A picture from my house

 

 

It amazes me how God can receive glory from the things that seem so normal to us.

(This was taken in my back yard today)



Grace, Grace....God's Grace!



I am reading, "The Cost of Discipleship," by Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and I have stumbled upon some quotes that we all need to ponder. He is talking about cheap grace and costly grace. Cheap grace is "is the grace that we bestow on ourselves. Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, communion without confession, absolution without personal confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate." Then he describes costly grace. "Costly grace is the treasure hidden in the field; for the sake of it a man will gladly go and sell all that he has. It is the pearl of great price to buy which the merchant will sell all his goods. It is the kingly rule of Christ, for whose sake a man will pluck out they eye which causes him to stumble; it is the call of Jesus Christ at which the disciple leaves his nets and follows him." Grace is free, but it is costly. It was freely given, and it is freely received. You cannot purchase grace, but grace will cost you your life. Have you repented of your sin? Have you laid down your life before the living God and proclaimed, "This life is yours! I was bought with a price?" Have you believed in the words of God so much that you would lay down life and possessions for the sake of knowing God?

Just some questions to ponder...

Simple Faith

simple faith

matthew 9: 18-26

            We are in the midst of a transitional time in our church (Sargent Baptist, Newnan, Ga.) and it would seem that we are at a very vulnerable place in our walk. It would seem that at any moment the enemy could charge in and break us apart. Let me be honest, this is exactly what he aims to do. Satan comes to steal, kill, and destroy. If he steals our faith, he kills our joy, and destroys our church. I am bound and determined, however, to not let the enemy steal my faith. I am bound and determined to not allow the enemy to kill my joy. I am bound and determined, by the power of God through the Holy Spirit, and in the name of Jesus Christ, to not allow the enemy to destroy Sargent Baptist Church. I would hope and pray that this is the same with you.

            I think it is a bit ironic that somehow vulnerability has become unacceptable within the confines of a faith family. I believe whole heartedly that it is unbiblical to discourage people to bring their weaknesses to church for others in their faith family to pray over them. I believe it is biblical (previously I had typed "un-" before this...this is what I believe...prefixes are important) for the faith family as a whole to bring their weaknesses before the Lord…in simple faith. Faith is not a complex thing. There is no secret step-by-step method to gaining great faith. There is no secret words that somehow conjure up faith. There is only one thing—surrender. Faith is simple. It is surrendering everything and saying, “God lead. We will follow.” How are we to defend from the piercing arrows of the enemy in our vulnerability? What does Ephesians 6:16 say? It says, “In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one.” It does not say take up the shield of reasoning. It does not say take up the shield of planning. It says take up the shield of faith.

            I have said on many occasions that you will never impress Jesus enough to save you. This is true. However, it is possible to impress Jesus…it may not be the saving grace, but it is possible. However, throughout the New Testament, you don’t see Jesus impressed by the great crowds. You do not Jesus impressed by a fantastic financial report. You do not Jesus impressed by flashy lights, or music, or ministries…what is Jesus astonished at? Jesus is impressed with the greatness of the people’s faith. I don’t know about you, but I want to be a part of a faith family that if Jesus stood among us, he would be impressed with our faith. If I am granted the opportunity to keep on preaching, which is solely up to God and the deacons who are honestly seeking after His face—if given the opportunity, I would love to keep preaching on this topic, which is tonight’s sermon title, “Simple faith.” However, I see through a mirror dimly [meaning I do not know what God has planned for tomorrow], so I will go ahead and preach on simple faith.  Here is my aim…look at Romans 1:8-12.

            My aim is to encourage you in and to be encouraged by your faith. Tonight’s message is going to come from Matthew 9: 18-26.

[Read and Pray]

            Let’s go ahead a break these verses down. I find this to be one of the most amazing stories in the New Testament regarding faith. I simply marvel at the faith these people had…so much so that it encourages me to be more faithful! Do you see how thousands of years later, we can still be encouraged (as in Romans 1) by our brothers and sisters in faith? I pray that the legacy I leave in life is one where someone can look back and say, “I want faith like that.” I pray our church leaves a legacy that many generations down the road, people look at our legacy and say, “I want faith like that.” I talked in a prior message about how faith is not being double-minded when it comes to God’s power. We cannot say, “These things I believe God can do, but this list over here…this is the impossibility list.” That’s NOT faith! In fact, that is the OPPOSITE of faith and it denies the power of God! It is boldly declaring, “Lord, You cannot do these things.” Notice the faith of the ruler. [Read Matthew 9: 18]. Death is pretty much the end of it, right? If we are at a funeral, we are saying “goodbye,” not “Hey! Wake up!” This man had so great a faith that he believed 100% that Jesus Christ could raise the dead. He says, “She’s dead. However, if you come see her, she will live again.” Wow! What faith! So, Jesus rose and began to follow the ruler. We read in Luke that this ruler’s name was Jairus. Jairus’ daughter was only twelve years old! What faith! When any typical person would say all is lost, this man says, “No!” In the midst of his anguish, he had faith!

Now as Jesus was following, we also read in Luke, that there was a great crowd. So much so that people began to press against Jesus. There were so many people that it was difficult to move. While trying to traverse through this crowd, someone reached up and touch the robe of Jesus. Jesus stops and says, “Hey! Who touched my robe?” The disciples, always quick to speak and slow to think, said, “Lord! How are we supposed to know who touched your robe? There are people everywhere!” Jesus however knew that great power had gone out from Him, which meant that someone—whoever had touched Him—was filled with faith. See, great power from God is poured out on those who have simple faith. So, he inquires.

Then a woman came forward trembling and fell down on her face before Him. She had a discharge of blood for twelve years! That is twelve years of non-stop bleeding! She had probably had enough at this point! She was probably at the end of her rope, but in faith, she believed, “If I touch his garment, I will be healed.” Jesus turns to her and says, “Take heart daughter…your faith has made you well.” Instantly, the woman was made well! Twelve years she suffered! Twelve years she endured pain! She spent every dime she had to her name for twelve years searching diligently for a cure! None of these earthly things worked, it was only through divine intervention! Because of her faith, in an INSTANT she was healed. Her faith made her well! Simple faith. She had no doubt that if she touched the garment, she would be healed. Notice, Jesus did not say, “Wow! Look at how many people are here! That’s 1…2…3…350 more people than last time!” No. Jesus was not looking for crowds, he was looking for faith.

After this, Jesus continues on to Jairus’ house. Someone comes outside and says, “Don’t worry about bothering the teacher anymore…your daughter is dead.” Jairus continued to remain faithful. Though people and circumstances on the outside said, “Give up! It’s over!” Jairus remained filled with faith. Jesus said, “Do not weep, for she is not dead, but sleeping.” People began to mock Jesus. “How foolish!” they thought. “How ridiculous!” “How absurd!” Let me go ahead and say that those who lack faith always find the faithful to look foolish. I pray that I look foolish to the world around me because I faith in God. I pray that we, as a church, look foolish because we have great faith. It is in this kind of faith that God humbles the proud by showing His mighty power.

The world is going to tell you it’s over. The world is going to laugh at you. Let them doubt. Let them mock. Because when Christ said, “Child arise,” she got up. When Christ extended His hand to her, she stood, completely well. He told the parents to tell no one what had happened as we see in Luke…but what is funny to me is that even though they told no one, we see in Matthew that news of this went all over the district! The word of God’s power went all over! So what does all this mean for our church? We need to have simple faith.  Let me encourage you for a few moments with the Word of God. We like to use the verse that “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God” for simply evangelism. I think that evangelism is part of the meaning for that verse…I believe there is a word for discipleship…for growth in there. Faith comes by hearing the Word of God. We can be strengthened in our faith through the Word of God.

Scripture to encourage you:

1 Corinthians 16:13 Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.

2 Corinthians 5:6-7 So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight.

Matthew 8:26 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.

Matthew 17:20 He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.” (Jesus Speaking)

Luke 12:27-28 “Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! (Jesus speaking)

Matthew 15:28 Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly.

Matthew 21:21-22 And Jesus answered them, “Truly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen. And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.”

Mark 10:52 And Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him on the way.

Romans 1:16-17 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

2 Corinthians 4:13-14 Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, “I believed, and so I spoke,” we also believe, and so we also speak, knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence.

 

Ephesians 6

VIDEO BIBLE STUDY:

EPHESIANS 6

 

 

 

[Children and Parents]
 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

[Bondservants and Masters]
 Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or is free. Masters, do the same to them, and stop your threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with him.

[The Whole Armor of God]
 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.

[Final Greetings]
 So that you also may know how I am and what I am doing, Tychicus the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord will tell you everything. I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage your hearts.
 Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible.

(Ephesians 6 ESV)