828 Church

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

Jesus knows what you’re looking for even when you don’t.

This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”, and I am the worst of them all. But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life. 1 Timothy 1:15 NLT

Every saint has a past. Every sinner has a future. Oscar Wilde (1893)

As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at his tax collector’s booth. “Follow me and be my disciple,” Jesus said to him. So Matthew got up and followed him. Matthew 9:9 NLT

Impossible is one of Jesus’s favorite places to do redemptive work!   

By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. 2 Peter 1:3 NLT

The Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from the true faith; they will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons. 1 Timothy 4:1 NLT

Persist!

Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path. I’ve promised it once, and I’ll promise it again: I will obey your righteous regulations. Psalm 119:105-106 NLT

Repentance is a rejection that is also an acceptance, a leaving that develops into an arriving, a no to the world that is a yes to God. Eugene Peterson

Persistence is a powerful choice when we persistence in following God. 

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. 2 Timothy 4:7 NLT

Pursue

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:17 ESV

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. James 1:22 ESV

Stop depending on your ability to play good defense and go on the offensive with God

Press in for Passion

To try and live a redeemed life without a passion for God and His will is liking taking a cross country trip in a car that has not gas.

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Matthew 22:37-38 ESV

Godly Friends

Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble. Proverbs 13:20 NLT

Be the Godly friend you wish you had.

These are the visions that Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. He saw these visions during the years when Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah were kings of Judah. Isaiah 1:1 NLT

Even an ox knows its owner, and a donkey recognizes its master’s care, but Israel doesn’t know its master. My people don’t recognize my care for them.” Oh, what a sinful nation they are, loaded down with a burden of guilt. Isaiah 1:3-4 NLT

People who don’t recognize God as God are in for a lot of lostness and a heavy burden of guilt.

In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Isaiah 6:1 ESV

In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne!

Kings, Kingdoms, Prime ministers and presidents will come and go but God will still be on the throne! 

When all the puny philosophers and detractors are gone, God will still be on the throne!

Attending him were mighty seraphim, each having six wings. With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. They were calling out to each other, “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Heaven’s Armies! The whole earth is filled with his glory!” Their voices shook the Temple to its foundations, and the entire building was filled with smoke. Isaiah 6:2-4 NLT

There is only one true eternal King worthy of our life’s allegiance and obedience.

Then I said, “It’s all over! I am doomed, for I am a sinful man. I have filthy lips, and I live among a people with filthy lips. Yet I have seen the King, the LORD of Heaven’s Armies.” Isaiah 6:5 NLT 

The mirror of His majesty always reveals areas in our lives that need to be renewed and that’s a good thing! 

Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.” Isaiah 6:6-7 ESV

Atonement’s price was high and graciously paid by the one to whom it was owed! 

Then I heard the Lord asking, “Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?” I said, “Here I am. Send me.” Isaiah 6:8 NLT 

Would you be willing to be an Isaiah and live sent to your world?

You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. Matthew 5;14-15 ESV

The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is upon me, for the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed. Isaiah 61:1 NLT

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14 ESV

The most valuable voice is the one that speaks the truth and love of Jesus to the lost and broken world.

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” Matthew 16:13 NLT

A world that doesn't know God is a world without wisdom, destined to be misguided and broken. 

Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.” Matthew 16:13 NLT 

If you relate to God as anything less than the singular sovereign King of the universe, you’ve missed Him!  

The Word of God is our non-negotiable instruction for how to believe, think and act

Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?” Matthew 16:15 NLT

Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God. Matthew 16:16

God alone is worthy of our worship, allegiance and obedience!

Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you? Luke 6:46 ESV

Christ is either Lord of all or He’s not Lord at all! - Hudson Taylor (China Inland Mission)

Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being. Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell will not conquer it. And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Matthew 16:17-19 NLT 

(Poem)

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. Matthew 16:24 NLT

You can’t follow God and His will and simultaneously do things your our own way.

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20 ESV

If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. Matthew 16:25 NLT

Judas never got around it. - Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss? Luke 22:48 ESV

What do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul? Matthew 16:26 NLT

When give all we are and have to Jesus, we find all we need and want in Him! 

For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done. Matthew 16:27 ESV

Leviticus 8:28 NLT

”Moses then took all the offerings back from them and burned them on the altar on top of the burnt offering. This was the ordination offering. It was a pleasing aroma, a special gift presented to the Lord.“

Judges 8:28 NLT

”That is the story of how the people of Israel defeated Midian, which never recovered. Throughout the rest of Gideon’s lifetime—about forty years—there was peace in the land.“

1 Kings 8:28 NLT

”Nevertheless, listen to my prayer and my plea, O Lord my God. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is making to you today.“

John 8:28 NLT

”So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man on the cross, then you will understand that I Am he. I do nothing on my own but say only what the Father taught me.“

Romans 8:28 NLT

”And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.“

Connecting people to God, people to people, and people to purpose.

-Children’s Cup logo/QR code slide

• Communion is a commitment to being together with each other.

Matthew 26:27 (KJV)

And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;

-The cup holds what gave you your testimony.

-The cup holds your present together.

-The cup holds whatever lies ahead.

• Communion is a commitment to being together with Jesus.

Ephesians 2:10 NLT

”For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.“

1 Corinthians 11:23-24 NLT

”For I pass on to you what I received from the Lord himself. On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

1 Corinthians 11:25-26 NLT

In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood. Do this in remembrance of me as often as you drink it.” For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord’s death until he comes again.“

Where are you? Genesis 3:9

Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” Genesis 3:1 ESV 

The devil loves to put a question mark where God has put a period.

And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” Genesis 3:2-3 ESV

Making wrong choices starts with listening to wrong voices.

“You won’t die!” the serpent replied to the woman. “God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.” Genesis 3:4-5 NLT

The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too. themselves. Genesis 3:6 NLT

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom. Proverbs 9:10 ESV

You shutdown the deceiver by surrendering to the savior.

At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover. Genesis 3:7 NLT

The devil turned a look into lust, lust into deception, and deception into a terrible decision.

Sin never gives you what it promises!

When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the LORD God walking about in the garden. So they hid from the LORD God among the trees. Then the LORD God called to the man, “Where are you?” He replied, “I heard you walking in the garden, so I hid. I was afraid because I was naked.” Genesis 3:8-10 NLT

The sinner comes not to God, but rather God comes to him. - Charles Spurgeon

“Who told you that you were naked?” the LORD God asked. “Have you eaten from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat?” Genesis 3:11 NLT

Sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay.

Then the man Adam named his wife Eve, because she would be the mother of all who live. And the LORD God made clothing from animal skins for Adam and his wife. Genesis 3:20-21 NLT

The essence of sin is man substituting himself for God, the essence of salvation is God substituting Himself for man. John Stott

Mercy triumphs over judgment. James 2:13 ESV

God searches for the sinner, not to punish him, but to clothe Him in righteousness and redemption! 

Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish festivals. Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. John 5:1-2 NIV

In these lay a multitude of invalids, blind, lame, and paralyzed. One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. John 5:3-4 ESV

Mercy without the Messiah can bring temporal comfort but not real healing and transformation.

Worth is measured by what someone is willing to pay!

You were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s. 

1 Corinthians 6:20 NKJV

When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?” John 5:5 ESV 

Jesus knows and cares about you and your challenges! 

The question is not how did you get broken, but do you want to be made whole?

The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me.” John 5:6 ESV

If you focus on your problems you’re likely to miss your provision!

The victim mentality might be a legit argument against destiny and freedom if it wasn’t for Jesus.

Jesus said to him, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.” John 5:8 ESV

And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked. John 5:9 ESV

Jesus is here to speak healing to the most bound and broken places in your heart and life! 

Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, “See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you.” John 5:14 ESV

Series: Stories

Joseph’s Turn to Trust

Christmas in July! 

~~Pray

Dillon dance lessons for his birthday gift

VIDEO

“I feel like you’re trying to lead!” 

Don’t let overthinking, timing, or temptation make you detach from or distrust God. 

Joseph is a man who has a brain, he was obviously a skilled carpenter, has been entrusted with a wife and now needs to make it all happen. 

When you put your trust in the One True God, you’re deciding to let Him decide!

Galatians 5:25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

Keep in step with the Spirit - it doesn’t say make up your own steps

Matthew 4:19 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said…

When we read or retell the Christmas story, often Joseph’s faithfulness fades into the background behind Mary’s miraculous pregnancy, the shepherds’ exuberant joy, and the glory of Jesus Himself. 

Matthew 1:18 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. 

19 Because Joseph, her husband, was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

Don’t understand how God could ask you to 

To forgive when someone doesn’t ask for forgiveness

To refrain from certain activities or entertainment

To keep loving someone who doesn’t seem to deserve it

When we allow our limited understanding of our situations to steer us, we risk missing the miraculous provision and purposes of God.

Joseph was thinking: How can I make this work? 

“God still has ways of making His will known, hints of providence, debates of conscience, advice of faithful friends - apply the rules of the written word and we can get direction from God” - Matthew Henry Commentary

20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 

21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 

23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).

24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.

Joseph’s obedience was key to fulfilling God’s promises. 

God will take your brave obedience and use it for His glory and the salvation of others.

But first, there’s actually an enemy to our obedience. And there’s one in the Christmas story. 

New upgrade you can get for your nativity

**PHOTO Herod statue 

Matthew 2:2 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared.

Matthew 2:13 When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.”

14 So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, 

15 where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.”

Joseph didn’t delay, he immediately took them and fled in obedience in the night. 

This time it wasn’t Joseph's logic that was steering him, there was a real enemy!

God knows the projects and purposes of the enemy. The safest route for you and those in your care is to follow His lead!

But when Joseph’s mind was quiet and not busy scheming. Do you have a time or allow the Lord to speak to you? Or are you always in charge and making the plans?

Take time to listen and learn to follow

And as we’ve seen in Joseph’s life, God can use dreams to warn us

Background: childhood home in DC had metal bars 

PHOTO - Leah on steps

Shut the door on darkness

WORSHIP TEAM

And that Jesus says “Behold I stand at the door and knock”

Jesus brings peace instead of poison

Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Look at the nativity differently when you see Joseph and think about his choices to turn from his plans to God’s way.

God can take the most precarious situation and turn it around.

We can pray for God to turn around hard situations but really most of the time we need His help to turn OUR hearts around. 

Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things

We’re so glad you are here! Thanks for checking out Sunday's message!

-- SUNDAY'S NOTES --

When Ahab got home, he told Jezebel everything Elijah had done, including the way he had killed all the prophets of Baal. 1 Kings 19:1 NLT

So Jezebel sent this message to Elijah: “May the gods strike me and even kill me if by this time tomorrow I have not killed you just as you killed them.” Elijah was afraid and fled for his life. He went to Beersheba, a town in Judah, and he left his servant there. 1 Kings 19:2-3 NLT

Fear drives us to desperate misguided decisions and despair, while peace keeps us on course.

Then he went on alone into the wilderness, traveling all day. He sat down under a solitary broom tree and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, LORD,” he said. “Take my life, for I am no better than my ancestors who have already died.” Then he lay down and slept under the broom tree. 1 Kings 19:4-5 NLT

But as he was sleeping, an angel touched him and told him, “Get up and eat!” He looked around and there beside his head was some bread baked on hot stones and a jar of water! So he ate and drank and lay down again. Then the angel of the LORD came again and touched him and said, “Get up and eat some more, or the journey ahead will be too much for you.” 1 Kings 19:5-7 NLT

The angel did not give Elijah a vision, or explain the Scriptures to him, or do anything remarkable; he told Elijah to do the most ordinary thing, to get up and eat. Oswald Chambers

So he got up and ate and drank, and the food gave him enough strength to travel forty days and forty nights to Mount Sinai, the mountain of God. There he came to a cave, where he spent the night. 1 Kings 19:8-9 NLT

The LORD gave special strength to Elijah. He tucked his cloak into his belt and ran ahead of Ahab’s chariot all the way to the entrance of Jezreel. I Kings 18:46 NLT

When we journey in our own wisdom and strength we will land up confused, exhausted and lost.

But the LORD said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” Elijah replied, “I have zealously served the LORD God Almighty. But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you, torn down your altars, and killed every one of your prophets. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too.” 1 Kings 19:9-10 NLT

Go out and stand before me on the mountain,” the LORD told him. And as Elijah stood there, the LORD passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And a voice said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 1 Kings 19:11-13 NLT

What are you doing HERE?

Persistence has the power to perpetuate both good and bad decisions.

Where will you be when you get where you’re going? - Jerry Clower

There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death. Proverbs 14:12 ESV

Only God guided determination is a actually a good thing.

What are you DOING here?

The cave can be an intimate place to hear Gods voice and receive His wisdom.

What are YOU doing here? - Not who you are. - Don’t let insecurity rob you of your true identity!

Then the LORD told him, “Go back the same way you came, and travel to the wilderness of Damascus. 1 Kings 19:15 NLT

Our tendency is to choose the damning doctrine of passing the buck over personal responsibility and repentance.

God’s remedy for our lostness is revelation, repentance, and restoration. -

When you arrive there, anoint Hazael to be king of Aram. Then anoint Jehu grandson of Nimshi to be king of Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from the town of Abel-meholah to replace you as my prophet. Anyone who escapes from Hazael will be killed by Jehu, and those who escape Jehu will be killed by Elisha! Yet I will preserve 7,000 others in Israel who have never bowed down to Baal or kissed him!” 1 Kings 19:15-18 NLT

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Title: The Lavish Love of the Father.

Scripture: Luke 15:20

Parable defined.

A parable is, literally, something “cast alongside” something else. Jesus’ parables were stories that were “cast alongside” a truth in order to illustrate that truth.

Prodigal defined

A person who spends money in a recklessly extravagant way.                                      Having or giving something on a lavish scale.

The word prodigal can describe lavish behavior whether it is directed towards oneself (as in the younger son who wasted his inheritance on lavish living) or on the father, who was lavish in his forgiveness and acceptance of the younger son when he returned home.

Tell the Story of the Prodigal Son.

1st point.

Sin does more than breaking the rules. It is the breaking of Relationship. 

Isaiah 59:2  But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. 

2nd point.

Love releases what it loves. Love gives freedom to be. 

John 8:36  He whom the Son sets free is free indeed.

3rd point.

We run from legitimate authority and become enslaved to illegitimate authority. 

James 4:7  Submit yourself to the authority of God. Resist the devil and he will flee. Amplified Bible

4th Point  

The father runs — and shames himself.

Luke 15:20 So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off. His father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, HE RAN TO HIS SON, EMBRACED HIM, AND KISSED HIM

Kezazah, A Jewish Ceremony

5th point  

You’re Not So Far Gone That God Can’t Restore You.

Luke 15:32 We had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again, he was lost and is found.

1John 3:1 See what great love the Father has Lavished on us, that we should be called children of God.