2 Chronicles 34:1-8
1. Remember the Lord
-->seek, hunt, pursue, inquire, draw near
-->is your time and intent for the Lord Jesus lacking? We can always seek Him more!
2. Remove the idols
-->Josiah sought the Lord by removing idols and priests of idols.
-->what idols do we need to remove from our hearts?
**Seeking the Lord gives us:
A. Clarity-finding out God's purpose.
B. Conviction-the Holy Spirit will reveal your idols when you ask in prayer.
C. Confidence-He will give you trust.
Sunday, October 21, 2012
Saturday, October 13, 2012
From Rebellion to Restoration
What is revival?
"Behold, I long for Your precepts;
Revive me through Your righteousness." (Psalm 119:40 NASB)
--> consider the First Great Awakening and Jonathan Edwards:
The word ‘revival’ infers that something is dead or dying. The early 1700s in America were marked by spiritual decline and immorality. This was a time when few people attended church and there was little interest in spiritual things. But in 1734, in the small, unassuming church of Jonathan Edwards, 25% of the town converted to faith in Christ over the course of six months. The revival spread throughout the region and beyond. The Holy Spirit of God was at work in the souls of humanity.
Jonathan Edwards said, ‘God has also seemed to go out of his usual way in the quickness of His work...on the hearts of many….There was scarcely a single person in the town, either old or young, that was left unconcerned about the great things of the eternal world …The town seemed to be full of the presence of God…it never was so full of love and full of joy.
2 Chronicles 7:11-14
Thus Solomon finished the house of the LORD and the king's palace, and successfully completed all that he had planned on doing in the house of the LORD and in his palace. Then the LORD appeared to Solomon at night and said to him, "I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice. If I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among My people, and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
I. Pride leads to ... Rebellion
--> when we start to believe that we are ok without the Lord's work in our lives, then we fall into pride and selfishness. We are useless. We are like walking zombies within our church.
--> pride was the first sin that brought the archangel, Lucifer, down to earth as Satan, our enemy. It separated him from God, and it does the same to us.
'... Therefore it says, "GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE." Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.' (James 4:6-8 NASB)
II. Humility leads to ... Restoration
"Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you." (James 4:8-10 NASB)
--> we acknowledge our sin (laughter turned to mourning, joy turned to gloom) and it brings about repentance!
--> here is where we find true JOY, and as we are humbled, we are exalted and restored!
"Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:5-11 NASB)
**information on Jonathan Edwards: http://www.revival-library.org/pensketches/revivals/1st_edwards.html
"Behold, I long for Your precepts;
Revive me through Your righteousness." (Psalm 119:40 NASB)
--> consider the First Great Awakening and Jonathan Edwards:
The word ‘revival’ infers that something is dead or dying. The early 1700s in America were marked by spiritual decline and immorality. This was a time when few people attended church and there was little interest in spiritual things. But in 1734, in the small, unassuming church of Jonathan Edwards, 25% of the town converted to faith in Christ over the course of six months. The revival spread throughout the region and beyond. The Holy Spirit of God was at work in the souls of humanity.
Jonathan Edwards said, ‘God has also seemed to go out of his usual way in the quickness of His work...on the hearts of many….There was scarcely a single person in the town, either old or young, that was left unconcerned about the great things of the eternal world …The town seemed to be full of the presence of God…it never was so full of love and full of joy.
2 Chronicles 7:11-14
Thus Solomon finished the house of the LORD and the king's palace, and successfully completed all that he had planned on doing in the house of the LORD and in his palace. Then the LORD appeared to Solomon at night and said to him, "I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice. If I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among My people, and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
I. Pride leads to ... Rebellion
--> when we start to believe that we are ok without the Lord's work in our lives, then we fall into pride and selfishness. We are useless. We are like walking zombies within our church.
--> pride was the first sin that brought the archangel, Lucifer, down to earth as Satan, our enemy. It separated him from God, and it does the same to us.
'... Therefore it says, "GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE." Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.' (James 4:6-8 NASB)
II. Humility leads to ... Restoration
"Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you." (James 4:8-10 NASB)
--> we acknowledge our sin (laughter turned to mourning, joy turned to gloom) and it brings about repentance!
--> here is where we find true JOY, and as we are humbled, we are exalted and restored!
"Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:5-11 NASB)
**information on Jonathan Edwards: http://www.revival-library.org/pensketches/revivals/1st_edwards.html
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Warning Signs
**your attitudes and actions reveal your level of commitment to Christ
Hebrews 5:11-14
11 Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.
1. Attitude
An apathetic attitude reveals disinterest in the things of God.
V. 11-- "dull of hearing"
-We are unable to discern how to live right, or we just don't care. If this is a struggle for you, then be cautioned! This lack of understanding is a direct result of living outside of God's will and His word.
2. Growth
Lacking spiritual growth in your life means that you are moving backwards. Like the vine from last week's lesson, if we are not growing and living in Christ then we are dying!
V. 12-- we should be much further along in our spiritual journey. The milk is for babies!
3. Effectiveness
What kind of steward are you of God's gift of salvation? Have you been thankful for it? Have you sought to make good choices based on what you know from God's word? Do you want to know more and train your mind to think Biblically?
Vv. 13-14-- "righteousness" means right living. And right thinking = right living! We must train our minds to think right by absorbing God's truth in His word.
**The book of Hebrews is written to the Jews (Hebrews) to help those who followed Christ to move past their "rituals" into a life of obedience. Consider the very best way young people can live out obedience to Christ. There is no better act than to honor your parents. This is a great starting point for you to direct your thinking and living toward the righteousness of our Lord Jesus Christ.
-Christ's example-- obedient to the point of death! (Philippians 2:8)
-the fifth commandment (Exodus 20)
-Ephesians 6...v. 3 "SO THAT IT MAY BE WELL WITH YOU, AND THAT YOU MAY LIVE LONG ON THE EARTH."
-Matthew 15
-Deuteronomy 5:16
-Proverbs 23:22
Hebrews 5:11-14
11 Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.
1. Attitude
An apathetic attitude reveals disinterest in the things of God.
V. 11-- "dull of hearing"
-We are unable to discern how to live right, or we just don't care. If this is a struggle for you, then be cautioned! This lack of understanding is a direct result of living outside of God's will and His word.
2. Growth
Lacking spiritual growth in your life means that you are moving backwards. Like the vine from last week's lesson, if we are not growing and living in Christ then we are dying!
V. 12-- we should be much further along in our spiritual journey. The milk is for babies!
3. Effectiveness
What kind of steward are you of God's gift of salvation? Have you been thankful for it? Have you sought to make good choices based on what you know from God's word? Do you want to know more and train your mind to think Biblically?
Vv. 13-14-- "righteousness" means right living. And right thinking = right living! We must train our minds to think right by absorbing God's truth in His word.
**The book of Hebrews is written to the Jews (Hebrews) to help those who followed Christ to move past their "rituals" into a life of obedience. Consider the very best way young people can live out obedience to Christ. There is no better act than to honor your parents. This is a great starting point for you to direct your thinking and living toward the righteousness of our Lord Jesus Christ.
-Christ's example-- obedient to the point of death! (Philippians 2:8)
-the fifth commandment (Exodus 20)
-Ephesians 6...v. 3 "SO THAT IT MAY BE WELL WITH YOU, AND THAT YOU MAY LIVE LONG ON THE EARTH."
-Matthew 15
-Deuteronomy 5:16
-Proverbs 23:22
Sunday, September 23, 2012
How to grow as a disciple: Spiritual disciplines
I. Love Jesus
This is a commandment! But we love because He first loved us. (1 John 4:19 NASB)
"You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart."(Deuteronomy 6:5, 6 NASB)
"I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples." (John 15:5-8 NASB)
** abide = live (picture of vine)
2. Read your Bible
Psalm 119, the longest chapter in the Bible, shows a love for God's Word:
"Your word is a lamp to my feet
And a light to my path." (Psalm 119:105 NASB)
"Teach me, O LORD, the way of Your statutes,
And I shall observe it to the end. Give me understanding, that I may observe Your law
And keep it with all my heart. Make me walk in the path of Your commandments,
For I delight in it. Incline my heart to Your testimonies
And not to dishonest gain. Turn away my eyes from looking at vanity,
And revive me in Your ways. Establish Your word to Your servant,
As that which produces reverence for You. Turn away my reproach which I dread,
For Your ordinances are good. Behold, I long for Your precepts;
Revive me through Your righteousness." (Psalm 119:33-40 NASB)
-many descriptive words for "Bible": statutes, law, commandments, testimonies, ways, word, ordinances, precepts
**Make goals for reading!
3. Pray to God
"pray without ceasing;" (1 Thessalonians 5:17 NASB)
-pray anytime; remember to pray for your parents' wisdom in raising you!
ACTS-adoration, confession, thanksgiving, supplication (praying for the needs of others)
4. Worship and serve
"and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near." (Hebrews 10:24, 25 NASB)
-this is why we need to be in church!
'If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also.' (1 John 4:20, 21 NASB)
-don't undervalue relationships with loved ones. Mothers, fathers, sisters, and brothers are very important and not to be taken for granted!
This is a commandment! But we love because He first loved us. (1 John 4:19 NASB)
"You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart."(Deuteronomy 6:5, 6 NASB)
"I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples." (John 15:5-8 NASB)
** abide = live (picture of vine)
2. Read your Bible
Psalm 119, the longest chapter in the Bible, shows a love for God's Word:
"Your word is a lamp to my feet
And a light to my path." (Psalm 119:105 NASB)
"Teach me, O LORD, the way of Your statutes,
And I shall observe it to the end. Give me understanding, that I may observe Your law
And keep it with all my heart. Make me walk in the path of Your commandments,
For I delight in it. Incline my heart to Your testimonies
And not to dishonest gain. Turn away my eyes from looking at vanity,
And revive me in Your ways. Establish Your word to Your servant,
As that which produces reverence for You. Turn away my reproach which I dread,
For Your ordinances are good. Behold, I long for Your precepts;
Revive me through Your righteousness." (Psalm 119:33-40 NASB)
-many descriptive words for "Bible": statutes, law, commandments, testimonies, ways, word, ordinances, precepts
**Make goals for reading!
3. Pray to God
"pray without ceasing;" (1 Thessalonians 5:17 NASB)
-pray anytime; remember to pray for your parents' wisdom in raising you!
ACTS-adoration, confession, thanksgiving, supplication (praying for the needs of others)
4. Worship and serve
"and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near." (Hebrews 10:24, 25 NASB)
-this is why we need to be in church!
'If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also.' (1 John 4:20, 21 NASB)
-don't undervalue relationships with loved ones. Mothers, fathers, sisters, and brothers are very important and not to be taken for granted!
Sunday, September 16, 2012
What does it look like to follow Jesus everyday?
Luke 14:25-33
1. Love Jesus above anyone else.
2. Love Jesus more than self.
3. Love Jesus above stuff.
1. Love Jesus above anyone else.
2. Love Jesus more than self.
3. Love Jesus above stuff.
Saturday, September 1, 2012
Why Follow Christ?
With so many faiths and beliefs in the world, why choose Christ?
I. He gives Life
Background of John 6--the Bread of Life vv.41-65
John 6:63
"It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life."
-->Our earthly bodies will do nothing for our eternal standing!
-->If you embrace the work of the Spirit you will know Eternal Life!
John 6:64-69
"But there are some of you who do not believe." For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who it was that would betray Him. And He was saying, "For this reason I have said to you, that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father." As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore.
-->Many will follow while it suits them but will fall away as they encounter difficulty.
So Jesus said to the twelve, "You do not want to go away also, do you?" Simon Peter
answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life. We have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God."
1 Corinthians 1:18
"For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God."
1 Corinthians 1:22-25
"For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men."
II. He gives Purpose
2 Timothy 1:8,9
"Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity,"
-->Our works can never gain us eternity, but ONLY His grace, and yet...
James 2:18
But someone may well say, "You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works."
III. He gives Rewards
Matthew 19:27-30
Then Peter said to Him, "Behold, we have left everything and followed You; what then will there be for us?" And Jesus said to them, "Truly I say to you, that you who have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on His glorious throne, you also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms for My name's sake, will receive many times as much, and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last; and the last, first.
Jim Elliot, a missionary and martyr of the mid 1900s: "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose."
John Wesley, an evangelist from 1700s: "I value all things only by the price they shall gain in eternity."
**To know Christ is to know Eternal Life, Eternal Purpose, and Eternal Rewards
I. He gives Life
Background of John 6--the Bread of Life vv.41-65
John 6:63
"It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life."
-->Our earthly bodies will do nothing for our eternal standing!
-->If you embrace the work of the Spirit you will know Eternal Life!
John 6:64-69
"But there are some of you who do not believe." For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who it was that would betray Him. And He was saying, "For this reason I have said to you, that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father." As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore.
-->Many will follow while it suits them but will fall away as they encounter difficulty.
So Jesus said to the twelve, "You do not want to go away also, do you?" Simon Peter
answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life. We have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God."
1 Corinthians 1:18
"For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God."
1 Corinthians 1:22-25
"For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men."
II. He gives Purpose
2 Timothy 1:8,9
"Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity,"
-->Our works can never gain us eternity, but ONLY His grace, and yet...
James 2:18
But someone may well say, "You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works."
III. He gives Rewards
Matthew 19:27-30
Then Peter said to Him, "Behold, we have left everything and followed You; what then will there be for us?" And Jesus said to them, "Truly I say to you, that you who have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on His glorious throne, you also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms for My name's sake, will receive many times as much, and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last; and the last, first.
Jim Elliot, a missionary and martyr of the mid 1900s: "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose."
John Wesley, an evangelist from 1700s: "I value all things only by the price they shall gain in eternity."
**To know Christ is to know Eternal Life, Eternal Purpose, and Eternal Rewards
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