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The Holy Spirit Makes The Difference

5/31/2020

Below is the transcript of my Pentecost Day sermon at Christ Church, Los Angeles, May 31, 2020.

Pentecost marks the day most Christians believe the Holy Spirit descended on the followers of Jesus after his death, resurrection and ascension, and the Church, the Body of Christ, was born.

There is no way to talk about the Christian life without talking about the person and work of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is mentioned 261 times in the New Testament alone. Your spiritual growth and maturity is directly proportionate to your submission to the work of the Holy Spirit in your life. When we talk about the Holy Spirit, we are not talking about a New Age mysticism, cosmic power, emotionalism or psychic phenomenon. We are talking about a person. He is God, the third member of the triune Godhead; coexistent, eternal, and equal with the Father and Son.

For a recording of the sermon audio click the YouTube link at the end of the manuscript.

Scripture:

Acts of the Apostles 2:1‭-‬12‭, ‬38‭-‬39 NLT On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place. Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability. At that time there were devout Jews from every nation living in Jerusalem. When they heard the loud noise, everyone came running, and they were bewildered to hear their own languages being spoken by the believers. They were completely amazed. “How can this be?” they exclaimed. “These people are all from Galilee, and yet we hear them speaking in our own native languages! Here we are—Parthians, Medes, Elamites, people from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, the province of Asia, Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, and the areas of Libya around Cyrene, visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism), Cretans, and Arabs. And we all hear these people speaking in our own languages about the wonderful things God has done!” They stood there amazed and perplexed. “What can this mean?” they asked each other. Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. This promise is to you, to your children, and to those far away —all who have been called by the Lord our God.”

Text:

Acts of the Apostles 2:38‭-‬39 NLT Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. This promise is to you, to your children, and to those far away —all who have been called by the Lord our God.”

Today is Pentecost Sunday. It is a day celebrated by both Christians and Jews. Pentecost is 50 days after, Easter for Christians, and Passover for Jews.

On that Pentecost Sunday, after the Resurrection, the event that Jesus told His followers to wait for happened.

Luke 24:49 NIV I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

Acts 1:4‭, ‬7‭-‬8 NIV On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Pentecost marks the day most Christians believe the Holy Spirit descended on the followers of Jesus after his death, resurrection and ascension, and the Church, the Body of Christ, was born.

There is no way to talk about the Christian life without talking about the person and work of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is mentioned 261 times in the New Testament alone. Your spiritual growth and maturity is directly proportionate to your submission to the work of the Holy Spirit in your life. When we talk about the Holy Spirit, we are not talking about a New Age mysticism, cosmic power, emotionalism or psychic phenomenon. We are talking about a person. He is God, the third member of the triune Godhead; coexistent, eternal, and equal with the Father and Son.

Matthew 28:18‭-‬19 NLT Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Jesus described Him in very personal terms in;

John 14:16‭-‬17 NLT And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.

When we read the Book of Acts, it becomes apparent that the coming of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost marked a dramatic transformation in the lives of the disciples and, in particular, Simon Peter. Before Pentecost, Peter was often impulsive in his decisions, fearful of opposition and unstable in his commitments. But after Pentecost, he emerges on the scene as a courageous, committed and faithful disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ. Peter's challenge rings clear today:

Acts of the Apostles 2:38 NLT Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

What is this gift, and how do we receive it?

I. Receiving the Spirit at Conversion

We have the Holy Spirit the moment we receive Christ as our Savior.

Ephesians 1:13 NLT And now you Gentiles have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago.

The Holy Spirit lives in the heart of every believer, making us the temple of God.

1 Corinthians 6:19‭-‬20 NLT Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.

The Spirit is at work in every believer's life.

John 20:19‭-‬22 NLT That Sunday evening the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! “Peace be with you,” he said. As he spoke, he showed them the wounds in his hands and his side. They were filled with joy when they saw the Lord! Again he said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.” Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.

Born-again by the Spirit

John 3:3‭-‬7 NLT Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.” “What do you mean?” exclaimed Nicodemus. “How can an old man go back into his mother’s womb and be born again?” Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You must be born again.’

Led by the Spirit

Romans 8:12‭-‬14 NLT Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.

Intercedes for us in prayer

Romans 8:26‭-‬27 NLT And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will.

Seals us for the day of salvation

Ephesians 1:11‭-‬14 NKJV In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory. In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.

Guides us into all truth

John 16:12‭-‬13 NLT “There is so much more I want to tell you, but you can’t bear it now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future.

Gifts us for service

We had a series of sermons and a Bible Study series on the gifts of the Spirit.

1 Corinthians 12:7‭-‬11 NLT A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other. To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice ; to another the same Spirit gives a message of special knowledge. The same Spirit gives great faith to another, and to someone else the one Spirit gives the gift of healing. He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and another the ability to prophesy. He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or from another spirit. Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages, while another is given the ability to interpret what is being said. It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have.

Transforms us into Christ's image

2 Corinthians 3:16‭-‬18 NLT But whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.

II. Receiving the Spirit in His Baptism or Infilling

We all receive the Holy Spirit the second that we're saved but every believer needs to be filled with the Holy Spirit, for power. Being filled with the Holy Spirit is to allow yourself to be completely controlled by the Holy Spirit so that the fruit of the Spirit is evident and working in your life.

What is that fruit?

Galatians 5:22‭-‬23 NLT But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

The concept of the filling of the Spirit has always evoked different opinions regarding its meaning. There are two Greek words for filling.

In Ephesians 5:18 the word for filling is pleroo, which conveys the idea of growth to maturity or being molded by the Word of God.

Ephesians 5:18‭-‬19 NLT Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts.
This command in Ephesians 5:18 is in the present tense, whih indicates a continual experience or process.

In Acts 2:4 the Greek word pimplemi is translated filled;

Acts of the Apostles 2:4 NLT And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.

In this verse pimplemi is used in the aorist tense which means it expresses an action without indicating its completion or continuation. In this context it implies an empowerment for a work of service.

Today, since the Spirit indwells us as believers, we can be empowered by the Holy Spirit in our respective ministries. So the Holy Spirit is doing two major things for us: empowering and maturing us.

A. There are five accounts in Acts of believers being filled with the Spirit:

1.  Pentecost

Acts of the Apostles 2:4 NLT And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.

2.  The new converts ins Samaria

Acts of the Apostles 8:14‭-‬17 NLT When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that the people of Samaria had accepted God’s message, they sent Peter and John there. As soon as they arrived, they prayed for these new believers to receive the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them, for they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then Peter and John laid their hands upon these believers, and they received the Holy Spirit.

3.  Paul

Acts of the Apostles 9:17‭-‬19 NLT So Ananias went and found Saul. He laid his hands on him and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road, has sent me so that you might regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Instantly something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he got up and was baptized. Afterward he ate some food and regained his strength. Saul stayed with the believers in Damascus for a few days.

4.  The Roman officer Cornelius

Acts of the Apostles 10:44‭-‬48 NLTEven as Peter was saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who were listening to the message. The Jewish believers who came with Peter were amazed that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles, too. For they heard them speaking in other tongues and praising God. Then Peter asked, “Can anyone object to their being baptized, now that they have received the Holy Spirit just as we did?” So he gave orders for them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Afterward Cornelius asked him to stay with them for several days.

5.  The believers in Ephesus

Acts of the Apostles 19:1‭-‬7 NLT While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul traveled through the interior regions until he reached Ephesus, on the coast, where he found several believers. “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” he asked them. “No,” they replied, “we haven’t even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” “Then what baptism did you experience?” he asked. And they replied, “The baptism of John.” Paul said, “John’s baptism called for repentance from sin. But John himself told the people to believe in the one who would come later, meaning Jesus.” As soon as they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in other tongues and prophesied. There were about twelve men in all.

B.  The purpose of being filled is in one word power:

Acts of the Apostles 1:8 NLT But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

The word in Greek for power is dynamis, from which we get the word dynamite!

1. Power from on high

Luke 24:49 NLT “And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven.”

2.  Power in the inner man

Ephesians 3:16‭-‬17 NLT I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.

3.  Power in weakness

2 Corinthians 12:8‭-‬10 NLT Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Conclusion:

How can we be filled with the Spirit? Peter tells us to just "receive." The word receive tells us first and foremost what we do not have to do: we don’t have to work for it, we don’t have to tarry for it, we don’t have to be perfect for it. This means we receive the Spirit as we would receive a gift or as we would receive a guest.

So what do we have to do to receive that filling of the Holy Spirit and remember I’m talking about being controlled by the Sprit.

Desiring the gift

Matthew 5:6 KJV Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

Remember at the beginning of the year we talked about hunger and thirsting after righteousness being one of the ways to happiness.

Asking for the gift, it's not forced on you

Luke 11:11‭-‬13 NLT “You fathers—if your children ask for a fish, do you give them a snake instead? Or if they ask for an egg, do you give them a scorpion? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.”

Repenting of any sins and barriers between you and God's will in your life

Acts of the Apostles 2:38 NLT Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Your spiritual growth and maturity is directly proportionate to your submission to the work of the Holy Spirit in your life.

Galatians 5:22‭-‬23 NLT But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

Sermon Audio

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Experiencing The Great Salvation - The Scriptures And Our Great Salvation

5/24/2020

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This is the fifth sermon in a series of messages designed to enlarge our concepts of what God has provided for us in and through Jesus Christ. He came to do something more than give us a ticket to heaven.

We truly have a great salvation. Consequently, we should understand the amazing fullness of the salvation that God gives us through faith in Jesus and cooperation with the Holy Spirit as he works within us.

Our salvation is both comprehensive and exhaustive, and not just limited to the initial experience that occurs when a person receives Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

Ours is truly a great salvation. It includes salvation from the penalty of sin, which, for believers, is a past work of God in their lives. The New Testament portrays salvation in the present tense as a process that started with our conversion and continues from day to day. God is at work in us to deliver us from the sin that surrounds us. This is not only salvation from the punishment of sin or the very presence of sin, it is also salvation from the power of sin. Salvation from the presence of sin, is a future experience for all Christians.

Today I want to talk about the Bible’s role in helping each believer experience this great salvation.

For an audio recording of this sermon click the YouTube link at the end of the manuscript.

Scripture Reading:

2 Timothy 3:14‭-‬17 NLT But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you. You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

Introduction

Memorial Day is a day to honor the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military.

Originally known as Decoration Day, it started in the years following the Civil War and became an official federal holiday in 1971. Many Americans observe Memorial Day by visiting cemeteries or memorials, holding family gatherings and participating in parades. Unofficially, it marks the beginning of the summer season.

In past years it has been a time of getting together with friends and family for picnics, barbeques, going to the beach, and for having a great time outside. Unfortunately this year because of Coronavirus our activities have been severely impacted in most places in the country and especially here in California. We won’t have the big parades, we can’t have big family gatherings, and we can’t meet together yet as a church. But this doesn’t mean that we can’t honor those who died while serving in the military.

While this holiday is to those who died while serving in the military I do think that this Memorial Day we can and should honor those who are serving today in the face of the dangers surrounding Coronavirus. This includes, in addition to our active duty members of the military, National Guard soldiers helping in some parts of the country, it includes our police officers, fire fighters, EMT personnel, those clerks in the supermarkets and drugstores, those people delivering food and other things to our homes, and of course it includes our healthcare workers. Some of these people we never even think about nevertheless recognize and honor for the things they do for us but we can be intentional about thanking and honoring them this year.

Text:

2 Timothy 3:14‭-‬15 NLT But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you. You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus.

For the past several weeks we have been talking about experiencing our great salvation. Our salvation is both comprehensive and exhaustive, and not just limited to the initial experience that occurs when a person receives Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

Ours is truly a great salvation. It includes salvation from the penalty of sin, which, for believers, is a past work of God in their lives. It also includes salvation from the presence of sin, which is a future experience for all Christians. Salvation from the presence of sin comes, as we said last week, at the end of the ages when Jesus Christ returns to fully redeem believers from their human sinful state.

Philippians 3:20 NLT Philippians 3:19‭ NLT But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior.

Hebrews 9:27‭-‬28 NLT And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment, so also Christ was offered once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him.

Our text today speaks of the Bible’s role in helping each believer experience this great salvation.

2 Timothy 3:14‭-‬15 NLT But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you. You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus.

We come to know Jesus through the good news of, the Bible, God’s Word.

Romans 10:14‭-‬17 NLT But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!” But not everyone welcomes the Good News, for Isaiah the prophet said, “ Lord , who has believed our message?” So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ.

Through this same Word, we learn about our heavenly home.

John 14:1‭-‬3 NLT “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.

Hebrews 13:14 NLT For this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come.

1 Corinthians 2:9 NLT That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.”

God has also given us the Bible so we can experience deliverance from the destructiveness and evil of today.

If you ignore God's Word there is no way to experience the fullness of God’s salvation

The writer of Hebrews was talking to believers, to Christians, when he warned them against ignoring the messages that teach us how to experience redemption in every area of life

Hebrews 2:1‭-‬4 NLT So we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it. For the message God delivered through angels has always stood firm, and every violation of the law and every act of disobedience was punished. So what makes us think we can escape if we ignore this great salvation that was first announced by the Lord Jesus himself and then delivered to us by those who heard him speak? And God confirmed the message by giving signs and wonders and various miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit whenever he chose.

And Paul talked about this same thing in his letter to the believers in Rome.

Romans 15:1‭-‬6 NLT We who are strong must be considerate of those who are sensitive about things like this. We must not just please ourselves. We should help others do what is right and build them up in the Lord. For even Christ didn’t live to please himself. As the Scriptures say, “The insults of those who insult you, O God, have fallen on me.” Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled. May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus. Then all of you can join together with one voice, giving praise and glory to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

It is both interesting and profitable for us to see how Jesus used the Scriptures.

He used the Scriptures when confronted and tempted by the Devil. In Matthew 4:1-11 used the phrase “it is written” three times.

Matthew 4:4 KJV But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

Matthew 4:7 KJV Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

Matthew 4:10 KJV Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

Jesus also used the Scriptures when defining his purpose for taking on the form of a man and coming to the earth.

Luke 4:16‭-‬21 NLT When he came to the village of Nazareth, his boyhood home, he went as usual to the synagogue on the Sabbath and stood up to read the Scriptures. The scroll of Isaiah the prophet was handed to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where this was written: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the Lord ’s favor has come. ” He rolled up the scroll, handed it back to the attendant, and sat down. All eyes in the synagogue looked at him intently. Then he began to speak to them. “The Scripture you’ve just heard has been fulfilled this very day!”

So today let’s talk about some practical suggestions regarding our use of the Bible.

1. The function of the Bible.

A. The Bible reveals God’s nature and the way of salvation

First of all it reveals that God is Spirit

John 4:24 NLT For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.”

The Bible reveals that Jesus is the perfect representation of God

Hebrews 1:3 NLT The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven.

If we have seen Jesus we have seen the father

John 14:9‭-‬11 NLT Jesus replied, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don’t know who I am? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So why are you asking me to show him to you? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I speak are not my own, but my Father who lives in me does his work through me. Just believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Or at least believe because of the work you have seen me do.

It's recorded in the Bible that Jesus declared that He is the only way to the Father

John 14:6 NLT Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.

Romans 10:9‭-‬11 NLT If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.”

This is why Paul told Timothy to remember what he had been taught from the Scriptures. As it said in our text.

2 Timothy 3:14‭-‬15 NLT But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you. You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. It goes on to say

2 Timothy 3:16‭-‬17 NLT All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

B.  The good news about God recorded in the Bible is used by the Holy Spirit to cause the new birth when one receives Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior

John 3:5‭-‬6 NLT Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life.

Romans 1:16‭-‬17 NLT For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile. This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.”

It says that same thing at

Habakkuk 2:4 NLT “Look at the proud! They trust in themselves, and their lives are crooked. But the righteous will live by their faithfulness to God.

James 1:21 NLT So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls.

1 Peter 1:23‭-‬25 NLT For you have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end. Your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God. As the Scriptures say, “People are like grass; their beauty is like a flower in the field. The grass withers and the flower fades. But the word of the Lord remains forever.” And that word is the Good News that was preached to you.

C.  The Bible serves as milk that nourishes us following our conversion experience.

1 Peter 2:1‭-‬3 NLT So get rid of all evil behavior. Be done with all deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, and all unkind speech. Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment, now that you have had a taste of the Lord’s kindness

Matthew 4:4 NLT But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ”

John 6:32‭-‬33‭, ‬35 NLT Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, Moses didn’t give you bread from heaven. My Father did. And now he offers you the true bread from heaven. The true bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.

D. The Bible provides authoritative guidance for conduct that both pleases God and brings satisfaction to the believer.

2 Timothy 3:16 NLT All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.

So here’s what Paul is saying here. Scripture is:

Profitable for teaching.
Profitable for disapproval.
Profitable for correction.
Profitable for instruction in righteousness.

Hebrews 4:12 NLT For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.

E. The Bible is intended to equip receptive and responsive believers for fruitful service to God and others.

2 Timothy 3:16‭-‬17 NLT All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

Ephesians 2:10 NLT For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

Always remember that the Bible is a spiritual book. It is an inspired book produced by the Holy Spirit as he worked in and through men. Only with the Holy Spirit’s help can you fully grasp God’s Word for your life.

1 Corinthians 2:14 NLT But people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means.

Conclusion

Here are several practical suggestions as you decide to study the Bible with more diligence and spiritual hunger.

Look for promises to claim.
Look for commands to obey.
Look for sins to avoid.
Look for failures to avoid.
Look for examples to follow.
Always look to the Savior for guidance and help.

Psalms 119:104 NLT Your commandments give me understanding; no wonder I hate every false way of life.

So, how can you find more time to spend in God’s Word? Spend less time in front of TV screens or on your devices. Spend less time cheering on your favorite sports team. Let me give you some examples;

By the time a typical American student graduates from high school today, he or she will have spent more than 30,000 hours in front of a screen (including video games, tablets, laptops, and TVs).

Any guess how long it takes to read the entire Bible—all 66 books? It takes just 80 hours.

We have the time. The question is, how will we use our time? God gave us his Word to give us the wisdom we need to live a fulfilling and productive life.

Make the most of this awesome gift by making time to study it today and every day.

By using the Scriptures to teach and instruct you, our precious Savior wants to save you from the faults and flaws to which human nature is so inclined. He will speak to your heart through the Scriptures if you will let him. Don’t neglect your great salvation by ignoring God’s Word.

The Bible speaks of the great Savior who wants to save you from the penalty of sin. He is willing to redeem you today if you will come to him in faith, committing your life to him.

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Experiencing The Great Salvation - Salvation In Future Tense

5/17/2020

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This is the fourth sermon in a series of messages designed to enlarge our concepts of what God has provided for us in and through Jesus Christ. He came to do something more than give us a ticket to heaven.

We truly have a great salvation. Consequently, we should understand the amazing fullness of the salvation that God gives us through faith in Jesus and cooperation with the Holy Spirit as he works within us.

Salvation in the past includes our conviction of sin by the Holy Spirit that leads us to trust Jesus Christ and turn from sin. The Holy Spirit effected the miracle of the new birth, and we were justified in God’s sight by our faith in Jesus Christ. That is the first phase of our salvation. For those of us who are Christians, this is salvation in the past tense.

Salvation in the present tense began at the moment of our conversion and will continue until our death or the Lord’s return, whichever is first. Salvation in the present is a process in which the Holy Spirit works in our hearts and reveals to us and through us the nature and character of a true follower of Christ.

If you disregard any phase of this great salvation, your spiritual life will be impoverished. If you fail to appreciate what God has done for you in the past, you will live in uncertainty in the present and with much anxiety concerning the future. Today we want to focus on our great salvation in the future.

For an audio recording of this sermon click the YouTube link at the end of the manuscript.

Text:

Romans 13:11‭-‬12 NLT This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living.

Introduction

We truly have a great salvation. Consequently, we should understand the amazing fullness of the salvation that God gives us through faith in Jesus and cooperation with the Holy Spirit as he works within us.

The Holy Spirit led the New Testament writers to relate salvation in a variety of ways. It is described in terms of justification

Romans 5:1 ESV Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 5:9 ESV Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.

1 Corinthians 6:9‭-‬11 ESV Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

It has also been described in terms of regeneration.

Titus 3:4‭-‬7 ESV But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

2 Corinthians 5:16‭-‬17 ESV From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

As I’ve said before justification and regeneration occurred at conversion and are salvation in the past tense.

The New Testament portrays salvation in the present tense as a process that started with our conversion and continues from day to day. God is at work in us to deliver us from the sin that surrounds us. This is not only salvation from the punishment of sin or the very presence of sin, it is also salvation from the power of sin.

We are no longer slaves to sin.

Romans 6:6 NLT We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin.

Romans 6:17‭-‬18 NLT Thank God! Once you were slaves of sin, but now you wholeheartedly obey this teaching we have given you. Now you are free from your slavery to sin, and you have become slaves to righteous living.

This is the process of sanctification which is salvation in the present tense. Salvation in the present tense began at the moment of our conversion and will continue until our death or the Lord’s return, whichever is first. Salvation in the present is a process in which the Holy Spirit works in our hearts and reveals to us and through us the nature and character of a true follower of Christ.

1 Thessalonians 5:23 ESV Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We talked about salvation in the present tense two weeks ago.

If you disregard any phase of this great salvation, your spiritual life will be impoverished. If you fail to appreciate what God has done for you in the past, you will live in uncertainty in the present and with much anxiety concerning the future.

Today we want to focus on our great salvation in the future.

The Socialist Karl Marx criticized religion by declaring that “religion is the opiate, or the drug, of the people.” We have to admit that sometimes salvation in the future is overemphasized, resulting in the neglect of God’s will in the present. Others have thought of Jesus only as a funeral director who comes at the time of death to carry the soul into the presence of God.

Understanding what the New Testament teaches about salvation in the future can be a great source of comfort to those of us who are seniors and at the same time, it can be a thrilling challenge to young believers and disciples.

This knowledge about salvation, in the future,can help us in our struggle against evil.

This information can support us during difficult times like the things we are dealing with today with Coronavirus and everything that is happening today because of it.
This insight can strengthen us in our conflicts with others and the conflicts we have within

This revelation of truth can serve as a reliable test for what we really value. Do we value material things which are temporary or do we value things that are eternal?

Matthew 6:19‭-‬21 ESV “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

2 Corinthians 4:16‭-‬18 ESV So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

Understanding our great salvation in the future can help us discover what the ultimate values of life are and what the ultimate victory will be.

1. Understanding salvation in the future tense gives us a positive view concerning heaven.

We have a lot of questions about life beyond death and heaven. While the Bible does not give a detailed description of what we can expect, it does, however, provide some insight and understanding.

For one thing, God will be at the very center of everything.

Jesus told His disciples;

John 14:1‭-‬3 ESV “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.

Revelation 21:3 ESV And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.

Heaven is more than a residence. It is a relationship with God as he has revealed himself in his Son, Jesus Christ. Believers have often thought in terms of how wonderful heaven will be because they will be reunited with loved ones who have preceded them in death. As comforting as this thought is, our primary focus will be on God rather than on our loved ones.

Do you love God in the present?
Do you hunger for an abiding sense of his loving presence at this very moment?
Do you love him with all of your heart and soul and mind and strength?

If so, heaven will be a wonderful place for you.

2. Things that will not be in heaven.

Heaven is and will be a wonderful place but there will be some things that heaven will not have.

A There will be no sin in heaven

Revelation 21:22‭-‬27 ESV And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, and its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there. They will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations. But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

Does sin in the present disturb you like a painful rock in your shoe as you walk the road of life? If so, rejoice because sin will be absent in heaven.

B. There will be no tears of sorrow in heaven

Revelation 21:4 ESV He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

The tears of sadness that we experience in the present are due to this fallen world including hardships that result from sin in our lives or in the lives of others, natural disasters, or pandemics. God will wipe away our tears not with a lace handkerchief but by removing the cause for those tears.

C. There will be no pain in heaven.

Revelation 21:4 ESV He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

We won’t need any doctors because sickness will be a thing of the past.

D. There will be no death in heaven.

Revelation 21:4 ESV He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

There will be no cemeteries in our heavenly home. Many people living today fear death, but for those who have trusted Christ, there will come a time when death will be no more.

1 Corinthians 15:50‭-‬55 ESV I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”

E. There will be no churches in heaven.

Revelation 21:22 ESV And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb.

All of heaven will be a place of worship, and we will constantly be aware of God’s presence. Worship will be will never stop.

Revelation 19:1‭-‬2 ESV After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, crying out, “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, for his judgments are true and just; for he has judged the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her immorality, and has avenged on her the blood of his servants.”

F. There will be no night in heaven .

Revelation 21:23‭-‬25 ESV And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, and its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there.

Darkness conceals and often creates fear and uncertainty. In heaven we will enjoy the perfect security that comes from God’s loving presence.

G. There will be no limitations to goodness in heaven.

In heaven we will be like God, WE WILL NOT BE GOD, WE WILL BE LIKE GOD. We will no longer be hindered by a nature tainted with sin.

1 John 3:1‭-‬2 ESV See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.

Remember God’s purpose for us is to be conformed to the image of His Son.

Romans 8:28‭-‬29 ESV And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

That process will be complete in heaven.

Conclusion

Salvation in the past, present, and future is made possible for us by God’s grace. It is by his undeserved mercy that we are provided a Savior in Jesus Christ. Jesus alone is the only way we obtain this great salvation.

For those listening to me today who haven’t put their trust in Jesus to save, cleanse, justify and regenerate you, I urge, no beg you to surrender yourself to him, that he might forgive your past and give you the gift of eternal life. Commit your life to him so you may experience a rich salvation in the present and look forward to the completion of that salvation in the future. Welcome him into your heart today, for he stands at the door waiting to come into your life.

Revelation 3:20 ESV Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.

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Mary: A Model For All Of Us

5/10/2020

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This is the manuscript of the 2020 Mother's Day Message at Christ Church.

Today, on Mother’s Day, let us look at Mary, the mother of our Lord. Mary’s mission was to be the mother of Jesus. Our missions are different from her's but we all have one. Mary is a great model to follow for all believers. Today we're going look at some things about her faith and faithfulness that all of us can apply to our lives. Let's look at Mary to identify some factors that contributed to her success as a mother, and apply it to all of us today.

For an audio recording click the YouTube link at the end of the manuscript

Scripture Reading:

Luke 1:26-35, 46-56 NIV In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is his name. His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he promised our ancestors.” Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.

Sermon

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight my Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.

Before we start today, take a moment to reflect on all the special moms you know… Your friend who’s always there when you need her. That neighbor who takes such great care of her family. The woman at work who inspires you to be the best version of yourself. And, of course, there’s your own mom.

Today is a great day to tell all your favorite moms how much you appreciate them. Say “thank you”.

Proverbs 31:31 NIV Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

Text:

Luke 1:28 NIV “The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

Introduction

We should look for models to imitate in the Scriptures. Today, on Mother’s Day, let us look at Mary, the mother of our Lord. She is a great model to follow not just motherhood but of all believers. Let's look at some things about her faith and faithfulness that all of us can apply to our lives. Let's look at Mary to identify some factors that contributed to her success as a mother, and apply it to all of us today.

Jean read as our scripture today Luke 1:46-55 and we are going to refer to these verses but our text is;

Luke 1:28 NIV “The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

I. Mary was chosen for a mission and we are chosen for missions specifically designed for us.

Mary’s mission was to be the mother of Jesus. Our missions are obviously different from her's but we all have one.

You will text from last week was

Philippians 2:12-13 (ESV)12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

A couple of years ago I preached a sermon “God Created You To Be A Good Works Machine”.

Ephesians 2:8-10 (NKJV) For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

So you see just like Mary each one of us has been chosen for a mission.

Mary became the mother of Jesus by way of a miraculous conception. She was a virgin. But it was not Mary’s virginity alone that qualified her uniquely for becoming Jesus’ mother.

Let’s look at those qualifications of Mary and apply them to us as we work to accomplish the missions assigned to us.

A. Mary was a devout worshiper of the true God.

Luke 1:46-47 NIV And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

For us that means;

Exodus 34:14 NIV Do not worship any other god, for the Lord , whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.

As Jesus told Peter in Matthew 4:10…For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’ ”

As as He told Satan when He was being tempted in the desert;

Luke 4:8 NIV Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’ ”

So in order for us to accomplish our mission we must be a totally committed in our worship of God Almighty

B. Mary was pure in mind and heart and body.

Luke 1:26-28 NIV In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

To accomplish our missions we must be pure in heart, mind and body.

In His Sermon on the Mount Jesus said;

Matthew 5:8 NIV Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

Who are the pure in heart?

The pure in heart are those who have been cleansed.

The initial cleansing happens when a person commits his or her life to Jesus Christ, at salvation.

The pure in heart are those who have one goal in life and that is to serve God.

Purity means to be guided by one purpose. To have a singleness of mind.

Matthew 6:33 ESV But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

The pure in heart are those who have clean thoughts.

Purity begins with the hidden thoughts of the heart.

Proverbs 23:7 NKJV For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. “Eat and drink!” he says to you, But his heart is not with you.

It's what we think, not what we say, that creates purity within.

Philippians 4:8 ESV Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

The pure in heart are those who have clean thoughts and, consequently, a clean life.

Psalms 51:10 NIV Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

C. Mary was humble, realizing her dependence on God.

Luke 1:46-49 NIV And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is his name”

What does that mean for us?

In a sermon at the beginning of the year I said that humility is the way to happiness.

James 4:10 (ESV) Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.

Why is humility the way to happiness?

Humility enables you to be honest about yourself. Success and prosperity can lead a person to be self-satisfied and proud.

Humility drives you to commit your full potential to God.

Isaiah 40:29-31 NIV He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Humility prepares you to be filled with the Holy Spirit.

No proud person can be filled with and controlled by the Holy Spirit, because a life filled with pride has no room for the Holy Spirit. Those who are unwilling to be controlled by the Holy Spirit are controlled by selfish ambition. That's why the Lord said that we must become like little children before we enter the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 18:1-4 ESV At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, "Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

D. Mary was obedient to God’s will. Mary was willing to do what God had planned for her.

Luke 1:38 NIV “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.

We’re able to do what God has planned for us because of the fruit of the Spirit sowed in you at salvation.

Galatians 5:22-23 (NKJV)22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.The fruit of the Spirit is the result of the Holy Spirit's presence and working in the lives of believers and as we mature the fruit becomes more developed.

Philippians 4:12-13 NIV I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

E. Mary had an attitude of gratitude.

She was thankful that God used her to further his work.

Luke 1:46-49 NIV And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is his name.

We should also have an attitude of gratitude

Psalms 92:1-5 NIV It is good to praise the Lord and make music to your name, O Most High, proclaiming your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night, to the music of the ten-stringed lyre and the melody of the harp. For you make me glad by your deeds, Lord ; I sing for joy at what your hands have done. How great are your works, Lord , how profound your thoughts!

There’s a song that most of us have sung:

Give thanks with a grateful heart
Give thanks to the Holy One
Give thanks because He's given Jesus Christ, His Son

And now let the weak say, "I am strong"
Let the poor say, "I am rich
Because of what the Lord has done for us"

II. Mary was not just chosen for a mission; she was also chosen to be an example.

A. Mary responded positively to God’s plan for her life. Once she knew God’s will, she was willing to participate as God had planned.

Luke 1:34-35, 38 NIV “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.

We must be the same way. We must obey God completely.

Psalms 119:4 NIV You have laid down precepts that are to be fully obeyed.

God has a bigger perspective than we do. He sees things that we can’t see. You’re not capable of seeing like God sees. So you need to trust him.

James 4:11 NLT Don’t speak evil against each other, dear brothers and sisters. If you criticize and judge each other, then you are criticizing and judging God’s law. But your job is to obey the law, not to judge whether it applies to you.

We must also obey God immediately.

When God tells you to do something, don’t procrastinate. Don’t make excuses. Don’t drag your feet. Just do it. Do it now. You don’t have to understand God’s commands to obey them and benefit from them.

When we delay obedience, we’re questioning God. We’re asking, “God, do you really know what’s best?” Delayed obedience is disobedience. If you want to be the model that God wants you to be and receive the blessings of God, obey immediately.

B. Mary magnified the Lord in song for his goodness and mercy.

Our scripture today and the verses that I have been reading are from Mary sang after visiting her cousin Elizabeth and hearing that Elizabeth’s baby, who would become John the Baptist, lept in her womb on hearing Mary’s voice.

God puts a song in the hearts of all of those who trust him.

Psalms 40:3 NIV He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him.

Psalms 96:1-4 NIV Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord , all the earth. Sing to the Lord , praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples. For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods.

In two of Paul’s letters in the New Testament he instructs the church on what we are to sing together in worship,

Ephesians 5:18-20 NIV Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Colossians 3:15-16 NIV Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.

The Psalms is full of songs that we can sing to the Lord Psalm 150 is a great example.

Psalms 150:1-6 NIV Praise the Lord . Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens. Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness. Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, praise him with timbrel and dancing, praise him with the strings and pipe, praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord . Praise the Lord .

C. Mary worshiped a powerful God

Luke 1:49 NIV for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is his name.

He is the creator of the universe. He is God on the throne, and she responded to his authority.

D. Mary worshiped the merciful God (Luke 1:50).

Luke 50:1 NIV His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.

Humanity needs mercy more than justice. God is eager to forgive and to help the undeserving.

Psalms 136:1-9 NKJV Oh, give thanks to the Lord , for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. Oh, give thanks to the God of gods! For His mercy endures forever. Oh, give thanks to the Lord of Lords! For His mercy endures forever: To Him who alone does great wonders, For His mercy endures forever; To Him who by wisdom made the heavens, For His mercy endures forever; To Him who laid out the earth above the waters, For His mercy endures forever; To Him who made great lights, For His mercy endures forever— The sun to rule by day, For His mercy endures forever; The moon and stars to rule by night, For His mercy endures forever.

That’s just the first 9 verses of the Psalm there are 26 verses and they all end with “His mercy endures forever”

E. Mary worshiped the helping God (Luke 1:54).

Luke 1:54 NKJV He has helped His servant Israel, In remembrance of His mercy,

God’s love expresses itself in a persistent attitude of goodwill and helpfulness to his people.

Psalm 461:1 says

Psalms 46:1-3 NKJV God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though its waters roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah

III. Mary worshiped a risen and ruling Savior.

After Jesus’ resurrection from the dead, Mary was present with those who had rejoiced in his victory over death. She was with them as they prayed in anticipation of the Holy Spirit’s coming.

Acts 1:12-14 NKJV Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey. And when they had entered, they went up into the upper room where they were staying: Peter, James, John, and Andrew; Philip and Thomas; Bartholomew and Matthew; James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot; and Judas the son of James. These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.

We worship a risen and ruling Savior.

Matthew 28:5-6 NIV The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.

Mark 16:4-6 NIV But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed. “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him.

We even sing a hymn that says”He Lives”. Here are the lyrics to the first verse and the chorus;

I serve a risen Saviour, He's in the world today
I know that He is living, whatever men may say
I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer
And just the time I need Him He's always near

He lives (He lives), He lives (He lives), Christ Jesus lives today
He walks with me and talks with me
Along life's narrow way
He lives (He lives), He lives (He lives), Salvation to impart
You ask me how I know He lives?
He lives within my heart,

Conclusion

Mary is an excellent model for us today.

Hers was a life of great faith, made evident by her song called the Magnificat, which we read today in Luke (1:46–55).

Mary’s heart was in tune with God as she was constantly open to his will.

Her prayer was dialogue rather than monologue.

Mary believed that God’s will was good, and that it was something to desire.

Mary, as a good role model for us, encourages us to purity, prayer, and participation in God’s will for us.

Luke 1:28 NIV “The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

For us today let us say "The angel came to me and said; “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

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Experiencing The Great Salvation - Your Salvation Today

5/3/2020

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This is the third sermon in a series of messages designed to enlarge our concepts of what God has provided for us in and through Jesus Christ. He came to do something more than give us a ticket to heaven.

Salvation in the past includes our conviction of sin by the Holy Spirit that leads us to trust Jesus Christ and turn from sin. The Holy Spirit effected the miracle of the new birth, and we were justified in God’s sight by our faith in Jesus Christ. That is the first phase of our salvation. For those of us who are Christians, this is salvation in the past tense.

Salvation in the present tense began at the moment of our conversion and will continue until our death or the Lord’s return, whichever is first. Salvation in the present is a process in which the Holy Spirit works in our hearts and reveals to us and through us the nature and character of a true follower of Christ.

For an audio recording click the YouTube link at the end of the manuscript

Scripture:

Titus 2:11-15 (ESV)11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people,12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,13 waiting for our 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 lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.15 Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you.

Text:

Philippians 2:12-13 (ESV)12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

Introduction

In the first two sermons of this series we said that the first thing that we must realize and acknowledge is that there is only one way to our great salvation and that is through Jesus Christ.

John 14:6 NLT Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.

We said that Jesus is the way out of slavery to sin. We said that sin enslaves and separates people from God, and other people, and Jesus is the only one who can deliver a person from slavery to sin.

Last week we talked about the danger of believers not experiencing all of the benefits of this great salvation. There are benefits to salvation and being a child of God that we can experience and enjoy now.

Today we consider the great salvation that God provides for us in the present.

Dale Moody, who was a professor at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Texas from 1947 and 1983 said, “There is one way of salvation; there are two sides to the salvation experience; and there are three phases of the great salvation that God offers.”

The one way is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.

The two sides of the salvation experience are the divine side and the human side.

The three phases of our great salvation are the past, present, and future.

Salvation in the past includes our conviction of sin by the Holy Spirit that leads us to trust Jesus Christ and turn from sin. The Holy Spirit effected the miracle of the new birth, and we were justified in God’s sight by our faith in Jesus Christ. That is the first phase of our salvation. For those of us who are Christians, this is salvation in the past tense.

Salvation in the present tense began at the moment of our conversion and will continue until our death or the Lord’s return, whichever is first. Salvation in the present is a process in which the Holy Spirit works in our hearts and reveals to us and through us the nature and character of a true follower of Christ.
This is sanctification and salvation in the present tense.

Salvation in the future occurs after the Lord’s triumphant return. It is salvation from the very presence of evil and sin.

Our focus today is on our salvation in the present.

Listen to how J. B. Phillips paraphrases our text: “So then, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed me—and that not only when I was with you—now, even more in my absence, complete the salvation that God has given you with a proper sense of awe and responsibility. For it is God who is at work within you, giving you the will and power to achieve his purpose” (Phil. 2:12–13)

1. Salvation in the present tense.

A close study of the text in its context reveals that Paul was talking to people who were already his brothers and sisters in the faith. They had experienced the miracle of the new birth, turned from sin, and received Jesus as Lord and Savior. Paul understood the conversion experience as being just the beginning of God’s good work in them.

Philippians 1:6 (ESV)6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

2. Salvation in the present tense is available to each of us.

A. By his death on the cross, Jesus made possible salvation from death that results from sin.

Romans 6:23 ESV For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

B. By his victory over death, Jesus rescued us from the power and practice of sin. He saves all who are willing to obey him and his instruction.

2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

1 Peter 2:23‭-‬24 ESV When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.

Isaiah 53:4‭-‬5 ESV Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.

The words of our text introduce God into our present salvation.

Philippians 2:12-13 (ESV)12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

He is the God of love and power who has come to dwell within us through faith in his Son, Jesus Christ. Our God is not some dead ruler whose power and presence were limited to the work of creation. He is an active God who lives within the heart of every believer to deliver us from the slavery of sin and evil today, in the present.

1 Corinthians 6:19‭-‬20 ESV Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

The Holy Spirit causes us to be dissatisfied with sin. The Holy Spirit creates a hunger and thirst for righteousness.

Here's what Jesus said in His Sermon on the Mount;

Matthew 5:3‭-‬6 ESV “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

As God works within our hearts, he puts in us the desire and ability to live according to His will.

To completely experience our great salvation, we must respond to Jesus as the authoritative Teacher sent from God to impart the wisdom of heaven to those living in the present. Jesus said that all who hear and practice his teachings will have strength and be able to stand when the storms of life threaten to destroy them.

Matthew 7:24‭-‬27 ESV “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”

We cannot escape collapse or catastrophe when the pressures of life beat against us, if we fail to respond to our Savior.

As Christians, and disciples, we must move beyond the initial experience of just trusting Jesus Christ as Savior. We must also let him be the master Teacher who has come to deliver us from sin.We believers must respond to Jesus as the Teacher who came from God. We talked about that last week.

3. Present-day salvation illustrated.

Jesus wants to do more than save your soul from the penalty of sin and ultimately your body from the presence of sin. He wants to save your life today from the destructive power of sin. Let me give you an example of this by looking at what He said in his teachings in the Sermon on the Mount about overcoming anxiety. Anxiety is a very real problem today in this COVID-19 pandemic. There is anxiety and fear of catching the virus, there is financial worry for those who have lost jobs. There is the anxiety associated with just having to stay home.

Here’s what Jesus said in His Sermon on the Mount. We are going to specifically look at what it says in Matthew 6:26-34

To experience salvation from anxiety we must do several things.

A. We must trust our loving Father

Matthew 6:30‭-‬32 ESV But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.

B.  We must know that God values us.

Matthew 6:26 ESV Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?

C.  We must accept ourselves as God’s unique creation

Matthew 6:27 ESV And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?

Also look at what it says in;

Psalm 139:14‭-‬16 ESV I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.

D. We must dedicate our lives to seeking and obeying God’s will.

Matthew 6:33 ESV But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

E. We must determine to live one day at a time

Matthew 6:34 ESV “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

If we disregard this salvation from anxiety, we will miss God’s full salvation for us today, in the present. When we worry about yesterday’s failures and fear what might happen tomorrow, there is no power under heaven that can save us from the burden of anxiety. Our only hope is to fully respond to the Lord’s teachings.

Conclusion

Our great salvation includes redemption from the penalty of sin in the past. We now need to accept salvation from the practice of sin in the present, but we cannot do it on our own. We have the wonderful gift of the Holy Spirit to help us.

The Holy teaches and reminds us.

John 14:26 ESV But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.

The Holy Spirit is the source of revelation, wisdom, and power.

1 Corinthians 2:10‭-‬13 ESV these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.

The Holy Spirit helps in our weaknesses and intercedes for us

Romans 8:26‭-‬27 ESV Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

The Holy Spirit sanctifies and enables us to bear good fruit in our lives.

Galatians 5:22‭-‬24 ESV But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

Living a Christian life is a cooperative venture as we walk with God while he works within us.

Yes God has given us a great salvation, in the past with our conversion and new birth, in the present as the Holy Spirit works within our hearts and reveals to us and through us the nature and character of a true follower of Christ.

God has also given us a great salvation in the future through Jesus Christ, and we will talk about that next week.

Yes, we do have a truly a great salvation. Let us not neglect any phase of it.

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The Holy Spirit Makes The Difference

Experiencing The Great Salvation - The Scriptures And Our Great Salvation

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Mary: A Model For All Of Us

Experiencing The Great Salvation - Your Salvation Today

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