1 Timothy 6:7-10
Acquiring possessions and money
Money Vrs 7-10
The motivation for the false teaching seemed to be personal gain (in this case monetary)
A great topic to talk about during Christmas week, true contentment as far as money and material possessions are concerned.
“True Contentment” can never be achieved by money or possessions
Vrs. 7 you brought nothing in, you can’t take anything with you. Job 1:21 & Eccl 5:15
The implication of this verse is there is no final or eternal benefit to material possessions in the next life. Not only did you not bring anything in or can’t take anything out.
You didn’t care when you were born and you won’t care when you die.
That is exactly why God wants us to use what we have, enjoy it, not be selfish with it, or find false security in it.
Vrs 8 This verse counterbalances verse 7 by saying there are things we need to live in this world such as food and clothing. It seems that the first concept that Paul deals with is that we should be content with God’s basic provisions for us.
The fact that God provides for those needs is evidence to us that He is good. He provides for the sparrow, how much more will he provide for us. Matt 6:25-34 Jesus tells us don’t worry or be anxious. He will take care of those things.
When we are content with what God has given us…then we will be able to fulfill what He has called us to do in Matt 6:19-21 (sermon Desire Series “How to get Rich”)
3 Principles
-Temporal wealth does not last.
-Spiritual wealth is gained by obedience to Jesus and inherited in the next life. This also has benefits for this life as far as fulfillment.
-Focuses our heart on what is important
If we look at having an abundance as necessity it will squelch “true contentment” because we will think we need things that are just wants and those wants let us down.
Vrs 9 The desire to be rich...
If your goal and desire is to always have more you have taken the bait.
The Puritan’s do a good job developing the concept of how Satan uses the good things that God blesses us with as bait to hook us into sin
Thomas Brooks 1600’s the Puritan Writer in “Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices” sums up what Paul is saying in verse 9 warns of the bait and hook that Satan puts out when it come to sin.
“By presenting the bait and hiding the hook”
The bait with money is…
money will solve my problems, money will make me happy, if I only had…this or that I would be content.
Brooks says here are the Remedies
1. We ought to keep greatest distance from sin and playing with the bait.
2. Remember sin is often bittersweet (money can solve some problems it also can create problems)
3. Remember sin will usher in the greatest and saddest losses (money and possessions often are not all they are cracked up to be and let us down when we have them and devastate us when we lose them if we trusted and found security in them)
4. Remember sin is deceitful and bewitching (v9 “plunge people into ruin and destruction”)
Is it wrong to be rich or have an abundance of money and material passions?
1 Timothy 6:17 answers no and reminds us of 3 things
-Don’t flaunt it
-Don’t trust it
-It belongs to God
Vrs 10 What love of something other then the Jesus can and will do to you. It will harm you because it is another god that does not want good for you.
Why is money such a powerful vice? Becomes a god. Jesus said you cannot serve God and money.
Thomas Aquinas 1200’s , On Prayer and the Contemplative Life
“My deafness, too, to the inner voice of my Shepherd; and, what is far worse, that I have chosen God for my enemy and my adversary as often as I have chosen sin, and that I have offered Him the grievous insult of refusing to have Him for my God, and choosing instead my belly, or money, or false delights-and called them my God!
When we make something else “god” in our lives we are going to hurt ourselves and offend Jesus. Matt 6:24 “Canst serve two masters”
Blinded by greed (Timothy Keller “no one thinks they are greedy) Not only are we are we blinded by greed we are blinded of or from our greed. Illustration: He was teaching a men’s class on the 7 deadly sins.
Because there is always someone who has more for us to look at and say “They must be greedy because they have more then me”
Greed displays the love of money.
How to avoid the love of money…
1. Don’t make money your motivating factor. Attention younger people. When looking for a career to pursue ask yourself…would I do this if they did not pay me?
2. Hold on with open hands (be generous the best offense against greed)
Phil 4:10-13 Paul speaks of the generosity of the Philippians helped him to understand contentment. He was in need and God’s people helped.
3. Steward wisely- part of the problem many people have with money and why they need and desire more is because they made bad decisions with what they do have. (now they have an abusive love relationship with money)
4. Have a right perspective. (money should not change who I am, how secure I am or solve my sin problem) GOSPEL Jesus is the only one who can change who we are, give us security and solve our sin problem.
Heb 13:5 “Keep your life free from the love of money, and be content with what you have, for He has said “I will not leave you or forsake you”.
“True Contentment”
Accepting the Truth
Accepting what God has given you and using it for His glory.”
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Friday, December 17, 2010
"True Contentment" Part 1
1 Timothy 6:3-6 “True Contentment” Part 1
This passage gives us 2 reasons why people lack contentment. Lack of truth and love of money.
This week we are going to talk about truth and we will talk about love of money next week.
What is contentment? Satisfaction…ease of mind
I preached for 20 weeks “Restless Series” on discontentment
In our quest for contentment. We want to explain things…It bothers us not to be able to have an answer for everything. It causes us to be discontent. So we all desire truth so we can have answers
“Thoroughly worldly people never understand even the world; they rely altogether on a few cynical maxims which are not true” GK Chesterton Orthodoxy
The false teachers in Timothy’s day were making up their own truth, don’t eat this, don’t marry, work your way to heaven, give us money.
So we pick up in Vrs 3 A different doctrine
“sound Words of Jesus” are Truth
What does Jesus say about truth? Jesus & Truth
-Grace and truth come through Jesus John 1:17
-I tell you the truth John 8:45
-The truth shall set you free John 8:32
-Set apart in the truth…Your Word is truth John 17:17
-I am the truth John 14:6 GOSPEL
True contentment will never be achieved if you don’t know Jesus…Truth
Notice I did not say “you cannot be content”
I would agree that many things in our lives can bring contentment for periods of time. But w/o a relationship with Jesus you can never feel True Contentment
Specifically for the Christian…
“Teaching that accords with Godliness”
My quote “Good theology gets you through tough times” We have to fill our hearts and minds with solid Biblical teaching. This will lead to Godliness.
Based on the next passage I want to give you another quote that is related to my first.
“Bad theology creates tough times”
Vrs4-5 We can’t be content without the truth and when we try to make up our own truth we cause discontentment in others.
Here are some false teachings we deal with today…
-If there is a God…why is there suffering.
-We are here by chance (evolution)
-The Christian faith does not use reason and logic
-As long as what you do makes you happy
-You can work your way to heaven
-There is more then one way to God
“Instead of his teaching edifying the hearer, it produces spiritual sickness” Donald Norbie
You will never be content if you do not know truth you will be spiritually sick
Paul then goes on to describe the symptoms of Spiritual sickness that is found in the teachers Vrs 4a list
The teachers of “bad theology”
-Puffed up 3 John 1:9-11 Diotrephes “likes to put himself first”
-Understands nothing (your worldview is messed up)
-Unhealthy craving for controversy and quarrels (why we see Atheists going nuts about people celebrating Christmas)
What this results in for people
believing “bad theology” produces Vrs 4b-5a
-Envy - You can have more or be more. Biblical Christianity teaches us to be content in every situation Phil 4:11
-Dissention- Oppose those who claim truth. Biblical Christianity teaches us to live at peace with others
-Slander - Defame those who claim truth or those we do not like. Biblical Christianity teaches us not to use are words to defame others.
-Evil suspicion- Question authority. Biblical Christianity teaches us to trust Jesus
-Constant friction- With inner peace it is nearly impossible to live at peace with others. Biblical Christianity teaches us to be at peace with the help of the Lord through prayer and relationship. Phil 4:6 1 Peter 5:7 Cast cares
Why? Because they are sinners (depraved mind) in need of truth (deprived of truth) The false teachers are not teaching truth so it keeps the believers of bad theology in a unspiritual and unhealthy cycle.
The point here is this Paul is saying unredeemed sinners are not going to be able to effectively work out their problems and fulfill their need for contentment because they do not believe the truth.
Faith in Jesus Christ (Good Theology) is what gives us power to be content and actually see change in our lives
You will not be content if you don’t know the truth…Jesus
The big “what if” question. Based on 5b “godliness is a means of gain.” What if I am a Christian and I am not content?
You may feel like you have no purpose, things are not going well, you feel empty, and a lack of direction, looking for more answers
I know people who have gone through terrible things in life but they content. What is wrong with them? How can they be content?
2 Cor. 12:8-10 Paul spells it out loud and clear, unlike the puffed up false teachers who think they no it all. “True Contentment” is reliance on the Lord.
Vrs 6 A reminder “ There is Gain in Godliness when it accompanied by contentment”
If you are not content in the situations that God allows to come your way you are missing out on His blessings, what He is teaching you, how you can help others and how He wants to shape you to be more like Him
First step to “True Contentment” is..
Accepting the Truth
The truth is that we live in a world wrought with sin and we are sinners and Jesus came to set us free with His death burial and resurrection. Right now we are only experiencing some of that freedom that Jesus brings and we will have that in fullness when we pass to the next life.
Only through accepting the truth can we start to experience contentment.
This passage gives us 2 reasons why people lack contentment. Lack of truth and love of money.
This week we are going to talk about truth and we will talk about love of money next week.
What is contentment? Satisfaction…ease of mind
I preached for 20 weeks “Restless Series” on discontentment
In our quest for contentment. We want to explain things…It bothers us not to be able to have an answer for everything. It causes us to be discontent. So we all desire truth so we can have answers
“Thoroughly worldly people never understand even the world; they rely altogether on a few cynical maxims which are not true” GK Chesterton Orthodoxy
The false teachers in Timothy’s day were making up their own truth, don’t eat this, don’t marry, work your way to heaven, give us money.
So we pick up in Vrs 3 A different doctrine
“sound Words of Jesus” are Truth
What does Jesus say about truth? Jesus & Truth
-Grace and truth come through Jesus John 1:17
-I tell you the truth John 8:45
-The truth shall set you free John 8:32
-Set apart in the truth…Your Word is truth John 17:17
-I am the truth John 14:6 GOSPEL
True contentment will never be achieved if you don’t know Jesus…Truth
Notice I did not say “you cannot be content”
I would agree that many things in our lives can bring contentment for periods of time. But w/o a relationship with Jesus you can never feel True Contentment
Specifically for the Christian…
“Teaching that accords with Godliness”
My quote “Good theology gets you through tough times” We have to fill our hearts and minds with solid Biblical teaching. This will lead to Godliness.
Based on the next passage I want to give you another quote that is related to my first.
“Bad theology creates tough times”
Vrs4-5 We can’t be content without the truth and when we try to make up our own truth we cause discontentment in others.
Here are some false teachings we deal with today…
-If there is a God…why is there suffering.
-We are here by chance (evolution)
-The Christian faith does not use reason and logic
-As long as what you do makes you happy
-You can work your way to heaven
-There is more then one way to God
“Instead of his teaching edifying the hearer, it produces spiritual sickness” Donald Norbie
You will never be content if you do not know truth you will be spiritually sick
Paul then goes on to describe the symptoms of Spiritual sickness that is found in the teachers Vrs 4a list
The teachers of “bad theology”
-Puffed up 3 John 1:9-11 Diotrephes “likes to put himself first”
-Understands nothing (your worldview is messed up)
-Unhealthy craving for controversy and quarrels (why we see Atheists going nuts about people celebrating Christmas)
What this results in for people
believing “bad theology” produces Vrs 4b-5a
-Envy - You can have more or be more. Biblical Christianity teaches us to be content in every situation Phil 4:11
-Dissention- Oppose those who claim truth. Biblical Christianity teaches us to live at peace with others
-Slander - Defame those who claim truth or those we do not like. Biblical Christianity teaches us not to use are words to defame others.
-Evil suspicion- Question authority. Biblical Christianity teaches us to trust Jesus
-Constant friction- With inner peace it is nearly impossible to live at peace with others. Biblical Christianity teaches us to be at peace with the help of the Lord through prayer and relationship. Phil 4:6 1 Peter 5:7 Cast cares
Why? Because they are sinners (depraved mind) in need of truth (deprived of truth) The false teachers are not teaching truth so it keeps the believers of bad theology in a unspiritual and unhealthy cycle.
The point here is this Paul is saying unredeemed sinners are not going to be able to effectively work out their problems and fulfill their need for contentment because they do not believe the truth.
Faith in Jesus Christ (Good Theology) is what gives us power to be content and actually see change in our lives
You will not be content if you don’t know the truth…Jesus
The big “what if” question. Based on 5b “godliness is a means of gain.” What if I am a Christian and I am not content?
You may feel like you have no purpose, things are not going well, you feel empty, and a lack of direction, looking for more answers
I know people who have gone through terrible things in life but they content. What is wrong with them? How can they be content?
2 Cor. 12:8-10 Paul spells it out loud and clear, unlike the puffed up false teachers who think they no it all. “True Contentment” is reliance on the Lord.
Vrs 6 A reminder “ There is Gain in Godliness when it accompanied by contentment”
If you are not content in the situations that God allows to come your way you are missing out on His blessings, what He is teaching you, how you can help others and how He wants to shape you to be more like Him
First step to “True Contentment” is..
Accepting the Truth
The truth is that we live in a world wrought with sin and we are sinners and Jesus came to set us free with His death burial and resurrection. Right now we are only experiencing some of that freedom that Jesus brings and we will have that in fullness when we pass to the next life.
Only through accepting the truth can we start to experience contentment.
Friday, December 10, 2010
Entrusted "In and Under Authority"
1 Timothy 5:17-6:2
Currently there are 4 Atheistic groups taking out ads and billboards to undermine Biblical Christianity.
American Atheists have a billboard by the Lincoln Tunnel that says this…
The Catholic League answered back…but their statement was “the atheists want to get Christians to doubt their faith” I don’t think that is it.
I think that atheists in general have a problem with authority. They want to be the authority and can’t handle that there just may be something greater then their ideas and their concepts.
The main issue is that people do not want to admit Jesus has authority in their lives. If there is an authority and that authority has standards if we don’t keep those standards there is a problem.
All authority is given to Jesus. When we humble ourselves under that authority God raises us up. GOSPEL
Tonight we will look at the concept of authority. How we should respond if we are in an authority position and how we respond being under authority. .
There are many different types of Authority..
-Civil Authority-police, judges
Authority within the workplace- boss, manager
Authority with in the family-parents
Authority within the school- teachers, administration
Spiritual Authority within the church- This passage is going to address the spiritual authority issue and I believe if we have that right the other areas of life will fall into place.
Define Authority-the right to command.
Society sometimes says things like “Question Authority” , “Authority is corrupt” “we are all in Authority, what gives you the right to have authority,
“If you're going to kick authority in the teeth, you might as well use two feet.”Keith Richards Rolling Stones
Authority is unfair and you will loose
We defined the role of spiritual authority in the church as (1 Tim 2:8-15) – Guarding, upholding and making decisions based on Biblical truth in the local fellowship.
The Bible tells us 1 Peter 2:13-17 The Godly submit to authority &
2 Peter 2:10 tell us the ungodly despise authority.
1 Timothy 5:17-6:2 speaks about 3 issues what to expect when in authority, calling people to authority and
In Authority
Vrs 17-18 - Compensation- for the time that those in authority put in. This is why Pastors get paid
Side not of Christian business owners ethics…take care of your employees (Arthur Guinness)
Vrs 19- Give them the benefit of the doubt - “Innocent until proven guilty” many times because people bristle at authority they are “guilty until proven innocent” and that type thinking damages the reputation of those in leadership and authority roles
Vrs 20- They are held to a higher standard- Public authority bears public consequences. (Hebrews 13:17 tells us that leaders give account for the people they are in charge of)
Vrs 21- Fair - in dealings with the people they are in charge of , There is no special treatment when it comes to sin. Also leads well
Dwight D. Eisenhower Said “You do not lead by hitting people of the head…that’s assault, not leadership”
Calling people to authority positions
-Slowly- Be slow to put people in authority
Vrs 22- Be slow to put people into leadership and quick to take them out. One of the biggest problems in the church in general is that people who are not ready or qualified end up in positions of leadership that they should not be in. It is bad for them and bad for the people they are in charge of.
When the wrong people are in leadership the wrong things happen.
Vrs 23 Wine for stomach. In light of the asceticism of the false teachers Paul may be providing a qualification to the call for purity in clarifying that there would be nothing wrong with Timothy using a little wine, emphasizing here its usefulness for the sake of his health
-Investigate before
Vrs 24-25 The importance in assessing people before they are in leadership roles. The reason for this is simple. It is so much easier to say “no, now is not the time” then to let someone serve and in some cases serve well then have to ask them to step down from that position.
How do you judge if people want to be in or use authority for personal gain or power…the verse tells us to look at their life example.
Living under authority in any situation
Vrs 1 A Testimony issue
Vrs 2 -Hinders the work of Jesus. Hebrews 13:17
In a healthy situation spiritual leaders are praying for guidance on how to lead and what to do with the people entrusted to their flock. So if a leader leads you into the things of the Lord and you do not follow then what you are saying is “that is just his opinion” or “I don’t need that”
On a personal note that is why I am very careful about what I promote from the pulpit and anywhere for that matter.
The Christian should love and thrive under authority of Godly people and cannot expect to have any type of authority unless they can be under authority.
The what if question? Authority asks you to disobey God?
Acts 5:29 Peter and the Apostles are ordered to stop preaching about Jesus and they replied “we must obey God rather then men”
When those in authority are in the wrong it is our first call to follow Jesus.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer the Christian theologian and pastor spoke out against Hitler and Nazism publicly three days after Hitler rose to power and said that Germany was heading toward Idolatry.
He preached for the rights of Jews and Nazi Germany
He was a Christian who went against godless authority April 9, 1945 he was executed by hanging in the Flossenburg concentration camp.
A Christian realizes the Authority of Jesus should rule their lives.
Currently there are 4 Atheistic groups taking out ads and billboards to undermine Biblical Christianity.
American Atheists have a billboard by the Lincoln Tunnel that says this…
The Catholic League answered back…but their statement was “the atheists want to get Christians to doubt their faith” I don’t think that is it.
I think that atheists in general have a problem with authority. They want to be the authority and can’t handle that there just may be something greater then their ideas and their concepts.
The main issue is that people do not want to admit Jesus has authority in their lives. If there is an authority and that authority has standards if we don’t keep those standards there is a problem.
All authority is given to Jesus. When we humble ourselves under that authority God raises us up. GOSPEL
Tonight we will look at the concept of authority. How we should respond if we are in an authority position and how we respond being under authority. .
There are many different types of Authority..
-Civil Authority-police, judges
Authority within the workplace- boss, manager
Authority with in the family-parents
Authority within the school- teachers, administration
Spiritual Authority within the church- This passage is going to address the spiritual authority issue and I believe if we have that right the other areas of life will fall into place.
Define Authority-the right to command.
Society sometimes says things like “Question Authority” , “Authority is corrupt” “we are all in Authority, what gives you the right to have authority,
“If you're going to kick authority in the teeth, you might as well use two feet.”Keith Richards Rolling Stones
Authority is unfair and you will loose
We defined the role of spiritual authority in the church as (1 Tim 2:8-15) – Guarding, upholding and making decisions based on Biblical truth in the local fellowship.
The Bible tells us 1 Peter 2:13-17 The Godly submit to authority &
2 Peter 2:10 tell us the ungodly despise authority.
1 Timothy 5:17-6:2 speaks about 3 issues what to expect when in authority, calling people to authority and
In Authority
Vrs 17-18 - Compensation- for the time that those in authority put in. This is why Pastors get paid
Side not of Christian business owners ethics…take care of your employees (Arthur Guinness)
Vrs 19- Give them the benefit of the doubt - “Innocent until proven guilty” many times because people bristle at authority they are “guilty until proven innocent” and that type thinking damages the reputation of those in leadership and authority roles
Vrs 20- They are held to a higher standard- Public authority bears public consequences. (Hebrews 13:17 tells us that leaders give account for the people they are in charge of)
Vrs 21- Fair - in dealings with the people they are in charge of , There is no special treatment when it comes to sin. Also leads well
Dwight D. Eisenhower Said “You do not lead by hitting people of the head…that’s assault, not leadership”
Calling people to authority positions
-Slowly- Be slow to put people in authority
Vrs 22- Be slow to put people into leadership and quick to take them out. One of the biggest problems in the church in general is that people who are not ready or qualified end up in positions of leadership that they should not be in. It is bad for them and bad for the people they are in charge of.
When the wrong people are in leadership the wrong things happen.
Vrs 23 Wine for stomach. In light of the asceticism of the false teachers Paul may be providing a qualification to the call for purity in clarifying that there would be nothing wrong with Timothy using a little wine, emphasizing here its usefulness for the sake of his health
-Investigate before
Vrs 24-25 The importance in assessing people before they are in leadership roles. The reason for this is simple. It is so much easier to say “no, now is not the time” then to let someone serve and in some cases serve well then have to ask them to step down from that position.
How do you judge if people want to be in or use authority for personal gain or power…the verse tells us to look at their life example.
Living under authority in any situation
Vrs 1 A Testimony issue
Vrs 2 -Hinders the work of Jesus. Hebrews 13:17
In a healthy situation spiritual leaders are praying for guidance on how to lead and what to do with the people entrusted to their flock. So if a leader leads you into the things of the Lord and you do not follow then what you are saying is “that is just his opinion” or “I don’t need that”
On a personal note that is why I am very careful about what I promote from the pulpit and anywhere for that matter.
The Christian should love and thrive under authority of Godly people and cannot expect to have any type of authority unless they can be under authority.
The what if question? Authority asks you to disobey God?
Acts 5:29 Peter and the Apostles are ordered to stop preaching about Jesus and they replied “we must obey God rather then men”
When those in authority are in the wrong it is our first call to follow Jesus.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer the Christian theologian and pastor spoke out against Hitler and Nazism publicly three days after Hitler rose to power and said that Germany was heading toward Idolatry.
He preached for the rights of Jews and Nazi Germany
He was a Christian who went against godless authority April 9, 1945 he was executed by hanging in the Flossenburg concentration camp.
A Christian realizes the Authority of Jesus should rule their lives.
Monday, November 29, 2010
"My Brothers Keeper"
Entrustedweek11 “My Brothers Keeper”
1 Timothy 5:1-16
A believers responsibility to the family of God should mirror our responsibility to our biological family.
Treat the family of God like your biological family.
This is not the best illustration for us in America because generally speaking family loyalty is not the highest degree, we are a very independent people
Biblically speaking we see a high regard placed on our parents, enough so that obedience to them made #5 of the top 10, with a promise
We see from early on Genesis 4 there is a breakdown in the first sibling relationship Cain and Able (tell account)
“Am I my brothers keeper” the answer is YES
Vrs 1-2 In our dealings with those inside the church. Treat them “like family”
Vrs 3-16 Paul was dealing with specific issues in regards to widows in the churches that Timothy was dealing with, but we can glean principles from these directives in how we relate to the family of God.
You will find as you are in the church there are people that it is a pleasure to help because they work hard, serve well, love others and don’t ask for handouts. When they are in need it is a true blessing to help them. There are others who only show up when they are looking for the handout.
The difference between inside the church and outside the church 1 Cor 5 we judge inside.
If we tax resources on people who do not need we have none for those who do. So what we are going to do is look at the treatment of these widows and use it as a springboard for how we should behave “In the Family”
Vrs 3-5 the Godly widow - * Spiritually disciplined (within the fellowship of believers, you should be an example to the Christians around you) HOW shows Godliness to own household – hope in God – prayer warrior
Vrs 6 -the worldly widow – *Avoid Selfishness -selfish is like walking dead…we should not live only for ourselves
Vrs 7 Command to keep above reproach * Have Accountability
Vrs 8-10 An example of a Godly widow *Care for one another. John 19:26-27
Even unbelievers do that
-Christians should take care of their biological family “worse then” the concept here is that even non-believing know it is right to care for the family. If you as believer don’t care for your own what kind of testimony are sharing with those around you.
It is a testimony to them and to those around you.
GOSPEL
Vrs 11-13 The ungodly widows – *Flee sinful passions- In the heat of passion people say and do things that they regret. Harsh words etc
Vrs 14-15 *Learn from roles in biological family- The role that marriage and child bearing plays is keeping focus on the Lord – Being a part of a family helps you focus your attention on the Lord
(sanctification process)
Vrs 16 Biological family has the first responsibility – *The biological family comes before the church.
They have the first responsibility and they are the first responsibility
-The Godly will be taken care of. I spoke with a Godly individual who is out of work and his reply was “through all this I see that God is good”
-The sentiment in this passage is “take care of the Godly” God’s family is much larger then our biological family. So if you have a pressing need in your biological family be assured that another member of God’s family can take care of the member that is suffering.
Challenge from now until Christmas
1. Is there a person in your biological family that you need to work out a difficulty with?
2. Is there a person in God’s family that you need to work out a difficulty with?
1 Timothy 5:1-16
A believers responsibility to the family of God should mirror our responsibility to our biological family.
Treat the family of God like your biological family.
This is not the best illustration for us in America because generally speaking family loyalty is not the highest degree, we are a very independent people
Biblically speaking we see a high regard placed on our parents, enough so that obedience to them made #5 of the top 10, with a promise
We see from early on Genesis 4 there is a breakdown in the first sibling relationship Cain and Able (tell account)
“Am I my brothers keeper” the answer is YES
Vrs 1-2 In our dealings with those inside the church. Treat them “like family”
Vrs 3-16 Paul was dealing with specific issues in regards to widows in the churches that Timothy was dealing with, but we can glean principles from these directives in how we relate to the family of God.
You will find as you are in the church there are people that it is a pleasure to help because they work hard, serve well, love others and don’t ask for handouts. When they are in need it is a true blessing to help them. There are others who only show up when they are looking for the handout.
The difference between inside the church and outside the church 1 Cor 5 we judge inside.
If we tax resources on people who do not need we have none for those who do. So what we are going to do is look at the treatment of these widows and use it as a springboard for how we should behave “In the Family”
Vrs 3-5 the Godly widow - * Spiritually disciplined (within the fellowship of believers, you should be an example to the Christians around you) HOW shows Godliness to own household – hope in God – prayer warrior
Vrs 6 -the worldly widow – *Avoid Selfishness -selfish is like walking dead…we should not live only for ourselves
Vrs 7 Command to keep above reproach * Have Accountability
Vrs 8-10 An example of a Godly widow *Care for one another. John 19:26-27
Even unbelievers do that
-Christians should take care of their biological family “worse then” the concept here is that even non-believing know it is right to care for the family. If you as believer don’t care for your own what kind of testimony are sharing with those around you.
It is a testimony to them and to those around you.
GOSPEL
Vrs 11-13 The ungodly widows – *Flee sinful passions- In the heat of passion people say and do things that they regret. Harsh words etc
Vrs 14-15 *Learn from roles in biological family- The role that marriage and child bearing plays is keeping focus on the Lord – Being a part of a family helps you focus your attention on the Lord
(sanctification process)
Vrs 16 Biological family has the first responsibility – *The biological family comes before the church.
They have the first responsibility and they are the first responsibility
-The Godly will be taken care of. I spoke with a Godly individual who is out of work and his reply was “through all this I see that God is good”
-The sentiment in this passage is “take care of the Godly” God’s family is much larger then our biological family. So if you have a pressing need in your biological family be assured that another member of God’s family can take care of the member that is suffering.
Challenge from now until Christmas
1. Is there a person in your biological family that you need to work out a difficulty with?
2. Is there a person in God’s family that you need to work out a difficulty with?
Saturday, November 27, 2010
"Jacked For Jesus"
Godliness/Godly men is the way to fight against the “two nasty “L” words”
Vs 6-7 “These things” “you will be a good servant”
-Trained in Words of Faith
-Trained in good Doctrine
-Does not waste time (irreverent and silly myths)
-Training in Godliness
Paul gives an illustration
Vrs 8 shows us the “physical exercise” only has value here
The concept here is not to speak out against physical exercise as mush as it is to remind us that putting much time into that only benefits this life not the next.
I believe this is very pertinent in our culture. We spend much money and time not only to be healthy but…look good.
The idea here is everyone knows in order to be in top physical shape it takes a lot of training, the same is true for Godliness. The question that Paul answers is, what is more important? The answer is what benefits this life and the next?
The concept of this life and the next life is a recurring theme in the Scriptures.
Vrs 9 “trustworthy” you will not be let down if you pursue Godliness
Vrs 10 It is work to follow the Lord…it hurts sometimes, it is not a cake walk but we focus on Jesus look at what He endured…the cross GOSPEL.
Savior to all men “especially” “Savior of all” To preserve (sotar) Possibly “Common Grace” Rain - Possibly positional in regards to all people.
“Especially those who believe” Special or Saving Grace Result in Salvation Jesus’ offer is open but only some will take hold…like the wedding banquet
Vrs 11 Timothy’s call and our call as well we continue to pass this down to our children. (For Timothy 11-14 Preach the Word)
Vrs 12 don’t get hung up on age. I know old fools and I know young fools. But age does not dictate Godliness.
Vrs 13-15a Godliness The workout program to be “Jacked for Jesus”
-devotion to the Scriptures
-willing to exhort-to urge or advise or caution, (in this case yourself) others (use what the Scriptures say)
-teaches good theology (with your life and words)
-uses spiritual gifts
-practices spiritual disciplines
-immerse (this should be your life)
Vrs 15b It is good for others to notice your progress. You will “glow” of the Lord Pastor Conan ill
It is only a bad thing if we personally take the credit. So he goes onto verse 16
Vrs 16 don’t let it get to your head
“Watch yourself” Pride goes before the fall, also in this context “keep focused”
“persist” Problem is with people in life is they grow and excel they get some encouragement then they say “ok I am good at this let me stop excelling”
Kelly Slater…always pushing to the next level
Vrs 16b If you continue in Godliness your life will be more abundant and you will be effective in the lives of others for the work of the Lord.
Vs 6-7 “These things” “you will be a good servant”
-Trained in Words of Faith
-Trained in good Doctrine
-Does not waste time (irreverent and silly myths)
-Training in Godliness
Paul gives an illustration
Vrs 8 shows us the “physical exercise” only has value here
The concept here is not to speak out against physical exercise as mush as it is to remind us that putting much time into that only benefits this life not the next.
I believe this is very pertinent in our culture. We spend much money and time not only to be healthy but…look good.
The idea here is everyone knows in order to be in top physical shape it takes a lot of training, the same is true for Godliness. The question that Paul answers is, what is more important? The answer is what benefits this life and the next?
The concept of this life and the next life is a recurring theme in the Scriptures.
Vrs 9 “trustworthy” you will not be let down if you pursue Godliness
Vrs 10 It is work to follow the Lord…it hurts sometimes, it is not a cake walk but we focus on Jesus look at what He endured…the cross GOSPEL.
Savior to all men “especially” “Savior of all” To preserve (sotar) Possibly “Common Grace” Rain - Possibly positional in regards to all people.
“Especially those who believe” Special or Saving Grace Result in Salvation Jesus’ offer is open but only some will take hold…like the wedding banquet
Vrs 11 Timothy’s call and our call as well we continue to pass this down to our children. (For Timothy 11-14 Preach the Word)
Vrs 12 don’t get hung up on age. I know old fools and I know young fools. But age does not dictate Godliness.
Vrs 13-15a Godliness The workout program to be “Jacked for Jesus”
-devotion to the Scriptures
-willing to exhort-to urge or advise or caution, (in this case yourself) others (use what the Scriptures say)
-teaches good theology (with your life and words)
-uses spiritual gifts
-practices spiritual disciplines
-immerse (this should be your life)
Vrs 15b It is good for others to notice your progress. You will “glow” of the Lord Pastor Conan ill
It is only a bad thing if we personally take the credit. So he goes onto verse 16
Vrs 16 don’t let it get to your head
“Watch yourself” Pride goes before the fall, also in this context “keep focused”
“persist” Problem is with people in life is they grow and excel they get some encouragement then they say “ok I am good at this let me stop excelling”
Kelly Slater…always pushing to the next level
Vrs 16b If you continue in Godliness your life will be more abundant and you will be effective in the lives of others for the work of the Lord.
Monday, November 15, 2010
Entusted "Two nasty "L" Words"
Vrs 1 “fall away”
Spirit says Matt 24 and Passages in Revelation
Paul is dealing with the believers in the church that are falling toward asceticism (Religion that is man centered and created)
Preference-I choose not to
Example: Watching shows that are about solving crimes.
But because I feel this way and my preference is that for me based on
Phil 4. I now have the liberty as a pastor to help you think about those things.
Questions: why do I watch this? How does it make me feel? If Jesus came over to hang out would I watch this with Him?
On the other hand if I were to say this is wrong…you should not do this because I do not do this.
Conviction-I feel like this is a sin for me. Romans 14 tells us who have a conviction like that not to pass it to others and those who do not have the conviction not to force those who do into something they feel is sin.
Absolute-This is biblically wrong
Why tell you this??? Because the two nasty “L” words hinge on the abuse of these concepts
The first nasty “L” word is Legalism
-Legalism is not keeping the law it is adding to the law.
The legalist thinks by adding to the law they are being more righteous and God is more pleased, they make preferences and convictions = absolutes
Jesus spoke out against these guys “twice the son of hell”
How to be a legalist…
-take verses out of context
-impose your preferences or convictions on others
-make your rules the ones you part company over
-try to convince others to agree (particularly the leadership of the church) organize a witch hunt (this person is always running around complain about what is wrong with everyone and everything.
-be the extra biblical rules police
*Problem is legalism causes non-Christians to retaliate in attacks considerhumanism.org
The next nasty “L” word is Liberalism
-Free from tradition or authority…no absolutes
This passage does not specifically teach about liberalism but I feel now is an appropriate time to bring this up. To be honest this group here at “The Five” does not struggle with legalism…there are maybe 3 of you who do and guess what you 3 won’t listen anyway because you think your right. I just taught the rest of the people here how to identify you.
Most of you here will struggle with liberalism…why? Because you were brought up in a society that says…abortion is a women’s choice, homosexuality is an alternate lifestyle, living together is a good trial before marriage, don’t trust anyone in authority, love is a feeling not a decision, you can do anything you put your mind to, play games without keeping score so everybody wins, there is no absolute truth, if it feels good do it, as long as it does not hurt anyone, and the list goes on.
And the permeating attitude is…”Who is God to tell me”
I say it to my kids “I am your father”
Romans 9:20 “But who are you O man to answer back to God”?
How to be a liberalist..
-take verses out of context (that does not mean that)
-there are no absolutes
-Part company with people who do have absolutes
-criticize those who believe absolutes
-be the outlaw that brings liberation to the people
What causes these warped views
-demons vrs1
liberalism and legalism they are both demonic and they are both a departure of biblical faith
The pendulum will swing back and forth and have a hard time landing on the truth of the Word because Satan is behind those bad doctrines and interpretations
-seared consciences (seared by lies) vrs 2 Conscience is messed up by the lies of the false teaching.
Liberalist example That is why taking the argument of abortion some can sit back and say “it just does not seem right that a women does not have the right to choose”
Legalist example they personally feel bad about doing something not put forth in the Word by for some odd reason they don’t feel bad in the least about judging others and slandering others for not following what think is correct
-incomplete view of God Vrs 3 God is the giver of good things
Demons are striking at the goodness of God. The created pleasures are designed to point us to God and to thank Him. But taking those things away detracts from praise.
-incomplete view of His creation Vrs 4 Creation is good for us to enjoy
Vrs 4 God’s creation is good but people will always try to use it for sin.
I can have people over and have conversation, eat food and drink wine to the glory of God or I can gossip and slander in conversation be a glutton and get drunk. So do a not have conversation because of gossip and slander do I not have food because of gluttony or have wine because of drunkenness. Is conversation, food and wine evil? No it is the abuse of it that is.
The legalist would say abstain from certain foods or sensual pleasure because it shows we are better.
-ignorance of His Word Vrs 5 Either don’t know His Word or know it but take things out of context.
-No relationship with Jesus (prayer) Vrs 5
This is exactly the reason why you do not recognize the god the legalist and the liberalist worships. That is not the Jesus that I know. 2 Cor. 11:1-7 “another Jesus”
The legalist’s and the liberalist’s god loves death… and our God has conquered death.
Do you hate death? The last few years have validated in my mind that I hate death. That’s why I fight for life the GOSPEL
Spirit says Matt 24 and Passages in Revelation
Paul is dealing with the believers in the church that are falling toward asceticism (Religion that is man centered and created)
Preference-I choose not to
Example: Watching shows that are about solving crimes.
But because I feel this way and my preference is that for me based on
Phil 4. I now have the liberty as a pastor to help you think about those things.
Questions: why do I watch this? How does it make me feel? If Jesus came over to hang out would I watch this with Him?
On the other hand if I were to say this is wrong…you should not do this because I do not do this.
Conviction-I feel like this is a sin for me. Romans 14 tells us who have a conviction like that not to pass it to others and those who do not have the conviction not to force those who do into something they feel is sin.
Absolute-This is biblically wrong
Why tell you this??? Because the two nasty “L” words hinge on the abuse of these concepts
The first nasty “L” word is Legalism
-Legalism is not keeping the law it is adding to the law.
The legalist thinks by adding to the law they are being more righteous and God is more pleased, they make preferences and convictions = absolutes
Jesus spoke out against these guys “twice the son of hell”
How to be a legalist…
-take verses out of context
-impose your preferences or convictions on others
-make your rules the ones you part company over
-try to convince others to agree (particularly the leadership of the church) organize a witch hunt (this person is always running around complain about what is wrong with everyone and everything.
-be the extra biblical rules police
*Problem is legalism causes non-Christians to retaliate in attacks considerhumanism.org
The next nasty “L” word is Liberalism
-Free from tradition or authority…no absolutes
This passage does not specifically teach about liberalism but I feel now is an appropriate time to bring this up. To be honest this group here at “The Five” does not struggle with legalism…there are maybe 3 of you who do and guess what you 3 won’t listen anyway because you think your right. I just taught the rest of the people here how to identify you.
Most of you here will struggle with liberalism…why? Because you were brought up in a society that says…abortion is a women’s choice, homosexuality is an alternate lifestyle, living together is a good trial before marriage, don’t trust anyone in authority, love is a feeling not a decision, you can do anything you put your mind to, play games without keeping score so everybody wins, there is no absolute truth, if it feels good do it, as long as it does not hurt anyone, and the list goes on.
And the permeating attitude is…”Who is God to tell me”
I say it to my kids “I am your father”
Romans 9:20 “But who are you O man to answer back to God”?
How to be a liberalist..
-take verses out of context (that does not mean that)
-there are no absolutes
-Part company with people who do have absolutes
-criticize those who believe absolutes
-be the outlaw that brings liberation to the people
What causes these warped views
-demons vrs1
liberalism and legalism they are both demonic and they are both a departure of biblical faith
The pendulum will swing back and forth and have a hard time landing on the truth of the Word because Satan is behind those bad doctrines and interpretations
-seared consciences (seared by lies) vrs 2 Conscience is messed up by the lies of the false teaching.
Liberalist example That is why taking the argument of abortion some can sit back and say “it just does not seem right that a women does not have the right to choose”
Legalist example they personally feel bad about doing something not put forth in the Word by for some odd reason they don’t feel bad in the least about judging others and slandering others for not following what think is correct
-incomplete view of God Vrs 3 God is the giver of good things
Demons are striking at the goodness of God. The created pleasures are designed to point us to God and to thank Him. But taking those things away detracts from praise.
-incomplete view of His creation Vrs 4 Creation is good for us to enjoy
Vrs 4 God’s creation is good but people will always try to use it for sin.
I can have people over and have conversation, eat food and drink wine to the glory of God or I can gossip and slander in conversation be a glutton and get drunk. So do a not have conversation because of gossip and slander do I not have food because of gluttony or have wine because of drunkenness. Is conversation, food and wine evil? No it is the abuse of it that is.
The legalist would say abstain from certain foods or sensual pleasure because it shows we are better.
-ignorance of His Word Vrs 5 Either don’t know His Word or know it but take things out of context.
-No relationship with Jesus (prayer) Vrs 5
This is exactly the reason why you do not recognize the god the legalist and the liberalist worships. That is not the Jesus that I know. 2 Cor. 11:1-7 “another Jesus”
The legalist’s and the liberalist’s god loves death… and our God has conquered death.
Do you hate death? The last few years have validated in my mind that I hate death. That’s why I fight for life the GOSPEL
Monday, November 8, 2010
Entrusted "the gates of hell shall not prevail"
1 Timothy 3:14-16
Vrs 14-15a (stop at “household of God”) Paul gives directives on the churches structure…bottom line of what we learned in the last few weeks is, the leaders and those who serve should be of Godly Character. Truthfully it does not matter what we do, as much as who we are in Christ.
Vrs 15 “which is the church of the living God”
This begs the question... what is the church?
Start with what the church is not…
-A building
-A social gathering -Hypocrites-the only hypocrites in the church are the ones that say they don’t sin. –Deep relationships- don’t substitute deep relationships with others to fill the void that only Christ can fulfill in your life.
-A place to go to pay your dues. (not works)
-A place to come after you get your act together (one side people become judgmental, on the other people are shamed or scared away its Satan’s lie)
Problem is people try to make what the church should not be…the church corporately loses focus
So what is the church? Matt 16:13-20
Vrs 15 “a pillar and buttress of truth”
The truth of Jesus (GOSPEL) is the foundation and the work of what the local church does is the pillar and buttress. (holds things up and together)
The church is the avenue in which the truth of Jesus is communicated and lived out to the glory of God.
It is the responsibility of the local church to hold up the truth for all to see
Donald Norbie says “The local church holds up the truth in a corporate way the isolated believer cannot”
Here is the foundation…
Vrs 16 “Great Indeed” We serve a God hat is much greater.
Line 1 The incarnation John 1 Jesus always was then came as the God man into human history.
Line 2 “Vindicated” = to uphold or justify or prove. The Holy Spirit proved Jesus was who he claimed to be.
-At His baptism
-At His resurrection Romans 8:11
Line 3 This is to illustrate that this was a spiritual and was observed by spirit beings throughout history.
Angels learn from us
Angels rejoice over one sinner who repents
Line 4 The message of the Gospel is for everyone
Line 5 The avenue of salvation
Line 6 Refers to Jesus’ ascension but also ours as a result of belief, one day we will be taken up.
This is what the church “confesses” and this is “the mystery of Godliness”
Do you want to be Godly? Trust this message. Do you want to be Godly spread this message.
Proof that it is God’s message “The gates of hell shall not prevail against it
Jesus is best served when we as the church of God work together to bring the message to the world around us and live the message to our fellow believers within the local church.
Vrs 14-15a (stop at “household of God”) Paul gives directives on the churches structure…bottom line of what we learned in the last few weeks is, the leaders and those who serve should be of Godly Character. Truthfully it does not matter what we do, as much as who we are in Christ.
Vrs 15 “which is the church of the living God”
This begs the question... what is the church?
Start with what the church is not…
-A building
-A social gathering -Hypocrites-the only hypocrites in the church are the ones that say they don’t sin. –Deep relationships- don’t substitute deep relationships with others to fill the void that only Christ can fulfill in your life.
-A place to go to pay your dues. (not works)
-A place to come after you get your act together (one side people become judgmental, on the other people are shamed or scared away its Satan’s lie)
Problem is people try to make what the church should not be…the church corporately loses focus
So what is the church? Matt 16:13-20
Vrs 15 “a pillar and buttress of truth”
The truth of Jesus (GOSPEL) is the foundation and the work of what the local church does is the pillar and buttress. (holds things up and together)
The church is the avenue in which the truth of Jesus is communicated and lived out to the glory of God.
It is the responsibility of the local church to hold up the truth for all to see
Donald Norbie says “The local church holds up the truth in a corporate way the isolated believer cannot”
Here is the foundation…
Vrs 16 “Great Indeed” We serve a God hat is much greater.
Line 1 The incarnation John 1 Jesus always was then came as the God man into human history.
Line 2 “Vindicated” = to uphold or justify or prove. The Holy Spirit proved Jesus was who he claimed to be.
-At His baptism
-At His resurrection Romans 8:11
Line 3 This is to illustrate that this was a spiritual and was observed by spirit beings throughout history.
Angels learn from us
Angels rejoice over one sinner who repents
Line 4 The message of the Gospel is for everyone
Line 5 The avenue of salvation
Line 6 Refers to Jesus’ ascension but also ours as a result of belief, one day we will be taken up.
This is what the church “confesses” and this is “the mystery of Godliness”
Do you want to be Godly? Trust this message. Do you want to be Godly spread this message.
Proof that it is God’s message “The gates of hell shall not prevail against it
Jesus is best served when we as the church of God work together to bring the message to the world around us and live the message to our fellow believers within the local church.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Entrusted "not what we do, but who we are"
1 Timothy 3:8-13
Talk about the structure of our church ands then the structure of the NT church being built for growth.
-Pastor/Overseer - Slide 2 Pray, teach, spiritually guide and correct
-Deacons Acts 6:1-7 Overseers assistants
Slide 2 assist the overseers and serve in the church.
-Ministry leaders Slide 2 In charge of particular ministries.
Tonight we will talk about this servant role, but not the what the who.
Read 1 Timothy 1:8-13
Deacon = servant- when we speak of a servant we automatically ask or think what are they doing?…how are they serving?…what is the act?
This passages does not answer those questions but it speaks about the Character of the servant.
Ride a bicycle ill. Teach someone how to ride a bike w/o actually telling them how to ride a bike. (the important part of riding a bike is the mechanics of riding the bike)
The important part of being a servant(Deacon) is the character.
What you actually do as deacon(servant) is not as important as your character.
Mechanical = religion- People become religious and do things out of habit with no real inspiration or heart behind it. We do this because we have always done this.
The danger is we look at our Christian life as DO DO DO or I don’t do this, this and this so therefore I am Christian.
But Character = relationship, when we have a real relationship with the Lord, who we are becomes altered and it is not about what we do- but what we do then stems from who we are. We are not trying to prove something “I am this because I do this” but it is “I do this because I am this” Ephesians 2:8-10 sums this up
Last week in “picture of you” we ended with…Read Bible, Repent and Pray is how you work on yourself. This applies here as well
So how do you know you are in the right heart condition while you are serving?
ask these Questions
What is my motive?
-To look good
Jesus and the Pharisees White washed tombs
-To promote self
You can do good and step on others while you are doing it.
Our motive should be to do right by the Lord and for the good of others.
What is my focus?
-Selfish plans ( I want to see this done)
-Out of habit (just what I do)
Focus should be Jesus’ fame, Why should Jesus be famous???
This is what He has done…(list)
Focus Should be Heaven
That is where we belong so we should focus on that day. The charge for a Christina when it comes to looking at the future is Heaven, not plans but heaven.
Verse 13 If you serve well, it is curious to me that he says this but does still does not tell they what the service is, how to do it or what good service looks like..
Result:
1. “Gain a good standing” right Character speaks loudly to the people around you. You can work harder than anyone but if you are just a miserable person to be around, it cancels what you have done out.
2. “Great confidence in the faith” Validates our faith. The more we serve with a pure heart and good character the more we realize what our purpose is in life.
Leave you with these two thoughts
-A Christian that does not serve never realizes purpose
-A Christian that serves with impure motives ruin the purposes that called has called us here for.
Talk about the structure of our church ands then the structure of the NT church being built for growth.
-Pastor/Overseer - Slide 2 Pray, teach, spiritually guide and correct
-Deacons Acts 6:1-7 Overseers assistants
Slide 2 assist the overseers and serve in the church.
-Ministry leaders Slide 2 In charge of particular ministries.
Tonight we will talk about this servant role, but not the what the who.
Read 1 Timothy 1:8-13
Deacon = servant- when we speak of a servant we automatically ask or think what are they doing?…how are they serving?…what is the act?
This passages does not answer those questions but it speaks about the Character of the servant.
Ride a bicycle ill. Teach someone how to ride a bike w/o actually telling them how to ride a bike. (the important part of riding a bike is the mechanics of riding the bike)
The important part of being a servant(Deacon) is the character.
What you actually do as deacon(servant) is not as important as your character.
Mechanical = religion- People become religious and do things out of habit with no real inspiration or heart behind it. We do this because we have always done this.
The danger is we look at our Christian life as DO DO DO or I don’t do this, this and this so therefore I am Christian.
But Character = relationship, when we have a real relationship with the Lord, who we are becomes altered and it is not about what we do- but what we do then stems from who we are. We are not trying to prove something “I am this because I do this” but it is “I do this because I am this” Ephesians 2:8-10 sums this up
Last week in “picture of you” we ended with…Read Bible, Repent and Pray is how you work on yourself. This applies here as well
So how do you know you are in the right heart condition while you are serving?
ask these Questions
What is my motive?
-To look good
Jesus and the Pharisees White washed tombs
-To promote self
You can do good and step on others while you are doing it.
Our motive should be to do right by the Lord and for the good of others.
What is my focus?
-Selfish plans ( I want to see this done)
-Out of habit (just what I do)
Focus should be Jesus’ fame, Why should Jesus be famous???
This is what He has done…(list)
Focus Should be Heaven
That is where we belong so we should focus on that day. The charge for a Christina when it comes to looking at the future is Heaven, not plans but heaven.
Verse 13 If you serve well, it is curious to me that he says this but does still does not tell they what the service is, how to do it or what good service looks like..
Result:
1. “Gain a good standing” right Character speaks loudly to the people around you. You can work harder than anyone but if you are just a miserable person to be around, it cancels what you have done out.
2. “Great confidence in the faith” Validates our faith. The more we serve with a pure heart and good character the more we realize what our purpose is in life.
Leave you with these two thoughts
-A Christian that does not serve never realizes purpose
-A Christian that serves with impure motives ruin the purposes that called has called us here for.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Entrusted "a picture of you"
1 Timothy 3:1-7
This passage tonight gives us the qualifications for a an “overseer” man of God that is called to lead in His church. Not about skills but about character and integrity
What I want to do is make this more applicable to everyone by using this passage as a challenge to all of us. Because in a nutshell a leader needs to be a good Christian. So tonight we are going to learn about being a good Christian.
Vrs 1 The desire to lead…
The task is noble….
There four areas in which these traits are displayed
How you see yourself …
Aspire- You can tell much about yourself by your aspirations and desires
Sober-minded- Picture
Self controlled- are you given to sinful habits that you cannot stop?
If you are just doing the right thing to please yourself you are not doing the right thing.
How others see you…
Above reproach- junk drawer, people have nothing bad to say about you that is true.
Respectable- do you have the reputation of someone to respect, not because of position but because of how you act and react?
Hospitable- how welcoming are you?
Know the Word (Able to teach) Your life is teaching other people. The more Bible you know the more Bible will come out.
Not a drunkard- given to addiction and abuse alcohol.
Not violent- is violence the form of entertainment you chose?
Gentle- went you are dealing with others are you gentle and compassionate with them?
Not quarrelsome- this person is always ready to engage in conflict
Not greedy (lover of money), how generous are you?
Good reputation with outsiders- how do they see you?
If you are just doing the right thing to make yourself look good in front of others you are not doing the right thing.
How your family sees you-
Faithful, takes care of family (how you interact with your family tells much about how you will and do interact with God’s family the church)
Answer this question Are you a good…? Whatever role you play.
If you are just doing the right thing to please your family you are not doing the right thing.
When there is a deficiency in how we view our self or there is a problem with relationships we have it makes us reevaluate or reflect on who we really are.
I call these the defining moments of who you really are.
These defining moments should help us to see how much we need Jesus and how we need to live for Him.
Background of the movie
(Fireproof/The Cross clip)
We have these things hidden in our heart and many times it take a defining moment in life to bring them out, Jesus sees them and we need repent of those things that we are doing. We are broken and only Jesus can fix us.
Jesus- He sees the real picture of you, we can’t hide from what He sees, it is the real us.
Faith -Not a recent convert, GOSPEL
Intention -not prideful
Vrs 6-7 If we don’t fall in line with Jesus and the character He wants us to have, we will ruin things in our live and Satan will have the upper hand.
How do we work on our “picture”?
Bible, Repentance, Prayer,
This passage tonight gives us the qualifications for a an “overseer” man of God that is called to lead in His church. Not about skills but about character and integrity
What I want to do is make this more applicable to everyone by using this passage as a challenge to all of us. Because in a nutshell a leader needs to be a good Christian. So tonight we are going to learn about being a good Christian.
Vrs 1 The desire to lead…
The task is noble….
There four areas in which these traits are displayed
How you see yourself …
Aspire- You can tell much about yourself by your aspirations and desires
Sober-minded- Picture
Self controlled- are you given to sinful habits that you cannot stop?
If you are just doing the right thing to please yourself you are not doing the right thing.
How others see you…
Above reproach- junk drawer, people have nothing bad to say about you that is true.
Respectable- do you have the reputation of someone to respect, not because of position but because of how you act and react?
Hospitable- how welcoming are you?
Know the Word (Able to teach) Your life is teaching other people. The more Bible you know the more Bible will come out.
Not a drunkard- given to addiction and abuse alcohol.
Not violent- is violence the form of entertainment you chose?
Gentle- went you are dealing with others are you gentle and compassionate with them?
Not quarrelsome- this person is always ready to engage in conflict
Not greedy (lover of money), how generous are you?
Good reputation with outsiders- how do they see you?
If you are just doing the right thing to make yourself look good in front of others you are not doing the right thing.
How your family sees you-
Faithful, takes care of family (how you interact with your family tells much about how you will and do interact with God’s family the church)
Answer this question Are you a good…? Whatever role you play.
If you are just doing the right thing to please your family you are not doing the right thing.
When there is a deficiency in how we view our self or there is a problem with relationships we have it makes us reevaluate or reflect on who we really are.
I call these the defining moments of who you really are.
These defining moments should help us to see how much we need Jesus and how we need to live for Him.
Background of the movie
(Fireproof/The Cross clip)
We have these things hidden in our heart and many times it take a defining moment in life to bring them out, Jesus sees them and we need repent of those things that we are doing. We are broken and only Jesus can fix us.
Jesus- He sees the real picture of you, we can’t hide from what He sees, it is the real us.
Faith -Not a recent convert, GOSPEL
Intention -not prideful
Vrs 6-7 If we don’t fall in line with Jesus and the character He wants us to have, we will ruin things in our live and Satan will have the upper hand.
How do we work on our “picture”?
Bible, Repentance, Prayer,
Monday, October 18, 2010
Entrusted "...from creation"
1 Tim 2:8- 15
Tonight we are going talk about the role of men and their responsibility and the role of women in regards to the family of God the church.
Vrs 8 on the heals of the preceding verses about prayer we see here Paul telling the men, by design you are to be worshippers of God, praising Him and not fighting with one another.
Vrs 9 In Ephesus these styles may have been associated with what prostitutes were wearing.
Good advice to give any women don’t dress like a prostitute.
Modesty= the idea here is not trying to attract attention to yourself for the way you look.
Vrs 10 what a women should focus in on is her character. This does not mean that more spiritual women are out of style. I think it is wise for men and women alike to keep up with current styles to some degree to be a witness to the world we live in. (Hudson Taylor)
By what Paul teaches later in 1 Timothy we can conclude that some of the false teaching that was going on was aimed at young single women. Don’t get married, dress seductively, don’t listen to men
Vrs 11 “learn” Paul’s charge to them was pay close attention to the Scriptures and the truth they hold for your life. These false teachers are just trying to malign the cause of the GOSPEL and get you off track.
Vrs 12 Teach or have authority Two Resposibilities
Teach – setting doctrine (what the church believes based upon Biblical truth)
Authority – Guarding, upholding and making decisions based on Biblical truth in the local fellowship.
Authority…what is meant here? What we will eventually see (1 Timothy 3) is God’s desire is for Godly men to rise up and take care of the spiritual health and wellbeing of the church.
Ill Police Officer
Elder/overseer has the job, responsibility and authority to keep the church spiritually on track, correct/rebuke people when they are sin, make sure no false teaching is creeping in
Three positions
1. Egalitarian- no distinction
2. Hierarchical –men are in charge
3. Complimentarian- men and women are equal and have different roles that compliment one another. Women can do everything men can do except elder/overseer
-OT Priests were men
-Apostles were men (Jesus could have chosen women and would have if that was intention, Jesus did not bow to the culture)
-Overseers in NT church were men.
Vrs 13 roots it not in culture but in creation. Genesis 2:18, 21-23
One preacher said it like this “The rightful place of a women is by her mans side no out in front or left behind”
Helper God is a helper an ever-present help
Different roles within the trinity.
Does this mean men in general have a degree of authority over women in general? No
This means within a husband and wife’s relationship the man’s responsibility is spiritual support and love of his wife.
Within the church (family of God) Godly men are to spiritually love and support the people in the church.
When this system breaks down…
Vrs 14 “Eve deceived”
Satan takes the Scriptures and uses it against them, like He did to Jesus
Does not mean women are more gullible, it illustrates the result of Adam dropping the ball in spiritual support of his wife and Eve being out on her own without the love and support of her husband. In essence Paul is saying look what happens when we buck the system that God set up.
(I am a little brother, “go try that”)
The result of the system set up by God…
Vrs 15 “Saved in childbearing” The timeless role of women… this shows this passage is trans-cultural, no matter what time or culture you live in the role of women will always contain giving birth.
Is there something that you would deem more important then bringing children into the world? Here is what society says… get that over with so you can really make a difference.
It seems to be then that Paul is arguing that no matter what society around you says, there is a specific call and role on men as well, lead in their households and in the household of God (the church)
This is Paul speaking about the important and special role that women have in every culture and society.
The temptation for some is that because of this the Bible/God and Christians are chauvinistic because the role of women is different.
Let me point out truth from the Bible about how the opposite is actually true.
-Timothy would fully understand the importance of the role of women because of his mother and grandmother brought him up in the faith
-Aquilla and Priscilla- husband and wife team teach Apollos Acts 18
-Phoebe – a servant Romans 16
-The first spectators of the resurrection were women, who in the Jewish culture a testimony of a women would not be regarded.
-Most importantly Jesus’ high regard for women, His ministry to them His empowerment of them, tells us the God of the universe has does not put anyone down due to gender. GOSPEL
There is an attack today as there was in that day on the role of men and women and in essence what happens when we say there is no distinction women actually are in a far worse position.
The Bible should set the culture.
Here is why…men have a responsibility to provide for, guide and lovingly serve their families, like Adam they miss the mark.
Not only do they miss the mark they gladly welcome their wives to take on their role as well. So now you have the wife/mother who can’t in good conscience not fulfill her role as a mother so she takes that role of the husband/father as well.
In essence the man is saying you have your heavy load here take mine too. (you want to bogart off my punishment, more power to ya). I get to do nothing and you get to do everything then I can spend the money on the toys I want.
So in an effort to be liberated women everywhere become enslaved to bear heavy burdens of providing for and raising the family while the husband becomes one of the kids who eventually becomes outshined by in many cases the daughter who becomes the “mommy” when mommy is not home.
Then some would say to this NO NO NO men treat women badly so we have to be independent of men. I would say to that biblically speaking that Jesus does not stand on the side of those men and Christianity and biblical teaching holds women in the highest regard.
This is exactly the reason I teach M4J once a month because we want men to rise up and lovingly serve their wives and children (and if they don’t have them yet, we want them to fully indoctrinated so when they do it goes well)
The first lesson at M4J over a year ago was this Complimentarian view, and guess what.. the feedback I got was from a few different places. “Now I know what I am supposed to do for my family” not …”I am in charge or listen to me” And some women say my husband is a different man.
When men step it up and become the “keepers of the gate” so to speak in the church. It encourages other men to also step it up. Then everyone benefits.
The Bottom line is this. Church leadership in regards to governing authorities is a role that is entrusted to qualified male leadership and Godly women should stand by their side and support the GOSPEL work.
Tonight we are going talk about the role of men and their responsibility and the role of women in regards to the family of God the church.
Vrs 8 on the heals of the preceding verses about prayer we see here Paul telling the men, by design you are to be worshippers of God, praising Him and not fighting with one another.
Vrs 9 In Ephesus these styles may have been associated with what prostitutes were wearing.
Good advice to give any women don’t dress like a prostitute.
Modesty= the idea here is not trying to attract attention to yourself for the way you look.
Vrs 10 what a women should focus in on is her character. This does not mean that more spiritual women are out of style. I think it is wise for men and women alike to keep up with current styles to some degree to be a witness to the world we live in. (Hudson Taylor)
By what Paul teaches later in 1 Timothy we can conclude that some of the false teaching that was going on was aimed at young single women. Don’t get married, dress seductively, don’t listen to men
Vrs 11 “learn” Paul’s charge to them was pay close attention to the Scriptures and the truth they hold for your life. These false teachers are just trying to malign the cause of the GOSPEL and get you off track.
Vrs 12 Teach or have authority Two Resposibilities
Teach – setting doctrine (what the church believes based upon Biblical truth)
Authority – Guarding, upholding and making decisions based on Biblical truth in the local fellowship.
Authority…what is meant here? What we will eventually see (1 Timothy 3) is God’s desire is for Godly men to rise up and take care of the spiritual health and wellbeing of the church.
Ill Police Officer
Elder/overseer has the job, responsibility and authority to keep the church spiritually on track, correct/rebuke people when they are sin, make sure no false teaching is creeping in
Three positions
1. Egalitarian- no distinction
2. Hierarchical –men are in charge
3. Complimentarian- men and women are equal and have different roles that compliment one another. Women can do everything men can do except elder/overseer
-OT Priests were men
-Apostles were men (Jesus could have chosen women and would have if that was intention, Jesus did not bow to the culture)
-Overseers in NT church were men.
Vrs 13 roots it not in culture but in creation. Genesis 2:18, 21-23
One preacher said it like this “The rightful place of a women is by her mans side no out in front or left behind”
Helper God is a helper an ever-present help
Different roles within the trinity.
Does this mean men in general have a degree of authority over women in general? No
This means within a husband and wife’s relationship the man’s responsibility is spiritual support and love of his wife.
Within the church (family of God) Godly men are to spiritually love and support the people in the church.
When this system breaks down…
Vrs 14 “Eve deceived”
Satan takes the Scriptures and uses it against them, like He did to Jesus
Does not mean women are more gullible, it illustrates the result of Adam dropping the ball in spiritual support of his wife and Eve being out on her own without the love and support of her husband. In essence Paul is saying look what happens when we buck the system that God set up.
(I am a little brother, “go try that”)
The result of the system set up by God…
Vrs 15 “Saved in childbearing” The timeless role of women… this shows this passage is trans-cultural, no matter what time or culture you live in the role of women will always contain giving birth.
Is there something that you would deem more important then bringing children into the world? Here is what society says… get that over with so you can really make a difference.
It seems to be then that Paul is arguing that no matter what society around you says, there is a specific call and role on men as well, lead in their households and in the household of God (the church)
This is Paul speaking about the important and special role that women have in every culture and society.
The temptation for some is that because of this the Bible/God and Christians are chauvinistic because the role of women is different.
Let me point out truth from the Bible about how the opposite is actually true.
-Timothy would fully understand the importance of the role of women because of his mother and grandmother brought him up in the faith
-Aquilla and Priscilla- husband and wife team teach Apollos Acts 18
-Phoebe – a servant Romans 16
-The first spectators of the resurrection were women, who in the Jewish culture a testimony of a women would not be regarded.
-Most importantly Jesus’ high regard for women, His ministry to them His empowerment of them, tells us the God of the universe has does not put anyone down due to gender. GOSPEL
There is an attack today as there was in that day on the role of men and women and in essence what happens when we say there is no distinction women actually are in a far worse position.
The Bible should set the culture.
Here is why…men have a responsibility to provide for, guide and lovingly serve their families, like Adam they miss the mark.
Not only do they miss the mark they gladly welcome their wives to take on their role as well. So now you have the wife/mother who can’t in good conscience not fulfill her role as a mother so she takes that role of the husband/father as well.
In essence the man is saying you have your heavy load here take mine too. (you want to bogart off my punishment, more power to ya). I get to do nothing and you get to do everything then I can spend the money on the toys I want.
So in an effort to be liberated women everywhere become enslaved to bear heavy burdens of providing for and raising the family while the husband becomes one of the kids who eventually becomes outshined by in many cases the daughter who becomes the “mommy” when mommy is not home.
Then some would say to this NO NO NO men treat women badly so we have to be independent of men. I would say to that biblically speaking that Jesus does not stand on the side of those men and Christianity and biblical teaching holds women in the highest regard.
This is exactly the reason I teach M4J once a month because we want men to rise up and lovingly serve their wives and children (and if they don’t have them yet, we want them to fully indoctrinated so when they do it goes well)
The first lesson at M4J over a year ago was this Complimentarian view, and guess what.. the feedback I got was from a few different places. “Now I know what I am supposed to do for my family” not …”I am in charge or listen to me” And some women say my husband is a different man.
When men step it up and become the “keepers of the gate” so to speak in the church. It encourages other men to also step it up. Then everyone benefits.
The Bottom line is this. Church leadership in regards to governing authorities is a role that is entrusted to qualified male leadership and Godly women should stand by their side and support the GOSPEL work.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
"Entrusted" ...to mediate
1 Timothy 2:1-7
Vrs 1 Paul’s first line of offence against the false teaching is to urge Timothy to pray. You have been entrusted with a relationship with the Lord and relationships with others so you need to go to the Lord on behalf of them.
He Lists some Synonyms for prayer on behalf of others.
God puts you in relationships to live out an example of Christ. One of the things Christ does on our behalf is mediates (go between to the Father) for us. We can be an example of that mediation by lifting up those who we know in prayer even if they don’t trust in Christ or believe in the power of prayer.
People cannot refute our prayers
Sidlow Baxter “Men my spur our appeals, reject our message, oppose our arguments, despise our persons…but they are helpless against our prayers”
Vrs 2 For people in charge, if the people in charge live peaceful, quiet, Godly, dignified lives there is extreme benefits.
Many times people struggle with those in authority, they criticize, resent or even hate.
Jesus says “pray for your enemies” Why?
William Law says it this way “There is nothing that makes us love a person so much as prayer for them”
Vrs 3 here is the result.
1. “good” for us. If your boss, teacher, parents, civil leaders, church leaders respond to the call of God to follow Him it makes your life “good”
2. “pleasing” to the Lord
Before we move on in the text I want to pause and give you some helpful tips for prayer. Because John Bunyan said “He who runs from God in the morning will scarcely find Him the rest of the day”
Tips
1. Set aside a specific time or activity (Jesus in the morning)
2. Pray right away (if someone asks you to pray)
3. Journal (gives you the ability to see how God has been working in your life)
4. Change things up if you feel stale
5. Pray relationally to keep on track (circle)
Why pray?
1. Response to our salvation
Vrs 4 the Gospel is a free and universal offer to everyone. One of the false teachings or misconceptions that arose is God only desired to save the Jews not the Gentiles.
“knowledge of the truth”
Keys truths to understand and accept in order to be saved…GOSPEL
-I am a sinner
-Jesus is God
-Jesus paid for my sin with His death burial and resurrection
-I need to trust Him for my salvation
Results of that is…
-I am a new creation (born again as John 3 says)
-I can never lose my salvation (john 10 in His hand, Eph 4 sealed with the Spirit)
2. It gives glory to God
Vrs 5 “There is one God” This is why we don’t pray with people of different faiths. They are not talking to God. We do not pray with…Muslims, Buddhists, Scientologists, etc.
“One mediator” You cannot communicate or have a relationship with God unless it is through Christ.
3. He listens (When we pray by the Spirit through Jesus and to the Father)
4. Following Christ (a mediator)
Vrs 6
“Ransom” purchased our release from sin. High cost
As a Christian there is a cost to lifting others up in prayer…it takes time, effort and finding out their situation and life details. Jesus was willing to go the distance for us. (John 17 records His high priestly prayer)
Vrs 1 Paul’s first line of offence against the false teaching is to urge Timothy to pray. You have been entrusted with a relationship with the Lord and relationships with others so you need to go to the Lord on behalf of them.
He Lists some Synonyms for prayer on behalf of others.
God puts you in relationships to live out an example of Christ. One of the things Christ does on our behalf is mediates (go between to the Father) for us. We can be an example of that mediation by lifting up those who we know in prayer even if they don’t trust in Christ or believe in the power of prayer.
People cannot refute our prayers
Sidlow Baxter “Men my spur our appeals, reject our message, oppose our arguments, despise our persons…but they are helpless against our prayers”
Vrs 2 For people in charge, if the people in charge live peaceful, quiet, Godly, dignified lives there is extreme benefits.
Many times people struggle with those in authority, they criticize, resent or even hate.
Jesus says “pray for your enemies” Why?
William Law says it this way “There is nothing that makes us love a person so much as prayer for them”
Vrs 3 here is the result.
1. “good” for us. If your boss, teacher, parents, civil leaders, church leaders respond to the call of God to follow Him it makes your life “good”
2. “pleasing” to the Lord
Before we move on in the text I want to pause and give you some helpful tips for prayer. Because John Bunyan said “He who runs from God in the morning will scarcely find Him the rest of the day”
Tips
1. Set aside a specific time or activity (Jesus in the morning)
2. Pray right away (if someone asks you to pray)
3. Journal (gives you the ability to see how God has been working in your life)
4. Change things up if you feel stale
5. Pray relationally to keep on track (circle)
Why pray?
1. Response to our salvation
Vrs 4 the Gospel is a free and universal offer to everyone. One of the false teachings or misconceptions that arose is God only desired to save the Jews not the Gentiles.
“knowledge of the truth”
Keys truths to understand and accept in order to be saved…GOSPEL
-I am a sinner
-Jesus is God
-Jesus paid for my sin with His death burial and resurrection
-I need to trust Him for my salvation
Results of that is…
-I am a new creation (born again as John 3 says)
-I can never lose my salvation (john 10 in His hand, Eph 4 sealed with the Spirit)
2. It gives glory to God
Vrs 5 “There is one God” This is why we don’t pray with people of different faiths. They are not talking to God. We do not pray with…Muslims, Buddhists, Scientologists, etc.
“One mediator” You cannot communicate or have a relationship with God unless it is through Christ.
3. He listens (When we pray by the Spirit through Jesus and to the Father)
4. Following Christ (a mediator)
Vrs 6
“Ransom” purchased our release from sin. High cost
As a Christian there is a cost to lifting others up in prayer…it takes time, effort and finding out their situation and life details. Jesus was willing to go the distance for us. (John 17 records His high priestly prayer)
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
"Entrusted" Unsinkable Faith
1 Timothy 1:12-20
Verses 12-17 these verses hold the central truths that Timothy and the church are to hold and teach over the false teachers.
Paul here uses himself as an example of what Jesus has done in regards to salvation in his life then moves on from personal application to general…”this is what Jesus can do in your life”
His purpose here is to inspire Timothy with the power of what Jesus can do in a persons life.
Vrs 12 Thanks in response to what God has done in his life as far as salvation and appointing him to service.
Verse 13 “I was shown mercy” Paul acted in ignorance and actually thought he was doing God a favor. Maybe some of you were like that or are like that you just don’t know what Jesus really did for you.
Verse 14 “grace overflowed” (undeserved favor) with faith and love through Christ. We only have faith because God gave it to us and love because God gave it to us.
Verses 15 Jesus saves sinners GOSPEL
Verse 16 Paul is a part of the bigger picture.
That is why a testimony isn’t a laundry list of sins to glorify your past life. then giving Jesus 10 seconds at the end. “I am here to tell you something…its not about me its about Jesus”
We do not boast about continual sin 1 Cor 5
go on a rant on how it is not us who change ourselves it is Jesus
You may even want to say Jesus saved me because He had work for me to do. Phil 1:6 “began” “complete”
Jesus also shows us that He can save anyone no matter the degree of sin.
Verse 17 The right response to evaluating our salvation should be praise of Jesus
What about your story? The great thing about sharing it with people is they can’t argue with it. (no you didn’t feel that way)
Verses 18 Timothy’s call to special service assisting Paul and the general service of Gospel ministry is in view here. In 1 Tim 4 we will talk more about this issue but for now we are going to focus in on the fact that Timothy was called to ministry and Paul now calls it “warfare”
‘
Verses 19 Active not passive, the Christian life is a life of actively responding to the Word God has done in your life.
It is God’s work and He hold you and you cannot lose it.
Vrs 20
“Handed over to Satan” Put out of the fellowship Church discipline.
Restorative (for the person) (always looking to bring back and restore, not punish or make to pay for.
Protective (for the fellowship)-churches holiness, stop the spread of sin. If the sin is not dealt with it spreads “a little leaven”
Responsive (for His Glory)HE is right, people normally judge Jesus by His people
He did not save you so you can make a mess “shipwreck”
How to shipwreck your faith
-Let your past hold you back
-Desire control of everything, “I am doing the work” “everything should be run through me” (pride goes before the fall)
-Criticize or have a problem with everyone and everything. Watch out for these people they start sentences with “I love so and so but…” This comes especially after “so and so” did something great and is receiving praise for. Also these people are always whispering and always have drama or a problem that need to handled ASAP and required your undivided attention. (Jesus said to Peter. “get behind me Satan”)
-Don’t pray (Talk more about prayer next week)
-Don’t serve (what can the church do for me not what can I do for the church)
-Don’t get into the Word ( I know a Pastor who said he does not get his people deep into the Word because the people he preaches to have not mastered what they already know, that’s bad preaching)
-Don’t get into Community Groups (we have the groups so you can apply Scripture together)
-Let false teaching influence you (Talk about Hymenaeus 2 Tim 2:17-19 swerved from the truth and was teaching the resurrection of the dead already happened, bad doctrine. and Alexander 2 Tim 4:4 “did me great harm)
-Be unrepentant…you are not wrong in fact you are never wrong (Email from LS I have been wrong for 3 years)
-Don’t give praise and thanks to God (complain about what is wrong)
You know what I have bee thankful to the Lord for in regards to our church and in specific what he has done through this 5pm service…
-People coming to know Jesus
-People getting baptized
-People becoming members
-People giving finances to the Lord (up to a little over 1/3 of what the church takes in)
-People willing to serve
-People growing in their faith.
Three practical ideas
1. Alone spend time thanking God for what He done
2. With others
3. As a Church- So we give thanks and praise to Jesus and we ask Him to keep working that way. We are going to give thanks and praise Jesus.
Verses 12-17 these verses hold the central truths that Timothy and the church are to hold and teach over the false teachers.
Paul here uses himself as an example of what Jesus has done in regards to salvation in his life then moves on from personal application to general…”this is what Jesus can do in your life”
His purpose here is to inspire Timothy with the power of what Jesus can do in a persons life.
Vrs 12 Thanks in response to what God has done in his life as far as salvation and appointing him to service.
Verse 13 “I was shown mercy” Paul acted in ignorance and actually thought he was doing God a favor. Maybe some of you were like that or are like that you just don’t know what Jesus really did for you.
Verse 14 “grace overflowed” (undeserved favor) with faith and love through Christ. We only have faith because God gave it to us and love because God gave it to us.
Verses 15 Jesus saves sinners GOSPEL
Verse 16 Paul is a part of the bigger picture.
That is why a testimony isn’t a laundry list of sins to glorify your past life. then giving Jesus 10 seconds at the end. “I am here to tell you something…its not about me its about Jesus”
We do not boast about continual sin 1 Cor 5
go on a rant on how it is not us who change ourselves it is Jesus
You may even want to say Jesus saved me because He had work for me to do. Phil 1:6 “began” “complete”
Jesus also shows us that He can save anyone no matter the degree of sin.
Verse 17 The right response to evaluating our salvation should be praise of Jesus
What about your story? The great thing about sharing it with people is they can’t argue with it. (no you didn’t feel that way)
Verses 18 Timothy’s call to special service assisting Paul and the general service of Gospel ministry is in view here. In 1 Tim 4 we will talk more about this issue but for now we are going to focus in on the fact that Timothy was called to ministry and Paul now calls it “warfare”
‘
Verses 19 Active not passive, the Christian life is a life of actively responding to the Word God has done in your life.
It is God’s work and He hold you and you cannot lose it.
Vrs 20
“Handed over to Satan” Put out of the fellowship Church discipline.
Restorative (for the person) (always looking to bring back and restore, not punish or make to pay for.
Protective (for the fellowship)-churches holiness, stop the spread of sin. If the sin is not dealt with it spreads “a little leaven”
Responsive (for His Glory)HE is right, people normally judge Jesus by His people
He did not save you so you can make a mess “shipwreck”
How to shipwreck your faith
-Let your past hold you back
-Desire control of everything, “I am doing the work” “everything should be run through me” (pride goes before the fall)
-Criticize or have a problem with everyone and everything. Watch out for these people they start sentences with “I love so and so but…” This comes especially after “so and so” did something great and is receiving praise for. Also these people are always whispering and always have drama or a problem that need to handled ASAP and required your undivided attention. (Jesus said to Peter. “get behind me Satan”)
-Don’t pray (Talk more about prayer next week)
-Don’t serve (what can the church do for me not what can I do for the church)
-Don’t get into the Word ( I know a Pastor who said he does not get his people deep into the Word because the people he preaches to have not mastered what they already know, that’s bad preaching)
-Don’t get into Community Groups (we have the groups so you can apply Scripture together)
-Let false teaching influence you (Talk about Hymenaeus 2 Tim 2:17-19 swerved from the truth and was teaching the resurrection of the dead already happened, bad doctrine. and Alexander 2 Tim 4:4 “did me great harm)
-Be unrepentant…you are not wrong in fact you are never wrong (Email from LS I have been wrong for 3 years)
-Don’t give praise and thanks to God (complain about what is wrong)
You know what I have bee thankful to the Lord for in regards to our church and in specific what he has done through this 5pm service…
-People coming to know Jesus
-People getting baptized
-People becoming members
-People giving finances to the Lord (up to a little over 1/3 of what the church takes in)
-People willing to serve
-People growing in their faith.
Three practical ideas
1. Alone spend time thanking God for what He done
2. With others
3. As a Church- So we give thanks and praise to Jesus and we ask Him to keep working that way. We are going to give thanks and praise Jesus.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
"Entrusted" Truth or Consequence
Vrs 3 Paul was urging Timothy to stay there because there were issues that needed to be taken care of.
The teaching going on needs to stay in line with the Bible not heterodoxy (false doctrine) It was vastly different back then…if someone had a teaching their forum was local gathering places, the society was void of all the media and technology that we have. So they would use public gatherings and also try to convince others to follow their teachings obviously church meetings would be a great venue if you had a teaching.
Vrs 4 The teaching is not described but we know that it was void of truth
The Result(or consequence) = aimlessness and promote speculations.
The goal of teaching is not to cause confusion or argument but to spur people onto love.
Sometimes people will do this in a Bible study or community group…bring up topics to argue.
Vrs 5 The result or the aim of our faith as contrary to placing faith in things that do not produce or will leave us speculating.
Biblical teaching Seeks to form followers of Jesus who love God and love others. Mark 12:28-31
The aim of
-Orthodoxy (right teaching)
-Orthopraxy (right living) is love
We receive love from God and as a Christian it is rooted in the Holy Spirit. “Issues from” Pure heart, good conscience and sincere faith
Christian tolerance is based in verse 5 how we treat the unbeliever and the false teacher.
-Its it loving to stand by silent when people are believing something that is detrimental to their eternal life?
(FIF my evil plan to save the world)
-Is our heart really pure if we don’t have a genuine concern for what people put their trust in?
-Can my conscience be clear knowing that there are people around me that I have not prayed for, helped meet their needs or spoken to for the sake of the Gospel?
-How sincere can our faith be if we think there is more then one way to God then through Christ, and we allow false teaching to cloud the air?
Many people think that Christians are judgmental and close minded and I am not saying that there are not judgmental and close minded Christians but the aim of following Christ is to spread His love to others. Because it is the love you received. (He loved us first)
Vrs 6 when we stray from this truth it confuses us and gets us off focus.
(Hetrodoxy) False Teaching leads to tolerance in an unhealthy way. Because it says anything goes and everything is ok.
When people are teaching or communicating false teachings it is all about them, what they figured out, what they want to promote or how they themselves want to be promoted and their standard is themselves and what they think is right. And God is saying “WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?”
But the Christian life is different its all about promoting Jesus. Not our own agenda, not ourselves.
Why? Because it is about life and having a purpose and doing something bigger because it is not you its Jesus.
What is the motivation here?
Vrs 7-“desiring” the idea carried here is wanting to be something more then God has called you to be or wanting to puff yourself up and lack humility. “They make confident assertions”
For the Christian…
If you spend too much time wanting to be something you are not… you are ignoring what you are supposed to be.
How do you keep your focus?
-realize where you are. (where you are is dictated by God Acts 17)
-realize what you need to do while you are there.
-realize God’s timing
Where is false teaching coming from in our generation?
This is the problem in our society… The media elevates and indoctrinates people with their beliefs and are not necessarily qualified to do so.
You must understand whatever an artist, author or actor believe they will inadvertently or overtly promote through their artistic outlets.
How do we know this? Because Christians do the same thing for the cause of Christ. CS LEWIS, JRR TOLKEN, Bands Switchfoot.
Every book you read, Show you watch, movie, song, it is all preaching or teaching you something.
What is the Christian response…should we be scared of culture and the information highway we live in? NO
-Immoral-stay away if possible, if not possible opportunity to expose why it is immoral.
-Appears neutral at first glance- test against the Word and then use it as springboard for conversation as a teaching opportunity for yourself and those around you.
-Neutral- use it for God’s glory
Verses 8-10 The teachers of Paul and Timothy’s day wanted to use the law and teach it for their own benefit. and they did not even realize the purpose of it. Like people in our day want to teach and talk about purpose and philosophy of life and they don’t even know what it is.
So what then is the purpose of the law? The simple answer is to expose sin and what Paul does here is laundry list some examples of the Dec-a-logue (10 Commandments)
The Law prepares the sinner for a Savior by crushing them under the weight of their sin. GOSPEL
But then it brings this whole passage together because the call of and the “aim” as verse 5 states is love and when we evaluate the 10 commandments we see the first 4 have to do with loving God and the last 6 have to do with loving others. Mark 12 So the Christian lives by the law.
Vrs 11 So right teaching is GOSPEL centered, that is why we can call this church.
The Bottom line…
For the unbeliever…If you don’t trust the Truth (Jesus) the Consequence is too much for you to bear, cause it is paying for your own sin.
For the believer…You have been “entrusted” with the Truth and if you don’t use it and promote it you will also suffer the consequences of an unfruitful life.
The teaching going on needs to stay in line with the Bible not heterodoxy (false doctrine) It was vastly different back then…if someone had a teaching their forum was local gathering places, the society was void of all the media and technology that we have. So they would use public gatherings and also try to convince others to follow their teachings obviously church meetings would be a great venue if you had a teaching.
Vrs 4 The teaching is not described but we know that it was void of truth
The Result(or consequence) = aimlessness and promote speculations.
The goal of teaching is not to cause confusion or argument but to spur people onto love.
Sometimes people will do this in a Bible study or community group…bring up topics to argue.
Vrs 5 The result or the aim of our faith as contrary to placing faith in things that do not produce or will leave us speculating.
Biblical teaching Seeks to form followers of Jesus who love God and love others. Mark 12:28-31
The aim of
-Orthodoxy (right teaching)
-Orthopraxy (right living) is love
We receive love from God and as a Christian it is rooted in the Holy Spirit. “Issues from” Pure heart, good conscience and sincere faith
Christian tolerance is based in verse 5 how we treat the unbeliever and the false teacher.
-Its it loving to stand by silent when people are believing something that is detrimental to their eternal life?
(FIF my evil plan to save the world)
-Is our heart really pure if we don’t have a genuine concern for what people put their trust in?
-Can my conscience be clear knowing that there are people around me that I have not prayed for, helped meet their needs or spoken to for the sake of the Gospel?
-How sincere can our faith be if we think there is more then one way to God then through Christ, and we allow false teaching to cloud the air?
Many people think that Christians are judgmental and close minded and I am not saying that there are not judgmental and close minded Christians but the aim of following Christ is to spread His love to others. Because it is the love you received. (He loved us first)
Vrs 6 when we stray from this truth it confuses us and gets us off focus.
(Hetrodoxy) False Teaching leads to tolerance in an unhealthy way. Because it says anything goes and everything is ok.
When people are teaching or communicating false teachings it is all about them, what they figured out, what they want to promote or how they themselves want to be promoted and their standard is themselves and what they think is right. And God is saying “WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?”
But the Christian life is different its all about promoting Jesus. Not our own agenda, not ourselves.
Why? Because it is about life and having a purpose and doing something bigger because it is not you its Jesus.
What is the motivation here?
Vrs 7-“desiring” the idea carried here is wanting to be something more then God has called you to be or wanting to puff yourself up and lack humility. “They make confident assertions”
For the Christian…
If you spend too much time wanting to be something you are not… you are ignoring what you are supposed to be.
How do you keep your focus?
-realize where you are. (where you are is dictated by God Acts 17)
-realize what you need to do while you are there.
-realize God’s timing
Where is false teaching coming from in our generation?
This is the problem in our society… The media elevates and indoctrinates people with their beliefs and are not necessarily qualified to do so.
You must understand whatever an artist, author or actor believe they will inadvertently or overtly promote through their artistic outlets.
How do we know this? Because Christians do the same thing for the cause of Christ. CS LEWIS, JRR TOLKEN, Bands Switchfoot.
Every book you read, Show you watch, movie, song, it is all preaching or teaching you something.
What is the Christian response…should we be scared of culture and the information highway we live in? NO
-Immoral-stay away if possible, if not possible opportunity to expose why it is immoral.
-Appears neutral at first glance- test against the Word and then use it as springboard for conversation as a teaching opportunity for yourself and those around you.
-Neutral- use it for God’s glory
Verses 8-10 The teachers of Paul and Timothy’s day wanted to use the law and teach it for their own benefit. and they did not even realize the purpose of it. Like people in our day want to teach and talk about purpose and philosophy of life and they don’t even know what it is.
So what then is the purpose of the law? The simple answer is to expose sin and what Paul does here is laundry list some examples of the Dec-a-logue (10 Commandments)
The Law prepares the sinner for a Savior by crushing them under the weight of their sin. GOSPEL
But then it brings this whole passage together because the call of and the “aim” as verse 5 states is love and when we evaluate the 10 commandments we see the first 4 have to do with loving God and the last 6 have to do with loving others. Mark 12 So the Christian lives by the law.
Vrs 11 So right teaching is GOSPEL centered, that is why we can call this church.
The Bottom line…
For the unbeliever…If you don’t trust the Truth (Jesus) the Consequence is too much for you to bear, cause it is paying for your own sin.
For the believer…You have been “entrusted” with the Truth and if you don’t use it and promote it you will also suffer the consequences of an unfruitful life.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
"Entrusted" Multiplicity
1 Tim 1:1-2
Intro material Written by Paul in roughly 65AD between Paul’s imprisonments to Timothy who was in Ephesus (ef-a-sus)
Timothy was not actually one of the pastors of a church but was Paul's liaison who implemented Paul's instructions to the churches. This letter is in the category of “Pastoral Epistles”
We understand something very important about Paul and Timothy’s relationship…Paul’s intent was to multiply his life into Timothy
This is a biblical way of living from the beginning
-Genesis 1:28 “Be fruitful and multiply”
-Matthew 28:19 “Go and make disciples”
-Concept of fruit “Reap what you sow”
Matthew 10:24-26 not above those who are above you. This is a sobering thought. Remember what Whitefield said during the great awakening when asked why the churches are dead…”because they have dead men preaching”
Some peoples response to this is….
This is why I do not want anyone under me, I can’t live up to the standard I think I should live up to.
But know this…You are multiplying whether you want to or not. Others are watching and learning from you, your habits will be picked up by those who are close to you.
So if we are influencing others we should ask ourselves some questions…
-Who am I building into?
-What do I believe? (Orthodoxy, right teaching)
-What is my life like? (Orthopraxy, right action)
-What do I not want to multiply?
-What do I want to multiply?
These questions get people thinking about their faith, parents with young children coming to church because they want to be able to pass something down.
So much of what we will see in this letter is what Paul wants to pass to Timothy.
1 Timothy 1:1 Paul
Facts about Paul
-single…the gift no one wants
-a word to the single people enjoy the freedom of not having family responsibilities, serve the Lord in ways that you wont be able to later in life if the Lord brings you spouse and children.
-a word to the married people, take your responsibility and enjoy the fruit of it.
Enjoy the stage of life that God has placed you in. (Proverbs tells us a fool looks back at the former days)
-A former enemy of Jesus and His followers
-A victim of harsh persecution
-A discouraged pastor
-A Faithful servant
-Realized his call to the body “I planted”
Notice verse 1 is Paul’s identity is in Jesus and the call of Jesus. Where do you find your identity?
Paul could have said…a single guy, a former blasphemer, hard working servant, a guy who faced many troubles.
For you it may be a…fill in the blank.
But what Paul does here is state his position as it relates to Jesus…so what are you?
(List)-forgiven, adopted, bought with His blood, a child of God, a co-heir with Christ, a citizen of heaven, sealed with the Spirit till the day of redemption, born again, saved, passed from death to life, more then a conqueror, strong when you are weak, loved, chosen and redeemed
In order to multiply yourself for the cause of Christ you have to know your identity.
Vrs 2a
Facts about Timothy
-A man in his early to mid 30’s
-Most likely converted under Paul’s ministry Acts 16:1-3, 1 Cor 4:15-17 “True child in faith”
-In regards to his upbringing he had a Mom Eunice and Grandma Lois that were believers and taught him the truths of the faith. But his Father was Greek. 2 tim 1:13-14, 2:2 , 3:14
-Faithful worker and consistent helper to Paul and one of his most trustworthy associates
-Good reputation
-His personality was timid and in need of encouragement. (a boy needs his dad)
You have to do what is right regardless of the fact that people will oppose it. If it is right its right.
Most Christians take the path of least resistance, they will not stand against wrong or stand for what is right. And it is more pathetic when it is leaders who will not stand up for what is right.
They see a Jesus who is weak and a door mat and they don’t see Jesus as a strong and standing up for righteousness.
The Good Shepard sometimes had to use the other end of His staff to protect the flock. (David the Shepard boy with a bear and a lion, he did not try to calm them down and reason with them, some false teachers and people with evil intent cannot and will not be reasoned with)
In order to multiply yourself for the cause of Christ you have to find someone who is teachable. Timothy was that for Paul
Vrs 2b Here is what we should multiply.
Grace- God’s ongoing forgiveness and enabling.
Mercy- God’s sympathy and concern
Peace- God’s tranquility and stability.
Which are all encompassed in the GOSPEL
Intro material Written by Paul in roughly 65AD between Paul’s imprisonments to Timothy who was in Ephesus (ef-a-sus)
Timothy was not actually one of the pastors of a church but was Paul's liaison who implemented Paul's instructions to the churches. This letter is in the category of “Pastoral Epistles”
We understand something very important about Paul and Timothy’s relationship…Paul’s intent was to multiply his life into Timothy
This is a biblical way of living from the beginning
-Genesis 1:28 “Be fruitful and multiply”
-Matthew 28:19 “Go and make disciples”
-Concept of fruit “Reap what you sow”
Matthew 10:24-26 not above those who are above you. This is a sobering thought. Remember what Whitefield said during the great awakening when asked why the churches are dead…”because they have dead men preaching”
Some peoples response to this is….
This is why I do not want anyone under me, I can’t live up to the standard I think I should live up to.
But know this…You are multiplying whether you want to or not. Others are watching and learning from you, your habits will be picked up by those who are close to you.
So if we are influencing others we should ask ourselves some questions…
-Who am I building into?
-What do I believe? (Orthodoxy, right teaching)
-What is my life like? (Orthopraxy, right action)
-What do I not want to multiply?
-What do I want to multiply?
These questions get people thinking about their faith, parents with young children coming to church because they want to be able to pass something down.
So much of what we will see in this letter is what Paul wants to pass to Timothy.
1 Timothy 1:1 Paul
Facts about Paul
-single…the gift no one wants
-a word to the single people enjoy the freedom of not having family responsibilities, serve the Lord in ways that you wont be able to later in life if the Lord brings you spouse and children.
-a word to the married people, take your responsibility and enjoy the fruit of it.
Enjoy the stage of life that God has placed you in. (Proverbs tells us a fool looks back at the former days)
-A former enemy of Jesus and His followers
-A victim of harsh persecution
-A discouraged pastor
-A Faithful servant
-Realized his call to the body “I planted”
Notice verse 1 is Paul’s identity is in Jesus and the call of Jesus. Where do you find your identity?
Paul could have said…a single guy, a former blasphemer, hard working servant, a guy who faced many troubles.
For you it may be a…fill in the blank.
But what Paul does here is state his position as it relates to Jesus…so what are you?
(List)-forgiven, adopted, bought with His blood, a child of God, a co-heir with Christ, a citizen of heaven, sealed with the Spirit till the day of redemption, born again, saved, passed from death to life, more then a conqueror, strong when you are weak, loved, chosen and redeemed
In order to multiply yourself for the cause of Christ you have to know your identity.
Vrs 2a
Facts about Timothy
-A man in his early to mid 30’s
-Most likely converted under Paul’s ministry Acts 16:1-3, 1 Cor 4:15-17 “True child in faith”
-In regards to his upbringing he had a Mom Eunice and Grandma Lois that were believers and taught him the truths of the faith. But his Father was Greek. 2 tim 1:13-14, 2:2 , 3:14
-Faithful worker and consistent helper to Paul and one of his most trustworthy associates
-Good reputation
-His personality was timid and in need of encouragement. (a boy needs his dad)
You have to do what is right regardless of the fact that people will oppose it. If it is right its right.
Most Christians take the path of least resistance, they will not stand against wrong or stand for what is right. And it is more pathetic when it is leaders who will not stand up for what is right.
They see a Jesus who is weak and a door mat and they don’t see Jesus as a strong and standing up for righteousness.
The Good Shepard sometimes had to use the other end of His staff to protect the flock. (David the Shepard boy with a bear and a lion, he did not try to calm them down and reason with them, some false teachers and people with evil intent cannot and will not be reasoned with)
In order to multiply yourself for the cause of Christ you have to find someone who is teachable. Timothy was that for Paul
Vrs 2b Here is what we should multiply.
Grace- God’s ongoing forgiveness and enabling.
Mercy- God’s sympathy and concern
Peace- God’s tranquility and stability.
Which are all encompassed in the GOSPEL
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Difficulties Week 7
Selfishness
Question for Community Groups
1. In what areas do you struggle with being selfish?
2. In what areas have you been taught to be selfless, by who and in what situation?
3. What deeper issues do you deal with?
4. What are some consequences of selfishness have you seen in your life?
5. What application points do you need to put into practice?
Greatest thought is self preservation, no one has to teach you to meet your own needs you just do.
1. Examples of Selfishness-
-Luke 10:29-32 priest and Levite, (Time) Luke 12 (Money Stuff)
-Gen 4:9 Cain (I am not concerned about him) (Lack of Concern)
-1 Tim 5:6 this passage helps us to realize that although people may seem to have a full life because they have so much…they are actually living a life of death. (Emotions)
Things we are selfish with...stuff, money, time and emotions(this one is difficult because we tend to manipulate others with our emotions to get our emotional needs met.
Dr. Robert Anthony “The one who loves the least controls the relationship”
2. The deeper issues-
Romans 2:8 maybe an unbeliever,
Greed (selfishness) is the logical result of the belief that there is no life after death. We grab what we can while we can however we can and then hold on to it hard. Sir Fred Catherwood
2 Tim 3:2 sign of the times. we will increasingly see that this will only get worse, they will love self, worship self and only care about themselves. Think about this…technology has only made us more selfish, because we want things right away and can’t wait. It makes us selfish.
(when is the last time you saw an advertisement that appealed to the fact that you can benefit others?) The slogans appeal to you
James 3:14-16 tapping into the wrong wisdom, from the world rather then God. Christians fall prey to this all the time. The big lie going today is that it is all about you. Whatever you would like to do, however you would like to live, if you are sincere in your beliefs whatever they are it is fine. It also affects Christian theology that some are teaching that your pleasure and happiness is God’s ultimate concern
This philosophy is called Hedonism is a school which argues that pleasure is the only intrinsic good.
3. Consequences of Selfishness
Matt 23:25 woe, exclamation of grief, (you are on the wrong path and it will leave you wanting) this is what Jesus says
They were Hedonists
James 5:1-6 things will eventually fall apart
In its January 25, l988 issue, TIME provided an insight on selfishness and its corollary, sharing. Speaking about the introduction of the videocassette recorder, the article said, "The company had made a crucial mistake. While at first Sony kept its Beta technology mostly to itself, JVC, the Japanese inventor of the VHS (format), shared its secret with a raft of other firms. As a result, the market was overwhelmed by the sheer volume of the VHS machines being produced."
This drastically undercut Sony's market share. The first year, Sony lost 40 percent of the market, and by 1987 it controlled only 10 percent. So now Sony has jumped on the VHS bandwagon. While it still continues to make Beta-format VCRs [interestingly a higher quality technology] Sony's switch to VHS, according to TIME, will likely send Beta machines to "the consumer-electronics graveyard." Even in a cut-throat business, sharing has its rewards.
-Damages the Body The work of the “body” cannot and will not be done if people only think of themselves. 1 Cor. 12:25-26
-Wastes our Time and Focus Luke 12:16-21 Tear down and build new, life may be demanded…when we are selfish with our possessions it is pointless, due to the fact that You do not last on this earth.
When we are selfish it hinders us being able to speak the truth to others. Because we are always thinking of ourselves.
Blaise Pascal “Those who do not hate their own selfishness and regard themselves as more important then the rest of the world are blind and the truth lies elsewhere”
GOSPEL
4. The ideal-The biblical call is selflessness,
-Be #2 Phil 2:3-8 Put others first as Christ put you first.
This is a choice because no one has to teach you to think about yourself but living a selfless life is Jesus’ desire for each one of us.
- We must decrease- John the Baptist John 3:29-30
“The selfishness must be discovered and understood before it can be removed. It is powerless to remove itself, neither will it pass away of itself. Darkness ceases only when light is introduced; so ignorance can only be dispersed by Knowledge; selfishness by Love.” James Allen
When we start to love Jesus more then we love ourselves we will live a less self centered life and more of a Christ centered and others benefiting life at that point we decrease.
-Focus on Jesus- Ps 119:36 “testimonies” what the Lord has done. When we focus in on Jesus and who He is and that what He has done we begin to realize that He is the one who should get the glory and focus and those blessing should flow out and we should benefit others. We then understand we have nothing to be selfish about because it is all from Him and belongs to Him
Question for Community Groups
1. In what areas do you struggle with being selfish?
2. In what areas have you been taught to be selfless, by who and in what situation?
3. What deeper issues do you deal with?
4. What are some consequences of selfishness have you seen in your life?
5. What application points do you need to put into practice?
Greatest thought is self preservation, no one has to teach you to meet your own needs you just do.
1. Examples of Selfishness-
-Luke 10:29-32 priest and Levite, (Time) Luke 12 (Money Stuff)
-Gen 4:9 Cain (I am not concerned about him) (Lack of Concern)
-1 Tim 5:6 this passage helps us to realize that although people may seem to have a full life because they have so much…they are actually living a life of death. (Emotions)
Things we are selfish with...stuff, money, time and emotions(this one is difficult because we tend to manipulate others with our emotions to get our emotional needs met.
Dr. Robert Anthony “The one who loves the least controls the relationship”
2. The deeper issues-
Romans 2:8 maybe an unbeliever,
Greed (selfishness) is the logical result of the belief that there is no life after death. We grab what we can while we can however we can and then hold on to it hard. Sir Fred Catherwood
2 Tim 3:2 sign of the times. we will increasingly see that this will only get worse, they will love self, worship self and only care about themselves. Think about this…technology has only made us more selfish, because we want things right away and can’t wait. It makes us selfish.
(when is the last time you saw an advertisement that appealed to the fact that you can benefit others?) The slogans appeal to you
James 3:14-16 tapping into the wrong wisdom, from the world rather then God. Christians fall prey to this all the time. The big lie going today is that it is all about you. Whatever you would like to do, however you would like to live, if you are sincere in your beliefs whatever they are it is fine. It also affects Christian theology that some are teaching that your pleasure and happiness is God’s ultimate concern
This philosophy is called Hedonism is a school which argues that pleasure is the only intrinsic good.
3. Consequences of Selfishness
Matt 23:25 woe, exclamation of grief, (you are on the wrong path and it will leave you wanting) this is what Jesus says
They were Hedonists
James 5:1-6 things will eventually fall apart
In its January 25, l988 issue, TIME provided an insight on selfishness and its corollary, sharing. Speaking about the introduction of the videocassette recorder, the article said, "The company had made a crucial mistake. While at first Sony kept its Beta technology mostly to itself, JVC, the Japanese inventor of the VHS (format), shared its secret with a raft of other firms. As a result, the market was overwhelmed by the sheer volume of the VHS machines being produced."
This drastically undercut Sony's market share. The first year, Sony lost 40 percent of the market, and by 1987 it controlled only 10 percent. So now Sony has jumped on the VHS bandwagon. While it still continues to make Beta-format VCRs [interestingly a higher quality technology] Sony's switch to VHS, according to TIME, will likely send Beta machines to "the consumer-electronics graveyard." Even in a cut-throat business, sharing has its rewards.
-Damages the Body The work of the “body” cannot and will not be done if people only think of themselves. 1 Cor. 12:25-26
-Wastes our Time and Focus Luke 12:16-21 Tear down and build new, life may be demanded…when we are selfish with our possessions it is pointless, due to the fact that You do not last on this earth.
When we are selfish it hinders us being able to speak the truth to others. Because we are always thinking of ourselves.
Blaise Pascal “Those who do not hate their own selfishness and regard themselves as more important then the rest of the world are blind and the truth lies elsewhere”
GOSPEL
4. The ideal-The biblical call is selflessness,
-Be #2 Phil 2:3-8 Put others first as Christ put you first.
This is a choice because no one has to teach you to think about yourself but living a selfless life is Jesus’ desire for each one of us.
- We must decrease- John the Baptist John 3:29-30
“The selfishness must be discovered and understood before it can be removed. It is powerless to remove itself, neither will it pass away of itself. Darkness ceases only when light is introduced; so ignorance can only be dispersed by Knowledge; selfishness by Love.” James Allen
When we start to love Jesus more then we love ourselves we will live a less self centered life and more of a Christ centered and others benefiting life at that point we decrease.
-Focus on Jesus- Ps 119:36 “testimonies” what the Lord has done. When we focus in on Jesus and who He is and that what He has done we begin to realize that He is the one who should get the glory and focus and those blessing should flow out and we should benefit others. We then understand we have nothing to be selfish about because it is all from Him and belongs to Him
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Difficulties Week 6
6 Worry & Anxiety “I have a problem with worrying, what do I do?”
Two Types of worry
1. Worry as a benefit…we call it concern. “I am concerned that I may fail a test” the response is study. This is beneficial when you are dealing with a problem that needs and has solutions
2. Worry as a detriment… about things that we cannot control, happened already or may never happen. This is worry about things that have no solution or the solution is long gone.
“Good theology gets you through tough times”
Overcoming Worry
What causes worry?
-Irrational/rational fears: Mark Twain I am an old man and have known great many troubles; but most of them never happened.
Pliny the Younger: Grief has limit, whereas apprehension has none. For we grieve only for what we know happened, but we fear all that possibly may happen.
Heb 13:6 “The Lord is my helper, I will not fear, what can man do to me?”
-Wanting control Matthew 10:19, when we want to control a situation we often ignore the situation we are in.
-Lack of Faith: Romans 14:23 Worry is a lack of faith and it is sin
Don’t confuse people who don’t worry with people who don’t care and don’t lie to your self and say your worry is because you care so much.
-Wrong Focus: Luke 10:41 Martha (service for the wrong reason, worried about getting credit) also note Luke 12:26
-Won’t accept forgiveness Psalm 38:18 worrying about sin causes guilt
What worry does to you…
Wastes your time Matthew 6:25-34
Weighs you down Proverbs 12:25
Physically affects Proverbs 14:30 & 17:22
Martin Luther: Heavy thoughts bring on physical maladies; when the soul is oppressed so in the body.
What to do… SPEW
-Surrender
Hands up…I give up
I can treat myself, my body, my loved ones and God like this.
Mary Crowley: Every evening I turn all my worries to God. He is going to be up all night anyway.
Swindoll “If you can’t handle it why are trying to handle it, if you can’t change it why are you worrying about it”?
1 Peter 5:7
Maybe you have not surrendered your life to Jesus. GOSPEL
-Prayer Phil 4:6
If you are consumed by worries use that time to talk to Jesus
-Educate
The more Bible you know the more you will be equipped not to worry.
Example
-2012, I don’t worry cause I know God’s plan taught in the Word
-When people are opposing me I know they hated Jesus first
-When I am trying to live a life after God I know I will have trouble
-When things are going wrong I know that Jesus works it out for His good which will ultimately be for my own good. Rom 8:28
Important verses to keep you free from worry
Jer 17:7-8, Psalm 55:22, Isaiah 26:3-4
-Worship
Daniel 6
Mary she had some serious things to worry about but she worshipped God for who he is. Rather then her situation. 1:46-49 replace worry with worship
Evidences of God’s Grace: (not power of positive thinking) but actually the reality of what God has done in and around your life.
Two Types of worry
1. Worry as a benefit…we call it concern. “I am concerned that I may fail a test” the response is study. This is beneficial when you are dealing with a problem that needs and has solutions
2. Worry as a detriment… about things that we cannot control, happened already or may never happen. This is worry about things that have no solution or the solution is long gone.
“Good theology gets you through tough times”
Overcoming Worry
What causes worry?
-Irrational/rational fears: Mark Twain I am an old man and have known great many troubles; but most of them never happened.
Pliny the Younger: Grief has limit, whereas apprehension has none. For we grieve only for what we know happened, but we fear all that possibly may happen.
Heb 13:6 “The Lord is my helper, I will not fear, what can man do to me?”
-Wanting control Matthew 10:19, when we want to control a situation we often ignore the situation we are in.
-Lack of Faith: Romans 14:23 Worry is a lack of faith and it is sin
Don’t confuse people who don’t worry with people who don’t care and don’t lie to your self and say your worry is because you care so much.
-Wrong Focus: Luke 10:41 Martha (service for the wrong reason, worried about getting credit) also note Luke 12:26
-Won’t accept forgiveness Psalm 38:18 worrying about sin causes guilt
What worry does to you…
Wastes your time Matthew 6:25-34
Weighs you down Proverbs 12:25
Physically affects Proverbs 14:30 & 17:22
Martin Luther: Heavy thoughts bring on physical maladies; when the soul is oppressed so in the body.
What to do… SPEW
-Surrender
Hands up…I give up
I can treat myself, my body, my loved ones and God like this.
Mary Crowley: Every evening I turn all my worries to God. He is going to be up all night anyway.
Swindoll “If you can’t handle it why are trying to handle it, if you can’t change it why are you worrying about it”?
1 Peter 5:7
Maybe you have not surrendered your life to Jesus. GOSPEL
-Prayer Phil 4:6
If you are consumed by worries use that time to talk to Jesus
-Educate
The more Bible you know the more you will be equipped not to worry.
Example
-2012, I don’t worry cause I know God’s plan taught in the Word
-When people are opposing me I know they hated Jesus first
-When I am trying to live a life after God I know I will have trouble
-When things are going wrong I know that Jesus works it out for His good which will ultimately be for my own good. Rom 8:28
Important verses to keep you free from worry
Jer 17:7-8, Psalm 55:22, Isaiah 26:3-4
-Worship
Daniel 6
Mary she had some serious things to worry about but she worshipped God for who he is. Rather then her situation. 1:46-49 replace worry with worship
Evidences of God’s Grace: (not power of positive thinking) but actually the reality of what God has done in and around your life.
Monday, August 9, 2010
Difficulties Week 5
What about psychics and the New Age movement?
1 Sam 28
Vrs 3-6 Samuel dies and Saul put out all the spiritists and mediums.
Vrs 5 Saul was afraid of the Philistines army and Vrs 6 went to the Lord
Saul at this point when he went to the Lord it was faintly and with a cold heart, he was unstable and if he did not hear from the Lord was willing to go to the devil.
Saul’s track record was pretty bad, Hated and persecuted Samuel and David, killed the Lord’s high priests, was he surprised the Lord did not answer him?
At this point if Saul was not sincere in pursuing the Lord why would he put out all the mediums? Some suggest because Saul had a (1 Samuel 16:14) Troubling spirit. Many people become zealous against things they struggle with. A person who abuses alcohol becomes a prohibitionist, they feel that alcohol hurt them so no one should have it. They don’t have a concern for the glory of God as much as a blame and hatred to sin.
Vrs 7-10 Saul goes to a medium. This is directly against Deut 18:9-14
Vrs 11 Saul asks for Samuel
Vrs 12 Women was afraid because she found out it was Saul
Vrs 13-14 Saul perceived that it was Samuel
Why I don’t believe this is Samuel
1. Spirit ascended out of the earth
2. Saul’s perception was that it was Samuel, in distress people believe what they want to believe. 2 Thess 2 let us know that those who don’t love the truth may be given to strong delusions and believe a lie
(Our perception can be skewed if we are not walking in the truth)
Vrs 15
3. There are no rewards for disobedience. If the Lord did not answer Saul in the first place why would he now answer him after he did the wrong thing. (If you are doing wrong and you think the Lord will bless, think again)
Vrs 16-19
4. What the false Samuel’s message is… (Remember Satan wants to kill and destroy)
• V16 God does not care
• V17 reminds him David is going to be king
• Speaks with an air of religion “the Lord spoke through me”
2 Cor 11:13-14 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.
Luke 4:34 Demons can speak truth
• V18 Reminds him he is disobedient “you are a loser” (maybe this is what Satan is doing in your life)
• V19 this is the verse that for many seals the deal that it is Samuel because he offers prophecy. I would say no. Satan and his demons realize what will happen when the two forces go to war and when people disobey
5. Vrs 20 The desired result of Satan…defeat, guilt and shame
6. If it were Samuel it would be deceptive for believers today or anytime period to think that this could happen. In moments of weakness and distress any person would cave in and go see a person that they believe could contact their departed loved one.
7. No turning back: David talks of his deceased son and says I can go to him but he cannot come to me, and the story of Lazarus tells us that they cannot go to and fro.
8. There is no message of healing from the false Samuel
The result for Saul 1 Chron 10:13-14 he died
Responding to this as a Christian.
1. Stay away…you are opening the door for Satan
Pastoral advice on what to steer clear of…
Evil movies, O Board, tarot cards, boardwalk psychics, horoscopes, demonic images in cards video games etc.
2. Realize Spiritual interest: People who are interested in this are spiritually searching and may be closer then you think to the truth but Satan is trying to steer them away.
In Articles from Summa Theologica by Aquinas
“The operation of the demon thrusts itself into those divinations which are based on false and vain opinions, in order that man’s mind may be entangled in vanity and falsehood”
3. Pray against: Ephesians 6 “battle against spiritual forces”
CS Lewis says that the two errors that many make about the devil are to have an unhealthy interest and to deny his reality altogether.
4. Share the GOSPEL: you don’t need false promises in your life when you have the truth of the Gospel.
1 Sam 28
Vrs 3-6 Samuel dies and Saul put out all the spiritists and mediums.
Vrs 5 Saul was afraid of the Philistines army and Vrs 6 went to the Lord
Saul at this point when he went to the Lord it was faintly and with a cold heart, he was unstable and if he did not hear from the Lord was willing to go to the devil.
Saul’s track record was pretty bad, Hated and persecuted Samuel and David, killed the Lord’s high priests, was he surprised the Lord did not answer him?
At this point if Saul was not sincere in pursuing the Lord why would he put out all the mediums? Some suggest because Saul had a (1 Samuel 16:14) Troubling spirit. Many people become zealous against things they struggle with. A person who abuses alcohol becomes a prohibitionist, they feel that alcohol hurt them so no one should have it. They don’t have a concern for the glory of God as much as a blame and hatred to sin.
Vrs 7-10 Saul goes to a medium. This is directly against Deut 18:9-14
Vrs 11 Saul asks for Samuel
Vrs 12 Women was afraid because she found out it was Saul
Vrs 13-14 Saul perceived that it was Samuel
Why I don’t believe this is Samuel
1. Spirit ascended out of the earth
2. Saul’s perception was that it was Samuel, in distress people believe what they want to believe. 2 Thess 2 let us know that those who don’t love the truth may be given to strong delusions and believe a lie
(Our perception can be skewed if we are not walking in the truth)
Vrs 15
3. There are no rewards for disobedience. If the Lord did not answer Saul in the first place why would he now answer him after he did the wrong thing. (If you are doing wrong and you think the Lord will bless, think again)
Vrs 16-19
4. What the false Samuel’s message is… (Remember Satan wants to kill and destroy)
• V16 God does not care
• V17 reminds him David is going to be king
• Speaks with an air of religion “the Lord spoke through me”
2 Cor 11:13-14 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.
Luke 4:34 Demons can speak truth
• V18 Reminds him he is disobedient “you are a loser” (maybe this is what Satan is doing in your life)
• V19 this is the verse that for many seals the deal that it is Samuel because he offers prophecy. I would say no. Satan and his demons realize what will happen when the two forces go to war and when people disobey
5. Vrs 20 The desired result of Satan…defeat, guilt and shame
6. If it were Samuel it would be deceptive for believers today or anytime period to think that this could happen. In moments of weakness and distress any person would cave in and go see a person that they believe could contact their departed loved one.
7. No turning back: David talks of his deceased son and says I can go to him but he cannot come to me, and the story of Lazarus tells us that they cannot go to and fro.
8. There is no message of healing from the false Samuel
The result for Saul 1 Chron 10:13-14 he died
Responding to this as a Christian.
1. Stay away…you are opening the door for Satan
Pastoral advice on what to steer clear of…
Evil movies, O Board, tarot cards, boardwalk psychics, horoscopes, demonic images in cards video games etc.
2. Realize Spiritual interest: People who are interested in this are spiritually searching and may be closer then you think to the truth but Satan is trying to steer them away.
In Articles from Summa Theologica by Aquinas
“The operation of the demon thrusts itself into those divinations which are based on false and vain opinions, in order that man’s mind may be entangled in vanity and falsehood”
3. Pray against: Ephesians 6 “battle against spiritual forces”
CS Lewis says that the two errors that many make about the devil are to have an unhealthy interest and to deny his reality altogether.
4. Share the GOSPEL: you don’t need false promises in your life when you have the truth of the Gospel.
Difficulties Week 4
“Love Them?”
GK Chesterton
“To love means loving the unlovable. To forgive means pardoning the unpardonable. Faith means believing the unbelievable. Hope means hoping when everything seems hopeless.”
Luke 6:32 The question Jesus has for you…
How do we love the unlovable? Jesus says…’What credit is it for you to love the ones who love you
3 areas of unlovable people I want to focus in on today.
1. Loving your enemies Matt 5:43- Luke 6:35-
Pro 25:21-23 Talk about this passage
When Narvaez, the Spanish patriot, lay dying, his father-confessor asked him whether he had forgiven all his enemies. Narvaez looked astonished and said, "Father, I have no enemies, I have shot them all."
How:
• Apply the Gospel, we were enemies of Jesus and He died for us.
• Understand that they need the Gospel (if a Christian they need to apply the Gospel) Pray
• Don’t seek revenge, or have a vengeful spirit 1 Peter 3:8-10
2. Loving those that are hard to love. annoying, clingy, disobedient, spiteful, needy or what we perceive as a lower class then us.
Tim Keller: It is difficult to love someone who is emotionally a wreck. There is no way to completely love that person and stay emotionally intact yourself.
Remember two weeks ago we talked about how there is a cost to following Jesus. This would be one of those times that it cost a lot to pursue people who are a wreck
I would venture to say the main reason we have a hard time loving these people is because it inconveniences us
How:
• Apply the Gospel, It cost Jesus so much, don’t for a minute think that you are not unlovable…but God still loves you Romans 5:8
• Have compassion Matt9:36 Jesus “moved with compassion”
Most of the time people act in certain ways because they have certain issues that need to be dealt with. As a Christian, Christ is calling us to have compassion on these people. How that looks for each situation will be different.
• Attitude Phil 2:5
(For each one) There is always a deep rooted need. When we are only thinking of ourselves and our own personal comfort we forget that a needy annoying person had a deep rooted need and maybe God has called us to assist in meeting that need.
• Patience Col 3:12 Put on
3. Loving the oppressed
It is very easy for us to turn a blind eye to the fact that there are people hurting in this world and they need love that only Jesus can give but they don’t have anyone to display that love to them.
Zechariah 7:8-10 We need to execute justice and help the oppressed, the consequence is God is displeased.
-Some only care about justice when it affects them.
A socialist once came to see Andrew Carnegie and soon was railing against the injustice of Carnegie having so much money. In his view, wealth was meant to be divided equally. Carnegie asked his secretary for an assessment of everything he owned and at the same time looked up the figures on world population. He did a little arithmetic on a pad and then said to his secretary. "Give this gentleman l6 cents. That's his share of my wealth."
-Many times we become paralyzed because we either think problems are too large or that we cannot make a difference or we don’t know what to do.
What do we need to do? Isaiah 1:17
How do we find these things out?
• Spiritual Community- (-Community Groups When we are in groups like this we get to know what the needs of the people are in our spiritual community (Church) and the local community around us. We designed the Community Group for that reason Community. If Bible study happens great, but they are not necessarily Bible studies they are for you to be in community with one another for prayer discussion and meeting one another’s needs.) Gal 6:10
• Local Community-Being in-tune with the community around you, we don’t just care about our church and spiritual community but the community around us. Because they need the Gospel -Grace Initiatives (Kara Gerisi)
If every Christian in their community did this the Gospel would be more of a presence.
• Worldwide-Resources for Gospel centered ministries world wide. We don’t just meet physical needs we need to meet spiritual as well.
What is out there for you to get involved in? Post things on the 5 site
-Fathers Heart October 9th
-Salvation Army human trafficking
-World vision or Compassion International Sponsor a Child
We don’t do these things because the people will appreciate it. People do appreciate it but don’t be deflated when they don’t. If your motive is for thanks and praise, when you don’t get it you become bitter.
Isaiah 58 Is speaking of those who do everything right as far as worship and praise but ignore justice. God tells us when we help the poor and those who are in need of justice our light goes forth (58:9) and the result of that is beauty.
Our hearts have to be convicted to do it. And then our testimony or light for Jesus will go forth.
GK Chesterton
“To love means loving the unlovable. To forgive means pardoning the unpardonable. Faith means believing the unbelievable. Hope means hoping when everything seems hopeless.”
Luke 6:32 The question Jesus has for you…
How do we love the unlovable? Jesus says…’What credit is it for you to love the ones who love you
3 areas of unlovable people I want to focus in on today.
1. Loving your enemies Matt 5:43- Luke 6:35-
Pro 25:21-23 Talk about this passage
When Narvaez, the Spanish patriot, lay dying, his father-confessor asked him whether he had forgiven all his enemies. Narvaez looked astonished and said, "Father, I have no enemies, I have shot them all."
How:
• Apply the Gospel, we were enemies of Jesus and He died for us.
• Understand that they need the Gospel (if a Christian they need to apply the Gospel) Pray
• Don’t seek revenge, or have a vengeful spirit 1 Peter 3:8-10
2. Loving those that are hard to love. annoying, clingy, disobedient, spiteful, needy or what we perceive as a lower class then us.
Tim Keller: It is difficult to love someone who is emotionally a wreck. There is no way to completely love that person and stay emotionally intact yourself.
Remember two weeks ago we talked about how there is a cost to following Jesus. This would be one of those times that it cost a lot to pursue people who are a wreck
I would venture to say the main reason we have a hard time loving these people is because it inconveniences us
How:
• Apply the Gospel, It cost Jesus so much, don’t for a minute think that you are not unlovable…but God still loves you Romans 5:8
• Have compassion Matt9:36 Jesus “moved with compassion”
Most of the time people act in certain ways because they have certain issues that need to be dealt with. As a Christian, Christ is calling us to have compassion on these people. How that looks for each situation will be different.
• Attitude Phil 2:5
(For each one) There is always a deep rooted need. When we are only thinking of ourselves and our own personal comfort we forget that a needy annoying person had a deep rooted need and maybe God has called us to assist in meeting that need.
• Patience Col 3:12 Put on
3. Loving the oppressed
It is very easy for us to turn a blind eye to the fact that there are people hurting in this world and they need love that only Jesus can give but they don’t have anyone to display that love to them.
Zechariah 7:8-10 We need to execute justice and help the oppressed, the consequence is God is displeased.
-Some only care about justice when it affects them.
A socialist once came to see Andrew Carnegie and soon was railing against the injustice of Carnegie having so much money. In his view, wealth was meant to be divided equally. Carnegie asked his secretary for an assessment of everything he owned and at the same time looked up the figures on world population. He did a little arithmetic on a pad and then said to his secretary. "Give this gentleman l6 cents. That's his share of my wealth."
-Many times we become paralyzed because we either think problems are too large or that we cannot make a difference or we don’t know what to do.
What do we need to do? Isaiah 1:17
How do we find these things out?
• Spiritual Community- (-Community Groups When we are in groups like this we get to know what the needs of the people are in our spiritual community (Church) and the local community around us. We designed the Community Group for that reason Community. If Bible study happens great, but they are not necessarily Bible studies they are for you to be in community with one another for prayer discussion and meeting one another’s needs.) Gal 6:10
• Local Community-Being in-tune with the community around you, we don’t just care about our church and spiritual community but the community around us. Because they need the Gospel -Grace Initiatives (Kara Gerisi)
If every Christian in their community did this the Gospel would be more of a presence.
• Worldwide-Resources for Gospel centered ministries world wide. We don’t just meet physical needs we need to meet spiritual as well.
What is out there for you to get involved in? Post things on the 5 site
-Fathers Heart October 9th
-Salvation Army human trafficking
-World vision or Compassion International Sponsor a Child
We don’t do these things because the people will appreciate it. People do appreciate it but don’t be deflated when they don’t. If your motive is for thanks and praise, when you don’t get it you become bitter.
Isaiah 58 Is speaking of those who do everything right as far as worship and praise but ignore justice. God tells us when we help the poor and those who are in need of justice our light goes forth (58:9) and the result of that is beauty.
Our hearts have to be convicted to do it. And then our testimony or light for Jesus will go forth.
Monday, July 26, 2010
Difficulties Week 3
A few weeks ago I joked because I made my own quote…”Good theology gets you through tough times”
Here is some that got me through this week
-God’s ways are higher then my ways. Isaiah 55
-When I am weak Jesus is strong. 2 Corinthians 12:10
-This world is not my home. Phil 3:20
-The Gospel of Jesus meets every need I have because it gives us hope.
Today I am talking about more good theology “What happens when we die?”
Hebrews 9:27 Judgment issue (Well done)
When God created the heavens and the earth, death was not a part of it, this is why it never goes well with us, and that is why it will eventually will be conquered 1 Cor. 15:26 & Rev. 20:14
Three types of death that the Scriptures teach
1. Spiritual death - what we are before we trust Jesus Eph 2:1, John 3 “Born again”
2. Physical Death - Genesis 35:18-19
3. Eternal death- final permanent separation of non-believers from God Rev 20:14
Start with
The Death of those who do not Trust Christ. Results in Hell, describe
Some may say, that is harsh why would God want that for anyone? The answer is that He does not and He has for us a way of escape. Through Jesus Christ, see God means business 2 Peter 3:9
How to avoid Hell John 5:24 GOSPEL
You have no second chance
1 Peter 3:18-20 This is an interpretation from Augustine. Christ preached through Noah at the time of Noah and they are called the “Spirits in prison” because they were preached to in the past and now in the prison of Hell.
Understand the context of 1st Peter is Peter was writing to the righteous minority surrounded by hostile unbelievers like Noah was.
Luke 16:19-36 Parable (Talk about)
Another issue that always seems to come up is “Can our loved ones see us?” Nowhere in the Bible does it say that our loved ones can see us. I would venture to say based upon the parable they are aware of us but they and we will not posses the same attributes of God…all powerful, all knowing…all seeing.
The Death of a Believer
2 Cor. 5:6-8 Phil 1:23 Intermediate state, not in the new heavens yet. We go to be with Christ Ephesians 1: Acts 7 Stephen
-No soul sleep “fallen asleep is a metaphor for death”
-No purgatory (Catholic Church does not believe this either)
-We do not need to pray for the dead
Quick overview of the grand scheme of things so we have an understanding
1. Rapture 1 Thess 4:16, Dead in Christ
1 Corinthians 15:36-49 Does not matter what happens to the body of a person (Burial vrs Cremation)
Glorified Body Issue Christ’s resurrected body is the prototype
Philippians 3:21 “Transformed in to a glorious body”
2. Tribulation, all believers of all time in heaven Rev 4-19
3. Millennial Reign of Christ Rev 20,
4 Great White Throne Judgment.
5. New Heavens and Earth
Our salvation is not fully complete but at physical death 1 Cor 13:12 We will see things like God sees things
Death will touch you, so how do you cope?
-Time to Mourn, Jesus wept
-Makes us reflect on our lives. Not How much good do I do, but how much good in Jesus’ name do I do. Even the greatest people are forgotten. But Jesus is not
-The imperative nature of Gospel work, Death is not the end for anyone
-Find comfort in the Lord, where you find comfort will determine how comforted you are.
-What do we learn and take away from losing someone.
For me Strength is in Christ
What is next for us here at our church?
35 years ago a small group of people began this Gospel work in our community. A result of the obedience of those people was the salvation of many in this community among them was the one we physically lost this past week
1 Cor 15:58 Don’t lose focus
Here is some that got me through this week
-God’s ways are higher then my ways. Isaiah 55
-When I am weak Jesus is strong. 2 Corinthians 12:10
-This world is not my home. Phil 3:20
-The Gospel of Jesus meets every need I have because it gives us hope.
Today I am talking about more good theology “What happens when we die?”
Hebrews 9:27 Judgment issue (Well done)
When God created the heavens and the earth, death was not a part of it, this is why it never goes well with us, and that is why it will eventually will be conquered 1 Cor. 15:26 & Rev. 20:14
Three types of death that the Scriptures teach
1. Spiritual death - what we are before we trust Jesus Eph 2:1, John 3 “Born again”
2. Physical Death - Genesis 35:18-19
3. Eternal death- final permanent separation of non-believers from God Rev 20:14
Start with
The Death of those who do not Trust Christ. Results in Hell, describe
Some may say, that is harsh why would God want that for anyone? The answer is that He does not and He has for us a way of escape. Through Jesus Christ, see God means business 2 Peter 3:9
How to avoid Hell John 5:24 GOSPEL
You have no second chance
1 Peter 3:18-20 This is an interpretation from Augustine. Christ preached through Noah at the time of Noah and they are called the “Spirits in prison” because they were preached to in the past and now in the prison of Hell.
Understand the context of 1st Peter is Peter was writing to the righteous minority surrounded by hostile unbelievers like Noah was.
Luke 16:19-36 Parable (Talk about)
Another issue that always seems to come up is “Can our loved ones see us?” Nowhere in the Bible does it say that our loved ones can see us. I would venture to say based upon the parable they are aware of us but they and we will not posses the same attributes of God…all powerful, all knowing…all seeing.
The Death of a Believer
2 Cor. 5:6-8 Phil 1:23 Intermediate state, not in the new heavens yet. We go to be with Christ Ephesians 1: Acts 7 Stephen
-No soul sleep “fallen asleep is a metaphor for death”
-No purgatory (Catholic Church does not believe this either)
-We do not need to pray for the dead
Quick overview of the grand scheme of things so we have an understanding
1. Rapture 1 Thess 4:16, Dead in Christ
1 Corinthians 15:36-49 Does not matter what happens to the body of a person (Burial vrs Cremation)
Glorified Body Issue Christ’s resurrected body is the prototype
Philippians 3:21 “Transformed in to a glorious body”
2. Tribulation, all believers of all time in heaven Rev 4-19
3. Millennial Reign of Christ Rev 20,
4 Great White Throne Judgment.
5. New Heavens and Earth
Our salvation is not fully complete but at physical death 1 Cor 13:12 We will see things like God sees things
Death will touch you, so how do you cope?
-Time to Mourn, Jesus wept
-Makes us reflect on our lives. Not How much good do I do, but how much good in Jesus’ name do I do. Even the greatest people are forgotten. But Jesus is not
-The imperative nature of Gospel work, Death is not the end for anyone
-Find comfort in the Lord, where you find comfort will determine how comforted you are.
-What do we learn and take away from losing someone.
For me Strength is in Christ
What is next for us here at our church?
35 years ago a small group of people began this Gospel work in our community. A result of the obedience of those people was the salvation of many in this community among them was the one we physically lost this past week
1 Cor 15:58 Don’t lose focus
Difficulties Week 2
Difficulty: Why did Christ have to go to the cross, what did it accomplish and what were the implications.
How God meets our need then we in turn meet the needs of others.
Need 1:-Forgiveness - we have sin that needs to be forgiven.
Rom 3:23 “all have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God”
Rom 6:23 “wages of sin is death”
Forgiveness is bearing the cost of someone else’s sin against you.
When we forgive we are paying the price for the wrong against us.
(example someone defames your character)
The other options are…
Revenge & Bitterness…if we respond like this the evil actually spreads. ---With Revenge we spread evil
-With Bitterness we kill ourselves from inside out.
Karl Menninger, the famed psychiatrist, once said that if he could convince the patients in psychiatric hospitals that their sins were forgiven, 75 percent of them could walk out the next day!
Tim Keller states in his book “Reason For God” Many people have said when we forgive and absorb the debt it can be as painful as death,
This is true but after that experience the only place we have to look is up, for the Christian that means resurrection. Instead of leading a life long death of revenge and bitterness we can be resurrected
Human forgiveness works this way because it points to what our Creator.
Jesus death for our forgiveness resulted in resurrection.
How do we meet the needs of others in this area?
-Forgive as we have been forgiven Matthew 6:12
-we don’t hold grudges
-we absorb the cost
-we turn the other cheek
-we resurrect
How it was accomplished…
Need 2: Redemption: Forgiveness is costly and the price had to be paid. Jesus is our Substitutionary Atonement
That means that death is the payment of sin and Jesus was willing and able to pay the price for us. we call in “Redemption” we have to be bought back into a right relationship to God.
Sin is the slave driver and our master and if we live in un-forgiven sin we will be separated from Jesus for eternity in hell.
Jesus death buys us back Revelation 5:9
Why does there have to be payment for sin? Why can’t God just say…”its all good” God’s justice is at stake.
We inherently understand this:
In C.S. Lewis’ Essay Humanitarian Theory of Punishment he speaks about the conservative view of retribution, “people have to pay”. And then he speaks of the liberal view of “rehabilitation”, “people have to be cured”
The substitution of Jesus Christ does both,
God is the victim in every sin and justice dictates that we pay, Jesus pays for us.
We are broken and need to be cured, when we trust Jesus the Holy Spirit comes and begins the work of sanctification. And in eternity we are fully rehabilitated.
A question that comes up a lot is “Did Christ go to Hell when He paid for our sin?” Based on the Apostles Creed “He descended into Hell” the answer is NO Ephesians 4:8-10
Christ’s Cost
-Philippians 2:5-11 Emptied Himself “Christ emptied Himself of His preincarnate position, yet did not diminish His person” The self emptying permitted the addition of humanity and did not involve the subtraction of Deity or the use of the attributes of His Deity. There was a change in form and not in content” Ryrie Isaiah 53:12 “He poured Himself out to Death”
The main point we want to remember here is that this was a willful decision that Christ made (Phil 2:7) it was not debated but it was God plan before the foundation of the world (Rev 13:8)
I like to think of it as Jesus decided to confine Himself in space and time but was not confined, He stepped down for us.
-Forsaken This is one of the issues that keeps coming up when people hear Jesus say this…what did He mean?
2 Cor. 5:21 Jesus became sin for us, so He felt the loneliness and abandonment that sin always produces, except in this case it was our sin and not His own.
If we have been redeemed by Jesus how do we in-turn redeem others?
Truthfully only Christ can redeem, but there are things that we can do so people see His redemptive work. It costs us everything
-Philippians 2 consider others more important then yourself, doing good to others for the sake of the GOSPEL
-We have to be around other people Niebur “Christ of Culture” This is a huge cost to us because that means we live among this sinful world that rejects the Lord. Our kids go to school, we go to work etc. when we do those things we are no longer insulated in our own bubble. What good can we do if the world around us if we just create our own little safe haven? Paul says we would have to leave this world.
What the motivation was….
Need 3:-Love- We all need Love,
-you may be bouncing around from relationship to relationship.
-maybe you are currently in a relationship and your spouse is not meeting your needs
-maybe you are not receiving the love you need from your parents
-maybe you are not getting love from friends that you need
With my kids I fish for compliments
Silah “Because you loved me first”
The type of love we need is given to us in Jesus
1 John 4:19 - He first loved us
Rom 5:8 - While we were sinners
Gal 2:20 - His love inspires life change
John 15:13 The greatest Love
Romans 8:35-39 Nothing can come in between His love for us.
How does that play out in everyday life? Jesus tells us that it is easy to love those who love you. Jesus’ Love (2 Cor 5:14) Compels us
Eph 5:2 walk in love because Christ loved
How God meets our need then we in turn meet the needs of others.
Need 1:-Forgiveness - we have sin that needs to be forgiven.
Rom 3:23 “all have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God”
Rom 6:23 “wages of sin is death”
Forgiveness is bearing the cost of someone else’s sin against you.
When we forgive we are paying the price for the wrong against us.
(example someone defames your character)
The other options are…
Revenge & Bitterness…if we respond like this the evil actually spreads. ---With Revenge we spread evil
-With Bitterness we kill ourselves from inside out.
Karl Menninger, the famed psychiatrist, once said that if he could convince the patients in psychiatric hospitals that their sins were forgiven, 75 percent of them could walk out the next day!
Tim Keller states in his book “Reason For God” Many people have said when we forgive and absorb the debt it can be as painful as death,
This is true but after that experience the only place we have to look is up, for the Christian that means resurrection. Instead of leading a life long death of revenge and bitterness we can be resurrected
Human forgiveness works this way because it points to what our Creator.
Jesus death for our forgiveness resulted in resurrection.
How do we meet the needs of others in this area?
-Forgive as we have been forgiven Matthew 6:12
-we don’t hold grudges
-we absorb the cost
-we turn the other cheek
-we resurrect
How it was accomplished…
Need 2: Redemption: Forgiveness is costly and the price had to be paid. Jesus is our Substitutionary Atonement
That means that death is the payment of sin and Jesus was willing and able to pay the price for us. we call in “Redemption” we have to be bought back into a right relationship to God.
Sin is the slave driver and our master and if we live in un-forgiven sin we will be separated from Jesus for eternity in hell.
Jesus death buys us back Revelation 5:9
Why does there have to be payment for sin? Why can’t God just say…”its all good” God’s justice is at stake.
We inherently understand this:
In C.S. Lewis’ Essay Humanitarian Theory of Punishment he speaks about the conservative view of retribution, “people have to pay”. And then he speaks of the liberal view of “rehabilitation”, “people have to be cured”
The substitution of Jesus Christ does both,
God is the victim in every sin and justice dictates that we pay, Jesus pays for us.
We are broken and need to be cured, when we trust Jesus the Holy Spirit comes and begins the work of sanctification. And in eternity we are fully rehabilitated.
A question that comes up a lot is “Did Christ go to Hell when He paid for our sin?” Based on the Apostles Creed “He descended into Hell” the answer is NO Ephesians 4:8-10
Christ’s Cost
-Philippians 2:5-11 Emptied Himself “Christ emptied Himself of His preincarnate position, yet did not diminish His person” The self emptying permitted the addition of humanity and did not involve the subtraction of Deity or the use of the attributes of His Deity. There was a change in form and not in content” Ryrie Isaiah 53:12 “He poured Himself out to Death”
The main point we want to remember here is that this was a willful decision that Christ made (Phil 2:7) it was not debated but it was God plan before the foundation of the world (Rev 13:8)
I like to think of it as Jesus decided to confine Himself in space and time but was not confined, He stepped down for us.
-Forsaken This is one of the issues that keeps coming up when people hear Jesus say this…what did He mean?
2 Cor. 5:21 Jesus became sin for us, so He felt the loneliness and abandonment that sin always produces, except in this case it was our sin and not His own.
If we have been redeemed by Jesus how do we in-turn redeem others?
Truthfully only Christ can redeem, but there are things that we can do so people see His redemptive work. It costs us everything
-Philippians 2 consider others more important then yourself, doing good to others for the sake of the GOSPEL
-We have to be around other people Niebur “Christ of Culture” This is a huge cost to us because that means we live among this sinful world that rejects the Lord. Our kids go to school, we go to work etc. when we do those things we are no longer insulated in our own bubble. What good can we do if the world around us if we just create our own little safe haven? Paul says we would have to leave this world.
What the motivation was….
Need 3:-Love- We all need Love,
-you may be bouncing around from relationship to relationship.
-maybe you are currently in a relationship and your spouse is not meeting your needs
-maybe you are not receiving the love you need from your parents
-maybe you are not getting love from friends that you need
With my kids I fish for compliments
Silah “Because you loved me first”
The type of love we need is given to us in Jesus
1 John 4:19 - He first loved us
Rom 5:8 - While we were sinners
Gal 2:20 - His love inspires life change
John 15:13 The greatest Love
Romans 8:35-39 Nothing can come in between His love for us.
How does that play out in everyday life? Jesus tells us that it is easy to love those who love you. Jesus’ Love (2 Cor 5:14) Compels us
Eph 5:2 walk in love because Christ loved
Monday, July 12, 2010
Difficulties Week 1
It has been very obvious by our time together that Christians sin (1 Cor 3), there is no debate there, but the difficulty that comes to our attention is: What about the “Christian” who continues in their sinful ways?
Paul says the root of the difficulty is that we live to the “flesh” and not to the Spirit
Galatians 5:16-26 is a reminder to believers from Paul that they are in the Spirit and should not follow the desires of the “Flesh”
What do we do with the habitually sinning Christian?
Luke 17:1-4, Warn, confront, forgive, GRACE & GOSPEL
They are unrepentant. Extreme cases:
Matt 18:15-20 (going to need to exegete this)
How do you treat unbelievers?
1 Cor 5 (quick explanation then look at verses 9-13)
Why the harsh stance? Because sin is serious business to the Lord Jesus wants us to speak truth in a compassionate way and be involved in the wake up calls of stubborn individuals. & He knows what is good for us and sin is not.
The Local body of believers is a reminder because most people intrenched in sin are not opening their Bible
What if it is you?
When you continue in sin this is what you do to yourself.
The Consequences we will face when we continue in sin.
1. Jer 5:25 Withholds good
2. Heb 12 Discipline Tedd Tripp “Discipline is a rescue mission”
3. 1 Cor 3 hinders spiritual growth (milk)
4. 2 Tim 2:21 limits our service (sin disqualifies)
5. 1 Cor 10&11 Pollutes the fellowship
6. Eph 4:30 Grieves the Spirit
7. 1 Peter 3:10 Hinders prayers (God does not want to hear you)
8. 1 Cor 11:30 & 1 John 5:16 Brings sickness and death
What to do if you are in habitual sin?
Many times we make the mistake of modifying behavior. “I will substitute this word for that word”. “Or instead of doing this I will do that”. Things like that do work for a time but the problem is our heart and its condition.
-Realize it. what are the benefits of this habit? why is it a detriment and what does God say about it? Romans 12 says “Renew our Mind”
-Repent “Godly Sorrow” 2 Cor. 7:9-11 You need to really care about what Jesus thinks about this. (How do you know if someone has Godly sorrow? They confess w/o being caught)
-Stop John 8:10-12 Stop it.
James 4:8 tells us that solution is getting closer to Jesus
How do you do that?
Personally I do not think it is a step by step process of things to do, it is about your theology (what you believe about Jesus and then responding to that) “Good theology gets you through tough times” (my quote)
-Have a right perspective about who you are. Romans 7:14-25 Describes Christian maturity, Paul is realizing that he in his own strength and power cannot live the Christian life.
-Remember your standing in Christ Romans 6
-Romans 8:15-17 Rely on the Spirit “You are weak He is strong”
-Remember the Gospel Rom 8:11 Remember the resurrection
-Matt 13:44 Give Him everything (If Jesus doesn’t get your attention then not much will)
Paul says the root of the difficulty is that we live to the “flesh” and not to the Spirit
Galatians 5:16-26 is a reminder to believers from Paul that they are in the Spirit and should not follow the desires of the “Flesh”
What do we do with the habitually sinning Christian?
Luke 17:1-4, Warn, confront, forgive, GRACE & GOSPEL
They are unrepentant. Extreme cases:
Matt 18:15-20 (going to need to exegete this)
How do you treat unbelievers?
1 Cor 5 (quick explanation then look at verses 9-13)
Why the harsh stance? Because sin is serious business to the Lord Jesus wants us to speak truth in a compassionate way and be involved in the wake up calls of stubborn individuals. & He knows what is good for us and sin is not.
The Local body of believers is a reminder because most people intrenched in sin are not opening their Bible
What if it is you?
When you continue in sin this is what you do to yourself.
The Consequences we will face when we continue in sin.
1. Jer 5:25 Withholds good
2. Heb 12 Discipline Tedd Tripp “Discipline is a rescue mission”
3. 1 Cor 3 hinders spiritual growth (milk)
4. 2 Tim 2:21 limits our service (sin disqualifies)
5. 1 Cor 10&11 Pollutes the fellowship
6. Eph 4:30 Grieves the Spirit
7. 1 Peter 3:10 Hinders prayers (God does not want to hear you)
8. 1 Cor 11:30 & 1 John 5:16 Brings sickness and death
What to do if you are in habitual sin?
Many times we make the mistake of modifying behavior. “I will substitute this word for that word”. “Or instead of doing this I will do that”. Things like that do work for a time but the problem is our heart and its condition.
-Realize it. what are the benefits of this habit? why is it a detriment and what does God say about it? Romans 12 says “Renew our Mind”
-Repent “Godly Sorrow” 2 Cor. 7:9-11 You need to really care about what Jesus thinks about this. (How do you know if someone has Godly sorrow? They confess w/o being caught)
-Stop John 8:10-12 Stop it.
James 4:8 tells us that solution is getting closer to Jesus
How do you do that?
Personally I do not think it is a step by step process of things to do, it is about your theology (what you believe about Jesus and then responding to that) “Good theology gets you through tough times” (my quote)
-Have a right perspective about who you are. Romans 7:14-25 Describes Christian maturity, Paul is realizing that he in his own strength and power cannot live the Christian life.
-Remember your standing in Christ Romans 6
-Romans 8:15-17 Rely on the Spirit “You are weak He is strong”
-Remember the Gospel Rom 8:11 Remember the resurrection
-Matt 13:44 Give Him everything (If Jesus doesn’t get your attention then not much will)
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
"Restless" A Lifelong Learner
Questions for Community Groups...
With your group answer the questions from the sermon.
Ecclesiastes 12:9-14
What more do we need to learn? The Christian life is a series of lessons that the Lord teaches us. The humbling thought is that we have not arrived.
A lifelong learner-is someone who pursues wisdom and knowledge for personal and spiritual development, then shares that with others
A Lifelong Learner
Vrs 9-10a We can learn from the wisdom of Solomon
1. Teaches-listen to the teachings and therefore teach as well. Put yourself in an environment that challenges you
2. Ponders-learning takes time in thought, this is extremely valuable in decision making
3. Searches-As Christian we need to seek wisdom from God and wisdom from his people. Red flags go up when a person has no counsel from other Godly people.
**side note Proverbs…teach people how to think and direct them to find answers. Experiential learning
Vrs 10 Solomon “sought” out words. If people are coming to you for advice and wisdom, you must spend time seeking out how to help them. That is the value of education
4. Speaks Truth - Our call as Christians is to speak truth. This becomes difficult when the truth is hard to hear or hurts.
What are the benefits of Lifelong Learning?
Vrs 11 “goads” are long pointed sticks used to prod and guide oxen during plowing. = wise counsel guides and prods you to do good
1. Guidance
2. Encouragement
Scholars = masters of assembly, Moreover, the words of the wise provide moral and intellectual stability like nails firmly fixed. Ultimately, such wisdom is given by one Shepherd, God.
3. Stability- One Truth
The point here is this Solomon although the wisest man that ever lived except for Jesus the God man, he was a Lifelong Learner.
The true test of a Lifelong Learner…
Vrs 12a
-Willingness to be admonished. Admonishment test
-Questions to ask when admonished
-What am I doing wrong? Realize the sin
-How can I learn in this situation?
-How can I correct my behavior? What needs to change
-Who do I need to ask forgiveness from? God and others
-How can I thank the person who admonished me? James 5:20
What we use to admonish “These” are teachings of the Bible. Take into account that the Bible has many things to say about your life and you will never master them all. That is why you need to be a Lifelong Learner.
True accurate and wise instruction comes from God.
(Speak to fathers for a moment) if you want to teach your children wisdom and instruct and guide them…go to the Word
Look at what other Lifelong Learners have said about the Bible
Soren Kierkegaard said “When you read God’s Word, you must constantly be saying to yourself, “it is talking to me and about me”
James Mccosh (11th president of Princeton University) “The book to read is not the one that thinks for you, but the one which makes you think. No book in the world equals the Bible for that”.
Mark Twain “Most people are bothered by those passages of Scripture they do not understand, but the passages that bother me the most are the ones I do understand.
Charles Dickens “The New Testament is the very best book that ever was or ever will be known in the world”
Napoleon “The Bible is no mere book, but a Living Creature, with a power that conquers all that oppose it”
A.W. Tozer “The Bible is not an end in itself, but a means to bring men to an intimate and satisfying knowledge of God, that they may enter into Him, that they may delight in His Presence, may taste and know the inner sweetness of the very God Himself in the core and center of their hearts.”
Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Jesus is the Word
Vrs 12b
I will suggest books for encouragement, inspiration and the value of learning truth from them (Some books explore God’s truth in a deeper level). But my personal conviction as a pastor is to hold no other book here in the pulpit except the Word of God.
Looking for answers in the wrong places makes you “restless”
Vrs 13 The conclusion…the number one way to not be “restless” in life is…twofold. Fear God and keep His commands.
The root of faith is fear of God (respect for who God is and what He has done for us)GOSPEL and the rule of faith is God’s commands (following because He knows what is best for us and that is what He made us for)
Vrs 14 God’s Economy.
The believer is rewarded for Good Works and escapes the payment for sin.
The unbeliever is not rewarded for good works and pays for their own sin.
Comfort to those who trust. Because we know that God takes care of sin. GOSPEL
But to those who do not trust their eternity will be “Restless”
Augustine said “my heart was restless until it found rest in you”
With your group answer the questions from the sermon.
Ecclesiastes 12:9-14
What more do we need to learn? The Christian life is a series of lessons that the Lord teaches us. The humbling thought is that we have not arrived.
A lifelong learner-is someone who pursues wisdom and knowledge for personal and spiritual development, then shares that with others
A Lifelong Learner
Vrs 9-10a We can learn from the wisdom of Solomon
1. Teaches-listen to the teachings and therefore teach as well. Put yourself in an environment that challenges you
2. Ponders-learning takes time in thought, this is extremely valuable in decision making
3. Searches-As Christian we need to seek wisdom from God and wisdom from his people. Red flags go up when a person has no counsel from other Godly people.
**side note Proverbs…teach people how to think and direct them to find answers. Experiential learning
Vrs 10 Solomon “sought” out words. If people are coming to you for advice and wisdom, you must spend time seeking out how to help them. That is the value of education
4. Speaks Truth - Our call as Christians is to speak truth. This becomes difficult when the truth is hard to hear or hurts.
What are the benefits of Lifelong Learning?
Vrs 11 “goads” are long pointed sticks used to prod and guide oxen during plowing. = wise counsel guides and prods you to do good
1. Guidance
2. Encouragement
Scholars = masters of assembly, Moreover, the words of the wise provide moral and intellectual stability like nails firmly fixed. Ultimately, such wisdom is given by one Shepherd, God.
3. Stability- One Truth
The point here is this Solomon although the wisest man that ever lived except for Jesus the God man, he was a Lifelong Learner.
The true test of a Lifelong Learner…
Vrs 12a
-Willingness to be admonished. Admonishment test
-Questions to ask when admonished
-What am I doing wrong? Realize the sin
-How can I learn in this situation?
-How can I correct my behavior? What needs to change
-Who do I need to ask forgiveness from? God and others
-How can I thank the person who admonished me? James 5:20
What we use to admonish “These” are teachings of the Bible. Take into account that the Bible has many things to say about your life and you will never master them all. That is why you need to be a Lifelong Learner.
True accurate and wise instruction comes from God.
(Speak to fathers for a moment) if you want to teach your children wisdom and instruct and guide them…go to the Word
Look at what other Lifelong Learners have said about the Bible
Soren Kierkegaard said “When you read God’s Word, you must constantly be saying to yourself, “it is talking to me and about me”
James Mccosh (11th president of Princeton University) “The book to read is not the one that thinks for you, but the one which makes you think. No book in the world equals the Bible for that”.
Mark Twain “Most people are bothered by those passages of Scripture they do not understand, but the passages that bother me the most are the ones I do understand.
Charles Dickens “The New Testament is the very best book that ever was or ever will be known in the world”
Napoleon “The Bible is no mere book, but a Living Creature, with a power that conquers all that oppose it”
A.W. Tozer “The Bible is not an end in itself, but a means to bring men to an intimate and satisfying knowledge of God, that they may enter into Him, that they may delight in His Presence, may taste and know the inner sweetness of the very God Himself in the core and center of their hearts.”
Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Jesus is the Word
Vrs 12b
I will suggest books for encouragement, inspiration and the value of learning truth from them (Some books explore God’s truth in a deeper level). But my personal conviction as a pastor is to hold no other book here in the pulpit except the Word of God.
Looking for answers in the wrong places makes you “restless”
Vrs 13 The conclusion…the number one way to not be “restless” in life is…twofold. Fear God and keep His commands.
The root of faith is fear of God (respect for who God is and what He has done for us)GOSPEL and the rule of faith is God’s commands (following because He knows what is best for us and that is what He made us for)
Vrs 14 God’s Economy.
The believer is rewarded for Good Works and escapes the payment for sin.
The unbeliever is not rewarded for good works and pays for their own sin.
Comfort to those who trust. Because we know that God takes care of sin. GOSPEL
But to those who do not trust their eternity will be “Restless”
Augustine said “my heart was restless until it found rest in you”
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