Romans 11
Romans 11:25 - I want you to understand this mystery, dear brothers and sisters, so that you will not feel proud about yourselves. Some of the people of Israel have hard hearts, but this will last only until the full number of Gentiles comes to Christ. And so all Israel will be saved.
In the middle of Romans 10, Paul shifted his train of thought and carried it into Romans 11.
There is a war raging between Israel and Hamas (terrorist organization) right now.
There are Old Testament prophesies and New Testament teachings linking Israel to the second coming. How they are linked has been a continuous matter of debate.
Romans 11:25 - understand this mystery
When every being (gentile) who is going to choose, comes to faith, something incredible is going to happen in Israel at that moment. All of Israel is going to come back to God.
The Supreme Court of Israel says you cannot be a citizen and Christian.
Schools of Thought
*Political rise of Israel is an indicator that the end times are close. Israel became an independent nation in 1948. This was a milestone. Israelites don't yet control the entirety of the promised land.
*Spiritual condition of Israel, not political. The awakening of the Jews. God says all of Israel will be saved, we know there will be a salvation. We don't know how this will happen.
Romans 10:15
There is a responsibility for us to tell the world about God's Son.
God revealed himself to the Jews. God promised the Messiah to the Jews. He was rejected, and opened the door to the rest of the world. Women grasp the concept. They get a guy in order to make the boyfriend jealous and come back. God gave the gentiles salvation in order to bring the Jews back.
Did God's people stumble and fall? Absolutely. Was it beyond recovery? Absolutely not. Whenever we stumble and fall, God is there to pick us up. We are never beyond recovery.
The gentiles took the church over, the Jews became jealous. We are waiting for the day when all Israel will be saved and become a church with all of those who know Jesus Christ.
How is God going to make things right with the people of Israel?
Bold statement - all of Israel will be saved.
There is no other way to come to God except through Jesus.
There is another view. Dispensationalism. There must be a future for Israel as a nation - political rise. Once Israel is a nation, that's when all of Israel will be saved through God's grace, His special love for his chosen people. They believe Israel is going to be released from the rule.
God is going to perform the miraculous.
We live in a day and age where people believe all roads lead to heaven. Nobody wants to think that somebody is going to suffer. Universalism - all roads lead to heaven. Universal salvation apart from Jesus. ... but they are good people ...
All of us need to trust God's ways, trust his mind and justice, and morality.. the plan of God, even if we don't understand. This plan has a real heaven and real hell. The danger of believing in a special way is that there is no reason for you to share. There is no other way to God than through Jesus. Hell is our default destination without Jesus.
The Mystery Link
Tuesday, August 12, 2014
Monday, August 11, 2014
Mile High Calvary: Saints and Sinners: That Girl is Poison ... The Remix (Samson)
Lust is a way for us to satisfy our normal desire in a way that it wasn't intended. Sex outside of marriage may have many same ingredients, but it does a lot of harm. It isn't how sex was intended, and the result is poison. It poisons our lives, our relationships.
That Girl is Poison ... The Remix
Looking at Samson and the life of Samson. Was called to do good things, but forfeited his calling to the poison of sex, love, and adultery.
Delilah was poison to Samson.
4 Areas of Samson's Life
Sunrise: Judges 13
He shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hands of the Philistines. Samson is the last judge. Samson would begin, but he never finishes. Israel needed a hero, God sent them Samson. Samson "shining like the sun". Samson was a fun guy to be around. 15:16 - Samson wrote his own riddle. His life was so promising. His parents were good, Christ-loving people.
Nazarite vow put on him - Numbers 6
1 - didn't cut hair
2 - never touch wine
3 - never touch dead body
Example needs to be set in our own home for our own kids. Samson's parents tried to set the example.
God would gift Samson with everything he needed. But he would never accomplish all that God had for him. The Holy Spirit came upon him.
Splendor: Judges 14-15
Samson began to get things his way. He started relying on himself rather than God. Relied on his ability rather than God. He went after the Philistine's for the wrong reasons, nothing to do with God, was because they weren't nice. Samson began to compromise. Had a weakness for the ladies, he struggled with lust.
Samson was a Jew, shouldn't have been associating with the Philistine's, but did take their women.
Samson killed a lion, but wasn't supposed to touch the dead, yet visited the lion. Touched the lion to eat honey which bees had built in there.
Samson went to a wedding feast with his Philistine wife. In a rage, Samson killed 30 men.
Samson's anger eventually leads to 30,000 men after him. They bind him and take him. The Spirit of the Lord takes over and Samson frees himself.
Compromise will lead to more compromise. It isn't how close to sin can I get, but how far from sin can I run. We do not want to stand on the line, run as far as possible. Samson didn't run far enough. God allowed Samson to drift off course.
Shadows: Judges 16:1-22
Samson went to a harlot. Samson went to a vineyard and went to Delilah. Delilah was a prostitute. She was more dangerous than 1,000 men. He was willing to compromise sex and lust. Delilah was working for the Philistines. She used him for power. "Where do you get your power?" Samson didn't see she was using him, he played with the temptation. Samson tells her. That night, Delilah cut his hair. Samson gives up all of his potential and greatness for a few moments of pleasure. 20 years gone in 20 minutes. Samson couldn't master himself. Samson was taken down by a woman and a nap.
16:20 - He did not know that the Lord had departed him.
Sometimes the one who is dying spiritually is the last to see it. The Philistines took him, gauged out his eyes, and bound him.
Compromise will always lead you to be blinding, bound, and grinding. Samson kept compromising without realizing God wouldn't let him run forever.
Samson could never master himself, so he was mastered by sex and lust.
Sunset: Judges 16:23-31
God doesn't leave Samson this way. Samson called to the Lord, Remember me. Our God is a god of restoration and of second chances. They put Samson on display. During this time, Samson made his way back to God.
16:22 - however the hair of his head began to grow again after it had been shaved.
In this process, Samson had blindly made his way back to God
16:28 - Lord, remember me
Samson died with the Philistines. He took out more Philistines in his death than in his life.
God gave Samson a second chance, despite his constant compromising, despite being unable to finish what he had begun. God allowed him one last moment of glory and use.
Saint-like status despite being a major sinner.
Hebrews 11: men and women with great and amazing faith.
What to Take
1. Giftedness does not equate godliness.
Samson was the most gifted man in all of Israel. Samson had everything, but he didn't have character. He didn't realize he had a calling.
God has given you gifts and abilities, you can't squander those. You can't squander the potential God has given you to serve him. Use your gifts for God's glory.
So much better to be a dull, boring person with a heart for God, than to be completely gifted and dynamic and not have a heart after God.
One day your giftedness will not be able to compensate for your lack of godliness. Through the fire and storm, it's the godliness that keeps you headed on the right path. Holiness in your life will help you stand, your love for God.
Have a landmark so you don't drift off course. That landmark is Jesus. If he's not on the compass of your life, you're just going to drift.
2. When it comes to sin, it's kill or be killed.
Samson didn't kill the sin in his life. Samson didn't fall in a day. It took years of spiritual neglect in his life. Years of compromise, messing with sin led to the day that held his fall. Familiarity of sin blinded him.
The adjective doesn't have to be lust, whatever is your poison to your spiritual walk. The seed someone planted in your life long ago. You are created in the image and likeness of God, there is no reason to hurt yourself over the seed of poison. Get rid of what is poisoning your life, be men and women of God who are willing to stand up. If God formed you, God has a plan for your life. He wants to change you and use you. God has so much for you, he has the Holy Spirit to give to you. God is here to guide and direct us. You have to protect the call of God on your life.
While God has created us to have a sex drive, God doesn't want us to let sex drive. You can't give the keys to lust, they will drive you into a ditch. God wants to give you so much more. Get married and figure it out, make up for lost time. Have an undefiled marriage bed.
Kill or be killed. Take drastic measures. Get rid of what poisons you.
3. Hair cuts don't last forever.No matter how bad the haircut, it grows back. 16:22. Some consequences lasted until the grave, but God was still willing to use him. His greatest success came after his greatest failure. Samson had the most expensive haircut in human history. Gave away freely what nobody could ever take. As his hair grew back, so did God's forgiveness. God is willing to forgive. No matter what areas you've given away, or compromised in, your hair grows back. The spirit of God comes to change you. Psalm 30:5 God's anger only lasts a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime. While there may be weeping in the night, joy comes in the morning. Jesus loves you. God can change your life, He can take those past haircuts and remove them. If you've already given up parts of you, discouraged, bummed out, wherever God is, there is hope. Wherever Jesus is, there is restoration. Wherever God is, there is always a second chance. There is always a new beginning. There might be consequences, but God can give you a new sunrise. God can use consequences to His glory.
Haircuts don't last forever. Don't be willing to compromise. Stand up for honor, purity, the things for God.
Samson wasted so much potential, being mastered by sin. God was still willing to use him. The same can happen to you.
That Girl is Poison (Samson) Link
That Girl is Poison ... The Remix
Looking at Samson and the life of Samson. Was called to do good things, but forfeited his calling to the poison of sex, love, and adultery.
Delilah was poison to Samson.
4 Areas of Samson's Life
Sunrise: Judges 13
He shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hands of the Philistines. Samson is the last judge. Samson would begin, but he never finishes. Israel needed a hero, God sent them Samson. Samson "shining like the sun". Samson was a fun guy to be around. 15:16 - Samson wrote his own riddle. His life was so promising. His parents were good, Christ-loving people.
Nazarite vow put on him - Numbers 6
1 - didn't cut hair
2 - never touch wine
3 - never touch dead body
Example needs to be set in our own home for our own kids. Samson's parents tried to set the example.
God would gift Samson with everything he needed. But he would never accomplish all that God had for him. The Holy Spirit came upon him.
Splendor: Judges 14-15
Samson began to get things his way. He started relying on himself rather than God. Relied on his ability rather than God. He went after the Philistine's for the wrong reasons, nothing to do with God, was because they weren't nice. Samson began to compromise. Had a weakness for the ladies, he struggled with lust.
Samson was a Jew, shouldn't have been associating with the Philistine's, but did take their women.
Samson killed a lion, but wasn't supposed to touch the dead, yet visited the lion. Touched the lion to eat honey which bees had built in there.
Samson went to a wedding feast with his Philistine wife. In a rage, Samson killed 30 men.
Samson's anger eventually leads to 30,000 men after him. They bind him and take him. The Spirit of the Lord takes over and Samson frees himself.
Compromise will lead to more compromise. It isn't how close to sin can I get, but how far from sin can I run. We do not want to stand on the line, run as far as possible. Samson didn't run far enough. God allowed Samson to drift off course.
Shadows: Judges 16:1-22
Samson went to a harlot. Samson went to a vineyard and went to Delilah. Delilah was a prostitute. She was more dangerous than 1,000 men. He was willing to compromise sex and lust. Delilah was working for the Philistines. She used him for power. "Where do you get your power?" Samson didn't see she was using him, he played with the temptation. Samson tells her. That night, Delilah cut his hair. Samson gives up all of his potential and greatness for a few moments of pleasure. 20 years gone in 20 minutes. Samson couldn't master himself. Samson was taken down by a woman and a nap.
16:20 - He did not know that the Lord had departed him.
Sometimes the one who is dying spiritually is the last to see it. The Philistines took him, gauged out his eyes, and bound him.
Compromise will always lead you to be blinding, bound, and grinding. Samson kept compromising without realizing God wouldn't let him run forever.
Samson could never master himself, so he was mastered by sex and lust.
Sunset: Judges 16:23-31
God doesn't leave Samson this way. Samson called to the Lord, Remember me. Our God is a god of restoration and of second chances. They put Samson on display. During this time, Samson made his way back to God.
16:22 - however the hair of his head began to grow again after it had been shaved.
In this process, Samson had blindly made his way back to God
16:28 - Lord, remember me
Samson died with the Philistines. He took out more Philistines in his death than in his life.
God gave Samson a second chance, despite his constant compromising, despite being unable to finish what he had begun. God allowed him one last moment of glory and use.
Saint-like status despite being a major sinner.
Hebrews 11: men and women with great and amazing faith.
What to Take
1. Giftedness does not equate godliness.
Samson was the most gifted man in all of Israel. Samson had everything, but he didn't have character. He didn't realize he had a calling.
God has given you gifts and abilities, you can't squander those. You can't squander the potential God has given you to serve him. Use your gifts for God's glory.
So much better to be a dull, boring person with a heart for God, than to be completely gifted and dynamic and not have a heart after God.
One day your giftedness will not be able to compensate for your lack of godliness. Through the fire and storm, it's the godliness that keeps you headed on the right path. Holiness in your life will help you stand, your love for God.
Have a landmark so you don't drift off course. That landmark is Jesus. If he's not on the compass of your life, you're just going to drift.
2. When it comes to sin, it's kill or be killed.
Samson didn't kill the sin in his life. Samson didn't fall in a day. It took years of spiritual neglect in his life. Years of compromise, messing with sin led to the day that held his fall. Familiarity of sin blinded him.
The adjective doesn't have to be lust, whatever is your poison to your spiritual walk. The seed someone planted in your life long ago. You are created in the image and likeness of God, there is no reason to hurt yourself over the seed of poison. Get rid of what is poisoning your life, be men and women of God who are willing to stand up. If God formed you, God has a plan for your life. He wants to change you and use you. God has so much for you, he has the Holy Spirit to give to you. God is here to guide and direct us. You have to protect the call of God on your life.
While God has created us to have a sex drive, God doesn't want us to let sex drive. You can't give the keys to lust, they will drive you into a ditch. God wants to give you so much more. Get married and figure it out, make up for lost time. Have an undefiled marriage bed.
Kill or be killed. Take drastic measures. Get rid of what poisons you.
3. Hair cuts don't last forever.No matter how bad the haircut, it grows back. 16:22. Some consequences lasted until the grave, but God was still willing to use him. His greatest success came after his greatest failure. Samson had the most expensive haircut in human history. Gave away freely what nobody could ever take. As his hair grew back, so did God's forgiveness. God is willing to forgive. No matter what areas you've given away, or compromised in, your hair grows back. The spirit of God comes to change you. Psalm 30:5 God's anger only lasts a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime. While there may be weeping in the night, joy comes in the morning. Jesus loves you. God can change your life, He can take those past haircuts and remove them. If you've already given up parts of you, discouraged, bummed out, wherever God is, there is hope. Wherever Jesus is, there is restoration. Wherever God is, there is always a second chance. There is always a new beginning. There might be consequences, but God can give you a new sunrise. God can use consequences to His glory.
Haircuts don't last forever. Don't be willing to compromise. Stand up for honor, purity, the things for God.
Samson wasted so much potential, being mastered by sin. God was still willing to use him. The same can happen to you.
That Girl is Poison (Samson) Link
Sunday, August 10, 2014
Calvary Belmar: 2 Minute Teaching: Forgiveness
Forgiveness
It can be really hard when someone hurts you or you get betrayed.
Matthew 6:15 - But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
If God can forgive us for the massive debt, how can we not forgive?
Bitterness only eats you up, they go on with their lives. God tells us to forgive for our own benefit, as well as theirs. Allow the bitterness to go.
Forgiveness may not be easy, and may cause sacrifice.
Calvary Belmar 2 Minute Teaching Link
It can be really hard when someone hurts you or you get betrayed.
Matthew 6:15 - But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
If God can forgive us for the massive debt, how can we not forgive?
Bitterness only eats you up, they go on with their lives. God tells us to forgive for our own benefit, as well as theirs. Allow the bitterness to go.
Forgiveness may not be easy, and may cause sacrifice.
Calvary Belmar 2 Minute Teaching Link
What is My Online Church?
I have unfortunately been stuck working Sunday mornings, which makes finding a home church a bit extra challenging. I thoroughly enjoy listening to church sermons though and don't want to miss out on that. The joy of the Internet is that I have access to limitless sermons. I don't have a home church at the time, so I'm choosing multiple churches to listen to throughout my week. I'm giving back to the Internet community by posting the notes here along with a link to hear the message on your own.
The churches I'm choosing at the moment include the following:
Mile High Calvary
Calvary Belmar
Valley Bible Fellowship - Las Vegas (my home church throughout high school)
Faith Mountain
Meadows Fellowship
Ultimately, these are my own personal notes, out there for me to never lose, or misplace, and to be able to access 100% of the time because I have found in the past, you absolutely never know when you may wish you had access to them.
Brittney
The churches I'm choosing at the moment include the following:
Mile High Calvary
Calvary Belmar
Valley Bible Fellowship - Las Vegas (my home church throughout high school)
Faith Mountain
Meadows Fellowship
Ultimately, these are my own personal notes, out there for me to never lose, or misplace, and to be able to access 100% of the time because I have found in the past, you absolutely never know when you may wish you had access to them.
Brittney
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