Redeemed Through The Blood Of Christ

Scripture Reading:  Colossians 1:13-23

OPENING:  Everyone is in need of redemption … Our natural condition is characterized by guilt … Romans 3:23 explains this … “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” … Christ’s redemption has freed us from guilt, by being “justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” as seen in  Romans 3:24 … Tonight we are going to look at the benefits of our redemption through Christ Jesus and come to better understand what redemption is …

     The Benefits Of Redemption:

          1.)  Eternal life:  Revelation 5:9-10  And they sang a new song: "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth."

          2.)  Forgiveness of sins:  Ephesians 1:7  In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace

          3.)  Righteousness:  Romans 5:17  For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.

          4.)  Freedom from the law’s curse:  Galatians 3:13  Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree."

          5.)  Adoption into God’s family:  Galatians 4:5  to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.

          6.)  Deliverance from sin’s bondage:  Titus 2:14  who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.  And …  

          1 Peter 1:14-18  As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy." Since you call on a Father who judges each man's work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear. For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers,

          7.)  Peace with God:  Colossians 1:18-20  And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

          8.)  The indwelling of the Holy Spirit:  1 Corinthians 6:19-20  Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.

          So, to be redeemed is to be forgiven, holy, justified, free, adopted, and reconciled … What an awesome God we serve …

 

     What Does Redeemed Mean?:

          The word redeem means “to buy out.” …  The term was used specifically in reference to the purchase of a slave’s freedom … The application of redeemed to Christ’s death on the cross is obvious … If we are “redeemed” then our prior condition was one of slavery … We were slaves to sin … God has purchased our freedom, and we are no longer in bondage to sin or to the Old Testament law … It is a metaphorical use of “redemption” in the teaching of

          Galatians 3:13  Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree."

          Galatians 4:5  to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.

          Related to the Christian concept of redemption is the word ransom … Jesus paid the price for our release from sin and its consequences …

          Matthew 20:28  just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

          1 Timothy 2:6  who gave himself as a ransom for all men--the testimony given in its proper time.

          His death was in exchange for our life … Scripture is clear that redemption is only possible “through His blood,” … By His death … Colossians 1:14  in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

CLOSING:  We are redeemed, forgiven, and free … Once slaves to sin, now saints of the most high … We will sing a new song, a song of praise to the Redeemer, who was slain for us, as we see in: Revelation 5:9  And they sang a new song: "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.  We were slaves to sin, condemned to eternal separation from God … Jesus paid the price to redeem us … The result is our freedom from slavery to sin … Jesus rescued us from the eternal consequences of sin … This new year, reflect on the price that Jesus paid for us, when tempted by sin, think of the ultimate price that was paid for our redemption … 

Merry CHRISTmas

Greetings everyone, today we did not have an evening service.  I asked all to stay home with their loved ones and share this most joyous day with family.  We should remember Christ everyday but for many of our un-saved loved ones this is not the case. Christmas is an excellent time to share the love of Jesus with them.  Many are open to listening to God's word this time of year so why not take advantage of their willingness to listen.  I have a short "sermon" to share with everyone this evening. What is Christmas all about?

The true meaning of Christmas is love. John 3:16-17 says, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." The true meaning of Christmas is the celebration of this incredible act of love.

The real Christmas story is the story of God's becoming a human being in the Person of Jesus Christ. Why did God do such a thing? Because He loves us !! Why was Christmas necessary? Because we needed a Savior !! Why does God love us so much? Because He is love itself (1 John 4:8). Why do we celebrate Christmas each year? Out of gratitude for what God did for us, we remember His birth by giving each other gifts, worshiping Him, and being especially conscious of the poor and less fortunate.

The true meaning of Christmas is love. God loved His own and provided a way—the only Way—for us to spend eternity with Him. He gave His only Son to take our punishment for our sins. He paid the price in full, and we are free from condemnation when we accept that free gift of love. "But God demonstrated His own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8).

I pray that everyone remembers the love that God has for us everyday and shares that love with others.  Till next God Bless ....

The Gift Of Christ

Scripture Reading:  Luke 2:1-20

OPENING:  We all know the story of our Saviors birth … No birth in history can compare to that of a baby boy who was born in the village of Bethlehem … At that time, the Roman Empire ruled most of the known world … Very few people cared about the tiny town of Bethlehem, much less the birth of a Jewish infant named Jesus … God saw things differently … This small baby would grow up to one day die on a cross for the sins of all mankind … God inspired Luke to record the facts about Jesus' birth and His purposes for coming to earth …

     The Gift Of Christ:

          2 Corinthians 9 :15  Thanks be to God for this indescribable gift! … Paul who was a scholar and very versed in the scriptures describes an infant and gift from God that was indescribable … The word is not seen in the Greek language until Paul uses it … Such a gift that their was no word to describe this wonderful gift we received …

          Luke 2:  Why doesn't Luke start at Vs 6? … Luke's purpose … He didn't want anyone to miss out on Jesus’ lineage … Cesar wrote a decree that everyone would return to their county seat to be accounted for … This was done to gain in finances and have all the men accounted for in case they were needed for war … God had different plans … Mary and Joseph needed to be in Bethlehem for the birth of Jesus … Our God was preparing the world for the gift of Christ just as he had promised in the scriptures …

          Joseph and Mary went up from Galilee to Bethlehem … Joseph was from the line of David and that is where his family was from …

          Micah 5:2-4  "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans  of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times. " Therefore Israel will be abandoned until the time when she who is in labor gives birth and the rest of his brothers return to join the Israelites. He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth.

          Augustus thought he was in control but our God had a plan … To place our Lord and Savior in a little town born of peasant parents … The Israelites were looking for a glorious king to lead them from the Roman rule … They didn't see or imagine that our Savior would be born in that tiny town … Imagine Bethlehem filled with people who didn't want to be there but had to be because of this decree … No place to stay because the town was full and all rooms were taken …

          The time arrives and Mary cries out in pain … Joseph is notably absent from Vs 6 and 7 but Luke gives us the physicians view of the account … How did Luke know? … A friendship between them existed and Mary may have given him her account of Jesus birth … God, for the first time, was now in human flesh …

          Cesar thinks he had the world fully under his control but how many know the linage of the Cesar's? … How many know the story of our Lord and Savior? …

          Vs 9  An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.   The light of God showed around the shepherds … what a glorious sight these shepherds saw … Imagine the reaction of these men as this great light shows down upon them to deliver the wonderful news of the birth of a Savior …

 

          Vs 10  But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people … In God’s grace he calms the shepherds so they do not miss the message … The shepherds listen to the words that amaze them …

          Vs. 11  Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.  … Today … For you … For all mankind … a Savior is born … What a wonderful gift for all who will call upon the name of Jesus Christ … A universal message …

          Vs 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." … A sign given to the shepherds of where to find the baby Jesus … Many babies may have been born that night but only one was laying in a manger wrapped in swaddling cloths …

          Vs 13-14  Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." … Just as the angles praised and sang songs when God created the earth … They came and praised and sang for joy … God has been born on earth …

          Vs 15  When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about." … What if these shepherds were like many of today? … Jesus is in a manger? … God with us? … It’s doesn't make sense … It must be a trick … Shepherds were not scholarly or educated they were poor men trying to make a living, searching for hope … Look at their response … "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about …

          When they had seen the child they had no doubt that the messiah was before them … The first evangelists, shepherds, not professionals, shepherds … No gifts were brought to Christ … Magi came from the East and brought gifts to Jesus … He didn't need these gift’s, He was the gift … It was an expression of their worship …

CLOSING:  As prophesied, Jesus Christ came to earth as a baby in a manger in Bethlehem … Jesus fulfilled many of the prophecies of the Messiah during His birth, life, ministry, death, and resurrection … There are some prophecies about the Messiah that Jesus has not yet fulfilled … The second coming of Christ will be the return of Christ to fulfill the remaining prophecies … In His first coming, Jesus was the suffering Servant … In His second coming, Jesus will be the conquering King … In His first coming, Jesus arrived in the most humble of circumstances … In His second coming, Jesus will arrive with the armies of heaven at His side … We all know the story of Jesus Christ’s first coming … Do you have Christ in your heart as your Lord and Savior? … The gift of eternal life is free, if you haven't accepted Jesus into your heart don't let this opportunity slip away … The second coming of Christ is near and we need to be prepared in our hearts for His arrival …

Feast or Fast

Scripture Reading: Matthew 6:5-8 & 16-18

OPENING:  Fasting and Prayer … Do the two go together? … Does God answer our prayers with favor when we fast? … Is fasting mandatory when praying? … The two defiantly go hand and hand … Tonight we are going to look and see what the scripture has to say about fasting …

     What Does Scripture Say?:

          Scripture does not command us to fast … God does not require or demand it … The Bible does however present fasting as something that is good, profitable, and beneficial … The book of Acts records believers fasting before they made important decisions:

          Acts 13:2  While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them."

          Acts 14:23  Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.

          Fasting and prayer are often linked together:

          Luke 2:37  and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.

          Luke 5:33  They said to him, "John's disciples often fast and pray, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours go on eating and drinking."

          Too often, the focus of fasting is on the lack of food … The purpose of fasting should be to take your eyes off the things of this world to focus completely on God … Fasting is a way to demonstrate to God, and to ourselves, that we are serious about our relationship with Him … Fasting helps us gain a new perspective and a renewed reliance upon God …

          A common thread connecting prayer and fasting seems to run through the Bible … In the Old Testament, it appears it had to do with a sense of need and dependence … Or in the face of actual or anticipated problems … Prayer and fasting are combined in the Old Testament in times of mourning, repentance, and/or deep spiritual need …

          The first chapter of Nehemiah describes Nehemiah praying and fasting, because of his deep distress over the news that Jerusalem had been destroyed … His many days of prayer were with tears, fasting, confession on behalf of his people, and pleas to God for mercy … So intense was the outpouring of his concerns that it’s almost inconceivable he could “take a break” in the middle of such prayer to eat and drink …

          The devastation that fell upon Jerusalem also prompted Daniel to pray and fast:

          Daniel 9:3   “So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes”

          Like Nehemiah, Daniel fasted and prayed that God would have mercy upon the people: Vs. 5  “We have been wicked and have rebelled; we have turned away from your commands and laws”

          

Fasting is linked with intercessory prayer … David prayed and fasted over his sick child:

          2 Samuel 12:16  David pleaded with God for the child. He fasted and went into his house and spent the nights lying on the ground.

          Esther urged Mordecai and the Jews to fast for her as she planned to appear before her husband the king:

          Esther 4:16  "Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish."

          Clearly, fasting and petition are closely linked …

          We see examples of prayer and fasting as a way of worshipping the Lord and seeking His favor … In Luke 2:37 Anna:  “never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying” … Fasting along with prayer seems to indicate a sincerity of the person and the critical nature of the situation that they are in …

     How Do We Fast?:

          Fasting in Scripture is almost always abstaining from food but there are other ways to fast … Anything given up temporarily in order to focus all our attention on God can be considered a fast:

          1 Corinthians 7:1-5  Now for the matters you wrote about: It is good for a man not to marry. But since there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband. The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. The wife's body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband. In the same way, the husband's body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife. Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

          Fasting should be limited to a set time, especially when fasting from food … Fasting is not intended to punish the flesh, but to redirect attention to God … The purpose of a biblical fast is to gain a deeper fellowship with God … Anyone can fast, but some may not be able to fast from food … Everyone can temporarily give up something in order to draw closer to God …

CLOSING:  By taking our eyes off the things of this world, we can better turn our attention to Christ … Fasting is not a way to get God to do what we want … Fasting changes us, not God … Fasting is not a way to appear more spiritual than others … Fasting is to be done in a spirit of humility and with a joyful attitude … Fasting is a way to express ourselves with an undivided devotion to God and our spiritual life … It is expressed by abstaining for a short time from normal and good things … It is done to enjoy a time of uninterrupted communion with our Father … Like our scripture reading say’s, it is between you and God … Don’t let others know that you are fasting, do it privately and without grumbling … The results of fasting will draw you closer to God …

Led By The Spirit Or By The Flesh ?

Scripture Reading:  Galatians 5:13-26

OPENING:  Tonight’s scripture reading tells us that we need to live by the Spirit of God and not by the flesh … Are we living by the Spirit or are we still trying to satisfy our flesh? … Tonight we are going to look into what scripture is telling us but first we need to understand what the flesh is and what the Spirit of God is …

     What Is The Flesh?:

          The Greek word for flesh is sarx … It refers to the physical body of a person … A Greek-English Lexicon describes the word as: “the physical body as functioning entity; all parts of the body constitute a totality known as flesh, which is dominated by sin to such a degree that wherever flesh is, all forms of sin are likewise present, and no good thing can live.”

          The Bible makes it clear, humanity did not start out this way … In Genesis we see that humankind was originally created good and perfect:  Genesis 1:26-27  "Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness . . . God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them” …

          Because God is perfect, and He created them in His image Adam and Eve were created good and without sin … When Adam and Eve sinned, their nature was corrupted and that nature was passed along to their offspring:  Genesis 5:3  "When Adam had lived one hundred and thirty years, he became the father of a son in his own likeness, according to his image, and named him Seth" …

          The end result of sin was a nature referred to as the ‘flesh’ … It is something that opposes God and seeks sinful gratification … “The flesh is a built-in law of failure, making it impossible for natural man to please or serve God. It is a compulsive inner force inherited from man’s fall, which expresses itself in general and specific rebellion against God and His righteousness. The flesh can never be reformed or improved. The only hope for escape from the law of the flesh is its total execution and replacement by a new life in the Lord Jesus Christ.”  (Pastor Mark Bubek)

     The Struggle With The Flesh:

          How does the flesh manifest itself in human beings? … The Bible answers the question this way: Galatians 5:19-21 "Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God”

          Examples of the flesh working in the world can be seen in many ways … Here are a few facts taken from a recent survey on the effect of pornography in America … Every second in the U.S.:

                                                  $3,075.64 is being spent on pornography
                                              28,258 Internet users are viewing pornography
                            372 Internet users are typing adult search terms into search engines
                    Every 39 minutes, a new pornographic video is being created in the United States

Jeremiah sums it up best in Jeremiah 17:9  “The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; who can understand it?”

          

The Bible is clear that a number of consequences occur from living in the flesh …

               1.)  Scripture states that those who live according to the flesh, and who never desire change or repent from their sinful behavior, will experience separation from God both in this life and the next:

               2.)  Romans 6:21  "Therefore what benefit were you then deriving from the things [sinful practices] of which you are now ashamed? For the outcome of those things is death."

               3.)  Romans 8:13  "For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live"

               4.)  Galatians 6:7-8  "Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life."

               5.)  A person also becomes a slave to his/her fleshly nature:  Romans 6:16  “Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness?”

          Hosea 8:7 describes this destructive lifestyle and a deteriorated living:  "For they sow the wind and they reap the whirlwind”

          Obeying the flesh always results in breaking God’s moral law … In a real sense, a person can never break God’s moral law, although they can certainly disobey it … For example, a person can climb on a roof, tie a cape around their neck, leap off the roof in hopes of breaking the law of gravity, and try to fly …  However, they will learn that they can’t fly, can’t break the law of gravity, and the only thing they end up breaking is themselves, while proving the law of gravity … The same is true of moral actions: a person may disobey God’s moral law through fleshly living, but they will sooner or later only prove the moral law of God true by breaking themselves in some way by their own behavior …

     Overcoming The Flesh:

          The Bible provides a three-step process for overcoming the flesh and restoring oneself to a right relationship with God … 

               1.)  Honestly acknowledge our sinful behavior before God … This involves agreeing with what the Bible says about everyone born of human parents: people are sinners and enter the world in a broken relationship with the God Who made them:  Psalm 130:3  "If You, Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?”  and  1 John 1:8,10  "If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. . . . If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us”

               2.)  Walk in the Spirit, which involves calling out to God for salvation and receiving His Holy Spirit that empowers a person to live rightly before God and not obey the flesh’s desires …

               Galatians 2:20  “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me."

          

Romans 6:11  "Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus."

               Galatians 5:16  "But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh."

               Galatians 3:27  "For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.“

               Romans 13:14  "But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.”

               Ephesians 5:18  "And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit"

               Psalm 119:11  "Your word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You."

          3.)  The walk of death, where the flesh is starved of its desires so that it eventually dies … Even though a person becomes born again we must understand we still possesses the old nature with its desires … It wars with the new nature and the desires that come from the Spirit … A Christian should purposely avoid feeding the old, fleshly nature and practice new behaviors that are driven by the Spirit:

               1 Timothy 6:11  "But flee from these things [sinful actions], you man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness”

               2 Timothy 2:22  “Now flee from youthful lusts”

               1 Corinthians 9:27  "but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.“

               Colossians 3:5  "Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry."

 
               Romans 6:6  "knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin;"

 
               Ephesians 4:20-24  "But you did not learn Christ in this way, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.”

CLOSING:  Charles Wesley, described sin and the flesh this way: "Whatever weakens your reasoning, impairs the tenderness of your conscience, obscures your sense of God, or takes away your relish for spiritual things, in short - if anything increases the authority and the power of the flesh over the Spirit, that to you becomes sin however good it is in itself.” … One of the goals of the Christian life is the victory of the Spirit over the flesh and a change of life, which manifests in righteous living before God … Although the struggle will be very real, Christians have assurance from God that He will bring them eventual success over the flesh … Philippians 1:6  "For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus”