Reverse the Curse

Is it safe to say we all procrastinate a little? Some maybe a lot?

I've never met anyone who never procrastinated

We all know the consequences, some more than others, and we regret being like this—It is a curse!

Tonight I want to talk about how we Reverse the Curse!

Jeremiah 17:5-8

5 This is what the LORD says:
       "Cursed is the one who trusts in man,
       who depends on flesh for his strength
       and whose heart turns away from the LORD.

 6 He will be like a bush in the wastelands;
       he will not see prosperity when it comes.
       He will dwell in the parched places of the desert,
       in a salt land where no one lives.

 7 "But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD,
       whose confidence is in him.

 8 He will be like a tree planted by the water
       that sends out its roots by the stream.
       It does not fear when heat comes;
       its leaves are always green.
       It has no worries in a year of drought
       and never fails to bear fruit."

1. The Curse (Verses 5-6)

   1. Although the pitfalls of laziness can reveal it, the bigger curse is relying on human effort as your strength!

      1. Maybe your feeling regret for how you could have done better in school—or in some other area this past Semester?

      2. Yes, we should strive to do everything for the Lord and with all our heart (Colossians 3:23)!

      3. But now is not a time to feel bad about it—

         1. You're in the midst of the final battle of the Semester!

         2. We need to rely on the grace all the way through and be forward thinkers!

         3. We need to learn to have godly sorrow that produces change rather than just feeling bad!

   2. I'll admit laziness is and has been one of my deepest character sins—For me, I'm convinced it is the kind that Jesus said can only come out with prayer and fasting!

   3. However, I know my laziness is most often rooted in an even uglier and deeper sin: pride!

      1. I have in me an independent spirit!

      2. On far too many occasions I lose touch with God and think I can do it on my own!

      3. That is why I've been convicted by this passage and need to stay convicted by it

         1. Brothers and sisters, we can't make light of this horrible condition—it needs to be put to death!

         2. For in it you cannot even see when prosperity comes!

   4. And look at how it causes God's heart to break (Jeremiah 2:13):

      1.  13 "My people have committed two sins:
                They have forsaken me,
                the spring of living water,
                and have dug their own cisterns,
                broken cisterns that cannot hold water. 

2. Reverse the Curse (Vs.7-8)

   1. Personal testimony: I've been gifted in sports, specifically baseball. It was all I did and thought about growing up. In fact, in some ways because of it I didn't learn how to read well. Probably pretty close to classified as illiterate through 11^th grade. Then I studied the Bible and started to get inspired by it. A year later I went into college, struggled at first, then chose a double major in two of the hardest reading degrees—Philosophy and Political Science. It was by the inspiration of God's Word, memorizing it and relying on it for strength that I not only learned how to read but got a degree. But my knowledge of the Scriptures is far more important to me than my B.A.

      1. But over the four years I was in school, I was determined to rely on God all the way through—knowing where I come from I am 100% convinced it was by focusing on God that I did as well as I did!

         • Many here can probably say, "3.33, double major in PolSci and Philosophy, big deal, I'm able to do better than that!"...?

         • Many of you can probably do better than that from your own strength

         • Well, I couldn't! I did something I could not have done without God!

         • You need to find what that is for you

      2. As much as I've relied on God before—because of pride I always need to recommit to relying on Him!

   2. You will always flourish when your confidence is in God

      1. Not fear the heat – you don't flinch at life's stresses and pressures

      2. Leaves always green – stay spiritual, faithful, zealous

      3. No worries in a year of drought – you're still inspired at the times where things seem less inspiring

      4. Never fail to bear fruit – It is to God's pleasure and honor that we bear fruit (John 15), staying spiritually productive

Conclusion-

3. I share this Scripture and it's message in my life to encourage you to have God as your confidence and strength--

4. That you would not be shooting for purly human aims--what is of human effort--but that you would only shoot for the excellency of a God reliant life! 

   1. This Scripture is true:

      1. It is a curse to rely on your own strength!

      2. It is God who can and will reverse the curse!

   2. Will you make God your confidence and strength?

Ending the Year Spiritually

Introduce the idea of ending the year spiritually.

I'm going to read a very challenging passage—hard to understand—and make some points. Hopefully you can get familiar with this passage and be inspired by the things Jesus taught.

Two things I thought we need right now:

1. Perseverance

   1. Finishing the Semester well

   2. Colossians 3:23-24 Whatever you do, do it enthusiastically (literally 'from the soul'), as something done for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing that you will receive the reward of an inheritance from the Lord—you serve the Lord Christ.

   3. Maybe tonight can remind you of who you're living for?

2. Godliness

   1. Preparing to be faithful over the Christmas break

   2. What are going to be some challenges, obstacles, trials?

   3. What are going to be some opportunities?

      1. For spiritual growth and just for enjoyment

I thought of this passage because Jesus talks about Ending Spiritually, so I think it is a helpful thought to Ending Your Year Spiritually

Text: Luke 21:1-36

1. Jesus has awesome spiritual vision

1. 2Peter 1:8-9 talks about being "nearsighted and blind" when we're not growing

2. There is more predicted than we can possibly be totally sure about; we know:

   1. Destruction of Jerusalem (predicted by Jesus because the order of Luke and then Acts)

   2. Prediction of the Christians escaping (vs.20)

   3. Great persecutions (which started after this book, and after the book of Acts—see Foxes Book of Martyrs for more detail)

   4. Second Coming and Redemption

      1. What did "the day of the LORD mean to the Jews"?

3. Jesus made connections—to a first-century Jew mindset

   1. They had all kinds of imagery of a heroic savior—probably like Super Man--

      1. A Messiah leading them into an age of glory for God's people, where it was a Utopian empire

      2. These images related to them in more ways than us

4. Jesus connects with us in some ways more with vss.33-36

   1. These are the words we trust in!

   2. This more than anything helps us persevere!

1. Jesus speaks honestly

   1. There will be challenges if you follow me—there is a cross we must bear!

   2. But we have such an opportunity to be useful for His glory and the salvation of many others

   3. Vs.19 by endurance you will gain life!

2. Jesus promises to be there with us

   1. Verses 13-19

   2. Give you exactly what you need to say—

      1. Use it as a testimony—opportunity to witness!

      2. Make connection with them being with family members

   3. Why did disciples die so heroically and even at times joyfully?

      1. I believe it was because Jesus was right there with them!

3. Jesus promises redemption

   1. Vs.13 – I just love that expression of safety—it is like a Dad would say

   2. Vs.27 has a connection with the apocalyptic imagery of Revelation 1:7 and Daniel 7:13

   3. What a glorious statement in vs.36 "stand before the Son of Man"

In prayer today I thought through Ending the Year spiritually. I'm going to need to devote much more prayer to it. One thing I thought was how far our Campus Ministry has come over the last year. I just thought how much I love you all! It is such a joy being together and sharing in one another's lives! It's not over, but it has been a great year! I thought: where will we be a year from now? I think life is special when you look forward to growing together with people.

I was a little emotional thinking of God's joy to want to spend time with us. God longs to purify our hearts so we can enjoy our relationships with Him. God is looking forward to the next 1, 2...5, 10, 20 (not years) but millennium!

Let's not be like the world, but let's gain a more perseverance and a more godly focus going into the New Year!

Joking Around

Who likes laughing and joking? Anyone hear anything funny?



A man goes on a 2-month business trip to Europe and leaves his cat with his brother. Three days before his return he calls his brother.
Brother 1: So how is my cat doing?
Brother 2: He's Dead
Brother 1: He's Dead! What do you mean He's Dead! I loved that cat. Couldn't you think of a nicer way to tell me! I'm leaving in 3 days. You could of broke me to the news easier. You could of told me today that she got out of the house or something. Then when I called before I left you could of told me, Well, we found her but she is up on the roof and we're having trouble getting her down. Then when I call you from the airport you could of told me, The Fire Department was there and scared her off the roof and the cat died when it hit the ground.
Brother 2: I'm sorry...you're right...that was insensitive I won't let it happen again.
Brother 1: Alright, alright, forget about it. Anyway, how is Mom doing?
Brother 2: She's up on the roof and we're having trouble getting her down.

Humor is very good—It can be hard to see because we speak a different language in a different culture, but Jesus used humor appropriately, even in His teaching.

When is joking not appropriate?
Funerals, not taking a foreign culture into mind,

Ephesians 5:4
Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.

Proverbs 8:12-14
 13 To fear the LORD is to hate evil;
       I hate pride and arrogance,
       evil behavior and perverse speech.
Proverbs 12:8
Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

Proverbs
The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to a man's inmost parts.

Let's read a few proverbs that direct our speech in good ways...
Proverbs 2:12
Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men, from men whose words are perverse,

Proverbs 10:19
When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.

Proverbs 12:6
The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood, but the speech of the upright rescues them.

Proverbs 16:21
The wise in heart are called discerning, and pleasant words promote instruction.

Proverbs 16:24
Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

Proverbs 17:27
A man of knowledge uses words with restraint, and a man of understanding is even-tempered.

Proverbs 18:4
The words of a man's mouth are deep waters, but the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.

Proverbs 22:12
The eyes of the LORD keep watch over knowledge, but he frustrates the words of the unfaithful.

Not to make us uptight and lacking humor, but God uses the Bible to help us see the importance of our words, and here is just a sampling of how He leads us to be wise with them.

God is with us when our hearts are with Him

Introduction

• We're going to spend less time in here than we normally do because while the principle here is important, even sobering and convicting, but I am convinced we would run the risk of communicating something entirely different with overemphasis.

• In Matthew 28:20, Jesus says, "I will be with you always"...but will He be with us the same if we do not obey His Great Commission? Is God with us if we're not with Him?

  • God is all-present, Spirit who fills the whole universe, so in that sense He is with everyone--Is that the sense Jesus is talking about?
    
  • Jesus is talking about an intimate-saving relationship with God, where His spiritual-saving power is with you
    

  • Principle the Bible shows: God is with us when hearts are with Him

  • Note: I don't want to overemphasize this because I think our problem more often is being confident in the promises we have from God that He will be with us always.

  • Perhaps though the insecurity comes from our conscience??--perhaps too bogged down by guilt??--where it is known deep down that God is not always with us unconditionally, on our terms??? because He is totally Holy, Righteous, and Just!
    

2Chronicles 15:2

• This verse is probably the clearest of this principle in the whole Bible.

• God will not be with you if you're heart is not with Him--where your heart is directed opposite Him--you've forsaken God
  

1Chronicles 28:9

• In David's farewell address he gives this charge to his son Solomon,

  • who would take over as king and have the responsibility to build the very place where God would dwell with man—the Holy of holies
    

  • It says that David wasn't holy enough because he shed too much blood!

• David finds the need to remind his son Solomon about God

  • God sees everything—"every intent of your thoughts"

  • Solomon grew up around God—it was probably easy to take God for granted

  • David is reminding him how holy God is and how important it is to be whole hearted and willing!

Jeremiah 29:13

• We'll find this condition attached to God's promise: God requires that we seek Him with all our heart!

Walking with God

Introduction—

1. Relationship with God not a sprint but a marathon.

   1. Maybe not a marathon as much as a walk.

2. Talk about biblical figures who walked with God.

   1. Enoch—Genesis 5:22-24

   2. Noah—Genesis 6:9

3. I'm going to read The Greatest Commandment in Deuteronomy 10:12, which is reiterated in many places, And now, O Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul,

4. Godly men and women aspire to having a great walk with God.

5. Psalm 84:11 (is inspiring) For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.

6. The following will be some important principles to strengthen your walk with God.

Main Points—

1. Prayer Life

   1. Approach God with confidence

      1. Think of someone in your life whom you can go to with confidence in any type of situation. How does that make you feel?

      2. Let's see how two verses use the word confidence: Ephesians 3:10-12 and Hebrews 4:14-16

         1. Both these passages use the word "confidence" for how we approach God

         2. What does this mean to you?

   2. Learning process

      1. Luke 11:1-4 shows us that prayer had to be learned by Jesus' apostles

         1. It is not a natural thing you just innately do

         2. Like any other training, you need to develop a structure that helps grow

   3. Hindrances to our prayer life

      1. Lack of concentration—1Peter 4:7

      2. Lack of personal righteousness—Psalms 66:18  18 If I had cherished sin in my heart,
                the Lord would not have listened;

      3. Lack of persistence—Luke 18:1-8 persistent widow—many times God is testing us to go the extra bit in our hearts

      4. Praying contrary to God's will—1John 5:14 according to His will He hears us

      5. Lack of faith—Mark 11:24 NEED I GIVE A VERSE

      6. Other verses on prayer look on these notes on our biblestudy blog: Matthew 6:5; John 9:31; 14:13-14; Ephesians 6:18; Colossians 4:2-4; James 5:16-17.

   4. Have a goal to spend time with God before you start every day

1. Read Psalms 5:1-3

2. Example of Jesus—Luke 5:15-16; 6:12-13; 9:18; 11:1; Mark 1:32-36; and Hebrews 5:7-10 -- "Prayer was the atmosphere in which he lived. It was the air he breathed" (G.S. Thomas).

3. How does Jesus' example of prayer inspire you?

1. Rely on God throughout your day

   1. Like Paul praying for the Philippians in chapter one, our prayer life should bring us joy

   2. Philippians 4 prayer melts worries away

   3. 1Thessalonians 5:16-18 "16Be joyful always; 17pray continually; 18give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

1. Fasting—Matthew 6:17-18 when you fast

1. Studying God's Word

   1. Ephesians 6:18 – strengthening your sword is a key way to fight spiritually

   2. Matthew 4:4 importance of staying in the word—like food, if you don't stay in it you won't stay spiritually nourished + you could die spiritually

   3. We know 2Timothy 3:16-17 and Hebrews 4:12-13 (quote them)--can you make a list of all the areas God's word equips you?

   4. James 1:22-25 shows us that it is not only important to know God's word, but it is important to do what it says

      1. What happens to the man who does not put God's word into practice?

      2. Write down some things you know that are right and that you intend on putting consistently into practice

      3. We know holding to the truth is how you know the truth and be set free (John 8:31-32)

      4. Further convicting Scripture: Ezekiel 33:30-33

   5. So the charge to Timothy is also to all of us: 2Timothy 2:15

      1. 1Peter 3:15 ...be prepared to give an answer to everyone for the hope you profess...

         1. The urgency of knowing your bible is our lost world

   6. Main motivation for deepening our knowledge of God's word...

      1. Is deepening our knowledge of God

         1. God is eager to be known by us, but how eager are we to get to know God?

      2. Psalms 1:1-3 delightful to a man or women of God

2. Dependence on God

   1. Effectiveness for life--

      1. Business principles and humanism will teach you that becoming independent is most effective.

      2. Humanism will also teach you interdependence—working effectively with people is most effective.

      3. Really, dependence on God is the most effective life—the one Jesus lived.

   2. Balance of faith, works, and grace

      1. Faith

         1. Hebrews 11:6 says we need faith to please God

         2. James 2:14-16 and John 8:30-32 show that faith is more than intellectual belief, but also about your actions.

            • Thus, we'll understand the importance of works of faith.

      2. Works

         1. Ephesians 2:8-10 our salvation is not by our doing—WE MESSED IT UP!

            • That does not mean what we do is unimportant!

            • It also doesn't mean that God doesn't expect anything from us!

            • Like Naaman healed of leprosy in 2Kings 5, salvation is an unearned gift conditioned on our obedience.

            • We need to understand the balance of faith and works—understanding grace is the connector

      3. Grace

         1. Titus 3:5

         2. Jude 4

         3. 1Corinthians 15:10 getting grace will have its effect

         4. Titus 2:11-14

            • Walking with God is about growing in that grace

            • God has provided ample grace for the biggest sinner to grow

              • Net illustration

            • Likewise, 2Timothy 2:1 charge to Timothy is also for us: be strong in the grace

         5. We don't confess our sins to get God's grace, but we confess our sins because we already have it and we love it!

            • As we confess our sins...(we can be sure, have confidence)...God is faithful and just, and will forgive us from all unrighteousness" (1John 1:9).

Applications—

Different things will go on this Summer, but know that your walk with God is always the constant—"Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you" (Hebrews 13:5).

Taking our walk with God to different places, heights, strength, succinctness, will be the main challenge of us all. Above any goal of mine, I want to be more faithful and courageous in my walk with God.

Close with the promise in Jeremiah 7:23 ...that it may go well with you

God wants it to go well with us, so let's trust more fully in Him by growing in these key areas:

1. Prayer life—pray continually

2. God's word—learn new things this Summer

3. Depend on God—strike the balance in your life-style

Greatness through Service

Introduction-

I.        We all want to be great!

1.      We want to hear, "Well done...son...daughter."

2.      We want to find the career where we will be at our best

3.      We want to be excelling at a high potential—be it business, social, family, and spiritual

II.     As we've been reading in Mark, our Lord achieved lasting impact—greatness far beyond any measurement of greatness

1.      Paying the greatest price—a level of sacrifice no one could

2.      Redeeming us out of spiritual death

3.      Great enough to call His followers to give up everything

III.   Jesus shows us the only greatness worth our greatest aim is Greatness through Service

 

Text: Mark 10:35-45

 

 I.     Greatness of the world

 A.   These guys (aka "Sons of Thunder") desired the seats of honor so much that they had the gall to approach Jesus with their request!

 i.      Their thinking was most definitely worldly not spiritual

 ii.   It took the all the disciples until after the resurrection and the Holy Spirit's light before they connected the dots with the spiritual kingdom of Christ

 iii. They desired "greatness of the world"

 B.   They wanted to be great before putting in the level of sacrifice necessary

 i.      Jesus confirmed that they would eventually get there and be great (sum James and John's life)

 ii.   Can't we be like that too—wanting honor before doing anything?

 iii. There are so many works of service in Christ that we have no clue about because we're so consumed by our self being great!

 C.   Vs.42 Isn't that how we see greatness in our world today?

 i.      "Lording over" -- "I'm the boss" mentality

 ii.   We might not be in touch with it, but we all want respect—it can be something we crave more than physical food

 iii. I think in some ways it is a basic human need

 iv.  Philippians 2:5ff puts us to shame—greatly reveals my pride and how much I am more like Satan than God

 v.     I need to become nothing <transition with first point of next point>

 II.  Greatness with God

 A.   There is greatness in the world—follow those principles and you will achieve some level of worldly greatness.

 B.   What does God honor as being great?

 i.      God does not merit greatness like the world does!

 ii.   Not to say the world's idea is totally void of godly greatness (examples of Mother Theresa of Calcutta, Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King JR, etc.)

 iii. Jesus isn't giving us principles of successful living—not pragmatism or humanism—all about advancing His Kingdom.

 C.   When Jesus used the term "servant," it was a synonym with greatness.  And it was a revolutionary idea at the time.

 III.                        Greatness of Jesus

 A.   His example is the thrust of this passage: For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many

 B.   How can we be served by His blood, cleansed by His sacrifice, served by the power of His mighty strength—then not give Him our everything?

 i.      My example of being lazy and selfish growing up with my mom doing so much for me

 a)    She is still an amazing servant, where I can go over to her place and take it easy

 b)   I'm convinced maturing is starting to serve her

·          It is how I appreciate all the ways she has served me

 c)   Whereas I fail to appreciate her when I just sit back and selfishly let her serve me

 ii.   We can be like that with Jesus

 C.   Truth is that we can't out serve Jesus

 i.      But if I don't grow in my service than I'll fail to appreciate what He has done and does for me

 ii.   We never want to take Him for granted

 IV.                        Great Summer

 i.      Let's make this a great Summer by serving one another more

 ii.   The activity we're going to do is a way to get the ball rolling in those efforts

 a)    Write down three things you would like to see us do together this Summer.

 b)   Also write down three disciples in our ministry (not Cahills' or Heins') who you think could "serve" as a club officers.

 c)   Lastly, put a star by the activity in which you would like to serve.

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Lesson 3: Impact is about being moved and moving others

1. Moved by the Mission

   1. Mark 1:21-39

   2. From Mark 1:21 through 34 we see a whole day of Jesus

   3. Mark 1:35 is Jesus' start to the next day right after this intense day

   4. Mark 1:38-39 shows Jesus' headstrong attitude

   5. Why did Jesus have such an intense drive?

      1. We see that Jesus was moved by His Mission—to save souls!

      2. The mark of a disciple of Jesus is being moved by His mission also!

2. Moved by Compassion

   1. Mark 1:40-45

      1. How did Jesus have powerful and lasting impact here?

      2. Can you describe Jesus' emotional state?

         1. The word is actually pretty intense, literally meaning "his guts went out"

      3. What does compassion have to do with having lasting impact?

      4. Jesus acted on His emotions for the good of others

   2. Galatians 5:6

      1. faith expressing itself through love

   3. John 13:34-35

      1. By this love they will know that your are my disciples

      2. Are we afraid of being too emotional? Why?

   4. Why did Jesus warn this guy?

3. Moved by Great Faith

   1. The things that moved Jesus...

      1. Jesus saw the faith of the people—plural

      2. He saw their resilient actions

      3. Their faith wasn't shaky

      4. He was also moved by a lack of faith

      5. He was even moved by their thoughts and attitudes

   2. Jesus moved the people...

      1. Speaking with authority

      2. The faith changed the man. Obvious faith changes people.

      3. He met the spiritual needs of the man first.

         1. He could have healed the man physically and then got to the spiritual.

         2. The spiritual need was more important to Jesus.

         3. Do you see people mostly from a spiritual or worldly point of view?

4. Moving Others with His Words

   1. How did Jesus move people?

      1. This was a time where Jesus didn't have to perform a miracle for the crowd to come around Him...It was by the power of His teaching.

      2. We see here that there was no class structure that Jesus was trying to reach.

      3. Jesus didn't show favoritism, which was even more significant in this culture.

   2. Levi was responding in a respectful way, so Jesus was moved by Him. The Pharisees were disrespectful, so Jesus spoke convicting words to them that must of built up the faith of these people

      1. If we try really hard to please everyone, the odds are really good that we will have little to know impact on anyone!

   3. Imagine how Jesus' words must have been felt by these people

      1. He commanded exceedingly more authority

      2. He lifts these people up by saying, "I am here for those like them, not those like you!"

      3. They must of felt very honored at that moment

Conclusion

• From these Scriptures we see the way Jesus was moved and how He moved others

• We cannot have impact if we're not easily moved

  • If we constantly need someone to move us

  • We cannot have impact if we're not moved by God

Select "one-another" passages

Romans 12:10 − Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.
Romans 15:7 − Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.
Romans 15:14 − I myself am convinced, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, complete in
knowledge and competent to instruct one another.
1 Corinthians 1:10 − I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree
with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in
mind and thought.
1 Corinthians 12:25 − so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal
concern for each other.
Galatians 5:13 − You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful
nature; rather, serve one another in love.
Ephesians 4:2 − Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.
Ephesians 4:32 − Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God
forgave you.
Ephesians 5:21 − Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Colossians 3:16 − Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with
all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.
1 Thessalonians 3:12  − May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for  each other  and for
everyone else, just as ours does for you.
1 Thessalonians 4:9 − Now about brotherly love we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have
been taught by God to love each other.
1 Thessalonians 5:11 − Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are
doing.
1 Thessalonians 5:15 − Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to
each other and to everyone else.
2 Thessalonians 1:3 − We ought always to thank God for you, brothers, and rightly so, because your faith
is growing more and more, and the love every one of you has for each other is increasing.
Hebrews 3:13 − But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may
be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.
Hebrews 10:24 − And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.
Hebrews 10:25  − Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us
encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
James 4:11 − Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him
speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in
judgment on it.
James 5:16  − Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for  each other  so that you may be
healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
1 Peter 3:8 − Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be
compassionate and humble.
1 Peter 4:8 − Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
1 Peter 4:9 − Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.
1 Peter 5:5  − Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe
yourselves with humility toward one another, because, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the
humble."
1 John 3:23 − And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one
another as he commanded us.
1 John 4:7 − Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has
been born of God and knows God.
 

Passover Lesson

Resource: Oakes, John. From Shadow to Reality. Illuminations Publishers International. 2005

• Passover is the second most important festival to the Jews—after Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.

  • During this time of year, this meal is celebrated by Jews throughout the world

  • I will show you how every single detail has incredible significance for the New Covenant—salvation by the blood of Jesus!

  • We will see that God intended this grace long ago, for everyone, not just for the Jews to remember the passover happening in Egypt.

Background to the Passover--

• Summarizing God's deliverance from the Egyptians in Exodus: The Israelites were crying out to God because of the harsh treatment and bondage in Egypt. God speaks to Pharaoh through Moses, saying "Let my people go."

• Ten times Pharaoh agreed and then changed his mind, so God brought unnatural disasters (plagues).

• The 10^th and final is killing of the first born—God provides a way for the Israelites to avoid the plague.

  4 So Moses said, "This is what the LORD says: 'About midnight I will go throughout Egypt 5 and every firstborn [male] in the land of Egypt will die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne to the firstborn of the servant girl who is behind the millstones, as well as every firstborn of the livestock. -- Exodus 11:4-5 HCSB

  • Slaughter a lamb without defect

  • Put blood on the whole wooden door frame

  • Do not break any of the lamb's bones (Exodus 12:11)

The Parts of the Meal--

 1 The LORD said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt: 2 "This month is to be the beginning of months for you; it is the first month of your year. 3 Tell the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month they must each select an animal of the flock according to [their] fathers' households, one animal per household. 4 If the household is too small for a [whole] animal, that person and the neighbor nearest his house are to select one based on the combined number of people; you should apportion the animal according to what each person will eat. 5 You must have an unblemished animal, a year-old male; you may take it from either the sheep or the goats. 6 You are to keep it until the fourteenth day of this month; then the whole assembly of the community of Israel will slaughter the animals at twilight. 7 They must take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses in which they eat them. 8 They are to eat the meat that night; they should eat it, roasted over the fire along with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. 9 Do not eat any of it raw or cooked in boiling water, but only roasted over fire—its head as well as its legs and inner organs. 10 Do not let any of it remain until morning; you must burn up any part of it that does remain until morning. 11 Here is how you must eat it: dressed for travel, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. You are to eat it in a hurry; it is the LORD's Passover. -- Exodus 12:1-11 HCSB

• Eat roasted lamb

• Eat unleavened bread and bitter herbs

• Eat in haste

Order of the Passover--

1. The Jews start Passover with a ritual cleansing of all the yeast from their houses

2. The family gathers for the meal, assembling each part:

   1. Lamb

   2. Unleavened bread

   3. Bitter herbs

3. The Patriarch of the family will read sections of Exodus

4. A young boy will ask the four questions

   1. Exodus 13:14—what does this mean?

      1. Read the rest of vs.14 through 16

   2. Why is this night different from all other nights?

      1. It is a special night of worshiping God for the way He brought deliverance

   3. Why on this night do we only eat unleavened bread?

      1. The unleavened bread is to remember the haste in the escape from slavery

   4. Why eat bitter herbs?

      1. Remember the bitterness of slavery under Pharaoh

5. The bread is in three pieces, and one of the pieces is put away

Significance for us in the New Covenant--

1 The Festival of Unleavened Bread, which is called Passover, was drawing near. 2 The chief priests and the scribes were looking for a way to put Him to death, because they were afraid of the people.

3 Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, who was numbered among the Twelve. 4 He went away and discussed with the chief priests and temple police how he could hand Him over to them. 5 They were glad and agreed to give him silver. 6 So he accepted [the offer] and started looking for a good opportunity to betray Him to them when the crowd was not present.

7 Then the Day of Unleavened Bread came when the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. 8 Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, "Go and prepare the Passover meal for us, so we can eat it."

9 "Where do You want us to prepare it?" they asked Him.

10 "Listen," He said to them, "when you've entered the city, a man carrying a water jug will meet you. Follow him into the house he enters. 11 Tell the owner of the house, 'The Teacher asks you, "Where is the guest room where I can eat the Passover with My disciples?" ' 12 Then he will show you a large, furnished room upstairs. Make the preparations there."

13 So they went and found it just as He had told them, and they prepared the Passover.

14 When the hour came, He reclined at the table, and the apostles with Him. 15 Then He said to them, "I have fervently desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16 For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God." 17 Then He took a cup, and after giving thanks, He said, "Take this and share it among yourselves. 18 For I tell you, from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes." -- Luke 22:1-18 HCSB

1. "The essence of the Passover is that of the Lord's Supper. It is all about remembering where we have come from, the bitterness of our enslavement (to sin), and the price of our deliverance by the blood of the Lamb" (Philip Lester quote in Shadow to Reality, by John Oakes).

2. "Because of the blood of the Passover lamb, God "passed over" the houses of the Jews. Because of the blood of the Lamb of God, "slain from the creation of the world," God will pass over the sin in our own personal house—our lives" (Shadow p.174).

3. Explain the correlation between the wooden door frame and the wooden cross beam

4. "Do not break any of the bones" (Exodus 12:46) & Psalm 22:17 messianic prophecy

   1. This command would seem obscure to the Jews but has fulfillment with Jesus

   2. The soldiers did not break His legs, but did the other two (John 19:31-32)

5. Unleavened bread—the Jews had to leave too quick to put leaven in their bread.

   1. Leaven in the Old and New Testament represents sin.

      1. Luke 9:62 shows that Jesus expected us to immediately leave our life of sin and not look back.

   2. As stated before, the Jews searched the house before passover, in order to make sure there was no leaven.

      1. Similarly for us, God expects us to search our hearts before we partake in the communion with our Lord.
         
         

A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. -- 1Corinthians 11:28 NIV

6Your boasting is not good. Don't you know that a little yeast works through the whole batch of dough? 7Get rid of the old yeast that you may be a new batch without yeast—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. 8Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and wickedness, but with bread without yeast, the bread of sincerity and truth. -- 1Corinthians 5:6-8 NIV

1. Two things – 1.getting rid of the sin, and 2. being without sin

   1. The blood of the Lamb, Jesus Christ, causes God to passover our sins

   2. However, this makes us urgent to deal with our sin that we confront in our hearts

1. Bitter Herbs—the Jews were to remember the awful, bitter slavery in Egypt.

   1. Maybe you think this was easy for them to remember how awful it was, especially when compared to the great freedom God gave them?

   2. However, they're longing to go back there a relatively short time later (Numbers 20).

   3. What a great lesson for us to always remember the bitter slavery of bondage to sin.

2. They also had three loaves of bread and four cups of wine

   1. The third loaf is broken into pieces and hidden around the house. Once we find the pieces, we share them together.

   2. The third cup of wine is traditionally known as the cup of redemption.

      1. They drink it right after the meal.

      2. It is the cup Jesus took and said: "This is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you" (Luke 22:20).

New Testament Fasting Scripture

Matthew 4:2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.

Matthew 6:16-18  16 "When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Matthew 9:14-17 (Compare with Mark 2:18ff and Luke 5:33ff) 14Then John's disciples came and asked him, "How is it that we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?"

 15Jesus answered, "How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.

 16"No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse. 17Neither do men pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved."

Luke 2  36There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. 38Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.

Acts 13:1-3  1In the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. 2While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." 3So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.

Acts 14 22strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. "We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God," they said. 23Paul and Barnabas appointed elders^[a] for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust. 24After going through Pisidia, they came into Pamphylia,

Second Lesson: How You Begin to Impact

Mark 1:12-28

Introduction--

• I want this time to spur on your personal bible study—hopefully you've already received some insights that have helped you!

• Last week we began our study of Mark by looking at 3 ways Jesus was introduced

• This week we're going to look at How Jesus Began His Life of Impact

  • Note: We're going to be in Mark 1 for a couple more lessons because I want you to see studying contextually with a reasonable amount of depth and breadth. We're going to increase the amount of verses we look at as we go forward.

1. To have eternal impact, Jesus was first prepared (vss12-13)

   1. Lets take a quick stab, why did Jesus go through these trials?

   2. Look ahead to the next couple of verses: it was right before His ministry began.

   3. Also read a parallel passage to show the bigger picture: Hebrews 2:14-18

      1. 14 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— 15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. 16 For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham's descendants. 17 For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. 18 Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

      2. God saw it necessary that Jesus first suffer 40 days of extreme trial—like going to boot camp before the war

      3. Here we see the process God has for developing His leaders, starting with the top leader—Jesus, the One we do all things through!

   4. So, what is the benefit of going through trials and temptations?

      1. Jesus went through intense and focused self-denial.

      2. We can't overcome anything till we overcome ourselves.

      3. Jesus first overcame self in order that He could overcome the world!

   5. How many of us rejoice when we go through trials?

   6. But that is exactly what God calls us to do: James 1:2-4

   7. We should rejoice in preparation, but why don't we?

   8. Illustration: How much sense would it make for an athlete to make a significant contribution to the team without practicing with the team? Similarly, or how useful would a soldier be to his commanding officer if he never went through boot camp? Wouldn't you be insecure about visiting a doctor who never went through a rigorous and reputable training institution?

      1. With these kinds of things we understand the need for preparation for a person to have impact in those areas.

      2. Why then do we set off to accomplish great feats without the training it takes to prepare?

   9. If Jesus needed to prepare for His great feats through intense focus and self-denial, can we expect to reach our goals without preparation?

   10. I know the temptation to think highly of ourselves, but we got to think sober—we may think we're standing strong (I'm proud of you who have gone after your physical and academic training), but are you taking seriously your spiritual training.

   11. Juma Ikanga, a long-distance runner whose weekly regimen includes 140 miles of high-altitude training: "The will to win is nothing without the will to prepare."

   12. Jesus went through this intense trial, and as we'll see, it developed a tough attitude in Him toward the spiritual battle

       1. The spiritual war is waging, and all of us must get a tougher attitude—so we too might need to fast a pray.

2. The person of impact has a message of good news (vss14-15)

   1. Is there any greater message than the one Jesus brought?

   2. Here is the good news of Jesus' message: "The opportunity of entering God's kingdom is laid before you...change your minds and believe this good news!"

   3. What an attractive message that an intimate relationship with God is within everyone's reach!

   4. What if Jesus came saying, "Now listen to me! None of you are going to heaven because of your sins. The kingdom of God is close, but none of you are in it yet because of the sin in your life!"

   5. Instead Jesus speaks what was clearly on the positive side, an opportunity

   6. Although He is upfront that it will come at a cost—what two things are needed from us?

      1. Repentance—literally to change one's mind ("be transformed in the renewing of your minds" -- Romans 12:3)

      2. Belief—holding on to the unseen promises with actions of obedience (James 2)

   7. From what He says, and how He said it, what do you think are Jesus' expectations?

      1. Jesus expected people to would respond positively and immediately!

   8. God wants us to inspire people to follow Him the same way Jesus did.

      1. Not forcefully jamming the message down people's throats—being forcefully insensitive!

      2. But being forcefully urgent is good—people are inspired to take the first step because they see the way we're going after God. How can we inspire people to be urgent if we ourselves are not urgent?

         1. I don't think God wants any one of us feeling overburdened or else He wouldn't of said "cast all your anxieties on me...My burden is easy and My Yoke is light" (Matthew 10:28-30).

         2. Here we do see Jesus' urgency—I don't gather that Jesus was so laid back about people being saved.

            • He knew "life was like a mist" and "seek God while you have the chance" because the truth is that it may be their last chance or only opportunity!

3. However, we must also be like Jesus and give people an attainable vision, where they see His kingdom within reach.

   1. So many people feel too guilty and weighed down to see God's good news—they don't see anything good about themselves and so it is hard to believe the gospel.

      • We need to help those kinds of people—like we see Jesus does—becoming weak to the weak!

   2. Others just don't have direction—not knowing the steps to take in order to have the relationship with God that He desires.

      • Also like Jesus, we need to show it with our lives and with God's word!

6. The Call to Impact (vs.16-18)

   1. Jesus began His ministry by calling men to have an impact on the world!

      1. How is that significant?

         1. He could have initially invited them to grace, love, forgiveness, salvation, the excitement of watching miracles—because He would provide all these things eventually

         2. Instead He chose to emphasize "being made fishers of men!"

            • You catch fish for money and food, now you will catch souls for God!

      2. Just to note: we know from the overall gospel that Jesus began His ministry on the same note He would leave His ministry (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-19), calling those who follow Him to have a life of impact

      3. As we'll see in the study of Mark...the beginning, end, and all throughout Jesus ministry, He was concerned with raising people up to carry on this ministry of impact, which is bringing people into the Lordship of Jesus!

   2. Jesus began His ministry by calling men "to follow" Him

      1. What's significant about Jesus' words, "Come, follow Me?"

         1. It was a call of imitation

         2. Imitating His life-style

      2. Similarly, as disciples of Jesus, we can't back off calling people to follow our life-style!

         1. 1Corinthians 11:1 "Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.

            • because people need to see Jesus being imitated

            • seeing Jesus being imitated and coming into that relationship of imitation

         2. It is the challenge to all that call themselves disciples of Jesus to become what we can call people to become—we have God's grace to meet this challenge, and because of that we can't shrink from that challenge!

         3. To make a difference in this world, you must first decide to be different—Jesus is nothing like this world!

      3. Something we can miss, Jesus calls them to be "fishers of men," but do you see how Jesus is fishing/trolling for men by doing it?

   3. Jesus called them to a mutual commitment

      1. What is significant about Jesus' statement "I will make you?"

      2. If they would indeed commit themselves to follow Him, He committed Himself to their ultimate success.

      3. Jesus had that when He physically walked the earth and He has that spiritually with all of us today as His disciples

         1. Mutual commitment is what Jesus wants with us in our personal relationship with Him

      4. It is also the kind of relationships we need to have with one another

   4. Jesus called men of character

      1. What do you notice about their response?

         1. They must have had a tremendous level of respect and humility toward Jesus to follow Him like the did

      2. But it was Jesus who knew who to call—He knew what was in a man!

         1. John 1:35-51 shows the little time Jesus spent with them before this official "calling"

         2. We're not divine like this, but it is true that we can become more spiritually perceptive:

            • Hebrews 4:12-13 show how God's word deals with people's hearts

            • It is valuable to be able to recognize the person who has a great attitude and teachable spirit

            • If we're dealing with the sin of our hearts, we're going to be able to see more clearly into other people's hearts

      3. Jesus called by relating to them

         1. Jesus capitalized on their desire to do something great

         2. Can you imagine that they were a little curious about what it meant to be "fishers of men?"

         3. Also, with His statement, "fishers of men," Jesus spoke in familiar language to them

         4. He also showed them He cared about their interest

         5. Impact begins with individuals

            • People will do awesome things when they feel special—we need to have people we're investing in

            • We might think it would be the most effective use of time to preach powerfully to the masses, but Jesus emphasized changing the world one person at a time

         6. Since Jesus believed individual change is how we change the world, we too must also believe in the importance of individuals

7. (To have Impact) Jesus Called Men to Rise to The Challenge

   1. John 2 shows these guys already spent considerable time with Jesus, even seeing Him perform a miracle

   2. We can estimate the amount of time it took from when they first met Jesus until they came to an "immediate" heart to follow Him

      1. They already traveled with Jesus to Cana and Jerusalem, then they went back to fishing

         Jesus showed then His greatness and His interest in them

      2. Acts 4:13 it is good to read this verse at this point to imagine how much Jesus must of believed in these ordinary guys.

         1. We actually have one up on them because we're blessed to have an education!

         2. These guys had sin and character issues just like we do, yet went on to have an impact that reaches us today!

         3. That says more about Jesus' vision for them than anything!

   3. Along with this, what does Jesus calling them "without delay" say about Jesus?

8. Jesus Took Action (vs.21)

   1. He was a man of initiative—He was proactive—not failing to take action

      1. We need to take initiative to have any kind of spiritual impact on our lost world

      2. It is one thing to have great dreams—awesome prayer requests to God—and another to act on it with faith. God want us to have faithful prayers and to faithfully take action.\

      3. How does it look if we...

         1. Have the prayer to meet someone who gets baptized, and not share with even 2 new people a week?

         2. Pray to be closer to the brothers and sister in the ministry, but you spend little time with them outside of church services?

         3. You pray to have a great walk with God, yet you're praying and reading the Bible daily (listening to Him and talking with Him)?

      4. Jesus took action and so should we!

9. Jesus: Authoritative not Authoritarian (vs.22-28)

   1. Jesus lets people decide for themselves, but He definitely let them know what they would have to do in order to follow Him

      1. Plus, He let them know the consequences if they chose not to follow Him

      2. John 14:6 "No one comes to the Father except through Me."

   2. How much authority do we have?

      1. Matthew 28:18-20, if we're living with His mission, we have all His authority to carry it out!

      2. What makes us bashful about speaking with authority?

      3. We cannot let the misuse of authority in the past cause us to be shy about acting properly with it—Jesus didn't and people were inspired!

Conclusion-

1. Looking at the life of Jesus, we learned how to begin to lives of impact:

   1. We must develop character through trials

   2. We must carry the message of good news about salvation in Christ – important to be able to teach it to others

   3. We must inspire people with the vision God has for them

      1. It is a call of Impact

   4. We must take action

   5. We must have confidence in God, speaking His word with authority