4-30-17 Remember The 5th Dimension?!

Scripture:  John 6:35-40

VIDEO: The 5^th Dimension

          How many new the song as soon as it started? How many knew who the group was? For those unfamiliar, that was a group called “The 5^th Dimension” popular in the 60’s and 70’s

          Besides my favorite song of theirs, “Up, up and away” – “The Age of Aquarius” was one of their biggest hits that came from the 60’s musical “Hair.”

          Today’s message has nothing to do with any of those songs or the singing group, the 5^th dimension – however that little intro may help you remember the title of today’s message: “Remember the 5^th Dimension?!” I use the term loosely as a way to describe something that we all need to keep in mind, especially when times are tough. We all go through difficult circumstances in life – some that we have no control over and some that we have caused for ourselves. In either case, no one welcomes tough times but they are a part of life. The difference between the follower of Christ and one who has not yet placed their faith in Him should be that we can endure hard times knowing what awaits us. The finest Christian has no advantage over the non-Christian getting through hard times in this sense – the bible says: “if it is raining – the best people and the worst will get wet – if the sun shines, both enjoy the warmth.” The difference is knowing the one who walks through the rain with us and that there will come a day beyond the rain, which is where the 5^th dimension comes in.

God has always placed great hope in His Social Networks.  There have been four major ones so far and one yet to come – hence the title – the Fifth Dimension.

Each of these Social Networks was supposed to resemble what the Fifth will become.

1        Adam and Eve and their Children

2        Noah and wife and their children

3        Abraham and Sarah and the Jewish People

4        Jesus and His Bride on earth – the church

5        God and the raptured church in heaven for all eternity         

John 6:35-40

(Here comes the first of 7 selfies Jesus took that can all be found in his pic album titled “John”) Then Jesus declared, "I am (Ex 3:14 “I am who I am”) the bread of life. (The other 6 selfies actually show more than 6 sides of Jesus --- for example; I took a selfie that shows two sides of me – holding a bible representing me as a preacher, and holding theater masks representing me as a theater director – now understand, I look a little different because I took this selfie before I had lost all my weight – here it is: [SLIDE: Fat Jeff] Jesus’ other 6 selfies in his “John” album are: SLIDES one PPT with 7 clicks: 6:35 Bread 8:12 light; 10:7 Gate; 10:11 Good Shepherd; 11:25 Resurrection & Life; 14:6 Way, Truth and Life; 15:5 Vine) He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty. 36 But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. 37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. 38 For I have come down from heaven (In this chapter Jesus repeats that phrase 6 times) not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. 40 For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day." (Even Death cannot destroy the Life that Jesus gives)

41 At this the Jews began to grumble about him because he said, "I am the bread that came down from heaven."  They said, "Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, 'I came down from heaven'?"

          43 "Stop grumbling among yourselves," Jesus answered. "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the Prophets: 'They will all be taught by God.' Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me. No one has seen the Father except the one who is from God; only he has seen the Father. I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life. 48 I am the bread of life. Your forefathers ate the manna in the desert, yet they died. But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which a man may eat and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world."

04-23-17 Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star

Scripture  Philippians 2:14-16

Genesis 1:14-19

And God said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark seasons and days and years, and let them be lights in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth." And it was so. 16a God made two great lights — the greater light (SLIDE: Sun) to govern the day and the lesser light (SLIDE: Moon) to govern the night. 16b He also made the stars (SLIDE: Stars). God set them in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth, to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening, and there was morning — the fourth day.

Genesis 1:16b – doesn’t even get its’ own full verse – it is almost like a footnote in the body of the sentence SLIDE: “HE ALSO MADE THE STARS” Are you kidding me? Our sun is a star but God made Many of them. Look into the night sky and every star you see is similar to our sun.

INTRO to Video: Louie Giglio Video about stars.

VIDEO

Phil 2:14-16

1^st what not to do Do everything without complaining or arguing,

                                                                    (complain and argue with self)

2^nd what to do so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God

3^rd where to do it) without fault in a crooked and depraved generation,

4^th the result for God’s kingdom in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life —

5^th building on those who ran before in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing.

NOTE: From the video --- Isaiah 40:25-26

            "To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?" says the Holy One. There is not anyone or anything to compare to God – He is too big-beyond comprehension – Indescribable Listen to John trying to describe the risen Christ: (Revelation 1:12-18a I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, ¹³ and among the lampstands was someone like a son of man, dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest.  The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire.  His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters.  In his right hand he held seven stars, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance. When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last.  I am the Living One.)

Continuing to describe the one who has no equal we go back to Isaiah 40:26 Lift your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing. (John 10:27-29 “My stars / My Sheep…no can snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who gave me the sheep, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand.”)

Back to Isaiah 40:27-31

Why do you say, O Jacob, and complain, O Israel, "My way is hidden from the Lord; my cause is disregarded by my God"? 28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. 29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. 30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; 31 but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

CONCLUSION

Philippians2:14ff   Do everything without complaining or arguing,

become blameless and pure in a crooked and depraved generation,

in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life —

“But I am not pure and Blameless and sometimes I argue and complain!” It is not your light but the light of Jesus that shines through you…ILLUSTRATION:

Samuel Colgate, the founder of the Colgate business empire, was a devout Christian, and he told of an incident that took place in the church he attended. During an evangelistic service, an invitation was given at the close of the sermon for all those who wished to turn their lives over to Christ and be forgiven. One of the first persons to walk down the aisle and kneel at the altar was a well-known prostitute. She knelt in very real repentance, she wept, she asked God to forgive her, and meanwhile the rest of the congregation looked on approvingly at what she was doing. Then she stood and testified that she believed God had forgiven her for her past life, and she now wanted to become a member of the church. For a few moments, the silence was deafening.
Finally, Samuel Colgate arose and said, "I guess we blundered when we prayed that the Lord would save sinners. We forgot to specify what kind of sinners. We'd better ask him to forgive us for this oversight. The Holy Spirit has touched this woman and made her truly repentant, but the Lord apparently doesn't understand that she's not the type we want him to rescue. We'd better spell it out for him just which sinners we had in mind." Immediately, a motion was made and unanimously approved that the woman be accepted into membership in the congregation.

Matt 5:14-16

“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”

04-16-17 THE EMPTY TOMB

Scripture  1 Corintihians 15:12-23    

READ: The Case for Christ p 218 bottom - 219

          If the tomb isn’t empty, and if Jesus isn’t alive again and still…Christianity is false!

1 Corintihians 15:12-23     But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men. But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.

VIDEO: The Case for Christ Movie Trailer

The Case For Christ Movie Trailer

          Your Christian belief is not just believing that Jesus was raised from the dead – it is believing that the dead can be raised. It is believing that you can be raised from the dead. If you are like me and you hear of a television faith healer raising someone from the dead – you are skeptical and don’t believe it. Can you not believe a charlatan but still believe the possibility of resurrection? I do! I had a grandmother who claimed Christian faith but was terrified of death – would not look at a cemetery while riding past one in the car and almost didn’t get out of the car for my grandfather’s graveside funeral service. If we believe Jesus was raised from the dead we must also believe that we too, can be raised from the dead.

          All of that begins with believing that resurrection itself is possible, second and most important, that Jesus was raised, and third, that we can be raised from the dead and leave behind our own empty tomb.

          What if you have been dead for 4 days like Lazarus? Start to smell – what about 4 years? 400, 4000? There is likely no physical trace left. Then who or what is raised? The Jews believe that all that was needed were the bones of a person – therefore the story in Ezekiel about the valley of dry bones that God raises and amasses into a fully living army of people. We will come back top “What” is raised from the dead. Let’s see who was raised according to the bible:

The widow of Zarephath’s son (1 Kings 17:17–24). Elijah the prophet raised the widow of Zarephath’s son from the dead.

The Shunammite woman’s son (2 Kings 4:18–37). The prophet Elisha raised the Shunammite woman’s son from the dead.

(2 Kings 13:20–21). Elisha is connected with another resurrection that occurred after his death. Sometime after Elisha had died and was buried, some men were burying another body in the same area. The grave diggers saw a band of Moabite raiders approaching, and, rather than risk an encounter with the Moabites, they threw the man’s body into Elisha’s grave. Scripture records that, “when the body touched Elisha’s bones, the man came to life and stood up on his feet”

The widow of Nain’s son (Luke 7:11–17). This is the first of the resurrections that Jesus performed.

(Luke 8:52–56). Jesus also showed His power over death by raising the young daughter of Jairus, a synagogue leader.

Lazarus of Bethany (John 11). The third person that Jesus raised from the dead.

(Matthew 27:50–53).  When Jesus died, “the earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open”. “the bodies of many holy people . . . were raised to life. They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people” and became witnesses in Jerusalem of the life that only Jesus can give.

(Acts 9:36–43). Dorcas, was a believer who lived in the coastal city of Joppa. Her resurrection was performed by the apostle Peter.

Eutychus (Acts 20:7–12).  was raised from the dead by the apostle Paul.

Jesus was raised by God the Father

          If these were raised, then we can be raised but the same power that raised Jesus. But all of these had only been dead a few minutes to a few days. What about someone like the apostle Paul – surely his body, including his bones no longer exist. How will he be raised?

1 Cor 15:35-57

But someone may ask, "How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come?" How foolish! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. When you sow, you do not plant the body that will be, but just a seed, perhaps of wheat or of something else. But God gives it a body as he has determined, and to each kind of seed he gives its own body. All flesh is not the same: Men have one kind of flesh, animals have another, birds another and fish another. There are also heavenly bodies and there are earthly bodies; but the splendor of the heavenly bodies is one kind, and the splendor of the earthly bodies is another. The sun has one kind of splendor, the moon another and the stars another; and star differs from star in splendor.

So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.

If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. So it is written: "The first man Adam became a living being"; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit. The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual. The first man was of the dust of the earth, the second man from heaven. As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the man from heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. And just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so shall we bear the likeness of the man from heaven.

I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory." "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

          LOOK: Matthew 28:1-20; Mark 16:1-20; Luke 24:1-49; John 20:1-21:25 all give testimony to the FACT that the tomb where Jesus’ dead body was laid, was vacant 3 days later because it was not his tomb, it was merely an AirBandB – he had not purchased it, he was only renting for the short term. You may purchase a cemetery lot, a crypt in a mausoleum, or have your ashes spread over a mountain or a great Lake, but the truth for the followers of the way the truth and life – Jesus - is that you are only there temporarily – you will be raised with a new body designed to live in heaven forever. In John 11:25-26 The Christ who was to be raised said this: "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"

          The tomb of Jesus is empty because Jesus still lives and so can you? Do you believe this?

I am the resurrection and the Life

CHORUS:
I am the resurrection (clap) and the life; (clap clap clap clap)

He who believes in me will never die. (clap / clap clap)

I am the resurrection (clap) and the life; (clap clap clap clap)

He who believes in me will live a new life.

I have come to bring the truth;

I have come to bring you life;

If you (yes you), believe (in Him),

then you shall live. (clap clap clap clap)

I am the resurrection (clap) and the life; (clap clap clap clap)

He who believes in me will never die. (clap / clap clap)

I am the resurrection (clap) and the life; (clap clap clap clap)

He who believes in me will live a new life.

In my word all men will come to know

It is love which makes the Spirit grow

If you (yes you), believe (I do),

then you shall live. (clap clap clap clap)

I am the resurrection (clap) and the life; (clap clap clap clap)

He who believes in me will never die. (clap / clap clap)

I am the resurrection (clap) and the life; (clap clap clap clap)

He who believes in me will live a new life.

  

EXTRA READING BEYOND THE SERMON

John 20:1-31

Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. 2 So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don't know where they have put him!"

3 So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. 4 Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter, who was behind him, arrived and went into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, 7 as well as the burial cloth that had been around Jesus' head. The cloth was folded up by itself, separate from the linen. 8 Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. 9 (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.)

10 Then the disciples went back to their homes, 11 but Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb 12 and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus' body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.

13 They asked her, "Woman, why are you crying?"

"They have taken my Lord away," she said, "and I don't know where they have put him." 14 At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.

15 "Woman," he said, "why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?"

Thinking he was the gardener, she said, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him."

16 Jesus said to her, "Mary."

She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, "Rabboni!" (which means Teacher).

17 Jesus said, "Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, 'I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'"

18 Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: "I have seen the Lord!" And she told them that he had said these things to her.

19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!"  20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.

21 Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you."  22 And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven."

24 Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord!"

But he said to them, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it."

26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!"  27 Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe."

28 Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!"

29 Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

30 Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

04-09-17 Hosanna! Hosanna! Hosanna! Crucify! Crucify! Crucify!

Scripture  Revelation 3:14-22

Rev 3:14-22

"To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:

These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation. 15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm — neither hot nor cold — I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.

19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. 20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.

21 To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."

Palm Sunday! Good Friday! 5 days – what a difference!

There is an amazing short play by Edward Murch called “No Name in the Street”

In it, three men represent the many people of Jerusalem present during Palm Sunday and Good Friday. The 3 men are in the Sunday parade crowd side by side as Jesus  - (describe Palm Sunday) shouting Hosanna! Hosanna! Hosanna! --- and the same 3 men are side by side on Good Friday – (describe outside Pilates Palace) shouting Crucify Him! Crucify Him! Crucify Him!

Methodist minister preached without believing. She went to an atheist convention and proclaimed that she did not believe in God. On the one hand, it amazes me that some atheists so strongly have a need to believe in something that they believe in and promote not believing. So much so that they even have conventions about it. You would think they would be ambivalent about God and Faith – instead they are against it. Before we are too harsh, at least they are living in one of the two ways God said to live; HOT OR COLD! They are not like the casual non-believer or maybe worse…the casual believer.

I have a friend I recently reconnected with through Social Media who totally represents this scripture for me. I have seen him both hot and cold…on fire for Jesus…and seemingly void of any faith at all.

Many Christians, especially Baptist hold to the saying “Once saved, always saved!” The question becomes – was the person truly saved – is it possible to know the God of salvation, Jesus Christ, and turn your back and your belief away from him? Hebrews 6:4-6 has always been a disturbing passage:  It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age, if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.

2 Peter 2:20-22

If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them. Of them the proverbs are true: "A dog returns to its vomit," and, "A sow that is washed goes back to her wallowing in the mud."

          So, what does all this mean to us? We are all here because we are sold out, blood bought, redeemed, converted, born again, set free, liberated, sanctified, holy, cleansed, consecrated, purified, dedicated, devoted, steadfast, faithful, committed, blessed, fanatical Jesus freaks!!! We are HOT for the things of God!

          That is a whole lot easier to say when we are holding Palm Branches waving them at the King of Glory than when we are at the foot of the cross recognizing that Jesus is dying on a roughhewn cross and says to us: Matt 16:24-25 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.”

          In the book, and now the movie Lee Strobel recounts the opposite kind of story we began with of the pastor who lost her faith. He was an atheist who found faith. His story is a story of hope; His story goes form Palm Sunday to Good Friday to Easter Sunday to the ascension to Jesus back to heaven to Pentecost to the second coming of Christ and to eternal life!

04-02-17 Preparing Your Tablet for Proper Use

Scripture  Matthew 4:1-11

         

GETTING OUR TABLETS READY

On top of Mt. Sinai God said to Moses, “Hew two tablets of stone!” In other words, take two rocks and shape them for lettering, get them ready for me to write something on them.  What was to be written? God didn’t say. Rather, He said, “Hew two tablets…and I will write upon them.” You get them ready, and I will do the writing. Moses obeyed; and the result…were the 10 Commandments.

          Over, and over again, God is saying to His people: You hew the tablets, and I will write upon them. Make yourself ready and I will write the message, a help, a service, a blessing.  We do this when we come to table – we say, “Here I am Lord, I’ve done the best I can to knock the rough edges off my life. Now I am waiting for your hand, your touch, your writing on my tablet.” When we do that, we can count on God’s faithfulness to not leave our tablets blank.

          What was written on those two tablets that God had Moses prepare?  And what was written on the next two that God had Moses prepare? The 10 Commandments. Most people picture that looking like this SLIDE: (1 tablet Moses) but, in light of our theme: God’s Social Network: The Bible, we might picture it looking more like this SLIDE: (2 tablet Moses). If you are like my son-in-law Gary who is a salesman for Apple computers, you might be thinking something more like this SLIDE (3 tablet Moses).

          The original tablets were hewn (carved) out of stone and written on by God with the following:

SLIDE (4 Ten Commandments)

10 COMMANDMENTS

1.   Have no other gods. 
2.   Have no idols. 
3.   Honor God's name. 
4.   Honor the Sabbath day. 
5.   Honor your parents. 
6.   Do not murder. 
7.   Do not commit adultery. 
8.   Do not steal. 
9.   Do not perjure yourself. 
10. Do not covet.

The 10 Commandments were God’s way of setting up a system to have people live the way they were designed to live along with the other 603 commandments God gave through Moses. Becoming righteous before God meant keeping ALL 613 commanments. I wonder how many of us can say we keep the Big 10? If you think you do, Jesus made it even more difficult to keep the Big 10 - Matt 5:17-48

 "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.

"You have heard 'Do not murder, But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment.

"You have heard 'Do not commit adultery.'  But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

"It has been said, 'Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.'  But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, causes her to become an adulteress, and anyone who marries the divorced woman commits adultery.

"Again, you have heard 'Do not break your oath, But I tell you, Do not swear at all

"You have heard 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.'  But I tell you, If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.

"You have heard 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

FINALLY, vs 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

We couldn’t keep the 10 stone tablet laws – there is no way we can keep the greater law Jesus is proclaiming. Who on earth could keep these laws? Who could keep such laws that temp us physically, mentally and spiritually? JESUS can!

COMPLETE TEMPATION OF JESUS

Matthew 4:1-11

1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil.

PHYSICAL TEMPTATION

2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.

3 The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread."

4 Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"

MENTAL TEMPTATION

5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down. For it is written: "'He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'"

7 Jesus answered him, "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'"

SPIRITUAL TEMPTATION

8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 "All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me."

10 Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'"

TEMPTAITON CONQUERED

11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

Jesus shows us that resisting temptation can be done with the right weapons 1) What is written – the bible 2) Jesus in us by the Holy Spirit. Even with that, we still fall short so we need one thing more: Forgiveness.

CONCLUSION

          Today we come to the TABLE(T) on which God has written in His own blood the forgiveness of our sin when we have failed to keep His commandments by doing what we should not, or not doing what we should. God wants us to live by His commands that are for our own good – when we don’t we have an advocate who goes before us to the Father. And when we do, the following becomes reality: Ezekiel 36:26-27

 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.

COMMUNION

Proverbs 7:1-3  My son, keep my words and store up my commands within you. Keep my commands and you will live; guard my teachings as the apple of your eye. Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.

03-26-17 Creating a New Social Network

Scripture  Matthew 3:1-17

Illus.: “You Can’t Practice Burying Me”

Shortly after a recent seminary graduate had assumed his first pastorate, he and his wife went to visit his family. His mother sensed that her daughter-in-law was unhappy, but not wishing to interfere, she pretended not to notice. As they were leaving, she heard her daughter-in-law say, “All right, we can go by the church and you can practice baptizing me just one more time. But remember this—when you have your first funeral, you are not going to practice burying me!”

I practiced baptism on Kim…

In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea 2 and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." 3 This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: "A voice of one calling in the desert, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.'" 4 John's clothes were made of camel's hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. 5 People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. 6 Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.

          7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: (The Message Matt 3:7-12  "Brood of snakes! What do you think you're doing slithering down here to the river? Do you think a little water on your snakeskins is going to make any difference? It's your life that must change, not your skin! And don't think you can pull rank by claiming Abraham as father. Being a descendant of Abraham is neither here nor there. Descendants of Abraham are a dime a dozen. What counts is your life. Is it green and blossoming? Because if it's deadwood, it goes on the fire. "I'm baptizing you here in the river, turning your old life in for a kingdom life. The real action comes next: The main character in this drama — compared to him I'm a mere stagehand — will ignite the kingdom life within you, a fire within you, the Holy Spirit within you, changing you from the inside out. He's going to clean house — make a clean sweep of your lives. He'll place everything true in its proper place before God; everything false he'll put out with the trash to be burned.") (You snakes…you vipers brood…)

I love John the Baptist. I would not have loved John if I had been there. He is too straight forward. Do you know people who say, “I just tell it like it is?” That is all well and good if a) you are right b) you do it in love. Most people who proclaim that, a) are not always right and b) don’t do it out of love, rather out of insecurity, thinking if I am the loudest gruffest bear in the bunch people will do what I want. Here we have John, a “tell it like it is” guy. But he a) is right and b) he is doing it out of love…If you are a Pharisee, Sadducee or teacher of the law…you might not think so.

          13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. 14 But John tried to deter him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" 15 Jesus replied, "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness." Then John consented. 16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."

LUGGAGE TO BAPTISM

When Texas pastor Jim Denison was in college, he served as a summer missionary in East Malaysia. While there he attended a small church. At one of the church's worship services, a teenage girl came forward to announce her decision to follow Christ and be baptized.

During the service, Denison noticed some worn-out luggage leaning against the wall of the church building. He asked the pastor about it. The pastor pointed to the girl who had just been baptized and told Denison, "Her father said that if she was baptized as a Christian she could never go home again. So, she brought her luggage."

Jesus created for her a New Social Network. All of us need to continually be starting new social networks if we are to reach the world for Christ. Got your bags packed?

One Thing Remains: His love never fails, it never gives up, never runs out on me.

03-19-17 Parents, make sure Jesus is with you!

Scripture  Luke 2:41-52

          Social Media and children. As I have talked about Social Media being the language of younger generations – let me make it clear that for most of the things we are talking about we are primarily referring to teenagers and young adults. A child must be 13 or older to legally have a Facebook account. However, Facebook removes 20,000 underage users a day. That tells us that parents need to do a better job of deciding when their children can use social media and what is appropriate. There are special sites designed for children 12 and under that come with all kinds of parental controls and predetermined words that can and cannot be used to prevent profanity and bullying. Most of them are designed as online games or even educational sites. They can help teach a young person how to use social media responsibly. It also tells us that Social Media is the place where kids want to be, and better to use it to communicate the good news of Jesus – the alternative is one more tool for the devil if the church isn’t the one working on the front lines.

          Therefore, when we talk about using current social media as a means of communicating the gospel we are talking about it primarily for the 13 to 50-year old’s, realizing that today’s 12-year-old will be 13 next year.

          With that in mind, and in light of our 2017 theme, God’s Social Network: The Bible, let’s look at some social networking from one amazing 12-year-old and how his parents were not watching his social media usage at all.

Luke 2:41-52

Every year his (Jesus) parents went to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover.

(MAP SLIDE The route from Galilee to Jerusalem via Samaria was the shortest and easiest route, a journey that took only three days. Pilgrims from Galilee passed through the Herodian royal estates in the Jezreel Valley to Ginae, spending the night in the last city in Jewish territory. The next day they walked across the rolling hills and valleys of Samaria to Anuathu Borcaeus, the first Jewish city of Judea,  or further if daylight and weather permitted. The third day was spent walking along the ridge route of the mountains of Judea up to Jerusalem. The direct route through Samaria was not the only way. It was also possible to follow the Jordan River to Jericho, then ascend the Jericho road to Jerusalem. This route was not only 23 miles longer, but also considerably hotter, with a steeper ascent to Jersualem. The bulk of the 3,400-foot change in elevation—Jericho lies 812 feet below sea level and Jerusalem towers 2,600 feet above sea level—occurs within a distance of 15 miles. The steep road winds through a desolate wasteland of barren rock with twisted canyons and cliffs. Pilgrims went up to Jerusalem for the three required feasts: Unleavened Bread/Passover, Weeks/Pentecost, and Tabernacles/Booths. Jesus also went to Jerusalem during Hanukkah/the Feast of Dedication, even though there was no commandment to go to Jerusalem for the celebration. So, for 11 years previous Jesus went from Nazareth to Jerusalem for at least 3 feasts a year) 42 When he was twelve years old, they went up to the Feast, according to the custom. 43 After the Feast was over, while his parents were returning home, (They were in a large caravan of people traveling together – you can imagine a group of 12 year old boys – without social media – running around and playing games on the way home and within view of someone’s parents…unless one is just not there even though you assume they are) the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. (What was Jesus thinking at night?...Home Alone) 44 Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then (that night when families came together) they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. 45 When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. 46 After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 When his parents saw him, they were astonished. (They were mad) His mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you." 49 "Why were you searching for me? he asked." (in other words…how did you not know where I would be?)  "Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?" (Jesus was beginning to test the religious social networks)  50 But they did not understand what he was saying to them. 51 Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. 52 And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

          A fascinating glimpse into the childhood of Jesus and the person he was becoming. Who wrote this? Who was Luke? How did he get this information? Notice the phrase his mother treasured all these things in her heart. Where have you heard that before?...Who wrote it? Where did Luke get the info about Jesus birth that no one else wrote about and the story of Jesus in the temple at age 12 that no one else wrote about? FROM MARY, Joseph died at some point between this event and the beginning of Jesus public ministry.

          Can you imagine the special care that God the Father took in protecting His son? Got them out of Bethlehem – sent them to Egypt – sent them back to Nazareth. And how pleased the Father must have been when at age 12 Jesus knew who he was – that he had to be in His Father’s house!

          The Jewish synagogue in Jesus’ day was no place for children. Children and women were not to worry themselves with the study of torah – the law. That was for the men. Some may have seen the movie Yentle when at the turn of the past century there was a young woman who wanted to study the Torah but was forbidden. She had such a passion for the word of God that she cut her hair and pretended to be a boy so she could go to the Yeshiva – Jewish seminary and learn the Torah.

          Personal study of scripture for men, women and children is still a relatively new thing. Until the printing press a little over 500 years ago, few average people ever read the scriptures unless it was at church, and then it was in Latin. Why do we place such emphasis on it and why for children? Because it is no longer about keeping rules and regulations that the father can just make the children follow. The Christian life is about a relationship = a Social Network. The place we learn about it outside of the church is in the Bible. It is better to aquaint a person with Jesus as early as possible and using the unchanging social media of scripture is the best way to do that. So, yes parents and grandparents – absolutely teach scripture to children from infancy Hmmm… 2 Tim 3:14-15 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

          What did Jesus say about children? 3 passages from Matthew will tell us:

Matthew 18:1-6

At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" He called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said: “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me. But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone MILLSTONE SLIDE hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.”

Matthew 19:13-15

Then little children were brought to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked those who brought them. Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."  When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there.

Matthew 21:15-16

But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple area, "Hosanna to the Son of David," they were indignant. "Do you hear what these children are saying?" they asked him. "Yes," replied Jesus, "have you never read, 'From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise'?"

SCREEN GO UP REVEALING THE CROSS

          I have always dreamed of having a church facility that children walk into and know that God loves them by the very nature of the building. Not the entire building but a good portion of it. STORY Nathan as a little child at Cedar Point. He found a place JUST for him. STORY Care Bear’s replacement for God.

A Group Of Believers

                  A group of believers gathered in a church.

                  They believed in one God, God Almighty, who made the world and everything in it.

                  They believed in God the Creator.

                  And they believed that God the Creator sent the Son, Jesus Christ, to save the world.

                  They believed these things and they said them every Sunday at ten o’clock.

                  They were very busy and did the things most churches do.  They had church dinners and they inquired about each other’s families.

                  And they read the Bible and they sent a check to missions every year, And at Thanksgiving they

                  collected canned goods for the poor.

                  And on Sunday mornings things were done decently and in order.

                  They were good church people.

                  But one Sunday morning during the service of worship, a little boy came running in the church door, ran right down the center aisle, and stood under the cross screaming, “Help me!”

                  He was a thin child with dark, sunken eyes. The clothes he wore were no more than rags.

                  His feet were bare and he shivered and then, with a cry, fell – under the cross.

                  Everything was quiet – and then a voice yelled: Get him out of here!         And another said: We don’t want to get involved with his kind. And a third said: He’s interrupting our worship.

                  But the rest of the congregation arose quietly, in unison, and walked as if they were in step until they, too, stood under the cross. They bent and lifted the child gently and ministered to him.

                  And then, as if for the first time, they noticed each other.

                  They smiled and their hands reached out to one another and they began to dance.

                  Some people laughed, and said: They’re drunk! But others asked: What does this mean?

                  And the people answered: The Lord’s Spirit has been poured out upon us. The Lord has anointed us to care for God’s children everywhere who are crying, “Help me!”

                  And now this church is decorated in the bright colors of joy. The people wear robs of caring and commitment. The call to worship is: “Help them!” Then entire congregation dances together.

SCREEN COME BACK DOWN

INVITATION: Come and pray for children.