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1 Peter 5:6-11 | The Antidote for Suffering

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your cares on him, because he cares about you. Be sober-minded, be alert. Your adversary the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour. Resist him, firm in the faith, knowing that the same kind of sufferings are being experienced by your fellow believers throughout the world. The God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, establish, strengthen, and support you after you have suffered a little while. To him be dominion forever. Amen.” 1 Peter 5:6-11 CSB

-It is no secret that the antidote or the cure for suffering is humility. What humility means is that you think less of yourself and you think more about others. So Paul is encouraging the elders of the church to humble themselves through suffering and persecution. As we humble ourselves, we need to cast our cares on the Lord for He cares about us. Warren Wiersbe states that “The Christian life is not a playground; it is a battleground; and we must be on guard at all times.” To be on guard at all times means that we need to be sober minded at all times. Why? “Your adversary the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour.” The devil is real you guys and he attacks our thoughts by throwing darts of fear, shame, and doubt to make us feel discouraged and weak. How do we resist the devil? We need to have faith in the Lord. “In every situation take up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one” (Ephesians 6:16). I hate to break it to you but as believers we are called to suffer. Again, Christianity is not a playground. It’s not a cushy lifestyle where everything is catered to you. Christianity requires suffering and it requires us having faith in Jesus Christ. Understand this promise; through suffering He will restores us, establishes us, strengthens us, and supports us in our weaknesses and in our failings. God is with you He will never leave you nor forsake you. To summarize this passage, in times of suffering we need to put on humility, we need to be guarded, we need to resist the devil, and we need to have faith by trusting in the Lord’s promises. It’s been a rough week for me lately and I love how God’s word refurbishes my thoughts and my heart as I cry out to Him daily. One more passage to encourage you all is 2 Corinthians 4:16-19 “Therefore we do not give up. Even though our outer person is being destroyed, our inner person is being renewed day by day. For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory. So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” Don’t give up and Don’t lose heart my friends. Stay faithful to the Lord and persevere through the pain and the sufferings of this world.

Prayer:

Dear Lord,

I pray for those who are suffering and those who are fanning the flames of doubt and despair. I pray that they will find hope in You. Give us clarity and give us peace through our battles of spiritual warfare. I pray Lord that we don’t lose heart and give up on You. I pray that we can cast all of our cares and anxieties on You for You care about us. Lord, You are the one who wipes every tear from our eyes that there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying, that there shall be no more pain for the former things have passed away. You are the God who saves and I pray for those who do not know You as Lord and Savior will give their lives to You and forgive them for the sins that they committed. You are the author and finisher of our faith and I pray that You will give us the endurance to keep pushing and to keep persevering. We love You Lord, we praise, and we give You all the glory. 

In Jesus name,

Amen

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Ephesians 4:17-32 | Don’t Walk Like Unbelievers

I. Introduction

a. When I was a kid I looked up to my older brother. We would grow up playing Pokemon together, watched wrestling, played on the same basketball team, and all these other fun things that we did as brothers. Until he was in 6th grade, he changed and started hanging out with the wrong people. He would feel peer pressured to do things that could get him into a lot of trouble from my parents. From looking up to him, I wanted to do the same things and get in trouble like him but my conscious was telling me it’s not a good idea to get into a lot of trouble as a pre-teen. In situations like these, we tend to look up to our older siblings, our parents, or anyone who influenced our lives. If those things lead us to do something wrong, we need to put on the breaks, redirect our steps, and walk accordingly in how the Lord wants us to walk as we obey Him and honor. To prevent us from doing something wrong, we cant walk like unbelievers. Let us go ahead and read Ephesians 4:17-32

II. Three Ways To Not Walk Like Unbelievers

Don’t Follow The Dark Side (vv.17-19)

a. What does it mean to testify in the Lord? (v.17a)

-Testify (Greek) = martyromai which means call to witness

-As Paul testifies in the Lord, he is speaking on the Lord’s behalf

b. What is Paul testifying? (vv. 17b)

“…that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind.

-What’s a Gentile? A person who is not Jewish

-The kind of Gentiles that Paul was addressing were non-believers.

-Futility: Useless

-Why shouldn’t they walk as the Gentiles walked? (vv.18-19)

“They are darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them and because of the hardness of their hearts. They became callous and gave themselves over to promiscuity for the practice of every kind of impurity with a desire for more and more” (Christian Standard Bible).

-It is scary to know that this type of stuff happens with everyday people.

-When we walk in sin we tend to lose sight of the Lord.

-When you walk like a Gentile, you’re walking in sin. When you walk in sin, you’re walking in the world.

*1 John 2:15-16 “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.”

*Romans 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.

-By doing those things, that’s not how came to know Christ (v.20

-It can disqualify you from knowing Him.

-The perfect will of God is for you to pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart in ways of walking away from sin.

-I encourage you guys to not allow sin to take hold of you and allow the Holy Spirit to work through you.

2) Putting Off the Old and Putting On the New (vv. 20-24)

a. When it comes to putting off the old and putting on the new man, it is the same idea of putting off or putting on a set of clothes.

b. The Main Idea: to change into a different kind of conduct.

ex. Private school kids have when you wear your uniforms, you act like you’re well behaved. However, when you change into your regular clothes after a long day from school, you’re personality changes.

c. Fundamentally, Paul says that for the Christian, there must be a break with the past. Jesus isn’t merely added to our old life; the old life dies and He becomes our new life.

d. The church of Ephesus think that they were all set knowing the foundations of the Lord (vv. 20-21) that they heard Him, were taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus. They had the head knowledge of knowing who Jesus is but they have to have a heart attitude to apply what they were taught.

e. Application (v. 22) “that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.

f. What do we need to put off?

-Former Conduct: Things that you did back in the day that got you into a lot of trouble.

-Deceitful Lust: a strong desire that can tempt you to sin

- Those things could take you away from following hard after the Lord.

*Colossians 3:5-9 “Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds,

g. What we need to put on?

-Righteousness: The condition to be acceptable to God.

-Holiness: set apart from the world and be in the presence of God.

*Colossians 3:12-14 “Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.”

h. Putting off and putting on is a transformation process that happens through sanctification.

*2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

*Romans 12:2 “…Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

*John 17:17 “sanctify them by Your truth, Your Word is truth.”

Warren Wiersbe “As the mind understands the truth of God’s Word, it is gradually transformed by the Spirit, and this renewal leads to a changed life. Physically, you are what you eat, but spir­itually, you are what you think.

i. If we want a true genuine relationship with Christ, we need to ask ourselves what we need to put off and what we need to put on.

3) Change Your Attitude (vv. 25-32)

Several things that can ruin your attitude

a. Lying (v. 25)

-A lie is a statement that is contrary to fact, spoken with the intent to deceive.

-Another term for lying is spreading false witnesses.

-9th Commandment in the Bible

*Exodus 20:16 “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.”

-Where does lying come from? The devil

*John 8:44 “You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.

-How can we stop ourselves from lying? We need to speak truth (v. 25b).

*Proverbs 12:22 “Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord,

But those who deal truthfully are His delight.

b. Sinful Anger (v.26)

-All sinful anger is hard to fight. It’s a selfish, hot-blooded passion our flesh enjoys indulging.

-We can tell if anger is sinful because we feel its defiling effect of impurity on us.

*Eccleciastes 7:9 “Do not hasten in your spirit to be angry, For anger rests in the bosom of fools.

*Psalms 37:8 “Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; Do not fret—it only causes harm.”

-How can we stop ourselves from sinful anger? There is only one way to put sinful anger to death: self-humbling sinless anger. Sinful anger is fueled by pride, so we have to cut the fuel supply. And most of our anger is diffused in two simple, self-humbling ways. Prayer and Talking to someone about it to encourage you

*Psalms 4:4 “Be angry, and do not sin. Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still.”

c. Stealing (v. 28)

-Stealing is taking something that is not yours without asking.

-It’s the 8th commandment in the Bible

*Exodus 20:15 You shall not steal.

-How can we stop ourselves from? DON’T STEAL!

d. Corrupt Communication (v. 29)

Corrupt Communication in means of profanity, cussing, evil, or unwholesome talk. It is indication of the tongue being uncontrollable.

*James 3:6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell.

*Matthew 15:11 “Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.”

*Luke 6:45 “ A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

-How can we stops ourselves to speak corruptly? We need to speak words of edification.

*1 Thessalonians 5:11 Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.

*Romans 15:2 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification.

e. Bitterness (v. 31)

-Bitterness is resentful cynicism that results in an intense antagonism or hostility toward others

-Dictionary: anger and disappointment at being treated unfairly; resentment.

*Romans 3:13-14 “Their throat is an open tomb;

With their tongues they have practiced deceit”; “The poison of asps is under their lips”; “Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.”

-How can we stop ourselves from being bitter? We need to show kindness

-The Greek word for kindness is chrēstotēs which means benignity, tender concern, uprightness

*Titus 3:4-5 “But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,

f. Wrath/Clamor (v. 31)

-Being angry at someone in a loud upsetting tone.

*Psalms 37:8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; Do not fret—it only causes harm.

-How can we stop ourselves from wrath/clamor? Applying tenderheartedness

*1 Peter 3:8 Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous;

g. Evil Speaking/ Malice (v. 31)

-It is a lot similar to corrupt communication but its pretty much backbiting or trash talking on someone who offended us

*James 4:11 “Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge.”

*1 Peter 2:1 Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking,

-How can we stop ourselves from evil speaking? We need to show forgiveness

*Matthew 6:14 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

*Colossians 3:13 “bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.”

h. If we do those several things that could ruin our attitude, we are grieving the Holy Spirit but our calling is to not grieve it (v. 30)

i. Encouragement and a challenge in our attitudes to one another is to “be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”

III. Conclusion

a. We should not walk like unbelievers because it can lead us darkness, it can leave us acting, and it can ruin our attitudes. When we walk like unbelievers, we don’t produce good fruit. So I encourage you guys to put on the new man in Christ and produce good fruit. *John 15:5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” When we stay close to the Lord, we no longer desire to walk like unbelievers.

b. John Piper “Sin is not just doing what’s wrong; it’s waging war on God. Sin is not only insane; It’s suicide. End the madness and turn to Jesus”

c. We desire to live a life that is pure, holy, and blameless. If you have not experience that, I want to give you an opportunity to receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior

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III John 1:1-8 | Walk in Truth

I. INTRODUCTION

Jesus claimed in John 14:6 “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” It was a reply to Thomas’ question “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?” Jesus ministering to his disciples to not let their hearts be troubled but instead believe in God. When it comes to believing in God, we need to believe that He is true. Jesus claimed that He is “the truth” if we say that we put our faith in Jesus Christ, we need to walk in truth. So in this time I will talk about walking in truth as we look into 3 John 1-8

PASSAGE

1 The Elder, To the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth: 2 Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. 3 For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth. 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. 5 Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do for the brethren and for strangers, 6 who have borne witness of your love before the church. If you send them forward on their journey in a manner worthy of God, you will do well, 7 because they went forth for His name’s sake, taking nothing from the Gentiles. 8 We therefore ought to receive[c] such, that we may become fellow workers for the truth.

II. OVERVIEW

a. So we what we notice in this passage is that this letter is written to a member of the church. 

b.To state the obvious John wrote this epistle and it is the trilogy of his epistles and a continuation of 1 and 2 John. 

c. John addressed Himself as The Elder meaning that he has advanced in life. 

d. The Greek word for elder is presbyteros which we get our English word Presbyterian.

e.  As the Elder or head head overseer, He is addressing this letter to his friend Gaius.

III. WHO IS GAIUS?

a. Gaius was a common name in the Roman Empire (Acts 19:29, 20:4; 1 Corinthians 1:14; Romans 16:23). 

b. In here John is writing to a member of a church or someone that He is very close to in the ministry. 

c. What we see in this passage regarding to Gaius is that 

-John is praying for his future endeavors (v.2)

-John rejoicing the fact that he is walking in truth (vv.3-4)

-John encouraging Him  to be faithful and to be good example (vv.5-8)

d. The overall theme that John is trying to aim at is “walking in truth.” 

IV. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO WALK IN TRUTH? 

a. Truth: To make one’s way of living a life that is unhidden

b. Greek: peripateō alētheia

c. PRESENT ACTIVE PARTICIPLE meaning that it involves doing. So basically its a verb and its something that you do on a continual basis. 

d. John wrote this letter during the time when apostasy was happening. Apostasy meaning those who fall away from the truth. 

-That was happening in the church to where people no longer talk about the truth of the gospel but instead talk about things that would tickle peoples ears.  We notice the decline of churches who had walked away from teaching the truth of God’s word. We even have some Calvary Chapel churches who longer teach the scriptures and bought into the teaching of how to live a purpose driven life. That is sad but true. As believers we need to be walking in truth.

V. HOW DO WE WALK IN TRUTH?

Point 1 - We need to EXEMPLIFY truth (vv.3-4) 

“For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth” What I mean by that is that we need to have a good testimony of truth?

*2 Timothy 2:15 “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” a. Gaius had a tremendous testimony of living a life that is true. 

b. Gaius was recognized as a man who obeyed the Word of God and “walked in truth”

*1 John 2:4 “I was very glad to find some of your children walking in truth, in keeping with a command we have received from the Father.”

c. Gaius was one of them. It is so amazing how John recognized him in this letter by saying “I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you.” (v.3) and “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth” (v.4). 

d. Some of the brethren had made several visits to John, and they had joyfully reported that Gaius was a glowing example of what a Christian ought to be. e. My encouragement for us as Bible College students is that we need to be like Gaius and walk in truth. 

VI. HOW DO WE DO THAT?

*John 17:17 Jesus praying for His disciples saying “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.”

a. The indication of walking in truth is the word of God, the Bible

-“The B-I-B-L-E, Yes, that’s the book for me, I stand alone on the Word of God, The B-I-B-L-E.” b. My question that I’m asking you guys is “are you REALLY walking in truth?” “are you exemplifying truth?” “Are you applying God’s word in your lives?” -As an off campus student I don’t really interact with any of the on campus students. I’m a very observant guy to where some people in this campus don’t really have a good testimony of truth. I see guys acting immature and guys who don’t bring their Bibles to chapel. At times I kind of question their devotional life. If we’re not applying that are we really walking truth? Does that exemplify truth if we’re practicing those things? To me that does not exemplify a good testimony of truth and that could describe what a carnal Christian looks like. So if you are one of them I encourage you guys to please walk in truth. You’re in the season to where the Lord is molding you and shaping you if He calls you out to plant a church, be a pastor, be a pastor’s wife, a ministry leader, so on and so forth. 

VII. Conclusion

a. Our journey through life as followers of Jesus is an active one. Jesus is not pulling us in a wagon! We have to walk.

b. It’s our choice and you decide will you just say you love Jesus, or will you get up and actually follow Him in truth and love by serving the people He puts in your life today?

c. If we’re not living in truth, we’re living a lie

d. “A lie can make it’s way halfway around the world while truth is still lacing up its boots.” Mark Twain

*2 Timothy 2:15 “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

e. Be like Gaius and have a testimony of walking in truth

#bible #walkingintruth #sermon #devotion