The Greatest Gift Pt. 2| Pastor Chris Searcy |12.11.22

THE WORTHINESS OF JESUS

The Bridegroom King

There is no aspect of God’s grace that more powerfully transforms our emotions or satisfies our heart than when the spirit reveals Jesus to us. 8 I count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus… Philippians. 3:8

• HE IS A LOVER

One of the most significant truths in the Scripture is that the Lord has deep desire for His people. This is truth is expressed poetically in the Song of Solomon as the King declared how “His Bride ravished His heart

9 “You have captivated my heart, my sister, my bride; you have captivated my heart with one glance of your eyes.” 

Song of Solomon 4:9 ESV

10 “I am my Beloved’s, and His desire is toward me.” Song of Solomon 7:10

Ravished heart: Webster defines “ravished” as being filled with emotions of joy or delight because of one who is unusually attractive 

His desire is toward me: Our identity is in belonging to the King. We are the girl he gets in the end, and His desire is for us. Our actions do not “motivate” the Lord to desire us.

Gods love for us is unconditional. 

“but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Romans 5:8 ESV

He loves us perfectly. 

9“As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you.” John. 15:9

II. HE IS A FIERCE AND JUST KING.

Jesus will be openly seen as the most beautiful, fierce and just ruler that the heavens and earth has ever seen when He destroys the Antichrist’s armies in the Armageddon campaign.

Psalms 45:3-6 King James Version

3. Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O most mighty, with thy glory and thy majesty.

4. And in thy majesty ride prosperously because of truth and meekness and righteousness; and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things.

5. Thine arrows are sharp in the heart of the king's enemies; whereby the people fall under thee.

6. Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre.

Jesus’ second coming will be in context to a military conflict around Jerusalem. 

19The kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered to make war against Him [Jesus]… 20The Beast [Antichrist] was captured…21The rest were killed with the sword… (Rev. 19:19-21)

 

Because of truth, humility, and righteousness: When Jesus wages war against the Antichrist, His actions will be motivated by and will produce truth, meekness, and righteousness.

III. HE IS! 

Hebrews 1:1-3

1God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; 3Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; 4Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

Jesus is heir of all 2Whom He has appointed heir of all things… (Heb. 1:2)

The Romans proclaimed Caesar as the heir, rightful owner, of the nations. The leaders of Israel saw themselves as the “heirs” over the land of Israel. Both groups persecuted Jewish believers. It was a radical idea that a Jewish man who died as a criminal was the true heir of the world! 

The Father decreed that Jesus be given all the nations as His inheritance. This includes their governments, property, money, resources, and possessions on earth. 

8I [the Father] will give You the nations for Your inheritance… (Ps. 2:8)

John had a vision of the Father giving the title deed of the earth to Jesus (Rev. 5:1-8). This will result in Jesus receiving total authority over all society in the Millennium. He will own all the cities, property, money, banks, natural resources, oil and water rights, intellectual property, etc. of the earth. All on the earth will joyfully agree with Jesus taking over the nations (Rev. 5:13).

Jesus is the creator of worlds

Jesus created all things under the Father’s authority. 

2Whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom He made the worlds… (Heb. 1:2)

The common Greek word for “the physical world” is kosmos, but the word used here is ionus, which means “the ages.” Jesus created the physical and spiritual worlds and the time frames in which God’s storyline and eternal purposes unfold through the various ages. In other words, Jesus is the architect, with His Father, of the storyline that unfolds through the ages on earth.

Jesus created the visible, natural, material world and the invisible, supernatural, spiritual world. 

16By Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. (Col. 1:16)

Jesus is the sustainer of the universe

Jesus sustains the worlds in the same way that He created them, by words that release His power (Gen. 1:3; Heb. 11:3). 

To uphold all things means to “sustain” or “support” them continuously.

3And upholding all things by the word of His power… (Heb. 1:3) 

Creation cannot sustain itself; it needs a continual impartation of power and energy to keep it in order. The universe operates according to laws of nature that are sustained by Jesus’ word. When scientists discover the laws of nature, they are knowingly or unknowingly studying the sustaining power of Jesus’ word.

Jesus is the redeemer of the universe

Jesus cleansed the created order from sin. He had to become human and then to offer Himself as the offering for sin.

3…He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty… (Heb. 1:3) 

Sin created a great crisis in creation by releasing death and demons that harm creation. The Father had to find a man untainted by sin to solve the crisis created by sin. 

Jesus, the innocent One, became guilty so that guilty ones could become innocent.

Jesus is the ruler of the universe

3When He…purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. (Heb. 1:3) 

13Behold, One like the Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days…14To Him was given dominion…that all peoples…should serve Him. (Dan. 7:13-14) 

He wants you with him. 24Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me… (Jn. 17:24) 

The Life That God Calls Great

John 13-17 is the teaching given by the Jesus during the Last Supper. Jesus spoke this to the leadership of His new Church to prepare them to walk in a way that God calls “great” and to thrive spiritually even in the face of intense pressures and temptations.

This is where I believe we find ourselves today.

7“ The marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” Rev. 19:7 

How do we live a life pleasing to God? How do we make sure we are ready?

Love the lord your God

Matthew 22:37-40

37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Jesus defined loving God as the “first” and “great” commandment. 

Thus identifying it as the Spirit’s first priority in the kingdom, the “first” calling for our life,

CONTEXT:

In Deuteronomy Moses teaches the Israelites who have turned away from God to idols. This is to the generation of Israelites about to enter the Promised Land after 40 years

The narrative of Deuteronomy is set on the east side of the Jordan River, on the plains of Moab, within view of Canaan. This is where the Israelites camped after their 40 years of wilderness wanderings.

The commands are to turn away from Idols, to Obey, and Love will grow. 

Deuteronomy 30:2,6.

2 “and when you and your children return to the Lord your God,”

2 “and obey him with all your heart and with all your soul according to everything I command you today,”

6 “The Lord your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, so that you may love him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live.”

The lord your God will carve your heart over time so that your desires become his, so that your affections become his, he will teach you how to love him.

Marriage is a carnal parallel. When two people come together they must learn each other’s love language. We must be taught how to love. Luckily, the Holy Spirit is our teacher, and he is the best!

However, turning away from idols towards obedience is a non-negotiable. 

Jesus linked loving God with obeying God five times in John 14:

In John14:15, If you love Me, keep My commandments

In John14:21, He who…keeps them, it is he who loves… Me

In John14:23, If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word

In John14:24, He who does not love Me does not keep My words

In John14:31, 31I love the Father, and as the Father gave Me commandment, so I do

Jesus defined loving God as being deeply rooted in a spirit of obedience.

As you Turn to the Lord, for the first, time or again, and begin to obey his commands, he will circumcise your heart to love God.

THE PROMISE

Deuteronomy 30: 2-4

2 and when you and your children return to the Lord your God and obey him with all your heart and with all your soul according to everything I command you today, 3 then the Lord your God will restore your fortunes and have compassion on you and gather you again from all the nations where he scattered you. 4 Even if you have been banished to the most distant land under the heavens, from there the Lord your God will gather you and bring you back.

It doesn’t matter how far you have gone, how dark you think the darkness is he will bring you back. 

The Lord will again delight in you and make you prosperous, just as he delighted in your ancestors… Deut 30:9

The Greatest Gift | Pastor Chris Searcy | 12.04.22

The Greatest Gift

Part 1. The Beginning

The importance of the Gospel

Knowledge of the Holy - AW Tozer Mid 20th century theologian:

“The man who comes to a right belief about God is relieved of ten thousand temporal

problems, for he sees at once that these have to do with matters which at the most cannot

concern him for very long.

But even if the multiple burdens of time may be lifted from him, the one mighty single burden

of eternity begins to press down upon him with a weight more crushing than all the woes of the

world piled one upon another.

That mighty burden is his obligation to God. It includes an instant and lifelong duty to love God

with every power of mind and soul, to obey Him perfectly, and to worship Him acceptably.

And when the man’s laboring conscience tells him that he has done none of these things, but

has from childhood been guilty of foul revolt against the Majesty in the heavens, the inner

pressure of self-accusation may become too heavy to bear.

YET, The gospel can lift this destroying burden from the mind, give beauty for ashes, and the

garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness.”

When we meditate on the gospel of Jesus Christ it breaks the bonds of stress, anxiety,

suffering, and it also increases our joy, hope, peace, and love!

No matter what your circumstance, the Gospel is good news to you today! Wether you have

been saved your whole life or you are new to the Gospel.

John 6:44

“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on

the last day.”

Hosea 11:4

“I led them with cords of kindness, with ropes of love; I lifted the yoke from their necks and

bent down to feed them.”

Ezekiel 34:11

“’For this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after

them.

The truth is that since before you were born God has loved you with an everlasting love, and

today is the day he wants you to experience him!

In romans 1:15 Paul tells the church of Rome that although they are established and mature

Christians he still desired to preach the gospel to them.

Because understanding the plan of God changes the way we view social trends, conflicts,

political tensions, global events, our own lives and those around us.

It gives us a gospel centered worldview, not merely a moral and therapeutic one.

The Gospel

For those that are familiar:

The gospel is the announcing of the reign of the God of Israel through the Person of Christ

confirmed and established by Jesus' ________, _________, __________, ________, and His

glorious __________ to the world.

Seven components to the mystery of the gospel

1. The salvation of all Israel – Rom. 11:25-27

25. Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery,

brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has

come in. 26. And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written,

“The Deliverer will come from Zion,

he will banish ungodliness from Jacob”;

27. “and this will be my covenant with them

when I take away their sins.”

2. Heaven and earth joined together – Eph. 1:9-10

9. making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth

in Christ 10. as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and

things on earth.

Col. 1:19-20

19. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20. and through him to reconcile

to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

3. Incarnation – 1 Tim. 3:16

16. Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness:

He was manifested in the flesh,

vindicated by the Spirit,

seen by angels,

proclaimed among the nations,

believed on in the world,

taken up in glory.

4. Jew and Gentile one – Ephesians. 2:13-14

13. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the

blood of Christ. 14. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken

down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility.

5. Gentiles in-dwelt by the glory of Christ – Colossians 1:27

27. To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the

glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

6. The Bride reigning with Christ as co-heir – Ephesians 2:4-7

4.But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5. even

when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you

have been saved— 6. and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly

places in Christ Jesus, 7. so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable

riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

7. Resurrection – 1 Cor. 15:52

51. Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a

moment, 52. in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and

the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.

The Gospel Overview

“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1

In the beginning the Father Son and the Holy Spirit together created a beautiful spotless world

where everything in it was good.

Then God created a man and he put man in a Garden to keep the Garden and he gave the man

a command and not to eat of the tree that was forbidden. He promised him life if he kept his

command but death if he ate it.

A serpent came and deceived Eve to eat the of the tree that was forbidden with the promise

that it would make her like God being able to discern Good and Evil. Her husband Adam ate it

too and because they disobeyed God sin entered the world and death through sin and

everyone through ordinary conception inherited that man’s sinful nature.

And because of that sinful nature sins proceed from it. And our world is broken because of that

sin and we stand Guilty before a righteous and Holy God craving justice but the problem is that

if God gives us justice we all die!

And so that same God in his Goodness and in his mercy sent his only son who was not born of

ordinary generation but was born of a virgin WHY?! because if he was born of ordinary

conception he would be born in sin. But because he is born of a virgin he is clean of sin, his

record is clean.

And as he walks the earth he keeps his record clean and he obeys Gods law. And because he

is fully god and fully man, god made him who knew no sin to be sin for us.

Because all we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; BUT

the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

And Christ died for sin! One for all! The just for the unjust! And God imputes our sinfulness to

him and he nails our sinfulness to the tree and Christ dies and raises again on the third day for

our justification.

And there is another imputation the righteousness of christ is actually imputed to us so that

God can be both the just and the justifier of the one who places faith in christ.

So that all those who come to Christ may enter in. Who place faith in Christ might be saved but

not only saved, sanctified because he’s the first born of many brothers.

We’re justified and we’re adopted into the family of God and we’re sanctified and as children

we begin to bear the family resemblance and we’re further sanctified throughout this life by the

very same gospel that saves.

Until one day when its all said and done we’re not just saved from the penalty of sin we’re not

just saved from the power of sin but one day we’re glorified and saved from the very presence

of sin.

He did all that so that he could have you as his reward!........ and you’re telling me you are

stressing over work?

Over bills?

Money is low right now for Christmas?

This is the first holiday without that loved one that passed.

Your health is not where it needs to be!

Your relationship is struggling!

Matthew 6:25—33

25. “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will

drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more

than clothing?

26. Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your

heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?

27. And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?

28. And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow:

they neither toil nor spin,

29. yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

30. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown

into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

31. Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or

‘What shall we wear?’

32. For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need

them all.

33. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added

to you.

If you have placed your faith in Christ you are betrothed to him!

That means you are engaged to him. And soon he is coming back for you!

Beloved the very God of all creation the darling of heaven. Came to earth in human form to

make a way for you to be reunited to him and you think he is not carefully orchestrating your

path?

You think he is going to let you fall?

You think he has left you alone?

Romans 8:35, 37

35. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution,

or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?

37. No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38. For I am

sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor

powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from

the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

PROGRESSION OF WARFARE AND THE CERTAINTY OF VICTORY

PROGRESSION OF WARFARE AND THE CERTAINTY OF VICTORY

Neh 4:1-23

But it so happened, when Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, that he was furious

and very indignant, and mocked the Jews. 2  And he spoke before his brethren and the army of

Samaria, and said, “What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they fortify themselves? Will they

offer sacrifices? Will they complete it in a day? Will they revive the stones from the heaps of

rubbish—stones that are burned?” 3  Now Tobiah the Ammonite was beside him, and he said,

“Whatever they build, if even a fox goes up on it, he will break down their stone wall.” 4  Hear, O

our God, for we are despised; turn their reproach on their own heads, and give them as plunder

to a land of captivity! 5  Do not cover their iniquity, and do not let their sin be blotted out from

before You; for they have provoked You to anger before the builders. 6  So we built the wall, and

the entire wall was joined together up to half its height, for the people had a mind to work.

7  Now it happened, when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites

heard that the walls of Jerusalem were being restored and the gaps were beginning to be

closed, that they became very angry, 8  and all of them conspired together to come and attack

Jerusalem and create confusion. 9  Nevertheless we made our prayer to our God, and because of

them we set a watch against them day and night. 10  Then Judah said, “The strength of the

laborers is failing, and there is so much rubbish that we are not able to build the wall.” 11  And

our adversaries said, “They will neither know nor see anything, till we come into their midst and

kill them and cause the work to cease.” 12  So it was, when the Jews who dwelt near them came,

that they told us ten times, “From whatever place you turn, they will be upon us.” 13  Therefore I

positioned men behind the lower parts of the wall, at the openings; and I set the people

according to their families, with their swords, their spears, and their bows. 14  And I looked, and

arose and said to the nobles, to the leaders, and to the rest of the people, “Do not be afraid of

them. Remember the Lord, great and awesome, and fight for your brethren, your sons, your

daughters, your wives, and your houses.” 15  And it happened, when our enemies heard that it

was known to us, and that God had brought their plot to nothing, that all of us returned to the

wall, everyone to his work. 16  So it was, from that time on, that half of my servants worked at

construction, while the other half held the spears, the shields, the bows, and wore armor; and

the leaders were behind all the house of Judah. 17  Those who built on the wall, and those who

carried burdens, loaded themselves so that with one hand they worked at construction, and

with the other held a weapon. 18  Every one of the builders had his sword girded at his side as he

built. And the one who sounded the trumpet was beside me. 19  Then I said to the nobles, the

rulers, and the rest of the people, “The work is great and extensive, and we are separated far

from one another on the wall. 20  Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally to us there.

Our God will fight for us.” 21  So we labored in the work, and half of the men held the spears from

daybreak until the stars appeared. 22  At the same time I also said to the people, “Let each man

and his servant stay at night in Jerusalem, that they may be our guard by night and a working

party by day.” 23  So neither I, my brethren, my servants, nor the men of the guard who followed

me took off our clothes, except that everyone took them off for washing

Neh 6:1-15

Now it happened when Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies heard

that I had rebuilt the wall, and that there were no breaks left in it (though at that time I had not

hung the doors in the gates), 2  that Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, “Come, let us

meet together among the villages in the plain of Ono.” But they thought to do me harm. 3  So I

sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down. Why

should the work cease while I leave it and go down to you?” 4  But they sent me this message

four times, and I answered them in the same manner. 5  Then Sanballat sent his servant to me as

before, the fifth time, with an open letter in his hand. 6  In it was written: It is reported among

the nations, and Geshem says, that you and the Jews plan to rebel; therefore, according to

these rumors, you are rebuilding the wall, that you may be their king. 7  And you have also

appointed prophets to proclaim concerning you at Jerusalem, saying, “There is a king in Judah!”

Now these matters will be reported to the king. So come, therefore, and let us consult together.

8  Then I sent to him, saying, “No such things as you say are being done, but you invent them in

your own heart.” 9  For they all were trying to make us afraid, saying, “Their hands will be

weakened in the work, and it will not be done.” Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands.

10  Afterward I came to the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabel, who

was a secret informer; and he said, “Let us meet together in the house of God, within the

temple, and let us close the doors of the temple, for they are coming to kill you; indeed, at

night they will come to kill you.” 11  And I said, “Should such a man as I flee? And who is there

such as I who would go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in!” 12  Then I perceived that

God had not sent him at all, but that he pronounced this prophecy against me because Tobiah

and Sanballat had hired him. 13  For this reason he was hired, that I should be afraid and act that

way and sin, so that they might have cause for an evil report, that they might reproach me.

14  My God, remember Tobiah and Sanballat, according to these their works, and the prophetess

Noadiah and the rest of the prophets who would have made me afraid. 15  So the wall was

finished on the twenty-fifth day of Elul, in fifty-two days. 16  And it happened, when all our

enemies heard of it, and all the nations around us saw these things, that they were very

disheartened in their own eyes; for they perceived that this work was done by our God

1. Mocking

Neh 4:1

But it so happened, when Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, that he was

furious and very indignant, and mocked the Jews

Mock – ridicule, deride

2. Insult and questioning of your ability

Neh 4:2

And he spoke before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, “What are these

feeble Jews doing? Will they fortify themselves? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they

complete it in a day? Will they revive the stones from the heaps of rubbish—stones that

are burned?”

He Kept Praying and Working

Neh 4:4

Hear, O our God, for we are despised; turn their reproach on their own heads, and give

them as plunder to a land of captivity! 5  Do not cover their iniquity, and do not let their

sin be blotted out from before You; for they have provoked You to anger before the

builders

3. An Attack to Create Confusion

Neh 4:7-8

Now it happened, when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites, and the

Ashdodites heard that the walls of Jerusalem were being restored and the gaps were

beginning to be closed, that they became very angry, 8  and all of them conspired

together to come and attack Jerusalem and create confusion.

Confusion tô ā(h) (toe a hah) – wandering, calamity, harm , chaos, trouble

THEY PRAYED AGAIN

v.9

Nevertheless, we made our prayer to our God, and because of them we set a watch

against them day and night

4. Discouragement, Loss of Strength and Emotional Fatigue

Neh 4:10

Then Judah said, “The strength of the laborers is failing, and there is so much rubbish

that we are not able to build the wall.

Neh 4:14

Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, great and awesome, and fight for your

brethren, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses

5. Compromise and Distraction

Neh 6:1-2

Now it happened when Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our

enemies heard that I had rebuilt the wall, and that there were no breaks left in it

(though at that time I had not hung the doors in the gates), 2  that Sanballat and Geshem

sent to me, saying, “Come, let us meet together among the villages in the plain of Ono.”

But they thought to do me harm.

Neh 6:3-4

So I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come

down. Why should the work cease while I leave it and go down to you?” 4  But they sent

me this message four times, and I answered them in the same manner

6. Lies and Accusations

Neh 6:5-9

  Then Sanballat sent his servant to me as before, the fifth time, with an open letter in his

hand. 6  In it was written: It is reported among the nations, and Geshem says, that you

and the Jews plan to rebel; therefore, according to these rumors, you are rebuilding the

wall, that you may be their king. 7  And you have also appointed prophets to proclaim

concerning you at Jerusalem, saying, “There is a king in Judah!” Now these matters will

be reported to the king. So come, therefore, and let us consult together. 8  Then I sent to

him, saying, “No such things as you say are being done, but you invent them in your own

heart.” 9  For they all were trying to make us afraid, saying, “Their hands will be

weakened in the work, and it will not be done.”Now therefore, O God, strengthen my

hands

7. Attacks from within

Neh 6:10-14

Afterward I came to the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabel,

who was a secret informer; and he said, “Let us meet together in the house of God,

within the temple, and let us close the doors of the temple, for they are coming to kill

you; indeed, at night they will come to kill you.” 11  And I said, “Should such a man as I

flee? And who is there such as I who would go into the temple to save his life? I will not

go in!” 12  Then I perceived that God had not sent him at all, but that he pronounced this

prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. 13  For this reason he

was hired, that I should be afraid and act that way and sin, so that they might have

cause for an evil report, that they might reproach me. 14  My God, remember Tobiah and

Sanballat, according to these their works, and the prophetess Noadiah and the rest of

the prophets who would have made me afraid.

8. The Victory

Neh 6:15-16

  So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of Elul, in fifty-two days. 16  And it

happened, when all our enemies heard of it, and all the nations around us saw these

things, that they were very disheartened in their own eyes; for they perceived that this

work was done by our God

ATTITUDE REALLY DOES MATTER

ATTITUDE REALLY DOES MATTER

Phil 2:14

  Do all things without complaining and disputing

Def. Ones outlook - Inward feelings expressed by outward behavior

Negative Attitude = Lower Salaries; Can’t Cope as well; Weaker Immune Systems; Sick

More often; Take longer to heal; Lower Energy and Die Earlier

Attitude Is a Choice

I. HOW TO DEVELOP A WINNING ATTITUDE

1. OWN IT - Take Responsibility for Your OWN life.

2 Cor 5:9-10

  For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may

receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether

good or bad

99% of failure comes from people who had a habit of making excuses – George

Washington Carver

The price of greatness is responsibility – Winston Churchhill

2. THINK IT - Change Your Thinking

Prov 23:7

For as he thinks in his heart, so is he…

Whether you think you can or think you can’t you are right – H. Ford

3. SAY IT - Change Your Self Talk

Mark 11:22-23

So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. 23  For assuredly, I say to

you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and

does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done,

he will have whatever he says

4. DO IT - Develop Habits of Success

Rom 12:2

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of

your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will

of God

5. STICK TO IT - Be Persistent

1 Cor 15:58

  Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in

the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord

“In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity – Einstein

“Quitting is a permanent solution to a temporary problem”

6. REMEMBER JESUS

5 “OF’S” of GOD

5 “OF’S” of GOD

Jeremiah 9:23-24

23 “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, let not the mighty man glory in his might, nor let

the rich man glory in his riches;

24 But let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, That I am the LORD,

exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight,” says

the LORD.

I. THE HEART OF GOD

Jeremiah 9:24

24 But let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, That I am

the LORD, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth.

Exodus 34:5-7

5 Now the LORD descended in the cloud and stood with him there and proclaimed the

name of the LORD.

6  And the LORD passed before him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD God, merciful

and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth,

7  keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, by no

means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and

the children’s children to the third and the fourth generation.

1 John 4:8

8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love (Agape)

Agape Love

 Agape is eternal it cannot fail, and it does not depend on the object of its

favor. Agape does not depend on attraction, desire, or value.

 Agape does not even require any reciprocal love. It is constant it does not

fluctuate according to emotional highs or lows, loves when loved.

 Agape can love while being hated.

 Agape is a love which does not wait to be acted upon, because it is active.

It is living love, and active love.

 Agape acts first and draws the object to action.

 Agape is the love by which God loves us, but it is also the love He wishes

to impart to us that we might love Him and others.

II. THE WAYS OF GOD

Isaiah 55:8-9

8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD.

9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your

ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.

Psalm 77:19

19 Your way was in the sea, your path in the great waters, And Your footsteps were

not known

Test

Deuteronomy 8:2-5

2 And you shall remember that the LORD your God led you all the way these forty

years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your

heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not.

3  So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did

not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall

not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth

of the LORD.

4  Your garments did not wear out on you, nor did your foot swell these forty years.

5  You should know in your heart that as a man chastens his son, so the LORD your God

chastens you

III. THE TIMING OF GOD

Ecclesiastes 3:1-14

1 To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven:

2 A time to be born, and a time to die; A time to plant, and a time to pluck what is

planted;

3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; A time to break down, and a time to build up;

4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; A time to mourn, and a time to dance;

5 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones; A time to embrace, and a

time to refrain from embracing;

6 A time to gain, and a time to lose; A time to keep, and a time to throw away;

7 A time to tear, and a time to sew; A time to keep silence, And a time to speak;

8 A time to love, and a time to hate; A time of war, and a time of peace.

9  What profit has the worker from that in which he labors?

10  I have seen the God-given task with which the sons of men are to be occupied.

11  He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their

hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to

end.

12  I know that nothing is better for them than to rejoice, and to do good in their lives,

13  and also that every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labor—it

is the gift of God.

14 I know that whatever God does, it shall be forever. Nothing can be added to it, and

nothing taken from it. God does it, that men should fear before Him.

Acts 28 The Macedonian Call

ACTS 28

“THE MACEDONIAN CALL”

Acts 16:1-40

1 Then he came to Derbe and Lystra. And behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy,

the son of a certain Jewish woman who believed, but his father was Greek.

2  He was well spoken of by the brethren who were at Lystra and Iconium.

3  Paul wanted to have him go on with him. And he took him and circumcised him because of the

Jews who were in that region, for they all knew that his father was Greek.

4  And as they went through the cities, they delivered to them the decrees to keep, which were

determined by the apostles and elders at Jerusalem.

5  So the churches were strengthened in the faith and increased in number daily.

6  Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by

the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia.

7  After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them.

8  So passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas.

9  And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him,

saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”

10  Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that

the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them.

11  Therefore, sailing from Troas, we ran a straight course to Samothrace, and the next day came

to Neapolis,

12  and from there to Philippi, which is the foremost city of that part of Macedonia, a colony. And

we were staying in that city for some days.

13  And on the Sabbath day we went out of the city to the riverside, where prayer was customarily

made; and we sat down and spoke to the women who met there.

14  Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of

Thyatira, who worshiped God. The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul.

15  And when she and her household were baptized, she begged us, saying, “If you have judged

me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” So she persuaded us.

16  Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of

divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling.

17  This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, “These men are the servants of the Most

High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.”

18  And this she did for many days. But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I

command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And he came out that very hour.

19  But when her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and

dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities.

20  And they brought them to the magistrates, and said, “These men, being Jews, exceedingly

trouble our city;

21  and they teach customs which are not lawful for us, being Romans, to receive or observe.”

22  Then the multitude rose up together against them; and the magistrates tore off their clothes

and commanded them to be beaten with rods.

23  And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the

jailer to keep them securely.

24  Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the

stocks.

25  But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were

listening to them.

26  Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken;

and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed.

27 And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing

the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself.

28  But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.”

29  Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas.

30  And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

31  So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

32  Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house.

33  And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he

and all his family were baptized. 34  Now when he had brought them into his house, he set food

before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household.

35  And when it was day, the magistrates sent the officers, saying, “Let those men go.”

36  So the keeper of the prison reported these words to Paul, saying, “The magistrates have sent

to let you go. Now therefore depart, and go in peace.”

37  But Paul said to them, “They have beaten us openly, uncondemned Romans, and have thrown

us into prison. And now do they put us out secretly? No indeed! Let them come themselves and

get us out.”

38  And the officers told these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard

that they were Romans.

39  Then they came and pleaded with them and brought them out, and asked them to depart from

the city.

40  So they went out of the prison and entered the house of Lydia; and when they had seen the

brethren, they encouraged them and departed

I. THE DECREES FROM THE JERUSALEM COUNCIL

Acts 16:4

4 And as they went through the cities, they delivered to them the decrees to keep,

which were determined by the apostles and elders at Jerusalem.

Acts 15:24-29

24 Since we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with

words, unsettling your souls, saying, “You must be circumcised and keep the law”—to

whom we gave no such commandment—

25  it seemed good to us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men to you

with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,

26  men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

27  We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who will also report the same things by

word of mouth.

28  For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden

than these necessary things:

29  that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and

from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well.

1. We are saved by faith through grace plus nothing

2. We must keep ourselves after we are saved

3. Established doctrine strengthens the church

II. HOW TO BE LED BY THE SPIRIT

Acts 16:6-10

6 Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were

forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia.

7  After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not

permit them.

8  So passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas.

9  And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded

with him, saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”

10  Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia,

concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them.

Learn to discern how God speaks to you. For Paul it was dreams and visions. But not

for everybody.

III. SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE NEED JESUS TOO

Acts 16:11-15

11 Therefore, sailing from Troas, we ran a straight course to Samothrace, and the next

day came to Neapolis,

12  and from there to Philippi, which is the foremost city of that part of Macedonia, a

colony. And we were staying in that city for some days.

13  And on the Sabbath day we went out of the city to the riverside, where prayer was

customarily made; and we sat down and spoke to the women who met there.

14  Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the

city of Thyatira, who worshiped God. The Lord opened her heart to heed the things

spoken by Paul.

15  And when she and her household were baptized, she begged us, saying, “If you

have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” So she

persuaded us.

Purple cloth of all kinds would be in high demand in this colony with its many

Romans. It formed the trimming of the white Roman toga as well as of the tunic; the

rich wore purple.

IV. THE DANGER OF LOOSING YOUR COOL

Acts 16:16-24

16 Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a

spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling.

17  This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, “These men are the servants of

the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.”

18  And this she did for many days. But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the

spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And he came

out that very hour.

19  But when her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and

Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities.

20  And they brought them to the magistrates, and said, “These men, being Jews,

exceedingly trouble our city;

21  and they teach customs which are not lawful for us, being Romans, to receive or

observe.”

22  Then the multitude rose up together against them; and the magistrates tore off

their clothes and commanded them to be beaten with rods.

23  And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison,

commanding the jailer to keep them securely.

24  Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their

feet in the stocks.

Annoyed - diaponeomai – To provoke or irk

V. THERE IS NOTHING LIKE PRAISE IN THE MIDNIGHT HOUR

Acts 16:25-26

25 But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the

prisoners were listening to them.

26  Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were

shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s chains were

loosed.

VI. MY LIFE MUST BE A TESTIMONY

ACTS 16:27-34

27 And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open,

supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself.

28  But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.”

29  Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas.

30  And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

31  So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your

household.”

32  Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house.

33  And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And

immediately he and all his family were baptized.

34  Now when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them; and he

rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household.

VII. THE POWER OF MERCY

Acts 16:35-40

35 And when it was day, the magistrates sent the officers, saying, “Let those men go.”

36  So the keeper of the prison reported these words to Paul, saying, “The magistrates

have sent to let you go. Now therefore depart, and go in peace.”

37  But Paul said to them, “They have beaten us openly, uncondemned Romans, and

have thrown us into prison. And now do they put us out secretly? No indeed! Let

them come themselves and get us out.”

38  And the officers told these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when

they heard that they were Romans.

39  Then they came and pleaded with them and brought them out, and asked them to

depart from the city.

40  So they went out of the prison and entered the house of Lydia; and when they had

seen the brethren, they encouraged them and departed