FVC Sermon Podcast

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“Love is Not Love” (All Scripture is in NKJV)

Romans 12:9-16 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. 10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; 11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12 rejoicing in hope, patient[a] in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; 13 distributing to the needs of the saints, given[b] to hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. 16 Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.

The great requisite in love is this, that it be without hypocrisy; i.e. that it be sincere and not artificial. Love must be genuine and pure. Sugar v. artificial sweetener. People do not want the calories from sugar, but sugar is a pure and natural substance, thus easily accepted in the body. Artificial sweeteners are dangerous. An artificial sweetener duplicates the effect of sugar in taste, but has less food energy. Animal studies have convincingly proven that artificial sweeteners cause weight gain, brain tumors, bladder cancer, diabetes (because it still triggers an insulin response) and many other health hazards. Hypocritical love is artificial love and is dangerous.

Jesus tells us that Matthew 5:20  “For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.”

He said that the scribes and Pharisees were hypocrites, in that they taught the things of God, but did not do them and those who did such things, their heart and motives did not match up with their actions:

The Beatitudes: Matthew 5: 21-22; 27-28; 38-41 (Roman law); 43-48; Matthew 6:1; 16-18

Our actions cannot be artificial, just mimicking the taste of the genuine; they MUST align with our heart.

1 Peter 1:22 Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth [a]through the Spirit in [b]sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart,

Let love be without hypocrisy. The apostle Paul proceeds to stir up to the exercise of grace, and the discharge of such duties as were common to all the members of the church. He begins with "love", which is the cement of saints, and the bond of perfectness; without love all the gifts that we have received, or the profession of faith that we make, or the works we do are of no benefit, and we ourselves are nothing but clanging, noisy gongs.

1 John 4:8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

Love- agape, sacrificial kind of love of the will and purpose, not an emotional, feeling based love.

Here it is to be taken, in the most comprehensive sense, that love to God and others is to "be without hypocrisy". Genuine not artificial. Love to God should be with all our heart, soul, and mind, otherwise the fear of Him, and obedience to Him, will be only outward, formal, customary, and hypocritical. Love to our Lord should be with sincerity, and so it is right, true, and genuine; and love to one another should be not in word, and in tongue only, but in deed and in truth, with a purity of heart. The love professed to others should never be through fear of men, or a desire to please man; but honest, upright, and sincere.

So then, how can we be sure that our love is true and not hypocritical love? Paul tells us

Abhor that which is evil; do not only avoid it, but hate it,

https://youtu.be/O0U9g9gdpWY

I can Tell you Matthew 7:1-13 - Easter

Today we celebrate Resurrection Sunday- The day that Jesus rose from the Dead.The Easter story is simply- Jesus died on a cross, went to heaven and satisfied the wrath of God with his blood, returned to earth to prove he was alive and God in the flesh.That’s what Christians believe. It’s outlandish. It’s miraculous and inexplicable. But it changed the world forever. Not just in a spiritual sense but in a physical sense. Christians changed the world.2.3 Billion people, in fact almost a third of the planet believe in some version of Christianity- and we join them today as the Global churchAt our Church we go through the Bible- that’s what we do. We believe that the Bible is the source document for understanding all that God wants us to know about him.We don’t worship the Bible- we worship God, but this Bible helps us to understand himAnd so today- we find ourselves in Matthew 17. Its just the natural progression of studyLet me read it to you Matthew 17:1-13I can tell you It’s a very Fascinating story- equally peculiar with the resurrection story-There’s one scripture in this that I want us to focus on-17:9 Now as they came down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, “Tell the vision to no one until the Son of Man is risen from the dead.”In this story- Jesus is showing them something that I think is very significant forLet me teach you something and then I can tell you something.What’s going on in this story- 1.           Why did Jesus tell them to not tell anyone? - EasterBecause Jesus knew that people are people and if everyone heard about this event- the chances are they wouldn’t have heard the most important message Jesus came to doAnyone will tell you- I am not good at keeping secrets- but this one was important.The ultimate plane of Jesus was to go to the cross- not just do miracles.People, being the way that they are- would be inclined to follow the SIGNS not the SAVIOR if Jesus had not told them to be quiet- I’ve met sign follwers- go to the next•Youll notice, the thousands of people who followed Jesus were no where to be found when he went to the cross- they abandoned him. They fled from him.Jesus had to go to the cross- but Jesus had enough followers that they could have overthrown Rome,  but as soon as they saw that Jesus was going to the Cross- they were no where to be found- they abandoned him.So whatever message you may have heard about Jesus- the message of Jesus is simpleI have overcome the grave for you to overcome sin and be in relationship with the Father. Leave your sins, be forgiven and follow me all the days of your life.And in this story- Jesus says- don’t tell anyone until I have risen from the dead-1 cor 15 20 But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.

So now- what can I tell you about this transfiguration story since Jesus rose?

1.I can tell you This is a Recreation of the Sinai experience of Moses for the disciples - Easter

•Ex 19:3-5 Tells the experience of Moses with God on Mt Sinai

•This was a transformational time for the Nation of Israel in that now, the people of Israel would be able know exactly what God wanted them to do and how he wanted them to live because of what happened to Moses on Mt Sinai

•Moses goes up on the Mountain back and forth a few times, he experiences God and comes back and tells the Israelites how they should live- by the telling of the Law

•Exodus 20 lays out the 10 commands that God wants as the cornerstone of the law.

https://youtu.be/KzYg9Kc6B6w

Transformers       (Romans 12:1-2)              *All verses in NKJV*

Romans 12:1-2, I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

- Leading up to this point in Romans, Paul and the Apostles have made clear the fundamental principles of Christianity: Salvation by grace through faith, can’t earn it, repent, walk in forgiveness….

- Romans 12 begins with the word “therefore”. This word goes between all for the things you just heard Paul say, and what you should do about it. It is the “application” word.

- God’s gift of salvation in Christ requires a response. God is not satisfied simply with forgiving our sin; he wants to transform our lives.

- This Christian life is not just spiritual ideas and a system of behavior. It is a practical pursuit of holiness and requires action on our part.

- It is designed not only to inform our thoughts, but to reform our hearts.

- You are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone (that’s Eph Ch. 2)

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

- James also said that a faith (or belief) without works (or actions to back it up), is a dead and worthless kind of faith. If you truly believe something, it should change your life!

#1: This is your reasonable act of service.

- Romans 12:1, I beseech (or urge) you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable (or rational) service.

- Do this because of what God has already done for you: because he has shown you mercy, given you salvation, redeemed you and made you a new creation, justified by faith…

- “Your bodies” doesn’t just mean your physical body. It means your total person. All of who you are.

- In the Old Testament, the people had a whole system of sacrificing animals to the Lord. God is not asking that from us today.

- A living sacrifice… lay your life down for God, not to kill it, but to offer it while living in obedience.

- 1 Samuel 15:22-23a, So Samuel said: “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams. 23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry….

- God’s takes your stubborn self-centeredness, and rebellion to His statutes, very seriously.

- The Lord would rather you simply be obedient to his word, rather than make costly and dramatic sacrifices.

- Your “living sacrifice” is to live your life as he has called you to do, as his word declares.

- Pastor Kevin preached on Sunday and brought a fantastic message out of Matthew:

- Matthew 16:24-26, Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?

https://youtu.be/uSi1acuo0yk

My Prison Song Matthew 16:24-28

Matthew 16:24-28 (Nkjv) Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.  Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.” ( Transfiguration)

Recap

Last Sunday we went over the part that Jesus finally told the disciples that He would suffer and even unto death (Peters reaction)The disciples have been following Jesus for a while:They had seen miracles, Heard His teaching, and much moreThey had also seen the opposition that Jesus was facingThe truth He spoke did not go very well with many - He was creating enough enemies as He moved aroundThey are following someone that didn’t have a retirement plan – one that didn’t even have a homeMatthew 8:18-21 Then a certain scribe came and said to Him, “Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”

And now this statement:

Matthew 6:24 -Then Jesus said to His disciples, If anyone desires to be My disciple, let him deny himself [disregard, lose sight of, and forget himself and his own interests] and take up his cross and follow Me [[a]cleave steadfastly to Me, conform wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying, also].This was a huge request – Leave everything, lose their interests, follow Him..., I will let you know of the plan as we go along , there will suffering even unto death….and I just like I said earlier I will definitely dieAnd just as they process this statement, Jesus throws this in as well.Matthew 6:25 For whoever is bent on saving his [temporal] life [his comfort and security here] shall lose it [eternal life]; and whoever loses his life [his comfort and security here] for My sake shall find it [life everlasting].However, if you don’t follow me- you will pretty much lose your life (you are caught in between)Put yourself in their shoes- unlike you who knows how the end looks like, they didn’t, yet they still followed JesusThis why the Bible talks about Faith- Because only Faith can do this – This is Faith at workHebrews 11:6 Nkjv But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him

Let’s get into our current txt”

Following Jesus is costly

In this case, the disciples had to abandon their plansTheir day to day lives had to changeThey had to leave behind what they knew and how they did thingsTheir friends had to change; their common places had to change

Now that they had known this, there was no way of un-knowingIf anyone desires to be My disciple, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow MeEverybody knew what Jesus meant when He said this. Everyone knew that the cross was an unrelenting instrument of death. The cross had no other purpose.The cross wasn’t about religious ceremonies; it wasn’t about traditions and spiritual feelings. The cross was a way to execute people.It was where you worst of the worst were punished to death, the shaming place for offendersIn these twenty centuries after Jesus, we have done a pretty good job in sanitizing and ritual...

https://youtu.be/N3YTiW-AhM8

Intro story- when I was called

I knew what the Lord wanted of me

I couldn’t explain why I knew I just did

The call on my life was evident and I could feel it in my spirit

I don’t know if it was fear

Or selfishness maybe

I wanted to be in control of my life

So I rebelled against the word the Lord had given me

I lived a life of complete disobedience to the Lord

I kept running away, far away

I became worse than I had previously been

Even though I tried whatever I could to run

I knew ultimately that I should submit to God and follow the call He placed on me

It took years, I think about 12 years later I finally submitted to His will and not my own

Romans 11:25-36

25 For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own [a]opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. 26 And so all Israel will be [b]saved, as it is written:

“The Deliverer will come out of Zion,And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob;27 For this is My covenant with them,When I take away their sins.”

28 Concerning the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but concerning the election they are beloved for the sake of the fathers. 29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. 30 For as you were once disobedient to God, yet have now obtained mercy through their disobedience, 31 even so these also have now been disobedient, that through the mercy shown you they also may obtain mercy. 32 For God has [c]committed them all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all.

33 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!

34 “For who has known the mind of the Lord?Or who has become His counselor?”35 “Or who has first given to HimAnd it shall be repaid to him?”

36 For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.

We are wrapping up chapter 11

The main verse I will be focusing on is verse 29

For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.

But before I get into that I want to give biblical context to what paul was speaking about

Im going to give a quick recap of chapters 9-11 because they all tie together to give the overall them of these 3 chapters

Paul talked about Israel’s rejection of Christ and Gods purpose

Israel’s rejection and Gods justice, Paul discussed the present condition of Israel and that they were in desperate need of the Gospel

Only to have Israel reject the gospel and the Messiah they had all been waiting on

But there is still hope because Israels rejection is not total and it is not final

God is coming back for His remnant

Which brings us to where we are now

Paul is speaking to jews and gentiles

Romans 11:25-28

25 For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own [a]opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.

https://youtu.be/Mjnep5EfUaA

How do I keep my mind right. Matthew 16:21-23Matthew 16:21-23 READ and ExplainFirst time Jesus talks about the resurrection- peter pulls Jesus aside to rebuke him, Jesus calls him Satan, and tells him that he has his mind wrongCool hand luke- Dirt in, dirt out, “whats your dirt doing in boss’s hole” “you got your mind right”Jesus wont do that- but you want to keep your mind right- you don’t want to be called Satan by Jesus- that was peter’s problem- his mind wasn’t right-  Jesus said that he was and “offense”The term offense was bc Peter ‘was not mindful of the things of God’Offense- a breach of a law or rule; an illegal act.Offense- annoyance or resentment brought about by a perceived insult to or disregard for oneself or one's standards or principles.Bible Definitions of offenseProskope- leading into error2 Corinthians 6:3We give no offense in anything, that our ministry may not be blamed.Skandalon- leading them into sin creating something that ‘trips them up”Skandalizo- enticing them to sin1 Corinthians 1:23 but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness,And then Jesus says to peter- “you are an offense to me” a “stumbling block”People say “we don’t want to offend anyone” but they mean it in a “annoyance or resentment brought about by a perceived insult to or disregard for oneself or one's standards or principles.”People build resentment because they perceive that they have been insulted on their principlesBut this Bible offense is to “lead people into error” or “lead them into sin instead of God”Matt 16:23 “You are an offense to Me,” skandalon- you’re trying to trip me up- you’re trying to keep me from going forward- you’re a ‘stumbling block’What was happening in this instance- was that Peter was trying to hold Jesus back from what he needed to do- go to the Cross- he wasn’t challenging his principles.Ellicott: Peter’s sin lay in the fact that his mind was set on the things of earth, its outward pomp and pageantry, measuring the future by a human not a divine standard.Peter says “ 22 Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!”Peter has a plan to keep Jesus from going to the cross- He is this type of Guy- its why he was the one who had the sword when Jesus was going to the crucifixion- He wants to defend JesusIt’s admirable- but not what Jesus wants him to do- he challenges him, calls him Satan, says he’s a stumbling block and says “you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.””What had sent Peter astray- was not his heart- It’s a good heart he wants to defend Jesus- who wouldn’t? it was that he was thinking with his emotions and not his intellect- he couldn’t see past his own ideas of what anyone would do to defend a friend- but that wasn’t God’s planGod’s plan is to send Jesus to the cross to die for all of humanities sins- Peter would have stopped that if he had kept Jesus from Going to the cross- he was an “offense”What’s crazy is that Jesus had apparently JUST spoke to these guys about what the plan was-V21 From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.But shortly after (we don’t know how much time has elapsed) Peter forgets!Remember- This is the gent that Jesus encouraged his profession of Faith “on this rock I will build my church” and now he’s not going with the plan-

So how do we get our minds right?

First off get it in your mind that It is possible to offend God- under stand “offense”And when we “offend him” its an abomination not a “stumbling block” definition- - properly something disgusting (morally), that is, (as noun) an abhorrence; especially idolatry or (concretely) an idol: - abominable (custom, thing),

https://youtu.be/c4y_wBKBfX0

“Therefore Consider the Olive Tree”

Romans 11:11-24

11 I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not! But through their [a]fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles. 12 Now if their [b]fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness! 13 For I speak to you Gentiles; inasmuch as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, 14 if by any means I may provoke to jealousy those who are my flesh and save some of them. 15 For if their being cast away is the reconciling of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? 16 For if the firstfruit is holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root is holy, so are the branches. 17 And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and [c]fatness of the olive tree, 18 do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you. 19 You will say then, “Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in.” 20 Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear. 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either. 22 Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, [d]goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off. 23 And they also, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. 24 For if you were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, who are natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?

Here begins a new section of the discussion, lasting to the end of the chapter. Paul has shown that the rejection of Israel was never total; he now declares that it is not final. A time is to come when a remnant of Israel shall believe, and be restored to the Church.  God has reserved this remnant according to His promise. The gospel could not be preached to the Gentiles until it had first been offered to and rejected by the Jews. Their rejection opened the door for the rest of the world.

Paul uses the illustration taken from the practice of those who ingraft trees. The useless branches, or those which bear poor fruit, are cut off, and a better kind inserted.

The olive-tree was sometimes cultivated, and that cultivation was necessary in order to render it fruitful. The cultivated olive-tree is "of a moderate height, its trunk knotty, its bark smooth and ash-colored, its wood is solid and yellowish, the leaves are oblong, and almost like those of the willow, of a green color. The wild olive is smaller in all its parts." The wild olive tree was unfruitful, or its fruit very imperfect and useless. The ancient writers explain this word by "unfruitful, barren." This was used, therefore, as the emblem of unfruitfulness and barrenness, while the cultivated olive produced much fruit. The meaning here is, that the Gentiles had been like the wild olive tree, unfruitful; that they had grown up in the wild and according to their sin nature. The Jews had been like a cultivated olive tree, long under the training and blessing of God.

The process of grafting consists in inserting a young shoot into another tree. To do this, a useless limb is removed; and the ingrafted limb produces fruit according to its new nature or kind, and not according to the tree in which it is inserted. In this way a tree which bears no fruit, or whose branches are decaying, may be recovered, and become valuable.

https://youtu.be/wkuFZXZJi2Y

1 Samuel 12:24

"Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart; for consider how great things he hath done for you."

2 Timothy 3:1-4

 But know this, that in the last days [a]perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, [b]unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 - 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Being Unthankful Gives us an unhealthy perspective

Romans 1:21 - Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

(NLT) 21 Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused

Job 1:21

21 And he said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb,And naked shall I return there.The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away;Blessed be the name of the Lord.”

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 - 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Philippians 4:5-7

5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.

6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Jeremiah 30:19

"From them shall proceed the voice of thanksigiving and the sound of those who make merry and I will multiply them and they not will be diminished."

Psalms 107:1 - O give thanks unto the LORD, for [he is] good: for his mercy [endureth] for ever.Ephesians 5:20 - Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

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https://youtu.be/j2zt89pf4lI

7,000                                                                                        Romans 11:1-10

I am sure some if not most of you guys have heard about the movie 300Today we are going to talk about a slightly bigger number- 7,000This evening, my goal is to make sure that we examine ourselves and know if for sure in our hearts that we can be counted among the 7,000  It’s a great time especially for our men, myself included as we plan on heading on to the Man’s advanceIt’s a time to self-check, search me oh Lord – that I may be found …and if not show me howWhat an opportunity to seek Gods face and cry out to Him to see that which lacks or blocks usIn our reading today:Paul is speaking to the Israelites who know the word of God – Pastor Crystals MessageThey know that they are a chosen generation, but they (Israelites) have taken this most precious gift as commonIts easy to point fingers and condemn these guys but if we do an honest heart check, we will find that we too have at times taken the word of God as common- (Pastor Matts preaching – Christian!)The idea is that men are sitting feasting comfortably at their banquet; and their very sense of safety has become their ruin. They are so secure in the fancied safety that the enemy can come upon them unaware” (Barclay). The Jews of Paul’s day were so secure in their idea of being the chosen people that the very idea became the thing that ruined them.Paul in Romans 11:1 – Has God rejected and disowned His People?He is almost trying to wake them up – tone?It’s bad that instead of looking inward, they start blaming God for rejecting themThe same God who in I Samuel 12 is showing undeniable love to the IsraelitesAfter the Israelites demanded a King – instead of keeping with God wish to be their everything I Samuel 12:22 (Nkjv) For the Lord will not forsake His people, for His great name’s sake, because it has pleased the Lord to make you His peopleHow many times in our lives, when things are not going our way do, we take this position?After we try on our own- we come to a place and feel like God has left usOnly if we could sooner than later adopt Paul’s response – Certainly Not!Deutronomy 3:16 Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”Joshua 1:5 - No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake youThe problem is not God. He is faithful and just. He is true to His word. The issue is you and IIsaiah 59:2(Nkjv) – But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hearHebrews 10:26(Nkjv) – For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sinsThis is our only link- And if we do away with this sacrifice, we are dead in our sinsPaul continues to support his response (to the question he asked himself)For I too I am a Jew – I too have seen what God has done in my lifeI too a chief sinner has seen a God who has not forsaken me and will not1 Timothy 1:15 (Nkjv) - This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. Paul is speaking from experience that He has seen God work in his lifeHe continues by reminding them of the story of Elijah in 1 KingsElijah challenges the Prophets of baal – all 450 of themThey build an altar and prepare a bull and they agree that whoever call for fire from heaven and consumes the sacrifice, is the true GodIn 1 King 18 – that they called baal from Morning till way past noon, cutting themselves and no response (Challenge for us …to what length do we go to seek our God)Elijah turn, he set the sacrifice and pours 12 buckets of water so there is no ...

https://youtu.be/OS9THk4Vh9w

Matthew 16:13-20 What does it mean to bind and loose?

1. We bind and loose when we decide who Jesus is?V13-15This question right here is the most important question that anyone can ask in their life-Jesus comes to Peter- and says- what are people saying about me? Who do you say that I am?Now for many people- this question is not one that they ever answer- or should I say- they answer it without answering it by their choice to ignore who Jesus is-Now what interesting- is that these people around the region had an opinion of who Jesus was-John the Baptist? Elijah? Jeremiah? One of the prophets?And all of these thoughts about who Jesus was were centered around who he wasn’tAll of those mentioned were those who would announce the arrival of messiahJohn the Baptist preached repentance and returning to God- he taught baptism. He called out sinConsider John the baptist- They lived at the same time, related by blood, about the same age, had angel Gabriel announce their births, religious and political leaders didn’t care for them, wanted them dead, people followed both of them,John the Baptist had a ministry and it was an important one- but it wasn’t he ministry of JesusConsider Elijah- prophetic rebuke of Israel for idolatry that was pagan, baal worship, to turn back to God, Prophesying miracles of rain, oil and meal for a starving widow, raising a widows son from the dead, Message of promise to his followers before he departed, and then he left earth by a chariot of fire and did not dieConsider Jeremiah- Jeremiah prophesied God’s judgement on Israel and Judah, He pleaded with Israel to repent, the ‘weeping prophet’, Jeremiah was rejected by his own people- he told his own people that God was going to judge them for their sin and rejecting God, he had words of hope for Israel if they repented, that God would be with them-so the people at the time had a working knowledge of these three people-But here was the issue- they were trying to understand who Jesus was based on THEIR frame of reference instead of considering and listening to who Jesus actually was-This is human- this is what we do- we take a limited amount of information and make decisions about who we think people areWe do it on Social media, books, TV, movies, sports, we make sweeping statements about people on limited information- we don’t even know them- “I know who Justin Beiber is”We even do it with people that we somewhat know- we have a short interaction with someone and think that we know them- See at church, read online, You think u know me from the pulpitIt took me 10 years of deep emotional and physical intimacy with my wife and after 10 years I thought I was just starting to get to know her- but someone sends one tweet and you know everything about themI don’t know nothing about Russel Wilson that the news hasn’t told me- I don’t know what he eats, who his friends were in HS, what he’s afraid of, what makes him happy, what his hobbies are.But today- still- based on Limited information- people declare who Jesus is-Good moral teacher, condemner, prophet,

2. We bind and loose when we declare Jesus is the Christ

16 Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.Simon Peter answers the question with the correct answer- “you are the Christ, the Son of the Living God”What Peter saw- and what he knew to be true is that Jesus was the “Christ” the anointed one, the savior, the messiah, the promised one, the end all be all.This is the one that John The Baptist, Jeremiah, Elijah, David and all the OT prophets promisedThe one- The SaviorThis is what Martha declared- John 11:27 She said to Him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ,