Who is Jesus?

John 1:4-5

In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

WHO IS JESUS

1.WORD

2. LIFE

3. LIGHT

LIFE - zóé

Life in its fullest sense, encompassing both physical and spiritual dimensions.

Physical & Spiritual

LIGHT - Reveal & Revive

LIGHT = LIFE

DARK  = DEATH

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

John 8:12 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

Ephesians 5:8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.

You have to be spiritually born and spiritually alive.

1 John 1:5-7

This is the message we have heard from him (Jesus) and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

1 John 5:11

And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

Luke 1:78-79

“because of the tender mercy of our God,whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high 79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

 

Who is Jesus?

John 1:1-3

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.

Who is Jesus to me?

Word - Logos - Reason

What is the reason for life?

What am I living for?

Epicureans / Stoics

Acts 17:18

Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also conversed with him. And some said, “What does this babbler wish to say?” Others said, “He seems to be a preacher of foreign divinities”—because he was preaching Jesus and the resurrection.

1 Corinthians 15:31

I protest, brothers, by my pride in you, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die every day! 32 What do I gain if, humanly speaking, I fought with beasts at Ephesus? If the dead are not raised, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.”

1 Timothy 4:7-8

Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; 8 for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.

Is Jesus you Logos (reason)?

Ephesians 5:25

Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her

Ephesians 6:4

Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

1 Timothy 4:8

But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.

John 1:1

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

GOAL & GUIDE

John 1:18

No one has ever seen God; the only God,who is at the Father's side (in the bosom of the Father) he has made him known.

John 1:1-2

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God.

Word - LOGOS -

1. “The Reason” the rational principle by which everything exists.

2 .“The outward expression. Speech/Message.”

1 Corinthians 1:18

For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

John 1:3

All things were made through  Him, and without Him was not any thing made that was made.

1. He made you.

2. He is the reason that you were made.

Colossians 1:16-20

For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.”

"But Daniel resolved."

RESOLVE - To be determined. To have a definite, conclusive, and earnest desire. To settle it and to solve it in one's mind. To make up your mind about a matter to move decisively towards a certain direction.

1.  Resolved to live for God in the midst of trouble.

Daniel 1:1-7 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. 2 And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with some of the vessels of the house of God. And he brought them to the land of Shinar, to the house of his god, and placed the vessels in the treasury of his god. 3 Then the king commanded Ashpenaz, his chief eunuch, to bring some of the people of Israel, both of the royal family and of the nobility, 4 youths without blemish, of good appearance and skillful in all wisdom, endowed with knowledge, understanding learning, and competent to stand in the king's palace, and to teach them the literature and language of the Chaldeans. 5 The king assigned them a daily portion of the food that the king ate, and of the wine that he drank. They were to be educated for three years, and at the end of that time they were to stand before the king. 6 Among these were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah of the tribe of Judah. 7 And the chief of the eunuchs gave them names: Daniel he called Belteshazzar, Hananiah he called Shadrach, Mishael he called Meshach, and Azariah he called Abednego.

2.Resolved when hard decisions had to be made.

Daniel 1:8 But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king's food, or with the wine that he drank. Therefore he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself.

A Line of Resistance

Do not taste what you don’t want to hunger after.

I will vs I MUST

3. Resolved when the potential consequences are severe

Daniel 1:9-16 And God gave Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the chief of the eunuchs, 10 and the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel, “I fear my lord the king, who assigned your food and your drink; for why should he see that you were in worse condition than the youths who are of your own age? So you would endanger my head with the king.” 11 Then Daniel said to the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had assigned over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 12 “Test your servants for ten days; let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 Then let our appearance and the appearance of the youths who eat the king's food be observed by you, and deal with your servants according to what you see.” 14 So he listened to them in this matter, and tested them for ten days. 15 At the end of ten days it was seen that they were better in appearance and fatter in flesh than all the youths who ate the king's food. 16 So the steward took away their food and the wine they were to drink, and gave them vegetables.

Slide- Humility precedes promotion.

Slide- Stay Resolved, Knowing God is working in ways we can’t see.

Slide- Daniel 1:17-21 As for these four youths, God gave them learning and skill in all literature and wisdom, and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. 18 At the end of the time, when the king had commanded that they should be brought in, the chief of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. 19 And the king spoke with them, and among all of them none was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. Therefore they stood before the king. 20 And in every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters that were in all his kingdom. 21 And Daniel was there until the first year of King Cyrus.

RE  SOLVE 

COMPROMISE 

Isaiah 50:7 - But the Lord God helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced;

therefore I have set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame

Luke 9:51 When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem.

 

“If you want to win when everyone’s watching, you’ve got to work when no one's watching.”

God breaks and makes leaders in the lonely places.

Luke 5:16

But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.

Full schedules don’t lead to full lives.

Loneliness vs Solitude

Loneliness is inner emptiness. Solitude is inner fulfillment.

Jesus inaugurated his ministry by spending 40 days alone in the desert

(Matt.4:1-11)

Before he chose the 12, he’s been an entire night in the desert Hills

(Luke 6:12)

He would drew to the lonely place after he learned of John the Baptist death

(Matt 14:13)

After feeding the 5000 he went up into the hills by himself.

(Matt 14:23)

Following a long light of healing, he went out to a lonely place.

(Mark 1:35)

He beckoned the 12 apostles to lonely places with him.

(Mark 6:31)

Following the healing of a leper, he went through to the wilderness and prayed

(Luke 5:16)

A lonely mountain top was the stage of his transfiguration

(Matt.17:1-9)

Mark 14:50

Then everyone deserted him and fled.

Matthew 26:56

But all this has taken place that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples left him and fled.

Matthew 27:46

And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

Jesus went through death alone so you would never have to go through life alone

“Like Jesus, we must go away from people so that we can truly be present with people when we are with people.” -R.Foster

Isaiah 50:10

Who among you fears the Lord and obeys the voice of his servant?Let him who walks in darkness and has no light trust in the name of the Lord and rely on his God.

Psalm 100:4

Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!

Philippians 4:6-7

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

Philippians 4:7

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Colossians 3:15-17

And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Psalm 118:1

Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!

Deuteronomy 6:4-9

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

Mark 10:13-16

And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.

Matthew 28:16-20

Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[b] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

2 Corinthians 5:17

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.[b] The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

Galatians 2:20

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Matthew 22:36-40

Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

RICH VILLODAS

Ephesians 4:1-3

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Compromise or Cancel

John 17:20-23

“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, 23 I in them and you in me, that they may becomeperfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me

Romans 14:5-9

One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God. 7 For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. 8 For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's. 9 For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.

If your convictions aren’t biblical, they are at best useless opinions and at worst they are damnable lies.

How do we maintain unity when we come to opposite conclusions based on biblical convictions?

James 1:19-21

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. 21 Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

Romans 15:5-6

May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, 6 that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Endorsement - The act of giving public approval or support of someone or something.

Joshua 5:13-15

When Joshua was by Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing before him with his drawn sword in his hand. And Joshua went to him and said to him, “Are you for us, or for our adversaries?” And he said, “No; but I am the commander of the army of the Lord. Now I have come.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped and said to him, “What does my lord say to his servant?” And the commander of the Lord's army said to Joshua, “Take off your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.

Matthew 28:18-20

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Matthew 22:36-40

Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’  This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

A vote is not a valentine.

1 Samuel 16:7

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”

A vote is a selection, not a sacrament.

A vote is a means of grace to pick the best path forward.

Matthew 5:13 -16

“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet. “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Deuteronomy 10:18

He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing.

Zechariah 7:10

do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the sojourner, or the poor, and let none of you devise evil against another in your heart.”

Matthew 25:35

For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me,

Acts 17:26-27

And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us,

INDIVIDUAL, FAMILY, CHURCH, STATE

Proverbs 6:16-18

There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil,

Matthew 22:36-40

Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

YOU

Luke 9:23

Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.

Matthew 19:28-30

Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.

The world = prioritize your rights

Jesus = prioritize others needs

…And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

The way you love your invisible father with everything, is to love your visible neighbor with everything.

Using every means of grace God has given me to lovingly meet my neighbors needs is how I show to God and the onlooking world , that I love Him with everything.

How do I vote in a way that will bring about God’s best for my neighbor?

What “neighbors” does Jesus seem to put special emphasis on?

Poor/Oppressed

Proverbs 31:8-9

Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute. 9 Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy.

Psalm 140:12

I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and will execute justice for the needy.

Psalm 72:4

May he defend the cause of the poor of the people, give deliverance to the children of the needy, and crush the oppressor!

Orphan/Widow

Deuteronomy 10:17-18

For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who is not partial and takes no bribe. 18 He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing.

James 1:27

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

Sojourner/Immigrant

Deuteronomy 10:18

He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing.

Matthew 25:35

For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me,

2 Corinthians 8:9

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.

1 John 3:16

By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.

 

If the Church doesn’t disciple people the world will.

Does God call us to vote?

Genesis 1:27-28

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.28 And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

Slide - The governed and those governing are sinners. If we are going to have any hope of experiencing God’s good desire for government we are in desperate need of His grace.

Romans 13:1-7

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, 4 for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience. 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. 7 Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.

1 Peter 2:13-17

Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, 14 or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. 15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. 16 Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. 17 Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.

1. The government is God’s ordained institution for the purpose of promoting good and restraining evil .

2. Followers of Jesus should be subject to the government while keeping ultimate allegiance with God.

Mark 12:29-31

Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

CONSTITUTIONAL REPUBLIC = Government OF the people,  BY the people, and FOR the people.

Governed and Governing.

Reflect God’s just governance by working to promote good, punish evil, and protect all people from harm. (see Genesis 1:27-28, 9:1-7, Psalm 8:5-8)

Subject ourselves to and support the government for the flourishing of all people. (see Romans 13:1-7, 1 Peter 2:13-17)

Do justice– that which is right for all people as exemplified in the character of God expressed in the word of God. (see Jeremiah 22:3, Micah 6:8)

Pray and work for the welfare of the nation and which we live. (see Jeremiah 29:7)

Love God, and love our neighbor as ourselves (see Matthew 23:37-40)

Steward any responsibility we have in governance for the good of all people affected by our government. (see Romans 13:1-7, 1 Peter 2:13-17, Daniel 4:27)

What is a vote? A unique privilege and responsibility that God has entrusted to us by his grace.

God calls us to use every means of grace that he has given us to love him above all and to love our neighbor as ourselves. (see Mark 12:29-31)

Does God call us to vote?

YES! He calls us to use every means of grace to love him above all and love our neighbor as ourselves. Voting is one of those means.

FAMILY, CHURCH, GOVERNMENT

Proverbs 29:2

When the righteous increase, the people rejoice, but when the wicked rule, the people groan.

30,000,000 & 42,000

If Godly people won’t lead their nation, through voting, Godless people will.

Who has your heart?

Mark 12:17

Jesus said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.” And they marveled at him.

No worldly leader is worthy of your heart.

Psalm 146:3

Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation

Does Jesus have your heart?