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Acts 4:31 “And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.”Boldness is given to those resisting the status quo.Get Desperate (*title of message)Holy desperation is extraordinary behavior (boldness) prompted from extraordinary needMark 5:25-34 NKJV (I’m gonna read it all..so if you wanna type it up so they can follow along…)“According to the Jewish ideas of the time, if this woman touched anyone, she made him or her ceremonially unclean. This uncleanness did not allow them to take part in any aspect of Israel’s worship.“- David Guzik“By the very law of her people, she was divorced from her husband, and could not live in her home; she was ostracized from all society, and must not come into contact with her old friends; she was excommunicated from the service of the synagogue, and thus shut out from the women’s courts in the temple.“-Morgan“When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched his garment. For she said, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.”1) HOLY DESPERATION LEADS TO BOLDNESS BECAUSE OF CONVINCED FAITH2) HOLY DESPERATION LEADS TO BOLDNESS THROUGH DELIBERATE DECISIONS“Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction.”“And Jesus immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, ’Who touched My clothes?’”3) HOLY DESPERATION LEADS TO A BOLDNESS THAT GETS THE ATTENTION OF GOD“Augustine long ago said of this story, ’Flesh presses, Faith touches. ’He can always distinguish between the jostle of the curious mob and the organized touch of a needy soul.“-Morgan“But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before him and told him the whole truth.”4) HOLY DESPERATION LEADS TO BOLDLY CLAIMING WHAT’S YOURS IN CHIRSTIsaiah 6:1 “I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple.”“Every devout Jew wore an outer robe…to signify to others, and to remind themselves that the wearer was a member of the chosen people of God.“-Barclay“And He said to her, ’Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.”5) HOLY DESPERATION LEADS TO BOLDLY BEING IDENTIFIED AS CHILDREN OF GOD6) HOLY DESPERATION LEADS TO A BOLDNESS PLATFORMLuke 8:47 it says “now when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before Him, she declared to Him in the presence of all the people the reason she touched Him and how she was healed immediately.”Mark 6:56 “Wherever He (Jesus) entered into the villages, cities, or the country, they laid the sick in the market places, and begged Him that they might just touch the hem of his garment. And as many as touched Him were made well.”

29 And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, 30 while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

31 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.

Acts 4:29-31

31 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness. 32 Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. 33 And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.

Acts 4:31-33

HONORING OTHERS WITH BOLDNESS.

32 Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. 33 And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.

Acts 4:31-32 

14 All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.

Acts 1:14

44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Acts 2:44-47

UNITY IS GOD’S WILL

35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples if you love one another.”

John 13:35

The church is not a religious community of worshippers of Christ but is Christ himself who has taken form among people.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer

If the church is the body (of Christ) we dare not cannibalize ourselves. When we devour each other (through gossip, slander, condemnation, etc) we sink our sharp teeth into the flesh of Christ—not in Eucharistic (communion) worship, but in fleshly fallenness.

Rich Villodas

“My prayer is not for them (the disciples) alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.”

John 17:20-23

We pray, “Oh God, send thy Holy Spirit upon us so we’ll be united.” We might just as well repeat “Three Blind Mice.” God does not hear that kind of prayer because it has no sense in it. The Holy Ghost did not come upon the disciples to unite them. The Holy Spirit came upon the disciples because they were already united, “being of one accord and in one place.” 

Scholars tell us that “being of one accord” is a musical term, meaning harmony. The early Christians already were one. They were in harmony with each other when they were together in one place.

A.W. Tozer

21 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother[c] will be liable to judgment; whoever insults[d] his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell[e] of fire. 23 So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

Matthew 5:21-24 

UNITY IS BORN FROM HONOR

10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.

Romans 6:1-6

• What is honor? 

Honor: the recognition of the value, contribution, and importance of others.

“No Christian should approach another Christian directly; they should be mediated by Christ.”

Dietrich Bonhoeffer

1. Avoid Gossip
2. See Jesus in Others 
3. Speak directly to each other “Don’t tell me unless you plan on telling them.”
4. Assume the Best 
5. Remember Who’s Team We’re On 
6. Don’t Try To Be Right, Try To Understand

UNITY IS NOT ALL OF US BEING THE SAME

17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? 18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 19 If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts,[e] yet one body.

21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22 On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, 24 which our more presentable parts do not require. 

1 Corinthians 12:17-24

UNITY IS NOT ACHIEVED THROUGH AVOIDING CONFLICT

UNITY MUST BE PROTECTED

11 But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. 12 For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party.[a] 13 And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. 14 But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, “If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?”

Galatians 2:11-14

As hard as this was, Paul did it because he knew what was at stake. This wasn’t a matter of personal conduct or just personal sin on Peter’s part. If that were the case it is unlikely that Paul would have first used such a public approach. This was a matter of the truth of the gospel; proclaiming, “This is how a man is right before God.”

David Guzik

SIGNS YOU AREN’T PROTECTING UNITY

29 And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, 30 while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 31 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.

ACTS 4:5-31 

DO IT SCARED.

Boldness (parresia): freedom in speaking, unreservedness in speech. Free and fearless confidence, cheerful courage, assurance

BOLDNESS IS INHERITED, NOT INHERENT

13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished.

ACTS 4:13

By all outward measures, Christianity – the movement of the followers of Jesus – was very weak at this early point.

They were few in number.

They were inexperienced in leadership.

They were commanded to not fight back; they were not militant.

They were opposed by institutions that had existed for hundreds of years.

DAVID GUZIK

13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. 

ACTS 4:13

“Unlearned and ignorant” - that is, these men hadn’t been to a theological seminary. But the Sanhedrin noted that they had been with Jesus. How wonderful to have a life that somehow or other calls attention to Jesus.

J. Vernon McGee

“Let me ask you, how many atheists are now in this house? Perhaps not a single one of you would accept the title, and yet, if you live from Monday morning to Saturday night in the same way as you would live if there were no God, you are a practical atheist.”

Charles Spurgeon

“The chief duty of the Christian is to make their hearts glad in the Lord.”

George Muller

I have seen You

I've beheld Your glory

And I am ruined

For there is none to compare

Jeremy Riddle (Psalm 63)

BOLDNESS IS GIVEN TO THOSE RESISTING THE STATUS QUO, NOT TO THOSE IN IT

Status Quo: the existing state of affairs

8 And the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued the children of Israel, and the children of Israel went out with boldness. 

Exodus 14:8

The idea behind the Hebrew words with boldness (ruwn yad) includes the idea of rebellion against authority. The rebellious nature of Israel was good when it was against Pharaoh and all it stood for; it was bad when it was against the LORD, Moses, and all they stood for. The trouble with most rebels is that they rebel against the wrong things.

David Guzik

“It made me a little envious at that moment. And since then, that I didn’t have that foundation as an atheist, or some sort of higher purpose or something. Cause in the face of that inexplicable tragedy I’m kind of flailing.” 

Nick Wright

BOLDNESS CHANGES THE WORLD

“Make ten men feel like a hundred.”

Cassian Andor

LUKE 15:11-32

THE GIFT OF ROCK BOTTOM

21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 

24 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, 25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator,

ROMANS 1:21,24-25

Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

JAMES 1:15

THE GIFT OF UNEARNED GRACE

31 And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 

LUKE 15:31

THE GIFT OF A FATHER

63% of youth suicides are from fatherless homes.

90% of all homeless and runaway children are from fatherless homes.

85% of all children who show behavior disorders come from fatherless homes. 

71% of high school dropouts come from fatherless homes

85% of all youths in prison come from fatherless homes

If a child is the first person in the family to accept Christ and join the church, the rest of the family will do the same only 3.5% of the time. If the mother is the first, that percentage goes to 17%. But if the father is the first to accept Christ and join the church, the rest of his family will follow 93% of the time.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

JOHN 3:16-17

HE LOVES 

18 And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. 19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

EPHESIANS 3:18-19

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son,

HE GIVES

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

JOHN 3:16-17

HE RESTORES 

9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own,[b] and his own people[c] did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

JOHN 1:9-13

Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some do, letters of recommendation to you, or from you? 2 You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on our[a] hearts, to be known and read by all. 3 And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.

4 Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. 5 Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, 6 who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

7 Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at Moses' face because of its glory, which was being brought to an end, 8 will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory? 9 For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory. 10 Indeed, in this case, what once had glory has come to have no glory at all, because of the glory that surpasses it. 11 For if what was being brought to an end came with glory, much more will what is permanent have glory.

12 Since we have such a hope, we are very bold, 13 not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end. 14 But their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away. 15 Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts. 16 But when one[c] turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. 17 Now the Lord[d] is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord,[e] are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another.[f] For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

2 CORINTHIANS 3:1-18

Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some do, letters of recommendation to you, or from you? 2 You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on our[a] hearts, to be known and read by all. 3 And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.

2 CORINTHIANS 3:1-3

18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord,[e] are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another.[f] For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

2 CORINTHIANS 3:18

1. YEAR OF THE DOUBLE-DOUBLE

2. YEAR OF FIRSTS

3. YEAR OF FILLING UP

4. YEAR OF POURING OUT

18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord,[e] are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another.[f] For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

2 CORINTHIANS 3:18

For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

GALATIANS 5:1

13 For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 

GALATIANS 5:13-14

24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

GALATIANS 5:24-26 

Egkrateia was widely praised by the Greeks long before the time of Paul. In fact, Ancient Greek philosophers such as Socrates considered it[self-control] to be the foundational human virtue. Xenophon, a follower of Socrates, summarized well his teachers’ views on the subject: Shall not every man hold self-control [egkrateia] to be the foundation of all virtue, and first lay this foundation firmly in his soul? For who without this can learn any good or practice it worthily?

Philip Kenneson

Bad news: self-control is hard.

Good news: the opposite of self-control is not an out-of-control person, it’s out-of-control appetites. 

Appetites: a natural desire to satisfy a bodily need; a strong desire or liking for something

“PEOPLE ARE AT THE MERCY OF THEIR APPETITES” - The World

THE WORLD’S VIEW OF APPETITE

1. YOU ARE WHAT YOU DESIRE (IDENTITY)

2. YOU WILL NEVER BE TRULY HAPPY UNTIL YOU SATISFY THAT DESIRE

 But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power.

2 Timothy 3:1-3

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

1 John 2:15-17 

11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.

Ecclesiastes 3:11

"The human heart has an eternal desire that will NEVER be met and satisfied with temporal things; it can only be met by a relationship with an eternal God.”

“SEEKING TO FULFILL OUR OWN DESIRES OFTEN LEADS TO SLAVERY TO THEM.”

Jon Tyson

• Our physical, emotional, and spiritual appetites that we ALL HAVE will never be fully satisfied until we jump head-first into a relationship with God.

Self-Control: sacrificial stewardship of yourself for the sake of others

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” 4 But he answered, “It is written,

“‘Man shall not live by bread alone,
     but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple 6 and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written,

“‘He will command his angels concerning you,’

and

“‘On their hands they will bear you up,
     lest you strike your foot against a stone.’”

7 Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” 8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” 10 Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written,

“‘You shall worship the Lord your God
     and him only shall you serve.’”

11 Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him.

Matthew 4:1-11

WHAT KIND OF PERSON NEEDS SELF-CONTROL?

EVERY KIND OF PERSON.

We should consider the circumstances that preceded the temptation of Jesus: He was in an especially devout frame of mind before His temptation.

1. He was engaged in an act of public obedience to His Father’s will before His temptation.

2. He was in an exceedingly humble frame of mind before His temptation.

3. He was blessed by a heavenly assurance of His Sonship before His temptation.

4. He was filled with the Holy Spirit before His temptation.

5. He was completely separated from the world before His temptation.

Self-control is not something we grow out of; it’s something we grow into.

B: BORED

H: HUNGRY 

A: ANGRY 

L: LONELY

T: TIRED

2 And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 And the tempter came

Matthew 4:2-3

1. JESUS WAS IN THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

Matthew 4:1

In the spring of the year, the time when kings go out to battle, David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel. And they ravaged the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem. It happened, late one afternoon, when David arose from his couch and was walking on the roof of the King’s house, that he saw from the roof a women bathing…

2 Samuel 11:1-2

2. JESUS HAD AN APPETITE FOR THE WORD THAT WAS STRONGER

 3 And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.”

4 But he answered, “It is written,

“‘Man shall not live by bread alone,
     but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

Matthew 4:3-4

 2 Do not be conformed to this world,[c] but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.[d]

Romans 12:2

“Self-control isn’t about striving to become who God has called us to be, it is about ordering our life a...

Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. 2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. 5 For each will have to bear his own load.

GALATIANS 6:1

It is fitting that love be the first mentioned because it [love] encompasses all of the following. It may even be said that the following eight terms are just describing what love in action looks like. 

DAVID GUZIK

Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him…

GALATIANS 6:1

Our mission is to RESTORE.

Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness.

GALATIANS 6:1

Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases. 2 He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.

LUKE 9:1-2

51 As the time drew near for him to ascend to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. 52 He sent messengers ahead to a Samaritan village to prepare for his arrival. 53 But the people of the village did not welcome Jesus because he was on his way to Jerusalem. 54 When James and John saw this, they said to Jesus, “Lord, should we call down fire from heaven to burn them up[j]?” 55 But Jesus turned and rebuked them. 56 So they went on to another village.

LUKE 9:1-2

Their offense – even on behalf of Jesus – was not appreciated.

DAVID GUZIK

Roughness: power that is out of control; caused by the inability to see something/someone as valuable or fragile.

REASONS FOR ROUGHNESS

1.) MISUNDERSTANDING JESUS

51 As the time drew near for him to ascend to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.

LUKE 9:51

For the Lord GOD will help Me; therefore I will not be disgraced; therefore I have set My face like a flint, and I know that I will not be ashamed. 

ISAIAH 50:7

Jesus hardened His face; not in the sense of becoming a hard or angry man, but in the sense of having focus, and having focus through a difficult time. They saw the flint-face of Jesus and thought it meant mean or tough. They didn’t understand that it meant focus and being more focused on love than ever before. That flint-like face will end up on the cross in the ultimate demonstration of love, not the ultimate demonstration of anger.

DAVID GUZIK

God's seriousness against sin is not from a place of ROUGHNESS or anger; it's from a place of DEEP LOVE for the sinner to be made RIGHT.

2.) MISUNDERSTANDING WORTH

Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs on your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.

MATTHEW 10:39-31

For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.

PSALM 139:13-16 

Gentleness: power under control

GENTLENESS SOFTENS MY WORDS

Evil words destroy one’s friends; wise discernment rescues the godly.

PROVERBS 11:9

“Gentle words bring life and health; a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.”

PROVERBS 11:9

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”

PROVERBS 18:21

“A person’s words can be life-giving water; words of true wisdom are as refreshing as a bubbling brook.”

PROVERBS 18:4

GENTLENESS ISN’T SURPRISED WHEN PEOPLE MISS THE MARK AND HELPS THEM GET BACK UP

11 Now as they heard these things, He spoke another parable, because He was near Jerusalem and because they thought the kingdom of God would appear immediately. 12 Therefore He said: “A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return. 13 So he called ten of his servants, delivered to them ten [e]minas, and said to them, ‘Do business till I come.’ 14 But his citizens hated him, and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We will not have this man to reign over us.’

15 “And so it was that when he returned, having received the kingdom, he then commanded these servants, to whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading. 16 Then came the first, saying, ‘Master, your mina has earned ten minas.’ 17 And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.’ 18 And the second came, saying, ‘Master, your mina has earned five minas.’ 19 Likewise he said to him, ‘You also be over five cities.’

20 “Then another came, saying, ‘Master, here is your mina, which I have kept put away in a handkerchief. 21 For I feared you, because you are [f]an austere man. You collect what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.’ 22 And he said to him, ‘Out of your own mouth I will judge you, you wicked servant. You knew that I was an austere man, collecting what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow. 23 Why then did you not put my money in the bank, that at my coming I might have collected it with interest?’

24 “And he said to those who stood by, ‘Take the mina from him, and give it to him who has ten minas.’ 25 (But they said to him, ‘Master, he has ten minas.’) 26 ‘For I say to you, that to everyone who has will be given; and from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.

LUKE 19:11-26

vs11 "because they thought the kingdom of God would appear immediately "

vs12 "a certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return"

vs13 " so he called ten of his servants, delivered to them ten minas, and said to them 'do business till I come.' "

vs14 "but his citizens hated him, and sent a delegation after him saying: ' we will not have this man reign over us'"

en ho: "in which"; to do something in which it is consistent with it; because

vs15 "and so it was when he returned having received the kingdom...he called the servants to him..."

16 Then came the first, saying, ‘Master, your mina has earned ten minas.’ 17 And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.’ 

Faithfulness: steadfast in affection or allegiance. Firm in adherence to promises or in observance of duty.

Steadfast: firmly fixed. Not subject to change. To be firm in belief and determination

Compromise: accept standards that are lower than desirable. A concession

1. Compromise happens when you have a distorted view

2. Compromise occurs when promise is questioned

3. Compromise occurs through redefining

4. Compromise occurs through impatience

5. Compromise costs. Faithfulness fulfills

Lamentations 3:22-23 "Because of the Lord's great love, we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."

Hebrews 10:36 "for you have need of endurance so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise. For yet in a little while, he who is coming will come and not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith, but if anyone draws back, my soul has no pleasure in him. But we are not of those who draw back to perdition(sin) but of those who believe to the saving of the soul."

He [Jesus] wants fruit, more fruit, and much fruit. In His parable of the sower, He spoke of seed bringing forth thirtyfold, sixtyfold, and a hundredfold. He wants us to bear much fruit. Now the fruit is produced by the Lord Jesus using the Spirit of God in our lives. He wants to live His life through us. That is the reason I keep saying that you are never asked to live The Christian life. You are asked to LET HIM live through you. No believer can live the Christian life himself. The old nature cannot produce the fruit of the Spirit.

J. VERNON McGEE

THE WAY OF GOODNESS VS. THE WAY OF BROKENNESS

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body[a] and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.[b] 4 But[c] God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

EPHESIANS 2:2-10

Goodness (agathōsynē): uprightness of heart and life; morally honorable, and pleasing to God; beneficial to other people

10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

EPHESIANS 2:10

38God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.

ACTS 10:38

The Lord is good,

a refuge in times of trouble.

He cares for those who trust in him.

NAHUM 1:7 

Trust in the Lord and do good;

dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.

PSALM 37:3

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

ROMANS 12:21

“We are told to prove the goodness of God, cleave to it, do it, work it, follow after it, be zealous about it, imitate it, and overcome evil with it.”

“It is quite striking that virtually all of the basic words describing salvation in the Bible imply a return to an originally good state or situation.”

AL WOLTERS

“The notion of good cannot be separated from the idea of the object’s purpose.” 

31 And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good.

GENESIS 1:31

THE OPPOSITE OF GOOD IS NOT BAD. THE OPPOSITE OF GOOD IS BROKEN.

The Fall broke every single part of our humanity; SPIRIT, SOUL, AND BODY.

Brokenness: having been fractured or damaged and no longer in one piece or working order.

WHAT DOES BROKENNESS LOOK LIKE?

1. A BROKEN SPIRIT

4 But[c] God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace, you have been saved

EPHESIANS 2:4-5

2. A BROKEN SOUL

10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

EPHESIANS 2:10

A BROKEN SOUL TRIES TO BE IN CONTROL

4-5 The serpent told the Woman, “You won’t die. God knows that the moment you eat from that tree, you’ll see what’s going on. You’ll be just like God, knowing everything, ranging all the way from good to evil.”

6 When the Woman saw that the tree looked like good eating and realized what she would get out of it—she’d know everything!—she took and ate the fruit and then gave some to her husband, and he ate.

GENESIS 3:4-6

A BROKEN SOUL TRIES TO HIDE

A BROKEN SOUL TRIES TO DEFLECT

“God cannot change who you are pretending to be.” - Jon Tyson

WHAT DOES GOODNESS LOOK LIKE?

Goodness is restoring broken things back to God’s good design.

GOODNESS LOOKS LIKE HELPING PEOPLE KNOW GOD.

“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”

EDMUND BURKE

GOODNESS LOOKS LIKE PRACTICING THE WAY OF JESUS.

GOODNESS LOOKS LIKE SERVING, GIVING, AND PRAYING FOR HEALING OVER PEOPLE.