The LORD's Day, January 31, 2010

The Original Temptation

Genesis 3.1-7

We hear a lot about original sin, but seldom do we hear about the original temptation. It is important we see temptation so we can overcome it. Too often it is upon us before we are aware what it is. Seeing it first gives us insight and thus an advantage in the battle.

We are told everything we need to know about the tempter in God's Word. I don't believe we should delves into books or studies about Satan beyond God's Word. Paul said, "I want to know Christ..." That should be our highest goal.

Paul did write to the Corinthians about being aware of Satan's work. II Corinthians 2.11 "... in order that Satan might not outwit us for we are not unaware of his schemes."

1. He is a liar and the father of lies. John 8.44
Every time we see him in God's Word speaking he is lying or falsely accusing or seeking to deceive: Here, Job when he was tested, Jesus when he was tempted. He twisted scripture.

2. He is crafty and prowls around like a roaring lion. I Peter 5.8

3. He seeks to steal, kill and destroy. John 10.10
At the end of every temptation there is some sort of destruction and loss.
I John 3.8 The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work.

4. He accuses before God. Revelation 12.10-12
He did this with Job. He accused him of impure motives.

5. The LORD God will soon crush Satan under our feet. Romans 16.20

Look at the scripture of this morning. Genesis 3.1-7

Notice how he tempts so we can recognize it when it happens to us.

1. He deceitfully puts questions about God in the minds of people, twisting the truth and attempting to make God look bad. vs.1-3

Note these tactics. Be aware of his devices. II Corinthians 2.10-11

Resist him. I Peter 5.9 Don't engage him in conversation, even in your mind.

2. He outright lies. v.4

About God's Word- temptation to become discouraged or if you are to quit. Elijah

Look at the essence of this lie.
You will be like God. You will attain His wisdom.
Isaiah 55.8-9
The essence of wisdom is Proverbs 3.5-6 See how these views are diametrically opposed to each other.

He lies about the consequences of sinful behavior.
That no one will know.
That you can get away with it. He tries bring on the pleasure factor while dulling your sensitivity to evil.

3. He makes promises he cannot possibly keep. v.5

The LORD is faithful to all His promises. Satan lies. His "promises" are never kept.

What he was saying was partly true. So deceptive.

What he was implying was a lie.

What he promised and painted never happened.

Ephesians 6.10-11

I Corinthians 10.13

It Will Be Worth It All!

The LORD's Day, January 24, 2010

Freedom In Christ

Genesis 2.4-17

Here in the beginning of the creation and the human race as we know it there was harmony and tranquility in the creation itself. It wasn't until after sin came into the world that there were hurricanes and earthquakes and even rainstorms.

Since sin came, we are told in Romans 8.19-22

The whole creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.

We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.

1. What Adam Lost vs.16-17

v.16 you are free

Adam did not know how precious his freedom was until he lost it.

He lost the freedom to enjoy life to the fullest. Work was going to be harder. He was going to have contend with sin and its consequences and death itself.

He lost the freedom to experience innocency. He and Eve did not even have a knowledge of good and evil. What a treasure this was! Freedom from seeing anything bad. Freedom from having to know about the things we all know too much about. No death, devastation or destruction due to sin.

to eat from any tree in the garden

The Garden had wonderful vegetation. There were a number of fruit bearing trees. The description of this Garden is sublime- irrigated by rivers and streams.

v.17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil Within this basic and easy to understand guideline, God established, Adam had a wonderful life- beyond our ability to really comprehend.

for when you eat of it you will surely die. A consequence of disobeying God.

Romans 5.12-17

2. What Jesus Gives

He delivers us from evil- The LORD's Prayer. We live in an evil fallen wicked world but Christ has overcome the world and we can be free in it.

Deliver us from evil- from the things which destroy body and soul.

We are not talking about absolute freedom here. That is utter nonsense. True Christlike freedom is concerned about God and others and self. When my freedom takes away another's -trespass- then it is sin.

Boundaries are necessary. Clear lines are given in the Ten Commandments. Every individual, family and nation which live outside its boundaries ends up destroying itself. Look at the Middle East/ Look at America. Last Friday in Washington- the March for Life. We are in a battle today.

Freedom In Christ is Wonderful!

Freedom to live a life of eternal fulfillment.

Freedom from worry Matthew 6.25-33

Freedom from resentment due to forgiveness.

Freedom from revenge- lots of work!

Freedom from hatred, jealousy, envy- all the works of the flesh

Freedom to love (fruit of the Spirit), forgive, give generously- which has its own reward.

Freedom to serve God and enjoy Him forever!

Glorious Freedom!

The LORD's Day, January 17, 2010

God's Spirit In Creation and Us

Genesis 1.1-31

The LORD is the Creator of all that is. He is the Author of Life. Around God's throne the twenty four elders worship the LORD. Their words are recorded in Revelation 4.11
You are worthy, our LORD and God, to receive gory and honor and power, for You created all things, and by Your will they were created and have their being.

We see in Genesis 1.2
1. God's Life Giving Spirit in Creation Genesis 1.1-2
We read this morning about how the Creation is full of life. Plant life. Animal life. Look at verse 20 the water teem (swarm, multiply) with fish.
Verse 25 And God saw that it was good v.31 very good. His Spirit in the beginning was hovering over the waters. Then the waters were teeming with life.

In vs.26-31 We see God's creation of us- human beings. He gave responsibility for the creation to man- benefits of it too. God did something very special to man- to Adam...

2. God Has Placed Eternity In The Hearts of Men Genesis 2.7
He did that when He breathed into man's nostrils and man became a living being.
God breathed into Adam "the breath of life" God gave us what no other creature in all of His creation has- His Spirit eternity from His breath.

He placed Adam in the Garden (2.15) to work it and take care of it. He gave him the freedom with one restriction- Adam chose to disobey God.
This resulted in...

3. The Loss of the Spirit from Mankind. Genesis 3 (The earth under a curse 3.17-19)
Genesis 6.2 God said that His Spirit would not always strive with man
Strive= contend- plead a cause, govern, remain in

4. The Return of the Spirit of God to Mankind.
We see evidences of it in the Old Testament.
Psalm 51.11 David's prayer

Prophets, priests, kings were anointed and God's Spirit was given to them.

Luke 1.41 Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit

Joel 2.28-29 I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out My Spirit in those days.

The Promise in John 14.15-16 and in Luke 24.45-49
The Promise of the Father reiterated by Jesus Acts 1.4-8

God's Spirit gives us power
*The power to witness boldly Just look at Peter John 18.15-27 and then in Acts 2.14-16,22-24,36-41
*The power to live righteously. II Peter 1.3 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him Who called us
*The power to love completely Galatians 5.22
The fruit of the Spirit is love.

We are born sinners- without the Spirit- in need of a Savior

Jesus Christ is the Savior and He baptizes us with the Holy Spirit

We need fresh infillings. We need to be filled and keep on being filled.

Be filled with the Spirit!

January 10, 2010

The LORD, Time and Eternity

Psalm 90.1-12

The next few weeks we will be looking at the account in Genesis of Creation. If you have read Genesis 1 this past week you noticed that as we know it was part of the creation of the heavens and the earth. Before God created the heavens and the earth there was no morning and evening.

Look at the phrase we read this morning: "From everlasting to everlasting, You are God." v.2

The LORD has always been. He had no beginning. Genesis 1.1 In the beginning, God... This is the beginning of creation and time. God has been, is and will ever be.

The word "everlasting" has numerous meanings. One is "perpetual". Everlasting means a long or indefinite time of past or future. It means "a continuous "existence." It means "always". From Always to Always, You are God.

God has always been, is and is forever God.

He does not change. He remains the same.

Psalm 102.25-27

In the beginning You laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your Hands. They will all perish, but You will remain; they will wear out like a garment. Like clothing You will change them and the will be discarded. But You remain the same and Your years will never end.

The name for God in the 90th Psalm is El. It means Mighty, Power, and Strength.

1. The LORD is Mighty in His Sovereignty. Romans 8.28

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him.

God is using events good and bad for our good. He is shaping us through life.

Psalm 103.19 The LORD has established His throne in heaven and His Kingdom rules over all.

Psalm 115.3 Our God is in heaven; He does whatever He pleases.

This is a great encouragement to me. sometimes it seems as if things are working against me. They might be. But even those things God is working for my good. I believe one of the reasons this is spelled out so plainly is because it is at times very difficult to see when we are going through it.

He is in control. He rules over all. He acts in ways that please Him.

2. The LORD is Mighty in His Majesty. Isaiah 6.1

In the year that King Uzziah dies, I saw the LORD seated on a throne, high and exalted.

Each time a vision of God is given in the scriptures we see Him exalted.

He is exalted, His majesty is the Highest in all the world and the heavens.

He is above all. He beyond time. He transcends time. He is eternal.

3. The LORD is Mighty to Work on Our Behalf. Ephesians 3.20-21

He is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine according to His power that is at work within us.

He works through us! He answers prayer. He gives us strength in our journey through time to eternity.

4. The LORD is Mighty to Save and Will Bring Us Home to be with Him One Day. Zephaniah 3.17

The LORD, your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love. He will rejoice over you with singing.

I Thessalonians 4.16-18 For the LORD Himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the LORD in the air. And so we will be with the LORD forever. Therefore comfort each other with these words.

Until that day God calls us home, while we are in this time continuum, keep trusting the LORD, lean upon Him, look for Him to work in your life.

The LORD's Day January 3, 2010

God's Word For This New Year

Joshua 1.1-18

New Years offer a chance to start anew, an opportunity to reflect, a time for making changes and a time to worry about what lies ahead! Given the time we are in it can be a time of anxiety and even dismay.

As always we need to hear what God's Word has to say. God's Word is for today. This verse speaks directly to us about things on the horizon in 2010.

1. These Words are Commands- not Optional Suggestions.

Have I not commanded you?

In Deuteronomy we are given naby commandsn concerning trusting the LORD.This was Moses' farewell address. His last act is recorded in Deuteronomy 34.

Now it is a new administration- new leadership humanly speaking, but God is still in control. What we are about to look at closely are His Commands.

2. Be Strong and Courageous.

We have all the promises of God. (and He is faithful to all His Promises!)

We have all we need for life and godliness (II Peter 1.3) because of Jesus.

We have the Presence of God. For the LORD, your God will be with you wherever you go.

We have the power of God- All power, His Divine Power, the sword of the Spirit, the shield of faith.

STAND YOUR GROUND. TAKE TERRITORY FOR GOD.

3. Do Not Be Terrified!

We are in a war on terror. Never before on US Soil have we had reason like we do now to be terrified. God is commanding us: Do not be terrified.

We are not to be in a defensive posture as believers, hiding out. On the contrary, the Book if Joshua points to us to be agressive, to follow the LORD into the land He has for us, to move in conquest, to be ready for battle and the reminder "The Battle is the LORD's."

Joshua 6.2 There are souls at stake today and God is looking for workers to go in and harvest them. Let's go!

4. Do Not Be Discouraged

We can easily come up with lots of reasons for discouragement in this new year. The economy for one, the loss of the culture and the rapid fire change we are experiencing. If we get discouraged we need to get out of that pit quick because it is deadly. My friend Jim MacPherson: "I'm not doing bad under the circumstances." "Well what are doing under there?"- (not much)

Do not let others or the enemy or circumstances get you down. Same have said it isn't a sin to be discouraged but actually it is. We are commanded not be by God. Repent if you are. (change of heart and change of direction)

Here's the Word of the LORD for this New Year 2010

Be strong and courageous.

Do not be terrified.

Do not be discouraged.

For the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.