Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 3/31/24

Looking At Death The Way Jesus Did

John 11

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Jesus described death as “sleep”.

If it is a sleep, then there is a future hope.

Three Aspects of Sleep:

Only Jesus can do the work of wakening people from their sleep of death. 

Jesus has the power of resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:20) 

Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 3/31/24

Resurrection in the Old Testament

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The world seeks after living for forever. But as soon as God says, “I will give you eternal life” they say, “No thank you.” 

God is the only way we can have life. 

Resurrection in the Old Testament:

Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 3/17/24

John 4:21-24/Romans 8:1-6

Walking in the Spirit: Our Minds

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The truest worship is those who worship God in spirit and truth.

We have a choice of a higher, a more powerful way to live - living according to the Spirit.

Our mind is the key.

If we set our minds on the sinful things of the flesh, it will pull us to walk in sin. But if we look up and set our focus on the things of the Spirit, then we will choose to walk according to the Spirit.

This takes repeated effort, day after day. And that’s when you grow and get stronger. 

Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 3/10/24

Genesis 12:6-9

The Altars of Abraham

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The altars were a tool for Abraham to pursue his relationship with God.

What An Altar Was:

1. It was an altar of sacrifice

A blood sacrifice is required to cover sin.

We don’t have to build altars today because Jesus came and was sacrificed for us on the altar of the cross.

2. It was an altar of worship

After we come to the first altar of Shechem, then we come to the second altar of Bethel.

Worship means that we give everything to God and hold anything back.

3. It was a testimony to the future generation

We need to build altars of testimony that speak to the next generation.

Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 3/10/24

Romans 7:6

The Newness of the Spirit

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The Old Testament law shows us that we do not have the ability to keep the law in our own strength.

We have power to overcome our sinful flesh through the power of Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit is a gift to us from Jesus.

The Holy Spirit gives us the power to do things that we wouldn’t normally do on our own.

The Holy Spirit empowers us to live in obedience to Christ and to have the boldness to preach Christ.

Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 3/3/24

Genesis 12:4-5

Obeying When God Doesn't Give You All The Answers

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The great example of Abraham is that he obeyed God.

God didn’t tell Abraham where he was going.

This is actually pretty common in our walk with God. We walk by faith.

Abraham trusted God, even when God didn’t give him all the answers.

Abraham had a mature and respectful faith.

We can trust the plans God has for us down the road, even if we don’t know them fully.

The core issue in life is: the Creator God wants His creation to obey Him.

Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 3/3/24

Ezekiel 36:22-32

I Will Give You A New Heart

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God’s plan is that when we are saved (have repented of our sins and put our trust in Jesus), He sends us His Holy Spirit inside of us.

The Holy Spirit goes with us to help us live a life of obedience to God.

Sanctification is growing in our strength to obey God more and more.

Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 2/18/24

Matthew 14:22-33

Trusting God Through the Storm

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In a sin cursed world, storms are inevitable.

This was an overwhelming kind of storm, where the water was going up over their heads and it seemed like there was no hope.

Everything that is overwhelming to us, Jesus can walk right on top of it and not have any problems. 

Jesus didn’t take the storm away.

It is not God’s plan to take away every storm in our life. There are times when He will make us get in a boat to go through a storm that we really don’t like.

The key to making it through the storm is that we know and keep our eyes on the Savior who can walk on the water. 

Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 2/18/24

John 6:35-48

God’s Election and Man’s Response

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No one will come to Jesus to be saved on their own - Psalm 14, Romans 3:23

Salvation is ultimately a work where God is choosing and not man. We do have to make a choice to respond to God’s call.

Man’s response comes at the tail-end. God’s choice comes first. 

We do not know who is elect and who is not. We are to share the Gospel with all. 

Mt. Olive Baptist Church | 2/11/24

Genesis 12:3

Six Divine Decrees of God, Part 3

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The Divine Law of Nations

Divine Decree #3: I will bless those who bless the nation of Israel, and curse those who curse Israel.