Pastor Bill's Blog

Basics from Philippians you must believe about yourself to make a difference

Philippians 4:6-7(NLT)   ⁶ Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. ⁷ Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:13(NLT)  For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.

Philippians 4:19(NLT)  And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.

LEARNING FROM THE LIFE OF CHRIST – recognizing that we live from Christ’s life – so we must draw our strength from that life – three ways to make a difference with illustration from Christ himself – impact – influence – interwoven

1.                Impact

John 2:7-10(NLT)  ⁷ Jesus told the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” When the jars had been filled, ⁸ he said, “Now dip some out, and take it to the master of ceremonies.” So the servants followed his instructions.  ⁹ When the master of ceremonies tasted the water that was now wine, not knowing where it had come from (though, of course, the servants knew), he called the bridegroom over. ¹⁰ “A host always serves the best wine first,” he said. “Then, when everyone has had a lot to drink, he brings out the less expensive wine. But you have kept the best until now!”

Events – impact can happen through events we do individually or do together as a group or as a church community

Actions – impact can happen through targeted actions we initiate or participate in and work best in a relational setting

Opportunities – impact happens when we seize opportunities that present themselves that are unplanned but provide a platform to change lives

2.                Influence

Mark 8:27-29(NLT)  ²⁷ Jesus and his disciples left Galilee and went up to the villages near Caesarea Philippi. As they were walking along, he asked them, “Who do people say I am?”  ²⁸ “Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say you are one of the other prophets.”  ²⁹ Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?”  Peter replied, “You are the Messiah.”

Involvement – becoming active in our church – in our neighborhood – in our work environment – in service to our community provides influence wherever we are involved

Assignment – understanding our position professionally – or in roles or positions in the church or community are platforms for influence

Recognition – giving our best provides great opportunity for a witness as our efforts are noticed and drag attention to Christ working in us

3.                Interwoven

John 15:12-16(NLT)  ¹² This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. ¹³ There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. ¹⁴ You are my friends if you do what I command. ¹⁵ I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. ¹⁶ You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name.

Relationship – functioning as a mate, sibling, parent, or other family member – church member – community member can be effective by being a part of the fabric of those relationships

Community – by living out being a part of that community our place in the fabric provides an opportunity to make a difference within that community

Impartation – out of the fabric of who we are we are able to impart the very life that we have received from Christ into others

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything

do everything through Christ, who gives me strength

God will supply all your needs from his glorious riches

Joshua 2:1(NLT) ¹ Then Joshua secretly sent out two spies from the Israelite camp at Acacia Grove. He instructed them, “Scout out the land on the other side of the Jordan River, especially around Jericho.” So the two men set out and came to the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there that night.

David was great-great grandson – Jesus from the line of David – both from Rahab

1. Trash to treasure

Isaiah 43:1(NLT) ¹ But now, O Jacob, listen to the Lord who created you.  O Israel, the one who formed you says, “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you.  I have called you by name; you are mine.

I have ransomed you – a ransom is costly – in this case is undeserved – but has been paid by God – we were ransomed when Jesus died – our date of salvation was just when we cashed in on what was already done

I have called you by name – name is not just what we are called it identifies who we are – it is personal – our salvation is not a mass work – it is an individual work – made available to affect the very fabric of who we are

You are mine – bought back from Satan – bought with a price – however a greater significance – created in image of God – made to be His sons – not just a possession – but literally a part of Him

No matter where we have been – what we have done – God cares for us – our worth is not based on who we are – our station in life – rather by His choice and acceptance – His ability to transform trash to treasure

2. Unlikely connections

Acts 9:10-15(NLT) ¹⁰ Now there was a believer in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord spoke to him in a vision, calling, “Ananias!”  “Yes, Lord!” he replied. ¹¹ The Lord said, “Go over to Straight Street, to the house of Judas. When you get there, ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is praying to me right now. ¹² I have shown him a vision of a man named Ananias coming in and laying hands on him so he can see again.”  ¹³ “But Lord,” exclaimed Ananias, “I’ve heard many people talk about the terrible things this man has done to the believers in Jerusalem! ¹⁴ And he is authorized by the leading priests to arrest everyone who calls upon your name.”  ¹⁵ But the Lord said, “Go, for Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel.

Ordinary days with extraordinary plans – we don’t have to make God moments happen – we just live out of who He is in us – and out of that life the extraordinary intersects the ordinary and transforms the day

Divine appointments – God knows what He has planned – as He engineers each day of our life – there will be moments – there will be people – there will be opportunities that He places in our life – we just need to live with a cognizance of that reality – so we recognize when we are in one of those divine appointments

A master plan – there is a plan for your life – God has engineered a plan and purpose for our lives – what we are living out each day is a component of a plan that fits together to release everything God has for us – it is also connected to God’s plan for our family – our friends – our co-workers – everything in our life is a part of God’s working in us and through us and around us

3. Redefined destiny

1 Corinthians 1:26-28(NLT) ²⁶ Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you. ²⁷ Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. ²⁸ God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important.

Know you are called to a bigger picture

Function in the ordinary with constant anticipation of the extra-ordinary

The past shortcomings have refined the present to release the destiny of the future

Ephesians 2:8-10(NLT) ^{8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. 10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.}

1. ^{The power of amazing grace}

^{Hebrews 4:15-16(NLT) 15 This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. 16 So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.}

^{God’s gift – is not – cannot – will not be earned – totally given to us by God through the gift of His Son who died on the cross – we must accept that gift by faith}

^{Undeserved favor – this must be grasped – but very hard to understand – we have favor with God – even though we don’t deserve it – God has given the favor to provide salvation while we were still sinners}

^{Amazing transformation – this grace not only redeems us from the consequences of sin – it literally changes our sin nature – so that we are transformed into the image of God’s spirit in our spirit – out of that transformation grace allows someone who was hopeless to become not only a recipient of life but also an agent of life}

1. ^{The pitfall of self-sufficiency}

^{1 Corinthians 3:10-15(NLT) 10 Because of God’s grace to me, I have laid the foundation like an expert builder. Now others are building on it. But whoever is building on this foundation must be very careful. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have—Jesus Christ. 12 Anyone who builds on that foundation may use a variety of materials—gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw. 13 But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value. 14 If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward. 15 But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames.}

^{Presenting my building to God – Cain & Abel give the first picture of works vs. grace – Cain was determined to bring his best to God – Abel was quick to bring what God required – we must come on God’s terms – not ours}

^{The foundation must be Christ – the foundation is essential – everything else in a structure is dependant on a solid foundation and the only foundation for our life is from Christ – cannot build it on our own basis – but on his basis}

^{Choice of building materials – materials that are recognized as from God rather than from my own choices – letting go of my self-sufficiency and cling to God’s sufficiency}

^{Testing of fire – saved – but works in vain if done through self instead of Christ}

1. ^{The potential of divine ingenuity}

^{Ephesians 3:20(NLT) 20 Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.}

^{His power to free us from inside – God’s work is evident because it starts from within us – not from the outside – it is a miraculous work of His grace in us}

^{His power releases His creativity in us – God has placed in all of us – gifts and talents – potential that must be developed and released – it is beyond our comprehension or ability to achieve – dependant on His release}

^{Infinitely more than we might ask or think – God gives us information on a need to know basis – as we need to know He tells us – but He will stretch us to do things we thought we couldn’t do – places we thought we couldn’t go – achievements that seemed impossible}

^{We truly are products of God’s amazing grace – we can never earn His favor no matter how good we are or how well we perform – rather we come as we are – God changes us – out of the change we achieve more than we could imagine – released to the full potential of Christ in us!}

The Bible is not just another good book – it is the ultimate book – there is much discussion about whether the Bible as we have it is in its entirety the Word of God – my choice has been to embrace the authority of the Bible by faith – if I can trust that God created the world – that He has been before time and will be throughout eternity – then surely I can trust that the God how is omnipotent and omniscient and omnipresent had the ability to get to me a book in written form that is His final authority – thus the Bible for me is God’s Word – unequaled by any other spiritual writings

2 Timothy 3:15-16(NLT) ¹⁵ You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. ¹⁶ All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.

The inspiration of God – God breathed – literally has the life of God in it – so that when I read the Word of God I can bank my very life on what I have read – the most powerful element of inspiration is when a particular passage becomes not only relevant – but actually stands out as the literal Word for this moment – for this situation – for this specific occasion

Untainted truth – partial truth is deadly – it may contain things that are accurate – but if it is not totally true – it is not reliable – the Word of God is untainted – it is accurate – you can count on it

Recognizing what is wrong – we need to be able to correct when we are off track – the Word of God helps us to recognize wrong thinking – wrong planning – wrong direction so that it can be corrected

1. 1. Power of the living Word

John 1:14(NLT) So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness.   And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.

The Word tested by human experience of Christ – because Jesus is the Word of God in creation – all creation reflects His being God – and the power of the Word in creation becoming a living reality comes out of the person of Christ – the powerful thing about Jesus coming to earth – the opportunity to test the Word in living form is not in a controlled and perfect environment – rather it is lived out in a sinful world – and the living Word in that setting validates the spoken and written Word

Benchmarks – unfailing love and faithfulness – the Word lived out is more than calculated or mechanical success – the unfailing love and faithfulness of Christ personalize the Word and makes it applicable in a relational way for humans

The glory of God shown in the Word working experientially – because the Word produces results – the practical experience of the Word is phenomenal in demonstration and function and all of the credit for its success belongs to God – so recognition and glory belongs to Him

1. 2. Separating natural and spiritual

Hebrews 4:12(NLT) For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.

The blur of natural and supernatural – because God intervenes in the natural world without a fanfare or announcement – frequently we miss the supernatural – devaluing it as a natural experience – we need to be able to clearly see the supernatural intersecting the natural

Separating soul and spirit – that intervention  causes us to be able to separate soul from spirit – our soul is where we tend to function – we need to be able to recognize the spirit and be open so that we don’t receive spiritual truth through the filter of our soul – but rather we should receive spiritual truth into our spirit that then delivers the understanding to our mind of what has happened

Hidden thoughts and desires – this is the hardest part – in those hidden recesses thoughts and desires can be harbored that we would never want to have in the open – the Word of God helps us to recognize thoughts and desires that may lurk in our sub-conscious and through the revelation not allow anything to control us that shouldn’t

1. 3. The Word as a life compass

Psalm 119:105(NLT) Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.

The power of a sure step – we need to have a sense of knowing where we are walking – at times there may be real clarity of the steps that are ahead of us – at times it is trusting that as we take the next step that the Word of God will cause it to be the correct step

Clearly seeing the path – it is not just about where we are stepping – it is important to recognize that God has already laid out a path for our life and we need to be open to His  Word to give us the map for that path

So the Bible is not just another book – it is the ultimate book – the only book that is also the Son of man and the Son of God – that can totally separate the natural and supernatural world – that can map out our lives in the perfect order of God – it is the authoritative guide for our entire life

Introduction – We live in world with constant lies – and the father of lies is satan and he wants to deceive us with those lies – one of those lies – we’re all going in the same direction – another way it gets phrased is there are many ways to God – faith in Jesus is just one of those ways – the purpose of the lie is to dilute relationship to mere religion – The Apostle Paul in Athens addressed this issue of religion and gods and the need for the one true God

Acts 17:22-27(NLT) ²² So Paul, standing before the council, addressed them as follows: “Men of Athens, I notice that you are very religious in every way, ²³ for as I was walking along I saw your many shrines. And one of your altars had this inscription on it: ‘To an Unknown God.’ This God, whom you worship without knowing, is the one I’m telling you about. ²⁴ “He is the God who made the world and everything in it. Since he is Lord of heaven and earth, he doesn’t live in man-made temples, ²⁵ and human hands can’t serve his needs—for he has no needs. He himself gives life and breath to everything, and he satisfies every need. ²⁶From one man he created all the nations throughout the whole earth. He decided beforehand when they should rise and fall, and he determined their boundaries.

²⁷ “His purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him—though he is not far from any one of us.

Why there is only one way to God – we have to go back to the Garden of Eden where sin entered into the world

• 1. A unique arrangement

Genesis 1:26-30(NLT) ²⁶ Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.” ²⁷ So God created human beings in his own image.  In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. ²⁸ Then God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground.” ²⁹ Then God said, “Look! I have given you every seed-bearing plant throughout the earth and all the fruit trees for your food.³⁰ And I have given every green plant as food for all the wild animals, the birds in the sky, and the small animals that scurry along the ground—everything that has life.” And that is what happened.

• 1. 1. God created us in His image – the image of God we are created in is His spirit image – he created us as spiritual beings
     2. God created us to have relationship with Him – it was God’s desire to come down on earth and walk with Adam and have interaction with Adam and with Eve – that also meant – because we are made in His image – that we have a need for relationship with God and with other people
     3. God created us to be productive – the potential of the earth was given to us to develop and expand – the ultimate expression of this productivity through relationship was the ability to give birth to children
  1. A deadly poison

Genesis 3:6-7(NLT) ⁶ The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too. ⁷ At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves.

• 1. 1. The sin quest to become our own god – the issue with the tree in the garden was that the longing to know more was also saying God we don’t need you really – we can know enough on our own – we are just as smart as you are – thus raising ourselves to a position of being our own god
     2. The price of sin – spiritual death – Adam and Eve did not physically die in the garden – but they did die spiritually – and the image of God that connected them was the spiritual image – so it produced a disconnect from God
     3. The shame produced by sin – alive to death – dead to live – seeming contradiction – but the reality of those who have not had their sin covered – the power of sin is expressed in the overwhelming inadequacy it produces – and that inadequacy is expressed through shame
  1. A severed relationship

Genesis 3:23(NLT) ²³ So the Lord God banished them from the Garden of Eden, and he sent Adam out to cultivate the ground from which he had been made.

• 1. 1. The barrier of sin – because God has never sinned – is unequivocally righteous – there is no place for interaction with someone controlled by sin
     2. The consequence of sin – sin is destructive and it destroys the ability to be healthy – righteousness is being whole or healthy – so sin reduces life to an existence of unhealthiness
  1. A plan for restoration

Genesis 3:15(NLT) ¹⁵ And I will cause hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring.  He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.”

• 1. 1. The plan of redemption – Genesis 3:15 is the first promise of God in the Bible to redeem man – it prophetically spoke about Jesus coming – living a sinless life – giving His life and is so doing destroy the power of satan
     2. The power of sin broken – by embracing Jesus as Savior we have been given remission of sin – not just atonement – as if it never happened – so we are no longer dead – we are now alive in Christ
     3. The restoration of relationship – now we can fellowship with God – He views of through the blood of Jesus and so sin is removed and we have relationship restored

Sin left us without life – that desperate condition rules out every other option – the only option is through Jesus – one who never sinned – became sin – gave life – the only way to God

John 14:6(NLT) ⁶ Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.

So we really aren’t going the same direction with those who seek God through other religions – we must come to God on His terms – through the forgiveness of sin – the miraculous new birth – that frees us from the death sentence of sin and liberates us into the endless dimension of eternal life!

Feel free to ask questions or make comments