Liferoads Sermons

Late in his life the apostle John wrote to the Christian churches warning them of false teaching (1 John 2:18-29). This type of false teaching still hangs around today. John called those who deny Christ, the anti-Christ. Christians then and now need know and abide in the truth. Go back to the what drew you to Christ in the first place. Jesus is the living God. Be careful to not drift in your beliefs and ideas. Know who you are and live confidently as children of God and what great hope we have (1 John 3:1-2).

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There is a Christian maxim, origin unknown, "Sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay." Take sin seriously! Sin ruins. However, do not carry your sin (or others) as a burden, we have an advocate. "[Jesus] is the propitiation for our sins," meaning He has turned God's wrath into favor through His love (1 John 2:1-2). Jesus' love language is obedience. That word might make us flinch, but if we have accepted His grace and seek Him, we will find great confidence and assurance in following His wisdom (1 John 2:3-6). It begins with the Great commandment (John 13:34-35), Love God and Love people (1 John 2:7-11)(⁠1 John 2:12-17⁠). Keep in mind that loving God means not loving the things of the world, for we cannot serve two masters (Matthew 6:24). Obedience to the world is incompatible with obedience to Christ. Just as Jesus prayed, "I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth."(John 17:14-19).

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Navigating in darkness has its dangers. The light offers clarity and direction. The apostle John's first letter invites us in to God's light; a light of truth, wisdom and cleansing. John was an eye witness, he knew Jesus. This invitation he writes of, is an invitation into fellowship with others and with God. To truly be in the light, we must acknowledge sin. Without confession, it cannot be identified and cleansed. It is a matter of continual spiritual hygiene to identify and confess our sin. Take sin seriously - and take your savior seriously. He took your failures and purified you. So be free in His sacrifice and don't be a slave to sin.

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Henry David Thoreau once wrote, "The mass of men lead lives of quite desperation." That could be true, but it is an indicator that something is missing. Jesus promises more. He offers a solution to this desperation (John 10:1-18). He offered Himself so that we may know and live a full life. Jesus is the door to a full 'zoe' life, not just a life of existence, a life of meaning and purpose. He is the good shepherd that protects, and guides us. You need to meet my friend Jesus. This is not a promise of utopia, it is a promise of meaning (Matthew 11:28-30). The cross was an act of boldness for you.

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What does it really mean to be the church? In Ephesians 2:19–22, Paul describes the church not as a place we attend or something we consume, but as a family, a body, and a people God is building together. We need one another to grow in faith and to know Jesus more fully. The church will never be perfect, but it is one of the primary ways God forms us through relationships of love, encouragement, service, and belonging. The goal isn't simply to attend church, but to love the church and become part of what God is building together.
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In Isaiah concludes with God's promises to make all things new (Isaiah 65:17-66:2), that there will be a new lived experience because of the life he infuses into the world and the work he accomplishes, and he invites us to live in this new life now in anticipation of what will fully be.

Jesus restores broken people and creation, and then invites restored people to join Him in His work of restoration.

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In Isaiah 61, God promises good news for the brokenhearted, freedom for captives, comfort for those who mourn, and beauty instead of ashes. Centuries later, Jesus reads from Isaiah 61 in a synagogue and announced, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

Isaiah’s vision is one of deep restoration. God doesn’t simply remove the signs of brokenness, He replaces them with joy, praise, strength, and a new purpose. The people who were mourning in the ashes become oaks of righteousness, rebuilders of ruined places, and priests who represent God in the world.

Jesus restores broken people and then invites restored people to join Him in His work of restoration.

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God offers a grand invitation that is recorded in Isaiah 55. The voice resonates all they way back from Eden and is found in the mouth of Jesus (John 4:1-15; John 7:37-38). "Come, everyone who thirsts." See, we have a tendency to want to do it ourselves. Just like Jeremiah warned (2:13) we build cisterns that cannot hold water. There is only one source. All of heaven knows it, and longingly watch this story of redemption play out (1 Peter 1:10). Do you hear the call? "Come. Let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires to take the water of life without price." (Revelation 22:17)

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When it comes to prophecy, there is nothing that exists like Isaiah 53. The fourth Suffering Servant Song is a remarkable foreshadow of the Passion of Christ. When set next to Romans 5:12-21 one can see how one sin caused so much damage and one immensely loving act of God redeems all who humble themselves to receive it. Jesus' suffering is something we need to continually contemplate. How do I invite Jesus to come along side my suffering and glorify Him? How do I deal with suffering in a way that heals others?

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We have a tendency to focus on the present discontent instead of remembering how God has always overcome our challenges of the past. Chapter 51 in Isaiah is a reminder to Judah (Israel) of God's greatness in delivering them from pas rears and seemingly impossible circumstances. That reminder is for us too. Jesus has proven, He is our deliverer so worthy of worship. Let's learn from the past and have hope in Jesus.

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