3/30/25 FROM DOUBTER TO DISCIPLE: John 20:24-29 - Dr. J Steve Jackson
We’ve all heard of Presidential nicknames: Honest Abe, Old Hickory, Tricky Dick but did you know that one of Jesus’ disciples has a nickname hat has forever labeled him and judged him: THOMA (DOUBTING THOMAS)
Although I understand the association of the man and the trait (although Jesus did not actually call him doubting, but faithless (lacking faith), I believe we treat Thomas unfairly if that is all we remember about him.
Thomas is an example of a man who had honest questions, and who received answers to those questions, and upon receiving answers, HE CHANGED. He is the example of a man who could change.... which gives hope to all of us: the leopard may not be able to change its spots, but we can change our life, our perspective, even our destiny.
SO, HOW DID CHANGE COME TO THOMAS?
THOMAS, THE DOUBTER;
HE MISSED A LOT
In John 20:24: He missed the PRESENCE of Jesus
In John 20:19: He missed the PEACE of Jesus
In John 20:20: He missed the PROOF of Jesus: the scars on his body
In John 20:21: He missed the PLAN of Jesus: so send I you
In John 20:22: He missed the POWER from Jesus: the Holy Spirit
In John 20:23: He missed the PURPOSE of the Plan of Jesus: to deal with the problem of sin. He missed all that: so, they had to tell him, and he didn’t believe: he doubted their testimony, but before we get too harsh on Thomas, all the others acted the same way until they saw Him....
*consider this: Jesus had told them at least 3 times He would die and be raised again on the third day:
*the women: did not come expecting to find living among the dead, but the dead among the dead: they came to properly anoint his dead body because He had been buried so quickly: Mary Magdalene did not
even recognize him: she thought he was the gardener and said “if you have taken his body: I will return and properly prepare it”
*the men: on that third day.... none of them went looking for Jesus on their own: none of them were expecting a miracle- The women’s words seemed as fables, just nonsense.
That evening, they were not meeting to celebrate, but in fear they locked the doors: fear of Jews: yes, they all were doubters at least Thomas honest enough to admit it...THINK WITH ME
Thomas was called by Jesus
Thomas followed Jesus
Thomas was willing to die for Jesus: John 11:16: well, in spite of the danger, let’s go back with him (and die with him)
He had his hopes up: they all did: but with His death, that all
came crashing down: JESUS had died: Thomas knew what everyone
knew: you don’t come back from crucifixion: The Romans knew how to kill a man, and you don’t come back from that: Thomas is just being honest: death will get us all: why BOTHER with anything else: it
won’t change anything.
Have you ever thought WHY BOTHER?
THOMAS THE DISCOVERER
The next Sunday evening....Jesus comes again, he’s suddenly there
and has a 1 on 1 with Thomas (He had heard his unconfession)
John 20:26-28: here it is: here is your evidence, Thomas, he’s standing right in front of you: now believe: and Thomas responded with one of the greatest confessions in Bible: it was the first time anyone called Jesus GOD.
You see, Jesus did not come to make life little bit better, but to turn the world upside down: death was the norm: but with Jesus, death is no longer the norm: life is: we have a NEW NORMAL: life, not death: forgiveness, not condemnation: a hope, a future, everything has changed: and it changed in Thomas, and it can change in us.
THOMAS, THE DISCIPLE
John 21:2: They heard Jesus say: take care of my sheep, feed my sheep: and he helped do that very thing. Acts 1:13: They were in the upper room praying/waiting until Pentecost. It was a church tradition: Thomas spread the gospel into India: the southern tip, which still has a Christian tradition dating back to first century: He died as a martyr, speared to death in 72ad
WE ARE HIS DISCIPLES: John 20:29 says “..blessed are they that have not seen and yet believed: USE YOUR FAITH: you use it every day: we get on the road: driving 60 to 70 miles per hour with others (most with guns) that we don’t even know. We go eat at a restaurant: someone you don’t know/can’t see is cooking your food.
IF WE HAVE FAITH HERE, WHY NOT GOD?
WHY BOTHER////WHY SETTLE? Life has changed because of Jesus: don’t settle for less: trust Jesus!
NEXT WEEK: ON THE ROAD WITH JESUS: Luke 24
Our Guest Speaker was Reverend Don Hicks, former Minister of Education at Alta Woods Baptist Church. He is currently the Director of Missions for Jasper County.
When my wife and I first served, the first time I was in this auditorium, I thought it was the most beautiful place I had ever seen. I want to preach about commitment today– I see commitment in this congregation. Commitment is one of the greatest characteristics of Christian life. We give to the church and encourage one another. Human commitment and love has it’s limitations but Christian Commitment is God’s love for us, that he sent his own son to die in love for us.
John 15:12 tells us “This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you, Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth; but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my father, I have made known unto you.” John called himself the discipline that Jesus loved. As children, the first bible verse we lean is “God is Love”. After that, “Love One Another”. Commitment is only one part (though a big part) of love.
How can you define commitment? Dedication, Loyalty, Faithfulness? All of those are correct but we learn the most about commitment by watching other people. Another part of commitment is making sure your people are safe. Commitment is motivation, more than circumstance. We can look in the scriptures for the meaning of commitment. Ruth 1:16-17 says “Entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for wither thou go. I will go; and where thou lodge, I will lodge; thy people shall be my people, and thy God, my God; Where thou die, will I die, and there will I be buried; the Lord do so to me, and more also, if aught but death part thee and me”. Though Ruth’s husband had died, she was committed to take care of her mother in law. Shad’-drach, Me’shach and A-bed-nego were thrown into the fiery furnace because they refused to worship any but their God. That’s commitment. Commitment is there even when it’s not obvious what the outcome will be. In our Christian life, with the help of Jesus Christ, are we committed? We can be committed to Jesus Christ because he loves us.
Do you know who Rockin Rollen Stuart is? You’ve seen him, the man with the rainbow colored wig, gyrating with a John 3:16 sign at various news/sporting events in the 80’s. He was a failed actor who converted to Christ and became convinced that he had been called to spread God’s Word through televised sporting events, including the Super Bowl, World Series, and even Princes Diana’s wedding. Carrying small battery powered TV, he would identify where the cameras were shooting and if he could not purchase a seat, would ask if he could borrow one , even offering to hold a child on his lap to spread the Christian message. TV producers hated him, they threatened to fire anyone who showed him on camera. There was even a documentary made of his life: he was dubbed the John 3:16: the man who made John 3:16 famous.
Well, what is more famous....already famous, just as Amazing Grace won most famous Baptist Hymn of all time survey, John 3:16 easily wins the most well-known Bible verse. It’s the Bible in a nutshell, the gospel in miniature.
SM Lockridge said: never has so much been said to so many in so few words. According to Max Lucado, it is a 26 word parade of hope beginning and ending with God , beginning and ending with life and challenging us to do the same. It’s brief enough to write on a napkin and quickly memorize, yet strong enough to weather 2000 years of questions; if you know nothing of the Bible, start here; if you know the Bible well, return here.
So, today, as we take a look at this majestic verse, the greatest invitation ever given, to spend eternity, starting now, in the best way with the best person.
1. HE LOVES
Love, referring to God’s love is found 5 times in John: The dictionary defines love as “having a feeling of affection or regard toward or to be attracted toward: charity, passion.
*WHY DID HE LOVE? when we are so unloveable? We are inconsistent, we have failures: Romans 5:8 says : not I love you when, or because, but IN SPITE OF: Jeremiah 31:3 states “wide, wide as the ocean, high, high as the heaven, deep, deep as the sea, is my Father’s love for me.
WHY DOES HE LOVE US? Because God an incurable romantic, because that is His nature, his essence, who He is: John 4:8 “*you may go from here today unsaved, but you will not go from here UNLOVED.
2. HE GAVE
God’s love has a THAT. Giving costs.... love costs: the Father watched His Son die. He could have brought down 12 legions: 72k angels and remember, one angel slew 185M but he didn’t.
3. WE BELIEVE
Believe mean to trust, to cling to, to rely on “faith”. Salvation is not in an act, but a PERSON. WHOSOEVER - not whosoever has an education, or money, who lives in a certain part of town, has the best parents, the best occupation, a particular race.
4. WE LIVE
Not just the quantity of life, but the quality: the LIFE OF THE AGES. Life with a capital L: John 10:10 says “ we will go on an exist, but here is the best LIFE”.
FOR GOD: the Lord of earth and heaven
SO LOVED: and longed to see you forgiven
THE WORLD: in sin and pleasure
THAT HE GAVE: the only Son He had
HIS ONLY SON: to take our place
THAT WHOSOEVER: O what grace
BELIEVETH: placing simple trust
IN HIM: the righteous and the just
SHOULD NOT PERISH: be lost in sin
BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE: in HIM
OUR CHALLENGE:
We know the verse, but, do we live the verse?
People can quote John 3:16 but not everyone who knows it lives it.
So where is Rockin Rollen Stuart today? Well.....he’s still alive, but won’t see him at any sporting events: he became convinced that Jesus would return in 1992: he became upset that people were not listening to his message: he became more unstable, even violent: he kidnapped a hotel cleaning woman, barricaded himself in hotel near LAX, threatening to shoot at passengers and planes at the airport: he was arrested and convicted: he is still serving his time of 3 consecutive life sentences at an Ohio prison.
How about you?
Do you know John 3:16
Are you living John 3:16
3/9/25 A GOOD DEATH: Colossians 3:1-4 Dr Steve Jackson
A GOOD/DEATH: when?where?how?
The New York Times reported on the life and death of Donald Cash of whom it was said: he died a good death: he was a software engineer who took early retirement in his fifties to check off his proverbial bucket list: to climb the highest peak on each of 7 continents: only 1 remained: the highest one: MOUNT EVEREST: 29,900 feet: he made it-he took in the view that few have ever seen, he got dizzy because of the thin air... he was taken by guide down 2000 feet to Hillary’s Step (the last flat area before the final climb); while he was resting, he suffered a heart attack and died: his death was called GOOD because he made it, he accomplished his goal; he died doing what he loved, what he wanted, what he planned for....IT WAS A GOOD DEATH WASN’T IT????
Can there be a GOOD DEATH?
Jesus died a GOOD DEATH: we even commemorate the day of His death as GOOD Friday-so was it good? YES: in what it accomplished: taking our sins and in what it led to: RESURRECTION and Christ demonstrating the FIRST FRUITS of our RESURRECTION. we love that Christ was resurrected, but to get to the glory of the empty tomb, he had to suffer the gory ordeal of the cross: He had to die to get there. So do we: in order to tap in to the power of the resurrected Christ; in order to tap into the glory of the Heavenly home, in order to experience the forgiveness for the past, to get the help for the present, and the hope for the future, we have to die: not at the end of life, but at the beginning. We have to die a GOOD DEATH: Colossians 3:2. Have you died a GOOD DEATH? A DEATH that is not the end of the book, but the beginning of next chapter
Let’s talk about that......using 3 words:
POSITION/POWER/PRESENCE
POSITION – When we were saved, we died to standing apart from Christ and began Living in Christ. Apart from Christ, we were slaves to sin: without Jesus, we were left to ourselves to try and manage through maze of life, and we did not do well, even if we tried our best: Isaiah 64:6 says “But we are as an unclean thing, and all our righteousness are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities like the wind; have taken us away”
Rom. 3:10,23 (As it is written, There is no one righteous, no not one” “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” how did standing apart from Christ work for you? Not good! Regardless of how we were brought up (with a silver spoon or lump of coal; in a Christian home or a twisted terror of home), when we stood before Christ, we had one classification (not based on demographics or socio-economics: have or have nots: WE WERE ALL SINNERS.
AND WHEN WE CAME TO CHRIST, he broke those chains of sin and wrapped us up securely in His hands: we came to Christ saying: I can’t do this and He said, come unto me: I’ve already done it for you – in order to achieve, we must first receive -moving from outside of Christ to in Christ, from lost to saved, WE DIED TO OUR OLD POSITION WITHOUT CHRIST: at a point in time , it was one and done, we were saved because we died....AND THAT WAS A GOOD DEATH
DEATH IS POWERLESSNESS - LIFE IN HIS POWER. after we were saved, it did not take us long to learn that being IN CHRIST did not always equal being LIKE CHRIST: WE ARE STILL WORKING ON THAT. Although our POSITION (salvation) was one and done, that POWER (sanctification, growth) is weekly, daily, several times in a day: we start out well saying, today, I will live for Christ and then.... we mess up: we make the wrong choice, we use the wrong words, we make the wrong action.... where did that come from? that desire/thought/habit is still there - when will that go away?: Col. 2:6 says “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus, the Lord, so walk ye in him”. There is a similarity with how we began our Christian life and how we continue it: we don’t begin it with God and then live it by ourselves. It is amazing how many Christians try to figure out this life by looking ahead to goals or plans, or looking back, trying to analyze decisions/choices, or by looking down on others trying to elevate ourselves in the eyes of others and ourselves when all the time we should be looking up. Do the things you did at the beginning as a sinner- confess to receive his power: To tap into His power, you’ve got to die to your old self- not depend on your smart or abilities, and that’s a GOOD DEATH. TO BE SAVED IS TO DIE TO YOUR OLD POSITION APART FROM CHRIST. IN ORDER TO GROW YOU HAVE TO DIE TO YOUR OLD SELF – THAT IS MANAGED POWER
PRESENCE
You must die to this notion that others can fix your life and pursue the presence of Christ -it’s not the horizontal relationship , but the vertical that you need to focus on. Other people can’t fix you: not your parents/spouse/friends/the latest hot shot author or book, because they are suffering from the same thing you are: SIN; only God in Christ can fix you. You must say, “in all seasons, Christ is my life, and I am happiest/best when I am in pursuit of the presence of God in my life.
DIEING TO THE NOTION THAT OTHERS CAN FIX YOUR LIFE, NOW THAT’S A GOOD DEATH, AND CHOOSING INSTEAD TO SPEND LIFE PURSUING THE PRESENCE OF GOD.
Two sisters, both wild, came to Christ and soon after their conversion they received an invitation to a party (where the focus would not be on Christ); They declined, saying we cannot make it, we recently died.
1. Have you died THE GOOD DEATH?
*death to old POSITION away from Christ
*death to the daily POWERLESSNESS of self managing life
*death to depending on any horizontal relationship to fix you but instead depending on vertical the relationship, the PRESENCE of Christ to give us victory now and glory then.
2. So, are you dead or alive? “Yes”
Warren Wiersbe said we are dead and alive at the same time; dead to sin and alive to Jesus -Dead to the world, Alive in Christ, I rise above all a vessel cleansed, a soul set right, His living hope is my guiding light
EASTER -1/3 of world’s population calls themselves Christian: over 2 billion: Easter is biggest party/celebration of the year, and we get to be a part of it... EASTER changes everything. Because of Easter, our faith/destiny/our perspective on the past,present, and future are all different: Paul put it this way: 1 Cor. 15:17-20 -
"17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. 20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep."
Yes, Easter makes all the difference, and for the next few weeks, we will be looking at different Easter
events in Scripture to show just how much that weekend changed their lives & ours. We begin today by looking at 2 post resurrection meetings, and how engaging the resurrected Christ changed these people for the better... and how he can change us for the better as well......
Acts 1:3: What would you do if you had just defeated death? Take a victory lap.... go and find a throne and sit on it.... I’ll tell you what Jesus did... he met people here they were and changed them for the better because
HE CARED FOR THEM.... & us (1 Peter 5:7); let’s look at 2 of them......
1. MARY MAGDALENE
Crucifixion Day was painful to watch; the day was the culmination of unmet expectations: none of
this was supposed to happen - she had been rescued from a barrage of DEMONS: she became a follower...listener.... what she had seen/ heard/felt: and for it to end like this? FILLED WITH SADNESS & PAIN: - John 20:16-18: Jesus shows up in her pain, and with one word, everything changes: pain turns to purpose - to whom do you give name defining privileges to? Do you allow the world to call you names and turn them
into self fulfilling prophecies? worthless...naive... hopeless - to Mary and us: Jesus pointed forward: don’t get stuck in the “what was”, BUT go and discover what “could be”: he gave her a mission: the world said a woman’s testimony would not hold up in the lowest court, but Jesus made a woman the first reporter of
the resurrection BECAUSE OF EASTER.... our pain can be redeemed
2. THE DISCIPLES
John 20:19a: Mary Magdalene was in pain/ and the disciples were afraid - Did you know that FEAR is the longest standing opposition to faith in history? The first words attributed to a person in Scripture: Genesis 3:10: dealt with FEAR - FEAR can put us in a prison.... but Jesus can pick the lock of the prison door: John 20:19ab: do you know the most repeated command in Scripture (more than 365 times); FEAR NOT: one for each day of the year: & their fear is turned to GLADNESS when they experience the presence of Jesus, the PEACE He brings and the PURPOSE He gives: John 20:20-21: Jesus shows up and does PEACE: the focus on Jesus changes fear to peace: like as we go on a path (Railroad track), there is the rail of fear and there is the rail of peace
HIM: where will we focus
3. THE CORINTHIANS: DEATH IS DIFFERENT
If He can change Mary Magdalene’s pain with 1 word, and if He can change the fear with 1 appearance, then He can change us: listen to what Paul wrote the Corinthians: 15:17-20. If someone asks you what makes Christianity different? What makes Jesus different from all other leaders of the world’s religions?
2 WORDS: Resurrection and Grace.
1. RESURRECTION: everyone else in the tomb where Jesus USED TO BE in the tomb; death was not the end for Him: indeed, Jesus makes Resurrection, (not death) the norm - when you go past a graveyard: death is the norm: probably you do not give it a second thought, but if you went by and saw people breaking out of those graves, that would be shocking/scary/other-worldly; NOT THE NORM -BUT WITH JESUS, everything changes about death: death is NOT the norm, the defining, but LIFE becomes the norm, as Jesus’ resurrection becomes the promise, the FIRST FRUITS, not the “last-fruits”: SLEEP is not the end .
2. GRACE: Rom 3:10, 23; salvation is not what we achieve, but what we receive: He encloses His hand around us: Colossians 3:3
Yes, Easter changes everything, even death itself is different because of Jesus: not a grave but a door into
the next chapter of life - So, join with me: come to the party called Easter, as we celebrate the death of death and the best life now and forever more.
NEXT WEEK...
WE ARE GOING TO PUT 2 WORDS TOGETHER THAT
DO NOT USUALLY APPEAR THAT WAY....look at
first part of Colossians 3 and talk about GOOD
DEATH, when death is good
1. Planning for the future has always been a part of our lives-children: what am I going to be in I grow up;
youth: who am I going to marry; adults: research/plan for a lot: investment planning to house
plans to vehicle purchases to retirement to travel planning (MS Peggy and I: 50thanniversary next year
2. So, is there a right way/wrong way to plan for future events or “the future” in general?;*well, people plan for the future in drastically different ways; tea leaves, palm readers, astrology, tarot, flip a coin; better ways: SET A GOAL/MAKE A BUDGET/GENERATE AN ACTION PLAN
3. Is there a CHRISTIAN way to plan for the future? -Again, the answer is YES, and the latter part of James 4 addresses that very topic: how a Christian should plan for the future....
In these 5 verses, James tells us 3 dangers in future planning that we should avoid and 2 spiritual principles in future planning we should follow...
1. 3 DANGERS WE SHOULD AVOID
A. Beware of SELF CENTERED PLAN -problem is, like the rich farmer he left out God. I’m ok for a while/GOD -Psalm 32:8: God is interested in/has a plan for your life: he took care of your PAST, he is helping you in your PRESENT, and wants to guide you in your FUTURE: Psalm 32:8
B. Beware of SELF CONFIDENT PRESUMPTION -don’t promise what you can’t deliver: year/day: you don’t know and can’t guarantee; you are not as important as you think: our life here on earth is like a vapor :you can see your breath on a cold morning, so.... make the most of what you have: each day a precious gift: Psalm 118:24; Yes, make the most of what we have: for “time flies”: over the hill you pick up speed!
(Ben Franklin: dost thou value life? Then do not squander time, for that is the stuff life is made from): Psalm 31:15: my times are in Thy hand; so, don’t leave God out: to be self centered/self confident are wrong ways to plan
C. Beware of SELF COMPLACENT PROCRASTINATION - the problem here: knows what is right, but doesn’t do what is right
GOD IS A SLICE OF MY LIFE: included but just a part - not the ruling part. God is A part of life good?) but not THE part: his definition of being ok spiritually is to not do bad: murder/steal/adultery: keep those but what about the good He wants you to do: (“THE PART): love your neighbor/forgive your enemy/give cheerfully: sins of commission and OMISSION -yes, stay away from bad and actively pursue the good; yes, plan for the future, but also have a plan for the present! So, avoid planning that leaves God out, or that relegates God to a “slice” of life
2. 2 SPIRITUAL PRINCIPLES WE SHOULD FOLLOW (15-17)
A. 15: bring God in, more than just a part, but THE part *the big IF: for centuries, Christians would sign their name to correspondence, followed by D.V.: Deo Volente: God willing: I am going to seek His will in my future, believing He has a plan for that too, a way to glorify Him; not bless what I am doing, but help me do what you are blessing
GOD IS NOT A SLICE OF THE PIE OF YOUR LIFE, BUT HE WANTS TO BE THE WHOLE PLATE
B. TRUST GOD: the pie rests securely in the plate: keeps it together; we can trust in WHO GOD IS: faithful in the past, faithful now and into the future: you can trust Him-Corrie Ten Boom: never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God!
C. OBEY GOD not just mentally, but also physically - where the plate goes, the pie goes; where God wants us to go, whatever He wants us to do, we seek to do: we OBEY and remember, not just staying away from bad, but doing good & the 2 go together: we obey because we trust; V.17" To him that knoweth to do good and doeth it not, to him it is sin." We find our greatest joy, our deepest purpose, and our most profound peace in His will: day by day, step by step. Said of Christopher Columbus: didn’t know where going/where he was, where he had been, but if we follow God, we will know where we are going and who is going with us: as we trust and obey: TRUSTING WHO HE IS and OBEYING what HE SAYS....
CONCLUSION:
1. THE STORY OF THE SONG: D L Moody: 1886: Ira Sankey: testimony meeting: a young man stood and said; I am not quite sure. but I’m going to trust and I’m going to obey: He jotted down the sentence and sent to preacher friend, John Sammis, who, inspired by that sentence, wrote the HYMN TRUST AND OBEY. THE LAST STANZA speaks of that walk with Jesus into the future, then in fellowship sweet, we will sit at His feet, or we’ll walk by His side in the way,what He says, we will do; where He sends we will go, never fear, only TRUST AND OBEY.
2 Passages today - 2 Peter and 2 Timothy. The Bible is the best selling book of all time ever since its 1st printing on the Gutenberg press in 1455. As of today there have been about 6 billion copies of the Bible sold. 86% of the homes in America have at least one copy of the Bible. If you were to go to amazon.com and type in Bible, you would find 4,000 entries. There is no other book like it in publishing history. God gave us the Bible to help us navigate throughout our lives. How do people without the Bible get along through life?
16% of Americans read it every day. 21% read it weekly, 12% read it monthly, 10% read it occasionally and 41% rarely ever read it.
Peter tells us in 2 Peter 1 that all the things he wrote about Jesus were true because he was an eyewitness to all these things. He goes on to tell them that they are to remember these things after Peter has died. "Follow God even when I am gone." Those words should be the same for us... that people should remember the things we taught them about God even after we are gone. In verses 16-18 he reminds them that he was an eyewitness and earwitness to Jesus. In Matthew 17 we have the account of Jesus taking Peter, James and John up on the Mount of Transfiguration. They saw the glow of Jesus' face and Moses and Elijah come down from heaven. Peter then said a glowing cloud, the shekinah glory of God, enveloped them. Peter thought this was such a good thing that he wanted to build 3 houses, one each for Jesus, Moses and Elijah. Then he heard the voice of God saying "this is my beloved son," He said he fell on his face and worshiped. Peter said he was writing what he had seen and heard. Sadly in our world today, people have fallen out of love with God and his Holy Word. So now what does Peter do with the last days of his life? He encourages them to read their Bible. The psalmist said "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path." Read the holy scriptures. He reminded them that Micah(5:2) had written the place where Jesus was to be born some 700 years before the birth of Jesus.
The Bible is an amazing book written by 40 different authors in 3 continents over a time span of 1500 years. The writers were inspired by one author... the Holy Spirit of God. And he reminded them that they could not interpret these scriptures any way they wanted for the prophecy was not of any private interpretation v.20-21. Then John encourages them to remember the things he has told them.
Finally, Paul tells them in 2 Timothy 2:15 to 1) study the Word of God, put time into studying it, more than just a casual reading and you must be honest with yourself. AND 2) talk to God and the Holy Spirit will guide you into all truth (John 16:13). Present yourself to God as one who is a dependable and diligent workman. 3) Ask him to help you rightly divide the word of truth... an agricultural word that means you must "plow a straight furrow." Adrian Rogers
said read it through/ think it clear/ write it down/ live it out and pass it on!
Voltaire said "in 100 years there will be no Bibles left." After his death his house became a distribution house for Bibles. Matthew 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away but my words shall not pass away.
Where did the "question mark" come from? Some have suggested that the curve of the Egyptian's cat's tail and coupled with the curiosity of a cat formed a question mark and thus, we have it. The Latin word is "quaisito" meaning to ask with vocal inflection. This led to 16th century printers to decide what the mark of a question should be like.
It is said that preschoolers ask on average 100 questions a day... and the question they most ask is "why?" The average elementary student asks up to 200 questions a day and their main question is "are we there yet?" The average adult gets about 30 questions a day but the school teacher gets about 300 questions a day. For adults most questions come in 3 main categories - 1) Medical - Is it cancer? will I get better? 2) Relational - Do you trust me? will you marry me? 3) Vocational - Did I get the job? or the promotion? Make note that all three of these are about the here and now.
John 11:25-26 This passage is about the raising of Lazarus from the dead. Jesus is assuring Martha that even though Lazarus had physically died, yet he shall live.Jesus asked the most important question of Marthe in V. 26 believest thou this? Martha got the answer right when she replied yes Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ the Son of God.
1) A PERSONAL MATTER - Jesus was making this a personal matter... Martha do YOU believe? Your salvation is a personal matter and it does not happen by accident or osmosis. You must personally invite Jesus into your life. Nor does it happen just because your parents were Christians. It does not matter what other people say about Jesus! Remember Jesus asked Peter "But who do YOU say that I am? It was personal for Peter and all the other Christians. Salvation requires a personal relationship with Christ Jesus.
2) It is a POINTED MATTER To believe is not just a mental state of mind, it has a physical aspect. To the Jews, the word "believe" meant you were required to do something. To believe means you are willing to stake your future on your beliefs. James 2:19 tells us that "you say that you believe there is one God, you do well for even the devils believe and tremble." James was saying that believe was more than just words. He said that the demons know Jesus is the Son of God because they have tasted of his awesome power when they were cast out of heaven.To say that you believe is more than assenting to God's existence. It is committing your life to Him... you must give yourself to Him.
3) It is a PRECISE QUESTION. To believe means that you have the truth... objective truth.. precise truth. Jesus made 4 fantastic truth claims about who he was.
Truth Claim #1 DEITY - he claimed to be deity... to be God Himself V. 25 - "I AM the resurrection and the life. He that believeth in me, thou he were dead yet shall he live."
Truth Claim #2 - DEATH - He made claims about his death. By his death, he paid the sin punishment for all people forever. We all have an appointment with death. He died once for all - 1 Peter 3:18. It is appointed unto men once to die and after that the judgment. Hebrews 9:27
Truth Claim #3) DESTINY - Claim about destiny - When we die we are all going some place. We spend more time preparing to live than preparing for eternal life and that is odd for the time spent on earth is very short as compared to eternity in Heaven with God. Some people live as if there is nothing after death. Won't they be surprised? John 14:2-3
Truth Claim #4) DELIVERANCE Claim about deliverance. It is an old saying but it is true, if you are born once, you will die twice; but if you are born twice, you will die only once. Jesus told Nicodemus that You must be born again, unless you are born of the water and the spirit you cannot enter the kingdom of God. John 3:3
The great Christian theologian C.S. Lewis said either Jesus was demented, or he was a deceiver, or he was genuinely divine.
Jesus was who he claimed to be, he was and is the Son of God!
So how do YOU answer the question - Do you believe this? Do you believe enough to trust him with your whole life? ... to cling to his truth?... enough to commit to him?... to rely on him?
There is no greater place than to be in the lap of Jesus.
YES, LORD, I BELIEVE!!!!
1) IN CHRIST - These two important words appear 9 times in Ephesians 1:1-14. At the end of the sermon we will look at three important words... CHRIST IN ME. Are we in Christ? Are you in Christ?
1) To be IN CHRIST is the POSITIONAL PHASE of our Christian life. What does it mean to be In Christ? To say that you are in Christ is where you are... ever since I surrendered my life to Jesus I am "in Christ." It is my SPIRITUAL position, my locale... it is where I am.
Illustration... Place a ball in a bucket and the location of the ball is in the bucket. It is where you will find the ball. When you swing the bucket around, the position of the ball is still in the bucket. Wherever the bucket is, the ball remains in the bucket. The bucket affects the ball. Wherever we go, whatever we do, we are in Christ. If we are in Christ, He affects us no matter where we are. Are you in Christ? How does Christ affect us. He is the "Hub" of our lives as Christians. He is connected to us ("the wheel") through the "spokes." These "spokes" are... 1) the Scripture - as we read it, it affects what we spend our time thinking on. 2) He affects us through prayer, our communication with him. He helps us recall the scriptures that we have read and will help us in our daily living. and 3) the church - spending time with others is where where we will receive spiritual encouragement from fellow pilgrims who like us are also becoming more and more in Christ. All these connectors keep us close to him. "If any man be in Christ he is a new creation old things pass away and all things become new."
2) CHRIST IN US - this phrase occurs 8 times in the NT. We find it in Colossians 1:27. "Christ in you the Hope of Glory." This phrase expresses the RELATIONAL PHASE of our spiritual life. This tells us who we are. A relationship can only take place between two living beings. Christ and us together forever. The Bible calls us the bride of Christ. When a couple gets married they become more ours - and less mine. Expectations and actions and attitudes change when we become married. Expectations, actions and attitudes change when we become the bride of Christ... he is in us. The longer a couple is married, it is said that they begin to look alike. So it is with us as Christians, we should begin to look and act like Christ. Ephesians 2:10 says that we are his workmanship created to bring his presence and his glory into the lives of people we meet. "To whom God would make known what is the riches of his glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you the hope of glory." Whose glory? It can mean both - God's and yours.
Make the God that you know be the
God that you show. He should be the same person. How long does someone look at you before they see Jesus? Let Christ live in you and through you. It will be for your glory and for God's glory too! IT WILL MAKE YOU HAPPY AND BLESS OTHERS TOO.
HAVING A BAD DAY?
Bricklayer's Accident Report Dear Sir,
I am writing in response to your request for additional information in Block 3 of the accident report form. I put 'poor planning' as the cause of my accident. You asked for a fuller explanation and I trust the following details will be sufficient. I am a bricklayer by trade. On the day of the accident, I was working alone on the roof of a new six-story building When I completed my work, I found that I had some bricks left over which, when weighed later were found to be slightly in excess of 500lb. Rather than carry the bricks down by hand, I decided to lower them in a barrel by using a pulley, which was attached to the side of the building on the sixth floor. Securing the rope at ground I went up to the roof, swung the barrel out and loaded the bricks into it. Then I went down and untied the rope, holding it tightly to ensure a slow descent of the bricks. You will note in Block 11 of the accident report form that I weigh 135 ; lbs. Due to my surprise at being jerked off the ground so suddenly, I Iost my presence of mind and forgot to let go of the rope. Needless to say, I proceeded at a rapid rate up the side of the building. In the vicinity of the third floor, I met the barrel, which was now proceeding downward at an equally impressive speed. This explained the fractured skull, minor abrasions and the broken collar bone, as listed in section 3 of the accident report form. Slowed only slightly, I continued my rapid ascent, not stopping until the fingers of my right hand were two knuckles deep into the pulley. Fortunately by this time I had regained my presence of mind and was able to hold tightly to the rope, in spite of beginning to experience pain. At approximately the same time, however, the barrel of bricks hit the ground and the bottom fell out of the barrel. Now devoid of the weight of the bricks, that barrel weighed approximately 50 lbs. I refer you again to my weight. As you can imagine, I began a rapid descent, down the side of the building In the vicinity of the third floor, I met the barrel coming up. This accounts for the two fractured ankles, broken tooth and several lacerations of my legs and lower body. Here my luck began to change slightly. The encounter with the barrel seemed to slow me enough to lessen my injuries when I fell into the pile of bricks and fortunately only three vertebrae were cracked. I am sorry to report, however, as I lay there on the pile of bricks, in pain, unable to move, I again lost my composure and presence of mind and let go of the rope and I lay there watching the empty barrel begin its journey back down onto me. This explains the two broken legs. I hope this answers your inquiry. (Think you are having a bad day?)
3 LESSONS TO LEARN FROM JOB THE WORST DAY OF HIS LIFE.
Job had it all, great family, wealth and respect among his neighbors! God gave Satan the right to try Job. Satan said he will curse you if you remove your hedge of protection from him. So Satan caused Job to lose everything. His wife told him to curse God and die, BUT... He never forgot God in it all and he worshiped.
Lesson 1) LIFE IS NOT FAIR - Job's children were celebrating in their oldest brother's house. A messenger came to Job and said your oxen and asses have all been slain and only I have escaped to tell you. AND while he was speaking, a 2nd messenger came and said fire from heaven fell and consumed your sheep and servants and only I escaped to tell you. AND while he was speaking, a 3rd messenger came and said your camels have all been stolen and your servants have been slain, and only I have escaped to tell you. AND a 4th one came and told Job that a great wind had caused the house where his children were and it collapsed and killed them all. Only I escaped. In all this, Job did not sin but acknowledged his trust and faith in God. In chapter 14:1, Job said man is short in days and full of trouble. Jesus told us that in the world you will have tribulation(John 16:33) . But why do bad things happen to good people? a) sometimes we bring it on ourselves by our bad choices and actions; b)Sometimes others may bring these bad things on us. we need to be careful of the company we keep and what they say and do, we should not copy them and do likewise.; c) we live in a world of not yet. Psalm 23 tells us that we can get through the valley of the shadow when we dwell on Him. Don't dwell on the what but on the WHO! Notice that Job didn't complain but went and talked to God.
2) GOD IS NOT FAR! Job was honest with God. In Job 7:20 he confessed that he was a sinner. Even though you cannot understand the why things happen, trust his heart He is not finished with you yet. He's still working on you and me! Cast all your cares on him for he careth for you 1 Peter 5:7. and he will sustain you Psalm 55:22. Trust Him even in your pain. Philippians 4:13, I can do all things through Christ which strengthen me. He will never leave you He will dwell with you and in you. Hebrews 13:5
3) GOD IS NOT FINISHED WITH JOB OR YOU. Job was not finished with life because God was not finished with Job. Job asked God a lot of questions and God asked Job a lot of questions. He discovered that God was bigger and more powerful and better than anything. In Job 42:10-17 we find- God gave him more possessions, more family, and long life. Job found that he could be happy again as long as he had God. So it is for us, our future can be better. 1 Corinthians 2:9 - But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
March 13, 1964 - 28 year old Kitty Genovese was attacked and stabbed by a man with a knife outside the New York apartment building where she lived . As she cried out for help lights came on inside the building, and one resident shouted out "Leave her alone." The assailant fled but when the lights went out, he came back again and continued his attack. Again the lights came on and once again a voice shouted "Leave her alone." And once again the attacker fled. She crawled up the steps to the door and the attacker returned a third time. This time he finished killing her. Someone called the police and they were there in 2 minutes. Sadly no one cared enough to go to her aid, afraid that they might be attacked too. No one cared. Custom at the time was no one wanted to become involved. Because they didn't care, she died.
This psalm written by King David who said he felt like no one cared for his soul.
We know King Saul hated David because he felt his throne was threatened. David may have been afraid and hiding in a cave from Saul when he wrote this psalm.
The New Testament describes people who feel no one cares about them.
Luke 19:10 tells us the person feels lost. Ephesians 2:12 tells us that people without Christ feel they are without hope and without God in the world. John says the person feels like he will perish, is condemned, and under God's wrath. Ephesians says that person is spiritually dead.
GOD CARES and he always has, ever since the Garden of Eden when he went looking for Adam and Eve. God cares because he loves men.
The SON CARES. He came to seek and to save that which was lost. He wept over Jerusalem. He died once for all people. He cares.
The SPIRIT OF GOD CARES. He draws all people to trust Christ and give them eternal life. The Holy Spirit says come! He invites you to trust Jesus.
The SAVED IN HEAVEN CARE.There is joy in heaven over one who co mes to Christ. Hebrews 12 tells us we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. They are cheering you from heaven.
The LOST IN HELL CARE. The Bible says they regret not having trusted in Jesus. They don't want you to make the same mistake. Consider the rich young ruler.
So, we Christians on earth now care and we are compelled to care enough to do something. Do you remember someone who cared for you when you were growing up? A Sunday School teacher, a preacher, a Christian friend. Someone cared for your soul. Do you really care... enough to tell someone about Jesus?
Our SBC Guidestone conducted a questionairre asking Christians if they have shared Jesus. Only about 5% of Christians have. Proverbs says "He that winneth souls is wise." We have a Distinct Commission to go and tell everyone in Matthew 28; and we are asked a Deliberate Question to share Jesus. And we should have a Determined Response. "I care and I will go and tell."
In the 60's there was a youth musical called "Do You Really Care?" The theme song says there are people who are dying to know just that somebody cares. It asks will you take the dare and spread the good news everywhere, do you really care? Think of the name of someone whom you can share Jesus with and be ready to share Jesus the next time you see him or her.
Apollo 13, April 1970, the message was heard "Houston, we have a problem." A while after the launch, there was a failure of a small switch that caused the mission to the moon not to continue for lack of oxygen to the 3 astronauts... thankfully they returned to the earth safely. Something small affected that huge mission. Principle: something minor can cause major damage and affect something very large.
Ecclesiastes 10:1 tells us that we have a fly in the ointment in our relationship with God... and it is called sin.
Usages of Ointment - Ointments were used for economic purposes - sometimes soldiers were paid in ointment. Ointments were used to consecrate and anoint priests. Ointments were used for practical hygienic reasons as well as for perfume. Ointments were used as medicines - we recall the balm in Gilead. The ointment container had a lid placed on it to keep the flies out.
Something minor can have a huge affect - 1 untuned trumpet; small bit of mold on bread; 1 rotten egg can spoil a recipe; an incorrect computer code can prevent access; a computer virus can wipe out valuable information... Eve's small bite of the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden; 1 outburst in a crowd of people; 1 golden calf affected the entire nation of Israel to spend 40 years of wandering; and 1 lone fly can spoil an ointment.
God is our apothecary... the one who prepared the healing "ointment" for our sinful natures. We are his anointed priests - anointed with his ointment of forgiveness and salvation, cleansing us from the punishment of all our sin. 2 Corinthians 2:15 For we are unto God a sweet savor of Christ, in them that are saved and in them that perish. to the one we are the savor of death unto death and to the other the savor of life unto life. C.S. Lewis said he looked at his life and didn't like what he saw. What about you? any evidence o f bitterness, envy, gossip, worry, unkind spirit, complaining, anger, unholy thought, lying, cheating...?
Against these things we have help in God's Word, in His Holy Spirit, in private and congregational worship, and in fellowship with Christian friends - to help keep these sins away... So close the LID!
Hebrews tells us to encourage one another - to stir up each other to good works.
What do we do about the flies that are already in the ointment? God remakes the ointment - 2 Corinthians 5:17 we become new creations in Christ Jesus, old things pass away, all things become new. 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and CLEANSE US FROM ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS!
Look inside your life with the purpose to clean it up and confess your sin to God. Don't let sin ruin your life! Show his love to everyone you meet!
In Roman mythology, the god Janus, the god of beginnings, had two heads, one looking backward and the other looking forward. (The idea of making resolutions was supposedly inspired by this "deity" who called on people to see where they they had come from and to make goals of where they wanted to go.
People today make good resolutions to replace bad things or habits in their lives with good things. January 14 is Quitters Day, supposedly how long the average person keeps his or her resolutions.
Consider Proverbs 3 as a great place to get help in making your resolutions. If we will heed or keep our resolutions, we will be happier in the new year.
1)RESOLVE TO SHOW MERCY AND TRUTH, (V. 3-4). Be responsible, respectful and reliable. Paul said we ought to speak the truth in love. Jesus is the greatest example of mercy and truth.
2) RESOLVE TO TRUST IN AND THINK ABOUT GOD, (V. 5-6). God really knows what is best and wants the best for us. Protect your relationship with Jesus above all else.
3) RESOLVE NOT TO TRUST IN ME - (v. 7-8). Trust in God and not in your own self sufficiency. Peter had too high a thought about his self sufficiency and he failed. But Jesus gives us second chance to totally trust him just as he did Peter. BE DEPENDENT ON GOD.
4) RESOLVE TO HONOR GOD WITH YOUR POSSESSIONS - (v. 9-10). Give him the firstfruits of your income, remembering a tenth belongs to him and failing to give him a tenth means you are robbing God. He is also interested in how you spend the other 90%... honor him with all of your life and income.
5) RESOLVE TO LISTEN TO GOD'S INSTRUCTIONS (v.11-12). Be so convinced of his love for you that you listen to his instruction and correction. Listen to his Word, other believers, and your prayer life. STOP, LOOK, LISTEN
6) RESOLVE TO SEEK AFTER NA DUSE WISDOM (v.13-24). Wisdom can even lead you to restful sleep. Don't confuse knowledge and wisdom - facts and inspiration from God. James 1:5
7) RESOLVE NOT TO LIVE IN FEAR (v. 25-26). Fear is real but do not dwell in it. "Perfect love casteth out fear." "Fear not for I am with thee." Ultimately things will be OK. "He has not give us a spirit of fear but of power and love and of a sound mind." 2 Timothy 1:7. Whether we live or die we will be with Jesus.
8) RESOLVE TO BE GENEROUS (v.27-28). If you have it, give it... to Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, to Disaster Relief, to Children's Hospital, etc. AWBC members give over and above their tithes each month when we give to our monthly mission projects. Be generous with your time and talents as well.
9) RESOLVE NOT TO PLOT EVIL (v. 29-30) against your neighbor. be known as a peacemaker not a peace breaker. Treat your neighbor well. Watch your temper: ask God to control you (Patience)
10) RESOLVE TO MAKE WISE CHOICES (v. 31-32) don't just choose by looks or the one who makes the most noise. See people as God sees them. Will your role model lead you to God or away from him?
Finally promises good to those who follow these wise sayings and warnings of evil to those who do not follow them.
SO... In your resolutions, honor God and embrace wisdom. And he will give us wisdom, IF WE ASK.
RESOLVE TO HONOR GOD!