Danger Signs Of Lukewarm Christianity 8-16-26 AM

I.            They were in danger because they were unsafe (Rev. 3:15-16).

a.      Jesus says “I know your works.”

          i.      It wasn’t that they were doing nothing.

          ii.      One writer said that what they were doing works wise was probably just giving money but never actively participating in the Lord’s work.

b.      Jesus is saying, “I know all that you are doing and you are not hot or cold, just lukewarm and that makes me want to vomit.”

          i.      He is not saying that he is a little disappointed in them.

          ii.      He is saying, “You’re spiritual condition is so unacceptable that I am about to reject you.

c.      The Greek language literally says, “I am about to vomit you out of my mouth.”

d.      What needs to be remembered is that this is not being written to people who have never belonged to Jesus, but to the church at Laodicea – these were Christians.

          i.      Christians were being warned that they were facing rejection by Jesus.

          ii.      This is one of the multitude of passages that make the idea of “once saved, always saved” a ridiculously false doctrine.

          iii.      Leroy Brownlow wrote that the threat by Jesus to spew the Laodiceans out of His mouth makes no sense if apostasy is impossible.

e.      Jesus gave a similar warning in John 15:6.

          i.      The branch is in Him.

          ii.      The danger is failing to remain in Him.

f.        Paul warns us as well (1 Cor. 10:12) – you can’t meaningfully warn someone not to fall if falling is impossible.

g.      There is a difference in confidence in Christ and complacency toward Christ.

h.      We need to go over our past actions as well as present practices, but that isn’t enough.

i.        We also need to ask am I walking with Jesus, am I fighting sin, am I praying, growing, repenting, serving, becoming more like Christ?

j.        Yesterday’s faithfulness will never substitute for today’s faithfulness.

II.            They were in danger because they were unaware (Rev. 3:17-18).

a.      They said, “I am rich, I am prosperous, I need nothing.”

b.      Jesus said, “You are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, naked.”

c.      There was a tremendous difference between their perceived condition and their real condition.

d.      What Jesus is really saying is, “You don’t know what condition you are really in.”

          i.      Their greatest problem was not that they were poor; it was that they didn’t know they were poor.

          ii.      Their greatest problem was not they were blind; it was that they didn’t know they were blind.

          iii.      Their greatest problem was not they were naked; it was that they didn’t know they were naked.

e.      Their city had trained them to say that they needed nothing.

           i.      An earthquake hits: We don’t need Rome’s help.

           ii.      Illness arises: We have the best medical treatments in the known world.

           iii.      Need clothing: We have the best wool in the world.

           iv.      Need money: We are a banking center for all of Asia Minor.

f.        Somewhere along the way, the attitude of the city had become the attitude of the congregation.

g.      Self-sufficiency had infected their spirituality.

h.      They had enough religion to make them comfortable, but not enough devotion to make them do some self-examination.

i.        There is a very dangerous assumption we as Christians can make: I’m here, so I’m ok.

           i.      I came Sunday morning.

           ii.      I’m at Bible class.

           iii.      I’m taking the Lord’s Supper.

           iv.      I’ll put some money in the plate.

           v.      I’m still in the directory.

           vi.      Everything must be fine.

j.        This letter from our Lord destroys that logic.

           i.      We can sing “I Surrender All” while surrendering very little.

           ii.      We can take the Lord’s Supper and never give thought to the sacrifice of Jesus.

           iii.      We can know enough Bible to diagnose everyone else’s spiritual problems while being blind to our own.

k.      This is why self-examination is so important (2 Cor. 13:5).

l.        We need regular self-examination because a self-deception is very possible.

m.    The most dangerous spiritual blindness is thinking you can already see.

III.            They were in danger because they were unclothed (Rev. 3:18).

a.      There is definitely irony here on the part of Jesus.

          i.      The city was famous for its luxurious wool.

          ii.      But, Jesus says, “You need clothes, but not what your city produces.”

b.      They could dress themselves in Laodicean wool but only Jesus could clothe their souls.

c.      Jesus tells them they need white garments; an image which appears frequently in the book of Revelation.

          i.      Rev. 3:4-5.

          ii.      Rev. 6:11.

          iii.      Rev. 7:9 tells of the redeemed before the throne.

          iv.      Rev. 7:14 tells of how their robes became white.

d.     Blood makes their robes white.

         i.      Not their goodness, their wealth, their accomplishments, or their religious resumes.

         ii.      Only the blood of the Lamb.

e.     When Jesus says they are naked and need to buy white garments from Him, He is saying, “What you possess cannot make you acceptable before God. You need only what I can provide.”

f.       The Laodiceans had clothing everyone else admired, but Jesus saw nakedness.

g.     We can do the same thing spiritually.

h.     We can say:

          i.      My family has always gone to church.

          ii.      I’ve been a Christian for 30 years.

          iii.      I know my Bible.

          iv.      I don’t do the things other people do.

          v.      I’ve been an elder, or a deacon.

          vi.      I preach.

          vii.      I teach.

          viii.      I give.

i.        None of these things replace being cleansed by the blood of the Lamb and then walking in the light.

j.        It will never be a matter of “Do other Christians think I am spiritual?”

k.      It will always be a matter of “How does Jesus see me?”

l.        We need the white garments Christ provides, which represent the cleansing, righteousness, purity, and victory that are made possible through Him.

m.    We can look spiritually well-dressed to people and stand naked before God.

IV.            They were in danger because they were unopen to Jesus (Rev. 3:19-20).

a.      This warning is not the anger of someone who wants to destroy them, but the correction of Someone who wants them back.

b.     Jesus says He is standing at the door and knocking.

          i.       We need to remember something very important.

          ii.      Jesus is speaking to Christians.

          iii.      This is not Jesus knocking on the heart of a non-believer, attempting to get the non-believer to invite Him into his heart in order to be saved.

          iv.      It is Jesus standing outside a congregation that had effectively shut Him out.

c.      Revelation 3:20 is written to Christians in an unfaithful congregation and the knocking pictures Jesus seeking readmission as they repent and return to being a faithful and obedient congregation.

d.     Think of how tragic this is:

          i.      They still had a congregation.

          ii.      They still had services.

          iii.      They still had religion.

          iv.      But Jesus was on the outside looking in.

e.      Jesus is appealing to them to respond to Him.

           i.      He has not stopped caring.

           ii.      He has not stopped loving.

           iii.      He is calling, correcting, warning, and inviting them back.

f.        Notice the individual responsibility – “If anyone hears my voice and opens the door.”

           i.      Each member of the congregation had the responsibility to change him/herself.

           ii.      It may just be one who no longer wanted to be lukewarm.

g.      If even one would answer, Jesus would be in fellowship with him or her, which is indicated by Jesus saying He would eat with that person.

h.      How does Jesus end up outside the life of a Christian?

           i.      We don’t usually wake up one day and say, “I don’t want Jesus anymore.”

           ii.      We get busy with work, kids activities, sports, our phones and devices, entertainment, investments, projects, vacations, hobbies, politics, or any other number of things.

           iii.      None of these things necessarily announce to us “I am replacing Jesus.”

i.        We simply give Him less, then less, then even less, until Jesus is just getting the leftovers.

           i.      Leftover time, attention, energy, devotion.

           ii.      And somehow, we still convince ourselves, “Everything is fine.”

j.        Jesus refuses to be an accessory to our lives because He is Lord.

k.      The Laodiceans had not stopped believing Jesus existed.

l.        They had simply learned how to live without depending on Him.

m. A life too full for Jesus is a life that is spiritually empty.

Do Not Grow Weary 8-9-26 PM

I.            The problem (Hebrews 12:3).

a.      The writer starts out by telling them to set their thoughts on Jesus to avoid one of the great problems Christians face: growing weary in living for the Lord.

           i.      The word for “wearied” carries the idea of “to despond”.

           ii.      We don’t usually use this word as a verb, but as an adjective.

           iii.      We might say, “He is becoming despondent”.

           iv.      Despondent carries the idea of depression.

           v.      Despond means to become depressed by loss of hope, confidence, or courage.

b.      This whole book is about building up one’s faith in Christ as the Better option to anything offered, including Judaism.

           i.      Faith gives us courage to face the storms of life in whatever form they may take.

           ii.      These brethren needed the courage to take on Judaism and their friends and family who were calling them back to it.

c.       It takes great courage to stand up for Christ against family and friends.

d.      It is very possible to grow weary or lose courage, which causes us to become spiritually depressed.

e.      I believe this is why the Holy Spirit inspired the writer to use the word we have translated endured with reference to Jesus at the beginning of this passage.

           i.      He reminded them of the fact that Jesus endured all that the sinners of the Jewish leaders threw at Him.

           ii.      That word carries the meaning of “to endure, bear bravely and calmly”.

f.        One of the things that has always amazed me about the night and day of the trials of Jesus is the calmness our Lord maintained throughout.

           i.      He never yelled back or became angry.

           ii.      He endured bravely and calmly all that was thrown at Him.

g.      It could have overcome Jesus but His faith was such that He would not allow it.

           i.      He wouldn’t grow weary because of that faith.

           ii.      These brethren, and us are encouraged to have that type faith.

h.      This problem of growing weary is very real and we must prepare for it.

II.            The possibilities (Hebrews 12:3-5).

a.      From where do these trials or storms come?

b.      Our writer gives us two places from which these trials come.

c.       I want to mention one that is not in this context.

           i.      Sometimes we are tried because of we live in a sinful world.

           ii.      Disease, natural storms and things such as this happen, while possible given by God, but not all of them.

d.      Sometimes we are tempted to be grow weary because of the sins of others.

           i.      This is what we see from the life of Jesus.

1.      He endured the slights and abuses of sinners.

a.      Contradictions means to a speaking against.

b.      All types of accusations were hurled at our Lord.

2.      He also resisted unto blood.

a.      The writer uses a word that is only found here for resist.

b.      It literally means to set down troops against.

c.       This goes along with the idea of the word translated strive, which means to struggle or fight against a thing.

3.      Jesus went to war against sin and set Himself up against it until His blood was shed.

4.      These brethren had not done that, but notice the word yet.

5.      It was coming possibly and they needed to be prepared for it as do we.

          ii.      The attacks of the world, the pressures of people around us, can all add up to weary us.

1.      We must prepare for them and know they are coming.

2.      Faith must be built up and we must be maturing spiritually before the storms arrive.

3.      Remember that these brethren had already been chastised by the writer because they had failed to grow.

e.      Sometimes we are tempted to grow weary because of the discipline of God.

           i.      Our writer was inspired to quote from Proverbs 3:11-12.

           ii.      In this text, the writer is reminding us that sometimes God is disciplining us because we are out of line.

           iii.      We need rebuking or discipline because of our actions or inactions.

           iv.      These may be considered storms we’ve brought on ourselves.

f.        This was something they should have known because the writer told them they had forgotten this teaching.

           i.      It was from an Old Testament passage so they should have known it.

           ii.      It was something that had been taught and needs to be taught to Christians throughout all ages.

g.      We have storms in life because of sin in the world, because of the sin of others, and because of our own sin and God disciplines us for it.

III.            The purpose of discipline (Hebrews 12:6-11).

a.      We might ask why God feels the need to discipline us.

b.      The first reason, and greatest, is that He loves us.

           i.      If God did not care about us, then He would not worry with us when we do something wrong.

           ii.      Love will not allow someone to keep on sinning.

           iii.      Love is seeking out the best for someone, which is the opposite of allowing one to continue in sin.

c.       The second reason is that God is our spiritual Father.

           i.      He scourges every son He receives.

           ii.      Scourges is a metaphor for training to be followers of His.

1.      We need this training don’t we?

2.      The Christian life is not a natural one.                                                         

d.      Verse 8 tells us that God disciplines us for our good.

e.      He gives us an illustration of our earthly parents.

           i.      Our parents disciplined us according to their whims, just like we do our children.

1.      Certain things that one set of parents may not allow their children do may be allowed by another set.

2.      Some things are big deals to one set of parents while they don’t mean so much to another set of parents.

3.      Sometimes we discipline for something once and then let it slide the next.

ii.      We aren’t consistent like God is.

f.        If we honor our parents, should we not much more honor God and place ourselves in subjection to Him?

g.      The third purpose that is given is that it causes us to yield the fruit of righteousness.

           i.      We come to realize the behavior we have been exhibiting is wrong and God will not tolerate it and we change.

           ii.      This is wholesome or peace bringing.

           iii.      We will live lives of righteousness because we have learned what is not acceptable through God.

           iv.      Children come to understand that certain actions are not acceptable because of parental discipline.

           v.      The same is true for the child of God.

The Silence Of The Scriptures 8-9-26 AM

I.            Two important principles concerning silence.

a.      We use silence in our normal understanding of language.

b.      Surely God would expect us to use it to understand Him.

c.       Wedding invitation - June 6, 7 PM @ Blackwater Macedonia.

           i.      One date is specified -we know not to show on the 5th or 7th.

           ii.      The invitation doesn’t have to list all the other dates.

d.      The time and place are specified.

e.      The 1st principle is: if one or more options out of a category are specified, silence about all other options in that category excludes them.

            i.      Pharmacists fill a prescription based on what the doctor writes not what he did not write.

            ii.      Builders build according to size of what architect drew not what he did not draw.

            iii.      Notice this Biblical example - 1 Samuel 13:13 - Leviticus 1:7.

f.        Did you notice a category in which invitation was silent?

            i.      The invitation said nothing about dress.

            ii.      All options are open because the invitation says nothing about it.

            iii.      If it said formal attire then everything else would be excluded.

            iv.      I do need to be careful as to appropriateness and modesty but everything is open as to dress.

            v.      A biblical example - the Lord’s Supper - the day is specified but not the time.

g.      Second principle is if a category is left open with nothing specified, we may choose any options in that category.

II.            Old Testament evidence of silence prohibiting.

a.      Genesis 4:3-4.

            i.      Abel’s offering was by faith (Hebrews 11:4) - which comes by hearing (Romans 10:17) - not what was left unspoken.

            ii.      Cain’s was what he wanted to give and was rejected.

b.      Noah constructed the ark by faith (Hebrews 11:7), which is defined for us in Genesis 6:22.

            i.      This idea is often ridiculed - one man said here he goes pulling out Noah’s worn out saw.

            ii.      The question still remains, would Noah have been saved changing divine directives?

c.       Nadab and Abihu were destroyed for not respecting God’s silence (Leviticus 10:1-2).

            i.      God had told them from where their fire was to come (Leviticus 16:12).

            ii.      They ignored that command and obtained fire from somewhere else and were destroyed because of it.

d.      Deuteronomy 10:8 - only the Levites were mentioned.

            i.      Was this silence prohibitive?

            ii.      Yes, because of 1 Chronicles 15:2 - implies no one else.

            iii.      They were to carry it by poles (Exodus 25:12-14).

            iv.      David decided to move by a new cart (2 Samuel 6:3).

            v.      This was a sin because as David later confessed…(1 Chronicles 15:13).

e.      Exodus 20:2-3.

            i.      Jeremiah was told to tell people to amend their ways (Jeremiah 7:3).

            ii.      Jeremiah 7:31 tells us about their ways at that time.

            iii.      Notice Wayne Jackson’s statement about this: A comparison of this passage, with the original law forbidding idolatry, plainly shows that a practice which the Lord has not commanded is equivalent to an explicit prohibition. The Bible is it’s own best commentary.

f.        Why was Moses kept out of Promised Land?

            i.      Was it not because He failed to listen to the silence of God?

            ii.      God had told Moses to strike a rock to obtain water in the past (Exodus 17:6).

            iii.      The second time God was going to give water out of a rock to the Israelites had a different command - to speak to the rock (Numbers 20:7-9).

            iv.      Instead, Moses struck the rock like he had done in the past and God punished him for it (Numbers 20:10-12).

            v.      If Moses had respected the silence of God on this issue, Moses would probably have made it into the Promised Land.

III.            New Testament evidence of silence prohibiting.

a.      1 Corinthians 4:6 - we are not to go beyond the things which are written.

           i.      If we go beyond what is written, we have gone into silence.

           ii.      Again, what is God saying when He hasn’t said anything?

b.      Notice 2 John 9.

           i.      There is an objective body of truth.

           ii.      To step beyond, whether something mentioned specifically or in the realm of silence is sinful.

c.       Colossians 2:22-23 - will worship.

           i.      Vine says it is voluntarily adopted worship whether unbidden or forbidden.

           ii.      Thayer says it is worship which one devises and prescribes for himself.

           iii.      If I can, with divine approval, operate in the realm of silence, why can I not devise and prescribe for myself what I want?

d.      The Hebrews writer stated the superiority of Jesus over the angels.

           i.      One of his points was one may not place angels in the same class as God’s Son.

           ii.      Why not - because of what is said in Hebrews 1:5.

           iii.      When God is silent, man can‘t presume upon God.

e.      Notice Hebrews 8:4.

           i.      Why could Jesus not function as a priest on earth?

           ii.      Hebrews 7:14.

           iii.      God through Moses spoke nothing about priests from the tribe of Judah.

           iv.      Silence amounts to no authority

           v.      This argument has never been answered by those that say silence allows.

IV.            Consequence of rejecting this principle.

a.      The consequence is I can do nearly anything I want.

b.      Notice statement from Rubel Shelly from around forty years ago: “If it were the case that anything not expressly forbidden in the New Testament is permissible in the Christian religion, then we could not only use pianos to accompany our singing but beads to aid our prayers, crucifixes to focus or devotion, and hashish to enhance our sensitivity. We could also initiate an organizational network similar to that which has been protested so strongly in Catholicism or begin financing church projects w/bingo games (where legal) on Tuesday evenings. Not one of these things is explicitly forbidden in the New Testament, and no one who denies the legitimacy of the authority principle as outlined above can consistently argue against any of them.”

The Role Of The Holy Spirit In Conversion 8-2-26 AM

I.            The work of the Holy Spirit in conversion.

a.      The primary work of the Holy Spirit in conversion is not to open the heart of the sinner to illuminate the word of God.

           i.      This is Calvinism.

           ii.      Calvinism teaches that since we are so depraved in heart and soul, the Holy Spirit must act directly upon our hearts to allow us to understand the word of God.

           iii.      This is a disgraceful view of the inability of God’s word to be understood and taken in, which is completely false.

b.      The primary work of the Holy Spirit in conversion is to convict the hearer of his sinfulness.

           i.      Two examples show this to be the case:

1.      Those on the Day of Pentecost were converted to Christ as the text bears out, calling them saved (vs. 47).

a.      Before they were saved, they were pricked in their hearts by what Peter and the 11 were preaching (Acts 2:37).

b.      They were convicted of the fact that they had killed the Son of God and were lost.

2.      The second is the conversion case of Saul of Tarsus.

a.      There is no doubt that as he sat blind in the house of Judas on Straight Street that he was not convicted of his sin.

b.      He was repenting of all that he had done against Jesus in his efforts to kill Christians.

c.      The Holy Spirit does the convicting in the heart of sinners (John 16:7-8).

          i.      The word “reprove” is the same Greek word that is translated “convinceth” in John 8:46 and “convicted” in John 8:9.

          ii.      Thayer says this word means “to convict, refute, confute, generally with a suggestion of the shame the person convicted of crime, fault or error; or sin”.

          iii.      NASB and ESV have the word “convict” instead of “reprove”.

d.      The work of the Holy Spirit in the conversion process is to convict the hearer that he or she has sin for which forgiveness is needed.

II.            The way the Holy Spirit convicts is through the word of God.

a.      The Calvinist tells you that the Holy Spirit operates directly on the heart of the sinner.

b.      In Acts 2, you have the Holy Spirit in both presence and power before a multitude of people who were lost.

           i.      If there was ever a time where the Bible would teach that the Holy Spirit operates directly on the heart of a sinner this would be it.

           ii.      There is no doubt that the people present understood something different was happening before them.

c.      The Calvinist would tell us that the Holy Spirit must open the heart of the sinner in order for there to be understanding of scripture, but in the direct presence of the Holy Spirit there was only confusion on the part of the lost.

           i.      Notice Acts 2:6-7, 12.

           ii.      They were confounded and amazed.

           iii.      Other translations have words like bewildered, amazed, perfectly astounded, perplexed.

           iv.      Do any of those words sound like enlightened or illuminated?

           v.      In fact, some of those people present called out and asked, “What shall we do”.

           vi.      This in no way indicates that the Holy Spirit operated directly on their hearts.

d.      These people only came to a point where they could be converted when Peter and the 11 preached to them and told them what to do.

           i.      Notice Acts 2:14, 22, 36.

           ii.      Peter lifted up his voice and said hear my words.

           iii.      Peter said for them to know assuredly.

           iv.      Notice again Acts 2:37 – “when they heard”.

           v.      Notice Acts 2:40-41 – with many words, they that gladly received his words.

e.      Here is a group of sinners in the presence of the Holy Spirit who came to understand that they were lost because of the words spoken by Spirit inspired men, not a direct operation of the Holy Spirit on their hearts.

f.       The conversion of the Ethiopian is another illustration of the way one is saved.

          i.      Acts 8:26-40.

          ii.      Philip was told by the Holy Spirit to go to this man.

          iii.      Why not just do it Himself?

          iv.      The answer is, because that is not how the Holy Spirit operates.

g.     The conversion of Cornelius is another example this.

          i.      Acts 10:5 – “he shall tell thee…”

          ii.      Acts 10:22 – “to hear words”

          iii.      When Peter recounted this conversion he said… (Acts 11:14).

          iv.      Notice also that the Holy Spirit was present in this case and even came upon the sinner and his sinful family (Acts 10:44).

          v.      These people still needed to be baptized because they were in their sins (Acts 10:47-48).

          vi.      Why couldn’t the Holy Spirit cut out all time, travel, and money that it took to get Peter to Cornelius and just do it Himself?

          vii.      The answer is, because that is not how the Holy Spirit operates.

h.     The parable of sower has no point if the Holy Spirit operates directly on the heart of a sinner.

i.       How did Apollos mightily convince the Jews?

          i.      Acts 18:28 – convinced is from the root word used in John 16:8.

          ii.      He convicted them of truth by showing them by or through the scriptures that Jesus was the Christ.

          iii.      Why didn’t the Holy Spirit jump on their hearts to show them this fact?

          iv.      The answer is, because that is not how the Holy Spirit operates.

j.       There are numerous verses that teach the fact that the sinner needs to hear God’s word in order to obey God.

          i.      John 15:3.

          ii.      Acts 15:7.

          iii.      Acts 14:1.

          iv.      Acts 16:32-33.

          v.      1 Thessalonians 2:16 – Jews were guilty of rebellion against God for this.

          vi.      James 1:21.

k.      The New Testament is clear that the Holy Spirit works through the word of God in convicting men of their sins leading to their conversion.
III.            Wrong ideas taught by saying Holy Spirit acts directly on the heart.

a.      This doctrine does away with the need for preaching.

          i.      1 Corinthians 1:21.

          ii.      John 6:44-45.

b.     This doctrine shows God to be partial.

          i.      If all do not receive a direct operation of the Holy Spirit on their hearts, God plays favorites.

          ii.      Acts 10:34-35.

c.      This doctrine does away with the mission of the church.

          i.      Matthew 28:19-20.

          ii.      Mark 16:15.

          iii.      2 Timothy 2:2.

d.     This doctrine refutes the all sufficiency of the scriptures.

          i.      You don’t need the Bible if the Holy Spirit is acting directly on your heart.

          ii.      2 Timothy 3:16-17.

e.      This doctrine destroys the idea that the gospel is God’s power to save.

           i.      If the Holy Spirit is acting on you, there is no need for the gospel message.

           ii.      Romans 1:16.

f.        This doctrine refutes every conversion account in the book of Acts.

           i.      We’ve already looked at some of them.

           ii.      In not one case did the Holy Spirit act directly on the heart of one who was converted.

e. Though present in a very powerful way in Acts 2, He did not act directly.

Run The Race 7-26-26 PM

I.            The reminder.

a.      Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses… (Heb. 12:1).

b.      The word “wherefore” connects this chapter to chapter 11.

           i.      This word, sometimes seen as therefore, is an emphatic conclusion.

           ii.      It carries the idea of, “In light of all that was just said.”

c.       Because Abel trusted God, Noah obeyed God, Abraham left home, Moses chose mistreatment with God people, you keep running too.

d.      The word compassed about is also translated surrounded.

           i.      It means to be encircled, or to have something situated all around you.

           ii.      Wherever they look, they can find evidence that faithfulness is possible.

           iii.      They are surrounded by Abel’s worship, Noah’s obedience, Abraham’s trust, the prophets courage.

e.      The word translated cloud has the figurative meaning of a large, dense multitude.

           i.      This was not some small band of exceptional spiritual heroes.

           ii.      It is a massive company of people whose lives declare that God is trustworthy.

f.        The word translated witnesses is from the Greek word that we get our word martyr.

           i.      A witness is someone who testifies to what is true or false.

           ii.      I used to believe this meant this great cloud of Old Testament faithful were in an arena watching and cheering us on as we run.

           iii.      I have come to believe that this means their lives are bearing witness to the faithfulness of God.

           iv.      They are not merely watching us – they are speaking to us.

1.      Abel’s life testifies, “Worship God His way.

2.      Noah’s life testifies, “Obey even when no one else understands.”

3.      Abraham’s life testifies, “Follow God even when you don’t know every detail.”

4.      Moses’ life testifies, “The reproach of Christ is worth more than the treasures of Egypt.

5.      Every person in Hebrews 11 says, “We endured by faith, and you can too.”

g.      We live in a culture that constantly shows us examples of compromise.

           i.      We see people abandoning commitments.

           ii.      We see marriages discarded.

           iii.      We see convictions surrendered.

           iv.      We see Christians gradually getting more and more comfortable with sin.

h.      Scripture reminds us that we are also surrounded by examples of endurance.

           i.      The Christians who taught you the gospel.

           ii.      The godly men and women who remained faithful through grief.

           iii.      Those who served Christ through illness.

           iv.      Those who quietly worshiped, prayed, gave, served, and obeyed for decades.

i.        Their lives all testify that God can be trusted.

j.        You may be struggling, but you are not the first to struggle.

           i.      You may be suffering, but you are not the first to suffer.

           ii.      You may feel tired, but you are not the first to feel tired.

k.      Others endured, and by God’s grace, we can endure too.

l.        The faithfulness of those before us reminds us that we can finish the race.

II.            The renouncing.

a.      “…let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us…” (Heb. 12:1).

b.      These witnesses remind us that the race can be completed, but also that you have to renounce some things that hinder us.

c.       The imagery comes from athletic competition.

           i.      The ancient Greek world valued athletic contests and running events were central to those competitions.

           ii.      Some races were fairly short, but others required great stamina.

           iii.      The precise distance could vary, but they were races of endurance rather than one sudden burst of speed.

d.      Athletes trained intensely and practiced great discipline.

           i.      They would condition their bodies by running with weights on.

           ii.      When it was time to compete, runners removed anything unnecessary that could restrict their movement.

e.      A person might train while carrying resistance, but no sensible runner enters the race wearing unnecessary weight.

           i.      You may train with weights.

           ii.      You do not race with them.

f.        The writer applies this picture spiritually.

g.      The phrase lay aside means to take off, or remove.

           i.      It is used of taking off clothing.

           ii.      It describes deliberate action – the runner is not waiting for the weight to fall off accidentally.

           iii.      There are things that Christian must intentionally put away.

           iv.      We can’t pet them, excuse them, or manage them.

           v.      We have to remove them.

h.      The word translated weight refers to a bulk, burden, mass, or encumbrance.

           i.      A weight is not necessarily sinful in itself – it may simply be something that slows us down.

           ii.      This is a distinction that matters.

           iii.      The writer says to lay aside every weight and the sin that besets us.

           iv.      Some things are inherently sinful while others are spiritually dangerous because they consume attention, weaken resolve, or interfere with faithfulness.

           v.      The question is not, “Is this technically sinful?

           vi.      The question is, “Is this helping me run toward Jesus?”

           vii.      A hobby may not be sinful but it can become a weight.

           viii.      A relationship may not begin as sinful, but it can become a weight.

           ix.      Same with work, technology and other things, because even good things can become harmful when they keep us from the best thing.

i.        The phrase easily besets us is also translated clings so closely.

           i.      It’s the only time this Greek word is used in the New Testament and seems to carry the idea of something that easily surrounds, entangles, or trips us the runner.

           ii.      The picture is of sin wrapping itself around our feet and making it difficult to impossible to run the race.

           iii.      Sin never helps us run – it only entangles.

           iv.      Some interpreters suggest that, in this context, the sin is that of unbelief, which fits the major warning of Hebrews.

           v.      Remember the warning about the Israelites who failed to enter the land of rest (Heb. 3:19).

           vi.      These Jewish Christians were being tempted to not trust Jesus, to turn away from the sufficiency of Jesus and return to what was familiar.

j.        Every runner has to ask, “What is slowing me down?”

           i.      What have we allowed to become spiritually heavy.

           ii.      What is weakening our prayer life?

           iii.      What keeps us from assembling with the saints?

           iv.      What is filling our minds with sinful thoughts?

           v.      What keeps wrapping around our feet?

k.      It is different things for each of us.

           i.      We cannot run freely while insisting on carrying what Jesus calls us to put down.

           ii.      We can’t pray, “Lord, help me run” while refusing to release the thing that is keeping us from running.

l.        God’s command is clear: lay it aside, put it away – confess it and repent of it.

m.    Think of a runner wearing a backpack.

           i.      He started running well but along the way he has decided to pick up stones.

           ii.      The stones have labels on them: pride, bitterness, lust, envy, fear, unbelief.

           iii.      After starting well, he can now barely put one foot in front of the other.

           iv.      How would we think of that runner if he would not put down those rocks?

           v.      In reality, how are thinking of ourselves if we are running weighed down with these problems?

n.      We can’t run faithfully while holding what God tells us to release.

III.            The running.

a.      “…let us run with patience the race that is set before us…” (Heb. 12:1).

b.      The writer does not tell us to admire the course, study other racers, or study the race from a distance.

c.      He says “Let us run.”

d.      Christianity requires personal participation.

          i.      No one can run for us.

          ii.      Not our parents, spouse, elders, or preacher.

e.      Other Christians can and should encourage us, correct us, pray for us, and run beside us – but you and I must continue responding to God in faith on our own.

f.        Let us run shows that the command is corporate.

           i.      The Christian life is personal but it is not meant to be isolated.

           ii.      We run, encourage, bear one another’s burdens, provoke one another to love and good works, assemble with one another.

           iii.      The church is not a crowd sitting beside the course criticizing the runners.

           iv.      The church is a community running together.

g.      The word patience, or endurance, denotes steadfastness, or the ability to remain under a burden without abandoning one’s commitment.

           i.      This is active faithfulness under pressure.

           ii.      Continuing to obey when obedience becomes difficult.

           iii.      Continuing to pray when we haven’t gotten an answer yet.

           iv.      Continuing to serve when no one notices.

           v.      Continuing to resist temptation when the struggle doesn’t immediately disappear.

           vi.      Continuing to trust God when we don’t understand what He is doing.

h.      The word for race is the word from which we receive the word agony and it describes a struggle, conflict, or race.

           i.      The Christian life is never presented as effortless.

           ii.      There is resistance and sometimes a lot of it.

           iii.      There is strain, pain, and opposition.

           iv.      There are moments when faithfulness hurts.

           v.      It does not mean we are on the wrong course.

           vi.      Sometimes difficulty is evidence that we are actually running.

i.        The race is “set before us.”

           i.      We don’t design the course, God has.

           ii.      Different Christians run through different terrain.

           iii.      Some run through seasons of prosperity while other through poverty.

           iv.      Some run through chronic illness.

           v.      Some run through grief.

           vi.      Some run through persecution.

           vii.      Some run through family hardship.

           viii.      We don’t choose every hill or obstacle.

           ix.      We are responsible for running the course God has placed before us.

           x.      Comparison is dangerous because we aren’t running someone else’s course.

           xi.      We might look at someone and think their course is easy, while they are struggling and we don’t know it.

           xii.      We have to run the race that is set before us.

j.        The Christian life is race, not a sprint.

           i.      A sprint depends heavily on explosive speed.

           ii.      A distance race requires pacing, discipline, and endurance.

           iii.      It is possible to begin the Christian life with excitement and still fail to finish faithfully.

k.      Jesus warned about those who received the word with all joy but have no root.

          i.      They endure for a little while and then, when it is difficult, fall away.

          ii.      We all know people like this.

l.       The race is not completed by one emotional moment, but by daily faithfulness.

          i.      One prayer at a time.

          ii.      One temptation overcome at a time.

          iii.      One act of forgiveness at a time.

          iv.      One worship assembly at a time.

          v.      One decision at a time.

m.    We can’t confuse slow progress with failure.

n.      At the end of his life, Paul said… (2 Tim. 4:7).

          i.      He did not say he had just started the race.

          ii.      He said, “I finished…”

o.      Faithfulness is not proven by how fast we start, but by refusing to quit.

IV.            The riveting.

a.      “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith…” (Heb. 12:2).

b.      Our English word “rivet” can describe fastening something securely in place.

c.       The writer tells us to fasten our attention on Jesus.

d.      The word for looking means to look away from one thing in order to concentrate on another.

          i.      This is not a mere glance in the direction of Jesus.

          ii.      It means directing our attention from distractions and fixing our eyes on Jesus.

          iii.      We look away from the crowd, the world, our failures, ourselves, temporary suffering and from the temptation to quit.

          iv.      We look to Jesus.

1.      Jesus is the founder of our faith, which carries the idea of leader or champion.

a.      Jesus has gone before us,

b.      He opened the way and completed the course perfectly.

2.      Jesus is the perfecter in that He brings faith to its intended completion.

a.      Jesus does not merely stand at the finish line telling us to run.

b.      He has already run the course.

e.      Think about the phrase “for the joy that was set before Him.”

          i.      He endured the cross but it was not joyful.

          ii.      All that pain, rejection, the cross, the nails, the yelling were not joyful.

          iii.      The joy lay beyond the suffering.

          iv.      He saw the result of His sacrifice, the redemption accomplished.

          v.      He saw the joy of Heb. 2:10.

          vi.      Jesus did not enjoy the cross because it was easy but because our salvation was worth the suffering.

f.       Jesus endured the cross.

          i.      Crucifixion was designed to produce prolonged suffering and public humiliation.

          ii.      It was reserved for the worst of the worst.

          iii.      The condemned person was displayed publicly stripped, mocked, naked, and left helpless before the crowds.

          iv.      For Jewish readers, crucifixion also carried the stigma of De. 21:23.

          v.      Paul used this language… (Gal. 3:13).

          vi.      Jesus accepted the place of shame, the mocking, the rejection.

          vii.      He was treated like an criminal and endured the hostility of sinners.

          viii.      He bore our sins in His own body.

g.     Despising the shame does not mean Jesus felt no pain or humiliation.

          i.      He regarded the shame as insignificant compared to the joy and glory beyond it.

          ii.      The shame spoke loudly, but Jesus didn’t let it have the final word.

          iii.      Through it all, the jeering, the temptation, the pain, Jesus remained on that cross.

h.     Because of that, He is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

          i.      Jesus finished His race.

1.      The cross, the grave, the shame, were not the end.

2.      Jesus rose from the dead, ascended into heaven, and sat down at God’s right hand.

3.      Sitting indicates the completion of His sacrificial work (Heb. 10:12).

          ii.      Jesus won His race and now reigns beside the Father.

i.       We often lose endurance because we rivet our eyes on the wrong thing.

          i.      When we fix our eyes on the difficulty, it appears greater than God.

          ii.      When we fix our eyes on other people, their opinions begin controlling us.

          iii.      When we fix our eyes on ourselves, our failures overwhelm us.

j.       The answer is not to try harder but to look higher.

          i.      Look to Jesus when obedience is costly, when we are ashamed or our past, when people misunderstand our faith, when suffering makes us question whether continuing is worthwhile.

          ii.      Jesus endured more than we will ever endure, was tempted but without sin, was rejected without become bitter, and suffered with abandoning God’s will.

k.      The One who calls us to run is the One who ran before us.

l.        We endure our race by keeping our attention on the One who finished His.

The Grace Of God And The Prodigal Son 7-26-26 AM

I.            The prodigal in the beginning (Lu. 15:11-16).

a.      His actions represent grace without responsibility.

b.      His defining words are “give me.”

c.       Dividing inheritance before death was possible in the ancient world.

           i.      The way the younger son did it was deeply disrespectful.

           ii.      What he was saying is that he wanted what belonged to the father without wanting the father in his life.

           iii.      He valued the father’s possessions more than the father’s presence.

d.      The father divided the property as asked.

           i.      We know the younger son got all his things together and traveled into a far country.

           ii.      While there, he wasted all he had in reckless living.

e.      In the parable, the far country is not merely a location.

           i.      It represented the direction of the boy’s heart.

           ii.      He wanted freedom from his father’s authority.

           iii.      The son wanted the benefits of being a son with the responsibilities of being a son.

f.        Eventually, everything and everyone he came to trust disappeared.

           i.      His money was gone as well as his friends.

           ii.      Then the food was gone because of a famine.

           iii.      His independence led to slavery.

g.      This is what sin always does: promises independence but produces bondage.

h.      The attitude of the son towards his father still appears today when people want God’s gifts but reject God’s authority.

            i.      They want forgiveness without repentance.

            ii.      They want salvation without submission.

            iii.      They want heaven without holiness.

            iv.      They want Jesus as Savior but not as Lord.

i.        This can even affect how Christians approach the local congregation.

            i.      When we ask, “What programs does this congregation provide for me,” “What can the church give my family,” or “What will I receive by attending here?”

           ii.      Those questions are not always wrong, but they become dangerous when we never ask: “How can I serve,” “How can I encourage,” How can I help the congregation fulfill its mission,” or “What responsibility has God given me within His body?”

j.       The same misunderstanding appears in teachings that separate grace from a faithful response to God.

          i.      Scripture teaches that salvation is by grace through faith, but biblical faith is never just passive agreement.

          ii.      Faith trusts God enough to respond to what He commands.

k.      Grace does not remove human responsibility.

l.        Grace makes salvation possible and teaches us how to live (Titus 2:11-12).

m.    Grace does pardon, but grace also trains.

n.      Wanting the Father’s gives without the Father’s authority leads us away from home.

II.            The older brother (Lu. 15:25-32).

a.      His actions represent responsibility without grace.

b.      The older son had stayed with the father.

           i.      He worked in the fields.

           ii.      He did not waste his inheritance in a far country.

c.       But when he heard the celebration and learned of his brother’s return, he became angry and refused to go inside.

d.      His response reveals what had been growing in his heart (Lu. 15:29).

e.      His defining words are essentially, “Look at me.”

f.        His speech is filled with himself.

            i.      I have served you.

            ii.      I have never disobeyed you.

            iii.      You didn’t give me a goat.

            iv.      You never threw me a party.

            v.      He wasted all your money.

g.      The younger son had left the father physically while the older son remained.

h.      However, the older son had grown distant emotionally and spiritually.

            i.      He did not see himself as a beloved son.

            ii.      He spoke as an unappreciated servant.

            iii.      He did not understand that everything he possessed came from his father.

i.        The father had to remind him of this (Lu. 15:31).

j.        Think of all the things the older son received for years: protection, provision, relationship, and inheritance, but he acted as if the father had given him nothing.

k.      The younger son believed he could live without the father, the older son believed the father could not live without him, and both were wrong.

l.        The older brother represents those who embrace responsibility but feel little need for grace.

            i.      Jesus confronted this attitude in the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector (Lu. 18:9-14).

            ii.      The Pharisee had a list of what he was not – an extortioner, unjust, adulterer, like the tax collector.

            iii.      He had a list of what he did – fasted, gave tithes, practiced religious discipline.

            iv.      The problem was not that he avoided sin and practiced discipline, but that he trusted those actions as proof that God was in debt to Him.

m.    We can develop that same attitude.

           i.      We don’t use instrumental music in worship, we don’t have women preachers, we don’t follow denominational creeds.

           ii.      We take the Lord’s supper every Lord’s day, we teach baptism for the remission of sins, we teach that Christians must remain faithful, we seek biblical authority for our worship and practice.

n.      These all matter but doing them and other right things does not give us permission to become self-righteous.

o.      We are not right with God because we discovered a way to save ourselves, but because of the sacrifice of Christ that moved us, through faith, to obey the gospel.

p.      Lu. 17:10 – obedience does not earn grace – it is the faithful response of someone who knows he/she needs grace.

q.      Those how believe they never need forgiveness usually have little interest in extending forgiveness.

r.       Those who forget how much grace they received often become reluctant to show grace to others.

s.       When obedience becomes a reason for pride, we have forgotten grace.

III.            The prodigal in the end (Lu. 15:17-24).

a.      Luke 15:17 marks the turning point for him.

            i.      Sin had distorted his thinking.

            ii.      Repentance came when he finally saw his condition honestly.

            iii.      He remembered his father’s goodness and how his father’s servants had more than enough food while he starved.

b.      He prepared his confession (Lu. 15:18-19).

c.       At the beginning, his word were “give me” – now they had become “make me.”

d.      He no longer approached his father with entitlement, but with humility.

           i.      He did not deny his sin.

           ii.      He did not blame the famine.

           iii.      He did not blame his friends.

           iv.      He did not blame his upbringing.

e.      He said, “I have sinned,” and then got up and went to his father – his repentance produced movement.

f.        The father’s response is beautiful picture of grace.

           i.      While the son was still far off the father saw him.

           ii.      The father felt compassion, ran to him, hugged, and kissed him.

           iii.      He then ordered that a robe, a ring, and shoes be brought.

           iv.      He restored the son and called for a celebration.

g.      The son did not earn that reception.

           i.      But he did return, confess, and submit.

           ii.      He accepted the responsibility of repentance because he finally understood the value of grace.

h.      God’s grace is offered freely, but has to be received according to God’s will.

i.        A biblical pattern appears repeatedly:

           i.      God provides grace;

           ii.      God reveals His will;

           iii.      People respond with obedient faith;

           iv.      God gives the promised blessing.

j.        Ephesians 2:8-10 holds these truths together.

           i.      We are saved by grace through faith, not by works that would allow us to boast.

           ii.      But, we are created in Christ Jesus for good works that God has prepared for us to walk in.

k.      James 2:14-26 explains that faith without works is dead.

           i.      Works do not replace faith.

           ii.      Works reveal living faith.

l.        Matthew 7:21

m.    The son’s journey did not create the father’s love because the father already loved him.

n.      His confession did not purchase the father’s compassion because the father was already compassionate.

o.      But the son had to come home to enjoy fellowship with the father.

p.      Grace was waiting but the son had to return.

q.      Grace is received when humble faith turns toward the Father.

IV.            Illustrations of the pattern of grace.

a.      The relations between grace, God’s command, obedient faith, and God’s blessing appears throughout scripture.

b.      These examples don’t teach that people earn God’s favor, but that trusting God means responding to what God has said.

c.       Noah is an example of grace.

           i.      Grace warned Noah about the flood (Gen. 6:8).

           ii.      God then instructed Noah to build the ark.

           iii.      By faith, Noah built the ark, obeying God (Heb. 11:17).

           iv.      God saved Noah and his family through the flood.

           v.      Noah did not earn God’s grace by building the ark, but Noah would not have been saved by a faith that did not build.

d.      The account of the walls of Jericho is an example of grace.

           i.      God said He had given them Jericho before they took the first step (Josh. 6:2).

           ii.      God then gave the command to march around the city as He did.

           iii.      The people did what God said do.

           iv.      God gave them the city on the seventh day.

           v.      The marching was not powerful enough to take the city, but their obedience demonstrated they trusted the God who had already promised victory.

e.      Naaman is an example of grace.

           i.      A young Israelite slave told Naaman’s household about the prophet in Israel.

           ii.      God commanded Naaman, through Elisha, to go and dip in the Jordan seven times.

           iii.      Naaman, though not at first, obeyed the command.

           iv.      God restored his flesh.

           v.      The water had no magical powers but God healed Naaman when Naaman finally obeyed His word.

f.        The blind man in John 9 is an example of grace.

           i.      The man was found by Jesus.

           ii.      Jesus placed the mud on his eyes and told him to go wash.

           iii.      The man did what Jesus said do.

           iv.      Jesus restored His sight.

           v.      The man did not heal himself by going to the pool, but he would not have demonstrated faith if he had refused to go.

g.      The plan of salvation is an example of grace.

           i.      God’s grace appeared in the Person of Jesus Christ (Titus 2:11).

           ii.      Jesus died for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day.

           iii.      The gospel calls for us to respond through faith (mention plan of salvation).

           iv.      It’s important to note that in baptism, we are not boasting in something we have accomplished, but trusting in what God accomplishes (Col. 2:12).

           v.      God saves us from our sins.

           vi.      We don’t obey to earn grace, but we obey because we trust the gracious God.

Faith That Overcomes The World 7-12-26 PM

I.            Overcoming faith grows by looking to God (Heb. 11:23-29).

a.      The account begins with the parents of Moses, Amram and Jochebed.

           i.      Pharaoh had commanded that all Hebrew baby boys be killed.

           ii.      Moses’ parents knew the command but they refused to allow fear of the king to become greater than their trust in God.

           iii.      They hid Moses for three months.

           iv.      Their faith didn’t mean they felt no fear, but that fear did not control their obedience.

           v.      Their faith became the environment in which Moses’ own faith would eventually grow.

b.      Years have now past and Moses has grown up in the house of Pharaoh.

           i.      Moses had position, education, privilege, and access to wealth.

           ii.      Moses had what so many spend their whole lives trying to obtain.

           iii.      Moses refused to let Egypt define him.

           iv.      Notice that the text does not say sin offers no pleasure – it says the pleasure of sin is fleeting.

1.      Sin promises much and delivers little.

2.      It offers pleasure but hides the consequences.

3.      It offers comfort but takes away peace.

4.      It offers freedom but produces slavery.

           v.      Moses had to choose between temporary pleasure with Egypt and temporary suffering with God’s people.

           vi.      The reason for this is found in verse 26 (Heb. 11:26).

1.      Moses looked beyond the palace;

2.      Beyond the borders of Egypt;

3.      Beyond the suffering;

4.      He looked to the reward of God.

           vii.      Moses endured because he was looking for the invisible God rather than the visible king.

1.      Pharaoh was visible, but temporary.

2.      God was invisible, but eternal.

           viii.      The funny thing about Moses is that he did not start out as a man of great faith.

           ix.      At the burning bush he offered several excuses.

1.      Who am I?

2.      What shall I say to them?

3.      I am not eloquent.

4.      Please send someone else.

           x.      Moses began his leadership phase with weak and hesitant faith, but he did not remain there.

           xi.      His faith grew to the point where he could stand before the most powerful man on earth and say, “Thus says the Lord…”

           xii.      His faith was then displayed through the Passover.

1.      Moses believed God’s warning and trusted God’s provision.

2.      This led him to instruct the people to obey.

3.      The blood had to be applied, and everywhere it was, the firstborn lived.

4.      Everywhere it was not applied, the firstborn died.

           xiii.      Then Moses led God’s people to the Red Sea.

1.      Behind them was Pharaoh’s army and in front was the Red Sea.

2.      Humanly speaking, there was no escape.

3.      The people panicked but listen to what Moses said… (Ex. 14:13).

           xiv.      Moses had learned to look to God.

1.      He could not part the sea or defeat Pharaoh’s army on his own.

2.      But he trusted the God that could.

c.       Some of us become discouraged because our faith is not as strong as we think it should be.

            i.      Remember Moses.

            ii.      He grew in faith, moving from excuses to courage – from looking at himself to looking at God.

            iii.      We have to grow in the same way.

d.      Faith grows when we listen to God’s word, obey what He has said, remember what He has done, and trust Him with what we can’t control.

e.      We also have to make the same choice Moses made.

            i.      Will we enjoy temporary pleasure or identify ourselves with God’s people?

            ii.      Will we seek the treasures of the world or the reward of God?

            iii.      Will we fear the anger of man or endure by seeing Him who is invisible?

f.        The world is overcome whenever we say:

            i.      I would rather suffer with God’s people than prosper without God.

            ii.      I would rather lose the approval of people than lose the approval of God.

            iii.      I would rather possess Christ than possess everything the world can offer.

g.      Growing faith looks past our own weakness and trusts God’s power.

II.            Overcoming faith obeys even when God’s way seems unusual (Heb. 11:30-31).

a.      Israel’s first great challenge after crossing the Jordan was the fortified city of Jericho.

            i.      The city was protected by large walls.

            ii.      God’s place sounded unlike any battle plan man had ever devised.

            iii.      The people were to march around the city once for six straight days.

            iv.      On the seventh day, they were to march around it seven times.

            v.      After the seventh time, the priests would blow trumpets and the people would shout, and God said the walls would then fall down.

1.      No battering ram, siege ramp, or conventional military attack.

2.      March, wait, and obey.

            vi.      Have you ever thought what the people in Jericho thought when they saw this being done?

            vii.      Think about how strange it must have sounded to the Israelites, yet the obeyed.

1.      They did not try to improve God’s plan.

2.      They did not change His instructions in any way.

3.      They did not march for a few days and then quit because nothing was happening.

            viii.      The walls fell, not because marching has some natural power to destroy stone walls, but because God acted when His people obeyed.

            ix.      Faith does not require us to understand everything God commands.

            x.      Faith requires us to trust the One who commands it.

b.      We then read about Rahab.

            i.      She, along with everyone else, had heard about what God had done for the Hebrews.

            ii.      She told the spies she knew God had given them the land.

            iii.      She believed Jericho would fall because she believed that Israel’s God was the true God.

            iv.      It’s important to note that the Hebrews writer is not praising her lie or even condoning it.

            v.      Hebrews is praising her faith in receiving and protecting the spies because she believed God would give Israel the victory.

           vi.      We don’t use her faith as an excuse for dishonesty.

           vii.      The text commends her trust in God and her willingness to act on that trust.

           viii.      Rahab’s past did not prevent her from turning to God.

           ix.      Her city was under condemnation, but she chose to align herself with God’s people.

           x.      She did everything she was told to do and, as a result, she and all that were in her house were saved.

c.      God’s instruction will not always agree with the wisdom of the world.

          i.      They world probably won’t understand why we forgive those that wrong us.

          ii.      The world probably won’t understand why we remain sexually pure.

          iii.      The world will not understand why we refuse to compromise truth for acceptance.

d.     People may even mock obedience because it appears ineffective.

          i.      Israel marched for six days and the walls still stood.

          ii.      Faith kept marching.

e.      Sometimes we stop obeying because we don’t see immediate results.

           i.      We pray briefly and quit.

           ii.      We resist temptation for a short time, then surrender.

           iii.      We try to restore a relationship and then become impatient.

           iv.      We serve without recognition and begin wondering whether it matters.

f.        Jericho reminds us that the absence of immediate results does not mean God has failed.

g.      Keep marching, obeying, trusting.

h.      Rahab reminds us that faith is available to people with broken pasts.

           i.      Her life had been marked by sin but her future was changed by faith.

           ii.      God’s grace does not excuse our past – it redeems us from it.

i.        Faith obeys God completely, even when His way seems unreasonable.

III.            Overcoming faith acts courageously for a better resurrection (Heb. 11:32-35a).

a.      An important thing to note is that the people mentioned here were not perfect.

           i.      Gideon was hesitant.

           ii.      Barak needed encouragement.

           iii.      Samson was impulsive and morally weak at times.

           iv.      Jephthah made a reckless vow.

           v.      Samuel’s own sons did not follow his example.

           vi.      The prophets sometimes became discouraged.

b.      Hebrews is not teaching that faith makes us flawless, but that flawed people can accomplish God’s purposes when they trust Him.

c.       Inspiration begins to point out some tremendous things these people did all through faith.

d.      They conquered kingdoms:

           i.      Gideon led a tiny army against Midian and God led him to victory.

           ii.      Barak led small Israel against the forces of Sisera.

           iii.      David defeated many nations around Israel.

           iv.      All these victories were demonstrations, not of human greatness, but of divine faithfulness.

e.      They enforced justice:

           i.      David, at his best, ruled with justice and fairness.

           ii.      Samuel judged Israel and called the nation back to faithfulness.

           iii.      Godly leaders acted to restrain evil and defend what was right.

f.        They obtained promises:

           i.      God fulfilled all His promises according to Joshua.

           ii.      He gave Israel the land, delivered the people from their enemies, and established David as king.

           iii.      Some promises were received during their lifetimes, but the ultimate fulfillment remained ahead.

g.      They stopped the mouths of lions – Daniel’s faith did not keep him out of the lion’s den but it did sustain him while in the den.

h.      They quenched the power of fire – think about Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego being cast into the fiery furnace.

i.        They escaped the edge of the sword:

           i.      Think how many times David had to evade Saul.

           ii.      Elijah escaped Jezebel’s threat.

j.        They were made strong out of weakness:

           i.      Gideon said he was the weakest member of the weakest clan.

           ii.      Samson’s strength only returned when he called on God.

           iii.      David was a young shepherd facing a trained warrior.

k.      They put foreign armies to flight:

           i.      Israel’s greatest victories often came when the odds seemed impossible.

           ii.      Gideon and his 300 men are a prime example.

l.        We may never stand before an earthly leader who demands we bow to an image, but every day we face pressure to bow to the world.

          i.      We are pressured to place career above character;

          ii.      Acceptance over truth;

          iii.      Comfort over service;

          iv.      Personal desire over God’s will.

m.    Overcoming faith acts courageously because it believes there is a better resurrection.

n.      This should change how we look at sacrifice:

          i.      Giving up sin is not losing life – it is choosing better life.

          ii.      Serving Christ is not wasting life – it is investing in eternal life.

          iii.      Remaining faithful under pressure is not foolish – it is preparation for resurrection.

o.      Faith risks the present because it believes in the future.

IV.            Overcoming faith endures when earthly deliverance does not come (Heb. 11:35b-38).

a.      Some believers could have escaped suffering by abandoning their loyalty to God but they refuses.

           i.      Some chose death rather than unfaithfulness because they believed in a better resurrection.

           ii.      This is the center of overcoming faith.

           iii.      Jeremiah was mocked, beaten, placed in stocks, imprisoned, and lowered into a muddy cistern.

           iv.      Joseph was falsely accused and imprisoned.

           v.      Micaiah was slapped and placed in prison for speaking the truth to Ahab.

           vi.      Faithfulness does not always bring applause – sometimes it brings chains.

b.      Zechariah, the son of Jehoiada, was stoned in the courtyard of the temple after rebuking the people for their unfaithfulness.

c.       The Hebrews writer tells us that some were sawn asunder, or in two.

           i.      We don’t know for sure who this was.

           ii.      Tradition says it was Isaiah at the hands of wicked King Manasseh.

           iii.      This tradition is found in some ancient Jewish writings as well as in the writing of Justin Martyr.

d.      Many prophets were killed with the sword.

           i.      Elijah stated that Israel had forsaken the covenant and killed the prophets.

           ii.      Jezebel had killed many prophets, although Obadiah hid 100 in caves.

e.      They went about in the simplest of clothing, being terribly treated.

           i.      They wore rough clothing and lacked material possessions.

           ii.      They were treated as though they were worthless but God gave His judgment of their value in verse 38.

           iii.      The world rejected them but the world did not deserve them.

           iv.      The world considered them failures, but God considered them victorious.

f.        There is an interesting linguistic pattern in verses 37 and 38.

           i.      The phrase “wandered about” is used twice here.

           ii.      This is interesting because it is two different Greek words translated this way.

           iii.      The first one emphasizes going around from place to place.

           iv.      The second one emphasizes roaming without a settled place.

           v.      We see that these worthy men were driven from place to place and had no secure home in this world – David hid in caves, Elijah fled to the wilderness, the prophets hid in caves to hide from Jezebel.

g.      God’s faithful were sometimes treated as fugitives – yet they still overcame the world.

          i.      The world could take their homes but not their hope.

          ii.      The world could take their possessions but not their treasure.

          iii.      The world could take their freedom but not their faith.

          iv.      The world could take their lives but not their resurrection.

h.     We have to reject the idea that faithfulness will always produce an easy life.

i.       Hebrews 11 gives us two pictures of faith:

          i.      Faith escapes the sword and faith is killed by the sword.

          ii.      Faith shuts the mouths of lions and faith is tortured.

          iii.      Faith receives the dead back to life and faith dies believing in a better resurrection.

j.       The difference is not that one group had strong faith and the other had weak faith.

k.     Both had faith.

l.       God, in His wisdom, chose to work through victory in some lives and through suffering in others.

          i.      We should certainly pray for deliverance.

          ii.      We should ask God to heal, protect, provide, and rescue.

          iii.      But our faith cannot depend upon receiving the answer we prefer.

m.    We have to examine how deeply we are attached to this world.

n.      Would we remain faithful if following Jesus cost us something important to us?

o.      The saints in Hebrews 11 overcame because they knew this world was not their home.

Living A Life Of Prayer And Study 7-12-26 AM

I.            Prayer ties us to God’s will.

a.      Paul begins by saying that he has not ceased to pray for them.

           i.      Prayer was not a last resort for Paul.

           ii.      Prayer was part of the Paul’s spiritual labor for people he loved.

b.      We know Paul could not physically be with every church all the time, but he could still bring them before the throne of God in prayer.

c.       This teaches us something important about prayer: prayer is one of the ways we participate in what God is doing in the lives of others.

d.      But notice what Paul prays: that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will.

           i.      He is not asking God to give them everything they want.

           ii.      He is asking that they be filled with what God wants.

e.      Sometimes our prayers sound like this: Lord, bless my plans, fix my problems, change this person, open this door, make this easier.

           i.      There is nothing wrong with bringing our needs before God. – scripture teaches us to do that.

           ii.      But prayer is not just about getting God to move toward our desires – it is also about God moving our desires toward His will.

f.       Jesus showed us this in Gethsemane.

          i.      In the garden, Jesus prayed for this cup to pass from me.

1.      This is honest prayer.

2.      This is not shallow religious language.

3.      Jesus brought His anguish of that moment to the Father.

          ii.      But Jesus did not stop there did He?

          iii.      Nevertheless, not my will but yours be done.

          iv.      This is the heart of prayer.

g.     Prayer ties us to God because prayer teaches us to say, Father here is what I want or desire but I want your will more if they don’t match up.

h.     If we never pray or have a shallow view of prayer, we are going to have a problem.

          i.      We will start assuming our will is the only thing that matters.

          ii.      We will chase our preferences, protect our comforts, defend our pride, and call it wisdom.

i.       When we pray and grow in prayer, we are reminded that we are not God.

          i.      Prayer humbles us.

          ii.      Prayer refocuses us.

          iii.      Prayer reminds us that the world does not revolve around us.

j.       A real prayer life also changes how we see other people.

          i.      Paul is praying for other Christians because he wants them to walk with God.

          ii.      He is not merely praying they be healthy, successful, safe, and comfortable.

          iii.      He is praying for their spiritual formation – that they know God’s will.

          iv.      He wants them to please the Lord, to bear fruit, endure temptation and trial, to give thanks.

k.      This should challenge the way we pray for others.

          i.      This should change the way we pray for our spouse.

          ii.      This should change the way we pray for our children.

          iii.      This should change the way we pray for our friends.

l.       Prayer helps us see people eternally.

          i.      Prayer reminds us that everyone we meet has a soul.

          ii.      Every person is moving towards eternity.

m.    Paul’s prayer for them is focused on God’s will, not human preference.

          i.      Filled with the knowledge of God means Paul wants these Christians to be deeply shaped by what God desires.

          ii.      This is not just information, but spiritual wisdom that leads to a better life for God.

n.      Paul prays for knowledge that becomes life.

o.      This means we may need to pray differently – not less honestly but more eternally.

          i.      Pray about our burdens, but also pray about God’s will.

          ii.      Pray about our health, but also about our holiness.

          iii.      Pray about our needs, but also about our obedience.

          iv.      Pray for open doors, but also the courage to walk through them.

          v.      Pray for our family’s safety, but also about their salvation.

          vi.      Pray for our church’s needs, but also about her faithfulness.

p.     A life that matters does not just ask God to support our agenda.

q.     A life that matters keeps surrendering to God’s will.

r.      Prayer truly ties us to God’s will.

II.            Study tells us God’s will.

a.     Paul prays for the Colossians to be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in “all wisdom and spiritual understanding.”

b.     How do we come to know God’s will?

          i.      Not by guessing, following our feelings, copying culture, or doing what seems easy or personally beneficial.

          ii.      We come to know God’s will because God has revealed Himself.

c.      This is why the study of God’s word is so vital.

          i.      Bible study is not just collecting religious facts or knowing names, dates, maps, and doctrines.

         ii.      Those things can help, but the goal of Bible study is not to win Bible trivia.

         iii.      The goal is to know God, understand His will, and walk in His ways.

d.    The Psalmist says to God that your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.

         i.      This means the word of God does not merely give information about ancient people.

         ii.      It gives light for the path in front of us.

e.     The world is constantly discipling us:

         i.      Our phones are doing it with social media telling us what is important.

         ii.      Entertainment is doing it by showing what the world thinks is popular.

         iii.      Politics is doing by saying he is bad and he is good.

         iv.      Advertisements are doing it every day.

         v.      Our friends can be trying to influence us.

f.      We are being formed every day so the question should always be “Who or what is forming me?”

g.    If we are not being intentionally formed by the word of God, we will be unintentionally formed by something else.

h.    Study is vitally important because it helps us see what really matters in life.

         i.      Without scripture, we may think life is mainly about getting ahead, but we are reminded that life is about walking with God.

         ii.      Without scripture, we may think enemies are people to be destroyed, but we are reminded that we are to love, pray for, forgive, and seek reconciliation with them.

         iii.      Without scripture, we may think money is security, but we are reminded that God is our provider and that generosity matters.

         iv.      Without scripture, we may think suffering means God has abandoned us, but we are reminded that God uses it to strengthen us.

         v.      Without scripture, we may think death is the end, but we are reminded that there is life beyond the grave because Jesus rose from the tomb.

i.      Think about Mary and Martha in Luke 10.

         i.      Martha was busy serving, being active doing things that probably felt necessary.

         ii.      Mary was sitting at the feet of Jesus and listening to Him teach.

         iii.      Martha got upset that her sister wasn’t helping her with the things she felt were necessary to be a good hostess.

         iv.      Jesus did not tell Martha the things she was doing were evil.

         v.      He said Mary had chosen “that good part.”

j.      This account is a much needed correction for many of us.

         i.      We can become busy with life, work, family, church, good things, and still neglect the one thing that gives meaning to all the rest.

         ii.      Study is sitting at the feet of Jesus and learning before we run to.

         iii.      Study says, “Lord, before I decide what matters today, let me hear from you.”

k.     When we study correctly, it creates a desire to get closer to God.

l.       We are not just trying to know the Bible better, we are trying to know God better.

          i.      The more we see His holiness, the more we will repent.

          ii.      The more we see His mercy, the more we will trust.

          iii.      The more we see His wisdom, the more we will listen.

          iv.      The more we see His promises, the more we will endure,

m.    Study is not about mastering a book, but being mastered by the God who speaks through the book.

n.      Paul’s language connects knowledge, wisdom, understanding, and life.

           i.      He says this knowledge leads to a worthy walk and deeper knowledge of God.

           ii.      True study is meant to travel to the heart and then the hands, feet, habits, home and our whole life.

o.      We have to study the Bible with humility and obedience.

p.      We should ask of a passage:

           i.      What does this show me about God?

           ii.      What does this reveal about my heart?

           iii.      What does this call me to believe, repent of, obey, or share?

           iv.      How does this help me live a life that matters?

q.      Study should not make us proud, but prayerful.

r.       We can know Bible facts and still miss God’s heart.

s.       A humble Bible student learns to see life through God’s eyes.

III.            Prayer and study turn the way we live.

a.      Paul does not end with knowledge alone.

           i.      He says the purpose is to walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing.

           ii.      One version says to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him.

           iii.      The word walk refers to direction and pattern of life – how we live every day.

b.      This is where prayer and study meet.

           i.      Prayer without study can become directionless and study without prayer can become prideful.

           ii.      We can talk to God but ignore what He has said,

           iii.      We can know correct answers but have a cold heart.

c.       Prayer and study together helps to forma life that stays close to God.

           i.      In prayer we speak to God and in study God speaks to us.

           ii.      In prayer we surrender our will and in study God reveals His will.

           iii.      In prayer we ask for strength and in study we learn what the strength is for.

           iv.      In prayer we intercede for others and in study we learn what others need most.

d.      Together, prayer and study moves us from spiritual intention to spiritual transformation.

e.      Paul reveals several results of prayer combined with study in this passage:

          i.      We bear fruit in every good work.

1.      A life close to God becomes useful to Him.

2.      Prayer and study prepare us to serve others better.

          ii.      We increase in the knowledge of God.

1.      The more we walk with Him, the more we come to know Him.

2.      Knowing God leads to eternal life (John 17:3).

          iii.      We are strengthened will all power for endurance, or patience.

1.      Paul did not we will be strengthened so we never struggle.

2.      He does say we will be strengthened so we can endure.

          iv.      We give thanks to the Father.

1.      Prayer and study train us to remember grace.

2.      Paul reminds them that God has qualified them, delivered them, translated them, and redeemed them.

3.      Gratitude grows when we keep remembering what God has done.

f.        How do we implement prayer and study together?

           i.      Pray about the text before we study it – ask God for wisdom to understand and properly apply the passage before reading it and to see His will in it.

           ii.      Study the text before we pray our plans – many times we start our day by thinking of all the we have to do and then asking God’s blessing on our efforts.

1.      What if we opened scripture first and let God’s word shape what we ask for?

2.      Scripture teaches us to pray, “Lord help me walk worthy of you today in what I will do.”

           iii.      Turn scripture into prayer.

1.      When the text speaks of God’s will, ask God to fill us with knowledge of His will.

2.      When it speaks of bearing fruit, ask God to make our lives fruitful in good works.

3.      When it speaks of endurance, ask God for strength when we want to quit.

4.      We can make this passage a daily prayer: “Lord, fill me with the knowledge of your will. Help me walk worthy of you. Make me fruitful. Help me know you more. Strengthen me to endure. Make me thankful. Keep me mindful that you delivered me from darkness and brought me into the kingdom of your Son.

           iv.      Pray for others with eternal priorities.

1.      Pray this for our spouse, or children, grandchildren, congregation, struggling Christians, even those not yet Christians.

2.      Ask God to help them learn His will and to walk worthy of Him and then be a guide for them in that effort.

           v.      Start small and build, not just react.

1.      A lot of times we don’t pray or study until bad things happen.

2.      It’s also hard to jump in all at once in a big way – we can get overwhelmed.

3.      Open your Bible and read just a few verses.

4.      Ask those questions we mentioned earlier – what is this teaching about God, about what I need to do or change.

5.      Pray to God about that thing.

6.      A life that matters is not built on one dramatic moment, but on intentional efforts of daily surrender.

g.      The early church did these things (Acts 2:42).

           i.      This is study and prayer together.

           ii.      When they did this, their lives changed and they became great influencers for God and good.

           iii.      They did not become perfect, but they became devoted.

           iv.      God then used them to point others to Christ.

h.      Prayer and study matter because they form a life that pleases God.

True Freedom In Christ 7-5-26 AM

I.            True freedom requires discipline (John 8:31).

a.      Jesus begins with an “if” statement.

           i.      This means there is a condition.

           ii.      It also means there is a possibility that some will not continue.

b.      Jesus is speaking to Jews who believed in Him.

           i.      Jesus does not treat their belief as a shallow moment of interest.

           ii.      He says true discipleship is shown by continuing in His word.

c.       The word translated “abide” or “continue” means to remain, stay, dwell, or make your home in something.

           i.      It is the same word used often in 1 John.

           ii.      It carries the idea of settled residence, not a temporary visit.

           iii.      It is the difference between passing through a place and pitching your tent there.

d.      Jesus is saying, “Don’t just admire my word. Remain in it. Don’t just hear my word. Live in it. Don’t just begin with me. Continue with me.”

e.      The means true freedom requires discipline.

           i.      Not to earn salvation.

           ii.      Not as in trusting ourselves.

           iii.      But as in staying close to Christ and refusing to drift.

f.        A person does not accidentally remain in Christ.

           i.      We drift accidentally.

           ii.      We abide intentionally.

g.      Think about the discipline required for national freedom.

           i.      The freedoms celebrated by us in this country were not preserved because of one emotional day in 1776.

           ii.      They required endurance, sacrifice, training, and perseverance.

           iii.      Soldiers did not win freedom by simply believing freedom was a good idea.

           iv.      They had to continue in the cause.

h.      In a far greater way, Jesus is telling us that spiritual freedom is not found in a momentary interest in Him, but in remaining with Him.

           i.      Many want freedom from guilt, but not discipline in the word.

           ii.      Many want freedom from consequences, but not surrender to Christ.

           iii.      Many want freedom from fear, but not daily faithfulness.

           iv.      Many want Jesus as a Savior, but resist Jesus as Lord.

           v.      Jesus says, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples.”

           vi.      This means discipleship is not occasional attention to Jesus, but a life built in and around Him.

i.        We need to ask:

           i.      Am I abiding in Him or occasionally visiting?

           ii.      Am I continuing in Christ or slowly drifting?

           iii.      Am I letting His word correct, shape, restrain, and lead me?

j.        Freedom is found by staying with Christ.

II.            True freedom results from deity (John 8:32).

a.      Jesus says freedom comes from truth.

          i.      On one occasion, Pilate asked what is truth.

          ii.      Jesus lets us know (John 17:17).

b.     Truth is not:

          i.      Whatever culture currently approves.

          ii.      Whatever I sincerely feel.

          iii.      Whatever works for me.

          iv.      Something man invents.

c.      Truth comes from God (2 Tim. 3:16-17).

d.      This means true freedom results from deity – from the divine will of God, revealed through His Son.

e.      Jesus is not offering human opinion.

          i.      He is not giving self-help advice.

          ii.      He is not presenting one religious option among many.

f.       Jesus is the Son speaking the truth of the Father.

g.     This truth contains the message that sets sinners free: the gospel of Jesus Christ.

          i.      Christ died for our sins, was buried and rose on the third day.

          ii.      Through obedient faith, we are united with Him and freed from sin.

h.     This is why truth cannot be tampered with.

          i.      If man changes it, it is no longer God’s truth.

          ii.      If man softens it, it is no longer God’s truth.

          iii.      It man adds to it, it is no longer God’s truth.

          iv.      If man removes from it, it is no longer God’s truth.

i.       The power is never in our edits, but in the word of God.

j.       A medicine only helps if it remains what the doctor prescribes.

          i.      If a pharmacist decides to alter the formula, remove the active ingredient, or replace with something else, it may become more pleasant, but it will no longer heal.

          ii.      The gospel is God’s remedy for is and we aren’t free to rewrite the prescription.

k.      This matters because people often want freedom without truth.

           i.      They want peace without repentance.

           ii.      They want forgiveness without surrender.

           iii.      They want salvation without obedience.

           iv.      They want Jesus without the word.

l.        Jesus ties freedom to truth – you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.

m.    We have to love truth more than tradition, more than comfort, more than popularity, more than personal preference.

n.      When truth confronts us, we don’t argue with it – we obey it.

III.            True freedom rejects dishonesty (John 8:33-34).

a.      The Jews responded to Jesus with a dishonest claim.

          i.      They had been in bondage to Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persia, Greece, Syria.

          ii.      At that moment, they were under Roman rule and occupation.

b.     Their dishonesty went deeper than history – they were denying their spiritual condition.

c.     Jesus was speaking about bondage to sin and they tried to change the subject to ancestry – we are offspring of Abraham.

d.     Jesus did not let them hide behind religious heritage – everyone who commits, practices, sin is a slave to sin.

          i.      Practices, or commits, points to ongoing action, continual sinning with no change or repentance.

          ii.      Jesus is describing a life ruled, patterned, and mastered by sin.

e.      Sin promises freedom, but produces slavery.

           i.      Sin says you are in control while it quietly takes control.

           ii.      Sin say this will satisfy you, while making you emptier.

           iii.      Sin says you can stop when you want while tightening the chains.

f.        One of the first steps in recovery movements is when a person finally say I am powerless over this.

           i.      No matter how we feel of all of a program like that, that first admission reflects a biblical reality: healing will not begin with denial, only truth.

           ii.      As long as a person says he does not have a problem, the chains remain hidden.

g.      We can’t be freed from sin we won’t confess.

           i.      Where am I pretending to be free while sin is ruling me?

           ii.      What sin have I renamed so I don’t have to repent of it?

           iii.      What attitude, habit, relationship, or desire has more control over me than I want to admit?

h.      It may be anger, pornography, alcohol, gambling, cussing, greed, pride, gossip, the need to control others, or many other things.

i.        Jesus does not expose sins only to shame us, but to free us.

j.        We can’t receive freedom while defending our chains.

IV.            True freedom remains dedicated (John 8:35-36).

a.      Jesus now gives a household picture.

          i.      A slave may be in the house but he does not have permanent standing in it.

          ii.      A son belongs there and has a lasting place.

b.     Jesus is warning them and us: don’t assume that closeness to religious things equals freedom.

          i.      They were descendants of Abraham.

          ii.      They had been given the Old Testament.

          iii.      They had the temple.

          iv.      They had religious identity.

c.      Jesus says that only the Son can make a slave free.

d.      The word free means released, liberated, set loose from bondage.

e.      Real freedom is not self-declared, it is Son-given.

          i.      Only Jesus can free us from sin because only Jesus has authority over sin.

          ii.      Only Jesus can free us from sin because only Jesus offered Himself for our guilt.

          iii.      Only Jesus can free us from sin because only Jesus bore condemnation for us.

          iv.      Only Jesus can keep us in the Father’s house because only the Son remains forever.

f.       This means true freedom remains dedicated.

g.     We remain in Christ because freedom is found only in Christ.

h.     During the Revolutionary War, freedom from tyranny required bloodshed.

          i.      The Declaration announced the cause, but blood was shed to secure it.

          ii.      Freedom came at a cost.

i.       That is also true spiritually, but on a far greater level.

          i.      It took blood to free America from tyranny.

          ii.      It took blood to free us from sin.

j.       Not the blood of soldiers, but the blood of the Son of God (1 Pe. 1:18-19).

k.     True freedom is not doing whatever we want, which is often just another form of slavery.

l.       True freedom is being released from sin so we can belong to God.

m.    Freedom is not life without a master, it is life under the right Master.

          i.      The world says to be free by serving yourself, but Jesus to be free by being set free by the Son.

          ii.      The world says to throw off all restraint, but Jesus abide in my word.

          iii.      The world says to define your own truth, but the Jesus say to know the truth.

          iv.      The world says to hide your sin but Jesus says to confess it and be made free.

          v.      The world says you are free when no one rules you but Jesus says you are free when sin no longer rules you.

n.      The Son sets us free and we stay free by remaining in Him.

Faith That Embraces The Promises 6-28-26 PM

I.            Faith pursues the promise (Heb. 11:8-10, 17-18).

a.      Abraham’s faith is shown in two major acts: He left Ur of the Chaldees and was willing to offer up his only begotten son Isaac.

b.      There are some key words that we need to notice:

           i.      Obeyed – Abraham’s faith moved him to action.

1.      Biblical faith is never mere agreement.

2.      Abraham did not simply believe God existed; he trusted God enough to act.

           ii.      Called – Abraham did not create his own mission.

1.      God initiated it.

2.      Faith begins when God speaks and we respond.

           iii.      Sojourned – this means Abraham lived as a temporary resident.

1.      Abraham did live in the promised land eventually.

2.      However, he did not fully possess it.

           iv.      Offered up – describes Abraham’s willingness to give Isaac back to God.

1.      The text doesn’t say Abraham understood everything.

2.      It says he trusted God who had made the promise.

           v.      Only son – refers to Isaac as the unique son of promise.

1.      This is the same phrase used by God the Father about Jesus.

2.      Isaac was one of a kind and there was never to another like him.

3.      Abraham had other sons but not like Isaac, the son of promise.

c.       When God called Abraham to leave Ur and go to a land, God did not say what land or how to get there.

           i.      He said to a land I will show you.

           ii.      Here we read that Abraham went out not knowing where he was going.

           iii.      Abraham didn’t have a detailed itinerary.

           iv.      He did have a divine promise.

d.      Later, God tests Abraham by commanding him to offer Isaac.

           i.      This created a crisis because God had promised that through Isaac Abraham’s offspring would be named.

           ii.      Here is God commanding Abraham to give up that son.

           iii.      The reason Abraham was willing is found in verse 19 – he believed God could raise him from the dead.

           iv.      Abraham did not know how God would keep His promise, but he did know that he would keep His promise.

e.      Faith does not always know the route, but faith knows the guide.

           i.      Some people won’t obey God until they understand every consequence.

           ii.      They want to know how every relationship, financial decision, and family situation will work out first.

           iii.      Abraham says faith obeys when God’s word is clear, even if the outcome is not.

f.        For us today, it means leaving sin behind even when it’s been familiar.

           i.      It means obeying Christ in baptism even if family does not understand.

           ii.      It means forgiving someone, serving someone when it costs, or trusting in God through a season of life where the future is not clear.

g.      In Acts 16:9, we read about what we call Paul’s Macedonian call.

           i.      Paul had never been in Greece and had not been allowed to go.

           ii.      The call comes and Paul drops everything and goes.

           iii.      They had no gps, no Siri, or Google Maps.

           iv.      He went because he got the call.

h.      Faith does not require visibility before obedience.

i.        Faith obeys God’s word even when God has not shown the whole road.

II.            Faith perceives the Promise-Giver (Heb. 11:11-12).

a.      Sarah’s faith was not in her age, body, or her circumstances, but in the character of God.

b.      There are some important key words or phrases in these two verses:

           i.      Received power means God supplied what Sarah did not naturally possess – the promise was fulfilled by divine power, not human ability.

           ii.      Past the age emphasizes the impossibility of the situation from a human standpoint – Sarah was beyond childbearing years.

           iii.      Considered carries the idea of judging, counting, or concluding something to be true – Sarah made a faith judgment about God.

           iv.      Faithful means reliable, trustworthy, dependable – Sarah believed God would do what He said.

           v.      Promised reminds us that faith rests on God’s word, not human optimism.

c.       Sarah’s account is not a simple story of perfect faith from beginning to end.

           i.      In Genesis 18, Sarah laughs when she heard the promise that she would bear a son.

           ii.      Her first reaction was disbelief.

d.      But Hebrews 11 remembers the final position of her faith – she came to regard God as faithful.

e.      That matters with God.

           i.      Faith does not mean you have never struggled.

           ii.      Faith means you bring your struggles under the truth of who God is.

           iii.      The result was staggering (Heb. 11:12).

           iv.      God produced a multitude out of barrenness.

f.        Faith does not deny weakness – it looks beyond weakness to God’s faithfulness.

g.      Some of us may look at our lives and say: It’s too late, I’ve done too much damage. I am too weak. My family is too far gone. I have failed too many times.

           i.      Sarah reminds us that the issue is not whether you are strong enough.

           ii.      The issue is whether God is faithful.

           iii.      This doesn’t mean God will give us everything we desire, but He will keep every promise He has ever made.

h.      God has promised forgiveness in Christ.

           i.      He promises strength in the time of temptation.

           ii.      He promises resurrection.

           iii.      He promises to complete His work in His people.

           iv.      He promises that our labor in the Lord is not in vain.

i.        I have a preaching friend, who if I called his name you would probably know, who had a terrible accident.

           i.      He can no longer walk but he can still preach and does.

           ii.      He continually points out God’s goodness in his life even with the injuries he has.

           iii.      His life shows that life is not easy, but that God remains faithful.

j.        This is Sarah-like faith: not confidence in circumstances, but confidence in a faithful God.

k.      Faith measures life by God’s faithfulness, not our limitations.

III.            Faith Pilgrims toward the promise (Heb. 11:13-16).

a.      Verse 13 is the heart of the passage – these people lived and died believing promises they had not fully received.

b.      There are some key words or phrases in this we need to notice:

           i.      Died in faith means their faith endured to the end – they did not abandon God because fulfillment was not going to be in their lifetime.

           ii.      Seen them from afar means they perceived God’s promises by faith, though they did not yet possess them by sight.

           iii.      Strangers and pilgrims describes people who do not fully belong to the land where they live – they are residents, but not truly home.

           iv.      Desire in verse 16 speaks of deep longing – their hearts were set on something better.

           v.      Better country points beyond Canaan to the heavenly homeland God has waiting for His people.

c.       Hebrews says they acknowledged that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

           i.      This does not mean they hated life.

           ii.      It means they understood life properly.

d.      They knew the land promise mattered, but they also knew God’s greater promise pointed beyond earthly geography.

           i.      They were seeking a homeland.

           ii.      They desired a better country, that is, a heavenly one.

e.      Then comes one of the most beautiful statements in Hebrews (Heb. 11:16).

           i.      They were not ashamed to live like pilgrims.

           ii.      God was not ashamed to be called their God.

f.        Faith changes how we view the world.

           i.      The world tells us to make our home hear.

           ii.      Faith says that this world is not our final home.

g.      This should changes our priorities.

           i.      We don’t live for possessions as though they are permanent.

           ii.      We do not treat comfort as our highest God.

           iii.      We don’t compromise truth just to be accepted by the culture.

           iv.      We don’t despair when life is hard, because we are headed to a better country.

h.      Christians should be the best citizens, neighbors, workers, and family members.

i.        But, we should never forget: we are strangers and pilgrims here because our citizenship is in heaven.

j.        Faith lives full here because heaven is home.

IV.            Faith proclaims the promise (Heb. 11:20-22).

a.      Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph all looked forward and their faith spoke into the future.

b.      Look at these key words and phrases:

           i.      Blessed means they spoke covenant promises to the next generation – this was not sentimental wishing, but faith in God’s covenant word.

           ii.      Concerning things to come emphasizes that their faith reached beyond their own lives.

           iii.      Made mention means Joseph deliberately spoke about the exodus before it happened.

           iv.      Departing refers to Israel’s future deliverance from Egypt – Joseph believing God would bring His people out.

           v.      Bones in verse 22 shows how concrete Joseph’s faith was – he gave instructions about his burial because he believed God would bring Israel to the promised land.

c.      Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things still to come.

d.      Jacob, near death blessed Joseph’s sons.

           i.      He leaned on his staff and worshiped.

           ii.      His body was weak, but his faith was looking forward.

e.      Joseph may be the most striking example here.

           i.      At the end of Genesis, Joseph was powerful in Egypt.

           ii.      But he did not want his bones to stay there permanently.

           iii.      Joseph died in Egypt but his faith was packed for Canaan.

           iv.      He believed in a future he would not personally see in his lifetime.

f.        Faith is not only personal; it is generational.

           i.      We have to speak God promises to those coming after us.

1.      Parents, grandparents, elders, teachers, and mature Christians need to bless the next generation with truth.

2.      Not vague positivity, worldly success slogans.

           ii.      We have to teach them about God’s promises.

1.      Tell them God is faithful.

2.      Christ is worth following.

3.      Sin destroys.

4.      Obedience matters.

5.      Heaven is real.

6.      There is one church.

7.      Jesus is coming again.

8.      The resurrection is worth waiting for.

           iii.      A dying Joseph gave instructions about his bones because he believed God’s promise

g.      What instructions are we leaving behind by the way we live?

h.      Many of us know families where a faithful grandmother or grandfather never saw all the fruit they prayed for.

           i.      They taught bible classes, brought children to worship, prayed over names, and kept pointing the family to Christ.

           ii.      Some died before seeing children or grandchildren obey the gospel or come back to the Lord they had left.

           iii.      But their faith still spoke after they were gone.

i.        That is Joseph’s kind of faith: one that says, God is not finished, even when my life is.

j.        Faith speaks God’s promises to a future it may never see.

Blessings Of Being Justified 6-28-26 AM

I.            The blessing of peace (Rom. 5:1).

a.      The word “therefore” points back to chapter 4.

          i.      Paul has just stated that righteousness is counted to those who believe in the God who raised Jesus from the dead.

          ii.      Jesus was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.

b.     When Paul states since we have been justified by faith, he is not talking about a shallow mental agreement.

          i.      Biblical faith trusts God enough to respond to Him.

          ii.      It is faith that moves.

c.      When we are justified, we have peace with God.

d.      This is not a warm, fuzzy feeling in your heart but a changed relationship with God.

           i.      Before justification, we are not neutral.

           ii.      We are not simply confused people trying to do our best.

           iii.      Sin makes us enemies of God (Jam. 4:4).

           iv.      Before justification, we are on the wrong side of the battle.

e.      Notice what Paul writes later in the letter (Rom. 8:6).

f.        When WWII ended, the signing of the surrender documents aboard the USS Missouri did not merely create a feeling of peace.

          i.      It officially ended a state of war.

          ii.      The relationship changed because the conflict had been settled.

g.     This is the picture in this verse.

          i.      Through Jesus Christ, the conflict caused by sin is settled.

          ii.      The sinner no longer stands as an enemy of God but as one brought near thought Jesus.

h.     We need to understand there is a difference between feeling peaceful and being at peace with God.

          i.      Some people feel calm but are still lost.

          ii.      Some people feel religious but are still guilty.

          iii.      Some people feel confident but are still unreconciled.

i.       Paul writes that the justified person has peace with God “through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

j.       This means our assurance is not built on our goodness but on His cross.

k.     Because Jesus settled our guilt, we can live at peace with God.

II.            The blessing of grace (Rom. 5:2).

a.     Paul tells us that through Jesus we have “access” to get into grace.

b.     This carries the idea of being brought into the presence of someone important.

          i.      We don’t barge into God’s favor.

          ii.      We are brought in through Christ.

c.      Notice the phrase “this grace wherein we stand…”

          i.      Grace is not something God gives at the beginning of salvation and then takes away.

          ii.      Grace is the place where the justified live.

          iii.      We stand in it.

d.     Grace is God’s unearned favor.

          i.      It is not wages or payment.

          ii.      It is not God rewarding us because we are impressive.

          iii.      It is God giving what we do not deserve because of what Christ has done.

e.      This verse shows us that faith and grace go hand in hand.

          i.      Grace is God’s part.

          ii.      Faith is man’s part – our part.

          iii.      Obedient faith receives what grace provides.

f.       When one is baptized into Christ, he puts on Christ (Gal. 3:27).

          i.      We don’t earn grace in baptism.

          ii.      We submit to Christ in faith and receive what only grace can give. 

g.     A few weeks ago, Jincy and I got to go to a grand opening of a new factory in the Shoals area.

          i.      The reason we got to go was not because we belonged there or they were letting just anyone in there.

          ii.      We got to go in there because we had been invited because Jincy works for Congressman Aderholt.

          iii.      We got to go because someone with authority allowed us access.

h.     This is grace – we did not have access to God because of our record – Jesus gives us access because of His.

i.       A lot of us struggle because we feel we are barely tolerated by God.

          i.      I’ve heard people say “I hope I just get in the back door of heaven” or something like this.

          ii.      They just hope God lets them in and it doesn’t have to be a fine place for them.

j.       Romans 5:2 says the justified stand in grace.

          i.      There are no levels of grace.

          ii.      You are either in it or you are not.

k.      We do need to remember that we stand in grace but are also warned we can fall from it.

          i.      We can’t treat grace as a license to do what we want.

          ii.      We have to treat grace as something we will never let go.

l.       Grace gives us access we could never earn.

III.            The blessing of tribulation (Rom. 5:3-5).

a.     This blessing probably surprises us that is even considered a blessing.

b.     Peace and grace – absolutely.

c.     Surely not tribulations.

d.     Paul says the justified can even rejoice in sufferings.

          i.      Not because they are enjoyable.

          ii.      Not because pain is pleasant.

          iii.      Not because Christians pretend hardships don’t hurt.

e.      We rejoice because God uses tribulations to produce something in us.

          i.      Suffering produces patience, or endurance.

          ii.      Endurance produces experience, or character.

          iii.      Character produces hope.

          iv.      Hope does not allow us to be ashamed.

f.       The world sees difficulties and suffering as things to be completely avoided.

          i.      The world says the best life is the easiest life.

          ii.      Paul says God can use these things to strengthen faith.

g.     The word translated “experience” or “character” contains the idea of testedness, genuineness, approvedness – it is the quality of something that has gone through the fire and remained.

         i.      Gold is refined by extreme heat.

         ii.      The extreme heat does not create the gold, but reveals it and purifies it.

         iii.      The heat separates what is precious from what does not belong.

h.    In the same way, trials do not create faith out of nothing, but they test and strengthen real faith.

i.      A Christian who has endured grief, sickness, opposition, temptation, and disappointment with trust in God often has a depth that cannot be manufactured in comfort.

j.      Some of the strongest Christians you know are not strong because life has been easy – they are strong because they have walked with God through pain.

         i.      They have learned to pray when answers were slow.

         ii.      They have learned to trust when feelings were weak.

         iii.      They have learned to obey when obedience was costly.

k.     Paul is not saying every hardship automatically makes every person better.

         i.      Some become bitter.

         ii.      But when suffering is endured with faith, God uses it to build endurance, character, and hope.

l.      This hope will not disappoint us.

m.   Have you ever looked forward to something, really built it up in your mind, and then, when it finally got there, was not what you hoped?

         i.      Heaven will never be that way.

         ii.      No one is going to stand in God’s presence and say, “I expected more.”

n.     God uses present trials to deepen future hope.

IV.            The blessing of God’s love (Rom. 5:6-8).

a.     Paul now takes us to the depth of God’s love.

         i.      Jesus did not die for us when we were strong.

         ii.      Jesus did not die for us when we were righteous.

         iii.      Jesus did not die for us when we had cleaned ourselves up.

b.     Did you hear how Paul described us – and that is when Christ died for us.

c.     Verse 8 is one of the greatest statements in all of scripture.

d.     God did not just say He loved us – He demonstrated it.

e.      All of us who were aware of the events of 9-11 were moved by the sacrifice of so many first responders on that day.

          i.      Rushing into a burning skyscraper.

          ii.      Doing all they could to save people and then many of them dying for it.

          iii.      Those acts move us because of the sacrifice

f.       Paul says even among human beings, it would be rare for someone to die for a righteous person.

g.     Someone might die for a good person.

h.     God’s love goes beyond that – Jesus died for the ungodly

i.       Jesus did not die for friends only but to turn enemies into friends.

j.       When we doubt God’s love, we can’t measure it first by our circumstances – we have to measure it by the cross.

          i.      Our circumstances change.

          ii.      Our feelings change.

          iii.      Our health changes.

          iv.      Our relationships change.

          v.      Our finances change.

k.      The cross stands as God’s ultimate demonstration of love – God shows us His love at the cross.

l.        The cross proves God loves us at our worst.

V.            The blessing of salvation (Rom. 5:9).

a.      Paul tells us we are justified by the blood of Christ.

          i.      This means the death of Jesus is not just an example of love.

          ii.      It is the means by which our guilt is answered.

b.      Because we are justified by His blood, we will be saved from the wrath of God.

c.      That is an uncomfortable but biblical phrase.

          i.      God is loving, patient, gracious, merciful, and kind.

          ii.      But God is also holy and just.

          iii.      His wrath is His settled opposition to sin and rebellion.

d.     The justified are saved from wrath because Jesus has dealt with our sin.

e.      Many people want salvation from anxiety, hardship, loneliness, or consequences.

          i.      Those are real burdens.

          ii.      Our deepest need, however, is salvation from sin and judgment.

f.       Paul says those justified by the blood of Jesus will be saved from wrath.

          i.      This should humble us.

          ii.      This should sober us.

          iii.      This should make us thankful.

          iv.      This should move us to warn others.

g.     God’s wrath is not a preacher’s scare tactic.

h.     It is a biblical reality, but so is God’s mercy.

i.       The only safe place from wrath is in Christ.

j.       Christ’s blood saves us from the wrath our sin deserves.

VI.            The blessing of reconciliation (Rom. 5:10).

a.     Reconciliation means a broken relationship has been restored.

b.     Because of sin, we were God’s enemies.

          i.      The problem was not that God wronged us.

          ii.      The problem was that we sinned against Him.

c.      God’s justice does not allow for fellowship with sin.

          i.      God is holy.

          ii.      Sin separates.

d.     But through the death of Jesus, reconciliation is made possible.

          i.      Our sins caused us to leave God.

          ii.      The death of Jesus opened the way back to God.

          iii.      And when we put on Christ, we are brought back into relationship with God.

e.      But Paul adds something important – “much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.”

          i.      The death of Jesus makes reconciliation possible.

          ii.      The life of Jesus makes continuing salvation possible.

f.       A dead Savior could save no one.

          i.      Jesus died, but He did not stay dead.

          ii.      He reigns – He intercedes – He keeps His promises.

g.     We’ve all known of friendships or families that become divided over some incident.

          i.      Sometimes those situations are never resolved.

          ii.      In some, though, someone reaches out in humility, apologizes and makes things right so the parties can be reconciled.

h.      This is a small picture of what God has done through Christ.

i.        Except in our case, God was the offended party and He made the first move.

j.        This means Christianity is not merely rule-keeping – it is restored relationship with God.

k.      Obedience, doctrine, worship, and holiness all matter.

l.        But they all flow from this reality – through Christ, enemies can be reconciled to God.

m.    Jesus brings enemies back into relationship with God.

VII.            The blessing of atonement (Rom. 5:11).

a.      Atonement carries the idea of a change of state – from enmity to friendship, separation to fellowship.

b.      Atonement is sometimes explained by stating it broken into syllables – at-one-ment.

           i.      This means being made at one with God.

           ii.      This is not the technical meaning, it captures the blessing very well.

c.       Jesus allowed us to go from enemies to friends of God.

           i.      Because of His death and resurrection, we can be at one with God.

           ii.      And this brings joy, the verse tells us.

d.      The justified person does not merely rejoice in blessings from God, but in God Himself.

e.      Think of a child estranged from his/her parents.

          i.      The greatest gift would not be merely receiving something in the mail from the parent.

          ii.      The greatest gift would be coming home, sitting at the table, and knowing the relationship has been restored.

f.       This is the joy of atonement.

g.      God is not sending gifts from a distance and that is all – He brings us near.

h.      Some people want God’s gifts more than they want God – you can’t have one without the other.

i.        The greatest blessing of justification is not merely we avoid wrath, though we do.

j.        The greatest blessing of justification is not merely we gain hope, though we do.

k.      It is not merely that we gain peace, grace, and salvation, though we do.

l.       The greatest blessing is God Himself.

m.    Atonement gives us joy because we are brought back to God.

Standing On The Promises 6-14-28 AM

I.            God’s promises are based on His character.

a.      God who never lies.

b.      Paul did not say:

            i.      God usually tells the truth.

            ii.      God tries His best to keep His word.

            iii.      God’s track record is good so far.

c.       Paul was inspired to write that God never lies.

d.      The promise of eternal life does not rest on my strength, my mood, my consistency, or my worthiness.

e.      It rests on the nature of God Himself.

f.        The value of a promise to be believed is based on three things.

           i.      The integrity of the one who promises – surely God has shown Himself to be trustworthy (1 Cor. 1:9; 1 Th. 5:24; 2 Th. 3:3).

           ii.      The ability of the one who promises – surely God has shown Himself able to fulfill promises (Jer. 32:17; Lu. 1:37; Ac. 17:31).

           iii.      The past record of the one who promises – surely God has shown a spotless record in keeping promises (De. 7:9; how many times is God called a rock in the Psalms, - all because of His record of faithfulness).

g.      When it comes to the integrity of God, He measures up perfectly (Num. 23:19; Heb. 6:18; Ti. 1:2).

h.      God does not simply make the choice not to lie.

i.        God cannot lie because lying would contradict His own nature.

j.        This means when God speaks, faith has somewhere solid to stand.

           i.      When God promises forgiveness, you don’t have to wonder if He really means it.

           ii.      When God promises judgment, you should not assume He is bluffing.

           iii.      When God promises eternal life in Christ, you do not have to wonder if death gets the final word.

k.      Because God cannot lie, His promises are more reliable than our fears.

II.            God’s promises are bound to Christ.

a.      The Bible is not a random collection of disconnected promises.

b.      It is one great story of God keeping His word.

c.       When you look at the promises of God, they form a thread throughout scripture that all point to Jesus.

           i.      The seed of woman promise (Gen. 3:15).

           ii.      The promise of Abraham to make of him a great nation, have a great land, and all the earth be blessed (Gen. 12:1-3).

           iii.      The promise to David to continue his lineage (2 Sam. 7).

           iv.      The promise of a restoration of a remnant of Israel after captivity.

           v.      The promise of a coming Messiah.

           vi.      The promise of a new and everlasting kingdom.

           vii.      The promise of a new covenant.

d.      When you come to the New Testament, these promises are all fulfilled in or by Christ.

            i.      Those who are His are spoken of as partakers of the promise (Eph. 3:6).

            ii.      The promise of the Savior of the seed of David is fulfilled in Christ (Acts 13:23, 32; 26:6).

            iii.      Paul says by inspiration that the promise to Abraham is not just for Israel but for all who will be children of Abraham by faith (Gal. 3:16, 19, 29).

            iv.      The Hebrews writer goes back to the original promises, giving them spiritual significance in a better covenant that is “based on better promises” (Heb. 8:6).

e.      This is really what Paul states in 2 Cor. 1:20.

f.       Jesus is God’s great Yes.

g.      Jesus is not plan B – He is the fulfillment of every promise God has made.

h.      This means we don’t interpret God’s promises apart from Jesus.

           i.      We don’t use God’s promises as slogans for selfish ambitions.

           ii.      We come to Jesus and ask, “Lord, what have you promised, and how do I live in faithfulness to you?”

i.        Some promises in scripture were physical and specific to certain people in a certain time and place.

           i.      Some were conditional.

           ii.      Some were covenant promises.

           iii.      The greatest promises are spiritual and eternal, fulfilled in Christ: forgiveness, reconciliation with God, resurrection, eternal life, and a kingdom that cannot be shaken.

j.        Because Jesus is God’s Yes, every promise is bound to Jesus.

III.            God’s promises are backed by His power.

a.      A person can have integrity and still be unable to keep a promise.

          i.      A father may promise to take his child fishing and mean it, but a storm comes.

          ii.      A friend may promise to do something for us and mean it, but an illness hits.

b.     Human beings are limited.

c.     God is not.

d.     When God reaffirmed the seed promise to Abraham, He said, “I am God almighty” (Gen. 17:1).

          i.      The promise was not resting on Abraham’s age, Sarah’s womb, or human probability.

          ii.      It rested on the power of Almighty God.

e.      Jer. 32:17.

f.        Luke 18:27.

g.      God is not hampered in any way when it comes to fulfilling His promises because God is omnipotent.

h.      In reality, the promises of the New Testament were confirmed by the resurrection of Jesus.

           i.      Acts 17:32.

           ii.      The resurrection is God’s receipt that the promise has been paid for.

i.        If God raised Jesus from the dead, then God has the power to raise us.

j.        If God conquered the grave, then God can forgive our sins.

k.      If God kept His promise at the cross and the empty tomb, then God can keep His promise all the way to eternity.

l.       We have to stop measuring God’s promises by our limitations.

          i.      We don’t need to say, “I don’t see how God can forgive me.”

          ii.      We don’t need to say, “I don’t see how God can use me.”

          iii.      We don’t need to say, “I don’t see how God can get me through this.”

m.    The promise does not depend on what we can see – it depends on what God can do.

n.      Because God is almighty, no promise of God is too hard for Him.

IV.            God’s promises beg for a faithful response.

a.      Notice the logic in this passage (Heb. 10:19-23).

           i.      Because Jesus opened the way, draw near.

           ii.      Because God is faithful, hold fast.

           iii.      Because God promised, do not waver.

b.      God’s promises are not meant to be admired from a distance.

c.      They are meant to be obeyed, trusted, and stood upon.

d.      Hebrews 11:11.

           i.      Sarah’s faith was not in herself.

           ii.      Sarah’s faith was in the One who promised.

e.      Our faith in God’s forgiveness is not tied to how remorseful we are, but to the fact God is faithful to forgive when sin is repented of (1 Jn. 1:9).

f.        Our faith in any promise of God has nothing to do with us, but everything to do with the God who made the promise.

g.      What promise do you need to act on today?

           i.      Maybe you need to confess sin because God has promised forgiveness.

           ii.      Maybe you need to obey the gospel because God has promised salvation in Christ.

           iii.      Maybe you need to stop wavering because God has been faithful longer than you have been afraid.

h.      Faith does not mean life will be easy.

i.        Faith makes living this life much easier.

j.        Because God is faithful, His people can hold fast.

Are We Willing To Pay The Price? 6-7-26 AM

I.            Discipleship comes with a cost.

a.     Jesus says that if we will follow Him, we have to deny ourselves.

b.     What does it mean to deny ourselves?

          i.      It does not mean hating our personalities.

          ii.      It does not mean ignoring our needs.

          iii.      It does not mean pretending that we don’t matter.

c.      It means surrendering ownership of your life.

d.      It means saying, “Jesus, you are Lord and I am not.”

e.      We all have a tendency to want to be preeminent.

           i.      This is what is behind the statement of Jesus found in Matt. 5:5.

           ii.      A meek person puts his will underneath the will of God.

           iii.      Blessing from God will only come when we put ourselves out of the lead seat and insert the Lord there.

f.        Jesus does not call us to add Him to our lives as an accessory.

g.      He calls us to hand Him the keys.

h.      The first price of discipleship is death of self-rule.

i.        We sing “take my life and let it be, consecrated Lord to the” but do we really mean it?

j.        If we die to self, this means following Jesus will challenge our priorities.

           i.      It may cost us a sinful relationship.

           ii.      It may cost us popularity.

           iii.      It may cost us habits or attitudes we’ve defended for years.

           iv.      It will cost us control over our time, money, speech, attitudes, and desires.

k.      The question is not, “Can I follow Jesus and keep most things the same?”

l.        The question is, “What must change because Jesus is Lord?”

m.    Following Jesus begins when self stops being in charge.

II.            Discipleship is constant.

a.      Mark’s account records Jesus as saying, “take up his cross and follow me.”

b.      Luke’s account adds one very important word – “daily” (Lu. 9:23).

c.       Jesus is not describing one very emotional moment.

           i.      I’ve heard people say something like, “I’ll never forget giving my life to Jesus in the parking lot of the church building” or something like that.

           ii.      It is a very emotional moment followed by little to no change in actions or attitudes.

d.      Jesus is describing a life from new birth until physical death (Rev. 2:10).

          i.      The cross is not something we pick up once and then put down.

          ii.      It is something we carry daily.

e.      The Hebrews writer states we are to encourage one another daily (Heb. 3:13).

           i.      It is not a Sunday only exercise.

           ii.      It is an everyday exercise to get help us get to heaven.

f.        This is not a job where you clock in for several hours a day and then clock out and can forget about it til the next day.

g.      This is not something we can remove around certain people and take it back out when we are around people like us.

h.      Some people are willing to cede control to Jesus in a crisis but not in everyday life.

           i.      It is easy to give control to Christ when we realize we can’t fix it, but keep control until we are going off the cliff.

           ii.      It is easy to confess Christ when we enter the church building, but not so much at work or play with friends outside of Christ.

i.        Jesus calls us to everyday discipleship.

           i.      Every day in our homes.

           ii.      Every day in our decisions.

           iii.      Every day in temptation.

           iv.      Every day in good times.

           v.      Every day in hardships.

           vi.      Every day in every aspect.

j.        Discipleship that involves carrying our cross is not a moment; it is a daily way of life.

III.            Discipleship is complete.

a.      When Jesus said “take up his cross,” the first-century people hearing Him did not hear a religious slogan.

b.      They saw a Roman execution scene that was very familiar to them.

c.       The cross was not some fancy decoration.

           i.      It was not jewelry.

           ii.      It was not a cool, new tattoo.

           iii.      The cross was an instrument of torturous death.

d.      To take up a cross meant you were walking to your death.

e.      Jesus is saying that the disciple must be so surrendered that even life itself belongs to God.

f.       Then Jesus states… (Mk. 8:35).

          i.      Jesus is not calling us to lead reckless lives, not thinking at all about our physical lives.

          ii.      He is calling us to complete loyalty.

          iii.      There is no area in our lives where we can say, “Jesus, you can have everything but this.”

g.     This is where discipleship becomes uncomfortable.

          i.      Jesus gets our public and private lives.

          ii.      He gets us on Sunday mornings and Friday nights.

          iii.      He gets our worship and our money.

          iv.      He gets our words and our thoughts.

          v.      He gets our plans and our relationships.

          vi.      He gets our bodies and our futures.

h.     Yes, if faithfulness demands it, the disciple must be willing to die for the Lord.

          i.      Remember Paul on his way to Jerusalem?

          ii.      Acts 21:12.

          iii.      This is to be our attitude if it ever comes to that, which is much easier said than done.

i.       Jesus is not asking for part of us, but all of us.

IV.            Discipleship must be done with consideration.

a.     Jesus asks two very searching questions in Mark 8:36-37.

b.     Jesus is using financial language.

          i.      He is talking about profit and loss.

          ii.      We have to sit down and do the calculations.

c.      I heard a clip from Dave Ramsey the other day.

          i.      A guy called in with about 2 million dollars in low interest debt.

          ii.      He and his made 1.5 million and had 5.2 million in assets

          iii.      He was wondering if it was better to pay off the debt or invest money that would bring in more percentage wise than his debts cost.

          iv.      Dave Ramsey said he needs to do the math and factor in risk, which the guy had not done.

d.     Jesus is inviting us to do the math on our soul’s eternal value versus the value of the here and now.

          i.      This was not the only time Jesus would tell His hearers they needed to do the math.

          ii.      On another occasion where Jesus was speaking about the cost of discipleship, He had this to say… (Lu. 14:25-33).

          iii.      We have to count the cost.

e.      What if we could gain all that this world has to offer?

f.       And then lost our souls?

g.     Jesus says that is not success – that is the worst trade-off imaginable.

h.     The world is always offering trades:

          i.      Trade truth for acceptance;

          ii.      Trade holiness for pleasure;

          iii.      Trade worship for busyness;

          iv.      Trade conviction for comfort;

          v.      Trade eternity for now.

i.        Jesus tells us to think very carefully.

j.        Count the cost but take in consideration all the numbers.

k.      Yes, following Jesus costs something, but not following Jesus costs far more.

l.        The world is far too small a payment for our souls.

V.            Discipleship involves confession.

a.      Jesus says that is possible to be ashamed of Him, which will lead Him to be ashamed of us (Mk. 8:38).

b.      This is not just about private belief.

c.      It is also about public allegiance.

d.      To be ashamed of Jesus is to distance ourselves from Him when identifying with Him becomes costly.

           i.      It is wanting His salvation but not His name.

           ii.      It is wanting His promises but not His words.

e.      A true disciple confesses Christ (Rom. 10:9-10).

f.        Confession is not empty religious language.

g.      It is expressed allegiance, saying “I belong to Jesus.”

h.      We definitely confess Christ by what we say, but also by what we refuse to hide.

           i.      We confess Him when we speak the truth in love against error.

           ii.      We confess Him when we refuse to be embarrassed by His teaching.

           iii.      We confess Him when we identify with His church and not man-made traditions.

           iv.      We confess Him when we repent instead of excuse sin.

           v.      We confess Him when we are baptized into Him.

           vi.      We confess Him when our lives make it clear that Jesus is Lord.

i.        A disciple cannot be secretly loyal to a public Savior.

God Seeks True Worshipers 5-31-26 AM

I.            The absolute of worship.

a.      Jesus says those what worship God must worship in spirit and in truth.

b.      The word must tells us that this is not optional.

c.       There are some matters in Scripture that are shown to be absolute necessities.

           i.      Faith (Heb. 11:6).

           ii.      Belief and baptism (Mk. 16:16).

           iii.      Proper worship (John 4:24).

d.      “Must” modifies three vital elements of worship:

           i.      The object of worship – God.

           ii.      The attitude of worship – in spirit.

           iii.      The standard of worship – in truth.

e.      Jesus does not say:

           i.      Worship however you feel led.

           ii.      Worship according to your personality.

           iii.      Worship according to what draws the biggest crowds.

f.        Jesus says worship must be aimed at God, offered from the heart, and governed by truth.

g.      There are some words we understand as non-negotiable.

           i.      If a doctor says, you must take this medicine with food, that is not a suggestion.

           ii.      If a bridge sign says, trucks must not exceed this weight, that is not a preference.

           iii.      If a child is running towards the road and a parent shouts, you must stop, the strength of the word comes from the seriousness of the moment.

h.     Jesus uses this kind of word for worship.

i.       We cannot treat worship as casual, optional, or customizable.

j.       If God has spoken about worship, then reverence demands we listen to Him.

k.     We can’t remove the must from worship any more than we can remove the must from faith, belief, or baptism.

l.       Worship is not optional because God’s will is not optional.

II.            The action of worship.

a.     Jesus says, “Those who worship Him…”

b.     Worship is something offered to God, not merely watched.

          i.      It is not a religious performance attended by spectators.

          ii.      The word used in this text is connected to reverence, bowing, and humble honor before one who is worthy.

          iii.      Worship carries the idea of recognizing God’s worth and responding with reverence.

c.     Other New Testament words connected to worship and service emphasize awe, devotion, and religious service before God.

d.     This means true worship requires participation.

          i.      We are not the audience, God is.

          ii.      We are not spectators.

          iii.      We are worshipers.

e.      Think about a wedding.

          i.      The guests may watch, but the bride and groom are not there to merely observe.

          ii.      They are there to participate by speaking vows.

          iii.      They are there to give themselves to one another.

f.       In worship, we are not watching someone else do something spiritual – we are joining together to honor God.

g.     In each act of worship, the question is not “Was I present?” but “Did I offer this to God?”

h.     This should change how we enter worship.

          i.      We did not come to critique the song leader or the preacher.

          ii.      We come as servants of God, offering reverence to Him.

i.       We can sit in a pew and never truly worship.

j.       We can sing with our lips but not from our hearts.

k.     We can bow during a prayer and never truly pray.

l.       God seeks worshipers, not spectators.

m.    Worship is something we offer, not something we watch.

III.            The aim of worship.

a.     “Those who worship HIM” – God is the aim of worship.

b.     This is one of the most needed corrections of our time.

          i.      Worship is not aimed at my preference, comfort, emotions, entertainment, or my tradition.

          ii.      Worship is aimed at God.

c.      Jesus made this clear when Satan tempted Him (Matt. 4:10).

d.     God alone is worthy of worship and this removes every other possible object of worship.

          i.      Not angels.

          ii.      Not religious leaders.

          iii.      Not tradition.

          iv.      Not personal preference.

          v.      Not the crowd.

          vi.      Especially not self.

e.      God alone is the center, object, and audience of worship.

f.       Sometimes, after a worship service we may ask some questions:

          i.      Did you like the songs?

          ii.      Was the sermon good or interesting?

          iii.      Was the service too long?

          iv.      These are probably all natural reactions but they should not be the first questions asked.

g.     The best question we can ask is: Was God glorified and honored?

h.     When we substitute what we like for what God commands, we have made ourselves the aim of worship.

i.       This is why the statement, “I didn’t get anything out of worship today,” can reveal a big misunderstanding.

          i.      Worship does strengthen us.

          ii.      We do receive encouragement, correction, and are built up.

          iii.      But worship is first and foremost something we give to God.

j.        If I don’t get anything out of it, it is probably because I put nothing into it.

k.      Worship goes wrong when self replaces God at the center.

IV.            The attitude of worship.

a.      Jesus says we must worship in spirit.

b.      At a minimum, this means worship must come from the inner person – sincere, heartfelt, reverent, and spiritually engaged.

c.       New Testament worship is spiritual in nature.

           i.      We are to offer “spiritual sacrifices” (1 Pe. 2:5).

           ii.      Heb. 10:22.

           iii.      Our singing is to be from the heart (Eph. 5:19).

d.      Worship is not merely outward correctness – the heart must be involved.

e.      This is true in everyday relationships.

           i.      A husband can bring flowers to his wife with no affection.

           ii.      A child can say “I’m sorry” with no repentance.

           iii.      A person can shake your hand while looking past you.

f.       The outward act may be present, but the heart is absent.

g.      God does not just receive motions, He also sees hearts.

h.      To worship in spirit, we need to prepare our hearts.

           i.      This may mean arriving early instead of rushing in distracted and distracting others.

           ii.      It may mean praying before worship begins.

           iii.      It means putting our phones down unless we are using for the Bible app.

           iv.      It means refusing to let frustration, boredom, or criticism take over our hearts.

i.        We must remember that God is present when we worship.

           i.      Ps. 89:7.

           ii.      Hab. 2:20.

           iii.      Jesus was in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks, which indicated His presence among the seven churches of Asia in Revelation 1.

j.        Worship should never be some heartless routine.

k.      God wants more than our presence; He wants our hearts.

V.            The authority of worship.

a.      Jesus says we must worship in truth.

b.      God’s word is truth (Jn. 17:17).

c.      Our worship is governed by the authority of Christ (Col. 3:17).

d.      To do something in the name of the Lord means to act under His authority.

e.      Scripture warns us that not all worship is acceptable worship.

           i.      There is vain worship (Matt. 15:9).

           ii.      There is ignorant worship (Acts 17:23).

           iii.      There is will worship (Col. 2:23).

f.        Sincerity alone is not enough.

g.      Worship is to be both heartfelt and truthful.

h.      There are five ways, or avenues, of worship authorized by the New Testament.

           i.      Singing (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16).

           ii.      Praying (Ac. 2:42).

           iii.      Preaching God’s word (Ac. 20:7).

           iv.      Partaking of the Lord’s Supper (Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 11:20-30).

           v.      Giving of our means (1 Cor. 16:1-2).

i.        Each act must be carried out according to God’s instruction, not man’s invention.

j.        In worship, God has not left us without direction – truth is the blueprint.

k.      Worship is not driven by the question, “What do people want?”

l.        The only question that matters is, “What has God authorized?”

m.    Spirit without truth becomes emotionalism.

n.      Truth without spirit becomes cold formalism.

o.      Jesus requires both.

p.      We are not choosing between reverence and obedience.

q.      We are not choosing between heart and scripture.

r.       God seeks worshipers who bring Him both.

s.       True worship needs both a surrendered heart and a submitted will.

A Faith That Pleases God (Pt. 2) 5-24-26 PM

I.      Faith demonstrated (Heb. 11:4-5, 7).

A.      Faith is not merely something a person claims to have.

                   i.      Faith is lived out every day.

                   ii.      These verses show us three men who pleased God because their faith moved them to act.

                   iii.     Abel worshiped by faith; Enoch walked by faith; Noah worked by faith.

                   iv.     Again, none of them were perfect, but they all trusted God enough to obey Him.

B.      Abel shows us that faith worships God on God’s terms.

                   i.      The word translated offered means to bring near, present, or offer.

1.      Abel did not merely have faith in his heart.

2.      Abel’s faith moved Him to worship God.

                   ii.     But just worshiping God is not enough.

                   iii.    Abel offered a more excellent, or acceptable sacrifice, than Cain.

1.      More excellent means better, greater, or superior.

2.      It was not better or greater because it was superior to Cain’s.

                   iv.    In Genesis 4 we are told that Cain brought from the fruit of the ground while Abel brought of the firstborn of his flock (Gen. 4:3-4).

1.      To understand why Abel’s was superior to Cain’s, we need to understand the source of faith.

2.      Romans 10:17 – faith comes by hearing God’s word.

3.      At some point, we aren’t told when, God revealed what type of sacrifice was approved.

4.      This is what Abel offered and why his sacrifice was approved of by God and Cain’s was not.

                   v.    The difference between the two offerings was not just the gift itself, but the heart of faith behind the gift.

                   vi.   God testifies, or commends, Abel’s gift still today, because it was offered by faith.

                   vii.  Abel’s faith cost him his life (1 John 3:12).

                   viii. Abel’s faith still speaks: telling us worship matters, faith obeys even when others may resent it, and that pleasing God may cost us and God never forgets that cost.

C.       Enoch shows us that faith walks with God.

                    i.    Enoch was translated – to transfer, remove, or change from one place to another.

1.      Gen. 5:24 – Enoch did not experience death in the ordinary way: God took him.

2.      The reason God took him is because Enoch walked with God every day – it was not in an isolated moment, but every day.

3.      God bore witness to his life as a life that pleased Him.

                    ii.   Enoch was not perfect or sinless – it just means he was faithful.

1.      Enoch lived in a time and place when that was extremely rare.

2.      Jude 1:14-15 connects Enoch with a message of judgment against the unfaithful of his day.

3.      His life was not private or hidden from others.

4.      His life stood out against the ungodliness that surrounded him.

                    iii.    This probably came with a cost.

1.      We are not told the details, but anyone who walks with God in this way will stand out.

2.      Those who live this way in an ungodly culture always do.

                     iv.      Enoch teaches us that it is better to please God than to blend in with the world.

D.      Noah shows us that faith obeys God before it sees the outcome.

                     i.    Noah was warned by God about things to come that had never been seen on earth.

1.      His faith began with God’s word – he was warned of, or by, God.

2.      The phrase warned of God means divinely instructed, warned or directed.

3.      Noah did not act because he saw dark clouds on the horizon.

4.      He acted because God spoke.

                     ii.      Noah had never seen a flood, and probably never seen rain.

1.      He also had never seen God’s judgment.

2.      Faith does not wait until it sees everything.

3.      Faith acts because God speaks.

                     iii.      Noah took God seriously, which is the idea of “moved with fear.”

1.      Noah had a deep reverence for God.

2.      This deep reverence caused him to take God’s words seriously.

                     iv.      Noah’s faith caused him to pick up his tools.

1.      His faith measured the wood.

2.      His faith followed instructions.

3.      His faith kept building.

4.      His faith prepared for judgment while the rest of the world continued as usual.

                      v.      We never read specifically that the people mocked Noah, so we can’t preach that as fact.

1.      We do read that, by his obedient faith, Noah condemned the world.

2.      His life and work stood as a witness against the ungodliness around him.

                      vi.      Noah’s obedience would have made him stand out from everyone else.

1.      His faith affected his reputation.

2.      He was preparing for something no one else could see because he trusted in the God who had warned him.

                      vii.      His faith caused him to become heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.

                      viii.      Noah didn’t earn righteousness by building a boat.

                      ix.      His building a boat revealed the faith by which he received God’s approval.

                      x.      Faith obeys God’s warning before it sees God’s judgment.

E.      Think of these three men and their demonstrations of faith.

                     i.      Abel shows faith in worship.

                     ii.      Enoch shows us faith in our daily walk.

                     iii.      Noah shows us faith in our obedient work.

                     iv.      Each man pleased God because each man trusted God enough to act.

F.       This is what real faith does.

                     i.       It does not remain hidden in the heart.

                     ii.      It comes out in worship, in conduct, in obedience, and in endurance.

                     iii.      Faith that pleases God is faith that moves us to obey God.

II.            Faith demanded (Heb. 11:6).

A.      This verse brings the whole discussion to a clear point: faith is not optional but it is demanded.

B.      The word translated “impossible” means unable, powerless, or impossible – there is no path to pleasing God without faith.

                     i.      God is not pleased by religious routine.

                     ii.      God is not pleased by outward obedience without inward trust.

                     iii.      God is not pleased by human pride, self-righteousness, or mere tradition.

                     iv.      God is pleased by faith – one that believes, seeks, and obeys Him.

C.      Faith believes that God is.

                     i.     The phrase “he that comes” comes from a word often used in Hebrews for approaching God in worship, prayer, and fellowship.

1.      It is not casual interest in God.

2.      It is coming near to Him in trust.

                     ii.      You cannot truly come to God while denying that God exists.

                     iii.      The first demand is that we believe God is.

1.      This means more than believing in some vague higher power.

2.      It means believing in the living God – the God who created all things by the word of His power.

3.      We have to believe in the God revealed in scripture.

                     iv.      It is interesting that scripture does not begin with trying to prove the existence of God – it just says “In the beginning God…”

1.      This does not mean belief in God is unreasonable.

2.      Ps. 19:1.

3.      Rom. 1:20.

4.      Heb. 3:4.

                     v.      Creation points beyond itself.

1.      Order points to intelligence.

2.      Design points to a Designer.

3.      Moral law points to a moral Lawgiver.

4.      Human life, conscience, beauty, and purpose all point to far beyond blind chance to the God who made us.

                     vi.      Faith does not close its eyes to the evidence.

                     vii.      Faith opens its eyes and says, “The word did not make itself. I did not make myself. There is a God, and I am accountable to Him.”

                     viii.      Saving faith goes even further.

1.      It does not merely believe God exists.

2.      It trusts the God who exists.

                     ix.      James 2:19.

1.      The faith that pleases God is more than admitting God is real.

2.      It is trusting Him enough to come to Him, surrender to Him, and obey Him.

                     x.      Faith begins by trusting that God is who He says He is.

D.      Faith believes that God rewards.

                     i.      The word translated “rewarder” means one who pays back, gives wages, or rewards.

1.      This does not mean that God owes us salvation as though we have done something to make Him indebted to us.

2.      Salvation will always be by grace.

3.      But, God graciously promises to bless those who have faith in Him that leads them to seek Him.

                     ii.      God wants us to believe that seeking Him is never wasted.

                     iii.      This would have mattered very much to the original audience of this letter.

1.      Some, if not many, were suffering for Christ.

2.      Some had lost possession.

3.      Some had been placed in prison.

4.      They needed to know that their faith was worth it all.

                     iv.      This verse says yes it is worth it.

                     v.      God sees, remembers, and rewards (Heb. 6:10).

1.      Sometimes the reward is peace in the midst of the storm.

2.      Sometimes it is strength to endure.

3.      Sometimes it is answered prayer.

4.      Sometimes it is spiritual growth.

5.      Sometimes it is restored fellowship after repentance.

6.      Sometimes it is death that results in eternity with God.

                     vi.      Faith believes God’s reward is better than the pleasures of sin.

                     vii.      The life of faith is sustained by the conviction that God is worth more than anything we give up to follow Him.

                     viii.      Faith keeps seeking God because God keeps rewarding.

E.      Faith diligently seeks God.

                     i.      The word for “seek” means to seek out, search for, pursue, seek diligently.

1.      It is not a lazy word.

2.      It is not a halfhearted glance in the direction of God.

3.      This is a pursuit that says, “I need God. I want God. I will not live without God.”

                     ii.      To diligently seek God means we do so on His terms.

1.      We seek by listening to His word.

2.      We seek Him through prayer.

3.      We seek Him through worship.

4.      We seek Him through repentance.

5.      We seek Him by obeying what He has commanded.

6.      We seek Him by continuing when obedience becomes costly.

7.      Jer. 29:13; Matt. 6:33.

                     iii.      This is not a once-a-week interest.

1.      This is not faith that only appears in the church building.

2.      This is a life pointed towards God.

                     iv.      A person who diligently seeks God does not ask, “What is the least I can get by with and still get to heaven?”

                     v.      The faith that pleases God asks, “How can I get even closer to God?”

                     vi.      This is the kind of faith that pleases God.

‍ ‍F.     Faith is demanded because God cannot be pleased without trust.

G.     Hopefully we can see why Hebrews 11:6 is so strong.

                     i.      Without faith, worship becomes empty.

                     ii.      Without faith, obedience becomes out of habit.

                     iii.      Without faith, suffering becomes meaningless.

                     iv.      Without faith, repentance becomes words, not actions.

                     v.      Without faith, religion becomes self-centered.

H.      With faith, life becomes an offering to God.

                     i.      Faith believes God exists.

                     ii.      Faith believes God speaks.

                     iii.      Faith believes God rewards.

                     iv.      Faith believes God forgives.

                     v.      Faith believes God is worth seeking.

                     vi.      Faith believes that God is worth obeying.

I.        This is why Abel offered.

J.        This is why Enoch walked.

K.      This is why Noah built.

L.        This is why we obey.

M.    Faith pleases God by trusting Him enough to seek Him.

Great Results Of The Resurrection 5-24-26 AM

I.        Preaching the gospel is profitable (1 Cor. 15:14).

A.     Paul told them that if Jesus was not risen, then the preaching he and others did was useless.

B.     But because Jesus is risen, there is good news to preach.

C.     Preaching involves telling others about the good news that Jesus has risen from the dead.

a.      This is what separates the gospel from any other religious message.

b.      We preach a risen Savior.

D.     The resurrection was a focal point of all the sermons recorded in Acts 2-5.

E.      It is essential to our salvation (Rom. 10:9-10).

F.      It is essential for baptism to be valid.

a.      Rom. 6:3-4

b.      Col. 2:12.

G.    Because Jesus has been raised from the dead, the preaching of the gospel is profitable and not vain.

II.       Faith is the victory (1 Cor. 15:17).

A.     Without Jesus being raised from the dead, any faith we might have would be useless, and we would still be weighed down by our sins.

B.     But because Jesus has been resurrected, our faith leads to victory.

a.      1 Cor. 15:57.

b.      1 John 5:4.

C.     We can overcome the world by faith because Jesus is risen from the dead.

D.     Satan was defeated the moment Jesus came forth from the grave (Gen. 3:15).

E.      There is great reason to have faith in the resurrection of Jesus.

a.      The eyewitnesses of the resurrection amount to over 500.

1.      1 Cor. 15:5-8.

2.      Someone said that if each witness could testify for fifteen minutes, it would take 129 hours to hear their testimony.

3.      That would be from Monday morning to Friday evening with no breaks hearing their testimony.

b.      The message being sent to the world (Col. 1:23).

c.       The change in the life of Paul is proof of the resurrection.

d.      The sacrifices made by the apostles, who were not even truly expecting a resurrection, attest to its truthfulness.

F.      For these reasons and others, there is no reason to not have faith in the resurrection of Jesus, thus there is no reason to not be victorious.

III.   Life has meaning (1 Cor. 15:18-19).

A.     If there was no resurrection, those that have died would be lost in hell, and our life on earth would be miserable.

B.     There would be no meaning or aim for our lives, and we would wander around aimlessly like so many in the world do.

a.      Paul’s words to the Thessalonians would have no meaning because we would sorrow because of no hope.

b.      This life would be all that there is, and we would be eternally lost.

C.      However, since Jesus came out of that tomb, we have direction and hope.

a.      We have the aim of heaven, ever striving for the goal set before us.

b.      We have hope which saves.

c.       Rom. 8:24.

D.     We know people who go from this to that and on to the next thing, wandering aimlessly because their lives have no direction.

E.      This great gospel, made possible by the Lord’s resurrection, gives us direction.

F.     We know where we are going and how to get there.

IV.  Death is defeated (1 Cor. 15:26).

A.     We all are going to die, unless the Lord returns first (Heb. 9:27).

B.      The death we face and will meet is not the end (1 Cor. 15:54-57).

C.      We will not be as we once were.

a.      1 Cor. 15:42-44.

b.      1 Cor. 15:51-53.

D.      We don’t know what this will be like, but it will be wonderful (1 John 3:2).

Jesus Prayed For One 5-17-26 AM

I.            Unity is created by the apostolic word.

a.      Jesus prayed for those who would believe on Him through “their” – the apostles – word.

b.      Jesus is praying for the apostles in this prayer (John 17:6-19).

c.      But Jesus is not just praying for the apostles in this prayer.

          i.      Jesus also prays for future believers, including us.

          ii.      But notice how the future believers would become believers: “through their word.”

d.      This is extremely important.

e.      The unity Jesus prayed for is not created by ignoring doctrine.

          i.      It is not created by lowering biblical conviction until everyone can stand together on only one or two issues.

          ii.      *It is created when people believe the apostolic message.

f.       It is vital to note where the apostles got their word.

          i.      It was not from their own minds.

          ii.      It was not developed at an apostolic meeting.

          iii.      It came from God and we read that in this very prayer (John 17:8, 14).

          iv.      When apostles taught through preaching or writing, it came from God.

          v.      What comes from God will always be truth.

g.     This is why the church in Acts 2 “continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine” (Acts 2:42).

          i.      The first Christians were not united by a denominational headquarters, a human creed, a cultural preference, or a popular preacher.

          ii.      They were united by the gospel preached by and through the apostles.

h.     This is where denominationalism becomes a problem.

          i.      A denomination, by definition, is a named religious division.

          ii.      It is larger than a local congregation, smaller than the whole body of Christ, and usually bound together by human systems, creeds, traditions, or governing structures.

i.       The New Testament describes the church in two basic ways:

          i.      The universal body of the saved – all who belong to Christ.

          ii.      Local congregations – Christians worshiping and serving together in a particular place.

j.       What we don’t find in the New Testament is a third category: organized religious parties, each with its own doctrine, name, organizational structure, and identity, all treated as equally approved branches of Christianity.

k.      Think about an orchestra that is preparing to play together.

          i.      If every musician tunes to himself, each one may believe they are properly tuned, but the result won’t be harmony.

          ii.      The solution is not for everyone to just play loudly with great passion.

          iii.      The solution is for every instrument to be tuned to the same standard.

l.       This is what scripture allows in the lives of those who truly want to follow God.

          i.      God does not ask every believer to tune to a favorite preacher, pet doctrine, family heritage, or denominational creed.

          ii.      God calls us to tune our faith and practice to His word delivered through His apostles.

m.    When someone asks, “What denomination are you?” we shouldn’t answer as though we are simply defending our preferred religious brand.

n.      We can say “I am not trying to be a denomination. I am trying to simply be a Christian and follow the teaching of Christ He gave through His apostles.”

o.      That is a humble answer because it doesn’t boast in us.

           i.      It is clear because it points to scripture.

           ii.      It is loving because it invites people to examine the Bible for themselves.

p.      Unity begins when every voice bows to Jesus’ word.

II.            Unity reflects the Father and the Son.

a.      Jesus did not pray for union.

          i.      It was not “Father, let them all have different doctrines, different names, different worship styles, and different authorities, but help them get along.

          ii.      He prayed that His people would be one as the Father and Son are one.

b.     This doesn’t mean we become divine – it means our unity must reflect shared truth, purpose, love, and submission to the Father’s will.

c.     Paul applies the same principle in 1 Cor. 1:11-13.

d.     Paul’s question is still relevant today.

          i.      If Christ is not divided, why should His people be divided?

          ii.      If Paul did not want the Corinthians to wear the names of men, why would Christ approve of His people wearing human names, defending human creations, and making human division normal?

e.     Ephesians 4:4-6 – If there is one body, and Eph. 1:22-23 says that body is the church, then Christ only has one church and Christ does not have a collection of competing churches.

f.      Here is where we need to be careful.

         i.      We are not saying that everyone meeting in a building with the name church of Christ on it is automatically right.

         ii.      We are not saying that everyone meeting in a denomination is dishonest.

         iii.      We are not saying that sincere people do not love God.

         iv.      We are saying that sincerity does not create authority.

g.    A person can be sincere and still be mistaken – Paul was (Acts 23:1).

         i.      A tradition can be old and still be unauthorized.

         ii.      A religious practice can be popular and still not be found in the New Testament.

h.    The issue is not whether people are good, kind, sincere or religious – the issue is whether Christ has the right to define His own church.

i.      When a builder is handed the architect’s blueprint, his job is not to improve the design according to his person taste – it is to build whatever the architect drew.

         i.      If the blueprint calls for a vaulted ceiling but he puts a normal, flat ceiling because he likes that better, he has stopped submitting to the architect.

         ii.      If the builder decides to use ship-lap instead of drywall because his family has always used ship-lap, he has made tradition the authority.

j.      Jesus is not a consultant, He is the builder, owner, head, and Savior of the church (Matt. 16:18; Acts 20:28).

k.    Since Jesus built the church and bought the church, He gets to define it.

l.      This ought to move us to examine everything – name, worship, organization, doctrine, plan of salvation, attitude toward others, our loyalty to scripture.

m.   A church can wear a biblical name while acting with an unbiblical spirit.

         i.      A church can have “Christ” on the sign but fail to submit to Christ in practice.

         ii.      This sermon is not a call to pride in a name, but for repentance and restoration.

n.     Christ’s unity is deeper than a label and stronger than preference.

III.            Unity rejects man-made religious division.

a.     Some common defenses of denominationalism sound reasonable at first, but they do not hold up under scripture.

b.     “Aren’t denominations just branches of the vine?”

          i.      In John 15:5, Jesus says “I am the vine and you are the branches.”

          ii.      Some believe that Jesus is saying He is the vine and different denominations are the branches.

          iii.      Jesus, though, is referencing individual people (the rest of John 15:5).

          iv.      Jesus is talking about individual disciples abiding in Him, not separate religious organizations teaching conflicting doctrines.

          v.      If John 15 authorizes denominationalism, the vine would produce contradictory fruit.

          vi.      Jesus has never authorized contradictory fruit from the same vine.

c.      “Aren’t denominations just different roads to heaven?”

          i.      Jesus did not say I am one way among many.

          ii.      John 14:6.

          iii.      If Jesus is the way, it is not our job to create alternate routes.

          iv.      Our task is to walk in His way.

d.     “All denominations teach some truth.”

          i.      Many groups teach some truth.

          ii.      But some truth is not the same as the whole counsel of God.

          iii.      Paul warned in Galatians 1 that a distorted gospel is not harmless – it is spiritually deadly.

          iv.      The question is not “Can I find a true statement here?”

          v.      The question is, “Is this the doctrine of Christ?”

e.      “Aren’t there good people everywhere?”

          i.      Absolutely.

          ii.      There are kind, moral, sincere people in many places.

          iii.      Human goodness cannot replace obedience to Christ.

          iv.      Saul of Tarsus was as sincere as anyone has ever been.

          v.      He had zeal and a clean conscience.

          vi.      But he was still wrong until he submitted to the Lord.

f.       If a doctor gives a prescription with clear instructions, taking part of it while ignoring the rest can be dangerous.

          i.      The issue isn’t whether the patient is sincere.

          ii.      The issue is whether the patient follows the doctors orders.

          iii.      God’s word is not buffet of helpful religious ideas – it is the revealed will of God.

g.     We should reject denominationalism for the same reason we reject any human addition to God’s will – we love Jesus and trust His wisdom.

          i.      But, we must reject it in a Christ-like way.

          ii.      We don’t mock people, assume motives, or act as though we discovered the Bible by our own brilliance.

h.     We must speak the truth with love and humility.

          i.      Invite honest study.

          ii.      Open the Bible.

          iii.      Ask, “What did the first Christians believe, obey, practice, and call themselves?”

i.       The world should see Christ and not our party lines.

IV.            Unity is restored when we become simply Christians.

a.     Acts 2:36-47 shows us what happened when the apostolic word was first preached after the resurrection and ascension of Jesus.

         i.      Peter preached Christ, crucified, resurrected, and exalted and the people were cut to the heart, crying out “What shall we do?”

         ii.      Peter did not tell them to attend the church of their choice or join after a religious party named after a preacher.

b.    Acts 2:38.

         i.      Those who received the word were baptized – about 3,000 were added.

         ii.      Added to what?

         iii.      The church, the body of the saved (Acts 2:47).

c.     Then they continued in some things (Acts 2:42).

d.     That is New Testament Christianity in its beginning form.

          i.      No denominational name, creed, headquarters – no man-made religious party.

          ii.      Just saved people belonging to Christ, worshiping according to apostolic teaching, and living as the church of the Lord.

e.      Some people love old cars and there are many antique car shows.

           i.      There are some cars that are known for their modifications.

           ii.      However, the winners of the awards at the shows are those that have been restored to their original condition.

           iii.      The same engine parts, headlights, interior cloth, everything like it was when it came off the showroom floor years ago.

           iv.      That is restoration not innovation.

           v.      Restoration is returning to the original pattern.

f.        This is the pleas of churches of Christ at their best: not to start something new, but to return to the church revealed in the New Testament.

g.      This means our plea should be simple.

           i.      Let’s call Bible things by Bible names.

           ii.      Let’s do Bible things in Bible ways.

           iii.      Let’s be Christians only.

           iv.      Let’s belong to Christ completely.

h.      This has to begin with us.

           i.      We can’t trust a sign more than the Savior.

           ii.      We can’t defend tradition more than truth.

           iii.      We can’t speak truth with arrogance instead of love.

           iv.      We can’t treat the church like our inherited group instead of Christ’s blood-bought body.

i.        If we do any of these things we must repent and change ourselves before we ask those outside of Christ to repent and change.

j.        Restoration means returning to Christ, not defending ourselves.

A Faith That Pleases God (Pt. 1) 5-10-26 PM

I.            Faith described (Heb. 11:1).

a.      Notice that is not a Webster’s Dictionary type definition of faith.

b.      What it is is a living description of faith – the writer is showing us what faith does in the life and the heart of a believer.

c.      Faith reaches forward to what God has promised, and faith hold firm to what God has revealed, even when our eyes can’t see it.

d.      Faith is the undergirding to what we hope for.

           i.      The word translated substance is a word that carries the idea of something that stands under, a foundation, confidence, or assurance.

           ii.      It pictures for us what holds up a bridge – the supports that allows cars to drive over the concrete on top.

e.      Faith is not a vague wish or blind leap.

          i.      Faith does not say “I hope everything works out.”

          ii.      Biblical faith is a settled confidence that what God has promised is real, even before we receive it.

          iii.      Faith gives present strength because of future hope.

f.       Christians are people who live by hope (Rom. 8:24).

          i.      Biblical hope is defined as desire plus expectation.

          ii.      Hope is tied to salvation because salvation is not only about what God has already done for us in Christ, but also about what God has promised still awaits us.

          iii.      We have  forgiveness now, but we still hope for the final resurrection.

          iv.      We have peace with God now, but we still hope for eternal life.

          v.      We belong to Christ now, but we still hope for the day when faith becomes sight.

g.     This hope keeps us steady.

          i.      Heb. 6:19.

          ii.      Hope is the anchor and faith is the hand that holds to the rope.

          iii.      Faith says, “I don’t see everything God has promised yet, but I trust the God who promised it.”

h.     Without hope, faith becomes weak.

          i.      If there is no resurrection, no eternal life, no heavenly home, no final reward, then suffering for Christ makes no sense.

          ii.      But because God has promised these things, faith gives substance to hope.

          iii.      Faith makes the future promises of God strong enough to hold on to today.

i.       Faith also gives evidence, or conviction, about what we cannot see.

          i.      The word translated evidence means proof, conviction, or persuasion.

          ii.      It is the inward certainty that comes from reliable testimony.

j.        Faith is not believing without reason – faith is believing because God has spoken.

k.      There are many things we cannot see that are still real.

          i.      We cannot see God with physical eyes.

          ii.      We cannot see heaven or forgiveness being recorded in heaven.

          iii.      We cannot see Christ interceding for us as High Priest.

l.       But faith is sustained by the unseen because faith rests on the word of the unseen God.

          i.      2 Cor. 5:7.

          ii.      This does not mean Christians are blind to reality.

          iii.      It means Christians understand there is more to reality than what can be measured, touched, or seen.

m.    A life built only on what is visible will eventually collapse because all that is visible is temporary.

          i.      Health changes.

          ii.      Money disappears.

          iii.      People disappoint.

          iv.      Circumstances shift.

          v.      But, the unseen promises of God remain.

n.     Faith says, God is real, even when I can’t see Him; God is good, even when life is painful; God keeps His promises, even when I am still waiting; God rewards faithfulness, even when obedience costs me.

o.     Faith is confidence that moves us.

p.     This chapter is not describing faith as mere belief in religious facts – the rest of the chapter proves that – by faith is stated 11 times in this one chapter.

          i.      The faith of the people in this chapter did something.

          ii.      Biblical faith is never mere mental agreement – it is confidence in God that moves a person to respond in a positive way to God’s commands.

          iii.      Faith believes what God says about sin, so it repents.

          iv.      Faith believes what God says about Christ, so it confesses Him.

          v.      Faith believes what God says about baptism, so it obeys the gospel.

          vi.      Faith believes what God says about forgiveness, so it keeps coming back to Him.

          vii.      Faith believes what God says about eternal life, so it keeps going when life gets hard.

q.      Faith is never perfection – faith is trusting God enough to act on what He has said.

r.       Faith stands on God’s promises before it sees God’s answers.

s.      So when Hebrews 11 describes a faith that pleases God, it shows us two sides of the same truth: faith gives assurance about what we hope for, and faith gives conviction about what we cannot see.

t.       The world says, “Seeing is believing” but God says, “Believing is trusting Me until you see.”

II.            Faith depicted (Heb. 11:2-3).

a.      The writer now shows us what faith look like in real life and how faith shapes the way we understand reality.

           i.      Faith is not just something we feel.

           ii.      Faith changes how we live, worship, obey, and understand the world.

b.      Faith is depicted in the elders who pleased God.

           i.      Elders here does not refer to the office of elder in the church today.

           ii.      It refers to the faithful ones who lived before us – really, here the men and women mentioned in this chapter.

           iii.      These were not perfect people, as we know, but they were faithful people.

c.       This is important because Hebrews 11 is not about flawless heroes.

           i.      It is a chapter about people who trusted God enough to act.

           ii.      They sometimes struggled, had moments of weakness, had fear, and even failure.

           iii.      But what makes them worthy of this chapter is their faith.

d.      The phrase “obtained a good report” carries the idea of being testified about, witnessed to, or commended.

           i.      In other words, God bore witness to their faith.

           ii.      God testifies to the fact that their lives pleased Him.

           iii.      They didn’t earn their salvation by their own goodness, but God approved the faith that moved them to trust and obey Him.

e.      This is the point of the chapter: Faith is not invisible in the life of God’s people – it shows up.

f.       These elders received a good report because they believed God and acted.

g.     Faith is also depicted in how we understand creation.

          i.      The word for universe points to the whole created order.

          ii.      This means time, space, matter, and everything that exists within them.

h.     Through faith we understand does not mean faith is against reason.

          i.      It means faith begins with God’s revelation.

          ii.      No one was there when the universe began.

          iii.      There were no scientists, philosophers, historians, or preachers standing with God watching Him create everything.

i.       The only way to know the ultimate source of creation is for God to tell us and He has.

          i.      Genesis 1 repeatedly says “And God said…”

          ii.      Ps. 33:9; John 1:3.

j.       Faith looks at the universe and says that this didn’t happen by accident so it must have come from God by His word.

          i.      This is what the last part of verse 3 is saying.

          ii.      This is the concept of creatio ex nihilo, which means creation out of nothing.

          iii.      This means God did not create the universe out of existing material.

          iv.      God did not find eternal matter and reshape it.

          v.      God did not depend on something outside Himself.

k.      God spoke and what did not exist came into existence (Rom. 4:17; Ac. 17:24; Col. 1:16).

          i.      This is the biblical evidence.

          ii.      Scripture presents God as the source of everything created.

          iii.      This is why creation takes faith – we weren’t there and no one else either.

          iv.      We trust the testimony of the God who cannot lie.

l.       This goes beyond more than a debate about origins.

m.    Hebrews 11:3 is here because faith in the Creator strengthens faith in His promises.

          i.      Think about the original readers of this letter, the Hebrew Christians.

          ii.      They were tired, pressured, persecuted, suffering, and tempted to quit.

          iii.      They needed to remember who their God is.

n.     If God can create the universe out of nothing but His word, He can keep His promises He gave with His words.

o.     If God called the world into existence, He can call the dead from the grave.

p.     If God made what is visible from things invisible, He can sustain us when we cannot see the outcome.

q.     If God spoke creation into being, then His word is strong enough to build our lives on.

r.       Faith says, “I may not see the answer yet, but I know the God who spoke the entire universe into existence.

s.      This is the kind of faith that pleases God.

          i.      The elders show us that faith acts.

          ii.      Creation shows us that faith understands.

          iii.      Together, they remind us that the life that pleases God is built on trusting what God has said.

The Responsibilities In The Home 5-10-26 AM

I.            Children must obey and honor their parents.

a.     Eph. 6:1-3.

b.     There is a command to obey their parents.

          i.      Obedience means more that hearing instructions and teaching.

          ii.      It means listening with the intent to follow.

          iii.      Children are not born naturally obedient.

          iv.      Children have to be taught, trained, corrected, and shaped.

          v.      However, Paul, by inspiration, speaks directly to children.

          vi.      This means that children have a responsibility before God.

c.      Numerous scriptures speak to the responsibility of children in the home (Col. 3:20; Pr. 1:8-9; Pr. 6:20).

d.      Notice Luke 2:51 – even Jesus, who knew who He was at a young age, lived in submission to Joseph and Mary.

e.      If the Lord Himself honored the order of the home, children today should not treat obedience as a trivial thing.

f.       There is a caveat in this verse: “in the Lord.”

          i.      This does mean obedience to parents is part of a child’s relationship to God.

1.      Children obey their parents not merely because the parents are bigger, older, or paying the bills.

2.      They obey because God says it is right.

          ii.      But “in the Lord” is also a boundary.

1.      A child is not required to obey a command that would cause them to sin against God.

2.      Ac. 5:29; Matt. 10:37.

3.      If a parent tells a child to lie, steal, hide sin, or in some way disobey God, the child is to obey God first.

4.      Even in that type situation, the child should respond with humility and respect, not rebellion or hatred.

g.      Paul also says that children are to honor their parents.

           i.      You might ask what the difference between obedience and honor is.

1.      Obedience is connected to childhood, while living under the authority of the parents.

2.      Honor is lifelong.

           ii.      The idea of the word honor is to treat as weighty, valuable, worthy of respect.

1.      A child will grow up, leave home, marry, and begin a new home.

2.      However, the child will never outgrow the command to honor father and mother.

h.      There are several passages that speak to this as well.

           i.      This is a quotation of Ex. 20:12.

           ii.      Lev. 19:3.

           iii.      Pr. 23:22.

           iv.      Mark 7:9, 13.

           v.      1 Tim. 5:4 deals with taking care of a widowed mother, and the same would hold true of a father.

i.        Honor includes attitude, speech, gratitude, care, and respect.

j.        There are several biblical example of obedience:

           i.      We noticed the example of Jesus in Luke 2 already.

           ii.      God used the Rechabites as an example of honoring a father (Jer. 35).

k.      There are also examples of disobedience.

           i.      Absalom (2 Sam. 15-18) – his rebellion brought division, grief, and death – his dishonor hurt an entire nation.

           ii.      The sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas – they dishonored their father and God all at the same time and it brought judgment on themselves and sorrow to their families.

l.        When children obey quickly, speak respectfully, and receive correction humbly, that child is learning more than manners – that child is learning submission to God-given authority.

m.    When a teenager refuses correction, mocks his/her parents, lies about his/her activities, that is not just a family issue – it is a spiritual issue.

n.      A child who learns to obey godly parents is being trained to obey God.

II.            Mothers must strengthen the home.

a.      Ephesians 6:1-4 must be considered in light of what is found at the end of chapter 5.

b.      Eph. 5:22-24 speaks to the role of the wife/mother in the home.

c.       A mother’s submission is not inferiority.

           i.      The Bible does not teach that a wife is less valuable than a husband.

           ii.      Both male and female are made in the image of God (Gen. 1:27; Gal. 3:28; 1 Pe. 3:7 – fellow heir with the husband).

d.      Submission is not about worth – it is about order.

e.      God has ordered the home so that the home does not become a place of confusion and competition.

f.        A godly wife submits to her husband “as unto the Lord,” meaning her submission is ultimately part of her obedience to Christ.

g.      A mother helps create the spiritual atmosphere of the home.

            i.      Titus 2 gives older women the responsibility to teach younger women how to live in the home.

            ii.      Titus 2:3-5.

            iii.      We know Proverbs 31 contains the description of the worthy woman who strengthens her family through diligence, wisdom, work, generosity, and fear of God.

            iv.      1 Tim. 5:14.

h.      We need to make sure we understand that the phrase “keepers at home” does not mean a woman has no ability, intelligence, or value out of the home.

            i.      The worthy woman of Proverbs 31 shows that not to be the case.

            ii.      It does mean that the home is not to be neglected.

i.        A mother’s influence in the home is powerful.

j.        She helps shape the tone, habits, priorities, and spiritual well-being of her family.

k.      There are some examples of godly mothers in scripture:

            i.      Hannah prayed for a son and then gave that son back to God – her motherhood was shaped by prayer, sacrifice, and dedication to God.

            ii.      Lois and Eunice led Timothy to have a great faith in God – Timothy knew the Old Testament (2 Tim. 3:15) and that did not happen by accident.

l.        There are also some examples of ungodly mothers in scripture:

           i.      Rebekah manipulated her children and her husband to get the outcome she wanted when she should have trusted God – this resulted in family division, separation, and grief.

           ii.      Jezebel used her influence to promote idolatry and wickedness in Israel.

m.    A mother’s influence can build faith or it can feed rebellion – it can calm the home or rile it up – it can point children to God or it can teach them to manipulate.

n.      A godly mother strengthens the home when she speaks respectfully of and to her husband in front of the children.

o.      A godly mother strengthens the home when she teacher her children to pray, helps them get ready for Bible class and worship, corrects sinful acts and attitudes, and models kindness.

p.      A godly mother strengthens the home when she refuses to let the home become spiritually empty, even when life gets busy.

q.      A mother does not have to be loud to be powerful.

r.       Her faithfulness can echo for generations.

s.       Mothers glorify God by nurturing faith and honoring His order.

III.            Fathers must lead the home.

a.      Paul, by inspiration, gives fathers a direct command.

           i.      We fathers are not allowed to be spiritually absent.

           ii.      We cannot hand off the spiritual leadership of the home entirely to the mother; rely on the preacher, elders or Bible class teachers.

b.      God calls fathers to lead.

c.       The father is the head of the house.

           i.      This is not made up by some guy somewhere.

           ii.      The headship of the father is grounded in God’s order for the home.

           iii.      Numerous scriptures teach this:

1.      Eph. 5:23.

2.      1 Cor. 11:3.

3.      Gen. 18:19 implies it.

4.      Joshua 24:15 illustrates it.

           iv.      Being the head of the house does not mean selfish control.

           v.      Biblical headship looks like Christ.

           vi.      Jesus leads by truth, sacrifice, love, and holiness.

d.      The father is to love his wife as himself.

           i.      Before Paul speaks to fathers in Ephesians 6, he speaks to husbands in Ephesians 5.

           ii.      Eph. 5:25, 28.

           iii.      Notice Col. 3:19.

           iv.      1 Pe. 3:7 – husbands are live with their wives in understanding and show her honor.

           v.      A father teaches his children about God not only by what he says in Bible study but in how he treats their mother.

           vi.      When a son sees his father speak lovingly, repent quickly, serve sacrificially, and honor his wife, that son is learning what being a man is.

           vii.      When a daughter sees her father treat his wife this way, she is learning what godly love looks like and what she should be seeking in a future husband.

e.      The father must not provoke his children to wrath.

           i.      This happens when we are harsh, inconsistent, absent, hypocritical, unable to be pleased, or unwilling to apologize.

           ii.      Children can become discouraged if we treat them this way (Col. 3:21).

           iii.      Pr. 15:1; Jam. 1:19-20.

           iv.      Discipline is necessary, and children really want it, but sinful anger is not.

           v.      Authority is necessary, and children want order, but cruelty is not.

           vi.      Correction is necessary, but humiliation is not.

           vii.      A father has to be firm enough to correct error and gentle enough to keep the child’s heart.

f.        The father must bring up his children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

           i.      Bring them up carries the idea of nourishing, training, and raising carefully.

           ii.      Dads are not just here to punish wrong behavior.

           iii.      We are to cultivate godly hearts.

           iv.      Discipline involves correction and training.

           v.      Instruction involves teaching, warning, and forming the mind.

           vi.      It has to be of the Lord.

           vii.      The goal of a father must not simply be good grades, a good job, good athletic success, or social confidence.

           viii.      There is nothing wrong with those things but they should never be the priority.

           ix.      The highest goal is faithfulness to God.

           x.      There are numerous passages that emphasize this:

1.      De. 6:6-7.

2.      Pr. 22:6.

3.      Ps. 78:5-7 – we teach the next generation to set their hearts on God.

4.      2 Tim. 3:15 shows the priority of scripture.

5.      Heb. 12:7-11 – God disciplines His children so they can share in His holiness.

g.      There are some examples of godly fathers in scripture.

           i.      Abraham – we mentioned Gen. 18:19 earlier.

           ii.      Joshua made a public decision because he cared about his family’s spiritual state even more than their physical state.

h.     There are some examples of ungodly fathers in scripture.

          i.      Eli did not restrain his sons from causing the people to sin (1 Sam. 3:13).

          ii.      David was not always a good father.

1.      He did not punish Amnon for what he did to Tamar.

2.     He never got on to Adonijah, which caused Adonijah to become proud and rebellious (1 Ki. 1:6).

i.       A father truly leads when he makes worship a priority instead of an occasional option.

j.       A father leads when he opens his Bible at home, prays with and for his family, apologizes when he is wrong, and shows his children how to repent.

k.     A father leads when he disciplines consistently instead of exploding emotionally.

l.       A father leads when he lets his children know that God is going to be followed in his house.

m.    The home, if it will be as God wants it, needs present, loving, spiritual fathers, not passive ones.

n.      Fathers glorify God by leading their homes toward the Lord.

Remember 5-3-26 AM

I.            Remember the persecution you endured (Heb. 10:32-34).

a.     The writer says to remember the former day.

b.     Think back to the early days of their conversion, when following Jesus became costly.

c.     They had been enlightened – as mentioned, this means when they were converted to Christ.

d.     They endured a great fight of afflictions.

          i.      The language used indicates a severe contest, like a fight in the gladiator arenas of the day.

          ii.      Their lives as Christians were not casual or easy.

          iii.      It was a brutal spiritual contest.

e.      Part of the suffering was public shame, which is the idea of gazingstock.

          i.      Some translations have publicly exposed.

          ii.      They were put on display, publicly mocked, treated as a spectacle.

          iii.      Their suffering was not private, but public.

          iv.      This matters today because our society places so much emphasis on public perception.

          v.      We’d much rather, in general, face inward pain instead of outward shame.

          vi.      These brethren, at least for a time, had stood for Christ while being publicly mocked.

f.       He then reminds them of the way they stood with fellow Christians who were being treated this way (vs. 33b).

          i.      Companions come from the idea of shared participation.

          ii.      They not only suffered, but stood with others who suffered as well.

g.     They even reached out to those who had been imprisoned (vs. 34).

          i.      In that world, people imprisoned counted on friends and family to provide for them.

          ii.      They didn’t have three hots and a cot in that day.

          iii.      To visit those imprisoned was to risk being identified with them.

          iv.      These Christians did not hide in the shadows, but supported those that it might cost to support.

h.     They even endured the loss of property.

          i.      The spoiling of your goods indicates, seizure, confiscation, or loss of possessions.

          ii.      Their commitment to the Lord and one another had financial consequences.

          iii.      Notice that they endured this joyfully.

i.       We need to remember that suffering for Christ is a reminder that we have chosen the right road.

j.       We’ve all probably lost friends, and maybe family members, because we refused to be moved from the gospel at some point in our walk with the Lord.

k.     We may have been made fun of at work or by school friends because we don’t do the same things, wear the same things, or go to the same events as worldly people do.

l.       Hebrews is telling us that this path has always been costly.

m.    Faithful Christians don’t endure just their own suffering.

          i.      We help our brethren in their suffering.

          ii.      It is easy to admire bold believers from afar.

          iii.      It is harder to stand with them when that relationship costs us something.

n.      Faith remembers that following Jesus has always cost something.

II.            Remember the promise (Heb. 10:34b-36).

a.      Why were they willing to suffer loss joyfully?

b.      They knew God had promised them something better.

c.      They have a better inheritance, or possession as some translations say.

          i.      The word for substance means what one truly has, what belongs to him, or what is his property.

          ii.      They had lost earthly property, but we are only stewards of the possessions of this world.

          iii.      They knew they had a greater possession, that was truly theirs.

          iv.      Remember, better is a key word in Hebrews.

          v.      Their possessions in Christ were better because it cannot be taken away.

d.     Not only is it better, it is enduring.

          i.      This means lasting, or staying.

          ii.      Their earthly possessions could be taken away, or they would one day be corrupted.

          iii.      The heavenly possession can’t be taken and will not fade away.

e.      Because of this, they were told not throw away their confidence, which has a great reward.

          i.      Confidence describes a settled assurance with God.

          ii.      You see, the danger these people faced was more and greater than external persecution.

          iii.      The greater danger was internal collapse of faith.

          iv.      If they cast away their confidence, they would abandon the very thing that had gotten them this far.

f.       Only with endurance would they receive what God had promised.

          i.      Endurance means steadfastness under pressure.

          ii.      They could not just begin well – they had to continue faithfully.

g.     There is an important sequence to note – doing the will of God, receiving the promise.

          i.      He is not teaching salvation by works.

          ii.      He is simply teaching that genuine faith perseveres.

          iii.      The one who truly trusts in Christ continues in obedient trust until the promise is received.

h.      We live in a time when people are trading eternal treasure for immediate comfort.

i.        We have to remember that what is coming is better and what is better is lasting.

j.        Faith endures present loss because it knows the promise is better and lasting.

III.            Remember punishment is coming for those who harm God’s people (Heb. 10:37-38).

a.      This section quotes from Habakkuk, which is a book written in a setting of violence, injustice, and coming judgment.

b.      In Hebrews, this is used to show that God is not indifferent to what His people are suffering – He is coming in judgment.

c.      There is a very important point that needs to be made here.

          i.      The writer is not talking about the second coming of our Lord.

          ii.      These people needed encouragement right then.

          iii.      Pointing to an unknown date far in the future would not help them.

          iv.      This is a reference to Christ coming in judgment.

          v.      This is a reference to the coming destruction of Jerusalem.

d.     Remember that he had told them to make sure they assemble together to give one another encouragement.

          i.      We talk about that verse when it comes to church attendance, and we should.

          ii.      But, in its context, we also need to keep in mind the last phrase: and so much the more as you see the day approaching.

          iii.      This is also a reference to the destruction of Jerusalem.

e.      As we stated a while back when introducing this book, it was written in the early 60’s of the first century.

          i.      In the later 60’s, Rome comes against Jerusalem.

          ii.      In AD 70, Jerusalem is destroyed.

f.       The Christians had been taught about the coming destruction of Jerusalem because our Lord spoke about it, recorded in Matthew 24.

g.     The Hebrews writer is encouraging these brethren, who would have lived in and around Jerusalem, to remember that the Lord is going to come in judgment against those who were harming them.

h.     The righteous live by faith.

i.       The unfaithful shrink back.

j.       There is no neutral ground.

k.     Under pressure, a Christian either keeps trusting or retreats into ruin.

l.       This is important to remember because it is easy for us to look around and think that evil is winning.

          i.      When injustice goes on and things are tough, we can become disoriented.

          ii.      We see here that Christ is not passive.

          iii.      He is not blind to our suffering and to wickedness.

          iv.      He comes against those who oppose His brethren.

m.    We don’t need revenge to keep going – we need faith.

n.      It doesn’t mean everything will be resolved quickly, but it does mean nothing done to us for Christ will be forgotten or ignored.

o.      Faith keeps going because Jesus sees the wicked and will judge rightly.

IV.            Remember your place (Heb. 10:39).

a.      The writer does not soften the danger in any way, but he also does not leave them there.

b.      Shrink back indicates pulling away in fear.

c.       Perdition carries the idea of a sense of ruin or destruction, not just inconvenience.

           i.      This is not loss of rewards only.

           ii.      It is spiritual destruction.

           iii.      To leave Jesus is not a move to a lesser place, but a move toward ruin.

d.      The writer shows his belief in them by saying that he believes they are the kind who will move towards the Christ, not from Him.

           i.      They will preserve their souls in Christ.

           ii.      This in not self-salvation, but persevering faith.

e.      Remember your place means remember you are in Christ.

           i.      You are among the faithful.

           ii.      You are in the place where life is found.

f.        Today, shrinking back rarely looks dramatic.

           i.      We don’t face the persecution these brethren faced.

           ii.      Our shrinking back looks like neglect.

g.      Neglect becomes drift, drift becomes distance, and distance becomes disobedience.

h.      We start neglecting prayer, or reading God’s word, and then we start to miss services.

i.        When we start missing services, we start to stop caring about holiness.

j.        We then start to stop being concerned with warnings we get in various ways from God.

k.      What begins as neglect ends in ruin unless there is repentance.

l.        Faith stays with Christ because leaving Him leads to ruin.