The word opposes, or resists, isantitassetai, a military term meaning to battle against.. We are to pass on the knowledge of the Holy to the next generation. Recent studies continue to insist that waiting for a messiah was not nearly as central to Judaism at the time of Jesus as is generally believed. It is not what the minister expects. (2Timothy 3:1-5), And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. Training conveys the idea of the whole training and education of children, which relates to the cultivation of minds and morals. Father David Neuhaus, SJ, is the superior of the Jesuits in the Holy Land and professor at the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Jerusalem. 2. He serves as General Editor for theFisher of Men Bible, now available in Spanish, Portuguese and English. Never a prisoner of buildings, we see the church meeting in the temple, in a synagogue, in the street, beside the sea, in public places, and often in homes. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all, No one, when he has lit a lamp, covers it with a vessel or puts, Those who sow in tears To be exact, He reveals five clearly described expectations for each of us who know and love Him this morning. And as he sowed, some fell by the wayside; and it was trampled down, and the birds of the air devoured it. Gal 5:16I say then Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.'. Ezratraces God getting the Jews back into the Land of Israel from their 70-year Babylonian captivity; Nehemiahcaptures the 52 day wall building project around the city of Jerusalem;Esther describes how God watches over His people to keep them from extinction. A lot has been said about how impersonal and unfriendly many churches are today. It was an attractive place with a warm, family feeling where people felt they belonged. It is only in the middle of the 2nd century BC that this figure begins to take on a fuller profile as a figure signaling the end of time, the Day of Judgement and the inauguration of the Kingdom of God. And to sing praises to Your name, O Most High; Action Needed:Jesus said: stop everything else from pushing me out, go back to your original settings; and love the Lord Your God with all you are. The second sense, called universal, refers to the collection of believers in Jesus Christ from all times and places. 2 Corinthians 9:8ESV / 5 helpful votes HelpfulNot Helpful It is milk that nourishes a new believer and meat that strengthens a mature believer! Friendship with the world is anything that distracts us from worship, ministry and devotion! Applying this process takes a life time - for God is working in His people changing lives. These teachings describe not only a way of leading that values putting others first, but also a way of life. People being saved daily meant that the believers were sharing the Gospel daily. There seems to be no place left for a humble assessment of the limits and frailty of human ability and rationality. Seek the LORD while he may be found; The Bible says that our expectations of God are always too small because they must be, or God is not God. Jesus in the New Testament corresponds to the hope for a Davidic king, an anointed one, who brings about the long-awaited kingdom, but he is a shocking surprise that his throne is the cross and his crown is of thorns. Kelli Mahoney is a Christian youth worker and writer. Enter your email address and we will send you a link to reset your password. Nahum reveals how bad Nineveh got after their revival, and the ruin God brought them;Habbakukis built around a Psalm of hope in the midst of the burdens of life;Zephaniahdescribes Gods wrath against sin, and His remnant that always follows Him. It means the anointed one. There is no reason to believe that we will not achieve this goal. Did Jesus Say We Must Be Baptized in Order to Be Saved? Is Deliverance Ministry a Biblical Practice Today? This means that they. fruit] a hundredfold. When He had said these things He cried, He who has ears to hear, let him hear! (Luke 8:4-8), Those who sow in tears Joshuaexplains Gods power to deliver;Judgesportrays His unwillingness for His people to do their own thing; andSamuelthroughChroniclesshows Gods simple evaluation of the lives of His people: they either do right in His sight or evil. Then we who are still alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord (1Th 4:16-17). The Word of God was one of the dominant guiding factors in what that church stood for. God expects Christian teens to live by a higher standard. Let us keep emphasizing the teaching of Gods Word to our children, our youth, our young adults, our adults, and our families. In theFour Gospelswe find a quadrophonic symphony of Christs Earthly life and ministry. Each believer has a personal responsibility The "last things" were the first things, in terms of urgency, for the faithful of the early church. But it is what God Almighty expects. Revelation is all about how deeply Jesus Christ is involved in our sanctification by the Holy Spirit and our consecration to God the Father. It is important to point out that in the prophetic writings, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and the twelve minor prophets there is no talk of the messiah. All that we have believed and loved, seeing only from a distance, will be a tangible reality. Overflowing with His Spirit. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will ishis good, pleasing and perfect will." They endured persecution, slavery, invasion, poverty, and plagues. 1 John 1:3, 1 Peter 2:2, 2 Peter 3:18, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Acts 2:36-47, Acts 4:31-33, Ephesians 4:4, Hebrews 10:25, Philippians 2:1-4, Romans 10:13-17, 52-week preaching calendar to help you plan your sermons, Customizable sermon manuscripts for verse-by-verse preaching, Preach with creativity and impact throughout the year, Help your church understand God's plan in pain, Call your people to experience a higher freedom, Proclaim the gospel to the ends of the earth. Bishops, elders, pastors, deacons, and new believers are simply members of the body of Christ with distinct responsibilities and roles, according to the maturity and gifts of each one. We should always expect to receive answers to our prayers. Experiences of expectations and well-being in Christian Church leadership Baptist. The church must disciple the nations. This series will carry through January, leading up to Craig's farewell service on 5 February. Lesson 27: Christ's Purpose for His Church (Ephesians 4:7-10) Please turn your Bibles to Acts 2:36-47 and let us find out Gods expectations for our church. Rebuking reprove; to express disapproval of something done or said; in other words the Scriptures is our basis for approving or disapproving something done or said. This devotion was very different to what was being exemplified through the temple or the synagogues and it challenged the religious culture of the day. To save items to a SermonFolder, please sign in to your account. In the Wisdom Books, the central figure is the sage, who reflects on creation and through it is able to contemplate God and Gods kingdom in the ordinariness of daily life (as Jesus does in the parables). Such is the power of Gods Word! Harvest Time International Church - The Operation of Faith The heart for winning souls needs to be renewed within the Body of Christ today because every soul saved brings glory to God. In the scriptures, the Word is also symbolized as being a mirror that reflects truth, a seed that germinates and brings fruit, bread that gives spiritual life, a lamp that gives light and guidance, and as a sword, a hammer, and a fire. Alfred Lord Tennyson famously said. Matthew 22:37Jesus said to him, You shalllove the LORDyour Godwith allyour heart,with allyour soul, andwith allyour mind.'. Your Age Is Not an Excuse for Bad Behavior, Living out Godly Behavior in Your Everyday Life. You can find all the sermons and short clips from this series, Christs Last Words to His Church here. Breaking Expectations For example, Jenna B., 16, recognizes the pressure of expectations from movies, the Internet, and even her peers. PDF God's expectations of the Elders and the Church - Sermon Swap As I begin this article, I have before me a recipe for French Strawberry Crepes, a treat that is loved around the world. These areas of our lives will be in line with God. As children of God we are to be like Him and live a life under the guidance and influence of His Holy Spirit.' Introduction The neighbor apparently invited the Christian to join him on the golf course many times but the offer was always politely declined on the grounds that he had to be in church at that time. All rights reserved. As a result, signs, wonders, and miracles were a common occurrence and everyone was filled with awe.. straightening a deformed hand). 12 He who has the Son has life [or the life]; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. In 1 Peter 5, God lays out the three expectations for every pastor: to be an elder, a shepherd, and an overseer. The Problem: The saints at Thyatira were tolerating pleasure dominated lives. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved (Acts 2:47). Does this mean that two messiahs are expected? In the Historical Books, the central figure is the king, who is supposed to represent the rule of the one and only king of Israel, God, by studying the Law day and night and ruling by it. Required fields are marked *. He is also the Author of a 21-day Christmas Devotional titled Christmas Reflections. By taking another look at Matthew 16:18, we see that it refers to the church when it says and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. Jesuss statement here does not present a small and fearful group of timid believers. Too many badly behaved Christians have given non-Christians reason to think believers are hypocrites. (Hebrews 10:25). Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you. ), Jason will be introducing our new January sermon series following on from Beyond Expectations in December - Great Expectations! InRevelation 2-3we see Him clearly explaining His expectations for His churches, and thus for all of us who are ever a part of Christs Church. In the Book of Psalms where the word messiah appears a number of times, it refers almost always to a king. Open there again and trace what we found out about Christs first expectation of them and us. Specifically, it focused on the pressures and expectations faced in their leadership role and the impact this may have on their well-being. Christians recognize in Jesus the messiah because he brings all this together in his person and incarnates the fidelity of God to His promises. To Please God we are expected to be Loving Jesus Most. We have two men in our church right now. Every year, the time of Advent - the time of waiting par excellence - allows us to prepare ourselves for the birth of Christ-Emmanuel, the Son of God made flesh in the womb of the Virgin Mary, the Saviour announced by the prophets. - John 14:15 - If you love me, keep my commandments. 3. They were committed to Gods Word, to fellowship, to prayer and worship, to the Holy Spirits work, to generosity, and to evangelism. Thankfully, the power of Gods Word still stands good for us today. (NIV). Let us also learn to be appreciative of all who worship and serve in the Body, especially those who are not seen publicly. (NIV). The saints in Ephesus were not being obedient to the central truth of the Scriptures Old and New Testament: Love the Lord Your God MOST. The church will not only be victorious in heaven, but here on earth as well. Why The Church Exists (The Text) - LET THE BIBLE SPEAK TV with Kevin And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts., The words glad and sincere hearts show that they clearly enjoyed being a part of the community every day, and that there was a lot of godly love being spread around. View the Monthly Update from John & Bonnie, Manage/View your giving and subscriptions here. For centuries, God kept hidden this marvelous mystery. No matter what your past, whosever will may come! III. It so happened that they both came out of their houses around the same time on Sunday mornings, one to go to the golf course and the other to go to church. 1 John 2:15-17 (NKJV)Do not love[present active imperative] the world or the things in the world. However, that's not to say teens don't make mistakes, but we should strive to be better examples of God. We are to acknowledge God for who He is and what He has done. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. Proverbs 10:28 Verse Concepts The hope of the righteous is gladness, But the expectation of the wicked perishes. The English dictionary defined the term "devote" as to set apart for a special use or service or to dedicate. Our Love for Him should motivate us. With this goal Christ gave Himself up, and with this goal His workers are to carry out their work. John 7:37-39 (NKJV)On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. In fact, when the Apostles were threatened in Acts 4:18, their response under threat was to raise their voices together in prayer to God (Acts 4:24). What separated them from everyone else was their faith. Expect God to Do Something Unexpected | Desiring God This can be untruthfulness because I need to protect myself. Loving Jesus Most. It is significant that the Christian form of the Old Testament is indeed divided into four parts, each part focusing on one of these figures. What is the origin of the word "Messiah"? These statements reveal two major reasons for becoming a learning congregation: One reason why we never make or choose the right decision is due to lack of knowledge or understanding. The expectation is that God will come to rule the earth at the end of time. In 1 Peter 5, God lays out the three expectations for every pastor: to be an elder, a shepherd, and an overseer. Church should understand Gods expectation from her. Try, 7 Ideas For Creativity In Series Planning. B. Expect.doc Christ's Last Words to His Church Series: Christ's Five Expectations for His Church Declared in Revelation 2 & 3 The last book of the Bible seems to be the most fascinating and revealing of all the books of the Bible [i] for believers. Jesus is focused upon bringing our lifestyle into conformity with what pleases Him. One day after another invitation to play golf on a Sunday was politely declined, the neighbor said, Its strange isnt it? Those that put forth an effort on the field urgently need rest, whereas the spectators desperately need to exercise. Un-Friending Worldliness. No Other Chapters of the Bible are LikeRevelation 1-3. What had Jesus already asked for them to do, and taught them through their pastors ministry of the Word to them? Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Here we can see that it is everyones business to address difficulties and differences and to meet a particular need. As they continued to evangelize, Acts 5:14 shows that More and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. Even when the church was scattered later under Sauls vicious persecution, the Bible says Those who had been scattered preached the Word wherever they went (Acts 8:4). No other book of the Bible is anything like the first three chapters of Revelation. 20Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols.. of Equipped to complete, fully furnished. As the believer understands the truth and practices them, then it will lead to personal growth. Our world is constantly bombarding us with the desire for a pleasure dominated life. God's Expectations: Pertaining to the Gift of the Holy Spirit 4. What had Jesus already asked for them to do, and taught them through their pastors ministry of the Word to them? Because God's at work in his church, it's easy for ineffectual pastors to appeal to the confounding nature of God's will to explain why growth or congregational maturity isn't occurring. Despite their challenges, they honestly believed God would deliver on His promises and their hard work would pay off. Message: "God's Expectations" from Jason Brooks Fred Cook, quoted in Lloyd Cory, Quote Unquote. Mahoney, Kelli. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter [NU name]. It also means to give up oneself or one's time, energy to some purpose, activity or person. Personal note: I really enjoyed revisiting the simplicity of this outline the way it is mostly comprised of Scriptures with less commentary. As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.(John 20:21), But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses [NU adds My witnesses] to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth., You are the light of the world. In this literature, there is certainly the dream of restoring the world by means of returning back to God. Of course, this places an enormous weight of responsibility on the shoulders of every believer, as it assumes that their lives are to be an example and inspiration to humanity. Pleasing God is always tied to receiving and acting upon the Word. Expectations can be high or low, reasonable or unreasonable, good or bad. Leaving the church because it does not meet our expectations is failing to understand what a church is; we have a church because we have failed to meet God's expectations. . James 4:4Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.. To be a friend of God is to seekHispleasures,Hisfriendship andHishumility. Notice how the early converts devoted themselves to the apostles teaching. The English dictionary defined the term devote as to set apart for a special use or service or to dedicate. What Does the Bible Say About Attending Church? Have faith in the Word of God, for His promises are true . The Motive of Meeting God's Expectations A. In an article by Pastor Rick Warren that I read yesterday, he says Our churches should be no-shame zones, places for broken people to come when they hurt.. This is a sign of humility because prayer demonstrates dependency on God, as we see in Philippians 4:6. The church that we see in the New Testament is dynamic. Teaching concerning the things of God and the duties of man. And when we do something wrong? In the five books of the Law, the central figure is the priest (seeking to make real the central commandment Be holy as I am holy from Leviticus 19:2). It is only in the later books of the Old Testament, especially in the book of Daniel, that we begin to find the word messiah referring to an end of time saviour (cf. This behavior shows that the study of Gods Word and being a Christian cannot be separated. As we read the Book of Acts 2:42-47, we see 7 characteristics (you may find more) that were visible in the first-century church. "What the Bible Says About Godly Behavior." Both priests and kings were anointed with oil when they were consecrated and they became instituted leaders, the priest in the Temple and the king in the kingdom. The Truth About God's Expectations for You | Living News What Is Biblical Discipline, and How Can We Grow This Virtue? The study of Gods Word will help us understand the work of God how it is done and what are the resources available to us. Expectations of a Pastor | 1 Peter 5:1-4 | Passion Creek Church Christ's Five Expectations For His Church Declared In Revelation 2 & 3 And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch. Mahoney, Kelli. Acts 2:47 tells us that they were praising God (daily) and enjoying the favor of all the people.. Today, the word extremist has many negative connotations like illegal, violent, fanatic, and militant. However, these believers showed an extremism that had only one purpose and goal; that was to bring glory to God! February 19, 2021 " But you say, "Why does he not?" Because the LORD was witness between you and the wife of your youth, to whom you have been faithless, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant." - Malachi 2:14 (ESV). Finally, the most , fascinating and revealing of all the books of the Bible for all of us believers who are part of Christs Church-theRevelation of Jesus Christshows Jesus working in His Church every day to get them living out the expectations, taught in those Epistles, that He left them to do! For our first Sunday of 2023 (eek! The Problem:Their lives were clogged with so many other things , so Jesus was no longer first in their hearts, in their schedules, or their concentration and all that signaled that He was no longer the supreme ruler of their lives. But he used the word in this way in 3:2, 7, & 8, where it refers to God's grace that called . 2. Feb 5, 2018 | Christ's Last Words to His Church, How to UNDERSTAND the Book of REVELATION | 0 comments. A General Outline of God's Economy and the Proper Living of a God-man: A Fellowship with the Elders from Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Malaysia ( CWWL, 1994-1997 , vol. What does a lifestyle look like that Un-Friends worldliness? When you see that truth, it means that what Jesus said then applies to us here today. GOD EXPECTS US TO BE A CARING CONGREGATION (v. 42, 46), They devoted themselves to the fellowship., Koinonia or fellowship connotes the idea of being partner, sharer, associate and participant. In fact, all these ingredients need to be added in right quantities to savor a delicious and unforgettable strawberry crepe. To Him, Then the master said to the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel, But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses [NU adds, You are the light of the world.