Message Date: February 17, 2007
Pastor Steve Lawson
Christ Fellowship Baptist Church
Passage: Hebrews 1:1-4
"In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs."
If you haven't realized by now, all text of the Bible is Christ centered. We as Christians are called, in fact demanded to have a supremely high view of Christ, and to follow Him no matter what the cost. Nobody will ever live higher then their view of God. Be caught up in His greatness! You must commit your life entirely to Him and His glory. The greatness of the gospel is found in the greatness of the central figure, the Savior, Jesus Christ.
v 1-2a : JESUS CHRIST IS SUPERIOR IN HIS PROCLOMATION
-God took the initative with us! We didn't initaite the relationship. We didn't want God. In our wicked hearts we wanted anything but Him.
-There are two types of revelation:
1. General Revelation: To all men wherever they are (Psalm 19:1)
2. Special Revelation: Speaking through Christ and/or the Bible.
Special Revelation is needed for salvation to come.
v 2b: JESUS CHRIST IS SUPERIOR IN HIS POSSESSIONS
- Christ is the soul, rightful heir of ALL things. EVERYTHING, HE owns EVERYTHING! God gave Him power over all.
- Psalm 2:8 "Ask of me,and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession."
-Jesus Christ will inherit ALL
- He will reign over ALL
-People often ask the question...where is the world going? Well my friend, it is ultimately in the end going to Christ!
v2c: JESUS CHRIST IS SUPERIOR IN HIS POWER
- Christ spoke the universe into existence
John 1:3 "Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made."John 1:10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him."
Psalm 33:6 "By the word of the LORD were the heavens made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth."
-And we are all accountable to Him. Although we as Christians won't face judgment day in the sense that we won't be judged for our sins...we are held accountable for the gifts God's given us and how we used those.
v3a,b: JESUS CHRIST IS SUPERIOR IN HIS PERSON
- Jesus Christ is the raidance of God's glory
Titus 2:13 "while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ"
-Jesus is fully God...He has to be to save us!
Philippians 2:5-6 "Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature[a] God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped..."
- Raidance means the outshining of light
-Glory means all the attributes of God...ALL of them, He is the exact representation and has the exact nature!
v3c: JESUS CHRIST IS SUPERIOR IN HIS PRESERVATION
- He upholds the universe all the time
-He controls all history-past/present/future
-All of this is done effortlesly by the word of His power
-He sustains you and your life and will NEVER let you go if you are His
v3d,e: JESUS CHRIST IS SUPERIOR IN HIS PARDON
-Nobody, only God through Christ could make you purified from your sins
-To enter into God's presence DEMANDS holiness, pureness
-John 1:7, Titus 2:14, Hebrews 9:22, Hebrews 9:14
v3e,4: JESUS CHRIST SUPERIOR IN HIS POSITION
-He sits at the right hand of God the father the place of highest honor and authority
-It was FINISHED and ACCOMPLISHED at the cross
-He is exalted and in authority where He sits
-He has infinte diety and matchless glory!
GLORIFY THE LORD, FOR HE IS SUPREME!!!!
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Monday, February 26, 2007
Sinners in the Pierced Hands of an Angry God
I have decided to put up little re-caps of each of the messages (slowly but surely) I was blessed to hear at he Resolved conference in hoping that it will encourage each of you and spur you on to further study in His word.
Message Date: February 16, 2007
Pastor Rick Holland
Grace Community Church
Passage: Romans 5:6-11
"You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him! For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation."
Many of you, if not all of you are well aware of Johnathan Edwards heart-wrenching and provocative message, Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God. Many people over the centuries have read the sermon, and many including Christians have come to the conclusion, "MY GOD IS NOT THAT GOD!". But the truth of the matter is although God is just, merciful, and loving, he is angry...very angry at sin.
The good news? God has satisfied His wrath through Christ and He holds YOU (if you are a believer and saved by Him) in His pierced hands.
Rick asked the question...What's so great about the gospel?
V6- THE GOSPEL SATISFIES THE GREATEST NEED OF MANKIND- A SAVIOR
-The Christian faith is about judgement, condemnation, and God's wrath...but all of that has been nailed to the cross for the saved sinner
-We are UNDESERVING of God's love and mercy!
-Many people think their way to heaven is by being good "enough" or religious "enough" etc., but the question lingers on how much is ENOUGH? It paralyzes you. You don't think you can read, pray, study, go to church etc. enough. Nothing is enough! Only Christ's righteousness imputed to you because of the cross is enough. God loves you because He sees cleansed with the blood of Christ, and He loves you in spite of sin.
-We must realize that we are helpless in our eternity and in life in general.
1 Corinthians 2:14 : "The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned."Romans 3:11 : "there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God."- We must see that we are ungodly and that we have a fierce opposition to God!
Romans 1:18: "The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness..."
V7-8: THE GOSPEL DEMONSTRATES THE GREATEST LOVE LAVISHED UPON SAVED SINNERS AT THE CROSS
- God's love is perfect, so different than human love, it is unexplainable
- "But God..."- His manifested love in Christ
-The sacrifice on the cross makes no sense to human wisdom...think about it for a moment this way. You have a child (either you do or dont, and if not pretend for illustration sake), and this child is your world I am sure. You would do anything as to not allow harm to come to this child. Now you decide that you love someone so much, someone who by the way HATES you, treats you terribly, rejects you in everyway possible etc. that you are going to sacrifice your child for that person to live? Does it make sense? And this wasn't any child...this was the Son of God!!! God in human flesh.
V9- THE GOSPEL EXTINGUISHES THE GREATEST THREAT- GOD'S WRATH, SEPARATION ETERNALLY
-There had to be blood...look in the old testament
Hebrews 10:11 "Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins."-What is the wrath of God? A sentence of eternity apart from Him in hell!
-FEAR GOD! We see throughout scripture that a healthy fear of God is important
Luke 12
V10- THE GOSPEL MEDIATES THE GREATEST CONFLICT-
-If God reconciled us as enemies on the cross, He will save us as friends. How amazing is that!
-He had to ressurect! Without that we wouldn't be saved.
- Reconciliation, how is that possible? God sent Jesus as our ultimate reconciler.
"Amazing Love How Can It Be? That You My GOD Would Die For Me?"
V11- THE GOSPEL THEREFORE MUST PROVOKE THE GREATEST RESPONSE
-Exalt according to definition is to jump up and down with gladness, overflow with joy, spew forth joy, happiness
- EXALT HIM! Our joy should be found in the Savior
- Our response to this act? PRAISE AND WORSHIP
- The love of Christ that Has been bestowed upon you should overflow and spill onto others...be an example!
- Praise God that we aren't in trouble with Him anymore!
Oh the power of the cross!
"And now you have an extraordinary opportunity, a day wherein Christ has thrown the door of mercy wide open, and stands in calling and crying with a loud voice to poor sinners; a day wherein many are flocking to him, and pressing into the kingdom of God…Are there not many here who have lived long in the world, and are not to this day born again? And so are aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and have done nothing ever since they have lived, but treasure up wrath against the day of wrath? …Your guilt and hardness of heart is extremely great. …And let every one that is yet out of Christ, and hanging over the pit of hell, whether they be old men and women, or middle aged, or young people, or little children, now hearken to the loud calls of God’s word and providence. This acceptable year of the Lord, a day of such great favor to some, will doubtless be a day of as remarkable vengeance to others …Therefore, let every one that is out of Christ, now awake and fly from the wrath to come. The wrath of Almighty God is now undoubtedly hanging over a great part of this congregation. Let every one fly out of Sodom: "Haste and escape for your lives, look not behind you, escape to the mountain, lest you be consumed." -Johnathan Edwards
Message Date: February 16, 2007
Pastor Rick Holland
Grace Community Church
Passage: Romans 5:6-11
"You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him! For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation."
Many of you, if not all of you are well aware of Johnathan Edwards heart-wrenching and provocative message, Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God. Many people over the centuries have read the sermon, and many including Christians have come to the conclusion, "MY GOD IS NOT THAT GOD!". But the truth of the matter is although God is just, merciful, and loving, he is angry...very angry at sin.
The good news? God has satisfied His wrath through Christ and He holds YOU (if you are a believer and saved by Him) in His pierced hands.
Rick asked the question...What's so great about the gospel?
V6- THE GOSPEL SATISFIES THE GREATEST NEED OF MANKIND- A SAVIOR
-The Christian faith is about judgement, condemnation, and God's wrath...but all of that has been nailed to the cross for the saved sinner
-We are UNDESERVING of God's love and mercy!
-Many people think their way to heaven is by being good "enough" or religious "enough" etc., but the question lingers on how much is ENOUGH? It paralyzes you. You don't think you can read, pray, study, go to church etc. enough. Nothing is enough! Only Christ's righteousness imputed to you because of the cross is enough. God loves you because He sees cleansed with the blood of Christ, and He loves you in spite of sin.
-We must realize that we are helpless in our eternity and in life in general.
1 Corinthians 2:14 : "The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned."Romans 3:11 : "there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God."- We must see that we are ungodly and that we have a fierce opposition to God!
Romans 1:18: "The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness..."
V7-8: THE GOSPEL DEMONSTRATES THE GREATEST LOVE LAVISHED UPON SAVED SINNERS AT THE CROSS
- God's love is perfect, so different than human love, it is unexplainable
- "But God..."- His manifested love in Christ
-The sacrifice on the cross makes no sense to human wisdom...think about it for a moment this way. You have a child (either you do or dont, and if not pretend for illustration sake), and this child is your world I am sure. You would do anything as to not allow harm to come to this child. Now you decide that you love someone so much, someone who by the way HATES you, treats you terribly, rejects you in everyway possible etc. that you are going to sacrifice your child for that person to live? Does it make sense? And this wasn't any child...this was the Son of God!!! God in human flesh.
V9- THE GOSPEL EXTINGUISHES THE GREATEST THREAT- GOD'S WRATH, SEPARATION ETERNALLY
-There had to be blood...look in the old testament
Hebrews 10:11 "Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins."-What is the wrath of God? A sentence of eternity apart from Him in hell!
-FEAR GOD! We see throughout scripture that a healthy fear of God is important
Luke 12
V10- THE GOSPEL MEDIATES THE GREATEST CONFLICT-
-If God reconciled us as enemies on the cross, He will save us as friends. How amazing is that!
-He had to ressurect! Without that we wouldn't be saved.
- Reconciliation, how is that possible? God sent Jesus as our ultimate reconciler.
"Amazing Love How Can It Be? That You My GOD Would Die For Me?"
V11- THE GOSPEL THEREFORE MUST PROVOKE THE GREATEST RESPONSE
-Exalt according to definition is to jump up and down with gladness, overflow with joy, spew forth joy, happiness
- EXALT HIM! Our joy should be found in the Savior
- Our response to this act? PRAISE AND WORSHIP
- The love of Christ that Has been bestowed upon you should overflow and spill onto others...be an example!
- Praise God that we aren't in trouble with Him anymore!
Oh the power of the cross!
"And now you have an extraordinary opportunity, a day wherein Christ has thrown the door of mercy wide open, and stands in calling and crying with a loud voice to poor sinners; a day wherein many are flocking to him, and pressing into the kingdom of God…Are there not many here who have lived long in the world, and are not to this day born again? And so are aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and have done nothing ever since they have lived, but treasure up wrath against the day of wrath? …Your guilt and hardness of heart is extremely great. …And let every one that is yet out of Christ, and hanging over the pit of hell, whether they be old men and women, or middle aged, or young people, or little children, now hearken to the loud calls of God’s word and providence. This acceptable year of the Lord, a day of such great favor to some, will doubtless be a day of as remarkable vengeance to others …Therefore, let every one that is out of Christ, now awake and fly from the wrath to come. The wrath of Almighty God is now undoubtedly hanging over a great part of this congregation. Let every one fly out of Sodom: "Haste and escape for your lives, look not behind you, escape to the mountain, lest you be consumed." -Johnathan Edwards
Saturday, February 24, 2007
Thursday, February 22, 2007
Resolved Online
So they have put up the messages from last weekend go here and download them for free and listen to them, you won't regret it...they WILL change your life!
http://www.gracechurch.org/Resolved
http://www.gracechurch.org/Resolved
Sunday, February 18, 2007
RESOLVED
I had the absolute privilege of attending the RESOLVED '07 conference this year in Long Beach. It was such a blessing. World-renown speakers John MacArthur, Rick Holland, C.J. Mahaney, John Piper, and others preached absolutely riveting messages about the gospel. I think we as Christians so easily become numb to the story of the gospel and the acutality of what God did for us in sending His son! We fail to realize that He loved us so much that He was willing to do whatever it took to save us from the wrath of the reprocussions of our sins. Amazing. Anyways, I highly recommend getting the tapes, and reading the works of some of these fine authors and speakers, but more importantly I encourage you to ponder the cross. And remember "God is most glorified in you when you are most satisfied in Him!" Here are a few of Edwards resolutions...I challenge you to read them all and see if you too can live a life of all out glory for our Maker.
1. Resolved, that I will do whatsoever I think to be most to God' s glory, and my own good, profit and pleasure, in the whole of my duration, without any consideration of the time, whether now, or never so many myriads of ages hence. Resolved to do whatever I think to be my duty and most for the good and advantage of mankind in general. Resolved to do this, whatever difficulties I meet with, how many soever, and how great soever.
5. Resolved, never to lose one moment of time; but improve it the most profitable way I possibly can.
6. Resolved, to live with all my might, while I do live.
7. Resolved, never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do, if it were the last hour of my life.
9. Resolved, to think much on all occasions of my own dying, and of the common circumstances which attend death.
14. Resolved, never to do any thing out of revenge.
16. Resolved, never to speak evil of anyone, so that it shall tend to his dishonor, more or less, upon no account except for some real good.
17. Resolved, that I will live so, as I shall wish I had done when I come to die.
25. Resolved, to examine carefully, and constantly, what that one thing in me is, which causes me in the least to doubt of the love of God; and to direct all my forces against it.
47. Resolved, to endeavor, to my utmost, to deny whatever is not most agreeable to a good, and universally sweet and benevolent, quiet, peaceable, contented and easy, compassionate and generous, humble and meek, submissive and obliging, diligent and industrious, charitable and even, patient, moderate, forgiving and sincere temper; and to do at all times, what such a temper would lead me to; and to examine strictly, at the end of every week, whether I have done so.
53. Resolved, to improve every opportunity, when I am in the best and happiest frame of mind, to cast and venture my soul on the Lord Jesus Christ, to trust and confide in him, and consecrate myself wholly to him; that from this I may have assurance of my safety, knowing that I confide in my Redeemer.
69. Resolved, always to do that, which I shall wish I had done when I see others do it.
some pics from the weekend:
1. Resolved, that I will do whatsoever I think to be most to God' s glory, and my own good, profit and pleasure, in the whole of my duration, without any consideration of the time, whether now, or never so many myriads of ages hence. Resolved to do whatever I think to be my duty and most for the good and advantage of mankind in general. Resolved to do this, whatever difficulties I meet with, how many soever, and how great soever.
5. Resolved, never to lose one moment of time; but improve it the most profitable way I possibly can.
6. Resolved, to live with all my might, while I do live.
7. Resolved, never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do, if it were the last hour of my life.
9. Resolved, to think much on all occasions of my own dying, and of the common circumstances which attend death.
14. Resolved, never to do any thing out of revenge.
16. Resolved, never to speak evil of anyone, so that it shall tend to his dishonor, more or less, upon no account except for some real good.
17. Resolved, that I will live so, as I shall wish I had done when I come to die.
25. Resolved, to examine carefully, and constantly, what that one thing in me is, which causes me in the least to doubt of the love of God; and to direct all my forces against it.
47. Resolved, to endeavor, to my utmost, to deny whatever is not most agreeable to a good, and universally sweet and benevolent, quiet, peaceable, contented and easy, compassionate and generous, humble and meek, submissive and obliging, diligent and industrious, charitable and even, patient, moderate, forgiving and sincere temper; and to do at all times, what such a temper would lead me to; and to examine strictly, at the end of every week, whether I have done so.
53. Resolved, to improve every opportunity, when I am in the best and happiest frame of mind, to cast and venture my soul on the Lord Jesus Christ, to trust and confide in him, and consecrate myself wholly to him; that from this I may have assurance of my safety, knowing that I confide in my Redeemer.
69. Resolved, always to do that, which I shall wish I had done when I see others do it.
some pics from the weekend:
Thursday, February 15, 2007
lyrics
So I came across this song this week and have fallen in love with it...its by
CASTING PEARLS and it is titled 'You Alone', Below are the lyrics and you can listen to it at my myspace:
I've come to Your throne here so cold and alone
I'm calling on Your name
I lift my hands to the sky open wide
and I cry Lord take me away
Take this heavy heart and this
weary soul and set them free
Remove myself till there's
nothing left but You alone in me
I'm letting go of all
that I know
I'm holding on to You alone
I lay it
all down
down here at Your feet
I want You alone
You alone
If I go to the heavens above
Lord I know You are there
If I make my bed in the depths
lord I know You are there
If I rise on the wings of the dawn
or settle on the
far side of the sea
Even still Lord I know You will, You
will always be there with me
I'm letting go of all
that I know
I'm holding on to You alone
I lay it
all down
down here at Your feet
I want You alone
You alone
CASTING PEARLS and it is titled 'You Alone', Below are the lyrics and you can listen to it at my myspace:
I've come to Your throne here so cold and alone
I'm calling on Your name
I lift my hands to the sky open wide
and I cry Lord take me away
Take this heavy heart and this
weary soul and set them free
Remove myself till there's
nothing left but You alone in me
I'm letting go of all
that I know
I'm holding on to You alone
I lay it
all down
down here at Your feet
I want You alone
You alone
If I go to the heavens above
Lord I know You are there
If I make my bed in the depths
lord I know You are there
If I rise on the wings of the dawn
or settle on the
far side of the sea
Even still Lord I know You will, You
will always be there with me
I'm letting go of all
that I know
I'm holding on to You alone
I lay it
all down
down here at Your feet
I want You alone
You alone
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Sunday, February 11, 2007
A Closer Relationship with God: Motivated by Earlier Days of Devotion
Our desire as Christians should be to develop a closer relationship with our Heavenly Father. Yet sometimes there is a lack of motivation. Let the rememberance of earlier days, when you first became a Christian and how passionate I know you were motivate you today!
***Make a Comparison with your earlier Christian days. Make a comparison of 6 things...
1. Your Mind in regards to the truth and wisdom
Before Christ: Your Mind Fights the Truth (Romans 1:18, Ephesians 4:17-19, 1 Corinthians 2:14)
After Being Englightened by Christ: Your Mind is Responsive to God
2. Your Strength during pain, suffering and trials
Before Christ: You compromised when life hurt (Matthew 13:18-23), when it costs you something you gave up
After Conversion: "Hupomene" it means sticktoitiveness...because the Lord was with you (Philippians 4:5-8)
3. Your Courage in regards to fearing people
Before Christ: Afraid of what People Thought (Revelation 21:7-8, Galatians 1:11)
After Conversion: Zeal to please God in Everything (2 Timothy 1:7, Mark 4)
4. Your Empathy towards others
Before Christ: Whats in it for me? (Matthew 25, Matthew 18)
After Conversion: Selfess concern for others (2 Corinthians 11:28-29)
5. Your Attitude in all things
Before Christ: Easily Gives Way to Negativity (Numbers, Genesis 4:4-8)
After Conversion: Ability to rejoice in hard times..has positivity because of a peace (Matthew 5:!1)
6. Your hope/perspective on life
Before Christ: Earthbound (Luke 12--calls you a fool)
After Conversion: Eternal Perspective in all things, decisions not best now but will be the best in the future...kingdom mindset (Matthew 5:11)
***Resolve to excel now!--Make forward progress and see how much your life reflects His life. 1 Thessalonians 4:1, 9-10
Invest in things that reproduce eternal dividends, to be great and powerful in the Kingdom of Christ and remember wherever your heart is, so your treasure will be also.
***Make a Comparison with your earlier Christian days. Make a comparison of 6 things...
1. Your Mind in regards to the truth and wisdom
Before Christ: Your Mind Fights the Truth (Romans 1:18, Ephesians 4:17-19, 1 Corinthians 2:14)
After Being Englightened by Christ: Your Mind is Responsive to God
2. Your Strength during pain, suffering and trials
Before Christ: You compromised when life hurt (Matthew 13:18-23), when it costs you something you gave up
After Conversion: "Hupomene" it means sticktoitiveness...because the Lord was with you (Philippians 4:5-8)
3. Your Courage in regards to fearing people
Before Christ: Afraid of what People Thought (Revelation 21:7-8, Galatians 1:11)
After Conversion: Zeal to please God in Everything (2 Timothy 1:7, Mark 4)
4. Your Empathy towards others
Before Christ: Whats in it for me? (Matthew 25, Matthew 18)
After Conversion: Selfess concern for others (2 Corinthians 11:28-29)
5. Your Attitude in all things
Before Christ: Easily Gives Way to Negativity (Numbers, Genesis 4:4-8)
After Conversion: Ability to rejoice in hard times..has positivity because of a peace (Matthew 5:!1)
6. Your hope/perspective on life
Before Christ: Earthbound (Luke 12--calls you a fool)
After Conversion: Eternal Perspective in all things, decisions not best now but will be the best in the future...kingdom mindset (Matthew 5:11)
***Resolve to excel now!--Make forward progress and see how much your life reflects His life. 1 Thessalonians 4:1, 9-10
Invest in things that reproduce eternal dividends, to be great and powerful in the Kingdom of Christ and remember wherever your heart is, so your treasure will be also.
Friday, February 09, 2007
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