access to the throne of grace through Jesus Christ (Hebrews 4:14-16)
- ...free from condemnation (Romans 8:1-2)
- ...assured that God works for my good in all circumstances (Romans 8:28)
- ...free from any condemnation brought against me and cannot be separated from the love of God (Romans 8:31-39)
- ...established, annointed and sealed by God (2 Corinthians 1:21-22)
- ...hidden with Christ in God (Colossians 3:1-4)
- ...confident that God will complete the good work He started in me (Philippians 1:6)
- ...a citizen of heaven (Philippians 3:20)
- ...not afraid, but have power, love and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7)
- ...born of God and the evil one cannot touch me (1 John 5:18)
- ...a branch of Jesus Christ, the true vine, and a channel of His life (John 15:5)
- ...chosen and appointed to bear fruit (John 15:16)
- ...God's temple (1 Corinthians 3:16)
- ...a minister of reconciliation for God (2 Corinthians 5:17-21)
- ...seated with Jesus Christ in the heavenly realm (Ephesians 2:6)
- ...God's workmanship (Ephesians 2:10)
- ...may approach God with freedom and confidence (Ephesians 3:12)
- ...can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13)
- If you think you are a loser, you will act like a loser. If you think you are a child of God, empowered by the Holy Spirit, you will act differently.
- Know and believe where you are
- Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. (Romans 8:30)
- Know and believe who you are becoming
- Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of god; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. (1 John 3:1-3)
- And everyone who has this hope [confidently placed] in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure (holy, undefiled, guiltless). (1 John 3:3, AMP)
- We cannot consistently live in a way that is inconsistent with how we see ourselves - our self-perception. When we change how we see ourselves, our actions change.
- We love God for what He's done for us and also for who He has made us. The more we believe who we really are in Jesus, the more we will become like Jesus.
Sunday Sep 23, 2018
Sunday Sep 23, 2018
Series: Life With the King
Sermon: How the Kingdom is Coming in Me
Scripture: Matthew 10:24-25
Date: September 23, 2018
A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they call those of his household! (Matthew 10:24-25)
"There should be no way to talk about you and not talk about Him." -Tony Evans
He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me. (Colossians 1:28-29)
Praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. (Acts 2:47)
The early Christians after Pentecost had beautiful lives - not beautiful churches. Their lives - not their church buildings - were attractive.
Let's look today at how King Jesus grows us into Kingdom people. Let's see how the Kingdom comes in our lives:
- Desire
- When we think about the mind boggling truth that Jesus has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of light, there should be a response to Him.
- A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they call those of his household! (Matthew 10:24-25)
- "It is not enough simply to say, 'I'm on my way to heaven.' The question is, are you becoming like the One who is taking you to heaven?" -Tony Evans
- spending time with the Savior
- submitting to the Spirit
- "A person who is changed becomes an agent of change." -Ed Stetzer
- Daily Desire
- A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they call those of his household! (Matthew 10:24-25)
- How do I avoid escalating this conflict and diffuse it instead?
- Life is hard.
- Even though Jesus was God's Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered. (Hebrews 5:8)
- "Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? "Father, save Me from this hour'? But for this purpose I came to this hour. Father, glorify Your name." Then a voice came from heaven, saying, "I have both glorified it and will glorify it again." (John 12:28-29)
- Doing the Daily Things
- Becoming like Jesus is not just learning things about Him. It's actually doing thigns like Him.
- Here are two helps:
- Spend time with people that are becoming like Jesus.
- If you really want to pick up your spiritual pace, run with someone who is faster than you, who can set a brisk pace.
- Loving actual people that are different from me.
- "One of the greatest things I've learned in life is this: people are more important than the point." -Ed Stetzer
- Spend time with people that are becoming like Jesus.
- WEEKLY CHALLENGE: Pray this often this week: "Lord, fill my heart with Your love, and help me to give it away to the next person I meet."
Wednesday Sep 12, 2018
Wednesday Sep 12, 2018
Series: Freedom in Jesus
Sermon: I Need to be Free from Me
Scripture: Romans 8:1-2
Date: September 9, 2018
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:1-2)
I don't really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don't do it. Instead, I do what I hate. And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can't. I want to do what is good, but I don't. I don't want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. (Romans 7:15, 18-19; NLT)
The key to Romans 7 and 8 is that the words "I," "my," and "me" (in Romans 7) occurs a lot (over 20 times), and the word "Holy Spirit" or "Christ" (in chapter 8) occurs a lot (over 15 times).
Best intentions are not enough. Decisions and actions determine your life.
7 weapons of self-destruction (from Rick Warren):
- shame
- uncontrolled thoughts
- compulsions
- fear
- hopelessness
- bitterness
- insecurity
Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: in my mind I really want to obey God's law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin. (Romans 7:24-25)
Notice he says who - not what - will free me.
Here are 7 mental habits to help us understand and live out the magnificent truths of Romans 8:
- Grace versus Shame: I must remind myself daily what Jesus did for me
- So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. For the power of the life-giving SPIRIT has freed you through Christ Jesus from the power of sin that leads to death. The Law of Moses could not save us, because of our sinful nature. But God put into effect a different plan to save us. He sent his own Son in a human body like ours, except that ours are sinful. God destroyed sin's control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. He did this so the requirement of the law would be fully accomplished for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow THE SPIRIT. (Romans 8:1-4, NLT)
- Jesus doesn't have to condemn you because He was condemned for you.
- You can ask the Holy Spirit to put good thoughts into your mind: friends, revival, family, witnessing, prayer.
- Spirit-controlled thoughts versus Uncontrolled thoughts: Ask the Holy Spirit to give me better thoughts
- Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the SPIRIT have their minds set on what the SPIRIT desires. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the SPIRIT is life and peace. (Romans 8:5-6, NIV)
- The sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. (Romans 8:7-8, NIV)
- Spirit-controlled actions versus Uncontrolled desires: I realize I have a new ability to say no
- So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won't be doing what your sinful nature craves. (Galatians 5:16, NLT)
- But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are now controlled by the SPIRIT if you have the SPIRIT of God living in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ living in them does not belong to Christ. (Romans 8:9, NLT)
- So, dear brothers, you have no obligations anymore to your old sinful nature to do what it begs you to do. (Romans 8:12, LB)
- Spirit-controlled faith versus Fear: I need to turn my thoughts to God whenever I'm afraid
- The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. (Romans 8:14-16, NIV)
- Antidote to fear:
- Remember whose family you are a part of
- Call out to your Father in trust
- When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. (Psalm 58:3)
- Spirit-controlled long-term focus versus Fleshly short-term focus: I will focus on the long-term not the short-term
- Since we are his children, we WILL possess the blessings he keeps for his people, and we WILL also possess with Christ what God has kept for him! For if we share Christ's suffering, we will also share his glory! I consider that what we suffer at the present time cannot be compared at all with the glory that is going to be revealed to us. (Romans 8:17-18, TEV)
- Remind myself that God is good and in control
- 4 things to help you get over bitterness:
- Remember the Holy Spirit is praying for me.
- Also, the Spirit helps us with our weakness. We do not know how to pray as we should. But the Spirit himself speaks to God for us, and even begs God for us with deep feelings that words cannot explain. God can see what is in our hearts...and the Spirit speaks to God for his people in the way God wants. (Romans 8:26-27, NCV)
- God is using it all for good.
- And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren. (Romans 8:28-29, NASB)
- God wants me to succeed.
- So what can we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? (Romans 8:31, NLT)
- God will give me what I need.
- Since God did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won't God, who gave us Christ, also give us everything else? (Romans 8:32, NLT)
- Remember the Holy Spirit is praying for me.
- 4 things to help you get over bitterness:
- Trust that God will never stop loving me
- I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from his love. Death can't, and life can't. The angels can't, and the demons can't. Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, and even the powers of hell can't keep God's love away. Whether we are high above the sky or in the deepest ocean, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39, NLT)