Backyard BBQ and fun with the Taylors
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Prayer: The Secret to Building A Bold Faith
Prayer: The Secret to Building Your Faith
How would you rate your prayers? (Weak and wimpy or Bold and Big)
God honors bold prayers because bold prayers honor God – Batterson
Hebrews 4:16 So let us keep on coming boldly to the throne of grace, so that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Hudson Taylor founded the Inland China Mission. At his death it had 205 mission stations, 800 missionaries, and 125,000 Christians. His son wrote a biography of his life entitled, Hudson Taylor’s Spiritual Secret. He wrote, “What was his secret… the simple profound secret of drawing for every need upon the fathomless wealth of Christ.” That is, Taylor prayed for what he needed. He learned it from his sister, Amelia, who prayed for his conversion.
She wrote: “prayer is in a sober fact transacting business with God whether on one’s behalf or on the behalf of those whom one seeks blessing.”
Prayer is consciously hanging out with God. Being with God in a deliberate way. Malcolm Boyd
God’s Checkbook
Spurgeon wrote a book called, God’s checkbook. He called the promises of God a check payable. He encouraged Christians to consider them personal. He wrote, “He must believingly present the promises of God’s Word to the Lord as a man presents a check at the counter of the bank. He must plead it by prayer, expecting to have it fulfilled.”
Spurgeon was bold and confident in his prayers. In a biography the account is written that he was eating dinner with friends the night before a large sum of money was due to pay a builder for an orphanage. His friend asked him about it. Spurgeon told his friend he had prayed for it and was confident that God would provide. During the meal a telegram was delivered to him. It was from the church. Someone had stopped by the church with a gift of the exact amount needed.
Matthew 7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: 8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. 9 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? 10 Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? 11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?
Mark 11:23 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. 24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
John 15:7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
Be Specific
Charles Finney was a skeptic lawyer. After his conversion he saw whole towns come to Christ. He believed in praying specifically. “Prevailing prayer is specific. It is offered for a definite object. We cannot prevail for a everything at once. In all cases recorded in the Bible in which prayer was answered, it is noteworthy that the petitioner prayed for a definite object.” –Finney
“I will not let You go unless You bless me”…. And He said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have STRUGGLED WITH GOD and with men, and have prevailed.” (Genesis 32:26)
Jesus taught to pray for exact amounts
Luke 11:5 And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves;
The more faith you have, the more specific your prayers will be. And the more specific your prayers are, the more glory God receives.” –Mark Batterson
Gideon Prayed a Fleece
Judges 6:36 And Gideon said unto God, If thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said, 37 Behold, I will put a fleece of wool in the floor; and if the dew be on the fleece only, and it be dry upon all the earth beside, then shall I know that thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said. 38 And it was so: for he rose up early on the morrow, and thrust the fleece together, and wringed the dew out of the fleece, a bowl full of water. 39 And Gideon said unto God, Let not thine anger be hot against me, and I will speak but this once: let me prove, I pray thee, but this once with the fleece; let it now be dry only upon the fleece, and upon all the ground let there be dew. 40 And God did so that night: for it was dry upon the fleece only, and there was dew on all the ground.
Nehemiah prayed for an upcoming appointment:
Nehemiah 1:11 O Lord, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, who desire to fear thy name: and prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. For I was the king’s cupbearer.
Ask Big Prayers
Joshua 10:12 Then spake Joshua to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon. 13 And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day.
Answered Prayers Bring Glory to God
1 Kings 18:36 And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word. 37 Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again. 38 Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. 39 And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God.
How to be Definite in Prayer:
1. Pray about what to pray about.
2. Pray about what you really desire.
3. Turn your problems into prayers.
“As long as algebra is taught in school, there will be prayer in school.” Cokie Roberts
4. Go on the Record. Write it down. Share it with others. Celebrate when God answers prayers.
(I especially appreciate Dr. Earley’s material on prayer while preparing this message on praying specifically)
Luke 8: Are you Stuck where you are or Sent where you are?
Luke 8: Are you Stuck where you are or Sent where you are?
In all of us there is a temptation to feel trapped. It is natural to think that the grass is greener on the other side of the fence. In fact, the grass is green where it is watered and worked.
The truth is character requires endurance. Many of us will leave divine opportunities and miss what God planned because it does not come the way we wanted it.
Being a missionary does not require leaving your zip code. The truth is every spiritual journey starts at home.
Home might not be sexy. It might not be exciting. Most of the time it is even harder to reach your family for Christ than complete strangers, but God has called us to influence our family. Our mission starts with those in our own house.
John Maxwell calls it the law of the crab bucket. He says that a crab bucket does not have a lid. The reason a lid in not needed is because every time a crab tries to crawl out the others grab a hold of them and pull them back down.
This is hard.
Spurgeon wrote, “Every Christian is a missionary or an imposter.” We must get tough minded about the place God has placed us.
The size of the vision God gives us is proportionate to the pain we are willing to endure. -Perry Noble
We can take some comfort in knowing that Jesus had trouble reaching his family and his hometown.
We are studying the book of James on Sunday mornings. He was an unconverted brother of Jesus. It took years for James to be converted.
Dear friends I went to church for 16 years before my mother came down the aisle.
Read with me one of the strangest verses in the bible.
Luke 8:19 His mother and his brothers came to him, but they couldn’t get near him because of the crowd. 20 Jesus was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside and want to see you.” 21 But he answered those people, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear a message from God and heed it.”
Did I just read that Jesus’ mother came to visit him and he basically said, “That aint my momma”.
Now before you go away from this text thinking Jesus gives you an excuse to abandon your family, consider what he did on the cross.
Jesus while dying on a brutal cross took care of his mother.
What was happening in Luke 8? What was it that Jesus was doing? James and Mary were coming to tell Jesus to knock it off. Can you imagine the pressure he was getting from his family?
They probably thought that Jesus had a Messiah complex. He did. He was.
Jesus had to live in such a way and minister in such a way that drove a wedge between him and his family.
He was not abandoning his family and turning his back on them nor was he shutting up about what really mattered in life.
Jesus was caught in a tension between loving them and leading them.
Luke puts this story in the narrative and then follows it up with 2 other family related stories. I believe he did it on purpose.
God does not make mistakes.
Friend you are in the family that God planned for you to be in.
I believe your life has been perfectly formed to have the maximum impact on your family.
A few weeks ago we were in prayer meeting and I heard Josh just pouring out his heart for his brothers.
For me I thought, I have stopped praying for my siblings. I am ashamed to say that this preacher had allowed doubt to stop his prayers. To be honest, I just quit believing that things will ever change.
Being a godly influence to your family is hard sometimes, especially when they are resistant to it.
Some of you know what I mean. You would rather go to a foreign mission field than have to go to your family reunion in Tennessee.
You would rather do jail ministry than have to spend the weekend with your uncle. Shoot some of you would have to go to the jail to visit your uncle.
In some ways it might be easier to witness to strangers than people who know you.
We are studying the book of James on Sunday mornings. He was an unconverted brother of Jesus.
This chapter is an interesting set of accounts.
I want to consider three different situations.
1. The difficulty of dealing with family.
2. The call of Jesus for us to go home.
3. The need for us to take Jesus home with us.
I AM ONE TO TALK:
Last thanksgiving I taught a series of Messages on family. I encouraged you to go into the holiday with a holy purpose. We must know that God has us in our families as missionaries.
I went home and my mom and sister were upset at each other. By the time we had dinner my family had been exposed to theft, drugs, argument, and several other things I will not bring up. By the end of the day I was just grieved.
Remember I am the one a week or two before preached from this very pulpit that we should see our family as our ministry.
So I went to bed and Julie came in and said, “What are you doing.” I said, “I am worn out.” She said, “Chad it is 7 o’clock.”
You know I have been a pastor for 7 years almost. I have found myself several times going through a situation and then later think that I should have said something. It might be a day or a month later but I think to myself, “I am the pastor that was when I was supposed to say something.” It has been hard for me to grow into this position. I do not automatically think I am the one to weigh in.
It is true with all Christians. Your family expects you to witness to them regardless of whether you realize it or not. Your neighbor knows what you believe and is more confused by your silence than offended by your stand.
We must own who we are and where God has placed us.
They need us to:
1. Model an Example
2. Have Intentional Conversations
3. And Bring Jesus Home.
The key story this morning is about the maniac in verse 39.
Do you know this story? A man who was cutting himself and out of his mind was sought out by Jesus. This man ran around naked and lived in the graveyard. He was crazy and demon possessed. Jesus cast the demons out of him. His life was radically changed. Jesus threw the demons into a herd of pigs.
I have a different sermon called “Solve our problems but save our pigs”. This city hated the man and was tormented by him. They wanted their problem solved but they did not want to give up their filthy pets.
The people wanted Jesus to leave their city.
Luk 8:36 The people who had seen it told them how the demon-possessed man had been healed.
Luk 8:37 Then all the people from the region surrounding the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, because they were terrified. So he got into a boat and started back.
Luk 8:38 Now the man from whom the demons had gone out kept begging Jesus to let him go with him.
Note that the man was begging. We don’t see that word very often in the New Testament. He was pleading with Jesus to let him go with Jesus and leave these people.
They might have been his kin but they were not kindred.
They might have been his blood but they did not have his heart.
I sympathize with this man but Jesus did not.
…But Jesus sent him away, saying,
Luk 8:39 “Go home and tell what God has done for you.” So the man left and kept proclaiming throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him.
So here is the point of my message this morning.
You are not home because you are stuck there. You are there by the purposed plan of Jesus.
Don’t stay home.
Go home with a new purpose.
Mothers you are not stuck home you are sent home.
Dads you are not stuck in a marriage, you are commissioned by God to lead your home.
I had a friend that had a good job. But somehow his mind got sideways about it. People complained so he complained. Over time he left. He jumped from one job to the next with discontentment. Eventually he even got discouraged about his faith.
This morning if you are stuck I want to help you get unstuck.
God is not ignorant of your situation. If it is dark be the light. If it is spiritual dry speak to the rock and the water will come. If your clan does not know Christ do not abandon them.
You say, preacher you don’t know my family.
Sir, God does.
In Luke 8:
This guy was sent to those who did not accept Jesus
This guy was sent to those who knew his past
This guy was sent to those who needed to see What Jesus had done in his life.
Spiritual formation is not automatic. It must be intentional.
Go home and love like Jesus lives
Go home and absorb the pain
Go home and be the peacemaker
Go home and introduce them to Jesus
Go home and live an incarnational witness
Theologians call this incarnational ministry. God sent Jesus in flesh. What God did in Bethlehem he wants to do in each of us.
Jesus in our conversations
Jesus in our decisions
Jesus in our everyday attitudes
Jesus in our lives
Luke 8:39 “Go home and tell what God has done for you.”
It is no accident who you are and where you come from.
Can I give some practical advice?
Many of our homes are busy with activity that is competing with our family’s spiritual formation. SLOW DOWN.
Many men and women are so over committed that they are letting the time slip away from them. QUIT SOME STUFF.
Many are coming home and each family member is retreating to their own TV.
TURN IT OFF.
I heard that before the two car family they had to accommodate
I heard that before they had two bathrooms they had to communicate
I heard before they had two TVs they had to associate.
Here is the question: What are you willing to go through?
A shooting star never helped a lost hiker, stay fixed if you plan on guiding others. -Judah Smith
Your family needs Jesus. You are the answer to what they need.
Look with me at what Luke finishes this up with.
Jarvis wanted Jesus to come home with him.
Matt gave the Juniors a gift last weekend at the graduation banquet.
It was jar of beans. In that jar was 52 beans. He said to them that they had 52 more weeks before they graduate. They have 52 more Sundays. They have 52 more weeks to make their influence count. They have 52 more weeks with their families as high schoolers. He told them he was praying for them that they would not waste these God given opportunities.
Friend our time with here is limited.
The New Testament pattern for evangelism is that you go back into your own circle of influence—family, friends, neighbors, job, school, common interest groups, and community contacts, and tell them what great things God has done for you.
“Yeah, but they all know me!” That’s the point! That’s why they have to see your transformed life. You go back “clothed and in your right mind”! Live Christ before them and when they ask why you’re so different, tell them!
What do you say?
Tell them your story and the gospel of God’s grace.
Bring them Jesus.
Luk 8:40 When Jesus came back, the crowd welcomed him, because everyone was expecting him.
Luk 8:41 Just then a synagogue leader by the name of Jairus arrived. He fell at Jesus’ feet and kept begging him to come to his home,
There it is again. Luke puts the word begging in. In one story we have a man begging to leave his family and go with Jesus. In this story we have a man begging Jesus to come to his family.
Luk 8:42 because his only daughter, who was about twelve years old, was dying. While Jesus was on his way, the crowds continued to press in on him.
Luk 8:49 While he was still speaking, someone came from the synagogue leader’s home and told him, “Your daughter is dead. Stop bothering the teacher anymore.”
Luk 8:50 But when Jesus heard this, he told the synagogue leader, “Stop being afraid! Just believe, and she will get well.”
I wonder how many of you would be honest and admit you are having a hard time believing that Jesus is going to say your family. Maybe you have a mom or a dad or an uncle or cousin that is dead in their trespasses and sin. They have no life in Christ. They only live in the flesh and you have lost hope in them ever turning back to God.
I wonder if you have someone that does not have an appetite for God and you have lost heart.
Jesus says, “Just” believe. Oh how that spans a vast chasm of doubt in my heart.
Luk 8:51 When he arrived at the man’s house, he allowed no one to go in with him except Peter, John, James, and the young girl’s father and mother.
Picture with me the scene. Jarius and his wife are alone in their home with Jesus and their daughter.
Luk 8:52 Now everyone was crying and wailing for her. But Jesus said, “Stop crying! She’s not dead. She’s sleeping.”
Luk 8:53 They laughed and laughed at him, because they knew she was dead.
Luk 8:54 But he took her hand and called out, “Young lady, get up!”
Luk 8:55 So her spirit returned, and she got up at once. Then Jesus directed that she be given something to eat.
Luk 8:56 Her parents were amazed, but he ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened.
Jesus had the power to raise her from the dead. Jesus had the power to restore her hunger. Jesus had the power to save Jarius’ family.
Jesus still has the power.
Jesus can save your loved ones. Jesus can transform your family and your city.
Friend we need some people like Jarius that believe the only hope for their family is Jesus.
We need some maniacs that will give up their pride, their plans, and their preference and go back home.
Friend it is my desire to help you leave this place this morning with a new mind about your current position. You are not there by accident. God has not taken his eye off of you.
You are not stuck in your job. You are sent.
You are not stuck in your marriage. You are sent.
You are not stuck with your kids. You are sent to them.
Oh that God would change your mind today.
Let me ask you today, do you believe?
Maybe you would come to the altar and lay before God and say Lord I believe, help my unbelief.
(I especially appreciate the insight from Judah Smith at the Catalyst conference on the importance of the maniac not being allowed to go with Jesus)
Life Group Material May 13th, 2012 A Ministry at Home
Life Group Material May 13th, 2012
A Ministry at Home
1. Tell about a crazy member of your family. Do you think that every family has its difficulties?
2. The Maniac in Luke 8 was sent home. Do you blame him for wanting to leave all of it behind?
3. What is the difference in being stuck at home and being sent back home with a purpose?
How can we keep the right mindset?
4. Do you think modeling an example, having intentional conversations, and bringing Jesus home will change your family?
Can I encourage you?
Can I encourage you?
Pastor’s like to dismiss certain people in the church as the religious Pharisee type.
For me it is easy to listen to them fuse about particulars and get hung up over legalism and just decide to ignore them.
But have you ever considered that Jesus spent much of his ministry answering their questions, appealing to their knowledge of the scripture, and ultimately submitting to their judgment.
Do not forget, Jesus did not have his life taken. He freely gave it up to a tough crowd.
We look at religious people and get saddened, so did Jesus. Think about it, Jesus cared enough to be heart broken about those people not getting it.
Maybe in our church we should let the religious people crucify us.
Crucify our arrogance, arguments, attitude.
Pharisees make the best converts.
Saul did more than the whole rest of the Apostles combined when he was converted. Much of the New Testament came from him. He told the disciples, you take care of Jerusalem and I will take the gospel to the rest of the world. He was the church planter of his day.
God is organizing Damascus Road experiences for the Pharisees in your churches.
Paul needed a Barnabas to come along side him and so does your people.
Paul was tough. He would not take no for an answer. He was a man of deep conviction and he did not care who it ticked off.
He was a seminary loving, old school promoting, shame on you kind of guy that found out what Grace was.
Some of the people in our churches that could be used by God to change things are the ones that are the biggest opponents.
They need Jesus, yes.
They also could use us.
By the way, don’t expect it to end well. Paul drove Barnabas crazy.
Today as I get ready to go to church I’m dreaming about God transforming some Sauls into Pauls.
Be humble. Remember Jesus was a friend of sinners and not just the unrighteous types. He loved self- righteous people too. (Mark 10:21)
Pastor Chad
(thankful for a fresh perspective on Pharisees from a seed thought from catalyst)
Pulpit Expectations- Understanding Our Context
Pulpit expectations:
We had a young man come and speak in our pulpit last night. As I was listening to him do a good job, it occurred to me that it was just by the grace of God that he knew what to do. We have been doing internships for years and I have never written down even a basic list of expectations. I have had lots of talks but never given them a written document. The pulpit is hallowed space in our church. It deserves intentional effort from mature perspectives. After years in the ministry a man of God will know what to do by experience. A young men needs to be directed and wants to be instructed.
Throughout the years I have seen guys make similar mistakes and I have also seen guys hold to some impressive ethics. Here is a list of expectations after 20 years of preaching and teaching God’s Word in pulpits literally across the country and around the world. It is not a legalistic checklist. It is my attempt at a helpful word of advice to those seeking to do their best when they preach God’s Word.
1. Be presentable. When coming to a
Traditional American service the preacher of God’s Word should be dressed in a dress shirt and tie or suit. In our contemporary service a nice shirt is sufficient.
2. Be timely. The message should be an appropriate length. Typically our services last around an hour. Leave them wanting more instead of wanting out. (Around 30 to 40 minutes)
3. Be biblically focused. The Pulpit is
Made for a purpose. The message should come from the text of scripture. It is a exegesis, exhortation, and exposition of scripture.
4. Be appropriate. Speech, stories, and illustrations should reflect a high standard of integrity and tact. Choose your words wisely and culturally.
5. Be contextual. If you are speaking to kids use vocabulary and illustrations that are age appropriate. That is to say, know your crowd.
6. Be respectful. This is a baptist church. So not speak derogatory about our heritage. Stick to the gospel and the Word instead of commentary and criticism.
7. Be Applicable. We need to know the “what, so what and now what”. Every sermon ought to call people to a clear application.
8. Be organized. We would feel more comfortable as pastors if guest speakers could produce a basic outline of their sermon before they speak. It is a sign of respect and humility to present that to the pastor of the church for prayer and approval.
9. Be Expectant. We want God to move every time the church to gathers. Prayerfully come to see life change. Come preaching for response and giving an invitation.
10. Be Gracious. The pulpit is an opportunity to feed the flock of God, not flog them. Our desire is to preach the gospel and grow the people through preaching. As our guest we invite you to help.
11. Be an example. A speaker can undermine what he says by what he does. If you are not going to walk the walk do the church a favor and skip talking the talk.
JAMES: A Heart Receptive to the Implanted Word of God
James: A Heart Receptive to the Implanted Word of God
This week the most impacting things that happened for me were a counseling session and a go kart crash.
Although I can’t divulge and details about the counseling session, I believe I can tell you something I learned from it.
During the session I asked the person if they ever felt the Holy Spirit working in them. They had done some things that they should not have done. This for me is why did not stop before they did it. Wasn’t their conscience bothering them? Didn’t they feel wrong about what they were thinking about doing?
After some conversation I just asked, do you ever feel the Spirit of God warning you or convicting you.
He said, “No”.
Wouldn’t you like some help? If God would come into your life and help you do right and warn you when you are about to make a mistake would you be interested in that?
For me, I had never considered being saved this way. The bible calls it being filled with the Holy Spirit.
Let me explain what that means with scripture.
1Co 2:12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
Apart from the Spirit and left to ourselves we would not know.
The Spirit teaches us right from wrong.
The Spirit gives us a moral point of reference.
Consider verse 14:
The natural man will not receive the things of God.
The natural man will not reason the things of God.
The natural man will not recognize the things of God.
Now there are two reasons you might not be experiencing the help of the Spirit.
1. You might not have ever received the Holy Spirit.
If you haven’t, I want to encourage you this morning to ask God to come into your life. This is another way for you to think about actually being a Christian.
You give Jesus the wheel, as Carrie Underwood so eloquently put it.
2. You might be limiting the Word of God in your life.
Last night we had the full moon. So I took our camera out and took a picture of it. I do not have an awesome lens like my friend Matt. My camera did not have that capability. When I looked at the picture it was a black picture with basically a white dot.
That is how it is with our ability to know God and understand his will. The natural man can’t see the acute details of God. We need the Word of God to bring into focus the things of God. It informs us of His nature. It informs us of His purposes. The Bible is what the Holy Spirit uses to bring detail to our understanding and conscience.
The second thing that happened this week that caused a lot of drama at our house was a go kart wreck. For Christmas we bought a go kart for our youngest son.
During the months of January and February he drove it as fast as it would go and with screams of joy. In March it began to slow down. The belt was getting loose unbeknownst to me. In April, it would hardly go. So a couple of weeks ago I adjusted the governor. This is a part of the motor that limits the about of power/ fuel to the engine.
It helped it go a little faster.
Last week I took it to the repair shop and they checked it out and replaced the belt. When we got it hope it was back to normal, except the governor was wide open.
That go cart was way too fast for a nine year old.
Now the Bible tells us in Prov. 14:22 that a prudent man foresees danger and turns aside, but a foolish man rushes in and suffers for it.
I know better than to allow a 9 year old on a go kart without a governor, right?
The governor stops the ability to accelerate. Without the governor you can lose the ability to negotiate turns.
That is what the bible says that the Holy Spirit uses the Bible as in our lives. It is a governor.
Turn with me to our main text:
James 1:21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness (rampant wickedness), and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
King David knew the importance of the Word of God
Psa 119:9 How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word.10 With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments. 11 I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.
Today we use the word conscience, but the bible refers to it as the heart.
It is vital that we maintain a healthy, functioning conscience.
To do so, the conscience must be informed by the Word of God.
How is your conscience? Is it saturated with Biblical wisdom, able to guide you in times of moral murk?
In 1984 an Avianca Airlines jet crashed in Spain. Investigators studying the accident made an eerie discovery. The “black box” cockpit recorders revealed that several minutes before impact a shrill, computer-synthesized voice from the plane’s automatic warning system told the crew repeatedly in English, “Pull up! Pull up!”
The pilot, evidently thinking the system was malfunctioning, snapped, “Shut up, Gringo!” and switched the system off. Minutes later the plane plowed into the side of a mountain. Everyone on board died.
Brothers and Sisters we need the word of God. There is a way that seems right unto man but the end thereof is death.
The natural man will justify, dismiss, excuse, and reason himself right into hell.
There is a way that seems right to us.
We must implant the Word of God into our hearts.
This morning are you allowing your heart to be shaped by the Word of God?
WE NEED A SENSITIVE CONSCIENCE:
When Scripture speaks of a tender heart (cf. 2 Chronicles 34:27), it refers to a sensitive conscience.
The conscience can become seared. It begins with little things. The Spirit pricks us about minor issues and we resist the promptings. We cut corners. We ignore the Spirit. We diminish the Word of God.
“Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron” (1 Timothy 4:1-2).
WE NEED A PURE CONSCIENCE:
The “upright in heart” (Psalm 7:10) are those with pure consciences.
Friend when we regard sin in our hearts we defile our conscience. We disregard the Lord. Our heart is not right with God. We are allowing that sin to get in the way of our relationship with God.
WE NEED A CLEAR CONSCIENCE:
And when David prayed, “Create in me a clean heart, O God” (Psalm 51:10), he was seeking to have his life and his conscience cleansed.
“Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; according to the multitude of Your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is always before me…
To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled. – Titus 1:15
HOW DO WE INFORM OUR CONSCIENCE?
HOW DO WE CAUSE OUR HEART TO BEAT AGAIN FOR GOD?
Hebrew 4:12 teaches us that the Word of God is able to penetrate us even our thoughts and intents.
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
Paul told Timothy to “continue” in the Word.
2Timothy 3:14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; 15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
And I love verse 17:
2Timothy 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
The people of God are matured or perfected by the Word of God.
The Bible says, “Receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.”
If God has given us new life through His word, we must prepare our hearts to be receptive to His word.
John Piper points out five marks in James chapter 1 of the receptive heart:
1. The receptive heart opens the ears: “Be quick to hear.” “This you know” in Greek may either be an indicative or an imperative. Most scholars agree that the imperative is better: “Know this,” or, “understand this.” The NIV paraphrases, “Take note of this.” “Take care how you listen” (Luke 8:18a).
In Matthew (13:9), Jesus immediately follows the parable with, “He who has ears, let him hear.”
James says that the first mark of a heart that is receptive to God’s word is that it is quick to hear the word.
(John 8:47), “He who is of God hears the words of God; for this reason you do not hear them, because you
are not of God.” Obviously, these Jews heard the sound of the
words that Jesus spoke.
As Paul said (1 Cor. 2:14), “But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.”
2. The receptive heart controls the tongue: “Be slow to speak.”
As Proverbs 17:28 says, “Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise;
when he closes his lips, he is considered prudent.”
Someone long ago pointed out that we have two ears that we cannot close and one mouth that we can, which ought to teach us something!
TV interviewer, Larry King, observed, “I never learned anything while I was talking” (in Reader’s Digest [12/02], p. 67).
“Speak, Lord for Your servant is listening” (1 Sam. 3:9
3. The receptive heart controls the emotions: “Be slow to anger.”
How do you respond when the Bible steps on your toes?
Do you get angry and defensive, thinking, “What right does that preacher have to say that? How dare he tell me how to live!”
Kent Hughes says, “An angry spirit is never a listening, teachable spirit”
(James [Crossway Books], p. 66).
James (1:20) gives the reason that we should be slow to anger,
“for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.”
If you want to grow in righteousness, stop fighting God’s word and submit to it.
4. The receptive heart clears the crud of sin: “Putting aside all filthiness.”
“Therefore” links verse 21 as the conclusion to verses 19 & 20. “Putting aside” is a term used for taking off filthy clothes. “All filthiness and all that remains of wickedness” expands from the sins of verse 19 to include all sorts of disobedience to God’s word.
The word translated “all that remains” is literally, “abundance,” but it’s clear that James does not mean that you can keep some wickedness, as long as you get rid of any extra wickedness! Either it’s a figure of speech that means, “the whole dirty mass of wickedness,” or it means to get rid of every trace of it (Davids, p. 94).
5. The receptive heart welcomes the word: “In humility receive the word implanted.”
The picture here is that of the parable of the sower, scattering the seed of the word. Will your heart be good soil that receives the seed and bears fruit, or will it be one of the other kinds of soil that is unproductive?
Once the seed falls into the good soil, it still needs to be nurtured in order to bear fruit. The seed must be watered and weeds must be pulled. It must be protected from the birds or from being trampled underfoot.
The word translated humility is a difficult word to translate.
Often the NASB translates it as gentleness (a fruit of the Spirit, Gal. 5:23). The King James uses meekness. The Greek word has the idea of strength in submission or strength under control.
Charles Stanley tells us how we ought to receive God’s Word using Nehemiah:
1. Eagerly (Neh. 8:1-2). When you come to a worship service, ask God to speak to your heart.
2. Attentively (Neh. 8:3). Your attention span is determined by your desire to know God and His will for your life.
3. Trustingly (Neh. 8:4-5). Our world is unpredictable. We must place our faith in something that gives us assurance—and God’s Word is trustworthy.
4. Expectantly (Neh. 8:5). In Nehemiah’s day, the people couldn’t understand the original languages of the scrolls. But they stood in anticipation of hearing God’s Word.
5. Prayerfully (Neh. 8:6). The people bowed low and worshipped the Lord.
6. Patiently (Neh. 8:7). The people listened for hours as God’s Word was read.
7. Humbly (Neh. 8:6). The people fell on their faces in humility because of their ancestors’ sins, which had caused them to miss the Lord’s blessings.
8. Purposefully (Neh. 8:12-17).They wanted to gain insight into the Law. Each time you come to church, ask God for insight about His character.
9. Happily. There was great joy when the people listened to the Law. You are responsible for your own attitude toward church.
10. Repentantly (Neh. 9:1-3).The people listened with repentant hearts. If the Lord brings something to your attention, don’t blame the preacher. Be honest with God about it.
The Bible gives us a vision of God and God’s will for our lives.
The NASB says that where there is no divine revelation people cast off restraint.
The invitation:
Do you have a spiritual governor?
Have you ever invited the Holy Spirit into your life to take control?
The Holy Spirit convicts us or warns of sin.
The Holy Spirit convicts us or informs us of what is right.
The Holy Spirit convicts us or gives us an insight to the judgment to come.
This morning let’s make this altar a place where men and women can clear their conscience. In the altar this morning let me challenge you to make your heart right with God.
Maybe today is the day you would say, I am tired of trying to do this alone. I need God’s help. I need his Spirit like a governor to direct me and retrain me.
Without the Spirit I am like the dog that returns to his vomit and the fool that runs back after his foolishness.
Maybe this morning you would commit your ways to the Lord and commit yourself to learning and implanting the Word of God in your heart.
Step out this morning and ask God to govern your life.
Life Group Material May 6, 2012
Life Group Material May 6, 2012
James – Receiving the Word of God
1. Pastor Chad told a story about his son’s go kart. He adjusted the governor so that the go kart would go faster.
The NASB says that where there is no divine revelation people cast off restraint.
How does the Bible hide in our hearts keep us from sin?
2. How can a believer who has lost his delight in God’s word recover it? What steps should he take?
Impulsive behavior comes from life that is not under control. The Bible says that a wise man foresees danger and turns aside, but a fool rushes in and suffers for it.
3. How are people today suffering because of a lack of biblical understanding?
The Bible says that there is a way that seems right unto man but the end thereof is destruction.Proverbs 14:12
Scripture examines our flawed understanding instead of our understanding examining scripture.
4. How can Christians use the bible to identify areas of sin that are blind spots?
(Consider the analogy of the man looking into the mirror in James chapter 1.)
Can a Christian Lose Salvation?
Can a Christian Lose Salvation?
VERSES THAT GIVE BIBLICAL UNDERSTANDING
WHAT HAPPENS TO A PERSON WHEN THEY ARE SAVED?
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. 21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
- They are “in” Christ. When a person is saved they are no longer in their own strength.
- They are a new creature. When a person is saved they are born again with a new nature.
- They are reconciled by Jesus Christ. Christ is the author and finisher of our faith.
- They no longer have sin or trespass imputed to them. The charges are dropped against us.
HOW DOES A PERSON GET SAVED?
Galatians 3:1 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? 2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
- Jesus Christ was crucified for our sin.
- They receive the Spirit by the hearing of faith.
- Salvation is Spirit initiated. If we believe that grace saves us, we should know that grace keeps us saved.
- Salvation is not perfected by works of the flesh.
WHO GETS THE CREDIT FOR SALVATION?
Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
IS EVERYONE SAVED THAT SAYS THEY ARE?
Matthew 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
- Not everyone that professes Jesus as Lord is truly saved.
- Wonderful works do not prove that a person is saved.
- Knowing God and being know by God indicates the need for a relationship.
CAN A TRULY SAVED PERSON PERISH IN HELL?
John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.
- Saved people hear and heed the voice of God.
- Saved people are given eternal life.
- Saved people shall never perish.
- Saved people are kept in the hand of the Father.
WHAT ABOUT APOSTASY?
1 John 2:19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.
- Some people leave the faith.
- This reveals their true identity.
- Saved people by their very nature continue. Those that are born of God overcome the world.
- Just like the soil that is rocky, thorny, and hardened a lost person does not have a faith that bears fruit.
If we find ourselves in continued and consistent disobedience to and rebellion against God’s will, we should definitely fear lest our faith should prove to be a façade.
IS THERE ANYTHING THAT CAN CAUSE A TRULY SAVED PERSON TO BE SEPARATED FROM GOD?
Romans 8:38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
- A true Christian cannot sin himself out of salvation.
- A true believer would never ultimately desire to be unsaved.
- If we sin we have an advocate with the father.
DEALING WITH DIFFICULT SCRIPTURES USED TO ARGUE AGAINST SECURITY OF THE BELIEVER
Regardless of how you interpret Hebrews 6 and 2 Peter 2, it is unwise to allow texts which are not primarily concerned with salvation within the given context to override the understanding of those more explicitly relevant passages.
Hebrews 6:4-6 For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame.
Key Considerations of the Context of Hebrews 6
- This verse is saying that if you get saved and you turn away that you can never be saved again or it is saying something else.
- In light of Peter denying the Lord and then returning and Mark turning away from the ministry and then coming back it is unlikely that this is the proper interpretation.
- This chapter is teaching the believers to get past the immature stage of restarting over and over again. Vs. 2-3
- This chapter is saying it does not work that way. The foundation of salvation is not relayed over and over in such a way that re-crucifies Jesus again and again. Vs. 4-6
- If a person keeps producing this kind of unstable, faithless fruit they are like the soil that gets rain but has not received the seed of faith and thus is not saved.
- The Hebrew writer says there is a better way to live. The saved do not have to live unsettled, unsure, and insecure.
- The rope of our salvation is anchored through the veil, into the holy of holies, and wrapped around the mercy seat. This is an image that is clear.
- Salvation is anchored in the finished work of the shed blood of the Lamb of God; Jesus Christ. Vs 19
- The priest would come in year after year. But Jesus went in once for all time and took away our sin.
2 Peter 2:20-21 For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from the holy commandment handed on to them.
Key Considerations of the Context of 2 Peter 2
1. This chapter is about false prophets.
2. Many people have the ransom paid on Calvary but deny the Lord.
3. If there was ever an example of a man that was by his performance unjustified it is Lot.
4. Yet this very verse calls him just. Why? He never lost his standing with God.
5. The Lord know how to deliver the godly and preserve his saints.
6. This passage describes the false believers as wells without water. They are frauds.
7. These people have been exposed to Godly truth and are rejecters of it.
8. This is worse than been ignorant. They knew God but did not glorify him as God.
9. In the end they are like the dog returning to its vomit. Their true identity and nature is reveals.
SIN IS THE ONLY CHOICE OF A FALLEN MAN
The biblical depiction of fallen mankind is desperate, dark and dire. Consider the following descriptions of an unregenerate person:
- Our eyes are blind to the glories of the gospel (Matthew 13:14-15; John 12:39-40; 2 Corinthians 4:4).
- Our minds are darkened and hostile toward God (Romans 8:7; Ephesians 4:18; Colossians 1:21).
- Our ears are deaf to the call of our Creator (Matthew 13:14-15).
- Our hearts are darkened and deceitful (Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 1:21).
- We are enslaved to sin (John 8:34; Romans 6:17; Galatians 4:8).
KEY SCRIPTURES ON ASSURANCE
1 John 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? 12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. 13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life.
Romans 11:29 For the gifts and the calling of God are IRREVOCABLE.
John 5:24 “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”
Hebrews 10:22 “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.”
2 Timothy 1:12 “For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.”
Philippians 1:6 “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:”
2 Timothy 4:18 “And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”
Jude 1:24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,
INTERN CHECK LIST: Summer Children’s Ministries
Summer Children’s Ministries
WEEKLY Checklist
Sunday (AM)
Be at church by 9am to set-up KidCheck stations and greet kids for Sunday School (earlier if necessary)
Jumpstart with kids at 9:45am (Release kids to classes by 10am)
Children’s Chapel by 10:35am to receive kids until last one is picked up.
Make sure all volunteers for chapel are present. Recruit as needed.
Make sure the following items planned and ready:
__ Lesson
__ Games
__ Snack
__ Craft/Activity
__ Music
__ Make sure chapel area is picked up
Sunday (PM)
Make sure KidCheck stations are logged in and ready
Be at church by 5pm (earlier if necessary) to greet kids/parents (know them by name)
Make sure leaders are stationed at: sign-in table, gym, and children’s areas. Parent perception at drop-off and pick-up is VERY important. Have activities organized from beginning to end.
__ Begin promptly at 6pm.
__ Make sure the following items are prepped and ready:
__ Games
__ Activity
__ Lesson
__ Materials ready
__ Snack (if providing)
__ End promptly at 7pm. Greet kids/parents as they leave.
__ Make sure van routes get loaded up and off promptly
__ Stay until every child is picked up
__ Pick-up gym/children’s areas
Monday
Meet with Mentor
Intern Prayer & Accountability
Attend kids ballgames/extracurricular activities (if available)
Tuesday
Attend staff meeting at 8:15am
Meet with Staff Pastor for Bible Study
Prep for Game Night
Other duties as assigned by staff
Attend kids ballgames/extracurricular activities (if available)
Wednesday
Prepare gym for game night etc.
Thursday
Be in Children’s Worship area by 9:55am to greet daycare kids and do chapel lesson & music until 10:30am. (Rotation)
Gather/Purchase supplies needed for Sunday
Remind chapel volunteers for Sunday
Write notes (thank-you’s; prayer; informational)
Other duties as assigned by staff
Attend kids ballgames/extracurricular activities (if available)
Friday
Finish prep for Children’s Chapel/Sunday night
Study & Prep for Sunday night
Lesson Prepared
Coordinate Music with Caleb
3 to 4 age-appropriate games
Supply List created
Prepare hand-outs/parent info for special events
Contact parents via text/letter
Leaders/volunteers contacted and given “game plan”
Make sure van routes are covered
Attend kids ballgames/extracurricular activities (if available
OH YEAH…
Teaching Techniques
Pick ONE MAIN point
Keep it SIMPLE
Make it MEMORABLE (skits, enthusiasm, object lessons)
Talk TO them and not AT them
Get on their LEVEL
Use a REPEATABLE PHRASE
Know your FIRST word and know your LAST word
Other Stuff
Know the kids by name
Know the parents
Be visible; make connections with church members & families
Keep your nose clean (avoid the appearance of evil)
When you’re on campus, you’re ON THE CLOCK