tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36081042571343787082024-02-19T08:05:33.873-07:00Flatirons Baptist ChurchNicole Hiraihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05832285211092757690noreply@blogger.comBlogger44125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3608104257134378708.post-41097181668349255522014-01-08T16:50:00.000-07:002014-01-08T16:50:09.281-07:00Saying “No” and saying “Yes”.In his excellent work, <i>True Spirituality</i> (Crossway Books, 1982), Francis
Schaeffer makes
the following observation;<br />
<div style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-left: .5in;">
<i>We are surrounded
by a world
that says “no” to nothing. When we are surrounded by this sort of
mentality…then
suddenly to be told that in the Christian life there is to be this
strong
negative aspect of saying “no” to things and “no” to self, it must
seem hard.
And if it does not feel hard to us, we are not really letting it
speak to us…We
have a society that holds itself back from nothing… Any concept of
a real “no”
is avoided as much as possible…Absolutes of any kind, ethical
principles,
everything must give in to affluence and selfish personal peace…Of
course, this
environment of—of not saying “no”—fits exactly into our natural
disposition,
because, since the fall of man, we do not want to deny
ourselves…And this
natural disposition fits in exactly with the environment which
surrounds us in
the twentieth century.</i></div>
<br />
As one can see, there is nothing new under
the sun and
we, as a society, are continuing to see the fruits of saying “no”
to nothing.
But, as Schaeffer so clearly points out, saying “no” is part and
parcel of the
Christian life. A great place to see this fact explained in the
Scriptures is
Titus 2:11-14;<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-left: .5in;">
For the grace of
God has
appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to
renounce
ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled,
upright, and godly
lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the
appearing of the
glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself
for us to
redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people
for his own
possession who are zealous for good works. </div>
<br />
As Schaeffer rightly points out, saying “no”
is very much
opposed to our natural disposition. Before salvation in Christ, I
can recall
innumerable instances of being told by some authority to stop
doing something
and I would stiffen my neck and fight against it simply to fight.
Even as a
regenerated believer, the dying old flesh still will rebel and
struggle against
the new life of Christ in me. <br />
<br />
But note that in this Titus passage, saying
“no” is very
much an essential aspect of the work of grace in our life. Indeed,
Christ (who
is grace personified) calls us to say “no” for the glory of God.
To what are we
to say “no”? We are to say “no” to ungodliness and worldly
passions. This is a
holistic “no”. We are to stop sinful actions (ungodliness) and say
“no” to the
source of such actions (worldly passions). As we are under the
control of the
Spirit and grace, as with Christ, we will say “no” to that which
dishonors God.<br />
<br />
But the controlling idea in this passage is
not so much
saying “no” as it is “to live”. Or, rather, the main emphasis is
saying “yes”
to self-control, uprightness, and godly living. We are to focus on
these
awesome goals of personal holiness, excellent relations with
others and
nearness to God. As we do so, saying “no” to those things which
keep us from
these awesome goals will naturally flow from us. Thus, as you
pursue Christ and
his glory in your life, you will need to say “no”. But as you are
saying “no”,
focus on that to which you get to say “yes”. The hymn writer
states this truth
in another way;<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-left: .5in;">
Turn your eyes upon
Jesus. Look
full in His wonderful face.</div>
<div style="margin-left: .5in;">
And the things of
the world will
grow strangely dim,</div>
<div style="margin-left: .5in;">
In the light of his
glory and
grace.</div>
<br />
The writer to the Hebrews (12:1-2) states
this truth this
way;<br />
<div style="margin-left: .5in;">
Therefore, since we
are
surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside
every
weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with
endurance the race
that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter
of our
faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross,
despising the
shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.</div>
<br />
So, as believers, we are called to say “no”
to the
wickedness of this world and the wickedness in our own hearts. But
that to
which we are saying “yes” is so much greater. Thus, as you say
“no”, never
forget to what you are saying “yes”.<span class="HOEnZb"></span><br />
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Nicole Hiraihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05832285211092757690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3608104257134378708.post-31198016110581663792013-12-04T12:15:00.000-07:002013-12-04T12:20:08.243-07:00“…Christ who is our life…”<div class="MsoNormal">
Recently, when I was explaining the gospel
to a
non-Christian friend, this person said something to this effect, </div>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>“I am
concerned that when someone decides to become religious, he loses
his true
self. Following God or some religion suppresses our personality
and our true
self.” </i></blockquote>
<br />
Have you ever had this type of statement posed to you? How
would you
answer it and what passage of the Bible would you bring to bear to
this
statement?<br />
<br />
One could bring dozens of passages to this
discussion and
it really is a vital topic to have a firm grasp upon. First of
all, this
statement addresses the source of our life. My friend’s statement
indicates
that he believes that life and self is sourced in something other
than our
life-giving God. This opens up all kinds of questions about where
life comes
from and, if life isn’t given to us by God, then who or what gives
it and how is
meaning assigned to it. But the Bible is very clear on this issue.
According to
Genesis <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_56291368" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">1:26</span></span>, man is created by God and in his image to serve his
purposes and
glory. Not only that, Paul explains to Athenians in Acts 17 that
God “gives to
all people life and breath and all things;” (v.25) and that “in
him we live and
move and exist.” (v. 28). Clearly, the source of our life is God.<br />
<br />
Another aspect of this statement concerns
the nature of
man. In our natural self,
apart from God
and his saving grace, is a man really alive in the ultimate sense
of the word?
Due to sin, we are dead in the ultimate sense. A familiar passage
is Ephesians
2:1, “And you were dead in your trespasses and sins,…” The writer
of Psalm 73
states, in verse 22, that when we are not living in awareness of
the character
and nature of God and our own character and nature, we are
“senseless and
ignorant…like a beast…”. Again, in Psalm 32:8-9, we are told to
listen to instruction
from God and not be “…as a horse or mule which have no
understanding,…” The
Bible instructs us that only when we are saved and listening to
God are we
really alive.<br />
<br />
What about our weaknesses and sins which
keep us bound
and trapped in destructive lifestyles and decisions? How does the
man apart
from God deal with these things? One of the greatest joys of being
saved by
Jesus and totally forgiven by him is that we now have the
capacity, with
Christ, to deal with our wickedness and weakness in a way that
will allow us to
overcome these things. His grace and forgiveness allows me to face
my
weaknesses head-on and not be fearful of condemnation and eternal
punishment
(Romans 8:1). When I look deep within my heart and life, what I
find there
rightfully horrifies me…my heart is dark with sin and depravity.
Any person who
is living in reality knows this about himself. But praise be to
God! If I am a
Christian, whatever I find in the pit of my existence has been
eternally
forgiven by the work of Christ on the cross. In Christ and through
his power, I
am free from sin and death. He has declared me righteous and,
thus, I will
stand before Him pure and holy. As I continue on this earthly
sojourn, God and
Christ are constantly working to make me further into the image of
Christ. In
him, I can deal progressively with the sin and weakness that is in
my life and
experience his life in me more and more and more. This is great
news! In Christ
and only in Christ can I deal with my wickedness and weakness in a
way that
really will lead to victory and change.<br />
<br />
Lastly, only in God and Christ does a person
really
understand why he or she exists. We exist for His glory and praise
and service.
In light of his amazing mercy and grace manifested in Christ, we
are called to
glorify him (Colossians <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_56291369" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">3:17</span></span>) and live for him (Romans 12:1-2). As
we pursue
such a wonderful task, Jesus tells us that his “joy may be in
[us], and that
[our] joy may be full.” (John 15.11). Christ truly is our life
(Colossians 3:4)
and only in him do we truly live! May we do so today and on into
eternity!<br />
<br />
Sola Deo Gloria! Nicole Hiraihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05832285211092757690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3608104257134378708.post-42339542387804842392013-11-18T17:16:00.000-07:002013-11-18T17:16:53.535-07:00“Adorning the doctrine of God our Savior in every respect.”Did you give any deep thought to what
clothes you put on
this morning? If you’re like me, the quick answer is “no”.
Although I am
growing up in this area, my dear wife still rightly gives more
consideration to
my attire than I do. I think, at least, that I know what she would
pick for me
in a given situation and then dress accordingly. What about you?
Perhaps your
job requires a certain dress code or you dressed for a
presentation at school?
Speaking for most men, this isn’t a topic that really is given too
much
consideration.<br />
<br />
However, there is an aspect of dressing that
really
should occupy our minds with seriousness and deep consideration.
Did you put on
Christ this morning (Romans <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1594535449" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">13:14</span></span>)? I know that if you are a
born-again
believer, Christ is already fully in you and is the preeminent
aspect of who
you are. We are saved, purified, holy and complete in Him simply
due to his
declaration to this end. And yet, according to the Romans passage
mentioned
above, we are to be actively clothing ourselves with Christ. Our
life is to
reflect him in how we think and interact with the people and in
the places
where he has called us. In the book of Titus, Paul instructs Titus
to tell
bondservants to behave in such a way toward their masters so as to
“adorn the
doctrine of God our Savior in every respect.” (2.10). In the same
section of
Titus, all types of believers are admonished to similar lifestyles
that bring
glory to God. In verse 5, we are called to live “that the word of
God will not
be dishonored.” In verse 8, we are called to live in such a way
that those
opposed to us and the gospel “…will be put to shame, having
nothing bad to say
about us.” <br />
<br />
So what does this dressing in such a way to
adorn the doctrine
of God look like? In Titus, the context of these verses lets us
see that
bringing glory to God is bound up in fostering and pursuing
Christ-like character.
Be encouraged to read through Titus 2 and see how grace not only
amazingly
saves us, but instructs in living for God’s glory (2.11-14). As
those who have
been purified by Christ, we should be zealous for good deeds and
the glory of
Christ. Dressing in a manner that adorns the gospel is simply
found in pursuing
Christ and cultivating our lives in such a way that the fruit of
the Spirit
(Gal. <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1594535450" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">5:22</span></span>-23) is growing in our lives. As we abide in Christ,
this fruit will
naturally show up (Jn. 15.1-11). And we should be intentional in
showing this
fruit to the people around us. <br />
<br />
So, did you “dress” this morning in such a
way to “adorn
the doctrine of God our Savior in every respect”? May we do so
today and always
as we live in Christ and strive to live out Christ in the places
he has called
us.<br />
<br />
Soli Deo GloriaNicole Hiraihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05832285211092757690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3608104257134378708.post-87462719101956549932013-10-22T14:55:00.003-06:002013-10-22T14:55:53.493-06:00“…praying for us as well…”Over the past few weeks, I’ve been preaching
through the
small pastoral letter of Paul to Titus. The reason I’ve been so
doing is that
our church is actively putting together a new constitution that
will put in
place the biblical pattern of elder-led leadership. Our church has
historically
held to the pastor-deacon model, electing new deacons each year
and having the
pastor and deacons function as the elder board in the church.
<br />
As I’ve had the privilege of studying this
passage, as
well as others, on the serious topic of eldership, the Lord has
reminded me
once again of the weightiness of the call to lead a church as an
elder.
Consider Paul’s words to the Ephesians elders in Acts <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_91651134" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">20:28</span></span>, “Be
on guard for
yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has
made you
overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with
His own blood.”
Note the statement about God’s sacrifice for His church…the church
“…He
purchased with His own blood.” What a huge, sobering statement
about God’s
attitude toward His church and, consequently, the elder’s
responsibility to
shepherd the church wisely and with seriousness. Also, give
consideration to
Peter’s words in 1 Peter 5:1-4, “Therefore, I exhort the elders
among you, as <i>your</i>
fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a
partaker also of
the glory that is to be revealed, shepherd the flock of God among
you,
exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily,
according to <i>the
will of</i> God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness;
nor yet as
lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be
examples to
the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive
the unfading
crown of glory.” These are serious, weighty charges to those who
lead the
church and any man who doesn’t tremble a bit at this charge
doesn’t really
understand God’s attitude toward His church. His church is a
treasure that
needs to be honored and cared for with diligence and intensity.
This is no
light calling!<br />
<br />
In light of such weightiness, do you
actively pray for
those who are leading your church? This is so vital. Your leaders
need your
support and you are directed by God to give it to them. Listen to
Paul speaking
to the Thessalonians in his first letter to them, “But we request
of you,
brethren, that you appreciate those who diligently labor among
you, and have
charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction, <span> </span>and that you esteem them very
highly in love
because of their work. Live in peace with one another.” (1 Thess.
<span class="aBn" data-term="goog_91651135" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">5:12</span></span>-13). There
are any number of ways that you can “appreciate” and “esteem” your
elders and
be encouraged to thing up some ways to do so. But perhaps the
simplest and most
effective would be to commit yourself to consistent, diligent
prayer for those
who lead your church. Paul specifically directs us to this in
Colossians 4:2-4,
“Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with <i>an
attitude of</i>
thanksgiving; praying at the same time for us as well, that God
will open up to
us a door for the word, so that we may speak forth the mystery of
Christ, for
which I have also been imprisoned; that I may make it clear in the
way I ought
to speak.” Note the call to general, consistent prayer…we are to
be devoted to
it and alert in it. But also note the specific call to pray for
those who are
called to the proclamation of the gospel. As we go about our
general prayer
life, “at the same time” pray for those who are leading the church
and given
the task of formal proclamation. There are worse things you could
do than
consistently and fervently pray for your elders. Will you do so
now and
continue on?<br />
<br />
Sola Deo Gloria<br />
<br />
<a href="http://flatironsbaptist.org/sermons.php" target="_blank">Listen to more </a>Nicole Hiraihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05832285211092757690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3608104257134378708.post-71672605796313456702013-10-08T19:39:00.001-06:002013-10-08T19:41:11.784-06:00"Holding Fast the Faithful word..."<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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How would you describe your attitude and actions towards
the word of God? Is it a treasure and an absolute need to you? Or is it simply
one of the accessories of your Christian life that you sometimes put on and
then take off when you feel like it?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
In Titus 1:9, the prospective elder is one who is
“holding fast the faithful word…”. As you contemplate the qualifications for
elders, these characteristics are, generally, the marks of one who is simply
mature in Christ and is striving to live in light of the glorious gospel. Of
course, not all are called to serve as elders in their local church. But all
are called to live growing, maturing lives for the glory of God and Christ.
This really is the only reasonable response to all that Christ as accomplished
for us and it is a thoroughly biblical directive (See Romans 12:1-2, Colossians
3:17 and 1 Corinthians 10:31). </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
In light of this, how are you doing in “holding fast the
faithful word”? One who is growing in this characteristic of Christ-likeness
will be marked by two distinct attitudes toward the word of God:</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">He will be one who delights in the word.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in;">
When you think about the Bible,
does Psalm 1:2-3 come to mind?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“But his
delight is in the law of the <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>,
and in His law he meditates day and night. He will be like a tree <i>firmly</i>
planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season and its leaf
does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers.” Would you consider
yourself to be one who is delighting in the law of the Lord? Do you see it as a
treasure and blessing from our most holy and gracious God? Do you look forward
to when you can spend time in the word, reading and studying it? Do you look
forward to being taught the word through preaching and teaching? These
attitudes and similar ones will mark the one who delights in the word. A very
real aspect of “holding fast the faithful word” is to really enjoy the fact
that God has revealed Himself to us and desires to commune with us through His
word. Reading and learning the Bible really should be a delight to us. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">He will be one who knows that he has to have
the word.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in;">
When we consider the greatness
and holiness of God and our devastating wickedness, the fact the God would
speak to us at all should inspire shock and awe. Indeed, the understanding of
our own depravity and God’s holiness is central to embracing the gospel in a
saving way. The fact that God reaches down to us and gifts us forgiveness and
eternal life is absolutely amazing and transforming. This attitude will show up
in the realization that we absolutely <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">need
</i>the word. If I’m going to live and walk in a manner worthy of the glorious
gospel, then I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">need</i> instruction and
guidance. God has abundantly supplied that instruction and guidance through His
word. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Be encouraged to read through and meditate upon Psalm
119. As you do so, please note how the Psalmist balances the tension between <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">delighting in</i> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">needing</i> the word. Here are two examples:</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Delighting ~ Psalm 119:14, “I have rejoiced in
the way of Your testimonies, as much as in all riches.”</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Need ~ Psalm 119:50, “This is my comfort in my
affliction, that Your word has revived me.”</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
As we walk with Jesus, we need to always keep this
tension in mind. Let us be those who delight in what we desperately need!
Spurgeon describes what it means to hold fast this great word in this way, “It
is blessed to eat into the very soul of the Bible until, at last, you come to
talk in Scriptural language, and your spirit is flavored with the words of the
Lord, so that your blood is Bibline and the very essence of the Bible flows
from you.”</div>
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<br /></div>
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So, how are you doing in this area? In the grace of God,
what are some ways that you could grow in your “holding fast the faithful
word”? Pursue this in light of the glory of Christ!<a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a></div>
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Sola Deo Gloria!</div>
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<a href="http://flatironsbaptist.org/sermons.php" target="_blank">Listen to Sermon </a></div>
Nicole Hiraihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05832285211092757690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3608104257134378708.post-66619543910650807532013-10-03T17:21:00.002-06:002013-10-08T19:42:47.591-06:00“…not my will, but Yours, be done.” ~ Luke 22:42<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
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<br /></div>
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Undoubtedly, as you have walked with Christ </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
through the
years, you feel that God has withheld things from you. This is
often times best
articulated by thinking that God has said “No” to a particular
prayer request
or desire that you have. With the passage of time and the gaining
of
perspective, you also undoubtedly are thankful that God didn’t
grant you some
of your desires! But, more somberly, perhaps you have wondered why
God did not
answer a prayer that you felt was very important and significant.
At least
twice in past years, I can recall times where God said “No” to
what I felt were
great ministry opportunities. Again, looking back, I can see why
He said “No”
to one of them, but still wonder at His purposes at saying “No” to
the other.
You can probably very well relate to such occasions in your own
life and times
with Christ.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj603c_AeDaMv81kEZC2F14NlLZR7kYSs-QslM8hHGxYphQ9R5wglBR_VA6Qo8VIns7Sq23-M6cHDTLwvIhGJHMnkE6KhNcprT69L-BGt27pbzQ81jXyqF7DsPreAhQc-SDGoOKeUmCLk6z/s1600/IMG_0470.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj603c_AeDaMv81kEZC2F14NlLZR7kYSs-QslM8hHGxYphQ9R5wglBR_VA6Qo8VIns7Sq23-M6cHDTLwvIhGJHMnkE6KhNcprT69L-BGt27pbzQ81jXyqF7DsPreAhQc-SDGoOKeUmCLk6z/s320/IMG_0470.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One of the great comforts and encouragements of
our life with
Christ is to know that Christ can understand all of our sadness,
temptations
and difficulties firsthand. He came and walked among us and knows
the
difficulties of living in a fallen world. The writer to the
Hebrews makes this
very clear, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to
sympathize with
our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as
we are, yet
without sin.” (<span class="aBn" data-term="goog_471142363" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">4:15</span></span>). Jesus knows and understands all that we go
through and
this does provide great comfort for us. The writer continues in
verse 16,
encouraging us that in light of Christ’s sympathy, we should
“…with confidence
draw near to the throne of grace,…”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One of the more compelling questions about God
and Christ is
this, “Was Jesus ever refused a prayer request by God his Father?”
Our quick reaction
to this would be to say “No way!” How could the perfect Son of God
ever be
refused anything from His Father? All of his requests would be
pure and right
and holy. How could God the Father ever refuse anything the Son
asked? And yet,
in the Garden of Gethesemane, this is exactly what happens. Jesus,
in great
agony, goes to His Father in prayer and beseeches Him, “Father, if
you are
willing, remove this cup from me.” (Luke 22.42) Of course, the cup
that Jesus
desires to have removed is the upcoming events of the crucifixion
where Jesus
will bear the sins of mankind, experience extreme physical agony
and, much more
trying, separation from His Father. The text does not mention any
verbal
response from God the Father, but we know that the answer to this
request was “No”.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Friends, as hard as some refusals from God may
be, you will
never experience a “No” like this one. Words fail when trying to
describe the
interactions between God the Father and God the Son in these
events. Indeed,
the heavenly transactions occurring in these hours are beyond our
mortal minds
to comprehend, even though we live and rejoice in the implications
and results
of these hours. Thus, when you sense from God a refusal of
something you
desire, you would do well to look back into the Garden of
Gethesemane and meditate
upon this “No”. God’s love for Jesus never ceased. His affection
for him never
faltered. Indeed, God’s heart broke in ways we’ll never know as He
forsook His
own Son. Again, you will never experience a “No” like this.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Thus, when you are sensing a refusal from God
about any
particular issue or desire, the God-glorifying response is also
found in Luke
<span class="aBn" data-term="goog_471142364" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">22:42</span></span>, “Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” Bring to
mind that God
is sovereignly overseeing even the perceived “No’s” that He puts
in your life.
Your desire is for His perfect will, not your own. Thus, trust God
when the “No”
comes and declare with Jesus your desire for His glory and will
and not your
own. Jesus can indeed sympathize with your “No”. His “No” was of a
far greater
magnitude than anything you and I will ever experience.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sola Deo Gloria!<span class="HOEnZb"></span></div>
<div class="yj6qo ajU">
<div class="ajR" data-tooltip="Show trimmed content" id=":136" role="button" tabindex="0">
<img class="ajT" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/images/cleardot.gif" /></div>
</div>
Nicole Hiraihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05832285211092757690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3608104257134378708.post-25672070494103338812013-06-04T10:09:00.000-06:002013-06-04T10:09:27.299-06:00The Person of Adam <br />
<a href="http://worldtruth.tv/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/body_sm_ratios1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-9771" height="200" src="http://worldtruth.tv/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/body_sm_ratios1.jpg" title="body_sm_ratios" width="191" /></a>The reality of and life of
Adam has a consequence that we should cherish: the reality of Jesus.
Adam was a real man, that committed a real sin. In comparison, Jesus was
a real man, that committed NO sin.<br />
<br />
A ratio is a comparison between two numbers or a relationship between
two quantities. Ratios can be expressed in several ways and reveal
significant relationships hidden in mass of data. For example man for
man (1:1) or sin for no sin (1:0). The reality and truth of these ratios are what saves me as a believer in them.<br />
<br />
If Adam isn't real, then his sin wasn't real and Jesus doesn't need to
be real. I know that I am real and I have committed real sin. I need a
real savior.<br />
<br />
1 Corinthians 15:21-22<br />
<i>For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the
dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be alive.</i><br /><br />Listen to more about the reality of Adam<br /><br />
<div class="gmail_quote">
<a href="http://flatironsbaptist.org/sermons.php" target="_blank">"In the Beginning God..." by Pastor Eric Ellis</a></div>
<div class="gmail_quote">
<br /></div>
Nicole Hiraihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05832285211092757690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3608104257134378708.post-61461104677681776742012-05-09T07:40:00.000-06:002012-05-10T09:40:29.233-06:00Impossible Salvation<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But He said, "The things which are impossible with men
are possible with God."</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Luke 18:27</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Our society seeks tangible results. We whittle down outcomes into statistics that
we then study, measure, and chart to prove success or failure. We often look to these measurements to create
systems and processes for success. It's
proven effective! This point of view is
similar to how the rich man approached Jesus in Luke 18. He was looking for the proven
system for success. "What must I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">do</i> to inherit eternal life?" Based on this encounter, this rich man seemed to be a
nice, confident, and successful man. However, he was still lacking, and still
seeking. Jesus ultimately tells him to sell
everything he has achieved, give it to the poor, and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">then</i> follow Him. It does not take a fantastic imagination to
predict the man's response--he walked away sad. We cannot achieve eternal salvation like we
do worldly success. Salvation is of God
saving us FROM the punishment of our sin.
Not our personal achievement, and then ultimate success, TO salvation. We are fully dependent on Christ for our
salvation.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://flatironsbaptist.org/sermons.php" target="_blank">Listen to sermon "Impossible Salvation" by Pastor Eric Ellis</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>Nicole Hiraihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05832285211092757690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3608104257134378708.post-39837733304556355602012-04-26T15:04:00.000-06:002012-04-26T15:04:06.373-06:00"Let the little children come to Me,..."<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsTOLuzLPjio-umkOkRBzXvLzRHploQt9QqyR_C6Kuw4fVtx21zUByC6FPkbrioyGJHanILmSIx6etKzmuVri7KwiooyIhTZ4vWrgoZVwfukWBRhLhcclH1F7AhdaZ9PdD-mwzmi3mS2N1/s1600/IMG_7674.JPGa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsTOLuzLPjio-umkOkRBzXvLzRHploQt9QqyR_C6Kuw4fVtx21zUByC6FPkbrioyGJHanILmSIx6etKzmuVri7KwiooyIhTZ4vWrgoZVwfukWBRhLhcclH1F7AhdaZ9PdD-mwzmi3mS2N1/s400/IMG_7674.JPGa.jpg" width="271" /></a>Luke 18:15-17</div>
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"Let the little children come to Me, ..."</div>
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The world often marginalizes children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Worldly value is often based on what one can
do for, or bring to, society; <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>therefore,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>children are viewed as merely
"dependents".<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, as with
many marginalized individuals, Jesus considers them highly valuable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To emphasize His point Jesus goes on to say
that not only should we "let the little children come..",<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He admonishes us to emulate and learn from these
little ones.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A heart of dependent,
childlike faith is essential to eternal life and is welcomed by God and Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The world advances independence, protects selfishness,
and encourages skepticism.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus promotes
just the opposite: dependence, childlike faith, and unfettered trust.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>"For the message 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 1:18).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are as dependent on Christ for
our salvation as a nursing babe is dependent on his mother for nourishment. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And he said,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>"I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like the little
children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven..." (Mathew 18:3).</div>
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<a href="http://flatironsbaptist.org/sermons.php" target="_blank">Listen to Sermon by Pastor Eric Ellis</a> </div>Nicole Hiraihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05832285211092757690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3608104257134378708.post-50076496822118473132012-04-20T10:57:00.001-06:002012-04-20T11:09:11.129-06:00Who Do You Trust?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-K84I0Ru_zgh-Nb9Y5HnjPUWgK1t9G6-PkaBKK87tRBajf69Br90qAvAN6imyexrjzwfRAR8M-zVq6BnrLge7UV7Qx_yQqMWTV1O-vO1SBi314nM_0Iu9-ab2AI1I26TPldt0oPLrEcIm/s1600/IMG_6631.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-K84I0Ru_zgh-Nb9Y5HnjPUWgK1t9G6-PkaBKK87tRBajf69Br90qAvAN6imyexrjzwfRAR8M-zVq6BnrLge7UV7Qx_yQqMWTV1O-vO1SBi314nM_0Iu9-ab2AI1I26TPldt0oPLrEcIm/s320/IMG_6631.JPG" width="224" /></a> In Luke 18:9-14 Jesus tells a parable of two men who went to the temple to
pray, but only one went home justified. Who do you trust for your
salvation? The Pharisee displayed in Verse 11 whom he trusted--himself.
As he proudly stood and prayed for all to see, he said "I" five
times in a meager two sentences. He spoke of his abilities and how much better
he was than other people. He was self-righteous and trusted in himself for his
salvation. Conversely, the tax collector in verse 13 prayed as he beat his
breast and proclaimed his sinfulness and asked for mercy. Jesus says this is
the man that went home justified. He trusted in God's mercy for
salvation, not his abilities. It is so easy to be a well intended Pharisee and focus on ourselves and our good
deeds, but it is to our incredible detriment.
Yet, Jesus has paid it all and in
His mercy we should trust. This is to
our incredible blessing. Will you go
home justified?</div>
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"I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is
present with me." Romans 7:21<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
</div>Nicole Hiraihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05832285211092757690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3608104257134378708.post-31285965119587768812012-02-11T14:07:00.003-07:002012-02-11T14:14:36.991-07:00"A Great Gulf Fixed"<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> <w:lidthemeother>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:lidthemeasian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:lidthemecomplexscript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:splitpgbreakandparamark/> <w:dontvertaligncellwithsp/> <w:dontbreakconstrainedforcedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> 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mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endi-->Luke 16:19 - 31<br /><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVyqeLCNZNxVMm4j3j9oHEOxr2av6P738f4qQYBQlN8n8xNsrmMlRubCcb_2H2YEjo87t7saNtdrkNe3peIBi3bBWV63QIEHPb2tGi2q-HnXLFVD3b8HSDY_8uIKbtE9Zlnfo1A3O3Kt6G/s1600/IMG_6630.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 219px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVyqeLCNZNxVMm4j3j9oHEOxr2av6P738f4qQYBQlN8n8xNsrmMlRubCcb_2H2YEjo87t7saNtdrkNe3peIBi3bBWV63QIEHPb2tGi2q-HnXLFVD3b8HSDY_8uIKbtE9Zlnfo1A3O3Kt6G/s320/IMG_6630.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5707989207470669746" border="0" /></a><br />"And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us." Luke 16:26<br /><br />The rich man in Luke 16:19-31 is a fine example of what many would consider the "American Dream". He had enough wealth to live in total extravagance, or "sumptuously",<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>as verse 19 describes it. So much so, that poor Lazarus only desires the crumbs that fell from his table (verse 21). Sadly, after his death the rich man pleads with Father Abraham to help him ease his unbearable anguish, but Abraham tells him "son, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things...". One lesson we can glean from the end of Luke 16 is that our attitudes and actions here on earth are carried on in Eternity and they can be evidence of the current state of our souls. Therefore, understanding this exhorts us to examine our actions and attitudes while we still can; we must repent and embrace the love of God--first and foremost--and our actions and attitudes will rightly follow.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /><a href="http://flatironsbaptist.org/sermons.php">Listen to the sermon by Pastor Eric Ellis</a></p>Nicole Hiraihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05832285211092757690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3608104257134378708.post-7276658933584682412012-01-20T09:29:00.003-07:002012-01-20T09:39:54.732-07:00"What Shall I Do?"<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> <w:lidthemeother>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> 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10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]-->Luke 16:1 - 13<br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br />"So the master commended the unjust steward because he had dealt shrewdly. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in their generation than the sons of light."<br />Luke 16:8<br /><br />Throughout <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghwVUaLcbou_bDnfI4fE_9vWW1gFZDeOLbPgyWQSw_3Zm8hXMOKEXJf46IBKTN_HAUkOL12n_NCBRLrt47Pk72sQFPizQP0n92yF4MhGrqIB6O-M5dtfWnvQ03ix1A8KJkQn1ORgzTMNKn/s1600/IMG_7091.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghwVUaLcbou_bDnfI4fE_9vWW1gFZDeOLbPgyWQSw_3Zm8hXMOKEXJf46IBKTN_HAUkOL12n_NCBRLrt47Pk72sQFPizQP0n92yF4MhGrqIB6O-M5dtfWnvQ03ix1A8KJkQn1ORgzTMNKn/s320/IMG_7091.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699752976994943970" border="0" /></a>history gold and silver has been highly sought after and consider precious by man. In fact, gold standards have been the most common basis for monetary policies.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The parable of the unjust steward in Luke 16 reveals to us that money is a tool to be used for the furtherance of God's purposes and glory. Jesus explains in verses 10 - 13 that money is the least and that the souls of men are true riches . God considers the souls of men as gold and silver.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Shouldn't our goal then be to shrewdly seek these true riches and use whatever unrighteous mammon we have been given to achieve it?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>A believer is promised eternal life; are you planning your finances accordingly for this future? "Make friends for yourself with unrighteous mammon, that when you fail, they may receive you into an everlasting home." Luke 16:9 Maybe you will hear when you enter your everlasting home "you gave, I heard the gospel and I believed" as a part of your welcome.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Oh Lord, grant it. We have two choices, as verse 13 points out, we can be a servant of God or a servant of money. We can further God's Kingdom or we can further ourselves. How incredible that we have been given<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>the privilege to plan, strategize, and leverage like the unjust steward but for God's kingdom.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://flatironsbaptist.org/sermons.php">Listen to Sermon Here</a><br /></p>Nicole Hiraihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05832285211092757690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3608104257134378708.post-2746413874500935062012-01-11T09:01:00.005-07:002012-01-11T10:56:10.738-07:00Rejoicing Over Repentance: Part 2.Luke 15: 11 - 32<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjno8B67vZsgA8WBXRffLVbcsWCS-fl0qO0kUg7Y_wn_QHqPvwlGrqPd-3f6_12SAcLSstNEe71pT42ivLbJP23oEI1hdtVpiLIJ53IbJvqSW9TV_6EJjxVHtTsK7jO4i2zoBVa9OdYAYAG/s1600/IMG_5730.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjno8B67vZsgA8WBXRffLVbcsWCS-fl0qO0kUg7Y_wn_QHqPvwlGrqPd-3f6_12SAcLSstNEe71pT42ivLbJP23oEI1hdtVpiLIJ53IbJvqSW9TV_6EJjxVHtTsK7jO4i2zoBVa9OdYAYAG/s320/IMG_5730.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5696407402138843074" border="0" /></a><br />The definition of prodigal is wasteful, reckless, or extravagant. Also, defined as lavishly abundant. Usually we see this word used with a negative connotation, such as in prodigal spending or prodigal living. However, prodigal can be used as an adjective to describe God's love for us. His love is extravagant and abundant. In Luke 15: 11 - 32 we see God's prodigal love and mercy in the parable of the lost son, as well as our prodigal sin. This parable shows three prodigal actions. First, is the younger son and his prodigal sinful passions. Then we see the father's prodigal love and mercy. Lastly we see the elder son's prodigal wicked pride. We should run to God knowing that His response to our repentance of extravagant sin is lavishly abundant love. Rejoice in His prodigal love!<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">The LORD has done great things for us, and we are glad. Psalm 126:3</span>Nicole Hiraihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05832285211092757690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3608104257134378708.post-80204626669560843302012-01-05T10:24:00.011-07:002012-01-05T16:08:14.001-07:00"Rejoicing Over Repentance" Luke 15: 1-10"Likewise I say to you, there is more joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents." Luke 15:10<br /><br />What brings y<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzy10qLKvW_E__bvrcnORS-Q6p2jVtL5-ey0109XkMuqdswA_cBcz7qm3qzFSADtwFTGn4ILMc_MMLH5FFdIOyFu40qENl-LHSosW04jdzbCAkCdVg2YIrW66gilFQF4FGBpIC5lMrFAQC/s1600/IMG_5609.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzy10qLKvW_E__bvrcnORS-Q6p2jVtL5-ey0109XkMuqdswA_cBcz7qm3qzFSADtwFTGn4ILMc_MMLH5FFdIOyFu40qENl-LHSosW04jdzbCAkCdVg2YIrW66gilFQF4FGBpIC5lMrFAQC/s320/IMG_5609.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694270647101200546" border="0" /></a>ou joy? A good book perhaps? Maybe your profession or hobby? A deeper, more important question to ask ourselves is: what brings God joy? For us, joy is an emotion that can be fleeting depending on our circumstance, environment, or mood. God, however, is consistently and eternally joyful! Wow, how divine! He is joyful because He is sovereign.<br />The book of Luke chapter 15 verses 1 - 15 shows us that God rejoices in a sinner's repentance, He cares deeply for sinners, and He loves when we recognize our need for Him. God simply spoke creation, easily walked on water, and effortlessly commanded the dead to rise, yet God works hard pursuing sinners. He diligently searches for the lost, as in the parable of the lost sheep and the lost coin in verses 3-10, to bring them to where they should be--in right relationship with Him. There is joy in both being found and being the finder. Yet the greatest joy of all is God's joy in heaven. What you care about drives your actions and motivates your joy. Let's pray that we may care deeply about what God cares deeply about and that our actions would be a reflection and joy would be an outcome.<br /><br /><a href="http://flatironsbaptist.org/sermons.php">Listen to the full sermon here.</a><br /><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span>Nicole Hiraihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05832285211092757690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3608104257134378708.post-71227922008324584342011-12-27T11:35:00.004-07:002011-12-31T10:38:21.219-07:00At the Portal<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpYs4DutumwAb2FGWZyWh_t9icAvvxqG2adpH-MKb3OgFek5ogstgM8NnHCBVcUyn39jXVl3e693sOzn2z2AJw5OeP091q1zD_D8I9Y143pF69hTOQebVjS-1IwsHsXQkVwb9t_O0uV7ir/s1600/IMG_7492.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpYs4DutumwAb2FGWZyWh_t9icAvvxqG2adpH-MKb3OgFek5ogstgM8NnHCBVcUyn39jXVl3e693sOzn2z2AJw5OeP091q1zD_D8I9Y143pF69hTOQebVjS-1IwsHsXQkVwb9t_O0uV7ir/s320/IMG_7492.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692347533112523938" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Standing at the portal<br />Of the opening year<br />Words of comfort meet us,<br />Hushing every fear;<br />Spoken through the silence<br />By our Father's voice.<br />Tender, strong and faithful,<br />making us rejoice:<br /><br />"I, the Lord, am with thee;<br />Be thou not afraid!<br />I will keep and strengthen;<br />Be thou not dismayed!<br />Yea, I will uphold thee<br />With my own right hand;<br />Thou art called and chosen<br />In my sight to stand."<br /><br />For the year before us,<br />Oh, what rich supplies!<br />For the poor and needy<br />Living streams shall rise,<br />For the sad and sinful<br />Shall His grace abound;<br />For the faint and feeble<br />Perfect strength be found.<br /><br />He will never fail us,<br />He will not forsake;<br />His eternal covenant<br />He will never break!<br />Resting on His promise what have we to fear?<br />God is all-sufficient<br />For the coming year.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">--Frances Ridley Havergal</span></div>Nicole Hiraihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05832285211092757690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3608104257134378708.post-72679197409743969772011-11-30T10:01:00.002-07:002011-11-30T10:03:24.078-07:00Praying Like Jesus<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #dddddd; color: #2a1a1a; font-family: Puritan; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: 13pt;">Sermon Delivered October 23<sup>th</sup>, 2011 by Josh D.</span></i><br />
<a href="http://flatironsbaptist.org/sermon/sendfile.php?file_id=724&format=mp3" style="font-size: 17px;">For sermon audio click here</a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 17px;"><a href="http://flatironsbaptist.org/pdfs/10.23.2011.PrayingLikeJesus.pdf">For a full manuscript in PDF click here</a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 17px;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div><i>Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest." - Matthew 9:37-38</i><br />
<br />
<b>Big Idea</b> – We have a good Father who we can actively depend on through time spent alone in intimate prayer. He invites us to join His work in the world through depending on Him in prayer.<br />
<br />
<b>Introduction:</b><br />
<div>Jesus is the undisputed expert and model in prayer. Will we take to heart what He has to say?</div><div><br />
<b>Jesus models prayer for us:</b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;">Jesus prays all the time! In the midst of all that is going on, Jesus makes the effort to spend extended time in prayer with God. This prayer time is not burdensome to Jesus but, rather, is life giving.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span></div><div><b>Jesus teaches us about prayer:</b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;">We see Jesus teaching us: pray according to what is true. You have a good, powerful, caring Father who knows our needs and desires to give good gifts to His children. So pray! Pray in dependence on our good God.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span></div><div><b>Jesus invites us to join His work through prayer:</b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;">Jesus invites us to be a part of the amazing plan of God by having compassion on the many that don't know Him, and praying earnestly that more would go to minister among them.</span></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3608104257134378708.post-36497672740149665572011-11-13T14:12:00.000-07:002011-11-13T14:12:00.650-07:00Being a Part of God's Work in the World: Wrap UpAs we have had many posts on missions, let's remember again where we started, looking at what God is going in the world:<br />
<div><i>Be still, and know that I am God.<br />
I will be exalted among the nations,<br />
I will be exalted in the earth! - Psalm 46:10</i></div><div>The truth is that God has a magnificent plan: He is being exalted by people from every place throughout the whole world coming to know Him. He is working that people everywhere would be reconciled, set free from sin and death and transformed to new life. Our great privilege is that God invites us to be a part of His amazing worldwide work!</div><div><br />
</div><div>We have looked at 6 ways to be involved in what God is doing around the world: Learn, Pray, Go, Send, Welcome, and Mobilize. Again, there are great resources online for these ways of being involved: 6ways2reach.org</div><div><br />
</div><div>Looking back at all the ideas and lists can seem a little overwhelming! It is a lot of information and possibilities. My point here is not to say you have to do all these things, but lets think about, how can we be more involved in what God is doing in the world. Neither do I want us to just be more busy as believers, but I want us to have a bigger perspective on God's plans in the world and our place in them. I encourage you to think about a couple of the ideas presented in these blog posts. Talk with your family or friends about them too!</div><div><br />
Let us have Jesus' magnificent and complete work on our behalf be our motivation for all we do, and remember God's plan: He will be exalted among the nations, He will be exalted in the Earth. And He gives us the privilege of joining Him in this.</div><div><br />
</div><div><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3608104257134378708.post-63870969739887048382011-11-11T14:10:00.000-07:002011-11-11T14:10:00.169-07:00Being a Part of God's Work in the World: MobilizeIn this post we will finish up the "6 ways" to be involved in what God is doing among the nations: Learn, Pray, Go, Send, Welcome, and Mobilize.<br />
<br />
<b>MOBILIZE </b> Not everyone knows about missions, how God is working in the world, or the needs all around the world. There is a need for individuals to mobilize, to speak of the needs and opportunities, so that believers would know more and be more active in God's plan to bring Hope to all nations through Jesus. <br />
<br />
A few ways to Mobilize: <br />
Organize a missions focused weekend at your church or in your community. <br />
Have a small group or Sunday school class focus on missions <br />
Go to a missions conference and invite friends to come with you <br />
Give updates to your church about a missionary or people group (during a service, missions table or bulletin board, etc)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3608104257134378708.post-85465870856336790542011-11-08T14:06:00.000-07:002011-11-08T14:06:00.675-07:00Being a Part of God's Work in the World: WelcomeOften we think of worldwide missions as something missionaries go somewhere else overseas and do. But this neglects the fact that there are many from all over the world all around us every day!<br />
<br />
<b>WELCOME </b><br />
We have the privilege in the US of people from around the world coming to us. It is estimated that more than 20 million internationals visit the US every single year, and there are hundreds of thousands of international students who are studying at American universities. Are we welcoming, and loving them well? Are we taking the opportunity to share Jesus with them? <br />
<br />
A few ways to Welcome: <br />
<ul><li>Become friends with an international student.</li>
<li>Go to international holiday events to meet internationals.</li>
<li>Help someone learn English by setting aside a regular time to talk.</li>
<li>Offer rides to internationals to the store (and help them learn to shop!).</li>
<li>Help internationals get to know the area by giving them a tour of the.</li>
</ul>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3608104257134378708.post-35784655472368738762011-11-04T13:28:00.000-06:002011-11-04T13:28:00.622-06:00Being a Part of God's Work in the World: SendSo far, we have discussed three ways of being involved in God being exalted in the nations: Learn, Pray, and Go. In this post we will talk about another big way of being involved:<br />
<br />
<b>SEND </b> Long term, and even short term missionaries, can not go on their own. There is not only the financial burden of going, but there are other logistics and emotional and spiritual needs too. <br />
<br />
We see sending happen in the Bible at several points. Just to mention one, in 3rd John, John writes to a man named Gaius and says this: <br />
<i>Beloved, it is a faithful thing you do in all your efforts for these brothers, strangers as they are, who testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God. - 3 John 5-6 </i><br />
<br />
<b> A few ways to Send: </b><br />
<ul><li>Financially support a missionary. </li>
<li>Use your skills or career and give your services for free (accountant, doctor, etc.).</li>
<li>Donate frequent flier miles.</li>
<li>Lend a car to missionaries while they are back in the US.</li>
<li>Offer a home or apartment for missionaries to stay while back in the US.</li>
<li>Offer a vacation spot.</li>
<li>Write, email, or Skype a missionary to encourage them while they are overseas.</li>
</ul><div>One of the more neglected needs here that I want to especially emphasize are the emotional and spiritual needs of missionaries overseas. Many times missionaries get so few notes and calls of encouragement when they are on the field!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3608104257134378708.post-36178075078093440032011-11-01T13:22:00.000-06:002011-11-01T13:22:00.267-06:00Being a Part of God's Work in the World: GoLearning and Praying, as mentioned in the previous posts on missions, are things that every believer can be actively involved in. But as we learn and as we pray, we need to realize that some must Go. Are we open to the possibility of going?<br />
<div><br />
</div><div>Paul states the need for people to Go in Romans this way:</div><div><i>How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!" - Romans 10:14-15</i></div><div><br />
<b>GO </b><br />
Jesus says in Matthew that there is great need for people -- laborers -- to go and minister. There is a great need for people to go, and as they do, make disciples of all peoples they encounter. </div><div>Going could mean seeking to live overseas long term, but it can be more than that. <br />
<br />
A few ways to Go: <br />
<ul><li>Go for a short term trip to support and help long term missionaries.</li>
<li>Take a year or two off and Go for a “medium-term” trip. </li>
<li>Go when your kids are grown up or when you retire. </li>
<li>Go by taking your job and skills and working in another nation.</li>
</ul></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3608104257134378708.post-31916989673482635182011-10-28T12:51:00.001-06:002011-10-28T12:51:00.322-06:00Being a Part of God's Work in the World: Pray<div><div>Last time, I mentioned that we can be involved in God's amazing worldwide plan by simply learning about other cultures and what God is doing around the world. But what else can we do?</div><div><br />
</div><div>In Matthew, when Jesus sees crowds of people who are oppressed, leaderless, and in great spiritual need, He responds with compassion and says this to His disciples:</div><i>"The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest."</i></div><div><i><br />
</i></div><div>Notice what Jesus says is the first step in responding to the need: Pray!</div><div><div><div><i><br />
</i><br />
<div><b>PRAY </b><br />
If we really believe that God is active in the world, and His Spirit is the one who works to change hearts and transform lives, prayer for missions is absolutely vital. A missionary to China about a hundred years ago said it this way: “Believers at home can do as much for overseas missions as those actually on the field. I believe it will only be known on the last day how much has been accomplished in overseas missions by the prayers of earnest believers at home.” - James O. Fraser <br />
<br />
A few ways to Pray for missions: <br />
<ul><li>Pick a specific missionary, sign up to receive updates and pray for them regularly. </li>
<li>Start a prayer group for missions in your church. </li>
<li>Take a small group or Bible study you already attend and as a group “adopt” a missionary. </li>
<li>Pray daily through prayer guides.</li>
</ul></div></div></div></div><div><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3608104257134378708.post-89313667935093977342011-10-25T12:48:00.000-06:002011-10-25T12:48:16.944-06:00Being a Part of God's Work in the World: Learn<div>In the last missions post, we asked the question: How can we be involved in what God is doing in the world? In this post, let's look at one of the most basic ways: Learn. </div><br />
<b>LEARN </b> As a general rule, many many of us (including myself!) are not very familiar with what God is doing in the world or aware of other cultures and the spiritual needs of other people groups. One of the most basic ways of being involved in what God is doing around the world is simply learning. Whether that is learning about people in Asia, Africa, South America, or anywhere! The more we learn, the more we are equipped to pray for missions, and the more we understand the needs among other people groups.<div><br />
Here are a few ways to Learn: <br />
<ul><li>Read a missionary biography (I will give you one for free if you will read it!).</li>
<li>Take a Perspectives course.</li>
<li>Check out books from the library on countries and cultures that interest you.</li>
<li>Read info on unreached people groups from resources like joshuaproject.net.</li>
<li>Pay attention to international news and pray about it.</li>
<li>Spend time with internationals and ask them to tell you about their families and cultures.</li>
</ul></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3608104257134378708.post-18618008486407229272011-10-20T18:14:00.005-06:002011-10-20T18:46:10.927-06:00Exalted Among the Nations<span style="font-style: italic;">Josh is sharing with us ways in which we can be more involved in the work of missions. This is the first of seven lessons.</span><br /><br />During a short term missions trip to Asia one of the many lessons God taught me was that my view of how He was working in the world was too small.<br /><br />Here I was interacting with people and cultures I had never heard of, but God was at work there, calling people to himself. One of the verses that impacted me on that trip was Psalm 46:10. It says:<br /><br />"Be still, and know that I am God.<br />I will be exalted among the nations,<br />I will be exalted in the earth!"<br /><br />This is humbling because God's plan isn't about me. Yes, I have the privilege of being a part of it, but God's plan is much bigger. God's plan is that every tribe, every tongue, every people and every nation would glorify Him and know the magnificent wonders of the Gospel. That every people would know Jesus, their supreme creator and savior, and would know the amazing riches of grace that are available in Him.<br /><br />We came home from that trip not sure what to do next, but with the strong desire to be involved in what God is doing in the world from wherever we were at. But how can we do that? As we are motivated by the Gospel and desire to live for Christ, how can we be involved in God being exalted in the nations?<br /><br /><b>6 Ways</b><br />Two organizations, OMF International (OMF stands for Overseas Missionary Fellowship) and the Perspectives Study Program, have tried to help in answering these questions by categorizing some of the ways to serve into 6 different general groups: Learn, Pray, Go, Send, Welcome, and Mobilize.<br /><br />For an overview of the 6 ways you can check out:<br /><br /><a href="http://vimeo.com/17625553" target="_blank">http://vimeo.com/17625553</a><br /><br />I have found it helpful to consider some of these ways of serving and ask God how He desires us to be involved in His work in the world.<br /><br />In the next post I will talk about the first way: Learn.Nicole Hiraihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05832285211092757690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3608104257134378708.post-20628986774338982872011-10-18T11:02:00.004-06:002011-10-18T11:10:24.153-06:00God's Unfaltering Kingdom<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> <w:lidthemeother>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:lidthemeasian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:lidthemecomplexscript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:splitpgbreakandparamark/> <w:dontvertaligncellwithsp/> <w:dontbreakconstrainedforcedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> 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mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:13.0pt">Sermon Delivered October 16<sup>th</sup>, 2011 by Pastor Eric Ellis<br /></span></i></p><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-ansi-language:EN" lang="EN">Luke 13:18-21 </span> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-height-alt:5.0pt"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-ansi-language:EN" lang="EN">Perhaps several of you are familiar with the philosophical construct called the <i>secularization thesis</i>. More or less, what this idea entails is that as technology and scientific understanding increase, belief in supernatural reasons for existence and being will, perhaps proportionally, decrease. The Wikipedia article under this topic states the idea this way, “</span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:13.0pt">Secularization thesis</span></i><span style="font-size:13.0pt"> refers to the belief that as societies 'progress', particularly through modernization and rationalization, religion loses its authority in all aspects of social life and governance.” Some well known advocates of this idea were, understandably, Karl Marx and Sigmund Freud. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-height-alt:5.0pt"><span style="font-size: 13.0pt">Along the same lines, Voltaire, the noted 18th century French philosopher, said that it took centuries to build up Christianity, but “I’ll show how just one Frenchman can destroy it within 50 years.” Taking his pen, he dipped it into the ink of unbelief and wrote against God. (Tan, P. L. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations, </i>Bible Communications 1996, digital version).</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-height-alt:5.0pt"><span style="font-size: 13.0pt">So, one is right to ask, how is the <i>secularization thesis</i> doing? Is the world as a whole becoming less religious and more secular? Depending on who you talk to, the answer varies. Regardless, religion and, specifically, Christianity are no where near being marginalized in any way, shape or form. What is one of the primary political questions being asked today, over a year before the next presidential election? That question is “Should evangelical Christians vote for a Mormon for president of the United States?” I have no intention of answering that question today or in the near future. Perhaps this could be a topic for discussion in our home groups tonight? But you get the point. Religion...Christianity...are major players in all aspects of our society and in the world as a whole. At any rate, the <i>secularization thesis</i> is not moving rapidly or taking over the world.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-height-alt:5.0pt"><span style="font-size: 13.0pt">My personal <i>opinion</i> is that not only will the <i>secularization thesis</i> not gain ground, but that in the next couple of generations, it will be dead. This thesis, along with idea of philosophical materialism and evolution, will be tossed onto the junk heap of bad thinking. The reason I hold this <i>opinion</i> is that I think that as scientific advances continue, proof of an intelligent designer will continue to increase to where it will be considered irrational to be an atheist. Some noted philosophers are coming around to this position already. Noted English philosopher Anthony Flew spent much of his lengthy academic life arguing against theism. In an astounding reversal, he authored a book in 2007 called <i>There is a God: How the world's most notorious atheist changed him mind.</i> (HarperOne 2007). Dr. Ian H. Hutchinson, head of the Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, wrote this about the book, “This engaging personal retrospective on Flew's philosophical pilgrimage illustrates that it is dangerous for an atheist to think too hard about his religious commitment – he might become unconvinced.” (<i>Flew,</i> preface). Unfortunately, although he wrote favorably about Christianity, there is no indication that Flew embraced saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and His work on the cross for forgiveness of sins and eternal life.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-height-alt:5.0pt"><span style="font-size: 13.0pt">This leads to my next idea about the death of secularization. Although secularization will not prevail, evangelical Christianity will not be that which replaces or reigns as the dominant philosophy. There will be spiritualism, but not the rise of Biblical Christianity. This thinking comes from God's word. As we have looked at Revelation and discussed the End Times in recent months, worship and religion is dominant in those days. But it is a false religion and belief. Paul writes in 1 Timothy 4:1, “</span><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-ansi-language:EN" lang="EN">Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons,...”. So just because secularization fails doesn't mean that true saving faith follows in its stead. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-height-alt:5.0pt"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-ansi-language:EN" lang="EN"> However, we do know that in the end, God's Kingdom and plan will be instituted and Jesus Christ will be King of kings and Lord of lords. And this, of course, is not opinion. There are many passages that affirm this truth. Here are just a couple:</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-line-height-alt: 5.0pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;mso-ansi-language:EN" lang="EN"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:13.0pt; mso-ansi-language:EN" lang="EN">Hear the words of the pagan king Nebuchadnezzer in Daniel 4:34-35, “And at the end of the time I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me; and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever: For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, And His kingdom is from generation to generation. All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; He does according to His will in the army of heaven And among the inhabitants of the earth. No one can restrain His hand Or say to Him, 'What have You done?'” </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-line-height-alt: 5.0pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;mso-ansi-language:EN" lang="EN"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:13.0pt">Jesus in Matthew 16:18, “...</span><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-ansi-language:EN" lang="EN">I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-height-alt:5.0pt"><span style="font-size: 13.0pt"> God's Kingdom, God's plan, God's perfect will <i>will</i> be accomplished. And, as Paul wrote the Athenians in Acts 17, God proves this by raising Christ from the dead. This, praise the Lord, is not opinion. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-height-alt:5.0pt"><span style="font-size: 13.0pt">In the passage we are looking at today in Luke 13, our Savior develops this theme of the absolute certainty of God's kingdom prevailing. And He uses a couple of very interesting and insightful parables to do so. And, again, this is not opinion. This is not Jesus saying, “I hope my Father's kingdom comes.”, or “My Father's kingdom might come.”. No, Jesus is declaring that God's kingdom will come and it can't be stopped. Thus, from Luke 13:18-21, lets look at <i>God's Unfaltering Kingdom</i> as declared by our Lord Jesus Christ.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-height-alt:5.0pt"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-ansi-language:EN" lang="EN">Follow along as we read Luke 13:18-21:</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-height-alt:5.0pt"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-ansi-language:EN" lang="EN"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;mso-line-height-alt:5.0pt"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-ansi-language:EN" lang="EN">Then He said, “What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it? It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and put in his garden; and it grew and became a large tree, and the birds of the air nested in its branches.” And again He said, “To what shall I liken the kingdom of God? It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened.”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-height-alt:5.0pt"><i><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-ansi-language:EN" lang="EN"> </span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-height-alt:5.0pt"><i><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-ansi-language:EN" lang="EN">Because it is unfaltering and cannot be stopped, we should joyfully embrace and live for the furtherance of God's Kingdom</span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-height-alt:5.0pt"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-ansi-language:EN" lang="EN"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"></span></span><u><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-ansi-language:EN" lang="EN"></span></u><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-ansi-language:EN" lang="EN">Four reasons we should embrace and live for the furtherance of God's kingdom:<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:-.75pt;mso-line-height-alt:5.0pt"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="mso-list:Ignore">1.<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:13.0pt">It may appear small, but its growth is not dependent on appearances.<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:-.75pt;mso-line-height-alt:5.0pt"><span style="font-size:13.0pt">I continue to be amazed and blessed by God and Jesus that they have given to us Their word. Whenever we find ourselves, as Christians, in a jam or some sort or of a sorrowful heart, the word is available to us. As we look around the world today, we may find ourselves depressed at the moral morass in which we find ourselves. Indeed, without an eternal perspective, such an outlook, to me, seems inevitable. Especially as we strive to promote God's kingdom in our own lives and spheres of influence, perhaps it can be depressing. Many pastors have been marked by deep bouts of depression, Charles Spurgeon among them, wondering if they really are making a difference for the Kingdom of God. Perhaps you can relate to such attitudes? Sometimes we wonder if God's kingdom really is progressing.<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:-.75pt;mso-line-height-alt:5.0pt"><span style="font-size:13.0pt">I think that one of Jesus' reasons for putting forth these two parables is to address this issue of wondering about the power of God's kingdom. And when describing God's kingdom, the first thing Jesus says is that it may appear small, but its growth is not dependent on appearances. He gives us two examples of the apparent “smallness” of the kingdom of God...a mustard seed and leaven.<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:-.75pt;mso-line-height-alt:5.0pt"><span style="font-size:13.0pt">First of all, in regards to the mustard seed, the point isn't so much the actual size of the seed as to the size of the tree that comes from it. As you may or may not know, a mustard seed is much smaller than an apple or orange seed. The first thought that comes to mind when you see one is that it probably is the seed for a small herb or flower. But the tree that grows from it is quite shocking considering the size of the seed. There is speculation as to exactly the kind of tree in reference here. One of the proposed trees can grow up to twenty-five feet tall. But the size of the tree isn't all that important. The point is that this seed is tiny, but what comes from it is huge and able to host birds.<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:-.75pt;mso-line-height-alt:5.0pt"><span style="font-size:13.0pt">The same point is made regarding the leaven in verse 21. How much leaven is needed to leaven the entire lump of dough? The three “measures” or “pecks” of meal or flour, depending upon your translation, is the equivalent of about fifty pounds. So how much leaven does it take to leaven the whole lump? Well, you can put in as much as you like because the yeast bacteria grows to fill the entire lump of flour. But a pinch will do...put the pinch of yeast into the lump and it is simply a matter of time until the entire lump is leavened. In both cases, the size of the initial seed or pinch of leaven has no impact on the end result.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:-.75pt;mso-line-height-alt:5.0pt"><span style="font-size:13.0pt">When you look at the ministry of Jesus and the initial start of the kingdom of God, you can see the comparison. Let's use our imaginations here for a moment. Say a man of 30 years old who has worked as a carpenter in Nederland for all his life decided one day to go to his church of 25 people or so and announce to them that He was God's Messiah and he came to save the world from sin and God's wrath. What would be the common reaction to that? Ridicule and rejection. I don't think he would get very far. Indeed, there are many self-proclaimed “Messiahs” in the world today, who even with the assistance of our modern technology and the internet, who aren't making much of an impact. If they are memorable at all, it usually is for how they left the world, so to speak. David Koresh comes to mind. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:-.75pt;mso-line-height-alt:5.0pt"><span style="font-size:13.0pt">But friends, this is exactly what happened with Jesus. A thirty-year old carpenter from a Galilean back-water town called Nazareth stood up in His synagogue one day and announced that He is the Messiah who has come to establish God's kingdom. Those who heard Him tried to kill him that very day. And yet, here we are, two-thousand-odd years later and half a world away talking about that man and His impact on the world. What's going on here is being repeated multiple times all over this country and world on this day and others. What started off as absolutely tiny and insignificant has become huge and has had a massive impact. The young carpenter from Galilee is the most significant person to have ever lived.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:-.75pt;mso-line-height-alt:5.0pt"><span style="font-size:13.0pt">God's kingdom is unfaltering because is may appear small, but its growth is not dependent on appearances. We'll develop this idea as we continue on.<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:-.75pt;mso-line-height-alt:5.0pt"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="mso-list:Ignore">2.<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:13.0pt">The method of growth is simple, but the message is empowered by God.<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:-.75pt;mso-line-height-alt:5.0pt"><span style="font-size:13.0pt">Note secondly here the simplicity of the method of growth. A man takes mustard seed and puts it in his garden. A woman takes a pinch of leaven and puts it into a large lump of dough. How long does it take to do either of these tasks? Very little time and effort is put forth in this work. In fact the word translated as “put” in verse 19 is better translated as “threw”. The NASB has it so translated. The word literally means to throw or let go of a thing without caring where it falls. It has a nuance that includes casting in such a way as to not worry about the results.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The picture is of the gardener and woman, in a sense, carelessly going about this work because they are absolutely confident of the result. A similar attitude and action is articulated by the Lord in the Parable of the Sower in Luke 8. The man sows the seed not being over concerned with where it lands. It is different in this case in that the gardener and the woman are very intentional in what they are doing. The gardener puts the mustard seed in a place where he is confident of its growth. The woman places the leaven in dough, confident of the result.<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:-.75pt;mso-line-height-alt:5.0pt"><span style="font-size:13.0pt">But what, or who, empowers the growth? With both the seed and the yeast, these two creatures grow because God made them to grow. When He created the world and universe, He specifically created seeds to grow trees and yeast to multiply and give off carbon dioxide which causes bread to rise. Give a scientist or group of scientists all the resources in the world and all the time in the world and they could never make a seed that grows into a tree. We need not ask the scientists for a forest of trees or an apple orchard. Just try to make one little seed that results in a tree or bit of self-reproducing leaven which fills an entire lump of dough. Can a man...any man...do this? No. The growth is empowered by God. God has so made the seed and the leaven to grow. All the gardener and the baker need to do is put it out there and let God do His thing.<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:-.75pt;mso-line-height-alt:5.0pt"><span style="font-size:13.0pt">And this is the picture that Jesus wants us to understand from these two parables. The Kingdom of God grows in an unfaltering way because it is empowered by the Word of God. God has so made His word, which in these parables is the seed and the leaven, in such a way that it grows by itself. All that has to be done is to put it out there and let God do His thing. Listen to the following passages which declare the power of God's word:<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:35.25pt;text-indent:-.25in;mso-line-height-alt: 5.0pt;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo3;tab-stops:list 35.25pt"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;mso-ansi-language:EN" lang="EN"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:13.0pt">Hebrews 4:12 ~ </span><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-ansi-language:EN" lang="EN">For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:35.25pt;text-indent:-.25in;mso-line-height-alt: 5.0pt;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo3;tab-stops:list 35.25pt"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;mso-ansi-language:EN" lang="EN"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:13.0pt">Psalm 119:97-100 ~ </span><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-ansi-language:EN" lang="EN">Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day. You, through Your commandments, make me wiser than my enemies; For they are ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers, For Your testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the ancients, Because I keep Your precepts.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:13.0pt">Psalm 19:7-8 ~ </span><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-ansi-language:EN" lang="EN">The law of the <span style="font-variant:small-caps">Lord</span> is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the <span style="font-variant:small-caps">Lord</span> is sure, making wise the simple; The statutes of the <span style="font-variant:small-caps">Lord</span> are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the <span style="font-variant: small-caps">Lord</span> is pure, enlightening the eyes;...”</span><span style="font-size: 13.0pt"><br /> Specifically regarding growth of God's kingdom...the salvation of the souls of men...Paul makes this huge statement in Romans 1:16 “</span><span style="font-size: 13pt;" lang="EN">For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes,...” He rephrases this statement in 1 Corinthians 1:18, “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” This mechanism of growth is practically discussed by Paul in 1 Corinthians 3:5-7, “Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.”<br /> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-height-alt:5.0pt"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-ansi-language:EN" lang="EN">Beloved, do you understand that the method of growth in God's kingdom is simple, but the message is empowered by God. The presentation doesn't have to be complicated and dynamic. You don't have to be eloquent or learned. You simply need to have a garden or a lump of dough to cast the seed or put the leaven. Share a verse of Scripture with a friend. Speak these words, “Christ came into the world to save sinners.” Here is another passage, 1 Peter 3:18, “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit,...” Faithfully pursue your friends and family and cast the seed and watch God work.<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-height-alt:5.0pt"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-ansi-language:EN" lang="EN">Here are a couple of points of application from these first two points in the sermon:</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-line-height-alt: 5.0pt;mso-list:l3 level1 lfo4;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;mso-ansi-language:EN" lang="EN"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:13.0pt; mso-ansi-language:EN" lang="EN">Do you understand the power of the Word of God? The gardener understood the power of the mustard seed and the woman understood the power of leaven. Do you understand that this Bible is God-breathed and changes lives? If you are a believer here today, it is because the Word of God came upon you with power and changed you. It is the only way that people are changed. Take this word and put it to its task.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-line-height-alt: 5.0pt;mso-list:l3 level1 lfo4;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;mso-ansi-language:EN" lang="EN"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:13.0pt; mso-ansi-language:EN" lang="EN">Do you have a garden or a lump of dough? Dear friends, if the gardener has the mustard seed and leaves it in its box, nothing is going to happen. If the baker leaves the leaven in its container, nothing is going to happen. Beloved, if we don't have a place where we are actively trying to plant the word, then more than likely we won't. I have found in my life that unless I am actively seeking to evangelize and share the life-changing gospel, I rarely do so. Dear friends, find a garden, find a lump of dough.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-line-height-alt: 5.0pt;mso-list:l3 level1 lfo4;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;mso-ansi-language:EN" lang="EN"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:13.0pt; mso-ansi-language:EN" lang="EN">A third application is not to worry about the size of your garden or lump. You need not be thinking that I have to share the gospel with everyone in Boulder or my school or work place. Pick one or two. Don't close the door to others, but don't think for a moment that if you're only speaking to a couple of people that this is ineffective. You know how multiplication works. Start with one penny on the first day of the month and simply double your amount of pennies everyday for that month. By the end of the month, you will have over a million dollars. Friends, if God allows you to impact one or two people with the gospel over the next year or so and they, in turn, impact one or two and on down the line...you get the picture. Please don't think that I am saying to not think big. Share with lots of people and pray for a great harvest. But there may be times when you are planning on putting forth the word and not many show up. You have small Sunday School class or children's church group of one or two. You plan a neighborhood cookout hoping to reach your neighbors and only a couple come. If the Lord brings one, be faithful with one. Don't worry about the size of your garden or your lump. Simply cast the seed or put in the leaven of God's word and trust Him to empower the message. <br /> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:17.25pt;text-indent:-.25in;mso-line-height-alt: 5.0pt;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="mso-list:Ignore">3.<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:13.0pt">The initial start of the growth may seem insignificant, but the long-term impacts are amazing.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:-.75pt;mso-line-height-alt:5.0pt"><span style="font-size:13.0pt"> Another aspect of God's unfaltering kingdom is to look at how it grows. It initially seems insignificant, but the long term impacts are amazing. As we look at this text here, we may wonder about the immediate context. We refer to Matthew, Mark and Luke as the Synoptic Gospels because they contain very similar accounts of the life of Christ. John, on the other hand, is very different. But as we've been working through Luke and comparing the similar narratives in these three gospels, we have found that Jesus repeated much of His teaching in different contexts and places. These two parables are examples of this. In both Matthew and Mark, one or both of these parables can be found, but Jesus proclaims them along with many other Kingdom parables. In Luke, they stand by themselves. Also, in Matthew and Mark, Jesus is teaching these parables in Galilee early in His ministry. In Luke, He has left Galilee and is headed to Jerusalem to face the crucifixion. Looking at Luke here, we also wonder if Jesus is still in the synagogue where He has just healed the woman with the infirmity that we looked at last week. Perhaps he has left the synagogue and is traveling again, as he definitely is in the next narrative in Luke.<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:-.75pt;mso-line-height-alt:5.0pt"><span style="font-size:13.0pt">But as was emphasized in the first point of this message, all of this is occurring in a way off small nation with really no significance in the greater world, at least according to the rulers of that day. Israel was a small nation in the Roman empire, far away from the capital of Rome and other centers of influence. There are indications that Roman governor Pilate hated being there and that being ordered to serve in Israel may be similar to being sent to oversee Antarctica. This was definitely not a coveted assignment. Israel was rather insignificant.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:-.75pt;mso-line-height-alt:5.0pt"><span style="font-size:13.0pt">Even looking at the recent miracle that Jesus just performed really wouldn't rock the world. If we happened to hear of a crippled woman being healed, say, in La Junta, this wouldn't be front-page news in the Denver Post. It would be rather insignificant.<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:-.75pt;mso-line-height-alt:5.0pt"><span style="font-size:13.0pt">But again, look at the long-term benefits that have come to men because of the life and work of Jesus. Think about how Jesus' inauguration of the kingdom has blessed mankind throughout history. This is the point that Jesus is making in the second half of verse 19 when He says that the birds of the air nest in the large tree that came from the little seed. Although not as clear in the parable of the leaven, the point can be seen in that the leaven starts off only impacting one part of the dough, but then, in time, impacts the entire lump. The picture of birds nesting in a tree is a picture of God's blessing on nature and mankind. Take a look at </span><span style="font-size:13.0pt">Psalm 104:10-12, “He sends the springs into the valleys; They flow among the hills. They give drink to every beast of the field; The wild donkeys quench their thirst. By them the birds of the heavens have their home; They sing among the branches.” God provides blessing for the beasts of the field and birds of the air. The birds then sing and the indication is that this singing blesses the Lord. The heavens declare the glory of God and, by their singing, birds do to.<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:-.75pt;mso-line-height-alt:5.0pt"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-ansi-language:EN" lang="EN">So, as we can see, the growth at first may seem insignificant, but the long-term impacts are amazing. A Man teaches in Israel, heals a few people and then is killed on a cross. But in His resurrection, He accomplishes benefits for mankind that are unbelievable. Lets think for just a couple of moments about those benefits. Here are several:</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:38.0pt;text-indent:-.25in;mso-line-height-alt: 5.0pt;mso-list:l4 level1 lfo5;tab-stops:list 38.0pt"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;mso-ansi-language:EN" lang="EN"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:13.0pt; mso-ansi-language:EN" lang="EN">Because of Jesus Christ and the gospel, you can be forgiven of all your sin. Paul writes to the Colossians Christians, that Jesus, through His death, burial and resurrection, has forgiven them of all trespasses, having wiped them out. (Col. 2:13-14). If you would believe in Jesus today, the same could be said of you.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:38.0pt;text-indent:-.25in;mso-line-height-alt: 5.0pt;mso-list:l4 level1 lfo5;tab-stops:list 38.0pt"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;mso-ansi-language:EN" lang="EN"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:13.0pt; mso-ansi-language:EN" lang="EN">In that same vein, because of Jesus Christ and the gospel, God no longer has any of His righteous wrath and anger left for the Christian. He poured all His perfect wrath out on Jesus and now it is exhausted for the one who believes in Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Romans 8:1 says, “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (NASB95). If you would believe in Jesus today, the same could be said of you.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:38.0pt;text-indent:-.25in;mso-line-height-alt: 5.0pt;mso-list:l4 level1 lfo5;tab-stops:list 38.0pt"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;mso-ansi-language:EN" lang="EN"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:13.0pt; mso-ansi-language:EN" lang="EN">As with the crippled woman who was healed in the previous account, Because of Jesus Christ and the gospel, those who are believers in Jesus will one day experience complete wholeness of body, mind and spirit. As blessed as that woman was, she had to go through death. And, if the Lord doesn't rapture us out of here soon, all of us will also die. But for the one who believes in Jesus Christ, listen to these words as recorded in 1 Corinthians 15:53-57, “For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, '<span style="font-variant:small-caps">Death is swallowed up </span>in victory. “O <span style="font-variant:small-caps">death</span>, <span style="font-variant:small-caps">where is your victory</span>? O <span style="font-variant:small-caps">death, where is your sting</span>?' The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (NASB95). If you would believe in Jesus today, the same could be said of you. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:38.0pt;text-indent:-.25in;mso-line-height-alt: 5.0pt;mso-list:l4 level1 lfo5;tab-stops:list 38.0pt"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;mso-ansi-language:EN" lang="EN"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:13.0pt; mso-ansi-language:EN" lang="EN">Because of Jesus Christ and the gospel, the one who believes in Him can have what is described as the peace that surpasses comprehension and a joy unspeakable and full of glory. The general tenor of the Christian's life is peace and joy because that person is restored into fellowship with His Creator. And that peace and joy will have a beneficial impact on all aspects and relationship in your life. If you would believe in Jesus today, the same could be said of you.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:38.0pt;text-indent:-.25in;mso-line-height-alt: 5.0pt;mso-list:l4 level1 lfo5;tab-stops:list 38.0pt"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;mso-ansi-language:EN" lang="EN"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:13.0pt; mso-ansi-language:EN" lang="EN">Because of Jesus Christ and the gospel, one day Jesus will return and set up His complete and total kingdom in which righteousness and justice will dwell. For those who are Christians, they will reign with Christ and enjoy the blessings of a restored creation and complete rest and joy. If you would believe in Jesus today, the same could be said of you.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 17.25pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;" lang="EN">Dear friends, these are just a couple of the innumerable benefits and impacts of God's kingdom. And please note that all of this is possible for only one reason...Jesus Christ and the gospel. None of this occurs because of any worth or merit in ourselves. It is all of grace. When any good and glory occurs, it is because of grace. We are who we are by the grace of God...His unmerited, unearned favor. Jesus invites any and all to come into and begin to experience the long-term, amazing impacts of the kingdom of God. Would you do so today? Jesus says in John 5:24, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.” You've heard His word this morning. Would you believe in Him who sent Him and have everlasting life</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:-.75pt;mso-line-height-alt:5.0pt"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:EN" lang="EN"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">4.<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-ansi-language:EN" lang="EN">Once the growth starts, it is impossible to stop.<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:-.75pt;mso-line-height-alt:5.0pt"><span style="font-size:13.0pt">Lastly this morning, let us observe from the parable of the leaven that once the growth of God's kingdom starts, it is impossible to stop. What happens once the yeast starts to multiple in the lump of dough? Can it be stopped and can the leaven be removed? Nope, once the process has begun, it cannot be reversed. Thus, what Jesus is saying here is that His kingdom has been initiated and it will not be stopped. God will accomplish all His plans and glory and no one can stop it.<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:-.75pt;mso-line-height-alt:5.0pt"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-ansi-language:EN" lang="EN">For the believer this morning, this is really good news. It has individual implications in that, as Paul stated in </span><span style="font-size:13.0pt">Philippians 1:6, “</span><span style="font-size:13.0pt">being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;...” Once God initiates His kingdom in your life, He will not stop. Praise to His glorious name. Regardless of my maturity or understanding, by His grace, His kingdom in my life continues to grow and mature because He has determined it to be so.<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:-.75pt;mso-line-height-alt:5.0pt"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-ansi-language:EN" lang="EN">And, as articulated earlier, the unfaltering nature of God's kingdom has universal implications. Christ will build His church and, one day, come and establish His holy and complete righteous kingdom here. Dear friends, Christ initiated God's unfaltering kingdom in His first coming. It started off small and insignificant. But as we can see in the world, the kingdom of God is not insignificant. And not only that, it is impossible to stop</span><span style="font-size:13.0pt"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-height-alt:5.0pt"><span style="font-size: 13.0pt">As we wrap this message up, there are several applications to consider:</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-line-height-alt: 5.0pt;mso-list:l5 level1 lfo6;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:13.0pt">For those here this morning who are not Christians, please note that God is at work in this world and His kingdom will be established. It is inevitable and unfaltering. God through Jesus Christ invites you to join with Him in this kingdom by believing in Jesus Christ for forgiveness of sins and eternal life. To not become a citizen of God's kingdom is to face eternity out of God's kingdom and presence and that, dear friend, you do not want to face.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-line-height-alt: 5.0pt;mso-list:l5 level1 lfo6;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;mso-ansi-language:EN" lang="EN"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:13.0pt">For the Christian here this morning, how committed are you to God's unfaltering kingdom? Is it the driving motivation in your life? Jesus our Savior is clear in this matter of priorities. He says in Matthew 6:33, “</span><span style="font-size: 13.0pt;mso-ansi-language:EN" lang="EN">But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness,...” Our first priority...that which we are to “seek first”...is God's kingdom. That kingdom is to be sought in our own lives as we grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ. And that kingdom is to be sought in how we serve and bless others around us. We are to be actively seeking to impart kingdom truth to those around us. To that end, I ask again, do you have a garden into which you are casting seeds of gospel truth? Do you have lump of dough into which you are placing leaven? Perhaps you could begin serving here, teaching the little ones of our congregation? Think deeply about those whom God has called you to interact with on a daily basis...your work colleagues, classmates, teammates, etc. If you are a believer here this morning, it is because someone in your past cast a seed of the gospel to you and, by God's supernatural grace, you believed it. Now go and cast God's gospel toward others and see what God does.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-line-height-alt: 5.0pt;mso-list:l5 level1 lfo6;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:13.0pt">For our church here this morning, we need to be single-minded in our desire to see God's kingdom promoted and developed in our body and in our community. This can take on so many different forms and ministries. But one thing is certain...we have a huge garden sitting right outside our door. There are several different ministries that are on going right now that you could jump on board and begin to help develop and grow. But what is most effective is when you deeply pursue God's kingdom in your life and then He inspires you to cast seed in a certain places and ways. This needs to be our commitment as a church as well as our individual commitments. Seek the mind of the Lord and ask Him specifically how you might be used of Him to promote His unfaltering kingdom. The ideas are limitless. Seek them out.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-height-alt:5.0pt"><span style="font-size: 13.0pt">Remember Voltaire's statement from the introduction? “I’ll show how just one Frenchman can destroy [Christianity] within 50 years.”. Twenty years after his death, the Geneva Bible Society purchased his house for printing the Bible. And it later became the Paris headquarters for the British and Foreign Bible Society. The Bible is still a best-seller; an entire 6-volume set of Voltaire</span><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-ansi-language:EN" lang="EN">’</span><span style="font-size:13.0pt">s works was once sold for 90¢. Just before his death, the noted atheist swore: “I wish I had never been BORN!” (Tan, P. L. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations, </i>Bible Communications 1996, digital version)</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-height-alt:5.0pt"><span style="font-size: 13.0pt">On the flip side, the great reformer Martin Luther penned these words in the hymn, <i>A Mighty Fortress is Our God... </i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:35.25pt;mso-line-height-alt:5.0pt"><span style="font-size:13.0pt"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:35.25pt;mso-line-height-alt:5.0pt"><span style="font-size:13.0pt">And tho’ this world, with devils filled, Should threaten to undo us, We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph thro’ us; The prince of Darkness grim, We tremble not for him; His rage we can endure, For lo, his doom is sure, One little word shall fell him.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:9.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt; margin-left:35.25pt"><span style="font-size:13.0pt">That word above all earthly pow’rs, No thanks to them, abideth; The Spirit and the gifts are ours Thro’ Him who with us sideth: Let goods and kindred go, This mortal life also; The body they may kill: God’s truth abideth still, His kingdom is forever.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-height-alt:5.0pt"><i><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-ansi-language:EN" lang="EN">Because it is unfaltering and cannot be stopped, we should joyfully embrace and live for the furtherance of God's Kingdom.</span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-height-alt:5.0pt"><i><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-ansi-language:EN" lang="EN"> </span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight: bold;"><u><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-ansi-language:EN" lang="EN">Discussion Questions:</span></u></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-line-height-alt: 5.0pt;mso-list:l6 level1 lfo7;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;mso-ansi-language:EN" lang="EN"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:13.0pt; mso-ansi-language:EN" lang="EN">At times we may become discouraged with the state of God's kingdom in the U.S. or even our own church situation. How should we approach overcoming that discouragement?</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-line-height-alt: 5.0pt;mso-list:l6 level1 lfo7;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;mso-ansi-language:EN" lang="EN"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:13.0pt; mso-ansi-language:EN" lang="EN">Should every Christian be active in sharing the gospel? What if that person is uncomfortable with discussion spiritual matters with others?</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-line-height-alt: 5.0pt;mso-list:l6 level1 lfo7;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;mso-ansi-language:EN" lang="EN"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:13.0pt; mso-ansi-language:EN" lang="EN">How “aggressive” or “creative” should we be in our gospel sharing? Look at 2 Corinthians 5:20 as you consider this question.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-line-height-alt: 5.0pt;mso-list:l6 level1 lfo7;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;mso-ansi-language:EN" lang="EN"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:13.0pt; mso-ansi-language:EN" lang="EN">Do you have a garden or a lump of dough? Where are some possible areas where God might be calling you to cast a seed?</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-line-height-alt: 5.0pt;mso-list:l6 level1 lfo7;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:13.0pt; mso-ansi-language:EN" lang="EN">What about God's unfaltering kingdom causes you to rejoice? How might dwelling on such a topic increase your joy?</span></p>Nicole Hiraihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05832285211092757690noreply@blogger.com0