Tag: Stephen Kuntzman

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Bible Teaching

The Humility of Holiness

Apostolic Life Cathedral | 12/3/2023 | 10:00 AM

The Humility of Holiness

Isaiah 6:1-8, “(1) In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.  (2)  Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.  (3)  And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.  (4)  And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke.  (5)  Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.  (6)  Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar:  (7)  And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.  (8)  Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.”

Deuteronomy 17:12-13 “(12) And the man that will do presumptuously, and will not hearken unto the priest that standeth to minister there before the LORD thy God, or unto the judge, even that man shall die: and thou shalt put away the evil from Israel.  (13)  And all the people shall hear, and fear, and do no more presumptuously.”

Exodus 21:14, “But if a man come presumptuously upon his neighbour, to slay him with guile; thou shalt take him from mine altar, that he may die.”

Isaiah 57:15, “For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.“

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Bible Teaching

The Purpose of Holiness

Text: Daniel 3:13-18

(13)  Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king.

(14)  Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up?

(15)  Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?

(16)  Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.

(17)  If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.

(18)  But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

The example of these three Hebrew men – Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego – tugs at our heart, penetrates our mind, and attaches to our soul because it calls to something greater and nobler within ourselves.

The notion, the belief, the conviction to stand in holiness for Jesus Christ no matter what threats, attacks, and fiery darts, seen or unseen, the adversary brings our way.

These three stood their ground BEFORE the pouring out of the promise of the Holy Spirit, and their example of holiness and faithfulness gives us great hope to stand in this evil day.

Today, we have the added benefit of Holy Ghost empowerment to face, as they did, persecution and martyrdom:

“But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses [Greek: martus[1]] unto me…” (Acts 1:8a)

“Those who after His example have proved the strength and genuineness of their faith in Christ by undergoing a violent death.”[2]

It was their total commitment to God that wouldn’t allow them to compromise their faith and holiness — They Would Not Bow.

Because they refused to set aside their principles of faith and holiness:

  • Nebuchadnezzar got mad – the adversary always gets angry when his plans are thwarted.
  • A fiery furnace was heated up seven times hotter than normal
  • The Three Hebrews were thrown bound into the fiery furnace by the king’s mighty men
  • Those same mighty men died from the heat of the furnace
  • But there still standing, are Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego unbound, unharmed, and not alone.
    • Don’t ever think that The Purpose of Holiness goes unseen and unaccounted for by God.
    • He sees, hears, understands and knows all things: “The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry” (Psalms 34:15).
    • “Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy; To deliver their soul from death…” (Psalms 33:18-19a).
    • Psalms 147:5, “Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.”
    • Isaiah 40:28, “Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.
    • Romans 11:33, “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!”
    • Hebrews 4:13, “Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.”
  • Yes, the LORD saw Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego stand.
  • Yes, He heard their declaration of faith and their commitment to remain holy, even if they were not delivered.
  • Yes, “The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations” (2 Peter 2:9).

They were not alone, the Lord showed up, just in time (Dan. 3:24-28):

(24)  Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king.

(25)  He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.

(26)  Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of the midst of the fire.

(27)  And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king’s counsellors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them.

  • When you understand The Purpose of Holiness you will know that you can walk in faith and holiness untouched, unharmed, unscathed by the adversary’s attack.
  • You will not be burnt, singed, or even carry the stench of hell on you.

(28)  Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God.

  • That is the The Purpose of Holiness: The willingness to die, to become a martyr if necessary, rather than serve or worship any god except the Lord Jesus Christ and to become His witness to this world.

The Purpose of Holiness

David K. Bernard on Holiness:

  • “God is holy; holiness is an essential attribute of His nature. With respect to Him, it means absolute purity and moral perfection. With respect to man, holiness means conformity to the character of God. We must be holy because God is holy (I Peter 1:15-16). It means thinking as God thinks, loving what He loves, hating what He hates, and acting as Christ would act.”[3]
  • “The essence of true holiness is to be Christlike, to live as He lived and, in any given situation, to act as He would act.”[4]
  • “Inward holiness will produce outward holiness, but the outward appearance of holiness is worthless without inward holiness. For example, a modest spirit will produce modest dress, but modest dress is of little value if it conceals a lustful heart.”[5]

Righteousness and holiness are inseparable (Romans 6:16-23):

(16)  Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

(17)  But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.

(18)  Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

(19)  I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.

(20)  For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.

(21)  What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.

(22)  But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.

(23)  For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The Purpose of Holiness is realized when you allow the Holy Spirit of Christ to abide in you and submit to His influence in your life

Our Jesus lived a life of holiness with the purpose of saving you from being beat down by the self-destructive lifestyle of sin.

He purposed to redeem you from the enslavement of sin by breaking every chain and fetter to it when He condemned sin in His flesh.

The Son’s life of holiness delivers you from the wages of sin (Death) by granting you the gift of God (Eternal Life).

Jesus’ purposeful life of holiness has inexorably, inevitably, and most certainly empowered you to live a holy life, even to the point where the threat of death will lead you so say, as those three Hebrew men of Daniel’s day said to a heathen king:

“…we will not try to defend ourselves. If the God whom we serve is able to save us from the blazing furnace and from your power, then He will. But even if he doesn’t…we will not worship your god, and we will not bow down to the gold statue that you have set up” (Dan. 3:16-18).

2 Cor. 5:21, “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.”

Jesus was not just a substitutionary sin offering for you and I, and He certainly did not become a sinful person on the cross.

But, He became the Sin-Bearer for all of humanity: you, and I, and all that have lived, are living, and shall ever live.

“He has made Him to be sin for us!”

When we consider Jesus and The Purpose of Holiness:

  • It was “for this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8b).
  • “Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem [another word they could have used was purpose[6]] Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But
    • He was wounded for our transgressions,
    • He was bruised for our iniquities:
    • the chastisement of our peace was upon Him;
    • and with His stripes we are healed.
  • All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:4-6).

Doesn’t Jesus deserve your praise right now?

This moment right here is the perfect time for you to lift, or clap, your hands in praise to the One who bore your sins and your iniquity.

Right now, raise your voice in a victorious shout to the One who has healed you, delivered you, and given you peace.

Right now, let the love for the One who is your Savior break forth in a symphony of praise and worship.

Right now, Let’s all praise our Jesus together!

[1] Thayer’s Greek Definitions. G3144.

[2] Ibid.

[3] David K. Bernard. Practical Holiness: A Second Look

[4] Ibid.

[5] Ibid.

[6] Strong’s. H2803

Categories
Bible Teaching

The Life of Holiness

Apostolic Life Cathedral | 12/12/2023 | 7:00 PM

Categories
Bible Teaching

The Way of Holiness

Apostolic Life Cathedral | 11/28/2023 | 7:00 PM

Text: Leviticus 20:26

(26)  And ye shall be holy unto me: for I the LORD am holy, and have severed you from other people, that ye should be mine.

I have noticed over the years that some topics seem to raise the hackles on the saints, and at the bare mention of certain key words barriers are put in place.

When a preacher begins to address money, submission, or culturally acceptable, but biblically repudiated sins, mental and spiritual walls are raised and the man of God begins to wage a war to penetrate the barrier that separates the Good Word of God from the minds and hearts of the people.

Holiness is such a word. Hebrew: qadosh = a sacred place…dedicated thing…hallowed…holiness…holy…saint…sanctuary.[1]

You see, God intends to have a holy people, and I would be a poor preacher indeed if I preached only the palatable, only the delectable delights, the banana splits, if you will, of the Word of God.

If I simply stand aside and watch the people of God try to walk in holiness by trial and error, it would be a sin for me to hide from them the whole counsel of God.

Especially, when the Word of God is full of holiness teaching.

Especially, when by ignoring that teaching I fail to let you see Jesus in His totality.

Because God is HOLY, and He has commanded us to be HOLY.

1 Peter 1:15-16, “But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation [behavior]; (16) Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.”

He is sacred, pure, morally blameless

Even unclean spirits recognize Him as holy:

Mark 1:23-26, “(23) And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, (24) Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God. (25)  And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. (26)  And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him.”

And no wonder, sometimes the devils have greater understanding than we do:

James 2:19-20, “(19) Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. (20)  But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?”

It is interesting the role of faith in the life of the believer: “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17).

To have faith for anything that the Bible teaches, including the life of holiness, there must be instruction given from the Word of God.

When you receive that instruction and begin to purposely walk in the way of holiness, you will find the perfect path to God.

  • Is. 35:8, “And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.”
  • “The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it” (Isaiah 40:3-5).
  • Jesus simply said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6).
  • Paul identified “The Way” as an identifying name of the early church: “But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets: (Acts 24:14).

What Way? The way of holiness that Jesus both prepared, exampled, taught and for us.

I’m talking to you about Holiness, and I’m talking about Jesus. He is Holy, He is the Way.

In Acts 4:27, 30 Peter prayed to the Father and referred to the Christ as “thy holy child Jesus.”

Living a clean life relieves the mind, is less stressful on the body, and helps you to maintain a peaceful spirit.

The world needs people who are holy and happy, not more religious people, but more holy people.[2]

Truly holy people are happy people – “We’re a happy people, yes we are…”

Holiness occurs when your faith and obedience to Jesus Christ, allows the power of the Holy Ghost to change you:

Ephesians 4:22-24, “(22) That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;  (23)  And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;  (24)  And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”

That change is evidenced when you allow God’s grace to teach you how to walk in holiness in this present world:

Titus 2:11-14, “(11) For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, (12) Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; (13) Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; (14) Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”

Peculiar = a people selected by God from the other nations for his own possession.[3]

Holiness identifies you definitively as peculiar: Holy, Sacred, Separate, Apart.

So, Paul continued in his letter to the Ephesian Church (Ephesians 4:23-32):

(23)  And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;

(24)  And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

(25)  Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.

(26)  Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:

(27)  Neither give place to the devil.

(28)  Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.

(29)  Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

(30)  And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

(31)  Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour [noise, disorder…brawl[4]], and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:

(32)  And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

That is THE WAY OF HOLINESS

I remember a time in my life that preceded great change, and the Lord dropped this passage in my spirit:

“And ye shall be holy unto me: for I the LORD am holy, and have severed you from other people, that ye should be mine” (Leviticus 20:26).

Holiness:[5]

  • “separation,” or “setting apart.”
  • “Holiness is a general term used to indicate sanctity or separation from all that is sinful, impure, or morally imperfect.”
  • “It is moral wholeness.”
  • “The term is used with reference to persons, places, and things.”

Holiness and separation are inseparable when walking The Way.

We are separated from the practices of sinful people and the ungodliness of this present world,

and we separated unto the Lord Jesus Christ, who is “the way, the truth and the life.”

So, in closing…

2 Corinthians 6:14-18

(14)  Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

(15)  And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?

(16)  And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

(17)  Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

(18)  And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

[1] Strong’s. Brown-Driver-Briggs. H6918.

[2] Clifton Jones. (2005). Holiness Teaching in Unholy Times.

[3] Thayer. G4041.

[4] Strong’s. G2906.

[5] The New Unger’s Bible Dictionary.

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Consider this...

The Healthy Church Podcast – Spiritual & Practical Sides of Ministry

Episode: The Spiritual and Practical Sides of Ministry (12/09/2023): https://sites.libsyn.com/4474441/the-spiritual-and-practical-sides-of-ministry#

We were recently blessed, in West Virginia, by the ministry of Pastor Alan Hosch, and his wife, Rachel. He has been a senior pastor for 18 years and has served the last 14 years as senior pastor of Apostolic Gospel Church of Harris, Minnesota. The Hosch’s also have three sons and two daughters-in-law.

Alan & Rachel have a beautiful ministry of encouragement, especially for those in pastoral ministry. He is also a missionary to South Asia, a podcaster, a bi-vocational pastor and has recently written a book entitled The Healthy Church.

If you serve in any area of ministry The Healthy Church will be a blessing to you. I appreciate Pastor Hosch for having the burden and vision to write such a book because he is addressing issues that need addressed right now in the the Body of Christ.

As presbyter of section 4 in the West Virginia / Wester Maryland District of the United Pentecostal Church International (UPCI), it was my honor to host our section’s annual ministers and spouses Christmas banquet. Pastor Hosch and I were reacquainted at General Conference of the UPCI and after we spoke the Holy Spirit prompted me to ask him to be our guest speaker at the event. I am so glad he was able to oblige us because what he shared with over 60 the pastors, ministers and spouses richly blessed and encouraged them as he spoke on the necessity of refusing to allow the enemy to bind them and their ministries with thoughts of inadequacy and condemnation. If you need similar encouragement, read his book!

Pastor Hosch also has a podcast entitled: The Healthy Church Podcast, which contains over 20 episodes where he has interviewed many ministers from a wide variety of ministries and experiences. If you recognize these names then you will want to give the podcast a listen: Raymond Woodward, Aaron Soto, Jerry Dean, Brian Kinsey and others.

I was pleasantly surprised and honored when Pastor Hosch asked to interview me for the episode linked at the top of this page (and below). Normally, I would not be so bold as to post a podcast I’m in and ask everyone to listen to it, but I believe that Alan Hosch has been situated at a strategic time by God to ask questions, open topics and engage in dialogue that needs to be discussed in our movement.

Some questions in the interview:

  • What is the greatest challenge to the practical side and/or administration of the local church?
  • What is the greatest challenge to the spiritual side of local church ministry?
  • How does one use the Gifts of Wisdom and Knowledge to understandthe hidden struggles in the church?

So, I hope you will give it a listen: The Spiritual and Practical Sides of Ministry.

You can also find The Healthy Church Podcast on Spotify.

Oh, and HAPPY NEW YEAR!

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 Shepherd’s Assurance and Care

Apostolic Life Cathedral | 10/31/2023 | 7:00 PM

Text: Psalms 23:1-6, A Psalm of David

(1) The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

(2)  He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

(3)  He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

(4)  Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

(5)  Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

(6)  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

The beauty of living for Jesus and having an intimate relationship with Him is the reassurance that He gives us as He leads us.

Life is full of extremes, but His assurance is always with us. Our Shepherd, our Creator, Sustainer, Redeemer, Savior looks over us and He sees the end from the beginning.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, “(1) To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:  (2)  A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;  (3)  A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;  (4)  A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;  (5)  A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;  (6)  A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;  (7)  A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;  (8)  A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.”

Jesus is a present in the good times as He is in the bad.

He is just as present in our yesterday as He is in our today and is already awaiting us tomorrow.

It does not matter what the day may bring, He is there…present.

“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness” (Isaiah 41:10).

Did you catch that?

  • Fear not, I am with you…I am present.
  • Don’t be disheartened, or alarmed, I am your God
    • I will reinforce, brace and support you
    • I will help you to bear your trial
  • I will do this because I am faithful

Four Ways the Shepherd Assures Us:[1]

  1. The Shepherd is present
    • “…he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Heb. 13:5).
    • Deuteronomy 31:6, “Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.”
    • Throughout Psalm 23 David reminds himself of God’s assuring presence:
      • He is present in Death Valley, in the green valleys, beside still waters, paths of righteousness, when enemies present themselves.
      • Following close behind His Goodness and Mercy.
      • He is present to restore your soul; anoint your head with His oil; comfort you in the midst of your anxiety and fear.
      • He is present to guide, comfort, restore and assure you
    • Since He is so willing and caring enough to be present with you, then you should develop that intimacy with Him that comes from time spent with Him.
      • It is possible to be with someone and for them not to be with you.
      • To be in the room, but miles away.
      • Not our Jesus, He is every where present at the same time.
    • Henri Nouwen wrote, “the mystery of God’s love is not that He takes our pains away, but that He first wants to share them with us…God is not a distant God, a God to be feared and avoided, a God of revenge, but a God who is moved by our pains and participates in the fullness of the human struggle.”[2]
    • Jesus said, “lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen” (Mt. 28:20).
  2. The Shepherd Guides
    • He leads me beside still waters
    • He leads me in paths of righteousness.
    • He leads me…
    • Three Hebrew verbs that define the way the Shepherd guides us[3]
      • Nahal – leading with tenderness…bringing a flock to a place of rest and refreshment.
      • Nakhah – straightforward guidance
      • Nahag – the kind of directive herding accomplished from the back of the flock, when the shepherd’s will has to be imposed.
    • Trust the Shepherd. He knows the way you need to go.
      • Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heat…”
  3. The Shepherd Provides
    • Lush green pastures, refreshing still waters, rod of correction, staff of protection, lavish table of food, oil, overflowing cup.
    • He daily provides all your needs
    • 1 Peter 5:7, “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”
    • Jehovah-Jireh. He sees and provides
  4. The Shepherd Gives Hope
    • You may be discouraged and disappointed, Discouraged and despondent, but God will provide
    • “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life…”
    • Romans 8:35-39, “(35) Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?  (36)  As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.  (37)  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.  (38)  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,  (39)  Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Jesus, our Shepherd, is present, He guides us, provides for us, and He gives Hope.

[1] Much of this is derived from Tom Nelson’s book The Flourishing Pastor.

[2] Henri J. M. Nouwen. (1992). Show Me the Way.

[3] Tom Nelson. (2021). The Flourishing Pastor.

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

Overcoming the Spirit of Jezebel – Jason Sciscoe

Overcoming the Spirit of Jezebel | Jason Sciscoe

In this series, Jason Sciscoe, of Triumph Ministries International, answers these questions:

  • Who was this woman named Jezebel?
  • Why focus on just this spirit?
  • Why are we giving so much attention something in the demonic world?

Some notes from this series to whet your appetite

(all from Jason Sciscoe)

Jezebel learned how to indoctrinate a culture that supported her. 

“What we’re dealing with in the 21st century right now is not just the spirit of Jezebel, we are dealing with the culture of Jezebel.” -Jason Sciscoe

We don’t need to focus on fighting the spirit or the culture of Jezebel, but instead create a culture of anointed and empowered leaders. 

Change the culture by imparting the anointing to others. How?

“We bring Jezebel down by going back to the agenda of God.” -Jason Sciscoe

Breaking Jezebel’s Influence Means:

  1. There will be a new culture of spiritual awareness. The supernatural will be unleashed. 
  2. Sin in high places will be dealt with. 
  3. People will begin to despise who Jezebel is and what she represents. No longer swayed by her. 
  4. The demonstration of the Holy Spirit will happen and that is the antidote to the manipulations that Jezebel brings. 
  5. Jehu is anointed a the antidote to this spiritual disease/poison. Jehu is the antithesis to Ahab and the antidote to Jezebel. We need a baptism of the spirit of Elisha and Jehu.

“The first layer of Jezebel’s attack is always seduction. It’s never accusation or meanness. It’s always this soft, almost irresistible, magnetic, charismatic, emotional, sensitive, intuitive person.” -Jason Sciscoe

The painting of the face is an illusion.  It’s a model of perfection that doesn’t exist. It’s a seduction. 

“The second layer of attack is accusation, and it is a powerful form of manipulation.” -Jason Sciscoe 

If she can question your righteousness then your prayers will not avail (James 5:16).  

She’ll try to make you feel guilt for obeying God. 

Nothing about Jezebel is legitimate, but she accuses you of being the one undermining authority. 

Expose the truth carefully with wisdom. Don’t get on her web, don’t respond to her accusations, don’t feel guilty and don’t negotiate with the devil on any front. The moment you negotiate means you’re willing to compromise and not accept total victory.  In the case of Jezebel, it’s ok to be intolerant. 

Through the power of the anointing, speak to the people who really know Jezebel. Those who under her control and influence that really know who she is and what she says and does behind closed doors. 

Jehu said, “who is on my side?” 

Her victims know what she is, but they need to be empowered to act.