Repent from the Tolerance of Sin | Revelation 2:18-39

Repent from the Tolerance of Sin | Revelation 2:18-39

Christopher M. Karpus

Repent from the Tolerance of Sin (Apathy towards Sin)

By Chris Karpus

Revelation 2:18-39

To the Church in Thyatira (the idolatrous church)

a. Each church was literal in existence (Asia Minor in modern day Turkey)

Ephesus had abandoned their first love

Smyrna was not admonished, but they were facing tribulation

Pergamum had people holding to the teaching of the Nicolaitans

Thyatira, today’s letter, is tolerating Jezebel

- Many commercial guilds in Thyatira…like trade unions…more than any other Roman province – Industrialized city known for their commercial trade…purple dye…Lydia, from the book of Acts

Acts 16 – refers to Lydia, a seller of purple cloth, from Thyatira.

b. Each church represents spiritual issues relevant to Christians today

1. Verses 18-19

-Jesus refers to Himself as the “Son of God”

-whose eyes are fire - Jesus’ searching gaze from which nothing escapes

Whose feet are like burnished bronze – seems to point to Jesus’ absolute purity

- They had the deeds that Ephesus had, but had the love that Ephesus lacked

- Jesus recognized their love and faith, service and perseverance…

- He even noted that they were doing even more than when they started

2. Verses 20-21

-Jesus faults the church of Thyatira for tolerating this “Jezebel” whom He gave time to repent

(Jezebel – daughter of Ethbael, king of the Sidonians

She worshiped the baals and ashiras, and led King Ahab (the King of Israel) to do the same

2 Kings 9:34 “that cursed woman”

As a punishment for her wickedness, she was eventually pushed out a window, trampled by horses and eaten by dogs)

We are told 2 things about this Jezebel in Thyatira: (other than not repenting)

1. She calls herself a profit

2. She is teaching Jesus’ servants to practice sexual immorality and eating food sacrificed to idols

Eating food sacrificed to idols…dinner with the guild…sacrificed to Zeus

Jesus told Thyatira that they were allowing someone like that to influence their people – why do you tolerate her?

-Could be a reference to the process of church discipline back in Matthew 18:15-18

- She did not repent even though she was given time to do so

- Jesus is now faulting the church for continuing to tolerate her….so if they had gone through the process, it seems that He is saying that she should have been excluded by now

- Jesus said that they had love, BUT it seems their love was undiscerning and blindly affirming

- They tolerated false teaching and immoral behavior – two things God is fiercely intolerant of

- Jesus didn’t pat them on the back for being open minded, welcoming and affirming, he chastised them basically for being blind and undiscerning

- Tolerance – a buzz word in our culture

- There is a good kind of tolerance, but Christians cannot be tolerant of ALL things because God is not tolerant of all things.

- -Our culture says that love = unconditional affirmation. That is not the way God loves.

- We cannot give unqualified, unconditional affirmation to every belief and behavior.

- Parents should understand this. – you see your kid playing in the middle of a busy street, you don’t respond with “who am I to judge”?

- -We are called to love what God loves and hate what God hates

- -(Love what God loves) That’s where Ephesus failed

- (Hate what God hates – where Pergamum and Thyatira failed

3. “Jezebel”, in this case is most likely a specific person, but metaphorically, what “Jezebel’s” does the modern western church tolerate?

a. Racism

Jemar Tisby, in his book “How to Fight Racism” makes a tough statement for the white evangelicals in our country: “…everyone is either fighting racism or supporting it”.

In other words…we are either fighting racism or tolerating it

b. Abortion – I may favor pro life political candidates, but if I haven’t promoted a culture of life and compassion, I’m really not doing much by just pulling a red lever.

c. Pornography and sex trafficking

d. Worship songs with bad theology?... Bad doctrine leads to bad lives

e. People who call themselves prophets, and aren’t…

- Some just make political predictions, and never talk about the actual Word of God

3. from Verse 20

…(this Jezebel) who calls herself a prophet

- Jesus addresses the problem of imposters at several points in these letters:

- In Ephesus, he speaks to those who call themselves apostles who are not

- In Smyrna, he speaks to those who say they are Jews who are not

- In Thyatire, He is speaking of a woman who calls herself a prophet…and she is not

+ Fakes cannot fool the One whose eyes are like blazing fire

+ Always hold what so-called prophets say up against the Word of God

Matthew 24:11

11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.

+ they will deceive non-believers and Christians…don’t fall for them, even if they say what our itchy ears want to hear.

4. Verse 20:

- She has infiltrated the people of God (probably part of why Jesus calls her a “Jezebel”) and teaches them idolatry and immorality (the rest of the reason she is called Jezebel)

- She is called to repentance and refused.

- Those who belong to Jesus repent of sin. What’s missing is repentance…repent and believe…believe and repent for the remission of sin

- At this point, the church had a responsibility to tell her the truth

- to protect the flock

- Instead, they were tolerating her, and as a result of the church’s failure to act, she was leading the servants of Jesus into sin.

-Tolerance in this case, is not love, it is unfaithfulness to God

- In not directly doing something about the false teaching, the church bears some of the responsibility for the sins provoked by the Jezebels…by tolerating it. Is that the same as approval?

-Is it possible that… Not DOING SOMETHING about RACISM, is implicit approval of racism

…Not DOING SOMETHING about abortion, is implicit approval of abortion

…and so on…

Obviously, we don’t want to hear our Lord and Savior say: “To the church in the United States, I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first…but I hold this against you: you tolerate things I hate.”

5. Verses 21-23:

- Jesus is effectively calling His servants, who are sinning with Jezebel, to repentance

- He is announcing judgement…Jezebel and everyone who sins with her will be judged

- Those who belong to Jesus will repent. Those who do not belong to Jesus will not.

- Those who refuse to repent, identify themselves as Jezebel’s children, and Jesus’ promises them that they will be judged and die

The result of this is…in verse 23

6. Verse 23:

- Basically, it looks like Jesus is addressing everyone who did not follow Jezebel. He is not imposing another burden on them, other than tolerating Jezebel.

- he says to HOLD FAST TO WHAT YOU HAVE UNTIL I COME. What they have is the Gospel, and “holding fast” means living it out

- He has also called evil what it is…by saying “satan’s so called deep secrets”

8. Verses 26-29

Jesus is referencing Psalm 2:8-9

Ask me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession. 9 You will break them with a rod of iron[a]; you will dash them to pieces like pottery.”

If we want to rule with Jesus in the future, we need to be faithful to Him in the present. Remember, in the case of Thyatira, -Tolerance is not love, it is unfaithfulness

Though we are cultural outcasts now, or ridiculed now…we will rule. If we’re not outcasts now because of our faith, or ridiculed now because of our faith, then maybe we look too much like the culture.

David Wells…professor of Theology said – “worldliness is whatever makes sin look normal and righteousness look strange”

Does this mean we are to be intolerant? Of course not. It means we need to treat people the way Jesus treated people. He humbled, showed law to the proud, and He showed grace to the humble

Look at the story of the woman caught in adultery:

John 8:3-11

9. Verse 28

We will receive the Morning Star (Numbers 24…a star will come out of Jacob) – If you overcome, the ultimate gift is Christ Himself.

If you hold fast, you may not get:

The job, or the raise, or the girl or boy, or even your parents and family. You may not get the big house, fair treatment or the promotion. You may not get the political candidate you want in office, great health or appreciation from your family and friends or even the freedom you think you deserve…but if you hold fast…you WILL get the morning Star…you will get Jesus Himself. If He is all we have, understand that He is truly all we need.

Thanks!

The Amazing Grace of God | Titus 2:11-15

The Amazing Grace of God | Titus 2:11-15

Darien Gabriel

The Amazing Grace of God

Titus 2:11-15

11 For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

15 These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you.”

Bottom Line for this message” Grace has a Face”

Verse 11

11 For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people.

1. First, the use of the word “for” connects this verse to the previous verses. Because we are the recipients of God’s grace and salvation, we should reflect the values and engage the behaviors that Paul promoted in verses 2-10. Paul previously discussed preaching, leadership and teaching, all of which is important to the Christian lifestyle (making disciples who make disciples), but what God does in verse 11 can be summed up in one work: GRACE

2. What is grace?

   • Many say “unmerited favor” or “God’s favorable attitude towards us”, but these definitions are too abstract relative to this verse. Websters has several definitions, but Websters doesn’t define Grace for us, God does.

   • The grace of God is an ACTION, not an ABSTRACTION. It’s a PERSON, not a CONCEPT.

3. Grace is an actual event in space and time. Grace has a face – Jesus Christ Scarred, bloody and in agony A face of the person that suffered and died on the cross for your sins and mine. A face of grace- bringing salvation to all people

4. Grace isn’t cheap…it comes at such a great cost, but our modern theology sometimes attempts to cheapen it by offering people what Dietrich Bonhoeffer called “cheap grace”: Cheap grace is:

   • the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance

   • Baptism without church discipline

   • Communion without repentance

   • Absolution without personal confession

One thing that I believe has made Grace appear cheaper is the modern American church.

- Modern American church grace says: “all are welcome. Come as you are. The coffee’s on us, sit back and relax…and don’t worry about changing. We couldn’t ask you to do that. We don’t want to offend you.”

- Grace says: “all are welcome. Come as you are and be prepared and willing for God to change you. Because when you recognize the true cost of grace, you recognize that it is a debt that you cannot pay, and you are compelled to change…out of gratitude. You will have to die to yourself. Be prepared to sacrifice parts of your sinful lifestyle that the world accepts, and says it’s OK, but God doesn’t.”

Galatians 5:24

24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

Grace says “I created man and woman”. Modern American grace says “it’s all good…whatever you want to be. God probably made a mistake” in an effort to avoid looking intolerant. God says “I created marriage between a man and a woman”. Modern American grace says “it’s all good…marry who you want. Who are we to judge? Besides, our numbers are low”. God says “I knit babies together in their mother’s wombs”. Modern American grace says “It’s a woman’s body and she has right to choose”. Who are we to judge?

Bonnhoeffer went on to say:

“Costly grace is the treasure hidden in the field; for the sake of it a man will go and sell all that he has. It is the pearl of great price to buy for which the merchant will sell all his goods. It is the kingly rule of Christ, for whose sake a man will pluck out the eye which causes him to stumble; it is the call of Jesus Christ at which the disciple leaves his nets and follows him.”

“Such grace is costly because it calls us to follow, and it is grace because it calls us to follow Jesus Christ. It is costly because it costs a man his life, and it is grace because it gives a man the only true life. It is costly because it condemns sin, and grace because it justifies the sinner. Above all, it is costly because it cost God the life of his Son: “ye were bought at a price,” and what has cost God much cannot be cheap for us. Above all, it is grace because God did not reckon his Son too dear a price to pay for our life, but delivered him up for us. Costly grace is the Incarnation of God.”

-Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship

It’s not popular to say that Jesus is the only way to God. Modern culture and theologies…even some in the Christian Church…see this as too narrow and restrictive, intolerant and unloving. But to say there are many ways, makes no sense, and stands in the face of the sacrifice of true Grace.

God would not have sent His only Son to die on a cross if He could have saved us by any other means.

No Grace would mean no salvation. If there were a bunch of ways to get to heaven, then why did Christ die?

When Jesus was praying in Luke 22:42

“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”

Basically asking…if there’s any other way. God didn’t say, “well, actually there are a thousand ways, but

I’m going to make you go through this anyway”. Just No.

Grace has a Face. The face of Jesus

Galatians 2:21

21 I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!”

Back to Verse 11

11 For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people

What is salvation?

While sometimes in the Bible, salvation is being saved from one’s enemies, in the New Testament, it refers more to end of time events…God’s judgement. Salvation, in this sense, is being saved from God’s perfect judgement…through His perfect GRACE

• Grace makes all people savable – every sin of every person has it’s answer in Jesus.

• “Every person who ends up in hell steps over a blood-stained cross with their name on it to get there”

Grace has a Face…the face of Jesus. The face of salvation.

1. Grace TRAINS us. (verse 12)

12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,

1. Grace doesn’t flatter us…it teaches us…it trains us

-It doesn’t tell us all is well, but speaks bluntly, directly and lovingly-for our own good.

Titus 2:12 puts an end, once and for all to any theology that separates salvation from the demands of obedience to Jesus Christ.

-Grace teaches us that our lifestyle is suicidal…not in a worldly way, but in an eternal way.

-Grace teaches us what we need to do, and what not to do in order to change.

-Grace educates us, trains us and to reform and transform. God expects us to go in a new direction when we experience His Grace…His Son…His salvation.

If you have you accepted His Grace…His son, and have not been changed, maybe you didn’t.

-Grace trains us to live better lives according to God’s standards and priorities and not our own.

-Our works become the natural response to HIS works

- Grace teaches us to live a certain kind of life, to live in a particular way, and defined by particular character qualities.

1. Develop self-control

2. Live uprightly

3. Live Godly lives…for NOW, not for some other place and time, but for here and now.

What does that training look like?

1. Sometimes it looks like Divine discipline – sometimes it’s difficult circumstances.

Hebrews 12:7-11

7 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? 8 If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. 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 spirits and live! 10 They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order 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.

- If you feel that the circumstances of life are stretching you beyond what you think you can bear, or beyond what you want to bear, it may well be the Grace of God training you.

Like a serious workout at the gym…it hurts, and isn’t pleasant at the time. But if we recognize it as Grace and embrace it for what it is, then it will have that amazing strengthening, fruit-producing effect.

Embrace it…embrace the training of Grace

HOW?

1. Training requires some degree of cooperation or response on our part.

Anyone who has been to the gym or worked with a trainer understands that you can’t just show up for training and watch the trainer do all the work and somehow benefit from it. You have to actively engage and actively participate if you expect to be changed by it.

2. We have to deny ourselves

The first step is self-denial.

You can’t train for a marathon without first denying various habits and behaviors in your life that would get in the way of you preparing for the race….like diet and lots and lots of running.

Training in grace is like training for a marathon- you have to say NO to several things as a first step, in this case: 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions

UnGodliness – Whatever actions or attitudes undermine God’s centrality in your life (If it makes God marginal, it is ungodly)…like cheap American Christian Church Grace.

Godliness is having a regard for God’s glory and God’s will in every aspect of our lives, doing everything out of reverence and love for Him.

Worldly Passions – The result of a hungry soul that doesn’t have God at the center.

Anything that steals your focus away from God…like maybe politics?

Saying NO is not a one-time thing. It’s an ongoing part of training.

We’re called to take up our cross, the cross of self-denial every day.

Count the cost of what training will require.

Luke 14:28

28 “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? 29 For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, 30 saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’

2. Grace is POWERFUL

-Just as God redeemed Israel from Egyptian bondage, so too the Son of God redeems, with great power, a new covenant people from bondage to lawlessness and sin. Only the Grace of God, through the death of His Son can redeem from lawlessness, can liberate from sin and can set the captive soul free. Nothing else will…nothing else can.

Jesus described the reason for His coming in this way:

Mark 10:45

45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Paul described it this way…

2 Corinthians 5:21

21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God

Grace has the power to conform us into the righteousness of God

2. Grace teaches us to WAIT for what we hope for…to wait expectantly for His coming

13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,

-Waiting sometimes seems passive, like we are not doing anything, but Biblically speaking, waiting is not passive…it’s ACTIVE

- Waiting in this sense draws us forward into action, rather than causing us to relax

- Like a bridegroom waiting for his bride, there’s nothing passive about waiting if the focus of your wait is your primary desire.

It’s important to realize that there is a profound difference between passive waiting and active waiting.

Passive waiting can take the form of cynicism, complaining, or simply doing nothing.

Active waiting, however, is a posture that seeks to cultivate habits that are focused on intentional preparation.

It is a blessed hope because unlike every other hope we might have, it cannot be disappointed….Jesus is coming back.

We are waiting for “the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ”.

Are you waiting on the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior? If you are excitedly waiting for Jesus to come, your waiting looks like preparation. Your preparation looks like fruit. If you’re not prepared, and not bearing fruit, then what are you waiting for??

(Grace is Powerful) (Grace teaches us to actively wait)

2. Grace is PURIFYING

14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

-It cleanses, washes and renews: The death of Christ cleanses us

-It purifies our hearts by faith and our lives by the Holy Spirit.

Proverbs 25:4

Remove the dross from the silver, and a silversmith can produce a vessel;

The Refiner’s fire is purifying: When precious metals are refined the impurities (dross) must first be removed. These pollutants are burned away as the metals are subjected to intense heat. As a result of the refining process the craftsman is given pure silver to work with as he crafts the metal into a beautiful masterpiece. Without first removing the dross, the precious metal would be unworkable. The silversmith knows when the silver is pure because he can see his reflection in it.

Have we allowed God to purify us through His grace? Can He see His reflection in our lives?

3. Grace is POSSESIVE

Verse 14 …to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

-Kind of paradoxical – even though grace is incredibly generous, it is also tremendously possessive…even jealous.

He PURCHASED us. To PURIFY us to POSSESS us…literally for Himself.

…a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

1 Peter 2:9-10

9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

-When Grace comes into your life, it takes over…it buys you and makes you its own. That’s a very good thing…that’s SALVATION.

-When you encounter the Grace of God…the cross of Christ, you are no longer your own, but His own possession. Grace is possessive because it is costly. It cost God the life of His only Son.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.

Grace appeared at the climax of history through the death of Jesus Christ on the cross, but Grace is always there for us in the continual self-giving of the Son, like a steady, never-ending stream.

• Have you embraced Grace, and all He provides and requires?

• Am I now living a life defined by Grace? - You will know by the fruit.

• God’s Grace appears in verse 11, and God’s glory appears in verse 13. The grace that has appeared speaks of His first coming, and the Glory that will appear speaks of His second coming.

God’s Grace teaches us who is Lord.

God’s Grace teaches us what we should learn.

15 These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you.”

• Learn doctrine…these are the things you should teach – refers to the entire letter-a letter filled with sound teaching

• Learn duty…encourage with authority. Go alongside and challenge in the way we should all live as we look for “the blessed hope”.

• 3. Learn discernment: if “encourage” speaks to us about the way we should go, “rebuke” admonishes us concerning the way we should NOT go. When we confront or correct, we do so with all authority. We don’t compromise…Grace cost too much to compromise.

• Learn dedication: Speaking the truth will not always be popular, but it will always be necessary. It will require courage, conviction, the confidence of Christ – and will always require love as it’s foundation. This will enable you to humbly stand tall, refusing to be intimidated by Christ’s opponents. In this, you will not let anyone disregard or despise you.

Don’t worry about the nay-sayers. Be above reproach and love them. (Like Paul and Timothy)

Recap

1. Grace isn’t cheap. Don’t treat it cheaply and don’t represent it as cheap. That’s false teaching. Grace Christian Fellowship –the sign says: “Love God, Love People”. We love God, and we love people because we so strongly desire to show people the true Grace of God through Jesus Christ. That tells people

   • the message is more important than the brand…

   • that love is more important than a logo…

   • that the objective is more important than optics

   • that it’s better to be a hospital for the lost, than a country club for the saved

   • that Grace itself is precious…that time here is short, but eternity isn’t…

   • that conviction is more important than comfort

   • we can’t say “we’re good”, when we know we’re all bad

   • Grace is costly. Grace is Honest. And Grace is redemptive but at the same time, any of this done without love is worthless.

2. Let Grace train you…like a marathon. Training can hurt, but understanding what you’re training for puts everything in perspective.

3. Put away anything in your life that doesn’t bear fruit for God’s kingdom, and keep Him as your main focus.

4. Know His word and teach it with authority.

5. Stand tall, confidently and passionately love God and love people.

Our hearts should well up with praise in response to the Grace of God.

Grace has a Face and He truly is amazing.

Truth: God Revealed It. We Teach It. | Titus 2

Truth: God Revealed It. We Teach It. | Titus 2

Darien Gabriel

Title: Truth: God Revealed It. We Teach It.

Series: Underserved Grace

Scripture: Titus 2:1-8 [main]; Psalm 19:1-4, 7-11; John 1:1-5; 14; John 14:6; James 1:22; 2 Tim 2:2s; 1 John 1:9 ; Romans 1:16-32; 2 Tim 3:1-5

Time out

Greg McKeown says on his podcast that the COVID-19 pandemic is like God putting us in time out so that we will think about our unhealthy lifestyles and that we will discipline ourselves to live better more essential lives.

We live in a fallen world. A Romans 1-world. A 2 Timothy 3-world. (Romans 1:16-32; 2 Tim 3:1-5)

Kristie Anyabwile Spoke about being a Titus 2 woman in a Romans 1 world. 

The Main Thing

“The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.” Keith Eitel

Bottom line: 

•When we see God as he truly is, it reveals to us how we are to live. [Principle]

•When we see God as Truth, we teach it with character and competency so that God’s people live good, godly lives.

Most people are blind to the truth. That’s why they don’t teach it.

Disciple Triangle: Word, way, works (information, imitation, innovation)

“Root to Fruit” is another way of saying let’s start with God and end with us.

1.Who is God in this passage? What has he done?

1.God is truth. (John 14:6)

2.God has revealed himself to us through

1.General revelation (Psalm 19:1-4, 7-11

2.Special revelation:

1.Written word (Psalm 19:7-11; John 1:1-5)

2.Living word (John 1:14)

2.Who am I in light of this? What do I get to do as a result? As

1.A teacher (Leader). As a teacher of God’s word:

1.Teach what is appropriate for sound doctrine.

2.Teach to others so they’ll teach others. 

3.Teach as an example:

1.Always learning (disciple = learner) [slide]

2.Teach say/don’t say. TELL

3.Teach by what you do/don’t do. SHOW

4.Teach to do, not just know.

1.“Do not merely listen to the word and so deceive yourselves—do what it says!” James 1:22 NIV

2.Parable of 2 houses. Matt 7:24-27

2.A student (Learner, Disciple). Someone learning with others how to follow Christ as he seeks and saves the lost.

3.A lost person (Ignorant person). I need God’s word revealed to me by someone else.

1.I am lost without the revealed word of God seeking and saving me as one who is lost.

2.The Church is God’s holy search and rescue team for the blind. The Church is on the front lines of the expanding kingdom of God.

3.What does this look like practically?

1.Leaders/teachers teaching/training other leaders and learners the word.

2.Older generations teaching/leading younger generations the word.

3.The Word = “What is appropriate for sound doctrine” or “healthy teaching” [at ease vs dis-ease]

4.What does this look like effectively?

1.Revival. Revival is when repentance and faith of the God’s people catches on so profoundly that it sweeps through a community of faith and overflows into the surrounding community of the lost.

So, we’re going to finish up this message differently than normal.

God is holy. That means his children are holy.

•Positionally, declared righteous.

•Practically, being sanctified towards holiness.

This process called sanctification is the process of us repenting and believing over every unholy thought, word and action that God brings to mind. We repent of the lies we’re believing and embracing once again the truth of God’s revealed word.

So what I will do is read through the description of what God’s people are supposed to look like character-wise 

So that we can repent where appropriate.

I will read this passage as a prayer of confession, repentance and faith. I ask you to pray along with me repenting as you need to. After this, you’ll be invited to come forward and continue to repent and believe up front, should you wish to mark this day more strongly. This will happen during the lord’s supper.

Today is a call to repentance.

Really, every Sunday is a call to repentance. Every time the Holy Spirit convicts us of sin, we should repent.

May God have mercy on us. 1 John 1:9

Chris & Amy Karpus Share Their Testimony of Miracles God Did

Testimony

Chris & Amy Karpus

Chris & Amy Karpus share about their extraordinary experience of multiple miracles that brought Chris back from cardiac arrest (2x) and a “Brain dead” diagnosis in late July 2020. Just over a month later, Chris shares from the heart and from God’s word lessons learned along the way. Amy shares lessons too but also a lot of the medical details that help us see how miraculous this really was

Storms of Life | Matt 8:1-4, 23-27

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

Storms of Life

Darien Gabriel

Jesus shows us His authority over all things, even the weather when he commands the storm to cease. Only God can speak things into being. Only God can command the winds and the waves and have them obey. This same Jesus, fully God and fully man is sovereign over every circumstance in your life.

There is no question that this is a season of crisis as a country and as individuals. The whole world is in a crisis. Understanding that God is in control changes everything.

As we see, he is in control of our health:

“When he came down from the mountain, great crowds followed him. 2 And behold, a leper came to him and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” 3 And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. 4 And Jesus said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a proof to them.””

— Matthew 8:1-4

And He is in control of natural events:

“23 And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. 24 And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. 25 And they went and woke him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing.” 26 And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. 27 And the men marveled, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?””

— Matthew 8:23-27