All I can say is I LOVE MY CHURCH! I've been reflecting on how AWESOME it is to be a part of something so REAL, HONEST, and EXCITING! I'm so thankful to Jesus for ALL He's doing in and through our church! I wanted to share two thoughts with you today!
1. I've been thinking lately about the calling of Jesus' first disciples. When He called them to follow Him, they were right in the middle of their work! Peter and Andrew were fishing (Matt. 4:18-20), and Mathew was collecting taxes at a booth (Matt. 9:9)! They all immediately left their professions behind and began to pursue life with Christ!
Why is this significant? What the disciples were leaving behind wasn't anywhere near as meaningful or purposeful as what they were beginning to PURSUE! That means there's NOTHING greater to give my ENTIRE LIFE to than the CAUSE of CHRIST! In Christ, I am 100%FORGIVEN and given NEW LIFE (Jn. 5:24-25). In Christ, it's not only my DUTY, but also my DESIRE to PERSUADE men to seek NEW LIFE (2 Cor. 5:11)!
I want to PERSUADE you today to follow hard after Christ! There's NOTHING more fulfilling in this life! We find the most peace, joy, and satisfaction in this life when we worship the ONE who created us! Follow HIM! Leave your old life behind and follow HIM! I promise you won't be sorry you did!
2. I had such a great time serving you last Sunday! Thank you for all your GREAT questions! I'm sure with the content that was given, that The Naked Truth lived up to it's name!
Remember, if you cannot bring your honest questions to the church, where else can you go? I don't ever want our church to wear masks and fake holiness! You're only as healthy as you are honest! Let's get honest, so we can get healthy together! I love you and I'm praying for Jesus' blessing to flood you life spiritually, physically, relationally, and financially!
If you're curious to see my notes and verses from last weeks message, they are posted below. If not, I CANNOT WAIT to see you all THIS Sunday at Lake Anna for baptisms, food, fun, and fellowship!
Pastor Jeremy
Warning! These are my actual notes, so please excuse the formatting and or spelling errors :) Enjoy!
The Naked Truth, Part 2
With the amount of newer Christians we have here, it is important to address some serious questions about what it means to honor Jesus and yet live in this world! Jesus told us in Jn. 17 that we, as Christians, are to be in the world, but not of the world. In other words, we should pull back and become Amish, but we also shouldn’t go too far in culture and become Open and Affirming. Thus the reason for Naked Truth, Part 2.
A relationship with Jesus requires a lifestyle change. It is not biblical or possible for a human to experience salvation by Jesus and stay the same. Growing people change!
1. Did Jesus go Comando, or did he wear some kind of underwear?
Hahahahaha!
2. If God saves us should swearing have a place in a Christian’s life?
Words are simply words. Ex. KAK (African); Khara (Iraqui); Luyno (Bulgarian); Go Se (Chinese); Fais Chier) French; Mierda (Mexican); Shit (British).
What makes a word bad is the intent and motive of the heart of the person speaking it. I could cuss you out and never say one cuss word. Ex. Sarcastically, “You think you’re a good father, but you’re NOT!” Or, “You think you’re a good cook, but your NOT.” A “cuss word” was never mentioned, but evil, hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissention, factions, and envy was, which are acts of the sinful nature (Gal. 5:19-22).
Jesus said that what is on the inside will come out (Luke 6:45).
Luke 6:45 (NIV1984)
45 The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.
Goal? To live and speak the fruit of the Spirit of God: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control (Gal. 5:22).
Other texts: Life and death (Prov. 18:21); Build others up (Eph. 4:29); Taming the tongue (James 3:5-12).
3. Can we lose our salvation and backslide? Or are we once saved always saved.
We cannot lose our salvation (Jn. 6:38-39; Jn. 10:27-30).
John 6:39 (NIV1984)
39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day.
John 10:27-30 (NIV1984)
27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.”
Backsliding is not biblical. Growing people change (Phil 3:10-16).
Philippians 3:10-16 (NIV1984)
10 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.
Pressing on Toward the Goal
12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers, 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, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
15 All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. 16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained.
Salvation is not based on what we do, but what He’s done! God is opposed to EARNING, but NOT EFFORT!
4. If you are a true Christian & you live your life for Him, if you commit suicide, does God forgive you? Is it a sin to take your own life?
Suicide is, in effect, self-murder. The unfortunate thing about it is that the one who commits it cannot repent of it. The damage is permanently done. We can see in the Bible that murderers have been redeemed (Moses, David, etc.), but they had opportunities to confess their sins and repent. With suicide, the person does not. But that does not mean the person is lost. Jesus bore all that person's sins, including suicide. If Jesus bore that person's sins on the cross 2000 years ago, and if suicide was not covered, then the Christian was never saved in the first place and the one sin of suicide is able to undo the entire work of the cross of Christ. This cannot be. Jesus either saves completely or he does not. See Jn. 10:27-30
Reference: http://carm.org/questions/other-questions/if-christian-commits-suicide-he-still-forgiven
5. Is drinking alcohol sinful?
Let me be CRYSTAL CLEAR. Getting drunk is a sin!
· Drunkenness is a sin (Deut. 21:20; Eccl. 10:17; Lk. 12:45; 21:34; Rom. 13:13; 1 Cor. 5:11; Eph. 5:18; 1 Peter. 4:3)
· A pastor cannot be a drunkard (1 Tim. 3:3)
· No drunkard will inherit the kingdom of God (1 Cor. 6:10; Gal. 5:21)
All bible-believing Christians agree that drunkenness is a sin that causes a life of misery. Christians are to obey their government in regard to drinking, which means that underage drinking in America is sinful (Rom. 13:1-7).
3 Positions on drinking:
1. Prohibitionists wrongly teach that all drinking is a sin and that alcohol itself is evil. This position is unbiblical because the Bible teaches that God makes “wine that gladdens the heart of man” (Ps. 104:14-15), because Scripture is clear that Jesus’ first miracle was creating over 100 gallons of wine at a wedding party, and because Jesus ate enough food and drank enough alcohol to be falsely accused of gluttony and drunkenness (Matt. 11:19). Don’t try to be more holy than Jesus.
2. Abstentionists wrongly teach that drinking is not sinful but that all Christians should avoid drinking out of love for others and a desire not to cause anyone to stumble. Yes, Christians should avoid drinking in the presence of others who are unable to practice moderation and self-control (Rom. 14). But it is unreasonable to demand that all Christians abastain from all alcohol. Jesus drank alcohol even though there were undoubtedly people in his day who were alcoholics (Matt. 11:19). Drinking alcohol can be done in a way that glorifies God (1 Cor. 10:31).
Matthew 11:19 (NIV1984)
19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and “sinners.”’ But wisdom is proved right by her actions.”
3. Moderationst rightly teach that drinking is not a sin and that each person must let Christian conscience guide them without judging others. This is both reasonable and biblical, because wine itself is neutral and can be used in both good and bad ways, much like sex.
Martin Luther, the great protestant reformer, said, “Do you suppose that abuses are eliminated by destroying the object which is abused? Men can go wrong with wine and women. Shall we then prohibit and abolish women?”
Biblical Occasions to Drink Alcohol in Moderation
· Celebration (Gen. 14:17-20)
· The Lord’s Supper/Communion (Matt. 26:29; Mk. 14:25; Lk. 22:18)
· Medicinal purposes (Prov. 31:6; 1 Tim. 5:23)
· Worship (1 Cor. 10:31)
· Thanksgiving to God (Prov. 3:9-10)
Syncretist – love people and not God. They go too far on this issue.
Sectarians – love God and not people. They don’t go far enough on this issue.
Mature people – love God and love people. They redeem what Satan perverted and make it healthy. HEALTH IS THE GOAL!
6. Is homosexuality a sin?
In light of Chick-Fil-A’s recent stance on traditional marriage, many have called Dan Cathy and his company supports hate groups that are against gay marriage. If you’re a Christian, the bible should formulate your belief systems, or belief systems shouldn’t formulate the bible.
Does the bible address same homosexuality? Some say it doesn’t.
Yes, it addresses sex and marriage and homosexuality very clearly.
What does it say about sex and marriage?
Sex is a gift from God!
The book, Song of Songs is all about intimate, passionate sexual relationship between a husband and a wife for pleasure not for procreation. (2:3; 4:12-5:1; 7:6-9). Sex as gross is also highly impractical, nonsensical, and unbiblical for many reasons:
· A woman’s clitoris is a nerve center created by God for only one purpose – PLEASURE, not reproduction!
· God also made women multi-organsmic for the joy of sexual pleasure in marriage.
6 glorious benefits of sex
· Sex for pleasure (song of songs, prov. 5:19)
· Sex for creating children (Gen. 2:24)
· Sex for oneness (height of intimacy)
i. One last name
ii. One house
iii. One bed
iv. One bank account
v. One church
vi. One God
vii. One flesh
· Sex for Knowledge (discovering, not conquer)
· Sex for Protection (1 Cor. 7:1-5)
· Sex for Comfort (2 Sam. 12:24)
i. Ministry of touch
Practically
1 Corinthians 7:1-5 (NIV1984)
Marriage
1 Now for the matters you wrote about: It is good for a man not to marry. 2 But since there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband. 3 The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. 4 The wife’s body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband. In the same way, the husband’s body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife. 5 Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
1. Husband’s Marital Duty – Cuddling, spending time, listening, not trying to fix her.
2. Wife’s Marital Duty – Sex, good sex, freaky biblical sex.
3. PRAYER
Sex is between one man and one woman, and has been since the beginning:
Matthew 19:4-6 (NIV1984)
4 “Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ 5 and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? 6 So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.”
What does the bible say regarding homosexuality?
Romans 1:24-32 (NIV1984)
24 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25 They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.
26 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. 27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.
28 Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. 29 They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31 they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32 Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.
1 Corinthians 6:9-11 (NIV1984)
9 Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
Goal: Redemption. Jesus can forgive, save, and transform hearts. All sex outside of marriage is sin, which includes homosexuality, erotica, bestiality, bisexuality, fornication, friends with benefits, adultery, swinging, prostitution, incest, rape, polygamy, pornography, and pedophilia.
Ephesians 5:3 (NIV1984)
3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people.
Porneia (where we get the word pornography): Junk drawer word for ALL SEX outside of heterosexual marriage.
7. Is Purgatory (place of holding and purging sins after death) in the bible?
The Roman Catholic church teaches that those who are perfect at death are admitted to heaven. Those who are not perfectly cleansed and are still tainted with the guilt of venial sins, however, do not go to heaven but rather go to purgatory where they allegedly go through a process of cleansing (or "purging").
Pay penance: A person can be bought out of purgatory and sent to heaven by our good works. It’s not supported biblically.
John 19:30 (NIV1984)
30 When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
2 Corinthians 5:21 (NIV1984)
21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Jesus paid our sin debt in full.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NIV1984)
19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.
8. Can we communicate with dead people?
No.
Luke 16:19-31 (NIV1984)
The Rich Man and Lazarus
19 “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. 20 At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores 21 and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.
22 “The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. 24 So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’
25 “But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. 26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’
27 “He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father’s house, 28 for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’
29 “Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’
30 “‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’
31 “He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”
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