2024-05–12

Pastor Jonathan Falwell

Luke 18:1-8 Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, ² saying: “There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. ³ Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’ ⁴ And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man, ⁵ yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’ ” ⁶ Then the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge said. ⁷ And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? ⁸ I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”

1. The Importance of Prayer

Vs 1 Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart

• Unlike most parables, the Bible makes it clear the meaning of this parable before we even read it
• This passage is in response to the “last days” narrative Jesus gave at the end of chapter 17
• People quickly forget to run after God and get distracted by the world

2. The Burden of Oppression

Vss 2-5 There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. ³ Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’ ⁴ And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man, ⁵ yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’

• This widow continued to “cry out” to the judge for help yet he would not help.
• When the judge became tired of hearing her cries and feared what she might do, he relented.
• In our lives, there is no question we often step into the role of the widow.

3. The Promise of Deliverance

Vss 6-7 Then the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge said. ⁷ And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them?

• Jesus made it clear; God is not like the unjust judge. He wants to hear from us.
• He will ALWAYS answer our cries for help.

4. The Gift of God’s Timing

Vs 8 I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”

• God will take care of us in His timing, not ours.
• Jesus made a clear plea for all of us to faithfully trust Him, no matter the circumstances.

Action Points:

1. Prayer is not a “good” thing to do, it’s the ONLY thing to do

Phil. 4:6-7 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; ⁷ and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus

2. Don’t allow the pressures of life to drown out the promises of God
3. Trust Him and His timing completely

Prov. 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; ⁶ In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

“The Parable of the Rich Fool”
2024-04-28
Scott Bullman

Luke 12:13-21

13Then one from the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” 14 But He said to him, “Man, who made Me a judge or an arbitrator over you?” 16 Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. 17 And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’ 18 So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.” 20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’ 21 “So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”
“Jesus didn’t come to make bad people good…he came to make dead people alive.” – Skip Heitzig

15 And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.”

“Take care and be on guard against all covetousness!!”

Gen 4:7 (NLT) – “Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master.”

“Never judge your self-worth by your net-worth” – Rick Warren

THE PARABLE

16 And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully,

The issue is not how much stuff you have…but does your stuff have you.

“The Christian life is not a vow to poverty…but it is a vow to generosity.”
– Nick Floyd.

You make a living by what you get, you make a life by what you give.

“God doesn’t bless us to raise our standard of living, he blesses us to raise our standard of giving” – Dr. Jerry Falwell

17 and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’
18 And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.

• It’s not a BARN ISSUE…it’s a HEART ISSUE.
• Good stewardship is now turning to GREED.

GREED

Chuck Swindoll identifies 5 Types of Greed
1. MONEY
2. THINGS
3. FAME – an inordinate desire to be known, to be seen, to be recognized in public, to be influential and powerful.
4. PLEASURE – satisfying one’s sensual desires.
5. SECRET GREED – where we entertain excessive and inordinate desires for the good things in life because of another’s achievement.

And it leaves us wanting more and more.

• When asked how much it will take to make you happy, Howard Hughes, one of the wealthiest and most influential men of his day, said “Just a little more.”

The Pursuit for More is…

• Exhausting

Most people give up their health in the first half of their life to get money. And the second half of their life they spend all of their money to try and get their health back.
Proverbs 23:4 (NLT) – “Don’t wear yourself out trying to get rich. Be wise enough to know when to quit.”

• Expensive

Ecc. 5:11 (NLT) – “The more you have, the more people come to help you spend it. So what good is wealth—except perhaps to watch it slip through your fingers!”

We think we don’t make enough. The problem is we want too much.

“A lot of the things we think are needs are actually just GREEDS. God promises to supply all our NEEDS…not our GREEDS.” – Rick Warren

• Explosive

Proverbs 15:27 (NLT) – “Greed brings grief to the whole family…”

o 1 Tim 6:9 (NLT) – “People who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction.”

• Endless

We are addicted to upgrades.

o You can buy happiness…for a short period of time.

Ecc. 5:10 (ESV) – “He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity.”

19 And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.” 20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’

“Greed is an unquenchable desire for more that comes from discontentment. Being content with what you have releases you from the bondage of greed. Contentment frees you up to enjoy what God has given you.” – Chuck Swindoll

1 Timothy 6:6-8 (NKJV) – “Now godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.”

Philippians 4:12 (NIV) – “I have learned the SECRET of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.

The Secret to Contentment – (Rick Warren)

1. Stop comparing yourself to others
• DESIRE is not wrong…UNCONTROLLED DESIRE is.
• DON’T COVET – Comparing always leads to coveting.

2. Enjoy what you have
• God wants you to enjoy life.
Ecc. 5:19 (NLT) – “It is a good thing to receive wealth from God and the good health to enjoy it. To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life—this is indeed a gift from God.”

3. Focus on what will last forever

The rich fool totally lost sight of…

• The Brevity of Life
19 And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”

• His Own Mortality
20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you,

• You can’t take it with you.
“…and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’

Two things that will last forever:

1. The Word of God

2. People
“Matthew 6:19-20 (NKJV) – “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.”

21 So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”

• The rich fool laid up treasure for himself, trading GOD for GOLD…and as a result, lost his soul.

• Mark 8:36 (NKJV) – “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?”

• You may have a lot to live on…but do you have a lot to live for?

This parable is about money…but really, it’s not about money at all.

This story is not about inheritance…but in reality, it’s all about inheritance.
2 Corinthians 8:9 (NIV) “ For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.”

2024-04-14

Pastor Jonathan Falwell

Today, we’re going to continue in Matthew 13 with the parable of the wheats and tares. This is a parable where Jesus is referencing our world today and the constant attacks coming from satan himself.

Matthew 13:24-30 Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; ²⁵ but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. ²⁶ But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. ²⁷ So the servants of the owner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?’ ²⁸ He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The servants said to him, ‘Do you want us then to go and gather them up?’ ²⁹ But he said, ‘No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. ³⁰ Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.”

Matthew 13:36 Then Jesus sent the multitude away and went into the house. And His disciples came to Him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the tares of the field.”

1. The Playing Field

• The Sower = Jesus

Vs 37 He answered and said to them: “He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man.”

• This is a direct reference to the Gospel being spread and it taking root in the hearts of people everywhere

• The Field = The World

Vs38a The field is the world…

• A statement about our current condition of being “in the world”

• The Good Seeds = Believers

Vs 38b …the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom…

• This is a reference to those who have truly trusted Christ as Lord and Savior believing He died and rose again for us all

• The Tares = Unbelievers

Vs 38c …but the tares are the sons of the wicked one.

• “tares” – zizanion (darnel) is a weed which closely resembles wheat yet it can actually contain poison in its yield
• This is a reference to those who don’t believe, but are a counterfeit of true believers

• The Enemy = Satan

Vs39a The enemy who sowed them is the devil…

• The Harvest = Future Judgment

Vs 39b the harvest is the end of the age

• The Reapers = Angels

Vs 39c and the reapers are the angels.

2. The Game

• The Present Day

Vss 26-27 But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. ²⁷ So the servants of the owner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?’

• Jesus makes the case where believers and unbelievers are coexisting in our current world
• These “tares” are trying to destroy the “grain” in the world

• The Strategy

Vss 28-30a He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The servants said to him, ‘Do you want us then to go and gather them up?’ ²⁹ But he said, ‘No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. ³⁰ Let both grow together until the harvest

• God’s plan is we would remain in the world, but not of the world until we are with Him for eternity
• His plan includes the “wheat” making a positive impact on the “tares” through the spreading of the Gospel
• This patience shows God’s mercy and grace to an undeserving world

3. The End of the Game

• Victory Belongs to Him

Vss 40-43 Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age. ⁴¹ The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, ⁴² and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. ⁴³ Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!

• This is a statement about satan’s ultimate defeat at the hand of Jesus.
• Believers will enter into the Kingdom of God (Heaven) which has been prepared for us all (John 14) and unbelievers will spend eternity in separation from God in Hell.

Our Response:

1. Be sure of which category describes you: wheats or tares
2. Live as light within a world of darkness
3. Strive to be more like Christ
4. Do your best to introduce as many as possible to the hope of the
 Gospel

20230827 God’s Timeline

Today, we will take a view of God’s timeline for all of creation. From the beginning until the end, God has always had a plan and it’s plan for good. All that is necessary for us to experience God’s perfect plan is to trust and believe in His perfect Son.

God’s Creation

• Genesis 1, 2
• “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth…”
• John Sailhamer stated, “These seven words are the foundation of all that is to follow in the Bible. The purpose of the statement is threefold: to identify the Creator, to explain the origin of the world, and to tie the work of God in the past to the work of God in the future.”^[1]
• God created a world in perfection, for perfection.

Fall of Man

• Genesis 3
• Satan tempted man to corrupt what God had created
• The only potential for perfection was to allow choice. A people forced to worship and serve God would not be a perfect creation, they would be slaves.

The Flood

• Genesis 7
• Genesis 6:5-8 Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. ⁶ And the Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. ⁷ So the Lord said, “I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them.” ⁸ But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.
• God judges the sin of the world
• But grace still abounds

Tower of Babel

• Genesis 11:4 And they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.”
• They sought to focus worship on themselves rather than God

God’s Promise to Abraham

• Genesis 12:2-3 I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. ³ I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
• God set Abraham on a journey which would ultimately lead to the promised land

Israel in Bondage

• Exodus 1
• Israel found themselves as slaves in Egypt after the life of Joseph
• Their hardships were many and God heard their cries.
• Exodus 3:7 – He saw their oppression, He heard their cries, He has come to deliver…

Israel Delivered

• Exodus 12
• God used an imperfect Moses to deliver His people and lead them to the Promised Land

Israel’s Journey to the Messiah

• Old Testament Story
• The rest of the Old Testament is the story of God leading them to the promised Messiah and the hope of redemption

Daniel’s Prophecy

• Daniel 9:24-27 Seventy weeks are determined For your people and for your holy city, To finish the transgression, To make an end of sins, To make reconciliation for iniquity, To bring in everlasting righteousness, To seal up vision and prophecy, And to anoint the Most Holy. ²⁵ Know therefore and understand, That from the going forth of the command To restore and build Jerusalem Until Messiah the Prince, There shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; The street shall be built again, and the wall, Even in troublesome times. ²⁶ And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself; And the people of the prince who is to come Shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end of it shall be with a flood, And till the end of the war desolations are determined. ²⁷ Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; But in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, Even until the consummation, which is determined, Is poured out on the desolate.
• The 70 Weeks of Daniel
• Daniel’s prophecy points to the moment the “command to restore and build Jerusalem” was given. This was in the 20^th year of Artaxerxes’ reign when he gave the order to build Jerusalem as recorded in Nehemiah 2.
• The first set of “sevens” (seven weeks) takes us from 445 B.C. to 397 B.C. which marks the end of the Old Testament in Malachi.
• The “62 weeks” then takes us up to the time of Christ’s passion and ascension. This leads us to the time which “And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off”
• This leads to the destruction of the city of Jerusalem and its temple in 70 A.D.
• Then, there’s a pause which is referred to as the “church age” or the “age of grace”
• The 70^th Week is the 7 years of tribulation
• Vs 27 But in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering

^{Footnote for chart –} [2]

The Birth of Messiah

• Matthew 1, Luke 2

The Life of Christ

• The Gospels

The Crucifixion of Christ

• Matthew 27, Mark 15, Luke 23, John 19

The Resurrection of Christ

• Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, John 20

The Ascension of Christ

• Acts 1
• Acts 1:9-11 Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. ¹⁰ And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, ¹¹ who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”

The Church Age

• New Testament Story
• The telling of the fulfilment of Jesus’ promise to “build His church” in Matthew 16

The Rapture of the Church

• 1 Thess. 4:17 describes the “catching up” of the church
  • “then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them to meet the Lord in the air…”
• This verse is not the second coming of Christ. In fact, it clearly tells us Jesus will “take us” to be with Him
• Greek word – harpazõ – “to take away”
• 1 Cor. 15

Judgment Seat of Christ

• Romans 14, 1 Cor. 3
• 2 Cor. 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad
• This is the time where we will receive rewards for the things we have done on this earth for Christ
• This does not mean our faith is based on what we do.
• Richard Pratt says, “This well-known adage is true of Paul’s theology: “Saved by faith alone, but faith that saves is never alone.” Those who have placed their faith in Christ will demonstrate their justification by living to please him.”^[3]

Revelation Revealed

• Revelation 1-4
• John is approached to write the rest of the story
• He is given the message for the churches and is invited into the throne room of God

The Tribulation Begins

• Antichrist promises peace in Jerusalem and makes a covenant with Israel
• The reunited Roman empire comes into existence (Daniel 2; 7; Rev. 17:12)
• The two witnesses preach the Gospel during the first 3-1/2 years of this tribulation period

The Seven Seals of Judgment

• Revelation 6 through 8:6
• White Horse representing a conquering power
• Red Horse representing war and death
• Black Horse representing the famine to come
• Pale Horse representing pestilence and death
  • ¼ of the population of the earth dead
  • 3 Billion People (2.6 billion raptured)
• Martyrs under the altar
• World trembles
• Silence
• Widespread devastation and death on the earth

The Seven Trumpets of Judgment

• Revelation 8:7 through 11:19
• Hail and Fire
• Mountains into the sea
• Star and Wormword
• Third of the Sun, Moon and stars struck
• Locusts
• Release of four angels
• Woe on the earth
• 1/3 of the population killed (another 1.3 billion people)
• A continuation of the devastation and death

The Mid-Point of the Tribulation

• Revelation 12-14
• The Dragon (Satan)
• The Beast (Antichrist)
• The False Prophet
• Antichrist kills the two witnesses
• Antichrist reneges on his promise to Israel

The Great Tribulation Begins

• Revelation 15-16
• The last three and a half years of the 7 Year Tribulation
• The mark of the beast is required of those who wish to eat, trade and live
• Those not taking the mark are persecuted and killed
• The Seven Bowls of Judgment
  • Sores
  • Sea into blood
  • Fresh water into blood
  • Extreme heat from the sun
  • Darkess in the land
  • Euphrates dries up
  • Earthquake and Armageddon

The End of the Great Tribulation

• Revelation 17-19
• Babylon Falls
• Armageddon
• Defeat of Satan and his armies

Second Coming of Christ

• Acts 1:9-11 predicted the manner in which He would come
• 1:7 Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.
• Revelation 19:11-21 – He defeats the Antichrist and the armies of this world
• 22:20b “…Surely I am coming quickly.”

Marriage Supper of the Lamb

• Revelation 19:7-9a Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” ⁸ And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. ⁹ Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’…
• As Adrian Rogers said when asked how we are to be ready for this banquet, “first, there’s redemption…second, there’s the rapture…third, there’s the reward”

The 1,000 Year Reign of Christ (Millenial Reign)

• Revelation 20:1-6 “so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished”
• Satan is bound for, 1000 years
• 20 refers to 1,000 years 6 times
• Satan will be loosed and gather Gog and Magog (the unbelievers from the millennial reign) to come against the throne of God, they will be destroyed as we read in Rev. 20:7-9
• Ezekial 28:16-19 describes Satan’s past and his end

            Ezekiel 28:16-19 By the abundance of your trading, You became filled with violence within, And you sinned; Therefore I cast you as a profane thing Out of the mountain of God; And I destroyed you, O covering cherub, From the midst of the fiery stones. ¹⁷ “Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty; You corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor; I cast you to the ground, I laid you before kings, That they might gaze at you. ¹⁸            “You defiled your sanctuaries By the multitude of your iniquities, By the iniquity of your trading; Therefore I brought fire from your midst; It devoured you, And I turned you to ashes upon the earth In the sight of all who saw you. ¹⁹ All who knew you among the peoples are astonished at you; You have become a horror, And shall be no more forever.”

The Great White Throne Judgment

• Revelation 20:7-14
• John 5:28-29
• Daniel 12:2
• The books opened
• Four groups – the unsaved dead, satan, fallen angels, millennial believers
• Those whose names are not found in the Book of Life will be cast into the lake of fire for all eternity
• Rev 20:10 “tormented for ever and ever”

The New Heaven, New Earth and New Jerusalem

• Revelation 21-22

Eternity

• John 3:16-17 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. ¹⁷ For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved
• Rev 21:3-4 – God “will be with them”

Bob Bonheim says, “Jesus, the Lord Jesus Christ is the bright morning star. He is the Son of the morning, the forever Day Star. He is both Creator of David and also His actual descendant. He is without a doubt both God and man. This Book is His final warning to all before He comes. There is still time to come to Him and embrace eternal life. The Holy Spirit is calling and all the redeemed are urging people to come to Jesus and drink of the water of life freely.”[4]

^[1] John H. Sailhamer, “Genesis,” in The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, ed. Frank E. Gaebelein, vol. 2 (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1990), 19–20.

[2] McGee, J. Vernon. Thru the Bible Commentary: The Prophets (Daniel). Electronic ed. Vol. 26. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1991.

^[3] Richard L. Pratt Jr, I & II Corinthians, vol. 7, Holman New Testament Commentary (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2000), 355.

[4] Bonheim, R. (2005). Revelator. Xulon Press, page 172.

July 24, 2022
Charles Billingsley

The Marks of a Believer

1. We Love God 

1 John 5:1
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God,
and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him.

2. We love God’s son

3. We love God’s children

4. We obey His commandments

1 John 5:2
By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments.

1 John 5:3
For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.

5. We are overcomers of this world

1 John 5:4
For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.

John 15:4-5
⁴ Remain (or abide) in me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, neither can you unless you remain in me. ⁵ I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without me.

1 John 5:5
Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

1 John 5:6-12
⁶ This is he who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not by the water only but by the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. ⁷ For there are three that testify: ⁸ the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree. ⁹ If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater, for this is the testimony of God that he has borne concerning his Son. ¹⁰ Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne concerning his Son. ¹¹ And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. ¹² Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

6. We Live in confidence

1 John 5:13
I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.

2018-12-30
Pastor Jonathan Falwell

Key Verse: Philippians 3:12 I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me.

1. Nobody’s Perfect

a. Phil. 3:12a I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection.

b. Your spiritual journey doesn’t need to look like the Apostle Paul’s to be effective

c. Perfection is not the goal, obedience is!

2. Keep Trying

a. Vs 12b But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me.

b. Knowing that it’s a constant journey, we need to remain focused on what matters

c. Don’t be discouraged by sidetracks or train wrecks, keep moving

3. Let Go Of What’s Behind

a. Vs 13a No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past

b. We must let go of what slows us or stops us

c. Too many people are bound by the failures of the past which keeps us from the successes in the future

d. Recognize that no one is perfect, everyone has baggage, failures are a part of the journey, and we can ALL move past them

4. Look Forward To What’s Ahead

a. Vs 13b … and looking forward to what lies ahead,

b. What lies ahead?

• Getting to know Him better
• Spiritual maturity
• Spiritual impact
• Changed lives
• Heaven

5. Do What’s Needed

a. Vs 14 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

b. Finishing well is the mark of a faithful follower

c. Dropping off along the way happens when we take our eyes off of the prize

d. Keep your focus on God’s will and plan for your life and you will win the race

Keep your focus

1. Stay in God’s Word daily
2. Talk to Him daily
3. Keep a journal of what you’re learning, reading, praying
4. Read books, stories, articles about faithful followers of Christ
5. Connect with others in the journey to remain accountable
6. Prioritize your faith walk over EVERYTHING else
7. Don’t quit

2018-12-16
Pastor Jonathan Falwell

Key Verse: Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Jeremiah 23:5-6 Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord, “That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; A King shall reign and prosper, And execute judgment and righteousness in the earth. 6 In His days Judah will be saved, And Israel will dwell safely; Now this is His name by which He will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.

2 Samuel 7:12-13 When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever
Jeremiah 22:24-30 As I live,” says the Lord, “though Coniah the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, were the signet on My right hand, yet I would pluck you off; 25 and I will give you into the hand of those who seek your life, and into the hand of those whose face you fear—the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and the hand of the Chaldeans. 26 So I will cast you out, and your mother who bore you, into another country where you were not born; and there you shall die. 27 But to the land to which they desire to return, there they shall not return. 28 “Is this man Coniah a despised, broken idol—A vessel in which is no pleasure? Why are they cast out, he and his descendants, And cast into a land which they do not know? 29 O earth, earth, earth, Hear the word of the Lord! 30 Thus says the Lord: ‘Write this man down as childless, A man who shall not prosper in his days; For none of his descendants shall prosper, Sitting on the throne of David, And ruling anymore in Judah.’

When we read the genealogy of Christ, recorded in two places in Scripture, we find what could be contradictions in God’s Word. It’s important to know that these supposed contradictions do not exist at all and that Jesus is the Messiah, sent to take away the sins of the world. Jesus was and is the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies of the coming messiah.

We also see the interesting line of characters that make up Jesus’ family tree. A great encouragement to all of us.

1. Messiah Will Be In The line of David

a. 2 Samuel 7:13b …and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.

b. Psalm 89 and other passages promise that from the line of David the messiah will come

c. Matthew 1:6 – the line of David (through Solomon)

d. Luke 3:31-32 – the line of David (through Nathan)

e. Fulfills the OT prophecies of the coming Messiah

2. Messiah Will Not Be In The Line of Jehoiachin

a. Jeremiah 22:30 Thus says the Lord: ‘Write this man down as childless, A man who shall not prosper in his days; For none of his descendants shall prosper, Sitting on the throne of David, And ruling anymore in Judah.

b. Luke 3:31-32a the son of Melea, the son of Menan, the son of Mattathah, the son of Nathan, the son of David, 32 the son of Jesse…

c. Luke gives us the genealogy that leads to Jesus but through Mary’s line

d. Therefore, Jesus fulfills the prophecy through the line of Joseph AND He fulfills the prophecy that He will not be through the line of Jehoiachin

e. Fulfills the OT prophecy that the coming messiah will not come through Jehoiachin

3. Messiah Will Be In The Line of the Good

a. Matthew 1 gives us the story of 28 generations through about 1800 years

b. Luke 3 gives us the story all the way back to Adam (beginning of time)

c. Jesus came through the line of some of the great stories of the Bible

4. Messiah Will Be In The Line of the Bad

a. Abraham lied (Genesis 12 & 20)

b. Isaac lied (Genesis 26)

c. Jacob lied and cheated (Genesis 27)

d. Judah helped sell his brother as a slave (Genesis 37)

e. Rahab was a prostitute (Joshua 2)

f. Ruth was a gentile (Book of Ruth)

g. David was a murderer and an adulterer (2 Samuel 11 & 12)

h. Bathsheba cheated on her husband (2 Samuel 11)

i. Solomon allowed the worship of false gods (1 Kings 11)

j. Rehoboam walked away from his father’s generation and legacy and split Israel in two (1 Kings 12)

k. Multiple kings listed were evil (i.e. Manassah, Jehoiachin)

5. Messiah Can Use Anyone At Anytime To Change the World

a. Are you allowing Him to use you?

2018-12-02
Pastor Jonathan Falwell

Key Verse: Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Over the next few weeks we will obviously be talking about the greatest gift ever given to mankind, the gift of Jesus. The very idea that God could love us all so much that He sent His Son just for us, to allow us to be redeemed through His sacrifice, is a gift we never could have even imagined. Yet, God from the beginning of time, had a plan. Today, I’d like to spend some time not in the New Testament, but in the Old Testament seeing God’s plan being foretold. Within the pages of the Old Testament, around 300 prophecies are given about Jesus that He, and He alone, fulfilled.

1. The Coming Enemy of Satan

Genesis 3:15a And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed;

• “He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel”
• The rest of this verse refers to Christ’s death on the cross but His ultimate victory over Satan
• This is a clear picture of God’s redemptive plan revealed immediately following the introduction of sin into His creation

Galatians 3:16 Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as of many, but as of one, “And to your Seed,” who is Christ.

2. The Coming Blessing

Genesis 22:18 In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.”

– Abraham promised by God that all would be blessed through his seed

– Jesus was the fulfillment of this promise

3. The Coming Ruler

Numbers 24:17a I see Him, but not now; I behold Him, but not near; A Star shall come out of Jacob; A Scepter shall rise out of Israel,

– The prophecy of Balaam telling of the coming Messiah

– Jesus is that Star, that Scepter

– vs 24:17b “And batter the brow of Moab,And destroy all the sons of tumult.”

– Jesus came to rule over all

4. The Coming Presence

Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel

Matthew 1:18-23 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. 20 But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” 22 So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”

– God with us is the ultimate promise of His presence in our lives

5. The Coming Hope

Isaiah 11:1-5 (NLT) Out of the stump of David’s family will grow a shoot— yes, a new Branch bearing fruit from the old root. 2 And the Spirit of the Lord will rest on him— the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. 3 He will delight in obeying the Lord. He will not judge by appearance nor make a decision based on hearsay. 4 He will give justice to the poor and make fair decisions for the exploited. The earth will shake at the force of his word, and one breath from his mouth will destroy the wicked. 5 He will wear righteousness like a belt and truth like an undergarment.

• We may have trouble in our world now, but Jesus is our hope
• He came to deliver, to protect, to judge and to forgive

The story of Christmas is one in which God provided a way for all of mankind to be redeemed, going all the way back to the Garden of Eden. His gift is the gift of love, the promise of forgiveness, the hope of restoration, and the future of Heaven. The only question that remains is this…will you believe?

2018-11-18
Scott Bullman

KEY VERSE: “Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. (1 Thess. 5:16-18 – NLT)

Thanksgiving is more than a holiday…it is a lifestyle. We’ve heard it said that “God’s gift to you is your life, but what you do with it is your gift to Him.” Giving thanks is not a response to circumstances or possessions…it is a posture of worship.

Psalm 50:23 (NLT) – “Giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honors me.”

A Lifestyle of Thanksgiving requires…

1. AWARENESS

Psalm 31:19 (NIV) – “How abundant are the good things that you have stored up for those who fear you.”

Psalm 103:2 (NLT) – “Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me.”

Philippians 4:6 (NLT) – Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.

“Reflect upon your present blessings of which every man has many – not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some.” – Charles Dickens

2. ATTITUDE

¬ CONTENTMENT

Philippians 4:12-13 (NIV) – “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”

3 Enemies of Contentment:

1. Complaining

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (The Message) “Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live.”

2. Comparing

2 Corinithians 10:12 (NLT) – “Oh, don’t worry; we wouldn’t dare say that we are as wonderful as these other men who tell you how important they are! But they are only comparing themselves with each other, using themselves as the standard of measurement. How ignorant!”

3. Coveting

Ecclesiates 6:9 (NLT) – “Enjoy what you have rather than desiring what you don’t have.

¬ GRATITUDE

Lamentations 3:24 (NASB) – “The Lord is my portion…therefore I have hope in Him.”

– Gratitude turns what we have into enough.

3. ACTION

¬ Giving

2 Corinthians 9:6-8 (NLT) – “Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. 7 You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. For God loves a person who gives cheerfully. And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.”

– All the blessings we enjoy are Divine deposits, committed to our trust on this condition, that they should be dispensed for the benefit of our neighbors. – John Calvin

¬ Serving

1 Peter 4:10 – NLT –  “God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.”

1 Peter 4:10 (THE MESSAGE): “Be generous with the different things God gave you, passing them around so all get in on it: if words, let it be God’s words; if help, let it be God’s hearty help. That way, God’s bright presence will be evident in everything through Jesus, and he’ll get all the credit as the One mighty in everything.”

¬ Telling

Psalm 107:1-2 (NIV) – “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; his love endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story.”

“Oh give thanks to the Lord! Call upon his name; make known his deeds among the people!”  – 1 Chronicles 16:8

¬ Worship

Psalm 100 (NIV) – “Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. 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. 4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. 5 For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.”

2018-11-04
Pastor Jonathan Falwell

Key Verse: Ephesians 6:10
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.

Today, we conclude our series entitled Masquerade. During this series, we have taken a deep dive into the things we do, either intentionally or subconsciously, to hide reality and to be what we are not. We’ve dealt with issues like forgiveness, past pains, pride, social media, addictions, religion over relationship and many others. In this sermon, we will see that victory is assured in Christ alone.

Ephesians 6:10-20 (NLT) A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. 12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. 14 Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. 15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. 16 In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. 17 Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere. 19 And pray for me, too. Ask God to give me the right words so I can boldly explain God’s mysterious plan that the Good News is for Jews and Gentiles alike. 20 I am in chains now, still preaching this message as God’s ambassador. So pray that I will keep on speaking boldly for him, as I should.

1. A Final Word (vs 10)

• Greek word – “loipos” – the rest of the whole

2. Be Strong – (vs 10b)

• 6:10b…Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.
• It is not possible to be strong on your own, it takes HIM!
• Taking off the masks we are so likely wearing can only be done with the help and presence of Christ
  • Our masks exist because of our feelings of inadequacy, jealousy, pride, past pain
  • They exist because we are valuing our lives based not on God’s view of our lives but on man’s

3. We Have What We Need

• 6:11-13a Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. ¹² For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. ¹³ Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil…
• God has equipped us with everything needed to win the battle
• Only thing keeping us from winning is us

4. Stand Your Ground

• 6:13b-14a Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. ¹⁴ Stand your ground…

5. Truth Matters (vs 14b)

• 6:14b …putting on the belt of truth…
• Greek word – “perizonnymi”– to gird yourself
• Greek word – “aletheia”– something that actually happened
• A false view of our lives or a low self esteem that leads us to wear the mask is what keeps us from the full protection of the armor of God

6. The Truth of the Truth

• Truth never changes
  • Proverbs 12:19 Truthful words stand the test of time, but lies are soon exposed.
• Truth frees us
  • John 8:32 And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.
• Truth is found only in Him
  • John 14:6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me

7. The End Game – (vss 19-20)

• 6:19-20 And pray for me, too. Ask God to give me the right words so I can boldly explain God’s mysterious plan that the Good News is for Jews and Gentiles alike. ²⁰ I am in chains now, still preaching this message as God’s ambassador. So pray that I will keep on speaking boldly for him, as I should.

2018-10-14
Pastor Jonathan Falwell

Key Verse: Romans 8:5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.

Romans 8:5-8 (NLT) 5 Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. 6 So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. 7 For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will. 8 That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God.

Our Digital Masks

Are living in the Spirit or in the Flesh?

James 4:1-8 (NLT) What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you? 2 You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it. 3 And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure. 4 You adulterers! Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God. 5 Do you think the Scriptures have no meaning? They say that God is passionate that the spirit he has placed within us should be faithful to him. 6 And he gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 7 So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world

1. Rage and Anger – Hiding behind our digital masks allows us to act as we never would face to face

Vs 1 What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you?

Galatians 6:10 Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.

Ephesians 4:15 Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church

2. Jealousy – Envy leads us to attack, denigrate, and criticize others

Vs 2a You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them.

Vs 2b-3 Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it. 3 And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure.

James 3:16 For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.

3. Desire for Acceptance – Our lack of self acceptance leads to a false “us”

Vs 4-5 You adulterers! Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God. 5 Do you think the Scriptures have no meaning? They say that God is passionate that the spirit he has placed within us should be faithful to him.

4. Pride – Digital masks permit us to put pride on parade

Vs 6 And he gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

Proverbs 11:2 Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.

Proverbs 16:5 The Lord detests the proud; they will surely be punished.

5. Our Response

Vs 7-8 So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.

– Social media is not evil but can be used for evil

– Think about the words you share BEFORE you post

– Recognize that God created us IN HIS OWN IMAGE, you don’t need to try to be anybody else but YOU!

– Know that every word you speak, share or post can either help you accomplish God’s will for your life or keep you from it

People’s decisions about how they intend to live determines how they think about things. Moral choice precedes and determines intellectual orientation. People do not think themselves into the way they act but act themselves into the way they think.

1 Mounce, R. H. (1995). Romans (Vol. 27, p. 177). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.

2018-09-30
Pastor Jonathan Falwell

Key Verse: Matthew 10:26 Therefore do not fear them. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known.

For the next several weeks, we are going to talk about an issue that all of us struggle with to varying degrees throughout our lives. Some struggle continually and never find success in defeating this dangerous condition. What we are talking about today is the art of covering. In other words, masking who we really are to try to be who we really aren’t. This takes on many forms and paths and over the next few weeks, we will talk about a number of different ways we stay behind the masks of life in order to hide what is really going on inside. But today, we’re going to simply set the stage for our discussions over the next few weeks.

Genesis 27:1-29 (NLT) One day when Isaac was old and turning blind, he called for Esau, his older son, and said, “My son.” “Yes, Father?” Esau replied. 2 “I am an old man now,” Isaac said, “and I don’t know when I may die. 3 Take your bow and a quiver full of arrows, and go out into the open country to hunt some wild game for me. 4 Prepare my favorite dish, and bring it here for me to eat. Then I will pronounce the blessing that belongs to you, my firstborn son, before I die.” 5 But Rebekah overheard what Isaac had said to his son Esau. So when Esau left to hunt for the wild game, 6 she said to her son Jacob, “Listen. I overheard your father say to Esau, 7 ‘Bring me some wild game and prepare me a delicious meal. Then I will bless you in the Lord’s presence before I die.’ 8 Now, my son, listen to me. Do exactly as I tell you. 9 Go out to the flocks, and bring me two fine young goats. I’ll use them to prepare your father’s favorite dish. 10 Then take the food to your father so he can eat it and bless you before he dies.” 11 “But look,” Jacob replied to Rebekah, “my brother, Esau, is a hairy man, and my skin is smooth. 12 What if my father touches me? He’ll see that I’m trying to trick him, and then he’ll curse me instead of blessing me.” 13 But his mother replied, “Then let the curse fall on me, my son! Just do what I tell you. Go out and get the goats for me!” 14 So Jacob went out and got the young goats for his mother. Rebekah took them and prepared a delicious meal, just the way Isaac liked it. 15 Then she took Esau’s favorite clothes, which were there in the house, and gave them to her younger son, Jacob. 16 She covered his arms and the smooth part of his neck with the skin of the young goats. 17 Then she gave Jacob the delicious meal, including freshly baked bread. 18 So Jacob took the food to his father. “My father?” he said. “Yes, my son,” Isaac answered. “Who are you—Esau or Jacob?” 19 Jacob replied, “It’s Esau, your firstborn son. I’ve done as you told me. Here is the wild game. Now sit up and eat it so you can give me your blessing.” 20 Isaac asked, “How did you find it so quickly, my son?” “The Lord your God put it in my path!” Jacob replied. 21 Then Isaac said to Jacob, “Come closer so I can touch you and make sure that you really are Esau.” 22 So Jacob went closer to his father, and Isaac touched him. “The voice is Jacob’s, but the hands are Esau’s,” Isaac said. 23 But he did not recognize Jacob, because Jacob’s hands felt hairy just like Esau’s. So Isaac prepared to bless Jacob. 24 “But are you really my son Esau?” he asked. “Yes, I am,” Jacob replied. 25 Then Isaac said, “Now, my son, bring me the wild game. Let me eat it, and then I will give you my blessing.” So Jacob took the food to his father, and Isaac ate it. He also drank the wine that Jacob served him. 26 Then Isaac said to Jacob, “Please come a little closer and kiss me, my son.” 27 So Jacob went over and kissed him. And when Isaac caught the smell of his clothes, he was finally convinced, and he blessed his son. He said, “Ah! The smell of my son is like the smell of the outdoors, which the Lord has blessed! 28 “From the dew of heaven and the richness of the earth, may God always give you abundant harvests of grain and bountiful new wine. 29 May many nations become your servants, and may they bow down to you. May you be the master over your brothers, and may your mother’s sons bow down to you. All who curse you will be cursed, and all who bless you will be blessed.”

1. Putting on our masks starts with deceit

vss 5-10 But Rebekah overheard what Isaac had said to his son Esau. So when Esau left to hunt for the wild game, 6 she said to her son Jacob, “Listen. I overheard your father say to Esau, 7 ‘Bring me some wild game and prepare me a delicious meal. Then I will bless you in the Lord’s presence before I die.’ 8 Now, my son, listen to me. Do exactly as I tell you.  9 Go out to the flocks, and bring me two fine young goats. I’ll use them to prepare your father’s favorite dish. 10 Then take the food to your father so he can eat it and bless you before he dies.”

– This entire situation began with a desire to deceive

– The same could be said of our own attempts to mask reality, it all begins with a desire to deceive, for many different reasons:

a. Fear

b. Embarrassment

c. Greed

2. Putting on our masks starts with feelings of inadequacies

vss 11-12 “But look,” Jacob replied to Rebekah, “my brother, Esau, is a hairy man, and my skin is smooth. 12 What if my father touches me? He’ll see that I’m trying to trick him, and then he’ll curse me instead of blessing me.”

– The idea that we are just not good enough leads us to hide behind man-made masks

3. Once we put on the mask, it starts a never ending cycle

Vss 18-24 So Jacob took the food to his father. “My father?” he said. “Yes, my son,” Isaac answered. “Who are you—Esau or Jacob?” 19 Jacob replied, “It’s Esau, your firstborn son. I’ve done as you told me. Here is the wild game. Now sit up and eat it so you can give me your blessing.” 20 Isaac asked, “How did you find it so quickly, my son?” “The Lord your God put it in my path!” Jacob replied. 21 Then Isaac said to Jacob, “Come closer so I can touch you and make sure that you really are Esau.” 22 So Jacob went closer to his father, and Isaac touched him. “The voice is Jacob’s, but the hands are Esau’s,” Isaac said. 23 But he did not recognize Jacob, because Jacob’s hands felt hairy just like Esau’s. So Isaac prepared to bless Jacob. 24 “But are you really my son Esau?” he asked. “Yes, I am,” Jacob replied.

– Leading to more deceit, more pain, more broken relationships

4. Our masks will all be removed

– No matter how hard we try to conceal, every mask will be removed

– Our goal should be to remove it ourselves before it is removed another way

Hebrews 4:13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.

Matthew 10:26 “But don’t be afraid of those who threaten you. For the time is coming when everything that is covered will be revealed, and all that is secret will be made known to all.

2018-09-16
Matt Willmington

Key verse:
Matthew 28:19-20
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

We know WHY we should be in the church. But HOW do we do church? Simply put, we do church by carrying out the Great Commission Jesus gave us. Church is the family of God, under the authority of God, living out the word of God, on the mission of God.

Church is Family of God, under the Authority of God, living out the Word of God, on the Mission of God.

Matthew 4:18 NLT One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers—Simon, also called Peter, and Andrew—throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living. 19 Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” 20 And they left their nets at once and followed him.

Matthew 11:28 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

Yoke. Direction, destination, experience, energy, assignment, companionship, reward

How many steps 10-1 are you from Jesus?

Who you FOLLOWING? WHO’S with you? WHO are you bringing?

Matthew 28:16 Then the eleven disciples left for Galilee, going to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him—but some of them doubted! 18 Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Tell, Grow, Send. [START book]

1. TELL – “Preach”, “Be witnesses”. Pray for people. Tell them your story / Jesus’ story- ask about their story. Help them get baptized. WHO? Work, school, neighbor, kids…

• OBEY = Have YOU come to Jesus? been baptized?
• OBEY = WHO will you pray / tell / invite?

2 GROW – “Obey ALL” Read, pray with them

• OBEY = Are you reading, praying with ‘family’?
• OBEY = Who are you helping do this?

3 SEND – “Go” [participle], “make disciples” [verb]. Global or Local? Glocal!

• OBEY = Are you going? START! Across street, Across the HALL, across world
• OBEY = Who are you helping to go? Giving, praying,

Daniel 7:13 As my vision continued that night, I saw someone like a son of man coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient One and was led into his presence. 14 He was given authority, honor, and sovereignty over all the nations of the world, so that people of every race and nation and language would obey him. His rule is eternal—it will never end. His kingdom will never be destroyed.

Revelation 7:9 After this I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes and held palm branches in their hands. 10 And they were shouting with a great roar, “Salvation comes from our God who sits on the throne and from the Lamb!”

2018-09-02
Pastor Jonathan Falwell

Key verse: Ephesians 1:13-14 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.

We’ve talked about why we must not allow ourselves to buy into the lie that it is not important to gather together as the visible church. (Hebrews 10). Last week, we talked about the definition of a church. What is a church, the “ekklesia” that the Bible describes. We are the body of Christ, all different parts but critical to the whole as we live out our lives as the church.

Today, let’s talk about the purpose of the church. If God “built His church” with the idea of being His own body, wanting us to get together regularly, knowing there is strength in numbers as we gather, then what exactly does He want us to do?

A church is an assembly of believers in whom Christ dwells, under the discipline of the Word of God, organized for evangelism, education, fellowship, and worship, administering the ordinances and reflecting the spiritual gifts. – Elmer Towns

Dr. Towns gives us a great definition of what a church “is”, today let’s talk about what a church “does.”

1. We give Him Glory

Ephesians 1:12-14 (NLT) God’s purpose was that we Jews who were the first to trust in Christ would bring praise and glory to God. 13 And now you Gentiles have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago. 14 The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him.

2. We bring Him Growth

a. Through the proclamation of the Gospel (Mark 16, Matt 28, Acts 1)

Colossians 1:28–29 (NLT) So we tell others about Christ, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all the wisdom God has given us. We want to present them to God, perfect in their relationship to Christ. 29 That’s why I work and struggle so hard, depending on Christ’s mighty power that works within me.

b. Through discipleship (our own spiritual growth as well as others) Col. 2

Ephesians 4:14-15 (NLT) Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. 15 Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.

3. We celebrate Grace

a. Grace shown to us

Ephesians 1:6-8 (NLT) So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. 7 He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. 8 He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding.

Grace is the offer of God’s ceaseless presence and irrational love that cannot be stopped. It’s the flow of God’s power and presence and favor in your life from one moment to the next that enables you to do whatever it is God has for you to do. – John Ortberg

b. Grace shown to others

1 Peter 2:9 (NLT) But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.

1 Peter 4:8-10 (NLT) Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay. 10 God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.

4. We recognize His Grip  – His keeping power

Mark 16:15 (NLT) And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.

Hebrews 7:25 (NLT) Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf.

1 Corinthians 1:8-9 (NLT) He will keep you strong to the end so that you will be free from all blame on the day when our Lord Jesus Christ returns. 9 God will do this, for he is faithful to do what he says, and he has invited you into partnership with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Why Church? The Importance of Together

2018-08-19
Pastor Jonathan Falwell

Today, we are going to begin a conversation that will take us through the next few weeks discussing the church. Not this church, but THE CHURCH! Christ’s church and the importance of it in today’s culture, and more importantly, in your life. So many today are questioning whether it is important to be a part of the church so we will spend time digging into God’s Word to see how truly important it is and why everyone should consider church a non-negotiable. So, WHY CHURCH?

To discuss the importance of why we should be part of the church, we must begin with a discussion of the message of the church.

What was and what now is

Hebrews 10:11-18 And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, 13 from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. 14 For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. 15 But the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us; for after He had said before, 16 “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,” 17 then He adds, “Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” 18 Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.

Hebrews 10:19-25 Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and having a High Priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

1. Christ’s death on the cross provided the way

12 But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God,
14 For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.

2. A final payment for our sins

16 “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,” 17 then He adds, “Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” 18 Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.

Our Response

1. Desire to be in His presence

19 Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and having a High Priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

2. Complete confidence in our faith

23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.

3. Recognition that we need one another

24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works,

4. Accepting the importance of together

25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

Moffatt says, “Any early Christian who attempted to live like a pious particle without the support of the community ran serious risks in an age when there was no public opinion to support him”

The power of the cross

Hebrews 10:10 By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Morris, L. (1981). Hebrews. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Hebrews through Revelation (Vol. 12, p. 105). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.

2018-08-05

Pastor Jonathan Falwell

Key Verse: Acts 16:13 (NKJV) So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

1. God can use anyone

Acts 16:13 And on the Sabbath day we went out of the city to the riverside, where prayer was customarily made; and we sat down and spoke to the women who met there. 14 Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God. The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul. 15 And when she and her household were baptized…

– Lydia had traveled from her home to Philippi to do business

– She was faithful woman who worshiped God, but had not yet been saved. She was following Jewish tradition but not Christ

– Then, we she heard the Gospel from Paul, immediately everything changed. She was the first Christian convert in Europe and one of the key players in the church’s arrival in Europe (her home was the first house church)

2. God can use anyone…anywhere

Acts 16:25 But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed. 27 And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself. 28 But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.” 29 Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized. 34 Now when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household.

– Paul and Silas had been beaten and thrown in jail

– They had every reason to be angry and disenfranchised with their faith, but they weren’t, because something was different inside them. What was it?

Three attributes of “anyone” being used “anywhere”…

1. Worshiping

– In the midst of suffering, they didn’t complain, they worshipped

2. Listening

– In the midst of worshipping, they had their ears open for God’s plan and purpose

3. Willing

– When they heard God’s plan, they responded

2018-07-08
Pastor Jonathan Falwell

Key Verse: Acts 9:20  Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God.

Today, we’ll begin a Summer series walking through some familiar, powerful stories from the New Testament that I believe can help bolster our faith. These are stories that most of us have heard or read, yet today we’re going old school once again and using the “power of flannel graph” to revisit these stories. And today’s story is about a man named Saul, or Paul, as we now know him.

1. When He Calls, LISTEN!

– Even if you think you’re doing the right thing.

– Paul thought he was doing important work for his religion
Acts 9:1-2 Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

2. God’s Call Is Unmistakable

Acts 9:3-4 As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. 4 Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”

– while most of us will never have a blinding light and a loud voice show up in the midst of a walk, when God calls us it is still undeniable

– He speaks through His Word

– He speaks through His Spirit

3. God’s Call Can Be Confusing

Acts 9:10-15 Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” 11 So the Lord said to him, “Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying. 12 And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight.” 13 Then Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.” 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel.

– God didn’t give Ananias the luxury of reason

– Though Ananias wasn’t sure about the task he was given, he obeyed because it came from God

– Even though the work seemed to be scary and uncomfortable

4. God’s Call Is Urgent

Acts 9:20-22 Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God. 21 Then all who heard were amazed, and said, “Is this not he who destroyed those who called on this name in Jerusalem, and has come here for that purpose, so that he might bring them bound to the chief priests?” 22 But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, proving that this Jesus is the Christ.

2018-06-24
Pastor Jonathan Falwell

Key Verse: Matthew 16:18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

For the next two weeks, we’re going to have what might be considered a family meeting. This will be an opportunity for us to come together and celebrate what God has done and dream about what He wants to do in the days ahead. We’re going to break this sermon down into two parts, part 1 today and part 2 will be next Sunday. Here’s the question that we’ll attempt to answer; What does God want us to do as His Church? Well, let’s get into the Word of God and find out

Matthew 16:18-19 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. 19 And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

Eph. 4:7-16 (NLT) However, he has given each one of us a special gift through the generosity of Christ. 8 That is why the Scriptures say, “When he ascended to the heights, he led a crowd of captives and gave gifts to his people.” 9 Notice that it says “he ascended.” This clearly means that Christ also descended to our lowly world.10 And the same one who descended is the one who ascended higher than all the heavens, so that he might fill the entire universe with himself. 11 Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers.12 Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. 13 This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ. 14 Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth.15 Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. 16 He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.

The Church – There and Here

1. It is Christ that builds the church

– Matt 16:18b “… I will build My church,”

– It’s not up to us

– We can’t destroy it, we can’t stop it!

– Nor can the world

– The world, and some within the church, desire to keep the church from being what Christ intended…but 1 John 4:4 gives us the encouragement that He  equips us with the ability to see their attempts.

2. Christ has chosen us to be His tools

– Eph. 4:7 However, he has given each one of us a special gift through the generosity of Christ.

– While Christ builds the church, He has chosen us to help

– If we fail in our duty, He’ll raise up someone else

3. He has equipped us for the job

– Eph. 4:11-12 Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers.12 Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.

4. He uses the church to grow us

– Eph. 4:13 This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ. 14 Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth

– This is where 1 John 4:4 comes into play, our growth within the church helps us to discern the problem outside the church

5. And then He uses us to grow the church

– Eph. 4:15-16 Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. 16 He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.

– Go into all the world…

– “so that the whole body is healthy and growing…”

– that phrase is not about TRBC Lynchburg, it is about the global church

Eph. 4:1 Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God.

2018-06-10
Pastor Jonathan Falwell

Key Verse: Galatians 5:24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

For the last few weeks, we’ve been talking about the Holy Spirit’s presence and purpose in our lives. Going back to Acts 1 when He was promised, Acts 2 when He arrived, and on and on as His present work continues to lead and guide us. Spirit-filled and Spirit-led living is the only way to find joy in life. Today, let’s talk about the importance of LETTING Him do His work in our lives.

Galatians 5:16-26 (NLT) So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. 17 The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. 18 But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses. 19 When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, 21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God. 22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. 25 Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. 26 Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another.

Spirit Led Living

1. Live in poverty

– Total dependence

– vs 16 So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.

2. Because it’s an uphill battle

– vs 17 The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions.

– Doing the right thing is always tough but always right

– Paul said even he struggled with doing right in Romans 7:15

– There’s an internal battle going on daily in your heart and mind. Let God’s Word and His presence strengthen you to be on the right side.

3. But you can do it

– vs 18a But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses.

4. He will make you what you need to be

– vs 22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

– When allowed, the Holy Spirit will do a great work in our hearts which will naturally flow out in what we do.

– Complete surrender is the only way to let it work.

5. And He will give you victory

– vs 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there.

– Does this mean you will not sin anymore? Of course not. But it does mean that we will see His victory at work within us.

2018-05-27
Scott Bullman

“So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. 17 The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions.”
Galatians 5:16-17 (NLT)

KEY VERSE:

“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing to you, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.”
Psalm 19:14 (NLT)

The Power of our Words:

“People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, but no one can tame the tongue…”
James 3:7-8a (NLT)

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”
Proverbs 18:21 (NKJV)

“Words kill…words give life; they’re either poison or fruit – you choose.”
Proverbs 18:21 (The Message)

OUR WORDS CAN BE LIFE-GIVING

• Words that Encourage

“So, encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.”
1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NLT)

• Words that Inspire

“So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.”
1 Corinthians 15:58 (NLT)

• Words of Kindness and Gentleness

“Kind words are like honey— sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.”
Proverbs 16:24 (NLT)

“Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.”
Colossians 3:12 (NLT)

“Gentle words are a tree of life, a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.”
Proverbs 15:4 (NLT)

• Words of Truth and Honesty

“The heartfelt counsel of a friend is as sweet as perfume and incense.”
Proverbs 27:29 (NLT)

“In the end, people appreciate honest criticism far more than flattery.”
Proverbs 28:23 (NLT)

“…Speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ…”
Ephesians 4:15 (NLT)

• A Timely Word

“Everyone enjoys a fitting reply; it is wonderful to say the right thing at the right time.”
Proverbs 15:23 (NLT)

“The right word at the right time is like a custom-made piece of jewelry.”
Proverbs 25:11 (The Message)

• A Smart Word

“From a wise mind comes wise speech…”
Proverbs 16:23a (NLT)

“Too much talk leads to sin. Be sensible and keep your mouth shut.”
Proverbs 10:19 (NLT)

“The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint, Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent, and discerning if they hold their tongues.”
Proverbs 17:27-28 (NLT)

“Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way.
3 We can make a large horse go wherever we want by means of a small bit in its mouth. 4 And a small rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot chooses to go, even though the winds are strong. 5 In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches.
But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. 6 And among all the parts of the body, the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself.”
James 3:2-6 (NLT)

OUR WORDS CAN BE TOXIC

• Critical Words

“Some people make cutting remarks, but the words of the wise bring healing.”
Proverbs 12:18 (NLT)

“Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.”
Ephesians 4:29 (NLT)

• Slanderous Words

“There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.”
Proverbs 6:16-19 (NIV)

Proverbs 16:2 – “All a man’s ways seem innocent to him, but motives are weighed by the Lord.”

“Telling lies about others is as harmful as hitting them with an ax, wounding them with a sword, or shooting them with a sharp arrow.”
Proverbs 25:18 (NIV)

• Gossip

“A troublemaker plants seeds of strife; gossip separates the best of friends.”
Proverbs 16:28 (NLT)

“Rumors are dainty morsels that sink deep into one’s heart.”
Proverbs 18:8 (NLT)

Proverbs 11:13 “A gossip goes around telling secrets,but those who are trustworthy can keep a confidence.”

Romans 12:17 – “Never pay back evil for more evil.”

“Fire goes out without wood, and quarrels disappear when gossip stops.”
Proverbs 26:20 (NLT)

• Inappropriate Words

“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil”
Proverbs 4:23-27 (NIV)

CONCLUSION

A heart filled with BITTERNESS speaks ANGRY words
A heart filled with FORGIVENESS speaks GRACIOUS words

A heart filled with ENTITLEMENT speaks COMPLAINING words
A heart filled with GRATITUDE speaks UPLIFTING words

A heart filled with GUILT speaks HARSH words
A heart filled with PEACE speaks TENDER words

A heart filled with REJECTION speaks RESENTFUL words
A heart filled with ACCEPTANCE speaks KIND words

A heart filled with GRUMBLING speaks NEGATIVE words
A heart filled with THANKSGIVING speaks POSITIVE words

A heart filled with CONDEMNATION speaks JUDGMENTAL words
A heart filled with LOVE speaks COMPASSIONATE words

A heart filled with JEALOUSY speaks words of GOSSIP
A heart filled with CONTENTMENT speaks words of BLESSING

A heart filled with SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS speaks CRITICISM
A heart filled with HOPE speaks ENCOURAGING words

8 No one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison. 9 Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. 10 And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right! 11 Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh water and bitter water? 12 Does a fig tree produce olives, or a grapevine produce figs? No, and you can’t draw fresh water from a salty spring.”
James 3:8-12 (NLT)

2018-05-13

Pastor Jonathan Falwell

Key Verse: Jeremiah 33:3

‘Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’

2018-04-29
Sergio Guardia

Revelation 7:9-10
Main idea: May your Kingdom be done on earth, as it is seen in Heaven.
God’s strategy is the body of Christ doing ministry together

God’s vision is UNITY IN DIVERSITY
Here God is showing us who He envisions on being in Heaven with Him. Every nation, all tribes, peoples and tongues from earth. The only color here is the blood of the Lamb, the only nation is the nation of the Lamb, we are all people of the Lamb. We were not part of his people, and he made His people, we were not part of His covenant, and He died to make us part of the New Covenant, we did not belong to His Heaven, but he made us citizens of the New Jerusalem. All of us are just sojourners on our way home.

When it comes to racial reconciliation, We need to take more than forward steps, we need to be a model for the world of what heaven would look like.

In Heaven, we will all be sinners forgiven by the same blood, called from a sin status to sons and daughters status, with the same citizenship given to us by the same King.

God’s vision is great, and the price to accomplish this vision had to be great.
This vision cost God the precious blood of Jesus. A price given to have a body of believers from every nation, tribe and tongue. God paid the Son’s blood to make it EVERY.

EVERY was expensive, and God paid it because it was important to him, thus, it should be important to us as well.

Let’s be part of making disciples that can become citizens of heaven. Let’s do our part to preach the Kingdom and to live out the culture of King Jesus’s kingdom.

Are we committed more to culture than Christ? Is it more important how people will perceive us than what the Bible is telling us to do?

How can we foster racial reconciliation? Dr. Tony Evans says this should be not the end in itself, It is a mean to a common cause.

The Kingdom is near, repent. We need to repent if we want reconciliation. Reconciliation cannot happen before repentance. Peace and unity cannot happen before reconciliation. We need to close the circle, in order to close the circle, we need to start the circle, and it starts with repentance. This is not a call to one race only, this is a calling to the church of Jesus Christ. When we have not lived to the standards God set, we need to repent.

What it would look if we do outreach together? What if several life groups would adopt a School in their area to minister? This would reach out diversity itself.
On a personal level. How many people have you mentored that is a different skin color than yours? That has a different background? We cannot force this, it has to be done in a natural way when we build the relationships

God’s vision done in His power
God is worshiped because of who He is and because of what He has done.
He deserves Glory, because He is the deliverer.
He deserves Honor and thanksgiving. Those are the marks of a grateful heart.
We praise him for His wisdom. He has a deliverance plan, he knows the way to go, He is the way.
We praise him for His strength. He is wise to come up with the better plan, and He has the strength to make it happen.

He brings his to people to his presence, and His presence is synonym of protection, provision and fellowship. In his presence they shall hunger no more, they shall thirst no more, no heat no more. He meets our greatest needs and he comforts from our deepest sorrows.

Meanwhile, we still suffer of heat or cold, hunger and thirst, of broken families, broken lives, and broken dreams. It is still a broken world. But, in the midst of a broken world, God provides HIS UNBREAKABLE PRESENCE.

I might cry, but he is my comfort
I might thirst, but he is living water
I might be hungry, but He is the bread of life
I might lose sight, but He is the light of the world

We cannot accomplish this great vision without depending on Him. As a church, we need to seek him. Not only we cannot do this as an individual, but, we cannot do this as a church without depending on God. We need to keep trusting Him, and follow Him on this God sized vision, and we need to do it together.

Maranatha!

2018-04-15
Pastor Jonathan Falwell

Key Verse: Ephesians 4:24 (NKJV) and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.

Ephesians 4:17 With the Lord’s authority I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused. 18 Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him. 19 They have no sense of shame. They live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity. 20 But that isn’t what you learned about Christ. 21 Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, 22 throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. 23 Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. 24 Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy. 25 So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body. 26 And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 for anger gives a foothold to the devil. 28 If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need. 29 Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. 30 And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. 32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

1. Sin will damage your relationships beyond repair

Vss 17-19 With the Lord’s authority I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused. 18 Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him. 19 They have no sense of shame. They live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity.

– hopelessness can never result in happiness

– full of darkness, wandering FAR from the life God gives

– John 10:10 “life more abundantly”

– Phil 4:7 “peace that passes all understanding”

2. The “TURN” that happened when you came to Christ is a daily commitment

Vss 20-24 But that isn’t what you learned about Christ. 21 Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, 22 throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. 23 Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. 24 Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.

– we are a new creation, but we must work daily to remain where God wants us

– “throw off” (a-paw-TITH-a-me) = to put away or to cease what one is accustomed to doing

How does this play out in our relationships?

1. Honesty

Vs 25 So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body.

– Prov 12:22 The Lord detests (an abomination) lying lips, but he delights in those who tell the truth

2. Self-control

Vss 26-29a And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 for anger gives a foothold to the devil. 28 If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need. 29 Don’t use foul or abusive language.

– controlling our anger requires complete dependence on God

– uncontrolled anger provides fertile ground for the devil

– turn what is natural (sin) into what is eternal (God’s plan)

3. Building up

Vs 29b Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.

– be an encourager, lifting others up every chance you get

4. A change in action and attitude

Vss 30-32a And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. 32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted…

5. A life of forgiveness

Vs 32b …forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

– forgiveness is the primary action to stronger relationships

– Luke 17:3 So watch yourselves! “If another believer[a] sins, rebuke that person; then if there is repentance, forgive. 4 Even if that person wrongs you seven times a day and each time turns again and asks forgiveness, you must forgive.”

2018-04-01
Pastor Jonathan Falwell

The Cross. A powerful symbol. Think of what it must have been like that day. Three wooden crosses, fashioned from the rough wood of a recently felled tree. They didn’t spend time putting the finishing touches on these works. No smooth finish, no shiny lacquer. Just rough, splintering wood. Left that way to ensure the greatest pain for the criminal who would die there. As the condemned would slowly push up with their legs to grasp for air, getting ever more difficult with each move, the splinters from that rough tree would rip at their already shredded skin.

Three crosses stood that day. The whole town no doubt came out to see what this was all about, to watch these men die. The pharisees and religious leaders there to see their plan come to fruition. Their friends and family, with tears in their eyes, standing by in denial of what they would see witness. The soldiers simply doing what they were told to do, just another day at work.

Soon, the crowd grew larger as these men were led to the hillside. Their pain already more than most could withstand. They were brought to where the wooden crosses were waiting. Nailed to these trees then lifted to begin the agonizing process of dying as they hung for the world to see. Three men dying for the sins committed. Two for their own sins, one for the sins of us all.

2 Cor. 5:21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

“Him who knew no sin” became our sin. That’s why Jesus died. The substitutionary atonement for the sins of the world. Payment for your sins and mine. You see, someone had to pay. That’s what His substitutionary death was all about.

God is a Holy God. A righteous God, and the righteous Judge. He hates sin, cannot allow sin to go unpunished, to go unpaid. He had to judge and punish sin. But God is also a God of love. Ultimate love, unending love. And so, through His great love, He found a way for our sins to be punished, for the price to be paid, without getting what we deserve.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death…

That way was for His only Son, Jesus, to pay that price. To bear the weight of our sins, to be punished for our wrongdoing.

Isaiah 53:5 But He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes we are healed.

Jesus came to this earth, hung on that cross, died a horrible death. Not for what He had done, but for what we had done. Not for His bad acts, but for ours. Not for His sin, but for mine, and yours, and for all of mankind. Why? Because God loves us that much. Jesus stepped in and took the punishment so we wouldn’t have to suffer. To save us from our sin, to save us from Hell, to save us for Heaven.

That day was a long day. As they watched Jesus hanging on the cross, the pain he endured became greater and greater. The words He uttered became more troubling with each passing breath. And eventually, He breathed His last.

Luke 23:46 And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, “Father, ‘into Your hands I commit My spirit.'” Having said this, He breathed His last.

When He died, the earth shook, the sky darkened, dead people came out of their tombs, the veil in the temple was ripped in two. It was utter chaos. The family, friends and disciples who stood nearby were gripped by grief and fear. Tears rolled down their cheeks as they watched the man they loved, the man they had followed, for whom they had given up everything, slowly lose His life. Now, they probably slipped further away from the crowd, not sure what to do next.

The pharisees and religious leaders, those who had set this into motion, were no doubt filled with pride. Never again would they hear of this man Jesus, never again hear His teachings, never again see Him turn over the tables in the temple, never again dealing with those He healed, never again listening to what they perceived to be blasphemies uttered from His lips. Never again, this Jesus. They walked away with heads held high, they had won. The day had ended in defeat for this Jesus.

The soldiers? Just another day at work. They had done what they were told to do, accomplished their assigned tasks. No big deal, just another day at the office. The day was over, it had ended. Time to go home.

Soon, His body was taken down from that cross. Wrapped and prepared for burial. Carried off to the tomb borrowed for this purpose, not a great distance from where they stood. He was placed in the tomb, the entrance way sealed with a great rock. Guards placed there to ensure that no one would steal the body to cause confusion. The day was done, Jesus was dead, it was finished.

Not much is said about what took place between that day and a few days later. Reading the Gospel accounts, we are aware of a number of different events that took place on that morning. Angels appeared, soldiers knocked out, stone rolled from the entrance way to the tomb, disciples coming and going. Peter looking into the space seeing that Jesus wasn’t there and running away. But there’s an account in John 20 that I want to take a brief look at this morning because I believe it captures a special moment after the resurrection of Jesus.

John 20:11 But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb. 12 And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. 13 Then they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.” 14 Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, “Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to Him, “Rabboni!” (which is to say, Teacher).

Mary had come to the tomb filled with hopelessness, pain, loss and grief. She had come that day to continue to grieve. To anoint His body as Mark 16 tells us. Her heart was broken because Jesus was dead. Now, to add insult to injury, His body was gone.

As she stood there, angels spoke to her asking her why she was upset. She answered because they had taken away the body of Jesus. Then she sees another man who also asks why she was upset. Thinking this man was the gardener, she begs him to just tell her where the body is, tell me where they’ve taken him! With the tears in her eyes, the grief in her heart, the pain that flooded her spirit, she had no idea who she was talking to at that moment. Then, one word changed everything. The man simply said…MARY!

A simple word, her name, that immediately changed everything about this situation. She heard her name spoken, she had heard it a million times before, but this wasn’t just another mention, she wasn’t overhearing this common name spoken by someone else, this was her name uttered by someone that meant everything to her. It was Jesus. He was alive. She immediately recognized His voice, she looks at Him and speaks, RABBONI (rabb-ee-oh-NEE). Teacher! The one who had taught her everything that really mattered. The one who had healed her. Seven demons cast out of her by this Man. It was Jesus. He was ALIVE! It was a BRAND NEW DAY! Everything changed! Jesus is ALIVE!

Lamentations 3:22-26 Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed,
Because His compassions fail not. 23 They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. 24 “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I hope in Him!” 25 The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, To the soul who seeks Him. 26 It is good that one should hope and wait quietly. For the salvation of the Lord.

I love that phrase in verse 23…”they are new every morning!” What an amazing concept. Everyday is a brand new day with Him.

DARKNESS, SLEEP AT NIGHT, WAKE UP
a. Darkness
b. Uncertainty
c. Worry

You just want your mind to shut down, to stop thinking about all of the problems, the challenges, the hurts and worry. But yet in the midst of the darkness of night, sometimes it seems as if that is all we can think about and it just won’t stop. But, when day arrives, when dawn breaks, when the light begins to shine, it seems as if everything is okay once again.

That’s a picture of verse 23…NEW EVERY MORNING! That’s the picture of His resurrection. Darkness reigned, worry consumed, grief overwhelmed, fear abounds, then morning came! The light shines, Jesus raised from the grave! GREAT IS THE FAITHFULNESS OF GOD! No matter how bad it might seem, He is faithful because HE LIVES.

Verse 24 states, “Therefore I hope in Him, the Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who sees Him!”

Our hope is in Him because He has defeated death, the grave and hell. He has destroyed the plans of Satan himself. The darkness that was all-consuming when they rolled the stone in front of the entrance to the tomb was shattered by an ever-burning, ever-present light that can never be extinguished. Jesus rose from the grave, HE IS ALIVE FOREVERMORE! Darkness, then the dawn.

Verse 25 states, “It is good that one should hope and wait quietly. For the salvation of the Lord.”

For the salvation of the Lord! That is what Easter is all about, the salvation of the Lord. God the holy One, the righteous judge, has to see sin punished. He hates sin and cannot allow sin to go without payment. Our sin, the sins of the world, is something that God cannot tolerate and will not let slide. He has to punish sin. The sin must be covered and it requires the shedding of blood to atone for our sins.

Hebrews 9:22 And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission.

There must be blood to pay for our sins and the blood that was required was our own. For the wages of sin is death…We deserve to pay that price, we deserve to suffer, we deserve to die for our sins. But yet God, the righteous judge, loves us so very much that He wouldn’t hear of it. He doesn’t want us to pay with our blood, our lives, for our sin. He doesn’t want us to pay eternally for the sin in our lives. His desire is for there to be a covering and Jesus is that covering.

1 John 2:1-2 My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.

For the whole world. He is that covering, He Paid that price. That is the Gospel in a nutshell. He died for our sins according the Scripture, and he was buried, and He rose again the third day, according to the Scriptures (1 Cor. 15). Jesus died and rose again so that everyone of us, all of us, could have victory over the darkness of our lives, the pain of our past, the severity of our sins, the suffering we deserve. He died and rose again so that we might have life in His name. He died and rose again so that by believing in Him, we can escape the reality of the Hell we deserve to experience the hope of the Heaven we’ve been given through Jesus Christ.

Today we celebrate, not because it’s Spring, not because of the Easter bunny, not because we might like candy, not because we like to look for little plastic eggs. We celebrate because there’s a God in Heaven who loves us so very much that He gave His all (His Son Jesus) to pay it all, for us all, so we could have it all…if we will just believe.

Jesus shed His blood. He died. He was buried. But praise God, on the third day, He shattered the darkness, He broke through the bondage, He cast aside the shackles, He tossed off the guilt, He wrapped His arms around us, He welcomed us into His family, and gave us the greatest gift that one could ever imagine. He gave us A BRAND NEW DAY! A BRAND NEW TOMORROW! A BRAND NEW ETERNITY!

BECAUSE HE LIVES!

They thought He was dead. They thought He was defeated. They thought it was over, that Jesus had been stopped. They thought they would never again have to hear about what He had done, no more miracles, no more sermons, no more throwing the money changers from the temple, no more graves robbed, no more supposed blasphemies from His lips. He was dead, locked away in His tomb, sealed away for all time, dead, gone, forever! BUT…

UP FROM THE GRAVE HE AROSE;
WITH A MIGHTY TRIUMPH OVER HIS FOES;
HE AROSE A VICTOR FROM THE DARK DOMAIN,
AND HE LIVES FOREVER, WITH HIS SAINTS TO REIGN.
HE AROSE, HE AROSE, HALLELUJAH, CHRIST AROSE!
Robert Lowry, 1826-1899

2018-03-25
Jerry Vines

Memory verse:
Micah 6:8
He has shown you, O man, what is good;
And what does the Lord require of you
But to do justly,
To love mercy,
And to walk humbly with your God?

Scripture says of Enoch that he “walked with God.” This is a descriptive way of saying that Enoch lived his life in fellowship with God. The Christian faith is sometimes described as “the way.” Throughout Church history this figure of walking has been used. John Bunyan’s “Pilgrim’s Progress” follows this theme. To walk with God suggests the three phases of the Christian life. We walk in- that’s conversion; we walk on- that’s sanctification; we walk out- that is glorification!

Gen. 5:21-24 KJV
21 And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah:
22 And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters:
23 And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years:
24 And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.

Enoch walked IN, ON, OUT.

Crossroads
2018-03-04
Pastor Jonathan Falwell

Key Verse:
Matthew 15:30 Then great multitudes came to Him, having with them the lame, blind, mute, maimed, and many others; and they laid them down at Jesus’ feet, and He healed them.

Matthew 15:29 Jesus departed from there, skirted the Sea of Galilee, and went up on the mountain and sat down there. 30 Then great multitudes came to Him, having with them the lame, blind, mute, maimed, and many others; and they laid them down at Jesus’ feet, and He healed them. 31 So the multitude marveled when they saw the mute speaking, the maimed made whole, the lame walking, and the blind seeing; and they glorified the God of Israel.

When our paths cross His path, everything can be made whole. Notice the word used in the previous sentence…”can.” It’s critical for us to notice that the greatest hindrance to Christ doing His greatest work, outside of Salvation, in our lives is us, not Him.  Over the next few weeks, leading to Easter, we’re going to take a look at some of the moments found in Scripture where people’s lives crossed with Jesus, some of which were inadvertent, and they were forever changed because of the intersection of their lives with Christ. Our prayer is that these stories of life change will be a catalyst to all of us to remember the power found in Christ and for some of us, that He is the only way to Heaven.

Matthew 20:29-34 (Christian Standard Bible) As they were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed Him. 30 There were two blind men sitting by the road. When they heard that Jesus was passing by, they cried out, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!” 31 The crowd told them to keep quiet, but they cried out all the more, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!” 32 Jesus stopped, called them, and said, “What do you want Me to do for you?” 33 “Lord,” they said to Him, “open our eyes!” 34 Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes. Immediately they could see, and they followed Him.

What they did…

1. They heard…

vs 30b When they heard that Jesus was passing by…

– this indicates that they had already heard of this man Jesus
– they knew of His power- the stories of what Jesus had done had no doubt brought about serious conversations for these men, but they had not acted on it.

2. They called…

vs 30c …they cried out…

3. They knew…

vs 30d …Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!…

– theirs was not a problem of lack of belief, it was a problem of lack of action

4. They persisted…

vs 31a The crowd told them to keep quiet, but they cried out all the more…

– when they finally decided to act, nothing was going to stop them

What He did…

5. Jesus listened…

vs 32 Jesus stopped, called them, and said, “What do you want Me to do for you?

– in every situation found in Scripture when people called out to Jesus, He listened. Not once did He ignore those calling.

6. Jesus cared…

vs 34a Moved with compassion…

– the constant state of Jesus during His ministry here, and still today

7. Jesus healed…

vs 34b … Jesus touched their eyes. Immediately they could see…

– what Jesus ALWAYS did

8. They followed…

vs 34c …and they followed Him.

Galatians 5:13
For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

The last several weeks we’ve talked about being a difference maker. We’ve talked about making an impact in our world, in our community, with the Gospel. Not just in helping people know who Jesus is and what He has done, but helping them grow in their faith and become witnesses for Him. That is called discipleship, which is a command from God to all of us.  Last week specifically, we ended with this statement:

– In other words, we need to help them map their mission to impact others with the Gospel story (this is replication)

Today and next week, I want to talk about how to make that happen. And the one clear understanding we must all have about discipleship, about SENDING them, is this:

TO SEND IS TO SERVE, TO SERVE IS TO GIVE, TO GIVE IS TO LOVE

Galatians 5:13-15 (NLT) For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. 14 For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 But if you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another.

TO SEND IS TO SERVE

1.   Serving is the antidote to selfishness

– vs 13b But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.

2.   Serving is picture of God’s command (the great commandment)

– vs 14 For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

3.   Serving will keep us together – division will dissipate

– vs 15 But if you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another.

SERVE
– serve them by helping them walk in the way and the word
– START book
– Group Life
– Serve TOGETHER

2 Corinthians 8:1-12 Now I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, what God in his kindness has done through the churches in Macedonia. 2 They are being tested by many troubles, and they are very poor. But they are also filled with abundant joy, which has overflowed in rich generosity. 3 For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford, but far more. And they did it of their own free will. 4 They begged us again and again for the privilege of sharing in the gift for the believers in Jerusalem. 5 They even did more than we had hoped, for their first action was to give themselves to the Lord and to us, just as God wanted them to do. 6 So we have urged Titus, who encouraged your giving in the first place, to return to you and encourage you to finish this ministry of giving. 7 Since you excel in so many ways—in your faith, your gifted speakers, your knowledge, your enthusiasm, and your love from us—I want you to excel also in this gracious act of giving. 8 I am not commanding you to do this. But I am testing how genuine your love is by comparing it with the eagerness of the other churches. 9 You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich. 10 Here is my advice: It would be good for you to finish what you started a year ago. Last year you were the first who wanted to give, and you were the first to begin doing it. 11 Now you should finish what you started. Let the eagerness you showed in the beginning be matched now by your giving. Give in proportion to what you have. 12 Whatever you give is acceptable if you give it eagerly. And give according to what you have, not what you don’t have.

TO SERVE IS TO GIVE

4.   Giving Is The Pathway To Abundant Joy

– vs 2 They are being tested by many troubles, and they are very poor. But they are also filled with abundant joy, which has overflowed in rich generosity.

5.  Giving Is A Sign Of Spiritual Maturity

– vs 5 They even did more than we had hoped, for their first action was to give themselves to the Lord and to us, just as God wanted them to do.

6.   Giving Is A Calling From God

– vss 6-7 So we have urged Titus, who encouraged your giving in the first place, to return to you and encourage you to finish this ministry of giving. 7 Since you excel in so many ways—in your faith, your gifted speakers, your knowledge, your enthusiasm, and your love from us—I want you to excel also in this gracious act of giving.

7.   Giving Is A Response To Your Love For Christ

– vs 8 I am not commanding you to do this. But I am testing how genuine your love is by comparing it with the eagerness of the other churches.

Next week, we’re going to talk about what giving really is…

2018-02-04
Pastor Jonathan Falwell

Key Verses:
John 4:28-29
The woman then left her waterpot, went her way into the city, and said to the men,  “Come, see a Man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be the Christ?”

Last week:
Know who you are…
Know who they are…
Know what your job is…

John 4:1 (NLT)
Jesus knew the Pharisees had heard that he was baptizing and making more disciples than John 2 (though Jesus himself didn’t baptize them—his disciples did). 3 So he left Judea and returned to Galilee. 4 He had to go through Samaria on the way. 5 Eventually he came to the Samaritan village of Sychar, near the field that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. 6 Jacob’s well was there; and Jesus, tired from the long walk, sat wearily beside the well about noontime. 7 Soon a Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, “Please give me a drink.” 8 He was alone at the time because his disciples had gone into the village to buy some food. 9 The woman was surprised, for Jews refuse to have anything to do with Samaritans. She said to Jesus, “You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. Why are you asking me for a drink?” 10 Jesus replied, “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.” 11 “But sir, you don’t have a rope or a bucket,” she said, “and this well is very deep. Where would you get this living water? 12 And besides, do you think you’re greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us this well? How can you offer better water than he and his sons and his animals enjoyed?” 13 Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. 14 But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.” 15 “Please, sir,” the woman said, “give me this water! Then I’ll never be thirsty again, and I won’t have to come here to get water.” 16 “Go and get your husband,” Jesus told her. 17 “I don’t have a husband,” the woman replied. Jesus said, “You’re right! You don’t have a husband—18 for you have had five husbands, and you aren’t even married to the man you’re living with now. You certainly spoke the truth!” 19 “Sir,” the woman said, “you must be a prophet. 20 So tell me, why is it that you Jews insist that Jerusalem is the only place of worship, while we Samaritans claim it is here at Mount Gerizim, where our ancestors worshiped?” 21 Jesus replied, “Believe me, dear woman, the time is coming when it will no longer matter whether you worship the Father on this mountain or in Jerusalem. 22 You Samaritans know very little about the one you worship, while we Jews know all about him, for salvation comes through the Jews. 23 But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. 24 For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.” 25 The woman said, “I know the Messiah is coming—the one who is called Christ. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” 26 Then Jesus told her, “I Am the Messiah!” 27 Just then his disciples came back. They were shocked to find him talking to a woman, but none of them had the nerve to ask, “What do you want with her?” or “Why are you talking to her?” 28 The woman left her water jar beside the well and ran back to the village, telling everyone, 29 “Come and see a man who told me everything I ever did! Could he possibly be the Messiah?” 30 So the people came streaming from the village to see him.

1. Identify them

– family members, neighbors, co-workers, friends, fellow students

– all of them are people for whom Jesus died (2 Peter 3:9)

2. Pray for them – No one call tell your story but you, and if you don’t…

Romans 10:1-4
Dear brothers and sisters, the longing of my heart and my prayer to God is for the people of Israel to be saved. 2 I know what enthusiasm they have for God, but it is misdirected zeal. 3 For they don’t understand God’s way of making people right with himself. Refusing to accept God’s way, they cling to their own way of getting right with God by trying to keep the law. 4 For Christ has already accomplished the purpose for which the law was given. As a result, all who believe in him are made right with God.

3. Tell them your story – No one call tell your story but you, and if you don’t…

vs 28-29 The woman left her water jar beside the well and ran back to the village, telling everyone, 29 “Come and see a man who told me everything I ever did! Could he possibly be the Messiah?”

Acts 26:15-18 Who are you, lord?’ I asked. “And the Lord replied, ‘I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting. 16 Now get to your feet! For I have appeared to you to appoint you as my servant and witness. Tell people that you have seen me, and tell them what I will show you in the future. 17 And I will rescue you from both your own people and the Gentiles. Yes, I am sending you to the Gentiles 18 to open their eyes, so they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God. Then they will receive forgiveness for their sins and be given a place among God’s people, who are set apart by faith in me.’

4. Invest in them

– Spending time with them, helping them follow Jesus

Matthew 28:19-20a Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you…

– nothing to fear because He will give you everything you need

Vs 20b And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

5. Walk with them

– Recognize you will grow as you help them grow

God has called us all to be Difference Makers in our world today. These verses, and many others throughout the Bible, clearly indicate we have a responsibility to impact our world for Christ. Over the next few weeks, we’re going to talk about how we can make sure we are fulfilling our God-given mission.

– LOVES PEOPLE, USES THINGS

– a difference maker has a heart for the hurting (Nehemiah)

– a difference maker has a heart for the lost (Christ)

2018-01-07
Pastor Jonathan Falwell

Memory Verse:
Matthew 16:18 (NKJV)
And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

What is the church?
Why is the church important?
Is it still relevant today?
Do I really need to be a part of the church?

These are questions that many people ask often about the church. Today, on the first Sunday of the year, it might be good for us to review our understanding of what makes the church the church.

Matthew 16:13-18 When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” 14 So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

1. The church is God-ordained
(vs 18b I will build My church)

– Jesus builds our church

– church (ekklesia) A group called out for a particular purpose

– what we do here is not a construct of man, it is a God-ordained, God-planned movement

– And, when done according to His plan, there’s no stopping it!

(vs 18c and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.)

2. The church is not a building or an organization, it’s YOU!

I Corinthians 1:1-3 Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, 2 To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours: 3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

– “the church” is not a specific place, title, denomination…it is “a group called out for a particular purpose”

– meaning, WE ARE THE CHURCH

(vs 2a To the church of God which is at Corinth)

3. Jesus is the Head of the church

Colossians 1:18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.

– The “head” (kay-FALL-ay) the leader, one responsible to care for

– “preeminence” (pro-TOO-oh) the first, the most prominent

– Any time that anything is placed in higher priority or importance than the proclamation of the Gospel and the preeminence of Christ in a church, the church ceases to be the church Jesus talked about in Matthew 16:18

4. Jesus gave us the plan for the church

Acts 2:42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.

– the teaching, the gathering, the fellowship, the praying, the serving

– Worship, Bible teaching, Lifegroups, personal growth, service=

Matthew 28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

– The acting? The proclamation of the Gospel

– Outreach, missions, camping ministry, personal evangelism

5. Jesus gave us the keys to the church

John 1:12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.

– The keys? Belief in Jesus Christ as the only savior of the world!

Ephesians 2:19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.

2017-12-24

Jonathan Falwell

Key Verse: Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

* Wonderful – the wonder of Christmas season is nothing compared to the wonder He brings

* Counselor – When life falls apart and we don’t know what to do, He came to be the One to guide us through our most difficult day

* Mighty God – With Him, nothing is impossible

* Everlasting Father – In the loneliness of life, He is the one with always open arms

* Prince of Peace – In the midst of chaos, He is the constant source of peace

He is all of these things, but so much more. He is the LIGHT OF THE WORLD. He is your light in the midst of all the darkness we face.

Isaiah 9:2 The people who walked in darkness Have seen a great light; Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, Upon them a light has shined.

* “land of the shadow of death” – Heb. 9:27, …appointed unto man once to die
Rom 5:12 …through one man..death entered

* We are all in the land of the shadow of death

* We need LIGHT

“A light has shined” is the image of what the birth of Christ would mean for us all. And, oh how that light is needed.

Isaiah 60:1-3 Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. 2 For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, And deep darkness the people; But the Lord will arise over you, And His glory will be seen upon you. 3 The Gentiles shall come to your light, And kings to the brightness of your rising.

The wise men came to see this baby born as the light of the world.

Matthew 2:1-2 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.”

John 1:1-5 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God.3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

Sad words indeed. The light shines, but world didn’t understand. The story of Christmas is the light that shines to take away the darkness from the world, from you!

Will you let Him?

2017-12-10
Matt Willmington / Harold Willmington

Memory Verse:
Genesis 22:14
And Abraham called the name of the place, The-Lord-Will-Provide; as it is said to this day, “In the Mount of the Lord it shall be provided.”

Genesis 22:1-14 (NKJV)
1 Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.”
2 Then He said, “Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.”
3 So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son; and he split the wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him.
4 Then on the third day Abraham lifted his eyes and saw the place afar off.
5 And Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you.”
6 So Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife, and the two of them went together.
7 But Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” Then he said, “Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?”
8 And Abraham said, “My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.” So the two of them went together.
9 Then they came to the place of which God had told him. And Abraham built an altar there and placed the wood in order; and he bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, upon the wood.
10 And Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.
11 But the Angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” So he said, “Here I am.”
12 And He said, “Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.”
13 Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son.
14 And Abraham called the name of the place, The-Lord-Will-Provide; as it is said to this day, “In the Mount of the Lord it shall be provided.”

QUESTION: What do you have to put on the altar?

The Heart of Thanksgiving
2017-11-26

Key Verse:
Colossians 3:17
And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

Colossians 3:12-17 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. 14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

The Heart of Gratitude

1. Be different (vs 12)

– the world has a picture of what life is supposed to be like, God’s plan is different

2. Be caring (vs 13-14)

– the world is hurting, make a difference

– help one another

– forgive one another

– love one another

3. Be together (vs 15)

– peace and thankfulness go together

4. Be consistent (vs 16-17)

– have a heart of gratitude to God for all He has done

– let your life be a picture of gratitude in how you act, serve, live

2017-11-12
Pastor Jonathan Falwell

Key Verse: 3 John 3-4 For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth. 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.

Today we continue our study of the the shortest books of the Bible. We’ve looked at Philemon, 2 John and today we move to the shortest of all the books in the Bible…3 John. This book was written by John in the late first century, probably around 90 A.D. from the city of Ephesus. John, as the last living apostle wrote this letter to help strengthen the local church and to provide guidance on how to act within the church. While 1900 years old, this book is timely as the same struggles and challenges continue to exist within the modern day church.

3 John 1 (NLT) This letter is from John, the elder. I am writing to Gaius, my dear friend, whom I love in the truth. 2 Dear friend, I hope all is well with you and that you are as healthy in body as you are strong in spirit. 3 Some of the traveling teachers recently returned and made me very happy by telling me about your faithfulness and that you are living according to the truth. 4 I could have no greater joy than to hear that my children are following the truth. 5 Dear friend, you are being faithful to God when you care for the traveling teachers who pass through, even though they are strangers to you. 6 They have told the church here of your loving friendship. Please continue providing for such teachers in a manner that pleases God. 7 For they are traveling for the Lord, and they accept nothing from people who are not believers. 8 So we ourselves should support them so that we can be their partners as they teach the truth. 9 I wrote to the church about this, but Diotrephes, who loves to be the leader, refuses to have anything to do with us. 10 When I come, I will report some of the things he is doing and the evil accusations he is making against us. Not only does he refuse to welcome the traveling teachers, he also tells others not to help them. And when they do help, he puts them out of the church. 11 Dear friend, don’t let this bad example influence you. Follow only what is good. Remember that those who do good prove that they are God’s children, and those who do evil prove that they do not know God. 12 Everyone speaks highly of Demetrius, as does the truth itself. We ourselves can say the same for him, and you know we speak the truth. 13 I have much more to say to you, but I don’t want to write it with pen and ink. 14 For I hope to see you soon, and then we will talk face to face. 15  Peace be with you. Your friends here send you their greetings. Please give my personal greetings to each of our friends there.

1. Someone who encourages (vss 1-8) – Gaius

– 3 John 3 Some of the traveling teachers recently returned and made me very happy by telling me about your faithfulness and that you are living according to the truth. 4 I could have no greater joy than to hear that my children are following the truth.

– Gaius had a good reputation (vs 3a)

– he was living in the truth of God’s Word (vs 3b)

– he was helping and serving others (vss 5-6)

– This is a picture of what was right in the early church

2. Someone to avoid (vss 9-11) -Diotrephes

– 3 John 9-10 I wrote to the church about this, but Diotrephes, who loves to be the leader, refuses to have anything to do with us. 10 When I come, I will report some of the things he is doing and the evil accusations he is making against us. Not only does he refuse to welcome the traveling teachers, he also tells others not to help them. And when they do help, he puts them out of the church.

-he was filled with pride (vs 9)

– he rejected others’ wisdom and leadership

– he spread gossip about those in church

– he sought ways to hurt them

– This is a picture of what was very wrong in the early church

3. Someone to emulate (vs 12) – Demetrius

– 3 John 12 Everyone speaks highly of Demetrius, as does the truth itself. We ourselves can say the same for him, and you know we speak the truth.

– Gaius was given the right example in how to continue to live and lead

– vs 11 Dear friend, don’t let this bad example influence you. Follow only what is good

Lessons we can learn from 3 John:

1. Follow the example of Christ in serving and encouraging others

2. Be careful to never fall into the trap of pride

– seeing yourself as more important than others in the church is the first

step towards being the modern day pharisee

3. Surround yourself with the right kind of Christ followers as this will make

everyone better

2017-10-29
Pastor Jonathan Falwell

Key Verse: Philemon 7 For we have great joy and consolation in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother.

Today, we’re going to begin a a short series, just three weeks, focusing on some small books in the New Testament. They’re not small in content or impact, just small in size. We’ve entitled this series, Tiny Giants, and today we’re going to spend time in the book of Philemon, the third shortest book in the Bible (335 words.) Next week, we will move to 2 John (245 words) and then conclude the series with 3 John (219 words.)

Philemon 1 (NLT) This letter is from Paul, a prisoner for preaching the Good News about Christ Jesus, and from our brother Timothy. I am writing to Philemon, our beloved co-worker, 2 and to our sister Apphia, and to our fellow soldier Archippus, and to the church that meets in your house. 3 May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace. 4 I always thank my God when I pray for you, Philemon, 5 because I keep hearing about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all of God’s people. 6 And I am praying that you will put into action the generosity that comes from your faith as you understand and experience all the good things we have in Christ. 7 Your love has given me much joy and comfort, my brother, for your kindness has often refreshed the hearts of God’s people. 8 That is why I am boldly asking a favor of you. I could demand it in the name of Christ because it is the right thing for you to do. 9 But because of our love, I prefer simply to ask you. Consider this as a request from me—Paul, an old man and now also a prisoner for the sake of Christ Jesus. 10 I appeal to you to show kindness to my child, Onesimus. I became his father in the faith while here in prison. 11 Onesimus hasn’t been of much use to you in the past, but now he is very useful to both of us. 12 I am sending him back to you, and with him comes my own heart. 13 I wanted to keep him here with me while I am in these chains for preaching the Good News, and he would have helped me on your behalf. 14 But I didn’t want to do anything without your consent. I wanted you to help because you were willing, not because you were forced. 15 It seems you lost Onesimus for a little while so that you could have him back forever. 16 He is no longer like a slave to you. He is more than a slave, for he is a beloved brother, especially to me. Now he will mean much more to you, both as a man and as a brother in the Lord. 17 So if you consider me your partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. 18 If he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge it to me. 19 I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it. And I won’t mention that you owe me your very soul! 20 Yes, my brother, please do me this favor for the Lord’s sake. Give me this encouragement in Christ. 21 I am confident as I write this letter that you will do what I ask and even more! 22 One more thing—please prepare a guest room for me, for I am hoping that God will answer your prayers and let me return to you soon. 23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you his greetings. 24 So do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my co-workers. 25 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

Mercy Matters

1. The Right Testimony

Verses 4-7 I always thank my God when I pray for you, Philemon, 5 because I keep hearing about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all of God’s people. 6 And I am praying that you will put into action the generosity that comes from your faith as you understand and experience all the good things we have in Christ. 7 Your love has given me much joy and comfort, my brother, for your kindness has often refreshed the hearts of God’s people.

– Philemon was a church leader who found Christ through Paul, probably in Ephesus

– The church actually met in his home

– His testimony was one that had even reached Paul, in prison, in Rome (1300 miles)

– Our testimony is an important part of our faith walk as it allows us to be known for the things of God

– Paul wrote this letter to bring healing to a tense situation and to restore fellowship

2. The Right Response

Verse 8 That is why I am boldly asking a favor of you. I could demand it in the name of Christ because it is the right thing for you to do.

Verse 10 I appeal to you to show kindness to my child, Onesimus. I became his father in the faith while here in prison

– Key phrase is here is “That is why…” Paul was asking based on what he already knew about Philemon’s character

– Onesimus was a thief, a deserter, and according to Roman law, could have been legally and rightfully punished for his actions.

– Yet, Paul said the right thing to do was forgive and restore

3. The Right Action

Verse 21 I am confident as I write this letter that you will do what I ask and even more!

– Here is the concept of “over-deliver”

– Paul knew it was the right thing to do, but he desired for Philemon to not only forgive but to restore and to develop a relationship that had never existed before

– This was not “I’ll forgive but I won’t forget” (1 Cor. 13 – no record of wrongs)

4. The Right Example

Verse 25 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

– Key word – GRACE

This short book is a picture of how to deal with the certain conflicts of life with others, from both perspectives.  Paul knew it was the right thing to do for Philemon to forgive and restore. But, Paul also knew it was the right thing to do for Onesimus to go back. Onesimus didn’t have to tell Paul of his wrongdoing, but he did. Every element of this story is a great example of how to do everything right.

2017-10-15
Pastor Jonathan Falwell

Memory Verse:
Ephesians 5:15
15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

We live in a world that always seems to be fighting. Fighting in the workplace, fighting online, fighting at home and fighting within. Today, I’d like us to spend some time focusing on fights that are actually worth fighting.

1. FIGHT FOR YOUR HEART

Proverbs 4:23 Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.

– Make what you care about what God cares about

– Proverbs 4:24 Avoid all perverse talk; stay away from corrupt speech. (NLT)

2. FIGHT FOR YOUR MIND

Galatians 6:3 For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.

– Don’t let the world define who you are based on the world’s ideas of right and wrong

– The world today bombards us with images and ideas that are intended to take our minds where they should not be. RESIST

– Philippians 4:8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise (NLT)

3. FIGHT FOR YOUR FAMILY

Eph 5:25 (NLT) For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her 26 to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word. 27 He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault. 28 In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as they love their own bodies. For a man who loves his wife actually shows love for himself. 29 No one hates his own body but feeds and cares for it, just as Christ cares for the church. 30 And we are members of his body. 31 As the Scriptures say, “A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.” 32 This is a great mystery, but it is an illustration of the way Christ and the church are one. 33 So again I say, each man must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

– Lead by example, not by status. Being the spiritual head of the household doesn’t make you the dictator. It just makes you the primary servant.

– The world is desperately trying to destroy your family, serve as the protector within the home.

1 Timothy 5:8 But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. (NKJV)

4. FIGHT FOR THE CHURCH

Hebrews 10:24-25 (NLT) Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. 25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.

– Don’t let the world define for you what it looks like to be a leader, look to the word of God and the leading of the Holy Spirit.

– Matthew 16:18 tells us the gates of hell can’t prevail against the church, but that requires the church to PUSH! Are you?

1 Corinthians 16:14 Let all that you do be done with love.

2017-10-01
Pastor Jonathan Falwell

Memory Verse:
2 Timothy 3:16
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,

Today, we’ll continue talking about how to take the next step from the step you’re on in regards to your faith walk by talking about God’s Word. Last week, we focused on our assurance. It is vital if we are going to walk the path that God has for us, we must recognize the keeping power of God. Today, we’ll talk about the incredible way that God speaks to us and guides us along the journey.

THE POWER OF THE WORD – Hebrews 4:12 The Word of God is living (zah-oh – full of life) and powerful (ener-gais – able to make things happen, bring them about)…

– Inspiration – God breathed out His Word

– Inerrancy – every word is accurate and absolute

– Infallible – absolutely trustworthy, exempt from error

Our response to the living and powerful Word…

1. Read what it says

– 16a All Scripture is given by inspiration of God

“It is God’s present Voice which makes His written word all-powerful.  Otherwise it would lie locked in slumber within the covers of a Book.” – A.W. Tozer

– Reading the Word of God is the only way to discover the Will of God. If you’re trying to discover God’s Will for your life without reading God’s Word for your life, you’re wasting your time.

2. Learn what it means

– 16b …and is profitable for doctrine (teach us what is right), for reproof (convict, show us what is wrong), for correction (teach us how to fix it)…

– We must be diligent in studying God’s Word in order to find its meaning and application

– We can do this through church, Bible studies, life groups, books, radio/tv

“God did not write a book and send it by messenger to be read at a distance by unaided minds.  He spoke a Book and lives in His spoken words, constantly speaking His words and causing the power of them to persist across the years.” – A.W. Tozer

– Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

– Psalm 119:11 Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.

3. Put it into practice

– 16c …for instruction in righteousness

– 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

– Our lives, or more importantly, our success in life is directly dependent on how we put God’s Word into practice in our daily lives

– If we are not actually applying His Word to life, we not only will fail, we are living in sin

– James 1:22   But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.

“It is one thing to know that the Scripture is the Sword of the Spirit, but it another thing to know how to use it effectively. God expects us to use the Sword, not merely hang it up as a decoration.” – Rev. Jerry Falwell

I Corinthians 15:3-4 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: That Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.

2017-09-17
Pastor Jonathan Falwell

Memory Verse:
Romans 8:18 NKJV
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

Life is full of trouble and pain. Often, we are left wondering why. Questions fly over how God could allow such suffering to take place if He is a loving God, or does He even exist at all. Today, let’s spend some time asking the question, WHY?

Job 5:7 Yet man is born to trouble, As the sparks fly upward.

Job 14:1 Man that is born of woman is of full days and full of trouble

1. This World Is Not What God Intended

Romans 5:12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned.

– God created a perfect world and a perfect world must include choice

– A perfect world could not include forced servitude and worship

– Garden of Eden created a perfect place (Genesis 2:9 – every good tree, pleasant to sight)

– ¹⁵ Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it. ¹⁶ And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; ¹⁷ but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” – Proof of man’s ability to choose good or evil

– Through an act of choice, sin entered into the world. Through that one act, the world

was forever changed.

– The world, and everything in it, are still God’s perfect creation but we messed it up, and we still do

“The problem of reconciling human suffering with the existence of God who loves, is only insoluble so long as we attach a trivial meaning to the word ‘love’ and look on things as if man were the centre of them.”

(The Problem of Pain, C.S. Lewis)

2. Even Still There Is Hope

Romans 8:18  For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; 21 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. 23 Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. 24 For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees?

– Our hope is found in looking not at the pain and suffering of today but in the joy and promise of what is to come. But it requires patience.

25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.

3. Our God Is Still In Control And Taking Care Of Us

Romans 8:31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” 37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

– In the midst of the pain of this world, we remain fully in the perfect love of God

– Adrian Rogers said, “Sin is not just breaking the laws of God, it is breaking the heart of God.”

“God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pain: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world…No doubt Pain as God’s megaphone is a terrible instrument; it may lead to final and unrepented rebellion. But it gives the only opportunity the bad man can have for amendment. It removes the veil; it plants the flag of truth within the fortress of a rebel soul.”

(The Problem of Pain, C.S. Lewis)

2017-09-03

Dr. Ed Hindson

Memory Verse:

1 Thessalonians 4:17 NKJV

Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.

Dr. Ed Hindson, Dean of the Rawlings School of Divinity at Liberty University will speak on, “The Believer’s Exciting Future.” He will point over seven key promises in the Bible that clearly predict our eternal future from the Rapture to the New Jerusalem. These seven promises will bless your heart and fill you with wonderful anticipation of our eternal home in heaven.

1. Rapture

“We which are alive and remain shall be caught up…”

1 Thessalonians 4:13-17

2. Bride to the Father’s House

“My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”

John 14:2-3

3. Judgment Seat of Christ

“We shall all appear before the judgment seat of Christ to receive the things done in the body.”

2 Corinthians 5:10

4. Marriage of Lamb

“Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory!  For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.  Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.”

Revelation 19:7-8

5. Triumphal Return

“The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean.”

Revelation 19:14

6. Millennial Reign


“they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years”

Revelation 20:1-6

7. Eternal City

“Then I saw ‘a new heaven and a new earth,’ for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.”

Revelation 21:1-2

2017-08-20

Pastor Jonathan Falwell

Memory Verse:
Daniel 6:27
He delivers and rescues, And He works signs and wonders, In heaven and on earth, Who has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.

Today, we build on the fantastic story of last week of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. We now move to Daniel 6 and find him in a similar situation that these three found themselves last week. Different King, different conspirators, same old story. Jealousy leading to deception leading to what they hoped would be certain death. But God had a different plan.

Daniel 6:3 Then this Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king gave thought to setting him over the whole realm. 4 So the governors and satraps sought to find some charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find no charge or fault, because he was faithful; nor was there any error or fault found in him. 5 Then these men said, “We shall not find any charge against this Daniel unless we find it against him concerning the law of his God.”

1. Being Faithful In The Tough Times Is Vital
Daniel 6:10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.

– Even when Daniel knew that he would pay a price for his faithfulness, he was faithful anyway

2. Our Faithfulness Will Be Noticed By Even Those Against Us
Daniel 6:16 So the king gave the command, and they brought Daniel and cast him into the den of lions. But the king spoke, saying to Daniel, “Your God, whom you serve continually, He will deliver you.”

– The King knew that Daniel was firm in his trust in God

– The King probably didn’t agree that he would be saved, but he knew that Daniel believed it

3. Our Faithfulness Breeds Confidence When We Need It Most
Daniel 6:21 Then Daniel said to the king, “O king, live forever! 22 My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths, so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him; and also, O king, I have done no wrong before you.”

4. Our Faithfulness Changes Others
Daniel 6:26 I make a decree that in every dominion of my kingdom men must tremble and fear before the God of Daniel. For He is the living God, And steadfast forever; His kingdom is the one which shall not be destroyed, And His dominion shall endure to the end. 27 He delivers and rescues, And He works signs and wonders In heaven and on earth, Who has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.

– Daniel was comforted in knowing that the same God that had sustained him in the good times is the same God that would sustain him in the bad times

5. Our Faithfulness Is Only Possible When It Comes From The Heart
Daniel 1:8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.

– Half hearted faith will never result in total victory

– Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself early in his life and it sustained him throughout his days

2017-08-06

Pastor Jonathan Falwell

Memory Verse: 1 Samuel 17:47 NKJV

Then all this assembly shall know that the Lord does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord’s, and He will give you into our hands.

Today, we continue in our Flannelgraph series and talk about one of the most popular stories of the Old Testament. The story of David and Goliath. This is a story of human power defeated by the power of God. A story all of us have been inspired by in our lifetime.  But there are lessons that we can also walk away with from this story. And these are lessons that we can use in facing the giants in our own lives.

1. The greatest challenge in life is rarely the actual challenge

* If David had listened to the crowd, he would have never walked onto that field

* If David had listened to his brother, he would have no confidence

2. Facing opposition while doing God’s will should be expected

* David walked into a wall of opposition when he said he could defeat Goliath

* Eliab – a brother who thought David was useless – 1 Samuel 17:28

* Soldiers – who thought David was a joke

* Saul – a King who thought there was little hope

* We see the same type of opposition in our own lives

3. Your success or failure is directly related to how you handle that opposition

* So Many Christians Never Achieve The Maximum Potential In Their Lives    Because They Never Conquer The Thing That They Fear The Most

* Recognize that it is in God’s power that we find our victories

* David responded to his brother in 1 Sam. 17:29 – IS THERE NOT A CAUSE!

4. Depending on God’s power in the face of your biggest giant is always a winner

* Goliath lost this battle because he trusted in himself

* David won because he trusted God alone

* God didn’t simply hand Goliath over to David and Israel, He made them fight the battle

– 1 Samuel 17:51b …And when the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled

When we depend solely on the power of God in our lives, and His sufficiency, we will walk through the battlefields of life in victory.

2 Corinthians 3:5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God

2017-07-23
Pastor Jonathan Falwell

Memory Verse:
Ruth 2:10
So she fell on her face, bowed down to the ground, and said to him, “Why have I found favor in your eyes, that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner?”

We continue through our Flannelgraph series today focusing on the story of a woman named Ruth. This is a fascinating story, particularly a love story that is cherished by so many. It is a story that encourages us but also one that helps to guide many in their marriages.

This story takes place in Bethlehem and in Moab, occurring in the time of the Judges though written after this period had ended. It’s a story of intrigue, romance and redemption

Ruth 1:1 Now it came to pass, in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem, Judah, went to dwell in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons

Elimelech, Naomi and their sons left the famine of Bethlehem and traveled to Moab to find hope Soon after, Elimelech dies and leaves Naomi with her two sons. They find wives there.

The sons marry Orpah and Ruth. Not long after, both sons die and leave the three women. Naomi tells the wives to return to their families and she will go back to Bethlehem.

They arrive in Bethlehem and Naomi sends Ruth off to glean the fields of barley for their food. She follows along behind the other workers and soon the boss arrives, his name is Boaz.

Ruth catches Boaz’s eye. He takes care of her, feeds her, sends her home with lots of food and is definitely interested. Ruth tells Naomi of this man and Naomi sends her off with a plan.

After finding out that Ruth is his relative, he seeks to marry her. He must find a closer relative to determine if he has a chance. He meets with the man, he comes up with the plan, and seals the deal that he will marry Ruth. They make the contract among the elders.

Boaz marries Ruth and later have a child. This child, Obed, later has a child named Jesse. Jesse later has a child named David, King of Israel. Down through the generations, eventually another child is born. His name is Jesus.

Ruth 4:14-15 Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the Lord, who has not left you this day without a close relative; and may his name be famous in Israel! 15 And may he be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age; for your daughter-in-law, who loves you, who is better to you than seven sons, has borne him.”

Application

1. God uses the famines of life to bring blessings

– Naomi wanted to be called “Mara” because she felt God had forgotten her

Ruth 1:20-21 But she said to them, “Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. 21 I went out full, and the Lord has brought me home again empty. Why do you call me Naomi, since the Lord has testified against me, and the Almighty has afflicted me?”

2. God’s love is not exclusive

– God proved His love through using unfortunate circumstances and unlikely participants to bring about deliverance

Ruth 4:15a And may he be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age…

3. God’s plan is greater

– When Elimelech and his sons died, no one could have guessed from that broken home the future king of Israel, and the future of King of Kings, would come.

– Our brokenness in life is always an opportunity for God to do the unexpected, the unimaginable

2017-07-09
Pastor Jonathan Falwell

Memory Verse:
Judges 6:16
And the Lord said to him, “Surely I will be with you, and you shall defeat the Midianites as one man.”

Today we begin a Summer series using a “technology” that is pretty old. That technology is flannelgraph. I remember seeing these stories on a flannel graph board when I was a child. Right here at TRBC, flannel figures were used to teach me and thousands of others the great stories of the Bible. This Summer, we’re going to do the same thing, telling the great stories of the Old Testament through this old-school method while reframing these familiar stories so they apply to us today.

Today’s story is about a man named Gideon. This was about forty years after Israel had entered the promised land, Canaan. Joshua was dead and a new generation of Israelites were now living.

These Israelites had long since forgotten the promises and deliverance of God. They kept falling into sin, into idol worship and walking away from the one true God.

Judges 6:1
The Israelites did evil in the Lord’s sight. So the Lord handed them over to the Midianites for seven years.

The attacks were overwhelming. So much so that the Israelites dug holes in the ground in order to hid themselves (Verse 2).

Israel got to the place where they knew that something had to change and once again they remembered the God who had delivered them. So they cried out to God. (Verses 6-10) There was one man that God had chosen to deliver them from their enemies…and from their fears.

The Angel appeared to Gideon and told him that He would deliver them. But Gideon was just as afraid as everyone else. He didn’t believe that he could do it. He said that he was not capable of leading them out of this mess. But God assured Gideon of His faithfulness (Verses 11-16). Gideon then bargained with God for proof…twice!

So Gideon called for help and 32,000 showed up. But God said it was too many so he told those who were afraid to go home. 22,000 left. But God said there were still too many, so he took them to a stream for a test. Gideon was left with 300 men. (Judges 7:1-7)

God told Gideon and his men to go to the Midianite camp and wait until nightfall. They hid there until they heard the dream of one of the men. This dream encouraged them that God was truly with them. They did as God instructed and the Midianites were so afraid, they began killing each other. (Judges 7:9-22) Gideon got more help and continued to pursue the Midianites eventually capturing the kings. (Judges 8:1-21)

After the victory, Gideon asked all the men to bring gold to him. He made a golden ephod and placed it in the midst of the city. While God had made it abundantly clear that He was their victory and the only one to be worshiped, Gideon became a little to comfortable in his power and his celebrity. (Judges 8:22-27)

Judges 8:28
That is the story of how the people of Israel defeated Midian, which never recovered. Throughout the rest of Gideon’s lifetime—about forty years—there was peace in the land.

Judges 8:33
As soon as Gideon died, the Israelites prostituted themselves by worshiping the images of Baal, making Baal-berith their god. 34 They forgot the Lord their God, who had rescued them from all their enemies surrounding them. 35 Nor did they show any loyalty to the family of Jerub-baal (that is, Gideon), despite all the good he had done for Israel.

Application

1. Defeating Fear Requires Faith  (Verses 6:13 & 15, 16)

– Faith in yourself

– As a result of your faith in God

2. Defeating Fear Requires Focus  (Verses 7:2 & 7)

– As the men beside the water were focused on the job at hand, we too must be focused on God’s will and plan for our lives

– we do not have the luxury of being distracted by the “things” of the day

3. Defeating Fear Requires Fidelity  (Remaining true to Him) (Verses 8:27 & 33)

2017-06-25

Charles Billingsley

This Sunday Charles Billingsley reminds us that our lives can leave an incredible impact on this world if we will lives totally surrendered to Christ. We will take a close look at the amazing events in Acts 16 and discover important lessons taught to us by the testimonies of Paul and Silas.

Everyone has a story.  What is yours?

Acts 16:6-34 (NKJV)

6 Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia. 7 After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit[a] did not permit them. 8 So passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. 9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them.

11 Therefore, sailing from Troas, we ran a straight course to Samothrace, and the next day came to Neapolis, 12 and from there to Philippi, which is the foremost city of that part of Macedonia, a colony. And we were staying in that city for some days. 13 And on the Sabbath day we went out of the city to the riverside, where prayer was customarily made; and we sat down and spoke to the women who met there. 14 Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God. The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul. 15 And when she and her household were baptized, she begged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” So she persuaded us.

16 Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling. 17 This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, “These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.” 18 And this she did for many days.
But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And he came out that very hour. 19 But when her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities.
20 And they brought them to the magistrates, and said, “These men, being Jews, exceedingly trouble our city; 21 and they teach customs which are not lawful for us, being Romans, to receive or observe.” 22 Then the multitude rose up together against them; and the magistrates tore off their clothes and commanded them to be beaten with rods. 23 And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely. 24 Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.

25 But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed. 27 And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself. 28 But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.”
29 Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
31 So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized. 34 Now when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household.

1. The great life: It starts with Surrender:

A. Surrender to the ways of God

6 Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia. 7 After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit[a] did not permit them. 8 So passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas.

When you don’t know what to do…continue to do what you DO know you are supposed to do.

B.  Surrender to the will of God

9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 Now after he had seen the vision, immediately WE sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them.

C.   Surrender daily to God

2. The great life: It’s Energized by a purpose

11 Therefore, sailing from Troas, we ran a straight course to Samothrace, and the next day came to Neapolis, 12 and from there to Philippi, which is the foremost city of that part of Macedonia, a colony. And we were staying in that city for some days. 13 And on the Sabbath day we went out of the city to the riverside, where prayer was customarily made; and we sat down and spoke to the women who met there. 14 Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God. The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul. 15 And when she and her household were baptized, she begged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” So she persuaded us.

A.  It’s God’s plan

B.  It’s God’s purpose

16 Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling. 17 This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, “These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.” 18 And this she did for many days.
But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And he came out that very hour.

GOD wants you to get where He wants you to go, even more than YOU want to get where He wants you to go.

19 But when her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities.
20 And they brought them to the magistrates, and said, “These men, being Jews, exceedingly trouble our city; 21 and they teach customs which are not lawful for us, being Romans, to receive or observe.” 22 Then the multitude rose up together against them; and the magistrates tore off their clothes and commanded them to be beaten with rods. 23 And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely. 24 Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.

Luke 9:23 — “Then Jesus said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.”

3. The Great life: Is Sustained by worship

25 But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed.

A. There is power in worship

B. There is freedom in worship

4. The great life: Is Motivated by Love

A. Love of God

B. Love for others

27 And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself. 28 But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.”
29 Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
31 So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized. 34 Now when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household.

it is God’s love for us that should motivate our love for others.

Am I totally surrendered to God?
Am I energized by His plan and His purpose?
Am I sustaining my walk with him with a lifestyle of Worship?
Am I motivated by a genuine love for Him and a love for others?

The choice is yours! It’s your life!
 

2017-06-11
Pastor Jonathan Falwell

Memory Verse:
Matthew 5:16
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

Today, we’re going to look at a familiar passage that underscores the importance of service.

There are many different views of what service should look like in today’s church. Some views are accurate, some are misguided, some are completely wrong. The best guide to becoming a fully engaged servant of Christ is to let Him explain what it looks like.

Matthew 5:13-16
13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

1. We are to speak truth

vs 13 You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.

– Salt is a seasoning that adds flavor

– It is also a preservative which slows or prevents decay

– Our roles of service in the Kingdom are to fulfill both of these elements

– How?

1. Stand for Truth

2. Call for Repentance

2. We are to show love

vs 14a You are the light of the world…

– The purpose of light is to fill (replace) the darkness

– In the absence of light, darkness prevails

3. We are not to be ashamed

vs 14b A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden

– Our salvation is an amazing gift, an undeserved gift, that should compel us to share

Romans 1:16
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek

4. We are to share the Gospel

vs 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house

– The “light” of the Gospel is given for all, to all, to be shared with all

– The church has been too good at putting our lights under “a basket”

– Reasons:

– “I don’t want to offend”

– “I don’t want to be made fun of or criticized”

– “I’m not sure what to say”

– “What if they ask a question I don’t know the answer to”

5. We are to set the pace

vs 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven

– How do we “let our light shine?”

1. Consecration – “a setting apart”

2. Dedication – working to show ourselves approved (2 Timothy 2:15)

3. Motivation – keep moving forward in our service to Him

– Genesis 24:27 – “being on the way”

1. Daily Bible reading and study

2. Committed to prayer

3. Connected to the local church

4. Telling others about Him

5. A constant pursuit of holiness

6. Giving of myself, my talent, my time, my treasure