Series: “DNA Of Christmas” — Sermon #2 “From The Brothel To The Throne”

Many approach the bible looking for moral examples. How to be a good person.

The point of the bible is to be a mirror to show us the human condition.

From cover to cover the bible points to our need for a saviour.

The Scriptures ultimately bear witness to Christ, and Christ perfectly bears witness to God. While we are searching the Bible to find out what God is like, the Bible is all the while resolutely pointing us to Jesus.   Brian Zahnd

Matthew 1:1, 5-6, 16 “The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, …,…  Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, Boaz begot Obed by Ruth, Obed begot Jesse, … and Jesse begot David the king. … Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus who is called Christ.”

Jesus Family Tree: Christmas Table

A girl involved in incest.  A hooker who ran a brothel.   A pagan idol worshipper.

An adulteress who’s boyfriend killed her husband.   A teen girl pregnant and unmarried. 

Rahab:  A Canaanite — wicked people    A Woman — few social rights  A Prostitute — sold herself     A notorious sinner, in great fear of judgement, believes in the Greatness of God, and pleads mercy.

Joshua 2:1,9 “‘Go, view the land, especially Jericho.’ So they went, and came to the house of a harlot named Rahab, and lodged there…. ‘ ‘know that the Lord has given you the land, that the terror of you has fallen on us,…’”

Joshua 2:12-13  “Now therefore, I beg you, swear to me by the Lord, since I have shown you kindness, that you also will show kindness to my father’s house, and give me a true token, and spare my father, my mother, my brothers, my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death.”

Joshua 2:18 “…when we come into the land, you bind this line of scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and unless you your father, your mother, your brothers, and all your father’s household to your own home.”

Joshua 2:21   “Then she said, ‘According to your words, so be it.’ … And she bound the scarlet cord in the window.”

Joshua 6:23   “And the young men who had been spies went in and brought out Rahab, her father, her mother, her brothers, and all that she had. So they brought out all her relatives and left them outside the camp of Israel.”

1. She acknowledged her need    “deliver our lives from death.” 

2. She exercised faith  “she bound the scarlet cord…” 

3. She experience redemption  “…went in and brought out Rahab…”

Hebrews 11:31   “By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace.” 

Matthew 9:9 “As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, ‘Follow Me.’ So he arose and followed Him.”

Matthew knew the power of GRACE!

Revelation 12:10-11 “…who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.  And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.”

Accuser (Katagereao} :— to accuse before a judge, to charge with some offence. 

English word category come from this word. To Label. 

The devil tries to label you as broken and worthless

The blood will speak by the power of the Spirit to every circumstance in your life!!!

You apply the blood by testifying with your mouth. 

The blood will break every label and position you for constant victory!

Ephesians 1:7  “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.”

Hebrews 10:12, 14  (MSG) “As a priest, Christ made a single sacrifice for sins, and that was it! It was a perfect sacrifice by a perfect person to perfect some very imperfect people. … By that single offering, he did everything that needed to be done for everyone who takes part in the purifying process.”

“Scripture teaches … that life lies in the blood. Blood, therefore , is the mysterious link between matter and spirit. …certain it is that this is the mysterious link which unite these apparently dissimilar things together, so that the soul can inhabit the body, and the life can rest in the blood”  

C.H. Spurgeon

Revelation 1:5-6 {AMP}   “To Him Who ever loves us and has once [for all] loosed and freed us from our sins by His own blood, And formed us into a kingdom (a royal race), priests to His God and Father.” 

Revelation 5:9-10 “For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.”

1 Peter 1:9-10 (NLT). “For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life (labels) you inherited from your ancestors. And it was not paid with mere gold or silver, which lose their value. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God.”

1 Peter 2:24 (NLT) “He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed.”

“Jesus was cursed on the tree in our place and bore our sin in His own body. He did not bear our sin in His blood. It was just as holy on the cross as it ever was. As He offered the sin sacrifice to God, He was covered with pure, innocent, justifying, redeeming, sanctifying blood so that He was able to dismiss His spirit to His Father at death.”  David Alsobrook

Matthew 1:21  “And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”

Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”

Jesus came for Judah and for Tamar.  Jesus came for Rahab

Series: “DNA Of Christmas” — Sermon #1 “The Good The Bad And The Ugly”

John Stott   “We often come to the Bible looking for some wonderful (i.e. nice things) but often God wants to show us disturbing things.”  

Disequilibrium – Being knocked out of your comfort zone (RUT) in order to realize another stage of growth. 

Hebrews 1:1-3   “God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son,  … ; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person…”

Colossians 1:15 NKJV  “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.” 

AMP  “[Now] He is the exact likeness of the unseen God [the visible representation of the invisible];”

The Scriptures ultimately bear witness to Christ, and Christ perfectly bears witness to God. While we are searching the Bible to find out what God is like, the Bible is all the while resolutely pointing us to Jesus.   Brian Zahnd

“Jesus Christ is perfect theology”: means that we have a perfect revelation of what God is like in the person of Jesus. And any belief we have about God that we cannot find in the person of Jesus is a belief to be questioned.   Bill Johnson

Matthew 1:1-3, 16 “The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, … Abraham begot Isaac, Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob begot Judah and his brothers. Judah begot Perez and Zerah by Tamar,… Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus who is called Christ.”

Jesus Family Tree: Christmas Table

A girl involved in incest. /  A hooker who ran a brothel. /.  A pagan idol worshipper.

An adulteress who’s boyfriend killed her husband.  /. A teen girl pregnant and unmarried. 

Genesis 50:20 (CEB) “You planned something bad for me, but God produced something good from it, in order to save the lives of many people, just as he’s doing today.”

Genesis 37:26-27 “So Judah said to his brothers, ‘What profit is there if we kill our brother and conceal his blood? Come and let us sell him to the Ishmaelites,…’”

Genesis 38  “It came to pass at that time that Judah departed (Went Down KJV) from his brothers, and visited a certain Adullamite whose name was Hirah. And Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite whose name was Shua, and he married her and went in to her.”

So she conceived and bore a son, and he called his name Er. She conceived again and bore a son, and she called his name Onan. And she conceived yet again and bore a son, and called his name Shelah. He was at Chezib when she bore him.

Then Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, and her name was Tamar. But Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the Lord, and the Lord killed him.  And Judah said to Onan, “Go in to your brother’s wife and marry her, (Levirate) and raise up an heir to your brother.”

But Onan knew that the heir would not be his; and it came to pass, when he went in to his brother’s wife, that he emitted on the ground, lest he should give an heir to his brother.  And the thing which he did displeased the Lord; therefore He killed him also.

Judah said to Tamar his daughter-in-law, “Remain a widow in your father’s house till my son Shelah is grown.” For he said, “Lest he also die like his brothers.” And Tamar went and dwelt in her father’s house. Now in the process of time the daughter of Shua, Judah’s wife, died …

…and Judah was comforted, and went up to his sheepshearers at Timnah, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite.  And it was told Tamar, saying, “Look, your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep.”

So she took off her widow’s garments, covered herself with a veil and wrapped herself, and sat in an open place which was on the way to Timnah; for she saw that Shelah was grown, and she was not given to him as a wife.

When Judah saw her, he thought she was a harlot, because she had covered her face. Then he turned to her by the way, and said, “Please let me come in to you”; for he did not know that she was his daughter-in-law. So she said, “What will you give me, that you may come in to me?”

And he said, “I will send a young goat from the flock.”  So she said, “Will you give me a pledge till you send it?” Then he said, “What pledge shall I give you?” So she said, “Your signet and cord, and your staff that is in your hand.” Then he gave them to her, and went in to her, and she conceived by him.  

So she arose and went away, and laid aside her veil and put on the garments of her widowhood. And Judah sent the young goat by the hand of his friend the Adullamite, to receive his pledge from the woman’s hand, but he did not find her. Then he asked the men of that place, saying, “Where is the harlot who was openly by the roadside?”

And they said, “There was no harlot in this place.” (Temple Prostitute)

So he returned to Judah and said, “I cannot find her. Also, the men of the place said there was no harlot in this place.”

Then Judah said, “Let her take them for herself, lest we be shamed; for I sent this young goat and you have not found her.”

And it came to pass, about three months after, that Judah was told, saying, “Tamar your daughter-in-law has played the harlot; furthermore she is with child by harlotry.” So Judah said, “Bring her out and let her be burned!”

When she was brought out, she sent to her father-in-law, saying, “By the man to whom these belong, I am with child.” And she said, “Please determine whose these are—the signet and cord, and staff.”

So Judah acknowledged them and said, “She has been more righteous than I, because I did not give her to Shelah my son.” And he never knew her again. Now it came to pass, at the time for giving birth, … 

… that behold, twins were in her womb. And so it was, when she was giving birth, that the one put out his hand; and the midwife took a scarlet thread and bound it on his hand, saying, “This one came out first.”

Then it happened, as he drew back his hand, that his brother came out unexpectedly; and she said, “How did you break through? This breach be upon you!” Therefore his name was called Perez. Afterward his brother came out who had the scarlet thread on his hand. And his name was called Zerah.”

Genesis 44:33 “So please, my lord, let me stay here as a slave instead of the boy, and let the boy return with his brothers. For how can I return to my father if the boy is not with me? I couldn’t bear to see the anguish this would cause my father!”

Genesis 45:1 “Then Joseph could not restrain himself before all those who stood by him, and he cried out, … Joseph made himself known to his brothers.”

Judah’s Recovery

1. He Came To His Senses

2. He Forgave Tamar and Himself

3. He Returned Home

4. He Walked In Light

5. He Honoured His Father

6. He Restored His Brother

We are most like beasts when we kill. We are most like men when we judge. We are most like God when we forgive. William Arthur Ward. (Thoughts of a Christian Optimist)

Genesis 49:10 “The scepter or leadership shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until Shiloh [the Messiah, the Peaceful One] comes to Whom it belongs, and to Him shall be the obedience of the people.”

Many approach the bible looking for moral examples.

How to be a good person.

The point of the bible is to be a mirror to show us the human condition.

From cover to cover the bible points to our need for a saviour.

Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”

Jesus came for Judah and for Tamar

Matthew 1:21 “And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”

ADULTING IN GRACE HAPPENS IN COMMUNITY

..The bulk of Scripture was written to a community… At least nine of Paul’s epistles in the New Testament were addressed specifically to a church community.

Plant For Example:

“What Good Is a Tree?”

Woodwide web

There is a linchpin in tree fungi networks are hub trees “mother trees”

In like manner god has created us for connection

..The bulk of Scripture was written to a community… At least nine of Paul’s epistles in the New Testament were addressed specifically to a church community.

1Peter 2:5
 You yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

Eph. 4:16 
From whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

Three things Connection Promotes:

Connection promotes community

Without connection, there is no unity, and the church cannot function effectively.

CONNECTED WITH CHRIST!

Planted- Sumphutos- once in bible, strongest word for union, born together, joint origin.

CONNECTED WITH OTHERS!

Connection promotes mentoring relationship

Mentoring is MTC:

Why, because mentoring means:

Connection promotes ministering relationship

Proverbs 11:25
 He who waters will himself be watered.”

“Our surest road to our own happiness is to seek the good of our fellow.” -Spurgeon

“The experience of authentic community is one of the purposes God intends to be fulfilled by the church. The writings of Scripture lead one to conclude that God intends the church, not to be one more bolt on the wheel of activity in our lives, but the very hub at the center of one’s life.”

He gathers us out of all nations and tongues. He gathers us out of all races. He gathers us young and old: that is the genius of church.

Adulting in Grace happens in Community because community gives you the opportunity to:

Series: “#Adulting” — Sermon #5 “Grace And Awe”

Adulting:— the act or practice of attending to the ordinary tasks required of a responsible adult. 

2Peter 3:18 “Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

#Adulting — Grow In Grace:

1. It’s a Miracle   2. It’s Revelational. 3. It’s Responsible.  4. It’s Possible

“Christ came to set up the kingdom of God on earth and to overthrow the power of Satan.”

Tertullian — 2nd Century Church Father

A kingdom is the governing influence of a king over his territory, impacting it with his will, his purpose and his intent, producing a citizenry of people who reflect his culture and manifest his nature and glory.

Luke 4:43 “I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent.”

Luke 12:32 “So don’t be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom.”

A gift of His rule, ability, glory, influence – HOLY SPIRIT!

Mark 10:13-16 (NLT) “One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so he could touch and bless them. But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering him.

When Jesus saw what was happening, he was angry with his disciples. He said to them, ‘Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children. 

 I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.’ Then he took the children in his arms and placed his hands on their heads and blessed them.”

Blessed them:— (kateulogeō) to invoke a blessing, to impart fervently, intensely. (Thayer’s Greek Lexicon)

This is not a cute story of Jesus shaking hands and kissing babies.

This is a transforming impartation of Kingdom life and power.

Priorities For Inheriting  The Kingdom:   1. Laugh.   2. Trust.   3. Wonder

1. Laugh Like A Child

Jude 1:24 (AMP)

“Now to Him Who is able to keep you without stumbling or slipping or falling, and to present [you] unblemished (blameless and faultless) before the presence of His glory in triumphant joy and exultation [with unspeakable, ecstatic delight]”

“You don’t stop laughing because you grow old, you grow old because you stop laughing.”

             Michael Pritchard

“The average 4-year-old laughs 300 times a day. The average 40-year-old? Only four.”

Dr. Pamela Gerloff (Psychology Today)

Isaiah 12:3    “Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.”

Psalm 21:6 (AMP)  “For You make him to be blessed and a blessing forever; You make him exceedingly glad with the joy of Your presence.”

Martin Luther   “You have as much laughter as you have faith.” 

“The Gospel is nothing less than laughter and joy.”

2. Trust Like A Child.     —    Quit trying and start trusting!

Proverbs 3:5-6“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

1 Peter 5:7  (AMP)  “Casting all your cares [all your anxieties, all your worries, and all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares about you [with deepest affection, and watches over you very carefully].” 

Hebrews 13:5 (AMPC) “for He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!]”

3. Wonder Like A Child

Acts 20:24 “But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.”

Psalm 40:5 (NLT) “O Lord my God, you have performed many wonders for us. Your plans for us are too numerous to list. You have no equal. If I tried to recite all your wonderful deeds, I would never come to the end of them.”

Psalm 139:14-15, 17-18 “Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, you are still with me!”  

Another day of wonder filled victory.

1 Peter 2:9 “But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.”

Matthew 13:54-58 “When He had come to His own country, He taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said, ‘Where did this Man get this wisdom and these mighty works?

Is this not the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas? And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this Man get all these things?’  So they were offended at Him.

But Jesus said to them, ‘A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house.’  Now He did not (could not) do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.”  (their hostile indifference MSG)       Tragic Loss Of WONDER. 

Karl Barth was asked; what was the greatest insight he had ever gained throughout his long years of study and scholarship?   “Jesus Loves me this know.”

My favourite quote: “Laughter is the closest thing to the grace of God.”

We don’t earn it. We don’t merit it. We don’t build it. We are given the transforming blessing of the Kingdom as a gift of love and grace here and now!

It’s the Blessing Of God.

There’s no fine print, stipulations, condition or limitations.

As a child I come with nothing. 

I simply possess:

                    My Laugh

                    My Trust

                    My Wonder

Series: “#Adulting” — Sermon #4 “GraceTo Lead”

Colossians 1:16-18 

“All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.”

Ephesians 4:11-13

“Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.

This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.”

Acts 14:23 “And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.”

Acts 15:22 (NLT)  “The men chosen were two of the church leaders—Judas (also called Barsabbas) and Silas.”

Philippians 1:1 (NLT) 

“I am writing to all of God’s holy people in Philippi who belong to Christ Jesus, including the elders and deacons.”   

Elders – (Episkopos) Overseers.      Deacons – (Diakonos) Attendant

Adulting:— the act or practice of attending to the ordinary tasks required of a responsible adult. 

2Peter 3:18

“Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

#Adulting — Grow In Grace:

1. It’s a Miracle 

2. It’s Revelational

3. It’s Responsible

4. It’s Possible

Acts 2:47 

“And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.”

Acts 9:31

“Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified.  And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied.

Acts 14:1 

“Now it happened in Iconium that they went together to the synagogue of the Jews, and so spoke that a great multitude both of the Jews and of the Greeks believed.”

Acts 21:20 

“And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord. And they said to him, ‘You see, brother, how many myriads of Jews there are who have believed,…’”

myriads:— an innumerable company

I believe that God is moving the Body of Christ from addition to multiplication!       

2 + 2=4                     2 x 2= 4

4 + 4=8                     4 x4=16

8 + 8=16                   6 x 16= 256

16 + 16=32               256 x 256= 65,536

32 + 32=64              65,536 x 65,536 =  4,294,967,296

Romans 12:4-8 (TPT)

“In the human body there are many parts and organs, each with a unique function. And so it is in the body of Christ. For though we are many, we’ve all been mingled into one body in Christ. This means that we are all vitally joined to one another, with each contributing to the others.

God’s marvelous grace imparts to each one of us varying gifts. So if God has given you the grace-gift of prophecy, activate your gift by using the proportion of faith you have to prophesy. If your grace-gift is serving, then thrive in serving others well. If you have the grace-gift of teaching, then be actively teaching and training others.

If you have the grace-gift of encouragement, then use it often to encourage others. If you have the grace-gift of giving to meet the needs of others, then may you prosper in your generosity without any fanfare. If you have the gift of leadership, be passionate about your leadership. And if you have the gift of showing compassion, then flourish in your cheerful display of compassion.”

How do they identify leaders in the Bible?

Acts 1:23-26

“And they proposed two: Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.  And they prayed and said, . ‘You, O Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which of these two You have chosen to take part in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.’  And they cast their lots, and the lot fell on Matthias. And he was numbered with the eleven apostles.”

Acts 6:3-7 

“‘And so, brothers, select seven men who are well respected and are full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will give them this responsibility.  Then we apostles can spend our time in prayer and teaching the word.’ Everyone liked this idea, and they chose the following: Stephen (a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit), Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas of Antioch (an earlier convert to the Jewish faith). These seven were presented to the apostles, who prayed for them as they laid their hands on them.

So God’s message continued to spread. The number of believers greatly increased in Jerusalem, and many of the Jewish priests were converted, too.”

Titus 1:5-9 

“I left you on the island of Crete so you could complete our work there and appoint elders in each town as I instructed you.  An elder must live a blameless life. He must be faithful to his wife, and his children must be believers who don’t have a reputation for being wild or rebellious.

A church leader is a manager of God’s household, so he must live a blameless life. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered; he must not be a heavy drinker, violent, or dishonest with money.

Rather, he must enjoy having guests in his home, and he must love what is good.

He must live wisely and be just. He must live a devout and disciplined life. He must have a strong belief in the trustworthy message he was taught; then he will be able to encourage others with wholesome teaching and show those who oppose it where they are wrong.”

Exodus 18:14-26

“And you shall teach them the statutes and the laws, and show them the way in which they must walk and the work they must do.  Moreover you shall select from all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.  And let them judge the people at all times. Then it will be that every great matter they shall bring to you, but every small matter they themselves shall judge.  So it will be easier for you, for they will bear the burden with you. If you do this thing, and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure, and all this people will also go to their place in peace.”

Number 11:17 

“Then I will come down and talk with you there. I will take of the Spirit that is upon you and will put the same upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with you, that you may not bear it yourself alone.”

Blueprint For Multiplication:

1. Gather Capable Leaders

2. Teach Them The Word

3. Make Practical Applications

4. Share The Burden Of Responsibility

5. Begins With Anointing — Same Spirit

We are vitally connected to one another.

We have all been graced with gifts and abilities to uniquely function.

When you unpack your gifts and strengths to serve others you experience joy and fulfilment.

Series: “#Adulting” — Sermon #2 “Grace For Growth” 

Adulting:— the act or practice of attending to the ordinary tasks required of a responsible adult. 

Growing In Grace:

Grace is a gift of the nature and empowering  presence of God

Grace has a higher standard.

Grace (charis):– good will, loving-kindness, favour.

The merciful kindness by which God, exerting his holy influence upon souls, turns them to Christ, keeps, strengthens, increases them in Christian faith, knowledge, affection, and kindles virtues.

Hebrews 10:19,24 “Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, And let us consider how we may spur one another (provoke, incite) on toward love and good deeds,”

2Peter 3:18 “Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

#Adulting — Grow In Grace:

1. It’s a Miracle 

2. It’s Revelational

3. It’s Responsible

4. It’s Possible

Acts 2:38 “Then Peter said to them, (1) ’Repent, and let every one of you (2) be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall (3) receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’”

“Baptize”:– to immerse, to submerge, to bathe, to overwhelm, to pickle, to produce a permanent change. 

Not just getting wet.  An identification and a union with Christ that results in a genuine change. 

Three Baptisms: 

1. Spirit baptizes the believer into Christ / Body   

2. Disciple baptizes a believer in water. 

3. Jesus baptizes believer in the Holy Spirit

Jesus Himself followed this process.

2. He was baptized in water. 

3. He was baptized in the Holy Ghost.

The first command to the church is not “GO” but “WAIT”.

You Must Be ABLE To GROW

Series: “#Adulting” — Sermon #1 “Growing In Grace”

Adulting:— the act or practice of attending to the ordinary tasks required of a responsible adult.

By 2016, “adulting” was widely recognized enough to become Word of the Year finalist by the American Dialect Society. (2nd) Since then, its usage has slightly declined, although it remains a relevant and widely recognized term.

First time I separated the whites from the colours. #adulting

Uncontrollably smiling because I got a new office chair. #adulting

I just sighed at a group of teenagers. #adulting

The 4 Levels of ‘Adulting’

Hebrews 10:19,24 “Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, … And let us consider how we may spur one another (provoke, incite) on toward love and good deeds,”

Growing In Grace:

Grace (charis):– good will, loving-kindness, favour.

1Peter 3:18 “Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

“God has not given us power to imitate Him. He has made us partakers of His nature so that we can actually be like Him. You don’t become a Christian by acting like one. We are not on a performance basis with God.” Neil T Anderson

“So many of us cavalierly gloss over what he has done and zero in on what we’re to do, and that shift, though it might seem slight, makes all the difference in the world. Our obedience has its origin in God’s prior action, and forgetting that truth results in self-righteousness, pride, and despair. As you study Scripture, remember that the imperatives are always rooted in the indicatives. God calls you to become who you already are in Christ.” E. M. Fitzpatrick

God’s word simplified: Good News And Good Advice

Colossians 1:1-12 This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and from our brother Timothy. We are writing to God’s holy people in the city of Colosse, who are faithful brothers and sisters in Christ. May God our Father give you grace and peace.

… we give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.  For we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and your love for all of God’s people,  which come from your confident hope of what God has reserved for you in heaven … heard the truth of the Good News.

This same Good News that came to you is going out all over the world. It is bearing fruit everywhere by changing lives, just as it changed your lives from the day you first heard and understood the truth about God’s wonderful grace.

“You learned about the Good News from Epaphras, our beloved co-worker. He is Christ’s faithful servant, and he is helping us on your behalf. He has told us about the love for others that the Holy Spirit has given you.”

So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding.

Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better.

We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy,…

…always thanking the Father. He has enabled (Qualified) you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light.

Qualified (Hikanoo):—to make sufficient, render fit, to equip one with adequate power to perform.

For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son,  who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.”

#Adulting — Grow In Grace:

1 Corinthians 1:30

Series: “Open House”  Sermon:  “We Focus On Jesus”

Mark 1:37 “Everyone is looking for You.”

Hebrews 3:6 (NLT) “But Christ, as the Son, is in charge of God’s entire house. And we are God’s house, …”

Have you googled yourself? Who are you? What would people find?

Any Concept of God that is built through a preconceived filter will limit your ability to connect with God. 

“What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.”      

 A.W. Tozer  (The Knowledge of the Holy)

The world tries to tell you about God:

MEDIA: ”Is God Dead?” was an April 8, 1966, cover story for the news magazine Time. 

Hollywood — always trying to shape our world view.

School — Education wants to frame your thinking.

Nature … Natural disasters “ Act of God!”

Religion — many ways up the mountain.

Parents … Much of our world view comes from home. 

The Apostle John was Jesus closest earthly friend.John took care of Jesus Mother.  What dis he say about Jesus?

John 1:3-4  “The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.”

John 1:17-18 “For the law was given through Moses, but God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is himself God, is near to the Father’s heart. He has revealed God to us.”

John 1:29 “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, ‘Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!’” 

John 2:1-11 “On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Now both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, ‘They have no wine.’

Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come.’ His mother said to the servants, ‘Whatever He says to you, do it.’ Now there were set there six waterpots of stone, …

…according to the manner of purification of the Jews, containing twenty or thirty gallons apiece. Jesus said to them, ‘Fill the waterpots with water.’ And they filled them up to the brim.

And He said to them, ‘Draw some out now, and take it to the master of the feast.’ And they took it. When the master of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew),

… the master of the feast called the bridegroom. And he said to him, ‘Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior.

You have kept the good wine until now!’  This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him.”

He Manifests His Glory:

Jesus is God.

Jesus transforms the ordinary into the extraordinary. 

Jesus is available NOW.

His Disciples Believe In Him:

I believe in Jesus.

I have experienced the miracle of transformation.

I am experiencing His best NOW.

Have you run out of wine?

Do you need a miracle of transformation?

Do you need the ordinary to experience the extraordinary?

Take the filters of of JESUS! Remove everything that hinders you from experiencing His presence.

“Whatever He says to you, do it.”

John 1:12  “But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.”

Open House | “Open Hearts” Sermon

Introduced the series with following Scriptures:

Solomon writes Proverbs 9:1

Jesus echoes this in:

Paul expresses this concept in:

To What End?

Ephesians 3:10

• We carry mats- people need to encounter the forgiveness and healing of

So I have a question for you, do you have fridge friend relationships?

There’s a big difference between a casual friend and a “fridge friend.” You know

That’s the person who’s so comfortable in your home that they don’t even ask for

When someone feels at home enough to share life with you like that, it’s special.

It is an expression of an open home an open heart.

In Scripture, the heart is often described as the center of our being—the seat

In Revelation 3:20, Jesus says, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If

“This powerful verse shows Jesus’ desire to enter into the “house” of our hearts.

Jesus wants to have that deep connection with us, but it starts with our willingness

Our openness allows Christ to dwell with us, to transform us, and to invite

Our heart is like a home that needs to be open for Jesus and for others.

A heart that welcomes guests, feeds them, and shares life with them.

Shares life not with just the ones we are comfortable with but all… From every

There is a beautiful Psalm by Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm. A song. 87:1-7

He has founded his city on the holy mountain.

Psalm 87 is significant as a call for Christians to have open hearts because it

It reminds us that God’s love is inclusive, and the Church should reflect that same

By having open hearts, believers can participate in God’s vision of Zion—a place

Mark Nepo author/poet said: “To keep our hearts open is probably the most

Clarissa Pinkola Estés:

Having a heart wide open is important because it reflects openness to God’s

An open heart is receptive to God’s guidance, compassionate toward others, and

Today I want to look at someone who by all counts should have written people

The church in Corinth was one of the congregations Paul founded during his

Throughout his letters to the church, we discover:

1. Had great affection and a true sense of paternal Care

2. He had to be both corrective and confrontational

3. He had to defend his calling

4. He’d had Painful Interactions

5. Yet he remained ever reconciliatory and forgiving

READ 2 Cor 6:1-10

2 Corinthians 6:11-13 (MSG)

This passage is a heartfelt appeal from Paul to the Corinthian believers, where he

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO HAVE A WIDE-OPEN HEART?

1. A Wide-Open Heart is a Vulnerable Heart.

Illus: Think of someone who, despite past pain or disappointment, chooses to love

You could shut it and remain safe, but instead, you choose to repair it and

This is what Paul is doing—he is inviting the Corinthians into his life despite

A wide-open heart is a heart that risks being hurt because it does not close itself off

Brene Brown: “Vulnerability is not winning or losing; it’s having the courage to

Application: Sometimes we close ourselves off from people because of past hurts,

Paul’s example challenges us to trust God’s strength and love enough to widen

OPEN HEARTS ARE WILLING TO RISK VULNERABILITY

2. A Wide-Open Heart Creates Room for Others

When Paul speaks of widening his heart, he’s making room for others. It’s as if

The Corinthians had limited their affection, but Paul’s heart was open and

• In the same way, widening our hearts is about knocking down the walls of

Application: In our relationships, do we have room for others—especially those

3. A Wide-Open Heart as an Act of Reconciliation

• One decides to reach out, extending an olive branch and making the first move.

Paul’s plea is part of a larger appeal for reconciliation. He is asking the Corinthians

He’s essentially saying, “I’ve made room for you—will you make room for me?”

• He’s opening his heart, taking the first step, and saying, “I’m here, ready to

• Application: Are there relationships in your life where God might be calling you

3. The Freedom of a Wide-Open Heart

Paul tells the Corinthians that they are “restricted in [their] own affections”. Their

• Widening our hearts will allow the love, grace, and life of God to flow through

• Application: What is restricting your heart today? Is it fear, past hurt, or even

Widening our hearts to God and others means allowing His love to flow freely

4. A Wide-open Heart is a Reflection of Christ’s Love

1 Corinthians 11:1 (NIV): “Follow my example, as I follow the example of

Paul is modeling what he’s learned from Christ, whose love is extravagant,

Just as Christ’s heart is wide enough to include all of humanity, Paul’s heart is

2 Corinthians 12:13-14 MSG

Paul modelled/embodied what he’s learned from Christ, whose love is

This is how Christ’s love is—open, wide, and welcoming. Paul’s appeal is for the

With arms wide open under the SONlight

Application: Widening our hearts means imitating Christ. It means welcoming

“YOUR LOVE IS EXTRAVAGANT”

APPEAL

Series: “Open House”  Sermon:  “We Come In And Go Out”

Mark 1:37 “Everyone is looking for You.”

Hebrews 3:6 (NLT) “But Christ, as the Son, is in charge of God’s entire house. And we are God’s house, …”

We Carry Mats

Mark 2:3 “Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men.” 

We Operate In Authority

The NEW COVENANT moves us from the realm of:

Beggars   TO.    Commanders

We Praise On Purpose

Psalm 8:2 (NIV) “Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.”

We Come In And Go Out

Coming in:— WORSHIP.     Going out:— WITNESS

John 10:9  NIV  “I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture.”      Jesus will show you how to go in and come out.

Why did Solomon ask for wisdom?

1 Kings 3:7 “You have made Your servant king instead of my father David, but I am a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in.”

Numbers 27:15-17 “…Let the Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation, who may go out before them and go in before them, who may lead them out and bring them in,…”

Deuteronomy 31:1-2   “Then Moses went and spoke these words to all Israel. And he said to them: “I am one hundred and twenty years old today. I can no longer go out and come in.”

Deuteronomy 28:6  “Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out.”     Not just coming and leaving your house.

Joshua 14:11 “As yet I am as strong this day as on the day that Moses sent me; just as my strength was then, so now is my strength for war, both for going out and for coming in.”

A governing, military term. Warfare

Old Testament was a shadow or a type for us.  Their battle was manifest physically.

Our battle is spiritual.   Not a battle against flesh and blood … but for souls.

1 Samuel 18:12-16 “…he went out and came in before the people.  And David behaved wisely … and the Lord was with him. Therefore, when Saul saw that he behaved very wisely, he was afraid of him…”

Coming In — WORSHIP

1. Brings God’s Presence.  “The Lord was with him…”

2. Brings The Fear Of God.  “Saul was afraid of David,…”

3. Brings God’s Wisdom.   “…saw that he behaved wisely,”

2 Chronicles 9:1-4 “And when the queen of Sheba had seen the wisdom of Solomon …and his entryway (upper room) by which he went up to the house of the Lord, there was no more spirit in her.”

Two ways to influence people:

One is the product of exertion.    One is the product of existence.

We reach people by the way we come in. Make a commitment to coming in. 

Make your life an expression of worship.

You can’t go out until you come in.  BUT, you are called to go out!   You can’t just come in.

Why did David fall?

2 Samuel 11:1-5 “…at the time when kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him … But David remained at Jerusalem. Then it happened…”

Acts 1:8 “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be____________”

NOT my prosecutors.  NOT my defence.  MY WITNESSES – connect with people tell your story.

We Come In And Go Out!

John 7:38  “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”      You get your needs met by giving. 

Mark 16:15   “Jesus said to his followers, ‘Go everywhere in the world, and tell the Good News to everyone.’”

1 Corinthians 9:19-23 (NLT) “I have become a slave to all people to bring many to Christ. … Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some.  I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings.”

Called to IMPACT your world! 

The Process:      1. Aware     2. Prayer       3. Share       4. Care

The greatest thing anyone can do for God and man is to pray. It is not the only thing. But is the chief thing….you can do more than pray, after you have prayed. But you can not do more than pray until you have prayed.   S.D Gordon 

Luke 10:33-34. “But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion.  So he went to him … and took care of him.”

Matthew 5:13. “You are the salt of the earth.”

See As Jesus – Value

Accept As Jesus – Where they are 

Love As Jesus – Unconditional

Touch As Jesus – Transformational

“Evangelism is helping people discover how God is already at work in their lives.”   Sam Williams  

Witnessing is talking about someone you love!

Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

What fills your heart?