1 John 5:4

Faith Distorted- What faith is not:

1. Faith is not about _us_ and what we do or think.

• positive thinking
• wishful dreaming 
• creative visualizing
• positive confession
• denying reality

2. Faith is not about having _enough faith_ to manipulate the hand of God.

False Teaching:

More faith= health, wealth, and comfort.

• creates _shame_
• spiritual hierarchy (slick hair super-hero’s.)
• disappointment: apostacy

3. Faith is not about God never letting you down.

So why does this false teaching “faith fixes everything” keep showing up and influencing others?

• feels good
• feeds the carnal mind
• sells

Faith Defined- What is Faith?

Hebrews 11:1

Faith is confidence without fear that we know is truth to which we act upon it…_God’s divine persuasion_.

“Pistis”

Faith- The image of _confidence_.

Belief- The image of relational assessment.

Trust- The image of _action_.

What will my faith fix?

1). My faith fixes my _relationship_ with God.

Ephesians 2:1–5

Ephesians 2:8

2). My faith fixes my _access_ to God’s power and peace.

Hebrews 11:1–3

Hebrews 11:6

Hall of “Faith” Fame

Abel, Enoch, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses’ parents, Moses, Jewish people, Rahab, Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephtan, David, Samuel, Prophets.

Faith won’t fix suffering and even death

Hebrews 11:13–16

Hebrews 11:33–40

Faith won’t fix a surety of all of God’s promises now.

3). My faith fixes my _weakness_ to grow weary and lose heart.

Hebrews 12:1–3

God wont give you more than you can handle….right?

God’s Word is Divine Solutions for human problems.

What do you say to comfort one who is suffering, life falling apart?

Conventional wisdom instead of Scriptural  Wisdom.

This bumper sticker theology that’s designed to make people feel better  doesn’t work  and in fact, it’s a  spiritual land mine .

What does the Bible say:

1. The Bible doesn’t  teach it .

1 Corinthians 10:13

“Temptation”= 

1. tempted to sin
2. trials
3. suffering

Exegetical Fallacy:

Interpretation of a single word with  every possible  meaning to communicate a Biblical truth.

Key to understand and interpret Scripture is contextual understanding and insight.

Two Errors to “God won’t give you more than you can handle.”

• God is fear.
• Cultural virtue to fairness.

Matthew 5:45

His ways aren’t subject to our culture’s standard of fairness.

Another Error:

•Suffering always waits until you are ready.

It points us inward, but the Bible always points us God-ward.

Psalm 46:1–3

So the Bible doesn’t teach “God will not give us more than we can handle and secondly, the Bible teaches the  opposite .

1. The Bible teaches the  opposite .

1 Corinthians 1:8–10

So, how do we handle life when it seems over-bearing and more than we can endure?

Answer: We are in good company.

2. God is faithful to meet us in the  mess .

John 16:33

2 Corinthians 12:7–10

Every miracle needs a mess!!

3. God will give us  grace .

2 Corinthians 12:9

4.  Trust  God.

2 Corinthians 1:9

5. God will not give us more than  HE can handle .

1 John 4:4

 

 

The Benefits of The Ascension of Christ

Today???

“Bright Sunday” or “Holy Humor Day.”

May 14th?

Ascension Day

We celebrate Christmas and the Ascension because of God’s fulfillment and accomplishments through Jesus.

The story of Jesus..

• Begins in heaven when He leaves and comes to earth.

Now it ends with Jesus leaving earth to return to Heaven.

• Begins with being born from a virgin, descending upon earth. 

Now ends with being born again from death and resurrection, ascending to Heaven.

• Begins with the expectation of a Messiah.

Now ends with the consummation of a Savior and King.

• Begins with the praise of angels and shepherds.

Now ends with the praise of Jesus’  disciples and fishermen.

• Begins with hope unrealized.

Now ends with hope fully attained.

Luke 24:50

Luke 24:51

Luke 24:52–53

“Great Joy”

Psalm 103:2b

Benefits of Christ’s Ascension

Jesus _returned_ to the Father.

John 16:28

John 20:17

Benefit: “That where I am, there you shall be.”

Jesus shares His heavenly _home_.

• Jesus _took His place_ on Heaven’s throne.

Ephesians 1:20–21

Ephesians 1:22–23

Revelation 3:21

Benefit: Jesus shares His Heavenly _throne_.

• Jesus _poured out_ the Holy Spirit.

John 14:16–17

John 16:7

Acts 2:32–33

Benefit: The Holy Spirit lives in us.

Acts 1:1–2

• Jesus _prays_ for us.

Romans 8:34

1 John 2:1

Benefit: Jesus is our prayer warrior.

• Jesus _accesses_ God’s throne for mercy and grace.

Hebrews 4:14

“Passed through the heavens” = ascension language.

Hebrews 4:15–16

Benefit: Jesus is our access for help.

Jesus _will come_ again.

John 14:1–3

Acts 1:11

Benefit: Jesus plans our homecoming.

 

Resurrection Love: Christ’ Response To Broken Relationship

He is Risen!!

He is Risen, Indeed!!!

We know love in Jesus’ death.

[[John 3:16]]

[[Romans 5:8]]

We know love in Jesus Resurrection.

[[Ephesians 2:4–6]]

This is love-

God freeing us from sin.

Sin is _missing the mark_.

The mark is not behavior but it is _relationship_ and _union with God_. 

Therefore, sin (missing the mark) is…

broken relationship turning away from God. 

The heart of the gospel is simple:

It is never about behaving our way back to God’s good graces, but yielding to His grace, mercy and under HIS authority.

Downward spiral of sin’s progression:

• Rebellion- the decision to move away from God.

• Transgression- violation; crossing over boundaries.

• Strongholds- powerful enslavement; captivating .

• Fatal/Game over- spiritual/eternal separation.

[[John 21]]

“I am going fishing.”

When broken relationship mingles with shame it always leads to the road away from God.

• Isolation
• disqualification
• un-forgiveness
• point of no return

Look at Jesus response to broken relationship.

• Jesus meets you where you are.

[[John 21:4]]

Jesus gives you second chances. 

[[John 21:5–8]]

Jesus never stops _chasing_ you.

[[John 21:15–19]]

Relationship restored. -that’s the love and power of the resurrection.

What the resurrected Jesus did for Peter, He still wants to do for you.

• Sin can be forgiven.

[[Romans 5:6–9]]

• Reconciliation- _right relationship.

[[Romans 5:10–11]]

• Relationship means restoration.

Resurrection Good News. . . .

Beyond the grave, Jesus conquered death to bring life and freedom from shame and guilt to restore and renew broken relationship.

A “valley” means mistake or at least a wrong turn. . . . right??

A “valley” is prolonged moments of pain, sorrow, or suffering that we want a way to escape.

So where did this idea that valley’s are just wrong?

• ++Negative bad experiences.
• ++Not a God-thing.

Proverbs 19:3

The idea that every long-term valley is a result of the consequences of mistakes or wrong turns, whether its ours or others, can lead to come serious problems. . .

1. Spiritual lessons are ignored and avoided.

2. Lack of the development of Godly character.

3. Tendency to make self-centered decisions in order to get self-relief from the agony of a valley.

4. Miss an opportunity to see God’s power or deliverance and healing.

Remember this….

++A miracle needs a mess.

So if a valley doesn’t necessarily mean a mistake or a wrong turn, then what?

It depends.

Short term- No end in sight.

Self-inflicted- Fallen world-inflicted.

God sent- Who knows?

Why do we end up in valleys?

• ++”God sent me here” valley.

“When obedience backfires.”

• “I messed up” valley.

• “Over priced, self-guided” valley.

• “Who knows” valley. 

Hidden Valleys

Judges 1:9

Valley of Job

How do we respond?

1. Find out which valley you’re in.

2. Don’t take _short cuts_.

3. Accept the _consequences_.

Hebrews 12:5–8

4. Don’t run away.

1 Peter 4:15

1 Peter 4:19

What can we learn in the valleys?

1. Lessons can be learned.

• Rejoice

James 1:2

• Preserve

James 1:3–4

• Wisdom

2. Even bad things can make us stronger.

2 Corinthians 12:9–10

Psalm 23

 

Laying on of Hands

The Gifts of the Holy Spirit

1 Corinthians 14:1 ESV

Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.

Tongues: Controversial Subject because of over emphasis and because of neglect.

Acts 2:1–4 ESV

When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Acts 19:1–7 ESV

And it happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the inland country and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples. And he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They said, “Into John’s baptism.”
And Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus.” On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying. There were about twelve men in all.

Acts 10:12–15 ESV

In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air. And there came a voice to him: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God has made clean, do not call common.”

Acts 10:44–48 ESV

While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared, “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days.

Tongues and Prophecy were normal and regular signs of being filled with the Holy Spirit.

Tongues were a common sign, but not a necessary sign. Pentecostalism has over-emphasized the gift, as a reaction, the mainline churches have resisted the gift and attacked it.

Dispensationalists have called the gifts of the Holy Spirit demonic, saying irrationally that the supernatural is not for today; a doctrine that has no scriptural basis.

Who are we to tell the Holy Spirit what he can and cannot do? God who is the same yesterday, today and forever… we can declare he cannot do what he did for the church?

1  Corinthians gives us the ONLY picture of what early church worship was really like. It is the church in practice and the gifts were democratically distributed – Everyone was a participant.

—

They were NOT an audience!

—

So what did it look like?

1 Corinthians 12:4–11 ESV

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit,
to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.

1 Corinthians 12:27–31 ESV

Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.

1 Corinthians 14:1–5 ESV

Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit. On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation.
The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church. Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up.

1 Corinthians 14:23–25 ESV

If, therefore, the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are out of your minds? But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all, the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you.

Been there done that! Pentecostal Church in Beaumont.

1 Corinthians 14:26–33 ESV

What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up. If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn, and let someone interpret. But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silent in church and speak to himself and to God.
Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said. If a revelation is made to another sitting there, let the first be silent. For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged, and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets. For God is not a God of confusion but of peace.

1 Corinthians 14:39–40 ESV

So, my brothers, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. But all things should be done decently and in order.

John 14:12–14 ESV

“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.

Why did Jesus “taste death?”

Hebrews 2:8–10

“For it was fitting.”

Jesus’ death was fitting because. . . .

1. “Perfect through suffering.”

God did not “perfect” Jesus by improving Him through suffering.

*Suffering wasn’t about character- it was about mission. 

Without suffering and death

• He wouldn’t fully share our experience.
• *He couldn’t defeat death from the inside.
• *He couldn’t lead us where we need to go.

Jesus’ death was fitting because. . . .

2. It destroys and delivers us from death and the _fear_ of death.

Hebrews 2:14–16

3. Satisfies our _debt_ of sin.

Hebrews 2:17

“A merciful and faithful high priest”

*”propitiation” = to appease someone’s anger.

4. Identifies with us.

Hebrews 2:18

Summary:

*The message is not… Suffering is good, so deal with it!

Our savior did not rescue us from a distance. He walked the same road as we walk and came out the other side victorious.

Suffering is not God’s preferred way or a destination. 

God’s glory is. . . .

Jesus is a divine _model_ of dying grace.

Stephen is a human _example_ of dying grace.

Acts 7:54

Acts 8:1a

Three ways death becomes a servant to God’s, servant.

1. Death becomes a _window_ of Heaven.

Acts 7:54–56

What does Stephen see?

*”Son of Man”

Matthew 25:31–33

1 Peter 3:22

Revelation 12:10

Romans 8:33

2. Death becomes a _doorway_ to Jesus.

Acts 7:59

3. Death becomes a _testimony_ of impact. 

Acts 7:60

Death is designed by it’s author (Satan) to produce despair, resentment, bitterness, self-pitty, and hate (God and others.) 

But God’s design render’s the power and fear of death by making it an occasion of love and grace for others with the promise of hope.

Longinus

*Saul

Acts 7:58

Acts 8:1a

Death: A Servant of Dying Grace

Why do we have this innate, natural fear of death?

Two-sided Coin:

Fear can paralyze.

No fear can disarm.

Why do we have this innate, natural fear of death?

One of the most effective tools to dismantle and enslave people, both Christians and non-Christians, is the fear of death.

Hebrews 2:14

“Who holds the power of death.”

Deuteronomy 32:29

Revelation 1:18

How does the devil hold the power of death?

• Temptations
• Accusations
• Deceptions
• Lies

The author of sin is the author of consequences.

The devil has the power of death but uses the promotion of the fear of death to enslave us.

Hebrews 2:15

We are not made to handle death alone!

God gives us extraordinary grace for this extraordinary Dying Grace.

Biblical View of Death:

• Death is an enemy.

1 Corinthians 15:25–26

1 Corinthians 15:54

Because we were not created to die. . . . .

• Death is a _curse_.

Romans 5:12

Romans 5:21

Death is _conquered_.

1 Corinthians 15:54–57

Death is now a _servant_.

Romans 8:35–39

1 Corinthians 3:21–23

Death is yours the way you are Christ’s.

And you are Christ’s to serve Him and glorify Him.

So it is with death. . . .

Death is your servant in order to glorify your life in Christ.

Like a good and faithful servant who stands before His Master and Lord to give account. 

Death is that servant who ushers us into the presence of God and renders a defeated account.

Points to remember:

• Defeated death is now a servant.

• The terrible and frightful enemy (death) has now become a tutor of Heaven. 

Even in the enemy’s destruction’s, they are now made to serve the saints!