Winter Camp

Recap:

How is Camp?

Recap on Ben:

Go over shirts.

Intro:

In your heading, it should say, “Benediction.”

A Benediction is: The utterance or bestowing of a blessing.

So, in our theme verses, the author, I think it’s Paul, is basically praying for the people he wrote this book to.

In the previous verses the author asks the readers to pray for us, that we may be honorable.

This is just extra… As a Christian, ask your fellow brothers and sisters for prayer. We need to be praying for each other.

Pray for your leaders! I know that most of your leaders pray for you guys… Your leaders need prayer… Anyway, back on topic.

Today, we are going to focus on who God is, the power of God, how He cares, and how He loves.

God of Peace

We always hear a lot about peace, but do we understand what peace truly is?

I don’t think anyone knows what peace truly until they meet the Prince of peace.

What is peace?

In this passage, peace means the opposite of war and dissension.

War, well we know what war is…

Dissension is disagreement that leads to discord, bitterness, hate, and so on.

When I read this, I picture peace as a vertical and horizontal action.

Before you are saved you are at war with God.

Your flesh wants nothing to do with the Spirit.

Romans 10:5 NKJV

For Moses writes about the righteousness which is of the law, “The man who does those things shall live by them.”

Romans 5:10 NKJV

For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.

Before you were saved, you are an enemy of God.

Some of you may be enemies of God today, we’re praying that changes tonight.

God can bring peace between Him and you… All it takes is you believing in the Lord Jesus.

Peace with God is vertical.

Now, the horizontal action...

Peace with others

There will never be complete peace, until Jesus returns.

However, Jesus can supply the peace you need in your life, if you would simply just come.

Jesus can bring peace between you and your family, friends, co-workers, classmates, and so on.

But, it’s not a guarantee.

I feel like a lot of people in Christendom get their hopes up because they bought into this idea of

“Since I’m saved God will do this, God will do that.”

That’s not how it works.

If God saved you and did nothing else, that’s enough.

But, God is able to bring peace into your life and lives of others, but that doesn’t mean he always will.

Sometimes he uses it to make you grow in faith, to make you rely on Him, to make you grow.

We can’t know true peace apart from God.

If you want peace, you need to surrender to the prince of peace.

God is peace and He is the giver of peace.

Philippians 4:6–8 NKJV

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.

God wants you to have peace, He wants you to rely on Him for your peace.

Power of God

Ben talking about Jesus at the garden telling Peter to put your sword away.

“Just speak a word and he can be healed.”

We act like Moses did in

Numbers 11:21–22 NKJV

And Moses said, “The people whom I am among are six hundred thousand men on foot; yet You have said, ‘I will give them meat, that they may eat for a whole month.’ Shall flocks and herds be slaughtered for them, to provide enough for them? Or shall all the fish of the sea be gathered together for them, to provide enough for them?”

Numbers 11:23 NKJV

And the Lord said to Moses, “Has the Lord’s arm been shortened? Now you shall see whether what I say will happen to you or not.”

We hear about the power of God, but we don’t think that power applies to us.

We hear the stories of faith!

David talking crap and slaying Goliath

Joshua walking around Jericho and the walls tumbling down.

Samson pushing the pillars and killing more philistines in that one blow than he did his whole life.

We read all these amazing stories of God’s power, but we don’t believe it for ourselves. We don’t believe that power is living inside of you and I.

We need to repent from that attitude, because we are so wrong.

We need to have the attitude of the Centurion in

Matthew 8:6–8 NKJV

saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented.” And Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.” The centurion answered and said, “Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed.

Matthew 8:

Then Centurion, believed in the Power of God.. If you would just speak the word!

The story goes on to tell of how Jesus granted this man’s prayer.

What was the key to unlocking God’s power?

The Centurion’s faith.

Matthew 8:10 NKJV

When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!

Matthew 8:

I haven’t found such great faith!

If you want God’s power to be working in and through your life, you need faith.

What or Who is your faith in?

People

Things

God

The key to unlocking God’s power is faith..

Ephesians 3:20 NKJV

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,

Ephesians 4:20 NKJV

But you have not so learned Christ,

When we look in , the hall of faith..

These people did amazing things, not because of who they are, not because of their parents, not because of anything… They were normal people, like you and I, who believed God at His word and put all their faith in Him.

Hebrews 11:30–34 NKJV

By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days. By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace. And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.

Hebrews 11:30-

These people did great things, by the power of God, which was provided through great faith.

God’s power is available for all who believe.

The same power that rose Jesus from the grave is the same power that lives in us.

Good Shepherd

God is the Good Shepherd, The GREAT shepherd.

John 10:11 NKJV

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.

Jesus is the

The term “Shepherd” speaks of leadership… We are sheep, we need someone to lead us.

If we know that Jesus is our great Shepherd, then you will know that you lack nothing..

Yeah, you may not have everything you want, but you will have all that you need for life and Godliness.

In , we see that the Shepherd has two tools to His disposal,

Staff

Rod

The Shepherd would use the staff to lead the sheep, to guide the sheep, and get them out of jams.

God does this with us right?

When we wander from the sheepfold, God brings in things to draw us back! Trials, friends, family, and sorts.

Shepherds would use the rod to protect the sheep from predators and from each other.

You guys know that picture of “jesus” holding a sheep on his shoulders?

Well… the reason why he is carrying the sheep is because he broke the sheep’s legs.

When we wander for long, God will get your attention one way or another, and it’s not fun.

The enemy is out to get you… The enemy doesn’t like what you stand for or who you stand for.

Rich Wilkerson Jr. said, “I’d rather get to heaven with broken legs, than lose my soul.”

The enemy will do anything in their power to keep you from being used by God.

1 Peter 5:8 NKJV

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

Since we are sheep, we can’t protect ourselves… We need a great shepherd and His name is Jesus.

Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the New Testament Chapter 13

There are three separate titles given to Christ, the Shepherd: (1) the Good Shepherd, who dies for the sheep—John 10:11 and Ps. 22; (2) the Great Shepherd, who perfects the sheep—Heb. 13:20–21 and Ps. 23; and (3) the Chief Shepherd, who will come for the sheep—1 Peter 5:4 and Ps. 24. Our High Priest is our Shepherd and Helper; He works in us and gives us the grace and power to live for Him and serve Him.

Everlasting Covenant

Before time began, God had a plan for redemption..

God the Father, raised Jesus from the dead by the blood of the eternal covenant.

Someone said,

The resurrection confirmed God’s acceptance of Jesus’ death as ratification of the new covenant, in which He said, “I will be merciful to their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more” (). The covenant is eternal in the sense that it never will be invalidated or superseded. Jesus’ shed blood is the final, complete sacrifice for our sins ().

The resurrection confirmed God’s acceptance of Jesus’ death as ratification of the new covenant, in which He said, “I will be merciful to their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more” (). The covenant is eternal in the sense that it never will be invalidated or superseded. Jesus’ shed blood is the final, complete sacrifice for our sins (

Hebrews 10:14–18 NKJV

For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. But the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us; for after He had said before, “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,” then He adds, “Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.

Do you understand that once you come to Christ, you are forgiven and your sins are cleansed!

No longer do we have to offer sacrifices, because Jesus’ sacrifice paid the full price. Now, we just have to come to Him and simply ask for forgiveness.

Instead of the old covenant, we have a new one, which is grace.

Now,

Worship team come up...

There is a standard for God… and none of us meet this standard.

You can’t do anything to get yourself to meet God’s standard.

You can’t tithe enough.

You can’t do any good work to be good enough for God.

Instead, God did all this on the cross. When Jesus died for us, He made it possible to meet His standards.

How can we meet His standards? All it takes is faith.

If you would just believe in Jesus and who He is, you would receive the free gift of salvation.

You can’t have peace without Jesus.

You can’t have the power of God apart from Jesus.

You can’t have the covenant of Grace apart from the finished work on the cross.

Alter call?

If you would call upon the name of the Lord, you shall be saved.