8.26.12 (Christian's Sufferings)

8.26.12:

I. I Cor. 5:6- Sin is like yeast.
"If you don't want to fall. Don't walk in the slippery. Don't walk in the edge."
-------------------------------------------------
Acts 4:24-31

*We don't have a theology for the suffering of Christians.
V. 1 Peter 4:12
- Don't be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you. (Peter)
* Suffering hurts, and we hate it.

Peter Before: Matthew 16:21,22
- Peter, himself, feared suffering.
- didn't understand Suffering
- "epitomeo" = authorative judgment like in a parent, boss, coach
- Christ rebuked him.
"Get behind me Satan."

Peter After: 1 Peter 4:13-19
- Understood Suffering
= Cost of Rejoicing
- God ordained
- Divine purpose
- Fruit of walk with God
= testify that you belong to Christ

* You don't have to know why you are suffering.
- Suffering is easy to trace from sin issue.
-- even if you are a Christian, you still reap the fruit of your past sins.
- Suffering purifies Christ's Church.
V. Matthew 5:17

Reminders for Suffering...
1. When you have suffering, you don't have to know why. = just Rejoice!
2. God will not give you what you can't handle. v. I Cor. 10:13
3. God will also give you escape.

Prayer: personal & united
- Spurgeon: key of famine
* Graceful mercy, but others are needed to be asked.
* Certain mercies God will only give when we pray together.
V. Hebrews 10:25
1. glorifies God with the humble person asking for his help
2. teaching us of our unworthiness
* Healthiest State of a Christian:
- state when you are fully dependent in God
- poor in self and and rich in God

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8.19.12 (The Best Catch)

8.19.12:

I. Prayer Preciding
Godly sorrow (sorrow for sin) produces...
- reminder for sin repentance
1. earnestness to seek God
2. eagerness to clear oneself
3. indignation to sin
- anger of sin and gratitude to God
4. fear
5. desire and accordingly zeal
6. readiness to see justice done

II. Preaching: The Best Catch
V. Luke 5:1-11
A. 3 Kinds of Catches
1. Missing (zero) Catch

2. Astonishing Catch

- "astonished... and left everything (even the fish caught)"
* The atonishing catch isn't the best catch.
3. The Living Catch
- catch men
+ "Zobron"
- Greek word for catch men
- to catch a living fish
a. "zao" - to live
b. "abra"- fish
* Catch men= catch people alive
v. 2 Timothy 2:26
- "has taken them captive"
* The best catch is the living catch.
- People who are caught alive are free to serve Christ, and free to live for God.
B. Transformed Followers of God
-Jesus is undettered by our failures... uses it to bring in the best catch.
1. Peter
- denied Christ 3x...
- "Feed my Sheep" 3x
2. Matthew
- tax collector linked with prostitutes
- collected tax for the Romans
3. Saul --> Paul
- persecuted Christians
C. Questions to Ponder
1. Has God freed you from Satan's net?
2. Are you thankful that it has happened?
3. Are you involved in bringing in the best catch?


PV: Colossians 1:3-4
I. Danny Mercado
II. Dr. Steve Wilkinson

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8.12.12

8.12.12:
- With a Guest Speaker

I. PRAYER
Repentance
- gift of grace
- causes change
II. PREACHING
A. We are fighters/soldiers of God.
V. Matthew 4
1. bread.word
2. twisting God's Word ---> jump.contempt
3. take shorcuts -->bow.slander
* Destroy the glory of Christ in our lives. Fight with God's Word.
* God uses the worst of his enemies for his own glory.
* God can turn things around. v. Romans 8:28
* Dessert
- time of being alone with God
- test vs. temptation/ "erao?"
* God is watching us.
B. God has given as a sword.
v. Ephesians 6; Psalm 27; Matthew 4
- "It is written..."
* Memorize Scriptures
- not "Can you", but "Will you"...
- review it bcoz u will forget it.
* You need a time alone with God.
- "quiet time"


PV. Jeremiah 17:7

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7.8.12

7.8.12

Narration (Acts 4:1-7)
- Peter and John arrested.
- They were threatened.
- 5,000 were saved.
- Peter filled with Holy Spirit. Men were astonished.

Martyred Apostles
Andrew - x-shaped cross; wife of governor
Matthew - Ethiopia
Luke - Greece
Mark- Alexandria
Bartholomew- killed alive
John- fire? escaped
Peter- Rome; upside down
Thomas- India ; Asia Minor
Jude- shoot by arrows
Matthias- stoned and beheaded
Barnabas- Salonica
* Apostles were the models for the martyrs.

* Satan is relentless in attacking the Church.
- selfish,pride,indolent
v. James 1:2
- Remain unstained in worldliness.

Oppresors of the Early Church
1. Priest
- most established priests
2. Captain of the Guard
- with his police force
3. Saducees
- wealthy/elite
4. Rulers
- Roman Empire
5. Elders
- lived long/ trusted by men
6. Scribes
- teachers of the law
7. Individuals
- Annas (retired High Priest), Caphais (acting HP), and Relatives (Alexander and John)

Why the Oppresors were Included
1. The ministry of the early church was serious.
2. Peter and John's trial were not always in their favor.
3. Authorities used their earthly power to control.

Spiritual War/ "Stratehuma"
- requires spiritual weapons
- demons fleshed with the world

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7.1.12

7.1.12

ACTS 4:1-4
- 1st martyrs: Peter and John?

* Don't marvel if the world hates you.
Mark 13:9 Christ who was persecuted
- eg. S/Paul: Why are you persecuting me?
John 15:18-20 Hated me even b4
2 Tim. 3:12
1 Peter 4:4 They will malign you.
* We need a Savior not an Example to be saved.
- Christ died sinless.
- But a believer will like to imitate Christ. --- >mark of genuine faith
* Suffering bcoz of faith will bless you. It will show evidence of your  faith and find favor in God.

Persecution
- expected
thrown to wild animals
crucified
upside down
- test/mature the church
Nero
Roman State

Why were Saducees infuriated (Hostile Arrest v. 1-3)
1. These men were teaching the people.
2. They were from Galilee.
- not connected with priests
- blue collar people
- look down on them
3. Proclaiming  Jesus (resurrection from the dead)
- claimed Jesus as blasphemous before and caused him to be crucified: heretic
4. threatened to take over Roman's power
- Saducees: wealthy people

The Message of Resurection
1. The death of Christ as perfect substitute for sinners
v. Gal. 3:13- JC fit to be a substitute for sinners bcoz of his righteousness
- Prince of Life
"exagorazo" - redeem slaves
- fit to redeem people from the curse of the law
2. Security of Jesus' elect
- Christ as Great High Priest
Heb. 1:3- Why turn back when you have great hope in Christ?
+ Holy of Holys
- no fear that separates us from God
- JC: anchor of souls to God
3. Exultation as Lord of all things/ overall
v. Rom 14:8-9 Special Lordship in the life of every believer
* Jesus didn't die for us just to be saved but also to be enslaved for him.
4. assured certainty of the Second Coming of Christ
- concern for those who had fallen asleep
- comfort for the living in a Christian's death -
- temporary separation/grief bcoz of a future reunion
5. assures salvation and eternal life for the elect
v. 1 Peter 3:15
-Able to defend to everyone to everyone who asks abt the faith with gentleness and reverence
- when they ask for an account
* God trains us in degrees.
* God trains people for a greater trial.
- God will not give you a trial you can't manage.

1 Peter 4:19

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6.24.12

6.24.12

After 5 foundations...
* God will test those who profess they have faith.

Great Ruin of the Wicked (Luke 6:49)
1.everlasting, eternal, forever
2.punishment
- preservation of a gov't
3. tormenting (day and night)
v. rev. 9:5,6
4. eternal fire
- deep torment
v. jude 7
5. association of the wicked
v. rev. 21:8
6. black darkness
- gloom of utter darkness
v. jude 13
7. beyond anything they can endure
v. ezekiel 22:14

Hope of the Wise Builder
- For genuine believers:
BLESSED HOPE/ "Maranatha"
- return of Christ
v. jn. 14:1-3; 1 thes.4:16,17; eph. 4:4

*Better to suffer now instead in the future which is forever.
* You can't afford to be uncertain.
* No disguise can't deceive the Divine Judge.
* Apart from Christ, there is nothing to stand in eternity.

next pv:
2 Tim. 2:22

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