RLCF Sermons

RLCF Men's Conference 2015 Session 6

RLCF Men's Conference 2015 Session 4

RLCF Men's Conference 2015 Session 3

RLCF Men's Conference 2015 Session 2

RLCF Men's Conference 2015 Session 1

The Three Parts of You: I Thessalonians 5:23: body: carnal (external): what pleases the body; soul: soulish (internal/hidden): what stimulates the intellect or emotions; spirit: spiritual (internal/hidden): what pleases God. Hebrews 6:19-20: God dwells “within the veil” (tabernacle); Hebrews 10:20: veil = flesh (Self-will); Hebrews 4:12: decisions based on what God says. Three men were walking on a wall — Feeling, Faith, and Fact; when Feeling took an awful fall and Faith was taken back; so close was Faith to Feeling, he stumbled and fell, too; but Fact remained and pulled Faith back, and Faith brought Feeling, too. Luke 6:46-49; 8:13,15: “dug deep”; Hebrews 5:11-6:2: signs you may be a soulish (baby) Christian: you act based on being convinced in your mind, or “feeling” like it; you quickly become bored when you study God’s Word or pray; you enjoy social aspects of church life, but never experience true fellowship (“walking in the light”); etc. Colossians 1:9-10: know God’s Will => walk! => bear fruit. Romans 12:1-2: not IN-formation, but TRANS-formation; not workers, but worshipers; not based on knowledge, but based on love. Hebrews 5:7; Mark 14:35-36; Luke 22:42-44: “Father, I don't feel like doing this, but if it is Your will, I will.” King of my life, I crown Thee now, Thine shall the glory be; Lest I forget Thy thorn crowned brow, Lead me to Calvary. Lest I forget Gethsemane, Lest I forget Thine agony; Lest I forget Thy love for me, Lead me to Calvary. May I be willing, Lord, to bear, Daily my cross for Thee; Even Thy cup of grief to share, Thou hast borne all for me.

4. Gifts without Life: Fig Leaves: Matthew 23:5,29-31; Matthew 6:1-18; public: religious talk, meetings, prayer, fasting; secret: anger, gossip, anxiety, complaining; Root of sin: Ephesians 4:31; Hebrews 12:15; James 1:26; ungratefulness; attitude of bitterness; Spiritual Fruit: II Cor. 4:10-11; Phil. 3:10-11; Eph. 4:29; daily dying with Jesus => prophecy. 5. Oppressive, not Merciful: Fig Leaves: Matthew 23:4; Root of sin: II Timothy 3:2-3; unloving, arrogant, brutal, irreconcilable; Spiritual Fruit: Matthew 23:23; love, meekness, faithfulness, mercy. Trees Without Fruit: Matthew 15:12-14: not planted by the Father; Jude 1:12: hidden reefs in your love feasts! trees without fruit; clouds without water; caring for themselves. The Way of Cain (Jude 1:11): religiosity: Genesis 4:4-5; Cain’s deeds were evil (I John 3:12); still offered religious sacrifice; offer anything but yourself (Heb. 10:5-9); hates spiritual (Matt.23:35; Gal.4:28-31); spirituality: Abel offered himself by faith (Heb. 11:4); secret to the anointing and fire. The Error of Balaam (Jude 1:11): religiosity: Numbers 22; 31:16; love of money and honor; still served God; Demas went elsewhere (II Tim. 4:10); spirituality: secret “manna” and “name” (Rev. 2:14-17). The Rebellion of Korah (Jude 1:11): religiosity: Numbers 16; priest of God; competition with others over ministry; rebelling against God-appointed authority; using religious language; in the home, and in the church; defiles many others; spirituality: seek only God’s interests (Phil. 2:21). Radical! Mark 11:20-23; radical = “from the roots up”; have faith in God to move this mountain.

Tree not sustained by hidden river of life; leaves give the appearance of life; Mark 11:12-23; Genesis 3:6-7: man-made = covering of fig leaves; God-made = covering of skin. 1. Of Man, Not of God: Fig Leaves: Matthew 23:23-28; exact obedience in external areas; Root of sin: II Timothy 3:5; Philippians 3:9; “of man, by man, for man”; Spiritual Fruit: Romans 11:36; the Divine Nature. 2. An Employee, not the Bride: Fig Leaves: Malachi 1:8; calculating employee; “What can I get out of the Lord and the Church?” Root of sin: II Timothy 3:2-4; lovers of Self, money, and pleasure. Spiritual Fruit: II Corinthians 11:2-3; Revelation 2:4-5; Bride serving endlessly out of love; “What can the Lord and His Church get out of me?” 3. Active, but not Devoted: Fig Leaves: Revelation 2:2-3; Matthew 23:13-15; ministries, “burden” for evangelism, etc.; Root of sin: Man’s great kingdom (Babel, Babylon); Spiritual Fruit: II Corinthians 11:3; Revelation 21:2; pure devotion to God : His holy city.

Called to a Life of Fruit-Bearing: rivers and fruit trees interwoven throughout the Bible; Genesis 2:8-10,15-17; Revelation 22:1-5. The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil = the world; it is passing away (I John 2:15-17); will eventually be completely destroyed. The Fire of the Holy Spirit: Hebrew 12:29 – a consuming fire! Matthew 3:7-12: act of repentance ===> fruit of repentance; God wants living children, not just birth certificates! hypocrisy: attaching fake fruit, ripping out “bad” branches; the Baptism in the Holy Spirit = laying ax to the root of tree: burns the tree and any remaining chaff in unquenchable fire. Genesis 3:22-24: sword around the Tree of Life, but not the Tree of Knowledge; II Corinth. 4:10 : life of Christ manifests only through dying; Matthew 16:24; Luke 9:57-62 : the new and living way. The River of the Holy Spirit: John 7:37-39; Isaiah 44:1-5. Ezekiel 47:1-12: ankle-deep… knee-deep… waist-deep… “over my head” deep; v9: brings life wherever it goes. The river of life (Revelation 22): v1b: originates from the throne of God; v1a: clear as crystal.

The Narrow Gate: Characteristics: narrow, contracted by pressure; few find it. Description: John 10:7-10 - the door is Jesus; Heb. 10:19,21,22 ? confidence in Jesus' blood. Broad Gate: opposite of above (Matthew 7:13). The Narrow Way: Characteristics: narrow, compressed; few find it; leads to eternal life; false prophets hate it (Matthew 7:15). Description: Hebrews 10:20 - new and living way; II Peter 1:2-13 - persevere in seeking the Divine Nature. Hebrews 10:23-31. If we go on sinning willfully, it is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Hold fast the confession of our hope; stimulate each other to love and good deeds; do not forsake meeting for encouragement.