Seek God Isaiah 55: 6-7

 0180 - Seek the Lord

(To the Lord our God belong compassion, and forgiveness)

Isaiah 55:6-7; Daniel 9:9

Quacco Bapatist Church

Savannah, Georgia

Oct. 20, 2024

Almighty and everlasting God, in Christ you have revealed your glory among the nations: Preserve the works of your mercy, that your Church throughout the world may persevere with steadfast faith in the confession of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

 

Introduction -   

        A lot is talked about “forgiveness”. I delivered a message on forgiveness using Simon Wiethensal’s book “The Sunflower” the theme was on his silence on forgiving a young Nazi SS man who was asking forgiveness/obsolution from a Jew for his actions against the Jews during WWII.

        He posed the question of whether one should forgive or not to 53 erudites and of the 53 that answered only three responded that there should have been forgiveness. Among those arguing for forgiveness was the Dali Lama, Edward Flannery Roman Catholic Priest. The rest was a mix of to not forgive and undecided.

        There were a the large number of undecided and I thought of Jesus’ word to the church to the church of Laodicia, “I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit (meaning, vomit  eject from the stomach through the mouth;  to cast forth, gush, or eject, as in disgust or anger:   you out of my mouth” (Rev. 3:15-16). Leaves you with something to think about, at least it does me.

        This brings to today.

        After having a lengthy conversation and listening to a story of an individual, involving a church, the accused, and one accuser; it appears, there’s much unforgiveness within the Body of Christ, the church; regardless of denomination. But not just within the church there is also a lot of condemnation coming from within the secular and the Godless world.

        I quoted last week from Bessell Van Der Kolk’s book  … People have a hard time bridging the gap from when the trauma occurred to their current lives. An incident occurs, they have done a great wrong; They’re accused, there is a plea for forgiveness, but none is given, just condemnation. We can come up with examples times 100.

        Anyway, years pass and the person is bitter, mistrusts everything and everyone. As for as the relationship with a church, the Body of Christ is concerned, that is at a point  that is now anethema for them.

How does the body of Christ react? Well, some, I say very few, a speck actually will forgive but the leaders and the majority they certainly do not open their arms and proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ to them.

The gospel is preached every Sunday in one form or another. It is a repetitive thing. Forgiveness and acceptance. Jesus told a story, the parable of the prodigal son. I deals not the only about a prodigal; it isn’t limited to a son, male. It can be told about females. Daughters. Everybody is well familiar with the parable. Charles Dickens even called it the greatest story ever told.

        The parable is about forgiveness. People are very often treated that whatever thing they committed is unforgivable. I will always bring up Leslie Van Houten all of you know my reasons. People I know, that knew her yet talked with an unforgiving heart. But what bothered this preacher was the unforgiving heart of a Baptist Preacher towards her.

        Then there are two others, I’m sure among many other whom has Christ called,who answered and just like the adulteress woman and Mary of Magdala, came to Christ. And thing common with these two is they can’t keep their mouths shut talking about Jesus.

        Yall familiar with.. Jim Bakker. Televangelist. He went off the deep end to put it mildly. You can check on him on the net and one could surprised at all Bakker had been charged with. He received a 45 year prison term of which after appeals Bakker’s sentence was reduced to 5 years and given parole.

                If I remember correctly, he was the butt of jokes. Was love and forgiveness shown to him? More than likely no, but there was  one incident that isn’t spoken of, I should say I’ve heard it only once. He did have one visitor. Remaining in the clothes he wore while cleaning the bathrooms in the prison he was escorted out and met the visitor who turned out to be Billy Graham who reached out to Jim and hugged him. After being released Ruth Graham, invited Jim to the church where she and Billy attended. She took Jim to the front of the church and had him sit next to her. That action alone spoke volumes on forgiveness.

        ‘Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.’ – Martin Luther King, Jr.  Jesus taught that the only way for us to grant forgiveness to others is in the way He has forgiven us. We are to forgive regardless of the nature or gravity of the offense against us, the number of offenses, or the character of the offender. We are to show unconditional mercy as God has shown mercy to us.          

        As we humble ourselves and extend forgiveness to others, God opens the way for us to seek forgiveness for our own mistakes and sins. God fully forgives all who come to Him with a humble and repentant spirit.

        As we follow the Holy Spirit, we will know the truth, and the truth will make us free (John 8:32). Verse 36 says, “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.”…“To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts” (Hebrews 3:15). In Matthew 11:28, Jesus said, “Come unto me... and I will give you rest.” As we follow these teachings, we will be forgiven and will be able to forgive others.

        How do we come to God? The answer is in the Bible. “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him” (John 6:44). Through His Holy Spirit, we become aware that we are sinners and in need of a Savior. Sometimes we don’t fully understand God’s call. We may begin to notice an empty, lonely feeling in our heart—a need of something, a feeling we are not right, a conviction we are lost.

        When we become aware of this restlessness in our spirit, we need to open our heart to God for direction. The load of sin will become very heavy, and our heart will become remorseful because of our past sinful life. God wants us to surrender our life to Him in true repentance. When God sees our broken and contrite heart The LORD is near to the brokenhearted, and saves the crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18; For thou hast no delight in sacrifice; were I to give a burnt offering, thou wouldst not be pleased. 17 The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. Psalm 51:16-17 therefore our readiness to fully do His will, He forgives our past sinful life, and we receive forgiveness and peace. We’re happy, and we want to share with others what Christ has done in our heart!

        And so are my friends who when in conversation it’s all Jesus this and Jesus that. One friend’s older brother, by two years, raised in a foster home, in fact all three, two boys and my friend. The foster parents were Baptist and the foster dad a minister. The older at some time in his life, rode with a motorcycle gang up in Washington. What’s interesting is that on his jacket, in addition to the club’s colors, they gave him the name Rev. Short for Reverend. I commented, funny how God works. He will even infiltrate a motorcycle gang.

        This freedom isn’t something that comes through human reasoning. It’s all the Holy Spirit in the heart that converts us to a new life. Through this power of the Holy Spirit, we have faith to trust God so we can lay down our own will and forgive others. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new.”

        God’s method of forgiveness is something else; trusting faith in the sacrifice of Jesus, erases all the guilt from our heart. We are completely covered by the blood of Jesus Christ. God’s forgiveness takes away our all our offenses and hurts. Your “rap sheet,” the charges against you is clean, non-existent, and to top it all off He forgets our sins; Psalm 103:11-12, as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; 12 as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. 13 As a father pities his children, so the LORD pities those who fear him; and (Hebrews 8:12) “And their iniquities will I remember no more”

       

 

     

 

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

578 What's in a Name Psalm 8, 10/06/2024

578.1 Excerpt from "Whats in a Name" 8/6/24

Light of the World Liberia 9/4/24

In this video, the sound is hard to hear. Speaking is Dwana A Livingstone of Monrovia Liberia. He works with Light of the World International Christian Light Of The world International Christian School I have been friends with Dwana for some years. He is hungry for the word of God and is filled with questions of which I try to answer. I asked him to make a short video that I could edit and upload for others to view.
They help many children coming from Muslim homes nourish them and they go back. Their biggest lack is food and supplies for the school and church they are constructing. Is you watch in the bubble you live in like I mentioned in last Sunday's sermon on the 1st.
Those who have been out on the mission field should know what I mean.
look at the faces of these Christian children they, having nothing, are more content than those in America who have to put up with the godless hypocrites who rule this nation.

God He is a father to the fatherless and an advocate for widows. God rules from his holy palace. Psalm 68:5--
Learn to do what is right! Promote justice! Give the oppressed reason to celebrate! Take up the cause of the orphan! Defend the rights of the widow! Isaiah 1:17
“You must not afflict any widow or orphan. If you afflict them in any way and they cry to me, I will surely hear their cry, and my anger will burn and I will kill you with the sword, and your wives will be widows and your children will be fatherless. Exodus 22:22-24

573 Do We Hide in a Bubble 9/1/2024

Do We Really Live In  A Bubble?

James 1:22; Rom. 8:27-29

And Various Scriptures

Sept. 1 , 2024

Quacco Baptist Chruch

Savannah, Georgia

Lord of all power and might, the author and giver of all good things: Graft in our hearts the love of your Name; increase in us true religion; nourish us with all goodness; and bring forth in us the fruit of good works; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen.

 

Introduction 

            James 1:22, now I’m taking this out of context but it is the main issue of the message. “… be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves.  …”. The other verse comes from Romans 8:27-29a … “27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son,

            The word “world” cosmos, in the New Testament refers to the inhabited earth, the people who live on the earth, which functions apart from God.

Satan is the ruler of this "cosmos" John 12:31;  Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out.; 16:11 concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.; 1 John 5:19,  We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.

The world refers to a system ruled by Satan. Therefore one can appreciate more Christ’s claims that believers are no longer of the world—we are no longer bound by the principles of the world. And, we’re being changed into the image of Christ, which should cause our interest in the things of the world to become less and less as we continue to mature in Christ.

            We the believers in Christ are simply—physically present in the world —but we aren’t a part of it, not of its values. In  John 17:14-15.     14 I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.

We should be set apart from the world. Being holy and living a holy, righteous life—to be set apart. We are not to engage in the sinful activities the world promotes, nor are we to retain the insipid, corrupt mind that the world creates.

Instead we are to conform ourselves and our minds to that of Jesus Christ, Romans 12:1-2. This is a 24/7 activity and commitment.

  I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Listen, being in the world, but not of it, is necessary if we’re to be a light to those who are in spiritual darkness, haven’t heard the true Gospel.

We live in a way that those outside the faith see our good deeds and our manner and know that there is something “different” about us. Christians, who make every effort to live, think and act like those who do not know Christ do Him a great disservice. Even the heathen knows that “by their fruits you shall know them,” and as Christians, we should exhibit the fruit of the Spirit within us.

            We can enjoy the things of the world, the beautiful creation God has given us, but we ourselves are not to dive in what the world values.

            Transition

            The past two and a half years I have become familiar with somethings that have happened to personal friends of mine. With some of these occurring after we all separated from high school and others it was during the time the and prior to the time we were in school.

            We all know one, Tisia, who has given her testimony here and has shared it with others. I’ve spoken of another dear friend who jokingly called herself Mary of Magdala. Now, because of my friendship with her, I said to her, no you’re not Mary Magdalene, you were more of the adulteress woman and the sinner who washed Jesus’ feet with her tears.

           

            Then there’s one that the self-righteous considered a sin akin to blasphemy of the Holy Spirit and kicked out of a Baptist church.

            Listening to these accounts, and the full story, I became aware that I was pretty much living, like most, in a bubble. We aren’t aware of what is happening to people because we, on purpose see our own faults and guilt, there by we close our eyes and ears but, not our mouths, to criticize.

            One in particular, had gone through, beginning at around age 5, 6, to suffer sexual and physical abuse. Her brother had suffered physical abuse. In high school I never knew nor did I pick up any signals. She was and still is very good friends with a mutual friend and classmate, another girl.

            Who amongst us knew or were aware I don’t know. This is two people in California; we at Quacco personally know one here in Garden City; Two that were out in left field, the other over the left field fence, and a third of whom I had known of her situation back in 1969, and has since served 50 years in prison in Chino California.

            Then there is the one in Cordeirepolis, Sao Paulo Brazil, Tatiena Pinel. I would occasionally read her posts on FB. You can tell by reading what someone writes, and in this case she would post biblical verses from the Psalms that were, or so it sounded to me, as someone sad and crying out to the Lord for help.

            Well, I went ahead and asked. And she, like the others had, opened up her life to me.       She and her brother lost their mother 35 years ago, leaving 4 children, a one year old, a 7 year old, an 8 year old and a 12 year old, she had a stroke, the children went to live with grandparents, 2 of them stayed with paternal grandparents and 2 with maternal grandparents, then my father remarried, started another family, I continued with my paternal grandmother, where she suffered a lot of physical and psychological abuse, until she reached age 17, her brother with My father he too suffered a lot, he had to leave school to work in the fields, a painful life without any kind of affection.

            She and her brother were also friends, they supported each other. he got married at 18, and she left with a 3-year-old daughter in my arms, and went to try life here in Cordeirópolis, Sao Paulo.

            Later her brother went there to start a new life here. He lived with his wife for 11 years, had 2 children and then divorced, in the meantime she got married, had 2 children and lived with her now my ex-husband for 16 years, but still she and her brother always looked out for each other. He got involved with woman who was the cause of his death, this woman had an ex-husband who didn't accept the ending of his marriage but her brother fell in love and that was the end of him, her brother.

            Then on December 20, 2022, as he was leaving for work at 4:30 in the morning, there was set up a stakeout, her brother was caught in an ambush, the killer shot him 7 times, when she arrived and saw her brother lying on that floor lifeless, it was the worst pain she felt in her life, it was a part of her that was taken away that day, they went through everything, always, she said to me  “… I'm here wanting to cry, my chest is tight, everything comes to mind today I don't have anyone that I can tell, …” So she moves on, her life children and the good memories she had with her brother. She says her life is a book……

            We live in a world that at this particular time, there are approximately 8.2 billion people, and that’s a lot. Out of those 8.2 billion I know the personal details of five. But of those five, as I mentioned, only in the last two to three years did I became aware of what all they had gone through.

            But not just them; I think of the other 8 billion people; People not known to us. I live in a bubble, nothing is happening to me. I hear of things happening but it doesn’t affect me. It’s not my problem. I’m a Christian I say, God will handle it. I can say like other preachers, disrespectfully that that’s God’s problem He’ll handle it.

            Yes He will. But He does it His way. He has sent out people like Annie Armstrong, Lotie Moon and many others like them to make disciples, to care for the poor, the homeless, and the fatherless.

            Others are called to care for the abused, the sexually abused and physically abused by family members. That brings me to the conclusion

            Conclusion   

            It has been over 57 years since I had seen, let alone spoken to three of the girls, now women my age. One happened to see a comment I made on a Monrovia California  FB page. This was the first time I posted anything. This was back in July. At the same time this one individual saw my post and commented, asking if this is the same Pablo Pinel from Monrovia High school … then wrote wow and a man of God. I answered and then the catch-up began. Just like the others. Then the life history opened. This is the one when a child was sexually, mentally and physically abused. She now works as a counselor for children who are experiencing trauma. I’m reading a book she recommended by Dr. Bessel Van Der Kolk, M.D. Titled, The Body Keeps Score.

            Trauma is a fact of life, he states. Veterans & their families deal with the painful aftermath of combat: one in five Americans… [now note that this is just here in the U.S., think of the world]… has been molested; one in four grew up with alcoholics; one in three couples have engaged in physical violence.

            Trauma is a lifelong thing that stays with one. Especially when dealing with both physical/sexual; and mental abuse of a child. Even and adult.

            Okay Paul what is your point? My point to explain it or really teach it would be hard to do. So let me put it as simply as I can. We all believe in coincidences, we all say it. The real smart people instead of calling God, God will use the word Providence, alluding to that “Providence” is God. I won’t dare try to give the full definition of the word but Mark gave me John Piper’s 711 page book defining Providence.

            Suffice it to say that it means I’ll see to it, I’ll take care of it; Still not giving a reason. We have in Eph.1:11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, Isaiah 46:9-10  I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, 10 declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,

            Tisia: Out of the blue we meet at Burger King when I worked at Auto-zone. She has become a mentor to many young women where she attends church. There’s Leslie Van Houten of whom I have not contacted since she was released on parole.

One day in 2004, I read The Long Prison Journey of Leslie Van Houten. I wrote to the author who responded, and at the same time I’m writing to another high school dear friend who was good friends with Leslie and wrote to her often, that was my inroad to communicate with Leslie. In the few letters we exchanged I was able to present the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to her; for which I was vilified by a Baptist Pharisee.

            Then there’s Theresa aka Mary Magdalene who suffered a stroke a few years back and is suffering from Spinocerebellar Ataxia affecting her speech, and ability to walk. But God who knows the future and knew she would accept Christ “saw to it” and provided a husband, 15 years younger who takes care of her.  And last, the classmate who lived a life of abuse at a young age, was “kick-out” of a Baptist Church, the Lord God, who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.  For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, (Romans 8:27-29.

            She works as a Licensed Master Social Worker therapist with children young adults suffering from trauma which, if not treated will lead to PTSD and only can last for a lifetime but affects the body and the brain.

            Closing

So then what do we do? Yes, Jesus said we live in this world but are not of this world so then are we to live inside a “Christian bubble, a cocoon? Become hermits, go live in a monastery?  Become monks, Nuns?

No, we are to pray. Pray for what? We  find ourselves at a loss for words but thankfully, when we pray as Christians, we have a helper—the Holy Spirit—who aids in our human weakness whenever words fall short: “For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words” (Romans 8:26, ESV), or, as the KJV has it, “with groanings which cannot be uttered.”

The phrase “groaning’s that can’t be uttered” means “indescribable, wordless groans” in the original Greek language. Other things in the same passage also utter “wordless groans”: all creation now groans “as in the pains of childbirth” (Romans 8:22), and believers “groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to son ship, the redemption of our bodies”

While living in this world we don’t hide from the world inside a big bubble wrap. We pray for ourselves, and we pray for those we don’t know who are suffering. God may just throw you an opportunity to help someone.

I’ve learned these few months that there are people, young and old that some have gone to Christ there are others who still need to hear. How do you go about it. I’ll answer this way, don’t be surprised that one day when you least expect it He will have you cross paths with someone.

Quacco Baptist, we may have a fellowship, if you believe in numbers and size makes one a powerful church, but we have those we pray for for here, California, Washington State, Monrovia Liberia.

We thank you Lord that we can pray for the 8.2 billion people that that can come to you for salvation.

You, if you are empty inside, call on Christ, He is waiting just for you. He will guide you and lead you, He will give you rest.

Amen.

571 Don't Muzzle the Ox Deuteronomy 25: 4 8/18/24

569 Majestic Glory Luke 9: 28-37 Aug. 4, 2024

568 A Compassionate God 7/28/24

567 They Will be Held Accountable July 21, 2024

566 King of Glory July 14, 2024

1039 Responsive Reading Psalm 24 July 14, 2024

King of Glory - Psalm 24

                                                               0632 -   King of Glory

Psalm 24; Isaiah 2: 9-10

Domini est terra  - It is the Lord's land

 

July 14, 2024

Quacco Baptist Church

Savannah, Georgia

            O Lord, mercifully receive the prayers of your people who call upon you, and grant that they may know and understand what things they ought to do, and also may have grace and power faithfully to accomplish them; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Introduction

            Who is the King of Glory? The LORD, strong and mighty, the LORD, mighty in battle! The earth is the LORD's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein Verse 1of our Psalm this morning.

Regardless of the nations, on this earth, how great and small they are, some trying to enlarge their territory for whatever reason; we are reminded here that the Lord God, the King of Glory, is God of all the earth. But it’s not enough to think of God as the owner of the earth, not just the visible surface, but as the psalmist adds, all its fullness and everything and all those who dwell therein.

Charles Spurgeon puts it: “The ‘fullness’ of the earth may mean its harvests, its wealth, its life, or its worship; in all these senses the Most High God is Possessor of all. The earth is full of God; he made it full and he keeps it full.”

In 2 Corinthians we get the sense that the “world” belongs to Satan. He is called the god of this age (2 Corinthians 4:4), and when he tempted Jesus with the promise of giving Him the kingdoms of this world, listen, Jesus didn’t question the devil’s ability to do so. But, Satan can only do anything at God’s allowance, so God’s ultimate ownership is true. We remember that from the story of Job.

Paul quotes this verse in 1 Corinthians 10: 26 & 18 to establish the principle that no food is in itself unclean and that there is nothing that belongs to the false gods the pagans made offerings unto.

God has a claim upon every person who has ever lived. His ownership of the earth extends to the people who live upon it. This is because of the rights of creation and continuing provision, The Lord God has a claim upon every person who has ever lived because He’s the creator, of everything on and in and outside of the earth. Look at Psalm 19 verse 1 - The heavens are telling the glory of God, and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.

Who can come to such an awesome God? To such a great King? Who can approach Him? There are rulers, presidents, and kings on earth but the system is filled with so much pride that no one can approach. So the question who can? Whom will he receive? Who would dare go into His Holy presence? 

The one who has pure actions (hands) and intentions, (hearts). Who hasn’t lifted his soul to an idol, nor sworn deceitfully. 

The words we use are a good indication of the state of our heart, the inner man or woman (Matthew 12:34). Frank Lutz, Oxford-educated communicator and pollster wrote “Words That Work”.Very good book, but then what is in one’s heart is what counts. 

Whoever makes deceptive promises will not find the welcome matt from God. It’s easy to look and see that my hands are not always clean; my heart is not always pure. Idolatry can be both subtle and stubborn in my heart. I also find it too easy to make promises with at least a tinge of deceit.

 Fortunately, God established a better covenant through the person and work of Jesus. Under the new covenant, we see that Jesus is the one who has clean hands and a pure heart, perfectly so. 

Jesus has never lifted up his soul to an idol and has never sworn deceitfully. In His righteousness, given to all who believe (Romans 3:22), we can ascend His holy hill and stand in His holy place.

Our Lord Jesus Christ could ascend into the hill of the Lord because his hands were clean and his heart was pure, and if we by faith in him are conformed to his image we too shall enter” (Spurgeon). your conduct in life is a reflection of your fellowship with God. As John wrote in his 1st letter: If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth (1:6). We can say that under the Old Covenant, a righteous walk was the precondition for fellowship with God; but under the New Covenant a righteous walk is the result of fellowship with God, founded on faith. Yet under both covenants, God cares very much about the moral conduct of mankind, especially those who identify themselves as His people. Do you identify as His?

If you do, you can’t ever allow to forget your own sinfulness and that we all once stood guilty before God. J. C. Ryle wrote, “… let’s pray for a deeper sense of our own sinfulness, guilt and undeserving.  This after all, is the true secret of a thankful spirit. …”

The more we see the depth of our sin, the more we will see the height of the love of God. When we come to know that we have been foregiven much, we’re going to love Him much, much more.

If you’re not a believer, well you’ve heard from this pulpit and other what God requierers from you. Can you say your hands are clean, that your heart is pure? God knows you to a T, hHe knows you have sinned, gone against His Law, His requirements. What are you going to do? Keep ignoring His commandments, His requirements today, tomorrow, up to thje day you die? You know that your condition will keep you out of heaven…

But here’s the great news is that Jesus Christ. You on your own will never be able to keep God’s requirements…. Never! But Jesus Christ was the only man who has completely lived up to God’s requirements. He commited no sin, no sir, He didn’t. T was pure, He was full of grace and truth, Psalm24:4. John 1:14. He trusted in God who judges justly. He was truthful, “No deceit was ever found in His mouth. Jesus Christ alone met these four requirements, has clean hands and a pure heart, never lifted up his soul to an idol and has never sworn deceitfully.

Here’s the news. Jesus didn’t meet the requirements just for himself. He came to make you and me qualified to come into God’s presence. He made Him who knew no sin [to be] sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 2 Cor. 5:21..

He died in our place, He rose again so that our stained, guilty hands could be washed clean, our impure hearts could be purified. He did this for us to wash away those things that keeps us from coming before a God who is like a consuming fire.

Verse 6, Such is the generation of those who seek him,  of those who seek your face, O God of Jacob. We see that this, what He has done is for an entire group of people. One man, Jesus Christ, kept the entire Law, the requirements of God for the entire human race. By believing in Jesus Christ, all who do, are saved and will enter too along with Christ the Hill of the Lord.

Lift up your heads, O gates; lift them high, O everlasting doors;  and the King of  Glory shall come in. "Who is this King of glory?"  The Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord, mighty in battle."

Jesus triumphed over, death, Hell, and the grave through the cross. He rode up to the gates of heaven as a conqueror; so the battle is won.

When Jesus Christ returns to call us, all believers throughout the whole world, home He will return to Heaven with crowds of believers following Him.

Your creator cares for you, even if you have given yourself to some of the worst things this world offers. He knows you are not fit for Heaven now; so His Son Jesus Christ made a way for you. Why don’t you come to Him today? Let Him change you.

If you know Jesus Christ, then you will be a part of the crowd of true believers, and Jesus Christ, the King of Glory, will lead you in victory, along with all those who have gone before you.

Lets all here celebrate in the Lord’s Supper in remembrance of What the King of Glory has done for all so that they may be saved.

0632.1 - REI da GLORIA

0632.2 - Rei da Glória

Salmo 24; Isaías 2:9-10

Domini est terra – É a terra do Senhor

14 de julio de 2024

Igreja Batista Quacco

Savannah, Geórgia

 

  Ó Senhor, receba misericordiosamente as orações do seu povo que o invoca, e conceda que eles possam saber e compreender as coisas que devem fazer, e também possam ter graça e poder para realizá-las fielmente; por meio de Jesus Cristo, nosso Senhor, que vive e reina contigo e com o Espírito Santo, um só Deus, agora e para sempre. Amém.

Introdução

  Quem é o Rei da Glória? O SENHOR, forte e poderoso, o SENHOR, poderoso na batalha! Do Senhor é a terra e a sua plenitude, o mundo e aqueles que nele habitam. Versículo 1 do nosso Salmo desta manhã.

Independentemente das nações nesta terra, quão grandes ou pequenas elas sejam, algumas tentando ampliar o seu território por qualquer motivo; somos lembrados aqui que o Senhor Deus, o Rei da Glória, é o Deus de toda a terra. Mas não basta pensar em Deus como dono da terra, não apenas da superfície visível, mas como acrescenta o salmista, de toda a sua plenitude e de tudo e de todos aqueles que nela habitam.

Charles Spurgeon afirma: “A ‘plenitude’ da terra pode significar as suas colheitas, a sua riqueza, a sua vida ou a sua adoração; em todos esses sentidos, o Deus Altíssimo é o Possuidor de tudo. A terra está cheia de Deus; ele o encheu e o mantém cheio.”

Em 2 Coríntios temos a sensação de que o “mundo” pertence a Satanás. Ele é chamado de deus desta era (2 Coríntios 4:4), e quando tentou Jesus com a promessa de dar-lhe os reinos deste mundo, ouça, Jesus não questionou a capacidade do diabo de fazer isso. Mas, Satanás só pode fazer qualquer coisa com a permissão de Deus, então a propriedade final de Deus é verdadeira. Lembramos isso da história de Jó.

Paulo cita este versículo em 1 Coríntios 10: 26 e 18 para estabelecer o princípio de que nenhum alimento é impuro em si mesmo e que não há nada que pertença aos falsos deuses aos quais os pagãos faziam oferendas.

Deus tem direitos sobre cada pessoa que já viveu. Sua propriedade da terra se estende às pessoas que vivem nela. Isto se deve aos direitos de criação e provisão contínua. O Senhor Deus tem direitos sobre cada pessoa que já viveu porque Ele é o criador de tudo dentro, dentro e fora da terra. Veja o Salmo 19, versículo 1 - Os céus anunciam a glória de Deus, e o firmamento proclama a obra de suas mãos.

Quem pode chegar a um Deus tão incrível? Para um rei tão grande? Quem pode se aproximar Dele? Existem governantes, presidentes e reis na terra, mas o sistema está cheio de tanto orgulho que ninguém consegue se aproximar. Então a pergunta quem pode? Quem ele receberá? Quem ousaria entrar em Sua Santa presença?

Aquele que tem ações (mãos) e intenções puras (corações). Quem não elevou a sua alma a um ídolo, nem jurou enganosamente.

As palavras que usamos são uma boa indicação do estado do nosso coração, do homem ou mulher interior (Mateus 12:34). Frank Lutz, comunicador e pesquisador formado em Oxford, escreveu “Words That Work”. Livro muito bom, mas o que está no coração é o que conta.

Quem faz promessas enganosas não encontrará o acolhimento de Deus. É fácil olhar e perceber que minhas mãos nem sempre estão limpas; meu coração nem sempre é puro. A idolatria pode ser sutil e teimosa em meu coração. Também acho muito fácil fazer promessas com pelo menos um toque de engano.

 Felizmente, Deus estabeleceu uma aliança melhor através da pessoa e da obra de Jesus. Sob a nova aliança, vemos que Jesus é aquele que tem as mãos limpas e o coração puro, perfeitamente.

Jesus nunca elevou sua alma a um ídolo e nunca jurou enganosamente. Na Sua justiça, dada a todos os que crêem (Romanos 3:22), podemos subir ao Seu santo monte e permanecer no Seu lugar santo.

Nosso Senhor Jesus Cristo pôde subir ao monte do Senhor porque suas mãos estavam limpas e seu coração era puro, e se pela fé nele formos conformados à sua imagem, nós também entraremos ”(Spurgeon). sua conduta na vida é um reflexo de sua comunhão com Deus. Como João escreveu em sua 1ª carta: Se dissermos que temos comunhão com ele e andarmos nas trevas, mentimos e não praticamos a verdade (1:6). Podemos dizer que sob a Antiga Aliança, uma caminhada justa era a pré-condição para a comunhão com Deus; mas sob a Nova Aliança uma caminhada justa é o resultado da comunhão com Deus, fundada na fé. No entanto, em ambos os pactos, Deus preocupa-se muito com a conduta moral da humanidade, especialmente daqueles que se identificam como Seu povo. Você se identifica como Dele?

Se fizer isso, você nunca poderá permitir esquecer sua própria pecaminosidade e que todos nós já fomos culpados diante de Deus. J. C. Ryle escreveu: “… vamos orar por um sentimento mais profundo de nossa própria pecaminosidade, culpa e indiferença. Afinal, este é o verdadeiro segredo de um espírito agradecido. ...”

Quanto mais vemos a profundidade do nosso pecado, mais veremos a altura do amor de Deus. Quando soubermos que fomos muito perdoados, vamos amá-Lo muito, muito mais.

Se você não é um crente, bem, você já ouviu deste púlpito e de outros o que Deus exige de você. Você pode dizer que suas mãos estão limpas, que seu coração é puro? Deus conhece você perfeitamente, Ele sabe que você pecou, ​​foi contra Sua lei, Suas exigências. O que você vai fazer? Continuar ignorando Seus mandamentos, Suas exigências hoje, amanhã, até o dia da sua morte? Você sabe que sua condição o manterá fora do céu…

Mas aqui está a grande notícia: Jesus Cristo. Você sozinho nunca será capaz de cumprir os requisitos de Deus…. Nunca! Mas Jesus Cristo foi o único homem que cumpriu plenamente os requisitos de Deus. Ele não cometeu nenhum pecado, não senhor, Ele não cometeu. Eu era puro, Ele era cheio de graça e verdade, Salmos 24:4. João 1:14. Ele confiou em Deus que julga com justiça. Ele foi sincero: “Nenhum engano foi encontrado em Sua boca. Somente Jesus Cristo cumpriu esses quatro requisitos, tem mãos limpas e um coração puro, nunca elevou sua alma a um ídolo e nunca jurou enganosamente.

Aqui estão as novidades. Jesus não cumpriu os requisitos apenas para si mesmo. Ele veio para tornar você e eu qualificados para entrar na presença de Deus. Ele fez com que Aquele que não conhecia pecado fosse pecado por nós, para que nele pudéssemos nos tornar justiça de Deus. 2 Cor. 5:21..

Ele morreu em nosso lugar, Ele ressuscitou para que nossas mãos manchadas e culpadas pudessem ser lavadas e nossos corações impuros pudessem ser purificados. Ele fez isso por nós para lavar aquelas coisas que nos impedem de chegar diante de um Deus que é como um fogo consumidor.

Versículo 6, Tal é a geração daqueles que o buscam, daqueles que buscam a tua face, ó Deus de Jacó. Vemos que isso, o que Ele fez é por um grupo inteiro de pessoas. Um homem, Jesus Cristo, guardou toda a Lei, os requisitos de Deus para toda a raça humana. Ao crer em Jesus Cristo, todos os que o fizerem serão salvos e entrarão também junto com Cristo no Monte do Senhor.

Levantem suas cabeças, ó portões; erga-os bem alto, ó portas eternas; e o Rei da Glória entrará. “Quem é este Rei da Glória?” O Senhor, forte e poderoso, o Senhor, poderoso na batalha”.

Jesus triunfou sobre a morte, o Inferno e a sepultura através da cruz. Ele cavalgou até os portões do céu como um conquistador; então a batalha está vencida.

Quando Jesus Cristo retornar para nos chamar, todos os crentes em todo o mundo, para casa, Ele retornará ao Céu com multidões de crentes seguindo-O.

Seu criador cuida de você, mesmo que você tenha se entregado a algumas das piores coisas que este mundo oferece. Ele sabe que você não está apto para o Céu agora; então Seu Filho Jesus Cristo abriu um caminho para você. Por que você não vem a Ele hoje? Deixe Ele mudar você.

Se você conhece Jesus Cristo, então você fará parte da multidão de verdadeiros crentes, e Jesus Cristo, o Rei da Glória, o guiará na vitória, junto com todos aqueles que vieram antes de você.

Vamos todos aqui celebrar a Ceia do Senhor em memória do que o Rei da Glória fez por todos para que sejam salvos.

1038 Devocional Romanos 7:17 - 25 Julio 9, 2024

565 Jekyll and Hyde Romans 7: 17 - 25 July 7, 2024

0169 – Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde

(Freedom in Christ Jesus)

 Romans 7:

July 7, 2024

Quacco Baptist Church

Savannah, GA

 

            O God, you have taught us to keep all your commandments by loving you and our neighbor: Grant us the grace of your Holy Spirit, that we may be devoted to you with our whole heart, and united to one another with pure affection; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

            Introduction

            Paul used an analogy of marriage to illustrate how we all relate to the law of God. In Roman law and Jewish law, the woman was bound to her husband for life. The only way she could be freed from this was through the death of her husband. Then she was perfectly free to marry again.

            He applies the analogy to the believer and his relation to the law, the woman is the believer, and the law is the husband. But in that the law can’t die he has the woman, the believer, die in verse 4: Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to Him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God.

            Identifying with the death of Christ, we died with Him, we’re married to Him and the Law has no claim on us. The dissolution of being married to the Law results in our serving in a new way of the spirit.

            There now is absolute freedom, no death but life. We don’t belong to the Law but to Christ. Paul then asks the question is the Law then sin? He says no that the Law is good because if it hadn’t been for the Law he wouldn’t have known sin. He says “If it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.”

            I attempted to explain this by using the analogy of traffic laws. Speed restrictions serve a purpose, they’re good for your safety and that of others.         The point is, that the Law reveals sin. Exceed the speed you are in the wrong. Now we can, like Paul had been, be oblivious to the Law. But, the Law also activates sin. Take the commandments. You can do ok and keep them. But what about the last one? Don’t covet. Paul had realized that the rest of the commandments all are broken through sins, that originate in coveting. And what is to covet? A verb, yearn to possess or have (something).

In Verses 7&8 he writes:  I would never have known that coveting is wrong if the law had not said, “You must not covet.” But sin used this command to arouse all kinds of covetous desires within me! If there were no law, sin would not have that power.  (NLT).

            Now, all Paul can do it seems is to covet. Romans 5:20 he writes, God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were.  And 1 Corinthians 15:56, for sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power.

            In his book Confessions, Augustine describes how this principle works: “There was a pear tree near our vineyard, weighed down with fruit alluring neither in appearance nor in flavor. To shake this tree and make off with its produce, we no-good youths made haste in the dark night when we had carried on our game in the streets according to our pestilential custom. … not to feast upon ourselves, but to throw them to the pigs, though we ate enough to have the pleasure of the forbidden fruit. ...they were nice pears, but it wasn’t the pears that my wretched soul coveted, I had plenty at home, and better. I picked them in order to become a thief. … What was it that I loved in that theft? …. it was pleasing to us to do that which was not allowed. … The desire to steal was awakened simply by the prohibition of stealing”.

            The law says don’t covet. But my nature says, “It sounds exciting.” You’re about to enter a building you can follow the walk around a manicured lawn. There’s a sign that says keep off the grass. But it’s easier to just walk across the grass.

            It’s pleasurable to speed, it’s fun to see what you can get away with, and feel the need for speed and danger. The law reveals and activates sin. Keeping the law would bring life, but breaking it brings death.

            Before you learned of the traffic laws, many were very unaware of the depth of the violations one commits. There are 48 contiguous United States and many of them have different laws concerning crossing an intersection when the traffic light is yellow. 

Well, before we came under the teaching of the gospel, many of us were blissfully unaware of the depth of our sin. Then we began to see God’s righteous requirements and our sinfulness became very apparent. Because life is then a continuing revelation of the radical nature of sin, as we grow in Christ we become aware that though we’re born again and we are covered by the blood of Christ, at least as for me, I find myself thoroughly sinful. The more I read, listen, study, and understand God’s Law, the more I see that my sin is FUBAR. Fouled Up Beyond Repair.

We come to what it’s like for the believer to struggle against the Law on his own. By himself. 17 So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. 18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. 21 So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. 22 For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, 23 but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?

There’s been controversy over the centuries as to who is the subject. There are three views: 1. The non-christian, view taken by the Greek fathers; 2. The normal Christian; view taken by Augustine, Luther, and Calvin; and 3. The carnal Christian. Paul talking of himself doesn’t see himself as a carnal Christian but as a normal Christian. He’s not putting on any prissy piety. He speaks with a candor that can be praised. He states the problem of the struggling Christian in verses 14-16: For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin. 15 For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. 16 Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. 

Here we come to the title of this message, Do you all recall the story of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson in 1886. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde centers a conception of humanity as dual in nature. Jekyll asserts that “man is not truly one, but truly two,” and he imagines the human soul as the battleground for an “angel” and a “fiend,” each struggling for mastery. But his potion, which he hoped would separate and purify each element, succeeds only in bringing the dark side into being—Hyde emerges, but he has no angelic counterpart. Once unleashed, Hyde slowly takes over, until Jekyll ceases to exist. If man is half angel and half-fiend, one wonders what happens to the “angel” at the end of the novel. Perhaps the angel gives way permanently to Jekyll’s devil.

            How many of us know what we want to do but don’t do and what we don’t want to do we do? How many have said this to counselors, a pastor a close friend? One finds themselves in a quandary, this is the cry of a believer who is trying but is relying on himself. Paul finds himself dominated by sin. Verses 17-20: 17 So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. 18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.

            Thomas Kempis a German-Dutch Catholic canon regular of the late medieval period and the author of The Imitation of Christ wrote of this frustration.

            I desire to enjoy thee inwardly, but I cannot take Thee. I desire to cleave to heavenly things, but fleshly things and unmortified passions depress me. I will in my mind to be above all things, but in spite of myself I am constrained to be beneath, so I, unhappy man, fight with myself and am made grievous to myself while the spirit seeketh what is beneath. O what I suffer within while as I think on heavenly things in my mind, the company of fleshly things comes against me when I pray.

            Kempis writes for all, and I mean all of us. How many times have you tried with all your heart, mind, and soul to follow Christ only to be pulled by your own flesh?  Paul knows and understands what’s really going on and records in verses 21-23: 21 So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. 22 For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, 23 but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. 

            Paul recognizes that man has two natures. One delights in the Law of God. The other wages war against God’s Law. The Christian is subject to two forces at the same time and therefore lives a life of tension. Like Jekyll and Hyde. Galatians 5:17 - For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.

            Here, a believer who tries to please in his or her own strength will always come away disheartened, and frustrated. Always, This happens to “good” Christians, more so to “Super” Christians.

            Paul was perhaps the greatest Christian ever, and buddy, this was his experience. He had more theology and passion in his pinky finger than any of us, anyone will have in their entire lifetime. Paul understood how sin defeats us through the Law and he may have come out, in time from under the bondage of sin, but never came to “perfection.”

            He cries out: verse 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Wretched, What a miserable distressed condition. Paul has come to the end of the rope. This takes us to the very place where Jesus began the Sermon on the Mount. Matt. 5:3 – Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are the bankrupt, the wretched .. When the believer realizes his/her complete helplessness, the believer will receive God’s help. As long as we think we can do it by ourselves we’re going to be stuck back in verses 17-20. 

            How does Paul handle the situation? He cries out who will deliver me from this body of death? Verse 25: Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! Paul anticipates the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Paul’s words can help us get rid of the graveclothes of the Law…

            Some teachers say that a Christian goes through this condition in Chapter 7 only once and then goes on. But that’s not true. When a mighty man like Paul went through it time and time again, what makes one think that they won’t?

            Here is a description of what every believer goes through. Sin has the power to deceive us and will cause us to trust in ourselves. The Law is what will expose the Mr. Hyde in us and drive us straight to the place of wretchedness which then, in the devotion of spirit cry out Lord Jesus, help, it is your problem; please take it.

            If you are Christ’s, call out to Him. If you don’t know Christ, then today is the day to come to Him so that He may also deliver you from the body of death.