EAST RIDGE PRES

1.22.12

“How can I be happy in God?”
some dislike this approach

some say seeking happiness in God
is selfish,
–we are to seek what is good for us in Jesus Christ, this is the offer of salvation that he makes

some say we should seek God’s will
not our happiness
–what pleases God is what is good for us, they are the same
the one who is happy in Christ will obey and love Christ more than any other

some say God never promised us to be happy in this life
–God never promised that our circumstances would be happy in this age
but he did promise us happiness in Jesus Christ and God’s love for us

some say God called us to sacrifice and deny self not be happy
–we give up what we once thought would make us happy
but will never make us happy
we give up a false happiness
for real happiness

1 Corinthians 7:20-24
in order to serve God
nothing needs to change in your situation
the only thing that must change is your mind and heart
in your heart there is a room for fullness of God, the joy of the Spirit, the love of God
no matter what is happening in your life

in a difficult “unhappy” situation
you can obey and love God
if your mind and heart are set on happiness in Christ and obedience to Christ

a slave does not need to get free to serve Christ
find happiness in freedom in Christ
and serve Christ there

a freeman does not find happiness in being free and doing what he wants
but in being a slave in Christ
in belonging to Christ

1 Corinthians 7:29a
not meaning there are only a few days or weeks left
means Jesus has come, died and been raised, and the last days have begun
now we live looking to Christ’s return

1 Cor 29b-31a
five examples of many more
“live as if you have no wife?!”
can’t be taken literally: powerful rhetoric

we are not to separate from the world, escape, reject
We are NOT to stop using the things of the world.
do everything we do “as if not”
rejoice as if not rejoicing
use things as if not using them
“huh?”

Use them but not like other human beings use them.
Use them but not like they are of great importance.
Use them but not like they are forever.
Use them but don’t let them define you.
Use them but not as your happiness.

wife — sexuality or romantic relationship or comfortable home not your happiness
you can serve Jesus by serving your wife but don’t let her become your happiness

mourn — in bad circumstance not devastated because your happiness is in Christ, feel the sting but it is seen as small and temporary

rejoice — take temporary fleeting pleasure in something as a small thing,
give thanks to God for it, but don’t let that be your life or happiness

buy something — but what you buy and own should be little to you, not your happiness

use the things of this world but not engrossed– like other human beings

it does not mean what you do in this world in the body is unimportant!!!

a person writes a book, or cuts a lawn,
or cooks a meal, or makes money, or tries to do well on a test
what is important is they are done to God,
for God, out of love for God
such a person is happy in Jesus Christ
but all those things are passing away
and not important in themselves

31b
the present form of this world is passing away, fashion, show,
the physical, created world is not passing away, it is being recreated, renewed

but many details and situations will soon be gone, not the people, not creation
live as if this is the last day, many things are transient and passing away

***
the things that make you happy
are the things keeping you from being happy
the ways you think you are obeying
are the things keeping you from obeying

many of us are very engrossed in the things of this world,
and lacking happiness in Christ and obedience to Christ

we do it to ourselves!! by focusing on and making these things our happiness

what we need
boot camp: to get us in shape to serve
drug rehab: to get us free to serve
spa treatment: to get us heathy to serve
the Church had just such a treatment but we seemed to have lost it/ forgotten it
fasting and retreat

fasting is the setting aside of all food
retreat is leaving behind anything that you use for happiness– going away
for a short time (not forever! we should use them!)
for this purpose:
to find your true happiness in Jesus Christ
fast and retreat for the purpose of prayer, worship, meditation on word

“fasting is feasting”

our problem:
We are using dozens of things every day to keep ourselves happy on those things.
if you take away everything you are using for happiness, it shows you how engrossed you were in those things
it frees you of those distractions in order to look only to Jesus for happiness

many protestant are suspicious that is a Catholic thing, old fashioned thing,
or a crazy legalist Christian thing

but in the Sermon on the Mount Jesus links fasting with prayer and giving to the poor
Why do we two of those and ignore fasting?

In Acts the church fasts and retreats for worship and prayer
Jesus retreats and fasts for prayer

1.8.12

Judges 13

Samson is a Nazirite which means holy, set apart for God’s work.
could have used this text last week

verse 13:25; also read 14:5-6, 19; 15:9-15

The Spirit of the Lord came to him at certain times to empower him to do the work God had given him to do.
Destroy Philistines singlehandedly.
Not fight a war or lead an army.

The Spirit gives people what they need to do what God has for them to do.

Numbers 11:16-17; 24-29
the prophesy just evidence–
the Spirit given to enable them to lead the people

Mark 1:8 John the Baptist: “I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

Jesus is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.

Acts 1:4-5 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

John 7:39 By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.

Jesus did not give the Spirit until he had died, been raised, was glorified and ascended to the Father.

But now all that has been done!
Q: Can we receive the Spirit like Samson and the elders to do the work of God?
If so, how do we receive him?

What do you do to receive the Spirit?
What is the secret?
What steps do you take?
What do you do?
Nothing.

If you have faith in Jesus, there is nothing to do to receive the Spirit. You have already received the Spirit.

Acts 19:1-2

These men were thought to be Christians
so Paul examines them, tests them to see what the are. He is not convinced.
Notice the question he asks them.
“Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?”
Imagine if we asked this of people coming for membership?
what would you have said?

it is doubtful they never heard of the Spirit
“we had not even heard that the Spirit is now given!” (likely meaning)

since they had not received the gift of the Spirit, they can’t be Christians.
Paul said “when you believed” but he learns they never did believe

Jesus had now given the Spirit to all who believe– if they had not received there was a problem.
Paul knows they did not hear and believe the full message about Jesus and get baptized in it.

verse 3-4
baptism of repentance preparing for the one
they need to believe in Jesus the one that is now giving the Holy Spirit

verse 5
we are not told they believed in Jesus but it must be assumed
they were baptized into Jesus name
because they had believed in Jesus

verse 6-7
since they have believed in Jesus they also receive the baptism with the Spirit
tongues and prophesy were not the main point, they were just evidences they had received the Spirit, main point=Spirit

some misconceptions from this passage
Spirit baptism follows water Baptism– not in other places
someone must lay his hands on you to receive the Spirit– not in other places
you must speak in tongues and prophesy– not in other places

So what do you to get the Spirit? nothing

If you believe in Jesus,
You have already been baptized by Jesus with the Spirit.

If you don’t believe, then you must put your faith in Jesus and look to him to give it.

some think the baptism of the Spirit comes at a second point after conversion–
rather it is necessary for conversion… that is why Paul asked the question

Which means you already have everything you need to do the work that God has given you to do.

What does the Spirit do to you?
in order to prepares you to do the work of God?

There are many different things we could discuss.
Talked about “making you holy” last week– that is important
Want to focus on another thing this morning.

Romans 5:5
“…God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.”

the Holy Spirit fills our hearts with an experience of the love of God for us
(not our love for God first)

feel like you have lost that experience and sesnse? Pray.
You have the Spirit who can pour it out.
Ephesians 3:19 – Paul prays for Christians that they will be able “to know this love that surpasses knowledge”

We will not be able to do the work of God
until we know and experience the love of God shown for us through Jesus Christ.

This is one main difference between a person with the Spirit and without the Spirit.

1.1.12

How do I find happiness in God?
in another h word, a strange word, holy
a word many people don’t like

What does holy mean?
holy means “separate” or “set apart”
it is THE attribute of God, THE God quality
shows the difference between creator and creature, between those who sin and the one who does only good

Jesus Christ is holy. “Holy One of God”
Jesus Christ is the anointed one, different from all other men, God and man, sinless

but here is the surprising word of the gospel

Christ make unholy people holy
You are holy. (if you have faith in Jesus)

since only God and Christ are holy in themselves, he makes us holy by connecting us to him

Hebrews 10:10 …we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. (sanctified)

Jesus made us holy through his death.
Already done. Done by Christ. Not a process as we usually speak about it.
(true: we need to grow in acting holy)

1 Corinthians 1:2
To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy.. (saints)

sanctified means “made holy”
saint means “holy person”
even though there is sin in Corinth (read the letter!), he calls them holy, already done, this is their starting point, their position

1 Corinthians 6:11
But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

Already done. Done by Christ on the cross and the Spirit’s work in us.

Colossians 1:22
But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight…

1 Pet 2:9
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God…

What does it mean that we are holy now?

Exodus 30:22-33; 40:1-11
This is you!

1 Corinthians 3:17
God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple. (tabernacle precursor to temple)

you have been anointed and made holy
set apart for God just as the tabernacle and all of its furnishings were
you were common and not used for God but instead for sin
Jesus separated us from unholy use to holy use by his death on the cross.

set apart as God’s person for God’s service
cleansed of sin and dedicated or consecrated to God

2 Timothy 2:20-21
In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble. If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.

You are now ready to be used by God for his work. You must be holy first.

2 Timothy 1:8-9
…God, who has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace.

This is done by Christ before you have done anything holy. You can’t become holy by trying to do good things.
You are made holy when you are unholy.

Ex 40:12-15
This is you! You are priests.
What does a priest do? He offers sacrifices to God.

1 Peter 2:5
you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

Romans 12:1
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.

Now that we have been made holy (that had to happen first) we are able to offer spiritual sacrifices to God.
Which means acts and thoughts of love and obedience and service directed to God.

Ex 40:(16-33) 34-35
This is you!
You are filled with the Holy Spirit and the glory of the Lord.

1 Cor 3:16 Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you?

Can you believe this? that is you!

I am preaching this sermon so that you Christians will find your happiness in being holy and God’s Spirit in you
and go from here rejoicing.

I am also hoping that some who don’t know this will want it. turn to Jesus in faith to be made holy and used for his purposes.

***Because we are now holy already…
(that fact is very important and primary)
we are now free to do holy work.

first the tool is made holy and then used for holy work
first the man or woman is made holy and then he does holy work

if you are holy then 2012 can be a holy year

1 Peter 1:15
But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

Col 3:12
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

12.18.11

Luke 2:1-20 verses 10-11
“gospel of great joy”

hymnal #211
400+ year old British carol (published 1700s) — sang and danced to this (not allowed in church)

“God rest you merry, gentlemen”
(not God give rest to you merry gentlemen, not about rest)
God make you or keep you in your heart joyful/cheerful: you gentlemen (and gentlewomen of course)

What is there to be merry about?
“A Savior has been born to you” (Lk 2:11)
“Remember Christ our Savior was born on Christmas day
to save us all from Satan’s power when we were gone astray”
(“to free all those who trust in him from Satan’s power and might”)

many say “keep Christ in Christmas”
let’s keep Satan in Christmas as well
new figure in the Nativity scene: big dragon
Revelation 12:1-10

Luke 13:10-17
10 On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, 11 and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. 12 When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, “Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.” 13 Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God.
 14 Indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, the synagogue ruler said to the people, “There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath.”
 15 The Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Doesn’t each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water? 16 Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?”
 17 When he said this, all his opponents were humiliated, but the people were delighted with all the wonderful things he was doing.

Acts 10
37 You know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached— 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.

Today in this world
do you see Satan’s power?
do you see Satan’s tyranny?
the horrors of this world show us that human beings desperately need to be saved

men who have lost to death the person they were closest to in the world
parents who have lost little children
children born with terrible illness and lived a few years and died
children who were physically abused by cruel adults
families who had members raped and shot by soldiers
families whose homes were destroyed and members killed by storms
people who live in a prison of their own minds– mentally handicapped, mentally ill
people who are sold into slavery as children and beaten to death
people who are imprisoned and die in prison
this is the power of Satan
this is his rule and tyranny

people look at the horrors of this world
and say “there can’t be a God”
we should look at the horrors
and say “there must be a Savior” because if there is not there is nothing else for all these people only misery and early death

1. Merry because this is the Savior who will end the horrors of this world

Hebrews 2
14 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— 15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.

My son, Jack, has Down Syndrome and Autism, mind in shackles
but that is not the last word on him
that is not all he gets
Why? because Jesus Christ was born and he shall save us all from Satan’s power

Jesus came to save those whose lives are short and miserable and imprisoned
he will set us free from the horrors of this world– under Satan’s tyranny/ power

some have sought a human salvation
through reason and technology and education
we have gone far with that
but we have not been saved from misery and death, we have not conquered

For those of you going through bitter suffering now– rejoice in your Savior.
Your Savior will save you and give back.

1 Peter 5
8 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
 10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.

Do not be overcome by the suffering and give in to Satan– instead continue in faith and obedience– God will make you strong and mighty again

2 Corinthians 12
7 To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

his suffering comes from Satan
Christ’s grace and power make us strong when we are weak in sufferings

2. Merry because Jesus has set us free from slavery to Satan to live a new life.

John 13:2
The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus.
Acts 26:15-18
15 “Then I asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’
   “ ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ the Lord replied. 16 ‘Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen of me and what I will show you. 17 I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them 18 to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’
1 John 3:8
8 He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.

set free from living as a slave to Satan and living rather in love for God and Christ
now you can have a merry life in the present
even with all the pain of this life

as people pursue what they want
they find neither happiness
nor meaning
isn’t it strange? they find only slavery

Ephesians 6
 10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.