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Use It Or Lose It

1/28/2018

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It's easier to continue than to stop and start again.

​"If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and are overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. 21 It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them." 2 Peter 2:20-21

We know people who were once on fire for God but are no longer walking with Him. None of us can look at that and say it's a good thing.

Life becomes painful.

You don't know what you have until it's gone.

Lfe getes in the way. We let life get in the way.

God knows what is good for us -- it's Him. That's what is best.

A successful life is walking through life with God.

God gave us a personal trainer. He is the Holly Spirit.  He's there.

What we want is to be one with God. We all want God to say, "Well done good and faithful servant."

14 “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them.
 15 To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag,[a] each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16 The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. 17 So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. 18 But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money." Matthew 25:14-18

According to his ability.

God gives us different abilties. In the area you have, in your realm of influence God has give you what you need to make a difference for Him.

All people get something. We all get a chance to do something for God, to be active.

Our life is meant to be used.


19 “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20 The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’
21 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.Come and share your master’s happiness!’
22 “The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’
23 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.Come and share your master’s happiness!’" Matthew 25:19-23

There's no difference. Same blessing comes to both of them.

You take what you got. Run with what you have. Don't worry about what others have.


26 “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27 Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.
28 “‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. 29 For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’" Matthew 25:26-30

God has offered His Son to every person. Everyone has the opportunity. You will get what you have chosen.  

You chose not to do anything with what I gave you.

Imagine a farmer inheriting a field but letting it go to weeds.

1. Spend time in the Word. That's one of the bags of gold. Am I wasting His investment?

2. Time with God in Prayer. Jesus spent time alone with God. If he did, we should too. We need to treat our lives as gifts.

3. Sacrifice -- a form of worship


"Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship." Romans 12:1

Worship should be even greater now that we have salvation.

Our lives should be a sacrifice. What we do is worship to God (or can be). Our work is meant to be active.


18"But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”
Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. 19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder." James 2:18-19

Faith without works is burying that bag of gold in the ground.


22 "God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be headover everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of himwho fills everything in every way." Ephesians 1:22-23

If the church is empty how can it fill anything up?

Why go to church?

1. God tells us to.

2. We share in learning the Word.

3. Fellowship.

Where you spend your time is what you will look like.

19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matthew 6:19-21

What you spend your time on is what you value.

Are you too tired for God?


The most precious thing is a relationship with God.

Others lose if we don't use the talents God has given us.

Do what you can in your sphere of influence.

Take what God has given you and run with it or lose the gifts He has given you.



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Three Truths

1/21/2018

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26"While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”
27 Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 This is my blood of the[a] covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” Matthew 26:26-29

Jesus's death was necessary.

"In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness." Hebrews 9:22

"God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement,
[a] through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished" Romans 3:25

Jesus's sacrifice means we can have a personal relationship with God. Also means we can one day walk with Him in heaven.

"For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit." 1 Peter 3:18

Jesus died for this opportunity.

1 Cross + 3 nails = 4Given!

Our faith has to be based on the right thing -- Jesus.

"Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day." John 6:54

When your faith is based on Jesus you will be raised in the end.

Jesus provides salvation only if it is a faith we can't do without.

'For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you." Romans 12:3

The 2nd "last supper" is called The Marriage Supper of the Lamb.

"Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing watersand like loud peals of thunder, shouting:
“Hallelujah!
    For our Lord God Almighty reigns.
7 Let us rejoice and be glad
    and give him glory!
For the wedding of the Lamb has come,
    and his bride has made herself ready.
8 Fine linen, bright and clean,
    was given her to wear.”
(Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of God’s holy people.)
9 Then the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!” And he added, “These are the true words of God.” Revelation 19:6-9

The disciples understood what Jesus was doing when He offered them the cup. It was the picture of what happens between a young couple getting engaged. When the man of the couple offers the woman the cup of wine it means he is offering her himself, his entire life, his all. She has the choice of whether or not to accept the  cup even though negotiations and contracts have been drawn up. She has freewill. When she accepts the cup she is saying my life is yours. I am dedicated to you. You are my future. 

When we accept  Christ's cup, his blood, we are saying we are His. We are dedicated to Him. 

Do we accept the cup?

When Jesus handed them the bread and the cup He was offering everything.

1. Have you asked for forgiveness? 

2.  Are you living your life in a way that honors Jesus's sacrifice?

3. When Christ returns and we're at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb will we see people there we've shared the good news with?

I don't want anyone to be missing.

We live with the consequences of our decision.

​


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Why are we here?

1/14/2018

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 "For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility," Ephesians 2:14

Jesus's sacrfice allows us to live in community with all Believers. 

You can say we're more connected than ever with the invention of cell phones and social media. But with that we are more isolated than ever.

Technology is isolating us.

Isolation is terrible, not God's will for us at all.

He created us to be in community.  We are not meant to be alone.

Our best shot at getting through this life is to do life together. That should be our aim.

Sometimes this is hard.

Life is very busy. Stop and look at what you need in relationships.

Busyness and fear of connection/intimacy.

Church has to be a safe place.

"I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” Luke 5:32

We shouldn't reject others for we are all sinners. It's very dangerous to separate ourselves. The church must be a safe place.

Our fellowship must be deliberate.

"They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved." Acts 2:42-47

Becoming a Christian was dangerous (still is in many parts of the world).

God speaks to everyone individually and specifically. They spent their time together. 

Sharing the burden is part of what the church is to do.

They shared meals together.

They prayed together.

Be open to listen.

3 things necessary:
1. Faith shared
2. Commitment to each other 
3. Courage to reach out

24 "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds,
 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching." Hebrews 10:24-25

Jesus was and is all about relationships.
​

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Gifts of the Magi

1/7/2018

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Text is taken from Matthew 2:1-12.

What do we know?

Herod recognized them as being important people.

The East meant Persia (Modern-Day Iran and Afghanistan).

Magi means wisemen, magistrate.

Daniel was a magi, the head magi. Magi were also scholars, legal minds, scientists.

The ones in Matthew were wise enough to seek Jesus.

They were gentiles.

They followed through on their seeking of Jesus even though the journey was fraught with danger and expense.

"After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod,Magi[a] from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him." Matthew 12:1-2

Star means something in the sky that was extraordinary. Possibly it appeared as a pillar of light over the house where Jesus was when the wisemen got to Bethlehem.

The journey the wisemen took was anywhere from 500 to 1000 miles.

Dangerous journey: bandits, desert conditions.

They would have had lots of people with them.

They had to wholly believe Jesus was the promised king to take such a journey!

In Jerusalem they enountered hostility toward Jesus from Herod and indifference from the religious leaders. They still continued on.

Herod was a tyrant. He killed his mother-in-law, a brother-in-law, his wife and three of his own sons!

Magi were probably expecting a celebration of the king's birth. Instead they saw indifference.

3 "When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born."
Matthew 2:3-4

It was six miles from Jerusalem to Bethlehem. The chief priests didn't even bother to go check out the wisemen's story. 

Three gifts:
GOLD -- symbolizes royalty
FRANKINCENSE -- symbolizes worship. It is the incense used in worship.
MYRRH -- used to embalm bodies. Symbolizes death.

All three pertained to Jesus!

These were expensive and special gifts.

The wisemen followed through:
-- on going
-- on worshipping
-- on giving.

"And having been warned
 in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route." Matthew 2:12

This was no small thing to do. As desert dwellers they would have planned their trip out specifically to get access to water and safety regularly along the way. To change that plan was a dangerous thing. But they did it to protect Jesus. 

There are 3 different types of people:
The Herods -- hostile to Jesus
The religious leaders -- indifferent to Jesus
The Magi -- true followers of Jesus

Which one are you?

We are on a journey ourselves. Jesus is either Lord of all in your life or Lord of nothing in your life. We are either for or against HIm.

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    Shannon Hinrichs

    Dupree Baptist Church Pastor

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