Being a Great Commission Church | Revelation 3:7-13

Being a Great Commission Church | Revelation 3:7-13

Darien Gabriel

Series: Revelation: The Best is Yet to Come

Title:  “Being a Great Commission Church”

Scripture: Revelation 3:7-13

Main commentary help: 

• Exalting Jesus in Revelation by Daniel Akin

• Revelation by Jim Hamilton

• The Seven Churches by Mike Breen

• Breaking the Code by Bruce Metzger

This week’s title: “Being a Great Commission Church”

Our series is “The best is yet to come” as we walk through the prophetic apocalypse that is the Revelation of the Risen Christ, a circular letter to the early church—and to us today. My prayer is that you’ll be strengthened, comforted and encouraged through this word today.

Tension: We must evaluate our church and ourselves to see if we’re being faithful to the Savior, the gospel, and the great commission for God rewards those who are.

Though we may be modestly influential culturally, the church that is faithful to the Savior, the gospel, and the great commission will be rewarded by God.

1. A great commission church sees Jesus as awesome. (3:7)

   1. He is the holy one.

   2. He is the true one.

   3. He is the sovereign one. (Unstoppable)

2. A Great Commission church is faithful to the gospel. (3:8-9)

3. A great commission church lives by the promises of God. (3:10-13)

What are we so excited about? Who are We Waiting for? | Luke 2

What are we so excited about? Who are We Waiting for? | Luke 2

Chris Karpus

Luke 2: What are we so excited about? Who are We Waiting for?  

Bottom Line: God Became a Man 

So, what we’re NOT trying to do on Christmas Eve is try to make the birth of Christ more exciting. 1. If we don’t think “God became a man” is exciting enough, we should get our pulse checked. 

God Became a Man, and He shouldn’t have to compete for our affection with a new phone, nunchucks,  a new car or a big guy in a red suit. We don’t have to hang lights on the Light of the World. 

God Became a Man – the greatest event to occur in the history of the universe Video – Tribe celebrates receiving Bibles 

Luke 1:39-45 (Mary went to visit Elizabeth) 

39At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, 40where she entered  Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. 41When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in  her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are  

you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! 43 But why am I so favored, that the mother of  my Lord should come to me? 44As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my  womb leaped for joy. 45 Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her! 

John, even as a baby…not a fetus…a baby…knew who to get excited about 

Rosie (rescued, separation anxiety from her rescuers and pure joy in being  reunited) 

John 1:1-5 

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was with God  in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been  made. 4In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and  the darkness has not overcome[a]it. 

John 1:14 

14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one  and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. 

1. The Creator of the World humbled Himself and became a man, just to live for us, die for us (by our  own hands) and raise from the dead…all for our forgiveness and redemption. 

Best summed up by: 

John 3:16 

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.

There are over 400 prophesies about the Messiah in the Old Testament – Jesus fulfilled them all. The  odds of Jesus fulfilling just 8 of those prophesies is 1 in 1 quintillion (18 zeroes) 

Lee Strobel figured out a visual for that: tiles 1 1/2” square, one with red on the bottom – covering the  every bit of dry land on the earth - 1 person walking the earth for a lifetime can only pick up 1. 

Genesis 49:10 (about 1500 years before Christ) The Messiah would come from the tribe of Judah 

The scepter will not depart from Judah, 

 nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet,[a] 

until he to whom it belongs[b]shall come 

 and the obedience of the nations shall be his. 

Isaiah 7:14 (about 700 years before Jesus was born) The Messiah would be born of a virgin 

14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you[c] a sign: The virgin[d] will conceive and give birth to a  son, and[e] will call him Immanuel. 

Fulfilled: (Luke 1:26-33)  

26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in  Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s  name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is  with you.” 

29Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the  angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give  birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most  High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s  descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” 

Jeremiah 23:5 (about 646 years before Jesus)  

“The days are coming,” declares the LORD, 

 “when I will raise up for David[a] a righteous Branch, 

a King who will reign wisely 

 and do what is just and right in the land. 

2 Samuel 7:12-13 

When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you,  your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom. 13He is the one who will build a house for my  Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.

Back to Luke: 

Luke 2:1-7 

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman  world. 2(This was the first census that took place while[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3And  everyone went to their own town to register. 

Micah 5:2 (400 years before the birth of Christ) The Messiah would be born in Bethlehem, from the tribe  of Judah 

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans[a] 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.” (In the beginning was the word) Luke 2 

4So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David,  because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5He went there to register with Mary, who was  pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6While they were there, the time came for the  baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him  in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. 

0. Jesus is born when Israel is under Roman Rule. 

1. There is an invisible power behind and OVER the human rulers. They didn’t know it at the time, but  God used Caesar and Quirinius to fulfill what He had promised long before that. 

2. If you’re tempted to worry or celebrate over who is in charge of this great nation, your town or you  HOA, DON’T. The same God is behind and over all OUR rulers too.  

3. The birth of Christ…God became a Man. 

4. Nothing about this particular scene says “GLORY”, but everything about this scene INSTRUCTS us  about Glory. 

5. In the Kingdom of God, HUMILITY always precedes GLORY 

- The first will be last, and the last will be first (Mark 10:31) 

- God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6) …also 1 Peter -Humble yourself before the Lord, and in good time, He will exalt you (James 4:10) + We see this modeled right from the beginning of Jesus’ life 

+ True greatness is not always visible greatness

One of our favorite Christmas songs is “Christmas Snow” by Audrey Assad (on Chris Tomlin’s Christmas) 

Could've come like a mighty storm With all the strength of a hurricane 

You could've come like a forest fire With the power of Heaven in Your flame 

(But) You came like a winter snow Quiet and soft and slow 

Falling from the sky in the night To the earth below 

6. Truth is, most of us have glory-craving hearts, and the incarnation of the Son of God in an animals  feeding trough should put our hearts in check. In fact, Jesus spent a lifetime showing us how to live like  Him. 

Philippians 2:3-11 

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above  yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. 

5In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: 

6Who, being in very nature[a] God, 

 did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7rather, he made himself nothing 

 by taking the very nature[b] of a servant, 

 being made in human likeness. 

8And being found in appearance as a man, 

 he humbled himself 

 by becoming obedient to death— 

 even death on a cross! 

9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place 

 and gave him the name that is above every name, 

10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, 

 in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 

11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, 

 to the glory of God the Father. 

Ephesians 2:8-9 

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of  God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 

Luke 2:8-20 

8And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9An  angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were  terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy  for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the  Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 

14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, 

 and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” 

15When 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.” 

1. The angels appeared to shepherds keeping watch over their flock. 

- Not glorious work / bad reputation / they were considered unreliable and despised. - God chose THEM to get the good new first…the first to hear of the great joy for all people - These despised individuals were the first to hear that God became a man… 

- These guys were the first to hear all of the titles of Jesus brought together – Savior, Messiah,  Lord 

WHY? The Bible doesn’t necessarily say why them…but 

It appears that God chose the humbled of society to reveal the humble beginnings of the life of  His glorious Son. 

Jesus was consistent throughout His ministry in is love for the humble 

Jesus’ very beginning didn’t demonstrate the riches of His existence, but Jesus Himself was born  into poverty. 

SIDE NOTE – What do you think that implies? 

1. Poverty is not a sin. 

2. Poverty is not God’s disapproval 

3. Poverty does not prevent a person from worshipping God 

4. Poverty does not necessarily doom a person to poverty forever 

5. Poverty does not excuse unrighteousness  

6. Poverty is not shameful in and of itself 

7. Poverty is a cross that God entrusts to some people for a time 

If some prosperity gospel preacher tries to tell you that poverty is a sin, of that it is God condemning  you, and that you just have to give a certain amount of money to be released, they are lying to you.

Some poverty is our own responsibility. Point to Jesus. 

16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17When  they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all  who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things  and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things  they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. 

19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 

1. That does not mean…”huh?”.  

- An angel had visited her (and her fiancée), she became pregnant as a virgin and just gave birth  to the Savior of the world in barn. A bunch of stinky shepherds came to visit her baby, the Good  Shephard telling them of heavenly hosts of angels…she didn’t go “huh”…”what do ya know…” 

2. She treasured the moment as a mother and pondered the events leading up to it in her heart. 3. People who ponder the fact that God Became a Man, don’t just go “huh”.  

God became a man – THAT is what we’re excited about 

And if you really want to get excited, knowing that Jesus fulfilled all of the Old Testament prophesies  about the Messiah, give this a pondering: He’s Coming Back as a conquering King 

1 Thessalonians 4: 16-17 

For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel,  and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive,  who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we  will always be with the Lord. 

Revelation 22:12-13 

“Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay everyone for what he has done. I  am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” 

The one who fulfilled all of the prophesies about the Messaiah, Jesus himself, said He is coming back… We better believe it 

We better be ready

Transformed to Transform | Luke 1:57-80

Transformed to Transform | Luke 1:57-80

Darien Gabriel

Last week: whether you believe it or not, Jesus is coming back and that’s the point. Are you ready?

Bottom line: God’s great mercy leads to radiant joy and praise that transforms lives.

Transformation is visible.

Transformation is dramatic.

Transformation is life-changing.

I was transformed the first time I saw the Atlantic Ocean as a kid...

Transformers movie

I can still remember the first time I saw the first Transformers movie in the theater with my friends. I can honestly say it transformed the way I saw CGI in movies. It was basically like an animator drew a cartoon movie so realistic and believable that I couldn’t believe my eyes that it wasn’t real.

When we talk about transforming lives, that’s exactly what we are going for. We want a life that is so transformed that maybe the most dramatic comparison is the difference between a corpse and a person fully alive and healthy. (Eph 2:1-9)

That is dramatic enough on its own but now make it spiritual. Think of someone dead in their sins Hellbound for all eternity being transformed into life abundant and eternal. It’s like a shadow going reverse negative and becoming a light. That would be dramatic a shadow becoming a reflection of light.

My Fair Lady...another movie of transformation

From caterpillar to butterfly

As we wait…

as we wait we live knowing that not only did Jesus come (advent, Christmas) but that he’s coming again. And the tension is living as if he was coming back today...or in another 1,000 years.

As we wait for Jesus—his second coming; his return from heaven—to finish what he started, my prayer is that he will find me full of joy and praise that is so alive and so transformative that it leads others in transformation as well. That my faith would publicly inspire others to be open enough to receive and believe the truth and hope that the good news of the kingdom of God is near and athat the King is on his way back!

Building on what we talked about last week, we once again look at the lives of Zack and Lizzie and how God‘s great mercy transformed them through joy and praise so dramatically that it couldn’t help but shape and influence and impact the entire region around them. They truly were the best neighbors ever throughout Judea and their day.

Let’s look at their lives and learn from them how we can be transformed to transform.

Article (TGC)

Like a prison cell

The most reassuring message of the season is that the existence of hope does not depend on us. It does not rely on our virtue or wisdom. It is a delivery from elsewhere.

The German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer compared Advent to a prison cell “in which one waits and hopes and does various unessential things . . . but is completely dependent on the fact that the door of freedom has to be opened from the outside.”

The Advent narratives are filled with waiting people: Mary, Zechariah, Elizabeth, Simeon, Anna. They lived in patient expectation and were receptive to the Good News when it arrived. Their hope did not come as the result of a battle. It came like a seed planted in the ground. Like the sun rising in defiance of night. Like a child growing within his mother.

We are not the heroes of the story. Our contribution is to be watchful and open. But hope arrives in awesome humility. God is with us. Jesus is with us. This is everything.

I. God’s great mercy leads to joy and praise that transforms lives through... (1:57-67, 80)

1. It transformed E

   1. Through pregnancy and birth - like only motherhood could do; no more shame

   2. Through Holy Spirit

   3. Through joy

2. It transformed Z

   1. Through disciplined - silence, solitude, prayer, confession, repentance, and faith

   2. Through praise

   3. Through Holy Spirit

3. It transformed J

   1. He was prepared through birth, browsing up, and relationship with parents

   2. He was prepared through Holy Spirit

   3. He was prepared through his wilderness

4. It transformed their neighbors

5. It transformed their world

II. Z’s prophecy of praise explains how God’s great mercy is God’s great salvation (1:67-79)

4 parts - notice he’s filled with HS; God’s all over this. It’s prophetic and it’s been in part fulfilled already.

1. The Plan of salvation (1:68-73)

   1. Plan prophesied in OT - “The entire bible—from nAbraham to the prophets down to King David—is about this one thing: salvation. The Bible has one story: God visiting or coming to get his people. That was and is his plan.” -Thabiti Anyabwile

   2. Plan was through the line of David

   3. Plan was for Israel and those they would bless

   4. Plan is one of strength

   5. Plan was to save Israel from her enemies

   6. Plan seen in the covenant promises to Abraham 3500 years ago

2. The Purpose of salvation (1:72-75)

   1. Physical freedom

   2. Main goal: freedom to worship the Lord. “God saves so that we might worship him. Freedom is a good goal, but it’s not the ultimate goal...Just as Zechariah worshipped God when God mercifully opened his mouth and ears, so all Israel is to praise and glorify God for the salvation he brings.”

   3. NT version of what God told Moses to tell Pharaoh: “Let my people go, so that they may worship me.” (Exodus 7:16)

   4. Religious liberty or freedom in our country is the freedom to do this. Just like Pharaoh severely limited Israel in this when they were enslaved in Egypt, we’re headed that way too. The difference is that they didn’t have a temple where God dwelt. As Christians, we are that temple so no body can keep us from worshiping the Lord. Nobody.

3. The Prophet of salvation (1:76-77)

   1. Zach prophesies about John now.

      1. John will be great

      2. And a prophet of God.

      3. He will be unique in that he will be a forerunner. He will soften the ground and till the soil of Israel’s heart (think Parable of the soils, Luke 8).

      4. He will not be the Savior but will make things ready for the Savior by teaching the people how they are to be saved.

      5. He will be a “giant index finger” (Thabiti Anyabwile) pointing the way to God’s great mercy.

   2. Zach’s prophecy “defines John’s life in relationship to Jesus’ life and mission.” Imagine if we all did this? He must increase and I must decrease. (John 3:30)

4. Th of salvation (1:77-79) - 3 Effects of this transforming salvation on people

   1. This salvation is ultimately spiritual and personal. We need his forgiveness of sins. (77)

      1. Why do we need this?

      2. Because it is an offense against our creator God, who is holy, holy, holy.

         1. God will punish sin. He must to remain holy and just.

         2. But he is also merciful. This is why his mercy is so great. He can mercifully forgive us because he took our punishment out on someone else. (On Jesus at the cross)

         3. What or who do we need to be saved from? The answer may surprise you.

         4. We need to be saved from God.l

   2. This salvation is by God’s mercy. (78) says, “because of our God’s merciful compassion.”

      1. We can’t earn it.

      2. We can’t demand it.

      3. We can’t deserve it.

      4. We can’t deal for it.

      5. It only comes by grace through faith. Free and undeserved.

      6. Ask for it. Beg for mercy. Confess your sin and he is faithful...(1 John 1:9)

   3. This salvation brings light. (78-79) Transformational is usually dramatically visible to others.

      1. Through the mercy of God we receive light.

      2. Jesus is our sunrise (sonrise).

      3. In our sin, we sit in a dark, locked prison dungeon.

      4. Hanukkah is festival of life and it’s Hanukkah right now. Connection?

      5. Christ comes bringing light and blows them door off.

      6. By definition, darkness cannot standup to light. It has to flee by law.

      7. Lock-ins - up all night; can’t wait for daylight when they go home.

      8. All-nighters.7

      9. Death is defeated and brings peace.

         1. Peace with God

         2. Peace with humanity

         3. Peace with ourselves

         4. Do you have this peace? Let the light of Christ blow the doors off your dungeon prison and free you from death ☠️ to peace ☮️.

Conclusion

Transformation like the beast in Beauty and the Beast.

Notes

Zechariah’s first words were praising God.

• Yes, a new son

• Yes, on the heels of 9 months of silence (mute and deaf). Talk about a crash course on silence and solitude. Even Jesus was only alone in the wilderness 40 days.

• A righteous and blameless man like Z would also have been teachable and the perfect father to raise a son able and prepared to make ready and prepare God’s people for their Messiah.

• Result was “all the neighbors were filled with awe.” We say we want to be the “best neighbor ever...”. This would qualify Z, wouldn’t it?

What did he do?

• He nurtured a Christ-like character.

• He served faithfully as a priest.

• He didn’t believe God’s word and was disciplined for it.

• He grew during this time in the wilderness of discipline. Ever think about your wilderness time as a time of disciplining that would strengthen you?

• He responded with praise and obedience as a result of God’s mercy and discipline.

• He did so publicly.

• His neighbors were awed by God and began spreading the good news. (Changed his neighbors and neighborhood).

Better Question: Have you let your disobedience and discipline cause you to flourish or flounder?

As he waited...for this first coming of Jesus,

he encountered God’s messenger,

disbelieved his message,

Lived in the wilderness of his discipline for a season,

let God nurture and teach him through that season,

received an amazing blessing/mercy,

received an incredible responsibility (the one to prepare the one to prepare the way...),

impacted his own neighborhood nad nation for the glory of God...and the nations (67-80).

“For the Lord’s hand was with him.” (V. 66)

This reminds me of Joseph over his 13 years in prison. His unjust imprisonments and deliverance foreshadowed both Israel’s enslavement and deliverance, as well as, our enslavement and deliverance from sin to freedom in Christ.

Z’s song

He was filled with the Holy Spirit (like Elizabeth and son were) as he composed this song. This means God was fully involved.

• “Praise be...” (he starts here (appropriately). Who God is...

• “Because” - the reason he’s moved to praise God—rescue/redemption of Israel (future faith spoken in past as if done deal)

• Looks ahead to coming salvation with confidence

• To show mercy

• Remembers his covenant with Abraham

• Rescue/salvation is the reason for praise (mercy)

• To enable/empower the nation to serve him without fear

• New section begins in v. 76 (note change in tense)

• J the B a prophet of God

• Prepare the way for the Lord (God incarnate)

• To give knowledge (experiencing salvation) that leads to the change (repentance) required to be prepared. No repentance, no forgiveness—knowledge of precious truth salvation escape

• Again, mercy (not getting what they deserve)

• Light shines because thats’ what light does. It can’t help it. To reveal to those in darkness their current reality and their way of escape. Jesus is that light directly and later indirectly through his people.

• This path of hope leads from sin and death, shame and guilt, and hell itself to...peace. Jesus is the prince of peace. His kingdom is a kingdom of peace.

• J the B was raised by this man—this father—alongside an equally glorious mother Elizabeth. He grew in spirit (the Holy Spirit?).

• Lived in the wilderness until he appeared publicly to Israel to begin his ministry.

• Apparently, Z’s discipline shaped him profoundly. He now valued silence and solitude enough to pass it on. J the B took it to another level foreshadowing Jesus’ time of temptation in the wilderness where Jesus was prepared and shaped for his public ministry. Remember, the HS drove Jesus to the wilderness right after his baptism.

• I wonder if Jesus and J the B ever interacted in the wilderness...

Notes from New American Commentary, Luke by Stein starting on p. 96.

• Lots of parallels to Jesus’ birth narrative.

• 3 parts

  • Birth

  • Circumcision

  • Hymn of praise

    • Praise to God

    • Prophecy of J the B

• “The function of the Benedictus is clear. Luke wanted his readers to understand this as Z’s divinely inspired hymn praising God for fulfilling his promises to his people and describing the roles of J the B and especially the Messiah.”

• Cycle -

  • Sin/disobedience of child of God

  • Discipline and mercy

  • Repentance and growth on new path

  • Deliverance from discipline

  • Praise and worship and joy

• Apparently is was unusual to name a son after his father because he would then be called Zechariah son of Zechariah or Zechariah Bar Zechariah. But they still named after family members.

• Z was both deaf and mute.

• Writing tablet was plank of wood covered in wax

• Z being able to speak immediately after naming him John amplifies the miraculous nature of this event. As a result, the neighbors (who were not aware of Elizabeth’s pregnancy) realized this work of God.

• Z was a model believer.

  • Starting with his character (1:6)

  • His first words after being disciplined were praise

  • He is filled with the Holy Spirit after trusting and obeying Gabriel’s command to name him John

  • He starts his song with praise

• Awe or literally fear. The proper reverent attitude which those who witness a heavenly intervention or manifestation of divine power should express. It may begin as a terrifying fear of judgment or wrath, but it progresses to a holy awe of God and a recognition of his otherness, which leads to “glorifying and praising God”.

• “What then is this child going to be?” What instead of Who emphasizes J the B’s role as the one who will go before his superiors to prepare the way.

• Salvation is described as a past event in vv. 68-75 even though it’s describing a future event. This is because there is so much confidence in this happening it’s sung as as good as done. This is true for us as well as we think about the hope we have in Christ and our glorification.

• In going from, v. 75 to 76, there is a change in tense and focus.

• The focus is now on J the B until it returns to Christ at the end.

• J the B is seen as great because of God and Christ—not because of anything he’s going to do or because of Z. Same for us.

• “Sun” most likely refers to Jesus.

Truths

• We can trust God’s word because God’s word is true.

• God’s mercy leads to joy (for E) and praise (for Z).

• God’s mercy leads to awe, fear and transforming neighbors.

• God shows us mercy when he gives us less wrath/judgment than we deserve.

• Circumcision was a sign of God’s faithful covenant relationship with Israel.

Applications

• Trust God’s word.

• Receive children as a mercy and blessing from God. Receive them with the joy E received J. No matter what the circumstances. (Even rape; even if poor)

• Embrace God’s sanctifying discipline and affliction as a spiritual promotion. (JC Ryle)

  • “The sorrow that humbles us, and drives us nearer to God, is a blessing, and a downright gain.”

  • The wave that dashes us against the rock of God’s glory is a mercy indeed.

• Are you handling your suffering by allowing God to grow you better or bitter? Is your heart towards God growing warmer or colder?

• Everyone knew that God was at work among them with this child. (66)

• What does that look like? Spiritual strength

• Enter the Wilderness to prepare - When God’s hand is on our children, they grow and become strong—not just in body but more importantly, in spirit. (Ex. Silence, solitude, Fasting)

• There’s a connection between John’s spiritual strength and his growth in the wilderness. (Silence, solitude, fasting) Wilderness is where prophets are prepared for the hardship of public ministry.

• Doesn’t the first part of v. 80 make you want the last part of v. 66?

• JC Ryle quote below.

• Joseph in Genesis.

• God waits to be asked. Are you asking? Praying? Seeking?

• God’s mercy means joy and praise for E and Z. It means the same for us if we receive it.

Benedictus Doninus = blessed be the Lord God

Ben·e·dic·tus

/ˌbenəˈdiktəs/

noun

CHRISTIAN CHURCH

1. 1.

   an invocation beginning Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini (Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord) forming a set part of the Mass.

2. 2.

   a canticle beginning Benedictus Dominus Deus (Blessed be the Lord God) from Luke 1:68–79.

Sons & Daughters, Saved, Selected, & Sent to Serve | Titus 1:1-4 | Undeserved Grace

Sons & Daughters, Saved, Selected, & Sent to Serve | Titus 1:1-4 | Undeserved Grace

Darien Gabriel

Series: Undeserved Grace

Scripture: Titus 1:1-4

Title: “Sons & Daughters, Saved, Selected, & Sent to Serve”

Episode 1 - Introduction

Today’s message is entitled: “Sons & Daughters, Saved, Selected, & Sent to Serve”

Our bottom line (and prayer) today is that we would recognize that (in Christ) we are sons and daughters of God who have been saved, selected, and sent to serve God and people. This is undeserved grace.

This is true of those who are “in Christ”. Share illustration.

Episode 2 - Who are we?

Illustration: 

Understand Your Value

https://www.bible.com/reading-plans/13685/day/265?segment=0

Have you ever felt like a failure, or of no use to God, or thought that God wouldn’t want to answer your prayers?

Until I first read Colin Urquhart’s book, In Christ Jesus, I had never realized how significant that little word ‘in’ is in the New Testament. Understanding that, as a Christian, you are ‘in’ Christ Jesus revolutionizes how you see yourself, your self-image, your identity and how you understand your value to God.

Write your name on a piece of paper. Take hold of your Bible to represent Christ. Place the paper in the book and close it. You are in Christ. Where the book goes you go. Where the paper goes he goes. You are not part of the book, but you are now identified totally with the book.

Paul uses this expression, ‘in Christ Jesus’, over and over again. God has taken hold of you and placed you inChrist. In Christ, you have received ‘every spiritual blessing’ (Ephesians 1:3). All of the blessings, including those that the Old Testament speaks about, are yours in Christ.

Who are we? Why are we (still) here?

Root to Fruit

1. Who is God?

2. What has he done?

3. Who am I? (In light of who God is)

4. What do I get to do as a result?

Who are we? What do we get to do?

We are sons and daughters of God who have been saved, selected, and sent to serve God and serve people. Let me show you where I see this.

Episode 3 - We are Servants of God

Servants or bond slaves meaning we willfully surrender our rights, preferences and dreams to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We do this because he freed us from being enslaved to sin and death, shame and guilt, and hell itself.

Episode 4 - We are Sent-ones (Apostles) of Jesus Christ.

Like an email, we carry a message (hopefully one written in grace and truth) that is for the world to see and read in us as we show and tell the good news that the kingdom of God is near.

Episode 5 - We are selected-ones of God.

None of us deserve to be chosen or elected into his family. Some are. 

• It still is incumbent on me to freely respond by grace through faith. 

• But remember that God provides the faith. We are called to exercise it.

• As selected ones, what do we do?

• We live sent with great confidence that this was no accident.

Episode 6 - We are sons and daughters of God the Father.

As family, we’re living in the community of God reaching out to the community around us. And we must do this together!

As family, we are reminded that we are beloved no matter what we do nor how we live. But the family business is to rescue others as we have been rescued.

Dave Dravecky story on identity and how it affects how we live.

Episode 7 - What now?

Grace = getting what you don’t deserve. 

G.R.A.C.E. = God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense

Do you recognize your undeserved grace? 

(Bottom line) Do you recognize that (in Christ) you are a son or daughter of God, saved, selected, and sent into the world to serve God and to serve people undeserved grace?

This is why we are still here. 

Will you exchange your worldly identity for the one God selected you to flesh out? Will you live as his selected sent servant and son/daughter?

Other

“Root to Fruit” comes from Jeff Vanderstelt of Soma. @jeffvanderstelt on Twitter.com.

Root to Fruit

1. Who is God?

2. What has he done?

3. Who am I? (In light of who God is)

4. What do I get to do as a result?

Jesus Is Lord Over Disease | Matt 8: 5-17

Jesus has absolute authority in the world and deserves absolute allegiance from the world.

Jesus is Lord over Disease | Matt 8:5-17

Darien Gabriel

Listening to a podcast yesterday (Donald Miller, Story Brand), I learned that Elon Musk’s great dream and therefore goal in life is to colonize Mars as a backup for when humanity destroys the earth. His biographer Ashlee Vance said in all his interviews in preparing to write the book he only teared-up when he talked about this.

He also talked about how this is what drives him—saving the human race. He’s driven by logic.

When I see him building multiple successful companies to accomplish this noble goal, I am left wondering if he doesn’t have more zeal for his life mission than I do for mine. I realize his motives are not pure—but he’s driven but this goal to save humanity as if it’s logically the most important thing he could do in life. And, if this were all there was, he’d probably be right.

But it isn’t.

There’s life beyond this universe. Jesus is preparing a place for us. God is creating a new heaven and new earth to replace the current ones.

His mission may be unnecessary (probably). Yet, his zeal drives him.

What about mine?

Rom 12:11

• Jesus is always able but not always willing.

• When tempted to doubt or fear, remember who you’re dealing with. Jesus has absolute authority in the world because he as God created it.

I. (Centurion) Jesus heals the ethnically outcast. (8:5-13)

A gentile approaches Jesus... (Ethnically outcast (diff “race” or culture; invader even)

A gentile approaches Jesus in faith...

A gentile approaches Jesus in faith and Jesus responds with amazement.

Why? Jesus was amazed by his faith.

David Platt says this should cause us to ask, “What kind of faith is this?”

Here’s the picture Matthew gives us: “Faith is humble trust in the authority of Jesus.”

• He calls Jesus “Lord”

• He’s too overwhelmed to have Jesus in his house

• He knows he merely needs to speak the word

• v. 9 explanation shows his understanding perceiving Jesus’ authority over disease

Jesus doesn’t appear to have healed in this way before (not going himself) either. So he’s just believing Jesus has absolute authority over disease. He does.

Platt says further, “He simply and humbly had absolute trust in the authority of Jesus in a way that no one else among the Jewish people, including the disciples, had displayed up to this point.”

He then says that “servants of the kingdom”l must have this same faith for salvation. 

Do you? Follow the Centurion’s example and simply and humbly believe Jesus has absolute authority in this world.

What authority matters? Jesus’ authority over sin—to save you from your sins and to rule over you as Lord of your life. (We don’t like the second part, just the first. But the second part proves you get the first part)

Authority over disease:

1. He cleanses the physically unclean (Leper) (8:1-4)

2. He heals ethnical outcast (Centurion) (8:5-13)

3. He restores the culturally marginalized (Peter’s mom-in-law, a woman) (8:14-17) Now Jesus heals a woman defying the traditions and practices of his day.

16-17 Healing “many”

V. 17 is a quote from Isaiah 53:4 from the suffering servant passage. See vv. 5-6)

Isaiah’s prophecy concerns Jesus’ substitutionary death in place of sinners...how does this relate?

No, by connecting Jesus’ healing authority to Isaiah’s prophecy, Matthew is showing that Jesus has the power to overcome all our suffering. 

Matthew attributes this power and authority to Jesus because he paid the price to overcome all our sins. That is the point of the cross.

Consider the larger context of redemptive history.

All suffering in the world ultimately goes back to sin. (This was my point with Elon Musk's dream)

• Before sin, there was no suffering. (Gen 1-2)

• After sin, suffering entered. (Gen 3)

• Result, the world marked with evil, suffering, sickness and pain.

So, when Jesus came to die on the cross, he came to address the root problem—not suffering, but sin.

The price was his life to over our sins.

Does that mean his will for the world is we no longer experience pain, sickness, and suffering? No.

These pictures of miraculous healings are to give us a picture of what is to come in the fullness of God’s kingdom when Christ fully exerts his absolute authority and reign over the earth. But not yet.

In the meantime, we live in a world of suffering and pain. In fact, suffering will actually increase as a result of trusting Christ for salvation. So consider that before trusting and following Jesus. Lots of words from Jesus and Paul confirm this will happen. 

Jesus’ substitutionary death on the cross has killed the root of sin, but not the fruit. Not yet.

14th

But, this conquering sin should enable you to endure the suffering of disease, sickness, suffering, and pain with courage and faith that it’s temporary for those in Christ. 

There’s a day coming when death, mourning, crying, and pain will be no more. (Rev 21:4)

As we wait, don’t run from suffering. Rejoice in suffering for our future hope.

2 kinds of suffering:

1. Due to the general effects of sin in the world. 

2. Suffering for God’s purposes, though often hidden. 

   1. Humbly embrace this suffering as you trust him. Rejoice in it, even.

3. Due to a particular sin in someone’s life.

4. When a Christian continues to sin, he will inevitably suffer, for God disciplines those he loves.

   1. It may be physical, mental, emotional, relational, or spiritual, but sin leads inevitably to suffering. 

   2. Response? Not rejoicing but run from sin.

Embrace Christ's Attitude, No Matter What | Philippians 2:5-11 (Part 8)

Embrace Christ’s Attitude | Philippians 2

Pastor Darien Gabriel

This sermon is about thinking like Christ, having the mind of our Savior.  Pastor Darien continues our study of Philippians.  This week we study chapter 2, and the mindset God calls us to have, the same mindset of Christ as He humbled Himself to become a man, adding humanity to His deity, further humbling Himself to take on the form of a servant, serving the people he was with, serving to the point of sacrificing His life, even dying on the cross.  Ultimately, God raised Him from the dead.  Paul tells us to have the same mindset.

As you can imagine, there are significant implications for this kind of lifestyle.  The person who serves like Christ is honoring others more than himself/herself.  He/she is sacrificing to make sure that the people they meet are cared for and loved.  Most significantly, this takes place in the proclamation of the gospel, but it also manifests in simple acts of kindness like washing dishes, picking up trash, feeding the hungry, and forgiving your betrayers.  

At Grace Christian Fellowship in Ladson, South Carolina we seek to live this out by being the best neighbors ever.  We don’t want to merely talk about serving, we want to live it.  This is why the concept of having the “mind of Christ” is so important.

2 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. -Philippians 2:1-11 (ESV)

Series bottom line:

God pours out his grace and peace in and through us as we show and tell the good news no matter what. 

Today’s Bottom line: 

Embrace Christ’s attitude of selfless servitude (to God & people) & let it propel you to celebrate & imitate Christ, no matter what.

Why do we do that?

How do we do that?

Intro

Possible illustrations - Bill Bright

Who is he and what did he do that makes this so amazing?

The late Dr. Bill Bright was Founder and President/Chairman Emeritus of Campus Crusade for Christ, an organization which began as a campus ministry in 1951 and now has more than 27,000 full-time staff and up to 500,000 trained volunteer staff in 196 countries in areas representing 99.6 percent of the world's population. In the past 50 years, Campus Crusade for Christ has seen approximately 6 billion exposures to the gospel worldwide. The film, "JESUS," which Bright conceived and funded through Campus Crusade for Christ, is the most widely translated and viewed film of any type ever produced. Since its use began in 1980, the film has been translated into 839 languages and viewed or listened to by over 5.7 billion people in 228 countries. Dr. Bright was also the author of more than fifty books. 

What is a slave/servant - 

“In Old Testament times, one might enter slavery either voluntarily (e.g., to escape poverty or to pay off a debt) or involuntarily (e.g., by birth, by being captured in battle, or by judicial sentence). Protection for all in servitude in ancient Israel was provided by the Mosaic Law, including specific provisions for release from slavery. (Pierced ear with awl)

In New Testament times, a doulos is often best described as a “bondservant”—that is, someone in the Roman Empire officially bound under contract to serve his master for seven years (except for those in Caesar’s household in Rome who were contracted for fourteen years). When the contract expired, the person was freed, given his wage that had been saved by the master, and officially declared a freedman.” 

-ESV preface

Larger context - zooming out to whole letter:

Paul presents Christ to believers as: (by HL Willmington, Outline Bible)

1. Our life-purpose.

2. Our life-pattern.

3. Our life-prize.

4. Our life-power.

Keep this in mind as we work through this letter. Now today we’ll continue looking at Christ as our pattern or example to imitate.

Our simple outline this week starts this way:

I. The Attitude of Christ. (2:5) - Have this! Embrace this!

II. The Hymn of Christ. (2:6-11)

What I’m still learning about following Jesus Christ is that it doesn’t matter how stoked I am about what he’s leading me to if I don’t discipline myself to follow him habitually and consistently. We must train to remain abiding in Christ (stay connected) or we will fail over and over. 

We need teach on the attitude or mindset of Christ. That needs to be firmly in mind.

We need to train ourselves to remain focused on that important truth.

• Paul puts our thoughts on notice in v. 5 when he says, “In your relationships with one another, have this same mindset (attitude) as Christ Jesus.”

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HUGE application here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

• Paul gives us the example to pattern our lives after here.

• Paul also shows us the results.

Being like Mike won’t happen for anyone unless they are willing to discipline themselves towards whatever it is they are seeking to master.

Being like Christ won’t happen either unless you are willing to discipline yourself for godliness.

In 1 Timothy 4:8b-9 Paul writes, “rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.”

But being like Christ won’t happen if we live by feelings instead of a disciplined faith. And a faith rooted in selfless, humble servitude of God and people. To love God and love people means that we serve them seeing their interests as important enough to warrant some of our precious time and energy.

Trust me. This is much easier to preach than to live. I fail at this daily. This may be my biggest struggle.

II. The Hymn of Christ

    A. The selfless humility of Christ. (6-8)

    B. The appropriate celebration of Christ. (9-11)

II. The Hymn of Christ - one of 4 Christological passages in the NT. (John 1, Colossians 1, Hebrews 1)

    A. The selfless humility of Christ. (6-8)

1. See Christ’s humiliation in his humble renunciation. (6)

   1. Jesus is divine. Fully God. Fully divine.

   2. Jesus is equal to his Father. 

   3. Jesus is creator—not created.

   4. Morphe doesn’t refer to external appearance or shape but essential attributes and inner nature.

   5. Jesus didn’t consider being God grounds for getting but for giving.

   6. Jesus lived open-handedly.

2. See Christ’s humiliation in his humble incarnation. (7)

   1. Jesus laid aside his pre-existent glory.

   2. AW Tozer said, “He veiled his deity but he did not void his deity.”

   3. He added humanity without surrendering his deity.

   4. This is huge in our theology. Not getting this is why some turn to false religions and cults. 

   5. Jesus didn’t empty himself of his deity.

   6. Jesus surrendered his rights as king and creator.

   7. African Chief story (below)

   8. ”By assuming they form/nature of a slave” The slave in the Greco-Roman world was deprived of most basic rights. Jesus gave up his sovereign rights and became a slave. The sovereign creator made himself nothing. He identified with the lowest of society. 

   9. Christ “did not come to be served but to serve” Mark 10:45

   10. John 13:3-5 shows us what that looks like. He performed a job so humbling that only slaves would do. He washed their feet (with the water that he created from nothing). Breath-taking!

   11. He didn’t just look human—he took the nature of humanity. Fully human—fully divine.

3. See Christ’s humiliation in his crucifixion. (8)

   1. Jesus was humble his whole life

   1. Born in a feeding trough of a tiny village.

   2. Lived 30 years in relative obscurity.

   3. Earthly ministry he was known for loving unlovable people and humbly serving the least, last and lost.

   4. At his death, he’s nailed to a cross between two criminals.

   1. Jesus humbled himself voluntarily. 

   2. This is the way of the kingdom. (Mandalorian “This is the way”)

   3. As if it couldn’t get any more humbling, Paul tells us he’s executed in a way so horrible, it was only an extreme exception to crucify a Roman citizen.

   4. This was shocking in his day. Like we would pull back from a painting of a scene from the holocaust...

   5. Jesus willingly received 

      1. physical agony

      2. abandonment

      3. shame

      4. wrath of God for the sins of his enemies

   6. Isaiah 52:13-53:12 looms in the background of this hymn.

   7. CS Lewis illustration reminds us of the African Chief story (below)

    B. The appropriate celebration of Christ. (9-11)

1. His exalted position. (9)

   1. “Therefore” or “For this reason”

   2. The name = the Lord (Yahweh) or the Lord Jesus

      1. Yahweh is Lord in the OT

      2. Jesus is Lord in the NT

   3. Exalted means that he reigns over all. 

2. Everyone’s adoration and confession (10-11)

   1. “Everyone” - not just his followers will bow

   2. Some with great joy while others with great anguish.

   3. To confess Jesus as Lord in the first century meant that Caesar was not Lord. It was treason to say it. 

   4. Jesus is Lord was maybe the earliest of early church confessions. 

   5. Many died for believing and saying this aloud.

   6. Jesus is exalted by his Father only to turn it back to his Father. 

   7. 1 Corinthians 15:28 “When everything is subject to Christ, then the Son himself will also be subject to the One who subjected everything to him, so that God may be all in all.”

Conclusion

Embrace Christ’s attitude no matter what. Here are some suggested ways:

1. Memorize this passage.

2. Believe this passage.

3. Follow the lifestyle in this passage.

4. Tell the world about the message of this passage.

Bottom line: Embrace Christ’s attitude of selfless servitude (to God & people) & let it propel you to celebrate & imitate Christ, no matter what.

Let’s pray

References/Bibliography:

“The Bible Knowledge Commentary” by Walvoord, Zuck (BKC)

“the Bible Exposition Commentary” by Warren Wiersbe (BEC)

“Exalting Jesus in The Book of Acts” by Tony Merida (CCE)

“Exalting Jesus in The Book of Philippians” by Tony Merida & Chan (CCE)

Let’s Study Philippians by Sinclair Ferguson

Outline Bible, D Willmington

DA Carson Basics for Believers commentary

FF Bruce NIBC Commentary on Philippians

To Live is Christ To Die is Gain by Matt Chandler

NIV Study Bible (NIVSB)

ESV Study Bible

ESV Gospel Transformation Bible (GTB)

J Vernon McGee Commentary