Tomahawk Missionary Baptist Church

1 Peter 1:3-5  What Do We Have In Christ?

Intro: What do you have in life?  Your joy. your home.  your family.  your job.  your income. Your Health.  your house.  What if just one of these ended where would you be?  If you lost any of these things it would be a disaster for you.  What if you could get something that would never be taken from you? Never end, never fade, and get better and better every day!  What would you give for that? Well we can have that and it’s free.  1:00

1. We Have A Living Hope

1 Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

Peter says that we should give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! How Blessed [gratefully praised and adored] be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

1 Peter 1:3…..which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again Peter says that Because of his great mercy he gave us new life. It is saying that who?.... God….. according to His abundant and boundless mercy has caused us to be born again [that is, to be reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, and set apart for His purpose]

….unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,  Peter says that Because of his great mercy he gave us new life…. by raising Jesus Christ from death.  This fills us with a living hope.  We Have A Living Hope.  Because He lives we shall live also.  John 14:19.  We are born again into an ever-living hope and confident assurance through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, We Have A Living Hope.  Titus 2:13Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 1 John 3:3And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.   We Have A Living Hope

1 Cor. 15:12–19Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?  13But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:   14And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.   15Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.   16For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:   17And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.   18Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.   19If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

We have a sure hope.  A confident expectation.  We Have A Living Hope.  10:00

1. We Have A Living Hope   2.  We Have an Incorruptible Inheritance

4 To an inheritance incorruptible, And for this we rejoice in that we are born anew into an inheritance which is imperishable [beyond the reach of change].  Unchangable. 

 …and undefiled, and undefiled.  No sin to defile it.  No disease to destroy it. It will not decay with or spoil with age.   

…..and that fadeth not away, and unfading.  Unending.  The glory will never fade or get old or boring or uninspiring. 

….reserved in heaven for you.  reserved in heaven for you Peter is saying that we all look forward to possessing the rich blessings that God keeps for his people. He keeps them for you in heaven, where they cannot decay or spoil or fade away. We Have an Incorruptible Inheritance

Eph. 1:18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints;

Colossians 3:24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.   John 14:1-3), "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me." "In my Father's house are many mansions: if [it were] not [so], I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you." "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, [there] ye may be also.  We Have an Incorruptible Inheritance.

19:00

1. We Have A Living Hope  2.  We Have an Incorruptible Inheritance

3.  We Have A Glorious Future Through The Power Of God

5 Who are kept by the power of God Peter is saying that they are for you, who through faith are kept safe by God's power.  Praise God that we who know Jesus Christ are being protected and shielded by the power of God

…..through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.  for the salvation which is ready to be revealed at the end of time.  Through your faith for salvation that is ready to be revealed [for you] in the last time, the last days we shall be revealed as the saved.  We Have A Glorious Future Through The Power Of God. 1 John 3:2Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.  We Have the Power Of God

 (1 Cor. 4:5Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God. We Have A Glorious Future Through The Power Of God.

The last days Jesus will come and will separate the sheep from the goats as far as the world and Israel is concerned.  But also, the sheep from the goats as far as the true believers are concerned, will be separated at the rapture.  This will truly separate the true from the false.  We Have A Glorious Future Through The Power Of God.  27:00

What Do We Have In Christ?

1. We Have A Living Hope  2.  We Have an Incorruptible Inheritance  

3.  We Have A Glorious Future Through The Power Of God

Remember that commercial.. What’s in your wallet?  Well… what is your hope placed? Who is your hope placed?  Where is your hope placed?  In man? In you?  In your good deeds?  In your government? In your job?  In your family?  In your health?  In your money?  All these things will fade away but the word of the Lord endureth forever!  Trust in Jesus Christ and have a living hope, incorruptible, and glorious!  28:04

 

Revelation 22:12  How Will Jesus Returning Affect You?

Intro: In verse 7 he says, "Behold, I come quickly."  Three times in these concluding verses the Lord Jesus says-I come quickly. He says it in verse 12. "Behold I come quickly." In verse 20 again it says, "Surely, I come quickly."  Here is a three-fold affirmation from the lips of our Savior Himself that He is going to come again.  What does it mean?  And how quick is “quickly?”  Jesus is returning again.  That we know for sure.  He is also returning in judgment.  Who will be judged?  Will everyone be judged?  Every competition gets judged.  There are either winners or losers with every judgment.  So it will be for every human being.  We must all give an account of ourselves to God.  1:00

How Will Jesus Returning In Judgment Affect You?

1. Fact Number One Jesus Is Returning Again

Revelation 22:12 And, behold, I come….

There can be nothing more clear than these words of Jesus to the apostle John.  Listen!” says Jesus. I am coming soon! Behold, I (Jesus) am coming.  When the Lord Jesus was raised from the dead, when he was getting ready to ascend back to the right hand of the Father in glory, He met with His disciples on the Mount of Olives.  He ascended right there before them. As those disciples were looking at Jesus going up, two angels appeared and said unto them, Acts 1:11 "Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven. This same Jesus which you have seen go away into heaven shall so come in like manner as you have seen him go." Fact number one Jesus is returning!

Jesus Christ has made us the promise that He is going to come again. In John 14, Jesus said, "Let not your heart be troubled, ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my father's house are many mansions, I go to prepare a place for you and if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself.   Fact number one Jesus is returning!

He is coming in two parts.  First for the church.  1 Thessalonians 4:16-17For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. , 1 Corinthians 15:51-52. Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.  Jesus is returning for His church.

Then seven years later or there abouts He is coming to the earth to defeat the Anti-Christ and His forces and to set up His kingdom on earth.  Fact number one Jesus is returning.

Revelation 22:12 …..I come quickly;

The Bible tells us that in the last days there will be those who will be scoffers. In Second Peter 3 we read these verse in verse 4. "There will be scoffers in the last days who will say, Where is the promise of his coming. For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation."   

Why is God waiting?  Two reasons. 

One. Everything must be fulfilled.  So we don’t know but things may not be exactly in place yet. 

Two.  2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

Keep watching, keep waiting, and keep working for Jesus is coming again.  Jesus as I said is coming in two stages.  First, He is coming for His church in the rapture.  Then after the tribulation of those days He is coming to earth with His church to rule and reign on the earth for one thousand years.   Fact number one Jesus will return and return quickly.  He promised it. 

Quickly may mean the rapture in which He will reward the church in heaven after He gathers us together.  Or I believe it means that these events when they start, there will be so much going on it will seem like we can’t even keep up with it.  Quickly is the word “tach”  Which we get the word tachometer.  It means it is getting revved up.   Quickly! It means that when He does come, when the events begin to transpire, they will not hesitate or be slowed down. As a car gets revved up so will all these things.   Fact number one Jesus is returning…quickly.

Think of the things that have happened since January 1^st. 

Austrailian wildfires

Solemani killed in a US strike

Deal of the century Peace plan introduced

Brexit.  Great Brittan finally leaves the EU on January 31^st.

Corona Virus

Russian government has surrended all power to Vladamir Putin as supreme ruler.

Israel is going to have to have another election.  Their third

Impeachment ends with an aquittal of Trump

Escalations and natural distasters and growing protest worldwide

The bulletin of the atomic scientists move the doomsday clock to the closes ever to midnight.  One hundred seconds to midnight. 

Fact number one.  Jesus is returning…quickly.   Things are happening so fast, it seems as things are revving up.  Jesus is returning.  He promised it and the scriptures are all over it

One thing we must know is that they will come on time. Jesus has never been late. Jesus has never been early. Jesus is always on time.  Bottom line…Jesus is returning again! Is returning for you?   10:00

How Will Jesus Returning In Judgment Affect You?

1. Fact Number One Jesus Is Returning Again

2.  Fact Number Two Jesus Will Reward

Revelation 22:12 …and my reward is with me,  Jesus said that He will bring my rewards with Him.  Jesus said that and My reward is with Me.  The reward that He will give each believer in Christ or is it something else?  Fact number two.  Jesus is going to reward everybody in some fashion.   How will Jesus reward you?

“Reward” is always based on “work” Jer. 17:10 I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.; Rom. 2:6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds:; 1 Peter 1:17 And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:). For believers, there is the judgment seat of Christ  where Jesus will reward every believers faithfulness. 

Fact number two Jesus will reward.  But what is this reward?  Jesus Himself is our reward.  He is our reward.  He is our life.  He will come to set the world straight.  The world tried the Anti-Christ and that didn’t work too well did it?  Well now we will have Jesus Christ our great reward given by the grace of God!  He is the creator, sustainer, Savior, God and now King! 19:00

How Will Jesus Returning In Judgment Affect You?

1. Fact Number One Jesus Is Returning Again

2.  Fact Number Two Jesus Will Reward

3. Fact Number Three Jesus Rewards Includes judgment

Revelation 22:12 …..to give every man …… Jesus says that He will give reward to each person.

Revelation 22:12……according as his work shall be.   Jesus says that He will give to each person when He comes according to what he has done.  To be more specific to give to each one according to the merit of his deeds.   Rewards include judgment.  Judgment for the righteous and judgment for the wicked.  So fact number three… Jesus rewards include judgment.

For every person born this means his earthly works, or faithfulness to Christ.  You are either a believer or non-believer in Jesus Christ.  You are rewarded for faith or judged for sin. 

There will be Rewards for the church.   We look at 2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. After Christ comes for His church, He will give rewards to His own. This can be counted on because Christ is in control of all history and eternity. Fact number three….Jesus rewards with judgment.  Just rewards.   How will Jesus judgment affect you?

There are rewards for unbelievers, there are various judgments, culminating in the Great White Throne judgment (Revelation 20:11-15; Matt. 25:31-46).  Dan. 12:2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. These are the Old Testament saints who have eternal life and those who rejected God’s gift of salvation to everlasting separation from God.  Jesus rewards and it may include judgment for sins for untold many. 

Did you notice this remarkable statement in verse 11? "He that is unjust, let him be unjust still. He that is filthy, let him be filthy still. He that is righteous, let him be righteous still. He that is holy, let him be holy still." What is that saying? That is saying that decisions determine character and character determines destiny. It is saying that when you make your decision concerning the Lord Jesus Christ, either to accept Him or reject Him, whatever decision you have made-when death comes that is exactly the decision you have made. You have to be saved in this time your time on earth. You will not have the opportunity to be saved in eternity.  Fact number three.  Jesus rewards includes judgment for everyone.  How will Jesus judgment affect you?

The church is rewarded sometime either after the rapture for there is no more church after that.  Other believers-- old testament saints are either rewarded after the rapture with the church or at end of the one thousand year reign with the millennial saints.

Jesus will judge righteously and fairly but He is returning to judge and set everything right.  27:00

Revelation 22:12  How Will Jesus Returning In Judgment Affect You?

1. Fact Number One Jesus Is Returning Again 2.  Fact Number Two Jesus Will Reward

3. Fact Number Three Jesus Rewards Includes judgment

Jesus is returning very soon.  First in the rapture of the church and them approximately seven years later He is coming to rule the earth for one thousand years.   His return includes judgment.  Judgment for unbelievers includes separation in hell and then hell is emptied and they will be judged for their wickedness.  Judgment for the believers is NOT for our sin but for our faithfulness to Christ.  It does not include punishment but withheld precious jewels which represent Jesus approval.  Some will get to heaven alright but with their coattails burning…”so as by fire” the Bible says.  But every believer will receive praise from God for at least one thing.  So it still a great place to be for anyone who trusts in Jesus Christ regardless of your depth of service.  Be there! Or be cast into the lake of fire.  Which have you chosen?  28:04



2/9/2020 

1 Timothy 1:1-16 How To Do Well In Life

Intro: This is the first of two inspired letters Paul wrote to his beloved son in the faith Timothy. Paul wrote 1 Timothy from Macedonia (in A.D. 62 or 63). He sent the letter to Timothy, whom he had left at Ephesus. He wrote to encourage Timothy in his responsibilities for overseeing the work of the Ephesian church and possibly the other churches of the province of Asia. It is possible that he wrote this epistle from Philippi after being released from his first imprisonment at Rome.  In this epistle to the young pastor Timothy.  He exhorts Timothy to guard against false doctrine, protect public worship, and develop mature leadership. Much of the epistle deals with the nature of pastoral conduct, including the qualifications of a bishop (pastor), as a true teacher of God’s Word. Practical directions for elders and for widows are also given in detail. 1:00

1. Paul’s Wish 

1 Timothy 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope;  From Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by order of God our Savior and Christ Jesus our hope—

Paul, an apostle (special messenger, personally chosen representative) of Christ Jesus by the commandment of God our Savior, and of Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed) our Hope [the fulfillment of our salvation],  Paul’s wish for Timothy that He would continue to share the only hope that we have in Christ.

1 Timothy 1:2 Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.  To Timothy, my true son in the faith May God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord give you grace, mercy, and peace. to Timothy, my true son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace [inner calm and spiritual well-being] from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

Pauls’ wish for Timothy is that He might have…

Grace from Jesus Christ… Endurance through persecution and hindrances in the fight of faith.

Mercy from Jesus Christ…Softening the blows from hardship and persecution.

Peace From Jesus Christ….Assurance and courage to continue the fight of faith.

1 Timothy 1:3 As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine, I want you to stay in Ephesus, just as I urged you when I was on my way to Macedonia. Some people there are teaching false doctrines, and you must order them to stop.  As I urged you when I was on my way to Macedonia, stay on at Ephesus so that you may instruct certain individuals not to teach any different doctrines, 

Paul’s wish to Timothy is that He might teach……and warn others to teach nothing in addition to what the apostles taught.  We will do well in life if we follow this admonition.   10:00

1. Paul’s Wish   2. Paul’s Warning

1 Timothy 1:4 Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.  Tell them to give up those legends and those long lists of ancestors, which only produce arguments; they do not serve God's plan, which is known by faith. 

Paul warned Timothy not to listen to give any creedence nor to pay attention to legends (fables, myths Titus 1:14 Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.  ) and endless genealogies, Titus 3:9 But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.  These things give rise to useless speculation and meaningless arguments rather than advancing God’s program of instruction which is grounded in faith [and requires surrendering the entire self to God in absolute trust and confidence]. 

1 Timothy 1:5 Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:  The purpose of this order is to arouse the love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and genuine faith.  Paul reminds Timothy that the goal of our instruction is love [which springs] from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.  John 13:34-35 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 35By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

1 Timothy 1:6 From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling; Some people have turned away from these and have lost their way in foolish discussions. 

Paul warns the church that some individuals have wandered away from these things into empty arguments and useless discussions. 

1 Timothy 1:7 Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.  They want to be teachers of God's law, but they do not understand their own words or the matters about which they speak with so much confidence.

Paul warns those who want to be teachers of the Law [of Moses], even though they do not understand the terms they use or the subjects about which they make [such] confident declarations.  This is not acceptable nor to be allowed.   Luke 5:17And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judaea, and Jerusalem….Acts 5:34Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people…..

1 Timothy 1:8 But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully;  We know that the Law is good if it is used as it should be used. 

Paul reminds the church that [without any doubt] that the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully and appropriately,  It is our school master. Romans 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

1 Timothy 1:9 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,  It must be remembered, of course, that laws are made, not for good people, but for lawbreakers and criminals, for the godless and sinful, for those who are not religious or spiritual, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, 

Paul wanted the church to understand the fact that law is not enacted for the righteous person [the one in right standing with God], but for lawless and rebellious people, for the ungodly and sinful, for the irreverent and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, 

1 Timothy 1:10 For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine; for the immoral, for sexual perverts, for kidnappers, for those who lie and give false testimony or who do anything else contrary to sound doctrine. 

Paul warns that the sexually immoral persons, homosexuals, for [a]kidnappers and slave traders, for liars, for perjurers—and for whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, that they will rise up in the church from time to time and not to be allowed or tolerated in the church.  1 Corinthians 6:9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind.

1 Timothy 1:11 According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.

That teaching is found in the gospel that was entrusted to me to announce, the Good News from the glorious and blessed God.  

Paul declares that his warnings are according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted.  We will do well in life if we heed his warnings to not fall into fall teaching and error.  You will know the truth and the truth will set you free.  Truth is in a person…Jesus Christ.  19:00

1. Paul’s Wish    2. Paul’s Warning  3. Paul’s Witness

1 Timothy 1:12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; I give thanks to Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength for my work. I thank him for considering me worthy and appointing me to serve him, 

Paul witness was that it was Christ Jesus our Lord, who has granted me [the needed] strength and made me able for this, because He considered me faithful and trustworthy, putting me into service [for this ministry], 

1 Timothy 1:13 Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. even though in the past I spoke evil of him and persecuted and insulted him. But God was merciful to me because I did not yet have faith and so did not know what I was doing. 

Paul’s witness was he was formerly a blasphemer [of our Lord] and a persecutor [of His church] and a shameful and outrageous and violent aggressor [toward believers]. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted out of ignorance in unbelief.  Acts 8:3 As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.

1 Timothy 1:14 And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

And our Lord poured out his abundant grace on me and gave me the faith and love which are ours in union with Christ Jesus. 

Paul’s witness is that the grace of our Lord [His amazing, unmerited favor and blessing] flowed out in superabundance [for me, together] with the faith and love which are [realized] in Christ Jesus. 

1 Timothy 1:15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. This is a true saying, to be completely accepted and believed: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. I am the worst of them, 

Paul declares that This is a faithful and trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance and approval, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost. 

1 Timothy 1:16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting. but God was merciful to me in order that Christ Jesus might show his full patience in dealing with me, the worst of sinners, as an example for all those who would later believe in him and receive eternal life. 

Paul’s witness is that he was such a sinner and for this reason only he found mercy, so that in Paul as the foremost [of sinners], Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example or pattern for those who [c]would believe in Him for eternal life.   Romans 11:6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.  Galatians 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

1 Timothy 1:17.Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.  To the eternal King, immortal and invisible, the only God—to him be honor and glory forever and ever! Amen. 

Paul’s witness to the world and His declaration to everyone is that the King of the ages [eternal], immortal, invisible, the only God, be honored and glorfied forever and ever.  We will do well in life if we realize that only Jesus saves us, keeps us, guides us and will bring us home safely.  Not only know that but know Him and follow Him leads us to do well and hear from God…”Well done thou good and faithful servant!”   27:00

Conclusion:

1. Paul’s Wish    2. Paul’s Warning  3. Paul’s Witness 

How To Do Well In Life

Know the truth, be able to teach the truth and pass it on to others.  Warn others not to stray from the truth into error.  Know Jesus is our Savior, our Lord, and our reason to be.  28:04



Colossians 2:6-10 Complete In Him

Intro:  Today people are looking at all sorts of things to make us complete and happy.  They are worried about the future that is for sure.  There is doom all around us.  The climate alarmist say that the world will end in 2030.  Children are terrorized! The Church says that the world will be going through the tribulation and the church instead of being strengthened is terrified!  The Islamic world says the last mufti is coming soon to make the whole world Muslim and the world is scared to death of them!  So we need hope!  We need courage!  We need assurance!  We need something or someone to save us!  1:00

1. We Are Thankful Not Fearful

Colossians 2:6-7 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:  Since you have accepted Christ Jesus as Lord, live in union with him.  Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in [union with] Him [reflecting His character in the things you do and say—living lives that lead others away from sin],  Just as the Colossian believers had begun with Christ, so Paul encourages them to continue in their walk with Him.  We walk in the only one who has no fear of any power on earth, above earth or below earth.  We Are Thankful Not Fearful.

Colossians 2:7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.   

Paul uses five words to describe the Colossians’ walk with Christ.

1.Rooted……Keep your roots deep in him, having been deeply rooted [in Him] The believers have been rooted in Christ. The tense of the word translated rooted denotes a complete action.

The next three words, built up, established, and taught, are showing the continual growth that should characterize every Christian’s walk with Christ.

2.Built…..build your lives on him, being continually built up in Him

3.Stablished….and become stronger in your faith, [becoming increasingly more] established [e]in your faith

4.Taught…….as you were taught. and now and, just as you were taught

Finally if all the other things are true then we should be overflowing with thanksgiving to God.

5.Abounding……And be filled with and thanksgiving to God and overflowing with gratitude. 

We should be thankful that we don’t have to be fearful!  We have nothing to fear not even fear itself!  For we have Christ!  And we are abounding with thanksgiving because of Him!  Are you thankful for the power of Christ?  Are you thankful for the courage we have because of Christ?  10:00

1. We Are Thankful Not Fearful  

2. The Hope that Man Will Eventually Save the Day is deceitful and Vanity

Colossians 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. See to it, then, that no one enslaves you by means of the worthless deceit of human wisdom, which comes from the teachings handed down by human beings and from the ruling spirits of the universe, and not from Christ.  See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception [pseudo-intellectual babble], according to the tradition [and musings] of mere men, following the [f]elementary principles of this world, rather than following [the truth—the teachings of] Christ.   The Hope that Man Will Eventually Save the Day is deceitful and Vanity

Man can do some great things.  Wonderful things even.  But we cannot save ourselves from our greatest problem….SIN!  Man will do many great things be we cannot save the day.  The day of destruction is coming upon us and there is nothing we can do because despite all of our knowledge and ability we can really do nothing….without Christ! 

This verse has been used at times to teach that Christians should not study or read philosophy. This is not Paul’s meaning. Paul himself was adept at philosophy, evidenced by his interaction with the Stoic and Epicurean philosophers in Athens (Acts 17:1–34). Paul was warning the believers not to be taken in by any philosophy that does not conform to a proper knowledge of Christ. The false teachers at Colosse had combined worldly philosophies with the gospel. These philosophies are spoken of by Paul as the basic principles of the world, which some have interpreted as “spirits” or “angels” who supposedly control a person’s life.  The Hope that Man Will Eventually Save the Day is deceitful and Vanity.

Galatians 4:3, Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: Galatians 4:9 But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?. It seems more likely that the term rudiments of the world in Colossians 2:8 refers to the elementary rules and regulations that certain teachers were seeking to impose on believers according to the dictates of human philosophies. Paul’s strongest indictment against the heretics was that their teaching was not according to Christ, and thus they were not walking with Christ.  The Hope that Man Will Eventually Save the Day is deceitful and Vanity

Man cannot save Himself, how can he save the day?  How can He save anyone?  Man can make life more comfortable…but He cannot give himself peace.  Man can make himself smarter but if He does not know God all His wisdom is folly.  The Hope that Man Will Eventually Save the Day is deceitful and Vanity.  19:00

1. We Are Thankful Not Fearful  

2. The Hope that Man Will Save The Day is deceitful and Vanity

3.  We Are Complete In Jesus

Collossians 2:9-10 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. For the full content of divine nature lives in Christ, in his humanity,  For in Him all the fullness of Deity (the Godhead) dwells in bodily form [completely expressing the divine essence of God].  In this verse Paul clearly proclaims the Incarnation, the fact the God became a man bodily. This contradicts the Gnostic idea of the inherent evil of physical bodies and the claim that Jesus is merely a spirit. The Gnostics thought the fullness of God had been divided among a number of angelic beings, the last creating the material world. In contrast, Paul says that the fullness of God exists in Christ.   We are complete in Christ.  We have everything if we have Christ.  Without Him we have nothing! 

Colossians 2:10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power.  and you have been given full life in union with him. He is supreme over every spiritual ruler and authority. And in Him you have been made complete [achieving spiritual stature through Christ], and He is the head over all rule and authority [of every angelic and earthly power].  Paul illustrates the adequacy of Christ by demonstrating how the Colossian believers are complete. In Christ, the Colossians have put off the power of sin and the flesh (v. 11), have received new life (vv. 12, 13), have been forgiven, have been delivered from requirements laid down by human traditions (v. 14), and have been freed from the powers of spirit beings (v. 15). There is nothing that the Christian needs to add to what was received in Christ at the time of conversion. Paul emphasizes the sufficiency of Christ in order to refute the Gnostics and the Judaizers who respectively believed that special knowledge or works were necessary to make a Christian complete.  We Are Complete In Jesus.

Complete, full, satisfied, joyous, peaceful all that is what we have in Christ.  We are complete.  What else do we need?  You may want many things in life.  But it’s your needs that really count.  What else do you NEED when you have Christ?  We Are Complete In Jesus.

So why do Christians have problems? Because we are still in the sinful flesh. Why do we have troubles?  Because we still have an enemy.  But like a mighty ship upon the sea we may be battered and beat up but we are unsinkable in Christ.   We are completely dependent upon Him.   A ship is dependent upon the skill of the ship builders.  We are dependent upon the author and finisher and builder of our faith.  Jesus Christ!  We are complete in Him! 

Like the mighty Hippo.  The lions may try to attack him.  He might get scratched and aggravated.  But there will soon be a dead and mangled lion…...and the hippo continues to be a complete hippo.   The lion is the king of the jungle because he doesn’t attack hippo’s.  A wise king knows who to fight and who to friend.  As Jesus Christ’s children of the king know who to fight and know who to leave alone.  We fight for our faith but we leave the devil to Jesus.  Jesus is the only king who doesn’t have to fear anyone, or any power or any principality.  He is greater than them all and can easily beat them all!!

We are complete in Christ!  The job is done. Nothing else to be added, nothing subtracted.  We are the finished work of Christ.  27:00

1. We Are Thankful Not Fearful  

2. The Hope that Man Will Save The Day is deceitful and Vanity

3.  We Are Complete In Jesus

What completes you?  great family, good job, good money, good vacations, good luck, good health, good news, good politics, good ball games, good feelings, good memories, great accomplishments?   If it’s not Jesus and nothing but Jesus you are woefully incomplete no matter what you do on this earth!



 Philippians 2:5-11  The Greatness Of Jesus

Intro:  Philippians derives its name from the Greek city where the church to which it was addressed was located. Philippi was the first town in Macedonia where Paul established a church.  We will find many different things about this church at Philippi and the one in Corinth. In fact, the first church meetings here, were held in Lydia's home. Actually, Lydia and her family were the first converts to Christianity here. We will find that Paul had been instructed directly from God to go to this area, because they needed help.

There was no synagogue in this area, and the women were praying out at the river bank where they washed.

This city was said to be a Roman city in Greece. This made this church a Gentile church. There was not the problem with the Jews at this time, because they were not prominent in worship here. Both Latin and Greek were spoken here in Phillip. This was a poor church, but one that gave generously to help Paul. This was the only church that Paul would take help from.

In this church, we see ministry of the women more prominent than in the other churches. Paul, on one occasion, tells the church people to cooperate with the women that had ministered with him.

This passage gives the greatness, the uniqueness, the importance of Jesus and the majesty of Jesus.

1.  The Greatness Of Jesus

Philippians 2:5Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: The attitude you should have is the one that Christ Jesus had: Have this same attitude in yourselves which was in Christ Jesus [look to Him as your example in selfless humility],  Let this mind be: All godly action begins with the “renewing of the mind.” Right thinking produces right actions. Our actions are the fruit of our deepest thoughts. in you: Thinking and being like Christ are requirements not only for an individual but also for the corporate body of believers. Together we need to think and act like one being, like the Person of Jesus Christ.

Philippians 2:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

He always had the nature of God, but he did not think that by force he should try to remain[b] equal with God. 6 who, although He existed in the form and unchanging essence of God [as One with Him, possessing the fullness of all the divine attributes—the entire nature of deity], did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped or asserted [as if He did not already possess it, or was afraid of losing it];

…Form of God.  the expression form of God may be correctly understood as the essential nature and character of God. To say, therefore, that Christ existed in the form of God is to say that apart from His human nature Christ possesses all the characteristics and qualities belonging to God because He is, in fact, God.

…robbery: Because Christ was God, He did not look on sharing God’s nature as robbery, that is, as “a thing to be seized,” as though He did not already possess it, or as “a thing to be retained,” as though He might lose it. equal: As used in this verse, this word speaks of equality of existence. Christ was fully God, but He limited Himself in such a way that He could also be completely human. In Christ, God became man.  1 John 5:7 "For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one."  John 1:1 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."  No doubt that the greatness of Jesus is that He was God.

1.  The Greatness Of Jesus  2 the uniqueness Of Jesus

Philippians 2:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

Instead of this, of his own free will he gave up all he had,  and took the nature of a servant.

He became like a human being and appeared in human likeness. but emptied Himself [without renouncing or diminishing His deity, but only temporarily giving up the outward expression of divine equality and His rightful dignity] by assuming the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men [He became completely human but was without sin, being fully God and fully man]. 

…made Himself of no reputation: This phrase can be translated “He emptied Himself.” He did not empty Himself of any part of His essence as God. Instead He merely gave up His privileges as God and took upon Himself existence as a man. While remaining completely God, He became completely human.  There is no one like Jesus.  The God-man.  Fully God and fully man.  He became fully human in every way. 

…form: Christ continued in the very nature of God but added to Himself the nature of a servant. bondservant: In this context, the term refers to the lowest status on the social ladder. 

It is truly amazing, therefore, that the God who created the universe. John 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.; Col. 1:16For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:) and who rules over all creation (see Col. 1:17And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.) would choose to add to His person the nature of a servant.

….likeness: This word meanas that He was a man, possessing all the essential aspects of a human being, although unlike all others He was sinless.

Jesus left His title (Word of God), in heaven and took on the lowly flesh of man. He came to this earth in the form of man to rescue mankind from their sin. Since the problem was in the flesh of mankind, Jesus took on flesh. His flesh was in the likeness of man, so that He could defeat Satan as a man.  He became the God-Man: fully God and fully man.

Philippians 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

He was humble and walked the path of obedience all the way to death—his death on the cross. After He was found in [terms of His] outward appearance as a man [for a divinely-appointed time], He humbled Himself [still further] by becoming obedient [to the Father] to the point of death, even death on a cross.

….Fashion or appearance: In the previous verses, Paul describes Jesus as possessing the nature of God and taking on the nature of a servant. Here the word “Fashion or appearance” means He had the bearing, actions, and manners of a man.

…..He humbled Himself: Jesus willingly took the role of a servant; no one forced Him to do it.

…..obedient: Although He never sinned and did not deserve to die, He chose to die so that the sins of the world could be charged to His account. Subsequently He could credit His righteousness to the account of all who believe in Him (see 2 Cor. 5:21For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.; Gal. 1:4Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father.

…..even the death of the cross: The Romans reserved the agonizing death of crucifixion for slaves and foreigners, and the Jews viewed death on a cross as a curse from God.  Deut. 21:23 for he that is hanged is accursed of God….Gal. 3:13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:).  Christ subjected Himself to persecution and suffering at the hands of unbelievers.

Beyond even persecution, Jesus went to the lowest point or furthest extent in His humiliation in dying as a criminal, following God’s plan for Him. Even further humiliation was His because Jesus’ death was not by ordinary means, but was accomplished by crucifixion, the cruelest, most excruciating, most degrading form of death ever devised. The Jews hated this manner of execution. 

Yes part of the Greatness of Jesus is that Jesus is unique. The only sinless one, the only begotten Son of God, The only one who could die for the sins of the whole world.

1.  The Greatness Of Jesus  2 the uniqueness Of Jesus  3.  The Importance Of Jesus

Philippians 2:9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

For this reason God raised him to the highest place above and gave him the name that is greater than any other name. For this reason also [because He obeyed and so completely humbled Himself], God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 

Note the contrast between Jesus’ being condemned of men to God the Father’s elevation of Jesus to the  highly exalted status!  How important is Jesus?  His name is above EVERY name that ever was or will be!  That’s how great He is and how important He is!

1.  The Greatness Of Jesus  2 the uniqueness Of Jesus  3.  The Importance Of Jesus 

4.  The Majesty Of Jesus

Philippians 2:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth…And so, in honor of the name of Jesus all beings in heaven, on earth, and in the world below[c] should fall on their knees.  and all should openly proclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord, so that at the name of Jesus [b]every knee should bow [in submission], of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 

Jesus is majestic, Jesus is our majesty…. so of course we bow to Him.  He is King of kings and Lord of lords!  Contrast Romans 14:11 that says every knee SHALL bow.  For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee SHALL bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God that Jesus Christ is Lord And Isa. 45:23 I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee SHALL bow, every tongue SHALL swear.

…every knee: Although all will one day worship Christ, that’s what it means to bow down before.  Only kings get that honor. 

….those under the earth: Paul refers here to those who will already have died at the time of Christ’s return, in contrast to the angels in heaven and those who will still be living on earth.

The entire intelligent universe is called to worship Jesus Christ as Lord. This mandate includes the angels in heaven, the spirits of the redeemed, obedient believers on earth, the disobedient rebels on earth, demons and lost humanity in hell.

Look with me, at some of the other names this Jesus is called by.

Isaiah 9:6 "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."  Jesus is all of these names!

Philippians 2:11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

11 and that every tongue ought to confess and openly acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord (sovereign God), to the glory of God the Father. Again Contrast Romans 14:11  For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee SHALL bow to me, and every tongue SHALL confess to God that Jesus Christ is Lord.. Isa. 45:23I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.

…confess: Essentially Paul is saying in Philippians 2:11 that everyone should unanimously affirm what God the Father has already stated.

"Jesus Christ is Lord" means that we recognize Him as our Savior (Jesus), we recognize Him as the Anointed One (Christ), and that we have turned our will over to His will and call Him Lord. Every tongue means all that have the gift of speech and who has the breath of life.

“Lord” implies His deity, but it mainly refers to sovereign authority.   John 1:14 "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth."   Jesus is great because He is majestic.  He is our majesty.  He is the king of glory, the King of kings and the Lord of Lords!

Conclusion:

1.  The Greatness Of Jesus  2 the uniqueness Of Jesus  3.  The Importance Of Jesus 

4.  The Majesty Of Jesus



 

1 Corinthians 3:1-8  Growing or Dying

Intro:  The city of Corinth was believed to be a city of about 600,000 people when this was written to them. One of the outskirts of Corinth was Cenchrea, which was a seaport. This was a thriving city with much evil. They were thought of as being one of the wealthiest cities of the area. There was a mixture of nationalities here. Greeks and Romans made up most the people.

This city had many false gods and goddesses. The most prominent of the false worship was of Aphrodite. There were over 1000 prostitutes working to win converts to this religion. This was a very evil city. You could debate there because there was freedom to debate all subject matter.  This perhaps, was the reason Paul had an easy time being heard at first.

The most serious problem of the Corinthian church was worldliness, an unwillingness to reject the culture around them. Most of the believers had a hard time consistently separating themselves from their old, selfish, immoral, and pagan ways.

Paul does not try to change their life style. He works with people where they are.  As we should.  Every culture has customs.  We can follow Christ for instance and still eat pork.  We can follow traditions and customs as long as those customs aren’t sinful and hinder another in their walk with Christ.  We see Paul trying to establish rules and regulations that they could live with in the light of their own customs.

Now a lot of things are good to die.  Snakes are good to die in my opinion.  Cancer is good to die.   Germs are good to die.  In war it’s good for our enemies to die.  Paul is was good for Him to die and be with Jesus but better for them if he stayed.  Christians are either Growing or dying and you can’t keep dying in your Christian life. That is never any good.  1:00

1.  Baby Christians Can’t Stay That Way

1 Corinthians 3:1And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. As a matter of fact, my friends, I could not talk to you as I talk to people who have the Spirit; I had to talk to you as though you belonged to this world, as children in the Christian faith.  However, brothers and sisters, I could not talk to you as to spiritual people, but [only] as to [a]worldly people [dominated by human nature], mere infants [in the new life] in Christ! 

The carnal person is not the same as the “natural man” mentioned in 1 Corinthians 2:14But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. A carnal person is a spiritually immature Christian, a spiritual infant.

1 Corinthians 3:2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. I had to feed you milk, not solid food, because you were not ready for it. And even now you are not ready for it,   I fed you with milk, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it. Even now you are still not ready.   

fed … milk: Paul did not expect the Corinthians to be mature in Christ at the time of their conversion. By placing their faith in Christ, they had been justified. They had been united with Him and his death on the Cross (Rom. 6:3–5), and the Spirit of God had come to live in them (1 Corinthians 2:12; Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.  Rom. 8:9But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.  They were considered righteous before God because of Jesus’ righteousness.

Thus when Paul first established the church at Corinth he taught them as new converts, as those justified. Yet he expected them to grow in their faith—that is, become sanctified. The behavior of the Christians in Corinth should have begun to line up with their righteous position in Christ.  Growing or Dying.  You can’t stay a Baby. If you do you will die.  If a Christian stays a baby their faith will be of no affect on anyone.  10:00

1.  Baby Christians Can’t Stay That Way   2.  Carnal Christians Can’t Stay That Way

1 Corinthians 3:3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? because you still live as the people of this world live. When there is jealousy among you and you quarrel with one another, doesn't this prove that you belong to this world, living by its standards?  You are still [b]worldly [controlled by ordinary impulses, the sinful capacity]. For as long as there is jealousy and strife and discord among you, are you not [c]unspiritual, and are you not walking like ordinary men [unchanged by faith]?

…for you are still carnal: An immature Christian naturally lacks many Christian traits, but no one should expect this condition to last. Paul was surprised that the Corinthians had not yet grown into spiritual maturity or become able to distinguish between good and evil.  Heb. 5:14). But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

1 Corinthians 3:4 For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal? When one of you says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos”—aren't you acting like worldly people? For when one of you says, “I am [a disciple] of Paul,” and another, “I am [a disciple] of Apollos,” are you not [proving yourselves unchanged, just] ordinary people?

1 Corinthians 3:5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? After all, who is Apollos? And who is Paul? We are simply God's servants, by whom you were led to believe. Each one of us does the work which the Lord gave him to do:  What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Just servants through whom you believed [in Christ], even as the Lord appointed to each his task.   Growing or Dying.  You cannot keep dying as a Christian and Carnality will make your faith die and be of no use for Christ.  19:00

1.  Baby Christians Can’t Stay That Way   2.  Carnal Christians Can’t Stay That Way

3.  Every Christian Can Have An Effect On The World

1 Corinthians 3:6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. I planted the seed, Apollos watered the plant, but it was God who made the plant grow.  I planted, Apollos watered, but God [all the while] was causing the growth.  Paul had planted, or started, the church in Corinth; Apollos had watered it—had a significant ministry there after Paul left. But both men were only servants through whom God worked.

The ones who plant and water have nothing to boast about because God gives the increase: Only God draws unbelievers to Himself. It is our responsibility to do our job no matter what the results, for God will reward us for our efforts and the quality of our work. 1 Corinthians 9:24–27 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. 25And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.  26I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: 27But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.).

1 Corinthians 3:7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. The one who plants and the one who waters really do not matter. It is God who matters, because he makes the plant grow.  So neither is the one who plants nor the one who waters anything, but [only] God who causes the growth. 

We see in this that the message carrier is not the important one. God is to be worshipped and He alone. He is the One who sent the messenger. When you get a telegram, the one who brings the message is not important. The message that he brings is the important thing. 

Everyone has their calling, their gifts, their abilities.  We can’t all be preachers, teachers and missionaries.  Your calling is just as important as anyone else’s.  What is your calling?  Keep being faithful to what you are doing now and God will show you your next assignment.  Keep sitting in the pew service after service and God will give you your next assignment. 

1 Corinthians 3:8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. There is no difference between the one who plants and the one who waters; God will reward each one according to the work each has done. He who plants and he who waters are one [in importance and esteem, working toward the same purpose]; but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor.

Every need is not your need to meet.  But some needs are yours to meet.  Don’t Worry about what someone else is doing.  You do what God leads you to do.  If others get credit….so what!  Is Christ glorified?  Then all is good!   

How do you know what God wants you to do next?  Never do anything for Christ because it’s something you SHOULD or OUGHT to do.  Do what would give you joy in doing.  That you cannot get it off your mind and heart until you do it.  Yes, we should go to church and we ought to read the Bible.  But if you do it because you MUST you will RUST as a Christian.   And to much rust and your faith is dead. 

If you don’t get joy in your heart when going to church…… you should first…. Check you own heart.  Is the church preaching the truth of the word of God?  Then you are dying in your faith.  If it’s not, your heart is telling you something through the Holy Spirit.  Go find another church.  God wants us to grow where we are planted if you can’t move to another spot! 

If your heart is not in reading the Bible and you don’t get joy from it then you might as well put it down until you get saved!  You are dead!  There is a fatal flaw in your faith from the first!   27:00

Conclusion:

Growing or Dying?

1.  Baby Christians Can’t Stay That Way   2.  Carnal Christians Can’t Stay That Way

3.  Every Christian Can Have An Effect On The World. 

Jesus said I wish that you were either cold and hot and not Luke warm.  He can work with the dead and bring them to life.  He can work with the living and help them grow.  He can’t do anything with the dead who think that they are alive.  28:04



Romans 4:25 Justice

Intro:  Justice means making the wrong things right.  We all demand justice when we are wronged.  But what about God?  Does He deserve justice for our sin against His goodness and love?  We just cast His rule aside, His demands aside, His requirements aside and have chosen to deliberately sin against Him.  We have robbed Him of His glory!  This is evidence that demands a verdict.   The verdict on mankind is this.  All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.  The wages of sin is death.  The soul that sinneth it should die.  Justice is demanded for the God who created us, loved us, gave us, provided for us and has blessed us.  He has done no evil against us…..ever!  We have brought all our bad upon ourselves.  We are in big trouble.  Let’s look at our passage this morning.  Four words I want us to look at this day.  1:00

1.  Delivered

Romans 4:25  Who was delivered….. he was given over to die who was betrayed and crucified.

Jesus was given to die for our sins.  Trucks deliver the mail, deliver goods.  Paul delivered the gospel to us.    1 Corinthians 15:3 "For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures.

God will deliver the dead to the lake of fire.  Revelation 20:13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

God delivered the wicked angels to prison.  2 Peter 2:4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment.

Mary delivered a child Jesus….Luke 2:6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

God delivered Daniel from the Lions mouths.  God delivered blasphemers Hymeneaus and Alexander unto Satan

God will deliver His promises. And God will deliver divine justice to the wicked.    One day Jesus will deliver us because of His divine justice.  2 Thessalonians 3:2 And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith.  1 Thessalonians  1:10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.   Jesus will come one day and deliver us from the wrath of God and take us to be with Him.  7:00

1.  Delivered   2. Offenses

….for our offences. Because of our sins.  We have offended God with out actions, our words, our hearts and our minds.  We are sinners and that is offensive to God.  We have offended Him. 

Offence is something we choose to do.  It’s not sitting back and letting what happen to happen.  But offence is a deliberate choice.  We have made the choice to deliberately offend God. 

God took the offensive about our sin.  He sent Jesus to die for our sins.  God made the choice to deal with our sin problem.  God purchased us with the blood of Jesus Christ.  Therefore we should not be offended by Jesus when He goes on the offensive to reach us.  Matthew 11:6 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.  Many are offended, angry, upset, disappointed, afraid to be called sinners in need of a Savior.  But we have offended God with out sin and there is no other way out.  We offended God, He offended our sin by paying for our righteousness on the cross of Christ. 

Justice is required when one is offended.  Remember the duels on old TV shows?  Someone’s honor has been offended and He requires satisfaction or justice for this offence.  God requires justice for our offences.  He has given us Justice through Jesus Christ!  14:00

1.  Delivered   2. Offenses   3. Raised

…..and was raised again he was raised to life and was raised [from the dead]

1 Peter 1:21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.  2 Timothy 2:8 Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel.

Justice is that God could not die.  Jesus Christ died for our sins in His flesh.  But He didn’t stay dead.  Justice couild not keep the sinless Son of God in the grave.   He raised to that we also might live.  He is the firstborn of all those who sleep or die in our flesh.  But why is it justice to raise Jesus from the dead who was judged a sinner?  Because He did suffer and did die!  1 Corinthians 15:57 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.  

If Christ had not risen from the dead 1 Corinthians 15:14, And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.  17And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.

While the cross provides atonement for sins, the resurrection points to the divine power that gives eternal life.  If Christ died and stayed dead then another sacrifice would have to be done the next year and the next year and the next.  But Christ arose to signify that His death was once for all.  Jesus declared on the cross “it is finished.”  The death of sin was signified when Jesus defeated this cycle of sacrifices year after year.  If a little Lamb could rise from the dead there would be no longer a need for repeated sacrifices, but one death for all people for all time.

Why?  Because Sin=death.  Ezekiel 3:18 The soul that sinneth it shall die.  The wages of sin is death…..Without the shedding of blood (death of the guilty) there is no remission of sin.  Sin is remitted, but not defeated by the shed blood of a little Lamb pointing toward the perfect eternal Lamb. So death still reigned.  Sin will never be defeated until death is defeated.  When Jesus defeated death……. He defeated sin!  1 Peter 3:18  For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit.  John 14:19  Because I live ye shall live also!

Justice requires the perfect, eternal lamb of God to live forever and ever!  He who knew no sin died for sinners.  He took our sin upon Himself but He was not a sinner.  The innocent lamb of the Hebrews died forever, the eternal Lamb of God lives forever!  Justice.  All is made right!  21:00

1.  Delivered   2. Offenses   3. Raised    4.  Justification

….for our justification.  in order to put us right with God.  for our justification [our acquittal—absolving us of all sin before God].  God accepted Christ as our sin bearer.  God accepted Christ’s payment for our sins.  Justice has been served.  Christ who knew no sin became sin for us and God accepted the perfect Lamb of God without blemish or spot as payment for our sins or that justice may be made complete. 

Jesus was delivered up to death, taking the penalty of our sin on Himself. Just as God brought life from Abraham and Sarah, who thought they were unable to have children, so God raised Jesus back to life. Jesus’ resurrection brought us justification before God because the resurrection proves that God accepted Jesus’ sacrifice for us.

The Greek noun for justification is derived from the Greek verb dikaioō, meaning “to acquit” or “to declare righteous” (used by Paul in 4:2, 5; 5:1). It is a legal term used of a favorable verdict in a trial. The word depicts a courtroom setting, with God presiding as the Judge, determining the faithfulness of each person to the Law. In the first section of Romans, Paul makes it clear that no one can withstand God’s judgment (3:9–20). The Law was not given to justify sinners but to expose their sin. To remedy this deplorable situation, God sent His Son to die for our sins, in our place. When we believe in Jesus, God imputes His righteousness to us, and we are declared righteous before God. In this way, God demonstrates that He is both a righteous Judge and the One who declares us righteous, our Justifier (3:26).

Isaiah 53:5 "But he [was] wounded for our transgressions, [he was] bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace [was] upon him; and with his stripes we are healed."  Justice is complete.  Victory is won!  We are forever healed from the power of sin, the penalty of sin, the result of sin and the death brough about by sin!  27:00

Conclusion:

1.  Delivered-   Jesus was delivered for us

2. Offenses-   We have all offended God

3. Raised-    Jesus was raised and defeated death and sin

4.  Justification--  Justice is complete.  We are justified, just as if we had never sinned.  28:04



1/5/2020

Titus 2:12-13  Blessed Hope Or Blasted Hype?

12Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

Intro:  Titus was one of the circle of young men who were the “many witnesses” to whom the apostle Paul committed the things given to him, so they could pass them on to others who in turn would “teach others also” 2 Tim. 2:2And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.  He, together with Timothy, traveled with the apostle Paul. While Timothy was half Jewish and half Gentile, Titus was of purely Gentile,  Gal. 2:3 But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised. 1:00

1. Looking To Live Godly Lives

Titus 2:12Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world. That grace instructs us to give up ungodly living and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in this world.   It teaches us to reject ungodliness and worldly (immoral) desires, and to live sensible, upright, and godly lives.

What does it mean to live Godly?  Living with a purpose that reflects Christ in spiritual maturity in your life. 

The grace of God is to produce two results in the lives of believers:

First, we are to resist the evil temptations of this world, living godly, spiritually mature lives in this present age.   We have many Christians that are……….. 

Immature…………….Not prepared………………..Self-centered instead of Christ centered. 

Deceived………………..Neo Marxists socialists…………………..Social Justice warriors

Why would we be encouraged to live Godly lives if His coming is a Blasted hype?  Because it’s a blessed hope!!

10:00

1. Looking To Live Godly Lives  2.  Looking For The Blessed Hope

Titus 2:13Looking for that blessed hope, as we wait for the blessed Day we hope for, awaiting and confidently expecting the [fulfillment of our] blessed hope.  It is a blessed day and stedfast assurance that it will occur!  Blessed means “happiness even joy unfettered.” 

Many hate this teaching calling it the Blasted hype instead of the blessed hope.  Many churches and pastors and Bible teachers don’t believe in the rapture.  Many if not most churches don’t teach eschatology at all.  Many hate this teaching calling it escapism, fantasy, deception, unfounded, unbiblical.

*Is it escapism?  It is an escape as Jesus rescues us.  And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come" (1 Thess 1:10). Revelation 3:10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

1 Thessalonians 5:9  For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ.  Why wouldn’t we want to escape for the hell on earth that is coming?  Why does that harm our faith?  It should strengthen our faith and our anticipation of being with the Lord any second. 

*Is it fantasy!  Was Creation a fantasy? Garden of Eden? Enoch being taken? Noah’s flood? The Tower of Babel? Crossing of the Red Sea, Moses and the Ten Commandments, David and Goliath? Elijah taken to heaven? Shadrach, Mishak and Abendego in the firery furnance? Daniel in the Lion’s Den? Jonah and the fish? The Birth of Christ? Jesus miracles including Lazarus? The resurrection of Christ? Pentecost? Phillip raptured away after baptizing the Ethiopian eunic? Paul on the Damascus road? Peter’s escape from prison? Paul’s escapes from death? and the judgments in the book of Revelation, And not to mention many Angelic appearances and other amazing incidents of judgments and miracles.  Were all these just fantasies?  Of course not. They believe most of these stories as fact ……then why is the rapture such a fantasy to them? Why is the rapture such a stretch?  Which is more Amazing, the rapture or the flood, a fish swallowing a man, crossing of the Red sea, the firery furnace, the birth of Christ, the resurrection?  I think the rapture is quite easy to believe based on these many other amazing events. 

*Is it deceptive!  Rapture is the Greek word “harpazo which mean a “catching away.”  1 Thessalonians 4:16-17  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.  The Bible means what is says and says what it means.  There is no deception here.  Caught away means supernaturally transported to meet the Lord Jesus in the air.  How is that deceptive?  How plain can it be?  It means a meeting in the air…period!  The deceivers are those who try to call this something else. 

*Is it unfounded!  Many scriptures.  Paul called it a “mystery”  We shall not ALL sleep or die. 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. As I said at least four people have already been raptured in the Bible.  Three to heaven, Phillip to Azotus.   Not dying is not dying.  How is that not found in the scriptures.  At the last trumpet some people will change and put on immortality in a moment…..immediately!  How is the rapture unfounded based on just this passage?

*Is it unbiblical!  Taking away or rescuing of God’s people from this earth has happened many times in the Bible.  Enoch was taken to heaven before the flood.  Lot was taken out of Sodom by angels, Noah was taken by the Ark prepared by God.  Joseph was taken out of Canaan by the providence of God. Elijah was taken in a Chariot to heaven.  Phillip was caught away by the Spirit to Azotus after Baptizing the Ethiopian Eunic.  Paul was taken by Jesus to the third heaven.  The church will be taken to Jesus before the great day of His wrath.   It is clear that the first century church was looking for Christ to come for them.  2 Thessalonians 2:1-3 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition.  Was He talking about death?  Not at all.  But a supernatural gathering of the church to Jesus.  How can you spin it any other way?  The church was looking for Jesus to come for them!

Jesus said in John 14:3 that He has gone to prepare a place for us and would come again and receive us unto Himself.  How is Jesus coming for us then unfounded in the scriptures?  It is everywhere! Titus 2:13Looking for that blessed hope.  How can anyone blast this as hype?  It is beyond me.  I guess they are blinded by the doctrines of demons who sure don’t like the rapture at all.  19:00

3.  Looking For Jesus Christ

Titus 2:13….and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; when the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ will appear,  and the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus

We are to look for Christ’s return. Paul reminded Timothy that there is a special crown awaiting “all who have love his appearing.” It is clear that Jesus will appear 1 John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.   Tim. 4:8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. 

Titus 2:13…..great God and Savior Jesus Christ: This is one of the strongest statements of the deity of Christ in the New Testament.

Why can He do this?  He is God.  This is one of many great statements in the Bible that prove the deity of Jesus. 

Great God…..God is great because……

He creates…………He loves……………He saves…………..He is with us. Omnipresent

He is all powerful. Omnipotent……………..He is all knowing.  Omniscient. He knows the future, He knows your future. 

…. And Savior Jesus Christ!

All the attributes of God belong to Jesus Christ.  Jesus is God revealed in flesh. 

How can He do all of this?  He is God!  Our Savior is God!  The great reveal is that Jesus Christ was God all along. 

Confess Him now for you will later!

Come to Him now or you will wish you had later!

2 Samuel 2:23 The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence.

Luke 1:47 and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior.  27:00

Conclusion: Blessed Hope Or Blasted Hype?  Have you decided?  You can be saved of course and not believe in the rapture.  But can you be looking for Him and not believe in the rapture?  Can you be ready for Him if you are not looking for Him?  I don’t think so…..Be ye therefore READY!!28:04



12/29/2019

Matthew 7:24-25  Rock Solid For 2020

Intro: Rocks are the most durable things in creation.  Rocks contain the ores that make iron and steel and rubies and diamonds.  Rocks are everywhere.  Big rocks little rocks.  The Bible compares Jerusalem to a huge rock.  Zechariah 12:3 And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it.  What God has planted is compared to a rock.  He built the church upon the rock.  Matthew 16:18 …..upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.  It’s funny that 2020 means perfect vision in optometry.  I think this world has perfect vision of a world without Christ.  No one knows what will happen in 2020. But I tell you this……. it only matters if your life is NOT rock solid.  1:00

1.  Rock Solid People For 2020 Have True Wisdom

Matthew 7:24Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them,

So then, anyone who hears these words of mine and obeys them.   So everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them.   People who are rock solid Bible believers and readers are the most joyous people in the world.  Why? Because it’s God’s word.  God loves us.  God blesses those who listen to His word, read His word and do His word.  We are saved by grace through faith, we are blessed by His word. 

Matthew 7:24….I will liken him unto a wise man, is like a wise man.  Will be like a wise man [a far-sighted, practical, and sensible man.  A wise man knows the answers to life's problems, because he searches them out in the Bible and applies them to his own life.  Proverbs 11:30 He that winneth souls is wise.  It means he that leadeth others to wisdom is wise.  The greatest knowledge anyone can have is that we know Jesus Christ as our Savior. 

Matthew 7:24……which built his house upon a rock: who built his house on rock.   who built his house on THE rock.  He prepared his life for disasters that will come.  We all know that so far only two people have not died.  Enoch and Elijah.  So death waits for all of us.  Sickness and disease, bad times and good, rain falls on the just and the unjust.  The saved and the lost.  We must prepare for bad times.  We buy car insurance, house insurance, health insurance, even life insurance.  But how many of us by eternal life insurance?  We can’t buy it….it’s free! Paid for by the precious blood of Jesus Christ! 10:00

1.  Rock Solid People For 2020 Have True Wisdom

2.  Rock Solid People for 2020 and Will overcome Any Disaster

Matthew 7:25And the rain descended, The rain poured down.   And the rain fell.

Rain falls in every life.  Rain is necessary in nature.  It is necessary in life.  It builds life, flowers, grass, trees, plants animals and humans need rain.  Rain, bad times in life build us up and strengthen us and build character. 

Matthew 7:25……and the floods came, the rivers flooded over, and the floods and torrents came. Sometimes rain can be over whelming and cause damage.  But even floods are necessary for the enrichment of the land.  It’s like a purging of the land to prepare it for something bigger and better.  It deposits minerals necessary for plant growth.   We need floods to overwhelm us so that we will see how our Lord will make us better and stronger. 

Matthew 7:25……and the winds blew, and the wind blew hard, and the winds blew.  Wind is damaging also.  Wind comes with storms every time.  It’s like a double barelled assault.  Winds blow against us as we try to stand for truth and God’s word.  We fight against the winds that assail truth every day.  We must stand against the winds of Bible deniers, and those who would want to see wickedness triumph in the name of the betterment of mankind. 

Matthew 7:25……and beat upon that house; the wind pummeled the house, and slammed against that house.  The winds beat upon everything in its way.  It does not discriminate.  It destroys anything in it’s way.  The winds will not let up.  We have to withstand them.  They will not go away because they feel sorry for us.  They will keep coming and blowing and blowing.  Hurricanes will blow for 24 to 48 hours sometimes.  Relentless. 

Matthew 7:25…….and it fell not: But it did not fall, yet it did not fall.  Hurricane codes call for homes to be built to withstand hurricane force winds.  Wise people do that.  Unwise do not.  We will not fall despite the constant attacks and attempts to undermine our faith in the word of God and our Lord Jesus Christ.  Why didn’t the house fall.  The wind beat it with all they had!  Why will they fail to bring their house down?  19:00

1.  Rock Solid People For 2020 Have True Wisdom

2.  Rock Solid People for 2020 and Will overcome Any Disaster

3. Rock Solid People In 2020 Are That Way Because  Of The Solid Rock

Matthew 7:25………..for it was founded upon a rock. because it was built on rock, because it had been founded on the rock.   “On Christ The Solid Rock I stand, all othere ground is sinking sand, all other ground is sinking sand.”

Foundation is fundamental in any building.  Your building is only as good as the foundation.  Of course, some houses can be blow away and leave only the foundation only.  But…..you always have a place to start building back.  The point is that the foundation extends all the way to the roof of the house and it might be damaged but it will not move.  We will not be moved from our faith and trust in Jesus Christ to the secular belief in man and his designs.  Psalms 16:8 I have set the Lord always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.

 The key difference in the two houses is not their external appearance. Pharisees and scribes may seem to be as righteous as the heirs of the kingdom. The key in the story is the foundations. The house on the rock pictures a life founded on a proper relationship to Christ. 

Matthew 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

1 Corinthians 10:44And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

1 Peter 2:4 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious. It will stand the test of Christ’s judgment.

The "Rock" that we must build upon is Jesus Christ (the Cornerstone). It rains on the just and unjust. Problems will come. The only difference is a Christian faces problems differently. We pray and ask God to help us through our problems. They do not overwhelm us, because our strength is not in ourselves. We depend on Jesus. We just roll them over on Him, and He takes care of them for us.  27:00

Conclusion:

1.  Rock Solid People For 2020 Have True Wisdom

2.  Rock Solid People for 2020 and Will overcome Any Disaster

3. Rock Solid People In 2020 Are That Way Because  Of The Solid Rock

Are you rock solid for the Lord Jesus?  Is your life founded upon the Solid Rock of Jesus Christ?  You are on the shifting sands of man and at the mercy of the storms if your life is not placed on the Rock of Christ.  You will be blown away by the assaults of the godless world,  the gay agenda, the abortion agenda, the Islamic agenda, the globalist agenda, the Marxists agenda, and the agenda of self preservation.  Come to Christ, trust in Christ today, don’t delay, you may not have tomorrow.  28:04



12/22/2019

Matthew 1:18-23  God is With Us

Intro:  Years ago there was a movie staring George Burns called I think “O God.”  George Burns who was an old man at the time in his eighties I believe….was God who decided to come to earth and change the world through a grocery store clerk played by John Denver.  It was borderline blasphemous.  Why?  Who do they think Jesus was?  Can’t they read the Bible and see that God has already been here.  He was born, He lived, He died for our sins as the innocent Lamb of God, and He rose from the grave in victory over sin, hell, death and the grave!  He came as a real man.  The God-man.  All man, all God!  Now he is not here physically but He left His Spirit to indwell the church.  So He has never left His church! 1:00

1.  The Miracle Is Explained To The Reader

Luke 1:18Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: This was how the birth of Jesus Christ took place. .  Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows:

Luke 1:18When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. His mother Mary was engaged to Joseph, but before they were married, she found out that she was going to have a baby by the Holy Spiritwhen His mother Mary had been [j]betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by [the power of] the Holy Spirit. 

Espoused-betrothed: Universally, the basic element of marriage is a contract. Malachi 2:……. yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant. In Jewish culture, this covenant was made about a year before the consummation of the marriage. It was during the one-year period of betrothal that Mary was found to be pregnant. The fact that Mary was a virgin at this time is clearly implied by the phrase before they came together, and by the righteous character of Joseph and his desire to divorce Mary when her pregnancy became known (v. 19).

The virgin birth, which can be deduced from Matthew’s account, is stated clearly in Luke 1:34, 35. Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? 35And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

Matthew explains to his Jewish audience how all this came about.  It was important to know that Jesus was not just another Jewish boy.  He was the promised Messiah.  He didn’t come to rule…….YET!  He came to die for our sins.  He didn’t come to show us how to live!  He came to conquer death, sin, hell and the grave!  He didn’t come to just teach, He came to bring salvation to all that call upon His name, the name that is above every name!

Luke 1:18…..she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.  Clearly a virgin birth.  The 3^rd person of the trinity.  The Father, The Son and the Holy Ghost.  God’s spirit that leads and guides us into all truth.  Is the instigator of this miracle birth!  To Matthew this explains it very clearly of what type of person this is going to be.  Jesus is going to be special.  John the Baptist was a special child.  But He was only a prophet.  Jesus is the SON OF GOD!  God always lets us know what He is doing.  Jesus was born miraculously and spectacularly with angels singing and shepherds watching.  I am glad people celebrate Christmas for it is about Jesus no matter how they try to twist it. 10:00

1.  The Miracle Is Explained To The Reader 2.  The Miracle Is Explained To Joseph

Luke 1:19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man….. Joseph was a man who always did what was right, And Joseph her [promised] husband, being a just and righteous man.  Jesus father was a good man as humans go.  He was just which means he did what was righteous and honorable.  He was an unselfish man.  He was a caring man.  He was a kind man.  He was a generous man.  Men do those qualities match your life?

Luke 1:19……and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. Joseph but he did not want to disgrace Mary publicly; so he made plans to break the engagement privately.  and not wanting to expose her publicly to shame, planned to send her away and divorce her quietly. 

In agreement with the popular Jewish understanding of Deut. 24:1 When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house. Joseph wanted to divorce Mary on the grounds of infidelity. A divorce would be necessary because they had already made a marriage covenant, even though they had not yet known each other physically. Joseph could have made the divorce a public matter, or he could have gone through a private ceremony before two witnesses. Being a gracious and just man, Joseph decided to keep it private.

Luke 1:20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, While he was thinking about this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream.  We don’t get this today because we have the word of God.  If there is Bible’s available then I believe God still uses dreams and visions for people.  But we have Bibles.  God speaks to us through His word. 

Luke 1:20 ……saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. and said, “Joseph, descendant of David, do not be afraid to take Mary to be your wife. For it is by the Holy Spirit that she has conceived. saying, “Joseph, descendant of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the Child who has been [k]conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 

Luke 1:20 ….conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit……

Luke 1:1–17 establish Jesus as a legal son of Joseph;

Luke 1:18–25 deny that Joseph was Jesus’ physical father.

The first was necessary to establish Jesus’ lineage to David and His royal right to be King.

The second was necessary to establish His qualifications to be the Savior of all people:

Jesus was God’s Son and not merely Joseph’s. Matthew elaborated on Jesus’ kingship while Luke detailed His miraculous conception by the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:26–56).

It’s pretty clear that Jesus was not Joseph’s natural son. But what an honor it was to be His step-father.  Jesus was called a carpenter’s son because that is what Joseph did.  I am a step-father.  While it is different than being a natural parent…. it is also very humbling, rewarding and joyous to be a parent playing a major part in a person’s life!  19:00

1.  The Miracle Is Explained To The Reader 2.  The Miracle Is Explained To Joseph

3. His Purpose Is Explained

Luke 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS:— She will give birth to a Son, and you shall name Him Jesus (The Lord is salvation),

Luke 1:21 for he shall save his people from their sins. because he will save his people from their sins.

Luke 1:22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying…., Now all this happened in order to make come true what the Lord had said through the prophet,  All this happened in order to fulfill what the Lord had spoken in Isaiah7:14

Luke 1:23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.  “A virgin will become pregnant and have a son, and he will be called Immanuel” (which means, “God is with us”).Behold, the [n]virgin shall be with child and give birth to a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel”—which, when translated, means, “God with us.” 

The Bible is 30% prophetic.  Jesus fulfilled hundreds of Old Testament prophecies. About half of these prophecies involved the circumstances surrounding His birth. For those don’t believe the Bible is relevant or the Bible is the word of God then how do you explain these passages?  There are several such prophecies. Note the indesputable similarities between the Old Testament predictions and their New Testament fulfillment.

---Old Testament Prophecy----New Testament Fulfillment

The Messiah would be the seed of a woman. Gen. 3:15 Gal. 4:4

The Messiah would be a descendant of Abraham. Gen. 12:3 Matt. 1:1

The Messiah would be a descendant of Isaac. Gen. 17:19 Luke 3:34

The Messiah would be a descendant of Jacob. Num. 24:17 Matt. 1:2; 2:2

The Messiah would be from the tribe of Judah. Gen. 49:10 Luke 3:33

The Messiah would be an heir to the throne of David. Isa. 9:7 Luke 1:32, 33

The Messiah would be anointed and eternal. Ps. 45:6, 7; 102:25-27 Heb. 1:8-12

The Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. Mic. 5:2 Luke 2:4, 5, 7

The Messiah would be born of a virgin. Isa. 7:14 Luke 1:26, 27, 30, 31

The Messiah’s birth would trigger a slaughter of children. Jer. 31:15 Matt. 2:16-18

The Messiah would also come from Egypt. Hos. 11:1 Matt. 2:14, 15

There can be no question that God has made it clear that Jesus was born of a virgin for the purpose of Jesus being our sinless Savior!  God cannot sin so God had to become a man in order to be the perfect man, the perfect sacrifice, unblemished, unstained by sin.  If the Bible can be trusted and I can because it is one hundred percent correct in It’s prophecies…then how should you respond.  Someone told me this week they were not a Christian and didn’t go to church…..Why aren’t you a Christian and why Don’t you go to church?  In light of all these things…what are you looking for?  What are you waiting on? 

Conclusion: 1.  The Miracle Is Explained To The Reader 2.  The Miracle Is Explained To Joseph

3. His Purpose Is Explained----God is With Us!  28:04



Luke 1:30-33  Never Ending Kingdom

Into:   Luke 1:33And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.   We all have seen the movies and read books about mythical kingdoms in these fantasies about kingdoms that are mysterious and glorious!  Oz is one of those.  Magical kingdoms are the stuff of every child’s fantasy.  But there is a kingdom that will be beyond even the imaginations of these creative authors.  It will be a kingdom to end all kingdoms for it shall never end.  It is the kingdom of the king, the true king, the real king, the Savior King, the rightful king, the only king! 1:00

1.  A Kingdom Without Fear

Luke 1:30And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.

The angel said to her, “Don't be afraid, Mary; The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid,  Fear not”:  The same thing Gabriel had said to Zachariah (verse 13). Here again, we see Gabriel telling Mary not to fear. She has lived a life that so far has been pleasing unto God.   So God sends His angel with a message.  Very simple and very much to the point.  We serve a God who does not want us to fear.  We will dwell in a kingdom without fear for He gives us all comfort and peace.  The opposite of fear is peace and joy. 

Fear is the 2^nd leading cause of death in the United States.  First is being in the womb.  Fear causes us to have stress and anxiety.  It affects our health.  Stress leads to anger and frustration which leads to health problems.  Fear leads to bad choices and we try to alleviate our stress and fear.  

Do not fear, don’t be afraid is a theme in the Bible.  Isaiah 41:10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.  70 times the Bible says “fear not”

Fear not will be a part of the never ending Kingdom of God.  Where will be no fear, no dread, no worry, no pain, no darkness, no death either.  Mary was spoken to by an angel.  The angel was very fearful I would say.  No wonder he said “fear not.”  It was all very strange to this young teenage girl.   One day fear will disappear from our vocabularies and from our hearts and lives. 

Luke 1:30 …….for thou hast found favour with God.  Mary, for you have found favor with God. God has been gracious to you Mary.   God chose Mary.  Why He chose her we do not know.  Why He chose you to be born in this day and time we do not know.  But one thing we do know is that we can trust Him with what we don’t know because we know we can trust Him. 

Has anyone ever said to you trust me….. that wasn’t a salesman  Was it Ronald Regan who said “trust but verify.”  Mary found favor with God.  God was gracious to Mary.  She didn’t deserve this.  She was no one special as the world goes.  She wasn’t a queen or the daughter of a king.  She wasn’t rich or famous.  She was perfect to bear the son of God.  He chose a 90 year old womb to carry the first child of promise.  He chose a skinny teenager with a slingshot to be the greatest king of Israel.  He chose you to be here for this day and time…the greatest time ever to be alive!  How bless we are. 

We have been chosen for the Never ending Kingdom of God when we placed our faith and trust in Jesus Christ.   We have been favoured.  Everyone who trusts in Jesus Christ is the child of the king and we are highly favored with God.  And we will be in a kingdom without fear or dread.   10:00

1.  A Kingdom Without Fear  2.  The Never Ending Kingdom Is A Miracle Kingdom

Luke 1:31And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son……

You will become pregnant and give birth to a son,.  Listen carefully: you will conceive in your womb and give birth to a son,

The name "JESUS" is powerful. The name means Savior, The Salvation of Jehovah. At the name of Jesus every knee shall bow.  Mary will bring forth a son, a miracle son and a savior son. 

This would certainly be startling news to Mary who had never been with a man. Not only is she told she will have a child, but that He will be a son as well.  God knows everything about us and gives Mary great detail about this birth in a very short statement.  She will not need a man, and she will have a complete pregnancy and that will bring forth a Son.    What a strange thing that would happen to her.  I would say that this was the most uncomplicated pregnancy in history.  God was the baby doctor in this pregnancy. 

God would be born in a virgins womb and come forth from a woman as a child and live as a common man and then become the Savior of the world.  How can this be?  That is the great mysteries and greatest of miracles of the kingdom of God.  God in His kingdom can do anything He wants to do for He is God almighty, all knowing, all seeing and all time.   So God’s miracles are just a stroll in the park for Him.  God’s greatest miracle is Jesus.  Virgin birth—miracle.  Sinless life—not a miracle because God cannot sin—died on the cross—not a miracle man’s sin put Him there.  Rose again—not a miracle because Jesus came to die and be the Lamb of God.  The miracle is that those who trust in Him are born again…made as it they had never sinned…ever!!

Luke 1:31….and shalt call his name JESUS.  and you shall name Him Jesus.   and you will name him Jesus.  Even His name means Savior.  His name brings salvation.  His name brings forth the idea of miracles and joy.  There is no name like the name of Jesus.   Even His name strikes wonder and joy in our hearts.  Philippians 2:10 "That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of [things] in heaven, and [things] in earth, and [things] under the earth;"  19:00

1.  A Kingdom Without Fear  2.  The Never Ending Kingdom Is A Miracle Kingdom 

3.  His Kingdom Will Never End

Luke 1:32He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest:

Notice here that "Son" is capitalized showing that this is God's Son.

He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High God. The Lord God will make him a king, He will be great and eminent and will be called the Son of the Most High;

He shall be great”: This same promise was made of John the Baptist. However, the title SON is what set Jesus apart.  He is the son of God.  He is God in the flesh.  God become man.  He is all God and all man. 

…The Son of the Highest” (verse 76), where John the Baptist is called “the prophet of the Most High.”

Since a son bears his father’s qualities, calling a person someone else’s “son” was a way of signifying equality. Here the angel was telling Mary that her Son would be equal to the Most High God.

Luke 1:32 …and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David;  He will be a king as his ancestor David was,

“His father David”: Jesus was David’s physical descendant through Mary’s line. David’s “throne” was emblematic of the messianic kingdom.

1 Kings 2:45 "And king Solomon [shall be] blessed, and the throne of David shall be established before the LORD for ever." 

God had promised some of David's descendants would be on the throne forever. We see here David's throne is Jesus' throne.  The Highest is another way of referring to the majesty of God. David: Jesus fulfilled (and will fulfill) God’s promise to David concerning an unending dynasty. The Old Testament develops in detail this promise of an eternal Davidic kingdom.  Isa. 9: 7Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever.

Luke 1:33And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever;

and he will be the king of the descendants of Jacob forever.  and He will reign over the house of Jacob (Israel) forever.   He will be Israel’s king and rightful king and establish His throne beginning with the millennial temple for one thousand years and then a new heaven and a new earth wherein will dwell righteousness forever  and ever!  But not only Israel’s King but the churches king and we will reign with Him for one thousand years on the earth and then we will dwell in the new Jerusalem come down to the new heaven and the new earth forever and ever! 

Luke 1:33….. and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

His kingdom will never end!”, and of His kingdom there shall be no end.”  This emphasizes both the Jewish character of the millennial kingdom and the eternal permanence of Christ’s rule over all.  How long is forever?  It’s forever and ever and ever and ever!  What joy we should have!  What security we have!!  What peace we should have!!    Why do we trust in this world.  We must live in the world, but not put roots too deep here.  This is not our home.  We have a home in heaven where Jesus is.  He has already prepared a place for us.  27:00

Conclusion:

1.  A Kingdom Without Fear  2.  The Never Ending Kingdom Is A Miracle Kingdom 

3.  His Kingdom Will Never End

If you knew that you could have something. Something wonderful, something that would bring eternal joy and satisfaction and peace wouldn’t you want it?  How much would you give for it?  Jesus was born for this purpose.  But Satan has done a masterful job of the bait and switch that advertisers and magician’s use.  You get them to concentrate on one hand while in the other hand you have the real thing.  They never notice the switch.  You tell a person they must have this and you bombard them with that message day after day and hour after hour…soon they begin to believe it.   We have become immune to the gospel.  We have heard so much about living life now that we have no concern for eternity.  Well… we are eternal creatures and we must get our focus back on eternal things.  Where will you be one hundred years from now?  You will be somewhere! And you will be with the one you love.  You will be in hell with the one you love yourself….or you will be in heaven with the one you love Jesus!!    Trust in Him and be a part of a never ending kingdom.  28:04







John 1:14-17 The Word Became Flesh

Intro:  The greatest moment in history was the birth of the Christ child.  If He had not been born the He could not have died for our sins and be raised from the dead for our justification.  It is the most incredible event in world history.  God lived among humans as a human!   We have seen many movies and songs about God coming to earth and attempting to answer the question of what would God do if He was one of us?  Well we already know what God would do….because He has already done it!  He has already come to the earth as a human and we know what He did!  1:00

1.  The Word Became a Human

John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, The Word became a human being, And the Word (Christ) became flesh.  Philippians 2:5-8 Let This mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus. 6Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

The Son of God who was from eternity became human, with limitations in time and space.  This is the doctrine of the incarnation: God became human. Nothing of the essential nature of deity was lost in this event; we might rephrase became as “took to Himself.” John uses the word flesh to refer to the physical nature of humans, not to our sinful disposition

John 1:14…..and dwelt among us…..He lived among us;

John 1:14…..(and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) .. We saw his glory, the glory which he received as the Father's only Son.  and we [actually] saw His glory, glory as belongs to the [One and] only begotten Son of the Father, [the Son who is truly unique, the only One of His kind,

“The glory as of …the Father”: Jesus as God displayed the same essential glory as the father. They are one in essential nature. “Only Begotten”: The term “only begotten” is a mistranslation of the Greek word. The word does not come from their term meaning “beget” but instead has the idea of “the only beloved one”.

John 8:58  Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.

It therefore, has the idea of singular uniqueness, of being beloved like no other. By this word, John emphasized the exclusive character of the relationship between the Father and the Son in the Godhead. It does not connote origin but rather unique prominence; e.g., it was used of Isaac who was Abraham’s second son (Ishmael being the first).

John 1:14….full of grace and truth.  full of grace and truth, who is] full of grace and truth (absolutely free of deception). He is also full of grace and truth. When God revealed Himself to Moses, He proclaimed Himself to be “abounding in goodness and truth” Exodus 34:6 And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth. As applied to Jesus Christ, this phrase marks Him as the author of perfect redemption and perfect revelation.  10:00

1.  The Word Became a Human  2.  John Preached About Jesus

John 1:15 John bare witness of him, John spoke about him. John testified [repeatedly] about Him…

John 1:15…..and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.

He cried out, “This is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘He comes after me, but he is greater than I am, because he existed before I was born.’” and [e]has cried out [testifying officially for the record, with validity and relevance], “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me [f]has a higher rank than I and has priority over me, for He existed before me.’” 

….He was before me: Jesus was born after John the Baptist.  Luke 1:36 And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.   and began His ministry later than John the Baptist. Yet John the Baptist said Jesus was before him, meaning that Jesus’ existence is from eternity past. Luke 1:30  This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me.  19:00

1.  The Word Became a Human  2.  John Preached About Jesus   3. We Have Blessing And Truth By Him

John 1:16 And of his fulness have all we received,

Out of the fullness of his grace he has blessed us all, For out of His fullness [the superabundance of His grace and truth]  Jesus has been giving us this truth since Genesis.  Truth after truth, prophecy after prophecy came from God culminating in Jesus Christ!

John 1:16…..and grace for grace.

Grace for grace means a super abundance of grace….. giving us one blessing after another.  We have all received grace upon grace [spiritual blessing upon spiritual blessing, favor upon favor, and gift heaped upon gift]. 

Grace for grace means grace piled upon grace. The background of this doubled term, as well as the use of the term in v. 17, is found in Ex. 32–34. Moses and the people had received grace, but they were in tremendous need of more grace.  Ex. 33:13 Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, show me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight: and consider that this nation is thy people.

John 1:17 For the law was given by Moses,  God gave the Law through Moses, For the Law was given through Moses.  The fact of sin, the knowledge of sin came through the law.  We are accountable to God since we know God’s requirements. 

John 1:17…..but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ……but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.  but grace [the unearned, undeserved favor of God] and truth came through Jesus Christ. Even the law came from God, through Moses. Grace and truth are not only from Jesus but through Jesus, as well. We will read further in this book of John that Jesus not only brought the truth but is in fact, the Truth.

The law, given by Moses, was not a display of God’s grace but God’s demand for holiness.  God designed the law as a means to demonstrate the unrighteousness of man in order to show the need for the Savior, Jesus Christ. Furthermore, the law revealed only a part of truth and was preparing us for Jesus Christ.

The reality or full truth toward which the law pointed, came through the person of Jesus Christ. 27:00

1.  The Word Became a Human  2.  John Preached About Jesus   3. We Have Blessing And Truth By Him

The Word Lived On Earth

You cannot be a human without appreciating how amazing it is to be without sin.  It is impossible for man but not impossible for God with whom sin is not possible!  But for us it not only is possible but impossible NOT to sin.  Therefore we needed Jesus to save us from our fate.  We were created by God but separated from Him by our sin. We have on life, one chance to find a cure for the curse of sin.  That is putting our faith and trust in Jesus Christ.  A one time act of faith and commitment that forever changes our destination and our relationship to God!  One Lord, ONE FAITH, one Baptism.   One Lord…...Jesus Christ, One Faith….Faith in Him and His finished work on the cross, ONE Baptism into Him as we are placed or immersed into His church.   God became a human so you could become His by simple faith and trust in Jesus Christ!  28:04



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