Tag: Jesus Christ

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Bible Preaching

A Complete Work

Apostolic Life Cathedral | 1/4/2024 | 10 am

John 5:2-9, 14

2 Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches. 3 In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water. 4 For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had. 5 And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole? 7 The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me. 8 Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk. 9 And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath….14  Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.

Notice:

  1. Impotent = to be weak, feeble, to be without strength, powerless, to be weak in means, needy, poor, sick.[1]
  2. The impotent folk waited for another to help them.  They were looking for a Savior
  3. A certain man = we don’t know his name, whether he was married, what his infirmity was, or his age, only that he was in that infirm condition for 38 years.
  4. vs. 6, “Wilt thou be made whole?” = Other translations read:
    1. NASB, “Do you wish to get well?” – removes the importance of the word “whole”
    2. RSV/ESV, “Do you want to be healed?”
    3. NEB, “Do you want to recover?”
  5. The man’s restoration back to wholeness relied on his obedience to the command of the Lord.
  6. Whole = sound, of a man who is sound in body to make one whole (i.e. restore him to health), metaphorically: teaching which does not deviate from the truth.[2]

Consider the reality that many in our churches are:

  • Religious, but not saved
  • Churchy-fied, but not sanctified
  • They holler, but are not holy
  • Speak in tongues, but don’t allow the Holy Ghost to direct their lives
  • Come to the altar, but don’t give their whole self to God
  • Satisfied with less than purity, holiness, morality, complete transformation

Wilt thou be made whole? 

Do you really want to be complete?

Are you really seeking God in every aspect of you life?

Have you truly tried to clean up all the deficits of your personality, nature, urges?

Have you really tried to present yourself to God as “a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service” (Ro. 12:1)?

Are you really striving not to be “conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Ro. 12:2)?

Do you really want to stop doing what’s ungodly?

Do you really want to please God and obey His Word?

Do you want to be made whole?

Philippians 1:3-7, “(3) I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,  (4)  Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy,  (5)  For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now;  (6)  Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:  (7)  Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace.”

God is here to do A Complete Work in you…

[1] Thayer and Smith. Greek Lexicon entry for Astheneo. The KJV New Testament Greek Lexicon.

[2] Thayer and Smith. Greek Lexicon entry for Hugies. The KJV New Testament Greek Lexicon.

Categories
Bible Teaching

Sitting at the Well

Apostolic Life Cathedral | 11/19/23 | 10:00 AM

Dwelling in the secret place with Jesus and allowing the living water of the Holy Spirit to flow continuously.

Categories
Bible Teaching

The Mighty God In Christ, In You

Apostolic Life Cathedral | 11/12/2023 | 10:00 AM

Text: 1 Timothy 3:16, “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.”

Matthew 1:18-25

(18)  Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

(19)  Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.

(20)  But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

(21)  And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

(22)  Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,

(23)  Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

(24)  Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:

(25)  And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.

They struck Christ, they lied on Him, they mocked Him, Judas Iscariot betrayed Him, Peter denied knowing Him, but Jesus didn’t react with anything but love.

What was in Jesus manifested itself.

God was manifest in the flesh.

God was in Christ and Christ is in you.

What you are full of will become visible when you’re bumped.

An old Indian proverb says, “Whatever you are overflowing with spill out when you’re bumped.”

You say, “That’s not me,” but if it came out of you the Word of God says it is in you:

“A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh” (Luke 6:45).

The Purpose of God in Christ is Reconciliation:

2 Corinthians 5:16-21, “(16) Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.  (17)  Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.  (18)  And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;  (19)  To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.  (20) Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.  (21)  For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Reconciliation = “exchange (figuratively adjustment), that is, restoration to (the divine) favor: – atonement, reconciliation (-ing).”[1] Also, “to restore to friendship or harmony.”[2]

First, I am reconciled to Him then I become His ambassador working to bring harmony into other people’s lives.

To be in Christ = water baptism

Christ in you = Holy Ghost infilling

Romans 8:1-11

(1)  There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

(2)  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

(3)  For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

(4)  That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

(5)  For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.

(6)  For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

(7)  Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

(8)  So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

(9)  But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

(10)  And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

(11)  But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

2 Peter 1:5-11

(5)  And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;

(6)  And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;

(7)  And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

(8)  For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

(9)  But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

(10)  Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

(11)  For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

It is the Mighty God in Christ, In you and then in others.

[1] Strong’s. G2630.

[2] Merriam-Webster.

Categories
Bible Preaching

Echoes of the Father’s Mercy

Apostolic Life Cathedral | 10/15/2023 | 6:30 PM

Text: 2 Corinthians 1:3-11

(3)  Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;

(4)  Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

(5)  For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.

(6)  And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.

(7)  And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation.

(8)  For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:

(9)  But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:

(10)  Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us;

(11)  Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf.

The Father of Mercies = Merciful Father

He is “the author, or source of” mercy. “Mercy proceeds from God…he is the source of it…it is his nature to impart mercy and compassion.” Jesus is the Father “of all true joy. It is one of his special and glorious attributes that He thus produces consolation and mercy.”[1]

Mercies = “Compassion, pity, mercy. Bowels in which compassion resides, a heart of compassion. Emotions, longings, manifestations of pity.”[2]

All throughout the book of Psalms (13 times) and the Gospels (13 times) there is a phrase that keeps popping up: “Have Mercy.”

Turn to your neighbor tonight, look them in the eyes, and in your best Elvis Presley impression say, “Have mercy.”

Mercy.

It is what we seek when have sinned, or when we are at our wit’s end.

Our sin is so great that we simply don’t know what to do and we call out to Jesus, “Please, forgive me.” It is a call for the Father of Mercies to take pity on you and to release from your guilt and from the penalty attached to sin.

Have Mercy, is the sincere prayer of the heart crying out for God’s compassion and help to come along help in a time of great struggle.

Have Mercy.

13 times in the Psalms:

  • 4:1, “Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer.”
  • 6:2, “Have mercy upon me, O LORD; for I am weak: O LORD, heal me; for my bones are vexed.”
  • 9:13, “Have mercy upon me, O LORD; consider my trouble which I suffer of them that hate me, thou that liftest me up from the gates of death:”
  • 25:16, “Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me; for I am desolate and afflicted.”
  • 27:7, “Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me.”
  • 30:10, “Hear, O LORD, and have mercy upon me: LORD, be thou my helper.”
  • 31:9, “Have mercy upon me, O LORD, for I am in trouble: mine eye is consumed with grief, yea, my soul and my belly.”
  • 51:1, “Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.”
  • 86:16, “O turn unto me, and have mercy upon me; give thy strength unto thy servant, and save the son of thine handmaid.
  • 102:13, “Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come.”
  • 123:2, “Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress; so our eyes wait upon the LORD our God, until that he have mercy upon us.
  • 123:3, “Have mercy upon us, O LORD, have mercy upon us: for we are exceedingly filled with contempt.”

13 Times in the Gospels:

  • Jesus – Matt. 9:13, “But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
    • I will have mercy, and not sacrifice – 1 Samuel 15:22, “And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.”
    • According to Adam Clarke, These are remarkable words. We may understand them as implying,
      • 1st. That God prefers an act of mercy, shown to the necessitous, to any act of religious worship to which the person might be called at that time. Both are good; but the former is the greater good, and should be done in preference to the other.
      • 2dly. That the whole sacrificial system was intended only to point out the infinite mercy of God to fallen man, in his redemption by the blood of the new covenant. And
      • 3dly. That we should not rest in the sacrifices, but look for the mercy and salvation prefigured by them. This saying was nervously translated by our ancestors, I will mild-heartedness, and not sacrifice.[3]
  • Matt. 9:27, “And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, Thou Son of David, have mercy on us.”
  • Matt. 12:7, “But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.”
  • Matt. 15:22, “And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.”
  • Matt. 17:15, “Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water.”
  • Matt. 20:30-31, “And, behold, two blind men sitting by the way side, when they heard that Jesus passed by, cried out, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David. And the multitude rebuked them, because they should hold their peace: but they cried the more, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David.”
    • Sometimes, your need will push you beyond your limits, past societal niceties, and you will get to a place where you don’t care what anyone thinks – as long as you can get to Jesus.
  • Mark 10:47, “And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me. And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me.”
  • The Rich Man in Hell, Luke 16:24, “And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.”
    • There is no mercy in Hell, no matter how long you cry for it.
  • The Ten Lepers – Luke 17:13, “And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.”
  • The Blind Beggar – Luke 18:38-39, “And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me. And they which went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried so much the more, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me.

These all were all healed, or found deliverance.

Why? Jesus is the Father of Mercies.

ECHOES OF MERCY: Isaiah 58:10-12

(10)  And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday:

(11)  And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.

(12)  And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in.

When you extend mercy that’s been granted to you, the echo of the mercy you received and then passed forward will be remembered for generations.

Mercy is ready tonight to triumph over Judgment, all you need do is cry out to God – HAVE MERCY!

Ephesians 2:4-10

(4)  But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, [The Father of Mercies]

(5)  Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

(6)  And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

(7)  That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. [Echoes of Mercy]

(8)  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

(9)  Not of works, lest any man should boast.

(10)  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

[1] Albert Barnes’. 2 Cor. 1:3.

[2] Thayer’s

[3] Adam Clarke. Matthew 9:13.

Categories
Bible Teaching

Heart Attack – Harold Hoffman

Another highly recommended series taught by Pastor Harold Hoffman of First Church (Stirling Heights, MI).

Heart Attack | Lesson 1 | Harold Hoffman
Heart Attack | Lesson 2 | Harold Hoffman
Heart Attack | Lesson 3 | Harold Hoffman
Heart Attack | Lesson 4 | Harold Hoffman
Categories
Bible Teaching

Reason, Foundation & Eternity

The Library of Celsus (Getty Images)

A Sure Foundation[1]

The New Testament Church is built on a sure foundation whose reason for existence is that the Creator would have a relationship with His creation, and the final state of that relationship is the eternal communion of Man with God – – Eternal Life. It is imperative for the Church to constantly reassess the integrity of its walls and foundation as it looks forward to everlasting life:

  • 2 Timothy 2:19-21, “(19) Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.  (20)  But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.  (21)  If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.

Time unfolds for Man the special arrangement that God has made in continuing the spread of His Word and Gospel, and it has successfully grown in scope and magnitude for over 6,000 years with each dispensation, each covenantal period, adding a particular stone or brick to relevant to its age and purpose with special emphasis on Man’s obedience or disobedience to the plan.

The ending of one dispensation didn’t necessarily indicate a failure, but rather a finishing of a specific step in the continuation and completion of the plan of God that began with the foundation of the World and a Lamb slain for the procurement of eternal life:

  • Ephesians 2:19-22, “(19) Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;  (20)  And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;  (21)  In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:  (22)  In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.”
  • Revelation 13:8, “And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.”

God placed Man into a position where he had complete authority and dominion over all God’s creation on earth and the only way Adam could jeopardize his position in this new structure was by proving himself unfaithful to God’s architectural plan, which he did:

  • “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat. And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so” (Genesis 1:26-30).

In the Old Testament you will observe God continually working and establishing a better operation whereby the overall purpose of God could be realized – – reconciliation between Himself and Man.  Since sin is the line of demarcation between Creator and creation a bridge was needed to span that gap, and that bridge is Jesus Christ:

  • Romans 5:12-21, “(12) Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:  (13)  (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.  (14)  Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.  (15)  But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.  (16)  And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification.  (17)  For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)  (18)  Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.  (19)  For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.  (20)  Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:  (21)  That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.”

The New Testament establishes the plan for mankind and God to be in communion again and reconciled to each other and it is a better in all points than the Old Testament plan.  The writer of Hebrews wrote that this new covenant was just better:

  • 1:4, “Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.”[2]
  • 6:9, “But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.”
  • 7:7, “And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better.”
  • 7:19, “For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.”
  • 7:22, “By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.”
  • 8:6, “But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.”
  • 9:23, “It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.”
  • 10:34, “For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.
  • 11:16, “But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.”
  • 11:35, “Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:”
  • 11:40, “God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.”
  • 12:24, “And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.”

Without the organization of this better plan, this better covenant, you would have not received such a super great salvation.  Your obedience and faith is necessary to receive its reward – – eternal life:

Hebrews 2:1-4, “(1) Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.  (2)  For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward;  (3)  How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;  (4)  God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?”

The Logos (word, decree, mandate, reason)[3] of God became flesh and when you believe on Him (Jesus Christ) you have the promise of everlasting (eternal) life, and it all started with a plan, an organized plan of salvation that would put Man back in right relationship with His Creator and the creation he was to have dominion over:

  • “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not…. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth” (John 1:1-5, 14).
  • “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved” (John 3:16-17).

It is God’s plan for you to have eternal life by turning towards Him in faith and obeying the blueprint He has established for all mankind – – The New Birth:

  • “There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit” (John 3:1-8).
  • “Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call” (Acts 2:37-39).

There is also the necessity of looking after the house and keeping it in proper working order through a life of holiness. To do otherwise will result in the destruction of that house:

  • “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are” (1 Corinthians 3:16-17).
  • 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, “(19) What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?  (20)  For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”

When you adhere to the plan of God for Man’s salvation; continue building on the sure foundation of Jesus Christ, the apostles and prophets; and, move ever closer to your eternal reward while maintaining a holy house, you will know the Word that became flesh and who is in fact “the true God and eternal life,” our Lord Jesus Christ:

  • 1 John 5:13-20, “(13) I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.  (14)  And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.  (15)  And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.  (16)  If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life—to those who commit sins that do not lead to death. There is sin that leads to death; I do not say that one should pray for that.  (17)  All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that does not lead to death.  (18)  We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him.  (19)  We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.  (20)  And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.”

[1] Originally written as an assignment for the Church Government course taught by Allen McMillan at Parkersburg Bible College (WV) on 10/6/2001 (“Why Organization Is Important”), edited on 9/3/2005, and revised on 10/24/2023.

[2] Jesus Christ, our Mediator and Savior, the Word of God made flesh, is the only begotten Son of God and therefore “so much better than the angels.”

[3] G3056. Logos. Thayer’s Greek Definitions.

Featured Image: Jesus Christ The Chief Cornerstone (Tyree AME Church, Philadelphia, PA, est. 1870)

Categories
Bible Teaching

Light In Darkness, Manifestation in Chaos

Message begins at 32:25 mark: https://www.facebook.com/apostoliclifecathedral/videos/736172267332492/ 

Text: “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness. And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day” (Genesis 1:1-5).

John 8:12, “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”

“And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay, And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing” (John 9:1-7).

We are engaged in a battle older than time itself: Light and Darkness

I come with a message from God to the Church, the prodigal, the hurting, and all those groping in the darkness, entitled:

Light in Darkness, Manifestation in Chaos

Since 1960, and the invention of the atomic clock, the rotation of the earth has been clocked. “The Earth’s 28 fastest days on record all occurred in 2020, with Earth completing its revolutions around its axis milliseconds quicker than average.”[1]

In fact, “this past summer, on July 19, the shortest day ever was recorded—it was 1.4602 milliseconds shorter than the standard.” [2]

Even the earth wanted to get out of 2020!

Sin leads progressively into darkness and chaos.

There is a direct correlation between the treacherous slope of sin and its destruction of nature and civilization.

Adam’s transgression brought decay and death, not only to himself, but also to the earth.

Cain, the first murderer, was afraid of what people would do to him for killing his brother Abel. God, in His mercy, set a mark on Cain so that nobody would touch him.

However, In just a few generations Lamech bragged about his murders, and had no fear of man or God.

In less than 2,500 years the order of God’s creation was once again in a chaotic mess of Flood and water as the earth suffered because of the sin of man.

But, there was an ark built to God’s pattern (a type of the church) by Noah, a man who found grace in God’s sight.

The Church is the only ark of safety Jesus has provided for this world of chaos.

Get in the Church and don’t leave her shelter…

            No matter how smelly or storm tossed she gets…

                        Regardless of how tempting it might seem to leave…

                                    Get in the Church.

                                                Stay in the ark of safety.

Today, we are dealing with a world in chaos and confusion. It is like the days before the creation: “Darkness moved upon the face of the earth.” Then God said, “Let there be Light,” and there was Light. 

Darkness dissipates before the Light, not vice versa: “And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not” (John 1:5).

Comprehended = “to take eagerly, that is, seize, possess, etc. (literally or figuratively): – apprehend, attain, come upon, comprehend, find, obtain, perceive, (over-) take.” [3]

What the world needs right now is Jesus.

What the Church needs is to awaken from slumber…

We need to step completely into the role for which we were re-born. Why? “For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God” (Romans 8:19).

Manifestation is Light

This world in its present chaos (complete disorder and confusion[4]) is still hoping with expectancy for Light to pierce its Darkness and for salvation to come and shine hope and clarity into their confusion.

Jesus is the Light: “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life” (John 8:12).

Jesus called us, His disciples, to be the Light of the world:

“Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16).

It is time to SHINE

It is time to be the Light in Darkness

There are many artificial lights in the world, but there is only one true Light:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world” (John 1:1-9).

We are to bear witness of that Light!

Awake

First, stop your spiritual slumber and wake up.

“And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light” (Romans 13:10-12).

“And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:11-16).

Return

Second, we must return to Him.

To do that we need to get our relationship right with Him: “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon” (Isaiah 55:7).

Pray

Seek God’s face and His will in prayer

Be sensitive to His voice (how He speaks to you) and obey Him.

Daily and continual prayer will bring a daily assignment.

When you receive your assignment, obey God and watch the power of the Light in Darkness as those around you see the manifestation of a child of God.

Love = Unity

In this hour, in this chaotic time, we need unity in love and purpose:

“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments; As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore” (Psalms 133:1-3).

We need to lay our will down and say, like Jesus said, “Not my will but thine be done.”

The world is waiting for the manifestation of Light and the only way they can know that we are children of the Light and true disciples of Jesus Christ is when we manifest that love, first to each other and then to them:

“If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also” (1 John 4:20-21).

“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:34-35).

Praise the Lord

Jesus deserves our total praise.

We would never be content with half-hearted displays of affection, and neither is Jesus. We should guard against tepid praise.

When the Church comes together, there should be an element of celebration and thanksgiving to God for what He has done, will do, and is currently doing:

“Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s. The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed. He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel. The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy” (Psalms 103:1-8).

Depression, a broken spirit, is like a funeral shroud covering an individual who from outside shows signs of life, but it obscures a heavy darkness inside.

Some of these pews today carry the burden of depression worn as a garment heaviness by tormented and hurting souls sitting on them.

Good people? Yes!

Born again folk? Yes!

But hurting all the same…and tired, tired, tired of the battle.

This is why when we, the saints of the most high God, enter into this sanctuary, it becomes a sanctuary of praise:

“Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations” (Psalms 100:1-5).

Reclaim and lay hold again on the uninhibited praise that springs from our lips, and shakes our hands, and moves us to tears as we sing, shout, and dance with holy abandon in total praise to Jesus Christ.

Not just because we serve a praisable and worthy Savior, but our praise creates an atmosphere where joy springs forth and the river of the Holy Gpirit flows with the healing waters of salvation, comfort, healing, deliverance.

You need, I need, we all need to recapture a spirit of Joy and praise and say, “Bless the Lord, o my soul and all that is within me…”

If you see someone praising God in an uninhibited fashion celebrate with them, you don’t know where God brought them from:

“I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together. I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears….O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him” (Psalms 34:1-4, 8).

I assure you, as you praise God with all that is within you, you will lose track of time and you will simply see Jesus. Others will join in and the atmosphere will change as the pure unadulterated power of God will be made manifest.

In that atmosphere, the shekinah glory of God, lives will be changed, hearts mended, bodies healed, homes unified.

Go

God is a missionary and we serve a missional God who have given us a mission:

“Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover” (Mark 16:15-18).

That is the true manifestation of Light in Darkness, of Order in Chaos.

[1] Doyle Rice. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2021/01/08/earth-spinning-faster-than-has-decades/6581600002/. Accessed: 1/10/2021.

[2] Bob Yirka. https://phys.org/news/2021-01-earth-faster.html. Accessed: 1/10/2021.

[3] Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries. katalambanō (G2638).

[4] Chaos. Oxford Dictionaries.

<Originally preached on January 10, 2021, at Apostolic Life Cathedral>

Categories
Bible Preaching

An Unexpected Revelation

Apostolic Life Cathedral | 9/24/2023 | 7:00 PM

Text: John 4:4, “And he must needs go through Samaria.”

This event in the chronology of Jesus occurs in the first year of His ministry, and He has already upended the religious practices and expectations of his day:

  1. He was baptized by John. <Unexpected = Behold, the Lamb of…>
  2. The Spirit drove Him into the wilderness for a time of fasting and temptation. <Unexpected = Seal of approval on Him, still tempted>
  3. He chose five of His twelve disciples: John, Andrew, Simon (Cephas), Philip and Nathanael. <Unexpected = name change, no guile>
  4. His first miracle in Cana of Galilee where He turned the water into wine (Jn. 2:1-11). <Unexpected = Best for last>
  5. The First Passover of His earthly ministry occurs, He cleanses the Temple, and He prophesied His death and resurrection:
    1. John 2:13-22, “(13)  And the Jews’ passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem, (14)  And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: (15)  And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables; (16)  And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise. (17)  And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up. (18)  Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign [what miracle or authority] shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things? (19)  Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. (20)  Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? (21)  But he spake of the temple of his body. (22)  When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.” <Unexpected = Messiah suddenly comes to His temple, Mal. 3:1>
  6. He reveals the necessity of being born again to a Jewish leader named Nicodemus: John 3:1-21. <Unexpected = New Birth>

All these Unexpected Events and Revelations occur in a short amount of time at the beginning of Jesus’ earthly ministry

Then He goes through Samaria – He must need go through Samaria.

Here we lift our text and announce the thought:

An Unexpected Revelation

John 4:1-26

(1)  When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John,

(2)  (Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,)

(3)  He left Judaea, and departed again into Galilee.

(4)  And he must needs go through Samaria.

(5)  Then cometh he to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph.

(6)  Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour.[1]

(7)  There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink.

(8)  (For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.)

(9)  Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.

(10)  Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.

(11)  The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water?

(12)  Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle?

(13)  Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:

(14)  But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

(15)  The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw.

(16)  Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy husband, and come hither.

(17)  The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband:

(18)  For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly.

(19)  The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet.

(20)  Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.

(21)  Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.

(22)  Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.

(23)  But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.

(24)  God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

(25)  The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things.

(26)  Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.

Jesus rarely chooses the expected path.

Romans 11:33-36

(33)  O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

(34)  For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?

(35)  Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?

(36)  For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

[1] Sixth hour = Noon

Categories
Bible Teaching

The Unexpected and the Overlooked

Apostolic Life Cathedral | 9/3/2023 | 10:00 AM
Categories
Bible Teaching

The Bride of Christ

Apostolic Life Cathedral | 8/27/23 | 10:00 AM

Ephesians 5:25-28, “(25) Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;  (26) That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,  (27) That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.  (28) So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.”

We’re going to a wedding…