The Final Word

Gtcotr/ss110826

The nation of Turkey is one of my favorite vacation spots, I actually think I would enjoy living there. The countryside is beautiful and the people are friendly, helpful, and I enjoy the food and their pace of life. Added to those things is the fact that about two-thirds of the New Testament was written either in Turkey or written to people who lived in Turkey. It is such a Bible rich land.

A place I love to visit is the ancient city of Ephesus. It is beautifully situated alongside the Mediterranean very close to the port city of Kusadasi where the cruise ships dock. In years past, before the more recent political problems with the government of Turkey, I looked at property to lease or purchase around the old city imagining I’d enjoy vacationing there with family and friends. There is such a peace I’ve found walking the ruins of the city of Ephesus … maybe that’s one of the reasons Timothy, and the Apostle John, and perhaps even Mary, the mother of Jesus, chose this as the place they would live out the remaining years of their lives, serving the saints there. The Apostle John wrote the Gospel of John and first, second, and third John from Ephesus.

The Church at Ephesus was one of the largest Churches of the day. It is one of the three model Churches in the New Testament. The first was Jerusalem, the second was the Church in Antioch, and then Ephesus. The Ephesian Church was a mission minded Church, teaching and training Church leaders and missionaries and sending them throughout the known world to evangelize cities and start Churches. Luke wrote (Acts 19:9-10) that all who lived in Asia heard the Word of the Lord both Jews and Greeks from this Church’s direct mission efforts.

As we best understand, Paul started the Church in Ephesus in about AD52/53 (Acts 18) and about 10 years later Timothy, Paul’s young son in the faith, became the pastor there. Paul’s last written words of record were directed to young Pastor Timothy concerning him carrying on the ministry after Paul’s anticipated death.

The city of Ephesus was very well known in the Roman Empire and was arguably the most spiritual city of its day. Spiritual in the sense that it was a truly demonically influenced city before Jesus (Acts 19) changed everything. The Temple of Artemis and pagan inspired satanic worship had been ongoing in Ephesus for about 750 years before Christ. Paul spent two full years there preaching the Gospel. During that time the city wholly changed and the Church grew mightily. The New Testament epistle to the Church at Ephesus stands today as a light to continually guide Churches to participate in special miracles around the world.

This morning we are going to look at the final words Paul wrote to the Church in Ephesus. So, without further ado, let’s read from Ephesians 6, beginning with verse 10. Today I will be reading from the New Living Translation.

Ephesians 6 NLT

10 ¶  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.

Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent.

There is a devil who wants to deceive you into thinking people are your problem. Certainly, the devil works through people who are willing to channel his desires, but that is only the fruit of an otherwise demonic root.

·        We do not wrestle against flesh and blood.

·        But we do have two offensive weapons at our disposal.

1.  The Word of God is our sword.

2.  Prayer is our strength.

There is no excuse for not knowing the Word of God. Every test is an open-book test. You can even give a shout-out or phone a friend. Prayer is easy however, knowing what to pray for can be a challenge.

Have you ever been at a place in life where you wanted God’s will to be done but you weren’t sure what He wanted? Jesus faced that same dilemma. The three things Jesus depended on in the Garden of Gethsemane in His greatest moment of need were (Matthew 26:36-46):

·        The prayers of His friends.

·        His desire to please God.

·        The guidance of the Holy Spirit.

We have that same Holy Spirit that helped Jesus in His moment of need (Romans 8:11).

Romans 8 NLT

26  And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.

John 11, verses 33, 35, and 37, show Jesus expressing Himself without words with groanings and weeping at the graveside of Lazarus. This is a picture of the Holy Spirit interceding without words; it’s reminiscent of Jesus praying great sweat drops of blood (Luke 24:44) in agony.

27  And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will.

Trust in the Lord and do not lean to your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your path (Proverbs 3:5&6).

You can depend on God’s Word, and when you desire to do what pleases Him, the Holy Spirit will direct, comfort, and guide you. He will pray for you even through your groanings and God will know what the Spirit is saying. The Holy Spirit will plead the will of God over your life.

When you are in trouble, filled with sorrow, in agony over a situation you cannot change, open your heart and allow the Holy Spirit to pray through you with words which cannot be expressed.

The Election That Matters Most

What an election we had this past week. We had some surprises and some disappointments. We had some big wins and some down right losses. It was a crazy week this past week. However, there is one thing that needs to be said and one thing that needs to be understood:

Your vote doesn’t matter.

Now, before you all walk out on me, let me explain. I’m sure everyone here listening imagined that I was talking about the elections that took place last week here in Texas and in the United States of America. Well, I was referring to the election that matters the most, the Elect of God.

Elect (eklektos) — The people God foreknew from the foundation of the world that would belong to Him in Christ; those who are chosen by God.

Ephesians 1:4 — “He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love…” 

When it comes to political elections, it is good to vote, to be informed, and care about decisions that affect your community. However, those things have their place within our walk with Christ. At the end of the day, our deepest identity, our greatest hope, and our highest allegiance belongs to Jesus Christ, first.

There are a few things to keep in mind about our Christian Election during this season:

1.     Your vote doesn’t determine who sits on the throne

While our vote does matter on the political landscape here in America, it has no bearing when it comes to God’s sovereign authority.

Psalm 103:19 — “The Lord has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all.”

God HAS established His throne in heaven, regardless of what you and I think. He did not consult us or the angels on our thoughts or opinions on the matter. He said it and it was so. His kingdom rules over every other kingdom and nation.

God’s authority does not depend on public approval. He does not need a majority to remain sovereign. We did not vote Him into power, and we cannot vote Him out.

Earthly leaders serve for a season. Their influence rises and falls in such short moments. However, Jesus’ kingdom has no expiration date. When the angel announced the birth of Jesus in Luke 1, he declared that His kingdom would have no end. In other words, there will never be a successor to Jesus Christ.

At the end of the day, God reigns overall regardless of what we think.

2.     Your acceptance from God is not dependent on winning approval

Political candidates work hard to convince people to choose them. They campaign, present their qualifications, and seek the approval of the American people. Why? Because that is the only way they will be voted in to office.

However, it doesn’t work that way in God’s kingdom. At times we can begin approaching God the same way: trying to build a record impressive enough for God to accept us. However, Ephesians 2 teaches that salvation comes by grace through faith.

Ephesians 2:8-10 — “8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”

We cannot earn our election through good works, religious activity, or an impressive reputation. His purpose is to bring us into the family of God by grace through Jesus Christ.

3.     Your election should be evident in your life

1 Peter 2:9 — “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”

We have been chosen (elected) by God to be a holy people. It is through our holiness that we proclaim the wonderful praises of the one who brought us out of darkness and into His marvelous light! That is what God expects of those who He has elected as His chosen people. You see, belonging to Jesus should be visible in how we live. People should know who you belong to first: Jesus Christ.

Your Christian election should be more evident in your life than the person you elected.

People may know you by your political convictions. But do they also see love, patience, humility, and self-control?

•   Do your conversations reveal the character of Christ?

•   Does your response to disagreement reflect the One you confess as Lord?

•   If someone looked through your social media, listened to your conversations, or watched how you treated an opponent, what would they learn about your allegiance?

We should examine ourselves honestly…

•   Are we becoming more gracious or more contemptuous?

•   More truthful or more willing to repeat anything that helps our side?

•   More faithful to Jesus or more consumed by political conflict?

•   Our lives should make it clear to whom our allegiance belongs to.

4.     Your Christian citizenship comes with responsibilities

Philippians 3:20 — “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.”

God bless the USA! What a blessing it is to live in America. I know you all agree! However, before we are citizens of America, as Christians we are citizens of heaven first. And because of this, we have a Christian responsibilities that we must hold true to first.

Colossians 1:27 — “Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel.”

Our heavenly citizenship must govern our responses here on earth.
that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.”

Our Christian Responsibilities:

I.      Pray for those in authority
1 Timothy 2:1-2 — “1 I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.”

•   We are to pray for those in authority.

•   We are not limited in that responsibility to the leaders we supported.

•   Pray for wisdom, integrity, salvation, and willingness to uphold justice.

•   We do not have to approve of everything a leader does to pray for them.

II.     Honor your leaders and speak truthfully
Titus 3:1-2 — “Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, 2 to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men.”

•   We must honor and respect those in authority.

•   We must be ready to do good, avoid slander, and show gentleness.

•   We can disagree with those in leadership without being disrespectful.

•   Let us speak no evil of anyone.

III.   Respond with humility and love
Ephesians 4:29-32 — “29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”

•   If your preferred candidate won, do not use someone else’s disappointment as an opportunity to gloat or humiliate them.

•   If your preferred candidate lost, do not allow resentment to influence how you treat people.

IV.   Focus on the mission
Philippians 1:12-14 — “12 But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel, 13 so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ; 14 and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.”

•   There are still people who do not know the Lord.

•   There are disciples that still need to be made.

•   Let us not be so consumed with who holds office that we lose sight of mission God has called us to.

The Life of David - Ahithophel

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2 Samuel 11 NKJV

1 ¶  It happened in the spring of the year, at the time when kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the people of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem.

In Part 1 we covered the first 5 verses of this account. We learned:

2  Then it happened one evening that David arose from his bed and walked on the roof of the king’s house. And from the roof he saw a woman bathing, and the woman was very beautiful to behold.

3  So David sent and inquired about the woman. And someone said, “Is this not Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?”

4  Then David sent messengers, and took her; and she came to him, and he lay with her, for she was cleansed from her impurity; and she returned to her house.

5  And the woman conceived; so she sent and told David, and said, “I am with child.”

·        Satan is looking for an opportune time to tempt you.

·        Nothing good happens after midnight.

·        Sin can claim more of your life than you first imagined.

Let’s look back at verse 3 for a parenthetical pause for just a moment and identify the people in this story – some who are mentioned and one in particular who is not.

·        Bathsheba – Daughter of seven or Daughter of an oath.

·        Eliam – Bathsheba’s father, one of David’s mighty men (2 Samuel 23:34)

o   This identifies Eliam as the son of Ahithophel, David’s most trusted counselor.

o   Ahithophel was Bathsheba’s grandfather.

·        Uriah – The husband of Bathsheba and also a member of the Elite Squad of 30 men called David’s Mighty Men (v.39).

We can easily imagine the close connection between Eliam, Bathsheba’s father, and Uriah, Bathsheba’s husband. As well, Ahithophel most likely felt the personal dishonor brought upon his family with his granddaughter being seduced by King David, and the subsequent conspiracy and murder of his grandson-in-law and close friend and companion of his son Eliam.

How does this figure into David’s life?

·        Ahithophel was David’s top advisor.

·        After David seduced Bathsheba and murdered Uriah and married Bathsheba, and continued as if nothing was wrong, Ahithophel played a big part in trying to destroy David’s reign and reputation.

·        When Absalom, David’s son, killed his brother and staged a coup and David had to escape Jerusalem barefoot across the Judean desert, Ahithophel remained behind to become Absalom’s chief advisor.

o   The rooftop comes up a second time …

o   Ahithophel advised Absalom to take 10 of David’s wives up on the rooftop and have sex with them in the sight of all Israel. This was in accordance with the Prophet Nathan’s prophecy to David – basically, you reap what you sow … what you’ve done in secret will be repaid in public (2 Samuel 12:12;16:20ff).

o   Ahithophel further advised Absalom to allow him to personally lead 12,000 soldiers against David immediately, catch him on the open plains and kill him (2 Samuel 17).

o   When Absalom did not take Ahithophel’s advice, Ahithophel went to his home, put his affairs in order, and hung himself.

·        Ahithophel, Bathsheba’s grandfather, committed suicide as a result of his despondency over this whole affair.

Ahithophel only saw David as he saw David and not as God saw David. As well, Ahithophel only saw his own life as he saw it and not through God’s eyes. Blessed is the person who sees themselves and others as God sees them.

As we said earlier: Sin can claim more of your life than you first imagined.

Sin divides and destroys families.

Unfortunately, we are going to leave David and Bathsheba in their sin for another week. It may not seem fair but remember, they left themselves in this sin without repentance for perhaps 2 or 3 years – we know it was at least 9 months plus. God did not leave David or Bathsheba in their sin.

How long will you remain in your sin before repenting?

6 ¶  Then David sent to Joab, saying, “Send me Uriah the Hittite.” And Joab sent Uriah to David.

7  When Uriah had come to him, David asked how Joab was doing, and how the people were doing, and how the war prospered.

8  And David said to Uriah, “Go down to your house and wash your feet.” So Uriah departed from the king’s house, and a gift of food from the king followed him.

9  But Uriah slept at the door of the king’s house with all the servants of his lord, and did not go down to his house.

10  So when they told David, saying, “Uriah did not go down to his house,” David said to Uriah, “Did you not come from a journey? Why did you not go down to your house?”

11  And Uriah said to David, “The ark and Israel and Judah are dwelling in tents, and my lord Joab and the servants of my lord are encamped in the open fields. Shall I then go to my house to eat and drink, and to lie with my wife? As you live, and as your soul lives, I will not do this thing.”

12  Then David said to Uriah, “Wait here today also, and tomorrow I will let you depart.” So Uriah remained in Jerusalem that day and the next.

13  Now when David called him, he ate and drank before him; and he made him drunk. And at evening he went out to lie on his bed with the servants of his lord, but he did not go down to his house.

14 ¶  In the morning it happened that David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it by the hand of Uriah.

15  And he wrote in the letter, saying, “Set Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retreat from him, that he may be struck down and die.”

16  So it was, while Joab besieged the city, that he assigned Uriah to a place where he knew there were valiant men.

17  Then the men of the city came out and fought with Joab. And some of the people of the servants of David fell; and Uriah the Hittite died also.

26  When the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, she mourned for her husband.

27  And when her mourning was over, David sent and brought her to his house, and she became his wife and bore him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD.

Years later, David wrote a song about this situation. We will read it from Psalms 51 before we finish this full account of David’s life.

Too Wonderful for Words The Benefits of Giving to the Poor

Gtcotr/ss110126

As many of you know, I just returned from a mission trip to East Africa where our Church operates a spiritually motivated humanitarian relief effort, sharing the Gospel and providing food, education, and medical needs to hundreds of children who would not otherwise receive these essentials. Our missions and ministry outreach there during the past 5 years has been nothing less than transformational.

I want to personally thank each one who has prayed and especially those who have given and continue to give financial support to this work of our Church. This morning I want to give you a Biblical basis for what we do as a Church and share with you some of the benefits you personally receive as a result which are simply too wonderful for words.  

It seems when the Apostle Paul preached at Churches in various countries, he encouraged them to give money to foreign missions. One of the projects dear to Paul’s heart was the needs of the poor believers in the mother Church at Jerusalem. The Church there had exhausted its financial resources, were being persecuted, and could barely keep the doors open.

1 Corinthians 16 NLT

1 ¶  Now regarding your question about the money being collected for God’s people in Jerusalem. You should follow the same procedure I gave to the churches in Galatia. 

2  On the first day of each week, you should each put aside a portion of the money you have earned. Don’t wait until I get there and then try to collect it all at once.

While Paul was visiting Corinth, he wrote this to the Church in Rome:

Romans 15 NLT

26  For you see, the believers in Macedonia and Achaia have eagerly taken up an offering for the poor among the believers in Jerusalem.

27  They were glad to do this because they feel they owe a real debt to them. Since the Gentiles received the spiritual blessings of the Good News from the believers in Jerusalem, they feel the least they can do in return is to help them financially. 

Everywhere Paul went he talked about how the Church in Corinth planned to give to the poor Believers in Jerusalem because they owed them a real debt. However, planning wasn’t enough. About a year later, Paul wrote to the Corinthian Church a second time. And he had a lot to say about it …

2 Corinthians 8 NLT

1 ¶  Now I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, what God in his kindness has done through the churches in Macedonia.

• Northern Greece: Philippi; Thessalonica; Berea

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.

13  Of course, I don’t mean your giving should make life easy for others and hard for yourselves. I only mean that there should be some equality.

14  Right now you have plenty and can help those who are in need. Later, they will have plenty and can share with you when you need it. In this way, things will be equal.

15  As the Scriptures say, “Those who gathered a lot had nothing left over, and those who gathered only a little had enough.”

16 ¶  But thank God! He has given Titus the same enthusiasm for you that I have.

17  Titus welcomed our request that he visit you again. In fact, he himself was very eager to go and see you.

18  We are also sending another brother with Titus. All the churches praise him as a preacher of the Good News.

19  He was appointed by the churches to accompany us as we take the offering to Jerusalem — a service that glorifies the Lord and shows our eagerness to help.

20  We are traveling together to guard against any criticism for the way we are handling this generous gift.

• This is why we encourage everyone: “Come with us and see what your money is doing.”

21  We are careful to be honorable before the Lord, but we also want everyone else to see that we are honorable.

22  We are also sending with them another of our brothers who has proven himself many times and has shown on many occasions how eager he is. He is now even more enthusiastic because of his great confidence in you.

23  If anyone asks about Titus, say that he is my partner who works with me to help you. And the brothers with him have been sent by the churches, and they bring honor to Christ. 

24  So show them your love, and prove to all the churches that our boasting about you is justified.

2 Corinthians 9 NLT

1 ¶  I really don’t need to write to you about this ministry of giving for the believers in Jerusalem.

2  For I know how eager you are to help, and I have been boasting to the churches in Macedonia that you in Greece were ready to send an offering a year ago. In fact, it was your enthusiasm that stirred up many of the Macedonian believers to begin giving.

• Your enthusiasm stirs up many other believers to begin giving.

3  But I am sending these brothers to be sure you really are ready, as I have been telling them, and that your money is all collected. I don’t want to be wrong in my boasting about you.

4  We would be embarrassed — not to mention your own embarrassment — if some Macedonian believers came with me and found that you weren’t ready after all I had told them!

5  So I thought I should send these brothers ahead of me to make sure the gift you promised is ready. But I want it to be a willing gift, not one given grudgingly.

6 ¶  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.”

8  And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.

9  As the Scriptures say, “They share freely and give generously to the poor. Their good deeds will be remembered forever.”

10  For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you.

11  Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God.

12  So two good things will result from this ministry of giving — the needs of the believers in Jerusalem will be met, and they will joyfully express their thanks to God.

13  As a result of your ministry, they will give glory to God. For your generosity to them and to all believers will prove that you are obedient to the Good News of Christ.

14  And they will pray for you with deep affection because of the overflowing grace God has given to you.

15  Thank God for this gift too wonderful for words!

3 Benefits Too Wonderful for Words

1. The privilege of doing something for Jesus.

• 2 Corinthians 8:4 – They begged us for the privilege of sharing …

• Matthew 25 – “I was hungry …”

2. They will pray for you with deep affection.

• 2 Corinthians 9:14 – for the grace God has given you.

• V.9 – Your good deeds will be remembered forever …

3. God will generously provide all your needs.

• 2 Corinthians 9:8 – everything and plenty left over to share …

• Philippians 4:13 – My God will supply all your need …

• Proverbs 19:17 – Give to the poor and the Lord will repay.

Again I thank you, but that pales in comparison to how much they and God appreciate you. You have a ministry of giving … just do it with joy!

Paul was not one bit embarrassed about receiving offerings to help continue spreading the Good News and meeting needs.

Romans 15 NLT

24  I am planning to go to Spain, and when I do, I will stop off in Rome. And after I have enjoyed your fellowship for a little while, you can provide for my journey.