http://bible.com/events/48747337

Stand

Brian Charette unpacks Ephesians 6:10-14 and a biblical approach to standing firm in our time.

Pastor Kerry’s Message – 8/8/21
This morning is a kind of Part 2 to Pastor Kerry’s message last week as we fill in for Pastor Adrian who is away for a much-needed vacation. We encourage you to watch that message when you have a chance. You’ll find it here:
https://vimeo.com/584581193

Ephesians 6:10-14a
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then…

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭5:16‬‬
making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.

The Greek word, histemi (throughout the Ephesians 6 text) is an important one throughout the New Testament as it relates to how a believer is to act. It means “make a stand,” “stand before/among others,” “rise up,” “stand unshakeable,” etc.

Standing Lessons
1. Standing is standing as individuals together – in unity

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4:1-2‬‬
Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends! I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord.

Just as in the church at Ephesus, there were those in Philippi taking stands against each other instead of the real enemy.

‭‭John‬ ‭17:22-23‬‬
I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

Standing Lessons
2. Standing is sacrificing

‭‭Acts‬ ‭14:8-20‬‬
In Lystra there sat a man who was lame. He had been that way from birth and had never walked. He listened to Paul as he was speaking. Paul looked directly at him, saw that he had faith to be healed and called out, “Stand up on your feet!” At that, the man jumped up and began to walk. When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they shouted in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have come down to us in human form!” Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes because he was the chief speaker. The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought bulls and wreaths to the city gates because he and the crowd wanted to offer sacrifices to them. But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of this, they tore their clothes and rushed out into the crowd, shouting: “Friends, why are you doing this? We too are only human, like you. We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heavens and the earth and the sea and everything in them. In the past, he let all nations go their own way. Yet he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.” Even with these words, they had difficulty keeping the crowd from sacrificing to them. Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowd over. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead. But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. The next day he and Barnabas left for Derbe.

Standing Lessons
3. Standing is an expression of love

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭24:10-13‬‬
At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.

‭‭John‬ ‭15:13‬‬
Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

Ultimately, to stand firm – to take your stand – in a biblical sense, is to love.

And perhaps, in the middle of a love drought, those of us carrying living water are needed more than ever.

‭‭Luke‬ ‭21:19‬‬
Stand firm, and you will win life.

Burning Questions: What do you mean you don’t believe “once-saved-always-saved”?
Burning Questions part 3: What do you mean you don’t believe once-saved-always-saved?

Burning Questions:
“What do you mean you don’t believe in once-saved-always-saved?

So, what’s with this question? What’s it about or what’s behind it?
a.This question is about a doctrine commonly held within the Reformed or Calvinist tradition, for example think Baptists, Presbyterians or United Church of Christ.
b.This doctrine or belief states that once you have been saved, you can never lose your salvation.
c.The belief is that God’s grace will always keep you, and that no matter what you do, you will be finally saved and spend eternity with Christ

Salvation becomes like that sign you see at the store “All sales are final, absolutely no returns.”

Scriptures that seem to uphold this view:
John 10:28-29
1 Peter 1:5
Philippians 1:6

So, Whats the Big deal? I think we can encounter a two-fold problem.

First, if we are leaning heavy into the idea that once we are saved, we are automatically saved forever, our corrupt sinful nature will cause us to put too much emphasis on what we did in the past, rather than how we live currently.

Secondly, to lean heavily on the idea that we are once saved and always saved is to minimize or ignore the many, many scriptures that point to the necessity of believers growth, persistence, and continued response to the call of Christ.

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭3:12-14‬‬
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭3:12-14‬‬
See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the very end.

Jesus argued against once saved always saved, giving us a very clear warning about falling away and the urgency of persistence in our faith.

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭24:12-13‬‬
Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.

So, do you believe in once-saved-always-saved?

We believe that those in Christ can rest assured that they are saved, that those who love Him and desire to surrender to Him don’t have to worry that God will abandon them. We believe that a person’s relationship with God is just that – a relationship. And that a person can, sadly, choose to abandon that relationship.

As with many of our questions throughout this series, we are challenged to evaluate our own hearts, our own “position” if you will on the matter.

How is your relationship with Jesus? Right now?
How is your race of Faith going today? are you still in it?
Has the cooling wind of lawlessness cooled your once white-hot devotion to God?

The beauty of all of this is that you can decide right now to love Jesus actively. Your love doesn’t have to grow or remain cold.

http://bible.com/events/48743010

Redeemed and Restored

Pastor Kerry Willis brings the word from Mark 2:1-12

[1] Several days later Jesus returned to Capernaum and the news of His arrival spread quickly through the town. [2] Soon the house where He was staying was so packed with visitors that there wasn’t room for one more person, not even outside the door. [3] Four men arrived carrying a paralyzed man on a mat. [4] They couldn’t get to Jesus through the crowd, so they dug through the clay roof above His head. Then they lowered the sick man on his mat, right down in front of Jesus. [5] Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “My son, your sins are forgiven.“ [6] But some of the teachers of religious law who were sitting there said to themselves, [7] “What? This is blasphemy! Who but God can forgive sins!” [8] Jesus knew what they were discussing among themselves, so He said to them, “Why do you think this is blasphemy? [9] Is it easier to say to the paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven’ or ‘Get up, pick up your mat, and walk’? [10] I will prove that I, the Son of Man, have the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, [11] “Stand up, take your mat, and go on home because you are healed!” [12] The man jumped up, took the mat, and pushed his way through the stunned onlookers. Then they all praised God. “We’ve never seen anything like this before!“ they exclaimed.

Capernaum was the town where Jesus set up His Galilee ministry. It was His new “hometown.” 

The faith of the 4 friends pleased God the Son. (Note Hebrews 11:6 — “Without faith it is impossible to please God.”)

The doctrine of Jesus in the Gospel of Mark is recorded in Mark 10:45, Jesus speaking: “For even I, the Son of Man, came here not to be served, but to serve others and to give my life as a ransom for many.”

Will we be friends, even in these days, with a fervent faith that will focus on bringing our lost and “paralyzed friends” to encounter the Savior and Healer, Jesus Christ? 

Do we have faith to begin bringing our friends back to church — to our Jesus gatherings?

http://bible.com/events/48740911

Sorry I didn’t send these along earlier in the week. See you in the morning! 

Burning Questions: I’m a Christian but I still sin…what’s wrong with me?

When Jesus sees your sin, He doesn’t condemn you; He says, “I can help with that.”

Week 1:Would a loving God really send someone to Hell?

Week 2:Do you actually believe the Bible is true?

Today’s question: I’m a Christian but I still sin…what’s wrong with me?

Why this question?-We are ALL sinners. We talked about that in the first week of the series, and it’s true. The Bible says, each and every one of us sins.-The good news is, through Jesus, we can be forgiven. But even after we are forgiven, struggling with sin makes many believers doubt…doubt themselves or even doubt God.-Some question whether they are really a Christian, others may feel constant guilt and shame that God is disappointed, even angry with them.-We must understand clearly what the Bible says about this question so we can experience victory and joy in our lives.

So what do we do when we sin? How do you face your own sin?

That’s really the important question we must answer.

1 John 1:8-9NIV

8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Here we see an incredible promise with a condition.-What is our part? “If we confess our sins” (verse 9)-What is the promise? He forgives!-There is one more part to the promise: he longs to purify us from all unrighteousness.

“I’m a Christian but I still sin…what’s wrong with me?”-The answer is “NOTHING.” There’s nothing wrong with you.-Here’s what WOULD be wrong: to entertain sin, to dabble in it, to accept it as “normal” or to believe that God winks at it. Living this way would be to make grace cheap.

Bottom Line:When Jesus sees your sin, He doesn’t condemn you;He says, “I can help with that.”

As believers in Christ, we desire to expose the sin in our lives. We do not desire to hide it or explain it away.We desire to be brave enough to share our struggles with someone else.And most importantly, bringing it to the Lord.

Romans 2:4NIV

4 Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?

Romans 8:1NIV

1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,

Burning Questions:

I am a Christian but i still sin…what’s wrong with me?

Words matter, we all know that. But we also recognize words can mean slightly different things to each one of us.
To un-pack our question today we will look at what we mean when we say “Christian” and “sin”.

To begin, what do we mean when we say “I am a Christian”?
What do you think you know about someone that tells you they are a Christian?
How would you define what it means to be a Christian?

For our understanding today, we need to see being a Christian, as being in a personal, intimate, genuine relationship with the person of Jesus Christ.

This relationship changes everything!

Being a Christian means…
We live Transformed lives 
“Whoever claims to live in Him must life as Jesus did”

‭‭1 John‬ ‭2:3-6‬‬
We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.

Being a Christian means…
Transformed relationships with others

‭‭1 John‬ ‭2:9-10‬‬
Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness. Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble.

Being a Christian means…
A renewed outlook on the world.

‭‭1 John‬ ‭2:15-17‬‬
Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.

What do we mean by “sin”?

Greek- Hamartia- To fall short, to miss the mark.

“Sin is not only wrong doing, it is wrong being” N. T. Wright

‭‭1 John‬ ‭1:8‬‬
If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.

“The great swindle of shame is what keeps us away from what we so desperately need, what we long for in our heart of hearts. Forgiveness and reconciliation with Christ”

‭‭1 John‬ ‭3:4-6‬‬
Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness. But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin. No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him.

We cannot with sincerity say that we are serious about our relationship with Christ, while freely choosing to sin.

‭‭1 John‬ ‭1:9‬‬
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Not only does God forgive us, but scripture also says he desires to purify, to cleanse our hearts from that sinful nature that causes us to betray him.

So, I am a christian and i still sin…Whats wrong with me?
– There is nothing wrong with you, that is not wrong in every single person. A sinful nature.
– By Grace through Faith in Christ, He longs to forgive you and to cleanse your heart from the nature of sin.