Resurrection Sunday - Easter Celebration of Jesus Christ the Risen Messiah

Jesus’ Reaction from the Cross understand cost of doing God’s will:

First Reaction from the Cross:

1. Forgiveness

Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”

And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.

Luke 23:34 (NIV)

For if you forgive others their offenses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if you do not forgive others their offenses, your heavenly Father will not forgive yours.

Matthew 6:14-15 (Complete Jewish Bible)

Second Reaction from the Cross:

2. Salvation

And he was saying, “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom!”  And He said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”

Luke 23:42-43 (NASB)

NOTE: Jesus didn’t tell the thief to close his eyes, or raise his hand, or repeat the Sinner’s Prayer or complete a Bible study or church track or hop down and get baptized on a scheduled day.

Jesus simply spoke mercy and salvation.

The Man On The Middle Cross Said I Can Come

Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 2:38 (NASB)

ALSO

“that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.”

Romans 10:9-10 (NASB)

NOTE: Believing on Jesus is the ONLY way to the Father.

Jesus said to him (Thomas), “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me.

John 14:6 (NASB)

Third Reaction from the Cross:

3. Relationship

So, Jesus, seeing His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing near, said to His mother, “[Dear] woman, look, [here is] your son!” Then He said to the disciple (John), “Look! [here is] your mother [protect and provide for her]!” From that hour the disciple took her into his own home.

John 19:26-27 (Amplified Bible)

Fourth Reaction from the Cross:

4. Abandonment

And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?”—which is translated, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”

Mark 15:34 (Amplified Bible)

Fifth Reaction from the Cross:

5. Distress

After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said in fulfillment of the Scripture, “I am thirsty.”

John 19:28 (Amplified Bible)

Sixth Reaction from the Cross:

6. Triumph

Therefore, when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!”

And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.

John 19:30 (NASB)

Seventh Reaction from the Cross:

7. Reunion

And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.

Luke 23:46 (KJV)

Presence Of Jesus Demands A Response  ANCHOR SCRIPTURE: ‘I know your deeds, that you are neither cold (invigorating, refreshing) nor hot (healing, therapeutic); I wish that you were cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm (spiritually useless), and neither hot nor cold, I will vomit you out of My mouth [rejecting you with disgust]. Revelation 3:15-16 (Amplified Bible) - Response Reflects Relationship: If being in the presence of Jesus doesn’t quicken a response, Check Your Fruit. - Response to Jesus is indicator of heart’s condition towards God. Gift = Giver Holy Week examples of Responses to Jesus The 7 R’s of Responding To The Presence of Jesus – Leah PIRATE 1. Rejoicing –  Triumphal Entry 8 A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Hosanna in the highest heaven!” (used to express adoration, praise, or joy.) (removed cloaks – no sin, shame or cover ups) Matthew 21: 8-9 2. Resistance – Clear temple – No fear of God John 2:14-16 (ESV)  3. Rejection – disciples fell asleep Matthew 26:35–45  BONUS: Mark 14:51-52 (NASB)  4. Rebellion - Judas Matthew 26:47–50  5. Restoration– Began PROCESS of Peter being restored Luke 22:61 (Amplified Bible) - The Look of God Instructs: Psalm 32:8 (NASB) Restoration Process Continued Post Resurrection: Jesus Restores Peter - John 21:15-17   6. Reverence – Woman anointing oil Matthew 26:6–13 NOTE: Mark 14:3 (NIV) …She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.  7. Receive Luke 22:39-43  CLOSING –  Are You Lukewarm to the Presence of Jesus.  Neutrality is not an option –  Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.  (John 3:18 NIV)  If so, Repent – Confess – Be Forgiven – Live in Freedom

Five Stones Church Service Sermon (January 9, 2022) - Welcome to our Housewarming Celebration.  -The miracle is in God’s provision for a location where His power and blessings will manifest in growing His kingdom.  -The miracle is for everyone who put their faith to work over the short weeks to transform this space into church where the Body of Christ can gather to praise Him.  - The miracle is in you who were stirred by the Holy Spirit to be here today.  -The miracle is in coming together with other believers to celebrate Team Jesus. Coming together is the miracle and it doesn’t matter WHERE we meet. It’s just important THAT we meet. And because we have committed TO meet, God our Father has blessed us all with a place to connect. We are planting a connected community. Connection is vital.   NOT good at is STAYING TOGETHER. Barna Research - 2000 that 45% practicing Christians.  2021, only 1 in 4 (25%) were walking in faith.  The Body of Christ is not staying together, but where are we going? - Most scatter back into their secular world,  - some bounce in and out of church and  - many reject God altogether.  While the Body of Believers continues to dwindle, Barna shows people identified as atheists have more than doubled in the same time frame. How do we solve the challenge of staying together as the Body of Christ?  Answer – God’s Word Focus Scripture for today. It’s found in Acts 2:42-47.  ACTS 2 (NIV) The Fellowship of the Believers  42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.  43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles.  44 All the believers were together and had everything in common.  45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.  46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts,  47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.  PROBLEM – STAYING TOGETHER Living life as the Body of Christ requires an intentional effort, but it’s not always easy.  HOW DO I APPLY ACTS 2:42-47 IN MY LIFE THIS WEEK? 1. Read the Bible every day. 2. Pray with tangible expectation and unshakable faith in God’s will and work to be done. NO MORE WISHY WASHY PRAYERS 3. Connect with another believer – meal, gym, hobby, coffee shop 4. Practice charity and giving – Giving is connected to the condition of your heart – You can learn to be generous. 5. Share Jesus with someone this week. Pick out a Scripture verse and pray for an opportunity to share – The Holy Spirit will make it happen if you are willing. 6. Praise God in all things – Adopt an ATTITUDE of GRATITUDE. 7. Commit to Stay In The Room – Get Connected – Invite one person to come with you next Sunday. God is going to grow the number harvested (salvations) we just have to be willing to work in the harvest fields.  I love you and God bless you    

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WHAT IS RESURRECTION?

Jesus Christ raised from the dead on the third day after his Crucifixion. Celebrated as Easter - VICTORY over sin, death, and the devil.

Resurrection is Jesus breaking the human cycle of destruction.

- Jesus died to defeat sin.

- But He rose to defeat death

NOTE: Jesus didn’t just die for our sins. Many people die for sin – theirs and others. Jesus rose to defeat sin and death.

11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

Romans 8:11 (NASB)

What Does Resurrection Mean to Your Life?

1. Jesus Came to Resurrect Your Hope

2. Jesus Came to Resurrect Your Calling

3. Jesus Came to Resurrect Your Faith

4. Jesus Came to Resurrect Your Joy – Moses face glory – Jeff Murphy shine

5. Jesus Came to Resurrect Your Life

Restoration Cycle:

Crucifixion began miracle of Resurrection . Set Jesus apart from all historical martyrs.

- Of the four major world religions only Christianity claims that the tomb of its founder is empty.

- Judaism looks back to Abraham, and still cares for his grave as a holy site at Hebron.

- Thousands visit Buddha’s tomb in India every year.

- Islam founder Mohammed died on June 8, 632 AD, and his tomb visited by millions

KISS – Keep It Simple…..Saint

- If Jesus is dead, then Christianity is dead.

- If Jesus is alive, then Christianity is alive.

Paul said in 1 Corinthians 15:17: “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile, and you are still in your sins.”

Jesus said… “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.”

JOHN 11:25–26

BIBLICAL EVIDENCE THE RESURRECTION?

1. Jesus’ resurrection was prophesied. Isaiah 53:8-12 – said He’d be born into humble circumstances to live a simple life, die a brutal death, and then rise to take away our sin.

2. Jesus prophesied His resurrection. (Matthew 12:38-40)

3. Jesus appeared three days after His death. Many touched Him:

- Thomas touched him – Benefit of the doubt!

4. Jesus went out of His way to prove Resurrection:

Jesus Appears to the Disciples

37 They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. 38 He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? 39 Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”40 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. 41 And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate it in their presence.

Luke 24:37-43 (NIV)

Last Supper Communion pre-crucifixion

First Appearance Communion post-resurrection

5. Jesus appeared to crowds of 500 people. 1 Corinthians 15:5-6

6. Toughest Proof – His family worshipped Him as God. James, Jude, and Mary.

NOTE: We don’t have to fight to prove resurrected Christ. He is the TRUTH and doesn’t need us to pull out a knife and cut off ears not willing to hear.

God Is Revelation: How God Speaks to You and How to Hear Him  (01-23-2022) Five Stones Church Dallas, Texas https://www.fivestoneschurch.netDr. Scott Silverii  If you are not hearing from God, ask yourself: 1. Do I really want to hear what God has to say? 2. Am I afraid of what He wants me to do?  So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. 1 CORINTHIANS 2:11 –12  Either:  guided by divine revelation OR  fooled by human speculation.  WHO DO YOU LISTEN TO? social media – politicians - sports stars - celebrities  Nothing but misery and death.  God’s Revelation Teaches:  1) Who God is  2) Who we are.  We don’t read the Bible – the Bible reads us  HOW DOES GOD REVEAL HIMSELF? 1. General Revelation 2. Special Revelation. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified 1 Corinthians 2:2  HOW DOES GOD SPEAK TO YOU? - The Bible  - Prophesy - Prayer - Through Jesus - Through the Holy Spirit But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. John 14:26 THE BIBLE - Scripture is God speaking his truth to us in human words.  All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17:

BASICS OF REVELATION You cannot develop a relationship without communication that goes both ways.  Not Hearing God 1. Unconfessed Sin Sin is the barrier.  2. Rebellion  God isn’t going to speak to you again until you’ve obeyed the last thing He told you to do. IMAGINE 400 YEARS FROM MALICHI to GOSPELS  3. Busyness and Distraction Find a quiet, private place every day to pray and hear God. God isn’t obligated to chase us down. Revelation 3:20 (NIV) Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.

How to Hear God 1. By His still, small voice inside our hearts Behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. 1 Kings 19:11–12 2. Through the Rhema “Word” of God Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10:17

Rhema is Greek for word = “the living voice of God.”  3. By open and closed doors To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, “These things says He who is holy, He who is true, ‘He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens.’” Revelation 3:7 God is protective and uses circumstances to open or close doors of opportunity.  NO is sometimes a Not Now. Discern the difference. 4. Through Other People

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God Is Covenant How To Pursue Intentional Relationships With Meaningful Outcomes Like God Does Subscribe to my YouTube Channel

GOD IS COVENANT “GOD PURSUES INTENTIONAL RELATIONSHIP”

The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant. PSALM 25:14 Failed Commitment Efforts: Pinky Promise – Cute – tradition if promise is broken, aggrieved breaks the finger of the offender. Not So Cute Blood Brothers – right idea about cutting (Covenant) but only blood of Jesus makes us brothers. Swears and Promises – Our head and hearts make promises we cannot keep. We turn to inward self-reliance instead of focusing upward to God dependence. HEAD - But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one. Matthew 5:34-37 (NIV) HEART – “The heart is deceitful above all things And it is extremely sick; Who can understand it fully and know its secret motives? “I, the Lord, search and examine the mind, I test the heart, To give to each man according to his ways, According to the results of his deeds. Jeremiah 17:9-10 (Amplified Bible) SUCCESSFUL COMMITMENT EFFORT: Covenant What is Covenant? - Covenant shows the character of God (Trinity) – intentional and intimate - Tangible partnerships between God and People. Marriage - Binding promises to work together for common goal – Redeem humanity. - Signified by oaths, signs, and ceremonies. Police and Military take Oath – Accept Jesus – Public Profession of Faith – Why keep secret? - Different from Contract – relational versus professional. NOTE: WE MUST BE INTENTIONAL ABOUT CONNECTION. God never enters into the relationship casually or informally. SPIRITUAL REBAR NOTE: WHO ARE YOU IN COVENANT WITH? Intentional God Covenants We Should Enter Into: 1. Relationship with God 2. Relationship with Spouse 3. Relationship with Kids 4. Relationship with Believers – Discipleship – Paul & Timothy - Intentional What’s A Contract? Professional or Business relationship. - Usually 50 / 50 benefit - Exit clause - Benefit at expense of another - Expiration date - Performance based success metric - Failure is penalized - I seek to impose my will NOTE: Would you say most of your relationships are Covenant or Contractual? God’s 5 major covenants: Today’s Covenants - Marriage covenant – (ADAM & EVE) This includes your relationship with God as you become the body of Christ who will be reclaimed as the Bride of Christ. - Grace covenant (NOAH) – God extends you salvation through grace. You can’t earn it and don’t deserve it, but through covenant, you receive it as a free gift. - Multiplication covenant (ABRAM)– You are commissioned to multiply the kingdom. God also calls you to multiply in provisions – FIVE TALENTS (Matthew 25:14-30). - Deliverance covenant (MOSES) – God offers freedom from bondage of sin and the blessings of a Promised Land in heaven if you’ll covenant with Him. - Kingship covenant (DAVID) – You are a joint heir of Christ and He made you kings and priests (Revelation 1:5-6) if you’ll covenant to be washed of sins. - Redemption covenant (US) – Jesus died for you to covenant eternally with you –For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. John 3:16-1

Who Is God: Explaining The Trinity - Five Stones Church Sermon (January 16, 2022) We study the doctrine of the Trinity to know God on a deep, tangible level of relationship. What Is The Trinity? The one God who eternally exists as three distinct persons – Father, Son , Holy Spirit. Each are fully and equally God in eternal relations with each other. They each think, act, feel, speak, and relate because they are persons and not impersonal forces. NOTE – The Holy Spirit is not an IT!!!   Trinity in Scripture: Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Matthew 28:19 God The Father Isaiah 64:8 – But now, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand. God The Son  Google “Who is Jesus?”  1.3 BILLION results (0.78 seconds)  ONLY way to God –  John 14:6 – Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.  God The Spirit WHO IS THE HOLY SPIRIT? About half a billion results (0.73 seconds)  He is as much God as is the Father and the Son. Holy Spirit lives inside of you. You are God’s temple: 1 Corinthians 6:19 (Amplified Bible) – Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is within you, whom you have [received as a gift] from God, and that you are not your own [property]?  Big Picture Purpose: 🔥 You have a body and a soul. 🔥Your body commits sin and your soul is condemned. 🔥When you die your body goes into the ground and your soul goes to hell. ✝️ When you accept Christ as your Savior, God in the Holy Spirit lives within you. ✝️ Now you have body, soul & Spirit. ✝️ When your body sins and you repent, the Spirit restores your soul. ✝️ When you die, your body goes into the ground, your soul goes to heaven and the Spirit who is God, returns to God.  John 14:26 – But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. There is FREEDOM: 2 Corinthians 3:17 – “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”  Why is Theology important?  To trust God we must know God.  To know ourselves we must know God.  To know God is to understand that God is TRINITY – The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.  

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Do you believe God is still creating? Church study -covid era  – 15% permanently dissolved. - 40% on life support - 40% attendance at 30 to 50% pre-covid - 5% back at or above pre-covid levels. Why would we plant a church in 2022?  Genesis 1:3 - And God said Genesis 1:6 - And God said Genesis 1:9 - And God said Genesis 1:11 - Then God said Genesis 1:14 - And God said Genesis 1:20 - And God said Genesis 1:24 - And God said Genesis 1:26 - And God said Genesis 1:29 - Then God said In 2015 – And God said In 2021 – And God said Today – And God Said Why? - God Said So! That’s creation in modern era! Creation didn’t stop at Genesis 1 and 2.

Go to beginning - Why is understanding creation important to you? Not for debating the age of earth – understanding: - Everything started with God,  - Everything exists with God,  - Everything will end with God, - Everything will renew with God

FAITH Faith is what makes real the things we hope for. It is proof of what we cannot see. God was pleased with the people who lived a long time ago because they had faith like this. Faith helps us understand that God created the whole world by his command. This means that the things we see were made by something that cannot be seen. Hebrews 11:1-3

Creation is His expression of Love.  Trinity Revealed In Creation: Genesis 1 - 1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. 3 And God said, God = Father Spirit of God = Holy Spirit God Said = Word – Who is The Word? John 1 =  The Word Became Flesh 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. and: 1:14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Christian Belief  - If you don’t believe God created everything then you don’t believe everything belongs to Him.  - Then that means something or someone else created those parts you don’t believe in. Who?  - Opposition to God is Satan. He has never once created anything. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. John 10:10

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God’s Human Family Only 3 chapters and we dropped the ball. Genesis 1 & 2 – All Good in paradise. God and man are good. God, man, and woman – harmony. 15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. 16 And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will CERTAINLY DIE.” Genesis 2:15–17. Genesis 3 – SIN enters their perfect world and humanity FALLS – Guilt, Shame & separation from God. Genesis 3 3 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made (NOTE – Adam knew serpent because he named the serpent.). He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” (NOTE – Subtle twist – Every lie has thread of truth) 2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3 but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’” (NOTE – She misquotes God’s Word Gen 2:16-17 – Slight but significant.) 4 “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5 “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” NOTE – Devil knows God’s Word better than Eve – God said “CERTAINLY DIE” to Adam (Genesis 2:17) – Eve never said the words “CERTAINLY DIE” to the serpent (Genesis 3:3) – Serpent used exact phrase as God “CERTAINLY DIE” (Genesis 3:4) – Eve did not know God’s Word because her husband failed to properly communicate what God told him (Genesis 2:16) – Adam failed to minister (God’s Word) to his wife and failed as the spiritual head of his family. - WHEN men fail to lead their families, someone / something else will!!! 6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. NOTE: – After being manipulated, Eve did “SEE” that the fruit was good, pleasing, and desirable. TODAY EXAMPLE: Satan lures us into thinking there’s someone better, we’d be richer, happier. Unless grounded and living out His Word, we bite. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. NOTE – Eve is not a bad person. She is uninformed because she was misled by husband and manipulated by the devil. - She isn’t innocent because PRIDE tempted her with being LIKE GOD TODAY EXAMPLE: Look like this celebrity or model. They bought a car, so ... - PASSIVE MALE - Adam is with her as she’s being seduced. DEFAULT SINS LEAD TO FALL– Female = Independence & Male = Passivity – Adam fails to correct / help his wife for not knowing God’s Word, - Adam fails to confront the devil for manipulating her. - Adam violates God’s Word by joining in on the rebellion. - Adam was a Two’Fer – the devil took him down without saying a word. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. NOTE: – When do they reUNITE as ONE? In their Sin and Shame. - The first and last time they were in Purity and Unity was Genesis 2:23-24 23 The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.” 24 That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh. Genesis 2:23-24 (NIV) NOTE - - When We get cozy and complacent with sin – GOD MUST JUDGE - When Sin hangs out with us in intimate places – GOD MUST JUDGE - When Sin doesn’t alarm us because our eyes are off God – GOD MUST JUDGE - When Sin controls us when our pride dictates our relationship with rebellion. – GOD MUST JUDGE - Whether it’s Satan or us, changing God’s Word leads to destruction. – GOD MUST JUDGE - When we compromise God’s Truth, Satan wins – WE FALL – GOD MUST JUDGE

Covenant GOD IS INCARNATION - Latin = “becoming flesh” - Jesus Christ became flesh.

The Word Made Flesh - John 1:14 (NASB)

Why Jesus Incarnate?

1. Reveal God’s character.

2. Fulfill God’s covenant promises

3. Fulfill the Law of Moses & OT Prophesies.

4. Prepare His Bride.

5. Die for the sins of the world.

6. Return to heaven so Holy Spirit could come.

How did God come into human history? - Virgin birth first prophesied by God in Genesis 3:15

Was Jesus FULLY God?

1. God the Father said Jesus was God. Hebrews 1:8

2. Jesus Transfiguration, the Father declares: Matthew 17:5

3. Jesus confronted with stoning by the Jews: John 10:30

NOTE: demons declared Jesus was God. Mark 1:23-24 Was Jesus FULLY Human? - Human genealogy. - He was born of a woman, had brothers and sisters, and was racially Jewish. - Jesus grew physically, spiritually, mentally. - He worked, celebrated holidays and parties, loved his mom, worshiped, obeyed his stepfather Joseph and God the Father. - He suffered and died “in the flesh.” Incarnate Jesus LIKE us? Tempted – Pain – Sorrow – Joy – Love - Fun Complex family - Blended family - stepfather, siblings and mom thought He was insane, and home folks rejected Him. Incarnate Jesus UNLIKE us? Without sin. Was tempted. Shows how to escape temptation. Hebrews 2:17–18 says: YOU ARE NOT “ONLY” “I’m only human.” - Excuse to sin - Live below the spiritual radar

- Alibi in waiting.

- Degrade God’s gift of the Holy Spirit.

- Jesus was “only human” until indwelled with Holy Spirit.

- Receive Holy Spirit you are no longer “only human”.

- Your natural body is a vessel for the supernatural.

- You have the same spiritual authority as did Jesus incarnate.

-Both have Holy Spirit.

-Both know the Father

-Both have keys to kingdom of heaven.

-Both have power to bind and loose. -Both operate in miracles, healings, prophecies, and gifts. -Both share testimony of death, burial, and resurrection (water baptism & Jesus actual resurrection)

-Both make disciples.

-Both will live forever worshipping God the Father.

-Both will judge the world and angels. 1 Corinthians 6:2-3 -Both know the mind of God. 1 Corinthians 2:15-16

- Jesus said you’d do even greater things on earth than He did!! John 14:12-14 (NASB)