To die is Gain

Can you imagine threatening Lazarus after he had been raised from the dead? Nero says, "Lazarus I'm going to kill ya"....Lazarus: "haha ha" Nero: Stop haha haing I'm going to kill you like I'm killing all the Christians"...Lazarus: Haven't you heard death is dead death is DEAD death is DEAD How do threaten one with death, who has been there, and Knows the one who has let him out?

O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:55-57)

Some thoughts on death...I am writing lengthy paper on death for in one of my classes. What is your thoughts on death?

Soli.Deo.Gloria.

timmy

The Rooted Christ Follower

The Rooted Christ Follower

A true display of Christianity is so needed in our world today. Oh we need this in our world today. We have weak kneed believers who have never got off the milk of scriptures and moved to the meet. How we need to present ourselves before God mature in the faith.
Colossians 2.6-7
I. Lives by Grace (we receive Christ through grace..not on our own merits) I must live in full dependence of Him, who is he
a. Accepts Christ as Substance of Christianity (totally embraces)The burning center
i. Doctrinally, (scripturally)
ii. The Person –Character-- historical Jesus
iii. The Lord-king and controller of all your life
b. Accepts Christ as the Substance and Sum of the Hope of Man
i. Because we cannot live this life on our own with all these pressures, emptiness of doing it on your own….I CANT DO IT!!
1. The husband, daddy, preacher (I will fail)
2. He is our hope because of Grace we receive this:
a. John 1.11-12 sons
b. Heb. 9.15 Eternal Inheritance
c. Rom 8.17 co heirs of the kingdom
d. Matthew 11.28 rest for our souls
e. Hebrews 7.25 security of salvation
c. Sufficient unto sanctification
i. When we walk in Him as the Truth, the Way, and the Life, changes are made able to Glorify God.
ii. All of our Strength, guidance, motives ARE to be found in Him.
iii. His grace is all we need. When all things leave you in this life His Grace is sufficient. It will get us through.
II. Built on Truth –this truth is Jesus. He is the Lord,
a. Act of Rooting
i. Past act. It was done once and for all at regeneration. “The tree may shake at the top most branches, but its roots are firm because of the earth” the firmness is Christ. Psalm 1 talks of the man who heeds to the word is like a tree…
b. Process of Building (illustration –the church…..)
i. The foundation that upholds, the roof that shelters and covers, the mortar that hold it together, the water that sustains, the electricity that gives power.
ii. Process- once again he is faithful to finish what he has started in you
c. Confirmation of Faith
i. We are established….just like the metal rebar that goes into the concrete as bracing strengthens the building our faith is confirmed by what he is doing inour life. Allowing us to continue to be built upon and fully trust him!

III. Abounds in Praise
We have fallen asleep Wake up put on strength and praise him..Oh how we must praise our God. Not just give lip service, but true praise (abundant praise life filled praise God Glorified, Christ Centered, Bible Saturated, unquenchable praise!!!!!!!! Let us not focus on the negative, let us proclaim the Lord. The Lord longs to hear His Name made Renown and Glorified!!! Christ is not valued unless he is valued above all-Augustine
a. For his Grace (the called are the chosen, the sinners and thieves, but from the ashes come the song of the redeemed)
i. Salvation, awakened to sin, deliverance
b. For his Blessings
i. Remedy for sin
ii. Forgiveness of debt
iii. Coming again
iv. Amazing perfect love, incomparable
v. That he accepts the broken, beat, worthless, wounded, weak, sinners
c. For Him
i. Oh let us fall on our faces at his feet and worship the Lamb that was slain for the sins of fallen man. He is the one saved, the one who forgave
d. Glorifies God
e. Fulfills man
f. Keeps you accountable
g. It displays our relationship with Christ.
Conclusion
Are you rooted? This all starts with being reborn. Made anew by the work of Christ. Christ saves sinners, allowing us to have a relationship with God. Freeing us from guilt and shame and sin. When God saves us he starts a work in our lives that he will complete.
Christian are you relying upon your own strength to be the husband, wife, daddy, mother, son, daughter –don’t depend on your own strength. Live in his GRACE , BUILD on truth….
God deserves our praise….with all we have… how he made you…is he getting it…do you abound in praise. We have so much to be thankful for!!

John the Baptist

John the Baptist is one of the most interesting characters in scripture. We first here of the one crying in the wilderness in Isaiah. Then we meet his parents Elizabeth and Zechariah. These two old Messianic Jews were used by God to raise a mighty man of God. In Luke 1.67-79 we read a poem that was prophetic in every word. John's daddy sings a song over his son, telling what he would be in the eyes of God. John grew and becomes strong in the spirit and goes to the wilderness. John was unique...in his appearance and in his message. There is no doubt he looked different than most religious folks of the day. He was wearing a camel hair jacket for crying out loud. Not to mention his preferred food (locusts...grasshopper like creature). But his message is what stands out. It was a message of repentance and turning from sin.......Notice his humbleness how he centered himself around the Christ.

We as called men of God should stand with the preachers of old. Like John we need to be the voice who cries in our wilderness. A cry for repentance, for preparation. May we too be humble and center ourselves around the Lamb of God.

revelation

The Doctrine of Revelation
Knowing God is the most important thing in life. God created people fundamentally for a relationship with himself. The relationship depends on knowing who he is as he has revealed himself. God is personal, which means he has a mind, will, emotions, relational ability and self consciousness. Because he is personal, and not merely an impersonal object, God must personally reveal himself to us. He has done this in what is called a general revelation (the World) and special revelation (the Word of God).
General Revelation
Revelation of God given to all people at all times. This revelation is found both in the external creation (Psalm 19.1) and in the internal human experience. (Romans 1.19-20)
General Revelation shows the attributes of God. His existence, power, creativity, and wisdom; in addition, the testimony of human conscience also provides evidence of God’s moral standards to all human beings. ((Romans 2.14-15) This means from the general revelation all people have some knowledge that God exists, some knowledge oof his character, and some knowledge of his moral standards. So we have from this a awareness of Guilt before God as all people instinctively know we have not meet his requirements. Many world religions have been invented to soothe the sense of their guilt.
General Revelation does not provide knowledge of the true solution to man’s guilt before God: The forgiveness of sins that comes through Jesus Christ. GR does not provide personal knowledge of God as a loving father who redeems his children and establishes covenants with them. For this we need something more we need a special revelation, which God has providentially provided in the Bible
Elements of the Special Revelation
What is the Word of God? Emma said, “The Bible the book of Jesus, it’s the good sword, it is the mighty sword. The Bible says that we are sinners.”
Special Revelation; The Bible is God’s written revelation of who he is and what he has done in redemptive history. Humans need this divine, transcendent perspective in order to break out of their subjective, culturally bond, fallen limitations. Through God’s written Word, his people may overcome error, grow in sanctification, minister effectively to others and live abundant lives as God intends.
II Timothy 3.14-4.5 “elements”
Introduction: Paul’s swan song his final words….what is most important of all the words he could have told him this is what he said. D
I. Grace (vs15)—holy scriptures
a. Undeserving to receive the revelation because of COnditon
b. Displays the Gospel—mans need
II. Completeness (vs 17) nothing else is needed. Pure no additives total package it is complete. Nothing added nothing took away.
a. Sufficient for Salvation
b. Sufficient for Sanctification
c. Sufficient for your life purpose.
III. Superiority (theopneustos) (vs3.16-4.1-2) this was a new word coined by Paul. It has never been used before in Greek lit. secular or biblical
a. All works of men…
b. All ideas above all things….philosophers (4.3-4)
c. Unique..because it speaks of the unique one Christ.
d. Original
IV. Offends
a. In Pride
b. In Sin
c. In false hoods

God's Promise and Providence

Exodus…for the next few weeks we will be studying the book of Exodus. We plan on seeing the Promise and Providence of God through the book of Exodus. We will see God’s promise reveled to his people. We will see how God is in control of all situations and will receive the Glory due him. Please be reading ahead to get a grasp of all we will be studying. Come with good ideas a questions to bring the group.

Lesson One : Introduction…God’s Promise and Providence
Exodus 1.1-7
In these verses we read of names of those who had made it to Israel. This section of scripture links the book of Genesis with the book of Exodus. The text ends by telling the reader that the children of Israel were fruitful and multiplied. We see God’s hand on his people as they go through this time in their history. Now we must understand that they were not yet in the promised land. God had not forgot them but was preparing them for what was to come.
I. Faithful
We must understand that God had not forgotten his people. The same promise that was begun with Abraham would be carried out. What God starts he finishes. Many people don’t realize this Truth. Even in our own lives we tend to think that God has forgot about us but he is still preparing us for what is in store. We see that these people we growing in number and in strength. God knew what he was doing. He was giving his people what hey needed in order for them to go where they needed. Do you think it is the same in our life? Does God prepare us for what lies ahead? How can we know that God will complete what he starts in us?
II. Purposeful
Notice that God had a purpose in mind. Generally it was to get the Glory through redeemed people but on a smaller scale it was to do mighty things with his people so they could make God look good. God has a purpose for all things. He is totally in control of every situation. What are some ways that God worked his purpose through these people? When bad things happen is God in control of all things? What is His purpose for you? How do you think you will personally accomplish this goal?
III. Powerful
Finally in these introductory verses we see a powerful God. We see how he uses situations of man to accomplish his will. Men, politicians, governments and other entities have nothing on God. Psalm 2 says that God sees the plans of man and laughs…. In what ways do you see his power on display? (taking refugees and making them mighty) Do you think God displays his power today like he did in these times? What can your generation learn form these verses?

SO ALIVE!!

Me and Emma at the David Crowder*Band Concert...she and I had an Awesome daddy, daughter night (the crowder band is emma's favorite haha she says that she is going to have a David Crowder themed birthday party!!)

In book of I Timothy vs 1-3a some amazing traits about Paul's life can be found. This letter was written to a young pastor named Timothy. The books of I and II Timothy a full of wonderful practical principles that are vital to the Christ follower. In these opening verses we see why Paul was So Alive. Now it does not say that word for word, but Paul does say some things that point to that.

Notice in vs1 we see that Paul knew who he was....He was an apostle. The Greek for this points to that fact that Paul was a messenger, commisioned by God, to reperesent CHrist and His Work. This meant something to Paul, because of who he was before Christ. God in his mereciful will saved a man who was against him. We also should never get over who we are in Christ. We also are sinners against God. We are unholy and deserve Hell. But what Grace and mercy that has been displayed upon on wretched lives. Paul was So alive because of the one who had given him a life to truly live.

Notice Paul's hope in verse one....Paul had a hope that was expectant on Christ. This is also important to being Alive inn Christ. Because without hope....without biblical hope how can we live in a world like the one we live.....Paul knew where his hope was. He placed it all in the hand of the Lord.

And lastly Paul knew what he was doing...Paul had a ministry. Paul invested his life in people, so that they would Glorify God in all they did. Paul said in Colossians that his goal was to present all believers to God, mature and strong in Christ. Paul knew what he was doing... Notice how in verse three he lets us know that there is a past with Timothy. When we look at the book of Acts and the other Gospels we see that Paul was discipling young Timothy in the way of the Lord....this is important for us to apply..we must have people in our life whom we teach and admonish in the scriptures and thhe ways of God....Paul was SO ALIVE!!!

Paul lived his life to the fullest for Christ....Paul did not waste His LIFE!!!!!!!! Let us live as Paul did........SO ALIVE!!!

the soldier

Are you a soldier? In Ephesians 6 Paul encourages the church to be a convenant soldier.

Stand and Fight- the covenant soldierTruths concerning the covenant soldier
I. Stout hearted (vs10)Eph 6:10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his mightIn this section of scripture Paul tells the Christian to be strong in the Lord. Soldiers should be ready to fight, to serve, and to suffer. A soldier’s armor is useless if his heart is weak. Through out this scripture we are told to stand, another word for this is covenant. This means we must be committed to the cause to be able to stand our ground. (Tom Petty’s "stand my ground") (what are some ways we can prepare to be the soldier God wants us to be? Where does our strength come from? How can we access it)II. Strong Opponent (vs12)Eph 6:12 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. 13 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 firmIf we are soldiers, we must have an adversary. Our enemy who we fight is Satan. He his a liar, and a deceiver. He uses people, evil spirits, sin, principles, and other things to battle with. He is strong and capable. Many people and many preachers have said they would like to fight Satan. On your own strength or feelings this would be very foolish. We must realize that this opponent is strong and fierce. Knowing this should intensify the convent. It should make it real. It should inform us. (What types of weapons does Satan use against us? Why should we be informed about the enemy?)III. Well Armored (vs11, vs13-18)Eph 6:13 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. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 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,Paul now talks about the armor of the soldier. Notice the first item in the soldier’s gear sit the belt of truth. Truth hold it all together. If we are to be all we can for Christ we must be held together with truth. The breastplate of Righteousness is next. This covers the heart. The heart can deceive you and satan uses the heart to make the Christian do many foolish things. Look at Sampson……(give examples if needed). Faith is next and Paul compares it to a shelid. (what are some things a shield is used for? How does this compare with our faith in Christ?) Salvation is used to protect our minds and our head. Salvation is our helmet. And finally we have the sword of the spirit which is the word of God. (How does salvation protect our minds? Why is the word or sword our only method of Offense?) Prayer is mentioned last (Why do you think its mentioned as part of the armor?)