Original intent

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When it comes to constitutional law in the United States, there are two basic arguments. First are those who believe the Constitution is a bit outdated and should be amended and/or re-interpreted in light of modern-day morals, changing social allowances, and other current considerations. Then there are those who wish to preserve, protect, and defend the original intent of the framers of the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic.

 

When it comes to the Bible, there are also two basic schools of thought and practice. One group believes the Bible is outdated or at least misogynistic and behind the times. This group often argues for departure from the intent of the original texts in favor of a more modern and less strict interpretation of the scriptures. The other group consists of those who believe God authored the Bible by using inspired writers and that He is the same today as He was yesterday and will be forever. These people believe God has preserved and protected His intent and that the Bible is the source of truth for all generations.

 

We encounter these two opposing schools of thought and from time to time observe those who fall into the many cracks in between. I believe God’s original intent is plain and easily understood once seen in light of the whole counsel of His Word. 

 

The correct way to interpret scripture is with scripture. The Bible tells only one story … it is the story of redemption. And unless and until each verse finds its proper place in support of the one-story God intends, it is not understood correctly. I believe the original intent is where we find both the power and the pleasure of God. 

 

With this in mind, let’s look to the scriptures concerning God’s original intent for mankind.

 

Genesis 1 NKJV

26 ¶  Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

27  So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

 

• Important to note God created male and female to be equal.

• He blessed them and charged them equally.

 

28  Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

 

Dominion is defined as the right and the power to govern and control.

 

Psalm 8:6  You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet.

 

We don’t win in court because we are right but because we present the best case. A judge decides the case based on the charges levied, the evidence presented, and the argument which is made. 

 

There are many injustices which are never brought before the court. Also, you can decide not to press charges against the devil if you don’t want to bother with it. But that won’t change the facts of God’s Word. You were created to have dominion over the works of God’s hands.

 

When Jesus defeated the devil, He restored our rights. We can speak with authority in His name. We have been justified and we are the redeemed.

 

Now we are back to the original 5 commandments of Genesis 1:28.

 

1. Be Fruitful

2. Multiply

3. Fill the Earth

4. Subdue the Earth

5. Exercise Dominion

God is Good!

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My experience has been that anywhere I have preached across the nation and around the world, when I say “God is good,” people respond with “all the time!” God is good seems to be the universal slogan inspired by the Holy Spirit in congregations and in personal situations faced by Believers despite what they may be facing. How many times have you told yourself or told God and whoever else is listening that God is good?

The fact that God is good is one of the fundamental truths we find in the Bible. There are hundreds and hundreds of references connecting God with His goodness and with what we know is good. 

Genesis 1:31  Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

Beginning in the Book of Genesis with the account of creation, everything God made was good.

Luke records the Apostle Peter speaking about the power, the purpose, and the person of Jesus …

Acts 10:38  “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.”

Not only are God and Jesus good but goodness is also the primary purpose of God’s children.

Ephesians 2:10  For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

1 Timothy 6:18  Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share.

Titus 2

7  In all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility,

8  sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you.

Titus 2:14  Jesus gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.

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

Titus 3:8  This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men.

Titus 3:14  And let our people also learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful.

Hebrews 10:24  And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works,

God is good!

        Jesus is good!

                We who have believed in God should be good!

Good? Yes, good to others … imitating our heavenly Father.

Ephesians 5:1  Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.

3 John 1:11  Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. He who does good is of God, but he who does evil has not seen God.

Let’s look at 5 things the Bible says about the goodness of God.

1.   The Bible declares in Psalm 34:8, “Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him.”

a.   Notice the invitation—taste and see. God’s goodness isn’t just something to hear about; it’s something to experience.

b.   Like food that nourishes the body, His goodness sustains the soul.

2.   God is good not only when life feels easy, but also when life is uncertain.

a.   Nahum 1:7  The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; He knows those who take refuge in Him.

b.   His goodness shows up as protection, presence, and faithfulness—especially in hard times.

3.   Sometimes people question God’s goodness because of suffering.

a.   The cross reminds us and gives the ultimate proof of God’s goodness. (Romans 8:32)

b.   If things are bad, God is not finished yet.

c.    Romans 8:28  And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

d.   Even when we don’t understand our circumstances, we can trust God’s heart. He is good!

4.   Here is a sobering truth: The absence of God is the absence of good.

a.   James 1:17  Every good and perfect gift comes from God.

b.   If all that is truly good comes from God, then stepping away from Him means stepping away from the very source of goodness itself.

c.    Know God, know good … no God, no good!

d.   Apart from Him, we don’t just lose direction … we lose the light that defines and supplies all that is good.

5.   Finally, we must also hold truth with wisdom: God is good, however, good is not always God.

a.   Not everything that appears good, feels good, or even does some good is from God.

b.   Many people mistake good for God.

c.    Hebrews 11:25  Choosing to suffer affliction with the children of God, rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season.

d.   True goodness is defined by God’s character, not by human perception.

e.   If we’re not careful, we can mistake comfort, success, or popularity for God’s will, when in reality they may lead us away from Him.

God’s goodness is not based on our situation—it flows from His unchanging nature. He is good when we see it, and He is still good when we don’t.

I’d like to leave us with a thought and a goal this morning. The thought is a sobering one. It comes from our 4^th point.

The absence of God is the absence of Good.

God’s goodness is all that is holding this world together. Make a list of all that is good … I did this past week. Breath, light, water, health, hope, family, food, friends, sleep, peace, freedom, sight, love, children, safety, smiles … the list goes on and on. Every good thing comes from God.

Now imagine a world without God and without good. That is hell. We cannot allow people to go to hell because we did not show them the goodness of God.

Romans 2:4  Do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?

This brings us to our goal for the week. Be good to others. Decide that you are going to show others the love and the goodness of God whether in your estimation, they deserve it or not.

Determine to be kind and to be considerate. And be gracious and be patient and suffer others who may be having a bad day or just not understand why they were created. Imitate God as dear children and let your light shine for Jesus. He said others will see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. 

Now let’s pray …

Rock Solid Convictions Money: Settling What We Believe

 Series Review:                                                                                      

Intro: What are Convictions?

•    Convictions are beliefs you settle before life tests you

•    Convictions are not formed in pressure—they are revealed in pressure

•    If you don’t decide what you believe, something else will decide for you

•    A shaky belief system leads to a shaky life

Part 1: Convictions about God

•    God is supreme — (uncreated, infinite, unchanging)

•    God is good — (holy, loving, just)

•    God is sovereign — (all-powerful, all-knowing, all-present

•    God is worth trusting

Introduction:

John D. Rockefeller is on of the wealthiest men to ever live. When most people think about him, they think of oil, financing, and immense wealth. However, what is often overlooked is how his relationship with money began. Long before the wealth, long before the success, long before the millions, he made a decision as a young boy. He made the decision that the first 10% of everything he earned would belong to God.” Not after he became rich, but before. His first job only earned him a $1. He made sure to give 10% of that to God. As his income grew, so did his giving. Eventually, Rockefeller went on to become the richest man in the world at that time. Yet, he still gave 10% of everything he earned even in his wealth. Later on in life, he shared something profound. He said, “I never would have been able to tithe the first million dollars I made if I had not tithed on my first $1 salary.”

Early on, John D. Rockefeller made a decision on what he believed about money before it ever tested him. He didn’t wait until he had money to figure out what he believed about money; he settled it early. Consequently, that decision shaped the rest of his life moving forward.

That is what this series Rock Solid Convictions is all about. Convictions are not formed in the pressured moments in life, pressure only reveals what you believe. Instead, convictions must be settled before a crisis arrives.

If you don’t settle what you believe about money now, money will decide for you later.

So today, we are going to discuss 4 rock solid convictions that we should have about money as believers.

1.     God Owns Everything
Psalm 24:1 — “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.”

•   Everything we have belongs to God (property, possessions, money, relationships), it all belongs to the Lord.

•   This means that we actually don’t own anything.

•   Instead, we are managing that which has been given to us by God

•   You are a steward of what God has given us…that should impact:
How you spend money
How you save money
How you give money

•   The question we should be asking God is: “What do You want me to do with what you have given me?”

2.     Money is a Tool
1 Timothy 6:10 — “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.”

•   Money itself is not evil, but it is powerful. This scripture says that the “love” of money is the root of all evil. God does not hate money! God is not opposed to you having more money! He wants you to have more money! He needs more people who are willing to help build the kingdom of God and more people He can give through.

•   God is not opposed to you having more money… He is opposed to money having more of you

•   Money has the ability to:

‣   Shape your decisions  (What you say yes or no to)

‣   Influence your moment  (Peace, anxiety, fear, confidence)

‣   Compete for your priorities  (What you actually rely on)

•   Money makes a terrible master, but it makes a wonderful tool.
Let us be careful not to get sucked into the lure of chasing money instead of God.

3.     God is My Provider (Not Money)
Philippians 4:19 — “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”

•   It is important for me to believe that my job is a blessing. My paycheck is a blessing. However, they are not your provider. While they do provide you your salary, God is the one who gives you the ability to create wealth.

•   Jesus speaks about the everyday needs that you and I have like what we will eat, what will we drink, what we will wear. There are things that we are concerned about that money many timed can fix. However, look at what Jesus says:

Matthew 6:32-33 — “32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”

[Story of Norah losing her money]

•   Norah was not overly worried and was not overly afraid when she lost her money. Why? Because her trust was never in the money she had, her trust was in her father (me).

•   Let us not be overly tethered to resources we have when we are connected to the one who is the source.

•   God knows what you need, and He will provide your every one of them. We just need to trust Him. How? By seeking first the kingdom of God and righteousness.

4.     Money is Temporary
Matthew 6:19-20 — “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.”

•   This is one of the most grounding truths about money, that it is temporary. No matter how much we earn or accumulate, we cannot take it with us. Jesus made that clear here in this verse. Money can gained and lost.

However, He also says to invest in heavenly riches because it can be gained but it cannot be lost. There is no better investment than a heavenly investment.

•   Jesus is not speaking against money nor is He speaking against possessions. Instead, He is correcting our perspective. Earthly treasures are fragile and fading, but heavenly riches are secure and eternal.

•   We must be careful not to pass up the eternal in order to chase what’s temporary. Instead, we must use what is temporary in order to invest in what is eternal.

•   That is what we do here at Church on the Rock. This is why we invest in world missions, because we are investing in heavenly riches.

5.     Being Blessed is a Responsibility
Genesis 12:2 — “And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.”

•   From the very beginning, God’s design for blessing was never meant to sop with us, but to move through us. Abraham was blessed, but he was blessed with a purpose. It was not just for Abraham’s comfort and security. Instead, it was for a greater impact beyond himself.

•   That same principle is seen carried our throughout scripture and into our lives today. When God blesses us, it is more than just for myself. It is not just so that I can enjoy myself. Instead, blessings come with responsibility.

2 Corinthians 9:10-11 — “Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.”

•   God is the provider of our needs. However, He also can “increase” our resources so that we can be generous. In other words, God is not just looking to give to you, He is also looking to give through you.

•   There is a difference between provision and overflow.
Provision meets your needs; Overflow creates opportunities to impact others. God not only provides for us, but He overflows us so that we can be a blessing to others.

It is important that we stop seeing increase as something to accumulate for ourselves and start seeing it as an opportunity to participate with God.

TAKEAWAYS

5 Rock Solid Convictions I should have about money as a Christian:

I.      It all belongs to God

II.     Money doesn’t control me

III.   God is my source

IV.   Don’t live for what’s temporary— Invest in what is eternal

V.    I am blessed to be a blessing

The Testimony of Tychicus

One thing that everyone wants is to feel like they matter. We want to know that our life matters. We want to know that our lives are making an impact and that we are making a difference. That is one thing that our church prides ourself on: making a difference. As the saying goes here in our church: Make a living, make a life, and make a difference.

There is something inside of us that wants to be seen. However, the world measures impact by visibility: how many people see it, how many people applaud it, how many people acknowledge it. However, when you open your Bible, you will find out that God does not measure impact the same way the world does.

Some of the most impactful people in the Bible are characters that you have barely heard about…

•   Jochebed

•   Bezalel

•   Shiphrah and Puah

•   The Boy with the Loaves

Well today we are going to talk about someone else who is not well known in the Bible, but had a major impact in that day and for generations to come. He also happens to be one of my favorite characters in the Bible. Today we are going to be talking about the Faithfulness of Tychicus.

Tychicus was such a cool guy!! Not only that, but he was also a great example for what it means to be a faithful follower of Jesus. We will talk more about that later.

But Tychicus was not David. He wasn’t Moses. He’s not Paul the Apostle. However, there are parts of the New Testament that we would not have today if it weren’t for Tychicus. And although there is not much in the Bible about him, what we do learn from his life is simple, but powerful.

So let’s dive in together to see what we can learn from the life of Tychicus.

Background of the Text

We are going to be in chapter 4 of the book of Colossians.

Colossians was a letter written by the Apostle Paul to the church in Colossae, which was located in modern day Turkey. He was writing to the church for a few reasons:

•   The church was under pressure

-    They were living in a very pagan environment: multiple gods, idol worship, and demonic spiritual practices.

-    This meant that they would have stuck out and would have been rejected

•   False teaching was spreading into the church

-    People were telling them that Jesus was good, but they needed to add Judaism and other mystical teachings/ practices.

•   The Colossian Christians were uncertain

-    Upon hearing that Paul was in prison, they were uncertain of what to believe

-    They were hearing all kinds of things and Paul wanted to clear the air

In chapters 1-3, Paul is addressing many different issues. By the time you get to chapter 4, Paul is doing a little house keeping. It seems like what is written in chapter 4 is not as important. Most people might even just pass over this part of the book, but its here that we here about Tychicus.

Colossians 4:7-8 — “7 Tychicus, a beloved brother, faithful minister, and fellow servant in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me. 8 I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that he may know your circumstances and comfort your hearts”

This is not the only place we hear about Tychicus. Some other places we hear about Tychicus are:

•   Acts 20 — He is traveling with Paul to help deliver the offering collected from the churches abroad to Jerusalem.

•   2 Timothy 4 — He was considered a leader and a trusted ministry substitute for Timothy in Ephesus.

Back to Colossians 4, Paul said that he was sending Tychicus.

So who was this man, Tychicus? The Bible does not record much about the man. However, according to the Apostle Paul, he was a:

•    Beloved Brother — He was someone that Paul trusted  (like family)

•    Faithful Minister — He was someone that Paul could rely on

•    Fellow Bond-Servant — He was someone that Paul respected
*Only other person he says this about outside of Timothy, Epaphras, and himself

Tychicus was someone that the Apostle Paul loved and respected. So what was it about him that made Paul trust him so much? What did he do that made him so valuable?

I believe that it was one thing: His faithfulness.

Sometimes we imagine that we are not able or capable of being used by God to make an impact for His kingdom. Sometimes we imagine, there is someone else that is more gifted, more knowledgeable, more experienced, etc. However, God is not just looking for the gifted and talented, He is looking for those who are faithful! That is exactly what Tychicus was and what we should all aim to be.

It is true that there is not much written about Tychicus. But based on what we do know about him, I would like to share 3 truths we learn from him about faithfulness that I believe we too should apply to our life as fellow followers of Christ.

1.     Faithfulness goes the extra mile

Tychicus did more than just serve— he went the distance. He was given the responsibility of one of the most important roles that someone held in the early church days: Carrier.

Tychicus had the responsibility of delivering letter(s) written by Paul. This may not sound that impressive, but this was just some easy task. He would have had to:

•    Cross Italy on foot

•    Sail the Adriatic Sea

•    Cross Greece on foot

•    Sail the Aegean Sea

•    Travel from the coast of Ephesus up to the steep Lycus Valley

•    Travel through Laodicea on foot

•    Travel through Hierapolis

•    Finally arrive at Colossae

•    Between Rome and Colossae, it would have been approximately 1200 miles he would have had to travel on his own. It would have taken roughly 3-5 weeks. Not only that but he would have faced difficult and dangerous feats when delivering this letter. Nevertheless, he got the job done. Needless to say, Tychicus went the extra mile.

Faithfulness is willing to go the extra mile.

2.     Faithfulness brings a positive report
v7 — “Tychicus, a beloved brother, faithful minister, and fellow servant in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me.”

When Paul went to prison, there were a lot of questions. Letters took weeks-months to arrive and rumors began to spread fast. So Tychicus was instrumental in bringing a long awaited update on the status of Paul and what was going on. When Tychicus arrived, he was bringing a positive report on the status of Paul. There had been false reports about his time in a Roman jail cell. Yet, Tychicus was there to set the record straight.

There are many people who are already adding to the negativity around us. When you walk into a room or when you show up around people, bring a positive report. Have a smile on your face and joy in your heart. We don’t need to look sour when we show up. Let us show up ready to be a light wherever we go.

3.     Faithfulness shows up when it matters most
v8 — “I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that he may know your circumstances and comfort your hearts”

Tychicus was also there to encourage the church. He was a fellow minister, capable of encouraging them in their moment. He was there for them in a very difficult time to strengthen them. Not only that but their pastor Epaphras was gone. So with all of the false teaching, uncertainty of Paul, and their pastor being gone, there was a lot of turbulence. Tychicus was there for them when they needed him the most.

Faithfulness is being there when it matters most. It means showing and being present. Your presence is powerful. We represent the hands and feet of Jesus here on earth. Your presence means more than you imagine. Reach out to someone, check on them, and be there for them. Realize that your presence in church is even more important than you realize.

We are given no indication that Tychicus was the most gifted. We are not given any indication of him being the most educated, the most skilled, the most respected, nor the most famous. However, what we do know about Tychicus is that he was faithful.

TAKEAWAYS

I.      Faithfulness is a defining mark of a true follower of Christ
Matthew 25:21 — “Well done, good and faithful servant”

II.     Faithfulness impacts more people than you realize
Galatians 6:9 — “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.”\

III.   Faithfulness is doing your part in God’s bigger plan

IV.   Faithfulness is what God expects out of you