Acts 22

I am unworthy to Preach and you are unworthy to hear the truths of God and I pray Gods mercy on us as we enter into this Holy thing.

 

1. Christ is the holy standard of true religion which men must look to for salvation.
   
   1. Lifted up as the snake on the pole of Moses Numbers 21:8
      
   2. Noun/Nominative/feminine/Singular.
      
   1. The Way
      
   2. The Truth
      
   3. The Life
      
      1. "I am the way, the truth, and the life. Without the way there is no going; without the truth there is no knowing; without the life there is no living. I am the way which thou shouldst pursue; the truth which thou shouldst believe; the life which thou shouldst hope for" (Thomas a Kempis, "Imitation of Christ," iii., 56)
         
      2. Colossians 3:12 12Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
         
      3. 2 Corinthians 10:4 The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God for the pulling down of strongholds.
         
      1. What are these weapons?
         
         1. humility
            
         2. gentleness
            
         3. forgiveness
            
         4. Beauty
            
         5. Sacrifice
            
         6. Service
            
         7. submission
            
   1. Christ is our only defense Acts 22:1
      

      If he is not yours before God then you have none- self-defense is a self-righteous action. 1 John 2:1b But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.
      

      1. Defense-
         
         1. True – protects truth
            
         1. Legal sense- Paul before the crowd
            
            1. Witness against him
               
            2. His people who he loves
               
               1. Romans 9:3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh.
                  
         2. For the purpose of preserving his life
            
            1. The Jewish system was not a religious institution separated from legal systems of justice. It includes all of them in one. "Under Roman law they were restricted from executing"
               
         3. Our only real defense is our testimony- What we have seen and heard
            
            1. Acts 4:20
               
            2. 1 john 1:33 that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.
               
            1. False = protects self
               
         4. Self-justification- (self-righteous) what we do in pride defending our honor and name.
            
         5. Discounting others
            
         6. Sidestepping responsibility
            
         7. "Judging others by their actions but myself by motivations"
            
         8. Philippians 2:5-8 5Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
            
      2. Religion
         
         1. Flesh-superiority, I'm better than someone.(driven by the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life) dominion over others, I'm better than you. 2 Corinthians 10:12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.
            
         1. Lineage/Pedigree; Acts 22:3 I'm made of the right stuff
            
            1. John 8:44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies-
               
         2. Education; Acts 22:3.b =I know more than you
            
            1. Matthew 23:27 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and all uncleanness."
               
               1. Scribes- lawyers/teachers of law
                  
               2. Pharisee- Holy separatists who tended to lean more on tradition.
                  
         3. Commitment –Zealous; Acts 22:3-4 I care more than you do
            
            1. Matthew 23:13 "Scribes and Pharisees" "But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people's faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in. 15Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves.
               
            1. Spirit - Be fruitful and multiply subduing the earth- dominion over self(self-control) For all have sinned and fallen short/there is none righteous no not one/
               
         4. you are better than no one.
            
            1. All we like sheep have gone astray Isaiah 53:6
               
            2. The heart of man is desperately wicked Jeremiah 17:9
               
            3. There is none righteous no not one Romans 3:10
               
            4. What do you have that you did not receive 1Corinthians4:7
               
         5. Initiated by God; Acts 22:6
            
            1. John 6: 37,44,65
               
               1. 37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.
                  
               2. 44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day
                  
               3. 65 And he said, "This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father."
                  
            2. What do you have before God
               
               1. This is an unspeakable gift, It is holy ground
                  
               2. Do you stand here ok, because your dressed right?
                  
               3. Because you have the right beliefs?
                  
               4. Because you do the right things?
                  
               5. No a thousand times no!, you are prone to blindness and ignorance. Delighting in fabricated realities and the àTHE LORD OF ALL calls you!
                  

                  
                   

            3. Titus 3:5 He saved meà
               he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life
               
         6. Broken by God; Acts 22:10 "What shall I do"
            
            1. We don't get this.
               
               1. Not a calm conversation
                  
                  1. Reality shaken
                     
                  2. Blind
                     
                  3. In the dirt
                     
                  4. A desperate plea, realizing that before God he is completely upside down, the fabric of his life is undone- Praise God
                     
            2. Peter to the crowd= Acts 2:36-41 Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified."37Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?" 38And Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself." 40And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, "Save yourselves from this crooked generation." 41So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.
               

               
                

            3. Peter to the Jailer= Acts 16: 30Then he brought them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" 31And they said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household." –
               

 

1. Does this jailer respond, believe? – cleans, feeds, baptized, rejoices
   

1. Context of God= (Jesus had just fed the 5,000)
   

   John 6:25-29 25When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, "Rabbi, when did you come here?" 26Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. 27Do not labor for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal." 28Then they said to him, "What must we do, to be doing the works of God?" 29Jesus answered them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent."
   

   1. Was Paul believing?
      

1. Confirmed by God; Acts 22:6-14
   
   1. Romans 8:16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
      
   2. God changes your affections
      
      1. (this is recreation) 2 Corinthians 5:14For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; 15and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.-
         
         1. You can't do this
            
         2. He does this in you
            
         3. Do you see it? You can live for Him
            
      2. Titus 3:5 by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,
         

 

1. Where does the church get Legitimacyà where do you get it?
   
   1. If we say the wrong things we go terribly wrong. It's the motivating factor for falsehood in culture
      
   1. Government- an eye towards favor and empowerment for personal gain
      
   2. Friends- peer influence, fear of man
      
   3. Family – ancestor worship
      
   4. Academia- compromising with theories and destroying the foundations
      
      1. There are themes of secret knowledge, superiority, Insider-ism
         
      1. We are Legitimate in Christ alone. Sanctification gives Christians a taste for the things of God.
         
   5. Idioms and do you want heaven?
      
      1. They don't have the stomach for it – can't stand it
         
      2. Having a taste for it. It's your desire
         
   6. Seal of the Holy Spirit
      
      1. Touched by God ones
         
      2. Brothers of the mark of God
         
      3. Recreated and righteous
         
         1. 2 Corinthians 1:22 and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.
            
         2. Ephesians 1:13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,
            
         3. Ephesians 4:30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
            
         1. The intended outcomes are LIFE
            
      4. Why do you matter in life
         
         1. The son of God shed his blood for you
            
            1. Sweat at the garden,(luke22:44) flogged and crown(John 19:1-2)
               

               "They crucified him"(Luke23:33)
               

               --John 19:34 But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. (7times)
               

            2. Romans 3:25 Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood
               
            3. Romans 5:9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.
               

               
                

      5. Why should you try in life
         
         1. God's gift to you is your talents and abilities
            
         2. Luke 9:62 Jesus said to him, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God."
            
         3. Matthew 25 – parable of the talents- the sovereign hand of God
            
            1. Mind, strength, spirit, abilities
               
      6. What is at stake in life
         
         1. All Your jurisdictions entrusted to you by God
            
            1. Jurisdiction =simply areas of responsibility, influence, control
               
            2. Sluggard – proverbs He who is slack in his work Is brother to him who destroys (18:9)
               
            3. Father- Deuteronomy 6:7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children
               
         2. Family, friends, co-workers, talents, abilities, possessions…the future culture of this earth.
            
         3. A world changing influence on culture and people – relationally.
            
      7. What is the risk of life
         
         1. IT WILL COST YOU ALL=no problem; your focus is Christ
            
            1. Philippians 3:8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ
               

 

Conclusion

John 6:16When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, 17got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. 18The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing. 19When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were frightened. 20But he said to them, "It is I; do not be afraid." 21Then they were glad to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.

à When your seas of life are rough, remember Jesus says "it is I do not be afraid."

The religious fervor was about pedigree, status, and lineage. Not about the God of creation. Who is he? The Jews were not afraid of hurting outcasts who threatened the foundation laid by tradition as opposed to Christ. God had other plans and he shakes the world of Saul. Blinding him Jesus gives him sight, humbling him Jesus raises Saul up. Jesus reaches into the life of a man and chooses to shake him loose from the social construct that held him, this prisoner and property of Satan has been purchased and given a job to do. That job would cost him everything. You could say a lot to a Jew but apparently gentile was just too much.

 

This book is a smorgasbord of life! Of freedom and atonement, it is about propitiation, Jesus paid it all. It's about imputation Jesus the Christ took all your filth and placed it on himself not as a garment but as his own and now dear children of god, he places what was his, and that perfect pure precious thing is yours, you can never add to it, anything you place on it hides it's beauty!

 

What's your religion? Snappy saying and quotes! "It's not religion it's relationship" then we strangle our brother with a man centered doctrine based on the traditions of men. You say not me. Many things are in a man's jurisdiction but not a churches law. The church of god is not specific it's broad, love God love your neighbor was the law and you are not saved by following them, you are free in Christ to live in them with a tornado of grateful joy in your soul, Christ died to set you ablaze with the fire of the spirit that can never be put out, then we in our religious zealousness spend our time pouring cold water on our brother. In the name of love we quench their flame and bind their conscience. If we get nothing from this passage it is that we are born man centered and only the miracle of God can set us free. Most of church history is one bucket of cold water after another. Satan does not mind our churches but he cannot stand that holy flame.

 

Instead of critiquing, condemning and crucifying one another, let's be crucified with Christ, no longer living that we might love one another.

Acts 14:21-

I, not being the ideal was raised in a godless home; it wasn't that we hated God but that He was not part of our daily lives. He made no difference in how we lived. We did what seemed right in our own eyes; riding the cultures moral wave that is now dissipating on the beach of careless self-indulgence. I am a son with no family vision, no historical value handed down to me from my father. No sense of this is where we've been and that is where were going. At the same time I missed Church life for kids, the sweet stuff like hymn's and memory verses as well as the way we do church. I am not so committed to the traditions of well-meaning men. That said I may step a little harder on the neck your favorite tradition without realizing the amount of affection you have for it.

Object lessonà Everyone make a list of what is important about Church life and Christianity. No real wrong or right answers. Say 5 or so- could be greeters, pianos and choir or putting on your Sunday best, or systematic preaching, some says Calvinism others Arminianism, What do you love about church, what matters for church life?

àActs 14:21-28

My contention is that the church triumphant is being destroyed from within through immaturity.

1. Paul and Barnabas are wrapping up the journey
   
   1. On the way in they break fresh ground
      
      1. Establishing groups of believers
         
      2. Being persecuted as they go
         
         1. Pursued
            
         2. Reviled
            
         3. stoned
            
   2. On the way back they are establishing order with prayer and fasting, appointing elders.
      
2. Who is this persecution coming from?----(Narcissism)
   
   1. The Jews, instead of being a light on a hill became a self-absorbed "we are separate from thee o heathen nations and therefore better. The living God has separated us, delivered us and we are set apart, we must be clean, holy and righteous. These Jews failed to see having eyes; failed to hear having ears. I ask why? Part of our answer lies in human nature and its antithesis with the commands of God.
      
      1. Exercise dominion in Christ– As we move within our jurisdictions Luke 10:17-20 17The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!" 18And he said to them, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. 20Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."
         
      2. Deuteronomy 6 "as you go" – law is a delight and constant thought – real love
         
      3. Mature life in Christ
         
         1. Acts 17:28'In him we live and move and have our being
            
         2. John 3:30 "He must increase, but I must decrease."
            
      4. Great commission – deeper message
         
         1. The commands of God are about maturity
            
   2. These Jews where trying to protect there status as the people of God, who on the outside looked good but on the inside they were full of self.
      
      1. Matthew 23:27 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and all uncleanness.
         
      2. Matthew 15:8 "'This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'" Quoting Isaiah 29:13
         
      3. Matthew 15:10- What Defiles a Person 10And he called the people to him and said to them, "Hear and understand: 11it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person." 12Then the disciples came and said to him, "Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?" 13He answered, "Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up.14Let them alone; they are blind guides.^c And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit." 15But Peter said to him, "Explain the parable to us." 16And he said, "Are you also still without understanding? 17Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is expelled?^d 18But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. 19For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. 20These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone."
         
3. Do we ever do this?
   
   1. Yes in three ways, they build one on the other and discussing them with someone is like kicking them in the shins. In them we feel safe, content and rest our hope.
      
      1. Subtle Narcissism
         
      2. Misplaced Pietism
         
      3. Reckless Eschatology
         
      1. These 3 harken us back to that old deception were life and purpose are measured not by Christ but how I feel
         
         1. The lust of the flesh
            
         2. The lust of the eyes
            
         3. The pride of life
            
      2. They entice my pride concerning time, measuring its value by my life and understanding rather than the kingdom of God marching on.
         
         1. If a study of history teaches us nothing else, it teaches that when things are bad from our perspective it's because we are seeing national judgment; nations not recognizing the crown rights of Christ.
            
            1. Remember Adams message, he said " The picture of history is this huge mosaic and has as its center Christ"
               
               1. And we come to it and say
                  

                  WIIFM. "What's in it for me?"
                  

               2. That's like standing in front of a speeding locomotive and saying stop! These tracks are mine!!
                  

                  
                   

Ephesians 4:13-16 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood,5 to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

 

1. Sing Halleluiah to the LORD – deep soulful worship- life on life
   
   1. Very God and very man came and died for you.
      
   2. He took a bullet for you and you come with a list (Pietism) saying hey you want to get saved? You can be clean like me then we'll throw our list at them and if they get the list and not Jesus they will be white washed sepulchers    Don't get me wrong I like lists. I love the 1.2.3.'s and then when I am finished I can stick my chest out a little bit and I think I'm alrightà NO What if the world loved your list?- what would it look like, what would you see? Perhaps a Jewish culture like the one that crucified Christ and stoned the apostle Paul.
      
      1. John 15:19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
         
      2. John 15:20 Remember the word that I said to you: 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you.
         
2. But who did Jesus suffer persecution from? Was it not the nation built by his own hands? Was it not the most externally godly people perhaps the world has ever known? If the Pharisees and Sadducees were here they would be our leaders. If the whole world were like them you would not witness to them.
   
   1. You look on the outside –1 Samuel 16:7 But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart."
      
3. The Pharisee and the adulterous John 8:2-11
   

   
    

   1. 3 part story àwho are you- pick your part
      
      1. Pharisee –beating every one up with a list of pietism
         
      2. Adulterous –does not measure up to Gods law, (for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Romans 3:23)
         
      3. Jesus –Forgives sin
         
   2. What do list keepers look like; when we read about the wicked Pharisee's trying to corner Jesus to either kill this sinner or condemn the law. This is what we do with our lists, instead of saying oh wicked Pharisee who has led you astray? This should show us how we miss it.
      
      1. What we understand, they should get what's coming to them- if someone hurts you that's what you say.
         
      2. What we don't understand "Father forgive them they know not what they do" Luke 23 – "Lay not this sin to their charge"
         
4. The Gospel is so simple a child can understand it, be saved and follow after the savior but also so deep and wide that aged men loose themselves in it.
   
   1. The Gospel, the power of God revealed in his word
      
      1. The Gospel is an anvil that has worn out many hammers.
         
      2. The Gospel is the power of God unto salvation. The Gospel is what we are to preach. The gospel is "repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand". Matthew 3:2
         

         
          

      3. The real list is the law of GOD. You can't keep the list! It's not in the fabric of your being. à
         Changing the list to any substandard level only lets you justify yourself and condemn others.
         

         
          

   2. The rich young ruler- Matthew 19:16 "Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?"
      
      1. What do we see- he keeps the list- I've done all these from my youth
         
      2. Jesus says go sell all that you have and give to the poor –Why? if you really love your neighbor as yourself your heart would be for your neighbor as much as for you.
         
      3. As soon as I say that you, like me want to cheapen it by believing in your heart that we can do this.
         
         1. Small problem à You Can't
            
         2. Galatians 2:21 I do not frustrate the grace of God for if righteousness comes by the flesh then Christ died for nothing.
            

• The real powerful and efficacious Grace of God is working in you, don't stand in its way.
  

1. When we walk by the list we frustrate the grace of God! And then we walk in self-righteousness and not Christ's righteousness.
   
2. Are you Christ righteous?
   
3. He is our hope
   
4. is our peace
   
5. He is our wisdom
   
6. Our righteousness
   
7. He is our faith
   
8. Our desire
   
9. He is our truth
   
10. HE IS and you are not- take your list and crush it! Throw it on the ground! Your list is an abomination to God!!
    
11. Let us say like the apostle Paul " I know nothing else but Jesus and him crucified" 1 Corinthians 2:2
    

1. If we look at the most righteous person here – Isaiah 64:6 your righteousness is like filthy rags – away with your stench and then what about US. That's the story of the rich young ruler – that's the message of this saga between the established accepted church and Jesus who is God.
   
   1. Matthew 5:20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
      
      1. If there is no hope for the scribes and Pharisees and our most righteous person then what about the rest of us?
         
         1. Our hope is built on nothing less then Jesus blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
            

            But wholly trust in Jesus' Name.
            

   2. This is the problem
      
      1. Our only hope is in Christ à He is universal
         
         1. One hope for the whole world
            
         2. Our list is cultural
            
      2. The Gospel is dangerous
         
         1. It sets the world ablaze
            
         2. Our list makes us comfortable
            
   3. Most of how we do church is a comfortable cultural expression and not biblical
      
      1. Pastor/shepherd- biblical word, but the idea of one man doing all the work is a cold lifeless religious form.
         
      2. Piano- not in the bible- you can do church without them – certainly not wrong to have one but for example the church in Africa has mostly brass instruments – which I found lively.
         
      3. Biblical prayer meetings – in the bible prayer meetings usually meant fasting and then a gospel outreach to people who may kill you. à I'm guessing that would liven it up a bit!
         
         1. If we want to fix this we can repent and pray for the big three that cripple the modern church.
            
            1. Gluttony
               
            2. Apathy
               
            3. Self-righteousness
               

1. Our eschatology has become a source of division. This grieves the Holy Spirit whose work is unity. Ephesians 4.
   
   1. It is to the churches much like the evolution debate. The beginning and the end are under attack. It is exclusive and if you're not onboard then you're not in the conversation.
      
      1. The eschatology conversation has been dominated by The Scofield bible and his system of study. Since 1909
         
      2. These systems like evolution change with the next news-event. That means new books and more money.
         
      3. A sense of elitism, (which plays to our pride) if you don't believe in futurism then we must part ways, I'm not even sure that guys saved.
         
      4. There are unintended consequencesàPre-tribulation rapture- the concept of being saved out of trouble.
         
         1. Let's eat drink and be merry for tomorrow we're raptured.-escapism
            
            1. Leaves us with a disenfranchised view of life.
               
         2. Israel and the church have suffered more than we can fathom, but we have a get out of persecution free doctrine.-inconsistent.
            
            1. In Acts God uses persecution to spread the Gospel.
               
            2. In Rome God used martyrdom to turn a culture.
               
         3. This makes us spectators --Let's watch this train wreck; cause were getting out of here. Escapist.
            
            1. We have a ministry of reconciliation 2 Corinthians 5:18
               
            2. We are the ambassadors of Christ –the way the truth and the life 2 Corinthians 5:20
               
            3. We are the light of the world – Matthew 5:14
               
            4. You have a personal relationship with the author of reality and must display that to your culture with maturity and wisdom.
               
               1. Murder is evilàkilling in self-defense is righteous.
                  
               2. Discriminating against others for unchangeable is wrong à discriminating against the immoral is right.
                  
               3. Adultery and immorality are evil à The sacraments of marriage are beautiful and life giving.
                  
         4. How many false prophetic books can be written before we suspect the theology?
            
         5. Why are you so worried about your skin after all, it is that skin that was pursuing hell.
            
         6. With things getting worse and worse, should we bring kids into this world? à Who is your God? Acts 14:15"Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men, of like nature with you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them. àThey would have just sacrificed a cow and we would sacrifice our posterity. Be fruitful and multiply is Gods answer to our biggest problems. – Laborers for the harvest to name 1
            
         7. "The rapture will not be secret but open and manifest. Its purpose will not be to whisk the elect away from the earth for a while until Christ returns for a 'second' Second Coming. The purpose of the rapture is to allow the saints to meet Jesus in the air as He returns and be included in His entourage during His triumphal descent from Heaven. His coming in this manner will be attended by the general resurrection, the final judgment, and the end of the world." ~ R.C. Sproul, "Essential Truths of the Christian Faith," p. 275.
            

1. Final thoughts
   
   1. Rule#1 satan does not fool us with lies so much as half-truths and miss-direction.
      
   2. Rule#2 The flesh is an idol making factoryàbecause it satisfies our emotions
      
   3. Rule#3 our knee jerk response to most scrutiny is self-justificationà I look around I'm keeping my list- I'm ok.
      
   4. Immaturity is having a disposition of self-worship "WIIFM = what's in it for me" (sales)
      
      1. Subtle Narcissism – starting my thoughts on life and reality with me myself and I instead of Father son and Holy Spirit.
         
      2. Misplaced Pietism – I can be clean before God – Feeling good about life because me and mine are doing so good at keeping my list. Smack of expectations which is a form of manipulation (getting what I want) not love (serving others). Instead of igniting each other with submission, confession and testimony about the Savior.
         
      3. Reckless Eschatology – coming to the bible with a crystal ball mentality – What do you see in my future? Not focused on the crown rights of Jesus Christ. - Divination= pursuing the secret knowledge of God. – Futurism.
         
         1. Leviticus 19:26 You shall not eat anything with the blood: neither shall you use divination, nor witchcraft.
            
         2. Deuteronomy 18: 10There shall not be found among you anyone who burns his son or his daughter as an offering, anyone who practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer 11or a charmer or a medium or a necromancer or one who inquires of the dead, 12for whoever does these things is an abomination to the LORD. And because of these abominations the LORD your God is driving them out before you.
            
            1. God is sovereign and Christ has dominionà do you trust him?
               
            2. Trust is a simple selfless vulnerability.
               
   5. God Loves Maturity à it's that simple
      
      1. Its Natural- everything God made has a maturing process
         
         1. The earth1-night and day 2-heaven and earth 3-land and sea plant 4-sun moon and stars 5-fish and birds 6-animal and man 7-rest—a fruitful garden
            
         2. Plants – seed-sprout-roots-stem-leaf-flower-pollination.-many seeds
            
         3. Animals –egg-chick-chicken- many eggs
            
         4. Men – baby-toddler-child-adult-many kids
            
         5. Physical Maturity is the natural process of life.
            
   6. 2 development aspects of maturity – you play a part.
      
      1. Emotional and Spiritual maturity àthey overlap
         
         1. Immaturity –a predisposition to think and care primary for me, what I want- How I feel --expressed as a need -the unripe fruit is sour.
            
            1. 1 Corinthians 3:3 1But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready, 3for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way? 4For when one says, "I follow Paul," and another, "I follow Apollos," are you not being merely human?
               
            2. Romans 2:8but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury.
               
         2. Maturity – being fully developed, able to fulfill its designed purpose. Delighting in Gods design for you. Think of Ripe fruit.
            
         3. Most of our vexations are simply outward displays of an immature self-sensitive heart. Welcome to reality –
            
            1. Confess and Repent- Repeat à it is the power of God for victory over the flesh
               
         4. I'm not who I want to be; but by the power of God I'm not who I was. He is with me every step of the way. Voddie Bauchum
            

            
             

         5. And maturity for what? Malachi 2:15 Did he not make them one, with a portion of the Spirit in their union? And what was the one God seeking? Godly offspring. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and let none of you be faithless to the wife of your youth.
            

 

1. If you get this right then home life is a celebration of the power and victory of the cross of Jesus Christ on our behalf.
   

 

1. Emotional Maturity – lost and ignored by the church and culture( a parental perspective)
   
   1. Don't give in to or overlook a child's selfishness- that stunts development
      
   2. It's all about giving your children a taste for it –affections – does your home life give your children an appetite for self or service.
      
      1. Joy shared is multiplied = When you share the joy of others, you gain some and they lose none.
         
      2. Sorrow shared is divided = their burden is lightened when you come and weep with them, showing care and compassion.
         
         1. Romans 12:15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.
            
      3. Bearing one another's burdens, coming along side and help them shoulder the load. Galatians 6: 1Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. 2Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
         
2. Spiritual maturity- an aspect of our relationship with God
   
   1. Romans 2:4 Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness is intended to lead you to repentance? à Spiritual growth.
      
   2. Hebrew5:8Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. 9And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, Developing maturity?
      
3. Disciplined life    1 Corinthians 9:26-27 So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. 27But I discipline my body and keep it under control lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified. – this is your part
   
   1. Fasting –Matthew 6:16-18"And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 17But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
      
   2. Hard productive work
      
      1. 2Thessalonians 3: 10For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.
         
      2. Ecclesiastes 2: 24There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God,
         
4. Suffering à This is key, if we miss this we miss the sovereign hand of God
   
   1. 2cor 7:10 For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. 11For see what earnestness this godly grief has produced in you, but also what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what punishment! At every point you have proved yourselves innocent in the matter.
      
      1. If we go the distance to confession and repentance we receive the gift of that sin becoming filthy and distasteful to us.
         
      2. Proverbs 28:13 Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.
         
      3. How many of you have been sick, really sick?
         
         1. Pizza… could not eat for years
            
         2. Raspberry chocolate-still makes me nauseous to think of.
            
   2. James 1: 2Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4And let steadfastness have its full effect that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
      
      1. Joy=. The passion or emotion excited by the acquisition or expectation of good; that excitement of pleasurable feelings which is caused by success, (Webster's 1828) as opposed to self-pity.
         
      2. Steadfastness-Firmness of standing; fixedness in place. 2. Firmness of mind or purpose; fixedness in principle; constancy; resolution; Faithfulness (Webster's 1828) as opposed to slackness.
         
      3. When you're suffering with some trial, get happy. Recognize that God is working in you
         

 

Acts 14:21 When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, 22strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.     Through many Tribulations? Yes-God is not satisfied with them being saved He wants maturity-

So they can move independently and reproduce. The ministry of Paul was like a parent working, correcting encouraging and loving; so in the end you have a growing community of believers.

1 Corinthians 16:13-14 Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. 14 Let all that you do be done in love. àService of others

2 Corinthians 2: 14But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. 15For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, 16to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? 17For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God's word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ. Christ leads Us! In Triumphal procession!

2 Corinthians 5: 11Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience. 12We are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you cause to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart. 13For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; 15and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live
for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.

 

16From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. 17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. No longer living for ourselves but as his ambassadors.

2 Corinthians 8: 1We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, 2for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. That what Christ has for us abundance of joy overflowing

2 Corinthians 10: 3For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. 4For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 5We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, 6being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete. àThis starts in your heart, expanding outward from there.

We have all we need in Christ Jesus; to do what he calls us to.

God is shouting to you again and again and again be mature, walk in maturity. All things are put under His feet and we are his mouth, his hands and his feet. He has dominion over all; demons, nature and flesh of men. Your list is a burden for you to carry that proves to be a weakness. Resting completely in the righteousness of Christ and his faithfulness to mature us; we are strong. If we are pursuing the enemy all the way to his gates and through then we must walk in maturity!

 

 

 

 

Ephesians 4:13

until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature,
attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

As we grow

Discernment is a big part of adulthood, as children grow they should be growing in it and embracing it as a way of wisdom.
     Take the concept of being a professional. A little discernment shows that a professional makes mistakes like anyone else, granted they have fewer of them but what separates them from a novice is instead of panic they simply know how to resolve their mistakes.
     When it comes to maturity we can apply some of these same principles. The actual difference between the mature and immature is their relationship with self. the immature are consumed and controlled by self interest while the mature are concerned with God and others. The reason we don't face our problems is a paralyzing fear of not pleasing our flesh. Facing our problems means pain, humility and purposefully prostrating yourself before others. So maturity looks like selflessness and specifically someone who courageously deals with their problems not justifying themselves but fully justified in Christ.

He is Truth

^{Ephesians 4:20-24
20} But that is not the way you learned Christ!— ²¹ assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, ²² to put off your old self,^[a] which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, ²³ and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, ²⁴ and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.


Jesus Christ is
     the way of truth
     the hope of truth
     the light of truth
     the investment of truth
     the dividend of truth
     the glory of truth
     the beauty of truth
     the mercy and justice of truth
     the seed of truth that
                       becomes the tree of truth
                                              bearing the fruit of truth
When you stand at the throne of God
                 you are overcome by the majesty of truth
Your physical body can't handle the truth
                but being changed of God you are the truth to a lost world.
Self my friends is not the truth
the passions of the flesh -not the truth
He bought you with a price
you are a redeemed people of the Prince of Truth

The truth is selfless you are not your own
     Love is the truth
     Joy is the truth
     Peace is truth
     Patience and kindness -truth
     go in gentleness and self control
         walk in truth, teach the truth
         carry the banner of truth
         feed on truth, delight in truth
         and worship in truth
The Lord Jesus Christ is the Way the Truth and the Life  --> Rejoice in Him!

We are His

     We are the people of God Purchased by the body and blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.
We, coming from a narcissistic culture can have our religion if we keep it quietly at home and in our assemblies. But this salvation is not about self, its not about you. Salvation has come to your house for you, your children all you know. This light has been given to you not to be put under a basket but to put on the lamp stand of your life.
    Narcissism and immaturity are sister harlots who worship emotion at the altar of darkness; they reject biblical manhood and womanhood instead delighting in the deeds of the flesh.
     We as the people of God are compelled to stand for truth to protect life and defend virtue. We do this in ourselves and in our homes, but if we neglect culture; then the culture you live in will not have truth, love life or have virtue.
     Speaking the truth in love means to speak it self-sacrificially to the service of others.
We are a people of truth and virtue but it is not our own, it is that of Christ; walk in His righteousness or be naked.
     If you are an American then your tax money has purchased murder-abortion and robbery. God loves Justice so repent and confess these sins and then confront them with all humility; being ready to live and die for our liberty in Christ.

Motherhood-Eternal Influence

In many ways our culture is at war. One of the most pressing is in the area of motherhood and femininity. It is just about a crime in pop culture to be a young pure woman who delights in it and the idea of raising a family. Even in Christian circles we get waylaid by folks who think it is paramount for a young lady to put personal goals, degrees, ministry and money before marriage and children; the big fear is that she will not be fulfilled and or happy. I just can’t help but say so what, and you may be offended but let’s take a closer look at the terms that define our existence and that precious Savior and redeemer of our souls. If we look at life without drinking deep from the fountains of truth we will stand as poisoned servants of ignorance unable to defend virtue!

1. God created man  (male and female)

     a. The fall (the lust of the eyes ,the lust of the flesh and the pride of life)

        i. The curse on the flesh Roman 6 “slave to sin”

          1.The Flesh

             i.Immaturity / living a self-absorbed life.

             ii.A narcissistic culture – everything is about me

                1.What I like –eyes

                2.What I want-flesh

                3. How I feel-pride of life

            iii.Leads to injustice, hate , shedding of innocent blood, evil tongue

     b. Child centeredness

        i. Child is the center of attention for good or bad

           1.Should be Christ alone

           2.It’s really a form of Idolatry

2. Feminism –asks the wrong questions – unsatisfied  - wrong conclusion

     i. Because our roles are not the same then the women’s is of lesser value.

     ii. The focus is on how I feel and what I want; not what has God said.

     iii.  Thinking I don’t need men when they mean; I don’t need God

            a. Primary motives- self

                 i.Me myself and I

                 ii.Leeds to abortion

“No woman can call herself free who does not control her own body.”― Margaret Sanger

                     1.Heart of irresponsible selfish immaturity

                     2.Shedding of innocent blood

                          a. God destroys nations for 3 thing

                              i.  Sexual decadence -Sodom and Gomorrah

                              ii. Witchcraft

                              iii Shedding of innocent blood

                      3.  America has killed so many babies that it becomes hypocritical to celebrate any day that exalts parenting.

                           a.You think its ok to control your reproductive body- that is the same logic the   abortionists use.

                           b.Effects on men – as a culture becomes more feminist it relies more on Emotion to the neglect of truth

                             i.Effeminacy-men being led or controlled by emotion

                                   1.Isaiah 3:12 My people—infants are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, your guides mislead you and they have swallowed up the course of your paths.

                             ii.Tends to paralyze

                                1. Seen as a bully/monster

                                    a.Should protect ladies not fight them, were  fighting ideas not people

                                2. Seen as selfishly protecting our authority

                                   a.Not ours, Gods. Obeying his positional assignment

                                   b.Men can be painted into an emotional corner
3.How we stumble in the church

       a. Pietism-a cultural fenomenum wherein we as the church focus on self with a gnostic emphasis so that the culture at large is unaffected and unaware of us as the people of God.

       b. Emotionalism-With language like having peace and following the spirit. Being led by emotion more than Gods clear word.

       c.The heart and the tongue- We are born and come at life with a specifically selfish /narcissistic motivational attitude. We are on the throne of our heart and everything must serve that.

Matthew 15:11 it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person

Proverbs 18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits

 James 3:6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell.

          i.What is your primary operating principle when dealing with conflict? Parenting is conflict resolution.

             1. Is it to win the argument

             2. Is it to be right

             3. Is it to get your point across

             4. To speak your mind

             5. To set them straight

             6. To convict them of sin

It should be to love them in such a selfless way that they would see the love of Christ. After all if you have people; you have problems.

         ii. A prostitute is known by her lack of shame,

               1. Jeremiah 3:3b yet you have the forehead of a whore; you refuse to be ashamed.

               2. Proverbs 30:20 this is the way of an adulteress: she eats and wipes her mouth and says, “I have done no wrong.”

               3. Proverbs 14:1 Every wise woman builds her house: but the foolish plucks it down with her hands- she is not ashamed and believes she has done no wrong.

                    a.The raging fires of emotion can cause you to be Clawing and tearing the flesh from the bones of your family with bitterness, a critical spirit and a Sharpe tongue.

         iii. An unbridled tongue is like the nation destroying sin of shedding innocent blood within the walls of our homes, motivated by self and inflamed by emotions. Repent and be clean, confess and be restored. Do not continue in your idolatry it brings God’s fierce jealousy, you are not your own has he not purchased you with his BLOOD!  Jesus Christ alone is your righteousness!!

-->Oh Lord have I not home schooled and been a keeper of home, have I not submitted to my husband and my God, served with my chase dress makeup and children. Thank you for making me righteous in this land and not like those foolish and adulteress women of this world.

Your righteous acts are as filthy rags!  Christ and his imputed righteousness is all you have and all there is. There is no other hope for you!

             1Corinithians 1:30 He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus whom God made our wisdom and our righteousness and sanctification and redemption.

             Ecclesiastes 5:7 For when dreams increase and words grow many, there is vanity; but God is the one you must fear.

             The fear of God is not just shuttering  and being scared. It is a reference point for real and persistent action. Living in close relationship, always referring to Him.

             Its about fear, it harkens back to the curse. “her desire will be for her husband” why? She focuses on him and others for fulfillment; this is a long slide downward, failure after failure of others to meet our needs and desires. Finally turning to this religious self-righteous piety that our culture accepts, all the while serving our emotional idols in fear. Fear of what? a lack of fulfillment, fear of loss, fear of unmet expectations’ 

                  > Idolatry – Living in fear or desire of an object of reference.

                  > The best kinds of slaves believe they are free. The best free people know they are prone to slavery.

                     i. Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, Prone to leave the God I love;

 

             What is critical to get is -->

              That if we live a polished on the outside Christian life it is not living and gives no life to others. We romanticize everything to emotional perfection. Happily ever after is not what you think; it is being broken over your sin; sometimes it is repenting for your anger even to your children. It’s letting in the reality of your life that needs to be washed and forgiven. We demand a constant line of confession and repentance from our kids; I hope we model it without pretense. If we do that; we will give them a living faith in God.

4.Substitutionary atonement (new relationship to God and man)

Who remembers the harlot caught in the very act- betrayed and entrapped alone and condemned? The Creator and sustainer looks on with tenderness and says “where are your accusers? Go and sin no more”.

                That’s us – satan drags us in as the accused and we are done for – Propitiatory substitutionary atonement-  and if that’s not enough he adds imputation.

     i. New life in the Spirit

1 peter 3:6 1Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, 2when they see your respectful and pure conduct. 3Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— 4but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious. 5For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands, 6as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening.

         1. Behold all things are become new

               a. We are one with Christ – wherever we go He is with us.

                     i. Romans 12:5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another

                     ii.Romans 13:14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

                     iii.Romans 5:5b God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.**

              b. Maturity

                  i.Romans 15:1 We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves.

                  ii.Put away self –self-denial, Put away the self-interest and petty selfishness

                  iii.Romans 14:20 Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he eats.

 

        2.Just as Eve =”Chavvah”  life – Mothers you are life.

              a. 1 Corinithians 13:13

                    i. Faith –

                       1. God is sovereign

                       2. God is Good- gives good gifts

                            a. Law- The law of God is perfect converting the soul! Psalm 19:7

                            b. Protective authorities – Ministers of God to you for good. Romans 13:4

                            c. Supplies needs – I will supply all your need according to his riches in glory. Philippians  4:19

                    ii. Hope= speaking hope into someone gives life

                        1.Romans5:1-5 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoiced in hope of the glory of God. 3More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

                       2.Seeing evidence (seeds) and picturing the fruit

                       3.The opposite of hope is a critical spirit- takes life away (discouragement)

                           a.Proverbs 10:28 The hope of the righteous brings joy, but the expectation of the wicked will perish.

                            b.This is an indicative so we know who the righteous are. If your tongue does not bring hope then? What’s in your heart? Hope is a royal robe from your husband.

                            c.Hope is relational

                                i. Builds-Faith and trust

                                ii.Breathes life into everyone

                                iii.Love- Selfless service of others

                                   1.This love chapter is filled with indicatives. Indicating what is true of you as you walk maturely in Christ.

                                    2.Love is patient love is kind it does not envy, does not boast. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices in the truth

                                    3.Walk in Spirit

                                         a.Fruit of the spirit

                                             i.Galatians 5:22-23  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law – indicatives here indicate a relationship  with Jesus.

                                         b.Fountain of living water

                                             i.Song of Solomon 4:15 garden fountain, a well of living water, and flowing streams from Lebanon.

                                                  1.A representation of God 
                                                      Jeremiah  2:13 They have abandoned me--the fountain of living water

                                             ii.James 3:11 Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water?

                                                  1.Be consistent – even if it kills you

                                                  2.The animals don’t drink at the fowl well
5.The secret to the spirit filled life

        i.Romans 8:5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.

        ii.John 6:54 Whosoever eats my flesh, and drinks my blood, has eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day – do you desire him

Your life is a ministry (specific service to almighty God)

Walk as children of the light  Obey God  Dominion mandate  Titus 2

So what’s the problem? The life of the flesh

                Sin entered the world through Adam

                The curse

So what’s the solution? The spirit filled life

     1. You are not your own

                Christ died that we might have life

                Your speech will be changed into - a well of life

             All our hope is in Jesus the Christ

Not in well-mannered children

                Not in vans or number of children

                Not in dresses or head coverings

                Not in churches or a stay at home attitude

                Not in home education or a rejection of dating

                Not in wisdom or piety

                Not in tithing, gift giving or hospitality

Enough with this Idolatry

             Our hope is a man the Lord Jesus Christ! And we are His bride.

 There is no other name written under heaven by which you must be saved. Acts 4:12

He is the way the truth and the life. John 14:6

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.  Revelation1:8

Motherhood-Eternal Influence

You are life and breath to the home, the fountain of healing, being clothed in humility you are most beautiful. Mother you are the fragrance of spice and color that thrills the senses. From you springs the life of future generations, your spiritual and emotional strength rewards everything it touches with hope and rest. This is what God has done. B.A.Worel

Flesh=cutting tongue =innocent blood= death

Spirit=words of encouragement=instilling hope=life

Only a woman can carry in her body an eternal being which bears the very image of God. Only she is the recipient of the miracle of life. Only a woman can conceive and nurture this life using her own flesh and blood, and then deliver a living soul into the world. God has bestowed upon her alone a genuine miracle — the creation of life, and the fusing of an eternal soul with mortal flesh. This fact alone establishes the glory of motherhood.  Douglas Phillips