Wednesday, April 29, 2015

How to Maintain Your Faith 4/29/15


Sermon Title: How to Maintain Your Faith
Review:
1.  Believe God... Hebrews 11: 6
2.  Recognize trials…1 Peter 1: 7
3.  Pray the … 1 Thessalonians 5: 17
4.  Pressure test… Psalms 50: 15
5.  People test … Jeremiah 17: 7
6.  Read the…Romans 10: 17
7.  Heed the … James 1: 22 - 24
8.  Test the… Malachi 3: 9 - 11
9.   Eliminate …John 1: 9
10.              Check your …2 Timothy 1: 7

1: Wait on God – Gen 21:5 - 5 Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him.
2: Continue no matter What –
The Journey (Abraham Visits 17 Locations)

The land of Canaan would be the inheritance of Abraham's descendants but Abraham would only be a pilgrim there. On his journey to Canaan there were seventeen places that Abraham visited recorded in the Old Testament. Each of these places are important in the history of Israel and there is evidence of their existence in ancient times through archaeology.

1. Ur of the Chaldees was the original home of Abraham. It was one of the greatest cities of the ancient world, and Ur was the capital of the ancient Chaldean Empire in ancient Mesopotamia. Sometime around 1900 BC the Lord told Abraham to leave his home and country and go to a land that He would show him. He obeyed and departed from Ur with his father Terah and his nephew Lot. (Gen. 11:31; Acts 7:2-4).

2. Haran in Mesopotamia was the first stopping place recorded inn the Bible. They dwelt here until after the death of his father Terah, and in Haran the Lord called Abraham again (Gen. 12:1-4; Acts 7:4). Nahor, Abraham's brother, had probably settled in Haran before they departed.

3. Damascus was a great city in the ancient world and it was located in ancient Aram (Syria). Abraham and his nephew Lot had departed Haran and followed the leading of the Lord. They moved southward and passed by the city of Damascus along the way and it might have been at this time that Abraham secured his servant Eliezer (Gen. 15:2).

4. Shechem or Sichem was the first place where Abraham came to in Canaan. The Lord appeared to Abraham again and confirmed his promises, and It was here at Shechem that Abraham built the first altar to the Lord (Gen. 12:6, 7).  There is much history in this place (Joshua 24:1, Judges 9:6, 1 Kings 12:1).

5. Bethel. Abraham continued his journey southward and came to a mountain near Bethel, where he built a second altar (Genesis 12:8).

6. Egypt. Abraham and his family journeyed southward through the land of Canaan and a major famine hit they migrated to Egypt. In Egypt Abraham deceived the King in order to save his own life and was expelled from the land of Egypt (Gen. 12:9-20). The king of Egypt feared Abraham because of a dream and allowed him to leave with all of his possessions.

7. Bethel. Abraham and his nephew Lot returned to their former home at Bethel, but on account of strife between their herdsmen they parted each others company as friends. (Gen. 13:1-9).

8. Hebron. Lot chose the warm climate and lush plains of the Jordan Valley and pitched his tent toward Sodom, and Abraham left the desirable Sodom and Gomorrah and sojourned at Hebron in Mamre where he heard again from the Lord and built an altar (Gen. 13:10-18). An interesting note is that Hebron was one of the oldest cities in ancient Canaan and Numbers 13:22 says that "it was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt."

9. Dan. Four kings of the east came to Canaan who were united under Chedorlaomer of Elam (the territory of ancient Ur) and made war against the five kings of Canaan. In their conquest of the Jordan Valley they captured Lot as a prisoner of war, and when Abraham heard of it he pursued the four kings and overtook them at Dan and defeated them with the help of the Lord (Gen. 14:1-14), Abraham had assembled an army of 318 men. The city of Dan was located in the north between Hazor and Damascus.

10. Hobah. Abraham and his army of servants smote the army of the 4 kings of Chedorlaomer and chased them to Hobah, which was located near Damascus. Lot and all the people with them were rescued including their belongings (Gen. 14:15, 16).

11. Salem. On his return Abraham passed through Salem (Jerusalem) and was met by a man named Melchizedek whose name means "king of righteousness". Melchizedek was a mysterious man regarded in the Bible as the priest and king of Salem. This was the first mention of the word "priest" in the Bible and he gave to Abraham bread and wine. The Bible also mentions that Abraham paid him 1/10th of all his spoils from the war as a "tithe". Hebrews 7:3 gives an interesting description of Melchizedek and therefore his identity remains a mystery. The king of Sodom also came out to meet Abraham at the same place (Gen. 14:17-21).

12. Hebron. When Abraham finally returned to Hebron God reminded him of his covenant with him and changed his name from Abram to Abraham (Gen. 15:1-21; 17:1-27). During his stay at this place Ishmael was born (Gen. 16: 1-16) and the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed (Gen. 18:1 - 19:38)

13. Gerar. Abraham left Hebron and for a time sojourned among the Philistines in Gerar which was in southern Canaan west of Beersheba. It was in Gerar that Abraham deceived King Abimelech (Gen. 20:1-18).

14. Beersheba. Abraham remained at Beersheba for some time. During this time he made a covenant with king Abimelech. Later he gave birth to a natural son of him and Sarah in his old age, he named him Isaac which means "laughter". When Isaac was born Ishmael was expelled and his mother Hagar fled and was met by "the Angel of the Lord" which was the Lord Himself (Gen. 21:1-34).

15. Moriah. It was in Beersheba that Abraham received the command from the Lord to take his only son Isaac to Mount Moriah, a mountain of Salem, to offer Isaac as a burnt offering (Gen. 22:1-18).

16. Beersheba. Abraham returned to Beersheba and dwelt there for some time.

17. Hebron. Abraham bought the cave of Machpelah as the family sepulcher and buried his wife Sarah there (Gen. 23: 1-20). At the age of 175 Abraham died, and was also buried in the cave at Machpelah.

3:  Listen Intently – Gen. 22:2 - 2 Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.”
4.  Respond Immediately – Gen. 22:3 - 3 Early the next morning Abraham got up and loaded his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about.
5: Go it Alone – Gen. 22:5 - 5 He said to his servants, “Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.”
6: Sacrifice Everything – Gen. 22:9-10 - 9 When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10 Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. 11 But the angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied.
7: Believe that He will Provide – Gen. 22:13 Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son.
Life Application



Sunday, April 5, 2015

THE FINISHER - 11AM SERVICE

Sermon Text:  John 19: 30…It is Finished…
Sermon Title: The Finisher
Point 1: Demonstration Hebrews12: 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Point 2: Denial Heb 12: 2…despising the shame…
        On the way to the cross and the empty tomb to finish what Jesus started he had to deal with the dreaded obstacle of denial.
John 18:15-17 15 And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another  disciple. Now that disciple was known to the high priest, and went with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest. 16 But Peter stood at the door outside. Then the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to her who kept the door, and brought Peter in. 17 Then the servant girl who kept the door said to Peter, “You are not also one of this Man’s disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.”
Point 3: Debt Tetelestai also meant “the debt is paid.” Archaeologists have repeatedly found its Latin equivalent scrawled across tax receipts used in those days, indicating a debt was paid. Romans 6:23 says “THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH….BUT THE GIFT OF GOD IS ETRNAL LIFE THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD.” In dying on the cross, Christ paid the debt of our sin.
Point 4: Death Heb 12: 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
        Jesus finished what he started even to the point of dying on the cross. Now many of you may think the cross is the completion of the task at hand.  The cross is part of the process. The cross is required for the sacrifice needed for our sins. The cross is next to the final step. It isn't the completion of the task though. It is the empty tomb. Jesus had to go through death to get to completing his task. We are the ones that should’ve been on the cross. All my sins and your sins were nailed to the cross. Because he died we can live.
Life Application: New Life God is calling us to be finishers in our marriages. Think of what it would’ve been like had one of you not given up. God is calling us to be finishers on our jobs…God is calling us to be finishers of our faith…Don't he obstacles are designed to make you stronger not make you a quitter…God is calling us to be finishers of the construction for more souls… Exercise your faith to finish the task at hand whatever it is
1.  Look at obstacles as footsteps…
2.  Keep your eyes on Jesus He finished...
3. 


THE FINISHER - 830AM SERMON

830am
Sermon Text:  Hebrews 12: 2 - 4 - 2fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Sermon Title: The Finisher
Point 1: Demonstration - vs. 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
        Notice Jesus had finished because of the joy set before him not the joy demonstrated all around him on Palm Sunday.
Point 2: Denial - vs. 2…despising the shame…
        On the way to the cross and the empty tomb to finish what Jesus started he had to deal with the dreaded obstacle of denial.
John 18:15-17 15 And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another  disciple. Now that disciple was known to the high priest, and went with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest. 16 But Peter stood at the door outside. Then the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to her who kept the door, and brought Peter in. 17 Then the servant girl who kept the door said to Peter, “You are not also one of this Man’s disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.” Can you imagine how Jesus must have felt.
Point 3: Dejection vs. 3 For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Luke 22:48 - 47While He was still speaking, behold, a crowd came, and the one called Judas, one of the twelve, was preceding them; and he approached Jesus to kiss Him. 48But Jesus said to him, "Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?" 49When those who were around Him saw what was going to happen, they said, "Lord, shall we strike with the sword?"…
        Jesus had to endure the dejection from the one he picked. I think we forget that Jesus picked Judas. How do you pick somebody that you know is going to betray you.
Point 4: Death vs. 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
        Jesus finished what he started even to the point of dying on the cross. Now many of you may think the cross is the completion of the task at hand.  The cross is part of the process.
Life Application: New Life God is calling us to be finishers in our marriages. Think of what it would’ve been like had one of you not given up. God is calling us to be finishers on our jobs…God is calling us to be finishers of our faith…Don't he obstacles are designed to make you stronger not make you a quitter…God is calling us to be finishers of the construction for more souls… have obstacles and we will by faith overcome all of them.
1.  Exercise your faith to finish the task at hand whatever it is
2.  Look at obstacles as footsteps to the next level of your destiny
3.  Keep your eyes on Jesus He finished, got up with all power in his hands to make us winners/finishers too


Virtual Family Sunday Questions

What ways can we create community as a family? How has our viewership/church attendance enhanced or diminished our family covenant? What way...