Logos Church - Podcast

Living Sober (Part 5)

Living Sober (Part 4)

Living Sober (Part 3)

Living Sober (Part 2)

Living Sober - Part 1

Surrender

Oh! How He loves us

Oh, How He Loves Us!

Pre sin
When were we the closes to God?  The most like Him in character – blameless, righteous, in relationship with and totally reliant on God?
 In the Garden of Eden. –
 God, after creating everything including man, saw all that He had made and it was very good.  Genesis 1:31
 Adam had 1 commandment.  Genesis 2:16-17
 The lie of the enemy that if they ate of the fruit of the forbidden tree, “they would be just like God” – Genesis 3:1-5

Post Sin
With the eating of that fruit, came separation between God and man – Adam, Eve and God.  No longer were they blameless, righteous or totally reliant on God. –  Their character became ungodly with that one act of disobedience, their intimacy with God was broken.
 Immediately, they made coverings for themselves in order to hide their shame. (prior: Genesis 2:25).- Genesis 3:7-8. 
 They hid from God out of fear Genesis 2:9-10 (but we were not given a spirit of fear) 2 Timothy 1:7. 
 They cast blame on each other – Genesis 3:11-13.

Three of our biggest struggles in life right now when we live for ourselves, are:
1. We lean to our own understanding which is evil – Proverbs 3:5- 8
2. We want to be God, the lord of our own lives  Romans 8:5-8, (Who is god/God Head Trinity in your life? Is it “me, myself and I” or is it God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit?
3. We naturally hide from the One true and living God, hating the Light for fear that our evil deeds will be exposed.
John 3:19-20

What Wondrous Love is This
 God so loved the world - John 3:16
Easter or Resurrection Day
We focus on the fact that Jesus rose from the dead. 
This is so important to us as Christians, about to the Almighty Power of God and the fact that we do not serve a dead God. Acts 2:22-24,  1 Corinthians 6:14
 We indeed serve a risen Christ!  God’s not dead, He’s surely alive!!!
Yet… we somehow slide past the love of God poured out on us through the death of His Son, Jesus Christ.
Every offering that God established in the Old Testament was fulfilled through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
 

 *Unintentional Sin Offering: The world says, “What you don’t know, won’t hurt you.”  The Word of God tells us, that statement is not true.  Hosea 4:6 – My people die for lack of knowledge, Leviticus 5:17
 While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us - Romans 5:6-11
 Only God Himself was perfect, without blemish, able to fulfill the wage of sin.  He became our Passover Lamb – John 1:29, 36; 1 Peter 1:18-19
 The wages of sin are death – Romans 6:20-23
 Though He is the Son of God, Jesus, God, Emmanual (God with us) – Matthew 1:18-25 – when stepping into humanity, He did not consider Himself equal with God – Phil 2:5-8
 Though the devil tried to tempt Jesus with the same type of lie, Jesus did not step into his trap the way Adam and Eve did  – If you are the Son of God…Matthew 4:1-10
 The Lord Jesus Christ was called forth by God to bring justice and deliver us from darkness .  Isaiah 42:1-9
 He rescued us from the domain of darkness - Colossians 1:13-14
 He was marred more than any man – Deut 25:1-3 / Isaiah 52:14 NLT / Matthew 26:57-68, Matthew 27:1-2, Matthew 27:27-31 NLT.
 Then they made Him carry His own cross and crucified Him on it. Yet, as He hung on the cross He said, “Father, forgive them… Luke 23:34
 He bore our grief’s, sorrows and transgressions Isaiah 52:13 – Isaiah 53:12 NLT
 God loved us and sent His Son as propitiation / payment for our sin – 1 John 4:9-10
 We are now reconciled back to God the Father as Adam and Eve once were in the Garden of Eden - 2 Cor 5:16-19
 You are precious in My sight, honored and I love you - Isaiah 43:1-7

Shaking off the Dust

Shaking Off the Dust
Whoever does not receive you
Nor heed your words
As you go out of that house or that city
Shake the dust off your feet
Matthew 10:14

What is the significance of “shaking the dust off the soles of your feet”? To “shake off the dust” is a vivid gesture:
• of “testimony against” ― which is a witness against those were given GOD’s message but rejected it (Mark  6:11, Luke 9:5)
• symbolically announcing GOD’s impending judgment ― since their rejection of the messengers and the message of repentance, cut them off from receiving mercy and salvation (Matt 10:14-15, Luke 10:1-16)
• of renunciation ― formal refusing to associate with further, and rejecting any responsibility for (Acts 18:4-6, Eze 33:6-9, Act 20:26-27)

Under what circumstances should one “shake the dust off your feet”? When a person(s) completely reject The WORD of GOD; often with hostility (aggressively, angrily, or unfriendly), as demonstrated by the following verses:
Job 21:14-15
"They say to GOD, 'Depart from us!
We do not even desire the knowledge of YOUR ways.
'Who is The ALMIGHTY, that we should serve HIM,
And what would we gain if we entreat HIM?'

Isa 30:9-11
For this is a rebellious people, false sons, sons who refuse to listen to the instruction of The LORD; Who say to the seers, "You must not see visions"; And to the prophets, "You must not prophesy to us what is right, Speak to us pleasant words, prophesy illusions. "Get out of the way, turn aside from the path, let us hear no more about The Holy ONE of Israel."

Jer 11:21-23
Therefore thus says The LORD concerning the men of Anathoth, who seek your life, saying, "Do not prophesy in the name of The LORD, so that you will not die at our hand"; therefore, thus says The LORD of hosts, "Behold, I am about to punish them! The young men will die by the sword, their sons and daughters will die by famine; and a remnant will not be left to them, for I will bring disaster on the men of Anathoth — the year of their punishment."

Acts 18:5-6
But when Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul began devoting himself completely to The WORD, solemnly testifying to the Jews that JESUS was the CHRIST. But when they resisted and blasphemed, he shook out his garments and said to them, "Your blood be on your own heads! I am clean. From now on I will go to the Gentiles."

1 The 2:14-16
For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of GOD in CHRIST JESUS that are in Judea, for you also endured the same sufferings at the hands of your own countrymen, even as they did from the Jews, who both killed The LORD JESUS and the prophets, and drove us out. They are not pleasing to GOD, but hostile to all men, hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved; with the result that they always fill up the measure of their sins. But wrath has come upon them to the utmost.

2 Tim 4:3-5
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

What is the instruction for dealing with one who is not openly hostile in their rejection of GOD’s WORD, in fact periodically comes to Church? We have been first called to examine ourselves (Luk 6:41-42, Psa 26:2). Secondly, we are instructed to observe their behavior (Mat 7:15-20, Luk 6:46-45). Finally with gentleness we are called to correct them as demonstrated by 2 Tim 2:24-26:
The LORD's bond-servant must not be quarrelsome
but be kind to all
able to teach
patient when wronged
with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition
if perhaps GOD may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth
and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil
having been held captive by him to do his will

How do you correct someone who opposes GOD’s Truth? Our Beloved LORD GOD tells us:
Mat 18:15-17
"If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother.  "But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that BY THE MOUTH OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES EVERY FACT MAY BE CONFIRMED.  "If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.

Gal 6:1-3
Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of CHRIST.

What does it mean in Matthew 18:17 “let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector”? It means to avoid, or do not associate with them (2 The 3:6-7, 2 The 3:14-15, 1 Cor 5:1-13). Sin is like leaven or cancer, it spreads (Gal 5:7-9), and corrupts those who associate with the willful disobedient (1 Cor 15:33).

What is the instruction for dealing with one who causes dissension in the Church? We have been given clear instructions in the following verses:
Rom 16:17-19
Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them. For such men are slaves, not of our LORD CHRIST but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting.

Tit 3:10-11
Reject a factious man after a first and second warning, knowing that such a man is perverted and is sinning, being self-condemned.

2 Jhn 10-11
If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting; for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds.

The one who listens to you listens to ME
And the one who rejects you rejects ME
And he who rejects ME
Rejects The One who sent ME
Luke 10:16

 

Dont take your cues from the world

1[Rom 12:1-5 NASB] 1 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

 

1. You are a holy and living sacrifice that is acceptable to God. This is your worship.
   1. A holy and living sacrifice is continuously pleasing to God. How is this possible?
   2. [Rom 6:16 NLT] 16 Don't you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living.
   3. [1Sa 15:22 NLT] 22 But Samuel replied, "What is more pleasing to the LORD: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.

 

2. Don’t be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind!!
   1. How do we know we are transformed :

Metamorphoō [Metamorphosis]- Change into another form, transform, transfigure

Webster Definition : a major change in the appearance of character of someone or something

Metamorphosis is a biological process by which an animal physically develops after birth or hatching, involving a conspicuous and relatively abrupt change in the animal's body structure through cell growth and differentiation

Once you undergo metamorphosis, you can't go back

Metamorphosis is necessary for physical development in animals! Metamorphosis is a necessary part of development!

 

[Rom 13:14 NLT] 14 Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don't let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires.

 

[Eze 36:26 NLT] 26 And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.

 

[2Co 5:17 NLT] 17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

 

2. Take on the mind of Christ

[1Co 2:13-16 NASB] 13 which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words. 14 But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. 15 But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one. 16 For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, THAT HE WILL INSTRUCT HIM? But we have the mind of Christ.

 

3. … so that you may PROVE what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
   1. This is not to prove to those around you… this is to prove to YOU. IT is so that you will learn to know GOD's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect!
   2. When you are transformed, you no longer need anyone to convince you of the goodness of God and to constantly remind you to TRUST Him

[Eph 4:17-20 NLT] 17 With the Lord's authority I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused. 18 Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him. 19 They have no sense of shame. They live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity. 20 But that isn't what you learned about Christ.

[1Jo 2:15-17 NLT] 15 Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. 16 For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. 17 And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.

[Rom 13:14 NLT] 14 Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don't let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires.

[Rev 13:8 NLT] 8 And all the people who belong to this world worshiped the beast. They are the ones whose names were not written in the Book of Life before the world was made--the Book that belongs to the Lamb who was slaughtered.

Seeking Approval