Spread The Word pt 1

Spread The Word pt 1

Has we get ready for Jesus’ resurrection. Help spread the word of God.

Acts 13:48-49 NIV
48 When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the word of the Lord; and all who were appointed for eternal life believed. 49 The word of the Lord spread through the whole region.

John 17:13-26 NIV
13 “I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. 14 I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19 For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified. 20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— 23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. 24 “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. 25 “Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. 26 I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”

We spread the word because…
We have been SANCTIFIED

John 17:17 NIV
17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.

We spread the word because…
We have been SANCTIFIED
We have been SENT

John 17:18 NIV
18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.

We spread the word because…
We have been SANCTIFIED
We have been SENT
We will be SUCCESSFUL

John 17:20 NIV
20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message,

“Men may spurn our appeals, reject our message, oppose our arguments, despise our persons, but they are helpless against our prayers.”
― J. Sidlow Baxter

Matthew 5:16 NIV
16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

We spread the word because…
We have been SANCTIFIED
We have been SENT
We will be SUCCESSFUL
They will be SAVED

John 17:21 NIV
21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

John 8:32 NIV
32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Advertisement

4th And Final Part of Spring Cleaning

Spring Cleaning pt. 4

I Peter 1:16 NKJV
16 because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”

Psalms 24:3-5 NKJV
3 Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord ? Or who may stand in His holy place? 4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, Nor sworn deceitfully. 5 He shall receive blessing from the Lord , And righteousness from the God of his salvation.

1. Clean hands
2. Pure heart
3. A soul not lifted to an idol.
4. A mouth that does not speak lies nor deceit.

Holiness is God’s central attribute, the essence of God’s character. Holiness means to be set apart. A thing is holy if it is set apart for God’s use.

Every believer is set apart for the holy use of God.

Righteousness is slightly different from holiness. Righteousness is the idea of conforming to God’s holiness.

If we want to be holy like God, we must conform (do righteous acts) to God’s holiness or His standard.

I Peter 1:15 NKJV
15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,

Idolatry is our worship of something or someone more than our worship of God.

I Peter 1:22 NKJV
22 Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart,

II Peter 2:7-9 NKJV
7 and delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked 8 (for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds)— 9 then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment,

Lot could and should have moved out of Sodom.

I Thessalonians 4:7 NKJV
7 For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness.

1. The Holy Spirit

2. The World

Psalms 119:9-11 NKJV
9 How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word. 10 With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments! 11 Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.

John 17:17 NKJV
17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.

Ephesians 5:26-27 NKJV
26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.

The same thing can happen with unrighteousness inside of us. We stop pursuing God, His word, and the fullness of the Spirit, and we start slowly returning to our old nature.

I Corinthians 6:11 NKJV
11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.

Ephesians 4:27 NKJV
27 nor give place to the devil.

1. Allowing a wrong and unbiblical thought to stay in our minds.
2. Nursing an emotional hurt, and holding grudges and unforgiveness.

Stronghold – a place that has been fortified

A stronghold is a place you now defend.

II Corinthians 10:3-5 NKJV
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,

I Peter 2:11-12 NKJV
11 Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, 12 having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.

II Timothy 2:21-26 NKJV
21 Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work. 22 Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 23 But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. 24 And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, 25 in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, 26 and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.

Spring Cleaning Pt. 3

Spring Cleaning Pt. 3

Holiness is the desired result of our spring-cleaning—to be holy as He is holy.

Psalms 24:3-5 NKJV
3 Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord ? Or who may stand in His holy place? 4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, Nor sworn deceitfully. 5 He shall receive blessing from the Lord , And righteousness from the God of his salvation.

1. Legalism, or our attempt at righteousness

It could also be called self-righteousness. This approach neglects the need for a pure heart and relies solely on efforts to do good or to be righteous.

2. The “grace only” approach

This is the belief that, because God gave us a new heart and a new spirit, we don’t have to be concerned with doing right because we live under grace.

Not feeling bad about our sin is more important than our sin. God has already cleansed us of future sin. There is no place or room in our life for feeling convicted.

Both legalism and grace without concern for purity are wrong.

Purity of heart is simply acting like God.

His word tells us how to act. Impurity is acting like this world, or like the devil wants us to act. Purity is making the choice to act like God.

Matthew 5:8 NKJV
8 Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.

Jesus is concerned about the heart—that which is on the inside of us, not what the world sees or even the church sees on the outside.

I Samuel 16:7 NKJV
7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

Matthew 23:25, Matthew 23:28 NKJV
25 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence. 28 Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

What is your heart? The heart is a reflection of who you really are, the secrecy of your thoughts and feelings that no one knows but God.

Matthew 15:18-19 NKJV
18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. 19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.

Luke 18:27 NKJV
27 But He said, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.”

I Thessalonians 5:23 NKJV
23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

In this verse, the mention of “soul” is our heart, which is made up of our mind (intellect), our emotions (feelings), and our will.

I Thessalonians 5:22 NKJV
22 Abstain from every form of evil.

We are saints in our standing or position with God, but we don’t always act like saints unless we abstain from evil. God’s standard is what defines true righteousness; His power by His Holy Spirit is what enables it.

Self-righteousness makes us think we are more spiritual than others.

Galatians 5:16 NKJV
16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

John 14:15 NKJV
15 “If you love Me, keep My commandments.

Let’s look at obeying His commandments as simply acting like Him because His Spirit within us will show us how to act likeHim. It will give us the power to act like Him.

John 14:1515 “If you love Me…”

This is the essence of having a pure heart.

Spring Cleaning Pt. 2

Spring Cleaning Pt. 2

Is there any area of your life that does not line up with God. We need to clean our heart, mind and soul.

Psalms 24:3-6 NKJV
3 Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord ? Or who may stand in His holy place? 4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, Nor sworn deceitfully. 5 He shall receive blessing from the Lord , And righteousness from the God of his salvation. 6 This is Jacob, the generation of those who seek Him, Who seek Your face. Selah

II Timothy 2:19-22 NKJV
19 Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” 20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. 21 Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work. 22 Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

Clean hands stay clean when. . .

I. Your TARGET is established in his TRUTH.

A. “Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm,…” V19

Clean hands stay clean when. . .
II. Your BEHAVIOR is shaped in your BELONGING

A. “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.” V19

We will never change what we do until we change who we are!

D. We will go from asking, “What’s WRONG with this behavior?” to
asking “What is RIGHT with this behavior?”

Clean hands stay clean when. . .

III. Your PURPOSE is connected to your PURITY

A. 20 In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for special purposes and some for common use. 21 Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes,
made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work. V20-21

Clean hands stay clean when. . .
IV. Your DESTINATION is found in your DETERMINATION

A. 22 Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”

John 8:3-11 NKJV
3 Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, 4 they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. 5 Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?” 6 This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear. 7 So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” 8 And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. 9 Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. 10 When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?” 11 She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.”

Out-Serve Your Spouse

Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. John 13:14-15

Out-serve your spouse. This is not natural to our selfish selves, but out-serve your spouse, and start to see positive differences in both of you. Service makes them feel cared for and makes you feel fulfilled; service makes them feel loved and makes you feel rewarded; service makes them feel respected and makes you feel significant. Of course, unappreciated service can wear you down over time, but trust God. Allow Him to supply the strength for your service. If the Lord is not empowering your service, you will eventually burn out and possibly become resentful. Bitter service does not last, but joyful service does.

Serve your spouse out of gratitude to God for giving them to you. Serve them in the routines of life and when they least expect it. Serve them where they want to be served, not just where you want to serve them. It may be unloading the dishwasher, taking out the garbage, mowing the lawn, maintaining the house, or taking care of the cars. Their service may include an organized family, dinner at home, being on time, keeping a calendar, or planning a trip. If you are unsure, ask them how they like to be served.

Furthermore, carry this attitude of out-serving into your occupation. Be one who serves in the work place, especially if you are a leader or manager. Quietly and clandestinely clean up the break room, even wipe out the gooey microwave with its burst of flavors matted on the inside. Service from a sincere heart values and respects others.

Our Savior modeled service. He did not come to be served, but to serve and to give His very own life as the ultimate act of service. When we enlist in the service of God’s Kingdom, we become His full-time servants. Service for our Savior is a thread that runs through the life of everyone who is led by the Lord. If Jesus is your model for leadership and living life, serve.

He served the least and the greatest; He served the sinners and the saints; He served the rich and the poor; He served singles and He served families; He served mad and He served glad; He served when He was tired and He served when He was rested. You could not out-serve Jesus because His service was motivated and fueled by His heavenly Father. Intimacy with the Almighty compels you to serve.

Ironically, Jesus served others even at the point of His greatest need. When engulfed in His own personal crisis, He chose to serve others instead of being served. The night before facing imminent death, He served by washing feet. Use this same selfless strategy of service, and watch the world run to Jesus. In the middle of your own Last Supper experience, serve. When you are rejected, serve instead of retaliating. When you are forgotten, serve instead of feeling sorry for yourself. When you are hurt, serve instead of allowing your heart to harden. Furthermore, serve for Jesus’ sake, not your own. Make it a lifetime goal to out-serve all you come in contact with, especially those closest to you.

To out-serve yields an outstanding outcome. An out-serve attitude is other-centered and Christ-focused. You can’t out-serve Christ, but you can be a conduit of service on His behalf. Seek to out-serve others for your Savior.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, how would you have me serve my spouse, in Jesus’ name I pray, amen.

Application

What need does my spouse have that only I can fulfill?

Related Reading

1 Peter 5:5; Matthew 11:29; 1 Timothy 4:12

Spring Cleaning Part 1

Spring Cleaning

We are entering into a new Season that everyone calls this time of year Spring Cleaning. We will beginning a series about Spring Cleaning refreshing our heart, soul, mind and Spirit.

Psalms 24:3-5 NKJV
3 Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord ? Or who may stand in His holy place? 4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, Nor sworn deceitfully. 5 He shall receive blessing from the Lord , And righteousness from the God of his salvation.

Let’s talk about why God is holy. In many ways, holiness is God’s central attribute. It deals with the essence of God’s character.

“Holiness” itself means, “to be set apart”. A thing is holy if it is set apart for a special use.

God’s holiness is the incomparable perfection of His divine nature, His beauty, His majesty, His magnificence, and His splendor. His glory is the display of that holiness.

The glory of God is the manifestation of His holiness.

Leviticus 10:3 NKJV
3 And Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the Lord spoke, saying: ‘By those who come near Me I must be regarded as holy; And before all the people I must be glorified.’ ” So Aaron held his peace.

II Corinthians 5:21 NKJV
21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

We are completely accepted by God; when God looks at us, He sees us through Jesus Christ and His finished work on the cross.

Hebrews 1:3 NKJV
3 who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

I Corinthians 11:7 NKJV
7 For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man.

I Corinthians 11:12 NKJV
12 For as woman came from man, even so man also comes through woman; but all things are from God.

There are two aspects of righteousness:

1. Our standing before God
We are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus.

2. Our walk
As we make Christ-like choices in our life, we are walking in righteousness.

How do you see yourself? Do you see yourself as a sinner, or do you see yourself as a righteous, holy follower of Jesus Christ?

You are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. You are the glory of God, the public display of God’s holiness.

Hebrews 12:14 NKJV
14 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord:

Romans 12:18 NKJV
18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.

Holiness is the mark of God’s children. We are to be holy because we have been made partakers of His divine nature.

It’s possible to be holy in an unholy world. Jesus did the hard part when He died on the cross.

You are holy because you are the glory of God. We’ve got to wipe away the sin-consciousness and allow the glorious, majestic, magnificent, amazing holiness and glory of God to fill our hearts and minds and souls.