Grace to Obey God

Sermon Date:  June 14, 2015

Sermon Topic: Grace to Obey God

Scriptures: Mark 10:29-30, Romans 6:16, Romans 6:16, John 8:34, Acts 4, John 8:31

Sermon Notes:

There are all types of foolishness going on in the world but we are not of this world. John 8:31 –

What liberates a person from their past? Some of us are able to move around but are bound to something or someone. Until the spirit sets them free they will be bound. Some are in prison but are freer in their minds than some who are prisoners in their home – some who are at home worshipping – signing songs about freedom but are bound.

You’re alright until they give the benediction and leave this environment they leave for a week but must return to this place to find freedom. You can masquerade as a free person, but not be free.

The bondage waits for you at the door. Because of sin humanity is in a sort of slavery to sin. John 8:34 –

Romans 6:16 – You are slave to what you obey. There is a choice. While they promise liberty, they themselves are slaves.

Real freedom can only be realized through Christ. Acts 4 – there is no other name under heaven, not Buddha, Juddha, or Islam can save you, only Jesus can free a man from the power of sin. Every man not walking under true holiness is a slave to sin.

Sin won’t have dominion over us, because of grace. Man is free from the power and from the penalty of sin. You can’t help yourself because you made the choice to go back under it and submit yourself to it. At his coming we will be free from the present. Right now we live in a sin filled word. When we were saved – the spirit man was saved but the flesh is still lusting.

Unless you’re in the word people can upset you with just one word, if you have more world in you than the word.

Truth is not always popular – many don’t want to hear the truth but its right and necessary. The truth shall set you free. Some know academic truth but don’t know anything about Jesus.

Pilot with all of his political authority asked, “What is truth?” but he didn’t wait on the answer. Freedom from sin is conditional. The Bible is not a buffet table. Obey those who have the rule over you. Many have accepted Christ on a conceptual basis but don’t accept him as savior and Lord.

You were bought and for. There must be a corresponding action in the life of someone claiming to be saved - your speech, actions and attitude changes. the things that are passed away, you shouldn’t go back and pick them up. 

Romans 6:16 – We are free from the pollution of sin. Be not deceived – not everyone will make it into the kingdom.

To know the truth – you have to hear the truth. You can’t hear the truth at home. Nothing should take precedent over loving and serving Christ.

First, you have to be open to change. You can’t continue the old life. You can’t serve God and man. Choose ye this day. It’s best to choose now. In order to change the first thing you must do is assume responsibility for your own life.

Second, believe that you can change. Stop saying I can’t. I made up my mind – I got out and I’m not going back.

Third, stop waiting for the ideal circumstance to come before you change.

3 Things that will drive you to change

·      Pain – Some won’t come to Christ until they’re on their last leg

·      Pressure – some allow pressure to weight them down until they have to come

·      Prospective – you can do nothing on your own.

Your weaknesses never give you a view of your future. Your weakness gives you a view of what you used to be.

Don’t exert self-effort on what’s not profitable. It’s time out for every man for himself. We need each other.

Mark 10:29-30 – Benefits of obedience. Jesus has blessings for you for coming to him. He gives us double for our trouble. Stop waiting for the time to change.

The time to change is now.

Are you Ready to Receive?

Bible Study Date:  June 7, 2015

Bible Study Topic: Are you Ready to Receive?

Bible Study Notes:

We can’t stop anyone from being who they want to be but we can tell them the truth. We must obey God rather than man. Man is consumed with war, crime and cataclysmic occurrences. Everyone is doing their own thing.

If you have clothes to wear and one meal today you are a part of the 1/3 of the richest people in the world. That tells us that there are many people with nothing. Luck 21:25 – Signs, distress of nations, perplexity. Don’t we see those things now? When these things come to pass – look up – your redemption is near.

Revelations reveals two distinct parts of man’s nature and future:

·      There will be beauty and peace

·      There will be eternal damnation and an unending hell

There is life beyond the grave. The book of Revelations reveals the future.

God’s redemption is inevitable. Jesus Christ is coming again and we must be ready.

2 Timothy 3 – Perilous times will come – covetous, boasters, proud and unholy. There is an enemy. We have people who look good – say they were born in the church and are lost. We were all born in sin and shapen by iniquity.

Man becomes fallen prey to other Gods – media, lust of flesh, immorality – they’re trying to change what’s God to you.

Romans – In professing themselves wise they were fools.

We have a choice to make if you want to be saved. The only way to be saved is through Christ. There are thousands of religions out there but Jesus is the way, the truth and the light.

It wasn’t raining when Noah built the Ark.

Don’t challenge God.

You need to be on fire for God you cannot be lukewarm. He comes quickly.

Righteousness is manifested in a changed life. Are you really seeking God” Do you really love your neighbor?

Doing good works – will not earn salvation.

Tell your story to others. Don’t hide it from anyone.

Believe that Christ died – History

Believe that Christ died for you – Salvation

Set your house in order so when Christ comes – we won’t be ashamed of his coming. We don’t know when – When do know that now is the time to get ready for the coming of the Lord.

God gives the invitation – if you come he will fixt it, he will deliver you, he will make you clean, if you come!

Christ is coming back for a church without a spot or a wrinkle. When he comes there will be no time to get ready.

Be Ready Now!

Spiritual Warfare

Bible Study Date:  June 3, 2015

Bible Study Topic: Spiritual Warfare

Scriptures:  Ephesians 6:10, 2 Corinthians 2:11, 2 Corinthians 2:13, Hebrews 5:13, John 8:31, John 16:22, 2 Corinthians 10:4, Galatians 5:17, Philippians 4:8, Colossians 1:2-3, Ephesians 4:22 – 24, Colossians 3:12, Colossians 3:9, Psalms 33:4

Bible Study Notes:

Each of us will at some point encounter opposition in our lives. We must stand on the delivering word of God.

Ephesians 6:10 – Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Every born again believer will encounter spiritual resistance. There is a warfare that’s occurring that if you don’t have the word of God, you will stumble.

The word of God should be paramount in our lives. Nothing should take the place of the word of God.

Many of what’s occurring in the world is because many lack the knowledge of the word.

You can’t blame everything on people, many times it’s not the person, it’s the spirit in that person. Every true believer will have opposition from the adversary.

2 Corinthians 2:11 – Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices. This is where you can understand your position in Christ. Demonic activity is all around us today. We have to be mindful of where our help comes from and who we are.

We need the right attitude towards the truth. Spiritual discernment – 2 Corinthians 2:13 – I had no rest in my spirit, because I found not Titus my brother: but taking my leave of them, I went from thence into Macedonia. God reveals to us the things we need to know, what we need and when to do it. We must be able to discern what’s good and what’s evil.

Hebrews 5:13 – For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. Some things are evil but appear to be good.

The Bible gives you the resources and power to stand. When we study, the word, the closer we get to Christ the more spiritual our eyes are.

Examination + Judgment = Discernment

We need to live holy lives in order to discern. John 8:31 – Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed.  When we know the truth, we are free from worry, stress and the wiles of the devil.

You have the peace of God – nothing has the power to steal your joy.

John 16:22 – And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you. No man can take your peace or joy from you. Don’t worry about things because you have the fruit of the spirit. When you say it – the enemy hears it.

The enemy attacks groups, organizations and individuals. God lets us know in advance that if you live Godly you will suffer persecution – you are in the world, but not of it.

Don’t expect to have a close relationship with the world. Everything that’s worldly isn’t good for you – from a spiritual standpoint. We must suffer – it calls for courage, determination and prayer. We need to depend on God to get us out of our situation – 2 Corinthians 10:4 – (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) We need to know how to come against strongholds.

Yes, we are saved, sanctified, Christ-like, but we are in this body. Only the spirit man loves God. Galatians 5:17 – For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. You can’t do what the flesh lusts to do. The flesh is always lusting to do something else.

You have the authority already. Walk in the spirit.

It makes no matter who you are, we will all deal with opposition.  

If there is division in the ministry we can’t fulfill the commandment.

The primary key to being an overcomer is your thought-life. Spiritual warfare occurs in your mind. We are dealing with this flesh. Ephesians 6:10 – Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Be strong in the Lord. No matter what I’m facing, I take it to God first.

Secondly, I must believe that what he promised in his word will happen. Although, it doesn’t look like it will change, I’m focused on the word of God.

Don’t tie Jesus down to a period of time. Whether it’s four days or 40 years, Jesus promised it.

We must keep that in our mind and spirit. Speak life and reject everything that disagrees with the word of God.

If he takes something away from me it’s only because he’s giving me something better. I’ll gain more than I lose. When dealing with spiritual warfare we need the word of God to be our ammunition.

We take the word of God – place it in our heart and speak it. Don’t allow the thoughts to plant seeds to influence your thinking.

Keep the word of God handy. If you need an answer and you’re serious about it, he will give you an answer.

Temptation is something that tries to get you to go against the word of God.

Discipline your thought life – cast down imaginations and every high thing. Talk to Jesus – he’s right there.

A thought un-checked can become an image. You can get an image of poverty and an image of failure – Guard your heart because those things will come.

If I don’t know where I am spiritually, I don’t know about the weapons I have.

To walk in victory – get rid of negative thoughts – your life won’t change until you change your thinking.

Philippians 4:8 – Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Everything in this passage is good. There are no negative thoughts. This is what the scripture says. The thoughts will come – they will show up but we must cast it down. We can’t hinder the thoughts – those are the fiery darts of the wicked.

Recognize who the enemy is and his tactics. We could discuss spiritual warfare for a year because that’s how the enemy is.

Strongholds are a mindset that accepts situations as unchangeable even when its contrary to the world of God.

You can have a stronghold by a damaging influence of someone who left your life – Satan will use that to hold us emotionally captive to develop negative attitudes like anger and bitterness.

Your connection to Christ – we have a connection. Colossians 1:2-3 – ² To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

³ We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you.

Set your affections on things above. You have authority over Satan. When Jesus was resurrected he said that all power of heaven and earth belong to me.

Resist the devil and he will flee from you. You are a winner!

You must desire to grow spiritually – have a yearning for the word of God.

The armor of God refers to the resources that Christians have to resist and fight the enemy.

Ephesians 4:22 – 24 – ²² That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;

²³ And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;

²⁴ And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

There are some conversations that when you’re born again – you shouldn’t say. Put off the old man. We should be rightly clothed. Colossians 3:9 – Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds. We don’t lie to each other since we are born again.

Colossians 3:12 – Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering. You get to a place where you recognize the enemy’s attacks – you don’t lose your cool.

Meek, humble, kind and forgiving. Why would I hold something against you when I need Christ to forgive me.

You must know the truth and the truth starts with God.

Psalms 33:4 – For the word of the Lord is right; and all his works are done in truth.  If something is in your life that doesn’t align with the word, get rid of it.

You have the authority to address anything that hinders the work of the Lord.

Take up the whole armor of God. The essence of sin is acting independently of God’s will.

Look at the story in Genesis. Eve took fatal steps:

·         Yielded to her imagination – The devil enticed Eve by telling her that she would be more like God. She imagined herself to be more like God.

·         Willfully disobeyed God – She knew what God said, but disobeyed him. Do what the Lord says. Not what’s popular – but what God said.

·         She brought a loved one to join her

Don’t yield yourself to those imaginations. Don’t disobey God and don’t take anyone with you. The enemy makes everything look beautiful, know the word of God.

If you don’t know the word you can’t obey the word.

You need to know how to wage spiritual warfare.

Christ will use us to draw others into the Kingdom. Wherever you are shine your light. I am the light of the world.