Christmas Presence #2

Jeremy Vines

Christmas Presence / Presence of God; Baptism of the Spirit

1. The Word of God

2. Prayer

3. The Holy Spirit

“If you want to know God better - the absolute first and best thing you need to do is study the Bible.”

Joshua 1:8 ESV

8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

2 Timothy 3:16 ESV

16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,

• John

• Romans

• Galatians

• Acts

Philippians 4:6 ESV

do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Message about prayer

Holy Spirit

“God designed you to receive the Holy Spirit.”

1 Corinthians 6:19–20 ESV

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

“The PRESENCE of the HOLY SPIRIT is one of the greatest presents you will ever receive from God.”

John 14:15–17 ESV

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.

Charisma Magazine Article

Ephesians 4:30 ESV

30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

Ephesians 4:31–32 ESV

31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Acts 8:20–21 ESV

20 But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! 21 You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God.

Acts 1:8 ESV

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Christmas Presence #1

Pastor Jeremy Vines

Christmas Presence / Presence of God

“There is a PRESENCE that is better than any PRESENTS you can ever imagine”

The word present (P R E S E N T) - is from the word: PRESENT as in Presenting or presentation. Really when we give some one a present - what we are doing is presenting a gift.

The word presence (P R E S E N C E) refers to the state of being present.

Psalm 16:11 (ESV)

In your presence there is fullness of joy...

Exodus 33:14 (ESV)

“My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

Acts 3:20 (ESV)

Times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord...

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Psalm 139:7–12 ESV

For many - the presence of God is both inescapable and inaccessible.

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Hebrews 12:18–29 ESV

The Wise Man

Matthew 7:24–29 (ESV)

Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”

Qualification:

Listen & Do

Result:

Will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock

Then there is a promise for those people who listen and do and are like the wise man.

Promise:

And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.

What was built survived the storms

Because of strong foundation.

But there is another promise…

This one is to those who hear these word but does NOT do them.

Those people are like the foolish man who builds is house on the sand.

Matthew 7:27 (ESV)

And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.

I want you see that ALL the people Jesus is referring to had to face storms.

Psalm 23:4 (KJV)

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Many modern Christians have re-written that verse to say

Psalm 23:4 (Rewrite)

YAY! I get to walk AROUND the valley of death….

James 1:22 (ESV)

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

So what are the words that Jesus is referring to?

When Jesus says these words of mine - he is talking about the sermon on the mount. He is talking to that audience about what they just heard him say.

Matthew 7:28–29 (ESV)

28 And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, 29 for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.

The Hard Road

Matthew 7:13–23 (ESV)

Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.

This is one of the most important passages in the Bible.

UNIVERSALISM

According to Barna.com

Universalism
Broadly defined, universalism is the belief that all human beings will be saved after death.

43% of Americans agreed with the statement, “It doesn’t matter what religious faith you follow because they all teach the same lessons.”

Also according to Barna

Most Americans believe they, themselves, will go to heaven.

Article:

10 Quick Facts About Christian Universalism

I. The Early Church Were Universalists

“Okay, not all of the early church were Universalists, but a lot of them were. Clement of Alexandria. Origin. Gregory of Nyssa. A bunch of others. As Augustine once put it, “indeed very many.” In fact, out of the 6 major theological schools, 4 taught universal reconciliation, 1 taught conditional immortality (annihilationism), and 1 taught eternal conscious torment.”

In fact #3 he says, “Gregory of Nyssa, one of the final editors of the Creed, was an unabashed Universalist…”

But was he?

According to Orthodox Christiantheology com

“People popularly assume Gregory is a universalist because it is asserted so confidently and categorically. However, how many of these same people have actually read what he wrote? And not just a single passage here or there, but the works themselves cover to cover?

The answer is very few.

Of course this has not stopped ignorant people from passing comments on things they never read, but that is between them and God.

As for everyone who is reasonable, would these reasonable people still feel that Gregory is a universalist if they saw, from his own works, he clearly and repeatedly taught eternal damnation and that in the same breath writes something that sounds universalist? Would they realize that the universalist passages are not meant to be taken literally?”

ok - the “Fact” that Gregory was a “unabashed universalist" is not a fact at all.

VIII. Universalism is Biblical

Universalism is not correct simply because it is found in the Bible. Why? Well, aside from the fact that a lot of untrue stuff is found in the Bible, it’s because eternal torment can be found in there, too. Annihilationism is also there. But you can’t deny all the passages about God reconciling the world, about Jesus dragging all to him, about God being “all in all,” and so on. Again, it’s not to say it is necessarily true (because there are also passages about judgment, punishment, and torment), but it is in fact biblical.

Yet not even one scripture verse is given to support the idea that universalism in biblical.

Matthew 7:13–23 (ESV)

15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. 18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.

I want you to see how this is unfolding:

Seek first the kingdom of God and HIS righteousness

Judge yourself more harshly than others

Treat others the way you want to be treated

Enter by the narrow gate

BEWARE of false prophets.

Matthew 7:13–23 (ESV)

21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

Hebrews 3:12–13 (NLT)

Be careful then, dear brothers and sisters. Make sure that your own hearts are not evil and unbelieving, turning you away from the living God. 13 You must warn each other every day, while it is still “today,” so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God.

Relating to Others

Matthew 7:1 (ESV):

Judge not…

Let me ask you two questions:

Is that really what the Bible means?

Are you a judgmental person?

Matthew 7:1–5 (ESV)

Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. 3 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? 4 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? 5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.

Deal with yourself first - then you will see clearly to help your brother.

Matthew 7:6 (ESV)

6 “Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.

Matthew 7:7-11 (ESV)

7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.

9 Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? 11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

Matthew 7:12 (ESV)

12 “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

So how do we judge correctly?

We seek first the Kingdom of God and HIS righteousness

We understand that way we judge others is the way we will be judged.

We get the LOG out of our own eye before we worry about the speck in our neighbor’s eye.

We ask, we seek, we Knock for the God’s clarity to be revealed to us.

We judge according to the Word of God. Not culture. Culture is constantly changing. The Word of God is never changing.

John 7:24 (ESV)

Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.

Luke 18:9–14 (ESV)

He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: 10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ 13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Galatians 6:1–2 (ESV)

Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

Anxiety

Matthew 6:25–34 (ESV)

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Being free from anxiety is not an entitlement for a believer

It is a byproduct of obedience to Jesus.

Beatitudes

Salt and Light

Understanding the Law

Jesus then goes on to help us rethink issues we struggle with.

Anger

Lust

Divorce

Honesty & Keeping our word

Retaliation & Revenge

Loving your enemies

Prayer and fasting

Giving of our resources

All of this has lead to the word Therefore.

The Word Therefore means for this reason. Not for any reason. But for THIS reason.

Matthew 6:25 (ESV)

For THIS reason I tell you, do not be anxious about your life…

Anxiety is a huge problem these days.

According to a nation wide Gallup Pole

The percentages of Americans experiencing significant stress and worry on any given day are typically highly stable metrics, showing little change over time. In 2020, however, the percentages of U.S. adults experiencing significant stress and worry on a daily basis have increased in an unprecedented manner compared with 2019 -- with stress rising 14 percentage points to 60% and worry rising 21 points to 59%. The percentage experiencing significant daily enjoyment, in turn, has plunged 20 points during that time to 61%.

In practical terms, about 53 million more adults were suffering significant worry on any given day in 2020 than were experiencing the same emotion before.

How do we use Faith?

Faith always involves an action. It is the combination of your beliefs and your actions.

So the only way to use faith is to ACT on what you believe or in the direction of your beliefs.

Philippians 4:4–7 (NLT)

Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! 5 Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. 6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

Everywhere we saw the word Anxious - we also saw the command Don’t Be…

The WAY I can choose to NOT be anxious - is first and foremost by choosing to obey everything Jesus told me to do.

Eye of the Body

Matthew 6:19–21 (ESV)

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Matthew 6:24 (ESV)

24 “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.

Matthew 6:22-23 (ESV)

22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, 23 but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!

John 8:12 (ESV)

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

When you Fast

Matthew 6:16–18 (ESV)

“And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.

17 But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

Title Screen

Fasting

| fast |

verb [no object]

abstain from all or some kinds of food or drink, especially as a religious observance.

Fasting - in the Biblical sense is to go without something, usually food.

Jesus is saying WHEN YOU FAST - Not IF YOU FAST.

The first thing we have to understand is what fasting for and what is NOT for.

1. It is not a hunger strike.

2. Fasting is not punishment.

God does not delight in your suffering.

Fasting is about denial - self denial.

Matthew 16:24 (ESV)

Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

“Self denial is a crucial part of following Christ.”

Learning to let go of the things that don’t want to let go of you.

“Fasting looks like bondage - but it gives freedom.

Indulgence looks like freedom - but only gives bondage.”

Fasting brings focus.

Fasting increases you ability to resist temptation.

Fasting brings clarity.

Fasting will be rewarded.

Isaiah 58:1–11 (NLT)

“Shout with the voice of a trumpet blast.

Shout aloud! Don’t be timid.

Tell my people Israel of their sins!

2 Yet they act so pious!

They come to the Temple every day

and seem delighted to learn all about me.

They act like a righteous nation

that would never abandon the laws of its God.

They ask me to take action on their behalf,

pretending they want to be near me.

3 ‘We have fasted before you!’ they say.

‘Why aren’t you impressed?

We have been very hard on ourselves,

and you don’t even notice it!’

“I will tell you why!” I respond.

“It’s because you are fasting to please yourselves.

Even while you fast,

you keep oppressing your workers.

4 What good is fasting

when you keep on fighting and quarreling?

This kind of fasting

will never get you anywhere with me.

5 You humble yourselves

by going through the motions of penance,

bowing your heads

like reeds bending in the wind.

You dress in burlap

and cover yourselves with ashes.

Is this what you call fasting?

Do you really think this will please the Lord?

6 “No, this is the kind of fasting I want:

Free those who are wrongly imprisoned;

lighten the burden of those who work for you.

Let the oppressed go free,

and remove the chains that bind people.

7 Share your food with the hungry,

and give shelter to the homeless.

Give clothes to those who need them,

and do not hide from relatives who need your help.

8 “Then your salvation will come like the dawn,

and your wounds will quickly heal.

Your godliness will lead you forward,

and the glory of the Lord will protect you from behind.

9 Then when you call, the Lord will answer.

‘Yes, I am here,’ he will quickly reply.

“Remove the heavy yoke of oppression.

Stop pointing your finger and spreading vicious rumors!

10 Feed the hungry,

and help those in trouble.

Then your light will shine out from the darkness,

and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon.

11 The Lord will guide you continually,

giving you water when you are dry

and restoring your strength.

You will be like a well-watered garden,

like an ever-flowing spring.

When you Pray

John 12:24 (ESV)

Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.

Matthew 6:5–8 (ESV)

And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.

6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

7 “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

Matthew 6:9-13 (ESV)

9 Pray then like this:

“Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name.

10 Your kingdom come,

your will be done,

on earth as it is in heaven.

11 Give us this day our daily bread,

12 and forgive us our debts,

as we also have forgiven our debtors.

13 And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

This passage is what many know as the Lord’s Prayer.

Matthew 6:9 (ESV)

“Pray then like this…”

And we hear

“Pray this prayer…”

Our Father in heaven — Honor God

Hallowed be your name —— Honor His name

Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven —— Surrender your will to His

Give us this day our daily bread —— Present your need, ask for provision.

and forgive us our debts —— Ask for forgiveness

as we also have forgiven our debtors —— and forgive others

And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil —— ask to be lead away from temptation.

Honor

Surrender

Ask

Forgive

Follow

Asking for provision should only be 1/5 of our prayer life. Not 100% of it.

Then there is this bit of instruction that Jesus gives after the model.

Matthew 6:14-15 (ESV)

For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

1 John 1:9 (ESV)

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

What is the correct motives when we pray? It is simple.

The correct motives when we pray should always be to see God’s will to be done on earth.

God NEVER leads us into temptation. Never.

James 1:13–14 (ESV)

Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. 14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.

Secret Service

Matthew 6:1–4 (ESV)

Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.

2 “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

In verse 3 Jesus says

“do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing…”

Matthew 6:2 (ESV)

…When you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others.

“That they may be praised by others.”

The praise of others can be a powerful temptation for any one of us.

Proverbs 27:21 (ESV)

The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and a man is tested by his praise.

That praise will bring out the worst in you.

It can become an addiction for us if we let it.

According to True List.com

More than 210 million people worldwide suffer from addiction to social media

Not being on social media causes the fear of missing out in 34% of young adults.

A massive 43% of teenagers feel bad if no one likes their post.

More stats reveal that 43% of teens delete their posts because they didn’t get the number of likes they were aiming for

Another 43% feel absolutely devastated because no one likes their posts.

The addiction is not to social media - it is an addiction to praise.

Matthew 6:4 (ESV)

And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

What can you do for someone this week?

What can you do that you will get no recognition or praise for?