Based on the series by James MacDonald

Choose Gods Forgiveness  [Identity Choice 2]
6/18/08
Eric Fehrman

INTRO
• What is mankinds greatest NEED?  (forgiveness)
• What does the word "Gospel" mean?  (good news.  about what?)
• lets read Matthew 9:1-8
• Lets talk about the BAD NEWS first.

1.  The Problem is... SIN
  • Jesus begins with the BIG ISSUE.  Sin is behind every serious problem in the world.  Everything is BROKEN by sin...
      >  The Universe... winding down, entropy
      >  The Earth... weather, earthquakes
      >  Mankind... body, soul, relationships
  • Rom 5:12  "Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, in this way death spread to all men, because all sinned"
  • Consider the 10 COMMANDMENTS... they reveal our complete inability to be righteous
  • 5 Things that the Bible tells us about our sin...
      >  Determined Sinners... Psa 51:5
      >  Diseased...  Gen 6:5
      >  Deceived... Jer 17:9
      >  Desperate...
      >  Dead in our sin...  Ezek 18:20; Eph 2

2.  The Prognosis is... PERISH
  • John 3:16
  • Hell is eternal, conscious punishment.  A dark, fiery place.  A
place to experience both the complete lack of Gods presence/goodness
AND to experience His just justice.  As AWESOME as heaven is, hell will
be equally AWFUL
  • Does hell sound UNFAIR?... than I suggest that you do not rightly understand SIN, or the HOLINESS of God?
  • Heb 9:27
  • If God had not stepped in that is the destiny of every person on earth.  This brief moment we have here on earth is our time to CHOOSE...

3.  The Provision is... FORGIVENESS
  • Jesus was not going to heal this mans body w/o first healing his sin-sick soul !  Jesus goes straight to his ETERNAL problem before dealing with his TEMPORARY problem.
  • Jesus ALONE has "the authority" to forgive sins... no one else in all the universe can make that claim!... don't get tricked into thinking there is some "plan B".  Only God can forgive sins.
  • Consider...
      >  Exo 34:6
      >  Psa 86:5
      >  Mic 7:18-19
      >  Psa 103:12
      >  Ezek 36:25-26

4.  The Payment is... CHRIST
  • This is the GOOD NEWS!... this is what separates Biblical Christianity from everything else
  • Isa 53:5-6
  • 1 John 4:10-11
  • He paid a debt he did not OWE... I owe a debt I could not PAY!
  • Substitutionary Atonement

5.  The Choice is... BELIEVE
  • NO ONE else can do this for you... Faith overcomes obstacles!
      >  abandon your PRIDE...
      >  abandon your STUBBORNNESS!
  • Jesus is the "Pear of Great Price"...
  • Consider...
      >  Tit 3:5
      >  Eph 2:8-9
      >  Rom 6:23
  • Heb 10:29-30

6.  The Time is... NOW!
  • The problem is SIN... hell is your future... and forgiveness is your need... Jesus is your ONLY HOPE... The choice is yours...
  • Are you ready to CHOOSE?... ready to choose the forgiveness of Jesus.  Make the choice (by Gods grace) to believe that Jesus alone has the authority to forgive sins. 

CONCLUSION
Do you KNOW FOR SURE that you are forgiven?  You can be forgiven.  Confess your sin to God...confess that you deserve hell... turn from your sin and from trusting in any other way... put your trust in Jesus Christ, in his death and resurrection to pay the penalty for your sins and receive Him as your Savior and Lord.  Receive His forgiveness and the gift of eternal life.   Thank you God!

Choose Gods Love  [Identity Choice 1]
6/11/08
Pastor Nathan Davis

INTRO
  • I can choose (by Gods grace) Gods love... read John 3:16
  • I am RESPONSIBLE for my choices
  • Some biblical examples of bad choices...
      >  Adam & Eve chose disobedience over trusting God
      >  Cain chose to kill instead of love his brother
      >  The people of Noahs day chose to ignore his warnings
      >  King Saul chose his way instead of Gods way
      >  Pontius Pilot chose expediency over justice
      >  People of Sodom chose their sin over repentance
      >  Samson... Eli... King Asa... you?...

1.  How Do I Stop Making Bad Choices?
  • STOP the "blame game"... move on!
      >  Psychology
      >  Mainstream Media
      >  My Education
      >  "I'm born this way"
      >  My Environment
      >  "bad luck"
  • Rom 14:12  (each gives an account before God)
  • Remember Who you are choosing... GOD!

2.  Reasons to Choose God
  • Cosmological Argument... law of cause and effect
  • Evidential Argument... argument from design
  • Moral Argument... the nature of man and of moral "laws"

3.  What god's Do We choose Besides the Real One?
  • gruff god
  • game god (hide & seek)
  • guessing god
  • genie god
  • grandpa god

4.  The Problem is That We Have "Self-Defined" Gods love to Meet Our Standards, Not His
  • His loves is protecting, not preventing (He humbles us)
  • His love is providing, not pampering
  • His love is a perfect and perfecting love

I wanted our youth group to see this... its a list by John MacArthur posted at Pulpit Magazine.

Tips for Self-Discipline
By John MacArthur

Practically speaking, how can a person develop self-discipline in his or her life?

1. Start Small. Start with your room. Clean it, then keep it clean. When something is out of place, train yourself to put it where it belongs. Then extend the discipline of neatness to the rest of your home.

2. Be on time. That may not seem very spiritual, but it’s important. If you’re supposed to be somewhere at a specific time, be there on time. Develop the ability to discipline your desires, activities, and demands so that you can arrive on time.

3. Do the hardest job first. When you do that, you will find it easier to do the simpler tasks.

4. Organize your life. Plan the use of your time; don’t just react to circumstances. Use a calendar and make a daily list of things you need to accomplish. If you don’t control your time, everything else will.

5. Accept correction. Correction helps make you more disciplined because it shows you what you need to avoid. Don’t avoid criticism; accept it gladly.

6. Practice self-denial. Learn to say no to your feelings. Learn to do what you know to be right even if you don’t feel like doing it. Sometimes it’s even beneficial to deny yourself things that are acceptable to have, like a doughnut in the morning or dessert after dinner. Exercising such self-restraint helps you develop the habit of keeping other things under control. Cultivating discipline in the physical realm will help you become disciplined in your spiritual life.

7. Welcome responsibility. When you have an opportunity to do something that needs to be done, volunteer for it if you have talent in that area. Accepting responsibility can force you to organize yourself.

Below is a list of reminders to myself... (and other youth leaders out there)

5.  Model godly submission to authority (& to one another)

9.  God restores, confirms, strengthens, and establishes you in Jesus.

12 Accountability Questions!

INTRO:
• No matter what ails you, Jesus is the cure. He can deal with cancer, and heart disease… and loneliness and depression, and blindness and deafness… and crippling arthritis… all in addition to the problem of sin and guilt. He is the Great Physician!

1. JESUS HEALS THE DEAF MUTE (7:31-37)
  a. THEY brought him to Jesus.
  b. Jesus took him aside, BY HIMSELF
  c. Jesus put His fingers into the mans EARS (very personal)
  d. Jesus spat, and then touched his TONGUE
  e. Jesus looked up to heaven with a DEEP SIGH (compassion for the man, & strong emotion as He battles the satanic realm)
  f. Jesus commanded “Be opened” and he was healed
  g. Jesus commanded that no one BROADCAST the miracle

2. JESUS HEALS THE BLIND MAN (8:22-26)
  a. THEY brought him to Jesus.
  b. Jesus took him by the hand and brought him OUT OF THE VILLAGE
  c. Jesus spit on the mans EYES and laid hands on him (why? the way of God to healing & forgiveness is always humbling)
  d. Jesus asks “Do you see anything?”
  e. The blind man says he sees, but not clearly
  f. Jesus put His hands on the man's eyes again, and now He is able to see CLEARLY

*NOTE: This is Jesus' only two-stage miracle. Because sight was a common metaphor for understanding, Jesus used this occasion to depict the correct but incomplete understanding of the disciples... (look ahead to Mk 8:27-30). 

3.  Two miracles of healing ILLUSTRATING FOUR CRITICAL TRUTHS...
  a. Those who know Jesus must BRING hurting people unto Him (testimony, prayer, Gospel proclamation)
  b. It is necessary to meet with Jesus ONE-ON-ONE
  c. Jesus is BIGGER than every problem. He is ABLE to heal every sickness, and to meet every need
  d. Jesus doesn't want people to seek Him on a SUPERFICIAL level

CONCLUSION
    • If Jesus can heal every affliction, why doesn't He?
        > You don't ASK
        > There's SIN in your life
        > The TIME isn't right
        > He wants to TEACH and REFINE you through your sickness and suffering (holiness trumps happiness!)
        > He wants to teach the PEOPLE AROUND YOU
        > He wants you to learn to HATE SIN
        > He wants you to seek Him for the RIGHT REASON
        > He wants to break your addiction to FALSE GODS
        > He wants to create within you a LONGING FOR HEAVEN
    • God doesn't heal all our afflictions now, and even what is healed is only restoration unto corruption.  But, His greater plan and timing include complete healing... physical, mental, social, and spiritual.  Amen, Lord! Bring it on!  Ask for healing, if it is the will of God.  But along with your prayer for healing, there should be prayer for God to accomplish His bigger purposes in your life, and ultimately to bring glory to Himself.

INTRO:
• Sometimes it seems that a particular person was born to become a follower of Christ. He/she has been blessed with godly parents, a committed and faithful church family, a Christian education, God fearing companions, etc.
• Occasionally, we meet a believer whose circumstances have been the exact opposite. This one has overcome imposing barriers to come to Christ, and her testimony is one of great and overcoming faith. It's a testimony well-worth hearing….

1. The CONTEXT of the Encounter
  • vs 24
  • Jesus was pressured by the multitude... by Herod... by the religious leaders...
  • Jesus attempts another “get away” along with His disciples... A time to regroup, to pray, to fellowship w/ His disciples

2. The Deep CONCERNS of the Woman
  • vs 25-26  (cp. Matt 15:22)
  • She has a DEMON-INDWELT daughter
  • Her concern is great & she comes immediately to Jesus...

3. The Appearance of CRUELTY
  • vs 27
  • First: He IGNORED her... (she "kept asking")
  • Second: He REJECTED her... (see Matt 15:24-26)
  • Why?... He was testing her faith by setting up a series of barriers... His disciples had seen thousands w/ superficial faith, He was now going to show them genuine faith

4. The COMMITMENT of the Woman
  • vs 28
  • she refused to give up, she recognized even the "scraps" from the Lord were more than enough to meet her need

5. The CONSENT of Jesus to Her Request
  • vs 28-29 (see Matt 15:28)
  • Jesus was deeply impressed with the woman's faith and it was her faith that led to the healing of her daughter… and the salvation of her own soul.
  • So, what are the characteristics of great faith?
  a. “…after hearing of Him… she came”
      >  INITIATIVE
      >  DO SOMETHING about your need.
  b. She did have a religious background (paganism)…
      >  REPENTANCE
      >  TURN AWAY from all that cannot deliver. 
      >  Charles H. Spurgeon said "Repentance is the inseparable companion of faith. All the while that we walk by faith and not by sight, the tear of repentance glitters in the eye of faith. That is not true repentance which does not come of faith in Jesus, and that is not true faith in Jesus which is not tinctured with repentance. Faith and repentance, like the Siamese twins, are vitally joined together"
  c. “O Lord, Son of David” (Matt. 15:22)
      >  CONVICTION
      >  TURN UNTO Him who is able to deliver.
  d. She came to Him immediately.
      >  DESPERATION
      >  Seek Him out, WITHOUT DELAY
  e. She fell at His feet
      >  HUMILITY
      >  HUMBLE yourself before Him.
  f. She wouldn't give up on Him (cp. Matt. 15:23).
      >  PERSISTENCE
      >  CONTINUE in seeking His mercy.

INTRO:
• Why don't we all just "get along"?
    > not always brothers
    > even brothers are sometimes wrong
    > Satan & our sinful flesh are still at work
• Religion often breeds controversy, and such is the case here in Mark 7. Jesus addresses organized religion, and specifically the errors that are most prone to creep up again and again… even in our day.

1. CONDEMNATION
  • vs. 1-4
  • The disciples eat with unwashed hands; the Pharisees and scribes take note with STRONG DISAPPROVAL
  • refers to a ritual washing / cleansing...

2. CONFRONTATION
  • v. 5
  • The Pharisees and scribes REBUKE Jesus for the behavior of His disciples.
  • They DON'T ask about conformity to the Scriptures BUT to their traditions

3. CORRECTION
  • vs. 6-16
  • Jesus turns the tables on His accusers. His words are not defensive words meant to stick up for His disciples. Rather, these words are designed to expose and condemn the empty religion of the Pharisees and scribes. Their religion is faulty in two critical areas:
  • vs. 6-13    They have exchanged God's TRUTH for the TRADITIONS of men.
      >  Biblical example:  in their neglect of elderly parents
      >  Historical example:  the evolving of Roman Catholicism...
      >  Current examples:  meeting times, structure of meetings, music, programs, sunday schools, choirs, manner of dress
  • vs. 14-16   They have focused upon EXTERNALS rather than MATTERS OF THE HEART (internals).
      >  In the example of a Jew who ate “unclean” food, the defilement (spiritual) was not caused by the food itself, but by the rebellious heart that acted in disobedience to God.

4. CLARIFICATION
  • vs. 17-23
  • The issues of spiritual defilement all begin in the heart.  It is the corruption of one's inner man that defiles his words and his deeds.
  • God is supremely concerned about your heart!
  • Prov. 4:23  “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.”  (NIV)
  • Deut. 10:16  “Circumcise your hearts, therefore, and do not be stiff-necked any longer.”  (NIV)

CONCLUSION
  • The warning is clear: Never ever treat your church's traditions or preferences or even it's constitution as though they were in some way equal to the Word of God.
  • Preferences change… programs change… traditions change. That which must never change is our submission and obedience to the Holy Scriptures.
  • In addition, the Biblical order is to address the HEART, and know that a pure and humble heart will produce a righteous and godly WALK. However, to address only the externals is a sure way to produce that which even the ungodly ones of the world despise - HYPOCRITES!
  • if you only address & emphasize externals & not the heart the BEST you will get is a hypocrite

INTRO:
  • …a strange miracle, this one… This is different than feeding the hungry or healing the sick or raising the dead… What could be the point of walking on the sea in the middle of the night… and of scaring the disciples half to death in the process?
    • it has to do with the making of a worshiper of Jesus

1. Questions of Intent
  • Why did Jesus “make” ("compelled") the disciples get in the boat and go out into the sea, especially when He knew that they would get into trouble? (v. 45)... they felt secure when He was around & they may have been influenced by the crowd - wanting Him as King, but for the wrong reasons
    > the timing was wrong
    > their ambitions were wrong
    > He did want to show them He was indeed King & Godi

  • Why did Jesus go out unto them in the middle of the sea in the middle of the night? Why did He walk on the water, especially knowing He would scare them big time?
    > He sent them ahead, so any
    > He wanted to show His care
    > He wanted to show them His power of the things that scare them

2. Order of Events
  a. Jesus sends the DISCIPLES to the boat so as to cross the sea
  b. Jesus sends the CROWD away
  c. Jesus PRAYS
  d. Jesus is mindful that the twelve have been blown into the middle of the sea; their situation is DESPERATE
  e. Jesus goes out to them, WALKING on the WATER
  f. Seeing Him, the men think they see a GHOST
  g. Jesus announces that it is He, calming their fears
  h. Peter asks the Lord for enablement to WALK ON THE WATER out to Him (so as to be with Him). (cp. Matt. 14:28-29)

Peter feels its safer on the water WITH Jesus than in the boat WITHOUT Jesus

  i. Peter, taking his eyes off Jesus and seeing the wind and the waves,  begins to SINK, and cries out to Jesus. (cp. Matt. 14:30)
  j. Jesus reaches out His hand and rescues Peter. (cp. Matt. 14:31)
  k. They both climb into the boat. (cp. Matt. 14:32)
  l. The wind IMMEDIATELY stops.
  m. The boat instantaneously arrives at the shore. (cp. John 6:21)
  n The men were ASTONISHED.

They hadn't really learned anything from the miracle of the loaves (Mark 6:51-52). Now they had learned, and for the first time they confess that He is the Son of God.  (cp. Matt. 14:33)

  o. They WORSHIP Him.

3. Lessons of Value
  a. Personal prayer must be seen as a PRIORITY  (v. 46)
    • concerning the HARD hearts of the disciples... Jesus knew that they had not learned from the miracle of the loaves
    • concerning the UNBELIEVING hearts of the crowd... the same crowd who would abandon Him, & eventually call for His crucification
  b. The pathway of obedience to Christ does include STORMS   (v.48)
  c. Even when we can't see Jesus, Jesus can see us. (v.48;  Heb 4:13)
  d. Jesus comes to us at the RIGHT time (v.48)... After 9 hrs in the storm!
  e. Our fears might be Jesus in DISGUISE  (vs.49-50)
  f. The water that threatens to be OVER your head is UNDER Jesus' feet.  (Matt 14:26)
  g. Our ability to walk supernaturally depends on the focus of our EYES. (Matt 14:29-30)
  h. Our biggest problems are “no problem” for Him   (v. 51; John 6:21)
  i. WORSHIP is the bottom line (Matt 14:33)

CONCLUSION
    • God, the Father had proclaimed Jesus to be His Son at His baptism, and even the demons at Gadara had declared Him to be the Son of God, but this is a first for the disciples. This is exactly the perceptive and believing response Jesus sought.
    • It still is…

INTRO:
  • the story behind the story: lessons on giving & receiving...

  • …When Jesus fed a great multitude of people by “stretching” a boys' lunch, He did it to alleviate a problem (hunger). But, He also did it to communicate a message:
      >  John 5:36 - to testify as to His DIVINE ORIGIN
      >  John 20:30-31 - to inspire BELIEF

  • There is a danger (now even as there was then) of seeking His provision, healing, etc., but totally ignoring His message…

1. Lessons from the LORD
    • vs. 31-32  He gives REST to His laborers (cp. Matt.11:28-30)... He shows great care for His followers
    • v. 34  He has compassion even for SUPERFICIAL followers.

2. Lessons from the LAD
    • v. 38 (cp. John 6:9) He GAVE... ALL that he had… in FAITH
      >  he could have asked why me, shouldn't the adults give?
      >  he not only gave some, he gave all.
      >  he didn't know that his own needs would be met... He was as hungry as anyone else
    • Two Great Barriers To Giving...
        (a)  Thinking that what I have is too GREAT to give…(I can't bear to part with it)
        (b)  Thinking that what I have is too SMALL to give…(It won't make any difference)... Little is much when God is in it!... God delights to use small people w/ limited resources to accomplish His ends
    • The same God who accepted the lunch of the boy and used it to feed 20,000 people is well able to take your sacrificial gift (treasure, time, talent) and multiply it in the same manner. Do you have the faith to believe this, or are you like those who see the great need, consider your personal resources, and then sadly walk away, thinking “What are they among so many?”
    • God honoring giving can never be divorced from FAITH or from SACRIFICE.

3. Lessons from the LEFTOVERS
    • vs. 42-43    After they all ate and were satisfied, there were twelve baskets of food left over. Guess who brought those home… (12 disciples)
    • Little really is much when God is in it!
    • There were two responses from the crowd:
        (a)  John 6:26-27 - Some followed Him SUPERFICIALLY, interested in what they could GET out of Him… someone to fight their battles, heal their sick, and fill their stomachs.
            >  they: “Bless me, and I'll follow You.”
            >  Him: “Follow Me, and I'll bless you.”
        (b)  John 6:67-69 - “So Jesus said to the twelve, You do not want to go away also, do you? Simon Peter answered Him, 'Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life. We have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God'.”

CONCLUSION
• So, what is it that draws YOU to Jesus?...
• What would it take for you to fall away?...