ICCSD Podcast

Sep. 5th 2010 service

2010-09-05T19:02:54.885-04:00

Religion versus Grace

2010-08-29T19:06:10.783-04:00

Religion versus Grace

Luke 7:36-50 (NIV)

Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, so he went to the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table. ³⁷When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, ³⁸and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.

³⁹When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner."

⁴⁰Jesus answered him, "Simon, I have something to tell you."
"Tell me, teacher," he said.

⁴¹"Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii,^[ ^d ^] and the other fifty. ⁴²Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?"

⁴³Simon replied, "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled."
"You have judged correctly," Jesus said.

⁴⁴Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. ⁴⁵You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. ⁴⁶You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. ⁴⁷Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little."

⁴⁸Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven."

⁴⁹The other guests began to say among themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?"

⁵⁰Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."

1. Grace responds with heartfelt gratefulness for something undeserved while law is ungrateful because “I” am the one making all the effort

2. Grace always has something to offer God in worship because much has been received and perceived while law has little to offer God in worship

3. Grace sees one's sins in relation to God and ultimately to God alone while the law finds justification and approval in comparison to others

4. Grace focuses on what Jesus has done while law focuses on what oneself has done for God – grace is Christ-centered while law is self-centered

5. Because grace receives, grace has much to give; because law receives little, law has little to give – for one who receives much will love much!

6. Grace allows us the freedom and courage to face our wickedness while law is blind even to its own wickedness

7. Grace leads to relationship while law to tiring performance

Ephesians 3:14-19 (NLT)

When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, ¹⁵ the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth.

8. Grace leads to a humble attitude while law leads to a proud attitude

9. Grace looks to faith or what Jesus can do while law looks at how we can do it leading to doubt

John 6:28-29 (NIV)

Then they asked him, "What must we do to do the works God requires?" ²⁹Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent."

10. The two gifts of the abundance of grace and the gift of approval leads to reigning in life, victory and the abundant life!

Romans 5:17 (NLT)

For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ.

Romans 5:17 (NIV)

For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.

a. Grace believers reign in life (ἐβασίλευσεν – ebasileusen)

b. Grace believers receives and keeps receiving

c. Grace believers focus on Christ and dare to interpret everything from the perspective of abundant grace

Lift up our focus to the level of God’s victory rather than bringing our eyes down to the level of our pains and difficulties

Prayer:

When I look at You, all things become possible

When I am in You, nothing is impossible

When I turn away, good things seem impossible

Let me gaze at You, to live the impossible (AO)

Law and Grace II

2010-08-22T18:16:09.952-04:00

Law and Grace II

The Letter of the Law versus the Spirit of the Law

1. The Law is only one small part of God’s Grace - Grace is the big plan while law is only one component of the larger plan.

Fulfilling the Spirit of the law in three steps:

i. The person who trusts in Jesus and receives His grace is fulfilling the law (letter & spirit), since we now depend on His obedience and approval

Matthew 5:17 (NIV)

"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.

Galatians 2:16 (NLT)

…And we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we might be made right with God because of our faith in Christ, not because we have obeyed the law. For no one will ever be made right with God by obeying the law.”

Galatians 2:16 (GW)

Yet, we know that people don’t receive God’s approval because of their own efforts to live according to a set of standards, but only by believing in Jesus Christ. So we also believed in Jesus Christ in order to receive God’s approval because of faith in Christ and not because of our own efforts. People won’t receive God’s approval because of their own efforts to live according to a set of standards.

ii. The spirit of the law is fulfilled when grace produces an obedience which flows out of an inside-out trust (faith) and love

Titus 2:11-12 (NIV)

For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. ¹²It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age…

Romans 5:17 (NIV)

iii. The spirit of the law is fulfilled when we love God and others with a love that is produced by God’s transforming grace

1 John 4:7 (NIV)

…for love comes from God.

Romans 13:8-10 (NLT)

Owe nothing to anyone—except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law. ⁹ For the commandments say, “You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not covet.” These—and other such commandments—are summed up in this one commandment: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” ¹⁰ Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of God’s law.

Galatians 5:14 (NIV)

The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself."

Matthew 7:12 (NIV)

So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

2. The law is a last resort in most cases – so turn to grace as a first response!

Psalm 62:7 (NIV)

My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge.

3. Turning to Grace instead of law gives us power over sin as well as strength to overcome in the midst of sin

Romans 5:20 (NKJV)

…But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more…

Law and Grace – By Grace We Fulfill the Law but Which Law?

2010-08-15T12:07:09.084-04:00

Law and Grace – By Grace We Fulfill the Law but Which Law?

The Letter of the Law focuses on the external, codified, formalized, literal and legislated rules that authority enforces

The Spirit of the Law is the original intention and purpose behind the letter of the law

Mark 2:27 (NLT)

Then Jesus said to them, “The Sabbath was made to meet the needs of people, and not people to meet the requirements of the Sabbath.

1. The Spirit of the Law is meant for providing and protecting the needs of people while the Letter of the Law is the external expression in formal rules

Old Testament Law – It demands outside-in obedience and it is through self-effort that we obey it.

New Testament Grace –The focus is on what God will do and if we receive His blessings, it will enable us to fulfill the spirit of the law inside-out

Jeremiah 31:33 (Msg)

"This is the brand-new covenant that I will make with Israel when the time comes. I will put my law within them—write it on their hearts!—and be their God. And they will be my people. They will no longer go around setting up schools to teach each other about God. They'll know me firsthand…

Ezekiel 11:16 (Msg)

"Well, tell them this, 'This is your Message from God, the Master. True, I sent you to the far country and scattered you through other lands. All the same, I've provided you a temporary sanctuary in the countries where you've gone. I will gather you back from those countries and lands where you've been scattered and give you back the land of Israel. You'll come back and clean house, throw out all the rotten images and obscene idols. I'll give you a new heart. I'll put a new spirit in you. I'll cut out your stone heart and replace it with a red-blooded, firm-muscled heart. Then you'll obey my statutes and be careful to obey my commands. You'll be my people! I'll be your God!

Matthew 5:15 (NIV)

"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.

2. Because Jesus came to obey the law perfectly, our focus is now on Christ, His Grace, the Spirit of the Law and not the Letter of the Law

Romans 7:6 (NLT)

But now we have been released from the law, for we died to it and are no longer captive to its power. Now we can serve God, not in the old way of obeying the letter of the law, but in the new way of living in the Spirit.

2 Cor. 3:6 (NIV)

He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

Romans 2:29 (NLT)

And true circumcision [obedience] is not merely obeying the letter of the law; rather, it is a change of heart produced by God’s Spirit. And a person with a changed heart seeks praise from God, not from people.

3. There are two ways we fulfill the Spirit of the Law:

a. By receiving so much of God’s grace and love that as a result, we love…

Romans 13:8, 10 (NLT)

Owe nothing to anyone—except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law… Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of God’s law.

1 John 4:19 (NIV)

We love because he first loved us.

b. By faith – which is by continuing to depend on Jesus’ acceptance, approval and His power

Romans 3:27-28, 31 (NLT)

Can we boast, then, that we have done anything to be accepted by God? No, because our acquittal is not based on obeying the law. It is based on faith. ²⁸ So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law… In fact, only when we have faith do we truly fulfill the law.

Moving from Cynicism to the Abundance of Grace

2010-08-08T20:53:56.996-04:00

Moving from Cynicism to the Abundance of Grace

1. Whatever we become cynical towards, WE prevent ourselves from being blessed in that area of life!

Cynicism from a wounded past

Cynicism as a result of fearing to step outside a box-experience

Hebrews 11:40 (NIV)

God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.

Those who are operating through cynicism are blinded to the grace and blessings of God in front of them; nor can they receive it

Proverbs 1:22 (Msg)

…Cynics! How long will you feed your cynicism? Idiots! How long will you refuse to learn? About face! I can revise your life. Look, I'm ready to pour out my spirit on you; I'm ready to tell you all I know. As it is, I've called, but you've turned a deaf ear; I've reached out to you, but you've ignored me.

Those who are operating through cynicism will even interpret anything good, beautiful or any hopeful opportunity as something bad

Proverbs 24:8 (Msg)

…cynics desecrate beauty.

Titus 1:15 (NLT)

Everything is pure to those whose hearts are pure. But nothing is pure to those who are corrupt and unbelieving, because their minds and consciences are corrupted.

Those who are operating through cynicism are ultimately depending on their tiring self-effort to hopelessly make themselves feel better

Proverbs 14:6 (Msg)

Cynics look high and low for wisdom—and never find it; the open-minded find it right on their doorstep!

2. The two gifts of the abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness – approval leads to overcoming of cynicism and our past woundedness!

Romans 5:17 (NLT)

For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is (1) God’s wonderful grace and his (2) gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ.

Romans 5:17 (NIV)

For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive (1) God's abundant provision of grace and of the (2) gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.

3. Lift up and focus our hopes to the level of God’s promises rather than bringing our eyes down to the level of our pains and difficulties

Colossians 3:1-3 (NIV)

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. ²Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. ³For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.

Whatever we dwell on, we reproduce – if we dwell on God’s promises, we will break through; but if we dwell on our fear, we will be paralyzed!

2 Cor. 4:18 (NIV)

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

If we set our vision on God’s promises, even the most painful places cannot stop us from living well towards fulfillment of those promises. But if we lower our vision to the level of our pains, we will miss even the greatest opportunities set before us.

8/01/2010 service- Obedience by Grace

2010-08-01T00:12:51.105-04:00

Obedience by Grace

Romans 7:18-19 (NIV)

For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. ¹⁹For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.

Romans 10:5-6 (Msg)

Moses wrote that anyone who insists on using the law code to live right before God soon discovers it's not so easy—every detail of life regulated by fine print…

1. Even those who believe they are doing their best to obey are lost but don’t even know it

We can easily turn obedience into idol as a means of obligating God to owe us – we do not truly desire God but something else more than God

If we doubt or do not believe that God is gracious and pleased with us, or if we presumptuously expect to please Him through our works, then all [our compliance with the law] is pure deception, outwardly honoring God, but inwardly setting up self as a false savior. Note for yourself, then, how far apart these two are: keeping the First Commandment with outward works only, and keeping it with inward [justifying faith]. For this last makes true, living children of God, the other only makes worse idolatry and the most mischievous hypocrites on earth... (Martin Luther)

2. Jesus obeyed the perfect laws of God perfectly on our behalf

Romans 8:3-4 (NIV)

For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature,^[ ^a ^] God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering.^[ ^b ^] And so he condemned sin in sinful man, ⁴in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us…

The more grace we understand and receive the more power and genuine transformation we will have to obey God from the inside-out

Titus 2:11-12 (NIV)

Obedience comes by being strengthened on the inside-out through the hearing of the Gospel of Grace and then receiving it by faith

Romans 16:25-26 (ESV)

Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages ²⁶but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith—

3. The two gifts of the abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness – approval leads to obedience, overcoming of sin and abundant life!

Romans 5:17 (NLT)

Romans 5:17 (NIV)

The grace of God answers us in our most undeserving moments – be Christ-conscious and approval (righteousness)-conscious!

First, there is a righteousness-approval that comes from your obedience and from you trying to earn your way to attain it. Second, there a righteousness-approval that comes from faith in Jesus Christ!

Trained Monkeys or Humble Hounds?

2010-07-25T14:24:19.138-04:00

Trained Monkeys or Humble Hounds?

1 Samuel 17:4-37, 41-51

⁴ Then Goliath, a Philistine champion from Gath, came out of the Philistine ranks to face the forces of Israel. He was over nine feet tall! ⁵ He wore a bronze helmet, and his bronze coat of mail weighed 125 pounds. ⁶ He also wore bronze leg armor, and he carried a bronze javelin on his shoulder. ⁷ The shaft of his spear was as heavy and thick as a weaver’s beam, tipped with an iron spearhead that weighed 15 pounds.^[c] His armor bearer walked ahead of him carrying a shield.

⁸ Goliath stood and shouted a taunt across to the Israelites. “Why are you all coming out to fight?” he called. “I am the Philistine champion, but you are only the servants of Saul. Choose one man to come down here and fight me! ⁹ If he kills me, then we will be your slaves. But if I kill him, you will be our slaves! ¹⁰ I defy the armies of Israel today! Send me a man who will fight me!” ¹¹ When Saul and the Israelites heard this, they were terrified and deeply shaken.

¹² Now David was the son of a man named Jesse, an Ephrathite from Bethlehem in the land of Judah. Jesse was an old man at that time, and he had eight sons. ¹³ Jesse’s three oldest sons—Eliab, Abinadab, and Shimea—had already joined Saul’s army to fight the Philistines. ¹⁴ David was the youngest son. David’s three oldest brothers stayed with Saul’s army, ¹⁵ but David went back and forth so he could help his father with the sheep in Bethlehem.

¹⁶ For forty days, every morning and evening, the Philistine champion strutted in front of the Israelite army.

¹⁷ One day Jesse said to David, “Take this basket of roasted grain and these ten loaves of bread, and carry them quickly to your brothers. ¹⁸ And give these ten cuts of cheese to their captain. See how your brothers are getting along, and bring back a report on how they are doing.” ¹⁹ David’s brothers were with Saul and the Israelite army at the valley of Elah, fighting against the Philistines.

²⁰ So David left the sheep with another shepherd and set out early the next morning with the gifts, as Jesse had directed him. He arrived at the camp just as the Israelite army was leaving for the battlefield with shouts and battle cries. ²¹ Soon the Israelite and Philistine forces stood facing each other, army against army. ²² David left his things with the keeper of supplies and hurried out to the ranks to greet his brothers. ²³ As he was talking with them, Goliath, the Philistine champion from Gath, came out from the Philistine ranks. Then David heard him shout his usual taunt to the army of Israel.

²⁴ As soon as the Israelite army saw him, they began to run away in fright. ²⁵ “Have you seen the giant?” the men asked. “He comes out each day to defy Israel. The king has offered a huge reward to anyone who kills him. He will give that man one of his daughters for a wife, and the man’s entire family will be exempted from paying taxes!”

²⁶ David asked the soldiers standing nearby, “What will a man get for killing this Philistine and ending his defiance of Israel? Who is this pagan Philistine anyway, that he is allowed to defy the armies of the living God?”

²⁷ And these men gave David the same reply. They said, “Yes, that is the reward for killing him.”

²⁸ But when David’s oldest brother, Eliab, heard David talking to the men, he was angry. “What are you doing around here anyway?” he demanded. “What about those few sheep you’re supposed to be taking care of? I know about your pride and deceit. You just want to see the battle!”

²⁹ “What have I done now?” David replied. “I was only asking a question!” ³⁰ He walked over to some others and asked them the same thing and received the same answer. ³¹ Then David’s question was reported to King Saul, and the king sent for him.

³² “Don’t worry about this Philistine,” David told Saul. “I’ll go fight him!”

³³ “Don’t be ridiculous!” Saul replied. “There’s no way you can fight this Philistine and possibly win! You’re only a boy, and he’s been a man of war since his youth.”

³⁴ But David persisted. “I have been taking care of my father’s sheep and goats,” he said. “When a lion or a bear comes to steal a lamb from the flock, ³⁵ I go after it with a club and rescue the lamb from its mouth. If the animal turns on me, I catch it by the jaw and club it to death. ³⁶ I have done this to both lions and bears, and I’ll do it to this pagan Philistine, too, for he has defied the armies of the living God! ³⁷ The Lord who rescued me from the claws of the lion and the bear will rescue me from this Philistine!”

Saul finally consented. “All right, go ahead,” he said. “And may the Lord be with you!”

… ⁴¹ Goliath walked out toward David with his shield bearer ahead of him, ⁴² sneering in contempt at this ruddy-faced boy. ⁴³ “Am I a dog,” he roared at David, “that you come at me with a stick?” And he cursed David by the names of his gods. ⁴⁴ “Come over here, and I’ll give your flesh to the birds and wild animals!” Goliath yelled.

⁴⁵ David replied to the Philistine, “You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies—the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. ⁴⁶ Today the Lord will conquer you, and I will kill you and cut off your head. And then I will give the dead bodies of your men to the birds and wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel! ⁴⁷ And everyone assembled here will know that the Lord rescues his people, but not with sword and spear. This is the Lord’s battle, and he will give you to us!”

⁴⁸ As Goliath moved closer to attack, David quickly ran out to meet him. ⁴⁹ Reaching into his shepherd’s bag and taking out a stone, he hurled it with his sling and hit the Philistine in the forehead. The stone sank in, and Goliath stumbled and fell face down on the ground.

⁵⁰ So David triumphed over the Philistine with only a sling and a stone, for he had no sword. ⁵¹ Then David ran over and pulled Goliath’s sword from its sheath. David used it to kill him and cut off his head.

1 Sam. 17:28 (NIV)

When Eliab, David's oldest brother, heard him speaking with the men, he burned with anger at him and asked, "Why have you come down here? And with whom did you leave those few sheep in the desert? I know how conceited you are and how wicked your heart is; you came down only to watch the battle."

Human Tendencies

a. We interpret other through our own biased-view of the world.

b. We all naturally assume that everyone else thinks like us or should think like us.

c. When we have an opinion about someone or something, it is not enough that we think that way, but we need others to think that way too!

John 1:46 (NIV)

…"Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?" Nathanael asked. "Come and see," said Philip.

1. Accept the fact that like everyone else, we carry deep personal biases that we privilege in interpreting others – the wise person is fully aware of this bias

1 Sam. 17:28 (NIV)

… "Why have you come down here? And with whom did you leave those few sheep in the desert? I know how conceited you are and how wicked your heart is; you came down only to watch the battle."

When we see something in someone that troubles us, be humble and courageous enough to ask questions before making conclusions – because we are not Jesus!

First, we cannot solve and help what we do not deeply understand!

Second, we cannot listen to understand properly if we have already made conclusions about the other person in our minds.

Proverbs 18:13 (Msg)

Answering before listening is both stupid and rude.

Proverbs 18:13 (NLT)

Spouting off before listening to the facts is both shameful and foolish.

James 1:19 NLT)

Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.

2. Humble hounds question and test even their own thinking, are cautious about their opinions and seek God’s wisdom continually

Psalm 25:4-5 (NIV)

Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths; ⁵ guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.

Psalm 51:6 (NIV)

Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place.

2 Sam. 14:12, 18

Then the woman (from Tekoa) said, "Let your servant speak a word to my lord the king." "Speak," he replied…Then the king said to the woman, "Do not keep from me the answer to what I am going to ask you."

3. The story of David and Goliath is not ultimately about our strategic ability to fight our giants but about God overcoming the giants in our lives!

When we realize that it is God who wins battles and not our own strength or abilities, run immediately against our giants

Having Great Faith through God’s Generous Grace

2010-07-18T20:35:05.517-04:00

Having Great Faith through God’s Generous Grace

1. Peter and John’s faith grew phenomenally because they experienced Jesus meeting them where their limited faith was, in order to build it up

Matthew 17:20 (NIV)

He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."

Ultimately, it is not the size of our faith that matters, but Whom we focus the size of that little faith on that really matters!

Exodus 12:12-13 (NIV)

"On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn—both men and animals—and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the LORD. ¹³ The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt.

2. When we become Christ-conscious and focus on Jesus and see His grace and love, Jesus turns around and sees our faith

Matthew 9:20-22 (NLT)

Just then a woman who had suffered for twelve years with constant bleeding came up behind him. She touched the fringe of his robe, ²¹ for she thought, “If I can just touch his robe, I will be healed.” ²² Jesus turned around, and when he saw her he said, “Daughter, be encouraged! Your faith has made you well.” And the woman was healed at that moment.

Matthew 15:28 (NIV)

Then Jesus answered, "Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted." And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

Luke 7:9 (NIV)

When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him (the Centurion), and turning to the crowd following him, he said, "I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel."

A small revelation of Jesus leads to small faith while a big revelation of Jesus leads to great faith

Be Jesus-conscious, rather than sin-conscious

OT prophets call our sins to remembrance while NT prophets call our righteousness in Christ into remembrance and into consciousness.

Whatever we are conscious of, we will produce

3. Faith comes by realizing and experiencing how much we are loved

Matthew 17:1-7 (NKJV)

Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; ² and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. ³ And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. ⁴ Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us^[ ^a ^] make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
⁵ While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!” ⁶ And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid. ⁷ But Jesus came and touched them and said, “Arise, and do not be afraid.”

Galatians 2:20 (NIV)

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gavehimself for me.

Revelation 2:4-5 (NKJV)

Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. ⁵ Remember therefore from where you have fallen

Ephesians 3:17-19 (NIV)

And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, ¹⁸may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, ¹⁹and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

I am grateful to Joseph Prince, from whom much of this sermon comes from

Grace and Blessings II (Part two)

2010-07-11T04:15:00.404-04:00

Grace and Blessings II (Part one)

2010-07-11T04:03:14.587-04:00

Grace and Blessings II

Deuteronomy 28:1, 8, 12-13, 15, 22, 41, 54; 30:10

If you fully obey the LORD your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. ² All these blessings will come upon you and accompany you if you obey the LORD your God:… The LORD will send a blessing on your barns and on everything you put your hand to. The LORD your God will bless you in the land he is giving you… The LORD will open the heavens, the storehouse of his bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands. You will lend to many nations but will borrow from none. ¹³ The LORD will make you the head, not the tail. If you pay attention to the commands of the LORD your God that I give you this day and carefully follow them, you will always be at the top, never at the bottom… However, if you do not obey the LORD your God and do not carefully follow all his commands and decrees I am giving you today, all these curses will come upon you and overtake you… The LORD will strike you with wasting disease, with fever and inflammation, with scorching heat and drought, with blight and mildew, which will plague you until you perish… You will have sons and daughters but you will not keep them, because they will go into captivity… Even the most gentle and sensitive man among you will have no compassion on his own brother or the wife he loves or his surviving children… if you obey the LORD your God and keep his commands and decrees that are written in this Book of the Law and turn to the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.

Galatians 3:13-14 (NIV)

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree." ¹⁴He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus

Galatians 3:13-14 (Msg)

Christ redeemed us from that self-defeating, cursed life by absorbing it completely into himself. Do you remember the Scripture that says, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree"? That is what happened when Jesus was nailed to the cross: He became a curse, and at the same time dissolved the curse. And now, because of that, the air is cleared…We are all able to receive God's life, his Spirit, in and with us by believing…

1. Jesus came and took the curse and left the blessings for us and even added more blessings to us!

Now because of Jesus, we do not obey in order to be blessed but because we are already blessed, that gives us the strength and desire to obey

Galatians 1:6-9; 5:4 (NKJV, NIV)

I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, ⁷ which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. ⁸ But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. ⁹ As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed …You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.

2. Apart from Jesus, we will never receive the fullness of God’s abundant blessings for our lives!

1 Cor. 1:30 (GW)

Jesus has become our wisdom sent from God, our righteousness, our holiness, and our ransom from sin.

1 Cor. 1:30-31 (NJKV)

But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption — ³¹ that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the LORD.”

Genesis 22:14 (NIV)
So Abraham called that place The LORD (Yahweh jireh) Will Provide. And to this day it is said, "On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided."

Exodus 15:16 (NIV)

He said, "If you listen carefully to the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the LORD (Yahweh rapha), who heals you."

Matthew 6:33 (NIV)

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

3. If we seek after His approval, His righteousness and love that have already been given, every other blessing will be poured out as well!

Genesis 39:2 (NASB)

LORD was with Joseph, so he became a successful man.

1 Sam.18:14 (NIV)

In everything he did he (David) had great success, because the LORD was with him.

Seek and worship in the presence of the Giver, the Provider and the Blessor and He will take care of the gifts, provision and blessings in our lives!

Grace and Blessings

2010-07-04T04:06:21.937-04:00

Grace and Blessings

Wisdom is when we can learn to be content in any situation as well as confidently ask for breakthroughs in joyless areas in our lives!

Matthew 5:1-10 (NLT)

One day as he saw the crowds gathering, Jesus went up on the mountainside and sat down. His disciples gathered around him, ² and he began to teach them. ³ “God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. ⁴ God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted. ⁵ God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth. ⁶ God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied. ⁷ God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy. ⁸ God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God. ⁹ God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God.¹⁰ God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.

1. God desires to bless us!

Jeremiah 17:5-8 (NLT)

This is what the Lord says: “Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans, who rely on human strength and turn their hearts away from the Lord. ⁶ They are like stunted shrubs in the desert, with no hope for the future. They will live in the barren wilderness, in an uninhabited salty land. ⁷ “But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. ⁸ They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.

Proverbs 10:22 (NLT)

The blessing of the Lord makes a person rich, and he adds no sorrow with it.

Jeremiah 17:6 (NKJV)

For he shall be like a shrub in the desert, And shall not see when good comes…

Jeremiah 17:7-8 (NLT)

“But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. ⁸ They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.

Galatians 3:10 (NKJV)

For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, “Cursediseveryone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.”

Galatians 3:10 (NIV)

All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law."

2. We come under the curse of the law when we depend on Jesus for our conversion but thereafter depend on ourselves for everything else

Galatians 5:4 (NIV)

You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.

Interestingly, the rejection of God’s grace is to fall from grace back into works. Contrary to popular belief, falling from grace does not mean falling into sin. According to the Bible, falling from grace is to fall back into works and into falling back into law, self-effort and religion.

We fall away from grace not when we sin but when we start depending on our own self-effort and self-sufficiency

Galatians 3:13-14 (NIV)

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree."^[ ^f ^] ¹⁴He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus

Jesus had to die on the cross to redeem us from the curse of the law, not the curse of sin and in order for His blessings to be made available to us

Matthew 3:16-17 (NIV)

As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. ¹⁷And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."

Ephesians 1:3-6 (NKJV)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, ⁵ having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, ⁶ to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us acceptedin the Beloved.

3. When we are in Christ, and in the Beloved, we too become the beloved – which enables and strengthens us to live bigger lives for Him!