Category Archives: theology
Why Are We Obedient?
People from my religious tradition are very weary to believe that ‘nothing can separate us from the love of God’. Even though we know that scripture is in the Bible and we recite the fact that we are not saved by our works, we are reluctant to freely jump into the waters of ‘no matter what you do, Jesus still loves you’.
Why?
I believe we are afraid (and I have heard it taught) that if people believe that concept, they will begin to sin wildly because there are no consequences to the action. If we believe that we will start sinning because there are no consequences to the sin, then we are identifying our wrong motivation for good works. We are acting virtuous because we are either fearful of the consequences of not doing it or we are prideful and enjoy the credit we get for good works. Both Pride and Fear are motivating factors and can be used to achieve the desired goal. However, both have a very short shelf life. We forget the consequence and find ourselves delving into the wrong activity.
Jonathan Edwards said this about ‘true virtue’:
What is true virtue? It is when you are honest not because it profits you or makes you feel better, but because you are smitten with the beauty of the God who is all truth and sincerity and faithfulness…True virtue comes when you see Christ dying for you, keeping a promise He made despite the infinite suffering it brought him. On the one hand that destroys pride: he had to do this for us, because we were so lost. On the other hand it also destroys fear: because if he’d do this for us while we were his enemies, then he values us infinitely, and nothing we can do will wear out his love. Consequently, our hearts are not just restrained but changed. Their fundamental orientation is transformed.
We want our hearts changed. We do not want to continue to pursue good works because it is the avenue to a right relationship with God. Jesus said we would be identified by our fruit. Fruit is most definitely the final product of the plant. The outward sign or ‘works’ of the plant. We want the same for ourselves. Our good works should be the final product generated from a deep devotion and love of God. If we put the works in front of the relationship as if they earn us the right to know God, then we are putting the cart before the horse.
Sermon Notes – The Season’s Reason
Luke 1:30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with God. 31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. 32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: 33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. …37 For with God nothing shall be impossible. 38 And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.
NLT I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.
THE SEASON’S REASON – Lets pray
In the beginning of time, God gives mankind options. In order for there to be true love, there has to be a choice in the matter. Rick Warren says that it is our greatest asset and our most crippling liability. Our freedom of choice. God allows us to be who we want to be.
Each time we turn from God, we vote for darkness. Not because we are hoping for darkness. We actually desire pleasure and immediate gratification. However, we turn from the light.
We live in a dark world. People are talking about the end of the world on Friday, Dec 21. It has sort of been a joke, but when you look at the headlines, it doesn’t look all that funny. It looks deadly serious. The end of this world actually doesn’t sound all that bad, if that means we live forever in heaven.
The US government is facing the fiscal cliff. Where financial markets are in a turmoil. Taxes being raised in 2013 have people scrambling to sell.
It seems every few weeks there is more news about violence. The news from Connecticut on Friday was devastating.
We stumble through the dark. Find a lot pain and struggle. The wages of sin is death.
We try to generate light ourselves by our work ethic. Our purchases. Our ‘making it’. Earthly success seems to give us a glimmer of hope, but it is no match for the strong man. Luke 11 says that you can become strong, and protect your possessions. However, they are only protected until a stronger man comes along.
God’s answer to the strong man is the manger. A baby. The Season’s Reason.
All we need is Jesus. **Even after we come to Jesus. We still need Jesus.**
Only time would tell just what that meant. ’Let everything happen to me’ Many of us have responded in the exact same way. “Yes, Lord, I will follow you. It is not too long after before we realize that trials come to everyone. Jesus says you will have enemies. It rains on the just and unjust.
Matthew 5: 11 God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers.
Matthew 24:9 Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because you are my followers.
Mary faced the physical pains of the natural birthing process. She also unleashed the wrath of a society that believed she was in sin for conceiving a baby out of wedlock. After this waned, she faced the struggle of her adult son traveling the region preaching, teaching with no home and no means of survival. He eventually is tortured and sacrificed on the cross in front of her face. Her own son.
Many of us have been impregnated with the purpose of God and He is wanting us to give birth to ministry that will further his Kingdom. As we carry that ministry to term and then live with it in adulthood, it takes a toll. We look for solutions to deal with the wounds and the pressure.
Since Mary’s solution was her baby (Jesus), we are tempted to think that our solution is our baby (our ministry). Therefore, when struggle comes, we work harder. We try to catch people that leave us. We think one more service, one more sermon, one more encouraging word and one more conversion will help our hurt. When this happens we continue to dig ourselves into a hole that we can never get out of. If we are looking to ministry to heal our hurt, then we will always hurt.
The mission field is inexhaustible. There is always one more Sunday to plan for. There is always one more sinner to save. We chase joy forever, if we think it is found in the grasp of our ministry.
Ephesians 2: 8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. 10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
The bottomline is when we ‘give it all to God’ that means that we are ok if it all falls apart. It ‘staying together’ is not our saving grace.
We continue to give it our best effort, but it’s ultimate success or failure is solely dependent upon his Grace.
Our release is so difficult, because it has been our baby. We have poured a lot of sweat, blood, tear, money, effort into our Christian Life/Ministry. Now, we realized we have crossed a boundary and are not simply caring deeply for God’s work, and relying on Him to supply the Grace to complete. Instead we feel like God’s acceptance of us comes through the completion of the work He has commissioned us to complete.
We do not find our hope in the birth of our ministry or our work. We find our hope in Mary’s baby. Jesus was born once and it was enough for eternity.
Personal connection with Jesus is the only way we will find healing for our ministry wounds. We will continue to chase after sinners, hunt down demons, plan weekends, and get really creative with technique. However, we will stop the rat race of thinking that heals us.
Jesus, you are our source. You are our source for help and healing
MAX LUCADO
Dear Jesus,
It’s a good thing you were born at night. This world sure seems dark. I have a good eye for silver linings. But they seem dimmer lately. These killings, Lord. These children, Lord. Innocence violated. Raw evil demonstrated.
The whole world seems on edge. Trigger-happy. Ticked off. We hear threats of chemical weapons and nuclear bombs. Are we one button-push away from annihilation?
Your world seems a bit darker this Christmas. But you were born in the dark, right? You came at night. The shepherds were nightshift workers. The Wise Men followed a star. Your first cries were heard in the shadows. To see your face, Mary and Joseph needed a candle flame. It was dark. Dark with Herod’s jealousy. Dark with Roman oppression. Dark with poverty. Dark with violence.
Herod went on a rampage, killing babies. Joseph took you and your mom into Egypt. You were an immigrant before you were a Nazarene.
Oh, Lord Jesus, you entered the dark world of your day. Won’t you enter ours? We are weary of bloodshed. We, like the wise men, are looking for a star. We, like the shepherds, are kneeling at a manger.
This Christmas, we ask you, heal us, help us, be born anew in us.
Hopefully,
Your Children
The Joy of Trial
–by Marilyn Moore Apple
James speaks from those pages beneath my hand
A challenge I have laughed at just like Sarah laughed
I know of Joy Unspeakable and Full of Glory
I know of the Joy That Comes In the Morning
But Joy In Trial?
How can my patience reach across that sea?
How can my tears be still in turmoil dark?
In the valley of the shadow of death even far at sea,
Shall I smile?
While pulling on the oars so hard to get to you
As you stand so peaceful on the Shore.
My sin is scarlet
My deeds are rags
My youth was wasted in the dusty alleys of this world.
I cannot see beyond the bow.
I can’t find solace in this darkest hour.
Though in my mind I see your sparkling flower covered hills.
Though through my reason I know your breadth and depth.
My breath still comes in gasps and sobs
My hope in peril on a sea of heartfelt doubt.
My flesh too weak to move
I seek to drown.
Heaven waits if I can yet somehow cast off this worthless form.
And be done with helpless futile efforts of my will.
You stand upon the sea my Lord
I see you’ve come to me.
Running to my gate of desperation
You take me in your arms.
Your voice in softest whisper
Tells me “patience, let it be”
“Let me row, give oars and all to me.”
I faint within this vision or this song.
When I awake I stand among the wildflowers on the hill,
I watch you rise again,
And suddenly I know—
You my Jesus, You are the Joy of all Trials.
Sermon Notes | The Gift of the Holy Ghost
The Best Gift = The Holy Ghost
The two realities of existence – flesh (or physical) or Spirit, are diametrically opposed to each other and we can not live in both realms.
Galatians 5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. (KJV) 17 The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. (NLT)
Either a person lives their days on earth confined to the chains of self in this present world, or they forsake self and stake their entire existence on the Spirit of God. Sure, like Adam and Eve, we all live in bodies made of flesh and bone, but the body is merely the vehicle that our spirit is contained in.
The question is: will our spirit buy into the realm of humanity that is defaulted to us by Adam, or will it become meshed with the Spirit of our Creator, take on the attributes of Deity and walk with Him in the cool of the day?
This becoming “ONE” with God is not something a person can do on his own; instead it takes the POWER OF THE HOLY GHOST to overcome this present world.
We must surrender completely and absolutely to Jesus Christ, think with His mind and allow His Spirit to inhabit our body. Then, and only then will we be led by the Spirit and walk in the Kingdom of God.
Spirit Baptism | Subsequent Experience
Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
More Scriptures of Holy Spirit baptism
Acts 8:14-18, Acts 10:44-48, Acts 19:2He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
4 Attributes of the Holy Ghost
1. The Holy Spirit will fill you with POWER.
Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you,
John 1: 12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
1 Thessalonians 1: 5 For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.
How many of you want assurance that God is there? Not just head knowledge. Not just hearsay. Divine Assurance.
2. The Holy Spirit will be your COMFORTER.
John 14:16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Comforter,
We pray for that attribute during funerals and death, however, it is available 24/7 to those who are filled with the Spirit.
to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth (remember sermon on TRUTH at core), whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.
Where are you in that last phrase? Do you know him only because he is around you? He wants to be in you. He wants to baptize you. Like a warm blanket on a cold night.
We will never be alone again when the Holy Spirit is alive in our soul. He will be our constant companion, never leaving us unless we forsake Him first.
3. The Holy Spirit will LEAD YOU to all truth.
John 16: 13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. 14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. (KJV)
1 Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know [them], because they are spiritually discerned.
When DECISIONS need to be made…We must have the Holy Spirit to be our guide.
Other tools: We have the “council of many” from Proverbs. We have experience. We have the Bible as a guide. Systematic Bible Reading prepares your mind to interact with the world. However, God has created us with a need for his Spirit to guide us. With the absence of the Holy Spirit, we are left to the influences of the world around us (which is dominate by the Flesh/sinful desires)
4. The Holy Spirit will BEAR FRUIT in your life.
Galatians 5:22-24 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
If you do not have these attributes, or results of the Holy Spirit working in your life, you are not walking in the Spirit. It does not matter how much you call yourself a Christian, how much you attend church or how much you donate to good causes, unless your life exhibits the fruits of the Spirit, the Holy Spirit is not there.
Sermon Notes – Generous
The ultimate test of your faith is: Are you Generous?
“Well sure, I am giving a ton of gifts this year.” Is there a difference between giving gifts and being generous? You can give gifts without being generous.
Typical Christmas Gift Giving
- It is expected of you. Tradition
- You are returning a favor from last year’s present
- You give first in order to get
Questions to Ponder:
- How much of the money you are spending is giving from a generous heart vs. obligatory heart?
- What if you only gave from generous perspective? Would it change WHO you give to? If it were totally generous, would it include a different group?
Generous – liberal in giving or sharing; unselfish: Giving with no concern for recompense. There is nothing about the definition of generosity that says you have to be rich to be generous. It is a heart condition.
Sermon Notes Nov11, 2012
Before the Moment
John 4:23 But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.”(ESV)
Truth: Aletheia – The reality lying at the basis of an appearance; the manifested, veritable essence of a matter. Worship at the BASE LEVEL of the heart. To understand base level, lets talk about the three levels of communication.
1 John 3: 18 Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.
- Verbal communication – (lowest level) Saying things matter.
Confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord. However, this level of communication can be misused. Matthew 21:28-31 summary –
Robin Steele 