Sunday, June 22, 2003

Growing Up Like Jesus

Growing Up Like Jesus

gtcotr/ss062203

I. Luke 4

1 ¶ And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,

2 Being forty days tempted of the devil. …

A. Jesus was tempted for 40 days, not just the 3 times detailed here.

2 Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered.

B. When He was at His weakest moment

3 And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread.

C. In other words: If You are really Who You claim to be … and can do what You can claim You can do … You can satisfy Yourself

D. The devil continued jabbing & harpooning Jesus’ tired mind & weak body …

E. Sometimes temptations hit you where you live -- They Did Jesus

* His Body - ‘Make this stone bread’

* His Community - ‘Become King’

* His Church - ‘See Angels Serve God In The Temple’

Sure Jesus was most likely physically & mentally exhausted …

F. … but the devil forgot one important thing:

* though Jesus’ body & mind were tired, His Spirit was strong

* The Apostle Paul would later say:

2 Corinthians 4

16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

II. This Morning: Overcoming The Common Temptations Of Life

Luke 4

1 ¶ And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,

14 ¶ And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee …

A. What happened between verses 1 & 14?

B. What is the difference between

* being led by the Spirit &

* walking in the power of the Spirit

D. Overcoming The Common Temptations Of Life

* The things you desire & hunger for

* The things you are designed for

* The things you are destined for

> In your own personal & family life

> Within your community circles

> Concerning your church & service to God

III. How Did Jesus Overcome The Devil?

A. Of Course --- The Word Of God

B. But Also

* Jesus Had His Life In Order

1. Jesus Was Under The Authority God Placed Over Him

Luke 2

51 And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.

52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.

> ‘Jesus had His personal & family life in order’

* He did not give Himself permission to break rank or abandon the family pattern just:

^ because He knew more

^ because He grew more

^ because He could do more

2. He Confined Himself To Community Guidelines

He waited until He was 30 to begin public ministry

Luke 3

23 And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph …

We catch a glimpse of Jesus in Luke at birth, at boyhood and now we see Him at 30 years old.

What was Jesus like, what did He do during those 18 years between 12 & 30?

Luke 2

52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.

It is accepted that Jesus kept the law & did not sin

It is stated that Jesus increased in wisdom & maturity & in favor with God & man

It is not so stated but should be easily understood that one produced the other:

* Jesus kept the whole law: (not the traditions so much - at least not the traditions which ran afoul of the intent of the law)

* Jesus: (during the 18 year interval) In Pleasing His Father

> Loved God more than He loved Himself

> Loved His neighbors as much as He loved Himself

And as was the common & accepted path of life that a man was not an adult until age 30 & not released to His own decision & direction until then.

He submitted Himself to this guide. He must have felt it had merit and it did bring Him into wisdom, maturity & favor, with both God and man.

> ‘Jesus had His community life in order’

* He overcame the temptation to feel exempt from standards

^ because He knew more

^ because He grew more

^ because He could do more

3. Jesus Committed Himself To Attend & Meaningfully Participate In Regular Weekly Church Services

Luke 4

16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.

Jesus was found in the synagogue on many important occasions:

* His dedication to God Luke 2:22ff

* At 12 years old (He called it “His Father’s business”)

Luke 2:42ff

* Luke 4:16 … as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.

* Luke 6:6 And it came to pass also on another sabbath, that he entered into the synagogue and taught: and there was a man whose right hand was withered.

> ‘Jesus had His spiritual life in order’

* Jesus did not forsake church attendance & meaningful participation

* He followed the heavenly pattern of saints gathering in the sanctuary

* He assembled Himself together with the family of God in cities and villages everywhere He went

> This is affirmed over and again as admonition to us:

Matthew 4:23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.

Matthew 9:35 And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.

* See the importance Jesus & the scriptures place on this blessed event we call church, where we, from all walks of life, families of all ages and strains of our common society gather each week to worship God in corporate unity under an embraced banner of shared vision, is nothing less than a spiritual mandate to follow the God revealed pattern where no person or family will be exempt from the great gatherings which await us in the sweet eternal sanctuary of heaven.

Jesus did not forsake church attendance & meaningful participation just:

^ because He knew more

^ because He grew more

^ because He could do more

Jesus had His spiritual life in order

IV. Do You Want To Overcome The Devil

A. To Be Led By The Spirit

B. To Walk In The Power Of The Spirit

C. To Increase In Wisdom, Maturity & Favor With God & Man

D. Then Do This:

1. Get Your Personal & Family Life In Order

2. Follow The Standards Of Order For Community

3. Attend & Meaningfully Participate In The Church God Has Set You In

* Specifically in regards to church attendance & meaningful participation.

If You Want To Be Like Jesus, You Will Have To Go To Church

You Can Get To Heaven Without Going To Church … but … You Will Not Stay In Heaven Without Going To Church

If You Go To Heaven, You Will Go To Church

Why Not Go To Church Now & See If You Can Help Bring A Little Of Heaven To Others On Earth Now …

Don’t compromise just because:

* you are tired & hungry

* you know more than others

* you have grown more than others

* you can do more than others

Stay in the heavenly order

Follow the rules with regards to:

* family

* community

* church

2 Potential New Points:

Where God given historical record and eternal reality validate pattern, we need only comply with heaven’s clear instructions

The historical record’s job is to establish pattern; The eternal reality’s job is to validate the pattern; the current generation’s duty is to support the pattern.

Wednesday, June 18, 2003

Selecting The Seed & Planting The Harvest - Part II

gtcotr/ws061803 - Continued from ws061103

Turn To: Genesis 17

Last Wednesday Evening

There Is A Seed For Every Need

Galatians 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

We talked about:

The Law Of ‘After Its Kind’

Genesis 1

Kingdom Realities

Mark 4 as if a man should cast seed into the ground

We Are The Garden Of God

1Corinthians 3:9

The Word Of God Is Seed

Mark 4:14 The Sower Soweth The Word

John 14:10 … the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.

Certified Seed

Isaiah 55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

Fertilized Seed

Romans 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.

We Ended The Night With:

Philemon 6 That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.

Tonight We Continue With:

Selecting The Harvest & Planting The Seed

I. Genesis 17 God Selects The Harvest & Plants The Seed

1 ¶ And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.

2 And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly.

3 And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying,

4 ¶ As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations.

5 Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.

6 And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee.

A. Abraham - ‘Father Of A Multitude’

B. Isaiah 55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

1. prosper - succeed

2. accomplish - do the work necessary

II. Genesis 1: God Selects The Harvest & Plants The Seed

1 ¶ In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

3 ¶ And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.

6 ¶ And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.

9 ¶ And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so.

11 And God said,

14 ¶ And God said,

20 ¶ And God said,

24 ¶ And God said,

26 ¶ And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion …

III. Numbers 14 Man Selects The Harvest & Plants The Seed

26 And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,

27 How long shall I bear with this evil congregation, which murmur against me? I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel, which they murmur against me.

28 Say unto them, As truly as I live, saith the LORD, as ye have spoken in mine ears, so will I do to you:

29 Your carcases shall fall in this wilderness; and all that were numbered of you, according to your whole number, from twenty years old and upward, which have murmured against me,

30 Doubtless ye shall not come into the land, concerning which I sware to make you dwell therein, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun.

IV. Christians Admonished Concerning Selecting The Harvest & Planting Seed

A. Mark 11

22 And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.

B. Romans 4:17 ¶ (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.

C. Genesis 1:3 ‘It ain’t dark!’

D. Mark 11

23 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.

E. Mark 11

12 ¶ And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry:

13 And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet.

14 And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it.

15 And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves;

16 And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple.

17 And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves.

18 And the scribes and chief priests heard it, and sought how they might destroy him: for they feared him, because all the people was astonished at his doctrine.

19 And when even was come, he went out of the city.

20 And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots.

21 And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away.

22 And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.

23 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.

F. Mark 11

24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

G. There Are Conditions - Simply Be Right With God

25 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.

26 But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.

H. Proverbs 18 Seeds For A Future Harvest

20 ¶ A man’s belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled.

21 ¶ Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

I. Genesis 2:17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

J. Genesis 5:5 Adam lived 930 years and then he died.

* In dying thou shalt die

* A seed that produced a harvest

V. Matthew 12 A Hard Saying

30 He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.

A. v.37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

B. v.36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

C. v.35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.

D. v.34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

E. v.33 Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit.

F. v.32 And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come. (Seeds For A Future Harvest)

G. v.31 Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.

H. v.30 He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.

Sunday, June 15, 2003

A Father's Duty

A Father’s Duty

gtcotr/ss061503

Turn To Genesis 3

Key Scripture: Romans 12:1 ¶ I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

Question:

What Do These Men Have In Common?

Josiah Bartlett

William Whipple

Matthew Thornton
Samuel Adams

John Adams

Robert Treat Paine

Elbridge Gerry
Stephen Hopkins

William Ellery
Roger Sherman

Samuel Huntington

William Williams

Oliver Wolcott
William Floyd

Philip Livingston

Francis Lewis

Lewis Morris
Richard Stockton

John Witherspoon

Francis Hopkinson

John Hart

Abraham Clark
Robert Morris

Benjamin Rush

Benjamin Franklin

John Morton

George Clymer

James Smith

George Taylor

James Wilson

George Ross
Caesar Rodney

George Read

Thomas McKean
Samuel Chase

William Paca

Thomas Stone

Charles Carroll

George Wythe

Richard Henry Lee

Thomas Jefferson

Benjamin Harrison

Thomas Nelson, Jr.

Francis Lightfoot Lee

Carter Braxton
William Hooper

Joseph Hewes

John Penn
Edward Rutledge

Thomas Heyward, Jr.

Thomas Lynch, Jr.

Arthur Middleton
Button Gwinnett

Lyman Hall

George Walton
John Hancock

Possible Answer:

They Are The 56 Signers Of The Declaration Of Independence

Which Reads In Part:

IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America

When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. --That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. …

We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States, that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. …

Although That Answer Would Be A Correct One … It’s Not The Answer I Am Looking For This Morning.

The Correct Answer: Survey Says!

The Founding Fathers

The last sentence of that July 4, 1776 Declaration signed by these 56 men, knowing that along with their signature, they were signing their death warrants, reads:

And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.

You see

Almost any man can be a sperm donor

--- but ---

It takes your life, your fortune and your sacred honor to become a father.

Father’s Willingly Sacrifice To Protect, Defend & Provide For Their Family

& In Many Cases … Their Future Generations

Proverbs 13:22

Physically

Mentally/Emotionally

Spiritually

I. The First Sacrifice

A. Genesis 3:21 ¶ Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.

B. The True Message Of

Father’s Day Is A Memorial To Love & Sacrifice

II. The Three Elements Of A Father’s Sacrifice

#1. A Willing Father

* Leviticus 1:3

* 2 Corinthians 8:12 For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.

#2. An Acceptable Sacrifice

* Valuable

* Costly 2 Samuel 24:24

#3. A Resulting Benefit To Others

* The Benefit Gained By Sacrifice Is Of Greater Value Than The Sacrifice Itself

* The benefit determines the true value of the sacrifice

III. Fathers:

* What are you willing to sacrifice that is valuable to you but could be more beneficial to others if you would only let God have it?

* Make:

A Willing Sacrifice

A Valuable & Costly Sacrifice

An Accepted Sacrifice

A Sacrifice That Benefits Others

* Sacrifice Your Self To God

Your Life -- Time

Your Fortunes -- Money

Your Sacred Honor -- Fatherhood

* Men -- Lets Commit To Become Fathers