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Sermons Online

Did you know that you can hear the sermons online and have them on your phone?

Go to: https://soundcloud.com/sweetcommunion to listen and download them!!!

GOAL, ACTION, and CHARACTER

We were encouraged by our pastor to set a GOAL, have an ACTION(S), and CHARACTER TRAIT(S) based off of the fruits of the spirit, so we can make things happen in our lives and/or at church.

Personal goal(s) such as lose weight, buy a house or car, start a business, invite someone to church, etc.

Action(s) like doing research, saving up, sharing the gospel, start first thing tmw with walking and new diet, etc.

Character trait(s) to gain would be patient, self control, faithfulness, etc.

So this week sit, pray if it is God's will, and write down things you have and are still dreaming of doing and setting goals to make it happen.

Matthew 5:1-11

Matthew 5
John the Baptist AND Jesus both preach THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS AT HAND
è the establishment of the kingdom coming forth/ breaking forth with great power

• the following is an explanation and teaching about the character of its citizens, the laws of its land, the work expected and rewards promised

BLESSED > WHY > Inclusion/citizenship in heaven

• Promise of reward

1. The poor in spirità those who recognize their spiritual bankruptcy and   seek the Lord for their help!

NONE will be in the kingdom who have NOT reached this point
This is why theirs is the kingdom of heaven
                        à Unable to achieve the kingdom, wretched, sinful, and rebellious
                        The result of the one brought into the kingdom… spiritual wealth and
                        Inheritance
                                    i.e. the prodigal son
                                    access to the spiritual goods of heaven itself, the KING himself

1. Those who mournà mourning their sinful state and lack of relationship
   1. Brokenness over sin, desiring reconciliation w/ God

Genuine Repentanceà the effects of sin itself still lingering while in the kingdom of men BUT comfort exists for those who are truly broken before the Lord
      [ (a) earnestness (b) eager to clear oneself (c) indignation (d) zeal (e) longing (f) punishment (g) fear ]

1. Those  who are meekà Gentle (2 Timothy 2:24-26; Galatians 5:22-23, 6:1)… Humble (James 4:8-10)…. Submissive
   1. Not pursuing the power struggle & one-upmanship
   2. Humble before God, seeking His grace

àThe reward= LAND-> new heaven & earth

1. Those who hunger & thirst for righteousnessà desire passionately the right-ness of God: His kingdom, statutes, institute of learning, politics, truth
   1. As the deer pantsà
   2. As our living waterà  The things of heaven are our focus
   3. As the Bread of Lifeà

       They seek and desire ALL the things of God, NOT just some
            Pursue as though their life depends on it

1. Those who are mercifulà willing and actively extending mercy (because all who are part of the kingdom deserved NONE yet were given it, we too MUST be merciful)
   1. Show kindness & forgiveness [Matt 18:21-35, Luke 17:4]
   2. Being generous with forgiveness
   3. Those who are pure in heartà pursuing purity and uprightness
      1. NOT mixed or adulterated with any other substance/material
      2. Pursuing God in purity [James 4:8-10]
         1. Purify your devotion
         2.  REWARD: WILL SEE GOD
2. In seeking and keeping God’s commands
3. Those who seek/make peaceà [Romans 12:18, 1 Cor. 14:33,40]
   1. Peace making is what Christ has accomplished through the sword
      1.  Ephesians 2
4. Seeking peace amongst MAN & GODà “          “
5. Seeking peace amongst each otherà requires PROPER understanding of peace
6. Praying for/seeking a peaceful lifeà “             “
7. The kingdom of God is DEFINED by peace/pursuit of peace
   1.  When all is done, peace will reign
   2.   Not achieved w/o war
   3. Those who are persecuted for righteousnessà hated and attacked for standing on what is right
      1. They are willing to stand for ALL the kingdom of God and the sovereign king has established and does establish
      2. YOU… for ALL who are part of the kingdom of God WILL be there
         1. This is their character
         2. YOU will show these characteristics… you WILL receive some form of persecution
         3. Your reward is great
         4. *They persecuted the prophet, they will persecute you
            1.  reviling, uttering evil, speaking falsely because of CHRIST
               1. This does not happen/will not happen for those who were not actively living/resembling the kingdom of God
               2. The blessedness is there for those characterized by these characteristics
               3. The reward IS promised

1 John 4:1-21 The Spirit of Truth

Quote: "We are imbued with the Spirit...to combat false theologies (and) false teachings...The Spirit of Truth agrees with truth" - Mike Dick

Those who are saved by the Spirit of God are able to discern and test different spirits by the power of God.

• Only by God's power are we able to test the spirits because only the Spirit of truth can reveal truth. Only the Spirit of truth can know the real truth and obey it.
• Verbal affirmation of the truth does not equal salvation. But all who are saved will claim Christ as being the Son of God as well as their own personal Savior. The only proof is endurance since the spirit of the antichrist will not endure. Only the Spirit of God abides forever.
• Any denial of the person of Christ is the spirit of the antichrist.
• Christians cannot fully deny the truth, nor hide from it. Resistance is possible, but The Good Shepherd always retrieves the sheep. (John 10:11)
• Christians are not to be afraid to speak truth at any given time. Strengthen your self in the Lord.

The Spirit of Truth has real love for the things God loves...

Questions for meditation

What do you love?
What are your priorities?
How do we show real love?
What are your passions?

F.R.A.N. tastic Month!!!

November 10-Bowling with SCBC in the evening

November 24-Potluck/Chilli Cook-off in the afternoon/evening

More details to come!!! 

 

 

Matthew 5:21-26

Anger & Reconciliation

1. Recap v. 17-20 ->Christ fulfills the Law and establishes ALL law in Himself

• We cannot even begin to practice righteousness in the kingdom of God until we know Jesus!

2. The greater focus & judgment to those who are part of the kingdom of God

• Attitudes and actions of the heart! 
• Attitude/desire for PEACE or TURMOIL

Anger & Murder

1. Murderers are liable to judgment
2. Anger (without cause) is liable to judgment -> heart motive like murder

• anger w/o cause IS sin [Prov. 29:11, Ecc. 7:9]
• anger w/ cause IS acceptable BUT USE CAUTION [Eph. 4:26-27]
• anger w/ cause WILL/MUST produce action [Neh. 5:1-13, Jesus in temple]
• prayer
• confrontation
• anger w/o cause WILL produce other damaging sins...
• vengeance
• bitterness

The effects of anger w/o cause are clearly seen here:

1. Anger w/o cause is the heart motive similar to murder

• there is NO place for this anger in the kingdom of God

     2. Anger w/o cause WILL produce a spirit and desire for personal vengeance AND a root of bitterness

• this CAN happen w/ justified anger...it WILL happen w/ unjustified anger
• Heb. 12:15 -> seeks to strip us of the peace of God AND cause trouble

     3. Anger unchecked/uncontrolled

• Produces an INSULTING spirit (in danger of coming before the council)
• if continually left unchecked WILL produce a spirit that goes beyond regular insults and seeks to DEFAME CHARACTER (in danger of hell fire)

The solution= RECONCILIATION!

• the offense is against a brother -> RECONCILIATION MUST OCCUR OR RELEASE

1. Unresolved sin issues ARE sin and produce sin

• hatred/lack of fellowship with a brother IS sin [1 John 2:9-11]

      2. Lack of fellowship and sin in my physical interactions DO affect my relationship w/ God!

• thus the connection between ANGEr and offering SACRIFICE
• the scenario: one brother comes to worship God knowing that there is a brother who IS/HAS BEEN/FEELS OFFENDED
• leave the sacrifice and go
• first be reconciled w/ your brother THEN offer sacrifices/worship to God

RECONCILIATION -> 2 parts for 2 people (repentance and forgiveness)
1. Can ONLY occur where an offense has ACTUALLY occurred

• if there is no genuine offense then control over the "offended" person's emotions MUST be exercised AND repentance before GOD should occur

2. In the case of REAL offense

• the offender MUST seek forgiveness by the offended
• people of the kingdom of God MUST be merciful -> a generous spirit of willingness to forgive
• what does it mean to forgive?
• of the N.T. words for forgiveness they incorporate the following ideas to release as from a debt, to let go free, to show favor and kindness to, and to be gracious to
• one pastor defines it as a "commitment to pardon graciously the repentant from moral liability and to be reconciled to that person, although not all consequences are necessarily eliminated"

Aspects of forgiveness
1. A commitment -> being people of our word... committing our thoughts and actions to the task
2. To pardon graciously -> to NOT bring the matter up in a MALICIOUS WAY nor to hold against the individual

• does not mean forget

      3. The repentant: focused on later [Lk. 17:4]

• forgiveness can only be extended to the repentant (God and man)
• man releases man from liability NOT CONSEQUENCE
• when no repentance is present man releases offender to God for God's judgment and vengeance! [Rom. 12:19]
• this will keep the root of bitterness from growing

      4. MORAL LIABILITY: responsibility to repay

• the one who forgives does NOT seek to exact blood from a piece of fruit
• the forgiver is committing to be at peace EVEN IF the offender CANNOT restore everything

      5. Be reconciled: the characteristics of forgiveness

• being reconciled is where the rubber meets the road for forgiveness
• this is where we see IF we have forgiven
• this is where we primarily see the characteristics of forgiveness

Characteristics of forgiveness:

1. resisting revenge [Rom. 12:19]
2. not returning evil for evil [1 Thes. 5:15]
3. wishing the offender well [Lk. 6:28]
4. grieving at the offenders calamities [Prov. 24:17]
5. praying for their welfare [Matt 5:44]
6. being at PEACE with them [Rom. 12:18]
7. coming to their aid in distress [Exo. 23:14]

     Consequences are NOT necessarily eliminated: some actions will, some won't
Those who are UNFORGIVING or have no generous spirit to forgive RISK not knowing God in reality and facing condemnation [Matt. 18:21-35]
 6. The offender MUST seek Genuine Repentance

• if forgiveness is limited by repentance then the WRONG DOER MUST seek it
• an unwillingness to desire repentance RISKS the offender...
• being under stricter church discipline
• being an unbeliever
• repentance IS the confessing and turning from sin and turing to God, seeking reconciliation to God
• therefore, repentance b/n brothers would confessing and turning from sin and turning to a brother, seeking reconciliation from the brother
• repentance characterized [2 Cor. 7:10-11, 6-7]

Characteristics of repentance:

• grief is an UNRELIABLE characteristic and should be moved away from as an defining example

1. earnestness= urgent response
2. eagerness to clear yourself= open confession
3. indignation= true contrition/brokenness
4. fear= afraid of returning to sin -> accountability
5. longing= desire for reconciliation [2 Cor. 7:6-7]
6. zeal= no rationalization/justification (passion for truth)
7. punishment= a willingness to accept consequences

Proving something with the Bible

Often times people make random statements.  “The bible doesn’t say homosexuality is wrong!” or “If you believe in a work’s based salvation you’re going to hell!”  We see statements like this often on facebook.  They make me laugh sometimes  - people can say anything on the internet – but they also sadden the biblical teacher in me: there are a lot of people in this world who really don’t know how to think biblically.

That made me realize that it is important to explain how you prove that the bible actually says something.  Did you know that many of the truths in the bible are uncontested and very clear?  Many people say things like “it’s up to your interpretation” but this is just a cop-out: we need to look at scripture and learn how to actually prove what it’s saying.

Thus I’ll give a little example: I’ll prove that Jesus is God.

Proving that Jesus is God: Part 1

This is an important truth to consider.  People often argue that Jesus isn’t God.  I was debating people the other day who claimed that the bible never claims that Jesus is God – people made that up on their own.

So first I went to this passage: John Chapter One.

When you’re making a scriptural argument you first need to consider the context of the verse listed.  I’ve seen many people try to prove a truth based on something that one of Job’s friends said to him – this is not a good tactic to take because if you understand the book of Job properly you realize that in the end God rebukes many of the things Job’s friends say.  It doesn’t make much sense to use sources that the bible attacks itself.

The great thing about John Chapter One is that it is a complete narrative – in other words whatever is said is absolutely true because it is truth written by an apostle inspired by the Holy Spirit.  John says this:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3  All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4  In him was life,[a] and the life was the light of men. 5  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

This verse is pretty simple, but since we’re making an argument we now have to explain what the verse says in context and how this relates to the argument we’re making.

The context of John’s first verses are simple: he is introducing his Gospel by explaining that to properly understand his book you need to understand who the main character is.  He says in the beginning was the Word.  This Word is symbolic.  It was with God and the Word was God.

Later on we read this:

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

In other words the Word is Jesus Christ.  So we can make a simple argument: Jesus is the Word; the Word is God – therefore Jesus is God..  Pretty simple, right?

Proving that Jesus is God: Part 2

One scripture is normally enough to answer simple questions, but the more scriptures you can point to the stronger your argument is.  That’s why we’re moving to part two, and taking a little peek at the first chapter of Hebrews.

Hebrews is a very interesting book because it shows the superiority of Christ.  The first chapter starts with this:
Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.
In other words Jesus his the way that God speaks to us now.  When we truly understand that Jesus is how God communicates with us now we start to understand why John called Jesus the “Word” in John 1.  In this verse we also learn that Jesus is the Creator.  That alone could prove our argument – the bible says that God created the world, so if Jesus created the world doesn’t that say that he’s God?But our argument gets stronger as we read on:
3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.
5 For to which of the angels did God ever say, 
“You are my Son,    
today I have begotten you”?

Or again, 
“I will be to him a father,    
and he shall be to me a son”?
In other words Jesus’ relationship to God the father is superior to the angels.  But we must go on to prove our point again:
6 And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says, 
“Let all God's angels worship him.”

The only one that can be worshipped is God.  If God commands the angels to worship Jesus doesn’t that declare that Jesus is God?  But let’s keep going.
7 Of the angels he says, 
“He makes his angels winds,    
and his ministers a flame of fire.”

8 But of the Son he says, 
“Your throne, O God, is forever and ever,
But this verse ends all discussion.  The writer simply says that Jesus is God.  He explicitly states that this verse refers to Jesus.  The verse says “Your throne, O God…”  We need look no further.  The fact that we went through this section verse by verse helps explain that we’re not taking this verse out of context and we’re not twisting something to say what we want to make it say.  We simply let scripture speak for itself.
Conclusion:
Whenever we want to make an argument with scripture the most powerful argument is letting scripture speak for itself.  So I have a question for you: what other verses prove that Jesus is God?  Can you explain the context of the passage and how it makes the argument?
    the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom.
9 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness;
therefore God, your God, has anointed you
    with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.”