Bound by Faith

Romans 5:1-2 NLT Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.

Objective: To explain, promote and embrace the core values of our faith community, for individual and collective spiritual growth.

Introduction: Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love; the fellowship of kindred minds is like to that above. (Hymn by John Fawcett, 1782) This hymn describes the authentic vibe of our faith community.

Transition: From the Latin fides, faith is when voluntary surrender meets voluntary restraint.

Exposition: Our faith is what allows us to be connected to something much greater than ourselves, because it…

-Defines (made right/justified) Allowing something to define you means that you allow it to shape your identity, influence your behavior, and determine how you see yourself and how others see you.

-Defies (peace) Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord”.

-Delights (Christ has brought us) Thank God for Jesus!

Conclusion: We, our and us, stresses that we are bound by faith! The tie that binds is as Thomas Aquinas said “An act of the intellect assenting to the truth at the command of the will”.

Vision to Victory

II Kings 7:3-11 NLT Now there were four men with leprosy at the entrance of the city gate. They said to each other, “Why stay here until we die? 4 If we say, ‘We’ll go into the city’—the famine is there, and we will die. And if we stay here, we will die. So let’s go over to the camp of the Arameans and surrender. If they spare us, we live; if they kill us, then we die.”

5 At dusk they got up and went to the camp of the Arameans. When they reached the edge of the camp, no one was there, 6 for the Lord had caused the Arameans to hear the sound of chariots and horses and a great army, so that they said to one another, “Look, the king of Israel has hired the Hittite and Egyptian kings to attack us!” 7 So they got up and fled in the dusk and abandoned their tents and their horses and donkeys. They left the camp as it was and ran for their lives.

8 The men who had leprosy reached the edge of the camp, entered one of the tents and ate and drank. Then they took silver, gold and clothes, and went off and hid them. They returned and entered another tent and took some things from it and hid them also.

9 Then they said to each other, “What we’re doing is not right. This is a day of good news and we are keeping it to ourselves. If we wait until daylight, punishment will overtake us. Let’s go at once and report this to the royal palace.”

10 So they went and called out to the city gatekeepers and told them, “We went into the Aramean camp and no one was there—not a sound of anyone—only tethered horses and donkeys, and the tents left just as they were.” 11 The gatekeepers shouted the news, and it was reported within the palace.

Introduction: John Maxwell says that “Clarity of vision creates clarity of priorities”.

“If you want something you have never had, do something you’ve never done”. ~Unknown

“I’m not telling you it’s going to be easy, I’m telling you it’s going to be worth it”! ~Unknown

Transition: Vision is both a verb (imagination; insight in motion) an a noun (future plan with innovative wisdom).

Exposition: There is a famine in the Samaria, that causes the desperate to become deliberate…

-Make the Choice (verses 3-4) Circumstance is a catalyst for collaboration.

-Take the Chance (verses 5-7) The burden of proof is on God.

-Enjoy the Change (verses 8-11) Sometimes victory is being repositioned issue-unresolved.

Conclusion: The vision that will give us victory this year, is to create synergy.

Ecclesiastes 12:13 NLT… That’s the whole story. Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty.

The Last Word

Introduction: Ecclesiastes is a book of wisdom, that practically points us in the direction of peace, progress, and prosperity. But the key is choice/human decision.

Transition: The whole story. We could easily and quickly complain about the whole story of 2023…

Exposition: The Christian’s duty is devotion and deference (humble submission and respect) to God.

-Responsibility of the redeemed

-Fear is reverential respect

-Obedience is action taken

Conclusion: We learn and we live.

Micah 5:2-5a NLT… But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, are only a small village among all the people of Judah. Yet a ruler of Israel, whose origins are in the distant past, will come from you on my behalf. [3] The people of Israel will be abandoned to their enemies until the woman in labor gives birth. Then at last his fellow countrymen will return from exile to their own land. [4] And he will stand to lead his flock with the LORD’s strength, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. Then his people will live there undisturbed, for he will be highly honored around the world. [5] And he will be the source of peace.

Joy – The Wait is Over (Pulpit Manuscript/Devotional)

Joy differs from happiness, in that happiness is dependent on the happenings. The implication is that happiness attempts to work its way from the outside in. However, joy is an inside job, working its way from the inside out. Joy positively affects our surroundings in an infectious way. Despite what is occurring around us, it cannot rob us of our internal joy or of our eternal joy. This joy that I have, the world didn’t give it and the world can’t take it away!

Bethlehem of Judea is in the southern kingdom (of Galilee was in the north, about 6 miles from Nazareth where Jesus grew up) (it’s the Bethlehem of our text that’s mentioned in Matthew 2 by the magi), and it is the birth place of king David, and now the prophet Micah predicts that the anointed one will be born there. Bethlehem means house of bread. The bread of life who is joy to the world, is born in the house of bread. For me, the connection is simple to make; the world is hungry for the living bread, so we must lift the savior up for them to see (I need an old hymn singer to know what I’m talking about there). Jesus Christ is who the prophet spoke of from the family of David, and it is him who is our promised ruler and shepherd.

We can’t culminate these reflections without talking about how our joy comes from God’s peace. Our God does not merely possess peace but God is the source of according to verse 5, meaning that God is peace. Since God is peace, how does humanity receive it. Fast forward with me to Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. The wait is over! 

The first Christmas brought joy to the world, because of the advent of the Lord Jesus! Jesus made God’s peace available to us all to freely receive, and that’s why we kneel down before him, worship and adore him! That’s why we offer praise and adulation; because peace gives way to our joy.

Zephaniah 3:14-20 NLT… Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout aloud, O Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem! [15] For the LORD will remove his hand of judgment and will disperse the armies of your enemy. And the LORD himself, the King of Israel, will live among you! At last your troubles will be over, and you will never again fear disaster. [16] On that day the announcement to Jerusalem will be, “Cheer up, Zion! Don’t be afraid! [17] For the LORD your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.” [18] “I will gather you who mourn for the appointed festivals; you will be disgraced no more. [19] And I will deal severely with all who have oppressed you. I will save the weak and helpless ones; I will bring together those who were chased away. I will give glory and fame to my former exiles, wherever they have been mocked and shamed. [20] On that day I will gather you together and bring you home again. I will give you a good name, a name of distinction, among all the nations of the earth, as I restore your fortunes before their very eyes. I, the LORD, have spoken!”

Love – Love Lifted Me  (Pulpit Manuscript/Devotional)

The prophets of old are split into two basic groups, pre and post exilic. Zephaniah is a pre-exilic prophet who offers a word of internal reflection, external punishment, and future joy. Our text is a reach into the future, which has embraced God’s forgiveness of the sin that has caused so much trouble in their lives. The future involves praise and adoration for a messiah who promises to save, sanctify, and secure humanity for all eternity, with the bonus of being present and active in their lives.

God be praised for hope that promises a brighter day, peace that surpasses mortal understanding, and for love that lavishes us with gifts, labors for us by grace, and lifts us out of sins angry waves. Love lifted me! (I was sinking…)That is Israel’s claim to fame, and it is our anthem of joy/it is our testimony because we have been through the test of life’s storms.

Advent is anticipation of the one who lifts us because God is love. Love is heaven’s Global Positioning System, and it finds us no matter where we are, or how low and lost we may be. Love is pure, passionate, and love always pushes us from where we are to where we ought to be. There is no greater force in the universe other than love. We must be willing to be loved, and be willing to love ourselves and others. Love is the cure to what ails humanity, and love can rid us of the trouble that creates chaos and calamity.

What the world needs now, right now, is love sweet love. It’s the only thing that there’s just too little of. But as heaven’s herald this morning, I have come with good news, love is coming, and yes love is here and love will never leave. Emmanuel is God with us, and that is love that is void of logic, but so full of life, passion, and a bright future. This my friends, is the word of the Lord. Embrace it.

Malachi 3:1-14 NLT… “Look! I am sending my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. Then the Lord you are seeking will suddenly come to his Temple. The messenger of the covenant, whom you look for so eagerly, is surely coming,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. 2 “But who will be able to endure it when he comes? Who will be able to stand and face him when he appears? For he will be like a blazing fire that refines metal, or like a strong soap that bleaches clothes. 3 He will sit like a refiner of silver, burning away the dross. He will purify the Levites, refining them like gold and silver, so that they may once again offer acceptable sacrifices to the Lord. 4 Then once more the Lord will accept the offerings brought to him by the people of Judah and Jerusalem, as he did in the past.

Peace – Take Me Back  (Pulpit Manuscript/Devotional)

Malachi is the last of the prophets, with a very clear message from the first chapter, God is in love with Israel and desperately desires to live in productive and peaceful covenant with them. Post their Babylonian exile, Israel is without a king and Edom has been razed. They are a people restlessly in transition, in need of divine aide.

It is unclear as to weather or not Malachi is a proper name or a positional title, but with fifty-five verses this minor prophet reveals that peace is the missing link in their relationship with God. What’s interesting is the implication Israel hasn’t always known life without having peace with God; in fact, the reason they know they are missing peace is because they’ve had it and enjoyed it before. Take me back!

Israel hears from God in Malachi chapter three, that a day is coming when peace will be restored. Fast forward with me Romans 5:1 “we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ”. It is the advent of Jesus Christ (our salvation/deliverer/righteousness) that takes us back to a time we were accustomed to and comfortable with. A time where we enjoyed peace with God.

A few months ago Nicole and I were on vacation in a mountain house. We love coffee; it is a necessity in the morning, and we consider ourselves coffee connoisseurs/snobs. The cabin has a drip coffee pot that was nothing like the Keurig and Nespresso machines we’re used to. It was there in the mountains that I learned I’m horrible at waiting. I have no patience whatsoever. It took the drip coffee pot roughly thirteen minutes to make a pot of coffee! My Nespresso machine (which makes the best coffee I’ve ever had in my life) just over two minutes to brew my personal cup at home. See, what I’ve got is a cultural and generational lack of patience, and waiting just isn’t our thing.

The prophecy of Malachi of the arrival of Jesus is centuries away. The return of peace was about seven hundred years away, and the wait seemed unbearable. Asa matter of fact, the WAIT became a WEIGHT. It’s torture, like pacing in the kitchen of a mountain cabin with a mug in your hand, waiting on a slow/old/drip coffee pot.

Peace is valuable to our health, to our sanity. Thank God for sending us peace that surpasses understanding, and that endures for all eternity. This peace is heavens gift, and the world can’t take it away. O God, take us back to the place of productivity and peace with you.

Jeremiah 33:14-16 NLT… “The day will come, says the Lord, when I will do for Israel and Judah all the good things I have promised them. 15 “In those days and at that time I will raise up a righteous descendant from King David’s line. He will do what is just and right throughout the land. 16 In that day Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will live in safety. And this will be its name: ‘The Lord Is Our Righteousness.’

Hope – Good Thoughts for Bad Times (Pulpit Manuscript/Devotional)

Hope is positive and patient expectation.

We must learn to accept the reality of finite harm, while simultaneously holding on to infinite hope.

God’s people find themselves exiled in captivity, with their holy city razed, and their hope is slim. Normally, when they received prophecy/the word of the Lord, it was an unpleasant message. As a matter of fact, the chapter that immediately precedes our text is a gloomy message that Jeremiah the prophet receives in jail from the Lord for God’s people. But Jeremiah prays again, and he hears a word of joy and hope, that encourages the people of God who found themselves in desperate need of some good thoughts for the bad times they were in.

The hope of Jesus’ advent/arrival is the good thought that immediately altars the mood, lifts the gloom, and gives us hope for something better than our current reality. The coming of the messiah/our righteousness is the promise of the text, and there is no hope better than Jesus! Isaiah says he’s wonderful counselor, mighty God, everlasting father, the prince of peace. He is indeed incomparable, and there is no hope greater than him!

The thought that God would be so in love with us, that God’s deity would compress itself into human form to save us, sanctify us, and to satisfy sin’s debt is a hope that was worth holding on to. But the thing about hope is that sometimes it’s reality is delayed, deferred, taking a long time. That’s exactly where God’s people found themselves, they had hope for justice, salvation, and for restoration, but it was far off. And so the word for us all to grasp this morning is hold on to your hope, because what is coming is more than we asked for and greater than anything we could imagine.

From the lineage of King David, God will raise a legitimate king who vindicates those who suffer from wrong being done to them, and who punished those who do wrong. We’ll call him the Lord our righteousness. It is the Hebrew name Jehovah Tsidkenu, and it translates to mean that there is no wrong, dishonesty, or unfairness in Him. He is the perfectly righteous one and his righteousness is everlasting.

In Christ we hope, because there is no ambiguity in him. At the beginning of this season of anticipation, may we wait patiently and joyfully, for the long expected Jesus, who is the promise of God and the hope of the world.

Objective: In order to begin to understand life’s ills, we will ponder deep thoughts through a biblical lens for biblical answers. You may not like most of the answers, but you’ll learn to live with them in a healthy, holy, and happy way.

Go Ahead & Free Yourself

Matthew 18:21-35 NLT Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?” 22 “No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven! 23 “Therefore, the Kingdom of Heaven can be compared to a king who decided to bring his accounts up to date with servants who had borrowed money from him. 24 In the process, one of his debtors was brought in who owed him millions of dollars. 25 He couldn’t pay, so his master ordered that he be sold—along with his wife, his children, and everything he owned—to pay the debt. 26 “But the man fell down before his master and begged him, ‘Please, be patient with me, and I will pay it all.’ 27 Then his master was filled with pity for him, and he released him and forgave his debt.

28 “But when the man left the king, he went to a fellow servant who owed him a few thousand dollars. He grabbed him by the throat and demanded instant payment. 29 “His fellow servant fell down before him and begged for a little more time. ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it,’ he pleaded. 30 But his creditor wouldn’t wait. He had the man arrested and put in prison until the debt could be paid in full. 31 “When some of the other servants saw this, they were very upset. They went to the king and told him everything that had happened. 32 Then the king called in the man he had forgiven and said, ‘You evil servant! I forgave you that tremendous debt because you pleaded with me. 33 Shouldn’t you have mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?’ 34 Then the angry king sent the man to prison to be tortured until he had paid his entire debt.

35 “That’s what my heavenly Father will do to you if you refuse to forgive your brothers and sisters[m] from your heart.”

Introduction: Grace is when God gives us what we do not deserve. Humanity has no problem accepting God’s grace, but we struggle extending that same grace to others.

Transition: During a teaching moment, Peter asks Jesus about forgiveness. Forgiveness means to cease feelings of anger/resentment for an offense; to cancel a debt. Jesus responds with a parable (an earthly story to illustrate a moral and/or spiritual lesson).

Exposition: In order to handle forgiveness like Jesus, remember…

-Forgiveness is a choice

-When you forgive, you’re taking a chance

-But forgiveness always sets you free!

Conclusion: “But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.” ~I John 1:9

Objective: In order to begin to understand life’s ills, we will ponder deep thoughts through a biblical lens for biblical answers. You may not like most of the answers, but you’ll learn to live with them in a healthy, holy, and happy way.

What About the Poor?

Amos 8:4-8 NLT Listen to this, you who rob the poor and trample down the needy! 5 You can’t wait for the Sabbath day to be over and the religious festivals to end so you can get back to cheating the helpless. You measure out grain with dishonest measures and cheat the buyer with dishonest scales.
6 And you mix the grain you sell with chaff swept from the floor. Then you enslave poor people for one piece of silver or a pair of sandals. 7 Now the Lord has sworn this oath by his own name, the Pride of Israel: “I will never forget the wicked things you have done! 8 The earth will tremble for your deeds,
and everyone will mourn. The ground will rise like the Nile River at floodtime; it will heave up, then sink again.

Introduction: Insufficient (not enough) and /or inferior (not good enough) defines the word poor.

Transition: If our neighbors aren’t alright, then we aren’t alright!

Exposition:

-Be aware of their plight

-Be active in problem solving

-Be appreciative

Conclusion: “He fell to the ground at Jesus’ feet, thanking him for what he had done. This man was a samritan.” Luke 17:16

Objective: In order to begin to understand life’s ills, we will ponder deep thoughts through a biblical lens for biblical answers. You may not like most of the answers, but you’ll learn to live with them in a healthy, holy, and happy way.

When Bad Things Happen to Good People

Job 1:13-22 NLT One day when Job’s sons and daughters were feasting at the oldest brother’s house, [14] a messenger arrived at Job’s home with this news: “Your oxen were plowing, with the donkeys feeding beside them, [15] when the Sabeans raided us. They stole all the animals and killed all the farmhands. I am the only one who escaped to tell you.” [16] While he was still speaking, another messenger arrived with this news: “The fire of God has fallen from heaven and burned up your sheep and all the shepherds. I am the only one who escaped to tell you.” [17] While he was still speaking, a third messenger arrived with this news: “Three bands of Chaldean raiders have stolen your camels and killed your servants. I am the only one who escaped to tell you.” [18] While he was still speaking, another messenger arrived with this news: “Your sons and daughters were feasting in their oldest brother’s home. [19] Suddenly, a powerful wind swept in from the wilderness and hit the house on all sides. The house collapsed, and all your children are dead. I am the only one who escaped to tell you.” [20] Job stood up and tore his robe in grief. Then he shaved his head and fell to the ground to worship. [21] He said, “I came naked from my mother’s womb, and I will be naked when I leave. The LORD gave me what I had, and the LORD has taken it away. Praise the name of the LORD!” [22] In all of this, Job did not sin by blaming God.

Introduction: It is not a question of if but when bad things happen. Time is filled with swift transition, and it behooves us all to live, to live as if we have an authority, and to live as if we have an adversary.

Transition: Job is an old patriarchal story, composed of testing, trouble and triumph. It causes us to raise legitimate questions when bad things happen to good people. Questions like… Where is God? When will bad get better? and Why do bad things happen to good people?

Exposition: When bad things happen…

–Grieve

–Give God glory

–Give the satan/accuser a black eye

Conclusion: “Job’s story does not directly answer the question of innocent suffering. However, it does help Job understand his creatureliness and mortality. He comes to know that God is real and accessible to the people who call upon God and that God is present in their struggle to face and overcome suffering.” (Troublesome Bible Passages, Wingeier and Watson, page 24)