7/26/15 The Wall Came Tumbling Down

"So then you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God, being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief cornerstone; in whom the whole building, fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built together for a habitation of God in the Spirit."

- Ephesians 2:19-22 (WEB)

 

Ephesians2:8-22

Intro: v.8-10

- the amazing grace of God – by it we are saved! (through faith)

    never enough good that you could do to earn your own salvation v.9

- we are God's handiwork v.10

     make sure you look like it!

Formerly Were: separated/lost v.11-12

- Gentiles were treated as less than a Jew

     called “uncircumcised” (this focuses too much on the physical)

- Reality of their alienation v.12

     “separate from Christ”

     “excluded from citizenship in Israel”

     “foreigners to the covenants of the promise”

     “without hope & without God in the world”

Currently Are: brought near v.13-18

- “But now in Christ Jesus...” v.13

     gentiles can now have hope – this hope is only found in Christ Jesus

     “...brought near by the blood of Christ.”

          example through song – 'There is Power in the Blood”

- “For he himself is our peace...” (v.14-18)

     This passage not only talks about peace, but Christ IS our peace!

     peace between Jews & Gentiles is only accomplished through Christ

     this peace was preached to those far & near

     it is still through Christ that we can know/have peace today

Will Continue To Be: temple of God v.19-22

     We are the building blocks of the temple of God. The foundation is that of the apostles & prophets. With Christ being our chief cornerstone, mortar of the temple, & the continuous builder.

7/19/15 Sanctuary - we need it!

*** Respecting God & His Word ***

Intro:

great movie title – 'King David & the return of the lost ark'

Israel took the ark into battle and it was taken by the Philistines – 1Samuel 4

The ark has been away from its rightful place for 20+ years – 1 Samuel7:2

      20 years is about one generation (+/-)

David & the ark of the covenant – 2 Sam 6:1-5-7, 12-19

- a God of armies (who sits above the cherubim) v.2

this God of armies has great power & should be respected...

- a God to be respected – Uzzah & touching the ark v.6-7

this God to be respected is worthy of our praise...

- a God to be praised – David dancing v.14

where should we worship this God to be praised...?

Plans for the Temple – 2 Sam 7:1-17

'when the king settled in his house' – God doesn't settle here like people do!

- the word of the Lord – What does this phrase mean to you?

What should this phrase mean to you?

Nathan spoke to David before speaking to the Lord v.3-4

- The Tabernacle of the Lord – What did God ask for?

The Lord gave Moses plans for building the tabernacle (tent)

the plans must be followed - it was to be a copy of heaven (Heb 9:24)

The Lord never mentioned a permanent dwelling for Himself (2 Sam 7:7)

- Nathan listens to & relays the Lord's words v.17

Conclusion:

Sanctuary is not so much about a physical location 

     now it is about respecting God & His word!

David's prayer - 2 Samuel 7:28-29

7/12/15 The Hem of the Garment

1Samuel 24 & Mark 5

Saul realizes how David is better – 1 Sam 24:1-7, 9-13, 16-20;

setting the stage: after David is anointed as future king and slays Goliath

David spends most of his time running from Saul...

- “I will give your enemy into your hands...” v.4

     How do you know what God has done? How should you respond?

- David took hold of the garment of “the Lord’s anointed” v.4

     his conscience bothered him v.5

     he respected the position of “the Lord’s anointed” v.6 -> shouldn’t we?

- 'May the Lord judge...' v.12 & 15

     David was confused why Saul listened to others v.9

     Saul’s judgment = David is more righteous v.17

        he thought God has surely given the kingdom over to David v.19b-20

        he begged David for an oath of mercy for his family v.21 - David did it!

- NT story of a woman taking hold of the garment of “the Lord’s anointed”

     this king is not just any king -> He is the King of kings...

The Bleeding Woman & The Hem of the Garment – Mark 5:22-36

setting the stage: Jairus’ 12 year old daughter is sick -> asked Jesus to heal her

before Jesus arrives - another woman (sick for 12 years) receives healing

- Strange miracles - some of the most indirect healing accounts in gospels

     the girl’s father asked Jesus for the healing v.23

     woman thought ‘if I can just touch his clothes...’ v.28

- Significance easily missed

  1) the number 12 seems significant to the narrative

      12 year old daughter v.25 & 12 year old sickness v.42

  2) relationship of the women

      one is a daughter of a synagogue leader v.22

      the other is called ‘daughter’ by Jesus v.34

  3) faith is the key (and still is)

      daughter’s father has faith & Jesus asked them to believe v.23 & 36

      woman is told her faith has made her well v.34

Conclusion:

From these examples we can see the need to have full faith in God & take hold of the hem of the garment of “The Lord's Anointed” (Jesus Christ)

7/5/15 David & Goliath - 1 Samuel 17

1 Samuel 17

Intro: everyone has heard of David & Goliath

- Usual application – underdog story

- What is your perspective? (like Israel, David, or Philestines)

- The challenge v.1-10 &16

Israel's perspective v.11, 20-28

- they lost their courage & were terrified v.11

- retreated from Goliath’s taunt v.24

- all talk, no action v.25-27

- Eliab (oldest brother) criticized David’s heart v.28

   remember - David is a man after God’s own heart

*summary – they are afraid

David's perspective v.32-40

- David (who is too young for war) is the only volunteer to fight the giant

   his defense - he has protected sheep from bear & lion

- Saul offers physical protection (his own armer) v.38-39

    worth noting - sort of offering his own royal position?

*v.37 the Lord who protected will protect here too*

Philestine's perspective v.41-51

- they thought the battle is already won

- when their ‘hero’ had lost - they ran v.51

*they had underestimated the Lord (counted chickens before they hatched)

Israel's perspective v.52-55

- only had faith of defeating the Philestines after the battle had been won

Modern Application – NT

Christ is our Hero – 1 Cor 15:24-26 (everything is put under His feet)

6/28/15 The Lord's Anointed - 1 Samuel 8 & 16

1Samuel 8:4-10, 19-22

King of Israel

- God had always planned to be their King

- the people rejected God's plan & wanted to be like the other nations with kings

- God called them to be extraordinary, but they wanted the ordinary

The decision

- the Lord allowed them the ability to choose His plan or not

   while they had the ultimate choice, God gave them a fair warning v.9

- with the ability to choose – people sometimes choose wrong (as Israel does here)

Their earthly king – Saul

- God allowed the nation of Israel to be ruled by and earthly king

- follow Saul through the next few chapters to see everything go wrong with time

- the Lord knew what was best for them & was looking out for them always

1Samuel 15:35b-16:13

“...the Lord regretted that he had made Saul king over Israel.” - 1 Samuel 15:35b (NIV)

- Saul did not lead the nation in the way of the Lord → God chose David

- Samuel was deeply saddened by the kingship of Saul & mourned the incident

The Lord's anointed

- Samuel is told to anoint one of the sons of Jesse as future king of Israel – v.1

- even Samuel looked at trivial things for future king – v.6

- the one son that Jesse had not even thought worth bringing before Samuel – David

- when Samuel anointed the true king (David) the Spirit came on him immediately

Conclusion:

- We must not be distracted by what other's are doing around us - God knows what's best

- We must not be distracted by what we think is important - look to God for your guidance

“But the Lord said to Samuel, 'Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.'” - 1 Samuel 16:7 (NIV)