Job 14:14a People wonder about what happens after this life is over. Humanity as a whole has come up with a wide variety of speculations ranging from grim to absurd. What does your bible say about the possibility of life after death… AND why should you take it any more seriously than the other ideas that are out there? Job 14:14b-15 trials, patiently waiting for the change [khaleefaw], calling, answering, God’s desire to accomplish greater purpose in you… it all there. But not explicitly.Daniel 12:2 Biblical answers begin in the old testament but they remained obscure until Jesus Christ came. He provided additional teaching and clarification. Plus, though His own death and resurrection He provided an object demonstration of human resurrection unto eternal spirit born life John 11:25, John 14:19The apostles He commissioned to follow after Him carried forward that teaching and provided a witness/testimony to Jesus’ resurrection 1 Corinthians 15:22-24, without it what is the point? verses 13-14A Fundamental Church TeachingHebrews 6:1-2 Teaching and proclaiming God’s promise of resurrection through Christ was [and still is] what set the Church of God apart from all other religious alternatives in the world. Acts 23:8 the Jews were in disagreement on the matter. Those who did believe it couldn’t explain it.Greeks and Romans had beliefs that held out little hope for the dead. A disembodied soul living in a murky twilight existence like a ghost. Others held the idea of being absorbed into the consciousness of the universe… which is just a fancy way of saying you cease to exist as an individual.Acts 17:32 when Paul preached the resurrection to the intellectual class they scoffed. But for others in the Greco-Roman world it was a breath of fresh air in a hopeless and suffocating world. Acts 2:22-24 the hope of the resurrection was the teaching that launched the church… and on this simple formula the church grew by the thousands: Accept Christ to save you from your sin and its consequences Repent, be baptized, receive the Holy Spirit through the laying on of hands Wait and prepare for resurrectionActs 2:38; Romans 8:111 Timothy 6:19 the Apostles teaching was not unto some disembodied half-life or loss of person-hood. Note: we begin on the path to abundant living now, but the fullness of it takes lace at the resurrection John 10:10.Purpose For LifeIn the Apostles time there was lots of confusion on this subject… yet we today are in the same situation!Atheism and agnosticism have left their mark… eastern religion and new age theories are everywhere… Catholic, Muslim, and Protestant teaching undermines scriptural truth and sidetracks people from the scriptural teaching on the resurrection. Anxiety and hopelessness hang over us like a shadow. People need the truth of the resurrection as much as ever! Resurrection: A Historical FactQ: Why should anyone believe in a resurrection? What separates this teaching from mere wishful thinking and speculation?A: The reality of Christ’s resurrection and the promise that we are to follow in His footstepsJesus resurrection is a biblical and historic event. It has all the necessary ingredients of a confirmed fact of history. Note: at other times in the year we spend sermon time going over the authenticity and authority of the scripture… history, archaeology, fulfilled prophecy and so forth. The purpose of all those messages is to confirm the truth and reality of Jesus life, His death, and His resurrection. All these point back to this pivotal purpose… confirming the reality of Jesus resurrection.Jesus was executed, put in a sealed tomb, and after 3 days and nights His body had disappeared. Even those who wanted to refute His resurrection could not explain away the empty tomb.1 Corinthians 15:6 His resurrection was confirmed by many witnesses. many of these people were still alive when the new testament scriptures were recorded and could be called upon in necessary to verify or refute what the NT scripture

In the old testament the word hell is from the Hebrew sheol. It refers to the place where dead people go… which is the grave. A hole dug in the ground into which a body is placed then covered up. It could also refer to a tomb or a burial cave. Sheol is found in the old testament 65 times: 31 times its translated grave, 31 times its translated hell, and 3 times its translated pit. The new testament gets interesting… there are 3 different Greek words that have each been translated hell. Each of these has a different meaning… #1 The GraveThe first Greek word which is often translated hell is hades which refers to the place of the dead. Hades is the closest Greek equivalent of sheol… the place of the dead, the grave. The Greeks had all sorts of their own ideas about afterlife which were attached to the word (Hades is the name of the Greek god of the underworld for example)… but if you were going to write in Greek about a hole in the ground where dead bodies were buried… hades was the word. It means the same thing as sheol, the place where dead people go.The writers of the new testament worked with a version the old testament that had been translated from Hebrew into Greek. Its called the Septuagint. Here’s an example of how the Hebrew word sheol was translated using the Greek word hades: Acts 2:27 the word here is hades (hell in some older translations like KJV). Modern translations now often simply insert the actual Greek word hades… but the meaning is grave. This verse is part of a quotation from the old testament referring to the grave. Psalm 16:10 the word here is sheol (hell in some older translations like KJV). Modern translations now often simply insert the Hebrew word sheol… but the meaning is the grave. This verse was a prophecy speaking of Jesus’ death… Where did Jesus go when He died?Luke 23:46 His spirit returned to God like it does for all humanity upon death.His body went into a tomb, a burial cave, a form of grave. Matthew 12:40 Jesus referred to it as a place in the “heart of the earth”… a hole in the ground where dead bodies are put. He would stay there for 3 days and 3 nights.Also, if hades, or hell, meant some place of torment under the crust of the earth… then you are saying that’s where Jesus was sent when He died. When He died late that afternoon Jesus’ was put in a tomb and He stayed there for 3 days and 3 nights fulfilling the sign of Jonah. He was not alive in heaven, He was not alive in hell… he was dead, until he was raised back to life through resurrection.#2 The Place of Restraint for DemonsThe next word to consider is tartar which is found only once in the new testament in 2 Peter 2:4 and usually translated hell. In Greek literature tartaroo is the name for a mythical abyss where rebellious gods were confined. Under the inspiration of the Spirit of God, Peter uses this word a name for the place where Lucifer and the other rebellious angels were restrained, or imprisoned. Seems appropriate… but where is that place of imprisonment?Isaiah 14:12 [cut down to the earth], Revelation 12:7-11The place of imprisonment is not some dark netherworld… they have been cast out and are confined to earth! Scripture tells us that Satan and demons are active and present on earth. Multiple real encounters with evil spirits on earth are recorded – Matthew 4:1-11; 8:6, 28-33;9:32-33. Satan is spoken of as the ruler of this present age John 12:31, 14:30, 16:11.Tartaroo appears in scripture once and only applies to demons, not humans. #3 The Fires of GehennaThe 3rd word found translated as hell is Gehenna. Gehenna is a Greekified version of the Hebrew phrase Gai Hinnom, meaning Valley of Hinnom located to the south of old Jerusalem. Today it’s a park. During the times of the kings in Judah the place was used for idolatry and horrible practices like human sacrifice. King Josiah made a point of desecrating the place during his attempt to reform the nation of Judah 2 Kings 23:10, 13,14 [defiled with human bones].In Jesus’ day [

In the old testament the word hell is from the Hebrew sheol. It refers to the place where dead people go… which is the grave. A hole dug in the ground into which a body is placed then covered up. It could also refer to a tomb or a burial cave. Sheol is found in the old testament 65 times: 31 times its translated grave, 31 times its translated hell, and 3 times its translated pit. The new testament gets interesting… there are 3 different Greek words that have each been translated hell. Each of these has a different meaning… #1 The GraveThe first Greek word which is often translated hell is hades which refers to the place of the dead. Hades is the closest Greek equivalent of sheol… the place of the dead, the grave. The Greeks had all sorts of their own ideas about afterlife which were attached to the word (Hades is the name of the Greek god of the underworld for example)… but if you were going to write in Greek about a hole in the ground where dead bodies were buried… hades was the word. It means the same thing as sheol, the place where dead people go.The writers of the new testament worked with a version the old testament that had been translated from Hebrew into Greek. Its called the Septuagint. Here’s an example of how the Hebrew word sheol was translated using the Greek word hades: Acts 2:27 the word here is hades (hell in some older translations like KJV). Modern translations now often simply insert the actual Greek word hades… but the meaning is grave. This verse is part of a quotation from the old testament referring to the grave. Psalm 16:10 the word here is sheol (hell in some older translations like KJV). Modern translations now often simply insert the Hebrew word sheol… but the meaning is the grave. This verse was a prophecy speaking of Jesus’ death… Where did Jesus go when He died?Luke 23:46 His spirit returned to God like it does for all humanity upon death.His body went into a tomb, a burial cave, a form of grave. Matthew 12:40 Jesus referred to it as a place in the “heart of the earth”… a hole in the ground where dead bodies are put. He would stay there for 3 days and 3 nights.Also, if hades, or hell, meant some place of torment under the crust of the earth… then you are saying that’s where Jesus was sent when He died. When He died late that afternoon Jesus’ was put in a tomb and He stayed there for 3 days and 3 nights fulfilling the sign of Jonah. He was not alive in heaven, He was not alive in hell… he was dead, until he was raised back to life through resurrection.#2 The Place of Restraint for DemonsThe next word to consider is tartar which is found only once in the new testament in 2 Peter 2:4 and usually translated hell. In Greek literature tartaroo is the name for a mythical abyss where rebellious gods were confined. Under the inspiration of the Spirit of God, Peter uses this word a name for the place where Lucifer and the other rebellious angels were restrained, or imprisoned. Seems appropriate… but where is that place of imprisonment?Isaiah 14:12 [cut down to the earth], Revelation 12:7-11The place of imprisonment is not some dark netherworld… they have been cast out and are confined to earth! Scripture tells us that Satan and demons are active and present on earth. Multiple real encounters with evil spirits on earth are recorded – Matthew 4:1-11; 8:6, 28-33;9:32-33. Satan is spoken of as the ruler of this present age John 12:31, 14:30, 16:11.Tartaroo appears in scripture once and only applies to demons, not humans. #3 The Fires of GehennaThe 3rd word found translated as hell is Gehenna. Gehenna is a Greekified version of the Hebrew phrase Gai Hinnom, meaning Valley of Hinnom located to the south of old Jerusalem. Today it’s a park. During the times of the kings in Judah the place was used for idolatry and horrible practices like human sacrifice. King Josiah made a point of desecrating the place during his attempt to reform the nation of Judah 2 Kings 23:10, 13,14 [defiled with human bones].In Jesus’ day [

People don’t latch on to the idea of hell it because it’s a feel good notion… My Proposal: Humans believe in the idea of hell because they have to! Hell is the only way to hold on to two other cherished beliefs of humanity.Traditional beliefs about “hell” are the logical outworking of a basic root error... assuming and believing the human soul is immortal and lives on after death. The error is at the core of most religious systems: Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist etc.Where Did Such an Idea Come From?Genesis 3:1-3 the big lie of human immortality was introduced into human thinking by Satan… and it began very early in the human time line. Some part of every person lives on after they die (error)On to this error that some part of every person lives on after the death of this body we’ll add a true observation obvious and apparent to all humanity: some people act in a good way and some people act in a bad way. Note: we might have differing opinions about what defines good versus bad… but we all see a world where some are good and some are bad. Some part of every person lives on after they die (error) Some act in a good way and some act in a bad way (observation/truth)Next, we add something else that is true: justice is a force in the universe. This is a spiritual understanding that flows from the person of God the Creator of the universe. Humans have an innate desire for justice because they are created in God’s image.For Christians, Muslims, Jews, this is judgment by a personal Creator God involving punishment or reward. For other religions this punishment vs. reward is an impersonal force called karma [how karma is enforced is very vague and confusing, involving the collective mind of the universe and stuff like that]. Some part of every person lives on after they die (error) Some act in a good way and some act in a bad way (observation/truth) There is justice [punishment/reward] in the universe (spiritual truth)If the human soul lives on, if some are good and some are bad, and if there is justice in the universe… you need an explanation for where all those bad people go after death that is in some way different from where all the good people go and provides payback for all their badness. Some part of every person lives on after they die (error) Some act in a good way and some act in a bad way (observation/truth) There is justice [punishment/reward] in the universe (spiritual truth) There must be a form of eternal punishment in a living and conscious state (error)The idea of the immortality of the human soul does not flow naturally out from the reading of scripture. The idea that you do not really die is found on the lips of Satan, the father of lies. It’s an idea that humans want to be true… and then desperately try to insert back into the scriptures. The immortality of the soul is the biggest lie ever told.Why would humanity want to insert such an idea into scripture? To use the obvious authority of God’s word to some how validate this wishful thinking.Opinion: it’s a lie that also serves Satan’s larger purpose by presenting the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as cruel & unfair.How Did This Idea Find it Way Into Christian Teaching?The immortal soul concept is as old as human history. But how did it creep into what we call Christianity? By that I mean Baptist, Catholic, Evangelical, or Protestant teaching. Human immortality is not part of the religion of Israel Human immortality is not part of the 1st century apostolic teachingIt crept into biblical teaching through theologians and learned men who love praise and pre-eminence. In their won culture Greek philosophy was highly regarded and offered the possibility of worldly acceptance. Leaders & thinkers who had gained control over the church wanted to make God’s word more “respectable” by synchronizing or reconciling the Greek system of thinking about life and death with what was presented in the scriptures. Greek and other humanly devised ideas about the afterlife ar

The Establishment of the Heavens and EarthWe cannot exist without an incredible array of features to operate properly… and not just properly but nearly perfectly in order for us to survive for the next 4 minutes. Elements that we consider so simple, oxygen, temperature, gravity to name a few. Take a longer view like 4 days and you might want to throw in water or solar energy. Simple… yet each of these is highly complex and moreover interact in ways that compound the complexity in a manner that can dazzle even the most jaded materialist.Where did all these elements, physical laws, atmospheric and biological systems come from? Why do they work so beautifully together to support life? With all our amazing tools: microscopes, particle colliders, and space stations, our great minds of materialist science provide us the profound answer… “well, they just do” What about the phenomenon we call life?If we were to accept the premise that the physical universe is just a lucky accident of atoms that have luckily arranged themselves into a universe of galaxies, solar systems, planets and so on… a question remains that is just a big as the origin and organization of the universe. Why would such a universe of atoms and molecules, photons and energy waves… generate living things? From simple self-replicating virus, to the more genetically complex plants, to animal life and finally sentient, self-aware humans with the capacity to love or hate, cry or laugh, to create beautiful music or deadly concentration camps…The Will to Live… All life forms from the lowly virus, plants, animals, humans share something in common, something that cannot be explained by anything that can be measured or observed in the material universe. That something is the desire to survive. A will to continue living and a goal to pass that life on to a new generation that will carry on and repeat the pattern. To anyone who has not hardened his heart and darkened his mind… this desire to live and survive found in all living creatures demonstrate will and purpose in the universe.Teachers of evolution end up explaining all the various facet of life, animal or human, good or evil, as some form of survival mechanism. Giraffes were lucky enough to be mutant antelopes with extra long necks allowing them to access new sources of food in the tree tops. Even your belief in God is seen by such people as a quirk of the human mind that helps humans to survive in a hostile environment (social cohesion, grouping together for mutual benefit and protection etc). Clever explanations like this are still built upon the assumed existence of will in the universe, but don’t even attempt to explain how this will came to be. Because it’s simply not measurable… like the spirit we can see the effects of it but we cannot see the power or force I am calling will.A fish develops a fin that allows it to crawl out of the ooze to seek new sources of food… a better chance for survivial… what drives it… what moves it forward to preserve and pass on its life… why does it desire to continue living, and where does it come from?The only answer you are going to get from science is… “they just do”How Would Life Emerge From Non-Life?Prebiotic Soup theory – the idea that the earth was covered with warm lakes filled with enzymes and proteins simmering away at just the right temperature until SURPRISE they are struck by lightning! This random spark triggers freak combinations of enzymes, proteins etc that build and snowball, combine and recombine until they produce… XXXXXThe statistical probability of such a sequence of events… are astronomical. The mathematical improbability of that happening it so huge that some credible scientists ave turned to alternate theories such as the idea that life came from out-space… mars, asteroids whatever. However, the soup theory remains the most popular and still finds itself in school text books. The soup theory has problems:For one, it cannot be reproduced in a laboratory setting. I

Do you value loyalty? Are you loyal to others? Are you loyal to communities? How do you show loyalty? Are there people or groups you should not be loyal to? Are you loyal to those who have authority over you? Are you loyal to God?Loyalty definition: unswerving allegiance to a person or institution. To support, or align your priorities in accordance to… to look out for and have concern for their well being… someone who is loyal who will treat you right even when they have reason not to… maybe you’re inconvenient, maybe siding against you would be to their personal advantage. For example; imagine a loyal friend who will pick you for their team even though you’re not the best player because they don’t want to see you embarrassed. A person who can be trusted and relied upon in small things and with regard to the big things.Is loyalty a biblical concept?The Hebrew word would be hesed. In English bibles hesed is generally rendered “faithfulness”, although you will occasionally see it translated as loyalty, kindness, friendship, even mercy.God’s loyalty to us: Hesed, or faithfulness is one of the many ways God describes Himself to us. He is faithful to His promises. He is faithful and loyal to His people. Looking out for them, concerned about their well beingOur loyalty to God: When hesed [faithfulness] is used to describe how we respond to God it means we are committed to, we support, we are aligned with Him. When describing our relationship with our Creator loyalty also includes obedience.So, if loyalty is unswerving allegiance to a person or institution... the scope of that definition changes depending on the relationship of the parties involved.For example; a person put in charge of a department at work can [and should] be loyal to those who work under him But that loyalty does not involve obedience. If I am one of the persons working under the department head loyalty for me would include obedience. Loyalty is also possible between two peers where obedience is not part of the equation.. although mutual submission would be essential. My point is: loyalty is not identical to obedience.A person might be obedient through fear of punishment and have no trace of loyalty.Loyalty is an Attitude of the HeartActs 13:20-22 to many, God’s love for David is a riddle. David committed adultery, he orchestrated a murderer, he was a warrior who had killed many men, elsewhere God calls David “a bloody man” and because of that wouldn’t let David construct the Jerusalem temple.We too struggle with the enigma of David. There were other men who come off as very righteous, scrupulous people, Noah, Job, or Daniel. Why did God love him so?Yet God saw qualities in David such that He called him a “man after my own heart”. One of the traits God saw in David was loyalty… to commitments, to people, to Israel and all it stood for in God’s plan. Loyalty matters because it is a basic attribute of God’s own character. And as any Father would, God delights in seeing himself reflected in His children: in you… in me… in David. The Importance of LoyaltyGod’s plan is to grant everlasting life, position, and authority to those who are in Christ at His return. Does it make sense that He would give all that to someone who does not demonstrate the character trait of loyalty? How do you prove your loyalty except through a life of temptation, trial, testing, even suffering? Consider your own life experiences: how would you ever REALLY know your friend is loyal except by seeing and experiencing what he or she does when they have compelling reasons not to be loyal? Loyalty is proved in response to challenges.The Loyalty of DavidI found loyalty abstract and difficult to define. God helps us understand concepts through the written example of others… such as the example of David. One way we learn about David’s loyalty is through the contrast drawn between him and Saul. David was loyal and devoted to God Himself; did what God askedDavid was a loyal and subject to his superiors;

The laying on of hands is listed in scripture as one of the most basic, foundational, and fundamental doctrines of Christ. Yet, to many it is an obscure practice… you don’t hear about it in many sermons, nor is it a subject that a lot of people ask to have explained, or have questions about.Hebrews 6:1-2 here is the listing I just referred to. These are what scripture considers the foundational teachings. Therefore this is a list of what the Church of God considers the foundational teachings. In order to build the mature mind of Christ we must be sure that the foundation is firmly in place. Within the biblical and church context the laying on of hands is a physical act meant to picture a spiritual reality or spiritual event taking place. It is hard to provide a public witness and testimony to stuff happening on the spiritual level without a physical act. Human beings are simply not wired to commune with one another on a spirit level. We connect with one another through words and actions. God has limited human beings in this way… probably for our own protection.John 3:8 Jesus offers us an analogy: we don’t see wind, but we know the wind is there because we see the leaves are moving, or we hear the sound as it moves through the tree. In the same way the laying on of hands provides testimony to something spiritual happening.Here are 4 spiritual transactions accompanied by a laying on of human hands: Conferring blessings The transference of sin from one party to another. Acceptance of authority The receipt of the Holy SpiritConferring BlessingsGenesis 48:14 Jacob’s hands had no power to make these prophetic/future blessings happen. The power of the almighty God did that.Matthew 19:13-15 Jesus blessed them through the laying on of his hands and prayer. Even with Jesus it was not His flesh and blood hands that had power in them, or transferred power through them… it was the power and will of the Father at work. Jesus words and actions [specifically the laying on of hands] gave testimony to the blessings only the Father could give John 5:19-23,30.The Transference of Sin in Old Covenant Examples Leviticus 1:2-4 – the spiritual consequences of sin Leviticus 16:21 – the spiritual blame/guilt for sin The priest’s hands had no special power in them, nor is it necessary to think the spiritual energy had to flow through the priest’s hands like water through a hose or electricity through a wire. The laying on of hands is a physical act testifying to a spiritual event or transaction.Like the wind… you cannot see forgiveness, but you can see the sign God offers to testify to it.To Give Authority [Both Civil & Religious]God uses the laying on of hands to ordain/appoint His servants to positions of responsibility and authority within His chosen assembly.Numbers 27:18-23 it was not Moses who put Joshua over Israel. Moses laid hands on Joshua for all Israel to see with their eyes. A spiritual transaction is taking place. God was appointing Joshua to a position of responsibility within the congregation in the wilderness. The laying on of hands was a physical act, a symbol, of the fact that God placed Joshua in that office.New Testament ExamplesThere are many examples in the early records of the Church of God of official roles within the body conferred upon someone through the laying on of hands.Acts 6:4-6 deaconsActs 13:1-3 God chose these men and made it known through the prophets and teachers by the visible laying on of hands2 Timothy 1:6 it was God who gave Timothy the gifts but it was testified to by the laying on of hands1 Timothy 5:22 there is a human element in the process… God allows us to make choices & mistakesRecognition of [And Submission to] AuthorityWe saw that the laying on of hands was used to witness to a person being tasked with a responsibility and granted authority to carry it out. But the laying on of hands is also a public witness of submitting to authority. Their authority does not exceed what is necessary to get the

A Pillar in the ChurchTo call someone a pillar, for example: pillar of society, pillar of the community, pillar of the church… has been a well used idiom of the English language since medieval times. It basically means such a person is an active and respected member of a group of people… local society, community, or church.Like many such phrases we hear this one is used less often than in the past. Discussions of old-fashioned or quaint idioms of the language are not our purpose here [that would be better suited to a course in philology]. We are going to discuss this particular phrase because its origin is biblical which probably also explains why it is falling into disuse and beginning to sound out-of-date.In construction a pillar would be a firm, upright, support for a larger superstructure; for example a steel or marble column that holds up a cross beam.This construction context is way we can explore the biblical use of the concept.Revelation 3:12 here we have a prophecy of your future position in the household of God. To be a pillar in this grand and holy building project God is working out. I ask that you consider your present circumstances in God’s Church as training for that future role. To be, or work towards becoming, a pillar in God’s Church, is training to become a pillar in the temple of God. A temple not made of human hands, stone, or steel, or glass… but a temple composed of the family of God Revelation 21:22… the Father, the son, and his many children who stand as pillars in that creation.A Pillar As A Metaphor/AnalogyThe primary function of a pillar is to provide support, and strength… to bolster, brace, prop-up, or sustain. We can easily picture what that means in a construction project… imagining those functions in a community, a society, or a church requires some additional thought and application.Galatians 2:1-2, 9 Paul goes to the home church in Jerusalem to make sure he is working in harmony with the rest of the church. He talks with James, Peter, and John… who were considered pillars in the church.The KJV and NKJV uses the word “seemed” which in modern English casts a shadow of doubt… “it seemed like a good idea at the time, but it wasn’t”… [supposedly pillars as opposed to known as pillars].NIVJames, Cephas and John, those esteemed as pillarsNLTIn fact, James, Peter, and John, who were known as pillars of the churchWhat made these men pillars was not their physical strength, it was their reputation. Meaning others could look to them to uphold, support, strengthen, or sustain the church… through the example of their actions, their attitudes, and their words.There are people today who others point to as pillars within the church... people who inspire confidence, stability, and a feeling that this all makes sense. So I hope you are asking… How Can I Be A Pillar?A Pillar Needs A Solid FoundationIn a construction setting a pillar can only do its job properly if its set up straight and put on a firm foundation that doesn’t shift around, cave in, or wash away Matthew 7:26.Because of this a pillar can withstand adversity. A pillar sticks with it. A pillar it there week after week, year after year.That statement from Jesus comes at the end of the sermon on the mount. His teachings were not some new thing. His teachings are built upon the already existing written word of God. The new testament explains the old testament, it does not replace it.So a pillar knows God’s word and knows it well. But there much more to it than knowledge. There are plenty of people who know the word well but are not considered pillars.Ephesians 2:19-221 Peter 2:5quotes psalm 118:22, a prophecyThe Importance of the CornerstoneThe cornerstone (or foundation stone or setting stone) is the first stone set in the construction of a masonry foundation, important since all other stones will be set in reference to this stone, thus determining the position of the entire structure.Christ is that rock. We bu

The gifts God gives through the Holy Spirit are mentioned in several places in scripture. The letters to the Ephesians, Corinthians, and Romans each contain a list of such gifts. Each listing is different and depends on the context, such as: how they pertain to office in the church, or signs and wonders, or functions within the body of Christ. We are going to zero in on the list in Romans 12 which itemizes various functions within the body of Christ. From there we get our subject for today... the gift of service. Romans 12:3-8 the word service is a translation of the Greek word diakoneo. The service associated with the word diakaneo can cover a wide variety of activity but search the scriptures and you’ll find a special emphasis on taking care of the needs of others, very often in conjunction with food and drink, hospitality, and physical accommodations. Diakoneo is the verb form of the word diakonos, or, deacon which is a recognized office in the Church.  A person anointed as a deacon is designated as a servant of the Church and provides leadership in the areas of service previously mentioned.  God’s gift of service is not limited to the person ordained as a deacon. Service is for everybody. A deacon provides leadership, and example in this area. Ephesians 4:11-13 it is the role of a church leaders and teachers to encourage every member towards acts of service. In this way the mind and attitude of Christ work in you.The Attitude of ServiceThe list of gifts we read in Romans 12 also mentioned generosity, which implies sharing money or possessions with others, especially those who need help. I would like us to think of service as being generous with your time and energy. 2 Corinthians 9:1 financial aid for famine relief in Jerusalem is spoken of as diakonea/service2 Corinthians 9:6-7in the same way I believe God wants each of us to give generously of our time and energy as we have decided in our heart not reluctantly, or with complaining, because God loves service done cheerfully of our own free will.2 Corinthians 8:12the attitude is more important to God than the actual amount Luke 21:1-4. Matthew 10:40-42 what these verses tell us:·        Service we render others is really service to God·        God is aware or our service·        God promises a future reward for our service·        God is especially focused on the service we perform within the body of Christ·        Hospitality among the people of God [providing food, drink, and physical accommodation] is a prime example of service Keeping these factors in our thinking can help us adopt and maintain a cheerful attitude… they also address some of the main reasons hold back from service or serve with a wrong outlook. 3 Challenges to Maintaining a Cheerful Attitude When Serving Challenge #1 - Focusing on the Physical God considers service toward our brothers and sisters as service towards Him. But often we only see the other person or group of people and begin to doubt there is a spiritual transaction taking place: We may consider them unworthy… why am I serving these ugly, smelly, uncool, people? Why aren’t they doing their part? They’re no better than me, why aren’t they serving as much as me? They may be ungrateful… no one even knows I’m in the back room hauling out the trash… everyone just assumes I am going to take care of everything… they never even said thanks.You might think the situation would be better within the Church and we wouldn’t have such struggles with our attitudes. We are all working from the same playbook, right? I have found over the years that serving within the Church is actually rather challenging because the expectations are very high, a lot is taken for granted, and the rewards are far off. To do well you must expend the necessary mental energy to remember… your servic

Ephesians 5:30 How can someone grieve the Holy Spirit?The warning in this verse is directed at those who have believed, been baptized and received the Holy Spirit. God is aware of and watching the actions and thoughts of all humanity. However, at this stage in human history He has special care and concern for those He has called to receive His great gift of eternal life. So, this is a warning for disciples of Christ. To grieve means to cause sorrow, distress, emotional pain.The one causing the sorrow distress and emotional pain is you or me.The sorrow, distress, and emotional pain is felt by the Holy Spirit of God which is Christ living in you.The scriptures speak of the Holy Spirit as being grieved because the resurrected Jesus Christ is alive, active, and present within you through the power of the Spirit. We prefer to speak of Christ’s presence within us as our advocate and helper. However, His presence in us also makes him witness to everything we say and think… and so He is also our perfect, righteous judge.1 Corinthians 4:3-5 Jesus’ judgment will be a total 360 evaluation of your life. Note: this is the judgment that will establish the reward [praise] given to those who are marked with the seal of the Holy Spirit and are raised from the dead at His return [the day of redemption], see 1 Corinthians 3:12-16.2 Corinthians 5:9-10 we can live a life that is pleasing to Him… or we can live one that grieves Him.Does God Really Feel Grief?God is all powerful. From our human perspective we can assume that means nothing we humans do, say, or think will affect Him. But I propose that’s really just us projecting our own way of thinking on God, rather than accepting Him as He has chosen to present Himself to us. Let me explain:Fear, rejection, longing, sorrow... we don’t like these feelings. What causes them is usually something outside our control… very often caused by other people… and we don’t like that either.If I were all powerful I’d set things up so bad stuff could never affect me… I wouldn’t want any negative emotions. So, it only makes sense that an all powerful being would set things up so He/She/It could not be affected by anything. Either by:controlling all things [denying freedom of thought and action]shutting out emotions [goal of eastern religion and most human philosophy]- the idea of God as a Universal Intelligence or MindBoth of these are dead end solutions that leave humanity with a bleak vision of life and reality. Gladly God has a different way of seeing things.Isaiah 55:8-13Genesis 6:5-8 One of the many things Jesus did during His life in the flesh was to show us the Father. In other words to show us what God is like. Jesus showed emotions… indignation, wrath, sorrow.What Causes God Grief, Sorrow, and Emotional Pain?God saw the evil doings of the people on earth and He also saw or knew “that every inclination of the thoughts of their hearts were only evil all the time”. God can be grieved by what we do and I believe especially what we think, or what is going on in our hearts. Lets go back to the immediate context of Ephesians 4:30 for insight on how someone might grieve the Holy Spirit.Ephesians 4:29 the words we speak. It is amazing to me how much emphasis God’s word, Jesus Christ, the Apostles, the Psalms, the Proverbs and the Prophets place on the words we speak. Perhaps because they provide the clearest window into our heart. Matthew 12:33-37 [Proverbs 4:23-24]We might say “she doesn’t really think that, she’s just venting… in her heart I know she feels differently’’, or,” he didn’t mean to say that… he was just joking around”. But for the person who hears them, and especially for the person who says them they may be an indication of what’s really going on in there. Ephesians 4:29 doesn’t really give us examples of corrupt communication or “rotten talk”. But we can figure it out by looking at the “not that, but this” formula. We are advised to stick to talk that builds up, helps, and benefits others. We can