Mighty men make Fierce Father’s

• Failure in Society
  Father, what's in that word? For most it probably brings good feelings and a sense of security.
  When I think of a father I think of a
  Point man= Military a soldier who walks at the front of an infantry patrol in combat, the leader or spokesperson of a campaign or organization.
  Fatherhood is built on the foundation of Manhood.
  Judges 6:11-27 Gideon
  We are here today to celebrate something that I believe has been dead for generations.
          What is a Man?
  Do you know?
  Have you seen one?
      
  The father is the voice of the family, church and civil government, yet he has been emotionally manipulated educationally castrated and socially rejected.
  Men you are that voice; stand, lead and serve. You were designed for it.
  Society would make you a victim and if you look at the stats you will believe them.
  We are at war! Are you fighting? Take back the lost ground!
  
   
  It is critical to understand
  Integrity= having within itself the strength and ability to do what you are designed for.
  • We are complete in Christ and so can become Mighty men of God.
    • Acts 17:28 for 'In him we live and move and have our being'; as even some of your own poets have said, 'for we are indeed his offspring.'
  
   
  What is a man and why should we care? Today we live in a feminist culture and the effeminate man is highly praised while a mature man is seen
  as a Neanderthal; a primitive life form in a highly developed culture who if ignored will die off and fall away.
      --Gideon was hiding while attempting to care for his family but was actually neglecting future generations. The Spirit of God will change you direction Judges 6:11-12
  
   
• Failure in Family
  • Where I came from. And where I am
  
   
  God is good and sovereign; we can trust His work in our life.    
  My biological father

1. Rejected me at birth and said I wasn't his.
2. Had a disconnected relationship throughout my life.
3. Left me unprotected.
4. Unloved
5. Un-discipled
6. Un disciplined

My stepfather

1. Raised me as my mother's son (from my earliest memories)
2. Distant or separate relationship
3. Turned to alcohol for the pain of work injuries and being unable to work.

My second stepfather

1. Didn't protect me from people who would cheat me
2. He is separated by guilt
3. I am separated by the pain of being taken advantage of.

What I've learned--- post salvation, upon reflection.

1. I've learned there is a difference between a father and a dad. Even if you had a dad you will want that fathers whole in your life filled.
   1. Where did I come from –what are my roots.
2. A life lived for your own pleasures/interests is destructive.
   1. Unless it is family integrated.
3. A man must protect his children, even from himself.
   1. Proverbs 25:28 A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.
   2. --Gideon Judges6:15-16 I am week and in the eyes of men have nothing to offer.

I believe God in his sovereignty has been the father I didn't have =

Psalm 68:5 Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation.

        Before you feel too sorry for me---

I grew up a rebellious young man with an "us and them" mentality, concerned with myself and being cool.

    In spite of that God used these men to teach me many things.

1. Hard work is good. Proverbs 14:23 farm life and bringing in wood
2. Don't be afraid of doing hard things. Philippians 4:13
3. Take care of your tools. Matthew 25 14:30 (Talents)boy and the broken wrench- 2^nd grade
4. You can do more than you think if you give it your all. – dealing with anger
5. Your children need to be specifically relationally integrated in your life DAD. – breaking the independence battle
   
    

• If it weren't for the failings of my past I wouldn't be who I am today.

 

More than anything I have had a big hole in my life when it comes to a fatherly and manly example. Realizing my shortcoming ---

    Looking for good examples in others and emulating them myself 1 Corinthians 11:1

        The down side is that I tend to look to other men for approval.

• What is a man

1. Our biggest mistakes
   1. We let others define it and not God
      1. Androgyny= no difference between men and woman

Thomas Gramstad (feminist thinker) = One of the biggest and most prevalent mistakes in Western Culture is the idea that there

exist two separate and "opposite" genders, masculinity and femininity. This gender dualism is not only false and without any

factual or scientific support, but also very harmful. One strategy to overcome this wrongness is the idea of androgyny, by which

masculinity and femininity are not conceived as opposite ends of one spectrum, but as two separate spectrums: you can be or have

both at once (or neither), not only the one or the other.

1. Pietism= Salvation by being good (17^th-mid 18^th century and beyond)
   1. Led to strong endtime expectations (watching for comets)
   2. Broke down the barriers between men and women (writers prophets and leaders)
   3. The problem lies in the unbiblical soft exegesis of scripture that are of man and not of God.
      1. Personal piety is one thing but doctrine and theology are another.
      
       

àI believe these still effects the church today giving us a twisted worldview. Satan is well pleased with churches

that are full of feminist women and cowardly men. I say no

 

Men who struggled from cultural osmoses --    

i.    Moses= Exodus 3:11 Who am I that I should go (Guilt)

ii.    Jonah= Jonah 1:3 But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord (Hatred)

God can use us in spite of us but with a bitter branch of consequence.

• Arron made the calf and went astray with the people.
• Jonah swallowed by a whale.

1. Our only hope – the word of God in the hands of the elect administered by the Holy Spirit.
   1. Men who overcame culture with unreserved obedience to God
      1. David = 1Samuel 17:26b "For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the
         armies of the living God?"
      2. Isaiah = Isaiah 6:8 Here am I! Send me.
      3. Caleb= Numbers13:30 "Let us go up at once and occupy it, for we are well able to overcome it."
2. Men want to do real things.
   1. If you make church just a fluffy spiritual emotional festival you will either effeminize your men or lose them.
      1. Our hands were made for tools!
      2. 1Cor 4:12 and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure;

Some of my earliest memories are of my brothers and I Picking up the biggest rocks we could possibly hold and –smashing our Tonka's with them.

    Who would discipline their children for such antics?

What you don't know is that my stepdad was a scrap hauler and if you smash cars flat, you can haul more of them per

Semi load to the recycle center. As boys we simply applied what we saw to our world and emulated our Dad. We wanted to do real things.

1. Let's fight culture take down the bad guys and replace them with Godly order. Matt 6:10 Lords prayer- on earth as it is in heaven.
   1. Let's be salt and light in our culture. Matthew 5:13-16

 

1. Men need to do hard things
   1. As a man I found myself considering professional athletes and their abilities. When they scored a touchdown
      or drained a three from down town; it was exhilarating.
      
      1. I began to wonder, what were the three pointers in my life; did I have any buzzer beater ability or life in me?
         1. We are led to believe that we should settle for mediocrity.
            1. Did Michael Jordan do that? Or what about Joe Montana? They went all out and left it all on the floor.
      2. Colossians 3:23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,
         1. These athletes have their reward, money and praise of men.
         2. Ours is an everlasting one before God almighty.
            Do you believe it?

    You were made to live a life of significance; not for the praise of men but for the glory of God.
        I challenge each and every man here to go hard until you go home (die)!
It is not sinful selfish lust to want to live a life of significance; God put that in you to drive you. Just make sure your eyes are on Him.

 
    This is significance "the husband of one wife" "father of children" "fighting principalities" Simply doing your best where you are
applying the law of God by the spirit of God with a heart of praise.

 

1. Men were made for dominion – personal(Time and resource)- Familistic(Production and outreach)- Cultural(Church and Government)
   1. Genesis 1:28 And God blessed them. And God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have
      dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth." – first command
   2. Genesis 9:1 1And God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth. 2The fear of you and
      the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth and upon every bird of the heavens, upon everything that creeps on the ground
      and all the fish of the sea. Into your hand they are delivered. 3Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. And as I gave you
      the green plants, I give you everything – repeated after the flood
   3. Lamentations 5:14 The old men have left the city gate, the young men their music.
      1. If the husband and wife relationship is right, a man will have influence at the city gate.
         1. Proverbs 31:23 Her husband is known in the gates when he sits among the elders of the land.
      2. If the parental relationships are right, a man can contend with his enemies-In the Gate
         1. Psalm 127:5 blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with
            his enemies in the gate.
      3. Dominion is the life and breath of man's purpose on earth; the people of God have been empowered by His spirit to take care
         of his creation according to His Law; its private and public.
         
         1. PROVERBS 28:4 Those who forsake the law praise the wicked :but such as keep the law contend with them
         2. Matthew 14:3-4 For Herod had arrested John, bound him, 2 and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his
            brother Philip's wife, 14:4 because John had repeatedly told 3 him, "It is not lawful for you to have her." Holding
         a pagan ruler to the law of God- all men are under the righteous dictates of the law.
         
         1. Ephesians 5:11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.
         2. Jude 1:3 Dear friends, although I have been eager to write to you 1 about our common salvation, I now feel
         compelled 2 instead to write to encourage 3 you to contend earnestly 4 for the faith 5 that was once for all 6 entrusted to the saints.
         
         1. We have things to doàare we not called?
            1. Neglecting and rejecting the dominion mandate is like saying that it is ok with us if our children are the slaves and puppets of tyrants.
            
             
2. Make decisions/ Take responsibility
   1. These go hand in hand; we teeter on indecision when we are fearful of mistakes and taking responsibility for them.
      1. Indecision kills – consider driving a car and you are sitting at an intersection of a large road. Your wife and family are in the car and you have to decide when to go.
         1. Indecision would mean not moving with conviction. Imagine just rolling out into traffic and then being a terrible hazard for yourself and others.
         2. If you move with purpose, even if you go the wrong way, you can still turn around; you will learn something.
            1. Don't be afraid of mistakes, be purposeful, and trust God.- word-prayer
            2. If you don't get this right you will be paralyzed (zombie)
         3. If you're consumed with fear of failure then it is pride.
            1. Pride is a state of immaturity and rejection of the design of the creator.

 

• Nagging and cowardice the spin cycle of destruction

We read "wives submit to your husband" and the ladies wince a little while men sit there in wonder.
We know that God himself made man first and then woman from his side curiously close to the heart. When we see this admonition it is always to the women first.
How strange, if man was made first then why the switch. It's because of the great and colossal influence a woman has on the home. The curse says that the desire
of the women will be for her husband but he shall rule over you.

1. God has given us order and the world will not have it, He has reasons that are life giving.

    I believe that the created strengths of the man help him lead and the strengths of a woman complement that; making marriage complete, Good.

 

1. The different way a man and woman handles emotions is very significant and understanding how it is a curse for immature men and women
   to be leaders. I think this plays a big part with how we approach the world and make decisions. Isaiah 3:12

 

1. Emotionally immature people will typically not know that about themselves. It is hidden under the surface and when revealed they are surprised by it. (Overreaction)
   1. We would do well to be concerned about the emotional maturity of our children
   2. I can think of times as a young man; when faced with adversity that I really failed with anger, sorrow and bitterness.
2. A woman who is more concerned about expressing herself then honoring her husband is wounding his heart and seriously damaging the marriage relationship.

        Do you see how?

a. It violates trust.

        b. Reinforces selfish thought patterns. Not love.

c. Encouraged as healthy by our feminist culture. Acceptable limits of expression are out of balance.

4. Women will normally have an immediate emotional reaction to turmoil, expectations and adversity.

5. Men will typically internalize the problem and deal with it later or just hold it in. It's part of taking it on the chin; note the emotional pain is

the same but is dealt with differently. That is why the command for ladies "they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives" is

so important. 1Peter 3:1 We foolishly believe we can save, but salvation is of God.

 

Because of the emotional makeup of men this kind of emotional trauma can be as damaging as physical abuse.

    I have seen women who continued to damage there husband's heart for thirty years with tiny paper cuts – millions of them. To the point where he just
did nothing because nothing he did was right. In the end she discarded him as rubbish. The other scenario is he just leaves because the marriage is dead.

 
This sounds like I'm coming down on ladies but bear with me!
    How we treat others should be filtered by our love for God, maturity and love for them.

• The confession and forgiveness process not only repairs relationships but is also an active part of the emotional maturing process.
  • Romans 2:4 or despise you the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leads
    you to repentance? Run to it not from it!
  • 1Peter 3:7 Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel,
    since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered. Husbands; be mature about this you are not your wife's conscience but you are the homes protector.
  • Proverbs 15:1 a soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

• Passivity or leadership
  
   
  What a Man must be.
  
   
  A man is a leader and passivity cannot be present in him. Passivity produces a coward, who is too proud to admit fault. A man is humble and courageous not passive and proud.
  A humble man will also fully rely on God (psalm 25:3 indeed, none who wait for you shall be put to shame; they shall be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous).
  
   
  In Adams fall we sinned all.
  Adam & Eve/the fall: (Genesis 3) Eve failed to remember the commandment/ failed to obey. The fall of all mankind is hung on Adam's neck (because he's the leader)
  he was passive and cowardly. He did not stand alone, he instead followed her in the breaking of the
  Commandment he left his role as leader, and instead let his wife lead.
  
   
  If you must stand alone before your wife, then it's your fault. You must wash her with the water of the word. If you have to stand alone against your wife it's because you have neglected to teach her!
  
   
  The man must lead and the man is always held accountable before God even if he neglects his role for that of passivity (letting the wife lead). But in Christ
  we are freed from the curse of the woman seeking the leadership and the man seeking passivity. The man is reinstated into this God given role, and the same
  is done for the wife. In this position of the man leading and the wife following/helping the man in his vision, Gods design is fulfilled and the world can be
  changed but only through Christ, because without him it cannot be done Adam proves this.
  Only in Christ can the true design for the man and woman be accomplished.
  
   
  The man has huge influence. If you are passive- Repent! –Repent! –Repent!
  
  
   
  Also a man cannot rely on his emotions; he must control himself based on what he is called to do, not what he feels.
  
   
  A man is called to make the decisions; his wife is his counsel in his decision making (2nd to the word of God).
  
   
  This is the day that the Lord has made: I can rejoice in Gods priorities, not my selfish ambitions.
  Not sleeping in/ playing games rather in taking dominion and living righteously.
  
   
  Proverbs 1:32 for the simple are killed by their turning away, and the complacency of fools destroys them; 33 but whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster."--> Complacent
  
   
  • Keyà Manhood is about submission
    • What does it look like -John 5:19 So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only
      what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Fathered does, that the Son does likewise.
    • Submission to Christ – Rev 19:11 Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True,
      and in righteousness he judges and makes war. 12His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name
    written that no one knows but himself. 13He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God.
    14And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. 15From his mouth comes a sharp
    sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath
    of God the Almighty. 16On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords. –This is your King
    
    • It is a position of strength – no indecision
    • Unites your heart – James 1 :8 a double minded man is unsteady in all his ways
    • James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
    • Job 22:21 (has·ken) Yield--Acquaint now yourself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto you.
    • Submission is the key to an unreserved life of obedience to God!
    • When you look at what needs done you won't look at yourself.
  If there is sin in the home it is ultimately the father's responsibility to deal with it. Like a captain of a ship.
  
   
  --Remember Gideon's first task was to pull down the altar of Baal and cut down the Asherah replacing it with God honoring life. Judges 6:25-26 We as fathers
  need to root out ungodly false worldviews in our home and replace them with biblical truth.
  
   
  Deuteronomy 5:29 Oh that they had such a mind as this always, to fear me and to keep all my commandments, that it might go well with them and with their descendants forever!
  
   
  Scott Brown "It is amazing to me that God would take a regular guy and stick him in a home and make him the hinge point for the whole nation"
  
   
  Men are the pillars of society, protectors of justice and defenders of the innocent –
  
   
  Judges 6:11-27
  
   
      It is men who are called to lead and protect, is it any wonder that marriage is initiated by the man (we can't say it's not our problem we didn't start it).
  So it is in culture, cultural reform starts in the home; the American experiment has shown that the culture rises and falls with the family.
  
   
  Will you be like Gideon, a mighty man of Valor?
  
   
  "A Sword for the Lord and for Gideon!"
  Judges 7:20

In Christ

Everyone likes Gloss; it's always better when given by others. Not he's cool or she's pretty but real gloss that describes character. How about "Mighty Matthew" "Joyful James" "Micah the mild". I call my son "Uriah the kind" because of his capacity for it.

 

    When I was about that 12 I received some gloss from my grandmother. Now we were country folks and moved from Ellensburg W.A. to Jamestown Rhode Island, this is a city. Although my Grandparents lived on a farm it was actually a million dollar estate; they were proper folks. Don't speak unless spoken to – children are to be seen and not heard; that sort of thing. In fact we were not allowed in the house just in the tack room off of the garage. We would see Grandee (grandpa) but not Nana (grandma). For some reason I don't know I was the lucky recipient of her scrutiny and received my first gloss= it was "delusions of grandeur"; meaning that I thought of myself far more highly than I should. I'd been pretty upset about it for years, but when I was born again it dawned on me that it was true. It's not just true for me but for the whole wide world and it all started with Adam and Eve eating the forbidden fruit in the garden. It's that pride that gets us in a lot of trouble and leads us into rebellion.

 

God in his abundant mercy Started with Noah and the flood (Gods Judgments display His love for justice) then sometime later we find Him establishing a covenant with Abraham. We get the sense that man was just messing up again at the tower of Babel. Then in Gods time we come to Moses and God hands us a most precious gift the law.

 

    From that time until now we have struggled with it and its purpose; the law confronts that pride in us. It's the schoolmaster to bring us to Christ (Galatians 3:24). Simply put the Law is how we are to love God and Love others. It is the greatest commandment enumerated.

• Deut. 6:5. And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.
  
• John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
  

 

Looking at first John 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and everyone that loves is born of God, and knows God.

We see these things are essential and revealing. If someone in your life is breaking these they don't have your best interest at heart and shouldn't be trusted.

 

• If you have an emotional sentimentality towards someone and they keep lying to you; we can know based on these principles that they don't love you.
  

 

The big problem is that we can't do it- we are trapped in selfishness and sin by our own desires. If that's not bad enough we defend ourselves with mountains of self-justification.

 

Immanuel means God with us and He is the son of promise. When the Israeli slaves were perishing in the mud pits of Egypt there only hope was in the promise of God to their father Abraham.

    WE have the finished word and a revealed savior but ask someone what the gospel is and what to do with the law and they just don't know.

 

On resurrection Sunday we should just drink deep of this truth à

    That we have a resurrected savior – He is risen!

 

 

 

 

We can see Him; the tangible realities of our Savior are plentiful.

1. In Creation
   

    We see the all sufficient one displayed in all His Glory.

The beauty of the flowers Luke12:27

The tenderness of a Doe with her Fawn Proverbs 5:19

In the order and glory of the universe Psalm 33:9

His voice is like thunder Job 37:5 40:9 PS 29:3

 

1. Jurisdictional authorities= for strength peace and accountability
   

    

The order balance and freedom of a Christocentric hierarchy (Christ ordered World)

    Romans 13:2-3"to reward good and punish evil" (God defines good and evil)

        -Apathy is its own reward.

-if we reward character we get more of it.

-Families are the building block of any society.

3. Repairing of broken things

Ezekiel11:18And they shall come thither, and they shall take away all the detestable things thereof and all the abominations thereof from thence. 19And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh

 

Luke 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised    

    àThis really speaks to my heart as a fixer; I just fix stuff I always have.

When I was a child I would buy things at garage sales to take home and dismantle. My brothers and I assembled model cars – we would tare em down and then make them better. Each of us had boxes of spare parts and it was like a little wrecking yard in our bedroom.

 

• When God finished creation it was good but sin entered the world and God gave us the Law so we could see it. Christ the savior came to fix it.
  
• Soteriology= the study of the doctrine of salvation.
  
  • There are only 2 ways in the religions of the world
    
  • Works        
    
  • Grace=the power and will to do what you ought. ( Gothard )
    
    • Ephesians 2:8For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9Not of works, lest any man should boast
      
  • But what is the Gospel?
    

          It is good news
  

          It is Christ centered
  

          It is God centered
  

It's God in Christ making salvation possible; the gospel is an expression of God's love.

 

• John 3:16 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.
  

 

What has he done? He has done it! – These things are all restorative – To what? – right relationship with God, Life.

 

àRegeneration=

• 1. Reproduction; the act of producing anew.
  
• 2. In theology, new birth by the grace of God; that change by which the will and natural enmity of man to God and his law are subdued, and a principle of supreme love to God and his law, or holy affections, are implanted in the heart.
  

 

He saved us by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit. Titus 3.5

 

• Propitiation=
  
  • 1. The act of appeasing wrath and conciliating the favor of an offended person; the act of making favorable.
    
  • 2. In theology, the atonement or atoning sacrifice offered to God to assuage his wrath and render him propitious to sinners. Christ is the propitiation for the sins of men.
    
    • Rom.3:25. 21 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all[h] who believe. For there is no difference; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, 26 to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
      
    • 1 John 2:1-2 my little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.
      
• Imputation=taking from one and crediting it to another.
  
  • God transferred innocence and righteousness to us from Jesus.
    
  • God transferring our sins onto Christ.
    
    • 2Cor 5:21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
      
    • Jesus paid the penalty for our sin and if that's all he did it wouldn't have been complete.
      
      • Proverbs 27:22 though thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar among wheat with a pestle, yet will not his foolishness depart from him.
        

      We were dead and rotten through and through- Jesus Christ took off his righteousness and put it on us and made it ours! The righteousness of the spotless lamb.
      

      
       

• Redemption=
  
  • 1.Repurchase of captured goods or prisoners; the act of procuring the deliverance of persons or things from the possession and power of captors by the payment of an equivalent; ransom; release; as the redemption of prisoners taken in war; the redemption of a ship and cargo
    
  • the purchase of God's favor by the death and sufferings of Christ; the ransom or deliverance of sinners from the bondage of sin and the penalties of God's violated law by the atonement of Christ.
    
    • Ephesians 1:7In whom we have redemption through his blood.
      

    
     

• Reconciliation=
  
  • 1. The act of reconciling parties at variance; renewal of friendship after disagreement or enmity.
    

    
     

  • Reconciliation and friendship with God really form the basis of all rational and true enjoyment.
    

    
     

  • 2. In Scripture, the means by which sinners are reconciled and brought into a state of favor with God, after natural estrangement or enmity; the atonement; expiation.
    

  
   

  • 2 Cor. 5:19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
    
    • Word- used of Christ in John 1:1
      
      • logos=a word, speech, divine utterance, analogy(all words)
        
      • Jesus is the holy word- the true word
        
• Justification=
  
  • 1. The act of justifying; a showing to be just or conformable to law, rectitude or propriety; vindication; defense.
    
  • Legal declaration of God over His saints
    
    • Romans 3:28-29 "For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law. 29Or is God the God of Jews only? Is He not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, 30since indeed God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith is one."
      
    • Romans 5:9 "Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him."
      
    • Being justified by God we can boldly approach the throne of Grace.
      
• Adoption
  
  • 1. The act of adopting, or the state of being adopted; the taking and treating of a stranger as one's own child.
    
  • 2. The receiving as one's own, what is new or not natural.
    
  • 3. God's taking the sinful children of men into his favor and protection.
    
  • Acts 17:28 for in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, for we are also his offspring.
    

 

• Sanctification=
  
  • The act of making holy. In an evangelical sense, the act of God's grace by which the affections of men are purified or alienated from sin and the world, and exalted to a supreme love to God.
    
    • 2 Thess. 2:13 But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the first fruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth
      
    • Like a seed planted becomes a tree bearing fruit in season.
      
    • Part of this Sanctification is a circumcised
      heart were we give up on self-justification and live a life of confession.
      

      
       

• Glorification= The act of giving celestial bliss or of ascribing honors to.
  
  • Rom 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
    
  • Heaven is unfathomable to us now, but is sure and coming.
    

    
     

 

When we come to God and seek His approval we can only realize there's nothing to add except our gratitude, the seedbed for love and Obedience.

 

Philippians 3:8-9 8What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.

 

Colossians 2:6-7 6So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, 7rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness

 

Proverbs 28:4 they that forsake the law praise the wicked: but such as keep the law contend with them

Politics?

     Liberal politics are the actions of rape and robbery. Evil men extracting cheap thrills and easy money from a system they are destroying. The diligent are simply seen as a resource to be exploited for diabolical reasons of selfish ambition. In the end while there is institutional punishment of good and the rewarding of evil God is not asleep but making an exacting record. It is He who will punish those who have put their hands on the faithful and diligent. Nations have no soul and must be punished here and with far reaching consequences. The institutional defrauding of the diligent for the morally inept causes wickedness to be in the court of the king. Believing wrong to be right they have all together become useless and unable to save from the moral collapse they seek. Like moths to a flame their desire will be deadly.

                When you fail to recognize morality you become immoral and the enemy of God.

Proverbs 28:4 “Those who forsake the law praise the wicked but those who keep the law strive with them”

One another-->It’s about the Heart

                       Our Heartbeat -Way

Titus 3:3-6 3For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. 4But after that the kindness and love of God our Savior toward man appeared, ; Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior;

        Our Anthem-Truth

Titus 3:7That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

        Our Lifestyle-Life

Titus 3:8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.

1Peter 2:9-17    9But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light: 10Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

11Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; 12Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. 13Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; 14 Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. 15 For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: 16 As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. 17 Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:

      Christ died and rose again to purchase something for us here and now, If you think we just punched our ticket and only need to kick back relax and wait for rapture-Find that in the book! We cannot say I've got my fire insurance let's wait for the fire

No we are a Chosen generation -a Royal Priesthood –Holy nation – A Peculiar people "for Gods own possession"

Being called Christian which literally suggests that we are Christ's servant soldiers;

We serve one King -we can serve no other. Our King is sovereign so it can literally be said that we can go "As sheep to the slaughter" Romans 8:36

We don't live in fear of sin and death -He gives us joy and life –

1. Romans 14:17 For the kingdom of heaven is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
2. John 10:10 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.

We are free from the slavery of our own preferences. We are those who prefer Him!

    Do you prefer Him over your own agenda or preferences?

1. John10:27-30 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who gave them to me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.30 I and my Father are one.

"I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else."

― C.S. Lewis
 

There is a sense of a A. Community of believers"Brotherhood"1Peter2:17

B. The Body of Christ 1Cor 12:25-27 Rom12:5

C. Saints 1Cor 1:2 Acts26:10

D. Bride of Christ Eph. 5:25-27

E. Brothers and sisters "family" 1Cor11:33

"One Another" is of particular importance- its part of how His kingdom reigns.

That's why when we look around these faces are so dear. These are the faces of AL-LA-LON – One another, each other, mutual, themselves, yourselves, together.

    This is a reciprocal pronoun, there must be two or more people involved and they must be doing the same thing one to the other!

We should notà________"One Another"

1. Devour Gal 5:15

2. Provoking/envying Gal5:26

3. Hating Titus3:3

We mustà_________"One another"    

1. Love John 13:34 (2) 15:12 15:17 Romans 13:8 (2) 1th4:9 1Pet1:22 1Jo3:11 3:23 4:7 4:11 4:12 2Jo1:5 à14 times
2. Excusing Romans 2:15
3. Kindly affectioned/preferring Romans 2:15
4. Not judge Romans 14:13
5. Receive Romans 15:7
6. Admonish Romans 15:14 Col3:16
7. Salute Romans 16:16
8. Greet 1 Cor16:20 2Cor 13:12 1Pet5:14
9. Serve Gal 5:15
10. Bear Gal6:2
11. Forbearing Eph. 4:32 Col3:13
12. Kind/Forgiving Eph. 4:32 Col3:13
13. Comfort 1Th4:18
14. Exhort Hbr3:13 10:25
15. Consider Hbr10:24

• We must do this at times in spite of the other person and be sure they will need to do that for you!

I have a saying that if you've got people than you've got problems, we are going to have problems in the church, if we are going to struggle let's do it over what the bible says we should and nothing else. These one another verses are about keeping the peace, being of one mind and having real unity on this earth in the name of Jesus Christ. We have adversaries à Ephesians6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places –Don't attack your brother; lay your life down for him.
    Strengthen and encourage Gods people.


    It comes down to a question of the heart



That is why we have words like Mortification and Self-denial.

1. Foolish Questions The word foolish here is "Moros" where we get the word moron. A similar word is "Raca" meaning stupid scorning the mind where Moros Scorns heart and character. Foolishness as a personal quality.
   William Barclay –
       "It has been said that there is a danger that a man may think himself religious because he discusses religious questions. There is a kind of discussion group which argues simply for the sake of arguing. There is a kind of group that will argue for hours about theological questions. It is much easier to discuss theological questions than it is to be kind and considerate and helpful at home, or efficient and diligent and honest at work. There is no virtue in sitting discussing deep theological questions when the simple tasks of the Christian life are waiting to be done. It is indeed true that such discussion can be nothing but an evasion of Christian duties."
       "Paul was quite certain that the real task of the Christian lay in Christian action. That is by no means to say that there is no place for Christian discussion; but it is to say that the discussion which does not end in action is very largely a waste of time."
   
   
       Orthodoxy= correct belief --- Orthopraxy= correct action
   
   
   
   1. Tim 1:4 Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.
   2. 2Tim 2:16But shun
      profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.
   3. 2Tim 2:23-24But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strife's. 24And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,

Questions that subvert or confuse Gods law (Orthodoxy) in an effort to cover ________.
        You fill in the blank- are foolish or worse.


The heart

1. Genealogy – Genealogies are quoted with a sense of pride and guarantee John 8:44" We are the children of Abraham –Look at the fall of Jerusalem in AD60 or the atrocities of the Nazi's in WWII. Jesus says to them "You are of your father the devil"
   1. Record of descendants or lineage
      1. Do you believe you will be saved if your parents are? Look at Esau
      2. Will you be saved if you're good? Look at the Pharisees and the rich young ruler
   2. Your Genealogy is about Gods sovereignty and mercy. You may not of had the best parents but God did choose yours and by the way you are here aren't you. How many are simply missing in this silent Armageddon called abortion. Well over a billion.
   3. 1Tim 1:4Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.

The heart

1. Contentions and strivings about the law
   

1. Immature "foolish" or Enemies of the cross _ I picture two toddlers fighting over a toy.
2. LAW: No-mE-ko's – pertaining to the law "Lawyer" (8) "Law" (1) one learned in the law, one learned in the Old Testament, specializing in the OT and applying the teachings of established rabbis.
3. It's not about doctrine and theology.
   1. I picture people who are wrangling the word and trying to justify their own sin, preferences, or personal convictions.

What we care and fight most about is not doctrine nor the law of God, but our preferences. Church History is ripe with the faithful of God dyeing for a biblical theology, biblical church practice and to have the words of God in their own language. We split churches over ….

• If it does or if it doesn't have youth programs and Sunday school. But the real sin of not discipling your children is ignored. Deut. 6:7
  
• Whether it does or doesn't have the right music. but the sin of not serving the Lord with gladness is forgotten. Psalm100:2
  
• If ladies ought always to where dresses but the real sin of immodesty is not covered. 1 Tim. 2:9
  
• Backbiting but we ignore grumbling. 2Cor. 12:20
  
• Drinking alcohol but the real sin of gluttony is not seriously discussed. Matt. 11:18-19

The heart

1. Unprofitable and vain
   1. No practical use – isn't just like a man, if it doesn't have a practical use he doesn't have much use for it; what about how we feel.
      1. Newsflash your emotional dispositions are not always going to be right not to mention edifying to the church.
   2. Romans 1:21Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23And changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things

Why avoid? A. Foolish questions B. Genealogy C. Contentions and strivings

they are Unprofitable and vain

In summary we have to consider Piety and Pietism
    Piety is not just good it is a character trait of the righteous. It is those consistently following Gods law and Spirit while responding to them both with joy.
    Pietism on the other hand is someone who believes they are earning something from God. Quite often they set standards and rules that God did not and all the while condemning those who don't hold to them.
    God decides what is true; Pietism is prideful idolatry!


Titus 3:10 A man that is an heretic after the first and second admonition reject;
The heart

1. The Heretic: Titus 3:10 To take for oneself; to choose for oneself. A person who chooses what he wants to believe. the epitome of idolatry; it is Gods prerogative to decide what is right and wrong

• He's in the Church
• He is his own authority
• He alone determines truth

1. After the first and second admonition reject. "Exhortation" its relational.
   1. It's not about being offended; it's about the honor of Christ
      Matthew 18:15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
   2. Gal 6:1 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.
      1. Psalm 141:5 Let the righteous smite me; it shall be a kindness: and let him reprove me; it shall be an excellent oil, which shall not break my head: for yet my prayer also shall be in their calamities.
      2. Proverbs 27:6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend

The heart

1. Reject- Begged off –have nothing to do with- refuse-reject
   1. Not a hanging or flogging but a serious separation.
      1. Hebrews12:6"those whom the Lord loves he disciplines" even as a father to his son
      2. A sense of making things distasteful, undesirable, something to be shunned, rejected unsightly, shameful

Titus 3:11Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.

The heart

1. 
   Subverted: Titus 3:11 To turn or twist out, tear up. Invert, pervert, corrupt. Military point of view = "to dismantle a town, to plunder"    To Pervert, turn inside out, away from the truth of Christ and His word.
   1. This compares closely with the word reprobate, where subverted describes the process, reprobate describes the outcome.
   This helps us see the supple danger of pride, when we act independently of God and His word.

• Matt.15:9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
• Acts 15:24 Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:
• 2 Pet.2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction
• 2Pet.3:17 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. 17Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness

God put the verses about dealing with problems in the bible because we are going to need them.
 
Gal 5:26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other


Eph 4:2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.


Eph 5:19-20 Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.


Phil 2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

Glasses?

     Christians in America are pretty messed up. When we come to the scriptures we have these glasses on that shade and color our perspectives of the word and our world. Narcissism has caused us to take scripture and look mostly at how it affects me and mine. We forget that there is also ours as the bride and His which is preeminent. The bible speaks to us corporately nationally familisticly and individually. One of Gods intended consequences of salvation is that we would get this right and live a life of self-denial. Just say the word self-less do you feel that? "Fearfulness". Apart from Christ all I had was me, myself and I which is to say I had nothing but death; but in Him I have life and all good things.
    In the same way Feminism is far reaching and very destructive. It clouds our minds with the importance of emotions. Making decisions based on emotion will destroy; no one and nothing is safe. It rebels against Gods order and makes emotional plea's about it, in order to somehow justify. It is inherently dishonest, changing the definitions of words and rejecting the word of God. If you doubt its control, talk to someone about beauty in music, dress and what activities a woman should do. If the concept of an "independent young lady" sounds grand to you than you are on very shaky ground, and will find no biblical justification.
    Narcissism and its sister feminism are vile rebels against the God of heaven. They are like a deep ditch that traps and ensnares your affections and thus control your life. All the while you are a cursed puppet of hell. Repent of your sins of immaturity and self-sufficiency, confess them to God and turn from your wicked ways. He will not only forgive he will cleanse you from all unrighteousness.

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

     The world acts and lives according to narcissism! It is their heart felt religion- it's what they love. Of course they act according to their emotions –that is the dearest part of their narcissistic worship. These things are deep and complex giving the appearance of goodness or selflessness. Both of which are not possible without the spirit of the living God. As Christians live among a world of flesh we must know we are among the crippled and blind it is against their nature to really do what is right with rite motives. They cannot please God. Pagan religions are people trying to justify themselves to a righteous God with the unrighteous means of the flesh. They are full of pride who believes they can do anything good. – Egocentric and Arrogant.

Mercy

     This week has been a rough one as weeks go. Life throws some curve balls and sometimes you just get hit in the gut. This time we were staring in the face of death, it came as a thief in the night; totally unexpected and with the surprise and terror that life and death struggles bring. We expected to loose in a terrible defeat; utterly powerless to do or think anything that can save. As if help and security are in the hands of men. It's from this position that we did what many do, we lifted our eyes to heaven and ask for that one thing that can help and of witch God has in excess; mercy. Maybe not exactly as you would think, we were pleading for the mercy of Christ to be poured out on those who do not and cannot in any way earn or deserve this most precious of all commodities. In these situations men tend to be griped by fear but in our case our hope rested on the one who casts out all fear for He is perfect love. We watched as The God of peace and mercy met us in our need and gave the miraculous gift of life, we received his unmerited favor. And after seeing such things we can only be continually grateful. Life is short and death is sure; all that lies in question is how will you respond to Jesus now and how God will respond to you later. Heaven is eternal and there is a catch, only the righteous may enter. All men naturally seek their own, to justify themselves. God's Word, His Spirit and our hearts testify against us; there is now no self-justification and no self-righteousness "all we like sheep have gone astray" Isaiah 53:6 " there is none righteous no not one" Romans 3:10 " for all have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God" Romans 3:23 " the soul that sins it shall die" Ezekiel 18:20


"The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."- 1 Cor15:57
It is Jesus Christ the risen savior that becomes our righteousness when we are in relationship with him, when he is "our Lord". If this is your need then seek it diligently, fight for life. If it is yours then finish the verse.
"Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord."1 Cor15:58