The Church in The World Not of The World Pt. 18

Unity in The Spirit Not ‘Religion’ (Just because you are in a garage doesn’t mean you are a car)

Those of you who have been studying the book of Hebrews will see some parallels

Today’s passage is a warning against ‘meaningless ritual’ and ‘Social Club Christianity’

Following Christ should never be a ‘Casual Association’

Jesus Said: “Give up your life for Me and the Good News” Anything but casual

At the end of chapter 9 we hear how Paul approaches following Christ (Serious Biz)

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

MIGHT WE APPROACH EVERY ASPECT OF OUR FAITH AS ‘DISCIPLES IN TRAINING

1 Cor. 10:1-17

I don’t want you to forget, dear brothers and sisters, about our ancestors in the wilderness long ago. All of them were guided by a cloud that moved ahead of them, and all of them walked through the sea on dry ground.

  • ‘Our’ Ancestors…not like hebrews, this was written to Greeks / Gentiles
  • As a group they were set free and cared for by God in miraculous ways

In the cloud and in the sea, all of them were baptized as followers of Moses. All of them ate the same spiritual food, and all of them drank the same spiritual water. For they drank from the spiritual rock that traveled with them, and that rock was Christ.

  • Baptized = made one with / in the midst of / fully a part of
  • As with Christianity the act of ‘baptism’ does nothing (can be meaningless ritual)
  • People can do all the same things, be exposed to the same things…

Yet God was not pleased with most of them, and their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. These things happened as a warning to us, so that we would not crave evil things as they did, or worship idols as some of them did.

  • This demonstrates how foolish and pridefully independent we all can be
  • The basic evil things they craved were their control, their pleasure
  • Replace God in any way and you have made an idol

As the Scriptures say, “The people celebrated with feasting and drinking, and they indulged in pagan revelry.” And we must not engage in sexual immorality as some of them did, causing 23,000 of them to die in one day.

  • The Pagan Revelry is referring to Drunken Orgies (Exodus 32:6)
  • Numbers 25 (sexual immorality with Moab)

Nor should we put Christ to the test, as some of them did and then died from snakebites. And don’t grumble as some of them did, and then were destroyed by the angel of death. These things happened to them as examples for us. They were written down to warn us who live at the end of the age.

  • Various examples of the Israelites being disobedient during the Exodus
  • The Scripture were given for them (Corinthians) and now at the 2nd level for us
  • The Corinthians are doing:
    • Idol Worship / Sexual Immorality / Testing God / Grumbling / Gossip

If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall. The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.

  • People are people…The Israelite, The Corinthians, The Atlantans
  • God is the same for all, He is on our side against temptation

So, my dear friends, flee from the worship of idols. You are reasonable people. Decide for yourselves if what I am saying is true.

  • Physically remove yourself from the influences
  • Don’t take anyone’s word for it, you have to make willful choices

When we bless the cup at the Lord’s Table, aren’t we sharing in the blood of Christ? And when we break the bread, aren’t we sharing in the body of Christ? And though we are many, we all eat from one loaf of bread, showing that we are one body.

  • There are distinctive values and belief we unite around (not unity for unity’s sake)
  • We share in Christ by making it real with him, not by going through the motions
  • God is calling all of us to be a true part of HIS body…you can make it real today

The Lord’s Table: Why we do it every week @ Midtown

Think about the people of Israel. Weren’t they united by eating the sacrifices at the altar?

  • They should have been united but thy were not…

Application Questions:

What associations do you have that are based on place and activity but not values?

How well are you aware of the ‘Evil Things YOU Crave’? What do you make an Idol?

In what areas of you life do you ‘Think’ you’re standing strong but need to be careful in?

What “Careful Reordering of Priorities’ might help limit and get you out of temptations?

What are the things that Spiritually Unify us as Disciples of Jesus Christ?

/by

The Church in The World Not of The World Pt.17

Training for What Matters Most

Paul is in the middle of addressing an attitude of church members who view and treat hired Clergy as people who have an obligation to ‘feed’ or ‘disciple’ them in the particular way they believe they should be fed and discipled….

God’s called Leaders / Clergy do not have any such obligation…They have an obligation to the Lord and to the Church Body.

The world evaluates their leaders from a consumeristic, self-focused point of view.  Are we not to be the opposite? The last is first, first is last goes for all of us!

God says thru Paul’s life: Here is how you do it.

God’s example: Paul’s others-focused life, to show the Corinthians & Us how it’s done.

Paul gives us an example of commitment, attitude, action and Motivation.

Last Week: 1 Corinthian 9:13-14

Don’t you know that those who serve in the temple get their food from the temple, and that those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar? In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.

1st Corinthians 9:15-27

But I have not used any of these rights. And I am not writing this in the hope that you will do such things for me, for I would rather die than allow anyone to deprive me of this boast.

  • Paul is not interested in his career or his position in the leadership (politics)
  • His integrity is his reward

For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward; if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me.

  • He humbly admits it’s not about him…he didn’t choose it, it chose him…
  • If supported his preaching the Gospel is is good if unsupported, better

What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not make full use of my rights as a preacher of the gospel. Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.

  • The offer is made without creating an ‘Obligation’…it should elicit a ‘Response’
  • No one will have the ability to manipulate him because he give to all the same

To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law.

  • Paul no longer sees himself as a Jew… He had to become like them
  • ‘Walk a mile n a man’s moccasins’

To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak.

  • Gentiles were basically all non Jews
  • The principal of being under God’s Sovereignty by willful decision still holds
  • Again the point is to relate and join God as HE works in people
  • ‘The Weak’: marginalized people… We cannot just be available to those we like

I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

  • Whatever it takes, no matter who it is, the standard is to do what you can!
  • The motivation is the message, the message is the motivation
  • The blessings of Christ are fully found in the things done FOR OTHERS!

How did Paul prepare for such work? It took some time…He trained for it like a sport

Approximately 8 years from the Damascus Road to him beginning missionary work

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.

  • If you sign up to race you run…but how should you prepare to win?
  • People train at crazy levels to win things that are worthless
  • We can train to get things that are eternal

Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

  • Because there is so much at stake we should focus
  • This is serious biz and we need to sacrifice like Paul
  • You can do your best so

Application Questions:

Should YOU be training for the chance to do professional ministry, why or why not?

What’s a current situation where YOU could ‘become like’ someone and share Christ?

Is YOUR approach to growth focused on you or on others?

How can you begin training for ministry like YOU have trained for other things?

Describe in detail your motivation, YOUR ‘Why’ to be a disciple who makes disciples.

/by

The Church in The World Not of The World Pt. 16

Supporting ‘WORK IN THE LORD’

The support of Servant Leaders by those they serve is God’s design!

A healthy Body supports their leaders at a level where they are not poor, but also not at a level where they are not required to depend on God.

1st Corinthians 9:1-14

Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not the result of my work in the Lord? Even though I may not be an apostle to others, surely I am to you! For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.

  • Paul is establishing his ‘Bonafides’…Leaders should have a track record
  • The community should be able to see God working through leaders
  • The recognition that we all have benefited from someone’s ‘Work in The Lord’

This is my defense to those who sit in judgment on me. Don’t we have the right to food and drink? Don’t we have the right to take a believing wife along with us, as do the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas? Or is it only I and Barnabas who lack the right to not work for a living?

  • There appears to have been a group complaining about supporting them
  • His peers are supported but he and Barnabas are held to a different standard

Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat its grapes? Who tends a flock and does not drink the milk? Do I say this merely on human authority? Doesn’t the Law say the same thing?

  • Anyone works for the benefit of others should share in the benefits as well
  • Not only is this common sense, it is God’s way (God of Justice)

For it is written in the Law of Moses: “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.” Is it about oxen that God is concerned? Surely he says this for us, doesn’t he? Yes, this was written for us, because whoever plows and threshes should be able to do so in the hope of sharing in the harvest.

  • The principal is illustrated by the Ox example, but applies to us
  • God designed us to work based on our directly sharing in ‘The fruit of our labor’
  • This is why Socialism doesn’t work: work is detached from result of it
  • The book of Proverbs is where God fully explains his ‘Work Ethic’

If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you? If others have this right of support from you, shouldn’t we have it all the more? But we did not use this right. On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ.

  • Exchange of ‘Spiritual Seed’ for ‘Material Harvest’…is this mutually beneficial?
  • It is a good thing to support ‘Missionaries & Para Churches’…
  • As long as you fulfill your immediate commitments as a member of a ‘Body’
  • Leaders must not leverage power for support… trust God & ‘Work in The Lord’
  • We aspire to lead not for the support, but because we are called to it…

Don’t you know that those who serve in the temple get their food from the temple, and that those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar? In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.

  • O.T. TheTemple was place of worship, those who facilitated were supported
  • Those who made the sacrifices were material supported by the community
  • The preaching of the Gospel equates to making sacrifices
  • Command of Scripture: The Body must materially support it’s Servant Leaders

Application Questions:

Who’s ‘Work in The Lord’ has benefited you? How might you support them?

How should christian professionals be compensated compared to their peers?

How might you intentionally act to better support leaders in Jesus’ Church?

When you consider vocational ministry, do the economics of it discourage you?

/by

The Church in The World Not of The World Pt. 15

Being Loving Rather Than Being Right

1st Corinthians 8:1-13

Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that “We all possess knowledge.” But knowledge puffs up while love builds up. Those who think they know something do not yet know as they ought to know. But whoever loves God is known by God.

  • Previously on ‘The Corinthians’…
  • Knowledge: It has value, we all have it…is it useful?
  • Puffs up = Self Focus / Feeling Important…is this the Culture we want?
  • Builds up = Edifies / Strengthens / Grows…is this the Culture we want?
  • Believing you have something figured out proves that you do not.
  • Knowledge without humility is always incomplete
  • I love God when I trust & live the truth of the Gospel…and I’m known by God!!
  • What is the Gospel? How do I trust and live out the Gospel? Known by God?

So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that “An idol is nothing at all in the world” and that “There is no God but one.” For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”)

  • ‘We know’ Sound Scripture Based Theology
  • One and only God, everything else is demonic
  • They appear as ‘gods’ or ‘lord’ because of the power people unwittingly give
  • What is your spiritual reality?
  • Do you give idols power in your life because your theology is unsettled?

Yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.

  • ‘For Us’…The Bond of The Gospel of Jesus Christ
  • This Spiritual Reality is ours, not for being right, but for being loving
  • He not only is everything, as disciples we live from that everything… ‘Lifestyle’

But not everyone possesses this knowledge. Some people are still so accustomed to idols that when they eat sacrificial food they think of it as having been sacrificed to a god, and since their conscience is weak, it is defiled. But food does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do.

  • Levels of this knowledge as God reveals Himself to us
  • Even as we try to follow Christ we default to our old way of thinking (Rom 12:2)
  • If you don’t have conviction of your surrender to Christ you can be legalistic

Jesus @ Mark 7:16-21:

“It’s not what goes into your body that defiles you; you are defiled by what comes from your heart… Can’t you see that the food you put into your body cannot defile you? Food doesn’t go into your heart, but only passes through the stomach and then goes into the sewer.” And then he added,“It is what comes from inside that defiles you. For from within, out of a person’s heart, come evil thoughts…”

Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak. For if someone with a weak conscience sees you, with all your knowledge, eating in an idol’s temple, won’t that person be emboldened to eat what is sacrificed to idols?

  • As disciples we’ve the right to not care about silly superstitions & false gods…
  • We have to be careful to not unduly influence others at different growth stages
  • Following Christ, as His disciples, we must become aware of others situations!
  • We are called to get into each other’s lives enough to know our weak spots
  • Don’t be a part of enabling someone do do what they don’t think they should

So this weak brother or sister, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge. When you sin against them in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother or sister to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause them to fall.

  • Knowledge is not our goal as disciples of Christ, Love is
  • Christ’s way is to care enough to know what causes your bother to stumble
  • Christ’s way is to do your best to not be a stumbling block
  • The Spirit Filled example is to do whatever I have to

Application Questions:

When and why do you rely on your knowledge instead of Your trust in God’s Love?

What influences in your life contribute to less ‘puffing up’ and more ‘building up’?

Why are the statements about the Father & Jesus important to our relationships?

How can you become more aware of things you do that discourage other believers?

How might you care for your Bothers & Sisters sacrificially, guarding them from sin?

/by

The Church in The World Not of The World Pt. 14

The Priority of Serving Christ

Vision for the Biblical Christ Centered Culture God is building @ Midtown:

A culture of Gospel & Discipleship

A culture of Scripture & Service

A culture of Prayer & Care

Culture defined by: Activity & Principal…Faith & Relationship…Standards & Love

Our primary means by which culture is formed is doing our level best to interpret and apply Scripture.

So we continue with: ‘The Corinthians’…

When we last left The Corinthians Paul was answering questions about marriage

1st Corinthians 7:25-40

Now regarding your question about the young women who are not yet married. I do not have a command from the Lord for them. But the Lord in his mercy has given me wisdom that can be trusted, and I will share it with you. Because of the present crisis, I think it is best to remain as you are.

  • Response to a specific question put to Paul
  • If Scripture has no bearing on your situation, what do you do with it?
  • Tied to ‘present situation’ so it’s not a ‘general command’ from God’s Word for all
  • Principle contained is that marriage is not to be entered into lightly
  • ‘Present Crisis’ Persecution by Romans + Famine

If you have a wife, do not seek to end the marriage. If you do not have a wife, do not seek to get married. But if you do get married, it is not a sin. And if a young woman gets married, it is not a sin. However, those who get married at this time will have troubles, and I am trying to spare you those problems.

  • The Gospel of Jesus Christ was causing a lot of social unrest
  • The core of Paul’s Spirit led guidance is: Count The Cost / Take Your Time
  • Why? Because there is a more important priority as a disciple of Christ

But let me say this, dear brothers and sisters: The time that remains is very short. So from now on, those with wives should not focus only on their marriage.

  • The time that remains is very short…DO YOU see the time we have as limited?
  • Call is to not focus ONLY on your marriage…

Those who weep or who rejoice or who buy things should not be absorbed by their weeping or their joy or their possessions. Those who use the things of the world should not become attached to them. For this world as we know it will soon pass away.

  • ‘Emotional Consumerism’
  • Absorbed / Attached….’Social Media’??
  • Making an idol of ANYTHING is not wise… even a spouse
  • Time is fleeting…we have a finite amount of time

I want you to be free from the concerns of this life. An unmarried man can spend his time doing the Lord’s work and thinking how to please him. But a married man has to think about his earthly responsibilities and how to please his wife. His interests are divided.

  • Where the Spirit of The Lord is There is FREEDOM
  • Do you want to be free to fully serve Christ? Should a disciple desire otherwise?
  • Are you aware of how your interests are divided (by: world / flesh / satan)
  • We will be divided, but where is our priority?

In the same way, a woman who is no longer married or has never been married can be devoted to the Lord and holy in body and in spirit. But a married woman has to think about her earthly responsibilities and how to please her husband.

  • Serious temporal commitments CAN & WILL impact how you serve Christ
  • Biblical One Flesh Marriage is serious stuff…how do we prioritize?
  • As disciples of Christ we ‘Lay down our lives’ for HIM…
  • Should we not structure our lives so we make Him 1st, Spouse & Family 2nd?

I am saying this for your benefit, not to place restrictions on you. I want you to do whatever will help you serve the Lord best, with as few distractions as possible.

  • The desire of God is that we would serve Him best we can…(best thing for us!)
  • Distractions are a reality, the question is will you be distracted?
  • The real danger is when you don’t think they are distractions, just life…

But if a man thinks that he’s treating his fiancée improperly and will inevitably give in to his passion, let him marry her as he wishes. It is not a sin. But if he has decided firmly not to marry and there is no urgency and he can control his passion, he does well not to marry. So the person who marries his fiancée does well, and the person who doesn’t marry does even better.

  • This is in reference to a couple planning to marry, no sin to get married
  • But in the Corinthians present situation, singleness is the better situation

A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. If her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but only if he loves the Lord. But in my opinion it would be better for her to stay single, and I think I am giving you counsel from God’s Spirit when I say this.

  • Bound ‘until death do you part’… remarry any other who ‘Loves The Lord’
  • Free to remarry, best is to stay single…(this is situational, not general)
  • Council from God’s Spirit: Prophecy / Scripture

Application Questions:

Why is haste in the forming or dissolving of Biblical Marriage discouraged in Scripture?

As YOU evaluate your current commitments, where is serving Christ among them?

What ‘Non-Eternal’ things absorb YOUR time and emotions rather than serving Christ?

As a disciple of Christ how do YOU practically prioritize serving with your spouse?

How might YOU regularly serve Christ’s Body with the ones you love the most?

/by

THE GOSPEL IN CHRISTMAS CAROLS

The Gospel in Christmas Carols

‘Carols’ were songs sung in circles while dancing…Traditional / Communal

Protestant Reformation deemed pagan based celebration & music ‘non-essential’

Christmas was pretty bleak in the early 1800’s…

1843 Charles Dickens ‘A Christmas Carol’ is published and it begins a revival of joyously celebrating Christmas, rather than it being played down by the Reformation.

The practice of people not working on Christmas sweeps Europe and America.

In 1861 the Hymnal ‘Hymns Ancient and Modern’ is published reworking many traditional Christian songs into the the standards we know today.

Singing becomes connected to the celebration of Christmas. From 1840 – 1870 popular, Biblical Christmas Carols were part of a renewed culture of setting apart Christmas as a special holiday to rival Easter in the Christian world.

And in these great songs The Gospel is firmly in-bedded

The four Christmas Carols I am looking at parts of today all came to popularity in the 1840’s – 50’s, were part of the collection Hymns Ancient & Modern, and are at the theological core of Christmas celebrations then and now.

A Picture of the Gospel: The Promise / The Separation / The Salvation / The Glory

O Come Emmanuel:

Origins in Latin Advent Liturgy from the 800’s, current form seen in 1700’s in France. A German version 1710; Hymns Ancient & Modern 1861 gave it the tune we know today.

O Come, O come Emmanuel, And ransom captive Israel.

That mourns in lonely exile here, Until the Son of God appears.

Rejoice, Rejoice, Emmanuel. Shall come to thee O Israel.

Isaiah 43:1& 3

But now, O Jacob, listen to the Lord who created you. O Israel, the one who formed you says, “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.

  • The Promise of Ransom (God not in linear time; He has ransomed)
  • ‘The Exile’ is our human condition of our sin separating us from God (mourning)
  • ‘God Among Us’: The Holy One Of Israel…the only place salvation can come from
  • He calls His People, He makes them HIS

O Holy Night:

Published in1847 the song became very popular in France: after a few years the author disavowed Christianity and the song was rejected by the church…but was kept alive by peasant class in Europe…it was revived in 1855 when it was translated into english, by 1870’s it was a classic!

Long lay the world in sin and error pining, Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.

Psalm 130:5-8

I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His word I do hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning—yes, more than those who watch for the morning. O Israel, hope in the Lord; for with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him is abundant redemption. He shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.

  • All of creation has been waiting since the garden…Separated from God by sin
  • Our souls long to be in union with our creator…David expressing His anticipation
  • What gives our souls their worth is Christ!
  • He will give us our value by His mercy and ‘Abundant Redemption’ (all iniquities)
  • This is what all Scripture is pointing to…

Hark The Herald Angels Sing

Original by Charles Wesley, John Wesley’s brother (he wrote 6000 Hymns) 1739. George Whitefield did a rewrite in 1754…Charles Wesley didn’t like it. In 1782, the hymn was revised yet again. In 1855, new music by composer Felix Mendelssohn, he wrote music in 1846 Dickens

Hail! the heaven-born Prince of Peace. Hail the son of Righteousness

Light and life to all He brings, risen with healing in His wings

Mild He lays His glory by, born that man no more may die

Born to raise the sons of earth, born to give them second birth

Hark the herald angels sing, “Glory to the new born King”

Psalm 103:3-5

He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies. He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagle’s!

  • Prince of Peace = Shalom
  • Son of Righteousness = God Himself
  • The healing of our sin being forgiven: SALVATION
  • He laid down His divinity to accomplish our redemption from death
  • HIS BIRTH signals the reality that we can have eternal life…in HIM
  • The ‘Renewal’ of Second Birth / wings = eagles

Joy To The World

Issac Watts 1719, part of a Psalms of David collection, the music we know today written by Lowell Mason 1848…part of Christmas revival of the 1840’s

He rules the world with truth and grace. And makes the nations prove.

The glories of, His righteousness. And wonders of His love

And wonders of His love! And wonders, wonders, of His love!

Isaiah 55:3-5

“Come to me with your ears wide open. Listen, and you will find life. I will make an everlasting covenant with you. I will give you all the unfailing love I promised to David. See how I used him to display my power among the peoples. I made him a leader among the nations. You also will command nations you do not know, and peoples unknown to you will come running to obey, because I, the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, have made you glorious.”

  • This is written by The Father about and to the Son..
  • Fulfillment of Davidic Kingship
  • Ruling because He is God
  • Grace & Truth: John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
  • ‘Makes’ spoke more of producing something rather than forcing something
  • The GLORY of God that Christ is!

Application: You personally search the Scriptures to find the origin of these words:

Hark The Herald Angels Sing

Christ, by highest heaven adored; Christ the everlasting Lord;

Late in time behold him come, Offspring of the favored one.

Veiled in flesh, the Godhead see; hail the incarnate Deity

Pleased as man with men to dwell, Jesus, our Immanuel

Hark the herald angels sing, “Glory to the new born King”

 

/by

BELIEVE THE LIGHT YOU SEE!

The Story: Reveals ‘The Light’

Angel Visit / Visit to Aunt & Uncle / Trip to Bethlehem, no room, baby born, Shepherds after Angel visit show up…

Luke 2:18-20

…and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told…

Luke 2: 21-35

Eight days later, when the baby was circumcised, he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel even before he was conceived. Then it was time for their purification offering, as required by the law of Moses after the birth of a child; so his parents took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord.

  • Jewish tradition of circumcision followed, connection thru Abraham
  • Jesus name in Aramaic: Yahshua, meaning: Yahweh is salvation. ‘The Light’
  • Law of Moses: present Jesus to ‘The Lord’… doing things God’s way

This is all two years before the visit of The Magi from the east…

The law of the Lord says, “If a woman’s first child is a boy, he must be dedicated to the Lord.” So they offered the sacrifice required in the law of the Lord—“either a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”

  • Offered the day after 40 day period (female child offered the day after 80 days)
  • Connection to Godly living, obedient Jews in the land…because not all were

At that time there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon. He was righteous and devout and was eagerly waiting for the Messiah to come and rescue Israel. The Holy Spirit was upon him and had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s Messiah.

  • He is declared in God’s Word as righteous & devout!
  • The list of Individuals Scripture specifically call: ‘Righteous; Noah, Job, Abraham, David, Joseph, John The Baptist, Joseph of Arimathea… Jesus!
  • The anticipation of the Messiah about 973yrs since David

That day the Spirit led him to the Temple. So when Mary and Joseph came to present the baby Jesus to the Lord as the law required, Simeon was there. He took the child in his arms and praised God, saying,

  • Another point of Illumination: Angel / Star / Shepherds…Now this

“Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace, as you have promised. I have seen your salvation, which you have prepared for all people. He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and he is the glory of your people Israel!”

  • How to see the light: God Sovereign / Be A Servant / Faith in Promises
  • God’s salvation is ‘The Light’
  • Coming from Israel…for all people

Jesus’ parents were amazed at what was being said about him. Then Simeon blessed them, and he said to Mary, the baby’s mother,

  • It is starting to sink in…all come together…
  • He did some kind of blessing… then addressed Mary specifically, not Joseph

“This child is destined to cause many in Israel to fall, and many others to rise. He has been sent as a sign from God, but many will oppose him. As a result, the deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your very soul.”

  • The rise and fall is that people will have to take sides
  • Jesus spoke of the division He would cause: Matthew 10:34

“Don’t imagine that I came to bring peace to the earth! I came not to bring peace, but a sword.”

  • He is straight from God but not everyone will see it.
  • What is believed about Him, The Christ, will reveal the depth of a soul
  • And Mary, it is gonna be rough on you!

1 John 1:1-4

We proclaim to you the one who existed from the beginning, whom we have heard and seen. We saw him with our own eyes and touched him with our own hands. He is the Word of life. This One, who Is life itself (Salvation) was revealed to us, and we have seen him. And now we testify and proclaim to you that he is the One who is eternal life.

He was with the Father, and then he was revealed to us. We proclaim to you what we ourselves have actually seen and heard so that you may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We are writing these things so that you may fully share our joy.

The greatest gift anyone can get is to fully see the light of Christ and live in surrendered fellowship with His disciples: What we were created for!

Application Questions: (answer with ‘I’ statements)

On a scale of 1 – 10 how important is it to You to do things God’s way? Why?

Why should YOU put the whole story of Scripture together about Christ’s Advent?

What’s standing between YOU and “The Light of Christ’, keeping You from seeing?

What of the deepest thoughts in YOUR heart are not settled about Christ?

How are You going to fully share in the Joy of Christ’s birth?

/by

The Whole Story Behind Advent

The Old Testament is All About Christ

This season is so meaningful and magical for a reason

Advent season / Christmas season is the celebration of the apex of human history

God has been revealing Himself and peaks with the birth of Jesus Christ

God coming to earth as one of us is the ultimate revelation of His Truth & Grace

My desire: for you to see all of Scripture and human History pointing to ‘The Advent’!

“The Bible is long and Layered for a reason. It prepares us to see and receive Jesus as the only solution to our problem and the only Savior from our sin.” ~ Christ from Beginning to End by Hunter & Wellum

Adam & The Garden:

Adam is representative of all humanity (Prophet / Priest / King)

Because of sin Adam failed in all of these roles.

Genesis 3:6

When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.

  • Wanted to be like God instead of be with God…(same sin as Satan)

Genesis 3:15

“And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”

  • One day God will use humanity to right what went wrong
  • Until the whole story is complete there will be conflict (Fallen World)

Adam was meant to represent humanity as Prophet, Priest & King…

With the introduction of sin creation was corrupted:

Adam failed as Prophet: unable to speak truth or blessing.

Adam failed as Priest: unable to stand in God’s presence

Adam failed as King: traded God’s presence for a chance to become God

God Himself must restore creation, reestablish His Covenant and remove sin, How?

Noah & The Flood:

Noah is the 1st prototype of a ‘Savior’ but he has the same problem Adam had: Sin

Genesis 6:7-8

So the Lord said, “I will wipe from the face of the earth the human race I have created—and with them the animals, the birds and the creatures that move along the ground—for I regret that I have made them.” But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.

  • We see the themes of judgement for sin and salvation by grace

The Flood was not really a ‘Renewal of Creation’ because the sin problem came with Noah, even though he was favored of God He could not give others God favor…

Two chapters later; Tower of Babel: ‘Make a name for ourselves’…the sin of pride

In the flood we do see a foreshadowing of ‘The New Creation’ to come

Abraham & The Patriarchs:

The promise of God’s redemption finds a people to be the source

From Abraham to Issac (The Child of Promise) to Jacob ‘Israel’ a nation is set apart

Abraham is declared righteous by faith and his ‘spiritual descendants’ will be also

God promised Abraham He would bless all people through his descendants

Abraham was about to sacrifice that son of promise…

Genesis 22:13-14

Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns.He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.”

  • He was willing to sacrifice everything for God…surrender

Many believe the exact spot where this happened is where Jesus was Crucified!

The necessary sacrifice would have to be provided by God Himself…BE God Himself

Moses, The Exodus & The Law:

Exodus: Deliverance from Bondage to Egypt (God given redemption)

A promised land of ‘Rest’ living by God’s law (God given peace; Shalom)

Moses is the Prophet that delivers His People…(God given direction)

The ‘Tabernacle’ where God dwells with them (God Given Community)

It all Points to a Greater Expression of God’s Love!

A Greater Exodus: The Exodus from Egypt foreshadowed deliverance from sin

A Greater Rest: Promise of ‘Rest’ in the promised land…Christ would bring true rest

A Greater Prophet: Moses foretold of a greater prophet, the anticipated Messiah

A Greater Tabernacle: God dwelling in believers…Fullness of that brought by Christ

David The King:

A convergence of previous promises in David, another prototype Savior

He is God’s chosen leader, yet He is not the one who will be the true savior

2 Samuel 7:12b-14

I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son.

  • The promised Messiah, one who would do what humanity itself could not do

The beginning of a line of humanity that God will bring the Messiah from…

David & Solomon represent the apex of the nation of Israel…

The Prophets:

God speaks thru the prophets to clarify what He is doing

They review and preview all redemptive History: (Sin / Judgement / Redemption)

They point to what God will ultimately do to restore Shalom…(Right Relationship)

Isaiah 9:6

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

  • The fullness of the Triune God is to be revealed in the promised Messiah

Jesus The Messiah:

God used human types to foreshadow the all God all human Messiah: Christ!

All scripture was setting the stage for the advent of God’s salvation bringer

We truly understand Jesus the Christ by understanding the Old Testament

If we understand ‘The Whole Story’ we understand how we are to surrender our lives

Luke 1: 30-33

And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

  • It all comes together in Jesus Christ
  • All pointing to eternity where God restores everything

I hope this overview inspires you

I have a challenge for us as a to search the Old Testament Scriptures

A challenge for our church in the coming year:

Read the whole Bible in a year! Back to the Bible.org One year reading plans

/by

The Church in The World Not of The World Pt. 13

‘Trusting God in Your Current Situation’ 7:12-24

Focus in on the principals here and apply them to relationships you have that are committed and longstanding where the other is not a Biblically Converted Christ Follower (parents, siblings, uncles, nieces, grandparents, coworkers, neighbors)

None of these people can have been Christians for more than 5-7 yrs max, 2-3 avg.

Now, I will speak to the rest of you, though I do not have a direct command from the Lord. If a fellow believer has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to continue living with him, he must not leave her. And if a believing woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to continue living with her, she must not leave him.

  • Unstable situation of Corinth at the time of the writing of this letter
  • Previous teaching from Paul about ‘Being Equally Yoked in Marriage’
  • This concerns people who were married before Christ known of (last 8yrs max)
  • If your spouse has not come to Christ yet, and you have: hang in there!
  • Emulating Christ: Go the extra mile, do your best, let God work
  • This is where you are, Trust God; live for Him & with Him right here, right now!

For the believing wife brings holiness to her marriage, and the believing husband brings holiness to his marriage. Otherwise, your children would not be holy, but now they are holy. (But if the husband or wife who isn’t a believer insists on leaving, let them go. In such cases the believing husband or wife is no longer bound to the other, for God has called you to live in peace.)

  • God wants you to bring the holiness to your marriage that He brought to you!
  • You sanctify your children, dedicate them to Christ (Trust God with them)
  • It is up to you to pass on to your children what God has put in you: His Spirit!
  • Live for Christ if the unbelieving spouse stays or goes; let God lead the other
  • There is no peace in a marriage without shared values & willingness to try
  • God is in charge: if they leave God has that for you (freedom in God’s choice)

Don’t you wives realize that your husbands might be saved because of you? And don’t you husbands realize that your wives might be saved because of you? Each of you should continue to live in whatever situation the Lord has placed you, and remain as you were when God first called you. This is my rule for all the churches.

  • Here is why you hang in there: Salvation of a Soul (value that by persevering)
  • Grow yourself and others where you are planted, God has placed you there
  • Let God change your situation, let Him finish what He is doing in this season
  • Paul’s rule because it promotes unity, stability & strength of new churches
  • God changes some people’s situation, but we should let Him do it (wait on Him)
  • Do you have an other’s basis for wanting new circumstances or a self basis?

For instance, a man who was circumcised before he became a believer should not try to reverse it. And the man who was uncircumcised when he became a believer should not be circumcised now. For it makes no difference whether or not a man has been circumcised. The important thing is to keep God’s commandments.

  • He is saying: “It is what it is now”
  • What we are called to do, with the current circumstances, is fully live for God!
  • He didn’t make a mistake putting you where you are, He has his reasons
  • Let the main thing be the main thing!

Yes, each of you should remain as you were when God called you. Are you a slave? Don’t let that worry you—but if you get a chance to be free, take it. And remember, if you were a slave when the Lord called you, you are now free in the Lord.

  • We are called to be less concerned with our status than we are about Jesus
  • Whatever your situation here and now can you live from what your eternity is?

And if you were free when the Lord called you, you are now a slave of Christ. God paid a high price for you, so don’t be enslaved by the world. Each of you, dear brothers and sisters, should remain as you were when God first called you.

  • Do you identify as a slave of Christ? Has the Gospel penetrated your soul?
  • Do you value more than anything the fact that Christ actually bought you?
  • Always wanting different circumstances is a symptom ‘Un-Surrenderedness’
  • Christ died to free us from this world’s needs and desires…
  • This Christmas season make Him your focus not your circumstances
  • Keep it simple, live fully surrendered to God right here, right now

Application Questions:

Why does Paul suggest if a marriage is ‘Unequally Yoked’ they should stay together?

How do you bring ‘holiness’ to marriage whether your spouse is a believer or not?

What is the critical principal for disciples of Christ when making key life choices?

What things are most important as we exercise our freedom in Christ?

/by

The Church in The World Not of The World Pt. 12

Honoring God With Our Sexuality

As disciples of Jesus Christ we ‘GET’ to obey God, by the power of HIS Spirit.

This is to include every aspect of our lives, as we grow in understanding God’s will.

We have to live for God while we live in the midst of a society that disregards God.

How do we acknowledge the reality of temptation we face & still walk with Christ?

In all such matters it is critical to have the ‘Why’ solidified in our beliefs.

Why do we want to Honor God with our sexuality?

Last Week: 6:19-20

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.

Once we have the ‘Why’ settled we can work on the how…

The crucial message contained in today’s text is when done God’s way, sex or celibacy can be humanly fulfilling AND God honoring…the KEY is ‘done God’s way’.

In all of our relationships, as disciples of christ, we get to obey and put others 1st.

And that is what we are called to do when it comes to sex: do it God’s way!

1st Corinthians 7:1-11

Now for the matters you wrote about: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.”

  • We believe this is a response to a question
  • Best solution is not to have sex become an idol, not have it lead you around…
  • It is not necessary, through God’s gifting, allowing you to focus on other things
  • But there is a way to honor God and have sexual relations…Marriage!

But since sexual immorality is occurring, each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband. The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband.

  • Since people are living based on their urges and since the temptation exists
  • The only way God designed this level of intimacy is in a marriage covenant
  • Marital Duty: this is about caring for the other and being committed to them
  • In Christian Marriage we treat our spouse as Christ treats us

The wife does not have authority over her own body but yields it to her husband. In the same way, the husband does not have authority over his own body but yields it to his wife.

  • ‘One Flesh’ is how God desires a woman and a man to be in marriage
  • 1st we have with Christ: ‘You are not your own, you were bought at a price
  • We can honor that by relinquishing ourselves to each other
  • The level of union is meant to be ‘Other-Centered’
  • Absolute equality in the marriage relationship as revealed in scripture
  • Loving consensus is how couples are to set expectations

Let every man, says he, have his own wife, and every woman her own husband; that is, marry, and confine themselves to their own mates. And, when they are married, let each render the other due benevolence, consider the disposition and exigency of each other, and render conjugal duty, which is owing to each other. For, as the apostle argues, in the married state neither person has power over his own body, but has delivered it into the power of the other, the wife hers into the power of the husband, the husband his into the power of the wife.” ~ Matthew Henry

Do not deprive each other except perhaps by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

  • Provide for each other, don’t let depravation happen…
  • Example of putting sex on lower priority than seeking God
  • Each should sacrifice their own personal preference on an equal basis
  • Every couple should see themselves as a team fighting temptation together
  • ‘Your lack of self control’… basic human condition

I say this as a concession, not as a command. I wish that all of you were as I am. But each of you has your own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.

  • ‘This’ refers to the agreed upon hiatus in sexual relations (not to be the norm)
  • He wishes they were blessed as he is with singleness
  • but he is not who hands out gifts…

Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I do. But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

  • If this is what God has for you then make the best of it
  • But if you are not gifted to be single and so you don’t struggle with lust…

To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.

  • This is a call to see marriage as God does: permanent / One Flesh
  • One Flesh will always seek to be reconciled to itself

Application Questions:

Why & how might you cultivate and practice a more ‘Biblically Informed View’ of Sex?

Why is healthy, fulfilling sex in a marriage important to God?

How can ‘Others Focused Intimacy’ protect your spouse from temptation?

What can help you have open, honest conversations about sex with your spouse?

/by