Faith

Fresh Start – Who is Leading You in Your Relationships?

James 1:23-25 (NIV)

“Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what the have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.”

Galatians 5:13-26 (NIV)

“You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.

So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 

For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.

But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery;

idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.”

Consequences of the acts of the flesh

1.     Strife

James 3:16 (KJV)

“where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.”

2.     Influence decreases

2 Timothy 2:14 (NIV)

“Keep reminding God's people of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen.”

3.     You misrepresent Christ to our world

Matthew 5:13 (NIV)

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.”

4.     You harden other's hearts against truth

Romans 2:4 (NIV)

“…God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?”

5.     Your heart becomes resistant to correction

Proverbs 5:12-14 (NIV)

“You will say, “How I hated discipline!

             How my heart spurned correction!

I would not obey my teachers

            or turn my ear to my instructors.

And I was soon in serious trouble…”

6.     It poisons relationships

Proverbs 29:23 (NKJV)

“A man’s pride will bring him low,
But the humble in spirit will retain honor.”

Benefits of the fruit of the Spirit. 

1.     Unity

Psalm 133:1-3 (NKJV)

“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is

For brethren to dwell together in unity!”

“…For there the Lord commanded the blessing—

Life forevermore.”

2.     Our influence grows

Matthew 5:14-16 (NIV)

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

3.     We represent Christ well to our world

John 17:20-21 (NIV)

“…I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.”

4.     It opens people's hearts to receive God’s truth

John 3:16-17 (NIV)

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”

5.     We are open to receiving correction and instruction 

Proverbs 9:9 (NIV)

“Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still;

             teach the righteous and they will add to their learning.”

6.     It cultivates relationships

Philippians 2:5-8 (NIV)

“In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

Who, being in very nature God did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 

And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—

even death on a cross!”

7.     It will allow us to live life to the fullest

John 10:10 (NIV)

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

Fresh Start – Growing in Gratitude Towards Each Other

Philippians 1:1-11 (NIV)

“Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus,

To all God’s holy people in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.”

Growing in Gratitude  

1.     Intentionally look for things to be grateful for in your relationships. 

Philippians 1:3 (NIV)

 “I thank my God every time I remember you.”

2.     Pray for the other person. 

Philippians 1:4 (NIV)

“In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy…”

Philippians 1:9-11 (NIV)

“And this is my prayer, that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight so that you may be able to discern what is best and that you may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ and you may be filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God.”

3.     Choose to believe the best about them. 

Philippians 1:6 (NIV)

“being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

1 Corinthians 13:7 (ESV)

“Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”

1 Peter 4:8 (ESV)

“Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.”

4.     Rehearse Christ’s affection towards you.  

Philippians 1:8 (NIV)

“God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.”

John 13:34 (ESV)

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.”

1 John 3:16 (NLT)

“We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters.”

Fresh Start – How Offense Makes Us Fools

What is offense?

Offense = An annoyance or resentment brought about by a perceived insult to or disregard for oneself or one's standards or principles. 

Hebrew: peša = Transgression or sin

“You know you are a true servant when it doesn’t upset you to be treated like one.”

 - Unknown

How Offense Makes Us Fools

1.     Offense makes me angry.

                  Ecclesiastes 7:9 (ESV)

“Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger lodges (makes its home there) in the bosom of fools.”

2.      Offense distracts me from the relationship.

Proverbs 17:9 (ESV)

“Whoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends”

3.      Offense hardens my heart.

Proverbs 18:19 (ESV)

“A brother offended is more unyielding than a strong city, and quarreling is like the bars of a castle.”

4.     Offense distorts my view of reality.

Proverbs 18:17 (ESV)

“The one who states his case first seems right, until the other comes and examines him.”

Proverbs 19:11 (ESV)

“Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.”

Four Strategies to Overlook an Offense

1.      Give up your Rights.

Philippians 2:5-8 (ESV)

“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”

2.      Choose to Love.

Proverbs 10:12 (ESV)

“Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses.” 

(Hatred = loving myself more than others) 

Colossians 3:12-15 (ESV)

“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.”

3.      Choose to Forgive.

Matthew 6:14-15 (ESV)

“For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

Ephesians 4:29-32 (ESV)

“Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”

4.     Ask a Question.

Proverbs 18:17 (ESV)

“The one who states his case first seems right, until the other comes and examines him.”

Matthew 7:3-4 (ESV)

“Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, Let me take the speck out of your eye, when there is the log in your own eye?”

Dealing with the 500-Pound Gorilla in the Room - Conflict

Romans 12:17-18 (NIV)

“Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”

The effects of unresolved conflict in our relationships.  

1.     It can minimize our joy.

2.     It can hinder our communication with God. 

1 Peter 3:7 (ESV)

“…husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.”

3.     It can hinder your sensitivity and worship to God. 

Matthew 5:23-24 (NIV)
“…if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.”

Dealing with relational conflict. 

1.     Do something to help bring reconciliation. 

Matthew 12:34 (ESV)
“…For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.”

Genesis 3:10 (NIV)
“…I heard you in the garden; and I was afraid because I was naked, and so I hid.” 

2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV)

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”

2.     Be honest about what you have done wrong.

Matthew 7:3-5 (NIV)
“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”

1 Peter 5:5 (ESV)
“…Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’”

3.     Listen and consider what they are saying.

James 1:19 (NIV)
“…Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,”

Philippians 2:4 (NLT)

“Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.”

4.     Be intentional with the words you use.  

Proverbs 12:18 (NIV)

“The words of the reckless pierce like swords,

but the tongue of the wise brings healing.”

5.     Pursue reconciliation, not agreement.

Matthew 5:9 (NIV)
“Blessed are the peacemakers…”

Fresh Start – Freedom from Bitterness

Ephesians 4:31-32 (NIV)

Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”

I.               Causes of Bitterness

1.     Actions done or not done to you. 

Job 19:19 (NIV)

“All my intimate friends detest me;

       those I love have turned against me.”

2.     Attitudes projected towards you.

Job 19:5 (NIV)

“you would exalt yourselves above me

                               and use my humiliation against me,”

3.     Words spoken to you. 

Job 12:5 (NLT)

"People who are at ease mock those in trouble.

       They give a push to people who are stumbling." 

Proverbs 15:4 (NLT)

“Gentle words are a tree of life;

                               a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.”

Job 5:2 (NIV)

“Resentment kills a fool…”

Hebrews 12:15 (NIV)

“See to it that …..no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.”

“Many are unable to function properly in their calling because of the wounds and hurts that offenses have caused in their lives. They are handicapped and hindered from fulfilling their full potential.”

- John Bevere

II.             Find Freedom from Bitterness

1.     Be open and honest about your pain. 

Job 7:11 (NIV)

“Therefore I will not keep silent;

                               I will speak out in the anguish of my spirit,

                               I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.”

2.     Make the decision to forgive. 

Job 42:10 (NIV)

“After Job had prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before.”

3.     Stop looking back and look into your future. 

Philippians 3:13 (NIV)

“Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead.”

Job 42:12 (NIV)

“The Lord blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the former part...”

Good Friday 2024

Isaiah 53:4-6 (NKJV)

Surely He has borne our griefs

And carried our sorrows;

Yet we esteemed Him stricken,

Smitten by God, and afflicted.

But He was wounded for our transgressions,

He was bruised for our iniquities;

The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,

And by His stripes we are healed.

All we like sheep have gone astray;

We have turned, every one, to his own way;

And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.

Galatians 3:13 (ESV)

“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree’”

Isaiah 43:25 (NIV)

"I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.

1 Peter 2:24 (NIV)

“’He himself bore our sins’ in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live to righteousness;”

Matthew 27:51 (NIV)

“At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.”

Hebrews 4:16 (NKJV)

“Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

Hebrews 10:19-22 (ESV)

“Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water."

Hebrews 10:1-10 (NLT)

“The old system under the law of Moses was only a shadow, a dim preview of the good things to come, not the good things themselves. The sacrifices under that system were repeated again and again, year after year, but they were never able to provide perfect cleansing for those who came to worship. If they could have provided perfect cleansing, the sacrifices would have stopped, for the worshipers would have been purified once for all time, and their feelings of guilt would have disappeared. But instead, those sacrifices actually reminded them of their sins year after year. For it is not possible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. That is why, when Christ came into the world, he said to God, 

‘You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings. But you have given me a body to offer. 

You were not pleased with burnt offerings or other offerings for sin. 

Then I said, ‘Look, I have come to do your will, O God— as is written about me in the   Scriptures.’ 

First, Christ said, ‘You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings or burnt offerings or other offerings for sin, nor were you pleased with them’ (though they are required by the law of Moses). Then he said, ‘Look, I have come to do your will.’ He cancels the first covenant in order to put the second into effect. For God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time.”

Easter Sunday 2024

Cross of Rebellion 

Luke 23:34 (NIV)

“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”

Luke 23:39 (NIV)

“One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: ‘Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!’”

Cross of Repentance

Luke 23:40-41 (NIV)

“the other criminal rebuked him. ‘Don’t you fear God,’ he said, ‘since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.’”

Luke 23:42 (NIV)
“Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

Cross of Redemption  

John 3:16 (NIV)

“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

1 Peter 2:24 (NIV)

“He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; ‘by his wounds you have been healed.’”

2 Corinthians 5:21 (NIV)
“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

1 John 4:10 (NIV)

“This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”

Matthew 28:5-7 (NIV)

“Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead…”

It’s Time to Dream Again

Romans 8:11 (NLT)

“The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you.”

Revelation 1:18 (NKJV)

 “I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.”

John 10:10 (ESV)

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”

Proverbs 29:18 (ESV)

“Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint”

What does God’s dream look like for you?

Ephesians 3:20 (ESV)

“Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us”

How to live out God’s dream for my life. 

1.     Surrender your whole life to God. 

Romans 12:1-2 (ESV)

“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

2.     Get alone with God.

Isaiah 55:3 (ESV)

“Incline your ear, and come to me; 

       hear, that your soul may live;”

3.     Get around Godly Dreamers.

Proverbs 27:17 (NIV)

“As iron sharpens iron,

                    so one person sharpens another.”

Proverbs 22:24-25 (NLT)

“Don’t befriend angry people

       or associate with hot-tempered people, 

or you will learn to be like them

       and endanger your soul.”

4.     Take steps towards God’s dream for your life. 

Psalms 37:23 (NLT)

“The LORD directs the steps of the godly.”

March 17, 2024 // Pastor Jason King Joy is Possible

Revelation 1:18 (NKJV)

“I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.”

Romans 14:17 (NLT)

“For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”

Lamentations 5:15 (ESV)

“The joy of our hearts has ceased;”

How To Receive the Fullness of Christ’s Joy Again. 

1.      Acknowledge my joy is missing or not what it used to be. 

Psalms 51:12 (ESV)

“Restore to me the joy of your salvation,”

2.      Examine the cause of my lack of joy. 

-Imbalanced schedule

-Unused talent or gifting

-Unresolved conflict

Romans 12:18 (NIV)

“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”

Matthew 5:9 (NIV)

“Blessed are the peacemakers,
                      for they will be called children of God.”

Matthew 5:23-24 (ESV)

“if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.”

 -Undernourished spirit

John 15:5 (ESV)

“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”

Isaiah 40:31 (ESV)

"they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;

    they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;
    they shall walk and not faint.”

-Unrepented sin

Lamentations 3:40 (NIV)

“Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord.”

3.      Choose obedience to God’s Word. 

 James 4:17 (NLT)

“it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.”

John 15:10-11 (NIV)

“If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”

4.     Remember the joy you seek is only possible through Christ.

Romans 6:4 (NIV)

“We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.”

Psalms 126:3 (NIV)

“The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.”

Nothing is Impossible // Hope is Possible

Romans 8:11 (ESV)

“If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you. “

Revelation 1:17b-18 (ESV)

“…Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.”

Hope is possible.

Joy is possible. 

Peace is possible.

Hope 

Greek = “Elpis” 

“Joyful and Confident Expectation”

Christian Hope is Unique.

“Our present behavior is determined by what we believe our ultimate future to be.” - Timothy Keller

The Christian’s Hope is Anchored in Certainty About God’s Future and Character, demonstrated in Christ’s Work and Affirmed Everyday by the Holy Spirit. 

How Do We Get This Hope?

Romans 5:1-5 (ESV)

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

Invitation > Endurance > Character > Hope 

Romans 15:4 (ESV)

“For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”

Romans 15:13 (ESV)

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”

Hebrews 6:17-20 (NLT) 

“God also bound himself with an oath, so that those who received the promise could be perfectly sure that he would never change his mind. So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary. Jesus has already gone in there for us. He