AS HE SAID
Notes
Transcript
He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay.
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
WORDS OF COMFORT
I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.
The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.
And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.
WORDS OF CONVICTION
A NEW VERSION OF CHRISTIANITY DOMINATES TODAY’S CHRISTIAN LANDSCAPE, A CONVERSION WITHOUT A CHURCH PARTICIPATION. NOTICE I DIDN’T SAY ATTENDANCE. ATTENDING CHURCH DOESN’T MAKE YOU A CHRISTIAN ANYMORE THAN STANDING IN A GARAGE MAKES YOU A CAR. I SAID PARTICIPATION. GOING TO CHURCH WILL NOT GET YOU INTO HEAVEN. REFUSING TO PARTICIPATE IN THE LIFE OF CHRIST BODY WILL CERTAINLY KEEP YOU OUT OF HEAVEN. IT’S NOT YOUR PARTICIPATION THAT SAVES YOU IT IS YOUR SALVATION THAT FUELS YOUR ENGAGEMENT.
MANY MAY SAY SHOW ME IN THE BIBLE WHERE IT SAYS THAT CHRISTIANS MUST PARTICIPATE IN CHURCH. ONLY ONE NEW TESTAMENT VERSE PRESSES CHURCH PARTICIPATION.
And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,
not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
I HAVE OFTEN WONDERED WHY THERE ARE NOT MORE DIRECT COMMANDS WHEN IT COMES TO CHURCH PARTICIPATION AND ITS NECESSITY. THERE ARE THOSE WHO SAY THE LACK OF COMMANDS PROVES THAT ITS NOT NECESSARY AS A VALIDATION OF CONVERSION. OR COULD IT BE THAT THOUGH IT LACKS EMPHATIC STATEMENT THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF VERSES THAT EMPHATICALLY IMPLY ITS TRUTH.
COULD IT BE THAT IT DOESN’T HAVE TO CLEARLY SPELLED OUT BECAUSE IN THE LIFE OF ALL TRUE FOLLOWERS IT HAS BEEN INSTALLED. JESUS FAITHFULLY ATTENDED TEMPLE SERVICES EVEN PREACHING A TIME OR TWO. HOWEVER, HE TAUGHT HIS FOLLOWERS
Yet the Most High does not dwell in houses made by hands, as the prophet says,
And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.
Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.
TEMPLE IS WHERE YOU WENT TO MEET THE LORD. HOWEVER, THE TEMPLE WOULD NO LONGER BE NECESSARY FOR THAT REASON BECAUSE THE LORD WOULD LIVE INSIDE HIS PEOPLE.
CHRIST COMMANDS HE FOLLOWERS TO GATHER IN THE UPPER ROOM. YOU CAN SAY THIS WAS THE FIRST GATHERING OF THE CHURCH. WHILE WAITING THE SPIRIT WHICH HE PROMISED IN ACTS 1:8 DESCENDS ON THEM. THEY WERE ARE FILLED JUST AS CHRIST SAID AND THIS FILLING PROPELLED TO PREACH THE MESSAGE OF GOOD NEWS. ACTS 2 SAYS THERE WERE 3,000 CONVERSION FROM THAT FIRST MESSAGE. NOTICE WHAT DIRECTLY FOLLOWS AS RESULT OF THAT FIRST MESSAGE.
And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.
And all who believed were together and had all things in common.
And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.
And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts,
THEY GATHER TOGETHER AS THE CHURCH BECAUSE IT WAS THE ONLY REASONABLE RESPONSE TO THE GRACE THEY HAD EXPERIENCED. WHEN THE SPIRIT CAME - WHEN THOSE WHO WERE LISTENING WERE CONVERTED - WHAT FOLLOWED WAS INTUITIVE. WHY? BECAUSE THE SPIRIT DRAWS HIS PEOPLE TOGETHER LIKE MAGNETS TO METAL. IT IS NATURAL. ITS INTUITIVE. JESUS IN MATTHEW 12 IS CASTING OUR DEMONS AND THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS ARE ACCUSING HIM OF DOING THIS BY THE POWER OF SATAN.
And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand?
AS I THOUGHT ABOUT THIS SCRIPTURE I ASK MYSELF HOW CAN PEOPLE WHO CLAIM TO BE CHRISTIANS BE DIVIDED AGAINST HIS CHURCH. IF CHRIST IS IN YOU AND CHRIST IS IN OTHERS THEN HOW CAN RESIST PARTICIPATION IN CHRIST BODY CALLED THE CHURCH.
YES THE CHURCH IS NOT PERFECT. ITS A BODY OF SINNER/SAINTS WHO ARE PROGRESSING IN PERFECTION. YOU SEE YOU CAN’T BE OBEDIENT WITHOUT PARTICIPATION IN CHRIST BODY.
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.
IF YOU ARE LIVING IN OPEN REBELLION TO THE ELEMENTARY TEACHING OF CHRIST YOU CAN’T BE A CHRISTIAN. CONSIDER WHAT YOU ARE REBELLING AGAINST WHEN YOU REFUSE PARTICIPATION IN CHRIST BODY
Love one another (John 13:34 - This command occurs at least 16 times) Be devoted to one another (Romans 12:10) Honor one another above yourselves (Romans 12:10) Live in harmony with one another (Romans 12:16) Build up one another (Romans 14:19; 1 Thessalonians 5:11) Be likeminded towards one another (Romans 15:5) Accept one another (Romans 15:7) Admonish one another (Romans 15:14; Colossians 3:16) Greet one another (Romans 16:16) Care for one another (1 Corinthians 12:25) Serve one another (Galatians 5:13) Bear one another's burdens (Galatians 6:2) Forgive one another (Ephesians 4:2, 32; Colossians 3:13) Be patient with one another (Ephesians 4:2; Colossians 3:13) Speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15, 25) Be kind and compassionate to one another (Ephesians 4:32) Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs (Ephesians 5:19) Submit to one another (Ephesians 5:21, 1 Peter 5:5) Consider others better than yourselves (Philippians 2:3) Look to the interests of one another (Philippians 2:4) Bear with one another (Colossians 3:13) Teach one another (Colossians 3:16) Comfort one another (1 Thessalonians 4:18) Encourage one another (1 Thessalonians 5:11) Exhort one another (Hebrews 3:13) Stir up [provoke, stimulate] one another to love and good works (Hebrews 10:24) Show hospitality to one another (1 Peter 4:9) Employ the gifts that God has given us for the benefit of one another (1 Peter 4:10) Clothe yourselves with humility towards one another (1 Peter 5:5) Pray for one another (James 5:16) Confess your faults to one another (James 5:16)
ALL OF THIS WRITTEN TO CHURCHES WHO ARE MADE UP OF INDIVIDUALS. JESUS DIED FOR THE CHURCH
Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,
JESUS IS CALLED THE BRIDEGROOM AND THE CHURCH HIS BRIDE. YOU CANNOT DECLARE YOU LOVE FOR THE BRIDEGROOM AND REFUSE TO PARTICIPATE IN HIS BRIDE. DO NOT BELIEVE FOR ONE SECOND YOU WILL LIVE WITH THE BRIDEGROOM IN ETERNITY WHEN YOU WANT PARTICIPATE IN HIS BRIDE ON EARTH.
HOW CAN YOU LIVE WITH PEOPLE FOREVER IN ETERNITY THAT YOU WANT FELLOWSHIP WITH ON EARTH. YOU SAY IN HEAVEN WILL BE PERFECT AND SO IT WILL BE EASIER. THE BIBLE SAYS THAT SANCTIFICATION BEGINS HERE ON EARTH AND IS COMPLETED IN ETERNITY NOT STARTED IN HEAVEN AND COMPLETED IN HEAVEN.
IT IS OUR PARTICIPATION IN CHRIST BODY THAT MAKES US MORE LIKE CHRIST. JESUS DIED FOR THE CHURCH SO THAT OTHERS CAN SEE THE REALITY OF EASTER IN THE COLLECTIVE LIVES OF HIS CHURCH. YOU CAN GROW IN YOUR INTELLECTUAL KNOWLEDGE OF THE SCRIPTURE IN ISOLATION BUT YOU CANNOT GROW IN CHRISTLIKENESS. BELIEVING IS A VERB WHICH REQUIRES ACTION.
You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!
Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless?
Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar?
You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works;
TRUE FAITH. REAL FAITH. AUTHENTIC FAITH. OBEYS! SIN WILL SAY “ITS YOUR ONLY DAY OFF” - THE SAVIOR SAYS “YOUR LIFE IS NOT YOUR OWN”. SIN WILL SAY “THEY’RE A BUNCH OF HYPOCRITES” - THE SAVIOR SAYS “REMOVE THE LOG FROM YOUR OWN EYE”. SIN WILL SAY “I HAVE BEEN TREATED TERRIBLE BY OTHERS IN THE CHURCH” - THE SAVIOR SAYS “YOU TREATED ME TERRIBLE YET I SAID TO MY FATHER FORGIVE THEM THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO”.
WORDS OF COMMISSION
Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?
What our Lord said about cross-bearing and obedience is not in fine type. It is in bold print on the face of the contract.
We must never forget – if we are to grow in grace, and therefore grow like Christ – that the One we trust, love, and serve is a crucified Savior. To follow Him means taking up the cross, as well as denying ourselves. It means a crucified life.
The cross must be borne before the crown can be worn.
What are our crosses? They are not simply trials and hardships… A cross results from specifically walking in Christ’s steps, embracing His life. It comes from disdain because we follow the narrow way of Jesus Christ… Our crosses come from and are proportionate to our dedication to Christ. Difficulties do not indicate cross-bearing, though difficulties for Christ’s sake do.
In picking up your cross you are saying i don’t have to do everything for Jesus but I will do anything to follow Jesus.