I Believe (2)
Notes
Transcript
I Believe
I Believe
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.
Intro:
Intro:
We find in mark a man who had a son who was demon possessed… I cannot imagine the pain and sorrow and and even humiliation that this caused the parents and family...
but part of the story is a little humorous to me, even though the situation is tragic…
I wonder how many times my parents thought the same thing as this father was relaying the situation to the Lord -
Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit…
I read that and think - my poor parents -
my son… which has a dumb spirit - lol
21 And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child.
22 And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us.
23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.
24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.
If thou canst believe, all things are possible...
LORD, I BELIEVE; help thou mine unbelief
Belief… My pastor used to always say...
“You only believe that which moves you to action”
In the past year and a half our beliefs have been tried and tested...
Our belief system has been tested so many ways, that we are having to stop and evaluate and examine if we really believe what we say we believe…
It isn’t enough to believe what my pastor taught me…
It isn’t enough to believe what my predecessors taught me
It isn’t enough to believe what my professors taught me
It isn’t enough to believe only what my parents taught me…
What do I Believe?
I Believe
I Believe
There is no way for us to look at all that we believe this morning, but I want to look at a few gu
1. Redemption
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
redemption:
the release of people, property or possessions from bondage through the payment of a price.
I believe in the sinful state of man
Condemnation - I believe that
I believe that I am a sinner in need of a Savior -
Before I put my faith in Jesus Christ for my sin debt - I was condemned…
I believe in the need of redemption…
I believe in the love, grace and mercy of our Redeemer
Jesus is the only way of salvation…
The message of Christ is not condemnation - but redemption...
The gospel is the beginning -
REDEEMED HOW I LOVE TO PROCLAIM IT...
REDEEMED BY THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB
REDEEMED THRU HIS INFINITE MERCY
HIS CHILD, AND FOREVER I AM
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?
5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
Nicodemus wanted to talk of miracles - Jesus talked of salvation...
The greatest need anyone has is not to understand:
the controversies of theology
the impact of religion on humanity
the understanding of biblical vs current culture -
The greatest need is the need of salvation...
Redemption
2. Restoration
Believers who need to be brought back in to the fold
7 Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?
8 Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren.
9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
And such were some of you...
But ye are washed...
But ye are sanctified
But ye are justified
...in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God
1 cor.6.11 - Glory to God...
God can take the broken and piece them back together again -
I believe in Restoration...
If I didn’t, I would never waste another moment in:
Prayer for the wandering...
Preaching to the wayward
Presenting truth and help in counsel...
I do believe in RESTORATION...
I have seen the teenagers who rejected the teaching and training of Godly
parents, pastors, people who loved and cared about them...
watch them turn away from the teaching and training - but seeing God draw them back...
Watching the process of restoration...
1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
2 Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
O child of God -
if someone walks away from the Lord - no matter how far they go… there is a loving and caring God who wants them to come home...
That prodigal...
The man who embezzled over $100,000 from a church I know - was sent to prison, went back to the church - humbled himself and got things right - and was restored… (he will never be a treasurer, or on the count team) but he is back in church -
restoration...
The young man who was involved in a bank robbery, paid his dues…went through some rough years, yet - he is playing in a church orchestra and singing specials - glory to God...
The wayward…
The wandering...
Those who get caught up in the wicked wiles of the devil -
I BELIEVE IN RESTORATION...
I believe broken relationships with God can be restored
I believe broken relationships with family can be restored
I believe broken relationships with friends can be restored
Most of my time in counseling - restoration
Much of my time in leadership is not casting vision - it is spent putting out fires - restoration -
It isn’t what we don’t know that we struggle with, it is what we don’t do with what we do know = that’s the problem...
I believe in:
REDEMPTION
RESTORATION
3. Recovery
24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,
25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
Recovery...
We have a recovery program every Friday night… Here in room 103 - 7:00pm
It is a program that helps people “recover themselves out of the snare of the devil...”
32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
This recovery program is not just another 12 step program...
It is a 1 step program...
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Jesus is the One who brings not only REDEMPTION and RESTORATION… HE is the One who also brings - RECOVERY!!!
There is not a person living who Jesus could not recover...
IF THERE WAS HOPE FOR LAZARUS - THERE IS HOPE FOR ANYONE!!!
His name was Tony…
scattered… as a teenager - I remember talking to him… everyone was a little nervous…
he was amped up
he was scattered
he was dressed nicely - but just weird… you knew something was off, but you didn’t know what...
later we found out that Bro. Tony had been in the occult - he had been committed to western state mental institution for 7 years… he had experienced the destruction of the devourer...
10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
satanic influence
drugs - witchcraft - “pharma-chea”… pharmaceuticals...
self imposed
doctor imposed...
His mind was scattered… to say the least...
But we had an assistant pastor - Bro. Steve Ragland - he was our youth pastor for a while - he had a profound influence in my life - and our family - It was Bro. Steve that discipled my dad - Bro. Steve became my dad’s best friend - after pops passed - I was going through the passwords for accounts and getting things in order - password questions - who is your best friend - Steve was the answer...
It was Bro Steve that poured time into Bro. Tony - bible study, prayer time, soul-winning, messages...
Bro. Tony would listen to the bible on tape, he would listen to preaching, hours upon hours...
He didn’t want to talk about anything but the Lord...
Unfortunately - many of us - didn’t want to talk to Tony because he was going to just talk about the bible, prayer, preaching…
It’s pretty convicting to think about it…
I have watched it first hand...
Miss Sarah - 5 years clean...
a life of drugs and deception -
broken relationships
destructive behavior -
Recovery...
it has been amazing to watch a life put back together
it has been amazing to watch a marriage put back together
it has been amazing to watch a broken mom become a Godly mother to her children...
I believe in RECOVERY...
I watch the lives, I know the stories… I see the results -
I watched this morning as Bro. Gary helped Bro. Frank prepare for services this morning -
he was out in the parking lot w/ a blower...
he comes up during the week and helps with maintenance, building and grounds, he has been going to the Recovery program every week - coming to services...
It is a joy to see him with a smile on his face...
He had been banned from campus for a while because of his anger - and now we see a smile - a song… there is joy in his heart...
I believe in recovery...
1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
19 characteristics are given that list the “last days”
According to Hebrews - the time of the last days began with the Lord Jesus’ ministry
2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
But these characteristics are revealing themselves now more than ever...
Redemption
Restoration
Recovery -
These are all needed now more than ever...
But it starts at the house of God...
Redemption is the beginning...
Restoration - bringing relationships back together
Recovery - out of the snare of the devil
Why are these three things so vital right now?
The time is short...
The Lord’s coming back...
Death and hell are not full - people are still dying and going into eternity
The distractions are everywhere...
covid
recall election
politics - local, state - national
Unrest - globally -
Afghanistan
Muslim world - Sharia law - arabic translation - immutable and divine laws of God (Allah) - make no mistake - Allah and Jehovah are not the same God -
Those called radical muslims are those who are following the muslim belief system.
China -
1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
Don’t doubt...
Believe...
I Believe - my belief needs to move me to do something about it...
If you are not saved, accept the Lord this morning
Broken relationships - do what you can to have them restored
Recovery - it’s never too late.
