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.

Be On Display | Titus 2:9-10

Be On Display | Titus 2:9-10

Darien Gabriel

Be On Display Titus 2:9-10

Titus Chapter 1 - Guidance for Church Leadership

Titus Chapter 2 - Guidance for a Holy Example

Titus Chapter 3 - Guidance for a Holy Lifestyle

Titus 2:9-10

Slaves are to submit to their masters in everything,

and to be well-pleasing,

not talking back or stealing,

but demonstrating utter faithfulness,

so that they may adorn the teaching of God our Savior

in everything. Titus 2:9-10

For Employees Serving Under Authority of Employers.

Serve well

Speak well

Be Faithful

By your faithful life to serve others and serve Christ, you will put the greatness of God on display.

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

The War on Error | Titus 1:10-16 | Undeserved Grace

The War on Error | Titus 1:10-16 | Undeserved Grace

Darien Gabriel

Series: Underserved Grace

Scripture: Titus 1:10-16 (Main passage)

Title: The War on Error

Bottom line: 

For the Church to be sound in the faith (doctrine & deed; belief & behavior; creed & conduct), we must confront false teachings and the Errorists who spread them.

Remember what an elder does:

1. Lead - Follow me as I follow Jesus

2. Feed - Teach/Train

3. Protect - Confront/Rebuke/Correct

Opening comments

When we were talking on our Virtual Church Project on Zoom last Sun night.

Extremes of blogging about false teachers.

Some false teachings that we may be more acquainted with ( and many not even realize is false) include:

”Coffee cup theology”

• Co-habitation is a good idea before you get married. (Not biblical or wise—see Proverbs)

• If someone hits you on the playground, son, you’d better hit them back. (So much for turn the other cheek)

• You deserve God’s blessing (when all we deserve is eternal wrath of God)

• If you’re suffering or sick, it’s because you sinned and God is punishing you. (It sometimes is a consequence but)

• You don’t have enough faith if God didn’t heal you. (This can be the reason but to say it’s always the reason...)

• You aren’t a true Christian if you can’t or haven’t spoken in tongues. (Not true)

• If you commit suicide, you are going to hell no matter what. (Not true)

• Falling out of love with your spouse is grounds for divorce. (Nope)

• It’s not a sin to worry about things. That’s just natural. God understands and overlooks that.

• God and country:

  • God loves America and would never allow anything bad to happen to her.

  • Not distinguishing between America and the kingdom of God. They are not the same thing.

• All religions basically teach the same thing. No. Christianity is fundamentally different than the rest.

• Hell isn’t real.

• All things are possible with God. (Context is being content in all things at all times)

• God is a God of love, therefore, he would never send people to hell. (He’s also a God of justice)

• I’m free in Christ. Therefore, no one has the right to tell me what to do. (Freedom in Christ doesn’t = freedom from responsibility)

• God helps those who help themselves. (God helps those who can’t help themselves)

• If you obey God, he’ll have to bless you financially or materially. (I guess Jesus wasn’t blessed)

• God doesn’t ask anything of you but to trust Jesus. (Actually, he asks a lot of you. Come and see. Come and obey. Come and die)

In the Bible...

• 1 Corinthians - bodily resurrection of Christ

• Galatians - Salvation is grace alone—no works required

• Colossians - Adding of Jewish myths and Greek philosophies

• 1 John - That Jesus was truly God in the flesh

What makes this so difficult is that these carry some truth in them. And they are often from the Bible.

Errorists almost always appeal to the Bible because people respect it.

What does Paul say to Titus (and us) about this war on error?

We must confront them.

Why?

Because that’s what pastors/elders train their people to do.

How?

Lead, feed and protect and leading others to do the same.

When we think of false teachers, we tend to think of crazy, religious cult leaders wearing purple Nike’s and drinking cyanide-laced Kool-aide. But false teaching permeates our culture. It’s in churches and our homes. It’s on talk radio and NPR. It’s on YouTube, Facebook and Snapchat. We cannot escape it. We can only prepare ourselves for it’s onslaught.

Are you preparing yourself?

Are you preparing your children? You can’t prepare them if you aren’t preparing yourself.

Studying the Bible regularly will prepare you to recognize the false teaching like studying authentic currency helps you identify counterfeit money.

Much of the NT was written to deal with false teaching. Examples include:

1 Corinthians - bodily resurrection of Christ

Galatians - Salvation is grace alone—no works required

Colossians - Adding of Jewish myths and Greek philosophies

1 John - That Jesus was truly God in the flesh

Paul equips us to win the war on error by:

Matthew 7:15 (Jesus)

Acts 20:29-30 (Paul)

2 Peter 2:1-3 (Peter)

1 John 4:1-3 (John)

Jude 3-4 (Jude)

2 Tim 3:16

While God has called us to a ministry of reconciliation he has also called us to a ministry of rebuke. That’s Paul’s focus here.

Whether at church or where you live, work, learn, and play, there’s a time to rebuke or confront false teachings.

We know this is effective for we do it with our kids. We rebuke, then correct them, then train them. (2 Tim 3:16) This is how we prepare our children to walk fully and faithfully with Christ.

Episodes:

Notes from Warren Wiersbe in BE Commentary

3 Responsibilities of Titus:

1. Preach God’s word. (1:1-4)

2. Ordain Qualified leaders. (1:5-9)

3. Silence False teachers. (1:10-16)

The enemy is the father of lies; the chief errorist.

Silence False Teachers/ Errorists. (1:10-16)

1. 3 Facts about False teachers:

   1. What they were personally. They were...

      1. “Rebellious” people—actively resisting obedience and authority.

      2. ”Full of meaningless talk”—hot air and claiming but not doing (16)

      3. ”Deceptive” people—“Errorists”

      4. “Liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons.” (12)

         1. Appetites (idols over spirit-filled life)

         2. Notice adjectives

         3. Celebrities—not servants

         4. Lived it up at other’s expense

      5. Paul summed them up in v. 16:

         1. detestable—disgusting character.

         2. Disobedient—will not be persuaded.

         3. Unfit for anything good—Not able to pass the test.

   2. What they did. They...

      1. Told lies from “home to home” (whole families led astray)

      2. Lie upset faith because faith rises and falls on truth.

      3. Jewish legalism (circumcision)

      4. Jewish myths—“When the plain sense of scripture makes good sense, seek on other sense.” -Dr. David Cooper

   3. Why they did it.

      1. They did it for “dishonest gain” or greed/money.

      2. Testimony—I went into engineering in college for 1 reason: I could make a good living financially. My motives were mixed. They likely included greed. Well, God has a sense of humor! Every time I’ve taken a new job, I’ve taken a pay cut. It was not a surprise to get a pay cut going from Civil engineering to a youth pastor in ‘97. But it was going from a youth pastor to a pastor. Yet, God continuously provides for our family. Even without financial help from family or other financial windfalls (other than 1 family), we are 18 months away from putting 4 daughters through college debt-free. And Anita was not working outside the home until our last daughter’s senior year in high school. God’s grace + Faithful giving to God + Minimizing debt + Living within our means + our girls working from 16/17 on = No student loans or major debts. We only owe for our house.

      3. I share all of that to show that to encourage you in how and why you do what you do to make money. These false teachers were all about dishonest gain. Greed.

      4. BTW, you can be a pastor and be greedy. It’s ultimately a matter of the heart. Which is why Paul makes such a big deal about it with Titus and Timothy.

      5. Reason behind their covetousness:

         1. ”Corrupted” conscience.

         2. They lived a double-life. Outwardly teaching, inwardly corrupt.

         3. You cannot serve 2 masters, said Jesus.

      6. Teachers have corrupted minds and consciences so when they look at innocent foods they are sin because sin has defiled their vision; it’s blocking the light of truth.

   4. One further matter...what Titus must do:

      1. ”Encourage others by sound doctrine and rebuke those who oppose it.” (9) “Sword of the Spirit”

      2. ”They must be silenced” (11)

      3. ”Rebuke them sharply” (13)

      4. 2 Tim 3:16

      5. False teaching is like yeast:

         1. It enters subtly

         2. Grows quickly

         3. Permeates completely

         4. Therefore, the time to rebuke/confront is asap.

      6. The worlds attitude: It doesn’t matter what you believe as long as you believe and do so sincerely. Contrary to the conductor’s words on Polar Express, it matters completely what you believe, no matter how sincerely you believe. (Ex. Terrorists)

      7. Jesus said, “You will know the truth and the truth will set you free.”

Other intro thoughts...

One of the most frustrating things about our culture today is how difficult it is to discern what is true.

Whether you’re hearing about:

• COVID-19

• Historic racism

• Debate points

• Campaign ads

Truth in religion is no different.

Even truth in Christianity is a challenge these days.

Whether it’s

• Healing ministries

• Prosperity gospel ministries

There’s no shortage of distortion and deception.

And some are even worse because they do it for dishonest financial gain. I call these folks Errorists.

Choosing Your Elders | Titus 1:5-9

Choosing Your Elders | Titus 1:5-9

Darien Gabriel

Series: Underserved Grace

Scripture: Titus 1:5-9 (Main passage); 1 Peter 5:1-4; 1 Tim 3:1-7

Title: Choosing Your Elders

Bottom line: Choose elders who are blameless under-shepherds where they live, work, learn, and play. 

From Danny Akin: “God believes leadership of the local church is so important that He addresses the issue in detail four times in the NT: Acts 20:28-38, 1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9; and 1 Peter 5:1-4. 

Emphasis in each list falls on a leader’s personal character and theological competency. God is primarily interested in who you are and then what you do. He well understands that the latter will flow from the former.

Ultimately, pastors are to be examples to the church of how the gospel produces godliness.” P. 234

Episodes:

1. Context (5)

2. Blameless (6a, 7a)

3. The Elder as Husband (6b)

4. The Elder as a Father (6c)

5. The Elder as a Christian Man (Personal qualities) (7-8)

   1. Not...

   2. But...

6. The Elder as a Theologian (Pastor/under-shepherd) (9)

7. Our process at Grace CF.

   1. Pray.

   2. Pursue someone you feel led to ask. 

   3. Ask. If they decline, you’re done.

   4. If they agree, share their name with the elders. 

   5. The elders meet with.

   6. Candidates put on ballot if no serious issues.

   7. Church votes; super majority of members who vote required.

8. Next steps: Pray, Prepare, Partner, and/or Pursue

   1. Pray for our current and future elders.

      1. Paul and Barnabas appointed elders[a] for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust. (Acts 14:23)

      2. Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you. (Heb 13:17)

   2. Prepare yourself or help him prepare.

      1. ”To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed: 2 Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be;not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away” (1 Peter 5:1-4)

   3. Partner with current elder/pastor (apprentice).

   4. Pursue becoming an elder. Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task. 

      1. “Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task.” 1 Tim 3:1 NIV

Notes from Bible Knowledge Commentary

Titus 1:5–16 (BKC): 

II. Qualifications of the Elders (1:5–9).

1:5. As with Timothy in Ephesus (1 Tim. 1:3), Paul had left Titus behind to provide leadership to the fledgling church in Crete. Now the apostle reiterated his previous instructions, both for Titus’ sake and for the congregation’s. The organization of the Cretan church was unfinished due to the brevity of Paul’s visit. Thus Titus was to straighten out (lit., “set in order”) the situation by appointing elders in every town. Titus was now acting as an apostolic agent (cf. Acts 14:23) in Paul’s absence. His authority in the Cretan church was an extension of Paul’s own. Such authority ended with the close of the Apostolic Age.

1:6. As in 1 Timothy 3:2–7 Paul listed the qualifications for elders (cf. comments on 1 Tim. 3:1). There the list numbered 15; here 17. Yet both lists cover essentially the same qualities: (1) the elder must be blameless (anenklētos, “unreprovable”). In 1 Timothy 3:10 Paul used this same word of deacons, while in 1 Timothy 3:2 he used anepilēmpton to express the same thought of the elders. (2) Husband of but one wife probably means that the elder should have been married only once (see comments on 1 Tim. 3:2). (3) The elder must have his own household under control. This involves not only the matter of discipline (1 Tim. 3:4–5), but also positive spiritual influence as well. His children must be believers who are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient. The apostle had explained why this requirement is important (1 Tim. 3:5).

1:7. Here Paul switched from the term “elder” (presbyteros) to overseer (episkopos). The two words are plainly interchangeable in the apostle’s thinking, referring to the same church office. The term “overseer” is singular here, but this certainly does not mean that there must be only one episkopos per congregation. Rather the word is used here in a generic sense. Paul was simply affirming that these qualifications are required of all overseers. 

The need for blamelessness is repeated from verse 6. The reason this quality is so important is that an overseer serves as a steward of God. Damage to a church leader’s reputation is damage to God’s reputation. 

Then Paul resumed his list with five vices which must not characterize an overseer: (4) not overbearing, not arrogant and self-willed; (5) not quick-tempered (cf. James 1:19–20); (6) not given to much wine; (7) not violent (cf. 1 Tim. 3:3 for this and the previous vice); (8) not pursuing dishonest gain (cf. comments on 1 Tim. 6:5).

1:8. Whereas verse 7 lists negative characteristics to avoid, verse 8 lists positive qualities to be sought. The elder must be (9) hospitable (cf. 1 Tim. 3:2); (10) one who loves what is good (cf. Ps. 15); (11) self-controlled, or temperate and sensible (sōphrona; cf. Gal. 5:23; 1 Tim. 3:2; Titus 2:2, 4); (12) upright (dikaion, “just”); (13) holy (these last two are, with blamelessness, two of the characteristics Paul himself had modeled [cf. 1 Thes. 2:10], but neither is mentioned in 1 Tim. 3); and (14) disciplined (in contrast to the vices of Titus 1:7; cf. 1 Tim. 4:7–8).

1:9. Not only must an overseer meet moral and spiritual standards in his personal life, but he must also be a reliable man of the Word. (15) He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught. This last clause, “as it has been taught,” actually comes first in the Greek, for emphasis. According to Paul, an elder is a conservator of the truth, one who must understand it, hold it fast; (16) encourage others by teaching it; and (17) refute those who oppose it. To be qualified as an elder a man must be a capable handler of the truth (cf. comments on 1 Tim. 3:2).

Notes from Warren Wiersbe’s BEC

Titus 1:5–9 (BEC): Ordain Qualified Leaders (Titus 1:5–9)

One reason Paul had left Titus on the island of Crete was that he might organize the local assemblies and “set in order” the things that were lacking. Titus 1:5–9 (BEC): That phrase is a medical term; it was applied to the setting of a crooked limb. Titus was not the spiritual dictator of the island, but he was Paul’s official apostolic representative with authority to work. It had been Paul’s policy to ordain elders in the churches he had established (Acts 14:23), but he had not been able to stay in Crete long enough to accomplish this task...

...Titus 1:5–9 (BEC): The fact that these standards applied to Christians on the island of Crete as well as to those in the city of Ephesus proves that God’s measure for leaders does not fluctuate. A big-city church and a small-town church both need godly people in places of leadership.

“Titus 1:7a (BEC): The steward of God” (v. 7a). A steward does not own but manages all that his master puts into his hands. Perhaps the most famous steward in the Bible is Joseph, who had complete control over all of Potiphar’s business (Gen. 39:1–9). The most important characteristic of a steward is faithfulness (Matt. 25:21; 1 Cor. 4:1–2). He must use what his master gives him for the good and glory of his master, and not for himself personally (see Luke 16:1–13).

Titus 1:7a (BEC): The elder must never say, “This is mine!” All that he has comes from God (John 3:27) and must be used for God. His time, possessions, ambitions, and talents are all loaned to him by the Lord; and he must be faithful to use them to honor God and build the church. Of course, all Christians ought to be faithful stewards, and not the pastors only!

Notes from “Opening Up Titus” commentary

"The third title, steward, is hidden by the NIV translation of verse 7. A more literal rendering would be, ‘an overseer must be blameless as a steward of God’. The steward was the man whom a wealthy master would put in charge of his household or business. It was a position of considerable trust. It required someone who was wise and faithful and trustworthy. And here Paul says that an elder is a steward. He is to manage the affairs of God’s house, ensuring that the work of his divine Master gets properly done and caring for his Master’s servants."

"Elder, overseer, steward—these are the words Paul uses for the leaders who are to be appointed in our churches. Singly and together they mark the position out as one of considerable responsibility. Evidently a Christian of high calibre is required"

"Clearly, Paul’s description is of considerable use to those who already are elders. It calls us to self-examination and to seek by the grace of God to be far more the Christian leaders that God intends us to be. The primary concern of these verses, however, is not with being the right kind of elders, but with appointing them. What kind of men should your church be setting apart for eldership? What kind of men does God want in that office? Here in Titus 1 we have a very clear answer!“

"Summing it all up at the start

The apostle begins with a summary word and later on, in verse 7, repeats it. It is the word blameless, and it gathers into one the various elements of the apostle’s description.

We do have to be careful here not to impose on this word a meaning that it is not intended to bear. ‘This does not of course mean,’ writes John Stott, ‘that candidates must be flawless or faultless, or we would all be disqualified.’ The idea is rather that of being ‘above reproach’. Morally and spiritually, the elder is to be exemplary. No one should be able to accuse him of either serious misconduct or a general pattern of inappropriate behaviour. He should have a good reputation among outsiders and within the church as well. And as far as doctrine is concerned, he should be sound."

The commentator breaks these qualifications down into these categories:

The Elder as Husband

The Elder as a Father

The Elder as a Christian Man (Personal qualities)

The Elder as a Theologian 

The Elder as a Father

"Paul has more to say about the elder’s home life. Not only must he be a faithful husband; he must be a good father, one ‘whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient’. Something needs to be said here before we come to the details. It has to do with the previous point as well. Paul is not saying that a single man, or a widower, or a man who has been divorced on biblical grounds, or a man who has no children, or a man who has only one child cannot be an elder; that in order to be an elder a man must be married with children. What Paul is doing here is focussing on the norm. For the most part, the men in the church who would be eligible for eldership would be married men with children. It is this general situation that he has in mind.

As far as the elder’s children are concerned, Paul insists that they ‘believe’ (NIV). In other translations these children are described, not as believing, but as faithful—faithful in the sense of submissive or obedient to their father’s will. This is a preferable understanding. What is in Paul’s mind is not belief but behaviour. He is not saying that an elder’s children have to be Christians. But he is insisting that they be under their father’s control and ‘not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient’. In his first letter to Timothy the apostle makes the same point: ‘The overseer … must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect’ (3:4). Then follows the reason: ‘If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?’ (3:5). If a man cannot look after his own household it cannot be expected that he will be able to take care of God’s church. Failure in the one area will lead to failure in the other."

The Elder as a Christian Man

..."Moving now to the positive, an elder ‘must be hospitable’. The word ‘hospitable’ comes from one which means ‘love of strangers’. It is primarily about caring for and welcoming into our homes those who need hospitality or would greatly benefit from it. Examples in our day would be visitors to our congregation, believers who have recently joined us, the lonely, the needy, the singles who are away from their families, etc. Hospitality is a duty that devolves upon us all. Paul makes that clear in Romans 12. And in Titus 1 he tells us that it is one of the qualifications for eldership"

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?

Wake Us Up, Lord! | Better Together | Psalm 85

Wake Us Up, Lord! | Better Together | Psalm 85

Darien Gabriel

Series: Better Together

Scripture: Psalm 85

Title: “Wake us up, Lord!”

9/27/20_BetterTogether_Part6_Ps85

Bottom line:  Recall what God did in the past, Pray for God to wake us up in the future, and in the meantime Trust and Obey today in the present.

Episode 1

An American Awakening

http://www.disciplingculture.com/an-american-awakening/

To the angel of the church in Sardis write:

These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead.Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God. Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.  (Revelation 3:1 – 3)

Is it possible that God could be saying these words to the American church? They seem rather stern so perhaps it might help to look more closely at the context to which they were first addressed and then ask whether they apply to us in the present day?

Complacency was the problem in Sardis and the roots of this spiritual malady lay deep in the social history of the city.

Its remarkable physical assets meant that Sardis had become the World Bank of the ancient world. Standing atop an impregnable acropolis surrounded by vertical cliffs, Sardis was the invulnerable capital of the Lydian Empire. By 549 BC, King Croesus had become, by some measure, the richest man in the world. Out of his personal resources he had funded the building of the breathtakingly beautiful temple of Artemis in Ephesus. As soon as it was completed it was immediately considered one of the ‘Seven Wonders of the World’ and for many centuries remained the largest building in the world. But that same year – 549 BC – everything changed.

In the citadel of the ‘old city’ of Sardis Croesus felt confident and secure. From here he could see the broad plain of the Hermus Valley – where the city of ‘New Sardis’ had grown up – and the teeming thousands of Cyrus’s army.

Sardis had never fallen to an attack, but that didn’t matter to Cyrus. He was determined to capture the city and confiscate the fabled wealth stored within. After careful planning he deployed his  ‘Special Forces’ to climb a crack in the vertical cliffs surrounding the city. When the small force reached the tops of the walls they found the guards and the city asleep! So secure did King Croesus and his people feel that they slept through the siege. That night they died before they woke.

Cyrus the self-styled ‘King of the Medes’ was beginning to work his way through the ‘old guard’ of the kings of the ancient world, vanquishing their armies and destroying their kingdoms. Soon he would stand astride the world’s greatest Empire and be remembered in Scripture as an instrument of God’s grace (Isaiah 44:28). King Croesus would be largely forgotten, except for the proverbial saying ‘as rich as Croesus’ (usually pronounced ‘Creases’).

And this was only the first example of Sardis’ fatally complacent spirit. In 218 BC the same thing happened again but this time to the hands of Antiochus the Great. Again the attackers climbed the same crack in the same cliff and again the walls were unguarded and the city fell. Astonishing!

Somehow the church in Sardis had adopted the spirit of the city in which it was established.

How terrifying would it be to find yourself on a plane at 30,000 feet and everyone on the plane was asleep. You’d need a miracle.

"Simon...are you asleep? Couldn't you keep watch for one hour?" Mark 14:37

Jesus’ words to the church of Sardis and the story behind that (below)

Episode 2

Bottom line: God calls us to wake up revived and eager to upset the status quo (aim for a new normal) with love and power.

• Psalm 85 is about revival. It’s a call to God to revive us!

• Ps 85 urges us towards a holy discontentment with the status quo.

• He’s asking for life that demands a gospel explanation.

I. Recall the past. (1-3)

• Past: Written in past tense because he’s referring to what God has done; God has acted in history to deliver Israel many many times. 

• He’s recalling the past to in a sense remind God of what he’s done so he can ask him to do it again.

  • The exodus

  • The wilderness

  • Joshua’s campaigns

  • The Judges

  • The Kings

• God turning aside his righteous indignation against their sin is merciful. The psalmist realizes that only God can turn us around so he’s calling for that in his prayer that follows.

Episode 3

II. Pray in the future. (4-7)

• Future: Restore us again, God is Savior and sustainer.

• He’s done this before so he’s crying out to have him do it again.

• His unfailing love is one of remembering his covenant loyal love for his people.

• Salvation = Mercy, forgiveness, restoration, freedom

III. Trust and obey in the present. (8-13)

• Present: The appropriate way to respond to God almighty, who is to be feared and revered and trusted, is to trust and obey. 

• It is always right to do the right thing. It’s never right to do the wrong thing. Obedience is about doing the right thing and not doing wrong things; it’s about doing the right things and it’s about doing the right things the right way.

• Listen = obey (to hear is to obey); Hebrews understood this intuitively; us no so much

• Promises - God keeps his

• Glory is the display of God’s righteous, just ways

An expectation of life beyond normal everyday life.

Not written during a time of spiritual awakening. 

Holy discontent - calling on God to usher in a new set of conditions. 

Better Question: Do we long for revival? A new normal that includes a supernatural expectation?

• Revival is not something we do.

• Revival is something God does when, why and how he sovereignly wants to.

• Yet, the psalmist seeks it, asks for it,. And so should we.

Ps 85 urges us towards a holy discontentment with the status quo.

Not, “it is what it is”

But, “no, status quo needs to change! God, come!”

Starts asking for big things—supernatural things. Renewal, restoration, revival, resurrection.

He’s asking for life that demands a gospel explanation.

What he asks for isn’t just found in book of Acts. 

“A Colony of Heaven”

Read story of 1640’s in Kidderminster, England under ministry of Richard Baxter: pp. 315-16

• This isn’t normal

• Have you ever prayed for things like this?

Praying Prayers Like This (Spurgeon)

Alexander the Great legend

“He does me honor. He treats me like a king and proves by what he asks that he believes me to be both rich and generous.”

Better Question: “Church, what do our prayers say about our belief in the character of God? That he is rich and generous, or that he is reluctant and economical?

“Bold prayer honors God. God honors bold prayer.”  -Mark Batterson

“This psalm is meant to cultivate in us a longing for a new normal—a longing for the in breaking of God’s mercy and power in our lives, in the church, in the world.

How do we cultivate this longing?

Through/By...

I. Recalling the past. (1-3)

II. Praying for the future. (4-7)

III. Trusting and obeying in the present. (8-13)

I. “Never forget!” Should be about more than 9/11. It should be about every time God has moved in the past.

The psalmist resolves to never forget.

1-3 shows God in action in history. He is no deist.

This reminds us that God has acted and gives us hope that God still acts like this. He never changes!

II. Pray for the future. (4-7)

The psalmist cry’s out for revival because Israel still hasn’t changed even through the exile.

Now he prays, revive us! Lost. “Turn us”

Revival happens when we repent and believe. When we turn from our status quo of sin and self back to God as we trust and obey his will, word and way.

Turn us, Lord, from our status quo Pursuits. Don’t leave us here. Deliver us!

IT’s like we’ve walked back into our prison cell where we used to live surrounded by our idols of ambition, approval and appetites. 

God’s ultimate judgment could be to simply give us what we pursue. (Rom 1) To let us settle for things that don’t really satisfy but we continue to pursue. Perhaps that is hell—giving us all we want knowing it will never be enough—it will never satisfy—forever.

Ephesians 2 says we were dead in our sins and trespasses. So, at the. Point we couldn’t turn. We needed God to turn us.

As a saved follower of Christ, I can call on him to turn me—to deliver me so I can walk back out of that cell again.

God wants to turn us. 

Do you want him to turn you?

God turned us when we were dead. 

Don’t you think he wants to turn us from our sleep?

Turn us, why?

To rejoice in God!

To enjoy life with Christ!

“God revives his church by revealing himself afresh. He shows his unfailing love.”

2 Cor 3:18

Exod 33:18 Moses’ life-changing request wasn’t “change me”. It was “let me see your glory.”

“This faith-filled prayer for a new normal is a kind of rebuke. It’s as though it’s saying that if you con’t believe personal, societal, natural, even global revival is possible, you have forgotten the power of God.”

• Don’t we want to see things change?

• Don’t you believe God can change things?

• Don’t you believe he wants to change things?

• Then pray fro him to and give him the freedom to do it as he see best.

“Christians, if we don’t pray for things that might set us up for disappointment, we’re not doing it right.”

No safe prayers!

God can!

God wants to!

He brings life to death!

“Stamp Your Feet” (Spurgeon) p. 320

Spurgeon on poor condition of the church 100 years earlier.

“When was the last time we were audacious enough to ask God to stamp his feet? We are to pray and hope as though God had options!”

III. Trust and obey in the present. (8-13)

Hear the confident faith (trust) in these verses.

He will.

Also, a call to obedience. Trust and obey.

I.e. Revival is not a passive experience. Yes, he turns u but we have a role to play. We are responsible for how we flesh out revival daily. 

Ray Orland describes revival, p. 320

They must believe I’m both rich and generous.

We don’t need a new initiation as if that would trigger revival. 

What we need is renewed confidence in the power and love of God at work in and through his gospel in us.

Conclusion:

“The presence of falseness in this world assaults our senses every day. We see it. We hear it. It’s all around us. 

Will we recall the power of God? 

Will we pray risky prayers to a God who is rich and generous? 

Will we trust and obey, not only with our personal lives in view, or our local church life in view, but with a scope that is big enough to demonstrate that God’s global mission is in our hearts?”

Tim Keller notes

85:1-8 “Blueprint for Revival” - How to respond when your church community declines.

1. Study past seasons of revival and reformation. (1)

2. Repentance, acknowledging that our hard hearts and sin have put a barrier between God and us. (4-5) #judgment deserved

3. Cry out to God in prayer that he “show us” his unfailing love. “Revivals always involve a fresh ‘seeing’ of the gospel of grace—grasping theologically and knowing it experientially.” A renewed confidence in the love and power of God in our lives. #mercy available 

4. ”Wait on him, listening faithfully to his word.” (7-9) (trust and obey)

Tim Keller prayer:

“Lord, I’m spiritually dry; send me the water of your Spirit. I was created and destined to ‘enjoy you forever,’ yet I am not doing that even now. ‘Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?’ Amen”

85:9-13 Love and truth (faithfulness, NIV) will meet in harmony (10)

But, How can God in faithfulness:

1. Punish sin, yet also (Judge)

2. in love, embrace sinners? (Forgive)

By sending Christ to reconcile all things in heaven and earth by making peace through his blood (Col 1:20).

“When Jesus bore our punishment on the cross, love and holiness “kissed” - they were both fulfilled at once.”

• Love without holiness is mere sentiment.

• Righteousness and law without a grasp of grace is Pharisaism (legalism)

Each of us tends to lean one way or the other.

“But the Gospel keeps truth and love together in our lives.”

Other notes

Notes

Psalmist calls on the Lord to once again restore his people into a right relationship with their God and Savior.

God disciplines his people.

God judges all people.

Psalmist calls for revival (awakening).

“Show us (reveal to us) your unfailing love, LORD, and grant us your salvation.” V. 7

Save us from what?

1. Hell and a Christless hereafter.

2. Despair and a Christless here and now.

Listen to God: He promises peace to his people (8). 

Salvation is near to those who fear Him.

Salvation is for here and now, and hereafter.

Love and Faithfulness meet

Righteousness and Peace kiss

Better Together | Turning the World Upside Down | Acts 17:1-15

Better Together:

Darien Gabriel

“Turning The World Upside Down” (Acts 17:1-15)

Series: Better Together

Bottom line: Paul and Co. gives us a battle plan for turning things around (180˚) where we live, work, learn, and play. 

INTRO

When I trusted Christ as a freshman at Clemson, my main motivation was that I wanted to make a real difference in our world. I wanted to turn the world upside-down, so to speak. Paul, Silas, Timothy and Luke did too.

Episode 1 - The Power of Love 

The power of God (resurrection) flows through the love (cross) of God. In receiving it we are empowered to love others sacrificially through word and deed.

The result will be 2-fold:

1. Movement: A great, fruitful Jesus movement of power and love. 

2. Suffering: A great anti-Jesus movement of fear and hate.

How do we do this strategically? 4 “E’s” - Here’s 1-3:

1. Establish point of contact with people. Paul started with ✡️ synagogue  

2. Expound the word (teach/preach/proclaim/share)  

   1. Christologically (Jesus is Lord/Messiah)

   2. Boldy (conf faith)

   3. Intelligently (reasoned, explained, proved) over emotion

   4. with personal integrity

3. Expect dramatic responses

   1. good 

   2. bad

Truth: Jesus is Lord, no matter what. #authority

Application: Our job is to proclaim the word in power and love. Casting seed in anticipation of a great harvest. Pray for harvesters.

Episode 2 - Noble Bereans

The word of God reveals the truth about God’s power of love story. It also reveals how we can enter that story personally.

The result will be 2-fold: (again)

1. Movement: A great, fruitful Jesus movement of power and love. 

2. Suffering: A great anti-Jesus movement of fear and hate.

1. Fourth “E” - Encourage examination of what is taught. The Bereans studied:

   1. openly

   2. eagerly

   3. carefully

   4. daily

Truth: We fight not against flesh and blood but rulers and powers not of this world. #war #spiritualwarfare 

Application: Our job is to proclaim the word in power and love. Casting seed in anticipation of a great harvest. Pray for harvesters.

“Body Builders” | Better Together | 1 Corinthians 12

Better Together: Body Builders (1 Corinthians 12)

Darien Gabriel

Series: Better Together

Scripture: 1 Cor 12

Title: “Body Builders”

Bottom line: God sovereignly arranges the body of Christ with his spiritual gifts for the common good.

INTRO

In the early 90’s, I woke up one morning to a scratch on my eye. After putting my contacts in, I got no relief. In fact, it got worse. Soon I realized I had a real problem and I was in a new city. I had to find a new eye doctor fast.

I did. And he looked through is instrument to see white blood cells (??) attacking the infection happening on the cornea of my eye. He said I had a cornea ulcer.

My nerves told me through pain that something was wrong. 

My hand covered my eye to bring temporary relief.

My brain worked hard to figure out what to do next.

My fingers did the walking through he yellow pages to find an eye doctor.

My feet propelled me to the dr. Office. 

My body parts—each member—suffered together with my eye and worked in unity to serve the eye. This is how the human body is designed to work. This is also how the church—the body of Christ—is designed to work.

EPISODE 1 - Gifts

Episode 2 - Body

Episode 3 - God’s sovereign will (note how the structure of this chapter highlights the most important point of all—God is sovereignly at work in and through his body)

Episode 4 - Body

Episode 5 - Gifts

Conclusion/Applications

• Believing that God is sovereignly at work in and through his body should encourage and comfort us. Does it?

• Recognize that every Christ-follower has at least one spiritual gifts assigned to them by God for the common good. 

• Recognize that no Christ-follower has all of the spiritual gifts (or they wouldn’t need each other).

• Recognize that every spiritual gift is for the common good.

• Decide whether or not you really believe that we, the body of Christ, are better together and that we truly need each other. 

• In light of this fact, how is God leading you to be a blessing to the body of Christ THIS WEEK?

Better Together: When it's time to deliver, it's time to move!

When It's Time To Deliver, It's Time to Move | Matthew 9:35:-37, Acts 2:42-47

Darien Gabriel

Series: Better Together

Scripture: Matt 9:35-37; Acts 2:42-47

Title: “When It’s Time to Deliver, It’s Time to Move”

Bottom line: When it’s time to deliver, it’s time to move. Therefore, check your spiritual vital signs and move out!

INTRO

The church is pregnant with harvesters ready to enter the harvest. The harvest is ready to receive. 

The question is: Are you ready to move? When it’s time to deliver, it’s time to move! (Jennifer’s story here?)

EPISODE 1 - It’s time to move! Be delivered.

Jennifer’s Delivery?

EPISODE 2 - Be Devoted.

Key word seems to be “devoted.” 

How can I live a devoted life?

By eating and exercising well (with great discipline). 

Remember, a person without discipline is like a house without windows and doors.

The early church was devoted to four things: (2 categories: Diet (1) & Exercise (2-4))

1. Feed on Word. (Food that endures) “The apostles teaching” was literally the exposition of the OT into what would become the NT. They were devoted to teaching and learning (with assumption that they’d obey) the word of God as the Holy Spirit led. “To hear is to obey” -Llew Silver Hand

2. Gather in Community. (Exercise one another’s) “To Fellowship is doing life-together. An extended family on mission together (i.e. what we pray a Mission Group becomes). This doesn’t say “To THE fellowship” or group but to the act of fellowship-ing or doing life together. It implies 

3. Unity in Christ

   1. Diversity within the Body of Christ (think body life) (next week)

   2. If you were planting a church starting small, you’d start with this kind of a group. An extended family of servant-missionaries learning together how to make disciples who make disciples.

   3. Draw triangle with flower inside to illustrate

   4. Examples include military, mission field, family vacations, sharing trauma.

4. Remember around the Table. (Food that endures)

5. “The breaking of bread” indicates the Lord’s supper in the context of an evening meal.

   1. This was the practice or rhythm of the early church.

   2. Many think this happened every Sunday night after they’d gathered for worship. They’d follow worship with a meal for all who came and the Lord’s supper was a part of that meal (like at the last supper and Passover meals). 

   3. The LS reminds us of when Jesus said, “I am the bread of life.” And then he proceeded to tell everyone, “This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.” (John 6:51) That was the cross.

6. Pray like Breathing. (Exercise One another’s) “To prayer” as in we need to pray like we need to breathe—all the time. It is essential and we can’t survive without it. It’s our lifeline to the Lord.

Dr. Luke gives us this as the key ingredients to being a healthy church fellowship/family/community: Diet & Exercise. 

Be devoted to your spiritual diet and exercise.

We’re already in trouble, aren’t we. We can’t seem to even get this right in our physical lives. And this matters so much more!

It’s now when I show people that there is a direct connection between discipline in your physical life and your spiritual life. 

In other words, when you are disciplined in your physical life, it helps you in your spiritual life. And vice versa. 

Every January this becomes more important to us than the rest of the year. By February, most of us have fallen back to our hold habits. We haven’t created new, healthy rhythms that come from a life of self-control. 

Diet

The first of these key ingredients is the diet—input; what we take in. This is more than going on a diet like Adkins, Mediterranean or paleo.  Your diet is what you eat. Some of you have a Dorrito diet. Others a McDiet. You eat chips and drink soda and don’t give much thought at all to what you eat and drink. What you eat and how much of it you eat matters more than anything when it comes to good health. (Physically and spiritually)

The old saying is, “Garbage in = Garbage out”.

So many of us do things and buy things to make us healthier. But we are undisciplined about the most basic way to see that happen—eat healthy and eat less. We avoid fasting like the plague when in fact wise fasting leads to better health. We try to exercise our way to a healthier body but avoid this most basic of steps: Put a sentry at the opening of your mouth. Only you can discipline yourself to eat wisely.

Exercise

The second of these key ingredients applies to 2-4: Exercise. 

We get stronger by getting weaker and then resting our muscles. The result of that rested muscle is a stronger muscle. 

Our faith (gathering, remembering and praying) is like a muscle too. We use it which stretches it. We return to God resting (abiding) in him, and the result is a stronger faith. 

1. We exercise by gathering as a community fellowshipping together in Christ. Being present or “showing up” are ways we reflect Christ’s incarnation or “word made flesh”. We cannot practice the “one another's” if we’re not with one another!

If he doesn’t show up—we don’t go up.

1. We remember around the table as we gather and enjoy biblical hospitality which includes the Eucharist/Communion/Lord’s Supper. We take time to regularly remember the cross. This is the best expression of the love of God there is. It’s not about the resurrection (though that proved it worked and made this possible). It all comes back to the cross. Where God showed his sacrificial love in sending his son to die for the sins of the world reconciling and restoring all things under Christ. This is salvation and it is the hope Christians rest in as they contemplate eternity.

2. We pray like breathing.

3. We never stop breathing. (1 Thess 5:17)

   1. We breath when we’re alone and when we’re with others. We don’t really think about it and yet it’s essential to life. Prayer is essential in the spiritual life.

      1. The strength of our faith is measured by how we pray. To not pray is to not believe, not know, or not care that prayer makes a difference. So it’s either because of 

      1. Unbelief,

      2. Ignorance, or

      3. Indifference.

      1. We correct our breathing when it’s not right.

      2. One of the worries of COVID-19 is how it affects our breathing. 

         1. If you have asthma or breathing issues, that makes you high risk for COVID-19.

         2. It’s why you carry an inhaler.

         3. Perhaps the reason you feel like your faith is on life-support is because you need a spiritual inhaler. That would be the Holy Spirit.

EPISODE 3 - Be fruitful.

What are the results, affects, or fruit of being devoted to these things?

Fruit shows that we’re acting by faith in being devoted to healthy rhythms. (Food & exercise) 

What does this look like? Glad you asked!

1. Radical generosity. (Acts 2:44-45) 

2. Constant interaction. (2:44)

3. Gathering in large and small groups. (2:46)

4. Spirit of awe, gladness and praise. (2:43, 46-47)

5. Displaying attractive faith. (2:47)

6. Daily evangelism. (2:47)

EPISODE 4 - Be diligent & check your vital signs.

1. Biblical nourishment.

2. Loving fellowship.

3. Vibrant worship.

4. Word & deed outreach.

When your vital signs are good, you shine vibrant health like a pregnant mother.

Speaking of light...what does light do? Think lighthouse.

EPISODE 5 - Be DeLightful.

The Lighthouse Movement was popularized as the nation moved towards the year 2,000. Ministries, churches and mission organizations sensed a growing urgency to equip the body to multiply disciple-makers. This strategy was developed to help everyone be a lighthouse where they live, work, and play.

What does light do?

1. It attracts (to Christ and his bride the Church)

2. It reveals (truth)

3. It warns (consequences of sin)

Prayer - Pray for those where you live, work, learn and play.

Care - Care for those you’ve been praying for as needs arise.

Share - Share with those you’ve been caring for as trust grows and opportunities arise. 

What can I do this week to take baby steps in the direction?

Run this play:

• Goal: 3 touches/week

• Prayer, care, & share

• Think, “I am a lighthouse” and my job is to shine wherever I live, work, and play

• Share any wins that happen this week by texting 843-830-2464

Conclusion

Emma - thinking she’d come even faster, I lost it (share story)

Final story

We’ve been pregnant—time to birth a mission in our neighborhood.

• We renamed our mission group to the Neighborhood Mission Group.

• We asked our group to pray for and to hold us accountable to reach out to our neighbors. You did and we did.

• We stepped up our game and connected with more of our neighbors over the past year.

• We’ve been growing more and more pregnant with momentum as we’ve connected with more and more of our neighbors. 

• Now it’s time to deliver. It’s time to move!

• Time to deliver a new group on mission to reach Bradford Chase (just like the Vullo’s and the Whittington’s are doing in their neighborhood).

• God cares about the harvest way more than we do. But if we pray for him to send more harvesters into the harvest, we must be willing to be the answer to that prayer. Are you? The harvest is ready to deliver! Are we ready to move? Because it’s time!

How will we (Anita and I) do this?

• Pray. We’ll continue to pray for our neighbors and how to best care for and share with them. We’ll pray for God to show us what’s next.

• Move. When we gain clarity on our next step, we’ll move forward one step. We will keep this simple and seek to do just what he wants—no more; no less.

• Report. We’ll share with our current Mission Group what God is up to. 

• Repeat. We’ll pray again and move again. We will do this simply and by faith. When it succeeds, we will only be able to point to what God showed us to do.

Perhaps God has already been working in and on you to do something like this. If so, we are ready to help.

For some, it’s start a Core group (2-5 people meeting weekly for accountability in the word). UP

For some, it’s a home group (8-12 people meeting bi-weekly for being discipled); IN

For some, it’s a mission group (10+ people meeting bi-weekly for being trained to make disciples who make disciples); OUT

Step 1: Pray for your next step.

Step 2: Do that next step. 

Step 3: Repeat.

Step 4: Connect with us for coaching support, prayer and encouragement. We’ll have coaching Zooms where you can regularly be trained and encouraged to do what God leads you to do. 

Text me at 843-830-2464 or write it down on a green card that you want to talk coaching or groups. We’ll get in touch with you this week.

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

The Great Blot Out | Psalm 51:1-9

The Great Blot Out | Psalm 51:1-9

Darien Gabriel

The Big Blot Out Psalm  51:1-9

1.   Broken People Need Forgiveness.  vv1-9

2.   Forgiven People Need Renewal.  vv10-12

3.   Renewed People Need to Serve.  vv13-17

Backstory 2 Sam 11:1-12:23

Wise warning:  Wrong person + wrong time + wrong place = wrong thing happening

Only God Can Fully Forgive vv1-3

David Confesses vv4-6

God Cleanses vv7-9

1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all righteousness.”

If you are coming to God for the first time, He is ready to respond to your cry of repentance.

If you are a follower of Christ and have sin in your life, take a moment to repent and have your fellowship restored.

He’s Able. He’s Worthy. But Count the Cost | Matt 8:18-34

Bottom line: Because Jesus has absolute authority in the world and deserves absolute allegiance from the world, we trust, rest, submit to and rejoice in that authority. But we must count the cost. 

He’s Able. He’s Worthy. But Count the Cost | Matt 8:18-34

Darien Gabriel

I. Jesus has authority over disciples. (18-20) i.e. I trust Jesus no matter what.

    A. Jesus is worthy of unconditional trust, even if it means giving up earthly security and comforts. (Matt 8:18-20; parallel Luke 9:57-62)

“If you follow me, I’m all you’ve got.” -David Platt

• There’s a steep cost in following Jesus because he wants everything. (Time, talent, treasure, temple, testimony)

• Teacher of the law thinks he wants to follow Jesus. Instead of saying “fall-in”, Jesus discourages this by calling him to count the costs.

• Our security is in our home

  • security systems

  • watch dogs

  • locks

  • insurance

  • fences

• Jesus tells him he cannot even guarantee a roof over his head if he follows him. He may be homeless or a wanderer. 

• “If you follow me, I’m all you’ve got/“ -David Platt  Are you ready to embrace that?

• Jesus is worthy of our unconditional trust, even if it means giving up everything else. Why trust? Because he’s good. Therefore, I don’t need to look elsewhere for satisfaction.

Jennifer and Chears had to count the cost of buying a dog. (Vet bills, food, time, damage) We do too.

Application: Count the costs of following Jesus.

    B. Jesus is worthy of undivided affection, even if it means giving up easy access to our earthly relationships. (21-22)

• Disagreement over what is actually being requested here.

  • Does he want to give his deceased father a proper funeral, or

  • Does he want to wait until his living father dies and he gets his inheritance before agreeing to follow Jesus?

  • It doesn’t matter. The lesson is the same.

  • “Jesus’ response is direct, ‘Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.’” -Platt quoting Jesus

• Therefore, more important than honoring your father or collecting your inheritance (both of which matter) is following Jesus promptly and completely.

• Seeing Jesus as Sovereign authority in the world —> gladly surrendering total allegiance in life.

Jesus said, ““If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭14:26‬ ‭NIV‬‬

https://www.bible.com/111/luk.14.26.niv

JC Ryle quote, “Nothing, in fact, has done more to Christianity than the practice of filing ranks of Christs’ army with every volunteer who is willing to make a little profession.”

“Remember, Jesus is not begging for followers. He’s actually turning them away because he warrants unconditional trust and undivided affection from those who follow him. When Jesus speaks, leprosy, paralysis, and fever obey. The question is, ‘Do you obey?’” - Platt

"Just say the word, Lord” should be our mantra.

Count the costs.

II. Jesus has authority over demons. (Matt 8:28-34)

We have a picture of demons who 

1. Violently possess 2 men, and yet, are

2. Hate Jesus, and yet, are

3. Deathly afraid of Jesus

4. Are powerless to do anything without his permission

Satan on a leash 

“Satan can do nothing in the world, and nothing in your life, apart from the sovereign permission of God. Satan is (like) a lion (1 Peter 5:8), but he is a lion on a leash. And God holds the leash.”

Jennifer’s new Lab

Our daughter Jennifer got a new yellow lab. Even walking him as a gangly puppy quickly found him dragging her down the street as she tried to walk her undisciplined puppy. So she stopped taking him thinking he’s grow out of it and mature becoming more calm and obedient over time. Now she realizes that he’s still growing stronger (but not more disciplined because of lack of training) and so now he’ll only pull harder.

Satan is on a leash. 

God is holding the leash.

Neither demons nor Satan himself have all authority. Only Jesus does.

Remember 2 weeks ago we saw Jesus say 2 things to the 12 after he calmed the storm on the sea:

1. You of little faith? (Why do you doubt?)

2. Why are you so afraid?

In other words, why don’t you believe that I am God and in control having absolute authority in the world?

Dallas Willard said, “To believe something is to act as if it were true.”

Clearly, we have a gap between what we say we believe and what we actually believe. 

God can close your gap when you cooperate with him. 

When you place your unconditional trust and your undivided affections on Jesus, he transforms you to act as if you really do gladly and whole-heartedly submit to him. 

Faith

Our tendency to fear is why we must remember Jesus’ authority. 

Jesus is encouraging us to believe he is able and near.

Sometimes we believe in Jesus even less than the demons do!

What do I mean?

The half-brother of Jesus, James, writes to believers scattered all over the world, “You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.” James 2:19

1. The demons have fear because of their belief. Why? Because they know Jesus is God and are therefore terrified of him. We see this in Scripture every time Jesus confronts them.

2. But we often fear because we don’t believe Jesus is God and has absolute authority. 

What if we believed with the confidence of the demons? (I get it, they’ve seen Jesus in the spiritual realm as he truly is now)

Conclusion

Jesus is the son of God (God incarnate) with all authority over disease, disaster, and demons. Nothing can touch us apart from his sovereign will and power. 

Therefore, we should and can be the most secure people on the planet. 

Our security isn’t based on our house, our good job, the strength/stability of the economy, or who is president. It’s based on believing we are in the hands of the One with all authority in this world.

He is great and able and willing to provide for us and protect us.

He is good and wants to provide and protect us...as we seek first his kingdom...(Matt 6:33)

Hear the demon’s questions (29)

“What do you have to do with us, son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?”

Their day of final judgment is coming. (25:41)

As believers, we look forward to the coming day of judgment. Why, you ask?

Because Jesus showed he also has authority over death. So as a believer of that trusty and follower of his way and life, I know my just and holy judgment fell on Jesus at the cross instead of on me. Therefore, I will live in mercy and not under his judgment.

You can too! This is our great hope in Christ!

We don’t like authority. But we should. We will never thrive apart from healthy authority. 

Bottom line: 

Because Jesus has absolute authority in the world and deserves absolute allegiance from the world, we trust, rest, submit to and rejoice in that authority. But we must count the cost. 

Coast Guard

The coast guard has a mission to defend the shoreline of our nation and to rescue people who’s lives are in jeopardy outside our shorelines. They have a chain of command with people in authority all the way up to the President, congress and Supreme Court. They function effectively to the extent that they respect the authorities over them.

The Church has a mission to defend the front lines of the kingdom of God (the Church IS the FOB). In addition, we rescue people far from God but close to us (physically, relationally, emotionally, experientially) under the authority of God through Jesus. 

We will function effectively to the extent that we respect and revere and follow the authority of Christ.

Application

1. Trust wholeheartedly in Jesus’ authority! (Put your full weight on the brake or chair)

2. Rest peacefully in Jesus’ authority! (Like Jesus sleeping in the boat in the storm sleep through the night no matter the storm)

3. Submit completely to Jesus’ authority! (Get off your hands and praise him as your Ultimate authority in life—Jesus is Lord of all!)

4. Rejoice gladly in Jesus’ authority! (Smile often)

Notes:

As revival scholar James Edwin Orr said, “The only proof of the new birth is the new life.” Or, in the words of Jacob (James), “someone will say, ‘You have faith and I have works.’ Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works” (James 2:18).

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.

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

Love Mercy | Micah 6:8

Love Mercy | Micah 6:8

Darien Gabriel

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly[a] with your God.  -Micah 6:8

ACT JUSTLY & TO LOVE MERCY 

1. In order to understand what acting justly and loving mercy looks like, we need to look at the perfect embodiment of justice, mercy AND humility – Jesus Christ 

2. God’s justice is perfect 

a. In God’s perfect justice, the payment for sin is blood. 

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

Romans 6:23

For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one's life. 

Leviticus 17:11 

b. BLOOD = LIFE 

22 In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. 

Hebrews 9:22 

C. WHY? 

d. Sin isn’t just a lie here or there. Sin is rebellion against God, and it is serious because of the greatness of the ONE we are rebelling against. 

e. Our sin in THAT bad because God is THAT good. 

f. The punishment for sin (death) is blood (life). 

Think of it this way: the punishment for the treasonous crime of rebellion against the perfect king (sin against God), is the death penalty. 

Death is the payment for the crime of rebellion against the KING. 

WHY? 

Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; love and faithfulness go before you. 

Psalm 89:14 

God is perfect, so it’s impossible for HIS justice to be anything but perfect. 

3. You have to start at the beginning when Adam and Eve sinned (rebelled) against God. They sinned and realized they were naked and ashamed. 

21 The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them. 

Genesis 3:21 

a. Out of God’s justice and mercy, He made skins to cover Adam and Eve’s shame...their sin. Something had to die to cover their sin and shame. 

4. Later, we see it demonstrated again after 400 years of captivity in the Passover 

Passover – Lambs blood over the door for protection and deliverance. They were instructed to take a spotless lamb...take care of it for 4 days. Then, they were to kill it and put it’s blood over the doorpost of their home. They were also instructed on how to eat it  

12 “On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn of both people and animals, and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the LORD. 13 The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are, and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt. 

Exodus 12:12-13

5. Not too much later, we see it in the Law – God requires His people to make animal sacrifices to atone for their sin... a life sacrificed as a payment for death (sin) 

The Point: God’s perfect justice requires a payment for sin. The payment for sin is death. God’s justice in perfect. 

But why Jesus?  

6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 

9 Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! 10 For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! 

Romans 5:6-10

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. 

John 3:16 

a. Don’t you think that if it were possible for God to just ignore our sin...our rebellion, He would have done that? If there was any other way to forgive sinners while still upholding justice, don’t you think He would have taken that option rather than coming in the flesh and suffering the unspeakable agony of dying on the cross? 

Godʼs mercy is perfect. 

Sin is THAT bad, because God is THAT good. Sin is that bad, but God is THAT good. 

Jesus represents God’s mercy shown through His justice. 

a. God is just, and he wants His people to be just. God is merciful and wants us to be merciful. 

Isaiah 1:17 

17 Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed.[Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow 

Luke 6:36 

Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful. 

b. God wasn’t giving His people a checklist by saying to act justly and love mercy, He was saying: 

3. I’m not looking for people who play at religion...I want people who love Me, and because they love me, they want to be like me. Then, their lives, their families, their priorities, their nations and MY CHURCH will reflect ME to the world. 

c. When we think of the concept of justice, we should keep 3 other ideas in mind: 

1. Integrity – consistent application of the Bible 

2. Honesty – commitment to God’s truth 

3. Concern for the oppressed or those who cannot pursue justice on their own 

d. If we aren’t passionate about the things God is passionate about, then all of our “religious activity” means nothing. We aren’t always going to get it right, but we must strive daily to treat people justly for the glory of God...especially in the spirit of reconciliation. 

2 Corinthians 5:18-21 

18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin[a] for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 

1. Don’t just talk about justice, do the just thing yourself. 

a. Acting justly is not the same as acting, then justifying your own position. 

b. Using black celebrities who say there is no race issue in America to justify our own position. We’re not easing racial tension or uniting the church when we profess that it’s not an issue to those who have felt it all their lives. At that point, we’re not seeking justice, we’re seeking justification...we’re trying to justify ourselves. 

Romans 3:21-26 

21 But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness is given through faith in[a] Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement,[b] through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— 26 he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus. 

a We are justified, declared righteous, through Christ at the moment of our salvation. Justification does not make us righteous, but rather pronounces us righteous. 

2. Love Mercy - So, what is mercy? 

One definition is: Love that responds to human need in an unexpected or unmerited way. 

a. the Hebrew word used for MERCY is HESED. It’s used 250 times in Scripture and is loosely defined as “loyal love that contains mercy”. 

1. This is a character trait of God 

b. We know that we are LOVING MERCY when we begin to view the world the way God does. 

Jesus paid for every single sin ever committed; thus, God was just in punishing sin, and He can also justify sinners who receive Christ by faith. God’s justice and His mercy were demonstrated by Christ’s death on the cross. At the cross, God’s justice was measured out in full (upon Christ), and God’s mercy was extended in full (to all who believe). So God’s perfect mercy was exercised through His perfect justice. 

3. Jesus didn’t just come to die for us, he lived for us too. 

a. The point of the Gospel is that the justice is real—God really laid our sins on Christ. And the mercy is real – He really transferred the righteousness of Christ to us. He is our Savior, not just because He died, but because He lived a sinless life before He died, as only the Son of God could do. 

b. He lived for the same purpose for which He died – to reconcile us with God. 

4. Make a list of 3 things / people / groups / beliefs that you would die for...these are our priorities. 

a. Change the word “die” to “live”. Would we live for the same things you would die for? 

1. Jesus lived and died for us in a perfect balance between justice and mercy. 

b. How do our lives represent those priorities? Do those priorities match up with God’s priorities? Where is OUR balance between justice and mercy? Where do WE demonstrate the spirit of reconciliation talked about in 2 Corinthians? 

1. Are we focused primarily on politics or those priorities? Look at our last social media post. 

2. Are we focused on reconciliation with our black brothers and sisters or justifying our position? 

c. What “hill” are we willing to “die” on that isn’t Calvary? 

1. Our jobs? Our political party? Statues? A flag? Masks? Our rights? Our government? Any organization that does not honor God? Our history? Our future? The color of our skin? 

The Gospel must inform the culture, not the other way around. 

Romans 12:1-2 

12 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. 

5. Would we...would you...would I...in an effort to align our priorities with those of our Savior, to act justly and love mercy to the point of living and dying for unity in the church if it meant complete and final reconciliation with all of our brothers and sisters of color?...especially knowing that if we are unified, the world around us will know who Jesus is? Are we willing... 

a. ...to put aside our biases and self-justification? To live like Jesus? 

b. ...to bury our flawed past, and commit a racially divided present and any hope for a peaceful future to Jesus...just to show Him we’re serious? 

c. ...to cling so hard to the justification that His life, death and resurrection bought us...in perfect balance of justice and mercy, that we let go of our idols? 

d....to act justly and stand for our brothers and sisters of color who haven’t shared the same freedoms and privileges that we may have? 

e....to love mercy enough to even show it? 

6. Do you know what mission creep is? 

When you have a mission (love God, love people)...(be the best neighbor ever where you live, work and play)...(to make disciples who make disciples) Mission creep is where you end up spending a lot of resources, time and energy on something that ultimately was not what you were called to pursue and does not directly enhance the end goal of your cause. And often, it actually dilutes and discredits the efforts you have in place that are impacting your original intent. 

1. What’s the mission of the church? 

2. Be clear about the mission 

3. Learn to say no to cultural influences 

4. Use your mission as a filter for decision-making 

5. Show the world that the church...that the members of the body of Christ, are willing...like our Savior...BECAUSE of our Savior...to humble ourselves, to live and even die for our God-given mission, for reconciliation within the Body of Christ, for everyone to know who He is by our unity. That we Love God...that we love ALL people, not just ones that look like us...That we prove it...that we’re willing to act justly and love mercy...just like Him.

Act Justly | Micah 6:1-8 | How God Wants Us To Respond to Racial Injustice, part 1

Act Justly | Micah 6:1-8

Darien Gabriel

Scripture: Acts 10:1-11:4; James 2:1-9; Galatians 3:26-29; Micah 6:1-8

Bottom line: Let’s practice what we preach on how we interact with anyone different than us by acting justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly with our God.

Not limited to black-white relations but that’s a huge part of this today. Includes people of all cultures (not races).

One race - the human race started in Eden. Many ethnicities scattered at tower of Babel. 

Micah 6:1-8

I. God confronts Israel and Judah because of their sin. (6:1-50

II. I & J make their “defense” before God. (6:6-7)

III. God answers I & J (6:8-12)

    A. Act justly.

    B. Love mercy.

    C. Walk humbly with God.

IV. Apply to racial tensions in America today - How do we “act justly”?

1. Look up. Pray. It starts with us admitting we need God.

2. Bow down. We can’t unless we love mercy and walk humbly with our God.

3. Wake up - Admit that we are either part of the problem or part of the solution. Resolve to be part of the solution by acting justly, loving mercy and walking humbly with our God.

4. Catch up - 

5. Listen to their stories

   1. Learn about their history

   2. Lean in without being defensive or dismissive 

6. Stand up - 

7. For God’s way - act justly for all

   1. For positive change that dismantles unjust systems and attitudes 

Be Not Restless | Joy No Matter | Philippians 4:10-23

Be Not Restless | Joh No Matter | Philippians 4:10-23

Darien Gabriel

Pastor Darien continues our series on Philippians: “Joy No Matter"“ by addressing the issue of contentment in this sermon, “Be Not Restless.” In this passage, the Apostle Paul writes to the Philippian church , telling them that regardless of circumstances, he has learned to be content. Paul faced need and abundance, hunger and plentiful food. He experienced shipwreck, suffering, prison, and more. He also experienced great moves of God as he took the gospel to the gentiles. Paul noted that he could be joyful and content in any circumstance, because Christ was with him, in him, strengthening him. Paul goes on to admonish the the Philippians, because they have the same Christ in them, providing them the same contentment. Read along as Pastor Darien delivers this timely message.

Notably, if Paul could be joyful in prison and in need, then there is great hope for us in our present circumstances. The gospel of salvation in Jesus Christ means I can be joyful in all circumstances!

“10 I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. 11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

14 Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble. 15 And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only. 16 Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again. 17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit. 18 I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. 19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 20 To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.

21 Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me greet you. 22 All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar’s household.

23 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.”

— Philippians 4:10-23 (ESV)

Aim Well, Loose Your Arrow | Luke 10:25-37, Deut 6:4-9

Aim Well - Loose Your Arrow

Scripture: Luke 10:25-37; Deut 6:4-9

Bottom line: Aim your arrow to be and do like Jesus and then loose your arrow to love their neighbor around the corner and around the world.

Aim Well, Lose Your Arrow | Luke 10:25-37, Deut. 6:4-9

Darien Gabriel

Context: 

What a gut-wrenching but refreshing read. Wow

https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/george-floyd-and-me/

Fruit of the Spirit - have you loved your neighbor as you love yourself?

Who’s your neighbor? Jesus teaches us that our neighbor is anyone who is in need in front of us. 

• even if not your so-called race

• even if not like you

• even if they make you uncomfortable

• Even if they are your enemy

The Jews listening to Jesus definitely weren’t loving Samaritans (outcasts to them) like they loved their fellow Jewish neighbors. They saw Samaritans as half-breeds and worse than Gentiles, who they called dogs.

“What are you aiming at?

The kid who shoots his arrow and then paints a  around it. 

“If you aim at nothing you will hit it every time.”

Or do you even give it much thought?

We’re all shooting. Aiming ourselves and then others. It’s what we mean when we say, “I’m going that way!” “Come on, let’s go!”

Where are you headed?

Where are you aiming your arrows?

The Bible uses arrows to symbolize our kids.

“Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their opponents in court.” -Solomon

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭127:3-5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

http://bible.com/111/psa.127.3-5.niv

Notice

• Children are not a disease, hassle or distraction. Not even a necessary evil. They are a lasting reward for our efforts and gift from God himself.

• Contrary to modern sensibilities, a large family is a blessing. Think about the blessing your current family is. It can be more. God is encouraging more children for his people. Obviously we’re all limited and so should our family be. But when weighing out the cost of another child consider the blessing will be even more than you can imagine.

• A quiver full of arrows is meant to be emptied. Don’t empty is aimlessly. This would be a

L - Learn

We continue to live in remarkable days unlike anything any of us have ever lived through. I was reflecting this week with leaders in one of our Gravity Leadership Academy cohorts that it's hard to even know how to answer the question "How are you?" right now. I don't think I've felt more disoriented as a leader. Most of the time I feel "fine," but then there are moments when I realize that my body is telling me that I've been dealing with a whole host of low-grade stressors I'm not used to.

O - Obey

L - Lead others to do the same.

After the message:

Arrows - object lesson and gift

[Children hold their arrow out to their father as one child reads on behalf of them all]

Dear Dad, I am an arrow from God in your quiver called home. 

When I was born, God entrusted my life to you, represented by this arrow. Notch me into the bow that is your life. 

Aim me, through your words and actions, in the way that I should go. 

Aim me towards Jesus so that I’ll BE and DO like Jesus. 

Teach me to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God. 

Encourage me to follow you as you follow Jesus Christ.

As you draw me back on your bowstring of God’s power, love, and self-control, prepare me for the day you will release me into this dark world. 

Launch me to soar on wings like eagles burning brightly like the stars in the sky. 

I thank God for you. I love you, dad. 

The Exchange | No Matter What | Phil 3:1-11 (Part 11)

The Exchange | No Matter What | Phil 3:1-11 (Part 11)

Pastor Darien Gabriel

Date: 6/7/20
Series: Joy No Matter, Part 11
Scripture: Phil 3:1-11
Title: “The Exchange”

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: Rejoice in the Lord as you exchange your self-confidence for Savior-confidence no matter what.Intro

What are you placing your confidence in for salvation? For eternal life? For abundant life?

I. Put Little Confidence in Your Spiritual Adversaries (3:1-3)

They are dangerous (1-2)

They possess an unworthy character (dogs)

They practice ungodly conduct (evil workers)

They promote unrestrained confusion (mutilators)

They are deceived (3)

Genuine believers are devoted to worship in the Spirit

Genuine believers are delighted in the Savior

Genuine believers deny works for salvation

II. Put No Confidence in Your Self Achievements (3:4-6)

You cannot trust you rituals for salvation (5)

You cannot trust your race for salvation (5)

You cannot trust your religion for salvation (5-6)

You cannot trust your righteousness for salvation (6)

III. Put ALL Confidence in Your Savior’s Accomplishments (3:7-11)