RLCF Sermons

It is important to know what the works of Satan are, so that Christ can destroy them in our lives (I John 3:8, Genesis 3).

Growing Up in All Aspects Into Christ, the Head

Man lost his way trying to navigate through the thick “jungle” of the Old Covenant. So God put us in an even thicker “jungle” in the New Covenant! Yet the New Covenant is easier… because we have a Guide. Consider Jesus! God had many faithful “employees”… but it wasn’t until Jesus came that He finally had a Son on earth! (Hebrews 3:1-6, Matthew 3:17) A son/daughter: values the Father’s Name and riches; is secure in the Father’s love and discipline; is always at home with the Father. Now God wants others who live their lives faithfully as younger brothers/sisters of Jesus. At the end of time, Jesus will present them with Himself to the Father. (Hebrew 2:13) After rescuing the Israelites from slavery, God was angry at them because of their un-faith! (Hebrews 3:16-19) Faith is to rest from your own works and enter God’s rest. (Hebrews 4:10) The faith of Jesus may open the mouths of lions and may not allow you to escape the edge of the sword! (Hebrews 11:33-34) Your chances of going into the presence of God were “one in a million”, and even then you probably kept it as short as possible. (Hebrews 9:1-7) Worship is no longer an un-satisfying “pretend tea party”, and we have no fear about being in God’s presence because our Intercessor is there. (Hebrews 9:8-10) Worship is to “gaze and gaze on Thee”.

The call of discipleship from Jesus, our “Commanding Officer” is to: endure your share of suffering as a “first-class” soldier; not get entangled in the enterprises of civilian life; be wholly at your commanding officer’s disposal (II Timothy 2:3-4).

The Church is the “John the Baptist” and the “Elijah” of today, preparing the world for the coming of Christ by “repenting” the hearts of the fathers to their children so that God can bring restoration. (Malachi 4:5-6, Luke 1:17) 1. Will you love God? 2. Will you value God’s Word? 3. Will you treasure me? 4. Will you show me the way? 5. Will you always love Mama? 6. Will you consecrate me to God? 7. Will you intercede for me?

Paul was persecuted by the world (II Timothy 1:12) and deserted by other Christians (II Timothy 1:15, 4:10,16). We must retain the standard of the Gospel in faith, by guarding it like a treasure (II Timothy 1:13-14). When Jesus knew that Peter would be tested, His only prayer was that Peter’s faith would not fail (Luke 22:31). We must retain the standard of the Gospel in love, by being eager and unashamed about refreshing others (II Timothy 3:16-17). True love is to lay down our lives for the brethren like Christ did for us (I John 3:16). The Devil uses these “thorns” to poke holes in our vessel of faith and love to drain us of the standard of the Gospel: the worry of the age, the deceitfulness of riches, and the pleasures of life (Luke 8:14). Jesus is building His Church as a witness to the entire world of the Gospel (Matthew 24:14). The Church is built from the lives of those who have faith to say, like Paul, “the Lord will deliver me” (II Timothy 4:17-18(); and who have love to lay down their lives for the brethren (I John 3:18).

God called you according to His purpose from all eternity (II Timothy 1:8-12). You were a “twinkle in His eye” (Deuteronomy 32:10, Zechariah 2:8) even before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4). God chose you after He foreknew everything about you — the good, the bad, and the ugly (Romans 8:29)! It wasn’t the nails, but your sin that held Jesus to the cross. And yet, God picked you on His team, knowing full-well that you would “stab Him in the back” (I Timothy 1:15). God’s plan for you before the foundation of the world included: foreseeing you, a useless “worm” (Psalm 22:6); predetermining that Jesus would come to save this “worm”; foreseeing that this “worm” would be the ringleader in killing Jesus, the very source of salvation; predetermining that the story wouldn’t end there; foreseeing that this “worm” would respond to the call to salvation; this is the gospel that was preached on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:23-28). God’s plan for you now includes (II Corinthians 4:7-18): shining the light of immortality through your life despite the fact that outwardly you might still look like a “worm” to everyone else — you are afflicted in every way, perplexed, persecuted, struck down, constantly delivered over to death; but your confidence is in the fact that God will not abandon you, and even though outwardly things go from bad to worse, inwardly you are being renewed; so don’t look at what you can see but on what you can’t see.

You will be a shy Christian if you seek to preserve your own reputation or honor. You will be a shy Christian if you rely on your own ability and Self-confidence, rather than on God. You will be a shy Christian if you are not experiencing Christ’s resurrection power in your inner being. You will be a shy Christian if you don’t know God as your Father who is able to keep your life which you have entrusted to Him.

Authority: You cannot take upon yourself a ministry in God’s kingdom without God calling you to that ministry. You have authority in the life of others only if you are called to that purpose by the will of God (II Timothy 1:1). If you have authority in the life of others you must be in constant prayer for them (II Timothy 1:3). The laying on of hands is a symbol of spiritual authority, so be careful in how you exercise that responsibility on others or allow others to exercise it on you (II Timothy 1:6). Authenticity: Your life will be authentic if you are holding fast to the promise of life in Christ Jesus (II Timothy 1:1). Your life will be authentic if you are serving God with a clear conscience (II Timothy 1:3). Imparting the Grace of God: Grace comes only from God, but He imparted it into our lives first through Jesus. Now He wants to impart it likewise into the lives of others through us. Grace is not merely a past reality, but a present and future reality! Imparting Indwelling Faith: May the people who interact with you see the leaning of your entire personality on God in Christ, in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness, without pretense — this is what it means to have a sincere faith (II Timothy 1:5 AMP). If you give this sincere faith a permanent home in your heart, God will be able to impart it into the lives of others through you.

In order to become like a little child, you must be truly converted from the kingdom of this world. Here are 4 spiritual lessons that the Lord taught me from observing my interaction as a father with my little child: 1. The humility of a little child (Matthew 18:4): Humility is not a pious look, or thinking your good-for-nothing. Humility toward God is always being mindful of God’s mercy to you as a sinner (Luke 18:9-17). Humility toward others is to esteem everyone as better than yourself (Philippians 2:3-5). King David, despite his earthly position of authority, was like a weaned child in his heart (Psalm 131). That’s why he was called a man after God’s own heart. 2. The little child’s hunger for pure milk (I Peter 2:20): When you truly become like a little child, there will never be any substitute for the pure Word of God! 3. The likeness of the Father in the little child: As a child of the Heavenly Father, you should be imitating him in: showing mercy (Luke 6:36); kindness, forgiveness, and love (Ephesians 4:31-5:2); purity (I John 3:1-7); holiness (I Peter 1:14-16); speech (Philippians 2:14-15). 4. The yearning between Father and little child: ave you seen the Father’s heart yearning for you (Jeremiah 31:20), longing to gather you like a hen gathers her chicks (Luke 13:34). Do you yearn for your Father, content that the nearness of God is your good (Psalm 73:28). The only place of quiet rest where sin cannot molest is near to the heart of God. Jesus’ parting desire for us was that we would know that we are loved by the Heavenly Father with the same love with which He loved His Son, Jesus (John 17:23-26).