Father's Day 2015

I Peter 3:7

“Happy Wife, Happy Life”

 Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered. [ESV]

1.            Thoughtful of your wife

                a.            “Live with…” – sometimes our presence is someplace else (work or play).

                b.            “Understanding” – thoughtful consideration.

                c.             Loyalty, affection, and desire,

2.            Treat her with honor

                a.            Image of a “weaker vessel.”  à special treasure, valuable.

                b.            Honor literally means “value” and tends to be what is given to superior officers.

                c.             Social engineering.  Context of wives as property to wives being treated as superior                                       officers.

3.            Strength

                a.            Reality: society is training, insisting, writing laws to make women “equal.”

                b.            God’s design was to create a “partner” for Adam.  (Legal equals, work together)

                c.             Reality check: men can hurt their wives in countless ways.

(ill.) It is said you can measure a man by looking into his wife’s eyes.

(ill) Oprah TV show, teaching women how to protect themselves in a relationship.

4.            Share

                a.            Grace is equally available to men and women.

                b.            “Heirs”… highly unusual for women to be an “heir.”

                c.             Peter (as well as Paul) destroy the social order of the day…

                                … not something better, something best!

5.            Prayer

                a.            God takes this personally.

                b.            Men, you don’t do right by your woman… God says you are on your own.

                c.             Source of living power “hindered.” (Literally “cut off” or “amputated.”)

Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, ²⁶ that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, ²⁷ so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. ²⁸ In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. [Ephesians 5:25 – 28 ESV]

1.            Love à lay down your lives for her

2.            Love à invest in her

3.            Love à She is you. 

The day everything changed

1 Corinthians 15:1 – 22

“The day everything changed”

 

The resurrection of Jesus is THE single most important event… ever.  The resurrection proved who Jesus is, it provided focus for the disciples’ preaching, it is the power of God to transform daily life.

 

 

I.          Why is the resurrection so influential?

 

            A.        The resurrection’s impact.

 

                        1.         PAST: as an historical event it shows us God did something great.

 

“And who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.” [Romans 1:4]

 

                        2.         PRESENT: the power is available for us today.

 

“I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death.” [Philippians 3:10]

 

                        3.         FUTURE: God will do something greater in the future!

 

“So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable.” [1 Corinthians 15:42]

 

            B.        The resurrection’s importance.

 

                        1.         The resurrection is the foundational Christian belief.

 

                        2.         The resurrection is the ultimate source of hope.

 

3.         The resurrection is the guarantee for power in our current life and our future resurrection.

 

II.        Why is the resurrection so critical?

 

            A.        If no resurrection then faith is useless.

 

“And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.” [v 14]

 

1.         The resurrection separates Christianity from every other religion.  You can go to their founders’ occupied graves.

 

2.         Christianity celebrates life, not death.

 

            B.        If no resurrection then we are false witnesses.

 

“More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead.” [v 15]

 

                        1.         The core of being a follower of Jesus is to continue the witness.

 

                        2.         The witness is of the living Jesus.

 

            C.        If no resurrection then there is no salvation.

 

“And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.” [v 17]

 

1.         “Faith” as a general thing is pointless.  People can believe in anything but that does not make it real.

 

2.         “Faith” must be specific and life changing for it to have any effect.  Otherwise it is “futile.”

 

            D.        If no resurrection the “lost” is forever.

 

“Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost.” [v 18]

 

1.         “Lost” is a technical word that means separated from God, like a lost sheep.

 

2.         The state of being “lost” is permanent unless something more powerful than death intervenes… the resurrection!

 

            E.         If no resurrection then we are pitiful.

 

“If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.” [v 19]

 

                        1.         Without the reality of what is promised then everything is empty.

 

                        2.         So Christians would deserve contempt for holding to empty myths.

 

III.       How can we be so sure?

 

            A.        Scripture.  (Prophecy: Predicted before it happened.)

 

“For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, [4] that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.” [vv 3 – 4]

 

            B.        Eye witnesses. (Legal “proof”)

 

“… He appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. [6] After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. [7] Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles.” [vv 5 – 7]

 

            C.        Paul. (Personal experience)

 

“And last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.” [v 8]

 

IV.       What should be our response?

 

            A.        Hope.  (NOT wishful thinking… confident expectation.)

 

“But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. [21] For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man.” [vv 20 – 21]

 

            B.        Celebrate life, both spiritual and eternal.

 

“For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.” [v 22]

 

            C.        Be transformed.

 

For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. [10] But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them--yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.” [vv 9 – 10]

 

1.         God took someone who was actively seeking to destroy Christianity and transformed him into an apostle!

 

2.         God can take you, from whatever place you find yourself and transform you.

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What does “Christian perfection” look like?

1 Thessalonians 5:16 – 18

What does “Christian perfection” look like?

John Wesley – “Rejoice always in uninterrupted happiness in God. Pray without ceasing, which is the fruit of always rejoicing in the Lord. In everything give thanks, which is the fruit of both the former. THIS IS CHRISTIAN PERFECTION. Further than this we cannot go, and we need not stop short of it.”

 

I.         Jesus purchased our joy and righteousness.*

 

            A.        Joy and righteousness is ours through Jesus Christ.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, [4] and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade--kept in heaven for you, [5] who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. [6] In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. [7] These have come so that your faith--of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire--may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. [8] Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, [9] for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” [1 Peter 1:3 – 9]

 

                        1.         Joy is based on our standing in Jesus, not circumstances. [v 6]

 

                                    a.         In Jesus we have a “new birth” and a “living hope.” [v 4]

 

                                    b.         Suffering plays an important part in “proving” our faith. [v 7]

“RO 3:21 But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. [22] This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, [23] for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, [24] and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” [Romans 3:21]

 

                        2.         Righteousness is based on the work of Jesus Christ, not our work.

 

                                    a.         The keeping of the law implied the possibility of earning or deserving salvation.

 

                                    b.         Righteousness comes through one source: Jesus Christ, crucified, risen, and coming again.

 

            B.        Joy killers:

 

                        1.         The desire to gratify the imagination.*

 

                                    a.         These are things that were never designed to satisfy the desire to gratify the immortal spirit.*

“Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. [16] For everything in the world--the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does--comes not from the Father but from the world. [17] The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.” [1 John 2:15 – 17]

 

                                    b.         The real trouble is that all the things we crave (want) outside of Jesus is false and will eventually let us down or betray us.

 

                        2.         Bitterness.*

“See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.” [Hebrews 12:15]

 

                                    a.         Bitterness is connected to missing the grace of God.

 

                                    b.         This affect can be both initially and eventually.

 

                        3.         “Looking for life in things that make you die.” [“Life begins at the cross” by the Alter Boys]

 

                                    a.         When we chase what is false, the end will always be bad.

 

                                    b.         We have so much to confuse us. We add so much to the exercise of religion. We become “smorgasbord” in our approach because we don’t know the Bible.

 

II.       Prayer is the breath of our spiritual life.*

 

            A.        Joy makes us want to be constantly in the presence of God.*

 

                        1.         “Sweet of hour of prayer” vs “pray without ceasing”

 

                                    a.         Someplace we get the idea that the presence of God is something we can enter and leave at will.

 

                                    b.         While at times we are invited into God’s presence for special times, such as church services, Bible reading, prayer... we are constantly in God’s presence!

“To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” [Colossians 1:27]

“Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, [22] set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.” [2 Corinthians 1:21 – 22]

 

            B.        Of all our physical functions... (outside of our heart beating) breathing is the most critical (we die the quickest if this it denied).

 

                        1.         Spiritually, it works the same way... if we disconnect from God in prayer... we will cease to live spiritually.

[Ill. There is an octopus that changes color and is about the size of a golf ball. It is considered the most lethal creature on earth. If a person comes in contact with the octopus, death results in about four minutes and there is no known antidote. The problem is not the octopus, it is a deadly bacteria that grows on its skin. It works because it causes the body to stop breathing which causes cardiac arrest. Basically, its drowning without the water.]

 

                        2.         When you are in love with someone, there is a joy that fills you when you are around them... Joy that is real will compel us to be in the presence of God, constantly in prayer.

 

                                    a.         Here’s life: in Jesus Christ we are alive in the presence of God. There is joy and a desire to continue in that joy is expressed in prayer.

 

                                    b.         We breath spiritually in prayer.

 

III.      Thanksgiving is inseparable from true prayer.*

 

            A.        Thanksgiving in all circumstances?

 

                        1.         Suffering produces good things.

“Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; [4] perseverance, character; and character, hope. [5] And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.” [Romans 5:3 – 5]

 

                                    a.         This is contrary to our desire for comfort and ease.

 

                                    b.         Typically we see suffering as negative (even a curse).

 

                        2.         Suffering confirms relationship.

“Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? [8] If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. [9] Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! [10] Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. [11] No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” [Hebrews 12:7 – 11]

 

                                    a.         Discipline is direction and training, not just punishment.

 

                                    b.         Hardship/suffering helps produce good things in us: holiness, righteousness, and peace.

 

            B         Notice that we are to give thanks IN all circumstances not FOR all circumstances.

 

                        1.         God wants us to maintain rejoicing, constant prayer, and thanksgiving regardless of the circumstances.

 

                                    a.         Nothing can separate us from the love of God. [see Romans 8:35 – 39]

 

                                    b.         If God is still around with His infinite love for us and we have not thrown away our confidence in the saving work and blood of Jesus Christ... Then regardless what circumstance we find ourselves in, we maintain joy, constant prayer, and thanksgiving.

 

                        2.         Pain is still pain.

 

                                    a.         Pain is very useful in teaching us and keeping us safe. (Ill. Hot stove...)

 

                                    b.         God uses the everyday grind, the natural painful parts of life, the inevitable wear and tear to teach us and point us in the way we should go.

 

IV.      What does this mean.

 

            A.        It can be a test.

 

                        1.         A “standard” is something that gives us an idea of what to expect and what is good.

 

                                    a.         Joy, constant prayer, and thanksgiving are the “standards” for the Christian life. They are the constant. They are the consistent marks. They are the expected outcomes.

 

                                    b.         If any of them are missing then something is wrong... in some cases very wrong.

 

                        2.         If something is wrong, then you need to change courses.

 

                                    a.         Navigating the Great Lakes was a very treacherous thing. Light houses were built to help ships navigate. Detailed maps were drawn showing the depth and dangers. Even adjustments to compasses were charted (to compensate for the heavy mineral deposits in the area). All intended to keep ships safe.

 

                                    b.         Still, they built the “widow’s walk” on houses. You can see them today, on top of the houses near the river... a walk way built on the roof so wives could go out and see if their husband’s ships were returning. If they didn’t see the ship, it meant it had gone down and they had probably lost their husband.

 

            B.        It can be necessary correction.

 

                        1.         Shipwrecks are terrible things... There is desperate work to stop the possible. There is frantic desire to avoid the inevitable. A shipwrecked life is a terrible thing.

 

                                    a.         Lives are uprooted and destroyed.

 

                                    b.         Families and churches are destroyed.

 

                        2.         It’s time to take an honest check on our bearings: joy, prayer, and thanksgiving.

 

                                    a.         If something is missing then you are off course. If you are off course then you are in danger.

 

                                    b.         Maybe you are hung up on jealousy, evil surmising (suppose without having evidence – Oxford), groundless or unreasonable suspicions, envy, resentment of past injuries or insults.

 

                        3.         Make the correction: repent... let God’s love and joy fill you again.

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The Making of a Man

Genesis 27:41, 28:10 – 22, 29:20 – 27, 31:38 – 42, 31:1 – 3, 31, 21 – 24, 31:48 – 50, 32:22 – 32

The Making of a Man

Medical technology has allowed us to see into the brain and is demonstrating that men and women do physically think in different ways. Of course, that’s just catching up with our observations of Scripture.

Jacob was one example of a man that God directly shaped through the use of some interesting tools.

 

I.         God uses disruptions.

 

            A.        Esau disrupted Jacob’s sense of peace an security. [Gen. 27:41]

 

                        1.         Jacob and Esau were in constant conflict.

 

                                    a.         Esau sold his “birthright” for soup. (The birthright was the legal standing given to the first born to be head of the family.)

 

                                    b.         Jacob stole Isaac’s blessing. (The blessing was the prayer/prophecy of what and who the person was to become.)

 

                        2.         Esau eventually developed an attitude.

 

                                    a.         Jacob ran for his life. [Gen. 28:10]

 

                                    b.         This became a 20 year voyage of discovering God.

 

            B.        God used this disruption to get Jacob’s attention. [Gen. 28:11 – 22]

 

                        1.         Finally God gets Jacob alone.

 

                                    a.         Men have the ability to think of absolutely nothing OR only themselves (sometimes that’s the same thing).

 

                                    b.         At Jacob’s “lowest” point (hey, he’s using a rock for a pillow) God reveals Himself.

 

                                                1.)       Notice God takes the initiative.

 

                                                2.)       Notice God promises to do the work.

***** Sometimes men are a bit slower to catch on. Sometimes men have to be brought to the point of utter helplessness before we will listen to God. *****

 

III.      God uses conflict.

 

            A.        Laban becomes a friendly enemy of Jacob.

 

                        1.         Laban steals 20 years of Jacob’s life and work.

 

                                    a.         Jacob wanted Rachel but got Leah. [Gen. 29:20 – 27, 31:38 – 42]

(CAUTION: Men, it is ALWAYS a bad thing when we allow lust to rule our actions.)

 

                                    b.         Question: can anyone be this stupid?

 

                                                1.)       How do you mistake the ugly sister for the “drop dead gorgeous” one on you wedding night?

 

                                                2.)       Somehow Jacob must have been out of control, either drunk or self-absorbed.

 

                        2.         God steps in to direct Jacob. [Gen. 31:1 – 3]

 

                                    a.         In the space of 20 years...

 

                                                1.)       There is no record of God contacting Jacob.

 

                                                2.)       There is no record of God at work in Jacob OTHER THAN blessing his work (which both Laben and Jacob recognized).

 

                                    b.         Men tend to define themselves by two things:

 

                                                1.)        Their work. “A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work. This too, I see, is from the hand of God. [Ecclesiastes 2:24] (BTW, I think this was meant to be a simple observation of a life without God, not a “truth statement.”)

 

                                                2.)       Their “wise” children. “A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son grief to his mother.” [Proverbs 10:1b,c]

 

            B.        God steps in to protect Jacob. [Gen. 31:21 – 24]

 

                        1.         Somehow Jacob is still depending on himself.

 

                                    a.         He “deceive” his uncle and runs.

 

                                    b.         Laban catches him in 7 days, after a 3 day head start... (Suspicion, Laban was unhappy when he started and very cranky when he caught Jacob.)

 

                        2.         God reveals His will to Laban.

 

                                    a.         “Say nothing good or bad...”

 

                                                1.)       First we talk, then we fight... some of us equate “lets talk with lets fight.”

 

                                                2.)       In other words, God cautioned Laben to not escalate the conflict.

 

                                    b.         Laban behaves himself. [Gen. 31:48 – 50]

 

                                                1.)       “Mizpah” means “watch tower.”

 

                                                2.)       “God is a witness between you and me.” [v 50]

 

III.      God uses transformation.

 

            A.        Transformation is not a one time event.

 

                        1.         It happens in significant moments and in daily progression.

 

                                    a.         Esau’s murderous threats, Laben’s greed and anger, Esau’s army...

 

                                    b.         Daily life of work... subtle blessings and realization of God’s blessings.

 

                        2.         Examples:

 

                                    a.         Moses became Moses through a series of significant events: murder, burning bush, the Exodus, and meeting God on the mountain.

 

                                    b.         John became John through daily contact with Jesus: He was a “son of thunder” but became “the apostle of love.”

 

                                    c.         Joshua became Joshua when he served as Moses’ aid, when he stated in the “tent of meeting” to pray, and when God appeared to him... the first two prepared him for the appointment to lead.

 

            B.        How does this work? [Gen. 32:22 – 32]

 

                        1.         Transformation happens through persistence not physical strength or skill.

 

                                    a.         Jacob is no match for the stranger (God).

 

                                    b.         Jacob has an intense desire (reason, purpose): “bless me.”

 

                                                1.)       Jacob goes from stealing to wanting God to give him the blessing.

 

                                                2.)       At this defining he takes his place with Abraham in the “chain of faith.”

 

                        2.         Transformation touches the entire person.

 

                                    a.         His name is changed. Abram becomes Abraham, Saul becomes Paul, Cephas becomes Peter... Jacob becomes Israel.

 

                                    b.         Those who are in Christ Jesus have a new name!

 

                                                1.)       You are a new person: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” [2 Corinthians 5:17]

 

                                                2.)       You are given a new name: “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it.” [Revelation 2:17]

 

                        3.         Transformation happens when we meet God face to face.

 

                                    a.         “Peniel” means “face of God.”

 

                                                1.)       It is here that a man honestly faces himself, his fears, and his pride.

 

                                                2.)       It is here that a man makes that choice – once and for all – that will define him for eternity.

 

                                    b.         Your turn is “today.”

 

                                                1.)       Absolute trust in the salvation provided by Jesus.

 

                                                2.)       Absolute submission to God’s transforming work and power.

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