This week's church service was at Pioneer Hall in honor of Pioneer Days, so I wasn't able to take any notes, but you can still watch a great sermon (and hear us sing a couple of songs).
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[I just realized no notes or sermon were uploaded from last week -- Easter Sunday (or what we like to say "Resurrection Sunday.") So, if you would like to see that sermon (which was incredible) entitled "Why Easter" you can click here.] So, for today's notes.....Peter's Law of Motion.... "3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls. 10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, 11 trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of the Messiah and the glories that would follow." 1 Peter 1:3-11 Let's break this passage down and outline the steps we need to take -- the actions that build upon each other to cause spiritual growth. Obtaining our faith: We got everything we need to live for Jesus -- it is the knowledge of Jesus that makes this possible. Faith comes from: "Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ." Romans 1017 "Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see." Hebrews 11:1 "For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved." Romans 10:10 Faith comes from hearing the message, having confidence in what we hope for but do not see; and when we believe in our hearts and profess it with our mouths (our words). This is just the beginning of your faith though -- you gotta grow! Promises: "Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires." 2 Peter 1:4 Because of his promises we can live like Christ. Faith is a process. If we want to live the promises: Building up our faith: 5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love." 2 Peter 1:5-7 It says we are to add to our faith. It is a process... We are to be like a moving river. When water stops moving it gets stagnant -- then it looks and smells bad and is good for nothing. But we are to be like living water. faith (then) goodness (then) knowledge (then) self-control (then) perseverance (then) godliness (then) mutual affection (then) love.....they build on each other. "12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity." Colossians 3:12-14 Bind it all in love. 14 Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.[a]" Romans 13:14 Put the work in and you will grow. This is a promise. If you're not growing you're dying. "8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins." 2 Peter 1:8-9 "Increasing measure" -- this means never ending. “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock." Matthew 7:24 Grow by seeking, doing, experiencing. "If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you." James 1:5 "In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead." James 2:17 "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds," James 1:2 Rewards: "Therefore, my brothers and sisters,[a] make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, 11 and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." 2 Peter 1:10-11 If you make the effort you won't stumble -- you gotta do your part. Be a flowing river! Peter's 3rd Law of Motion: For every action we take, there is an equal reaction from the Spirit! "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." 2 Timothy 4:7 “The Lord is my strength and my defense[a]; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him." Exodus 15:2 Webster's definition of worship: : 1. to honor or show reverence for as a divine being or supernatural power 2: to regard with great or extravagant respect, honor, or devotion Songs, sacrifice, recognizing who God is and who we are -- all part of worship. Biblical examples are shown to us by Abraham, Moses, the prophets, the kings, even Jesus in the garden. Worship is essential to being a Christian. 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 "Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. 2 Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song." Psalm 95:1-2 "Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of his[a] holiness." Psalm 29:2 "Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker;" Psalm 95:6 "Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. 2 Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. 3 Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his[a]; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture." Psalm 100:1-3 Worship God. Praise God all the time. Worship in heaven and yet to come: "8 Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying: “‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,’[a] who was, and is, and is to come.” 9 Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say: 11 “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.'" Revelation 4:8-11 No matter who we are or how important we are in this world, we will always just be people and God will always be God. Every knee will bow. All creatures and all people will acknowledge Jesus as God -- either willingly or otherwise. "11 Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. 12 In a loud voice they were saying: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” 13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!'" Revelation 5:11-13 Worship in Spirit and Truth 23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” John 4:23-24 15 Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name." Hebrews 13:15 Worship is Doing "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. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:1-2 Worship is a verb. As a recipient of Christ's sacrifice, live your life in response to what you have received. Everything we do should be in response to Jesus's sacrifice. Worship is Knowing 13 Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven." James 5:13-15 Worship is obedience. Worship is Telling "5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house[a] to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." 1 Peter 2:5 10 You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister[a]? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. 11 It is written: “‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God.’”[b]" Romans 14:10-11 Doing, Knowing and Telling -- Each of us knows someone who doesn't know Jesus. We need to tell them. Life of Worship: “The Lord is my strength and my defense[a]; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him." Exodus 15:2 7 Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. 8 You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. 9 Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!" James 5:7-9 We are in a waiting period. Just this week: we have the Michigan school shooting. 12 people were shot in Chicago, four died. 13 police ofiicers were shot, 3 killed. 25,000 people, 10,000 children die daily from starvation. Russia is messing with Ukraine and China is trying to take over Tawain. We might ask -- why doesn't God do something? His waiting is His mercy. "How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? 2 How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me?" Psalm 13:1-2 "How long, Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you, “Violence!” but you do not save?" Habakkuk 1:2 "They called out in a loud voice, “How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?”" Revelation 6:10 God is holding back. Why did it take Noah so long to build the ark? Why did the Israelites wander so long in the desert? God showing people mercy -- He wants all to come to repentance. Waiting for the Messiah Isaiah to Jesus -- 800 years Malachi to Jesus -- 400 years Jesus's second coming....? How long Lord? God's promises are always fulfilled. "Not one of all the Lord’s good promises to Israel failed; every one was fulfilled." Joshua 21:45 "Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments." Deuteronomy 7:9 God said He will handle it. "God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?" Numbers 23:19 Why does God delay? "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." 2 Peter 3:9 "Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!" Isaiah 30:18 He waited for us. "The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love." Psalm 103:8 We deserve His wrath. "If you, Lord, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand? 4 But with you there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve you. 5 I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope." Psalm 130:3-5 "Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. 8 You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. 9 Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!" James 5:7-9 10 Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy." James 5:10-11 The wickedness will be handled. The sin, the wars will be dealt with. We must be patient in Prayer "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7 We can be thankful while praying about trouble and suffering because we know God is in control. "But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently." Romans 8:25 "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." Romans 12:12 Run the race -- in the midst of it all "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." Hebrews 12:1-3 God's got this. Be joyful always -- Be joyful anyway! "We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. 2 Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up. 3 For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.”[a] 4 For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope." Romans 15:1-9 We are called to be servants like Jesus Christ. "When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them." John 13:12-17 Jesus is clear. We are called to be servants. The Time is Coming... "But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people." 2 Timothy 3:1-5 Some of the people in our society who have the biggest titles and most fame or worldly success could be described by the above passage. We can't follow world thought or embrace what the world embraces. Actions of Servants: "We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves." Romans 15:1 "To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some." 1 Corinthians 9:22 There is a revival going on right now in India with the "Untouchables." They are the caste in India society that Mother Teresa worked with. What happens when these people get saved? They immediately ask what they can do to share what they just received. They are blessed in lacking in material goods but having great faith. We need to seek out the "untouchables" in our society, the ones on the fringes of society; the ones the world says don't "deserve" people's time and attention; the ones who are lost and hurting and desperately want to fit in and be accepted by someone. People need us to look them in the eye and notice them. "Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." Galatians 6:2 "not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others." Philippians 2:4 We are here to fulfill the law of Christ. Jesus didn't wait for people to come to Him. He went to where they were. He sought the "untouchables." "Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 26 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant," Matthew 20:25-26 Again, Jesus is clear. "Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up." Romans 15:2 We are not here to please ourselves. "Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification." Romans 14:19 edification: building each other up. The Place of Servanthood: "No one should seek their own good, but the good of others." 1 Corinthians 10:24 "Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God— 33 even as I try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved." 1 Corinthians 10:32-33 God said it doesn't matter what we eat or drink or whatever -- but don't cause others to stumble in your freedom. You have to know someone well to know what will make them stumble. Single-mindedness of the Servant: "May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, 6 so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." Romans 15:5-6 "Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble." 1 Peter 3:8 We're not meant to be conceited. We are here to carry the burden. Keep knocking till someone answers. "Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God." Romans 15:7 "Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity." Colossians 3:12-14 This is opposite of what the world promotes. Let Servanthood be Your Joy: "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13 (If you want a copy of the study we do on Monday night that relates to the sermon from the Sunday before, click here and I will email you a copy.) First blood sacrifice in the Bible happened in Genesis 3: 21 "The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them." Genesis 3:21 And then in the end: "13 Then one of the elders asked me, “These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?” 14 I answered, “Sir, you know.” And he said, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." Revelation 7:13-14 I. The Lamb was needed. Blood on the doorway -- Everyone needed to be covered by the blood because everyone has sinned. The angel of death was coming. If you don't follow through with God's commands of putting blood on the door, your child would die. "3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.[a]”" John 3:3 II. The Lamb is chosen. The lamb was chosen on day 10 (see Exodus 12) and taken home and not sacrificed till day 14. Kids probably got quite attached. 8 All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written in the Lamb’s book of life, the Lamb who was slain from the creation of the world.[a]" revelation 13:8 4 But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.[a]" Galatians 4:4-5 God sent Jesus at the perfect time. The Romans were in charge and built roads everywhere. There was a common language -- Greek. The language, the roads were all there so the gospel could be spread! Fullness of God's time!! III. The Lamb was watched. the kids would watch the lamb these four days. The people and the Pharisees watched Jesus. 4 But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.[a]" Luke 6:7 IV. The Lamb is slaughtered. Jesus was chosen. His purpose was to die, to be the sacrifice for all sin. A blood sacrifice. His blood is on all our hands. 23 This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men,[a] put him to death by nailing him to the cross." Acts 2:23 IV. Blood applied. Killing the lamb was not enough. The blood had to be applied to the door frame -- above, right and left and below. Just like the cross: the crown of thorns, the nails on the right, the left and below. Jesus is the Door to Heaven. 7 Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.[a] They will come in and go out, and find pasture." John 10:7-9 The blood had to be applied by faith. Used hyssop to apply it -- everyone had to do it. Hyssop was a common shrub. All had to pick some to apply the blood. Leveled the playing field. V. The Lamb was eaten. The lamb had to be eaten by the family. We have to ingest Jesus's flesh and blood. He is the bread from heaven. He has to be part of us. Blood=salvation Flesh=regeneration. "Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you." John 6:53 Eaten with the Lamb was bitter herbs which represented Egypt and slavery. Bread without yeast -- hurry! 7 Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. 8 Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old bread leavened with malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth." 1 Corinthians 5:7-8 You had to be dressed and ready. Are you ready? The LORD's supper: 53 Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 54 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. 55 For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. 56 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them. 57 Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your ancestors ate manna and died, but whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.” John 6:53-58 "Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy." Micah 7:18 God wants to show us all His lovingkindness. "Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea and they went into the Desert of Shur. For three days they traveled in the desert without finding water. 23 When they came to Marah, they could not drink its water because it was bitter. (That is why the place is called Marah.[a]) 24 So the people grumbled against Moses, saying, “What are we to drink?” 25 Then Moses cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a piece of wood. He threw it into the water, and the water became fit to drink. There the Lord issued a ruling and instruction for them and put them to the test. 26 He said, “If you listen carefully to the Lord your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals you.” 27 Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs and seventy palm trees, and they camped there near the water." Exodus 15:22-27 But the Israelites grumbled instead. They didn't wait on the Lord. They demanded! We need to accept God's lovingkindness. We shouldn't hold onto bittterness. Give it to God. Let God take it on. Bitterness will rip you in half. Bitterness will destroy relationships. It will destroy all if we allow it to. Instead we should choose to have a heart like David. "I will bow down toward your holy temple and will praise your name for your unfailing love and your faithfulness, for you have so exalted your solemn decree that it surpasses your fame." Psalm 138:2 "The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made." Psalm 145:9 He had rough stuff going on but David praised God no matter what. So how do we deal with Bitterness? #1 Take it to God. "You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water. I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you." Psalm 63:1-5 No matterr what happens I will praise God. Praise Him anyway. Go to God with everything. #2 Forgive like you have been forgiven. This is a conditional statement. He will forgive us as we have forgiven others. "Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." Ephesians 4:31-32 #3 Rest in God. "For forty years I was angry with that generation; I said, ‘They are a people whose hearts go astray, and they have not known my ways.’ 11 So I declared on oath in my anger, ‘They shall never enter my rest.’”" Psalm 95:10-11 "The Lord gave them rest on every side, just as he had sworn to their ancestors. Not one of their enemies withstood them; the Lord gave all their enemies into their hands." Joshua 21:44 You can be in battle but still be in God's rest. We need that rest. We remember He is in control. His purpose will prevail. The closer you get to God the more of His peace you will have. Stop....Pause...Give it to God. #4 Be confident in the Lovingkindness of God. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’[a] or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” Revelation 21:4 #5 Spend more and more time in the Word. Lovingkindness is mentioned in the Bible 149 times. "The name of the Lord is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe." Proverbs 18:10 You will be safe. I love you. I have only the best of intentions for You. God can't do anything for you until you give it to Him. Until you come to Him. "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10 Don't be dismayed, angry or bitter. We can't do any of this on our own. #6 Let it go! "The Lord is my light and my salvation-- whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life-- of whom shall I be afraid? 2 When the wicked advance against me to devour[a] me, it is my enemies and my foes who will stumble and fall. 3 Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident." Psalm 27:1-3 The peace the world offers is temporary. True, lasting peace originates in God. “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” Luke 2:14 First time there was a heavenly host seen all at once by humans. Many still miss Jesus' birth, His arrival. I. Peace on earth cannot originate with man. Not peace from war -- although we all want that. Not "let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me." Not "I'd like to teach the world to sing" eiher. As humans, we can't even love the ones we love well: **Every 9 seconds in the USA a woman is beaten. **Worldwide 1 in 3 women will be beaten or raped by a known loved one. **10 million children witness abuse every day. We live in a fallen world. They wanted a political messiah, one who would stop the hardship in life, without understanding that we are the ones creating the strife. All have sinned and fall short, there will never be peace on earth until Christ returns the second time. There would have been no salvation if Jesus came as a political messiah first. Here is the peace the angels talked about: II. Real Peace "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." John 14:27 "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:7 The arrival of Jesus marked the beginning of God's reconciliation with man. The means of peace between God and man has entered the world. Jesus, born as a baby, fully God, fully man. Born to bear our sins, born to die as the Lamb of God. God's provision to bring the only possible way to lasting peace -- reunification with God Himself. Peace provided is peace within. "For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people." Titus 2:11 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” Luke 2:14 If you accept Him, You will have peace. Jesus and our relationship with Him is our true peace. "But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him," and by his wounds we are healed." Isaiah 53:5 "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 The return of the King is the end: "In the last days the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established as the highest of the mountains; it will be exalted above the hills, and all nations will stream to it. 3 Many peoples will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the temple of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.” The law will go out from Zion, the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. 4 He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. 5 Come, descendants of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the Lord." Isaiah 2:2-5 The Christmas story is only the beginning. "Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” Luke 2:13-14 A great host in Revelation too! Love, Joy, Hope and Peace. We are living in the advent of the 2nd Coming of Christ!! Time is short. Act like it. Be prepared. Have your bags packed waiting for heaven. "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. 2 Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. 3 They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. 4 Yet their voice[b] goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun. 5 It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, like a champion rejoicing to run his course. 6 It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is deprived of its warmth. 7 The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. 8 The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes. 9 The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The decrees of the Lord are firm, and all of them are righteous." Psalm 19:1-9 Every single thing in creation is a wonder of God: babies, flowers, bees, trees, our bodies. For example, 1055 amino acids make up a protein, but those amino acids have to be lined up in one perfect order. For this to happen accidentally, the chance of this happening would be 10 to the 260th power! God's wonder is laid out all around us. The wonder of God is self-evident. "But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you; 8 or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you. 9 Which of all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this?" Job 12:7-9 Man is the only creation that will deny God. "For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse." Romans 1:20 The Joy of the Law of God "The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. 8 The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes. 9 The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The decrees of the Lord are firm, and all of them are righteous." Psalm 19:7-9 The Law gives us and all things guidance. "My dear child, don't shrug off God's discipline, but don't be crushed by it either. It's the child he loves that he disciplies; the child he embraces, he also corrects." Hebrews 12:6 Discipline comes from love. God's ways are always best. The Love of God in Jesus God's plan from the very beginning was to make a way for us to be with him -- that way is Jesus. "He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. 27 Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. 28 All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. 29 As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.”" Mark 4:26-29 1. Our God is alive and working. 2. He loves us enough to discipline us. 3. He loved us enough to send Jesus. 4. We need to be actively growing. We need to be fertile soil. 5. The Creator is still creating. "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8 He Demonstrates. Present tense! We should be faithfully growing daily, never stopping until death or when Jesus comes back. We should be faithfully planting, never stopping until death or when Jesus comes back. Jesus will come back for the final harvst. "Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand." Ephesians 6:11-13
What is that evil? Understanding the enemy is the first step in overcoming the enemy. We can't go blindly into battle. Who is Satan? -- He is a fallen angel. -- He has been given control over the whole world. "We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one." 1 John 5:19 "Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LordGod had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” 2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3 but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’” 4 “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5 “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” Genesis 3:1-5 Satan likes when people don't believe he's rearl and he likes to stay hidden. These are great ways to do his work without interruption or interference. He uses: DECEPTION. "You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies." John 8:44 He'll use half-truths, outright lies; other people to lie. Surface stuff doesn't tell the whole truth. Lies are just empty promises, a trap. Deny the truth of the Word. He makes the truth complicated. Asks, "but what if?" and "But how can?" Faith is simple. He uses wordsmithing, spinning. He will also overwhelm people with sheer volume of information so they just get callous or immune to it. "Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world." 1 John 4:1 Make sure you test what you hear. Look for the truth yourself. Test the source. Jesus said, "You are either for me or against me." DIVISION: “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one,Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one" John 17:20-22 Nothing is more damaging to the church than division in a church body (or division between Christians). "So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; 23 but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? 25 Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature[a] a slave to the law of sin." Romans 7:21-25 Whatever we feed internally will win (either our flesh or the Spirit). "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." Ephesians 6:12 Externally, we will always be looking for something better -- this divides us from within and away from what God has for us. We shouldn't be afraid of the devil but we need to respect the threat. DIVERSION: TURN US OFF THE PATH: "Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.” Matthew 16:23 How do you avoid diversions? Be alert and then avoid them. Pushing through them sometimes will cause very negative consequences. If we have been diverted from the path, we will be too absorbed in the world and will have no time for prayer, church and the Word. If you value something, you'll find time for it. ANXIETY AND FEAR: "Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell." Matthew 10:28 The beginning of wisdom is the fear of God. We know what God is capable of, so why fear? DISCOURAGEMENT: Discourages us because aspirations are open-ended. God knows and understands we are in process. This is grace. If you live in fear you will always fail (or never try). Do not let perfection get in the way of "good enough." There's always room for improvement. This doesn't mean we are failures. It means we are human. Fatigue, worn out. He tries to make us give up. We aren't alone. Let God carry your load. "They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” 2 Peter 3:4 What's wrong with waiting? Giving us His grace, something to energize us! "In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 3 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry." 2Timothy 4:1-5 Forewarned is forearmed! Faith is rooted in love! "I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you." Luke 10:19 Use the power that is given to you! Keep your eyes on the Cross! "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing,but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." 1 Corinthians 1:18 Are you willing? Surrender to God and let go of your own agenda. The enemy cannot and will never defeat our Father!! (Jane left the voice recorder at church!! Sorry! I will try and load up the recording later this week. It was a really good sermon.) |
Shannon HinrichsDupree Baptist Church Pastor If you would like to donate to this ministry, send your donation via check or money order to Dupree Baptist Church PO Box 372 Faith, SD 57626 Thank you!! All donations are tax deductible.
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