Submitting to God

Romans 8:12-17

INTRODUCTION: Understanding that sin is an offence toward God, that God dictates what sin is, the need to repent of our sin, and knowing that Jesus is the sacrifice for our sin, we now move on to how do we live. Romans 6-10 are about this very thing. You can just see the way people think reading chapter 6. We should sin more so God can be more forgiving, or since you have a Jesus paid it all account you should max it out. Even Paul struggles with the sinful nature that keeps trapping him from time to time. In chapter 8 we find an answer, a new way to live.

1. THE STRUGGLE WITH SIN

A. ONE STRUGGLE OFTEN TAKEN UP IS THE ONE TO KEEP SINNING

B. ANOUTHER STRUGGLE IS TO KEEP FROM SINNING

C. A QUESTION OF SUBMISSION TO GOD

a. WE ALL MUST SUBMIT OUR SEXUALITY TO GOD

b. WE MUST SUBMIT FINACES TO GOD

c. WE MUST SUBMIT OUR LIFE GOALS AND DIRECTION

d. OUR GREED , CONSUMERISM, LUXUARY

2. A DIFFERENT WAY TO LIVE

A. LIVING ACCORDING TO THE SINFUL NATURE

a. FOCUSED ON OUR DESIRES AND THE LAW AND THE DIFFERENCE

b. DRIVING A CAR FOCUSED ON OBSTICLES AND TRAFIC

c. THINGS OF LIFE SHOUT LOOK AT ME

B. LIVING ACCRODING TO THE SPIRIT

a. FOCUSED ON DOING THE THINGS OF THE SPIRIT VS 5

b. DRIVING FOCUSED ON THE ROAD AHEAD

c. JESUS SAYS LOOK AT ME FOCUS ON ME

3. FINDING PEACE

A. FIGHTING SIN DOES NOT WORK

B. FOCUSING ON WHAT YU CAN DO DOES WORK

C. FOCUSING ON LIVING IN THE SPIRIT BRINGS PEACE AND LIFE

CONCLUSION: Repentance, forgiveness and submission God is what our lives in the Spirit are all about. It is the way we find real peace.

NOTES

In Romans 1-5 Paul writes about the sinful human condition and the need for forgiveness by God. For both Jews and Gentiles the only source of righteousness is through faith in Jesus’ death on the cross. Chapter five ends with Paul reminding us that we can only experience true joy and peace by being reconciled to God through Jesus.

I Jesus freely forgives our sin when we confess, and ask to be forgiven, it naturally brings up the subjects we find in chapter 6, how should the forgiven live?

6:1-14 Sin more so that God can be more forgiving.

It is amazing how we find ways to justify continuing on in our old life when Jesus has given us a new one. Much the same as being given a new car after wreaking your first one and then driving the new one just as reckless as your first car which you ruined. There are some who want to continue in the old sinful ways and claim they are helping God look generous. Paul’s answer is to point out that we have been united or joined to Jesus in His death and that we remain joined to Jesus through the resurrection. We therefore are to crucify the Old Sinful Self and now live a resurrection life today. We truly honor Jesus by not proving how forgiving He is but by how transforming the resurrection is.

6:15-23 Sin more because Jesus has paid for it all any way.

Another approach to keeping the old sinful life is to say that since we live by grace in the forgiveness of Jesus then sin does not matter or even does not exist. Sin is only sin because God said it was, now it is paid for and forgiven so now it is no longer sinful. But God has not changed the definition of sin nor has Jesus removed the Law. Paul’s point here is that we have been set free by Jesus but we can become volunteer salves to sin. Sin has a way of trapping a person. Sin is like a fishhook with barbs which easily pass through leash in on direction but resist coming back out. Paul argues that since Jesus made us free from being slaves to sin then we should become volunteer slaves to righteousness.

Romans 6:23 is true not only for our life before accepting Jesus it is true after accepting Jesus. The wages of sin is death. Even though we are forgiven sin still earns a wage in this world and that wage for nonchristian and Christian alike, is death. That death may be physical, it maybe the destruction of our life or relationships, or it may be seen in our children’s, lives but it will show up. The gift of God is eternal life. Instead of earning a wage of death now we could be living the gift of eternal life. Jesus has given us the opportunity to live for Him now.

7:7-25 Here Paul tells us the truth of the Christian life. We will always struggle with sin. We live is a world corrupted by sin and there is a sinful nature in each of us seeking to take control. At times we win the battle and at times we lose. While we seek to live as a slave to righteousness we find we fail far too often. But Jesus is honored in the attempt and rescues us from our failures. Paul’s situation is different from those he mentioned in Chapter 6 in that in chapter 6 they we trying to excuses and not confront sin, making no effort to live rightly. Paul on the other hand is not excusing His sin but confessing his sin and trying to live righteously.

Chapter 8 presents an even different way to live. We could live to sin, trying to find ways to break the law, or live to be righteous, struggling to keep the law, or we could forget both and live through the Holy Spirit. This is a major shift in our focus from looking at life through the law to looking at life through the Holy Spirit. Much like driving a car we can focus on the lines and obstacles along the road a struggle to keep the car going right or we can focus on the road ahead and the car seems to just go there with little effort.

When we live by the law we live in fear of either the penalty of sin or anxiety of trying to keep it. But when we live by the Holy Spirit we do not suffer from the fear or the anxiety, instead we experience peace, joy and love.

8:18 – 27 while Paul distresses over the struggle in his life with sin he now reminds us that today’s battles are nothing compared to the joy that awaits us. Often when we look at the moment all we can see is defeat or pain, but our final victory is sure. One of the greatest weapons we have is the knowledge of the outcome.

Paul also reminds us that we have the Holy Spirit that steps in, in times of distress. When our body, mind, and spirit are spent, the Holy Spirit comes in to take over and carry us through. The Holy Spirit may speak for us to God, or the Spirit may direct a person to help us, and we may never understand how the Holy Spirit has taken over for us.

Vs 26 & 27 “In our weakness, we do not know what we ought to pray for.” This is not to say that we do not have ideas or that we are unable to pray. Often we are praying for what we think we need, but the Holy Spirit steps in for us because we don’t know what we ought to pray for. What we are praying for and what we ought to be praying for may be very different things. As we tune our hearts and minds to the Holy Spirit’s leading we may find a whole new direction that never occurred to us.

Vs 28 Is one of those often misunderstood passages. This verse does not say only good things will happen to you, it means that God will find a way for whatever situation we go through to bring something good to our lives. Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery and then he lands in prison yet eventually God brought good out of it. I think that another key in all this is that we must cooperate with God. We must struggle to look for the good in something or we may miss it completely.

Vs 29 – 30 While it is clear that God predestined some the question is who, why and what, did God predestinatined. All of what the predestination means must be found in the Foreknowing. This foreknowledge indicates that God knew who would respond to Him and those who will not. Is this a knowledge of the persons heart and mind and then God never gives them a chance, or is this knowledge of how the person will respond to all the chances they will get?

The primary thing God predestined is that we be conformed to the likeness of His Son, Jesus. While many are focused on salvation and heaven, what we should be focused on is in becoming like Jesus. We see it today in that many sports figures are more focused on the press conference proclaiming their greatness that they forget to play the game.

We should take this passage as our assignment from God for our life, be conformed to the likeness of His Son.

Chapter 8 ends with the great statement of confidence in God’s ability to hold us fast and that no power exist that can take us from Him. Yet this must be contrasted with the warning of 11:26 when Paul warns that we can be removed for unbelief. The security that we have in the power of Jesus should not be cause for spiritual laziness or faithlessness.

Chapters 9 and 10 focus on Paul's lament for His own Jewish people and how they have lost their relationship with God. God chose Israel to be His example and ambassadors to the world, but they failed. God sent to the Jews the Messiah of redemption and they missed Jesus. This all leads into the warnings to the church we find in chapter 11.

I hope this has brought you food for thought while you are reading.

Leviticus 1-10 Repentance

Repentance

Leviticus 1-10

INTRODUCTION: Last week we found that sin is something that offends God and incurs a debt to God. We all sin and that fact does not make committing them ok, nor does it in anyway excuse us from them. In Leviticus 1-10 we see the start of the sacrificial system for the forgiveness of sin, which prefigures the ultimate sacrifice for sin, Jesus.

1. AWARENESS

A. 4:14, 4:23, 4:28 “WHEN THEY ARE MADE AWARE OF IT”

B. AKNOWLEDGEMENT OF SIN

C. THE DANGER OF DENIAL AND REDEFONITION

2. CONFESSION AND REPENTANCE

A. TAKE THE ANIMAL TO THE PLACE OF SACRIFICE 4:28

B. PLACE THEIR HANDS ON IT’S HEAD TRANSFERING SIN 1:4, 4:29

C. RESTITUTION 6:5 PLUS ONE FITH OF THE VALUE

D. THE UNREPENTANT HEART

E. THE DANGER IN ACCEPTING THE UNREPENTANT HEART

3. SACRIFICE

A. BULLS, GOATS, BIRDS AND LAMBS

B. MAKING UP YOUR OWN WAY 10:1&2

C. THE LAMB OF GOD 1:29

D. THE MESSAGE OF JESUS

E. REJOICING IN HEAVEN LUKE 15:10

F. REPENTANCE NOT PERFECTION

CONCLUSION: OUR WORLD SUFFERS FROM A LACK OF TRUE REPENTANCE, WE SUFFER FROM A LACK OF TRUE REPENTANCE. FOR ONLY THROUGH REPENTANCE CAN WE RECEIVE THE SACRIFICE OF JESUS TO CLEANES US FROM OUR SIN AND MAKE US WHOLE AGAIN. THROUGH REPENTANCE WE CAN LEAVE THE GUILT BEHIND AND START AGAIN.

Leviticus 1-10

In Genesis we see the coming of sin into the world and what a sin is, but what do we do about our sin. This section of Leviticus tells how sin is to be dealt with. The offerings as a whole were very elaborate rituals which were meant to deal with specific sins. The elaborateness, ceremony and preparation all served to be steps in the restoration process. You will notice that much of the offering being made ends up as food for the priest and the one bringing the offering and at times the whole group of people gathered at the temple. A ritualized picnic and barbeque. The point of eating with the priest is that it shows restoration has been made.

As you look at the regulations they are initiated by a person when they become aware of their sin. The person through some means has recognized their sin and then take steps to pay for it. The acknowledgement of their sin and the taking the steps of sacrifice are acts of repentance. The steps of repentance are very public things. This is the second big part of our life with God. God not only makes the rules but also wants us to acknowledge our sin. Later on Jesus will put the word repentance to the process which means to turn away from something. The first step in dealing with sin is to acknowledge it and turn away from it.

Chapter 1 vs 3-6

The person who makes the sacrifice brings the animal, transfers their sin to the animal by laying hands on it’s head. The person then kills and butchers the animal. The transfer of sin and the sacrifice prefigure Jesus the ultimate sacrifice for our sin.

From the acknowledgement of sin until the end of the sacrifice the person is deeply involved in the ritual. The whole ritual is not quick, flippant, nor easy, as some would picture sacrifice. It is a public action showing your acknowledgement of sin and your sorrow for it. This action is called repentance. You cannot get from sin to forgiveness except through repentance, a process where you feel and experience the cost of your sin. The ultimate idea being that through the whole process your actions will change and you will attempt to do better.

Note that there is no limit on the number of times a person can bring a sacrifice for any one sin. This acknowledges the fact that we will struggle with the same sins often. The acknowledgement of our wrong actions, the intent of our heart and mind to change is at the heart of the sacrificial system and not perfection.

Not all people could afford to sacrifice a bull so we notice provision for offerings of lesser value. The atonement and personal involvement are still the same.

Parts of some offerings are eaten only by the Priest and their families. Other offerings were eaten by the Priest, their families, the person offering the sacrifice and anyone else around at the time. This is a great symbol of the restoration of the individual through forgiveness.

After the first sacrifices are made in chapters 8&9 the priest begin their service before God. Chapter ten starts with the death of two of Aarons sons because they fill censers and burn incense to it. Perhaps they were adding a pagan ritual to the service or they may have been trying to be creative, but God makes it clear it is unacceptable. We cannot atone for sin on our own terms for doing so is a sin in its self.

When we are finished, the concern for us is the act of repentance. The action of the sinner in the process of forgiveness. Though Jesus is the new, perfect and lasting sacrifice for sin, repentance is still required. There is the acknowledgement of sinful actions that imply the intention of the forgiven to stop those actions.

The overall goal of God is not just forgiveness but also personal growth and change. The New Testament word for repentance means to turn or to change directions

In today’s world many in the church see forgiveness as being detached from repentance. Often no thought of change is ever entertained by people. Many in the church and the world never acknowledge the sinfulness of their actions. They never recognize their debt before God. Some even go to as far as to say that sin does not exist. Actions which God has clearly stated as sin are now approved of or even encouraged.

In the end there becomes two large classes of sin, repentant sin where we acknowledge our offence before God and unrepentant sin, sin where we do not acknowledge our offence before God. Unrepentant sin are sins that we have no remorse for and are not seeking to stop.

The great danger in the church today is the acceptance of unrepentant sin. To somehow deal with sin and define sin on our own terms, just as Aarons sons did, and we will find ourselves just as dead.

The Nature of Sin

Genesis 1-10 “the nature of sin”

Introduction: genesis 1&2 establish the ownership of the earth and the human race. It establishes god’s right to govern that which belongs to him. Chapter 3 establishes the nature of sin. Chapters 3 through 9 show the progression of sin and punishment from simple disobedience to murder to every thought being evil. It’s also interesting to compare genesis 1-3 the creation and loss of the garden, to rev 20-22 the new creation and restoration of the garden. But we are going to focus on genesis 2:15 through 3:6

Many churches including the Presbyterian Church find themselves locked in great turmoil, fractures and even destruction over topics like abortion, gay rights, personal freedom, personal and social conduct and human rights. A time will soon come when our own church will have to make a decision on where it will stand. All of these issues come back to this passage. We alto often think that all the issues have nothing basic in common but they do and it is found here. And yet very few if any realize the need to go back to this place.

This is a 4 part series that I pray you will make every effort to be here for.

1. GOD MAKES THE RULES

A. BY HIS WISDOM AND WITH HIS POWER GOD MAKES RULES

B. HUMANS ARE NOT CONSULTED

C. THEY ARE NOT COLLECTIVELY AGREED ON, POLITICALLY DECIDED, ARBITRATED, CONTRACTUAL, OR NEGOTIATED.

D. MANKIND IS GIVEN NO VETO OR EDITORIAL POWERS.

E. THE CHURCHES FIRST MISTAKE IS TO FORGET WHO IS IN CHARGE

2. THE DEFINITION OF SIN

A. SIN IS A BREAKING OF GOD’S COMMANDS

B. SIN INVOKES A DEBT TO GOD

C. SIN VS. SOCIAL NORMS AND VALUES

D. SIN VS. LEGAL OR GOVERNMENTAL LAWS

3. THE FIRST QUESTION OF LIFE

A. WILL YOU AS A PERSON ACCEPT GOD’S RULE AND SUPREMACY OVER YOUR WILL AND LIFE?

B. WILL WE AS A CHURCH ACCEPT GOD’S RULE AND SUPREMACY OVER OUR WILL AND LIFE?

C. WILL WE SUBMIT TO GOD’S STANDARD FOR OUR LIFE?

Conclusion: Adam and eve in the garden had a choice and each of us have a choice of who will set the standard for our lives.

Bible Study of Genesis 1-10

There are a great deal of exhaustive commentaries on Genesis and no end to debate of days verses eons for the time of creation but to me the fundamental question of why something is written is often more important. If we ask that question of Genesis chapters 1&2 in relation to chapters 3- 9, we realize that chapters 1&2 establish ownership of both the world and humans God created. Without this deed to humanity God would have no rights of ownership. There would be no right for God to issue commands such as do not eat the fruit of this tree. Without rights of ownership there would be no just cause for the punishments handed out for the rules and limits which God had not right to place upon the human race. On the other hand if God did create the world and the people in it, then He has sole ownership and rights to this world and the people in it.

When God makes the first demand of humans in Genesis 2:16&17 it justly His right to make and enforce, just as we have rights to control things we own.

Genesis 1-3 can be compared to Rev 20-22

As we go through chapters 3-9 we find an escalation in the disobedience of humans from simple disobedience to jealousy, to murder, to every thought being evil. There also is a progression in the punishments God imposes from banished out of the garden, toil and labor for food, then to being cursed and unable to produce food, to the limits of lifespans and finally destruction of the population and the world they lived in.

At the end of Chapter two God gives the command to not eat the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. This command is not formed on consensus, political agreement, any human ideal or norm, it is a command given independent of humans. The breaking of this command is sin, and it incurs a debt not to society or to other humans but a debt to God. This is a very important point that should not be lost. Actions or inactions are sinful not because people agree they are, but because God says they are, and God has that right. While people establish legal and moral codes, which may or may not agree with God, people do not get to determine what a sin is nor it's punishment. Today we find many churches rejecting Gods' determination of sin found in the Bible and replacing with their own moral code. This does not in fact change what God has called sin nor does it absolve the sinner, it only deludes the church member into the false belief that they are safe in their relationship with God when they are actually in Pearle. As a result many churchgoers who are living lives in disobedience to God feel they are righteous and even spiritual when they are actually lost and even worse kept from ever understanding their need for forgiveness and redemption.

Forgiveness and redemption are possible because Jesus paid the price for our sin not because He changed or overlooks law. "If we confess our sin He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9

1 THESSALONIANS 5:19-20

1 Thessalonians 5:19-20 “do not quench the Spirits Fire”

Fire Watch. After a fire has been put out there is a time when firefighters just hang around picking through things and keeping watch for the smallest of sparks can somehow hide and then later come to life. Even after weeks or months of no visible sign of fire a small spark can flare up into a new fire. You and I, each of us carry a spark within us which comes from the Holy Spirits presence inside of us. We might be denying its existence, or trying to put it out. We maybe are looking for it and do not see it, or we realize that it is just faint glimmer in the dark. Some may sense a fire that burns brightly and then dims. Others are actively seeking a bonfire, throwing wood on with reckless abandoned to God. Understanding what God is teaching us in this small sentence can help us build a bigger fire.

1. “DO NOT PUT OUT THE SPIRITS FIRE”

A. WHAT IS THE SPIRITS FIRE

a. MOST PEOPLE JUMP TO SIGN GIFTS (TOUNGES & PROPHICY)

b. MOST OF THE SPIRITUAL FIRES IN THE BIBLE ARE NOT T&P

c. NOAH BUILT A BOAT

d. ABRAHAM LEFT HOME TO FOLLOW A PROMISE

e. ELIJAH CONFRONTS AHAB AND THE PROPHETS OF BAAL

f. MOSES CONFRONTS PHARAOH AND LEADS THE PEOPLE

g. DAVID FIGHTS GOLIATH

h. GIDEON TAKES ON THE MIDIANITES

i. DANIEL DEFIANTLY PRAYS TO THE ONE TRUE GOD

j. JOHN THE BAPTIST DRESSES WEIRD AND STARTS A NEW MOVEMENT OF REPENTANCE AND BAPTISM.

k. THE FIRE OF THE SPIRIT IS A GUIDING OR LEADING TO DO SOMETHING YOU WOULD NOT DO ON YOUR OWN.

B. DO NOT PUT IT OUT

a. BY TREATING PROPHECIES WITH ONTEMPT

2. DO NOT TREAT PROPHECIES WITH CONTEMPT

A. WHAT IS PROPHECY

a. MOST PEOPLE THINK OF FORTUNE TELLING

b. PROPHETS MOST OFTEN, REBUKED PEOPLE, TAUGHT, ENCOURAGED, LEAD PEOPLE, GIVE GUIDENCE.

B. TREAT WITH CONTEMPT

a. TO LOOK DOWN ON

b. NOT LISTEN TO

c. RIDICULE

d. DEFY IT

e. PLAY IT SAFE TAKE THE EASY WAY

f. WE TRY TO TAME THE HOLY SPIRIT TO FOLLOW US RATHER THAN LISTEN AND FOLLOW HIM.

g. TO NOT LISTEN TO THE HOLY SPIRITS GUIDENCE AND DIRECTIONS FOR OUR LIFE (PROPHECIES) PUTS OUT THE SPIRITS FIRE.

3. THERE IS A SPARK OR FLAME WITHEN YOU.

A. GOD WANTS TO TAKE YOU SOMEWHERE INCREDIBLE

B. A PLACE WHERE ONLY GOD CAN TAKE YOU

C. MATTHEW 12:20 HE WILL NOT SNUFF IT OUT

D. MATTHEW 5:14-16 YOU ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD

E. HAS GOD BEEN SPEAKING TO YOU?

a. MAYBE WE HAVE BEEN DISTRACETED

b. MAYBE WE ARE LOOKING FOR A BIGGER VOICE

c. WE COULD BE TO BUSY

d. THINK IT ILLOGICAL, DOESN’T MAKE SENCE

CONCLUSION: The Holy Spirit is a flame within you, even if now it is but a smoldering spark. You nurture that flame as you listen and follow the Holy Spirits leading. God wants you on fire for Jesus, Jesus wants to do some amazing things in and with your life, taking you where you would never dreamed you could.

READ GENESIS 1-10 THIS WEEK

! Thessalonians 5:16-18 "Finding Joy"

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Finding Joy

Finding Joy can be a difficult thing at times. At least I know I struggle with it often enough. Until the after the elections it may seem impossible since aliens have taken over our TV sets, mail boxes and our phone lines. I say aliens because it is obvious that politicians do not live on the same planet the rest of us do. But this passage of scripture says we are to be “joyful always”. This passage we regulate to the blah, blah, blah, part of reading, the part you read the words because you have to but you never really listen to them. Being joyful is not easy for we have circumstances that take our joy and then there are the joy suckers, people who come around and try to suck all the joy from your life, like the dementors in Harry Potter. So how do we become joyful.

1.UNDERSTANDING THE PASSAGE

A. IT IS GOD’S WILL FOR YOU

a. YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES ARE NOT GOD’S WILL FOR YOU

b. FINDING JOY AND GIVING THANKS INSPITE OF

B. JOYFULNESS, PRAYING AND GIVING THANKS ARE CHOICES

a. HOW PAUL TREATS THEM HERE AS A COMAND

b. PHILLIPIANS 4:4-7

2. KNOW YOU TRUE CIRCUMSTANCES

A. A BMW IN THE MUD

a. YOUR MUD PUDDLE IS TEMORAY

b. YOUR SALVATION IS PERMINITE

c. YOUR MUD PUDDLE YOU CAN LEAVE

d. NO ONE CAN TAKE YOUR SALVATION

B. PHILIPIANS 4:8

C. PHILIPIANS 4:9

D. DO NOT LISTEN TO THE JOY SUCKERS

3. SUBMIT TO THE HOLY SPIRIT

A. THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS GAL 5:22

B. CHANGE THE WAY YOUR LIVING GAL 5:16&17 24-26

C. CHANGE THE WAY YOU PRAY

a. PRAY MORE OFTEN

b. LET YOUR REQUEST BE KNOWN (PHIL 4:6&7)

c. PRAY WITH THANKSGIVING

CONCLUSION: BEING JOYFUL AND GIVING THANKS IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES ARE NOT THINGS THAT HAPPEN TO YOU, STOP WAITING FOR THEM TO HAPPEN TO YOU. BEING JOYFUL AND THANKSGIVING ARE SPIRITUAL DISOPLINES. IF WE CAN STOP LOOKING AT OUR MOMENT BY MOMENT CIRCUMSTANCES AND FOCUS ON OUR SPIRITUAL DISOPLINES WE CAN FIND REAL AND LASTING JOY.