Showing posts with label spiritual growth. Show all posts
Showing posts with label spiritual growth. Show all posts

Thursday, May 4, 2017

The Example We Set



Example –noun
1.
one of a number of things, or a part of something, taken to show the character of the whole: This painting is an example of his early work.
2.
a pattern or model, as of something to be imitated or avoided: to set a good example.
3.
an instance serving for illustration; specimen: The case histories gave carefully detailed examples of this disease.
4.
an instance illustrating a rule or method, as a mathematical problem proposed for solution.
5.
an instance, esp. of punishment, serving as a warning to others: Public executions were meant to be examples to the populace.
6.
a precedent; parallel case: an action without example.
verb (used with object)
7.
Rare. to give or be an example of; exemplify (used in the passive).
[Origin: 1350–1400; ME exa(u)mple < MF example < L exemplum, akin to eximere to take out (ex- ex-1 + emere to buy, orig. take); r. ME exemple < L, as above ] —Synonyms 1. Example, sample, specimen refer to an individual phenomenon taken as representative of a type, or to a part representative of the whole. Example is used of an object, condition, etc., that is assumed to illustrate a certain principle or standard: a good example of baroque architecture. Sample refers to a small portion of a substance or to a single representative of a group or type that is intended to show what the rest of the substance or the group is like: a sample of yarn. Specimen usually suggests that the “sample” chosen is intended to serve a scientific or technical purpose: a blood specimen;
Greek
deiÛgma

from the base of (1166)
1. a thing shown
  1. a specimen of any thing, example, pattern

Heb 1:3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high:



  • This verse tells us Jesus is exact image of God – He is God that we can see – “if you have seen Me, you have seen God”-Jn 14:6


  • Jesus is our example –
Eph 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

Eph 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ

    1. Jesus fulfilled every one of these offices – note the word edify /Word only builds up –
    2. That is how God treats His Kids – that is the example He sets for us

    1. Every account in Word is there to give us answers, build us up and to set an example. Mat 17:24-26 shows us is an example of submitting to authority weather we agree or not – that is what God calls doing right “just because”

24 On their arrival in Capernaum, the tax collectors for the Temple tax came to Peter and asked him, "Doesn't your teacher pay the Temple tax?"
25 "Of course he does," Peter replied. Then he went into the house to talk to Jesus about it.
But before he had a chance to speak, Jesus asked him, "What do you think, Peter*? Do kings tax their own people or the foreigners they have conquered?"
26 "They tax the foreigners," Peter replied.
"Well, then," Jesus said, "the citizens are free! 27 However, we don't want to offend them, so go down to the lake and throw in a line. Open the mouth of the first fish you catch, and you will find a coin. Take the coin and pay the tax for both of us."


Mat 20:28
Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many
Jn 13-17
13"You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. 15I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.


In Paul’s 1st letter to Timothy he cites The Lord’s mercy and example to us all:

 12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service. 13Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. 14The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
 15Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. 16But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. 17Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.




Examples to set (set for):

  1. Our children – Godly , do the right thing always (do right just because it’s right) God wants you to do this because good for us – what comes around, goes around.

Eph 6:4
Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.
.family


  1. believers and non believers – there watching you.

1 Tim 4:12 Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an
example
    1. Always build up
    2. Don’t do things that are OK but don’t help or non-believers and many believers don’t understand - remember:
1 Cor 6:12 says - All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.

Set The Example - Do the right thing on purpose – just because it is the right thing to do!











Sunday, September 6, 2015

Equip The Saints



Saints from all over the world

·         Praise
·         Pray
Text scripture:
Eph 4:12
For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
 *One  separated from the world and consecrated to God; one holy by profession and by covenant; a believer in Christ.

Rom 1:7    To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

My only point here is that the Bible calls those who believe and confess Christ as Lord and Savior are saints.

·         We can then understand better our text scripture in context Eph 4:12.  (read Eph 4:1-13)

1.    Paul reminds Ephesians who they are and what they are to be doing.

2.    Revelation given to Paul regarding building the Church (body of Christ, re-establishing The Kingdom Of God)

3.    We are to teach people, who teach people, who teach people, who teach people – etc. – Great Commission Mark 16 : 15-18

4.    If we are to be effective in “perfecting the saints, ” we must 1st realize who we are in Him, and what Christ has done for us.

·        We must realize – God’s plan to re-establish Kingdom depends on believers in Christ spreading the Church - perfecting the saints
·        We need to realize it will be done with - or without you and I.

Jesus told the disciples that the gates of Hades would not withstand The Kingdom Of God – NOTHING WILL STOP THE CHURCH!
Matthew 16:18
And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. (Explain Gate of Hades, being a real place real place)


This is a point many Christians lose sight of in a culture of declining morality.  They think the Church will be derailed. They don’t know forget that all along, God’s plan was to re-establish His Kingdom right over the top of Pagan religions that ran rampant in those days.

·        We will do it because we love Christ – He loved us first

  1 John 4:19
We love him, because he first loved us  -


        John 3:16, Col 2  14

·         Christ sacrificed Himself for us – to preserve us, the only way we will be preserved is if the Church is established and The Kingdom is re-established

·         Think of this – Christ entrusted the establishing of His Church on earth to 12 disciples who did not have a clue until that final 3 years of Jesus life.

·         He trusted them and now He trusts you and me

·         If we are His servants – bought and paid for with his blood we must realize a few things:

We have a mission: Great Commission -  Mark 16 - 15 He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
1.   After He told us what to do and He empowered us to do it:
Mark 16 (next verses) 17And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”



What can I do to do my part in fulfilling The Great Commission?

1.   Know who you are In Christ (all in Christ scriptures are what He has done for you – sometimes said through Christ)
Romans 3:24
and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

 

Ephesians 2:13  At one time you were far away from God. But now you belong to Christ Jesus. He spilled his blood for you. That has brought you near to God.


2.    Stay in relationship – meditate on scripture, Pray daily


3.    Get in a Bible TEACHING church or atmosphere as soon as you can.
Almost all churches believe in the Bible, but not all teach the Bible.
·         This is important so you can know who you are
·         Who God is
·         Know where you are in history
·         Find your gifts
·         Find your place
·         Help you find ministry opportunities
·         Realize that you may think you are overqualified for what you are doing – be faithful, don’t complain, do all the best you can!

Monday, April 6, 2015

John 1




John 1-2
1)      Existed in the beginning 2)      Existed in close relation to God (as a separate person) 3)      Existed as God
 Jesus is God  1)      1:1 in his pre-incarnate state 2)      1:18 in his incarnate state  3)      20:28 in his resurrected state
 John 1:1
-The word means “beginning, origin, first cause.” – beginning of history (man) / born again (spiritual)
- Two beginnings eternity past – Gen. 1:26  God said let us make man in our image….                                                                                                                     
  • Who was God talking to?
  • Connect to Genesis … light / darkness (1:5)
  • The Word is part of creation
  • Never was a time when Jesus was not
  • Jesus is God
 1: 3-5
After describing the relationship to the Father, the Word’s relationship to creation is stated. The Word is equal with God, but superior to creation. …. The Word is not part of creation.
Proverbs 8:12-9:12 is an OT description of “the Word.” John states here clearly what the OT had been alluding to in the use of “word”
John addresses the first manifestation of “The Word” communicating with man:   Creation.
  • In creation God gave one of his greatest revelations of himself (Romans 1)
  • Jesus was the one who created everything:      1 Cor. 8:6 ,      Col. 1:16,  Heb. 1:2, Rev. 3:14
  • Life as refer to Jesus = Total 135x
1:5
“light shines” is present tense here for the first time.  The manifestation of this light into the world and into the hearts of men is a continuous action that continues even today. But, the shining of the light that occurred at creation and at the incarnation is still occurring today by that same Word. God’s manifestation of his revelation is not over and historically recorded.  It is recorded, but it is still shining in life and light today

This was not a dual between two equal powers.  Just as light is always greater than darkness, Jesus, the creator is always greater than darkness.

Nature reveals this truth.
a)      We turn on a light switch which drives away the darkness.
b)      The sun drives out the darkness in the morning.  The only reason darkness returns; the sun sets and leaves our view.
c)      We can create light with bulbs.  We cannot create dark bulbs.
d)      Darkness never drives out the light in any natural occurrence.  Darkness only occurs when light is removed or absent.

This theme will reach its highlight in the crucifixion.  This was the darkest moment. 
The darkest event completely disappears though in the light of the resurrection.
 What John introduces in these three verses continues through out the book.
  • Jesus authority in Creation both physically and spiritually
  • Parallels of light and darkness which represent:
    • Revelation and salvation (light)
    • Ignorance and sin (darkness)
The Seven Witnesses
In the gospel of John there are 7 witnesses
1)      The Father 5:31-32, 34, 37; 8:18
2)      Christ 8:14, 18; 3:11, 32; 8:37
3)      The Holy Spirit 15:26; 16:14
4)      Jesus’ Works 5:36; 19:25; 14:11; 15:24
5)      Scripture 5:39; 5:45-46
6)      John the Baptist 1:7; 1:8; 1:15; 1:19; 1:32; 1:34; 3:26; 5:33
7)      Human witnesses:
a.       Disciples 15:27; 19:35; 21:24
b.      Samaritan woman 4:39
c.       Multitude 12:17


The Prophet was sent by God,  Prophets had to have evidence, No evidence proves they where false
 There Must Be Evidence to Verify the Truth
It is important to have credible witnesses to the truth.
God and John are not going to ask you to believe something without verifying its truthfulness.
To have faith (confidence) in something there must be some evidence or proof of facts.
Again, faith is not blind faith.
Bible teaching itself should be logical and make sense in the world we live.