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WELCOME: eMember Reflections Group Thursdays @ 7:30 pm
Reflections Church Service
April 3rd, 2022
“Shaken, but not Stirred”
Luke 22:31 - 34
31 “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, 32 but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” 33 Peter said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death.” 34 Jesus said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times that you know me.”
Denzel Washington’ words to Will Smith: “At your highest moment, that’s when the devil comes for you”
Test and trials will reveal what is truly made of. They really test your character.
Sometimes star player are uncoachable. Shaken doesn’t break downs your defensed. But stirred gets you all mixed up in and will dilute your effectiveness. (Difference in making a martini)
Job 1:6-12; 2:1-2
6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. 7 The Lord said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.” 8 And the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?” 9 Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason? 10 Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11 But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.” 12 And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.” So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.
1 Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them to present himself before the Lord. 2 And the Lord said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.”
The devil asked for Peter to prove he was not a true man of God. Sifted like wheat. god allows the shaken, and a true kernel will not be lost. Satan's goal is to crush our faith.
You can have a big fall, but you can also have a big turnaround. Trials, tribulation and temptations are expected in this kingdom life.
When you are weak you are at your strongest because you now have to lean on God.
1 Peter 5:8
8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
The devil can shake you, but not break you because of the intersession of Christ. Every time the devil comes for you tell yourself:
“I am an Overcomer”
ICEBREAKER:
Opening Question: When have you ever visited a “hall of fame”?
Chapter 11 Overview: The new covenant is based on faith in the death and resurrections of Jesus. Here, the author of Hebrews proved that faith was not a foreign doctrine of God’s people. Instead, faith was a necessary element for Old Testament believers, as well.
1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 For by it the people of old received their commendation. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. 4 By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks. 5 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. 6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 For by it the people of old received their commendation. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. 4 By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks. 5 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. 6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. 7 By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith. 8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God. 11 By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.
1 For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, 2 and to him Abraham apportioned a tenth part of everything. He is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, that is, king of peace. 3 He is without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest forever.
1 For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, 2 and to him Abraham apportioned a tenth part of everything. He is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, that is, king of peace. 3 He is without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest forever.
To exercise faith is to have confidence about an expectation without visible proof that it will happen. What makes this confidence possible? The trustworthiness of the object of faith. The question we must answer is this: Is God trustworthy?
“Faith is acting like God is telling the truth.” - Tony Evans
Chapter 12 Overview: The author continues to warn us against rejecting the salvation and grace offered by God, and encourages us to approach God through faith in Jesus.
Hebrews 12:1 - 2
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Clearly, the author wants his audience to lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares. Just like an Olympic sprinter who removes their warm-up gear to eliminate extra weight ans wind resistance. Similarly, we need to jettison unbelief and anything in our lives that might trip us up spiritually and prevent us from running the race well all the way to the finish line.
Hebrews 12:14 - 17
14 Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; 16 that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. 17 For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears.
The author not only points out positive examples to emulate (the Old Testament saints in chap. 11 and Jesus in 12:2-3), but also to negative examples to avoid.
Do not yield to transitory pleasure like Esau, who sold his birthright for a bowl of soup (12:16). though he regretted it later, it was too late. He forfeited his inheritance (12:17).
God has blessings in store for us, an inheritance. Let’s not foolishly throw away our reward for fleeting, temporal, gratification.
Chapter 13 Overview: In this final chapter the author concludes with a number of practical instructions, and exhortations intended to help us keep our attention on, or get our attention back on Christ and His kingdom each day.
Hebrews 13:1-6
1 Let brotherly love continue. 2 Don’t neglect to show hospitality, for by doing this some have welcomed angels as guests without knowing it. 3 Remember those in prison, as though you were in prison with them, and the mistreated, as though you yourselves were suffering bodily. 4 Marriage is to be honored by all and the marriage bed kept undefiled, because God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers. 5 Keep your life free from the love of money. Be satisfied with what you have, for he himself has said, I will never leave you or abandon you. 6 Therefore, we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?
1 Let brotherly love continue. 2 Don’t neglect to show hospitality, for by doing this some have welcomed angels as guests without knowing it. 3 Remember those in prison, as though you were in prison with them, and the mistreated, as though you yourselves were suffering bodily. 4 Marriage is to be honored by all and the marriage bed kept undefiled, because God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers. 5 Keep your life free from the love of money. Be satisfied with what you have, for he himself has said, I will never leave you or abandon you. 6 Therefore, we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?
Problems make us self focused, but belonging to community of loving believers helps keep us going and we can help others in turn. Biblical love is always focused on others.
(vv. 2-3) We are called to show hospitality especially to our brothers and sisters in Christ. We may be entertaining angels unaware, (Remember: Greek for angel is messenger and can be divine or human). We are also called to care for believers who are being persecuted and incarcerated. Most of our “problems” in western society pale in comparison to what our brothers and sister are facing in the rest of the world.
(vv.4-6) Theses next two subjects cause the most friction and frustration that peopld experience in life, money and relationships. Believers should set themselves apart from the attitude the world has toward finances and marriage. One way is honoring “the marriage bed”, through maintaining godly sexual morality, and fidelity in marriage. (Matthew 19:4 - 9)
4 “Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that he who created them in the beginning made them male and female, 5 and he also said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? 6 So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, let no one separate.” 7 “Why then,” they asked him, “did Moses command us to give divorce papers and to send her away?” 8 He told them, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because of the hardness of your hearts, but it was not like that from the beginning. 9 I tell you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another commits adultery.”
7 Remember your leaders who have spoken God’s word to you. As you carefully observe the outcome of their lives, imitate their faith. 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. 9 Don’t be led astray by various kinds of strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to be established by grace and not by food regulations, since those who observe them have not benefited.
Remember your leaders who taught you Scripture and imitate their faith (13:7). Don’t forget those who influenced you spiritually and keep their legacy alive. Yet, while you remember them, focus on Jesus Christ, who is the same yesterday, today, and forever (13:8). The people in your life may change, but King Jesus never will. If you do these things, you won’t be led astray by strange teachings that distract you from growing in God’s grace.
Question: Which of these instructions seems hardest to obey? Why? Which of these instructions feel especially important in today’s culture? Why?
Hebrews 13:20 - 21
20 Now may the God of peace, who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus—the great Shepherd of the sheep—through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21 equip you with everything good to do his will, working in us what is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
The author finishes with his benediction. God raised up our Lord Jesus from the dead (13:20). The resurrection verifies the truth of Christianity and sets it apart from all other religions. The grave is empty; our Savior and King is alive and reigning.
Through Jesus Christ, God will give us the spiritual tools you need to please Him. Even if you are shaken, you will not be stirred, your effectiveness will not wane if you persevere. Keep maturing in the faith. In the end we will see that it was all worth it.