Friday, February 25, 2022

Sermons from Good News: you are righteous

 

Church 2/23/2022


Sermon message thesis: you are righteous

If you have Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, then you have the righteousness of God.

Point #1: Without Jesus no one is righteous

As it is written: “There is none righteous, no, not one;

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

The point of the law in the Old Testament was to show us that we need a savior.

Point #2: God has given us His righteousness

even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed,

Point #3: You have been made the righteousness of God

For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Salvation is a free gift from God. So is righteousness.

For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.)

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.

But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption—

Point #4: God had good works for you to do

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

For it is by God's grace that you have been saved through faith. It is not the result of your own efforts, but God's gift, so that no one can boast about it. God has made us what we are, and in our union with Christ Jesus he has created us for a life of good deeds, which he has already prepared for us to do.
God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

Now God has us where he wants us, with all the time in this world and the next to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ Jesus. Saving is all his idea, and all his work. All we do is trust him enough to let him do it. It’s God’s gift from start to finish! We don’t play the major role. If we did, we’d probably go around bragging that we’d done the whole thing! No, we neither make nor save ourselves. God does both the making and saving. He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing.

Point #5: the prayers of the righteous are powerful

Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

Satan often tries to attack us re: our righteousness (or lack thereof without Jesus) when we go to pray.

Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.
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Wednesday, February 23, 2022

Two-month check-in (almost): Leviticus 19

The Bible reading program I’m on has now reached the book of Numbers. As I begin another new book, I find myself kind of jarred and overwhelmed, a sense of “we’re leaving?? But I just got used to being here!” I recognize that the book of Leviticus is not the most popular book in the Bible, and in past years, even I myself found myself preferring to avoid reading it as much as possible. That’s not the case this time. I’ve been finding myself hungry and wanting to linger longer over each chapter. From time to time I’ve been having impressed on me the importance of God’s law, of reading it, knowing it, and following it. Reading and knowing God’s law is akin to getting to know more of God’s character and getting more intimate with Him. Following His law is akin to walking this out – like walking in the Spirit, a truth from the New Testament.

I’m facilitating a Bible study twice monthly – really, it’s two distinct Bible study groups but each meets once a month – and I’ve been using the Bible reading program to steer the focus of that particular meeting’s Biblical focus. The way the reading shaped up in January, it was kind of easy to steer the focus, considering that two of the most important passages in all of Scripture focus on the creation of the universe (Genesis 1) and the fall of humankind to sin (Genesis 3). Not that there aren’t a plethora of interesting histories throughout the rest of the book (or the book of Job, its reading which was also placed in January within the reading program), but, outside of the time when King David was king of Israel, and when Jesus walked this earth (and died and rose again), I don’t anticipate there being times where it’s obvious what passage(s) of Scripture are going to stand out more than the rest. February, particularly the last couple weeks, was certainly the case.

Specifically, this week I’ve been finding myself drawn to Leviticus 19. Below is the following passage, from verses 1 through 18 (NKJV):

1 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Speak to all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.

3 ‘Every one of you shall revere his mother and his father, and keep My Sabbaths: I am the Lord your God.

4 ‘Do not turn to idols, nor make for yourselves molded gods: I am the Lord your God.

5 ‘And if you offer a sacrifice of a peace offering to the Lord, you shall offer it of your own free will. 6 It shall be eaten the same day you offer it, and on the next day. And if any remains until the third day, it shall be burned in the fire. 7 And if it is eaten at all on the third day, it is an abomination. It shall not be accepted. 8 Therefore everyone who eats it shall bear his iniquity, because he has profaned the hallowed offering of the Lord; and that person shall be cut off from his people.

9 ‘When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not wholly reap the corners of your field, nor shall you gather the gleanings of your harvest. 10 And you shall not glean your vineyard, nor shall you gather every grape of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the poor and the stranger: I am the Lord your God.

11 ‘You shall not steal, nor deal falsely, nor lie to one another. 12 And you shall not swear by My name falsely, nor shall you profane the name of your God: I am the Lord.

13 ‘You shall not cheat your neighbor, nor rob him. The wages of him who is hired shall not remain with you all night until morning. 14 You shall not curse the deaf, nor put a stumbling block before the blind, but shall fear your God: I am the Lord.

15 ‘You shall do no injustice in judgment. You shall not be partial to the poor, nor honor the person of the mighty. In righteousness you shall judge your neighbor. 16 You shall not go about as a talebearer among your people; nor shall you take a stand against the life of your neighbor: I am the Lord.

17 ‘You shall not hate your brother in your heart. You shall surely rebuke your neighbor, and not bear sin because of him. 18 You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.

I like it because it is a restatement of sorts of the Ten Commandments. As many know, the Ten Commandments is another one of those top, super-important sections in the Bible to remember, along with the creation story and the fall of humankind to sin. One difference that stands out here in Leviticus compared with the original statement of the Ten Commandments is that there is a context, multiple chapters of God talking to His people and giving them the boundaries of conduct that is acceptable to Him. Because, at this time, the Hebrews were (and still are) God’s people, and He was (and still is) their God, there was a relationship between them. This time reading through Leviticus, I’m seeing more and more of what it needs to look like to do relationship with God well.

Typically, I also like to analyze and expound on whatever Biblical passage I’m posting about, but sometimes it’s just best to let God speak for Himself and get out of the way. Today is one of those times. I’m also invoking a passage I expect to come across sometime in the next month:

This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Joshua 1:8, NKJV

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Sunday, February 20, 2022

Sermons from Good News: It's dark until you speak

 

Church 2/19/2022


Offertory scripture: Honoring God with our giving.

Give to the Lord the glory due His name; Bring an offering, and come into His courts.

God doesn’t take lightly the offerings we offer to Him. He takes it seriously. There’s a spiritual meaning to giving.

Sermon message:

Thesis: It’s dark until you speak.

Last week: needed — the fruit of the Spirit.

Brief review: when you receive Jesus Christ as you Lord and Savior, you also receive the Spirit of God.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

Good news: it has already been placed inside of you.

They will know if you’re a disciple of Jesus by your love for others, by your fruit.

We need to be light in a dark world.

We must speak. What we say is very important.

Clarity / disclaimer: we are not God.

But we can learn from God and learn from His word.

Point #1: it was dark until God spoke.

In the beginning t was dark. But God spoke into the darkness, and it changed.

The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light.

Point #2: things may bad/dark/messy until you speak

Truth: we were all sinners, falling short of the glory of God, with a penalty of death. But God calls us to speak.

that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

Point #3: even the world (even the ungodly) acknowledges what you say is important and powerful

Whether it builds someone up or tears them down, words are powerful.

Point #4: God has explained the importance of words for thousands of years.

Consider Abraham, Moses, David, Jesus, Paul, among others — the words they spoke were (and are) powerful

A man’s stomach shall be satisfied from the fruit of his mouth; From the produce of his lips he shall be filled. Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.

The wicked is ensnared by the transgression of his lips, But the righteous will come through trouble. A man will be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth, And the recompense of a man’s hands will be rendered to him.

God’s talking about your mouth. You’re not God but your words are still important. We can speak and either bring darkness or light.

For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.

Point #5: let us speak and watch things change.

Say out loud what is in God’s word.

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
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Saturday, February 19, 2022

Sermons from Good News: You are a new creation

 

Church 2/16/2022


Sermon message:

Preamble:

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; Because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.


Never take it lightly every opportunity to learn the Word of God

Thesis: You are a new creation.

You became a new creation the day you received Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. You picked up a new nature.

Point #1: you are a new creation.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

Your heart, your being itself has changed once you’ve received Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.

Point #2: When you receive Jesus Christ, you also have something called eternal life. Your spirit is connected to God. You receive the Holy Spirit and have Him within you.

And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.

Once you receive Jesus Christ, you can have the God kind of life where you walk with God, you fellowship with God, you do life with God.

Also, you have great potential. God has promises for you.

Point #3: you have a new nature.

Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

The more knowledge of God you have, the more grace you have in Him, and the more peace you have in Him. As you receive more and more of God’s word, you receive more and more of His nature.

Think of the Word of God as the owner’s manual for your life.

Consider the case of Saul/Paul:

Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one. Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank. Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” So the Lord said to him, “Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying. And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight.” Then Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.” But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.” And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized. So when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus. Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God.

Point #4: you are a new creature with God’s nature

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

You are not only a sinner saved by grace. You are a new creation. You are a child of God. Therefore, don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world. Instead let God change the way you think and renew your mind.

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Tuesday, February 15, 2022

Reflections from Leviticus 4-6

Leviticus 4 – the chapter that introduces the concept of unintentional sin, a concept that I don’t know that anyone teaches. Sin is sin, but we also know that God judges the heart, and that sin with intent, especially malicious intent, is worse than other sins, because it is also a matter of the heart, of one’s attitude. And so on.

But, at the same time, sin is still sin. King David – I’ll read his Psalms in about 2 months – makes mention of “secret sins” periodically. These are sins that we have committed but didn’t realize. Realizing it is about as humbling an experience that anyone can have, the realization that, even despite our best efforts, despite our intentions, attitudes, and orientations of our hearts, we still fall short of the glory of God. We can’t help it. This is a topic that, along with many others (like sin itself) is unpopular, but especially in the Age of Self, I imagine that more people than not will bristle at this. Even people who say they are Christian, people who say they swear by the Bible and got fully water-baptized as an adult (and not just the “sprinkling” as an infant), can fall for the illusion that as long as our hearts and intentions are in the right place, then there really should be no problem.

Except, according to the Bible, there is. Unintentional sin exists. Secret sins are a real thing. For example, Jesus addresses two of the commandments, “thou shalt not commit adultery” and “thou shall not commit murder,” and says that even if we are merely angry at someone we have committed murder in our heart, and that even if we look at another person who is not our opposite-sex spouse with lust, we have committed adultery in our heart.

According to Jesus’ interpretation of these two particular commandments, combined with the truth that unintentional sin is still sin, I know that I myself have already fallen way, way short. And yet, I have known people, church-goers who profess to be Christian and/or Jesus-followers, get defensive at even the mere mention of being called out for their sin “when they didn’t mean to do it.”

I still must guard against becoming a Pharisee on this, because I understand enough that that particular legalistic mindset begins by standing on God’s law, come heathen or high water, no matter what comes, no matter their emotions, no matter their circumstances. And yet, time and time again, I have seen people go the other way, invoking “God’s grace” as a method of dismissing their actions, out of a belief that to look at themselves honestly would equate to “beating themselves up.”

This is often a very tough balancing act, and honestly, it’s not a balancing act any of us can manage, without realizing our desperate need for a personal, life-saving (and eternity-saving) relationship with Jesus Christ who died on the cross for all. Recently, in a Bible study where we examined the Ten Commandments and how we each were doing with each of them, I was honest with the other men in the group and said that I’ve broken all ten of them. Repeatedly. Even after I began my real walk with the God of the Bible, I’ve still taken His name in vain and put other idols in His place. I’ve committed both murder and adultery in my heart, and I’ve coveted all sorts of things, because of my longtime frustration with my similarly longtime financial standing. And yet, every time something good really happened, like a huge push forward in my life, is entirely and exclusively because of the combination of God’s goodness and my decision to trust Him in that goodness, repeatedly.

Other notes:

  • Leviticus 5:1: the origin of “if you see/hear something, say something.”
  • Noticing a trend of sin offerings equating to an animal “without blemish,” often a lamb. The “without blemish” part stands out – after all, the Lord is without blemish Himself. I read this and interpret it both literally and symbolically. Literally because the text repeatedly says to bring [an animal] without blemish; symbolically because of the connection with God Himself who is without blemish.
  • Similarly, there is an emphasis on holiness – God is holy, therefore everything we offer, including those that touch it, must be holy.

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Sunday, February 13, 2022

Sermons from Good News: Needed: the fruit of the Spirit

 

Church 2/12/2022


Offertory scripture:

Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.

Stay focused. Keep your eyes on Jesus.

Sermon message

Thesis: Needed: the fruit of the Spirit

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

But the Spirit produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, humility, and self-control. There is no law against such things as these.

The fruit of the Spirit is the character of Almighty God. Therefore we need more of the character of Almighty God.

Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

What human nature does is quite plain. It shows itself in immoral, filthy, and indecent actions; in worship of idols and witchcraft. People become enemies and they fight; they become jealous, angry, and ambitious. They separate into parties and groups; they are envious, get drunk, have orgies, and do other things like these. I warn you now as I have before: those who do these things will not possess the Kingdom of God.

Point #1: the fruit of the Spirit is the character of God

Point #2: If you are a believer God has placed His Spirit in you

Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?

When you receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior you receive God’s Holy Spirit in you. And you receive it immediately once you receive Jesus. Also you are in the family of God immediately.

Point #3: God has placed His character in you

God’s character showing fruit in you takes time. This is what’s not automatic.

You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.

Believers should be recognized by the fruit of the Holy Spirit that shows up in them.

Jesus has given us a new commandment: to love each other as He has loved us.

By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Point #4: you can grow the fruit of the Spirit in your life

What can we do to make this happen? First, decide to do it. Decide to let God’s character to grow in you. Consider Noah or Mary the mother of Jesus. They had to decide to say yes to what God wanted them to do.

Consider Joshua:

And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord .”

For with God nothing will be impossible.”

Ask God for help with growing the fruit of the Spirit and He will bless you.

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Point #5: This week let’s decide to grow love

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

Note: Love is listed first. If we get this one right we will display the other fruits of the Spirit as well.

The fruit of the Spirit is more important than the gifts of the Spirit because, while important, it’s more important to be right with God and to have right character.

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Look at these scriptures about love.

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Saturday, February 12, 2022

Sermons from Good News: asking for prayer is wise

 

Church 2/9/2022


Sermon message:

Thesis: asking for prayer is wise

Even the great evangelists like Charles Spurgin and Billy Graham asked for prayer.

Now I beg you, brethren, through the Lord Jesus Christ, and through the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in prayers to God for me, that I may be delivered from those in Judea who do not believe, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, that I may come to you with joy by the will of God, and may be refreshed together with you. Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.

you also helping together in prayer for us, that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the gift granted to us through many.

and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,

Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains, that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.

Brethren, pray for us. Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss. I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read to all the holy brethren. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you, and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for not all have faith.

Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church. Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword. And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also. Now it was during the Days of Unleavened Bread. So when he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to keep him, intending to bring him before the people after Passover. Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church. And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards before the door were keeping the prison. Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, “Arise quickly!” And his chains fell off his hands. Then the angel said to him, “Gird yourself and tie on your sandals”; and so he did. And he said to him, “Put on your garment and follow me.” So he went out and followed him, and did not know that what was done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. When they were past the first and the second guard posts, they came to the iron gate that leads to the city, which opened to them of its own accord; and they went out and went down one street, and immediately the angel departed from him. And when Peter had come to himself, he said, “Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent His angel, and has delivered me from the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of the Jewish people.” So, when he had considered this, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose surname was Mark, where many were gathered together praying. And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a girl named Rhoda came to answer. When she recognized Peter’s voice, because of her gladness she did not open the gate, but ran in and announced that Peter stood before the gate. But they said to her, “You are beside yourself!” Yet she kept insisting that it was so. So they said, “It is his angel.” Now Peter continued knocking; and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished. But motioning to them with his hand to keep silent, he declared to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, “Go, tell these things to James and to the brethren.” And he departed and went to another place.

And being let go, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: “Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them, Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.” And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.

Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time, for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle—I am speaking the truth in Christ and not lying— a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth. I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting;

Never give up what you know about the Word of God.

Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

Asking for prayer is wise.

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Friday, February 11, 2022

Sermons from Good News: communion

 

Church 2/5/2022


Sermon thesis: communion

Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

It is important to receive holy communion with the right attitude.

Exploring the question: why would Jesus ask us to receive holy communion?

If we do it it will bless us and strengthen us.

To understand communion we need to understand the Passover meal.

Celebrating the Passover means remembering when God delivered the Israelites out of Egypt. Similarly, holy communion is to remember Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross for our sins.

Point #1: Jesus gave thanks at the first communion.

For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”

Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep. I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd. “Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.”

Point #2: Jesus knew His body would suffer

and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”

But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth.

who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness— by whose stripes you were healed.

Point #3: Jesus knew the cup represented His blood

In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”

And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission.

But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises.

He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?

Point #4: communion is a great time to make adjustments

Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep.

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

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