Tuesday, March 4, 2014

What Kindness Looks like...



In this text, Paul urges the Galatians to walk by the Spirit, bear each other's burdens, and do good to everyone. 

I. What does the Spirit of Kindness look like? 
Being a Spiritually-led Believer

Kindness is a by-product of being a Spiritually-led believer—having a right (or intimate) relationship with God and one's neighbors.

a. Walk by the Spirit
Gal 5:16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
Gal 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.
Tim Keller defines Kindnes:
Chrestotes – kindness
Definition – Practical kindness with vulnerability out of deep inner security.
Opposite – Envy. Unable to rejoice other’s joy
Counterfeit – Manipulative good deeds. “Right hand knowing what left hand is doing.”
Self-congratulation and self-righteousness..
The purpose of the Spirit
The ultimate purpose of the Spirit’s operation in the Christian is to change us into the likeness and character of Jesus Christ. (cf. Rom.8:29 – “He predestined us to be conformed to the likeness of his Son.” and Eph.4:13 – “Till we reach maturity, the fullness of the stature of Christ.”) So the ultimate goal is not some kind of general comfort, strength or power, but concrete, practical change in our character — how we think, feel, and act habitually and naturally.

b. Walk in Healthy Relationships with others= Love God=we can help to love others
Gal 5:14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Gal 5:15 But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.
 
c.   Walk in submission to the Power of The Holy Spirit 
 Gal 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.
 Gal 5:18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
 Gal 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality,
 Gal 5:20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions,
 Gal 5:21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

 
Walk in submission to the Power of The Holy Spirit  is bank on the mercy of God and entrust ourselves to his Spirit for help:
John Piper writes …the mentality behind the fruit of the Spirit is the mentality of faith depending upon grace. People who bear the fruit of the Spirit know they are worthy only of condemnation. They know that the only pay they can earn is the wrath of God. Therefore, they have turned away from self-reliance and look only to mercy in Christ who "loved us and gave himself for us" (2:20). They do not expect anyone to be their debtor because of their worth. Any satisfaction will be a free gift of grace. They bank on the mercy of God and entrust themselves to his Spirit for help. And out of that mentality of faith depending on grace grows not "works" but "fruit": love, joy, peace, patience, kindness . . .
Gal 5:22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
Gal 5:23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
Gal 5:24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
Gal 5:25 If we live by the Spirit(community with the Spirit) let us also keep in step with the Spirit.
Gal 5:26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. (Live in community with our neighbors)
 
Let’s recap--What does it mean to Walk in submission to the Power of The Holy Spirit ? 
First, it means that the Holy Spirit lives in you (communion)and you desire the things of God vs 17. Second, it means to be open and sensitive to the influence of the Holy Spirit and not the Law. vs. 18. Third, it means to pattern your life after the influence of the Holy Spirit and not the flesh. In verse 18-20, let's look at the patterns of the flesh again...

II. What are some Bible illustrations of kindness?
Kindness In The Word
Chris Evans who wrote the book Fruit At Work, God encourages us towards kindness throughout his word, when giving the law God call us to out for others in the community
 Lev 19:9 “When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap your field right up to its edge, neither shall you gather the gleanings after your harvest.
 Lev 19:10 And you shall not strip your vineyard bare, neither shall you gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard. You shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner: I am the LORD your God.

If you want to see what a little kindness can do, read the book of Ruth. By letting the poor pick the remaining rain from his field, Boaz ended up with Ruth as his wife (which created the family line that bore King David and, ultimately, Jesus). Another very applicable verse is in Leviticus that deals with kindness, seen in chapter 19:33-34.

 Lev 19:33 “When a stranger sojourns with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong.
 Lev 19:34 You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.
 
III. What does the gospel say about kindness and what does it look like?
The life of Jesus Christ--that's the greatest, most complete picture of kindness we'll ever know. God saw a whole lot of hurt, brokenness and despair. He saw people with no hope of breaking free from pain and suffering. And so He sent his Son to the rescue. There wasn't any logical reason for him to do that. No one deserved His kindness—we really brought the suffering on ourselves (see Romans 3:23).
Romans 2:4 “God’s kindness leads us to repentance”. (NIV)
God’s kindness and love changes our hearts so that we are not bound to the spiritual death associated with our ultimate loving of other things. His kindness changes us from desiring the things of the world, and gradually directs our affections to find a better, greater contentment and joy in Him. In essence, His kindness trumps sin in terms of what our hearts value and love! That’s incredible!
In other words, the more attractive we find God, the less our hearts desire ungodliness. Finding Him as our pleasure changes our hearts (repentance), turning our affections from sin and onto Him. And the more we pursue after Him in love, the greater victory we have over sin. Our hearts change. Repentance
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Wednesday, January 29, 2014

A Theological Test

Do you know your doctrine?  If you are interested, you can take a little theological test.  Following are 20 basic Christian Doctrine questions. 

1. How many Gods are there in the universe?
  A. One       B. Two       C. Three       D. Many
2. The Trinity is . . .
  A. Three separate Gods       B.   One God who took 3 consecutive forms       C.   One God in three persons       D.   A completely false doctrine
3. Jesus is . . .
  A.   God in flesh       B.   An angel who became a man       C.   A good man       D.   A great prophet
4. How many natures does Jesus have?
  A. One       B.   Two           C.   Three       D.   More
5. The Holy Spirit is . . .
  A.   An invisible force like radar     B.   A divine spark in all of us     C.   Third person in the Trinity       D.   A god
6. Sin is . . .
  A.   There is no sin           B.   A misinterpretation of reality     C.   A state of mind       D.   Breaking God's Law
7. Human nature is basically. . .
  A.   Good       B.   Sinful       C.   Neutral       D.   Divine
8. In what manner did Jesus rise from the dead?
  A.   As a spirit       B.   In the same body he died in       C.   He did not rise from the dead       D.   The disciples made up the resurrection story
9. Hell is . . .
  A. Right here on earth       B.   A state of mind       C.   A place of eternal fire and torment       D.   There is no hell
10. Heaven is . . .
  A.   Right here on earth       B.   A state of mind       C.   A place of eternal joy and peace with God       D.   There is no heaven
11. Salvation is . . .
  A.   A condition of mental awareness         B.   Within our own essence       C.   Universal resurrection       D.   Deliverance from the eternal consequence of sin: damnation
12. Salvation is attained by . . .
  A.   Grace through faith after all you can do       B.   Grace through faith       C.   A state of your mind         D.   Obeying all of God's laws
13. The Devil is . . .
  A.   An equal and opposing force to God       B.   Not real       C.   A figment of people's minds       D.   An angel who rebelled against God
14. The Bible is . . .
  A.   The inspired word of God       B.   A nice history book         C.   Full of contradictions and errors         D.   A story book of metaphors
15. The Rapture is . . .
  A.   A serious head rush         B.   A New Age meditation philosophy       C.   The catching up of God's people into the sky at Jesus' return.         D.   An Old Testament Jewish feast
16. Adam and Eve . . .
  A.   Were the first man and woman created by God       B.   Were evolutionary representatives of homo sapiens       C.   Are mythological figures         D.   Never existed
17. How many ways are there to God?
  A.   Just one. Through Jesus       B.   Many ways       C.   As many ways as there are people       D.   It depends on the religion
18. When you die . . .
  A.   You go to purgatory       B.   You go to heaven or hell           C.   You don't exist anymore         D.   You are reincarnated
19. Evolution . . .
  A.   Is how we got here       B.   Is not a viable option for Christians       C.   God used evolution to bring man into existence       D.   Proves there is no God
20. Why did God create us? . . .
  A.   As an experiment       B.   He was bored       C.   To save us, love us, and have us love Him       D.   For pawns in his cosmic game
 by Matt Slick
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Answers to the Theological Test

1. How many gods are there in the universe?A. One
The Bible clearly teaches that there is only one God in existence, anywhere, any time, any place.
  • Isaiah 44:6 and 8 say, "Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God. . . 8Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any."
  • See also, Isaiah 45:6; 14, 18, 21, 22.
2. The Trinity is . . .C. One God in three persons
God is a trinity. God is three simultaneous persons: The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Though there is no single verse that establishes the trinity, it is derived from many.
3. Jesus is. . .A. God in flesh
Jesus is the second person of the Trinity. He became a man in order to die on the cross.
  • Col. 2:9, "For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
  • John 1:1, 14, "In the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God. . . And the word became flesh and dwelt among us. . ."
  • See also, Heb. 1:8; Phil. 2;5-8; John 8:58 with Exodus 3:14; Zech. 12:10.
4. How many natures does Jesus have?B. Two
Jesus has two natures. He is both God and man.
5. The Holy Spirit is . . .C. The third person in the Trinity
The Holy Spirit is a person like the Father and the Son. He is not like a force or invisible like radar. He is not merely an energy presence. He is, like the Father and the Son, God.
  • Acts 5:3-4"But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? 4 While it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God."
  • See also the Holy Spirit
6. Sin is . . .D. Breaking God's law
God has revealed His character and will in the Law. To sin is to offend God; it is to break His law.
7. Human nature is basically . . .B. Sinful
The Bible reveals that we are sinners. Because Adam fell, we fell with him. We inherited his sinful nature. All of what we are, body, soul, spirit, mind, emotions, etc. is touched by sin.
  • According to God's word, the sinner (the unsaved), cannot understand spiritual things (1 Cor. 2:14); is full of evil (Mark 7:21-23); does not seek for God (Rom. 3:11); is lawless, rebellious, unholy, and profane (1 Tim. 1:9), etc.
8. In what manner did Jesus rise from the dead?B. In the same body he died in.
Jesus rose from the dead in the same body that he died in. It retained His scars. Though His body was resurrected and glorified, it was the same body.
  • John 2:19-21, "Jesus answered them, 'Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.' 20 The Jews replied, 'It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?' 21 But the temple he had spoken of was his body."
  • Luke 24:39, "Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have."
9. Hell is . . .C. A place of eternal fire and torment
Many think hell is a state of mind, right here on earth, or that it simply doesn't exist. It does. The Bible tells us about it.
10. Heaven is . . .C. A place of eternal joy and peace with God.
Heaven is the dwelling place of God and of those who are saved through Jesus.
  • Psalm 20:6, "Now I know that the LORD saves his anointed; he answers him from his holy heaven with the saving power of his right hand."
  • John 14:2, "In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. "
  • See also Psalm 102:19; 123:1; Matt. 5:34; 2 Cor. 12:3,4
11. Salvation is . . .D. Deliverance from the eternal consequence of sin: Damnation
Salvation is the act where God, through the atonement of Jesus, forgives a person of his sins. He is justified before God and saved from damnation.
12. Salvation is attained by. . .B. Grace through faith
Forgiveness of sins is not conditioned by anything that we do, but it is all a gift of God's grace through faith
  • Eph. 2:8, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith -- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God."
  • Rom. 6:23, "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
  • See also, John 3:14-18.
13. The Devil is . . .D. An angel who rebelled against God
The devil, also called Satan, was an angel who lifted himself in pride and rebelled against God. He is evil, wicked, a deceiver, and powerful.
  • 2 Cor. 11:14, ". . . Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light . . ."
  • John 8:44, "You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies."
  • See also, Isaiah 14:12-20; Ezekiel 28:14-19
14. The Bible is . . .A. The inspired word of God.
The Bible is authored by God, through men. They were inspired. The original documents were without error or contradiction.
15. The Rapture is . . .C. The catching up of God's people into the sky.
It may sound odd. But the rapture is when Jesus returns to gather His people. Those who are alive when this happens will not see death, but will be changed.
  • 1 Thess. 4:16-17, "For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever."
  • See also, 1 Cor. 15:51-53.
16. Adam and Eve . . .A. Were the first man and woman created by God
They were created by God, lived in the Garden of Eden, are our ancient parents.
  • Gen. 2:21 - 22, "So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man's ribs and closed up the place with flesh. 22Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man."
  • See also, Gen. 1:26,27; Gen. 2:7; Rom. 5:12-14
17. How many ways are there to God?A. Just one. Through Jesus
Unlike other men who have existed, Jesus was God in flesh. He said He was the only way to God. there are no other ways other than Jesus.
  • John 14:6, "Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'"
  • John 10:1, ""I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber."
  • See also, Acts 4:12; Titus 3:5.
18. When you die . . .B. You go to heaven or hell
Death brings us face to face with eternity. For those in Christ, heaven is the destiny. For those who reject Him, eternal damnation is the result.
  • Phil. 1:21-23, "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! 23I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far."
  • 2 Cor. 5:8, "We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord."
  • See also, Isaiah 59:2; 2 Thess. 1:9; Gen. 3:19; 1 Cor. 13:12
19. Evolution . . .B. Is not a viable option for Christians
Evolution is not the fact it is told to be. It is not consistent with the Bible. God created man; man did not evolve.
  • Gen. 1:26, "Then God said, 'Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.'"
  • Heb. 11:3, "By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible."
  • See also, Col. 1:16,17; Psalm 104:30; Gen. 1-2; and The Evolution Page.
20. Why did God create us?C. To save us, love us, and have us love Him.
God's creation and our salvation were not just so we could live with Him. God desires fellowship and intimacy in a loving relationship with His people.
  • 1 John 1:3, "We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ."
  • Rev. 21:3, "And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, 'Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.'"
  • See also, John 10:27-28; John 3:16; Phil. 2:1,2. 

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Saturday, December 14, 2013

Pray, Then Send or Go: Reflections on Matthew 9:37-38

"Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.’"
Matthew 9:37-38
In this passage of Scripture, Jesus gives us three ways to reach the lost: praying, sending, and going. The one command is “pray earnestly.” It’s one word in the original; it has the connotation of pleading for something. We all have the responsibility to plead for the lost, praying specifically that the Lord would send out workers to reap a harvest of lost souls. They are there ready to be “reaped.”
This type of pleading prayer is set in the context of Jesus going from village to village seeing the people that were like “sheep without a shepherd” (v. 36). Christ had compassion for the lost and he was asking for his disciples to have that same kind of compassion. In essence, Jesus is calling the disciples into a Gospel partnership as they plead with the Lord for harvest workers. So, prayer is the essential first step in reaching the lost. It’s a joining of our pleading with the compassion of Christ. Are our hearts burdened for the lost? If so, then we must pray. If not, we must pray even more, that God would give us the compassion and concern for those that are separated from the Good Shepherd.
Though it starts with prayer, it does not end there. Jesus is calling the disciples not only to pray but to be involved in sending as well. Though we pray for the Lord to do the sending, he uses us in the process. This is what John speaks about in 3 John 5-8. The Lord uses us to send people who are going out “for the sake of the name” (3 John 7). It’s a partnership where some will be the senders and some will go. All will pray, some will send, and some will go. Those are the options that are implied in Matthew 9 and those are the options we have before us. Our sending may happen through our prayers. It may happen as we sacrificially give of our financial resources. And then many will be called to go, to work in the harvest fields, to bring lost sheep back to their shepherd, the Good Shepherd. We all must pray. We all must either send or go. As John Piper has said, we can “go, send, or disobey.”
What is God calling you to do? Are you open to sending? Are you open to moving out of your comfort zone and going? Today, there are over seven billion people in the world. Only one-third claim to be followers of Christ, that means there are at least 4.7 billion people who are heading to an eternity separated from the Good Shepherd. Even more disheartening is that almost three billion of them have no opportunity to hear about the good news of Jesus Christ. They live in a community where no viable, reproducing church has been established (the 41.3% unreached). People still need to go, to cross cultural boundaries, some of which have never been crossed. People still need to send, to make a way for others to go. And we all need to pray that the Lord of the harvest will send out laborers into his harvest.

Written by Matt Smith
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“When your church family gathers together as a group of needy people and share food with Jesus at the center and with Jesus as the provider, you glimpse God’s coming world right here, right now" -Tim Chester

Prayer Walk (12/14)
On December 14, 2013, at 10 a.m., we will be having a prayer walk AGAIN through the EAST DURHAM Community!
The walk will be a total of 3 miles.  We will be having prayer and praise as we journey through the streets!
Its going to be an awesome time AGAIN – and we are presently connecting with all the local churches to come and be a part!
We will meet at Joe's Diner 2102 Angier Ave, Durham, NC @10am, on Dec. 14th

The goals are
1. Communicate to God by prayer walking
2. Connect to people by announcing our Christmas Community Free Breakfast At Joe’s Dinner, @10am, on Dec. 21st
3. Commit by proving our willingness serve the community
4. Christmas Wish list providing tangibles or non-tangible things (3 things)



Christmas Community Free Breakfast At Joe’s Dinner (12/21)
A FREE breakfast is being served on Saturday Morning December 21 from 10:00A.M. until 12:30 P.M.  The WHOLE COMMUNITY (East Durham) is invited to come for breakfast.  Again – There is NO CHARGE for this breakfast.  It is FREE!!! (We are asking every member to give 20 dollars or MORE for this cause)

Call [919] 539-8492 for more information.
The service will be held at Joe’s Dinner (2100 Angier Avenue ) from 10:00am-12:30 p.m.
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