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Wednesday Oct 20, 2021
Wednesday Oct 20, 2021
A Cultural War
Various Passages October 3, 2021
I. Introduction:
A. We learned last week that truth basically means reality, something that is so real
you can depend upon it, you can bet your life on it. Thus from this definition we
have given the name to this series “Let’s Get Real”
1. So let’s get real this morning. What is really going on? What is so true and
so real that I can build my life on it?
2. Do you want to get real? I need to warn you that this morning may be a bit
like the movie A Few Good Men where Jack Nicholson speaking to Tom
Cruise said (video from movie)
a) Nicholson “you want answers?”
b) Cruise: “I want the truth!”
c) Nicholson: “you can’t handle the truth!”
B. Sometimes Christianity does not make you feel better but actually makes life
harder rather than easier. That is hard for some people to handle! But this reality,
this truth is something you can build your life on and depend upon! So let’s get
real!
1. First, there is a whole spiritual world and many spiritual beings that are real
but they are all invisible.
2. That spiritual world touches our lives, our church our nation, and our world
and is behind many of the struggles and problems we have experience in all
of these arenas.
a) Turn to and read Ephesians 6:11-12
b) We see in v12 that there is a struggle going on and it is not against other
humans but ultimately against spiritual invisible beings, bad angels,
demons whose desire is to destroy our world and us.
c) We see here in v11 that Satan has schemes to try to get us to fall. He has
many methods but one of his primary tricks is deception. Getting us to
believe a lie.
3. Jesus calls Satan the father of lies, - read John 8:44bff
a) Deception is the primary means he uses – read Revelation 12:9
b) That means Satan is working to get us to believe a lie! Something that is
unreal and not dependable, an illusion that if you build your life on it, it
will crumble.
C. We learned last week that Jesus is the truth! The ultimate, dependable reality and
truth!
D. Thus, we have a spiritual war that is going on both in the heavenlies and here on
earth between God and Satan, and we are right in the middle of the battlefield.
1. Satan wants to control us by his lies and use us as his instrument of lies to
further his agenda
2. God wants to control us by His truth and use us as instruments of truth to
further His agenda!
E. God has provided for us powerful spiritual weapons for this spiritual battle for
truth. Turn to 2 Corinthians 10:3
1. The context of this chapter was that false teachers were trying to discredit
Paul and what he taught. So it was out of this context Paul writes what he
says next.
2. Read v3-4 We see two things here
a) While we are humans of flesh, the war we are in is not a human war but
a spiritual war.
b) Secondly, the weapons that God has provided for us are spiritual and
powerful for destroying strongholds/fortresses
3. Now note in v5 that He tells us what are the strongholds/fortresses that He is
destroying with these powerful spiritual weapons. Read v5
a) Simply this is a battle for truth
b) A battle against anything, any teaching, philosophy, ideology, belief
system even every single thought that is contrary to God and His Truth.
F. That is the real world we live in and the real battle we fight for our families, our
church, our nation and ourselves. That truth is so real you can build your life
upon it. You are living in the middle of a battle for your mind; truth and lies are
the primary weapons!
• So today and next week I want to help us better understand this battle for truth in light
of the postmodern world we live in
II. Postmodern
A. Many have called this war for truth a cultural war because the battle rages
primarily in the seven institutions of culture.
1. Those institutions are family, religion, government, arts, media, education,
and economy.
2. A cultural war happens when worldviews clash in the institutions of culture.
Especially when one group who runs the institutions puts pressure upon other
groups to accept their views! Dr Marcus Warner
3. Dr Warner goes on to say historically Christians have only been involved in
two of the cultural institutions (family and religion) and because we have not
been involved in the other five we are losing the battle for the culture!
4. As a result, many of the perspectives of our postmodern world stand in direct
opposition to a truth centered biblical worldview!
B. Voodie Bachman says the hallmark of postmodern thinking is the rejection of
absolute truth – truth that is true for all people in all places at all times.
1. The three by products of that are pluralism, relativism, and tolerance.
2. Next week we will deal more with absolute truth, so today I just want to deal
with the three byproducts.
C. Pluralism simply means there can be two or more differing or opposing views that
are equally valid and true.
1. That is why irrational thinking is not a problem in this day.
2. We struggle because the laws of logic tells us that truth cannot contradict
itself, but the postmodern world is comfortable with and even celebrates
contradictions in reasoning and logic.
3. Many believe this has grown out of the industrialization of our big cities as
people of differing cultures, ethnicities, colors and religions have come in
from all over the world to get work.
a) Thus, the culture we live in now is pluralistic.
b) Air travel and the internet have allowed the world to shrink so we have
many interactions with people who are very different from us.
4. Thus, many differing views exist together in one place at the same time
making our culture a pluralistic culture.
5. So the people we try to minister to, believe there are many different and
opposing truths that are equally true and valid!
D. Relativism means truth is not fixed for all people but is individually determined
dependent upon a person’s unique situation and beliefs.
1. So if each person’s, each sub culture’s and each group’s situation and beliefs
are different, and if there is no absolute truth then truth is in constant flux and
all truths are valid and equal!
2. Thus, relativism and pluralism go hand and hand. That is why you hear from
people today “that may be true for you, but it is not true for me!”
E. Tolerance
1. Tolerance used to mean bearing with, accepting, and treating with respect
someone who has a different view than you
2. Today tolerance means you not only accept and treat with respect someone
who differs but you must embrace and celebrate their views. It demands that
we value these views to the degree that we value our own and if we do not we
are intolerant.
3. We must speak the truth in love; both must be present and not one without
the other!
4. We must be ready to accept the rejection received for that as a badge of honor
in the kingdom of God and be more concerned with what God thinks than
what they think! Now we all must face that internal battle with ourselves!
III. Application
A. I love what Doctor Warner says about how we can engage in this war and act like
Christians.
1. Love your enemies and do good to them (relational)
2. Oppose wicked spirits and pray for revival (spiritual )
3. Validate, listen and validate first then speak the truth in love (conversational)
4. Engage with cultural institution (cultural) – we need more Daniels and
Josephs in these days!
5. Then he goes on to say when we do this we may not save the world or even
some relationships, but we will make inroads into some people’s lives with
relational breakthroughs
B. Turn to Colossians 2:13-15
1. As I read note that Jesus at the cross, when he shed His blood disarmed and
defeated Satan. Read v13-15
2. Listen to Revelation 12:10-11
3. It is the blood of Jesus that defeats and disarms the enemy.
C. As communion is taken today would you get real by consider the war you are
really in and where Satan has duped you with his lies. Then thank Jesus for
shedding His blood. Then apply His blood by faith against the enemy where he
has duped you, your mate, your children, your church, your nation!
Thursday Sep 30, 2021
Thursday Sep 30, 2021
What is Truth?
Various passages September 26, 2021
I. Introduction:
A. One of the most relevant questions for our day was asked nearly 2,000 years ago
by a Roman government leader named Pilate. Turn in your Bibles to John 18:34
1. The Jewish religious leaders had brought Jesus to Pilate wanting to condemn
Him to death.
2. Pilate took Jesus to inside the side praetorium and ask Him a direct question
“Are you the king of the Jews?”
3. After a short exchange between the two let’s enter into the end of that
conversation in v37-38 as both Jesus and Pilate say some things that relate to
this series on truth. Read
4. First, Jesus said “Yes, I am a king, I was born for this and I came into the
world for this.” Then he says this “to testify to the truth”
5. Jesus came in to the world to be a king, and to testify to the truth, here in
context the truth that he is testifying about is that he is a king!
a) But in general Jesus came into the world was to give testimony to the
truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth!
6. Then Pilate asked this 2,000-year-old question that is relevant up to the
moment. Read v28a!
B. Let me ask you – what is truth?
1. Now do not get super spiritual on me at this moment and tell me truth is Jesus
or His Word even though this the correct and true answer.
a) But for just a moment, I want to remove truth from every context and
define the world truth itself.
b) Then bring it back and apply to Jesus and His Word so when we say
Jesus and His Word are truth we actually know what we are saying!
2. So let me ask you – if an 11-year-old child were to ask you what is truth what
would you tell them?
a) I am going to give you one minute to formulate a simple and clear
answer in your mind
b) Now I am going to give you one minute to find someone who sits by you
that you do not know very well and introduce yourself to them.
c) Now you each have forty seconds to tell each other your definition of
truth.
• So let me start this morning with
II. A dictionary definition of truth
A. I want to show you actual pictures from various dictionaries themselves because
we remember 10% of what we hear and 50% of what you hear and see. And I
believe that Satan, the father of lies, will do anything to make sure you do not get
this straight – even whisper to your mind “did the dictionary really say…” I
want you to see what I saw, with your own two eyes!
1. Let’s start with the Hebrew dictionary – the language used in the Old
Testament.
a) DBL Hebrew Dictionary of Biblical Languages
(1) Two meanings of this one Hebrew word 1. Faithfulness 2. True
(2) Faithfulness simply means reliability, trustworthiness
(3) True means – read #2 “… conforms to reality…”
b) I want you to understand something about this word. The Hebrew word
for truth is the exact same word for faithfulness.
(1) So if you were reading the Old Testament straight from the
Hebrew and you came across this word (eh-meht) you need to
decide from the context whether it is being used to indicate
faithfulness or truth.
c) My summary of the Hebrew definition for truth is like a coin, it can only
be fully captured when you look at both sides of it!
(1) Truth is reality that can be depended upon!
(2) Faithfulness is something that can be depended upon because it is
real!
2. Greek dictionary
a) DBL Greek Dictionary of Biblical Languages
(1) Read from powerpoint– “reality whether historical or eternal”
b) LTW Lexham Theological Wordbook
(1) Read from power point
(a) Emphasize real… reality
(b) Note the different areas where truth can be revealed
through: words, actions, mind or heart
3. Webster’s dictionary
a) Truth (power point) - read 1a (1) (2) and 2a
b) True (power point) – read 1a (1) (2) and c
B. Did you notice any common elements?
1. Reality, that which is actual, that which actually exists or happens. It is real
2. Thus the name of this series is “let’s get real”
C. So finally the Patrick Bernard Peglow definition – want you to see it straight from
the PBP dictionary!
1. A word, action, thought or heart which so conforms to reality that you can bet
your life on it!
• So what is
III. Truth
A. Now that we know truth, is reality we can push it back even a step further and ask
what is ultimate reality?
B. Turn to John 14:6 where we see that God Himself, Jesus is truth
1. Now the word I want emphasize here is not truth but the word “the”
a) “The” indicates what we learned in Greek as par excellent!
b) Means they are in a class of their own and no one else is like them!
c) They are the ultimate; they are the best, no one or nothing else like them,
the one of a kind!
2. Jesus is not just a truth but the truth. He is the ultimate truth to which no
other truth is like!
C. Truth is right at the core of God’s glory
1. Read John 1:14
2. Listen to when God’s glory passed in front of Moses. Read Exodus 34:6
3. We have talked a lot about grace at MVC and it is just as important that we
get truth right in our lives and church as it is to get grace right and that we
learn to wed the two together as one!
D. Where can we find reality/truth about God and His glory?
1. Turn and read John 17:17 – “Thy word is truth”
2. Simply God is truth, God is the ultimate reality and the Bible is His chosen
vehicle to communicate Himself and what He declares to be true
a) And since the Bible is God’s chosen vehicle, which He has given equal
weight to His own character, we can depend upon it and can build our
lives upon it!
• I want to suggest two ways we can apply this today
IV. Apply
A. If truth is what is real then a lie or a falsehood is what is not real, what is not
actual!
1. Thus, Satan, the father of lies, is also called the deceiver! Deception is
simply believing something that is not true is true!
2. And the liar and deceiver uses false teaching as his primary tool whether it
comes dressed in humanistic secular clothes or religious clothes! Secular and
spiritual lies are both dangerous and undependable to build your life upon.
3. And let me remind you of something we learned in our series on spiritual
warfare. Satan is the master of taking truth either out of context or making it
stand alone without other passages to balance out the truth.
4. Satan will do everything he can to keep you away from this book. If he
cannot keep you away from it he will seek to get you to take verses out of
context or try to get them to stand alone as a partial truth, out of balance from
the whole truth. Because he wants you to build your life upon and depend
upon something that is not real, just an illusion of truth.
a) Illustrate reality with the wall and its reliability to hold me up if I lean
against it.
b) But if Satan can convince me that this is a real wall that can hold me up
(called deception) and I lean against it I will fall down because it is not
real!
B. Secondly, practice reframing what has personally happened to you in the past,
what is personally going on now and what you are going to be facing in the
future.
1. Do this because it allows me to look at my life, past present and future
according to what is real, what is actual, what is true so I can build a healthy
spiritual, mental and emotional life off of that. Let me illustrate
a) Present – something bad is going on in your life. – not only is Romans
8:28-29 true here where God will use it to produce the good in you of
becoming more like Jesus
(1) But so is Ephesians 6:10 that our battle is not with flesh and blood
but with demonic spirits who are behind this.
(2) Also, the truths of James 1 that He uses trials to grow us and
perfect our character
(3) The truth of 2 Corinthians 4 that He uses difficulty to break down
our flesh and release more of the inner life of Jesus within us.
(4) Consider Lamentations 3 where God’s mercies are new every
morning
(5) According to Hebrews 13 He will equip me with everything I need
to do His will in a way that is pleasing to Him by the Spirit of
Jesus
(6) The list can go on but do you see how dwelling about these truths
would cause the light of God’s truth to overwhelm the darkness of
the lies and take us from deception to reality!
b) Past – When we do the same with our past, it helps deliver us from lies
that have kept us in bondage and depression.
c) When we do the same with our future it turns that future event into a
walk of faith
2. A few simple steps on how do we reframe our lives according to truth. Got
this method from Craig Groeschel in his book “Winning the War in Your
Mind” a must read for everyone.
a) Identify very specific situation or person that is big or trying for you –
past, present or future
b) Consider what Bible truths speak to this. If you really do not know then
it’s a great time to speak to someone else and ask them what Bible truths
speak to your situation
c) Form a short personal statement that is full of truth and reality and put it
on a piece of paper or 3 by 5 card. Then review it constantly until it
becomes a part of your thinking.
d) This way your thoughts about what has, is or will happen will be built
upon reality rather than the lies and falsehoods with which Satan is
seeking to fill your mind!
Thursday Sep 30, 2021
Thursday Sep 30, 2021
Introduction to Truth Series
Jude September 19, 2021
Introduction:
A. Turn in your Bibles to Jude 3
1. The easiest way to find the book of Jude is that it is the next to last book in
the Bible just before the book of Revelation. Since it is only one chapter
long, Jude 3 means it is the third verse in the very first and only chapter
2. Read
B. Quick overview of the book
1. In v3 he planned to write to these Christians regarding their salvation that
they shared together
a) But instead of doing that, he put that aside because he felt the necessity
to write instead to encourage them to contend, which means to struggle
intensely.
b) This intense struggle was over the Bible, the truth given to them in the
Scriptures, which is called here “the faith” here, which was handed down
to the believers from God one time, never to be repeated again!
(1) Side note – he is not encouraging the pastor or the elders of that
church to fight for the truth but rather it is something he is
encouraging that every one of the believers join in on!
2. Why did he change his plans – v 4 tells us “for”
a) Read
b) Basically there were people who slipped into their church unnoticed and
these people were characterized by two things
(1) They turned God’s grace into a license to do whatever they wanted
to do
(2) They reject the authority of the lord Jesus Christ over them
(3) Then he spends all the way to verse 16 reminding them of the
judgment that will come the way of these false teachers and more
of what they are like.
3. Then he gives them a reminder in v17.
a) Read v17-19
b) Basically the apostles warned us that in the last time that it would be like
this
4. Then in verses 20-23, he tells them what they should do about this.
a) As I read it watch for this:– the command here is to keep yourself in the
love of God by doing three things: praying by means of the Holy Spirit,
keep your hearts eyes locked on the return of Jesus and finally impacting
some others along the way.
b) Read v20-23
5. Finally he closes this chapter with a great benediction of hope
a) Read v24-25
b) Basically Jesus is the one who is able to make us stand, keep us from
stumbling during these difficult days and to be blameless and full of joy
when we stand before the greatness of God’s glory
c) I love this because he is simply saying that as we walk within all these
spiritual land mines both in the church and in the world, in the last days,
that Jesus is able to guide us and keep us until we stand before Jesus!
d) That points us to where my hope and trust needs to be in these chaotic
days
C. This chapter is important because it explains exactly why we are doing this series
and gives us some guidance with this series on truth called – “let’s get real!”
• Let’s start with …
II. Why we are doing this series
A. Reread Jude 3
B. Let me take you back a few months ago to a board meeting we had.
1. Men of Issachar 1 Chronicles 12:32 – we wanted to make sure we not only
knew what the Bible tells us we should do but also the culture and times we
are living in so we can lead and teach more wisely!
2. Mike Locke shared at the board meeting much of what our young people face
in the culture today and it was an eye opener for most of us on the board
3. As he was sharing my heart was stirred and I went home thinking about it.
When I woke up the next morning, I just knew I needed to make my next
series a series on truth.
C. In addition, the battle for truth is a frontal attack on the very character and glory
of God! It began in Genesis 3 in the garden when Satan attacked what God said
(God’s word)
1. The battle for truth is moving towards a time when the little horn, the
antichrist, will fling truth to the ground Daniel 8:12.
a) I think we are seeing the world prepared for this right now.
2. Also, there are direct warnings about false teachers in 22 of 27 books of the
New Testament!
D. We must remember that false teaching is not just bad teaching or wrong teaching
but rather it is teaching that is demonically powerful to keep lost people locked
into their lost state and cause believers to be entrapped by sin and lies!
• Now from two others parts in Jude we get
III. Guidance for the series
A. First, v4 re-read – there was false teachers creeping into the church
1. Today the thinking of the world is squeezing Christians into it mold!
a) Modernism elevated human reasoning and science above faith as the
means to discover truth and with these truth discoveries, they promised a
better world.
b) Now today the postmodern world began as a response to the modern’s
failure to provide the better world it promised.
(1) They question the existence of truth, especially objective and
absolute truth (something outside of ourselves that is true for all
people in all places at all times) to something subjective and
relative (something inside of the person depending upon the
individuals conditions and personal perceptions)
2. Liberalism has crept in the church at large over the last 50 years. Thus,
many theologians were squeezed into the world’s way of thinking about God
and Scripture and in turn, they have impacted the church!
a) As a result they have been deconstructing long held beliefs about God
and His Word and are coming up with new ways of thinking about God
and the Bible that are:
(1) More consistent with a humanistic way of thinking that limits all of
life to the material world and removes any place for miracles
(2) A theology that is much more acceptable and cultural friendly to
these times because some key biblical doctrines can be seem as
unloving, exclusive and offensive to a postmodern way of
thinking.
b) Some of the key doctrines that are being attacked are:
(1) The claims of the Bible to be objective and absolutely true that is
binding on everyone and that other religious and moral claims are
false
(2) A more sexually friendly ethic that includes others who do not
practice the heterosexual marital sex taught by the Bible
(3) The cross of Jesus is seen as cosmic child abuse and offensive to
think of a God who would sacrifice his own son
(4) The wrath of God is seen as offensive and unloving so teachings
about God’s wrath are redefined.
(5) Miracles are impossible because they cannot be measured by
science or fit into man’s rationalistic and humanistic way of
thinking
(6) The teaching about the roles of women in the church and marriage
are out of date and we have progressed beyond those times so they
need to be updated.
B. The goal of this series is not to change the way that the world thinks, that is not
going to happen as we move towards a time under the antichrist when truth will
be flung to the ground. But rather how we as Christians can navigate, stay afloat
and respond in these times as well as how we can impact others for the glory of
God.
1. That is the heart of our mission at MVC - following Jesus and impacting
others
2. Regarding impacting others read v 22-23
a) V 22 - there are some who are doubting because of the impact these false
teachings have had on them. Our role is not to condemn and threaten
them with God’s spanking but rather to show them mercy and help them
out
b) V 23a -others are lost because of the influence of the way this culture
thinks and false teachings about the gospel of Jesus Christ - by God’s
grace He will use us to lead some to Jesus and snatch some of those out
of the fire of hell.
c) V24b - still others I believe have been so contaminated by false teaching
and the sin that comes with it that you are to show them mercy with fear.
In other words, minister to them very carefully with great respect of the
power of the spiritual deception of Satan lest you yourself be deceived
and fall away!
IV.Where we are going in this series
A. We are going to start next week by defining truth. Since it is a series on truth we
should understand what truth is or maybe more accurately said, who truth is
B. Then we will try to understand the way the world is thinking today and how it got
there and its implications for us in contending for the truth in our own lives, our
church and the world
C. Since the Bible is the place where God reveals His truth, we will learn what the
Bible says about itself regarding truth. Since this book is what we are building
our lives off of, we will see if there is any intellectual credence for believing it as
truth or are we just believing it because we were told we are supposed to
D. Then we will close by seeing that God has committed to the church the task of
being the pillar and support of the truth!
• With all the waves of false thinking that is coming our way
V. How do we stand strong?
A. This we also see in Jude! Remember v 3 contend for the faith – remember it was
when David stayed home at the time when kings go out for battle that he fell with
Bathsheba.
1. The safest place in the world is being in the middle of God’s will, in this
respect it is contending for the faith rather than sitting on the sidelines
thinking the battle is too much for you.
B. Keep yourself within the love of God
1. We learn from John that means to obey God and His Word! John 15:10
2. Pray under the leading and influence of the Holy Spirit
3. Lock your heart on what is coming when Jesus returns
C. Trust Jesus to not only keep you from falling during this time but to give you the
strength to not only stand but to join in the battle for truth so you can have an
impact on others!
1. Jude 24-25
Thursday Sep 30, 2021
Thursday Sep 30, 2021
2021 Reboot
Hebrews 10:19-25 September 12, 2021
I. Introduction:
A. I have very little understanding about the inner workings of computers but from
years of experiencing computer problems, I have learned that before I call
someone to fix something the first thing I want to do is reboot the computer. That
simply means to turn it off and back on again
1. I am amazed at how many problems get fixed with that simple little
maneuver.
2. It clears up various different kinds of low-level errors, unloads and closes out
things so the computer runs much smoother when you restart it again.
B. Computers are not the only things that could benefit from a restart –I think
believers could benefit from a reboot after 2020.
1. 2020 created many low level problems for many of us as we have been
internally on overload or our systems have shut down!
2. I feel like a reboot could help us as a church and as individuals run a bit
smoother again.
3. So today, I felt led to take just one Sunday in between the series to stop
and see how we are doing!
C. 2020 was a tough year!
1. As a church we stopped meeting together for services for a while and many
ministries shut down which slowly we restarted with various restrictions.
2. As a nation, we saw a pandemic and deep division over masks, race and
politics that not only touched the world around us but the church as well!
3. Many individuals felt it with their jobs. We experienced separation from
friends and families. Major milestone events like birthdays, graduations,
holiday gatherings and anniversary parties were canceled or were reduced to
drive-byes. Weddings and showers were postponed or greatly reduced to just
a few people. Families were impacted who could not grieve properly or in a
timely fashion as wakes and funerals were adjusted.
4. We can add to this 2021 where there is now strong division over vaccines,
new terror threats on our own home land and inflation that is flying out of
control. The other day I went to my favorite Mexican restaurant and it cost
me $2 more for my favorite burrito while they cut the size of it by 1/3rd!
D. But my concern this morning has to do with what all of this has done to us when
we just started to come out of hibernation from the pandemic and then are hit
again with another wave of the delta variant.
1. The isolation and lack of engagement with others has put some into
depression as they wrestle deeply with their thoughts and emotions
2. Others felt totally disconnected from their church family and even their
friends and even now that they are back, they still are feeling very alone.
3. Fear is like an algorithm on the internet – it picks up on our emotional
behaviors then sends similar types of material to you.
a) The fear that came originally from the pandemic has put people’s fear in
overdrive and has caused fear in other areas of their lives or the past to
raise its ugly head.
4. Mental health has become a very big concern in these days; so much, so that
from more than one source I have been receiving materials, seminars and
videos that directly address the mental health of pastors after 2020.
5. The racial and political divide, with time, has driven people to the polar
opposite ends of the spectrum. People who used to be comfortable around
others who had different views are no longer comfortable around them.
Selfishness and anger are finding pockets in people’s hearts!
6. Some people stopped going to church in person and have become
comfortable with doing church online. Some have done so for medical
reasons but some could and should be back but have gotten out of the habit of
worshiping with their church body.
7. Even when ministries are starting back up people are not engaging in the
ministries or with people the way they used to either from fear or habit of
being disengaged.
E. I could go on and on, but I want to take us to one passage today that can help us
reboot as we clear away all the internal junk and focus on the basics of
relaunching our church and our lives in 2021.
• Please turn in your Bibles to
II. Hebrews 10
A. This was a church made up of Jewish believers who suffered intense persecution
to the point of even losing their property and were under constant pressure from
Jews to return to Jewish religion and all of its Old Testament rituals
B. He spends the first ten chapters showing them the superiority of Jesus to the Old
Testament worship system and how Jesus’ once and for all sacrifice on the cross
forgave their sins.
1. Now since they have a new and living way through the blood of Jesus to
approach the very presence of God and since they have Jesus as the great
priest over the church….
2. He tells them three natural responses to these great blessings and privileges
that God has given us. These three things are the things we need to reboot
too, we need to clean out all the other stuff that has crowded our hearts and
lives and re-center again on important three things.
3. Each one starts with let us. The first one is in v22.
a) Watch for it as I start by reading in 19-22.
C. The first one is believing prayer.
1. This is so crucial for the messes and clutter in our hearts, especially anxiety
and fear, along with the wisdom we need to navigate so many new things in
our lives and world.
2. Prayer is the way we connect with God and turn His graces into our actual
experience. Prayer moves God’s truth from our heads to our hearts. Prayer
makes the promises of God our personal possessions.
3. Turn and read Hebrews 4:14-16
4. Let me encourage you with three ways
a) Personal prayer – rather than worrying about and trying to figure out our
problems we need to be intentional to drop everything and turn to God
and talk to Him about them and receive His peace and wisdom and grace
as He sorts us out as the Good Shepherd of our souls
b) Get a prayer partner – one time per week – in person best, Zoom works
too.
c) Corporate prayer – 1st week in October
D. The second let us is found in v23. Read
1. Holding on to our confession, the content we publically declare of our hope.
2. This is not about holding onto our confession of faith where we look back to
when we trusted Jesus but here in Hebrews it is about holding on the future
hope of the return of Jesus and His kingdom and all the blessing that will
come with that
3. Hebrews 9:28; 13:14
4. This was desperately needed by that church because of the persecution they
were going through and it is desperately needed today in light of the
discouraging world events that are taking place and the new realities we are
facing from Covid to terrorism and everything in between.
5. This kind of hope puts a light at the end of the tunnel and gives us a larger
perspective of what is going on. We are people of hope as Christians not
pessimists who are angry and fearful about everything that is going on!
a) Read 1 Peter 1:3-7
b) Then we are positioned to give an answer when they see and wonder
about the hope within us in the midst of these crazy days.
E. The third let us in found in v24-25.
1. Has to do with our corporate lives together, our meeting together and
engaging with one another.
2. The emphasis of this passage is not about how coming together as a church
can benefit you but rather how you can benefit others by coming. It is about
your value to others – stimulating others to love and good deeds as well as
encouraging others. It is not just that you need church but the church needs
you!
3. Read 24-25
4. When we meet as a church, it is not just to worship and hear God’s word but
it is also for engaging with one another! Encouraging other believers.
5. Three best ways
a) Corporate worship - takes place both before and after the service. So
church really goes on when we send you away and now it is your time to
engage and encourage others around you or in the atrium.
b) Small groups
c) Minister together with others
6. As I said earlier, some have forsaken coming and now are the habit of not
meeting personally with the church. Even before the pandemic research
showed that, many Christians were only going to church 1 to 2 times a
month.
a) You cannot fulfil what God says we need here and only come once or
twice a month. In other words, you cannot be spiritually healthy, not
engaging with other believers, giving and receiving encouragement from
each other both to keep coming and gathering with the body and
encouragement for life in these tough days.
b) Especially in these days when the soon return of Christ is becoming
more and more evident this passage is saying that other believers, the
church needs you even more!
7. I love what my friend Sam Hamstra about why people need to be back in
church – “in the Sunday service we employ many spiritual disciplines that
complement and expand upon our private spiritual disciplines. When we
gather we worship the Lord and pray together with others, we fellowship with
others, we do communion together, we can serve one another, we teach one
another, and we encourage one another”
• So
III. How can we reboot
A. Start with the shutting down and the clearing out of all the stuff that is bogging
down our hearts – confession clears that away and allows us to experience the
freshness of a clear conscience.
B. Restart – this week I want you to practice three things:
1. Be intentional to set time aside to pray. Call or get face to face with one
other believer and pray with them
2. Meditate on and praise God for the blessed hope, the appearing of the glory
of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ and the great kingdom He will set
up. In light of that, consider the necessity of today’s events to lead up to
that.
3. Reach out to at least one other believer this week whom you could
encourage. Listen, encourage, remind of God’s truth, and just bless
them somehow.
C. This is God’s wisdom of what we need to reboot back to. Let’s start with a time
of asking the Lord to search our hearts for anything that needs to be confessed!
Thursday Sep 09, 2021
Thursday Sep 09, 2021
Thursday Sep 09, 2021
Thursday Sep 09, 2021
Wednesday Aug 18, 2021
Wednesday Aug 11, 2021
Wednesday Aug 11, 2021
The Ultimate Marriage
Ephesians 5:32-33 August 1, 2021
I. Introduction:
A. Take a look at this picture and let me know what you see!
1. How many see a young woman – like a model from Paris? How many see an
old woman?
2. If you see the young woman: look at the chin and think of it as a large nose,
and look at the young woman’s ear and think of it as an eye!
3. If you see the old woman: look at the old woman’s nose and think of it as the
left cheek of a face looking away from you, and look at the old woman’s eye
and think of it as an ear on a face looking away from you.
B. This picture reminds me of Ephesians 5:22-33 as there are really two pictures that
play off each other in this section.
1. As we read this section, it keeps going back and forth between the
relationship with Jesus and the church and the husband and wife! Which is it?
2. I have to be honest with you, even for this series I had to be as intentional and
thoughtful as I am with that picture of the woman to be able to see both
pictures clearly and in their proper context!
C. Turn to Ephesians 5:32-33 where he closes this section up and lets us know just
what it is about. Read v 32-33
1. V32 –
a) When he says the mystery is great here, he is not only referring to the
two becoming one in the verse before but to this whole section of the
love and respect relationship.
b) He tells us directly here that in this passage he is mainly speaking about
the relationship between Jesus and the church
2. V33 –
a) Note the first word of v33 - nevertheless = regardless or even in spite of
the fact that he is talking about Jesus and the church
b) Read v33
3. This passage is primarily talking about the love and respect relationship
between Jesus and the church but the husband and wife relationship should
also be one of love and respect.
4. This passage is written to the church, every believer in Jesus Christ married
or not to let us know about Jesus love for us and how we are to respond to
him in his headship and love
D. While our response to Jesus is to be one of submission to everything and
respecting/fearing Him, I want to focus for a few minutes on His love for us
shown in this passage.
1. We see in v25 that His love is a sacrificial love where He gave up His very
life for us to save us so we can have eternal life with Him in a glorious
eternal kingdom and abundant life right now. Read 25
2. We see the end goal of this salvation and love is our sanctification. Even
more specifically, it is a love like a bridal attendant who is getting the bride
ready for her special day when she is presented to her husband. Read v 26-
27
3. Then the third aspect of this love is we see v28-29 talking about husband
loving their wives as their own body by nourishing and cherishing them.
Then he says this at the end. Read v29-30
4. Bottom line, Jesus love is a sacrificial love that saves us from an eternity of
God’s wrath and a life of misery and emptiness. His love helps us become all
that God has created us to be by removing the spots and wrinkles from our
lives; and finally His love is an up-close personal love that cares for every
practical need!
• That is the way that Jesus loves you and His ….
II. Love is transforming
A. I can testify that God in His love for me has turned my life upside down and
inside out all for the good!
B. Turn to Ezekiel 16:4-14 where God talked about the power of His love upon
Israel when He loved her when no one else wanted her! Read
C. Brothers and sisters that is transforming power of the love that God wants to pour
upon you if you will open your heart to receive it
D. Gospel
1. John 3:16
• Let me close with a special word to those who are
III. Single, widowed, divorced!
A. Acknowledge that for most of you if not all of you, you are in a situation you did
not hope for, dream of, or pray for!
1. I know the pain is real and deep and this series has not been easy for you to
listen to.
2. You have desire for companionship and sexual desires – yes, it still is not
good to be alone.
a) I want you to know those desires are normal and there is not something
wrong with you or sinful for having them because God made us as
people who long for and need relationship.
b) Where it can become sinful is when you fulfil those desires in an
ungodly way
B. I want to share with you four practical words of advice for your situation.
1. Reframe or look through a new lens or even give a new title to the book of
your life when it comes to your situation that is more consistent with the truth
of God’s Word!
a) Whether you are married or single God’s goal for your life is to make
you holy not happy He will use your situation to do that
b) According to 1 Corinthians 7 being single keeps you from the extra
troubles that come from being responsible for others and opens
opportunities for you that married people would not have.
(1) Read 7:28
(2) 7:32-34a
c) I would encourage you to sit down with someone and brainstorm about
the troubles that singleness helps you avoid and opportunities that you
can plug into.
(1) Kim and I did that recently with a single friend and it was
interesting with the list we came up. I think Kim was wishing she
were single by the time we were done!
2. Yes, we all need companionship but do not get locked into tunnel vision
where you think the only way that can be met is by being married
a) Listen to Mark 10:28-30 as I read it
b) God can and does meet the need for companionship through friends
c) Illustrate with my target idea
3. Be careful that you are not missing the abundant life that God has for your
life because you are still hanging onto and waiting for your plan for your life
to happen.
a) Abundant life is not dependent upon being married but in knowing and
walking with Jesus.
b) God’s plan for your life, which is good, acceptable and perfect. Read
Romans 12:2
c) Embrace the day to day fulfilment of what God wants to bring in your
life with today’s blessings rather than holding on so tight to the global
desire in your life to be married
C. Finally, I want to ensure every believer in Jesus Christ that someday you will be
married, and you will be married to the best possible mate!
1. Read 2 Corinthians 11:2 – you are engaged
2. Read Revelation 19:7,…9
IV. Communion
A. Listen to Luke 22:15-18
B. As we take communion we often look back at the cross and do it in remembrance
of that but here Jesus tells us communion is designed to also cause us to look
forward to the crown, the reward, the kingdom that time when we will be the
bride of Jesus Christ and will reign with him forever.
C. As you take communion, I encourage you to look forward to that time and talk to
Jesus about whatever He is talking to you about today!