Plan for a problem ||| ~Acts 27:27-44~
Going thru life—going somewhere: Go to a certain city…
James 4:12-14 13 Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." 14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.
Paul had been attacked, plotted and ambushed…all on his way to speak before Caesar. He was granted safe passage to Rome by the Roman government—and faced his greatest challenge to date: a storm at sea. (At that time, Paul was not thinking of having a shipwreck but of the possibilities of an audience with the King.) Would natural forces do what human opposition had not been able to do — hinder the gracious purposes of Paul to preach the Gospel in Rome? Certainly, he was sent there? It was God’s will for him. Why the problems along the way?
Good question. If you are following God’s plan for your life—or even willing to be used of God, why the hardships?
Part of life and part of the mysteries of Life. Live with it ! Don’t look for an easy way out of life. In fact, He promised us hard times if we follow Him.
John 14:26 Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
John 16:33 "I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
Life with Jesus at the center just makes sense. He gives more peace and carries our burdens. Fact is, His way; the Way of the Cross, is the Way His Father made us to follow.
How do you prepare for a storm? Paul and his shipmates did some prep before and during the storm. Looking at the verses from Acts 27:13-20, we can see how they readied themselves for the storm. They took four steps to cope with the storm. (Acts 27:16-19)
Ask yourself, what steps do you take to ready yourself for the storms of life? Is it “I’d deal with it then?”
It was a dark and stormy night. No stars to guide them at night and no sun to guide them by day. They could have abandoned hope but…when we are in similar situations, we might want to give up.
The men went for 14 days without eating. This was a voluntary fast. Could not eat, or maybe nothing to eat, but made them hungry and prone to mistakes.
The first thing the men did was to sail on the protected side of the island and tie their dinghy on board. This could be used to save lives later. (Thinking ahead was important.)
The second action they took was to tie rope under and around the ship to keep it together. It was called FRAPPING the ship. Under-girding the ship with cables running vertically under and around its center hull 4-5 times strengthens the hull against the pounding waves.
Thirdly, the lower the sea anchor which was a wide piece of wood floating behind them keeping them both steady and on course.
Lastly, they lightened the load on the ship by throwing overboard unnecessary poundage so as to keep the ship from being hurt from onboard materials.
Even after all this, they started to feel that all was lost. When the followers of Jesus saw what they saw on that day He was arrested, can you feel what they were experiencing? Lostness. Being let down. Dread.
Luke 23:35-39 The people stood there staring at Jesus, and the ringleaders made faces, taunting, "He saved others. Let's see Him save Himself! The Messiah of God—ha! The Chosen—ha!" 36-37The soldiers also came up and poked fun at Him, making a game of it. They toasted Him with sour wine: "So you're King of the Jews! Save Yourself!" 38Printed over Him was a sign: this is the king of the Jews. 39One of the criminals hanging alongside cursed Him: "Some Messiah You are! Save yourself! Save us!"
All was lost, or so it seemed…
When do we abandon hope? We might have a terrible knowledge that we may not get out alive. Many are finding themselves in such a case today: disoriented in emotion, relational, social or physical storms come and affect our thinking.
What to do? Make a plan of attack! Let's consider FOUR Principles…
First Principle: The Journey of life can’t be missed. The travel is all about the attitude of the heart not just the sights along the way.
Paul was active and even proactive during this trip. He befriended the centurion Julius. Was called on for advice—not always followed…he was involved in the journey!
Let the experiences of your life just add color to the ride not discolor it. Getting to the goal is only the end of the trip. The ‘thing’ of life that we touch along the way is important as they help mold our character. Look at the life of Moses and see how he had long periods of waiting. 40 years to become someone important in Egypt—killed a man and fled for his life. Dashed! 40 years living that down and becoming a shepherd of some smelly herd of sheep in the backcountry. 40 more years as the head shepherd for the stubborn herd of the Hebrew Children. All of his life experiences were added together to make him the Man of God he was made to be. If anyone of those 40 years were not spent in that way, he would not have been just right for the job. Not easy but when it comes to accounting for his life, he did not come up short. He was just the kind of man God needed to lead His People Israel.
He may not have been aware of a plan but God was putting it all together and now, we can learn from Moses’ life about how to prepare for a storm. 40 years at a time!
Principle #2; TEAMing is far better than alone.
• Paul's traveling companions include at least Dr. Luke and a Macedonian Christian (Acts 19:29; 20:4; Col 4:10, 14; Philemon 24)
Moses had his band of helpers. David had his 50 Men of Valor. Esther had her uncle Mordecai. Job had Eliphaz, Bildad, Zophar, and his wife…not always helpful team, but a team nonetheless. Daniel had Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Jesus had His inner circle of friends. Paul had Timothy. You have…who ? The small group is a possibility!
A three strand of rope is stronger than a single one. Oh, it may be exciting to be alone against the world. Makes good drama and movies but the energy expelled way out weights the results.
Ecclesiastes 4:12 Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
• Consider the Samurai and the ant.
MUSASHI by Eiji Yoshikawa has many exciting stories of one man against MANY. The day will come when his strength and wisdom will fail and he will die! But the excitement. The cunning! The reality of not being able to win…!
Being alone may sound like a great way to live a life—but we are created in community with each other. There must be community. We are made in His likeness. We are made to reflect Him and to reflect Him is to show unity and community.
The ant, however…Prov 6:6 Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! 7 It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, 8 yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.
In short, an ant works together. Now, we are not to be mindless like the ant. Just pick up this piece of bread crumb and take it over there, with no other joy or purpose but as the writer would want his reader to note, the ant works together and it has a plan. By God’s design.
In contrast to Jesus' suffering, Paul knows relief both from a centurion who shows kindness and from the companionship of friends on board and along the way. The importance of the support of Christian friends should not be underestimated.
Someone who can walk with you. Hold you up. Question you. Keep you accountable. Ask the hard questions. Thus, the ICCS small group! Look around-anyone who is not in a group could become your community!
Principle #3: Moving is better than sitting still. Here is tendency of going backward or fall off the platform of obedience.
Sometimes the travel is slow. Sometimes it is just plodding along.
•--The ship, moving at a speed of three knots, covers the sixty-nine nautical miles to Sidon in twenty-three hours.
•–-On board for 14 days, in the storm, without eating, not knowing if they were going to live or die—just holding on to life!
Can you be content with luke warm water… Do things NEED to be hard or difficult to make you feel you are doing something? If things are going too well for you, you might feel that He is going to hit you. That He is just letting you go for a season and THEN “POP!” you one on the head!
What kind of a God is He anyway? Is He like man that has a wicked heart. See Genesis 8:21 New Living Translation: 21 And the Lord was pleased with the aroma of the sacrifice and said to Himself, “I will never again curse the ground because of the human race, even though everything they think or imagine is bent toward evil from childhood. I will never again destroy all living things. Life takes time—let it!
Principle #4: Suffering is part of the gain.
“No pain no gain?” How true. If we won the lottery and was handed $100,000 today—lose out with the process. Tend to loose direction. But if you work for it, the Lord has time to work in your life to develop His character in you. We are made in His image. God is pleased when we reflect His Son.
The Bible is clear that God loves us very much. This is a point of THANKS. He wants to help us become “conformed to the likeness of His Son.” Romans 8:29
Peter expresses that through God’s wonderful promises we "may participate in the divine nature." 2 Peter 1:4 “Through these He has given us His very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.”
What does this mean? The truth of what God is doing in us is not lost in the year of wandering or of storms or of victories. We are being transformed and conformed. We are active members of His Band: participants not just the audience! It all has to do with being a whole person.
Look at 1 Thessalonians 5:23. 23 May God Himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
He is at work in us to give us His Peace and to sanctify or set aside for Him, in every way. AND to work in our members—our inside, our mind and heart——our kokoro (こころ)—to bring us close to Him.
1. He has given us a MIND for reasoning things out; to process information.
2. He has given into us a WILL for making choices.
3. And He has given us EMOTIONS for expressing our feelings.
Even though this is how we are made, there is a problem. The reality of how sin works deeply complicates the situation. Sin did not just separate us from our Creator and from each other, sin also did it job on separating these three human factors to work against the whole. Sin severely divided, damaged and distorted humans by working against our mind, our will and our emotions. There has been a MAJOR thievery.
Remember John 10:10? The Message: “A thief is only there to steal and kill and destroy. I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.”
So, how do we prepare for the storms of life? By being ready in our spirit and that means being transformed by the Power of Christ. The storms may come but the soul is saved. That makes a big difference in life.
Romans 12:2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
2 Corinthians 3:18 And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
(Verses used in this sermon.
Acts 27:27-44 Jam. 4:12-14 John 14:26 John 16:33 Acts 27:16-19
Lk 23:35-39 Ecc 4:12 Prov 6:6 Gen 8:21 Rom 8:29
2 Peter 1:4 1 Thess. 5:23 John 10:10 Rom 12:2 2 Cor 3:18)
Outline support from web site: Bible Gateway.
Next week: The Shipwreck: Acts 27:27~44. See you there!
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Sunday, November 11, 2007
"So persuade Me..." From Acts 26:28
TODAY is Pray for the PERSECUTED CHURCH Sunday! Please remember our Brothers and Sisters around the world who are being hurt or killed because they follow Jesus. The Persecuted Church is our Church. When they hurt, so should we. In fact, when they hurt, it is to be realized that 'they' also hurt our Lord! His response was to extend love and forgiveness toward them. Pray for the Church AND those who attack the church.
What do you remember of the history of the Spanish Armada attacking the British during the rule of Queen Elisabeth? Or do you know who it was that caused the French Army to be defeated in the Battle of Waterloo? What was the man’s name that stood in front of the Red Army’s tank in Beijing in 1989? Even further in the past, what was the man’s name that invented the wheel? The clock? The straw? How to bind a book? How to cook ふぐ (fugu-a Japanese fish)?
The defining moment for all of human history is the resurrection of Jesus Christ. In today’s passage, prisoner Paul boldly proclaims this resurrection before Festus, Agrippa and Bernice in the final missionary preaching in Acts. To get a hold on this proclamation is to understand that the purposes of letters of Luke and Acts is to be fulfilled in our life time life.
(Luke 1:1-4 The Message: 1-4 So many others have tried their hand at putting together a story of the wonderful harvest of Scripture and history that took place among us, using reports handed down by the original eyewitnesses who served this Word with their very lives. Since I have investigated all the reports in close detail, starting from the story's beginning, I decided to write it all out for you, most honorable Theophilus, so you can know beyond the shadow of a doubt the reliability of what you were taught.).
Who was this King Agrippa? He was the great-grandson of Herod the Great who tried very hard to kill the Baby Jesus years before. Being the favorite of Rome, he was given the RIGHT to appoint the high priest and was the custodian of the Temple’s treasure and the high priest’s vestments—which was worth a lot of money. In being so positioned in that area, he had supreme power over Jewish life. This did not endear him to the people but the religious leaders all wanted to befriend him with gifts and the like…all of which he took without much care. He did just about what he wanted to do.
Along with him, he had his sister, Bernice-one year younger, who was a very immoral woman. Her only dominance was centered on her sexual power over her brother and others.
Festus spoke of Paul’s case with the king with four descriptions:
#1. OF PAUL BEING LEFT AS A PRISONER—TREATED LIKE A CRIMINAL-YET UNTRIED-Luke 21:12
Jesus said: 12 "But before all this, they will lay hands on you and persecute you. They will deliver you to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of My Name.”
Paul said: Acts 20:23 23 I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me.
And in every way, not to unlike that of Jesus’ situation: Luke 23:42 42 "Father, if You are willing, take this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done."
#2. PAUL WAS OPPOSED YET PROTECTED BECASUE HE WAS A ROMAN CITIZED.
Festus’ main or basic principle of Roman justice was to protect Paul. In many Western movies, they quote a Bible verse that is taken out of context, as did the Jewish leaders. Let’s look at Deuteronomy 19:15-21.
15 One witness is not enough to convict a man accused of any crime or offense he may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.
16 If a malicious witness takes the stand to accuse a man of a crime, 17 the two men involved in the dispute must stand in the presence of the LORD before the priests and the judges who are in office at the time. 18 The judges must make a thorough investigation, and if the witness proves to be a liar, giving false testimony against his brother, 19 then do to him as he intended to do to his brother. You must purge the evil from among you. 20 The rest of the people will hear of this and be afraid, and never again will such an evil thing be done among you. 21 Show no pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot. The Law was upheld by Festus.
#3. PAUL WAS TRIED, BUT HAD NOT BEEN GIEN A PUNISHMENT.
Again, Festus was concerned for his Roman citizen’s rights. The Jewish leaders brought a religious charge against him—not against Caesar. The main point of their anger was a dispute concerning a dead man named Jesus, whom Paul claimed was still alive. (WHERE is the crime?)
Being lead by the Spirit of this ‘dead man’, who is, in truth very much alive, Paul starts with his defense that the historical FACT of the resurrection holds true! This is the central message and teaching of the Christian Faith.
Look at the Apostle’s Creed.
It is the main point for the Faith we have! Jesus is alive. That fact points strongly to the reality of the Message that He can take away our sins as He had complete power over Death.
#4. PAUL APPEALED TO CAESAR.
Paul's comment took Festus by surprise. He was not ready to deal with the supernatural. He somehow knew that this was well out of his hands. His authority did not travel in this arena. This court was not to be dealing with God’s Sphere but Caesar’s.
Festus learned something there that day that few leaders have learned. The State cannot put its control on the Church! The wisdom that the State has could never come near competing in the areas of theology. Its power is never a valid enforcer of church/temple decisions. (But they try. And a royal mess is the result.)
Meanwhile, King Agrippa is more than interested in this Paul. Like his father and Grandfather, such people both are intrigued and fear men like Paul. And like his family line, fell short of understanding the TRUTH that stood before them. All three generations rejected the Truth. But, in this case, both Agrippa and Festus unwittingly appear to model two necessary fundamentals for receiving the Gospel Message:
1. a teachable spirit and
2. a desire or longing to hear and understand the Message. Contrite: genuinely and deeply sorry or remorse. Ps 51:17 “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.”
Romans 12:1-2 1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Consider your own life. When you first heard the Gospel Message, were you moved? Did you doubt all that was said? Did the Message sound too good to be real? It was the Power of God for Salvation.
Festus KNEW Paul was innocent. His concern for how the leaders looked at him and his position within Rome’s control determined his conduct. He went against his own conscience. He went against his own Roman rules as well. He should have set him free with a warning to the leaders that they would not interfere with Paul’s life. But, NO!
How is any hostiality brought against a person or people group? All persecution in the final scrutiny is birthed in religious, ideological or ethnic pride or fear. This comes to the surface as blind, irrational hostility against the Truth, in this case, of the Gospel. This seeks to disturb the purposes of God but in the end—only finds itself “kicking against the goads” Acts 26:14 or “Why do you insist on going against the grain?”-[to keep offering vain and perilous resistance].
PERSUADE ME THEN. How?: by the Truth of the Gospel. Not covered with cultural ‘stuff’. Not enclosed with denominational jargon, terminology. But as Paul did: with the personal element. "This is true for me. This is how God touched me. This is how I understand the Great Gift He has given me through the Person of His Son who died for me. My life is an open book for you to investigate. My walk is public. My Faith is real. Test it. Taste it! Realize it to be true for you as well. I believe in the Power of the Word of God in my life."
As with Paul that day in the court of Festus and Agrippa; 29 Paul replied, "Short time or long—I pray God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains." 30 The king rose, and with him the governor and Bernice and those sitting with them. 31 They left the room, and while talking with one another,
And what did they not talk about? The very thing that separated them from an eternity with the God of Heaven. They spoke of Paul’s innocents. Of course, Paul was not guilty of any crime. He was guilty of being a Follower of The Way. Would there be enough evidence to convict you of that claim?
______________________________________________________
Something to look at this week with your small group:...
What Now?
Read Acts 26 again. Look for evidence that Paul used to ‘prove’ his case. Have you found that such a case helpful for your Walk of Faith?
Ask each other how they came to their understanding of the Gospel? Over how many weeks, months or years did the change take place? Understand that it is a process more than an event. Thank God for His working in the lives of your Small Group and for those who come to ICCS.
How can you become more of a witness for Christ in the general society? Very few of us will be on trial for being a Christian. Spend some time in pray for those in the world who are in such a situation. Pray for Hiroko Yamashita, one of our missionaries, as she ministers in a very dark part of Asia. Pray for unity among the Believers. Pray for a deepening intimacy with God.
“Lord, keep ____ close to You. Cause them to love You with all their heart, soul, and mind. Draw them into Your Word each day, and fill them with thankfulness.” (Matthew 22:37; Colossians 3:16) (This pray can be used for your family as well.)
Look for someone to persuade toward the Gospel.
What do you remember of the history of the Spanish Armada attacking the British during the rule of Queen Elisabeth? Or do you know who it was that caused the French Army to be defeated in the Battle of Waterloo? What was the man’s name that stood in front of the Red Army’s tank in Beijing in 1989? Even further in the past, what was the man’s name that invented the wheel? The clock? The straw? How to bind a book? How to cook ふぐ (fugu-a Japanese fish)?
The defining moment for all of human history is the resurrection of Jesus Christ. In today’s passage, prisoner Paul boldly proclaims this resurrection before Festus, Agrippa and Bernice in the final missionary preaching in Acts. To get a hold on this proclamation is to understand that the purposes of letters of Luke and Acts is to be fulfilled in our life time life.
(Luke 1:1-4 The Message: 1-4 So many others have tried their hand at putting together a story of the wonderful harvest of Scripture and history that took place among us, using reports handed down by the original eyewitnesses who served this Word with their very lives. Since I have investigated all the reports in close detail, starting from the story's beginning, I decided to write it all out for you, most honorable Theophilus, so you can know beyond the shadow of a doubt the reliability of what you were taught.).
Who was this King Agrippa? He was the great-grandson of Herod the Great who tried very hard to kill the Baby Jesus years before. Being the favorite of Rome, he was given the RIGHT to appoint the high priest and was the custodian of the Temple’s treasure and the high priest’s vestments—which was worth a lot of money. In being so positioned in that area, he had supreme power over Jewish life. This did not endear him to the people but the religious leaders all wanted to befriend him with gifts and the like…all of which he took without much care. He did just about what he wanted to do.
Along with him, he had his sister, Bernice-one year younger, who was a very immoral woman. Her only dominance was centered on her sexual power over her brother and others.
Festus spoke of Paul’s case with the king with four descriptions:
#1. OF PAUL BEING LEFT AS A PRISONER—TREATED LIKE A CRIMINAL-YET UNTRIED-Luke 21:12
Jesus said: 12 "But before all this, they will lay hands on you and persecute you. They will deliver you to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of My Name.”
Paul said: Acts 20:23 23 I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me.
And in every way, not to unlike that of Jesus’ situation: Luke 23:42 42 "Father, if You are willing, take this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done."
#2. PAUL WAS OPPOSED YET PROTECTED BECASUE HE WAS A ROMAN CITIZED.
Festus’ main or basic principle of Roman justice was to protect Paul. In many Western movies, they quote a Bible verse that is taken out of context, as did the Jewish leaders. Let’s look at Deuteronomy 19:15-21.
15 One witness is not enough to convict a man accused of any crime or offense he may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.
16 If a malicious witness takes the stand to accuse a man of a crime, 17 the two men involved in the dispute must stand in the presence of the LORD before the priests and the judges who are in office at the time. 18 The judges must make a thorough investigation, and if the witness proves to be a liar, giving false testimony against his brother, 19 then do to him as he intended to do to his brother. You must purge the evil from among you. 20 The rest of the people will hear of this and be afraid, and never again will such an evil thing be done among you. 21 Show no pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot. The Law was upheld by Festus.
#3. PAUL WAS TRIED, BUT HAD NOT BEEN GIEN A PUNISHMENT.
Again, Festus was concerned for his Roman citizen’s rights. The Jewish leaders brought a religious charge against him—not against Caesar. The main point of their anger was a dispute concerning a dead man named Jesus, whom Paul claimed was still alive. (WHERE is the crime?)
Being lead by the Spirit of this ‘dead man’, who is, in truth very much alive, Paul starts with his defense that the historical FACT of the resurrection holds true! This is the central message and teaching of the Christian Faith.
Look at the Apostle’s Creed.
It is the main point for the Faith we have! Jesus is alive. That fact points strongly to the reality of the Message that He can take away our sins as He had complete power over Death.
#4. PAUL APPEALED TO CAESAR.
Paul's comment took Festus by surprise. He was not ready to deal with the supernatural. He somehow knew that this was well out of his hands. His authority did not travel in this arena. This court was not to be dealing with God’s Sphere but Caesar’s.
Festus learned something there that day that few leaders have learned. The State cannot put its control on the Church! The wisdom that the State has could never come near competing in the areas of theology. Its power is never a valid enforcer of church/temple decisions. (But they try. And a royal mess is the result.)
Meanwhile, King Agrippa is more than interested in this Paul. Like his father and Grandfather, such people both are intrigued and fear men like Paul. And like his family line, fell short of understanding the TRUTH that stood before them. All three generations rejected the Truth. But, in this case, both Agrippa and Festus unwittingly appear to model two necessary fundamentals for receiving the Gospel Message:
1. a teachable spirit and
2. a desire or longing to hear and understand the Message. Contrite: genuinely and deeply sorry or remorse. Ps 51:17 “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.”
Romans 12:1-2 1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Consider your own life. When you first heard the Gospel Message, were you moved? Did you doubt all that was said? Did the Message sound too good to be real? It was the Power of God for Salvation.
Festus KNEW Paul was innocent. His concern for how the leaders looked at him and his position within Rome’s control determined his conduct. He went against his own conscience. He went against his own Roman rules as well. He should have set him free with a warning to the leaders that they would not interfere with Paul’s life. But, NO!
How is any hostiality brought against a person or people group? All persecution in the final scrutiny is birthed in religious, ideological or ethnic pride or fear. This comes to the surface as blind, irrational hostility against the Truth, in this case, of the Gospel. This seeks to disturb the purposes of God but in the end—only finds itself “kicking against the goads” Acts 26:14 or “Why do you insist on going against the grain?”-[to keep offering vain and perilous resistance].
PERSUADE ME THEN. How?: by the Truth of the Gospel. Not covered with cultural ‘stuff’. Not enclosed with denominational jargon, terminology. But as Paul did: with the personal element. "This is true for me. This is how God touched me. This is how I understand the Great Gift He has given me through the Person of His Son who died for me. My life is an open book for you to investigate. My walk is public. My Faith is real. Test it. Taste it! Realize it to be true for you as well. I believe in the Power of the Word of God in my life."
As with Paul that day in the court of Festus and Agrippa; 29 Paul replied, "Short time or long—I pray God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains." 30 The king rose, and with him the governor and Bernice and those sitting with them. 31 They left the room, and while talking with one another,
And what did they not talk about? The very thing that separated them from an eternity with the God of Heaven. They spoke of Paul’s innocents. Of course, Paul was not guilty of any crime. He was guilty of being a Follower of The Way. Would there be enough evidence to convict you of that claim?
______________________________________________________
Something to look at this week with your small group:...
What Now?
Read Acts 26 again. Look for evidence that Paul used to ‘prove’ his case. Have you found that such a case helpful for your Walk of Faith?
Ask each other how they came to their understanding of the Gospel? Over how many weeks, months or years did the change take place? Understand that it is a process more than an event. Thank God for His working in the lives of your Small Group and for those who come to ICCS.
How can you become more of a witness for Christ in the general society? Very few of us will be on trial for being a Christian. Spend some time in pray for those in the world who are in such a situation. Pray for Hiroko Yamashita, one of our missionaries, as she ministers in a very dark part of Asia. Pray for unity among the Believers. Pray for a deepening intimacy with God.
“Lord, keep ____ close to You. Cause them to love You with all their heart, soul, and mind. Draw them into Your Word each day, and fill them with thankfulness.” (Matthew 22:37; Colossians 3:16) (This pray can be used for your family as well.)
Look for someone to persuade toward the Gospel.
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Sorry this is late! When We Enter Trials of Life, from Acts 25.
Life is so short. Things happen. Good things happen to good and bad people. Sometimes, it is hard to see the WHY of life. What does Jesus teach about this?
As Jesus taught-Lk 12:11-12
Now, look at:
2 Thessalonians 1:3-5 (NIV)
3 We ought always to thank God for you, brothers, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love every one of you has for each other is increasing. 4 Therefore, among God's churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring.
5 All this is evidence that God's judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering.
Maybe that is why the poor have an easier time in troubled times than the rich. Makes ya think, doesn’t it?
James 1:1-5 (NIV)
1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings. 2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
Even when we are scattered around, whether in our minds or physically, we would do good to ask the Lord to move our hearts to consider it all pure joy. Our attitudes need to change, doesn’t it? Can we tell the Maker how He is to make our life? Is the clay’s ‘job’ in the world to even suggest that the potter do something else with the clay? He made us. Psalm 100: 3 Know that the LORD is God. It is He who made us, and we are His ; we are His people, the sheep of His pasture.
Look at the ownership of that verse! (is He who made us, and we are His ; we are His people, the sheep of His pasture) And His love for us is so deep!
2 Peter 2:8-10 (NIV)
8 (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)— 9 if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials and to hold the unrighteous for the day of judgment, while continuing their punishment. 10 This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the sinful nature and despise authority.
How fair is God?
Matthew 5:45b He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
The Problem: The way things are.
The Result: The reality of how we respond.
The Solution: The way God looks at things.
•••The Result: The reality of how we respond. We are all going thru hard times. The ceiling falls in on the good and the bad.
As it says in Ecclesiastes 9
THERE IS A COMMON DESTINY FOR ALL
1 So I reflected on all this and concluded that the righteous and the wise and what they do are in God's hands, but no man knows whether love or hate awaits him. 2 All share a common destiny—the righteous and the wicked, the good and the bad, the clean and the unclean, those who offer sacrifices and those who do not.
As it is with the good man,
so with the sinner;
as it is with those who take oaths,
so with those who are afraid to take them.
3 This is the evil in everything that happens under the sun: The same destiny overtakes all. The hearts of men, moreover, are full of evil and there is madness in their hearts while they live, and afterward they join the dead.
So, what do we expect out of life? If we do what we ought, should not there be good times for us? No empty cup of blessings! Good and not pain? Why would we think that?
Because we may have the error of thinking that we deserve the Best because we are following the Lord. Look at reality of the Word at the lives of those who follow the Lord and what do we see? John, the Beloved of Christ, boiled in oil.
David, a Friend of God, suffering being hunted by his King and father-in-law.
A man tried to support the ark from falling was struck dead!
God’s Chosen People constantly attacked Moses, whom God had called.
Paul, called of God—by name, was beaten, ship wrecked, and on the move all the way through his career as a Follower of Christ.
Or in this present time, five missionaries were killed by headhunters in the jungle of Peru in 1956.
From 1824 to 1826, during the war of England with Burma, Adoniram Judson suffered almost incredible hardships as he was imprisoned for seventeen months in the jails of Burma, being bound during nine months of this period, with three, and during two months with no less than five, pairs of fetters. His sufferings from fever, excruciating heat, hunger, repeated disappointments, and the cruelty of his keepers, form one of the most thrilling narratives in the annals of modern missionary trial. Yet he counted it all joy!
When it all comes down to it, pain and disappointment is shared by those who love God and those who do not. So why bother?
•••The Solution: The way God looks at things.
Psalm 73
1 Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.
2 But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold.
3 For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong.
5 They are free from the burdens common to man; they are not plagued by human ills.
6 Therefore pride is their necklace; they clothe themselves with violence.
7 From their callous hearts comes iniquity; the evil conceits of their minds know no limits.
8 They scoff, and speak with malice; in their arrogance they threaten oppression.
9 Their mouths lay claim to heaven, and their tongues take possession of the earth.
10 Therefore their people turn to them and drink up waters in abundance.
11 They say, "How can God know? Does the Most High have knowledge?"
12 This is what the wicked are like—always carefree, they increase in wealth.
13 Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure; in vain have I washed my hands in innocence.
14 All day long I have been plagued; I have been punished every morning.
15 If I had said, "I will speak thus," I would have betrayed your children.
16 When I tried to understand all this, it was oppressive to me
17 till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny.
18 Surely you place them on slippery ground; you cast them down to ruin.
19 How suddenly are they destroyed, completely swept away by terrors!
20 As a dream when one awakes, so when you arise, O Lord, you will despise them as fantasies.
21 When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered,
22 I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you.
23 Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand.
24 You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
27 Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.
28 But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.
Can you hear his conflict? Ever feel that way? To be honest, this is the possible heart response of everyone here this morning, am I right? At times, you may feel like He ‘might not be concerned for your needs.’
You don’t need me to be the one to tell you the truth on this one. He is every so concerned for you and for your needs…that are in Christ Jesus. He does know what we need before we know it and I believe that He holds back on some of the ‘things’ we ‘need’ to both keep us humble or keep us from being proud. He can supply ALL that we need but would He NEED to?
Why do you follow Him? So you can get answers to your prayers or because you NEED the forgiveness only He can provide?
The right answer is the latter one, of course BUT we sure like the first answer. I follow Jesus and He answers all my prayers. Truth be known? He may need to say “NO WAY!” to some of the stuff we are asking, to keep us humble.
Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 12: 7 To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.
So it comes right down to this, Paul was experiencing the trails of his Faith because he was wanting to bring glory to the Name of Christ in his life. The trial before Festus was only really a test trial of Paul’s desire to follow Christ.
Some may saytoday, “I don’t want to need to trust God in that way. I like a simple life. A life that is organized and predictable.” Sorry. That will not do. We are to be tested so that our Faith can grow even deeper. Grow even wider. Grow, so that the Glory is God is seen on our life, family, church, and community. All for His Glory.
So, I ask you...how do you face trials?
In the West, people say; “Lord, take this burden from me so that I may follow You with zeal!” In the East, people pray: “Lord, strengthen my back to carry the load so that I may follow you with zeal.” Which is correct? Which bring glory to Him?
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Now What?
…On your own, or better yet, in your small groups, take time to read the whole of Psalm 73. Ask each other when they experienced such feelings and how those made them feel. How does knowing the ‘end of the story’ help your heart attitude toward the ungodly? How can you pray for their heart response?
Read Psalm 1: Personalize the Psalm by inserting your name in the place of the personal pronouns, (ex. “Blessed am I who does not walk… But my delight is in the law…”). This may take some time so write it out for clarity. How close to reality does this appear to be true for you? What can be done to come closer?
As you read these Psalms, ask the Lord to move you toward His heart. Ask Him to point out areas in your Walk of Faith that needs development. Areas that are lacking in spiritual insight. Thank Him for the growth He has already started in your life.
(1 Thessalonians 5:18 “give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.”)
Before you leave your group, pray for one another along these lines:
Lord, help me define in my life areas I need more spiritual awareness. Develop a hunger in my spirit for the things You desire for me. End by asking the Lord to help the others in your group/family/church to reflect His heart that day.
And enjoy the day!!!
As Jesus taught-Lk 12:11-12
Now, look at:
2 Thessalonians 1:3-5 (NIV)
3 We ought always to thank God for you, brothers, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love every one of you has for each other is increasing. 4 Therefore, among God's churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring.
5 All this is evidence that God's judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering.
Maybe that is why the poor have an easier time in troubled times than the rich. Makes ya think, doesn’t it?
James 1:1-5 (NIV)
1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings. 2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
Even when we are scattered around, whether in our minds or physically, we would do good to ask the Lord to move our hearts to consider it all pure joy. Our attitudes need to change, doesn’t it? Can we tell the Maker how He is to make our life? Is the clay’s ‘job’ in the world to even suggest that the potter do something else with the clay? He made us. Psalm 100: 3 Know that the LORD is God. It is He who made us, and we are His ; we are His people, the sheep of His pasture.
Look at the ownership of that verse! (is He who made us, and we are His ; we are His people, the sheep of His pasture) And His love for us is so deep!
2 Peter 2:8-10 (NIV)
8 (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)— 9 if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials and to hold the unrighteous for the day of judgment, while continuing their punishment. 10 This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the sinful nature and despise authority.
How fair is God?
Matthew 5:45b He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
The Problem: The way things are.
The Result: The reality of how we respond.
The Solution: The way God looks at things.
•••The Result: The reality of how we respond. We are all going thru hard times. The ceiling falls in on the good and the bad.
As it says in Ecclesiastes 9
THERE IS A COMMON DESTINY FOR ALL
1 So I reflected on all this and concluded that the righteous and the wise and what they do are in God's hands, but no man knows whether love or hate awaits him. 2 All share a common destiny—the righteous and the wicked, the good and the bad, the clean and the unclean, those who offer sacrifices and those who do not.
As it is with the good man,
so with the sinner;
as it is with those who take oaths,
so with those who are afraid to take them.
3 This is the evil in everything that happens under the sun: The same destiny overtakes all. The hearts of men, moreover, are full of evil and there is madness in their hearts while they live, and afterward they join the dead.
So, what do we expect out of life? If we do what we ought, should not there be good times for us? No empty cup of blessings! Good and not pain? Why would we think that?
Because we may have the error of thinking that we deserve the Best because we are following the Lord. Look at reality of the Word at the lives of those who follow the Lord and what do we see? John, the Beloved of Christ, boiled in oil.
David, a Friend of God, suffering being hunted by his King and father-in-law.
A man tried to support the ark from falling was struck dead!
God’s Chosen People constantly attacked Moses, whom God had called.
Paul, called of God—by name, was beaten, ship wrecked, and on the move all the way through his career as a Follower of Christ.
Or in this present time, five missionaries were killed by headhunters in the jungle of Peru in 1956.
From 1824 to 1826, during the war of England with Burma, Adoniram Judson suffered almost incredible hardships as he was imprisoned for seventeen months in the jails of Burma, being bound during nine months of this period, with three, and during two months with no less than five, pairs of fetters. His sufferings from fever, excruciating heat, hunger, repeated disappointments, and the cruelty of his keepers, form one of the most thrilling narratives in the annals of modern missionary trial. Yet he counted it all joy!
When it all comes down to it, pain and disappointment is shared by those who love God and those who do not. So why bother?
•••The Solution: The way God looks at things.
Psalm 73
1 Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.
2 But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold.
3 For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong.
5 They are free from the burdens common to man; they are not plagued by human ills.
6 Therefore pride is their necklace; they clothe themselves with violence.
7 From their callous hearts comes iniquity; the evil conceits of their minds know no limits.
8 They scoff, and speak with malice; in their arrogance they threaten oppression.
9 Their mouths lay claim to heaven, and their tongues take possession of the earth.
10 Therefore their people turn to them and drink up waters in abundance.
11 They say, "How can God know? Does the Most High have knowledge?"
12 This is what the wicked are like—always carefree, they increase in wealth.
13 Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure; in vain have I washed my hands in innocence.
14 All day long I have been plagued; I have been punished every morning.
15 If I had said, "I will speak thus," I would have betrayed your children.
16 When I tried to understand all this, it was oppressive to me
17 till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny.
18 Surely you place them on slippery ground; you cast them down to ruin.
19 How suddenly are they destroyed, completely swept away by terrors!
20 As a dream when one awakes, so when you arise, O Lord, you will despise them as fantasies.
21 When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered,
22 I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you.
23 Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand.
24 You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
27 Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.
28 But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.
Can you hear his conflict? Ever feel that way? To be honest, this is the possible heart response of everyone here this morning, am I right? At times, you may feel like He ‘might not be concerned for your needs.’
You don’t need me to be the one to tell you the truth on this one. He is every so concerned for you and for your needs…that are in Christ Jesus. He does know what we need before we know it and I believe that He holds back on some of the ‘things’ we ‘need’ to both keep us humble or keep us from being proud. He can supply ALL that we need but would He NEED to?
Why do you follow Him? So you can get answers to your prayers or because you NEED the forgiveness only He can provide?
The right answer is the latter one, of course BUT we sure like the first answer. I follow Jesus and He answers all my prayers. Truth be known? He may need to say “NO WAY!” to some of the stuff we are asking, to keep us humble.
Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 12: 7 To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.
So it comes right down to this, Paul was experiencing the trails of his Faith because he was wanting to bring glory to the Name of Christ in his life. The trial before Festus was only really a test trial of Paul’s desire to follow Christ.
Some may saytoday, “I don’t want to need to trust God in that way. I like a simple life. A life that is organized and predictable.” Sorry. That will not do. We are to be tested so that our Faith can grow even deeper. Grow even wider. Grow, so that the Glory is God is seen on our life, family, church, and community. All for His Glory.
So, I ask you...how do you face trials?
In the West, people say; “Lord, take this burden from me so that I may follow You with zeal!” In the East, people pray: “Lord, strengthen my back to carry the load so that I may follow you with zeal.” Which is correct? Which bring glory to Him?
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Now What?
…On your own, or better yet, in your small groups, take time to read the whole of Psalm 73. Ask each other when they experienced such feelings and how those made them feel. How does knowing the ‘end of the story’ help your heart attitude toward the ungodly? How can you pray for their heart response?
Read Psalm 1: Personalize the Psalm by inserting your name in the place of the personal pronouns, (ex. “Blessed am I who does not walk… But my delight is in the law…”). This may take some time so write it out for clarity. How close to reality does this appear to be true for you? What can be done to come closer?
As you read these Psalms, ask the Lord to move you toward His heart. Ask Him to point out areas in your Walk of Faith that needs development. Areas that are lacking in spiritual insight. Thank Him for the growth He has already started in your life.
(1 Thessalonians 5:18 “give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.”)
Before you leave your group, pray for one another along these lines:
Lord, help me define in my life areas I need more spiritual awareness. Develop a hunger in my spirit for the things You desire for me. End by asking the Lord to help the others in your group/family/church to reflect His heart that day.
And enjoy the day!!!
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Where I Stand: Principles to live by
Acts 24:14 However, I admit that I worship the God of our fathers as a follower of the Way…
Where do you stand?
Overview of what has happened to Paul since last week.
“Take courage” -word from the Lord to Paul. “Testify about Me!”
Plot to kill Paul men took an oath to kill him.
Son of Paul’s sister heard of the plot.
Commander took Paul away with a lot of soldiers.
Transferred to Governor Felix’s Caesarea’s palace.
Chapter 24
Trial before Felix
Lawyer named Tertullus makes some short talk.
Paul speaks—today’s passage
Acts 24:10-23
14 However, I admit that I worship the God of our fathers as a follower of the Way,
To ask the question: Where Do You Stand?
Paul’s life was on the line. If the Jewish leader’s wishes were followed, they would have Paul killed for his belief system. They put up a rather loose prosecution and over time, it really lost the punch but Paul was on trial for his life.
What sort of principles of life can we draw from this? And how does our life reflect the Heart of God? How does it intertwine with the purpose statement of our Church: in that Worship, Prayer, Evangelism, Discipleship and Lay training, with Servant and Leadership Development? Can I live a transformed life so that I am equipped and encouraged to stand firm in the Gospel of Jesus Christ? What do I need to stand on?
Principle Number One:
• WHAT I BELIEVE IN WORTH THE EFFORT. What is the basis of my beliefs? Can they hold me up under the pressures of Life? In the long haule, is what I hold dear to me really work in the long run? Can I trust what I believe?
What does Jesus say about balance?
Luke 9:24-26 24 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for Me will save it. 25 What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self? 26 If anyone is ashamed of Me and My Words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His Glory and in the Glory of the Father and of the holy angels.
1 Peter 1:6-8 6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8 Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
This is WHY we make the effort!
We all look for the quick fix, the answer that will cover all the bases, but reality is that will not be the case. We still have to live here, dealing with the crap of life. There is not quick fix: the race needs to be run to the end.
Ways Paul showed this:
1. Paul states: Philippians 3:7-9 7 But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by Faith.
2. 2 Timothy 4:7-8 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for His appearing.
3. Galatians 5:7a You were running a good race.
The weaker we feel, the harder we lean. And the harder we lean, the stronger we grow spiritually, even while our bodies waste away. J.I. Packer
Principle Number Two:
• OUR INTIMACY WITH GOD – His highest priority for us – determines the impact of our lives on those around us.
The closer you are to His Heart, the more you will be able to both hear Him and be tested. If you are walking a life of ease, why would the evil one bother you? If we are looking for the easy road to Salvation, we will fall into the trap of Cheap Grace. "Cheap grace is the idea that "grace" did it all for me so I do not need to change my lifestyle. The believer who accepts the idea of "cheap grace" thinks he can continue to live like the rest of the world. Instead of following Christ in a radical way, the Christian lost in cheap grace thinks he can simply enjoy the consolations (or comfort) of His grace." Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Ps 119 9 How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to Your Word. 10 I seek You with all my heart; do not let me stray from Your commands. 11 I have hidden Your Word in my heart that I might not sin against You. 12 Praise be to You, O LORD; teach me Your decrees.
This is a person who is ACTIVE in growth!
20 My soul is consumed with longing for Your laws at all times.
When you have that certain something inside, it determines how we live. There is a relationship. God wants us to listen to Him and be like Him. He enters our life and changes us from the inside. We are adopted by God and become a child of God. Full Son-ship is ours. Part of the family of God. Forgiveness is ours and intimacy is ours as well. Confess your sins and your relationship will grow. Learn what His Grace is like. Come to Him and repent. Let go of the past. He has forgiven you. Live in that word. Live in light of His Forgiveness. Believe Him.
Ways Paul showed this: ‘case he is the one on trial…
1. 1 Corinthians 8:3 [(NIV)-3 But the man who loves God is known by God.] –But if one loves God truly [ with affectionate reverence, prompt obedience, and grateful recognition of His blessing], he is known by God [ recognized as worthy of His intimacy and love, and he is owned by Him]. (Amplified Bible)
"A deeper relationship with Christ develops the soul character of the individual. It causes us to grow deeper, closer with the God of Creation. In science we have been reading only the notes to a poem; in Christianity we find the poem itself." C.S. Lewis
•The fullness of all life is found in a relationship with Jesus.
Principle Number Three:
• LISTENING TO GOD IS ESSENTIAL TO WALKING WITH GOD
Proverbs 3:4 Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. 5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.
•Trust Him and Listen to Him. He is the Good Shepherd. Spent time in His Word. Spend time relating to Him. Walk with Him.
As found in the life of Noah from Genesis 6:9.This is the account of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked with God. Or before him, in Genesis 5:24 Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.
In Deuteronomy 10:12-13, 12 And now, O Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways, to love Him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, 13 and to observe the LORD's commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?
Ways Paul showed this:
1. 2 Corinthians 6:16b As God has said: "I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people."
1 Peter 2:9 puts it this way: But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light.
"The destined end of man is not happiness, nor health, but holiness. God's one aim is the production of saints." Oswald Chambers
Where do you stand?
Overview of what has happened to Paul since last week.
“Take courage” -word from the Lord to Paul. “Testify about Me!”
Plot to kill Paul men took an oath to kill him.
Son of Paul’s sister heard of the plot.
Commander took Paul away with a lot of soldiers.
Transferred to Governor Felix’s Caesarea’s palace.
Chapter 24
Trial before Felix
Lawyer named Tertullus makes some short talk.
Paul speaks—today’s passage
Acts 24:10-23
14 However, I admit that I worship the God of our fathers as a follower of the Way,
To ask the question: Where Do You Stand?
Paul’s life was on the line. If the Jewish leader’s wishes were followed, they would have Paul killed for his belief system. They put up a rather loose prosecution and over time, it really lost the punch but Paul was on trial for his life.
What sort of principles of life can we draw from this? And how does our life reflect the Heart of God? How does it intertwine with the purpose statement of our Church: in that Worship, Prayer, Evangelism, Discipleship and Lay training, with Servant and Leadership Development? Can I live a transformed life so that I am equipped and encouraged to stand firm in the Gospel of Jesus Christ? What do I need to stand on?
Principle Number One:
• WHAT I BELIEVE IN WORTH THE EFFORT. What is the basis of my beliefs? Can they hold me up under the pressures of Life? In the long haule, is what I hold dear to me really work in the long run? Can I trust what I believe?
What does Jesus say about balance?
Luke 9:24-26 24 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for Me will save it. 25 What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self? 26 If anyone is ashamed of Me and My Words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His Glory and in the Glory of the Father and of the holy angels.
1 Peter 1:6-8 6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8 Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
This is WHY we make the effort!
We all look for the quick fix, the answer that will cover all the bases, but reality is that will not be the case. We still have to live here, dealing with the crap of life. There is not quick fix: the race needs to be run to the end.
Ways Paul showed this:
1. Paul states: Philippians 3:7-9 7 But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by Faith.
2. 2 Timothy 4:7-8 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for His appearing.
3. Galatians 5:7a You were running a good race.
The weaker we feel, the harder we lean. And the harder we lean, the stronger we grow spiritually, even while our bodies waste away. J.I. Packer
Principle Number Two:
• OUR INTIMACY WITH GOD – His highest priority for us – determines the impact of our lives on those around us.
The closer you are to His Heart, the more you will be able to both hear Him and be tested. If you are walking a life of ease, why would the evil one bother you? If we are looking for the easy road to Salvation, we will fall into the trap of Cheap Grace. "Cheap grace is the idea that "grace" did it all for me so I do not need to change my lifestyle. The believer who accepts the idea of "cheap grace" thinks he can continue to live like the rest of the world. Instead of following Christ in a radical way, the Christian lost in cheap grace thinks he can simply enjoy the consolations (or comfort) of His grace." Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Ps 119 9 How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to Your Word. 10 I seek You with all my heart; do not let me stray from Your commands. 11 I have hidden Your Word in my heart that I might not sin against You. 12 Praise be to You, O LORD; teach me Your decrees.
This is a person who is ACTIVE in growth!
20 My soul is consumed with longing for Your laws at all times.
When you have that certain something inside, it determines how we live. There is a relationship. God wants us to listen to Him and be like Him. He enters our life and changes us from the inside. We are adopted by God and become a child of God. Full Son-ship is ours. Part of the family of God. Forgiveness is ours and intimacy is ours as well. Confess your sins and your relationship will grow. Learn what His Grace is like. Come to Him and repent. Let go of the past. He has forgiven you. Live in that word. Live in light of His Forgiveness. Believe Him.
Ways Paul showed this: ‘case he is the one on trial…
1. 1 Corinthians 8:3 [(NIV)-3 But the man who loves God is known by God.] –But if one loves God truly [ with affectionate reverence, prompt obedience, and grateful recognition of His blessing], he is known by God [ recognized as worthy of His intimacy and love, and he is owned by Him]. (Amplified Bible)
"A deeper relationship with Christ develops the soul character of the individual. It causes us to grow deeper, closer with the God of Creation. In science we have been reading only the notes to a poem; in Christianity we find the poem itself." C.S. Lewis
•The fullness of all life is found in a relationship with Jesus.
Principle Number Three:
• LISTENING TO GOD IS ESSENTIAL TO WALKING WITH GOD
Proverbs 3:4 Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. 5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.
•Trust Him and Listen to Him. He is the Good Shepherd. Spent time in His Word. Spend time relating to Him. Walk with Him.
As found in the life of Noah from Genesis 6:9.This is the account of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked with God. Or before him, in Genesis 5:24 Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.
In Deuteronomy 10:12-13, 12 And now, O Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways, to love Him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, 13 and to observe the LORD's commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?
Ways Paul showed this:
1. 2 Corinthians 6:16b As God has said: "I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people."
1 Peter 2:9 puts it this way: But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light.
"The destined end of man is not happiness, nor health, but holiness. God's one aim is the production of saints." Oswald Chambers
Sunday, October 21, 2007
HAVE LIFE!
Welcome to the ICCS Blog page. Please visit us each week for a new sermon. We will be finishing our study of the Book of Acts before to long and get set up for some Christmas messages! Can you blieve that! Christmas already! Stay connected and seek Him, just as the Wise Men from old did. When they found Him, they gave Him gifts and spoke of His Birth to all who would listen. Maybe, we can learn something from these Guys From The East.
John 10:9-10. (New International Version)
9. I am the gate; whoever enters through Me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
IN LIFE—LOTS OF LIES SPOKEN TO US: TV, politics, labels, books, and family members.
IN LIFE—LOTS OF THINGS ARE TAKEN FROM US: Taxes, health, life, dark hair, -- hair.
IN LIFE—LOTS OF THINGS ARE DESTROYED: future, marriages, relationships, and trust.
The list goes long and even longer for some people.
Back in 1964, the world was bright! The Beatles came out with “She Loves You” and “I Want To Hold Your Hand.” Manfred Mann sang “Do Wah Diddy Diddy.” The #1 song that year was Louis Armstrong’s “Hello Dolly.”
From 1996-present, we experienced a number of shooting in our schools that has killed numerous students, teachers, and staff. Jonesboro, Arkansas, Columbine, Colorado, Red Lake Indian Reservation in Minnesota and Amish private school in Penn have all been the sites of teenage killings. Even as early as last week, a 14-year-old boy had an arsenal of weapons at his home and seemingly the intent to use them on his school.
We read of mothers killing their children—some saying that God told them to do it. Fathers who kill the family and then put the gun in their own mouth and is found all over the living room.
Bankers who defraud their clients. Politicians who embezzles a great amount of public money. Teachers who have sexual relations with middle school children. Well, I rest my case. Horror all over the place and all this is happening in the USA. Our money says “In God We Trust” but our society acts just the opposite. Do we agree that the evil one is lying to the world and the world follows his lies!
And our churches are having a hard time of things. About 3,000 churches each month close their doors for one reason or another.
We live in a world that has pain and fear. Anxiety and depression are ramped. We worry all the time over things that we have no control over. We take pills to sleep. We take pills to stay awake. Pills so we can eat better and pills to stop us from eating! We are indeed mixed up people! In themselves-not bad!
Yet, here we are reading these verses today and we can see the author of the problem. We have a few ways to respond to these verses. We can read them and forget them. We can read them and say that it does not apply to us today. We can read them and say that it is speaking of a system that is out of date. Or we can read these verses today and KNOW that it is for us today and want to deal with the reality of HOW we live in light of that truth.
HAVE LIFE!
I live in Japan. Have been living there for over 28 years. I have seen a lot of changes. At one time, it seemed to me to be like a “Leave it to Beaver” world! Clean, simple, honest, whole-some. There was the dirty side to the culture but it was hidden, out of sight of most casual visitors. Since that time, much has changed. The economic bubble burst. Work for lifetime became a concept of the past. I became more aware of the emptiness of people’s lives. Saw more evidence of a culture that was in trouble. Void of values. Cold. Emotionally detached from suffering. Lonely. Callus. Fearful. In a word, empty.
The outsiders see a people group that has it together. I spoke with a young adult just last week who told me that while in College, they studied Japanese business and education and found them wonderful. They were the real answer to the World at large. The workers were at peace within the system and all was well in the Land of the Rising Sun.
Truth be known? NOT! Suicide is one of the highest ways of dealing with any sort of problem. Back before Jesus came, the advice of the so-called councilor would be: “You say your wife ran off with a Roman gladiator? Your son was sold into slavery? Your property to the north was overrun by the Hords of the East? Is that what’s getting you down? Here is some hemlock! Drink it and be done with your problems.” No word of hope at all!
Jesus came with His message of Grace, Love and Forgiveness and the world took notice! It was not only fresh, it was with POWER! Mark 1:27 “‘The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to evil spirits and they obey Him.’”
The fact is they were used to hearing the teachers speak of what other teachers had said. The message had no real power behind it because it lacked God’s Spirit! With Jesus, there was Power to back up His Word. Listen again: I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
Let’s go back to the verse before this and see just what He was saying. “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy”
Have we been listening to this same thief?
You bet we have been! He has stolen our joy! He has stolen our peace! He has stolen our vision. Our future. Our desire to serve Him! The thief (Satan) has been successful to some extent. We are depressed with no real reason. His words have made it hard to sleep because we become focused on the problem rather than on how the Lord’s Hand could move it. He had stolen our vision to see His face—always looking for His Hand to provide and not the Face of God for WHO HE IS!
We have allowed the thief to steal from us all the time. Our self-worth. Our desire to be passionate with the Lord. Stolen our quite time and allowed us to be content with good things rather than the Best. He has stolen our image of being born into the family of God.
If someone stole your car or your wife or kidnapped your child, you would be driven to get some help or at least make a complaint with the Police. You would not be satisfied with only the memory of the lost child and return home without the desire for their return. You would want the child back—fully unharmed.
But when the thief steals our joy, we fill our lives with worry and add to the thieft.
We realize that Jesus does not steal from us. He restores us.
Ps 23:4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
The evil one also kills. He has killed our joy, our relationships, our sense of worth.
On one side, the family of the World and it’s lord, Satan, who deals with lies, threats, and murder while on the other side, the Family of Faith and the Lord of Creation Who deals with Truth, Life and Forgiveness. The Devil’s role in this world is to kill and steal and destroy while the role of our Lord Jesus is to give life.
John 10:10
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy… “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
HAVE LIFE!
1 Cor. 2:9. However, as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him” --
YOU
Adopted from I, Francis by C Carretto
You alone are Holy, Lord God, Worker of Wonders.
You are Mighty.
You are Great.
You are the Most High.
You are Supreme, our Holy Father,
You are King of Heaven and Earth.
You, Lord God, Three and One,
You are our every Good.
You, Lord God, all Good, our highest Good~
You are Lord God Living and True.
You are Charity and Love.
You are Wisdom.
You are Humility.
You are Patience.
You are Security.
You are Peace.
You are My Joy and Gladness.
You are Justice and Self-control.
You are Riches altogether Sufficient.
You are Beauty.
You are Meekness.
You are our Protector.
You are our Strength.
You are our Refreshment.
You are our Hope.
You are our Faith.
You are our most profound Kindness.
You are our Eternal Life,
You are Great and Excellent Lord,
You are All-Powerful God,
You are Unstoppable God!
You are Merciful Savior!
You are my God…
and You are my Friend.
Jesus said…“I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
The evil one also comes to destroy. Look around us and see the toll sin has on our world. Whole regions of the world have been destroyed because of greed, corruption, and lack of self-control.
Since the Fall of Man, mankind has been on the receiving end of all sorts of destructive events and warnings. The Lord knows what we need. In 2 Peter 1: 3 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
5For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.
But Jesus comes to give us life and to experience that life to the fullest according to His Grace and Mercy. All with the cuts and pain and the dirt of living yet with the Hope of Glory. He will return for us so we need to remain faithful to Him. To press on.
We need to celebrate His Faithfulness. We need to come to Him and give Him thanks for His great Grace that saves us.
John 10:9-10. (New International Version)
9. I am the gate; whoever enters through Me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
IN LIFE—LOTS OF LIES SPOKEN TO US: TV, politics, labels, books, and family members.
IN LIFE—LOTS OF THINGS ARE TAKEN FROM US: Taxes, health, life, dark hair, -- hair.
IN LIFE—LOTS OF THINGS ARE DESTROYED: future, marriages, relationships, and trust.
The list goes long and even longer for some people.
Back in 1964, the world was bright! The Beatles came out with “She Loves You” and “I Want To Hold Your Hand.” Manfred Mann sang “Do Wah Diddy Diddy.” The #1 song that year was Louis Armstrong’s “Hello Dolly.”
From 1996-present, we experienced a number of shooting in our schools that has killed numerous students, teachers, and staff. Jonesboro, Arkansas, Columbine, Colorado, Red Lake Indian Reservation in Minnesota and Amish private school in Penn have all been the sites of teenage killings. Even as early as last week, a 14-year-old boy had an arsenal of weapons at his home and seemingly the intent to use them on his school.
We read of mothers killing their children—some saying that God told them to do it. Fathers who kill the family and then put the gun in their own mouth and is found all over the living room.
Bankers who defraud their clients. Politicians who embezzles a great amount of public money. Teachers who have sexual relations with middle school children. Well, I rest my case. Horror all over the place and all this is happening in the USA. Our money says “In God We Trust” but our society acts just the opposite. Do we agree that the evil one is lying to the world and the world follows his lies!
And our churches are having a hard time of things. About 3,000 churches each month close their doors for one reason or another.
We live in a world that has pain and fear. Anxiety and depression are ramped. We worry all the time over things that we have no control over. We take pills to sleep. We take pills to stay awake. Pills so we can eat better and pills to stop us from eating! We are indeed mixed up people! In themselves-not bad!
Yet, here we are reading these verses today and we can see the author of the problem. We have a few ways to respond to these verses. We can read them and forget them. We can read them and say that it does not apply to us today. We can read them and say that it is speaking of a system that is out of date. Or we can read these verses today and KNOW that it is for us today and want to deal with the reality of HOW we live in light of that truth.
HAVE LIFE!
I live in Japan. Have been living there for over 28 years. I have seen a lot of changes. At one time, it seemed to me to be like a “Leave it to Beaver” world! Clean, simple, honest, whole-some. There was the dirty side to the culture but it was hidden, out of sight of most casual visitors. Since that time, much has changed. The economic bubble burst. Work for lifetime became a concept of the past. I became more aware of the emptiness of people’s lives. Saw more evidence of a culture that was in trouble. Void of values. Cold. Emotionally detached from suffering. Lonely. Callus. Fearful. In a word, empty.
The outsiders see a people group that has it together. I spoke with a young adult just last week who told me that while in College, they studied Japanese business and education and found them wonderful. They were the real answer to the World at large. The workers were at peace within the system and all was well in the Land of the Rising Sun.
Truth be known? NOT! Suicide is one of the highest ways of dealing with any sort of problem. Back before Jesus came, the advice of the so-called councilor would be: “You say your wife ran off with a Roman gladiator? Your son was sold into slavery? Your property to the north was overrun by the Hords of the East? Is that what’s getting you down? Here is some hemlock! Drink it and be done with your problems.” No word of hope at all!
Jesus came with His message of Grace, Love and Forgiveness and the world took notice! It was not only fresh, it was with POWER! Mark 1:27 “‘The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to evil spirits and they obey Him.’”
The fact is they were used to hearing the teachers speak of what other teachers had said. The message had no real power behind it because it lacked God’s Spirit! With Jesus, there was Power to back up His Word. Listen again: I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
Let’s go back to the verse before this and see just what He was saying. “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy”
Have we been listening to this same thief?
You bet we have been! He has stolen our joy! He has stolen our peace! He has stolen our vision. Our future. Our desire to serve Him! The thief (Satan) has been successful to some extent. We are depressed with no real reason. His words have made it hard to sleep because we become focused on the problem rather than on how the Lord’s Hand could move it. He had stolen our vision to see His face—always looking for His Hand to provide and not the Face of God for WHO HE IS!
We have allowed the thief to steal from us all the time. Our self-worth. Our desire to be passionate with the Lord. Stolen our quite time and allowed us to be content with good things rather than the Best. He has stolen our image of being born into the family of God.
If someone stole your car or your wife or kidnapped your child, you would be driven to get some help or at least make a complaint with the Police. You would not be satisfied with only the memory of the lost child and return home without the desire for their return. You would want the child back—fully unharmed.
But when the thief steals our joy, we fill our lives with worry and add to the thieft.
We realize that Jesus does not steal from us. He restores us.
Ps 23:4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
The evil one also kills. He has killed our joy, our relationships, our sense of worth.
On one side, the family of the World and it’s lord, Satan, who deals with lies, threats, and murder while on the other side, the Family of Faith and the Lord of Creation Who deals with Truth, Life and Forgiveness. The Devil’s role in this world is to kill and steal and destroy while the role of our Lord Jesus is to give life.
John 10:10
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy… “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
HAVE LIFE!
1 Cor. 2:9. However, as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him” --
YOU
Adopted from I, Francis by C Carretto
You alone are Holy, Lord God, Worker of Wonders.
You are Mighty.
You are Great.
You are the Most High.
You are Supreme, our Holy Father,
You are King of Heaven and Earth.
You, Lord God, Three and One,
You are our every Good.
You, Lord God, all Good, our highest Good~
You are Lord God Living and True.
You are Charity and Love.
You are Wisdom.
You are Humility.
You are Patience.
You are Security.
You are Peace.
You are My Joy and Gladness.
You are Justice and Self-control.
You are Riches altogether Sufficient.
You are Beauty.
You are Meekness.
You are our Protector.
You are our Strength.
You are our Refreshment.
You are our Hope.
You are our Faith.
You are our most profound Kindness.
You are our Eternal Life,
You are Great and Excellent Lord,
You are All-Powerful God,
You are Unstoppable God!
You are Merciful Savior!
You are my God…
and You are my Friend.
Jesus said…“I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
The evil one also comes to destroy. Look around us and see the toll sin has on our world. Whole regions of the world have been destroyed because of greed, corruption, and lack of self-control.
Since the Fall of Man, mankind has been on the receiving end of all sorts of destructive events and warnings. The Lord knows what we need. In 2 Peter 1: 3 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
5For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.
But Jesus comes to give us life and to experience that life to the fullest according to His Grace and Mercy. All with the cuts and pain and the dirt of living yet with the Hope of Glory. He will return for us so we need to remain faithful to Him. To press on.
We need to celebrate His Faithfulness. We need to come to Him and give Him thanks for His great Grace that saves us.
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