Living in the Kingdom XXVIII

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Kingdom_livingSunday 04/10/16 

Series: Living in the Kingdom XXVIII

Message –  Unified in Purpose XIX

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Living in the Kingdom

 

 

Last week the teaching was about Lazarus and how his death, burial and resurrection illustrated the facts we’ve been teaching concerning being united to God in Purpose as we live our lives in the Kingdom.

Our Key points last week were:

  • It was Lazarus’ honor to die and be raised in order to Glorify God.
  • It was Jesus’ honor and expression of love to not take this from him.
  • We learned that all death is separation from God (specifically the Father) – either initially or in our own lives. This death can be physical, social or spiritual. It is to exist outside of knowing and being known by. It is to exist outside of union with Him. Which is by all sin IS by nature – to act independently from God.
    • 2Thess 1:8-10, “(8)  He will come in flames of fire to take vengeance on those who have no knowledge of God, and do not obey the Good News as to Jesus, our Lord.  (9)  They will pay the penalty of eternal death, being banished from the presence of the Lord and from His glorious majesty,  (10)  when He comes on that day to be glorified in His people and to be wondered at among all who have believed, including you–because you believed the testimony which we brought for your acceptance.”
  • We learned that God is NEVER glorified by death, but He can be glorified THROUGH it.
    • Name some examples…Jesus, Lazarus, Peter, Naboth, Zachariah, Isaiah who was sawn in half…
    • Heb 11:32-40, “And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: (33)  who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,  (34)  quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.  (35)  Women received their dead raised to life again. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection.  (36)  Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment.  (37)  They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented— (38)  of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.  (39)  And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise,  (40)  God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.”
  • We surmised that Lazarus’ appointment was not with Death – but with the glory of God. We know that for two reasons…
    • Jesus said his sickness was NOT unto (for the purpose of) death, but for the purpose of the glory of God.
    • Lazarus did not remain dead – it IS appointed unto man ONCE to die…so Lazarus’ appointment was not with death but with God’s glory!

With this in mind we watched a music video of the story of Lazarus from Carman…

The key points for this week are…

  1. We have an appointment with Death.
  2. We have an appointment with the Glory of God.
  3. Many times we will find that they are the exact same event.

Our appointment with death & life (the glory)

Rom 8:1-39, “(1) There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.  (2)  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.  (3)  For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh,  (4)  that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.  (5)  For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.  (6)  For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.  (7)  Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.  (8)  So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.  (9)  But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.  (10)  And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.  (11)  But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.  (12)  Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.  (13)  For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.  (14)  For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.  (15)  For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”  (16)  The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,  (17)  and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.  (18)  For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.  (19)  For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God.  (20)  For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope;  (21)  because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.  (22)  For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.  (23)  Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.  (24)  For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees?  (25)  But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.  (26)  Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.  (27)  Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.  (28)  And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.  (29)  For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.  (30)  Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.  (31)  What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?  (32)  He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?  (33)  Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.  (34)  Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.  (35)  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?  (36)  As it is written: “FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE KILLED ALL DAY LONG; WE ARE ACCOUNTED AS SHEEP FOR THE SLAUGHTER.”  (37)  Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.  (38)  For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come,  (39)  nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

 

Next week we will have a more interactive service where people in the church will share their reflections on the lives of those who knew and walked with Jesus and the impact that His death, burial and resurrection had upon them…Blessings! 

 

I hope this teaching will challenge you and encourage you to place your trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.

You have a special place in God’s family & kingdom. If you do not know Him, please use our ‘Contact Us‘ page and reach out so we may have the privilege of introducing you to the Lord. Attendance at our church will NOT even be mentioned nor will money.

If you have been spiritually fed by this ministry and wish to give, we truly appreciate that and you may do so here, but all outreaches of this ministry are FREE for you and anyone to enjoy at no cost.

 

Blessings!

 

Pastor Mark

View posts by Pastor Mark

Hi my name is Mark and though I am opposed to titles, I am currently the only Pastor (shepherd/elder) serving our assembly right now.

I have been Pastoring in one capacity or another for nearly 30 years now, though never quite like I am today.

Early in 2009 the Lord revealed to me that the way we had structured our assembly (church) was not scriptural in that it was out of sync with what Paul modeled for us in the New Testament. In truth, I (like many pastors I am sure) never even gave this fundamental issue of church structure the first thought. I had always assumed that church structure was largely the same everywhere and had been so from the beginning. While I knew Paul had some very stringent things to say about the local assembly of believers, the point of our gatherings together and who may or may not lead, I never even considered studying these issues but assumed we were all pretty much doing it right...safety in numbers right?! Boy, I couldn't have been more wrong!

So needless to say, my discovery that we had been doing it wrong for nearly two decades was a bit of a shock to me! Now, this "revelation" did not come about all at once but over the course of a few weeks. We were a traditional single pastor led congregation. It was a top-bottom model of ministry which is in part biblical, but not in the form of a monarchy.

The needed change did not come into focus until following 9 very intense months of study and discussions with those who were leaders in our church at the time.

We now understand and believe that the Bible teaches co-leadership with equal authority in each local assembly. Having multiple shepherds with God's heart and equal authority protects both Shepherds and sheep. Equal accountability keeps authority and doctrine in check. Multiple shepherds also provide teaching with various styles and giftings with leadership skills which are both different and complementary.

For a while we had two co-pastors (elders) (myself and one other man) who led the church with equal authority, but different giftings. We both taught in our own ways and styles, and our leadership skills were quite different, but complimentary. We were in complete submission to each other and worked side-by-side in the labor of shepherding the flock.

Our other Pastor has since moved on to other ministry which has left us with just myself. While we currently only have one Pastor/Elder, it is our desire that God, in His faithfulness and timing, may bring us more as we grow in maturity and even in numbers.

As to my home, I have been married since 1995 to my wonderful wife Terissa Woodson who is my closest friend and most trusted ally.

As far as my education goes, I grew up in a Christian home, but questioned everything I was ever taught.

I graduated from Bible college in 1990 and continued to question everything I was ever taught (I do not mention my college in order to avoid being labeled).

Perhaps my greatest preparation for ministry has been life and ministry itself. To quote an author I have come to enjoy namely Fredrick Buechner in his writing entitled, Now and Then, "If God speaks to us at all other than through such official channels as the Bible and the church, then I think that He speaks to us largely through what happens to us...if we keep our hearts open as well as our ears, if we listen with patience and hope, if we remember at all deeply and honestly, then I think we come to recognize beyond all doubt, that, however faintly we may hear Him, He is indeed speaking to us, and that, however little we may understand of it, His word to each of us is both recoverable and precious beyond telling." ~ Fredrick Buechner

Well that is about all there is of interest to tell you about me.

I hope our ministry here is a blessing to you and your family. I also hope that it is only a supplement to a local church where you are committed to other believers in a community of grace.

~God Bless!