Moraine Valley Church

Transformed // Week 2 // Change

Transformed
Romans 12:1-2; 2 Corinthians 3:18 Feb 2, 2020
I. Introduction:
A. So we are one month into our New Year’s resolutions – how are they going?
1. Resolutions are all about change, things in our life we would like to see
change. The great majority of them have to do with external things in our
lives – Save more money, exercise more, lose weight, learn a new skill, spend
more time with family etc.
2. Most of us have given up on even trying to change the internal things deep
within us – things like impatience, selfishness, anxiety, fear, anger, lust,
greed, negative thinking, etc. Just too deep, too strong, been there too long!
B. But I am here this morning to give you some hope and even some direction into
first steps into change at the core of our being, the kind of change that starts from
the inside with our character and works its way out into our behavior!
1. What I am talking about this morning is change, change in the essential
nature of something which is more like Jesus’ miracle of turning water into
wine.
2. So bottom line to change who we are takes a miracle by Jesus in my inner
most being!
C. As we start this new year not only do we long for deep down internal changes but
also as we begin our 75th year as a church we long for deep down internal
changes in the nature of our church community. So we can be a greater blessing
to each other, the people where we live, work, go to school and play and even to
the end of the earth.
D. Thus, this series is being called transform – which means a deep down change in
the essential nature of something.
1. We are calling it that because we long to see deep down change in us, our
church and in our communities
2. And we are calling it that because that is the word in the Bible that is used to
describe this deep down internal change in our nature.
• Let’s talk about being …
II. Transformed
A. Salvation is much more than being forgiven then getting a ticket to go to heaven
when we die.
1. Salvation is a blessing from God that has a whole package of benefits both
for now, in the future and in eternity!
2. One of the greatest benefits of salvation is transformation – change – change
at the core of our being
B. Change starts with salvation. When we are born again the Holy Spirit changes us
at the core of our being.
1. Turn 2 Corinthians 5:16-18a – read – stay there in your Bible
2. We are brand new creatures at our core, the deepest part of who we are –
something that comes from God.
3. So at the moment of salvation we were deeply changed whether we were
aware of it or not
C. We learned in our study of Romans 6-8 that the person we were before, known as
our old man, was crucified with Christ and that we have been raised up with
Christ to a brand new life.
1. Now His Holy Spirit lives inside of that new man.
2. But we find also that we are inseparably linked to a fallen flesh that still has
the old habits and ways built deep within us. So we feel this conflict between
being who God wants us to be and our flesh controlling our lives. What a
miserable place to be.
3. But we also learned that the ministry of the Holy Spirit is to break down and
dismantle the control of the flesh in our lives and to fill our lives with the
very resurrected life of Christ.
D. So bottom line we are new creatures in Christ, we are one with Christ at the
deepest level of our lives (He is in me and I am in Him)
1. Me in Christ is the way that God sees and blesses me
a) All the rights, privileges, positions, blessings God gives to me in Christ,
2. Christ in me is the way that God empowers and changes me
a) The Holy Spirit living in me working in me to make more and more like
Jesus Christ
E. Transformation or change at the core of my being is a process that God works out
the rest of my life as He is conforming His children to the image of Jesus Christ.
• I want to close by showing you three important ways you can position your life to
experience this kind of change at the core of your being.
III. Three means to transformation
A. I say position yourself because the two passages that talk about transformation
both have the word in the passive voice. That simply means it is not an action
that we do to ourselves but it is something that God does to us.
1. Transformation, the way we change at the core of our being, is something
where we can position our life to be in the places that God works
transformation into us by means of His Spirit.
2. Just like I cannot produce a sun tan myself but I can position myself under
the sun in such a way that the sun produces a sun tan on my skin
3. In the same way we must position ourselves with the Son – s-o-n so we can
get a s-o-n tan on our hearts
B. Turn to 2 Corinthians 3:18
1. This is a passage we have a greater ministry than Moses because the new
covenant ministry of the life and righteousness by the Spirit is a greater
ministry than the old covenant ministry of death and condemnation.
a) Moses was a minister of the old covenant, we as believers, not just
preachers but every one of us are ministers of the new covenant!
2. We today have a greater privilege than Moses himself and a greater
experience of God’s glory than Moses did on the mountaintop of Sinai!
3. Moses would go into the presence of God and his face would shine from
being in the presence of God’s glory but that glory would fade as time went
on, so he hid his face with a veil so people would not see the glory fading.
4. Now listen to 2 Corinthians 3:18 Read
5. Just a few observations for today
a) We are like mirrors reflecting God’s glory to others!
b) We do not need a veil over our faces because the glory that is touching
our lives is not fading away but rather we are being transformed,
changed into that same image of the glory of Christ from one degree of
glory to the next –
(1) Show this again in the text
(2) A synonymous verse with Romans 8:29 we are being conformed to
the image of Jesus at the core of our being.
(3) What do you think that says about things like impatience,
selfishness, anxiety, fear, anger, lust, greed, negative thinking etc.?
c) Finally, note that this transformation is from the Lord, the Spirit of Jesus
Christ who lives inside of us!
C. So in light of the context of this passage (which talks about Moses meeting with
God face to face and the Jews reading God’s word) and the use of the word
behold which has two possible uses: we are not only reflecting Jesus glory but we
are transformed when we put our gaze upon (behold)Jesus and keep it there. So
we can position ourselves to be changed by the Spirit of God in two ways:
1. When we are intentional to worship Him and not just sing songs but are
beholding Him and we are being transformed
2. When we read God’s word not just for information or a discipline we are
supposed to do but rather to have a vital experiences with the living God
through His Word where we are changed in a way that our way of thinking
and hearts are changed forever
D. The third way we can position ourselves for change we see in Romans 12:1-2 –
Please turn
1. As I read note in verse 2 again we see this transformation happen in our
minds as we allow God’s Word to get so deep within us that it changes us.
Read 12:1-2
2. But right at the start of v1, we see the third way we can position ourselves for
this deep change.
a) Reread v1 a-c
b) Present your entire life to God – simply saying to God here I am God,
take over my life by your Spirit and do in me whatever you want to do –
I am yours from now on – I am the clay you are the potter – do as you
please in me!
IV. Communion
A. As we go to communion this morning it is another great opportunity to be
transformed as you behold Jesus and reflect upon His death for you, what it
means to you and what it demands of you!
B. Talk to God about it, which is another face-to-face encounter with God talking
with each other – prayer is another form of transformation. It says in Luke 9:29
that while Jesus was praying he was transfigured.
C. During this communion time would you position yourself to be changed and ask
God which means of transformation we learned about this morning you should
begin to practice on a regular basis to place yourself under the s-o-n to get a life
changing s-o-n tan on your heart, one that will not pass away!

Transformed // Week 1

The Lord Building MVC
Psalm 127:1-2 Ephesians 4:15-16 January 26, 2020
I. Introduction:
A. The passage that we are going to look at today may have had a big impact on your
life as you come to MVC and my hope is it will have even a greater impact on our
lives, and even the lives of those outside these walls whom we encounter all week
long.
1. As turn to Psalm 127 let me try to explain why I said that.
2. Close to 15 years ago, three of us were moved by this passage and the reality
of spiritual warfare that we needed to pray not just for ourselves but also for
MVC.
a) So for years, every Monday morning for one hour we met in the last row
right about where the sound booth is to pray for this church and you the
people of MVC.
b) Since then the location has been moved and two more people normally
join us but that one hour of prayer for MVC and its people has continued
weekly.
3. The truth of this passage drives the reason why about five years ago another
prayer meeting was started on Thursday morning where three of us meet for
one hour every week
4. The truth of this passage is one of the reason we started about nine months
ago to meet corporately every Wednesday morning at 6am for an hour of
prayer.
B. I think you get the point – when the reality of the truth of this passage sinks into
our hearts; prayer is one of the first responses that naturally flows out of our
hearts!
1. This passage, along with many others, teaches us that we must depend upon
the Lord as we do our work to see the kind of growth and success that matters
to God and lasts into eternity.
2. One of the greatest expressions of dependence is prayer, when I admit to God
my desperate need for Him to be involved in what I am doing. If He does not
show up and do something then all my efforts will be in vain regarding
eternity
• Now in Psalm 127 we are only going to be dealing with the first 2 verses
II. Psalm 127:1-2
A. The psalm deals with how God’s blessing sustains both our life at home and in
our society. It’s not a matter of man’s wisdom, hard work or practices and
policies that bring success but rather God’s blessing, God’s working upon, with
and through man’s working.
1. Actually, the passage says it even stronger as it talks about the vanity of man
to do their work apart from God’s blessing and His working with them!
2. Watch for this as I read v1-2
a) Read it in the NLT
B. It’s straightforward – God’s blessing, God’s grace and God causing his face to
shine upon what you are doing is essential for the success of it.
1. Just a side note – when I use the word success I am aware there are three
ways to apply this word:
a) The worlds definition of success – which is totally shaped apart from
God’s wisdom but solely upon man’s wisdom within their particular
culture
b) The church world’s definition of success – which often mixes the
world’s wisdom and God’s wisdom, is measured mostly by external and
visible metrics.
c) God’s definition of success is found in His Word. Actually according to
1 Corinthians 2 God’s wisdom is considered foolish by the sophisticated
of this world, but many of God metrics for success are measured by
internal and invisible things that last forever!
C. It starts in v1 with the building of a house and the guarding of a city and states the
vanity of it unless the Lord is involved in it. You can have 100 guards out
protecting a city but without God’s protection going along with it, the city will be
broken into.
D. In v2 he talks about the uselessness of working endless hours and burning the
candle at both ends because God’s blessing is the ultimate determination of
success. He gives it not only when you’re working but also even when you are
sleeping.
E. It is important to note that this Psalm is not promoting passivity on the part of
man and only dependence and prayer on his part. I believe it is teaching due
diligence on man’s part along with deep dependence upon God’s involvement and
blessing upon what you are doing!
1. In the passage we see
a) V1a – man is laboring to build the house but he also needs God’s
blessing
b) V1b – there are guards who are watching the city – it is just that their
work will be useless unless God grants the protection.
(1) So God’s working and blessing does not come apart from man but
often through man’s work and effort
c) V2 is warning us against thinking everything depends upon us so we had
better work our butts off if we are going to succeed.
(1) actually god does not only work in and through our works but even
when we are not working, when we are resting and sleeping God is
still working on our behalf.
2. So the way I seek to live my life in everything, both personally and ministry
wise, is with a heart of due diligence and deep dependence
a) Due diligence means to take reasonable and responsible steps to be
faithful in something.
b) This drives me to put my hands to the work, constantly seeking to excel
still the more at what I do while praying fervently and persistently that
God’s blessing would be on, in and through what I do, doing things that
only God can do!
F. We see this same truth regarding the growth of the church in Ephesians 4:15-16.
1. The passage, in context, talks about the way that God has structured His
church to bring about growth. Things primarily measured by internal,
invisible and eternal things.
2. He wraps up this section speaking about the due diligence and deep
dependence that is necessary for the church to grow with the kind of growth
that comes from God
3. As I read, I want you to note the dependence that we are called upon to have
in Jesus, the head of the church, since He is the source of the kind of growth
that comes from God. At the same time it talks about the importance of each
individual part of the body (that is the believer), functioning to their full
capacity in light of the way God designed them to work.
a) In other words, we will see due diligence and deep dependence coming
together in the context of church growth.
b) Read Ephesians 4:15-16
c) to become all the church God wants MVC to be it requires you
(1) functioning to the fullest measure using your spiritual gift to
impact others inside and outside this church
(2) It also requires your prayers
d) According to this verse if not every believer here is serving to the full
extent God has called and gifted them to serve and is not praying for
MVC and its people and ministries, then MVC will not grow to the place
where God wants us to be both quantitatively and quality wise!
• So all of this brings us back to where I started – these truths make us realize the
importance of prayer in our lives and church
III. Application
A. As we move forward from our 75th anniversary seeking to be a church that is
blessed by God so we can be a blessing to others; we need to pray if we want that
to be a reality at MVC and not just an inspirational message for a 75th
anniversary.
B. Two ways we can do that as a church.
1. Wednesday 6am – a group of us meet every week because of these truths
seeking God’s blessing upon this church and this people as we go about what
God has called us to do. We do not want to see our works in vain and we
would love to see the number of people who join us increase so our impact
through prayer can increase
2. 75 …
C. Close in prayer for God’s blessings, for God’s glory upon the work and people of
MVC. Yes, that He would bless us, not just when we are doing the work we
should be doing, but even while we are resting and sleeping!

Blessed for God’s Glory

Blessed for God’s Glory

Psalm 67 January 19, 2020 – 75th Anniversary

I. Introduction:
A. What we have heard today is God’s grace, God’s blessing, God’s face shining,
and God’s divine favor on this church. We also heard about God’s blessing going
through this church to people both locally and all over the world. We also have
blessed Him today for these blessings by praising Him as the hero of the story of
MVC over 75 years!
B. This really is a micro picture of what God is doing in the world.
1. It all starts with God, a God who has a heart to bless!
2. Then God pours out His divine favor upon His people
3. Then God’s blessed people take that blessing and bless others with it.
4. Finally, those who have experienced God’s blessing return blessing/praise
back to God for His goodness to them.
C. This has been God’s plan from the beginning
1. Turn to Genesis 12:2 - God lays out his plan for Abraham. Many consider
this the foundational passage in Scripture regarding God’s plan in this world.
I happen to be one of those.
2. Read v2...3c
3. God promises to bless Abraham by making him a great nation and his name
great!
4. Then tells him to be a blessing to others (2d) followed by the fact that God is
going to bless the whole world through him (3c)
D. As the story goes on
1. The great nation God made of Abraham was Israel and they became His own
possession among all the peoples of the earth, who were to be His priests and
His representatives, to the rest of the world.

2. Then Jesus came, who is the seed of Abraham through whom God would
bless all the world, and God so loved the world that He gave his only Son,
Jesus, so that whoever would believe in Him would not perish but have
everlasting life.
3. Then in Matthew 28 Jesus commissions the church, the seed of Abraham
through their relationship with Jesus the seed, those who have been blessed
with every spiritual blessing in the heavenlies, to go and make disciples of all
the nations!
E. In Revelation 7 we see the fulfillment of this plan of God’s blessing going full
circle, as peoples from every nation bless God in worship for His blessings upon
them. Listen as I read Revelation 7:9-12.
• Now turn to Psalm 67 we see this same pattern of blessing laid out
II. Psalm 67
A. We will see here the God of blessings, blesses His own people Israel so that His
blessing, His salvation, might go through them to all the world and in turn people
from all the world would fear and bless/praise God
B. As I read note that “us” refers to God’s people Israel and that the “peoples” and
“nations” refer to the rest of the world.
1. Also, note at the start of this Psalm is a prayer for blessing and in that prayer
he states the reason why he is asking for this blessing upon them. At the end
of this psalm, he states the reason why God blesses His people.
2. Read
C. Point out
1. Purpose for praying for blessing in v1-2
a) We see a prayer for blessing does not have to be a selfish self-serving
prayer if it is prayed with the right motive!
2. God’s purpose for blessing in v6-7
D. In between these two, we see the prayer for all the peoples of the world to praise
and bless God!
• So how does that apply to us at MVC?
III. Challenge

A. God has blessed MVC so we can be a blessing to those around us and even to the
end of the earth. We have been blessed to bless!
1. In the last five years alone, MVC has contributed $928,450 in support of
missionaries and mission work as we have supported 41 missionaries in a
variety of ministries to various different kinds of people in different parts of
the world.
B. So my prayer now is that God would even bless us more so we can be a greater
blessing to each other, to the communities we live in and around the world. I
personally desire this in three ways:
1. I would love to see God’s blessings on our offerings so we do not have to
struggle as a church just to make ends meet and rob from Peter to pay Paul.
But that we not only meet budget but exceed it so we can pay off our
mortgage and fix what remains in this building to be fixed so we can pour
even greater blessings beyond these walls on those who need and to further
God’s kingdom agenda!
2. On the personal level take the blessing God has built into each one of our
spiritual lives and pour that blessing upon someone else! That is called
discipleship – take what God has given you and give it to someone else.
a) We all need people who can help us grow closer to Jesus and we all
know people whom we can help grow closer to Jesus
3. I long to see MVC make a greater impact upon the world right around us here
in the Chicago area by each one of us seeing ourselves as missionaries,
witnesses, ambassadors, ministers who impact the part of the world we live in
and the relationships we have with people both inside and outside the church.
We want to be world changers!
a) You and I may not change “the world” but each one of us can change
“someone’s world,” - one person at a time, one step at a time, one
conversation at a time, one act of kindness at a time.

C. My God bless MVC to be a blessing!
IV. Prayer – Ron Benton

20/20 VISION

20/20 Vision
Various Passages January 12, 2020

I. Introduction:
A. 20/20 vision is a term we hear used when we go to the eye doctor which refers to
the sharpness and clarity of our vision. Since I do not want to be the only pastor
in the United States in the year 2020 who does not do a message on 2020 vision I
want to get mine done today.
1. Vision is very important to determine the future direction of a business, of a
church, of an individual’s life. The more sharpness and clarity they have to
their vision of where they want to be in 5 to 10 years from now the wiser they
can be to get there in their decisions and organization.
2. As Christians and as a church the first question we must ask is; where does
God want us to be in 5 to 10 years so we can be wiser in our decisions and
organization to get there.
B. Now to get to where you want to go, you need to start by knowing right where
you are at, so you can know which way you need to go to get there! Like being at
an unfamiliar mall with those maps that say, “you are here” then you have a sense
of bearings of how you can get where you need to be.
C. So what I want to do this morning is like the eye doctor look through a few
different lenses to see if you can pinpoint right where you are in your spiritual
journey. Then give you the right prescription for your spiritual walk so you might
know what your next step is to get to where God wants you to be 5-10 years from
now.
• First let’s see
II. Where God wants us to go
A. Turn to Matthew 28 which we know as the Great Commission
1. Read 18-20
2. Structure – One command “make disciples” and three participles tell us how
to do it!
a) Going – going to the lost with the gospel of Jesus Christ
b) Baptizing – for those who respond to the gospel by believing are to
publically identifying themselves with Jesus
c) Teaching - that is the lifetime of learning to implement Jesus’ teachings
into the lives of his followers!
B. In Matthew 22, we see the Great Commandment that Jesus gave us was to love
the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength and to love our
neighbor as ourselves!
C. At MVC when we put together the Great Commission and Great Commandment
and think of where God wants us to go and the decisions we need make for the
next 5 to 10 years we consider our mission. Our mission is to equip believers to
be passionate followers of Jesus committed to growing in Christ-likeness, to raise
up the next generation of disciples, and to radically impact our communities
through the hope of the gospel, one life at a time, one step at a time.
D. We simply summarize this as following Jesus, impacting others.
1. Repeat
2. God wants you and me to be people who are following Jesus, impacting
others!
• So where are you so you can be wise as to what route you need to take to get there?
III. Where are you?
A. Turn to 1 John 2 where we see that each one of us is at a different place in our
walk. John is stating to the believers why he is writing this letter and as he does
he identifies different levels of spiritual maturity and different things that
characterize each level.
1. Read 2:12-14
2. Note the four different places
3. Where are you? Which of those spiritual things might be your next step to
get to where God wants you?
B. Like the eye doctor let’s look through another lens to make sure we have our
prescription right!
1. Chart that we have further refined for MVC that we learned in a manual
called Real Life Discipleship by Jim Putman
2. Put up power point – see attached
C. One thing we learn from seeing where we are this morning is that one size does
not fit all. Each one of us is at a different place spiritually so each one of us
needs to start at a different place!
• So
IV. What is your next step?
A. Spiritual journey map – consider your own growth and others you may want to
impact as we look at this map! (Hand Out)
1. First two columns are lost people and what they might need depending upon
the degree of understanding and interest God has been working in their
hearts! Various opportunities to grow or be ministered to there.
2. Faith – trust in Jesus – new born in Christ –
a) Their great need is to be introduced to the foundations of the faith
b) This is perfectly normal and natural for a newer believer. But if you
have been a believer for 5-10-20-30 years and this is still where you are
there is a problem. Listen to Hebrews 5
3. Following – various different opportunities to grow – develop your
testimony, learn identity in Christ, be baptized, join the church, join a small
group, and develop spiritual practices like quiet time. But stats at both MVC
and the church in North America in general indicate that a major sticking
point for about 70% of our church is the bottom one – stewardship. If you do
not face this hurdle for many people’s faith, their wallets they will be stuck at
this point for a long time.
a) Both statistics (nationally and similar at MVC) and Scripture say this is a
major issue – 20% give 80% of the income the church receives.
(1) Sound familiar – 20% of people do 80% of the ministry in a
church.
(2) I believe this is the major obstacle that must be faced and
addressed in each believer’s life if they want to move beyond
being people who are characterized by the need to get rather than
give!
b) Tony Evans says, “God does not have a person until He has their
wallets!”
c) Jesus said, “Where your treasure is your heart will also be!”
(1) Simply your heart follows your money.
d) Bottom line our use of money and giving is a reflection of where our
heart is with God.
e) The New Testament says our giving is to be generous and in proportion
to the way God has blessed us. It is motivated by love for Jesus and
others and joy!
f) I believe that most of those who give at a rate of about $5-20 a week are
not in the position of the widow’s mite nor are bad or rebellious
Christians. Rather they are fearful if they give generously, today they
will not have what they need to pay their bills at the end of the month or
in years to come when college, weddings or retirement comes!
(1) I encourage you to face this fear for the sake of your spiritual life
and those you impact and begin to experience the supernatural
provisions of God. Paul said this in 2 Corinthians 9:8 regarding
those who give generously and joyfully:
4. Serving – this is those who need to give to others to keep growing. Many
opportunities for growth here. Read quickly – abiding in Christ, ministry of
Holy Spirit, how study the Bible, how to deal with the Devil, how to share
the gospel, spiritual gifts, engaging in God’s mission
5. Multiply – best way I can describe these people is that they orient their entire
life around Jesus’ mission.
6. You may want to prayerfully look this over this week and see what your next
step of excelling in 2020 may be!
B. Finally, we learned from Jesus that discipleship happens in the context of
relationships, and the smaller the group of people the greater the impact. Your
need is not only a good book or a class on these things but to put your growth on
steroids you may want to
1. Join small group
2. Personal invite or ask

Living Water

Living Water
Jeremiah 2:13, Ezekiel 47:1-12; John 7:37-39 Jan 5, 2020
I. Announcements
A. On Sunday night Jan 12th at 6PM we will be showing the Movie “Unplanned”
right here at MVC!
1. It is the true story of Abby Johnson who was one of the youngest and leading
Planned Parenthood directors in the nation
a) She was involved in upwards of 22,000 abortions and counseled
countless women in regards to their so-called reproductive rights.
b) Until she saw something that changed everything and became an ardent
pro-life speaker in America.
2. My own heart as a pastor and our elders have a burden that we take this first
step into greater involvement in this issue, which right here in the United
States takes the life of 1 million unborn children every year.
3. There are three victims of every abortion – the child, the mother and the
father!
a) Our desire is to minister to all three that night
b) Be a voice for the unborn who cannot speak for themselves
c) And be a place of no judgment but the mercy and grace of God that night
for healing for mothers and fathers who have had abortions and pointing
you to further resources where you can find help!
(1) You need to know you are not alone at MVC if you are one of the
victims. I have personally talked to other quality believers in Jesus
who have been there and are fellow strugglers with you today.
(2) The church feels like the last place you want to tell someone but
you need to know the church is God’s front line of healing!
4. There are brochures regarding this out at the Welcome Center today and
where you pick up your bulletin
B. 75th Anniversary – Two Sundays from today -
1. One of the things we will be doing is a wall
2. Enter your ballot for coffee creation for the 75th anniversary. Located in the
café. The winning drink will be available for everyone to try January 19th for
our 75th anniversary celebration!
3. Invite a friend or family member who has a part of our history to be here and
celebrate with us.
C. Andrea – Today we want to take a moment to say a word of thanks to Andrea
Sanchez who has been a valuable member of our staff for the past three years and
is moving on to pursue a career in graphic design.
1. Andrea has really been at the center of the day-to-day operations in the
church office for the past 3 years and it has been a true blessing to work with,
someone who has such a gentle spirit and an easy smile for everyone she
meets. Repeat!
2. God has blessed Andrea as a gifted artist and has presented her an
opportunity to pursue her gift in a full time position. Andrea, thank you for
all you have done and we look forward to having you continue as part of our
church and worship team.
3. May God bless you and here is a little token of our appreciation!
4. I would like to introduce you to our new office manager Hannah Naughton
who we are excited about the gifts that she bring to the table for us!
II. Introduction:
D. Happy New Year to you and happy 75th anniversary year to MVC! My heart is
to see myself, each of us individually and MVC as a church of people to excel
still the more this coming year in one way specifically and that can be
summarized in one word impact. Be a people and be a church that has influence
upon others to the glory of God.
1. However, you cannot affect others for Jesus if you are not first personally
following Jesus! We simply cannot give someone else something we do not
have ourselves.
a) In order to impact others for Jesus we need to be impacted ourselves by
Jesus!
2. Therefore, this morning I want to point you to one commitment, New Year’s
resolution that will pay great dividends in not only impacting others but also
even in impacting your own life.
E. To do this I want to look at three different periods of Bible history regarding the
water that God supplies, a water that brings new life, a water that nourishes and
heals the soul a water that meets the deepest needs of the heart. If you have
experienced that, you have something to offer to others that they will find
nowhere else!
• This morning we are going to look at - being impacted by God to impact others for
God! Turn to
II. Jeremiah 2:12 the past – (God’s water offered to wandering Israel)
A. In Jeremiah God is warning His children Israel of an impending discipline upon
them because they have forsaken God, they went far from Him and pursued the
works of their own hands, things that were empty and could not profit them!
B. Before I read this passage I want you to know that cisterns were where they stored
their water, they were very important in the land of Israel because of the long dry
season and the relatively few natural springs.
1. But a broken cistern was practically worthless, holding only a small quantity
of dirty water, or no water at all.
2. Also, note that God is using this reality from the material world as a picture
of the spiritual reality they have with Him.
C. Read Jeremiah 2:12-13
1. God says that he is the fountain, the source, the spring from which living
waters comes!
2. But they have left God entirely behind them and have turned to their own
works that simply are worthless.
D. Spiritually speaking God is the fountain/source of living water, but they have
ignored God even forsaken and left Him behind and pursued their own means of
providing water for their needs and they have come up empty.
• I want you to see a picture of the great power of the water that comes from God has.
Turn to
III. Ezekiel 47:1 – The future with a restored Jewish people and land!
A. We see here the future temple where Jesus will reign in that 1000-year reign of
His that we learned about in Revelation. I want you to note the miraculous nature
of this water, the life giving, the life restoring, the healing and nourishing affect
that this water has that comes from the presence of God.
B. Before I read it, I want you to note a few things.
1. If there was a trickle of water coming out from underneath this pulpit, when
you got to the back of the parking lot what would you expect that stream to
look like. I would assume it would have long died off before you get there or
formed a small puddle but this stream will get bigger and bigger quickly
within a mile and a quarter. The water that comes from God is supernatural
and powerful
2. The “Arabah” will we learn about in this passage is the dry, infertile desert
area with a very hot climate and sparse rainfall in the Jordan valley – watch
what happens to this dry infertile desert the water that comes from God’s
presence touches it.
3. Finally, the “sea” where the waters become fresh is the Dead Sea – nothing
lives in the Dead Sea because of the lack of movement and the salt content,
which is roughly 33.7%, compared to the 3.5% we find in the ocean. Watch
what happens to the Dead Sea when the water that comes from God’s
presence touches it.
C. As I read watch for the supernatural life giving power of God’s water to that
which is dry and dead!
1. Read v1-12
2. Reread – 8d-9 – water is made fresh and everything lives where the river
goes
3. Note what is on the banks of the river in the midst of the desert as it heads to
the Dead Sea to make it a living place. reread v12
4. Why does all of this happen – reread 12c “because … sanctuary”
D. This living water that comes from God’s presence that He was offering to His
people is supernatural, powerful, life giving, refreshing, nourishing and healing.
It will be seen literally in the land of Israel in the future and it is available to us
spiritually today
• Turn to
IV. John 7 – the present water of God available to all!
A. Read John 7:37-39
Observations
1. Anyone thirsty – insistent craving or compelling need within your soul crying
out to be met.
2. Come to me
Innermost being flow rivers of living water
3. Spirit – those who believed in Him
B. Jesus has been glorified and every one of us who have trusted Jesus as our
personal savior have received the Holy Spirit and out of the depth of our lives He
issues out like that river in Ezekiel 47 that is supernatural, powerful, life giving,
refreshing, nourishing and healing; transforming the dry and dead areas of our
lives and souls!
V. Application
A. So my question to you this morning is- Are you experiencing this river of living
water that comes from God’s spirit? If not why?
1. Have you quenched the Spirit, stop the flow of the river of the Spirit of God
in your life by intentionally disobeying His word or just being negligent or
sloppy with what God wants of you?
2. Have you grieved the Spirit by unkind words or gossip, bitterness and anger,
not being kind, tender and forgiving to others?
3. Or like Israel, have you walked away from God and turned to things of your
own doings, things that ultimately are empty, and of no profit?
4. Or maybe you just are not meeting with God regularly to drink deeply of the
life changing and fulfilling water that he offers!
5. If that is your case today during communion you need this water to touch the
dry and dead places in your life. do this:
a) Confess that to God
b) Call upon Him to free up the spirit within you to flood you with this river
of God
c) Make that decision to begin to meet with Him regularly and walk with
Him rather than in your own ways.
6. This will result in you becoming a person who impacts others this year!
B. If you are experiencing this life changing and fulfilling water of God then you are
in a place to impact others – you can become the vessel through whom God
causes His living water to flow out of you upon those in your life, church and
community who are either dry or dead.
1. You can impact others for Jesus because you have been impacted by Jesus
2. Ask him to:
a) Deepen the river from ankle high or waist high to a place that it is over
your head and you can only be carried by the power of the current of the
Holy Spirit
b) Ask Him to open up doors for you this year to impact others for him!
VI. Communion

Chritsmas at MVC // Week 4

The Word Became Flesh
John 1:14-18 December 29, 2019

Merry Chritsmas

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year MVC family!

Christmas at MVC // Week 3

Man’s Response to God’s Light
John 1:4-5, 9-13 December 22, 2019
Introduction:
A. I remember a number of years ago walking into a dark house at night to do some
work. I had been there many times before and the path was always clear to the
light switch, which was not by the door but on the other side of the room. I
started a brisk walk over to the light switch and bam – I not only stumbled but I
went flying over something I could not see, something a worker had put there
during the day.
B. Christmas is all about the time that God turned on his light switch for this
spiritually dark world. When Jesus was born the world received the light it
needed to see just what this world was really all about, to see what really is true in
this world and to see just what the creator of this whole world knew that man
needed to know to have an abundant life here on earth.
1. Before Jesus was born John the Baptist’s father, said this about Jesus who
was soon to be born – Luke 1:78-79
2. I could have used a light that night to guide my feet in that room and each
one of us needs the light that comes from God to guide our feet in this dark
world.
3. Jesus is that light and at the birth of Jesus, a great light came into a world that
was in deep spiritual darkness!
C. Turn in your Bibles, on your phones, Bibles on chairs, and share with someone to
John 1:1 where we will read this story of Jesus coming into the world as God’s
light.
1. As I read I want you to note two things:
a) Jesus – called the Word here - God’s perfect message to the world is the
true light from God
b) Also note the way man responded to this light – watch for two different
responses
2. Read v1-12
• Let’s start by looking at this idea that
I. Jesus, God’s light, came into a dark world
A. Light allows us to see. In Scripture light is associated with seeing, with knowing
and with moral and spiritual power that is healthy.
1. Often when someone does not know about something we say, “they are in the
dark,” but when they learn something new, we say the lights just went on.
2. Darkness is just the opposite as it is associated with being unable to see, not
knowing and moral and spiritual power that is unhealthy.
B. Jesus is the Light – the one that brings to us the spiritual knowledge we need to
see what is really going on in this world and to see what God really thinks, says,
does, His ways and what He wants from us.
1. Note how Light helps us see so we can be guided and not stumble! Read:
a) John 3:20-21- Light exposes and manifests what is real and true
b) John 11:9-10 – Light allows you to see so you do not stumble
c) John 12:35 – No Light, you do not know where you are going
2. So when you apply this to a spiritually dark world it means since the world is
in darkness and does not know what the truth really is about God and life.
They are stumbling all over the place spiritually and they really have no idea
where they are going spiritually!
C. Listen again to see that Jesus is the light come from God. John 1:4-5, 9.
1. Jesus is the one who shines God’s light into this world, shining it on all
mankind. He is God’s agent to bring truth to this world!
2. Note it says He is the true light – that means there must be false lights as
well, counterfeits that look like the real thing but they are not.
D. When we say that something is dark, we mean it is something that is really bad.
Morally or spiritually wicked and evil! But not all darkness is wicked and evil.
1. Listen to this 2 Corinthians 11:13-15
2. Even religion is a part of darkness if it is not consistent with the truth and
message that Jesus brought. Good people doing good things can be a part of
darkness.
3. Darkness is anything that is operating without the light of God as revealed in
His Son and His Word. It can range from moral and spiritual wickedness to
good people and religion. The comment element is they are not operating
according to the light that God has given to us in Jesus, whether what they
are doing is good or bad because it comes from man’s best wisdom rather
than God’s true light!
• And we learn in this passage this morning that there are
II. Two different responses to the Light
A. The first group ranges from people who just do not get it to those who flatly reject
Jesus.
1. First those who do not get it – Read
a) V5 – not comprehend - they just do not get it, they look at Jesus and say
what? He just does not make sense to them
b) V10 – Just not recognize who He was. They are not aware of who Jesus
was
2. Those who flatly reject Jesus who He is and what He claims. Read
a) V11 – receive Him - did not welcome Him, they did not receive who He
claimed to be or what He claimed the truth to be. They rejected Him
b) Listen what John the Baptist said about Jesus –
(1) Read John 3:31-34
(2) Jesus comes from heaven and speaks the very words of God and no
one receives it! Accepts it, they reject it. We will speak in a
moment about those who do receive and accept what Jesus says
c) Listen to what Jesus says about Himself
(1) Read John 5:43, 46-47
(2) Jesus came representing God the Father – that’s what it means to
come in my Father’s name and they did not receive Him or accept
what He said
(3) V46-47 helps us understand that simply they rejected Him and His
claims because they did not believe Him
B. But we see in v12 of John 1 the other group of people – those who received and
accepted Jesus’ claims to come from heaven to represent the Father and what He
says. Those that believed He was who He said He was.
1. Listen to John 1:12
2. Those who received, accepted, believed what Jesus claimed were given the
right to become children of God.
C. Jesus’ basic claim was that every person born into this world is born in darkness
and sin and they are separated from God. The only way out of that condition is to
believe in Jesus and what He claims and rely upon the fact that when He died on
the cross He died to pay for your sins. When He rose from the dead, He rose to
give you the very life of God so you could have the light of this world!
• Which group are you in this morning?
III. Invite
A. If in your heart of hearts this morning you are saying to yourself I do not buy
what this guy is saying, you are in the first group that either does not recognize
who Jesus is or flatly rejects His claims
B. But if in your heart of heart you are saying to yourself – everything he is saying is
true of me and I need this light that Jesus gives and I believe everything that Jesus
says about Himself and about me – then I would encourage you right now to
1. Confess – you are in the dark and separated from God
2. Admit that Jesus is the true light and that His death on the cross was to pay
for your sins and His resurrection to give you His life
3. Call out to Him right now thanking Him for dying for you and giving you
knew life so you can see the true light of life!

Christmas at MVC // Week 2

Witness is who we are, testify is what we do
John 1:6-8 December 15, 2019
I. Introduction:
A. Announce Christmas offering
B. How many of you ever had to answer this question before? “Do you swear to tell
the truth, the whole truth, nothing but the truth, so help you God?”
1. If you did that means you were a witness – you were someone who had
firsthand, direct, personal knowledge about someone or something.
2. What you did is give a testimony – that is the statement you made regarding
what you were personally aware of in order to provide evidence.
C. Last week we learned that Jesus is God’s perfect message to the world, God’s
light to this spiritually dark world. The world did not understand Him or what He
was trying to communicate to us about God and His ways.
1. That introduced the section we are dealing with this Christmas in John 1:1-18
2. Please turn in your Bibles now – and share with someone who may not have
one.
D. This week the subject changes from the Jesus, God’s perfect light or message that
shined into this dark world, to that of a witness. A man named John who was sent
from God for the very purpose to be a witness of Jesus Christ!
E. Before I read this section let me show you the simple structure of the key verse
we will be looking at, v7.
1. Who he was – a witness,
2. What he did - testified,
3. Why he did it – that I want you to watch for and see if you can figure it out as
we read.
4. Read v1-8
F. Before we jump into this passage, let me remind you that John was sent by God
the Father for the purpose of being a witness of Jesus Christ, the light. Every one
of us here this morning, that is a believer, have been sent by Jesus Christ for the
same purpose of being a witness of Jesus Christ, the light.
1. Acts 1:8
2. 1 Peter 2:9
• So what we learn about John this morning has special relevance to us because it is
also true of you and me! I just want to focus on v7 this morning as we look at the
who, the what and the why of John and you and me! Let’s start by looking at the who
and the what together because they go hand in hand!
II. Who we are, and what we do!
A. A witness is who we are as believers in Jesus Christ and testifying is what we do!
Reread v7a-b
B. Let me unpack that line (a witness is who we are; testify is what we do) for just a
moment as it is crucial for our lives and ministries.
1. The word witness and testify are the exact same word in the Greek, except
one is a noun and the other is a verb!
2. A noun identifies who we are – it tells us something about ourselves, our
identity; it is the distinguishing characteristic that makes who we are distinct
from others!
3. A verb tells us what we do – the activities we engage in.
4. Just like a surgeon does surgeries and a runner runs, so a witness testifies!
C. Who we are and what we do are intimately connected to one another and one
flows out of the other. Let me illustrate that
D. 1. We had our grandson Jonny, who is three, over this week and he was going to
have a baby sister just a day or two from then. He made it very clear to me that
he was not a baby but a big boy!
a) Not long after that Jonny began some behavior that was not fitting for a
big boy so I reminded him he was not a baby but a big boy and what big
boys do. Instantly his behavior switched to fit his identity as a big boy
rather than behavior that fit a baby.
2. When we recognize who we are that identity controls our behavior as our
behavior flows out of who we see ourselves to be!
E. So what is a witness? A witness, who we are, is someone who has personal and
direct knowledge about something who provides evidence in a case. The witness
is the person, the testimony is what we do - makes a statement about what they
personally know or have seen and that statement becomes evidence in a case.
1. A witness swears to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth
because their job is not to add anything to what they know, or subtract
anything from it. Their job is not to give their opinions or speculate on the
facts.
2. Their job is to tell the truth about what they personally know!
3. Our job is to tell other the truth about what we know about Jesus and have
experienced of Him. That can come from what we know of Him from the
Bible or what we have seen Him do for us in our personal lives!
F. John was sent by God to be a witness, that is who he is, a person who had direct
knowledge about Jesus, and he testified about Jesus, that is where he told people
what he knew about Jesus! A couple examples:
1. John 1:19-23 – A “voice” that is a witness
2. John 1:29-34
G. So God created us or better said recreated us, caused us to be born again as new
creatures who are witnesses or a synonym to that is ambassadors,
1. We see who we are issuing into what we do in 2 Corinthians 5:17-21
a) v17 new creatures
b) v 18 – he gave us something to do – ministry of reconciliation
c) v19 – explains this ministry – Jesus did the work of reconciliation and
we spread the word
d) v20 – therefore – in light of all of this – this is who we are
“ambassadors”
(1) we are God’s official representatives in this world
(2) as if God Himself were speaking through us passionately calling
people to come to Christ
e) v21 – the message
• So John was sent by God to be a witness, telling other people what he knew about
Jesus. Next he tells us why witnessing is so important in God’s kingdom. Let’s look
back at the end of v7 and …
III. Why we witness
A. Read v7 again.
1. Yes, it is a big deal to be a witness because it is through witnesses telling
people what they know about Jesus that people come to believe in Jesus!
2. God has chosen us to be His agents, His ambassadors, His instrument, His
means, His witnesses to tell others about the light so that they can believe
through what we testify to them, about what we know directly from our
experiences and the Bible, about Jesus.
B. We have been entrusted with the most powerful and life changing message in the
world. – The gospel of Jesus Christ.
a) Read 1 Corinthians 1:18
• So what do we do with this recognition that we are witnesses who testify of what we
know of Jesus so others can be saved
IV. Final Exhort
A. Ron Hutchcraft years ago taught us here at MVC the three open prayer that when
it becomes part of our prayer life as witnesses it will get us right in the middle of
the mix of eternal and kingdom activity.
1. It has been amazing how when I pray this way God has done exciting things
in light of it.
2. Maybe even more amazing is the question why I do not pray like this every
day!
B. Three open prayer
1. Open door – Colossians 4:2-3
2. Open mouth – Ephesians 6:19
3. Open heart – Acts 16:14
C. Are you ready when God opens that door?
1. Are you ready to talk about what you personally know or have experienced
with Jesus, especially how you came into a relationship with Him?
a) That would be time well spent to think that through for the sake of others
and the glory of God!
2. Are you ready to tell someone how they can come into a relationship with
Jesus Christ – the gospel?
a) A few helps to have on hand in wallet; purse whatever to make that
easier.
b) Gospel tract
c) Seed card – man at Costco this week – I was not ready
D. Pray three open prayer – Gary Olson

Christmas at MVC // Week 1

God’s Perfect Message
John 1:1-5   Dec 8, 2019   

1. Introduction:
   1. So what is the big deal about Christmas?
      1. Christians are working very hard to keep the word “Christmas” as part of our culture at this time of year as we wish people a “Merry Christmas” but they are losing the battle while many in our own country are working hard to remove the word Christmas and turn it into a “Happy Holiday” time.
      2. So why is the word Christmas so important to Christians?
         1. The answer is simply this: Christmas is all about Christ, not about gifts, decorations and parties.
         2. Christmas is the day that Christians celebrate God coming into this world to take up residence here among the very people He
      3. During this series, we will be looking at John 1:1-18 week by week. The heart of this section is about this: “Jesus coming into this world to reveal God!”  It starts with the fact that He is the Word and it ends with the statement that He came to explain Him.
         1. Everything in between talks about this and the fact of how man responded to Jesus’ coming.
         2. As I read this watch for these two things –
            1. First Jesus revealing, disclosing to us, pulling back the curtain for us just what God is like and what He does.
            2. Secondly how man responded to that unveiling of God!
         3. Before I read let me explain something about this whole section.
            1. It is the introduction to the whole book and it previews many of the things that will be more fully developed in the book.
            2. As you read the book, you more fully understand these concepts so that when you come back to the introduction you will better understand that part of the book and the cycle goes on!
            3. Read 1-18
         4. Today we are going to be looking at John 1:1-5 as we begin to better understand what Christmas is all about and why Jesus, God Himself, came!

• I am calling this message today “God’s perfect message was not understood by the world” Let’s start with the idea of

1. God’s perfect message
   1. I get this from the first 3 ½ verses in John 1. Let me reread 1a.
   2. The word “Word” is referring to Jesus as we read just a few minutes ago in v14 that the Word became flesh and dwelt right here on earth among us! That is referring to Jesus!
      1. It describes Jesus as “the Word”. “Word” simply means the content of a communications, the message itself
      2. In the church world, I am called a preacher the one who speaks, but my sermon is the content that I speak. It is the difference between a messenger and the message that they bring.  A singer and the song, the music and the words!
      3. This passage is not saying that Jesus is the preacher, the messenger, or the prophet but rather He Himself is the very sermon, the very message, the very content God wants people to know.
      4. He is God’s message, God’s sermon become flesh. So who He is, what He does and what He says is the perfect representation and communication of who God is, what God does and what God says!
   3. The reason that I say He is God’s perfect message is because the first 3 1/2 verses indicate strongly and clearly that the Word Himself was God Himself. As I read these first 3 ½ verses note the many ways it refers to the Word as God Himself.  Read 1-4a
      1. First of all note that it clearly states that this Word was God v1c
      2. In verse two it speaks of His eternality because it re-emphasizes what v1 said that He was in the beginning with God.
      3. Start of v4 “in Him was life” as we read the rest of John we understand the life that is referred to here is the “eternal life” “the very life of God” that only God has!
      4. John 1:1-3 is a clear allusion to Genesis 1:1
         1. Read Genesis 1:1
         2. Genesis 1:1 makes it clear that God created the heavens and the earth and here in verse 3 it is clear everything that has been created has been created through Jesus.
      5. This is not the only place in the Bible that says everything was created through or by Jesus and that He is the perfect representation of God and what He wants to say to us! turn to Heb 1:1
         1. Read Hebrews 1:1-3b
         2. You see God the Father is the source of creation; Jesus is the agent of creation as the One through whom God created everything.
      6. Thus, we see in John 1 and Hebrews 1 that Jesus as God makes the perfect flesh and blood message of just who God is, what He does, what He says and what He wants from the very people He created!
      7. Jesus as God and creator we were made by Him and for Him.
         1. Read Colossians 1:15-17
         2. “Firstborn” is a reference to His position and rights in creation not the fact that He was born or created
         3. He could not be the perfect image or exact representation of God if He was born or created because God is eternal and uncreated.

• So man has been created by Jesus and for Jesus, how did man respond to this perfect message, the perfect representation of who God is, does, says, wants? This perfect message was…
• Not understood by the world
  1. That is amazing, the picture could not be clearer, the message could not be better, the living illustration could not be more accurate yet man did not understand it.
  2. Read v4-5
  3. Light and darkness in Scripture are used primarily to indicate one of two things either moral light and darkness or knowledge.
     1. When our lifestyle is not according to the Bible it means we are walking in darkness, when it is consistent we are walking in the light
     2. And when we do not understand God’s message either in the Bible or in His Son we are in the dark and when we get it we have light
  4. This passage is indicating that Jesus came into a dark world, a world that was full of moral darkness and intellectual darkness about the things of God. He was God’s light that shined into the darkness!
     1. He was God’s knowledge, God’s sermon, God’s perfect message, God’s word to this world!
     2. Note how man responded.
        1. Read the end of v5
        2. He did not get it! He was like “what?” it flew right over his head.
        3. Comprehend – simply means understand. The Light, the perfect message was put right in front of them and they did not understand it.
     3. The Bible teaches us this is the common experience of those who do not know Jesus.
        1. Read 1 Corinthians 2:14 so that means Jesus, the Bible, the things of God are on a different frequency than the heart and mind of the man who does not know Jesus. Spiritual things are comprehended at a supernatural level, spiritual FM frequency; the natural man, the person without God, operates on an AM frequency!  
        2. Read 2 Corinthians 4:3-4 – Man is blind! There is a big difference between being blind and blindfolded.
           1. Blindfolded means you have the capacity to see but something is blocking your view. Remove the blindfold and you will see.
           2. Blind means you do not even have the capacity to see. Remove the blindfold and you still will not see
        3. Reread 2 Corinthians 4:4 – Satan is the one who blinded them – so this is a supernatural thing.
        4. Bottom line a person who does not know Jesus is on a different frequency, and does not even have the capacity to understand and comprehend spiritual things. On top of it, Satan is sealing all of that in.
     4. The world had Jesus, God’s Word, God’s Perfect Message walking and talking right in front of them and they missed it, they did not get it, they did not understand Him, they could not, they did not even have the capacity to since they are on a different spiritual frequency and Satanically blinded.

• So what does that mean to you and me?

1. Application
   1. First, we must recognize deep within our hearts that someone’s salvation is a miracle performed by God that is as big as the resurrection of Jesus Christ or the miraculous birth of Jesus being born of a virgin. A miracle that will give man a new frequency in his heart and mind, give him sight to his spiritually blind eyes and bind Satan from holding him back
      1. Read John 1:12-13
      2. We will speak more about that on Christmas Eve
   2. But if you are here this morning and deep in your heart, you say I want that, I am beginning to see it that is evidence that God is drawing you to Himself, He is at work to begin that miracle in your life.
      1. Invite to believe