Our Father In Heaven
Mattthew 6.9-13
“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be Your name,
10
Your kingdom come,
Your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
11
Give us today our daily bread.
12
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil.
For Thine is Kingdom and the Power and the Glory Forever. Amen
On this Father’s Day let’s take a look at the prayer Jesus taught us to pray addressed to His Father and ours.
In this model prayer, Jesus is showing the relationship that His followers have with His Father/ Our Father
This prayer reveals the character of God the Father to us.
Ab
First word in the Hebrew Dictionary/ Jesus, when asked by His Disciples to teach them to pray the first words He gave them was “Our Father, which art in Heaven”
He is a Father to the fatherless. Psalm 68.5
My girls in Haiti, those of us who lost their fathers by death or even desertion.
Those who never knew their fathers.
1. Father of an individual
2. of God as Father of His people
3. head or founder of a household, group, family, or clan
4. ancestor
1. grandfather, forefathers — of person
2. of people
Pater, Father in the Greek Lexicon
Ephesians 3
14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom His whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Matthew 6
generator or male ancestor
1. either the nearest ancestor: father of the corporeal nature, natural fathers, both parents
2. a more remote ancestor, the founder of a family or tribe, progenitor of a people, forefather: so Abraham is called, Jacob and David
1. fathers i.e. ancestors, forefathers, founders of a nation
3. one advanced in years, a senior
Jesus in Mark 14.36 “Abba Pater”
36 “Abba, Father,” He said, “everything is possible for You. Take this cup from Me. Yet not what I will, but what You will.”
Urdo “Baba”
English “Papa”
Italian “Padre” Dad “Papa”
Poppa
We get to know God through prayer. This prayer shows us Who the Father is.
1. Our Father In Heaven.
He is in Heaven. Beyond the clouds, the planets there is a place called Heaven. The Apostle Paul calls it “the third heaven.”
(II Corinthians 12.2-4)
He is above all.
He is watching over us and concerned about our needs
Matthew 6.26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?
Psalm 103.13-14 As a father has compassion on his children,
so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him;
14
for He knows how we are formed,
He remembers that we are dust.
He is on His Throne.
He is in control.
Psalm 115.3 Our God is in heaven; He does whatever He pleases.
More about our Father in Heaven...
2. He is Holy.
Hallowed is His Name.
Isaiah 6.1-3
Revelation 4.8
So thankful for a Dad who sought to live a holy life. Never saw him drink, smoke, use bad language or talk degradingly about women.
Jan Jenkins speaking about her father, who ordained me, this past week.
Like our President I never smoked a cigarette. My Dad was my example.
Many other things as well... many.
Jesus spoke a lot about the Kingdom of God...
3. His Kingdom is Coming.
It is among us.
Luke 17.20When asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, “The kingdom of God will not come with observable signs. 21Nor will people say,‘Look, here it is,’ or ‘There it is.’ For you see,the kingdom of God is in your midst.”
It is invisible for now.
Seen by those who have faith.
Hebrews 11.1 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
It is forever.
Psalm 145.13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and Your dominion endures through all generations. The LORD is faithful to all He promises and loving to all He has made.
Our interaction with heaven is invisible. There are visbile results.
Our Father in Heaven wants what is best for us, not what is comfortable. We must go through many hardships in order to enter the kingdom of Heaven... we pray for
4. His Will
Good, pleasing and perfect will in us. Romans 12.3
The will of God is best. Jesus taught us to pray it.
He prayed it, in the Garden, to His Father in Heaven... not what I will but What You will.
Our Father knows what is best. The best... we are not doubting that God wants the best for us. What we are wondering is how painful the best is going to be. C.S. Lewis
Earthly fathers’ will can be strong. If he loves he LORD he wants what is best for us. He disciplined us for our good.
5. He Feeds Us.
Our Daily Bread
I believe this is in the LORD’s prayer to establish firmly that relationship of dependence our Father in Heaven wants with us.
The bread winner, the one who brings home the bacon.
He feeds us.
6. He Leads Us
Not into temptation
Deliverance from evil
In righteous paths, in step with the Spirit.
Psalm 48.14 For this God is our God for ever and ever;
He will be our guide even to the end.
7. He Protects Us Spiritually.
We can only understand the heart of the Father in the Cross of His Son Jesus Christ.
John 17. Prayer for protection
He forgives us.
Exodus 34.6-7 “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin...
He will get us to heaven! Where He is. We will bow at His throne.
Sunday, June 16, 2019
Sunday, May 5, 2019
The Wedding At Cana of Galilee
The Wedding At Cana of Galilee
Finally a little math...
4. When Jesus works He does the immeasurable or close to it. v.10-11
6 stone water pots/jars Let's say 3 were 20 gallons and 3 were 30. That would have been 150 gallons of wine or 600 bottles! There probably weren't that many people in Cana at the time!
This was the first! The worldwould not have room for the books that would have to be written.
Acts 1.1-2 All that Jesus began to do
He is at work today.
The kingdom of God is like a wedding banquet! Abundance, joy, adventure
John 2.1-11
Very early in Jesus’ ministry, three days into it, He, Andrew, John, Peter, Nathaniel, Phillip were invited to a wedding.
First Century weddings in Israel...
Whole town
3 days
Feasting
Far East still that way
Jesus did His first miracle in an out of the way place, for people who are nameless.
There is more, much more, in this account.
We see...
1. The Sanctity of Marriage. vs.1-2
Photographer yesterday
Jesus, by being there, showed its sanctity.
Second Chapter of John.
Second Chapter of Genesis.
Genesis 2.15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. 16 And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden;17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”
18 The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”
19 Now the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds in the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. 20 So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds in the sky and all the wild animals.
But for Adam no suitable helper was found. 21 So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping,
He took one of the man’s ribs and then closed up the place with flesh. 22 Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib He had taken out of the man, and He brought her to the man.
23 The man said,
“This is now bone of my bones
and flesh of my flesh;
she shall be called ‘woman,’
for she was taken out of man.”
and flesh of my flesh;
she shall be called ‘woman,’
for she was taken out of man.”
24 That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.
It is interesting that both Genesis and John open their books with the words...
In the beginning... God... the Word
Then the second chapter there is a wedding! A marriage.
Of course there is
2. The Miracle
Unexplainable
Emma, 10 years ago...
I had a young theologian I worked with a few years ago. Her name is Emma. When she was 6 years old we watched a movie about Jesus based on the Gospel of Luke. It did not contain this miracle of course. She wanted to see this miracle I a movie and so I put one with it in it. We walked home that evening and she asked me, "Poppa, how did Jesus turn that water into wine?" I answered, "I don't know Emma. That's part of it being a miracle." And we both wondered about the one Isaiah said would be called Wonderful.
3. The Servants Knew. vs.5-9
v.8-9 the servants knew John knew too- He is the only one of the Gospel writers to record this miracle. His Gospel has been called the Gospel from the Eagle's Eye's view. He was very close to Jesus. In the next few chapters John mentions things, interviews if you will, that Jesus had with Nicodemus in Jerusalem (c.3) and with the woman at the well in Samaria (c.4) that the other Gospel writers omit. John was there on the spot with Jesus. At night when Nicodemus came and in the middle of the heat of the day when the Samaritan woman came to Jacob's well in Sychar.
The fact is...
The closer to the LORD you get, the more you see the wonders He performs. v.8-9
The fact is...
The closer to the LORD you get, the more you see the wonders He performs. v.8-9
The eagle’s eye view
What I get to see.
What I saw yesterday:
I usually do not highlight individual members of our group here. However I would like to welcome our newest member, Jean Pierre. He is an employee of Westbury Manor.
I met him yesterday. I heard his Haitian accent. We talked for a few moments. When I told him about the work in Haiti he was interested. We became friends, then friends on Facebook, so he could be added to our group.
He knows where Bellevue is. He understands what we are doing. I love how the dear people of Haiti who have moved here to America care and pray for their country of origin.
On top of this the Maid of Honor, who is part of Smithtown Gospel Tabernacle, spoke to me as we were signing the marriage certificate. She has done a number of mission trips and asked to be part of our team in October! One of the other employee’s of Westbury Manor was eating her dinner and was listening. After everyone left I said, “This is how God works. This is amazing.” And I shared more with her of the work of God in Haiti’s southern mountains.
Please continue to pray. I know God is doing something extraordinary. I am not sure all He has planned for To Haiti With Love but I know that it is good, very good.
Each task is dignified when it is done for Jesus.
The servants knew... the Banquet Master did not.
The secrets of the kingdom...
Mark 4.11 The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. -Jesus
He spoke this to His disciples. Nicodemus was struggling to understand, seeking... The disciples didn't fully until after Jesus rose from the dead.
Then they knew!
We are on this side of the resurrection. We have understanding, insight into the Word of God, the ways He works, His Hand upon us.
The servants knew the power of God.
The servants knew Jesus could work miracles.
The servants knew Jesus' character.
* He was not into making a spectacle of Himself.
* He cares about people.
* He saves the best until last.
Servants of God can look back on a vast array of Divine Moments when God stepped in and worked.
I am using this in my life when I come up against things that make no sense or when I am praying and there is no answer coming.
Habakkuk struggled in his prayers at one point in his life.
The nation was going down the tubes. He had been praying. God had seemingly been silent. In Habakkuk 1.2 "How long, O LORD, must I call for help, but You do not listen?"
Habakkuk found out that God was working even though it did not appear He was. Serving the LORD, wrestling through these issues, shows us God i working all things together for our good, for us because we are the called according to His Purpose.
Finally a little math...
4. When Jesus works He does the immeasurable or close to it. v.10-11
6 stone water pots/jars Let's say 3 were 20 gallons and 3 were 30. That would have been 150 gallons of wine or 600 bottles! There probably weren't that many people in Cana at the time!
This was the first! The worldwould not have room for the books that would have to be written.
Acts 1.1-2 All that Jesus began to do
He is at work today.
The kingdom of God is like a wedding banquet! Abundance, joy, adventure
God bless each of you this LORD’s Day!
Sunday, April 28, 2019
Our Baptism, Christ’s Death And Resurrection And Our Lives In Him
EOur Baptism, Christ’s Death And Resurrection And Our Lives In Him
Romans 6.1-7
I love how the LORD has us here in this passage, as we journey through the Bible, a week after we celebrated Jesus’ Resurrection. As we have journeyed through His Word for decades now He has been faithful to have us where we are in our journey. It is a testimony to the faithfulness of God. His Word speaks into our lives, our hearts and souls and minds.
The more I study the Word of God the more I see how connected it is, how it is a masterpiece. In these verses events in Christ’s life and our journey come together and are related. The Bible is in harmony with living the Life of following Jesus. That is why when we read it, we find ourselves saying, “yes.” That is why it hated by those who are enemies of the cross of Christ.
II Corinthians 1.20 For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.
Philippians 3.18 For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.
So this morning we look at the connections between Our Baptism, Christ’s Death And Resurrection And Our Lives In Him.
1. Our Baptism was an act of being totally identified with Him in His Death. v.3
Under the water, synonymous with Christ being buried.
We were immersed with the water. We were immersed into His death. The old life was drowned out. Water symbolized the grave.
v.2 we died to sin
Water also symbolizes cleansing.
I Corinthians 6.11 But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
Now, when you are born again, that which is born of the flesh is flesh. If you are born again by the Spirit of God, the new life that you now have is spirit, soul, and body. So now the spirit is the dominant feature and the new life is spiritual life, the old life was a fleshly life. The new life is a spiritual life. A spirit in union with God's Spirit. So a spirit in union with God's Spirit, my thoughts, my consciousness now is upon God and the things of God and how I might please Him by walking in the spirit. These are the things that dominate my conscious state. God's love for me, God's grace for me, God's goodness for me, these things dominate my conscious state. No longer dominated by my fleshly desires or fleshly needs.
Ephesians 5.25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the Word, 27 and to present her to Himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church— 30 for we are members of His body. 31 “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” 32 This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church.
We need to be in the Word of God regularly. We need it to change us. We need to hear it and read it and study it.
Christ washes us His Church through His Word.
His Word is an agent in our being born again.
Faith in it.
Living and Active.
Given by His Spirit
I Peter 1.22 Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart. 23 For you have been born again,not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.
We all need to come to the place where God’s Word is supreme in our lives.
We need to grow in the knowledge of it
We need to hide it in our heart to keep from sinning.
Truly allowing the Word of God to dwell in us puts His Love in our hearts.
Colossians 3. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
Proverbs 3.1 My son, do not forget my teaching,
but keep my commands in your heart,
2
for they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity.
3
Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.
4
Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.
We are in such a battle today. One of the battles we face is the Word of God being challenged as not being unique. Other religions are put on the same level as Christ’s teaching, there is a combining of teachings known as syncretism. This is relatively new. Someone I know very well named Confucios, Buddah, Mohammed and Jesus. I could not help myself. I said, “Only one of their graves are empty.” Then I grabbed the picture taken of the kids in Haiti in the school and said that it is the followers of Jesus who give to these kids so they have hope. In fact go anywhere in the world and you will find hospitals and schools and the Church of Jesus Christ, with all her faults and shortcomings giving freely, helping villages and whole nations.
The Word of God stands. Jesus is building His church.
This ancient rite that the church has practiced since its inception continues to be practiced today. Our Baptism is like His death.
2. Our Coming Out of The Water was like His Resurrection. v.4
Newness of life now!
As I come up out of the water, it's like being resurrected--like Jesus resurrected coming out of the grave. That new resurrected life of Christ.
Lazarus was raised from the dead... in Bethany.
Jesus was Resurrected in Jerusalem. Lazarus died again. He will rise again at the Resurrection.
Jesus is alive forever. He is the Resurrection and the Life. Death has been defeated by Him and in us!
As we come out of the water we are symbolizing Jesus’ Resurrection.
3. The Resurrection of Jesus is Ours in the Future as well as now. v.5-7
The same spirit that raised Jesus from the dead
Romans 8.11
And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.
He will come again.
The dead in Christ will rise first. Resurrection
Then we who are alive... Translation.
v.6 powerless= put out of business
As Christians our biggest problem is with our flesh. For our flesh is still seeking to make its demands on us. Our flesh will still bring us under its control and power. As a Christian there is a warfare that is going on in me, for the flesh is warring against my spirit and my spirit is warring against my flesh and these two are contrary to each other.
There is this battle going on for the control of my mind, the control of my life. My flesh still wants to sit on the throne of my life and the spirit wants to sit on the throne of my life and there is a battle waging raging, actually, over the control of my life itself, the flesh and the spirit. I don't always do the things that I would as we sang this morning. Then I shall be what I would be, and I shall be what I should be, things that are now nor could be soon shall be our own. The battle will be over one of these days and my spirit leaves this old body of flesh. I am still living in the body, that is my big problem. If I weren't living in this body any longer then I would have no problems. But I am still living in the body, and as long as I am living in this body it is going to struggle for supremacy, and thus, I must keep my body under. You remember Paul the apostle said, "I beat myself to keep my body under."
It is a struggle. It is a fight. My body wants control again. It wants to sit on the throne. I have to keep my body under. The way to do that is to reckon that old self to be dead. It is a reckoning process. "Lord, that is a part of the old life dominated by my flesh. I reckon that to be dead. That flare up, Lord, that belongs to the old life, that bitterness that belongs to the old life, that anger that belongs to the old life, that is dead." Thank God that it is dead. I don't have to live under that domination anymore. That was crucified with Christ and I am now living a new life in the resurrected Lord. So the old man was crucified with Him. But the body of sin might be put out of business, that I shouldn't serve sin any longer.
Resurrections happen in our lives as we serve Jesus.
Take Joseph... His life was over. He was sold as a slave by his brothers, lied to his father, then put in prison in another country.
Then God raised him up and out and placed him in a position of power to serve.
Baptism, Jesus’ Death and Resurrection and our lives in Him.
Romans 6.1-7
I love how the LORD has us here in this passage, as we journey through the Bible, a week after we celebrated Jesus’ Resurrection. As we have journeyed through His Word for decades now He has been faithful to have us where we are in our journey. It is a testimony to the faithfulness of God. His Word speaks into our lives, our hearts and souls and minds.
The more I study the Word of God the more I see how connected it is, how it is a masterpiece. In these verses events in Christ’s life and our journey come together and are related. The Bible is in harmony with living the Life of following Jesus. That is why when we read it, we find ourselves saying, “yes.” That is why it hated by those who are enemies of the cross of Christ.
II Corinthians 1.20 For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.
Philippians 3.18 For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.
So this morning we look at the connections between Our Baptism, Christ’s Death And Resurrection And Our Lives In Him.
1. Our Baptism was an act of being totally identified with Him in His Death. v.3
Under the water, synonymous with Christ being buried.
We were immersed with the water. We were immersed into His death. The old life was drowned out. Water symbolized the grave.
v.2 we died to sin
Water also symbolizes cleansing.
I Corinthians 6.11 But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
Now, when you are born again, that which is born of the flesh is flesh. If you are born again by the Spirit of God, the new life that you now have is spirit, soul, and body. So now the spirit is the dominant feature and the new life is spiritual life, the old life was a fleshly life. The new life is a spiritual life. A spirit in union with God's Spirit. So a spirit in union with God's Spirit, my thoughts, my consciousness now is upon God and the things of God and how I might please Him by walking in the spirit. These are the things that dominate my conscious state. God's love for me, God's grace for me, God's goodness for me, these things dominate my conscious state. No longer dominated by my fleshly desires or fleshly needs.
Ephesians 5.25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the Word, 27 and to present her to Himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church— 30 for we are members of His body. 31 “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” 32 This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church.
We need to be in the Word of God regularly. We need it to change us. We need to hear it and read it and study it.
Christ washes us His Church through His Word.
His Word is an agent in our being born again.
Faith in it.
Living and Active.
Given by His Spirit
I Peter 1.22 Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart. 23 For you have been born again,not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.
We all need to come to the place where God’s Word is supreme in our lives.
We need to grow in the knowledge of it
We need to hide it in our heart to keep from sinning.
Truly allowing the Word of God to dwell in us puts His Love in our hearts.
Colossians 3. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
Proverbs 3.1 My son, do not forget my teaching,
but keep my commands in your heart,
2
for they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity.
3
Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.
4
Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.
We are in such a battle today. One of the battles we face is the Word of God being challenged as not being unique. Other religions are put on the same level as Christ’s teaching, there is a combining of teachings known as syncretism. This is relatively new. Someone I know very well named Confucios, Buddah, Mohammed and Jesus. I could not help myself. I said, “Only one of their graves are empty.” Then I grabbed the picture taken of the kids in Haiti in the school and said that it is the followers of Jesus who give to these kids so they have hope. In fact go anywhere in the world and you will find hospitals and schools and the Church of Jesus Christ, with all her faults and shortcomings giving freely, helping villages and whole nations.
The Word of God stands. Jesus is building His church.
This ancient rite that the church has practiced since its inception continues to be practiced today. Our Baptism is like His death.
2. Our Coming Out of The Water was like His Resurrection. v.4
Newness of life now!
As I come up out of the water, it's like being resurrected--like Jesus resurrected coming out of the grave. That new resurrected life of Christ.
Lazarus was raised from the dead... in Bethany.
Jesus was Resurrected in Jerusalem. Lazarus died again. He will rise again at the Resurrection.
Jesus is alive forever. He is the Resurrection and the Life. Death has been defeated by Him and in us!
As we come out of the water we are symbolizing Jesus’ Resurrection.
3. The Resurrection of Jesus is Ours in the Future as well as now. v.5-7
The same spirit that raised Jesus from the dead
Romans 8.11
And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.
He will come again.
The dead in Christ will rise first. Resurrection
Then we who are alive... Translation.
v.6 powerless= put out of business
As Christians our biggest problem is with our flesh. For our flesh is still seeking to make its demands on us. Our flesh will still bring us under its control and power. As a Christian there is a warfare that is going on in me, for the flesh is warring against my spirit and my spirit is warring against my flesh and these two are contrary to each other.
There is this battle going on for the control of my mind, the control of my life. My flesh still wants to sit on the throne of my life and the spirit wants to sit on the throne of my life and there is a battle waging raging, actually, over the control of my life itself, the flesh and the spirit. I don't always do the things that I would as we sang this morning. Then I shall be what I would be, and I shall be what I should be, things that are now nor could be soon shall be our own. The battle will be over one of these days and my spirit leaves this old body of flesh. I am still living in the body, that is my big problem. If I weren't living in this body any longer then I would have no problems. But I am still living in the body, and as long as I am living in this body it is going to struggle for supremacy, and thus, I must keep my body under. You remember Paul the apostle said, "I beat myself to keep my body under."
It is a struggle. It is a fight. My body wants control again. It wants to sit on the throne. I have to keep my body under. The way to do that is to reckon that old self to be dead. It is a reckoning process. "Lord, that is a part of the old life dominated by my flesh. I reckon that to be dead. That flare up, Lord, that belongs to the old life, that bitterness that belongs to the old life, that anger that belongs to the old life, that is dead." Thank God that it is dead. I don't have to live under that domination anymore. That was crucified with Christ and I am now living a new life in the resurrected Lord. So the old man was crucified with Him. But the body of sin might be put out of business, that I shouldn't serve sin any longer.
Resurrections happen in our lives as we serve Jesus.
Take Joseph... His life was over. He was sold as a slave by his brothers, lied to his father, then put in prison in another country.
Then God raised him up and out and placed him in a position of power to serve.
Baptism, Jesus’ Death and Resurrection and our lives in Him.
Sunday, April 21, 2019
I serve a risen Savior
I Serve A Risen Saviour!
John 20.1-20
From the pit of despair to being overjoyed!
You talk about a roller coaster of emotions! Arguing who was going to be the greatest, even the mother of James and John putting in a word for her son’s’ positions in the kingdom, the Triumphal Entry on Palm Sunday.
Then the arrest in the Garden of Gethsamene, the crucifixion the next morning, hiding for fear of the Jews over the weekend. Then this! He is alive!
It is hard to capture the full gambit of emotions those 11 disciples and the women had that day. Mary went to the Tomb thinking He was dead. She was looking for His dead body. The disciples were in between shock and despair and not knowing what to do.
Out of the tomb He came with grace and majesty, He is alive!!!
Hymn #289 Christ the LORD is Risen Today
1. The Resurrection Is A Fact.
The Tomb in Jerusalem is empty! Jesus is alive!
Q
We take it by faith with a great blessing. Jesus told His Disciples that.
John 20.24 Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”
But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in His hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.” In other words, “I am not taking your word. I need to see for myself and I need to touch Him.”
26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!”27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see My hands. Reach out your hand and put it into My side. Stop doubting and believe.”
28 Thomas said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”
29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen Me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
What we take by faith, the early followers of Jesus took by seeing, by fact.
Some apologetics have reasoned out the ridiculous proposal by the Jewish Leaders to the Roman Guard.
Matthew 28.11 While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. 12 When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, 13 telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.’14 If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” 15 So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.
First the disciples were in hiding for fear of the Jews.
There was no way they would even think about being seen, no less risk their lives to perpetuate a fraud.
It was the feast of Passover and unleavened bread. They would never touch a dead body. Peter maintained this until Acts 10.
They were emotionally exhausted.
They would have had to face the Roman Guard with the seal.
Peter denied him three times out of fear. He would not venture out a few hours later.
There is no reasonable way this could have been done.
An empty tomb is there to prove my Savior lives. But that is not all!
Hymn#299 He Lives!
2. The Resurrection Is A Daily Reality.
He walks with me and He talks with me and He tells me I am His Own.
We walk in His Spirit, the Spirit that raised Christ Jesus from the dead
Romans 8.11
The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, He will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.
Power
Eternity
Focus
Walking with Jesus the newness of life and in the power of His resurrection does not exempt us from deep problems in life. Many times these problems are painful beyond description as we join in the sharinga in the fellowship of His suffering.
Paul, the apostle wrote to the Philippians 3.10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of His resurrection and participation in His sufferings, becoming like Him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.
Deep problems, complicated life issues, unspeakable pain come to us as we travel on our journey. The best gift we can receive from others is for them to just listen. How I appreciate and love my listening friends!
While I try and be there as a pastor and as a friend to those who need someone, I know I fall short at times.
Jesus is the best listener ever! He is there today.
Because He Lives
Hymn# 292
3. The Resurrection Is Our Future Hope.
Our Blessed Hope.
Titus 2.11 For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for Himself a people that are His very own, eager to do what is good.
Our future and those who have died believing
I Thessalonians 4.13 Brothers, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. 14 For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him. 15 According to the LORD’s Own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the LORD, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 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. 17 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.18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.
Our Longing
II Timothy 4.8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the LORD, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for His appearing. NIV
in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing. NASB
Our Welcome into our Eternal Home
II Peter 1.11
and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
New Living Translation
Then God will give you a grand entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Berean Bible
a lavish reception
Contemporary English Version
a glorious welcome
Weymouth
a triumphant admission
Message
Way wide open
When We All Get To Heaven
Hymn# 123
I
John 20.1-20
From the pit of despair to being overjoyed!
You talk about a roller coaster of emotions! Arguing who was going to be the greatest, even the mother of James and John putting in a word for her son’s’ positions in the kingdom, the Triumphal Entry on Palm Sunday.
Then the arrest in the Garden of Gethsamene, the crucifixion the next morning, hiding for fear of the Jews over the weekend. Then this! He is alive!
It is hard to capture the full gambit of emotions those 11 disciples and the women had that day. Mary went to the Tomb thinking He was dead. She was looking for His dead body. The disciples were in between shock and despair and not knowing what to do.
Out of the tomb He came with grace and majesty, He is alive!!!
Hymn #289 Christ the LORD is Risen Today
1. The Resurrection Is A Fact.
The Tomb in Jerusalem is empty! Jesus is alive!
Q
We take it by faith with a great blessing. Jesus told His Disciples that.
John 20.24 Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”
But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in His hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.” In other words, “I am not taking your word. I need to see for myself and I need to touch Him.”
26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!”27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see My hands. Reach out your hand and put it into My side. Stop doubting and believe.”
28 Thomas said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”
29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen Me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
What we take by faith, the early followers of Jesus took by seeing, by fact.
Some apologetics have reasoned out the ridiculous proposal by the Jewish Leaders to the Roman Guard.
Matthew 28.11 While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. 12 When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, 13 telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.’14 If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” 15 So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.
First the disciples were in hiding for fear of the Jews.
There was no way they would even think about being seen, no less risk their lives to perpetuate a fraud.
It was the feast of Passover and unleavened bread. They would never touch a dead body. Peter maintained this until Acts 10.
They were emotionally exhausted.
They would have had to face the Roman Guard with the seal.
Peter denied him three times out of fear. He would not venture out a few hours later.
There is no reasonable way this could have been done.
An empty tomb is there to prove my Savior lives. But that is not all!
Hymn#299 He Lives!
2. The Resurrection Is A Daily Reality.
He walks with me and He talks with me and He tells me I am His Own.
We walk in His Spirit, the Spirit that raised Christ Jesus from the dead
Romans 8.11
The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, He will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.
Power
Eternity
Focus
Walking with Jesus the newness of life and in the power of His resurrection does not exempt us from deep problems in life. Many times these problems are painful beyond description as we join in the sharinga in the fellowship of His suffering.
Paul, the apostle wrote to the Philippians 3.10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of His resurrection and participation in His sufferings, becoming like Him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.
Deep problems, complicated life issues, unspeakable pain come to us as we travel on our journey. The best gift we can receive from others is for them to just listen. How I appreciate and love my listening friends!
While I try and be there as a pastor and as a friend to those who need someone, I know I fall short at times.
Jesus is the best listener ever! He is there today.
Because He Lives
Hymn# 292
3. The Resurrection Is Our Future Hope.
Our Blessed Hope.
Titus 2.11 For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for Himself a people that are His very own, eager to do what is good.
Our future and those who have died believing
I Thessalonians 4.13 Brothers, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. 14 For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him. 15 According to the LORD’s Own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the LORD, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 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. 17 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.18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.
Our Longing
II Timothy 4.8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the LORD, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for His appearing. NIV
in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing. NASB
Our Welcome into our Eternal Home
II Peter 1.11
and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
New Living Translation
Then God will give you a grand entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Berean Bible
a lavish reception
Contemporary English Version
a glorious welcome
Weymouth
a triumphant admission
Message
Way wide open
When We All Get To Heaven
Hymn# 123
I
Tuesday, April 2, 2019
Is there an advantage and growing up in a Christian home?
Is There An Advantage Growing Up In A Christian Home?
Romans 3.1-26
What advantage, then, is there in being a Jew, or what value is there in circumcision? Much in every way! First of all, the Jews have been entrusted with the very words of God.
Translate that to our setting. Is there an advantage in growing up in a Christian Home?
Much in every way!
1. They have been entrusted with the very Words of God.
Train up a child...
Proverbs 22.6 Train up a child in the way he should go,
And when he is old he will not depart from it.
Dedicate
Start him off on the right track
Prayer
Seeing it in action
Dad
Nanny
Mom before we would leave for school.
Mealtimes
My girls as well.
A few months ago we had a sleepover ar Poppa’s. I heard them pray. I remembered praying with their Mom at nighttime, my parents praying with me.
Stealing, lying, cheating things that are abhorrent.
My Dad was a man of integrity in all his business dealings.
Remember a friend got a wrong quote on a vehicle, a nice used vehicle he was buying and went and bragged about it. He even said that the young salesman would probably lose his job for it. He said it smiling. Remember thinking that my Dad would never do that!
When my daughter worked in Nationwide’s Office in Huntington a well dressed pastor came in, with an expensive vehicle he wanted to insure. Problem was his wife had three accidents. My daughter tried to explain to him that as long as they were husband and wife New York State Law was that she had to be included on any auto policy. They went back and forth as he tried to get her to commit insurance fraud. She told me when he left I said, “My Dad would never do that! Not my Dad!”
Entrusted= to think to be true, to be persuaded of, to credit, place confidence in
To have a moral and religious reference.
The blessing of the Christian Community. Not perfect, but I know I was loved.
People cared about me, they cared about my soul.
Arnie Finch, Sunday School Teacher, Board Member, Catcher on our church softball team.
Inter generational
The right kind of heroes.
Harold Post
Paul mentioned to Timothy “how from infancy you have known the holy writings, which are able to give you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus” 2 Timothy 3.15. He remembered what a blessing it was for Timothy to have a family history rich in faith. “I recall your sincere faith that was alive first in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice, and I am sure is in you” 2 Timothy 1.5.
2. The law makes us conscious of sin. -v.20
If you have been entrusted with the very words of God then you will be constantly aware of wrong doing.
My heart goes out to those who have the entrusted Word of God in their hearts because they know what is right. They may reject it but they know.
3. Pray for the Prodigals!
3 What if some were unfaithful? Will their unfaithfulness nullify God’s faithfulness? 4 Not at all! Let God be true, and every human being a liar. As it is written:
“So that you may be proved right when you speak and prevail when you judge.”
Pray! Pray! Pray!
Pray they will be awakened, that they will return to the LORD.
Pray as we approach Easter they will not just remember the new clothes or chocolates but that the Holy Spirit, The Hound of Heaven, will woo them. Pray that in the night God will speak to their hearts.
Read Luke 15. Ask God for the Prodigals in your life.
Romans 3.1-26
What advantage, then, is there in being a Jew, or what value is there in circumcision? Much in every way! First of all, the Jews have been entrusted with the very words of God.
Translate that to our setting. Is there an advantage in growing up in a Christian Home?
Much in every way!
1. They have been entrusted with the very Words of God.
Train up a child...
Proverbs 22.6 Train up a child in the way he should go,
And when he is old he will not depart from it.
Dedicate
Start him off on the right track
Prayer
Seeing it in action
Dad
Nanny
Mom before we would leave for school.
Mealtimes
My girls as well.
A few months ago we had a sleepover ar Poppa’s. I heard them pray. I remembered praying with their Mom at nighttime, my parents praying with me.
Stealing, lying, cheating things that are abhorrent.
My Dad was a man of integrity in all his business dealings.
Remember a friend got a wrong quote on a vehicle, a nice used vehicle he was buying and went and bragged about it. He even said that the young salesman would probably lose his job for it. He said it smiling. Remember thinking that my Dad would never do that!
When my daughter worked in Nationwide’s Office in Huntington a well dressed pastor came in, with an expensive vehicle he wanted to insure. Problem was his wife had three accidents. My daughter tried to explain to him that as long as they were husband and wife New York State Law was that she had to be included on any auto policy. They went back and forth as he tried to get her to commit insurance fraud. She told me when he left I said, “My Dad would never do that! Not my Dad!”
Entrusted= to think to be true, to be persuaded of, to credit, place confidence in
To have a moral and religious reference.
The blessing of the Christian Community. Not perfect, but I know I was loved.
People cared about me, they cared about my soul.
Arnie Finch, Sunday School Teacher, Board Member, Catcher on our church softball team.
Inter generational
The right kind of heroes.
Harold Post
Paul mentioned to Timothy “how from infancy you have known the holy writings, which are able to give you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus” 2 Timothy 3.15. He remembered what a blessing it was for Timothy to have a family history rich in faith. “I recall your sincere faith that was alive first in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice, and I am sure is in you” 2 Timothy 1.5.
2. The law makes us conscious of sin. -v.20
If you have been entrusted with the very words of God then you will be constantly aware of wrong doing.
My heart goes out to those who have the entrusted Word of God in their hearts because they know what is right. They may reject it but they know.
3. Pray for the Prodigals!
3 What if some were unfaithful? Will their unfaithfulness nullify God’s faithfulness? 4 Not at all! Let God be true, and every human being a liar. As it is written:
“So that you may be proved right when you speak and prevail when you judge.”
Pray! Pray! Pray!
Pray they will be awakened, that they will return to the LORD.
Pray as we approach Easter they will not just remember the new clothes or chocolates but that the Holy Spirit, The Hound of Heaven, will woo them. Pray that in the night God will speak to their hearts.
Read Luke 15. Ask God for the Prodigals in your life.
Monday, March 4, 2019
Do not be afraid
Do Not Be Afraid
Acts 27.21-26w
‘Do not be afraid, Paul.’
Fear is a powerful emotion. It can cripple us. It can immoblize us.
It can freeze us in our tracks and make us worry. Fear and worry are cousins. They often come together in our minds. They can cause such confusion! They are merciless!
Paul, the Apostle, had faced three Roman Legal Trials/ Hearings as well as Jewish one. Now he is on his way to appear before Caesar! On his way to Rome. Rome was far away. Getting there was not easy. He would be placed with the centurion on a cargo ship.
On his way they are shipwrecked in a storm. But Paul is given encouragement.
It was a simple word. It was from an angel of God. God was speaking to Paul through His messenger. God speaks to us today through His Word, Jesus Christ and His written Word, the Scriptures and by His Spirit.
Proverbs 10.25 When the storm has swept by, the wicked are gone,
but the righteous stand firm forever. They were blessed to have the prisoner, Paul, the Apostle, on board. They were saved because of Him and God ‘s Kingdom.
Do not be afraid.
1. Do Not Be Afraid of the Present.
Present Sufferings
Paul wrote to the Church at Rome,
I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. Romans 8.18
They are real. We dare not deny them. That always make matters worse.
They are painful. We know that from experience.
They are temporal. For now. In this immediate fixed time. Chronological Time vs. Eternity Timeless
There is the glory that will be revealed in us. View, brightness splendor ... the light of His Glory opening up our eyes, all things revealed. Knowing as we are fully known, all the details and connections.
Present Storms
We go through them if we are following Jesus.
Jesus can calm the storm.
More often He calms us in the storm, brining us through the storm.
He also can bring us around the storm.
We will not drown! Horrible fear if you have ever been held under water.
Matthew 8.27 The men were amazed and asked, "What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey Him!"
v.25 LORD, save us! We are going to drown!
That was a boat ride they will never forget!
Present Political Scene
Worldwide and here at home... wars
Haiti Trip 2 weeks from tomorrow: postponed! Demonstrations have begun again.
Sad thing is there are some great needs right now! We could help. But we are being prevented from relief work due to violence and danger to our safety and security.
Of course God reigns! 9,600 gallons of water delivered in a drought. Roof going on the church. Another house being built.
Present Danger
When I go to the city I am reminded we are still in a war on terror. Right after 9-11, my daughter Tina, 20 years old, “Dad, this looks like a war zone!”
Driving is dangerous today!
This Day!
2. Do Not Be Afraid of the Future.
He holds the future.
What if....
I know...
David about Saul:
But David thought to himself, "One of these days I will be destroyed by the hand of Saul... I Samuel 27.1
I don’t know if I am going to make it...
Mark 4.38 “Teacher, don’t You care if we drown?”
Oh yes He cares!
Does Jesus Care?
Does Jesus care when my heart is pained
Too deeply for mirth or song,
As the burdens press, and the cares distress,
And the way grows weary and long?
Chorus:
Oh, yes, He cares, I know He cares,
His heart is touched with my grief;
When the days are weary, the long nights dreary,
I know my Savior cares.
Does Jesus care when my way is dark
With a nameless dread and fear?
As the daylight fades into deep night shades,
Does He care enough to be near?
Does Jesus care when I've tried and failed
To resist some temptation strong;
When for my deep grief there is no relief,
Though my tears flow all the night long?
Does Jesus care when I've said "goodbye"
To the dearest on earth to me,
And my sad heart aches till it nearly breaks—
Is it aught to Him? Does He see?
The day after Jesus died, the morning He rose.
John 20.19. 19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!”
Jesus came to where they were.
He comes to where we are! He meets us. He gives us His peace!
Notice Paul is talking about his encouragement while he is encouraging the crew and passengers and soldiers.
3. Do Not Be Afraid of Tomorrow.
He holds tomorrow!
Matthew 6.34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Worry= to be anxious, to be troubled with care, to seek to promote one's interests in caring or providing for
God will take care of you! He will supply all your needs.
We are in a constant struggle with the fear of tomorrow. There are many types of struggles we are facing lately in the world. Some affects us personally (criticism, losing our jobs, our homes, the futures of our children, getting old, getting ill, etc.) and others affects the world in general (wars, hungers, weather climate, etc.)
Romans 8.31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written:
“For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
X afraid to not be afraid
Acts 27.21-26w
‘Do not be afraid, Paul.’
Fear is a powerful emotion. It can cripple us. It can immoblize us.
It can freeze us in our tracks and make us worry. Fear and worry are cousins. They often come together in our minds. They can cause such confusion! They are merciless!
Paul, the Apostle, had faced three Roman Legal Trials/ Hearings as well as Jewish one. Now he is on his way to appear before Caesar! On his way to Rome. Rome was far away. Getting there was not easy. He would be placed with the centurion on a cargo ship.
On his way they are shipwrecked in a storm. But Paul is given encouragement.
It was a simple word. It was from an angel of God. God was speaking to Paul through His messenger. God speaks to us today through His Word, Jesus Christ and His written Word, the Scriptures and by His Spirit.
Proverbs 10.25 When the storm has swept by, the wicked are gone,
but the righteous stand firm forever. They were blessed to have the prisoner, Paul, the Apostle, on board. They were saved because of Him and God ‘s Kingdom.
Do not be afraid.
1. Do Not Be Afraid of the Present.
Present Sufferings
Paul wrote to the Church at Rome,
I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. Romans 8.18
They are real. We dare not deny them. That always make matters worse.
They are painful. We know that from experience.
They are temporal. For now. In this immediate fixed time. Chronological Time vs. Eternity Timeless
There is the glory that will be revealed in us. View, brightness splendor ... the light of His Glory opening up our eyes, all things revealed. Knowing as we are fully known, all the details and connections.
Present Storms
We go through them if we are following Jesus.
Jesus can calm the storm.
More often He calms us in the storm, brining us through the storm.
He also can bring us around the storm.
We will not drown! Horrible fear if you have ever been held under water.
Matthew 8.27 The men were amazed and asked, "What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey Him!"
v.25 LORD, save us! We are going to drown!
That was a boat ride they will never forget!
Present Political Scene
Worldwide and here at home... wars
Haiti Trip 2 weeks from tomorrow: postponed! Demonstrations have begun again.
Sad thing is there are some great needs right now! We could help. But we are being prevented from relief work due to violence and danger to our safety and security.
Of course God reigns! 9,600 gallons of water delivered in a drought. Roof going on the church. Another house being built.
Present Danger
When I go to the city I am reminded we are still in a war on terror. Right after 9-11, my daughter Tina, 20 years old, “Dad, this looks like a war zone!”
Driving is dangerous today!
This Day!
2. Do Not Be Afraid of the Future.
He holds the future.
What if....
I know...
David about Saul:
But David thought to himself, "One of these days I will be destroyed by the hand of Saul... I Samuel 27.1
I don’t know if I am going to make it...
Mark 4.38 “Teacher, don’t You care if we drown?”
Oh yes He cares!
Does Jesus Care?
Does Jesus care when my heart is pained
Too deeply for mirth or song,
As the burdens press, and the cares distress,
And the way grows weary and long?
Chorus:
Oh, yes, He cares, I know He cares,
His heart is touched with my grief;
When the days are weary, the long nights dreary,
I know my Savior cares.
Does Jesus care when my way is dark
With a nameless dread and fear?
As the daylight fades into deep night shades,
Does He care enough to be near?
Does Jesus care when I've tried and failed
To resist some temptation strong;
When for my deep grief there is no relief,
Though my tears flow all the night long?
Does Jesus care when I've said "goodbye"
To the dearest on earth to me,
And my sad heart aches till it nearly breaks—
Is it aught to Him? Does He see?
The day after Jesus died, the morning He rose.
John 20.19. 19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!”
Jesus came to where they were.
He comes to where we are! He meets us. He gives us His peace!
Notice Paul is talking about his encouragement while he is encouraging the crew and passengers and soldiers.
3. Do Not Be Afraid of Tomorrow.
He holds tomorrow!
Matthew 6.34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Worry= to be anxious, to be troubled with care, to seek to promote one's interests in caring or providing for
God will take care of you! He will supply all your needs.
We are in a constant struggle with the fear of tomorrow. There are many types of struggles we are facing lately in the world. Some affects us personally (criticism, losing our jobs, our homes, the futures of our children, getting old, getting ill, etc.) and others affects the world in general (wars, hungers, weather climate, etc.)
Romans 8.31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written:
“For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
X afraid to not be afraid
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