The Exodus Chronicles: Part 2

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Exodus Chronicles: Part 2 

Pastor Rollan Fisher

Focus: As you follow Jesus into his abundant and eternal life, remember that things can get harder before they get better, but in Jesus you will be the victor. 

• Things Can Get Harder

• Before They Get Better

• Yet Christ is the Victor

Exodus 5:1-14 

Afterward Moses and Aaron went and said to Pharaoh, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘Let my people go, that they may hold a feast to me in the wilderness.’” But Pharaoh said, “Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice and let Israel go? I do not know the Lord , and moreover, I will not let Israel go.” Then they said, “The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Please let us go a three days' journey into the wilderness that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God, lest he fall upon us with pestilence or with the sword.” But the king of Egypt said to them, “Moses and Aaron, why do you take the people away from their work? Get back to your burdens.” And Pharaoh said, “Behold, the people of the land are now many, and you make them rest from their burdens!” The same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people and their foremen, “You shall no longer give the people straw to make bricks, as in the past; let them go and gather straw for themselves. But the number of bricks that they made in the past you shall impose on them, you shall by no means reduce it, for they are idle. Therefore they cry, ‘Let us go and offer sacrifice to our God.’ Let heavier work be laid on the men that they may labor at it and pay no regard to lying words.” So the taskmasters and the foremen of the people went out and said to the people, “Thus says Pharaoh, ‘I will not give you straw. Go and get your straw yourselves wherever you can find it, but your work will not be reduced in the least.’” So the people were scattered throughout all the land of Egypt to gather stubble for straw. The taskmasters were urgent, saying, “Complete your work, your daily task each day, as when there was straw.” And the foremen of the people of Israel, whom Pharaoh's taskmasters had set over them, were beaten and were asked, “Why have you not done all your task of making bricks today and yesterday, as in the past?”

Things Can Get Harder 

When we follow Jesus into his life of promise, things can seem to get harder before they get better.  

Have no doubt about it, when God has called you to himself in Christ and for his Kingdom purposes, the resistance to your forward progress will begin.  

Difficulties do not mean that you are not going in the right direction.  

Once you have received the word of the Lord, do not be discouraged by thinking difficulties are a strange thing, but be encouraged that they are signs that you are going in the right direction. 

There is intentional, Ephesians 6 resistance in the spiritual realm to dissuade and discourage the worship of God.  

Battle is a barometer, not a compass. 

To the naked eye, they may look similar, but they are not the same.  

What is a barometer?:

It is an instrument measuring atmospheric pressure, used especially in forecasting the weather and determining altitude.

The closer you get to God (altitude) and his purposes, the greater the pressure can become, but the closer you are to his strong hand being revealed (Exodus 6:1). 

Exodus 6:1 

But the Lord said to Moses, “Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh; for with a strong hand he will send them out, and with a strong hand he will drive them out of his land.”

That strong hand was the Lord’s. 

“Miracles are a retelling in small letters of the very same story which is written across the whole world in letters too large for some of us to see.”

C.S. Lewis

Just because things get harder doesn’t mean that God has forgotten you.  

Just because things get harder doesn’t mean that what you are doing is not what the Lord has called you to do.  

Ease does not equate to the will of God. 

Just because things get harder doesn’t mean that God is not planning to help you.  

You must stick to what he told you in moments of lucidity to complete what he has said to do in moments of challenge.  

The Silver Chair examples.  

Before They Get Better 

Things start to get better when we remember the person and promises of God. 

Exodus 5:15-23 

Then the foremen of the people of Israel came and cried to Pharaoh, “Why do you treat your servants like this? No straw is given to your servants, yet they say to us, ‘Make bricks!’ And behold, your servants are beaten; but the fault is in your own people.” But he said, “You are idle, you are idle; that is why you say, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to the Lord.’ Go now and work. No straw will be given you, but you must still deliver the same number of bricks.” The foremen of the people of Israel saw that they were in trouble when they said, “You shall by no means reduce your number of bricks, your daily task each day.” They met Moses and Aaron, who were waiting for them, as they came out from Pharaoh; and they said to them, “The Lord look on you and judge, because you have made us stink in the sight of Pharaoh and his servants, and have put a sword in their hand to kill us.” Then Moses turned to the Lord and said, “O Lord, why have you done evil to this people? Why did you ever send me? For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has done evil to this people, and you have not delivered your people at all.”

Do not be surprised when God is moving and making forward progress in your life that work becomes more demanding, family situations arise and it seems that you can not complete school assignments while serving God.  

It will feel like you are now having to choose between your immediate needs and what God is calling you into as good.  

They will seem in conflict with one another so that even those who were proclaiming the good news to you, encouraging your participation in church and the community of God now seem like opponents to you because all they are doing is adding “extra burdens” to your life.    

If you don’t recognize this cycle, it will never end. 

Christ’s antidote to this conundrum is simple.  

Seek his Kingdom first. 

Matthew 6:31-34 

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. 34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

We have the tendency to either overestimate or underestimate the importance of others’ involvement in our lives for the work of God to be accomplished. 

Remember that it was the same Moses (and these will be the same people in your life) who a chapter before was welcomed bringing the good news of God’s deliverance.  

Exodus 4:30-31 

Aaron spoke all the words that the Lord had spoken to Moses and did the signs in the sight of the people. And the people believed; and when they heard that the Lord had visited the people of Israel and that he had seen their affliction, they bowed their heads and worshiped. 

Moses was specifically sent by God to be used by God to set the Israelites free. 

Who might you be resisting in your life that God has sent?  

“Pain insists upon being attended to. God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our consciences, but shouts in our pains. It is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world.”

C.S. Lewis

How much more so does Jesus mercifully use others into our lives to wake us up to his direction when our eyes and ears are closed - voluntarily or involuntarily?  

The do’s and don’ts of the battle:

Do not be discouraged 

Do not blame shift 

Do not forget God’s promises

*When you put your faith in Christ, you are not putting your confidence in your ability to change but God’s ability to change you.  

Yet Christ is the Victor

Jesus is the victor that ushers us into his ultimate victory by his resurrection from the dead.  

Gethsemane and the cross are perfect examples of how Jesus is the ultimate victory for his people demonstrating that though times can get worse before they got better, Christ is the ultimate victor.  

“The author of the hymn 'Amazing Grace', John Newton, who once was a slave ship captain, and who became a Christian preacher and an enemy of the slave trade, once said: 'I have reason to praise [God] for my trials, for, most probably, I should have been ruined without them.' The author of The Gulag Archipelago , Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, who suffered for twenty years in the hellish prison camps he describes in that book, wrote: 'Bless you prison, bless you for being in my life. For there, lying upon the rotting prison straw, I came to realize that the object of life is not prosperity as we are made to believe, but the maturity of the human soul.' This does not mean that Newton would have chosen to go through his trials, or that Solzhenitsyn in any way enjoyed the terrible suffering of his imprisonment. But it means that in retrospect they can see that God used those difficulties to bless them in the long run.”

Eric Metaxas, Miracles: What They Are, Why They Happen, and How They Can Change Your Life

Christ’s cross comes before Christ’s victories in our lives.  

Always remember that this life is not all that matters.  

Romans 8:28-30 

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

When we serve Jesus with faith and without fear, we properly interpret our challenges, turn from our sin to be forgiven at the cross and follow Jesus into his ultimate victory - life abundant and eternal!!

Second City Church - Pastor Rollan Fisher

The Exodus Chronicles

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The Exodus Chronicles

Pastor Rollan Fisher 

• God Sees

• God Hears

• God Acts

God Sees

God sees the suffering of those he loves.  

Exodus 2:23-25

During those many days the king of Egypt died, and the people of Israel groaned because of their slavery and cried out for help. Their cry for rescue from slavery came up to God. And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. God saw the people of Israel—and God knew.

Even when you find yourself in challenging situations, never forget that God will remember his covenant with you.

You need to read and understand the covenant to have confidence to cry out to God to be faithful to it.

“Because God is the living God, He can hear; because He is a loving God, He will hear; because He is our covenant God, He has bound Himself to hear.”

— Charles H. Spurgeon

God Hears 

God hears the prayers of those who cry out to him. 

Exodus 3:7-10

Then the Lord said, “I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings, and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. And now, behold, the cry of the people of Israel has come to me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.”

God desires to bring us into abundant life in Christ (John 10:10) based on his covenant.  

There are expectations in the covenant of God: faith and obedience.  

Romans 1:1-6

Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations, including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ,

What can block us from the life of God or from God hearing our prayers?  

When we pick and choose which of his commands to obey.  

Proverbs 15:8

The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, but the prayer of the upright is acceptable to him.

Psalm 66:18-20

If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. But truly God has listened; he has attended to the voice of my prayer. Blessed be God, because he has not rejected my prayer or removed his steadfast love from me!

“Sin, transgression, and iniquity are different words in the Old Testament. Most of us are familiar with the Greek term hamartia, meaning “sin,” which conveys the idea of falling short of the mark. We are made for the glory of God, but sin causes us to fall short of the mark. Transgression has the very basic idea of crossing the line. God has given us His law, and we cross the line. Iniquity has the sense in Psalm 51, for example, of “twistedness.” There is a twistedness in us as a consequence of this. All of these words are different angles of one and the same reality: our disobedience to God, our againstness, our hatred, our diversion from Him.

They say that the more important something is, the more words you’ll find in that culture for that something. And there is an abundance of vocabulary in the Hebrew Old Testament for sin. But the great thing is, there is also an abundance of vocabulary for the idea of grace. So there’s bad news, but there’s also very good news.”

-Sinclair Ferguson 

You must honor the Son, not idols, for God to honor your prayers.  

“Those that name the name of Christ, but do not depart from iniquity, as that name binds them to do, name it in vain; their worship is vain.”

-Matthew Henry

God Acts

God acts on behalf of those who would respond to his saving hand in Jesus Christ. 

What King David learned:

Psalm 145:15-20

The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season. You open your hand; you satisfy the desire of every living thing. The Lord is righteous in all his ways and kind in all his works. The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them. The Lord preserves all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy.

God ultimately acted by sending his son Jesus Christ to be the greater Moses to deliver us all from our bondage to sin.  

To call on God in truth means that you don’t make up your own form of religion or spirituality, but that you submit to the Lordship of Christ.  

When you fear God, it means that you are committed to obeying his commands because you know that he will judge all of your works.  

When you turn to God in repentance from self-righteousness and self-sufficiency, you are clothed with the righteousness of God in Jesus Christ.  

Because of the cross of Jesus, God meets us in our weakness and failings to preserve us and teach us how to love him. 

Second City Church - Pastor Rollan Fisher

We Believe

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We Believe

Pastor Rollan Fisher 

• What We Believe

• Why We Believe

• Why It Matters 

What We Believe

We believe in a living God who sent his Son to the cross to pay for our sins and raised him to life with miracle power. 

“To preach Christianity meant (to the Apostles) primarily to preach the Resurrection. … The Resurrection is the central theme in every Christian sermon reported in the Acts. The Resurrection, and its consequences, were the ‘gospel’ or good news which the Christians brought.”  -CS Lewis in Miracles

1 Corinthians 15:1-11 

Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you— unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

“We find ourselves in a world of transporting pleasures, ravishing beauties, and tantalising possibilities, but all constantly being destroyed, all coming to nothing. Nature has all the air of a good thing spoiled.” -C.S. Lewis, Miracles

Why We Believe

We believe because there is evidence for the miracles of Christ and the resurrection all around us.  

1 Peter 3:14-16 

But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.

“In short, I didn’t become a Christian because God promised I would have an even happier life than I had as an atheist. He never promised any such thing. Indeed, following him would inevitably bring divine demotions in the eyes of the world. Rather, I became a Christian because the evidence was so compelling that Jesus really is the one-and-only Son of God who proved his divinity by rising from the dead. That meant following him was the most rational and logical step I could possibly take.” -Lee Strobel

40 days of proof (Acts 1) and Evidence for the Resurrection:

1. No one dies for what they know to be a lie - the death of the apostles

2. The radical change of heart of the family of Jesus

3. No mass hallucinations - the 500 witnesses

4. Even his enemies said so - extra Biblical testimony

5. From Persecutor to Martyr - Paul the apostle

6. An earthquake, a split curtain and dead saints in the city (Matthew 27:51-54)

7. The empty tomb - they knew where, centurions losing their lives (Matthew 27:57-61)

8. Jerusalem would have been a hard place to begin such a lie (Acts 1-2)

9. Power feats that followed testimony of the resurrection in the book of Acts - C.S. Lewis speaks : Lord, Lunatic or Liar discussion

10. *Prophecies fulfilled regarding the death and resurrection of Christ (Isaiah 52-53)

Isaiah 52:13-53:12 

Behold, my servant shall act wisely; he shall be high and lifted up, and shall be exalted. As many were astonished at you— his appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance, and his form beyond that of the children of mankind— so shall he sprinkle many nations. Kings shall shut their mouths because of him, for that which has not been told them they see, and that which they have not heard they understand. Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people? And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth. Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.

“Death is a safety-device because, once Man has fallen, natural immortality would be the one utterly hopeless destiny for him.” -C.S. Lewis, Miracles

Why It Matters 

Because the foundation of our faith is based on the miracle of Christ’s resurrection from the dead, we believe God equally for miracles today.  

1 Peter 1:3-9 

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

The resurrection completes the inauguration of God’s kingdom. . . . It is the decisive event demonstrating that God’s kingdom really has been launched on earth as it is in heaven. The message of Easter is that God’s new world has been unveiled in Jesus Christ and that you’re now invited to belong to it.” - N.T. Wright

So what are we to do?

“Keep back nothing. Nothing that you have not given away will ever be really yours. Nothing in you that has not died will ever be raised from the dead. Look for yourself, and you will find in the long run only hatred, loneliness, despair, rage, ruin, and decay. But look for Christ and you will find Him, and with Him, everything else thrown in.” -CS Lewis in Mere Christianity

Second City Church - Pastor Rollan Fisher

Leaving Your Jar

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Leaving Your Jar

Pastor Jim Critcher

“Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Christ?” They came out of the town and made their way toward him.” (John 4:28–30, NIV84)
 

• “Come and See” - she came to the well to become a well!

• Exchange of the natural need and supply for the spiritual 

• The need for a different container - “new wineskins"

Parting the water 

2 Kings 2:13-14

And he took up the cloak of Elijah that had fallen from him and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. Then he took the cloak of Elijah that had fallen from him and struck the water, saying, “Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” And when he had struck the water, the water was parted to the one side and to the other, and Elisha went over.

Healing the water

2Kings 2:19-22

Now the men of the city said to Elisha, “Behold, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord sees, but the water is bad, and the land is unfruitful.” He said, “Bring me a new bowl, and put salt in it.” So they brought it to him. Then he went to the spring of water and threw salt in it and said, “Thus says the Lord, I have healed this water; from now on neither death nor miscarriage shall come from it.” So the water has been healed to this day, according to the word that Elisha spoke.

Believing for water 

2Kings 3:1-20

In the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, Jehoram the son of Ahab became king over Israel in Samaria, and he reigned twelve years. He did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, though not like his father and mother, for he put away the pillar of Baal that his father had made. Nevertheless, he clung to the sin of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel to sin; he did not depart from it.

Now Mesha king of Moab was a sheep breeder, and he had to deliver to the king of Israel 100,000 lambs and the wool of 100,000 rams. But when Ahab died, the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel. So King Jehoram marched out of Samaria at that time and mustered all Israel. And he went and sent word to Jehoshaphat king of Judah: “The king of Moab has rebelled against me. Will you go with me to battle against Moab?” And he said, “I will go. I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses.” Then he said, “By which way shall we march?” Jehoram answered, “By the way of the wilderness of Edom.”

So the king of Israel went with the king of Judah and the king of Edom. And when they had made a circuitous march of seven days, there was no water for the army or for the animals that followed them. Then the king of Israel said, “Alas! The Lord has called these three kings to give them into the hand of Moab.” And Jehoshaphat said, “Is there no prophet of the Lord here, through whom we may inquire of the Lord?” Then one of the king of Israel's servants answered, “Elisha the son of Shaphat is here, who poured water on the hands of Elijah.” And Jehoshaphat said, “The word of the Lord is with him.” So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went down to him.

And Elisha said to the king of Israel, “What have I to do with you? Go to the prophets of your father and to the prophets of your mother.” But the king of Israel said to him, “No; it is the Lord who has called these three kings to give them into the hand of Moab.” And Elisha said, “As the Lord of hosts lives, before whom I stand, were it not that I have regard for Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would neither look at you nor see you. But now bring me a musician.” And when the musician played, the hand of the Lord came upon him. And he said, “Thus says the Lord, ‘I will make this dry streambed full of pools.’ For thus says the Lord, ‘You shall not see wind or rain, but that streambed shall be filled with water, so that you shall drink, you, your livestock, and your animals.’ This is a light thing in the sight of the Lord. He will also give the Moabites into your hand, and you shall attack every fortified city and every choice city, and shall fell every good tree and stop up all springs of water and ruin every good piece of land with stones.” The next morning, about the time of offering the sacrifice, behold, water came from the direction of Edom, till the country was filled with water.
  

Second City Church 2022

Life of Faith: Part 6

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Life of Faith- Part 6

Pastor Rollan Fisher 

Focus: We will reap the rewards of faith when we seek God for our triumphs and look to Jesus to keep us through our pains to ultimate victory.   

• Welcoming Faith

• Triumphant Faith

• Keeping Faith

Hebrews 11:31-40 

By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies. And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated— of whom the world was not worthy— wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.

Welcoming Faith

The faith into which Jesus calls us is a transforming faith.  

• Faith welcomes Jesus during both good and challenging times to rule and to reign.

• Rahab the prostitute, who would eventually become part of the earthly lineage of Christ (Matthew 1), was a perfect picture of God’s plan of repentance and redemption through Jesus.

• By putting her faith in the God who had just delivered the people of Israel out of Egypt, she received the ability to rewrite her own story by the transforming power of Christ.

• How have you chosen to be identified with Christ so that he might transform your story for his glory?

Triumphant Faith

The faith into which Jesus calls us is a conquering faith.

• One way or another in this fallen world, you will face trials.

• Yet the people of faith came to understand that in God’s Kingdom, ultimately under Christ’s rule, is where they would find the blessing - even in the midst of trial.

How?

• Faith conquers…fears, insecurities, demonic intimidation and kingdoms because you tap into God’s ability and not your own.

• Faith enforces justice because God is faithful to uphold his righteous cause for and through his people.

• Faith obtains promises as it holds to and believes God’s word.

We must learn to STAND on that word.  

• Faith stops the mouths of lions - accusers, oppressors and those who would come after your life and reputation - because God's testimony always has the final say.

• Faith quenches the power of the fire because you know there is another with you enabling you to come through and to come out of that fire without the smell of smoke (Daniel 3).

• Faith turns weakness into strength because you finally have a healthy dependence on God’s ability to move mountains that stand in your way of fulfilling his Kingdom purposes.

This is no hype session. 

• Faith makes you mighty in war, beginning in the Spirit with prayer, that the unseen battle might be won and manifest itself in the natural (Ephesians 6).

• Faith finally has you take up the full armor of God by which you can OVERCOME the enemy's schemes.

It means that if you do not give up, you WIN in the end because of Christ’s victorious resurrection from the dead (II Corinthians 2:14). 

To walk with God, do his will and fulfill the Great Commission of Christ is a fight of faith.  

Yet…

• Faith enables us to put armies to flight by the hand of God as we worship.

• Faith allows us to receive back that which we thought was dead by the power of God as we pray.

All of these examples in Hebrews were men and women of old trusting God and allowing him to show up miraculously in their lives AS THEY SOUGHT HIM BY FAITH. 

*FAITH WAS NOT PASSIVE. 

*THEY SOUGHT GOD BECAUSE THEY HEARD HIS WORD, OF HIS VERY GREAT AND PRECIOUS PROMISES, AND ACTUALLY HOPED FOR SOMETHING. 

Hebrews 11:1 

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

*THE PEOPLE OF FAITH WERE NOT SATISFIED TO TAKE JUST ANYTHING THAT THEY WERE HANDED.  

THEY SOUGHT GOD FOR HIS GOODNESS EXPRESSED IN MIRACULOUS EXPRESSIONS OF HIS LOVE IN THE CONTEXT OF HIS KINGDOM.  

THEY CAME TO UNDERSTAND THAT GOD’S BLESSING WAS FOUND IN HIS KINGDOM - IN HIS TOTAL RULE OVER EVERY ASPECT OF THEIR LIVES.  

So the question is:

For what Kingdom pursuit are you SEEKING God with proactive, tenacious hope?

• Faith leads us to the triumphs of God.

• Yet faith is also learning to endure with Christ when the road to what was promised is not as we prefer or expect.

• Faith allowed women to receive back their dead by resurrection, yet they still had to endure the pain of that death.

Hebrews 11:35b-38

Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two,  they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated— of whom the world was not worthy— wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

It is never an all triumph and no suffering proposition. 

• Jesus leads us to great victories even as we endure the daily pain of the cross.

• And this is the resurrection life of Christ, that we learn to die with him that we might truly live!

• Long-suffering is a part of a Biblical faith that leads us to God’s eternal reward.

• By faith in Jesus and his atoning work for us on the cross for our sins, even in our shortcomings, there is always resurrection life on the other side of our pain.

• The world was not worthy of those who lived such a life locked into the faith of God’s redeeming, restorative plan for the earth through Christ.

• Yet God met them in their pain, continually reaffirming them of the hope of a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness where death will have lost its victory, sin its sting (Isaiah 66; I Corinthians 15:54-58).

• With what do you need to come to Jesus by faith, that he might comfort you in your pains?

Keeping Faith

The faith into which God calls us is a keeping faith as we wait for the fulfillment of the promises of God.   

• Faith is ultimately all about exalting Christ and his Kingdom as he brings about his redemptive plan for the world.

• Your personal story is simply a part of the larger narrative of how God meets, transforms, strengthens, comforts and ultimately glories his people as they follow him, doing his will by faith (Romans 8).

• Your story is never to be central in your mind or lived alone.

• When we become myopic, we deviate from the historic forward march of the people of the cross leading to ultimate victory in Jesus for those who live by faith.

• Only together with other believers is the goal of faith fully realized and the advance of the gospel fully accomplished.

Faith should lead you in godly ambition to that which can only be fully realized when Christ moves fully in his people throughout the generations.  

THIS MEANS THAT YOUR SERVING, YOUR PRAYING, YOUR GIVING AND YOUR GOING TO THE WORLD TODAY WITH THE GOOD NEWS OF JESUS MATTERS!!

Hebrews 11:39,40

And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.

• The gospel of Christ is the gospel of the Kingdom, not just your personal salvation.

• Stop thinking that your walk with God is a solo act.

• There are perfecting partnerships of faith that God uses to help keep you in Jesus as you press on to ultimate victory in Christ.

Who are those people for you? 

• These are the people who strengthen you in disillusionment, lift you during discouragements and remind you of the faith that you share as you build to the glory of God.

• The purposes of God in your life are realized through interdependent relationships through which a mutual, baton-passing faith impacts the present and the generations to come.

• God has always intended his people to be part of an ongoing story directed by the Holy Spirit focused on building an everlasting Kingdom with Christ as King.

The government will be on Christ’s shoulders and the increase of his government will know no end.  

Your walk of faith is an indispensable part of unfolding that story. 

Only together with those who’ve come before you, united with those who will come after you, will the purposes of God be made perfect.  

With whom are you linked to build God’s Kingdom through a unified, multi-generational faith?

Second City Church - Pastor Rollan Fisher

Mercy Proclaimers

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Mercy Proclaimers

Pastor Peter Dusan

Focus:

That we display who we truly are and celebrate the one who made us His.

Introduction: 

Pastor Dusan shared his story of how he encountered our Lord Jesus thru his friend Josh. 

"I heard The Gospel: Jesus Saves Sinners. I ate it up like it was a bag of cheetos after a fast. I believed in Jesus and became his own, & began the real adventure of life with Him! I’ve never been the same since; in fact I’ve since dedicated myself to expanding the mystery of how simply & profoundly Josh impacted my life, just by enjoying and celebrating Jesus, and refusing to shut up about Him. Because of that, I’m not just a wanna-be baseball player, nor am I just a preacher or father, or husband, or American. I’m more; I am in my core identity: His possession"

1 Peter 2:9 

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 

Quick Overview of the book 1 Peter

• This letter is written to various 1st century churches located in Modern day Turkey

• Churches that were scattered by persecution, pain, or disease.

• In their pain they had been under the care of the elderly apostle Peter.

Identity Imperatives / Effect of the Gospel

• Response to what God has done, or the effect which God has caused in the Gospel.

1 Peter 1:3-4; 10-13 (ESV)

[3] Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, [4] to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you. 

[10] Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully . . . (:12) things that have now been announced . . . things into which angels long to look.

[13] Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 

1 Peter 1:3-12 

“Because of His death & resurrection . . . his great mercy in making you born again” (Gospel / Cause)

Now therefore, you are HIS (identity), so . . . act like Christians (imperative, or command). 

1 Peter 1:13

Being sober minded--you ARE sober-minded (identity, because He renewed your mind) so set your hope FULLY on him (imperative). 

* Maybe you have reasons to feel anxious (real / difficult reasons), but you possess greater reasons to BE children of hope!

1 Peter 1:14

You are obedient children (identity), don’t go back (imperative). 

* FYI most of our disobedience has less to do with the things we do (behavior), & more to do with lies we believe about who we are. 

1 Peter 1:16

He is holy, (implied-you are his-identity), be holy. (do holiness) 

* It’s the sanctified #YouDoYou (you’re his-you’re holy--be holy) 

Be who you truly are, not just who you think you are or who you used to be. But to learn who you are, you have to get to know God more. 

1 Peter 2: 1-2; 9

1 So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. 2 Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation

9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.  

1 Peter 2:1-2

You’re born of Him (identity) like newborn babies! So, LONG FOR HIM, and put away malice/hate. (imperative) 

1 Peter 2:9

But you ARE a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession (IDENTITY), that you may (IMPERATIVE) proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light

• Displaying who we truly are and celebrating the one who made us His is our transcendent identity.

Chosen Race

• Texas vernacular : “all y’all are chosen.”

• By faith alone, you are regenerated by God the generator himself. If you have faith allegiance to King Jesus, you are not just descendants of Abraham, but direct descendants of the redeemer God himself! Chosen Generation/race.

Royal Priesthood.

• Before Jesus, Israelite priests (Levites) made sacrifices of animals to represent an atoning work on behalf of the people of Israel.

• Without the shedding of blood, there’s no forgiveness of sin.

• Jesus didn’t just represent atonement, HE BECAME THE SACRIFICE & died to fully & finally atone for our sin, and He rose from the grave to bring us new life.

And what happens to us when we really believe that? 

• We become born again, generated anew.

• A chosen race, but also even the extension of his ongoing atoning work, declaring and confirming his forgiveness to others HIM who we proclaim, making peace on the earth!

• We are sent from the king himself to extend his royal pardon

• We are the: Royal priesthood. Paul calls us AMBASSADORS OF RECONCILIATION!

Holy Nation

• The word Peter uses here for “nation” is ETHNOS, the Greek word from which we get our English word Ethnicity.

• When we believe in Jesus, we are the holy ethnos!

• When we’re born again, our past backgrounds, whether ethnically or nationally, aren’t erased; they’re subordinated under a greater, holy identity.

• When God gives us a good thing, like our ethnic heritage, it’s meant to be displayed for his glory. It must be neither eliminated nor elevated above the giver of the gift. Eliminate it and it robs God of his glory of producing diverse beauty; elevate it too much and it can be idolatry. (like any gift).

A People for His Own Possession

• “My life is not my own.”

• Your truest and deepest identity is not something you do (job), & not something YOU identify about yourself, but something HE CALLS YOU. Because you can’t know who you are without discovering whose you’re meant to be.

• I can’t discover WHO I really am until I GIVE MYSELF AWAY, so He can use me . . .

That we display who we truly are and celebrate the one who made us His.

Our calling to Celebrate the One Who made us His

1 Peter 2:9b

[9b] that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light

• The purpose of us being chosen and set apart by God also has a lot to do with our calling to tell others about it.

“We weren't just chosen instead of other people, but on behalf of other people.”

~Dr. Brian Taylor

• When God set you apart, it was to love you like no one else could, but also it was for Him to love your neighbor through your proclamation of His goodness. He wanted to do a work in you also ON BEHALF of those around you who would bear witness to it.

• “Proclaim” in KJV is “shew forth, ” original meaning: to tell out, make known by proclaiming, or CELEBRATING.

• Our faith is personal, but not private--enjoy Jesus publicly.

Evangelism can be as simple as living a celebration lifestyle and spreading Jesus

• Pay attention to the words of this verse! It doesn’t say, “Jesus has made you a HOLY NATION, now you go do something for him!” (it doesn't say that, but how often do we act like that’s what sharing our faith is?) ○ That’s not our burden! Peter didn’t say, “y’all should proclaim, ” but “that you may.”

• God removes the burden of what you think you SHOULD do in evangelism, & reveals the simple joy of what you CAN do.

• No longer do we have to do things FOR God, but we can proclaim/celebrate FROM our secure love and identity in God.

• And so, like the priestess JLo implores us: Let’s get loud! Except loud with the truth of a real savior, & not loud with any other foolishness.

What is it that we are to celebrate and proclaim? 

1 Peter 2:9b : HIS EXCELLENCY

• It’s hard to proclaim His excellency when your mouth (or mind or maybe your facebook timeline) is full of other things.

• If you are HIS, the calling to tell of Him is YOURS. It’s not about performing, it’s about displaying and celebrating.

1 Peter 2:10

[10] Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

• V10 is the cause of our identity and our imperative to celebrate it loudly, & Peter reiterates verse 10, in order to source verse 9.

• This is a couplet; 2 parallel statements stating one truth in different ways.

• There is a relationship between receiving mercy & having a true identity established. No mercy? No identity. because His mercy makes us His! And keeps us his (throughout all our scatteredness)

• Only the Gospel of mercy sets us right, makes us a people. 1 Peter 1:3 According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again . .

Bottom Line:

The Great Mercy seen in the Gospel is the only thing that truly renews

• When Jesus (the perfect sacrifice) died for us, it was an infinite act of transformative MERCY.

• When soldiers or police officers or firemen & firewomen lay down their lives for us, they garner for us certain privileges for which we all ought to be deeply grateful. But their sacrifice cannot cause us to be born again. An earthly priest can say you’re forgiven; a life coach can tell you to forgive yourself, but NONE OF THEM CAN ACTUALLY ABSOLVE THE DEATH SENTENCE BEFORE GOD, THAT WAS EARNED BY YOUR SIN.

• Only a perfect man, born of a virgin, can offer to trade the outcome of his perfect life for the outcome of our rebellious life; his life for our death

• Only Jesus can offer this and then actually deliver on it.

• Jesus did do ALL THAT. It’s so great it’s not even fair; it’s mercy. Great. Mercy.

The question is, HAVE YOU RECEIVED IT? 

Is it yours? And therefore are you HIS? Are you born again? Does your life demonstrate it to be so, and are you turning up in celebration?

Would you pray with me? 

• Holy Spirit, show us how to respond. Jesus, you are truly excellent and great. No words can fully express that. And you’ve made us your own. I confess that I live for less. So help me to love you back in a way that is fitting and thus miraculous.

○ For those that have not yet fully given themselves away, not to religion, but to you Jesus, the one who’s already given everything for us to have a whole new life, bring new life EVEN NOW, and faith, and show them what steps to take next to walk out new life with friends in church. 

○ For those whose CELEBRATION OF YOU is hindered in any way, grant the gift of confession and freedom and may their proclamation ripple into new life for friends and family, and may we see it in church this easter season! 

• May your Kingdom come!

Second City Church

Life of Faith: Part 4

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Life of Faith - Part 4

Pastor Rollan Fisher

• Faith of the Parents

• Times of Reckoning

• Crossing the Sea

Faith of the Parents 

• Parenting is meant to be a walk of faith.

Hebrews 11:23-29

By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of the king's edict. By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible. By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them. By faith the people crossed the Red Sea as on dry land, but the Egyptians, when they attempted to do the same, were drowned.

Parents are called to have a life of faith in raising their children, pressing in to both understand and cultivate the call of God in their children’s lives.

Hebrews 11:23

“By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of the king's edict.”

We should ask God for eyes to see that which Christ sees.

By faith, Moses’ parents were not afraid of the king’s threats and hid their child from influence of the king because they saw that he was to be no ordinary child (NIV).

Your responsibility as a parent is not to be a child’s personal chauffeur or Uber driver that they might participate in every activity under the sun. 

You are a limited resource - as your children age, the more important it will be to sow into their calling and not just their hobbies.

Nor are your children’s activities to be the way that you vicariously make up for all that you did not experience as a child.

This can create unwanted pressures and negative consequences - your children are not supposed to be you. 

Cultivate by faith who God has created them to be.  

Proverbs 22:6

Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.

This is a call for the children to be taught how to live by faith.  

Times of Reckoning

• Moses built on top of the faith of his parents.

Hebrews 11:24-28

“By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible.”

Though Moses had been raised in Pharaoh's court as the son of Pharaoh's daughter, a time of reckoning came where he had to decide by whom he would be identified. 

By faith, Moses chose to be identified with the people of God, though it cost him his position, affluence and comforts.  

The fleeting pleasures of sin will always be available and will be found on easier roads to travel.

The life of sin comes with less resistance and requires less in terms of our daily focus and efforts, but in the end costs more, including our lives.

There is a time in everyone’s development when they need to grow up and not depend on someone else’s faith for their relationship with God.

To leave a life of sin it takes faith - faith in God’s power to free you and faith that the God designed life is better.  

*Faith produces endurance, because your eyes are fixed on Christ who’s person and purposes never change. 

This allows you to stand, even in the midst of the midst of opposition, because you know the one who wins and rewards in the end. 

“By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them.”

Because of this, by faith, you also keep the rhythms, gatherings and celebrations of God, to honor him and remind you of the centrality of his eternal purposes in your life.

This is why we do not forsake the gathering of the brethren in church.

Hebrews 10:25-24,25

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

In doing so, we perpetually recognize the importance of Christ’s broken body and spilled blood at the cross for the forgiveness of our sins as we continue to bear fruit in keeping with repentance from those same sins (Matthew 3:8-10).

Crossing the Sea

• Christ Jesus is the one who enables us to by faith enter into a new life.

Hebrews 11:29

“By faith the people crossed the Red Sea as on dry land, but the Egyptians, when they attempted to do the same, were drowned.”

You must live by faith to live in the promise of God to be freed from your old man of sin.

It is only through Jesus that we can walk in the freedom of new life in God.

It is the cleansing of God’s Word (John 15:3), the sacrifice of the Passover Lamb of God for us at the cross and the power of God’s Holy Spirit that enable us to participate in the righteousness of a Holy, perfect God.  

When the Egyptians tried to cross the Red Sea in their own strength and without right standing with God, they were drowned.  

Through the waters of baptism, by faith we leave the former slavery of our old life and enter into the freedom of new life by the same power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead.  

Let us meet Jesus at the cross and encourage others to the waters of baptism that we might all walk in the freedom and purposes for God for our lives, all by faith!

Second City Church - Pastor Cole Rollan Fisher

Life of Faith: Part 3

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Life of Faith: Part 3

Pastor Rollan Fisher

1. A City Whose Architect is God

2. Family Faith for that City

3. Bones in that City

A City Whose Architect is God

Hebrews 11:8 - 16

8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God. 11 By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore. 13 These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. 14 For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. 15 If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.

*The more we mature in Christ, the more faith becomes less about preference and more about God’s eternal Kingdom purposes in our lives.

You want God to be the architect of your life and story.

For this to be the case, like Abraham, we must seek God for the place, the people and the purpose that he wants us to devote ourselves by faith to fulfill his Kingdom call.

Such a story ends in God’s heavenly city, the home of righteousness, where those who belong to Christ will dwell forever.

What are the place, the people and the purpose to which God has called you?

Family Faith for that City

Living by faith is one where your family learns to make sacrifices to the Lord

Hebrews 11:17 - 19

17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, 18 of whom it was said, “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” 19 He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.

There are different measures of faith required for different seasons of life.

Have no doubt about it - the older you get the more the life of faith requires of you - the more consequential the decisions will be impacting more and more people.

Yet God expects you to press in more, not less, to receive his direction that you might live by faith and obediently fulfill his call.

Why the command to sacrifice Isaac?

As your family grows, so will the need for you to press into God to grow in faith in the decisions that you make for the family.

To ensure that you remain Christ and Kingdom focused, God will bring you to moments of decision, big and small, where you are called to put God first above everything - even what others would tell you is best for your family.

When God calls us to sacrifice anything, it is with our family’s best in mind - not that they would have all of the comforts and pleasures of this present age, but an enduring faith in Christ resultant in eternal rewards in the age to come.

Too often we sell our families short just trying to make them happy and comfortable.

We end up spoiling their character, blurring their focus and dulling their faith by giving them everything that the world offers.

Abraham was teaching Isaac a life-long lesson of faith when he chose to obey God.

Sacrifice and faith go hand in hand.

There was nothing more important than family and posterity in Abraham’s culture.

The very child that God promised Abraham is that which he demanded of him to ensure that nothing, no one and no plan of Abraham’s would begin to trump God’s importance and direction in Abraham’s life.

For God to fully apprehend and keep your heart, at different points in your walk with him, he will require you to sacrifice that which you thought was part of his promise to you.

The truth is that some of the things we finally relent to sacrifice were a promise from God, some were dreams of our own making.

I.e. - What God has started in you, he wants to complete in Christ.

It is a challenge over the years to keep your hands off of the reins - but we must do so by faith to complete the mission of God.

*It will always be a test once we’ve been walking with God for a period of time, and have received part of his promise, to begin to think that we can take it from here - that we now have a better idea of how the plan should be completed and the story should end.

That which you thought was yours by right and promise can be required in sacrifice if it becomes idolatrous in your life.

What God requires in sacrifice he is able to raise from the dead if it is truly of him.

Don’t deceive yourself into thinking you have a better plan.

All the sacrifices of God are a foreshadowing of the provision that we are to look to in Christ.

God requires nothing more of us than what he was willing in love to give with his one and only Son.

Jesus, the perfect promised child, was beloved of the Father but prepared from eternity past to be a sacrifice for the sins of the world.

God is calling his people to nothing less.

Sow your life into that which endures for eternity.

Give your family that which lasts.

The greatest gift that you can give your family is not all of the toys, comforts and opportunities that society tells us they need, but helping them discover how to by faith live a life of sacrifice like Christ that they might fulfill his Kingdom calling and enjoy his eternal reward.

Show them how to lay their time, talent and treasure on the altar of Christ, in obedience to his commands for his glory alone.

Therein they will find a joy that they will never lose, the heavenly rewards that can never be taken.

So the question is: What is God calling you to sacrifice for the sake of his Kingdom call?

Bones in that City

Your life of faith is not just for your benefit, but for all who will follow you to the cross and into Christ’s Kingdom.

Hebrews 11:20–22

20 By faith Isaac invoked future blessings on Jacob and Esau. 21 By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, bowing in worship over the head of his staff. 22 By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave directions concerning his bones.

The result of our faith should be bones that provide structure and a testimony for the generations that follow.

Let’s repent of anything that we’ve exalted above the purposes of God in our lives and by faith meet him at the cross to begin a life of which he is the architect!

Second City Church - Pastor Cole Rollan Fisher

Life of Faith: Part 2 - The Faith of Peter

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Life of Faith Part 2: The Faith of Peter

Associate Pastor Cole Parleir

Focus: A life of faith in Jesus Christ is one that leaves everything, follows Jesus anywhere, and feeds others for the rest of their lives.

1. Faith That Leaves Everything

2. Faith That Goes Anywhere

3. Faith That Feeds God’s Word

Faith That Leaves Everything

Luke 5:1 - 11

1 On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, 2 and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. 3 Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon's, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat. 4 And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” 5 And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.” 6 And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. 7 They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. 8 But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” 9 For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, 10 and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” 11 And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.

A living faith in Jesus Christ will cause us to leave everything.

• Peter’s brother, Andrew, was a disciple of John the Baptist who had told Andrew of Jesus being the Lamb of God. Andrew in turn told Simon Peter.

John 1:35 - 37

35 The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, 36 and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” 37 The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus.

• God is always making himself known to humanity, preparing us to receive salvation when the Gospel is preached and Jesus calls us to follow him. Your part matters!

• Peter had to leave behind his weariness from the previous night’s work, his cynicism after a fruitless night, and his pride as a veteran fisherman to act in faith on Jesus’ Word.

• Jesus’ command to fish again led to Simon’s reward for letting Jesus use his boat: which consisted of business blessing, demonstration of the presence of God AND the first step of understanding who Jesus is as Lord of heaven and earth.

• True repentance occurs as we experience God’s holiness which in contrast uncovers our sinfulness. This led Peter to understand the just judgement and lawful rejection by God of him as a sinful man.

• Jesus came not to condemn the world, but to save it. So he commands Peter to not be afraid, but to follow him and catch others as he had been caught.

• A life of faith is one that is willing to leave everything and follow Jesus.

Faith That Goes Anywhere

Matthew 14:22–33

22 Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. 23 And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24 but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. 25 And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. 26 But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. 27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” 28 And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” 29 He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” 31 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

A life of faith in Jesus Christ will lead us into accomplishing the impossible and deepening our worship of him.

• Jesus had just spent the evening in prayer. He was about 3 miles from the boat…so his walk on water was much further than Peter’s! This was between 3am and 6am.

• The word ‘ghost’ may have meant the disciples thought an evil spirit was trying to deceive them.

• Here we see Jesus confirming and assuring them with the familiar “I am” statement of Yahweh’s voice at the burning bush.

• Peter was not content with just hearing Jesus’ voice so he asked Jesus to call him out on the water so he could also be with him.

• Peter is learning that with God, all things are possible, if it is God’s will. So he asked Jesus to call him if it was his will.

• Jesus walking on water in a storm, his “I am” response, his enabling of Peter to walk on water, and his saving of Peter drew the disciples to confess Jesus as the Son of God in worship.

Faith That Feeds God’s Word

John 21:15–19

15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16 He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. 18 Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” 19 (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.”

A life of faith in Jesus produces an ever increasing sacrificial love for Jesus and that which Jesus loves.

• Satan had asked to sift Peter, but Jesus had prayed that Peter’s faith would not fail in the long run. In the short run, Peter denied knowing Jesus three times in a span of a few hours.

• Jesus’ prayers are always answered! We see Jesus willing to replay the very beginning of his relationship with Peter, essentially taking Peter back to the milk of the Word covering the foundations of relationship with him again.

• In the process of sanctification (maturity) in Christ we must grow in the teachings of righteousness and obedience. However, when we fail, Jesus will never leave us or forsake us if we abide in him.

• As we mature in faith we become more aware of our sin and failures as a result of being close to Christ. Be assured, Jesus knew the project you were when he called you and he still called you in love.

• Jesus called Peter and calls us to freely give the Word that we have freely received.

• To do so, we must carry the cross God assigns to us knowing he will give us grace to do so. It is the believer’s great joy to fellowship with Christ in this way.

Reflect and Discuss

1. Has the call from Jesus Christ compelled you to confess your sins, leave everything and follow Him?

2. If not, what is holding you back?

3. Has your faith matured to ask Jesus for the humanly impossible if he says it’s possible: salvation of others, miraculous healing (all forms), miraculous provision, etc?

4. Has your faith matured to love Jesus by feeding others His word?

Pray and Act

Lord, I want to be with you. Give me faith to leave anything holding me back, to ask for your will always and to feed others your eternal Word. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Peter’s faith in Christ gave him a new name, a new identity as Peter (rock)

Matthew 16:18

18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Second City Church - Associate Pastor Cole Parleir

Life of Faith: Part 1

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Life of Faith: Part 1

Pastor Rollan Fisher

1. The Foundations

2. The Commendation of God

3. The Life of Faith

The Foundations

The foundations of the faith all establish proper belief in God and his saving work through the cross of Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 5:11 - 6:3

About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil. Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, and of instruction about washings, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And this we will do if God permits.

The milk of the word ushers us into the eternal life of God - all by faith in the sacrificial death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Like a calcium source for strong bones, the foundations are the milk of the word of God and are important for establishing Biblical structure in our lives.

These are the things that lead to the person and saving work of Jesus by establishing the importance of the cross of Christ.

You will live and not die when you repent of your sin and put your faith in the substitutionary work of Jesus Christ for you at the cross.

The milk of the word helps us live free from sin, aware of our forgiveness and justification in Christ.

It shows us how to turn from sin, put faith in God and order our days in obedience to the commands of God’s Word in light of the judgement to come.

The Commendation of God

A life that God commends is one that is obedient to his written word and his dynamic direction in our personal lives.

Hebrews 11:1–7

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks. By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.

Living a life of faith means walking with God and his people in such a way that brings his commendation.

The meat of the word brings us into more than just orthodox belief about God.

The meat of the word ushers us into dynamic interaction with God, where the Holy Spirit guides us into God’s Kingdom adventure for our lives as we follow his leadership, with his people, by faith.

• The meat of the word addressed not just what the people of God are to believe, but how they are to follow Christ based on his dynamic direction in their lives.

The life of faith is exemplified by God’s interaction with the patriarchs and matriarchs.

They give us examples of how to live a life of faith commended by God, one that pleases him and brings his eternal reward in Christ.

Maturing in Christ means we continue to develop our relationship with God to move from:

• Mere acceptance to commendation

• Simply belonging to friendship with Jesus

John 15:14–17

14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. 17 These things I command you, so that you will love one another.

God’s commendation involves the intersection of sanctification and consecration - being set apart for God’s pleasure and purposes.

Like a protein source, the meat of the word builds our faith muscle for movement with God.

The Life of Faith

When seen through the lens of Christ, the Old Testament examples of the patriarchs and matriarchs show us how to live lives of faith.

The meat of the word ushers us into the eternal purposes of God - all by faith.

The life of faith is one of consecration to the purposes of God - living as a disciple and making disciples of Christ.

1 Timothy 1:3–7 (NIV)

As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer or to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. Such things promote controversial speculations rather than advancing God’s work—which is by faith. The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. Some have departed from these and have turned to meaningless talk. They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm.

Let’s meet Jesus as the cross today and allow him to mature us to a place of walking with him by faith!

Second City Church - Pastor Rollan Fisher

Abide: The Word Keeps Us from Evil

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Abide: The Word Keeps Us from Evil

Pastor Rollan Fisher

Focus: The Father’s words sanctify us and send us - away from evil and into mission.

1. Context

2. Christ Sanctifying Us

3. Christ Sending Us

John 17:6–21

6 “I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. 7 Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you. 8 For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. 9 I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. 10 All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. 11 And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. 12 While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. 13 But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. 14 I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth. 20 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

Context:

This week’s passage helps to conclude what is commonly known as the “farewell discourse” (John 14–17).

Last week’s discussion of “the true vine” was the middle section of this discourse.

This discourse occurs in John’s gospel immediately following the Last Supper, the night before his crucifixion just before his arrest.

Chapter 17 is the section of that discourse that takes the form of a prayer, and is often termed “the High Priestly Prayer,” (as it is labeled in the ESV and the NASB) but could also easily be titled “Christ’s Prayer for the Church.”

In Matthew, Mark, and Luke, the central component of Jesus’ prayers was the more private and painful acceptance of God’s will in the form of a cup of suffering.

There only Peter, James, and John appear to be close enough to hear his prayers.

In John’s gospel the central component of Jesus’ final prayers that are recorded happen before the garden, while he prays in front of all of the disciples.

In this way, this set of prayers takes on more of a teaching function and delivers doctrine along with the heartfelt cries of the Lord.

One of the central themes of the theological work of the gospel of John is “glory” or doxa and its intertwining with the Word (logos).

This theme is introduced as early as John 1:14 where we read “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth."

Yet it runs throughout the gospel of John running as late as John 21:19 where Peter’s death is seen as a way of glorifying God.

This theme of glory and its interconnection with God’s word and revelation is an important component of Christ’s majestic prayer for the Church.

Another central theme to the book of John is drawn out in chapter 17—the contrast between the world and Christ, the world and Christ’s followers.

This theme is introduced in John 1:10–13 in that the Word came into the world, but the world did not recognize its own creator.

In chapter 17, this contrast is brought to a head in the prayer for Jesus’ disciples who “are not of the world” just as he is “not of the world.”

Love and unity are also featured significantly in the book of John and make their appearances in the high priestly prayer of chapter 17.

Christ desires the same unity in love between him and the Father to be present between him and his disciples.

This unity of love is presented as a central desire of the heart of Christ and a key requirement for the sanctification of the church.

In John’s gospel this prayer serves not only as the climax of the Farewell Discourse but also of his teaching to his disciples.

From this point on, the story unfolds the necessary fulfillment of the predictions of Christ’s suffering, and his teaching ministry as such has been completed.

The contrast between the world and Christ, between the glory of God and the evil of the world, is made even more clear in this climactic prayer.

In this prayer, Christ prays for unity, for glory, and for protection.

In the coming chapters, the world will divide (rather than unite), humiliate (rather than glorify), and destroy (rather than protect).

It is widely accepted that the gospel of John was written later than the synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) and that the author had some access to the gospels but felt free to write independently of them.

From this it may be hypothesized that John was being used to:

• To address the needs of a different audience (particularly non-Jewish seekers),

• To share elements of Christ’s person, teaching, and work that the other gospels did not present or emphasize, or

• To present a more theological-oriented than biographical- or historically-oriented work.

Christ’s Sanctifying Us:

As we abide in God’s word, the Holy Spirit sanctifies us by that Word.

To sanctify us means to set us apart to look like Jesus and fulfill his glorious purposes.

When we abide in the word of God, we develop God’s heart - for Jesus, the things of the Kingdom and the people of this world that Christ came to save through his cross.

At the same time, what we know is that Jesus understands that it can be difficult to be faithful to him in a hostile world.

As we abide in God’s word, God keeps us from the evil that is in the world that is opposed to His word and is hostile to those who cling to that Word.

Jesus’ high priestly prayer teaches us at least three key principles to guide us in hostile times.

1. The Word of God is the only reliable source of strength when we face the rejection of the world (vv. 6– 10)

   • Christ reveals he needed the words the Father gave to him

     • There are schemes of the enemy (Satan) to discourage and dissuade you in your walk with God

   • Christ sees something we need to recognize: if we believe what he says and do what he commands, we will be hated.

     • The enemy will use that hatred to shake us.

   • Clue to the gospel: Rejection and hostility do not have to spiritually derail us. Sometimes greater resistance is a sign we are getting closer to the goal.

     • The enemy can only win if resistance causes us to: back down, give in, grow bitter, or change sides

   • Resolution: When we press through resistance with faithfulness to the Word, God’s victory is ensured.

     • If Christ needed the words of the Father, how much more do we?

     • Christ makes it clear that he gave those words to the disciples so that they would be preserved. i. If the apostles needed the words of Christ, how much more do we?

     • Philosophies change. Self-help gurus come and go. Governments rise and fall.

     • God’s Word remains the same.

     • God’s ways remain the same.

     • God’s mission remains the same.

2. The Words of Christ guide us when the presence of Christ is hidden. (vv. 11–13)

   1. You need to spend time with God to be guided by his Word.

   2. You need to internalize the Word so it goes with you through the day.

   3. You need to search your life to find any area that is not surrendered to the Word.

John 17:19

“And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.”

Christ Sending Us:

The third thing that we discover is that as we abide in Christ’s word, he sanctifies us to send us on mission with him.

3. The world’s resistance is often a sign we are closer to the mission of the Word. (vv. 14–20)

• Christianity’s missional effectiveness is dependent on a simple formula:

  • Surprising faithfulness to the Word

  • In the face of great difficulty

  • Surprising faithfulness + great difficulty = new belief in the word

What difficulty is God asking you to face with surprising faithfulness?

What would surprising faithfulness look like in the face of that difficulty?

What scriptures could guide you to stay faithful in that difficulty?

What should we do that our faith may not fail?

• Rethink the rejection of the world as a sign that you are not of it, but are sent into it.

• Prayerfully consider what kind of suffering might cause you to give in to the enemy.

• Surrender those areas of potential missional sacrifice to God.

Have you been avoiding mission for fear of resistance?

The disciples did too— and they soon scattered.

When the disciples returned, Jesus strengthened them with the Spirit and the Word.

Response time: It’s time to get back on mission with Jesus.

Second City Church - Pastor Rollan Fisher

Abide: The Word Bears Fruit

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Abide: The Word Bears Fruit

Associate Pastor Cole Parleir

Part 1: The Word Became Flesh

Part 2: The Word Gives Life

Part 3: The Word Feeds Our Spirit

Part 4: The Word Sets Us Free

TODAY - Part 5: The Word Bears Fruit

A brief story of cars and gas gauges.

John 15:1–11 ESV

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

The Vine:

Jesus is the true vine: the true source and sustainer of life.

Have you ever plugged something into an extension cord and then learned the other end was not connected to an outlet? It’s only as good as it’s source.

In verse 1 Jesus uses his 7th and final “I AM” statement describing himself as the true vine.

Jesus wants us to know through his repetition that he indeed is one with God his Father and we can trust him.

He is the true vine as well as the Good Shepherd.

All who have come before him or after him claiming to be the prophesied and promised Messiah were and are false and not able to deliver eternal/true life.

As Jesus said in John 14 “no one comes to the Father except through me”. This is because there is no other possible way since Jesus is the true, one and only vine.

Acts 17:28 ESV

for “‘In him we live and move and have our being’;

as even some of your own poets have said, “‘For we are indeed his offspring.’

Question: What are some ‘false vines’ that present themselves to you promising life but have failed or you know can’t deliver?

Maybe it’s been religion saying “attach yourself to my to do list and work your way to God”.

Maybe it’s been your conscious saying “just keep me clear and you’ll be alright”

Maybe it’s been self-fulfillment through becoming the most successful person in your industry

Maybe it’s finding nirvana and disconnecting from life's troubles or expression, rising above them.

These will all prove temporary at bringing peace and joy.

The Vine Dresser:

Jesus’ Father is the vinedresser.

Here we see the relationship of God the Father and God the son. The son submits to the judgments of the Father as the owner of the vineyard and in choosing what is best for the vineyard, which is his creation.

The vinedresser’s goal is for the vine to be fruitful and everything he does is for the good of the vine in becoming fruitful.

God is the cultivator, pruner, and protector of his people.

The Branches:

The branches cannot produce life on their own as they must draw life from the vine.

Abiding in Christ is to keep in fellowship with him so that his life can work in and through us to produce fruit.

All who call themselves Christian are considered branches in the passage.

Not all who call themselves Christians are actually attached to the true vine.

EVERY branch (follower of Jesus who says I know him) will be either taken away or pruned. Every true believer attached to the true vine will bear fruit and be pruned in order to be more fruitful.

The branches who do not bear fruit are false disciples who will be taken away, gathered, thrown into the fire and burned. The missing fruit is the proof that they were never attached. This is most likely speaking of final judgment for those who are not found to be attached to Jesus Christ as indicated by their fruitless lives.

Our sincere faith is proven through the fruit that grows as we abide in Christ.

2 Peter 1:5–11

5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. 10 Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. 11 For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

The Fruit:

Fruitfulness is a byproduct of staying in the vine.

Branches do not concern themselves with what kind or how much fruit they produce, their main concern should be abiding in the vine. (Loving Christ)

Staying (abiding) in the vine produces the fruits listed in Galatians 5:22-23

Galatians 5:22–23

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law

Jesus says if you love me you will keep my commandments. Abiding in his love breeds more love for him which helps us trust and obey him, leading to the fruit of righteousness.

This increasing love for Jesus will also cause us to ‘keep in step with the Spirit’ as he makes disciples among us, giving us a new desire for the lost and missions local and abroad.

This obedience in turn renews your mind to pray God’s will and not your own, making your prayers align with what God wants to do, leading to answered prayers and the joy of God filling your heart.

Action:

• Do you call yourself a Christian? Check your fruit to see if you are a true disciple abiding in the true vine of Christ. (Love for Christ that leads to obedience?)

• Ask God to show you where he has been pruning you already and thank him for making you fruitful.

• Join the Community Outreach group on Church Center for local missions or the Charleston, SC mission group.

Second City Church - Associate Pastor Cole Parleir

Abide: The Word Sets Us Free

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Abide: The Word Sets Us Free

Pastor Rollan Fisher

Focus: Jesus is from the Father and speaks his words, and always pleases Him. Those who abide in Jesus’ words are truly his disciples. They will know the truth, and the truth will set them free from their sins.

Abide is an “experiential” word.

We don’t use it often, but it’s a word that really means “LIVE IN.” 

e.g., I live in the U.S. and I am able to tell you what America is like:

• The weather

• The culture

• The people

• etc…

Abide is an experiential word where one gets to be embedded, wrapped around, and feels that particular “world.”

Typically, when and where you abide, you abound.

• e.g., when you abide in fear, you abound in fear.

The series is meant to help us not just cognitively, but emotionally and in a heartfelt manner, bring us to “what it means if we were to LIVE IN that world of GOD’S WORD.”

Psalm 119 gives us a description of what we experience when we “ABIDE” in the Word.

The Word:

• Guides

• Keeps us from sin

• Preserves our lives

• Comforts Us

• Makes us wise

• Is a lamp unto our feet

• Is the joy in our hearts

In the New Testament, the WORD becomes even more real, because it is now the door to RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST.

John 8:23–36

He said to them, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. 24 I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins.” So they said to him, “Who are you?” Jesus said to them, “Just what I have been telling you from the beginning. 26 I have much to say about you and much to judge, but he who sent me is true, and I declare to the world what I have heard from him.” They did not understand that he had been speaking to them about the Father. So Jesus said to them, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me. 29 And he who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him.” As he was saying these things, many believed in him. So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?” Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. 35 The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

The book of John helps us to BELIEVE that Jesus is the Son of God and that in him we may have life (John 20:31).

Jesus in the past few chapters uses different festivals to reveal who he is to the people.

This is one of them where he reveals that he is the TRUTH that sets one free.

Four Jewish Sacred Days:

John 5–10 is a recollection of stories that happened on four different Jewish sacred days.

1. Sabbath—Healing a man on the Sabbath (John 5)

2. Passover—Miraculously providing food for thousands (John 6)

3. Tabernacles—Recollection of the wilderness wanderings and Jesus at the temple courts (John 7–10)

4. Hanukkah—Rededication of the temple (John 10)

Although not stated, John 8:23–36 may have taken place shortly after the close of the Feast of Tabernacles while Jesus was still in the city.

Jesus’ Seven “I Am” Statements:

1. “I am the bread of life.” (John 6:35, 41, 48, 51)

2. “I am the light of the world.” (John 8:12)

3. “I am the door of the sheep.” (John 10:7, 9)

4. “I am the good shepherd.” (John 10:11, 14)

5. “I am the resurrection and the life.” (John 11:25)

6. “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” (John 14:6)

7. “I am the true vine.” (John 15:1, 5)

John 8:23–36 takes place after Jesus’ proclamation of the second great “I am”—“I am the light of the world.”

Jesus professes to be the genuine light by which truth and falsehood can be distinguished and by which direction can be established.

Here the Pharisees were challenging the claims of Jesus, as legally, a testimony concerning oneself would be unacceptable because it would presumably be biased.

Yet Jesus claimed to be an adequate and authoritative representative.

Chapter 8 begins with Jesus at the temple setting the woman caught in adultery free, displaying both truth and grace while exposing the “darkness” in her accusers’ lives.

Using that as a launching pad, he declares, “I AM the LIGHT of the world,” who delivers us from the power of darkness.

The Pharisees then have a debate with Jesus about his credibility, while Jesus used this to show his divine side desiring to strengthen the belief that others have in him.

The passage that we are dealing with is part of the ongoing conversation Jesus has with the Pharisees to help them see that Jesus’ version of truth and freedom is of a different level and quality.

Characteristic of the Truth:

In John 8, “the Truth” was not merely referring to the law but the living Son of God.

1. Heavenly versus Earthly (v. 23)

   Jesus claimed that he belonged to a totally different world from that of his questioners.

   To him the difference was natural; to them it was unnatural—something they could explain only by assuming that he belonged to the realm of the dead.

   But Jesus had come from the presence of God, and he asserted that only by faith could they attain his level.

2. Relating versus Reasoning

   Jesus demonstrated a relationship with the Father through the conversation with the crowd:

   • v. 18—The Father sent Jesus.

   • v. 28—The Father taught Jesus.

   • v. 29—The Father is with Jesus.

   • v. 29—Jesus does what is pleasing to the Father.

   The Pharisees, however, took the approach of mere reasoning:

   • v. 19—“Where is your Father?”

   • v. 22—“Will he kill himself, since he says, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come’?”

   • v. 25—“Who are you?”

   Through their reasoning, the Pharisees failed to understand that Jesus was speaking to them of God and they missed the point of his unique relationship to the Father.

   Not only did they repudiate his claims, they completely rejected his person.

   To discover and embrace the truth that is Jesus Christ requires more than reasoning.

   It requires starting a relationship with him.

3. Son versus Slave

   Sin in this passage is in a verb tense indicating a habitual, continual action.

   The person in habitual sin is a slave of sin.

   A slave has no security, for he can claim no family ties that entail an obligation toward him.

   The son of a family has permanent status within it.

   Jesus enlarged this analogy by stating that while a son is rightfully a partaker of family privileges, the Son can confer such privileges.

   As the Jews thought they were descendants of Abraham with whom God had established a permanent covenant, they considered themselves exempt from any spiritual danger.

   The hope for real freedom does not lie in the ancestry of Abraham but in the action of Christ.

How to Respond to the Truth:

1. Accept it.

   • v. 30—“many believed in him”

   The first response to truth is to believe and accept.

   When the Pharisees heard Jesus speak they became more opposed to him.

   Yet there were many who heard the same words and believed in him.

   They believed despite the evident opposition of the religious leaders.

   The conversation shifts as Jesus starts speaking to those who believe.

   Though there were still gaps of understanding in the crowd, Jesus spent time revealing more about himself to them.

   There will be gaps in our understanding as we choose to believe in him, yet these will be revealed more and more to us as we journey with him.

   The first step is to ACCEPT.

2. Act on it.

   • v. 32—“know the truth”

   know—γινώσκω (ginōskō)

   Ginōskō is when you experientially learn something.

   Knowledge possessed through the intellectual process of learning is one thing.

   Knowledge gained by experience, by an active relationship between the one who knows and the person or thing known, is far superior to the former.

   Ginōskō is that knowledge that comes not just by reading and listening, but by action and obeying the Lord.

   You may intellectually know some truth but you don’t really "know" it experientially until you surrender and obey the truth.

   A person must be determined to obey the Word if he expects to understand it.

3. Abide in it.

   • v. 31—“abide in my word”

   abide—μένω (menō)

   In simple terms, “abide” means to remain in the same place or position over a period of time.

   Jesus was implying the maintenance of a stable and consistent fellowship with God.

   To abide in Christ means to depend completely on him for all that we need in order to live for him and serve him.

   It is a living relationship.

   As he lives out his life through us, we are able to follow his example and walk as he did.

   There is nothing between us and our Savior, no sin unjudged and not put away.

   This is how the truth sets us free.

Our response today:

1. Pray

   For those who do not know God, repent of your sin and put your faith in Jesus, the Truth.

2. Practice

   For those who already believe in God, continue in your belief and because it’s not just a one-time activity. Practice abiding in Christ.

3. Point to Jesus

   Everyone should reach out to others.

   Truth not only sets us free.

   When we have received Christ’s joy and freedom, it compels us to help others be set free.

   No wonder John used one phrase from Jesus in John 20:21—“As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”

Second City Church - Pastor Rollan Fisher

Abide: The Word Feeds Our Spirit

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Abide: The Word Feeds our Spirit

Pastor Rollan Fisher

Focus: Jesus is the true bread of heaven. Whoever feeds on him will live.

To feed on the word of God, we must start with reading it more and more.

To understand the word of God, you can ask these four questions:

1. What is the writer saying in context to his listeners? (this exercises proper hermeneutical practice)

2. What is the text saying about God? (this helps develop healthy theology)

3. What is the text saying about humanity? (this helps me understand what God thinks about me)

4. What is the text saying about the world around me? (this helps develop a Biblical worldview)

In John 6, believing in Jesus is equated with feeding on him; eating is not a passive exercise and neither is the work of believing.

John 6:57–59

57 As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever feeds on me, he also will live because of me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like the bread the fathers ate, and died. Whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.” Jesus said these things in the synagogue, as he taught at Capernaum.

Jesus invites the listener to feed on him but, “How can someone feed on Jesus?”

To best understand “whoever feeds on me,” it is helpful to know that Jesus is answering the crowd’s specific request for a sign related to the manna sign Moses gave.

1. What would you ask for?

2. What do you want from Jesus?

3. What does Jesus offer in response?

First, he calls out false hopes, shows their insecurity, and invites those listening to believe in him.

This is the gospel.

Jesus sees past our initial felt-needs to the true need we have—to be reconciled to the Father—and he is willing to give himself to us to make that happen.

Jesus offers an invitation to an active participation in believing and receiving him.

He equated it with “feeding on him.”

This brings us back to our question, “How can we feed on Jesus?”

Feeding on him is a holistic exercise.

It involves our belief in him, receiving his life, and letting him take an active role in our lives.

This is not a prayer that we pray and then go on living without him.

Who Jesus is becomes part of who we are.

How can we know who Jesus is apart from knowing him in Scripture?

• We can not.

How can we feed on Jesus without taking his word into our lives?

• We will not.

• Taking Jesus’ words into our lives involves praying it, trusting it, and obeying it.

How can we feed on him?

• We believe his word, we take it in, and let it transform us.

• We don’t do this just once, we continue to do so.

Believing is submitting our lives to obey Jesus and be transformed; doing what we believe completes the meal.

We all understand what it means to eat something, take it into our body, and absorb it.

In this text, Jesus takes that common understanding and invites us to do the same with him.

Where do we start?

We start by believing his words—he is the Son of God and wants to offer us eternal life.

We take his words in and we absorb them.

We absorb Christ’s character, his ways, his Spirit indwells us and all of who Jesus is becomes part of us.

We lay all of our other hopes down since they are not secure anyway.

Then we live in him and continue as we started—we feed on Jesus, we take in more of his words, absorb those and let them become part of us.

Feeding on Jesus is an active-obedient faith that continues to impact our whole person.

Feeding on his word is part of this process.

Isaiah 55:1–3

1 Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. 2 Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. 3 Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant.

For those who want to come and say yes to Jesus, you can repent of being passive.

You can choose to have an active belief that feeds on Jesus and his words - receiving him and living the full eternal life that he offers!

Second City Church - Pastor Rollan Fisher

Abide: The Word Gives Life

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Abide: The Word Gives Life

Pastor Rollan Fisher 

Psalm 138:2

I bow down toward your holy temple and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your name and your word.

Focus: 

Jesus has life in himself, and everyone who hears his word and believes the Father receives eternal life. They have passed from death to life and will not face damnation. 

Though they may die, they will again hear his voice and be raised from the dead to everlasting life.

 

John 5:19-29

So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise.

20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel.

21 For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will.

22 For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, 23 that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.

24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.

25 “Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. 26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. 27 And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man.

28 Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice 29 and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.

• The way the author “dances” between Jesus’ dependency on the Father and yet emphasizing his own divine authority is a picture of how the Trinity interacts.

- This demonstrates the uniqueness of Christianity.

• The rest of the gospel of John particularizes what it looks like when the Word dwells amongst flesh and reveals God's glory.

Jesus, as well as the majority of early believers and all of the writers of the New Testament minus Luke, were all Jewish. 

Jesus was sent first to the lost sheep of Israel, then to the rest of the world.  

God’s word speaks about his care for the whole world. 

The world is steeped in sin, darkness and death. 

Jesus came to bring life to the whole world, and the world would have access to that life by believing his words. 

- There are several moments in the gospels when Jesus calls those who are dead “asleep.”

- For him, raising someone from the dead is like me waking up my kids on the morning of Christmas Day or their birthday—EASY!

- That's why dead Christians are referred to as those who "are asleep in Christ.”

• Throughout this gospel, Jesus continually asserts that his work is to do the will of the Father (4:34; 5:30; 8:28; 12:50; 15:10).

Jesus' main work is to reveal the Father and bring life to those that are dead in their transgressions and sins.  

This will culminate in the final resurrection when he brings those who are waiting for him into the glories of eternal life.  

This is where we will finally experience the fullness of all that we’ve been longing for, and many striving for in this life without him. 

“The Christian says, 'Creatures are not born with desires unless satisfaction for those desires exists. A baby feels hunger: well, there is such a thing as food. A duckling wants to swim: well, there is such a thing as water. Men feel sexual desire: well, there is such a thing as sex. If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world. If none of my earthly pleasures satisfy it, that does not prove that the universe is a fraud. Probably earthly pleasures were never meant to satisfy it, but only to arouse it, to suggest the real thing. If that is so, I must take care, on the one hand, never to despise, or to be unthankful for, these earthly blessings, and on the other, never to mistake them for the something else of which they are only a kind of copy, or echo, or mirage. I must keep alive in myself the desire for my true country, which I shall not find till after death; I must never let it get snowed under or turned aside; I must make it the main object of life to press on to that country and to help others to do the same.”

-C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

Turn to Jesus and his word today to experience both the present and eternal life of God!

Second City Church - Pastor Rollan Fisher

Abide: The Word Became Flesh

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Abide: The Word Became Flesh 

Pastor Rollan Fisher 

Focus:  The Creator of all things invites us to know him through the Word who became flesh.

What happens when this sermon is believed and lived out?

We will commit to a life-long journey of getting to know this God through engaging the Word.

Primary text: John 1:1–5, 9–18 

What do we believe about Jesus?

It is not only important that we believe in Jesus but we must understand what we believe about him. 

We will respond to Jesus based on who we perceive him to be. 

The whole purpose of the gospel of John is to help us to see Jesus for who he really is. 

This is clearly stated in John 20:31—“But these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that by believing you may have life in His name.” 

Read John 1:1–3

In this passage we see “Word” referenced several times. The Greek word here is Logos. 

This shows up over 300 times in the New Testament, but there is something unique about how it is used in John 1. 

The Logos was with God, and indeed was God himself. 

The Logos was in the beginning and created all things.

This points us back to the creation story found in Genesis 1. 

Notice the similarities in the beginnings of Genesis and John. 

Genesis shows us how God created through his word:

• 1:3 Then God said . . . and it was so

• 1:6 Then God said . . . and it was so

• 1:9 Then God said . . . and it was so

• 1:11 Then God said . . . and it was so

• 1:14 Then God said . . . and it was so

• 1:20 Then God said . . . and it was so

• 1:24 Then God said . . . and it was so

• 1:26 Then God said . . . and it was so

The very first thing that God spoke into existence through his word was light. 

Just as God’s Word brought light to darkness in creation, even so God’s Word would once again bring light into darkness. 

(Read John 1:4– 5)

This light is none other than Jesus himself. 

We see Jesus revealing himself as the Light throughout the gospel of John. 

In John 8:12 Jesus says, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”

Remember I made a statement earlier: we will respond to Jesus based on who we perceive him to be. 

Not everyone responded properly to this light:

• The darkness did not comprehend (overcome) it: 1:5

• The world did not know him: 1:10

• His own did not receive him: 1:11

If we read the rest of the gospel we will see this play out in the life of Jesus.

That there were those who rejected Jesus shows us a lot about the condition of the world, and even more so the condition of our hearts. 

It is possible to be around the Word and totally miss who he is. 

For example, if you have ever watched Undercover Boss, you can see what it looks like when the boss is right in front of someone and the person fails to recognize it until it’s too late.

As much as this passage reveals the nature of the human heart, it reveals, even more, the nature of the heart of God. 

The Word that created heaven and earth became like us. 

Years ago, Dr. Rice Broocks wrote a gospel summation that begins with this sentence: “The gospel is the good news that God became man in Jesus.” 

The idea of God becoming man is difficult to believe for some, even scandalous for others. 

How could God lower himself to be a man? 

And yet there is something beautiful and amazing about the fact that the Word became flesh.

What does this reveal about God? 

1. The Creator of all things desires to be near.

- “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory.”—John 1:14

- He came close enough that we were able to see his glory. 

He lived the life that we were supposed to live. 

What kind of life was this?

 A life that reflected God’s glory in a powerful way.

 - “Even so was it with the All-holy Son of God. He, the image of the Father, came and dwelt in our midst, in order that He might renew mankind made after Himself, and seek out His lost sheep, even as He says in the Gospel: I came to seek and to save that which was lost.”—Athanasius, On the Incarnation of the Word

- The phrase “dwelt among us” translates into one word, eskenosen, meaning “pitched a tent or encamped” (Tyndale pg. 63). 

This points back to Exodus 40 and the time of the Tabernacle. 

This also looks ahead at what will be in Revelation 21:3—“Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God himself will be among them.”

2. The Creator of all things desires to be known.

- “No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.”—John 1:18

- The reality is that we don’t know God as we should.

 God was willing to humble himself to make himself known to us. 

As we go through John, we see God revealed through the life of Jesus. 

Towards the end of Jesus’ life on earth, he has a conversation pointing this out to his disciples. “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us. Jesus said to him, ‘Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, “Show us the Father?”’”—John 14:8–9

3. The Creator of all things desires to be received.

- “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name,”—John 1:12

- God reveals himself through Jesus not so that we can simply have more knowledge, but rather that we can receive him. How will we respond? 

Will we reject Jesus like so many others in his day? 

Will we receive him by striving to be near to him and by knowing him?

Second City Church - Pastor Rollan Fisher

Majesty: Full Devotion

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Majesty: Full Devotion

Pastor Rollan Fisher

Focus: We will worship Jesus with full devotion when we recognize his majesty trumps that which the world exalts.   

• Unusual Attraction

• Two Responses

• His Majesty and the Second Coming of Christ

Unusual Attraction

The qualities for which we worship Jesus are not the things which the world exalts.   

Isaiah 53:1-5 

Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.

What does the world find appealing and attractive?

What draws people to spend hours flipping through social media or fantasizing about a different life?

What the Scripture above is saying is that there would have been nothing in the natural that made Jesus appealing to us.  

The things that made Jesus savior were contrary to what the world valued.

The very description of Jesus would have been the things we run from, rather than gravitate toward, in the world.  

• We hate suffering.

• We try to avoid grief.

• We often have a low tolerance for sorrows.

But these are the very things that Jesus took up to heal us in his life and at the cross.  

*It is that which would have repelled us away from and caused us to overlook Jesus that actually saved us. 

*He had no beauty that we should desire him.  

This is a sobering statement.  

*Could it be that in our superficial attractions, shallow affections, and surface-level attachments we could also miss Jesus today?

We will if we prioritize things other than what God esteems. 

• So what questions should we ask ourselves time make sure that we do not miss what Jesus wants to do in and through our lives?

• What does the world characterize as beauty?

• What are the differences between what God characterizes as majestic and what the world esteems?

For example, the world often exalts certain culturally derived standards of physical beauty, putting oneself forward and perceived strength in the ability to best one’s competition.  

Yet Jesus was holy and different.  

Jesus came as the standard of beauty, but was unassuming; was able to boast, but came to lift others up; able to dominate, but chose to serve. 

Of all people, Jesus could rightfully demand justice, but extended mercy. 

Jesus could have been spiteful to those who rejected, despised and betrayed him, but expressed kindness and grace instead. 

He had a pathway to exact retribution, but chose self-sacrifice for our forgiveness at the cross.  

The first coming displayed Christ’s humility; the second coming will display his strength.  

The majesty which Jesus displayed at his first coming prevented people from attempting to come to him for the wrong reasons. 

If you were only coming to God to see what you could get rather than what you could give in worship, the majesty of Jesus would seem undesirable and the cross of Christ an offense to you.  

Think - considering all of his attributes, though no greater picture of God or man exists, what are some of the reasons that prevent people from desiring Jesus today?

Always remember that in your pursuit of God:

God often calls beautiful what we say is rejected.  

God often calls majestic what we call despised.  

Make sure that you have the right lense and God’s perspective. 

Two Responses

There are only two responses when we are confronted with the majesty of Jesus - rebellion or submission. 

Matthew 2:1-12 

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: “‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’” Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.

What caused Herod to miss the majesty of Jesus?

Jesus did not come with the force and pomp of a military commander.

Jesus came in humility as a child and thus Herod thought he could rid himself of the need to acknowledge Jesus as Lord.  

Herod’s response did not begin with outright rebellion.  

It looked like he was in line with the prophetic words and mission of the Christ, until it challenged his independence and sovereignty.  

Herod was used to doing things as he wanted and when he wanted.  

He picked and chose how he wanted to associate with God, doing what was right in his own eyes.  

He built the temple for the people but was a murderer of anyone, even family, that threatened his autonomy.  

The issue was that Herod did not want his independent rule challenged, over the region of Judea or his own life. 

Herod responded to the majesty of Jesus with manipulation and murder. 

The Magi responded with meekness and marvel. 

Matthew 2:16-18 

Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah: “A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.” 

What were the signs of Herod’s rebellion?

1. Herod acknowledged the word of God, but picked and chose what he would obey

2. Herod used others to his own advantage to try to preserve his chosen way of life

3. Herod disposed of those who would threaten his autonomy and self-rule

The same happens with people today.  

People are willing to acknowledge the reality of Jesus, his coming and his mission, but are threatened by the implications of his total rulership in their lives.  

Which way have you responded? 

Two Options: Threatened or Totally Submitted

What allowed the Magi to acknowledge the majesty of Jesus?

Scholars believe that the wise men may have come from the region of Bablylon, where the exiles of Israel had been scattered many years before during a period of judgment. 

The Magi were outside of the citizenship of Israel, but would have been exposed to the Word of God, having more than likely heard the prophecies and good news of the coming Messiah from the Jewish Diaspora in exile in the East. 

They took God at his word and humbled themselves, rearranging their lives to submit to the Lordship of Jesus. 

The Magi were willing to inconvenience themselves to honor and worship the Lord, even in his infancy. 

They knew that the things that most defined their lives, their time (journey to find Jesus), their talent (great learning) and treasure (their gifts) were the things that God would look to receive in their worship.  

It is no different for us today. 

Whether you’ve been walking with God for years or are just beginning, recognizing Jesus as Lord over all areas of your life - your time, your talent, your treasure and even your relationships, is key.  

This is what it means to submit to the majesty of Jesus. 

What was the sign of the Magi’s submission?

1. The Magi diligently searched for the meaning of the Scripture and how it would apply to each of the aforementioned areas of their lives.

2. The Magi allowed the Scripture to dictate their actions, making the long trip to meet with and worship Jesus. (In stark contrast, Americans today average church attendance approximately 1.4 times per month).

3. The Magi lived a life of sacrifice, going to great lengths to offer their time (the long journey), treasure (presenting Jesus gifts) and talents (great learning) in worship of Jesus.

They displayed the attitude of the great King of Israel, David, when he said,

2 Samuel 24:24 

“But the king said to Araunah, “No, but I will buy it from you for a price. I will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God that cost me nothing.” So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.

Even the gifts they offered Jesus were them sowing into the ultimate cause of Christ.  

The gold allowed the flight to Egypt to escape the wrath of Herod.  

The frankincense and myrrh were used in the process of embalming during burial 

(What a birthday present if not for the fact that the Messiah would be born to die, to save his people from their sins! - Isaiah 52+53). 

Who will you be like this new year - Herod or the Magi?

*We must understand that indifference is a response and actively places us in the camp of functionally despising the majesty of Jesus.  

Think about the indifference of a marriage proposal unanswered.  

It is no different than the invitation that God makes to you in Jesus today, thus the continual references to the marriage banquet of the Lamb at the second advent of Christ (Matthew 22:1-14). 

When he comes, Jesus will come as Lord of all. 

“I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.”

C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

His Majesty and the Second Coming of Christ

Acknowledging the majesty of Jesus should shape our lives in preparation for his second coming. 

The second coming of Jesus will evidence how his majesty trumps that which the world exalts. 

The second coming will fully reveal the majesty of Jesus where we receive the reward of our response - eternal life with an imperishable inheritance for those who received him; eternal judgment for those who rejected his Lordship.  

Matthew 2:19-23 

But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, “Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child's life are dead.” And he rose and took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he withdrew to the district of Galilee. And he went and lived in a city called Nazareth, so that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, that he would be called a Nazarene.

The second coming 

What application does this have for us today?

What you find yourself doing, though it may lack the esteem of the world, is for the glory of God when done in faith and obedience to God’s word.  

Your praying, your giving and your going to make disciples of the nations may not always come with the praise or recognition of those around you, but God sees it all. 

He will reward your faithfulness, and like the Magi, will use your efforts as part of his ongoing story to reveal the majesty of Christ, bringing his eternal salvation to the world.  

Because Jesus is coming again in the Second Advent, like the Magi, we order our lives accordingly in worship, which means service to him.  

We’ll end with an excerpt from Sacred Structures which gives perspective on how we should order our lives in response to the majesty of Jesus:

“The story of three bricklayers is a multi-faceted parable with many different variations, but is rooted in an authentic story. After the great fire of 1666 that leveled London, the world’s most famous architect, Christopher Wren, was commissioned to rebuild St Paul’s Cathedral.

One day in 1671, Christopher Wren observed three bricklayers on a scaffold, one crouched, one half-standing and one standing tall, working very hard and fast. To the first bricklayer, Christopher Wren asked the question, “What are you doing?” to which the bricklayer replied, “I’m a bricklayer. I’m working hard laying bricks to feed my family.” The second bricklayer, responded, “I’m a builder. I’m building a wall.” But the third brick layer, the most productive of the three and the future leader of the group, when asked the question, “What are you doing?” replied with a gleam in his eye, “I’m a cathedral builder. I’m building a great cathedral to The Almighty.”

Let us acknowledge the majesty of Jesus and give our all to worship him, joining in the building of his heavenly Kingdom! 

Second City Church - Pastor Rollan Fisher

Resurrection and Life Vision 2022

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Resurrection and Life 

Vision 2022

Associate Pastor: Cole Parleir

Focus: When we follow Jesus as His disciples we will also begin to see his glory as the resurrection and the life.

Observations:

• Jesus knows and redefines our struggles (John 11:1-16)

• God cries (John 11:17-37)

• Jesus IS the resurrection and the life (John 11:38-44)

Jesus knows and redefines our struggles (John 11:1-16)

When we see death, Jesus sees a glorious opportunity.

Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 It was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was ill. 3 So the sisters sent to him, saying, “Lord, he whom you love is ill.” 4 But when Jesus heard it he said, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”

5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 So, when he heard that Lazarus[a] was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was. 7 Then after this he said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.” 8 The disciples said to him, “Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone you, and are you going there again?” 9 Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. 10 But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.” 11 After saying these things, he said to them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him.” 12 The disciples said to him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.” 13 Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he meant taking rest in sleep. 14 Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus has died, 15 and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” 16 So Thomas, called the Twin,[b] said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”

• Your struggle doesn’t have to end in death, but it may take you through death.

• He stayed away 2 days longer because he loved Martha, Mary, and Lazarus?!

Question: Why might Jesus, the Son of God, not immediately intervene on our behalf?  What does this say about his nature?

• Jesus is the light that shines the truth of the kingdom of God on our struggles. This helps us see the end from the beginning, giving us faith to persevere through them.

• This displays his omniscience as the Son of God.

• Jesus sometimes allows our situations to become impossible (with man) so that when he delivers the miracle, our faith will rest on God alone. He alone will receive the glory.

Illustration of delays bringing greater impact

• The movie “It’s a wonderful life” at the time of its release, was considered a failure. It received mixed reviews and it didn’t break even at the box office. However, it was later re-evaluated as a masterpiece and became a revered classic. But it didn’t really cement its place as the ultimate Christmas movie until it aged into the public domain and it was able to be shown on TV or streamed online for free.”

  • https://screenrant.com/its-wonderful-life-best-holiday-classic-movie-other-choices/?_gl=1*4yejsu*_ga*Ymg1QWdJc2tMUmVqeXJfRTg5TlN6cUtKSzlwODE1R0lXWkItOHZmdGcxV3dEcm5GNUc2NUlKbThjejJZeXVRbw..

God cries (John 11:17-37)

Though God knows all things and plans to redeem all things, he is deeply  moved with sorrow for us and anger toward sin by the pain on our path.

Now when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. 18 Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles[a] off, 19 and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother. 20 So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house. 21 Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” 23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life.[b] Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” 27 She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”

28 When she had said this, she went and called her sister Mary, saying in private, “The Teacher is here and is calling for you.” 29 And when she heard it, she rose quickly and went to him. 30 Now Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was still in the place where Martha had met him. 31 When the Jews who were with her in the house, consoling her, saw Mary rise quickly and go out, they followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to weep there. 32 Now when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet, saying to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” 33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved[c] in his spirit and greatly troubled. 34 And he said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.” 35 Jesus wept. 36 So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” 37 But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man also have kept this man from dying?” 

• God is not emotional or weak. However he IS deeply moved with compassion and sorrow for his creation’s pain.

• God’s compassion and sorrow displays his tender love and empathy with us even though he is sovereign over all things.

• Jesus not only wept over Lazarus’ death, but had anger over the consequences of sins effect on the world, with death and hell being the ultimate consequence.

• To mourn as God mourns is part of genuine faith.

• Psalm 116:15

  • Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.

• 1 Thessalonians 4:13

  • 13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.

Question: What are some things that you now know God weeps over? Do you weep over them as well?  Do you have hope as you weep?

Jesus IS the resurrection and the life (John 11:38-44)

He does not only give life and perform resurrection, he IS life and the light of the world.  When we walk with Jesus Christ, sin and death are temporary trials that have no hold on us.  

Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. 39 Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days.” 40 Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” 41 So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.” 43 When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” 44 The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go." 

• 4 days indicated that Lazarus was truly dead. He had no water or food for 4 days proving he was not sleeping.

• According to some old Jewish beliefs, the soul hovered over the body for 3 days and then departed. Jesus is claiming authority over all traditions and beliefs, including the after life.

• Jesus’ delay caused MANY Jews to show up in Bethany (house of affliction), creating a greater crowd to witness and believe.

• Jesus intends to do much more than we ask or can imagine. (Ephesians 3:20)

• We want what we believe Jesus has to offer…but Jesus tells us ‘I am’ what you are asking for. When we have Jesus we have everything.

• Jesus’ ‘I am’ statement is one of his clear claims to deity, echoing The LORD at the burning bush when Moses asks “Whom shall I say sent me?”

• We ask questions in time, Jesus answers in ultimate and eternal terms.

• Revelation 21:4

  • He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.

Question: What are you praying for that you may possibly be misunderstanding Jesus’ answer because he’s answering MORE than you are asking?

Question: What situations and relationships do you not want to “take away the stone” because of the “odor”, meaning they seem impossible or too much trouble to deal with?

The takeaway and our response

Jesus wants to be the resurrection and life for  you, your family, and your community in 2022 and most importantly, for all eternity.   (John 17:3)

And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.

• As he said to Martha, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?”, he says to us as well.

• This challenge to have faith in Him is for his glory, our good, and the world’s healing.

• Will you follow him into the impossible mission of making disciples of all nations until He returns AND believe that along the way he will work miracles deepening our trust in him alone?

Pray and Act: Lord Jesus, you are the resurrection and the life that the world and I need.  I give you the impossible things in my life today.  Use me this year as your witness like you did Lazarus and those who witnessed your glory.  Please do this so that others may know you and experience your glory and salvation as well.  In Your name, amen.

Second City Church - Associate Pastor: Cole Parleir 2021

Majesty: True Worship

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Majesty: True Worship

Pastor Rollan Fisher

Focus: We will come to worship Jesus fully when we distinguish between his communicable and his incommunicable attributes. 

As humanity is made in the image of God (Imago Dei) there are communicable attributes of God that humans can also possess, albeit to a finite extent.  

These communicable attributes give every human being value, worth and contribute to the sanctity of all human life, whether fully formed or in process.  

They also distinguish humanity as the crowning achievement of God’s creation, with the ability to steward the rest of God’s creation with care and grace.  

Some of these communicable attributes include:

1. Love

2. Goodness

3. Kindness

4. Knowledge

5. Wisdom

6. The ability to interact with and verify truth

These are all attributes that humanity has been given the privilege to share with God, albeit to a lesser extent. 

The incommunicable attributes of God speak of his holiness, how he is altogether different, higher and far above his creation.  

It’s in the incommunicable attributes of God that we see an even grander picture of his majesty, which is the basis of our worship of God. 

The incommunicable attributes are those characteristics that God can not share with his creatures. 

The incommunicable attributes explain why we worship God alone.  

What about Jesus?

Though one-hundred percent human, the historic Jesus of Nazareth was also one-hundred percent God, a phenomenon known as the hypostatic union.  

In Jesus Christ were found not only the communicable attributes of God in perfection, but also the incommunicable attributes of God which were shared with no other human being. 

Thus we worship Jesus as God and savior (Titus 2:13). 

John 1:1-5,14

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Titus 2:11-14

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

All of God’s incommunicable attributes begin with his self-existence or his aseity. 

This means that God is uncreated and is the source of all things providing their beginning, present existence and continuance.  

Genesis 1:1

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.

Exodus 3:13-14

Then Moses said to God, “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?” God said to Moses, “ I am who I am.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘ I am has sent me to you.’”

They continue with:

Nine of the Incommunicable Attributes of God:

1. Sovereign

2. Omnipotent

3. Omniscient

4. Omnipresent

5. Transcendent

6. Immanent

7. Immutable

8. Infinite

9. Eternal

An Intervarsity article written by Jonathan Rice helps shed light on each of these attributes.  

Sovereign

“God is the Supreme Being of the universe. God precedes and is “above,” as it were, all things. And everything that exists is under God’s rule and authority. Since God is sovereign, we cannot praise ourselves for our salvation. Indeed, everything in our lives is a gift from God.”

-Jonathan Rice

Acts 4:24-31

And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit, “‘Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Anointed’ — for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.

“Look at the life of King David. He strayed from God’s will and suffered much, but he still trusted in God’s sovereignty, and God used David to bless people. 

Our believing God is sovereign gives us confidence that all things in our lives will work for good, despite our suffering.”

-Jonathan Rice

Omnipotent 

“God is the most powerful Being in all existence, able to accomplish his will, though unwilling to do anything contrary to his nature. We have a divine helper who enables us to persevere. As Paul wrote in his letter to the Philippians, “I can do all things through him who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).

Our believing God is omnipotent gives us strength, for we are not alone in our weakness.”

-Jonathan Rice

Omniscient

“God knows everything of the past, present, and future. God knows everything actual and potential. Not only does God know all things; God also cares about everything and everyone.

The book of Proverbs tells us, “The eyes of the LORD are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good” (Proverbs 15:3).

Our knowing that God is omniscient gives us peace when facing life’s uncertainties. 

Our believing God is omniscient assures us that God knows us and loves us.”

-Jonathan Rice

Omnipresent

“God is always present in all places. But God is not in all things, a concept called pantheism. Christian theology has traditionally asserted that the person of God and the nature of created things are distinct: God is not in a tree or in a drop of water. And God is not in a person—until that person is born anew of God’s Spirit through faith in Jesus Christ. This claim that God’s Spirit is not within all humans until they are born anew through God’s self-initiated act contradicts the religious concept that we are sparks of the divine, potential deities. Biblically speaking, we are all created in the image of God, but we are not little gods.

The psalmist speaks of the omnipresence of God when he writes, “Where can I go from your Spirit? Or where can I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there. If I take the wings of the morning and settle at the farthest limits of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me fast” (Psalm 139:7-10).

Our believing God is omnipresent gives us the joy that God is with us always.”

-Jonathan Rice

Transcendent

“God transcends all creation and is unknowable apart from his self-initiated revelation. What we know about God comes only through God’s revelations, both general and special. 

The first words of the Bible record that the transcendent God created the heavens and the earth, which is described as a formless void covered by darkness. Then God said, “Let there be light. . . . And there was evening and there was morning, the first day” (Genesis 1:3-5). God stands above and outside creation. And all that God creates is good.

Our believing God is transcendent gives us the understanding that our Creator is not limited by the natural laws of this world. God can do miracles”

-Jonathan Rice

Immanent

“God is active in this world and in our daily lives. God cares about every aspect of our existence and invites us to welcome his guidance, grace, and love.

Speaking of Jesus Christ, Paul wrote to the Colossians, “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible. . . . He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together” (Colossians 1:15-17).

Jesus, the very person of God, walked on this earth. Today, God’s Spirit is among us, present in his people, immanent and active among the nations, changing the world. Our believing God is immanent in this world gives us assurance that God is with us, despite the evils and sufferings we see in daily life.”

-Jonathan Rice

Immutable

“God is complete and perfect. Therefore, God does not need to mature or grow better at being God. 

“Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change” (James 1:17).

Our believing God is immutable gives us the certainty that our world is essentially meaningful, for God is unchanging in his person and will not act unjustly.”

-Jonathan Rice

Infinite

“God is unlimited. As Jesus said, “With God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26). We are created with great potential for growth, individually and in community. 

Our believing God is infinite gives us faith that our lives have a larger purpose than our years on earth.”

-Jonathan Rice

Eternal

“God is not confined to three-dimensional space or time. God never had a beginning; God will never have an end. 

The psalmist says of God: “Long ago you laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you endure; they will all wear out like a garment. You change them like clothing, and they pass away; but you are the same, and your years have no end” (Psalm 102:25-27).

Since we are created in the image of the infinite God, we have an eternal destiny. 

Our believing God is eternal gives us eternal hope.”

-Jonathan Rice

This is now the eternal life into which God now invites us. 

John 3:16

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Through repentance and faith in the substitutionary work of Jesus Christ at the cross, we can be forgiven our sins and once again walk in fellowship with the only majestic God.  

Second City Church - Pastor Rollan Fisher

Majesty: Hidden Majesty

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Associate Pastor: Cole Parleir

Focus: When we see God’s humility in Jesus Christ as his majestic love for humanity, we will be healed. 

Today we will see how The Majesty of Christ was revealed in humility to some but remained hidden to others.  We will look at how and why God chose to reveal himself to the humble, weak and despised.

• Hidden Majesty

• Majestic Partnerships

• Majesty Incarnate

Hidden Majesty 

God’s majesty is hidden in humility. 

“Majesty” 

Greek

• megalósuné. (divine) majesty, greatness.

• From megas; greatness This is where we get the word MEGA.

Hebrew

• gaah. To rise up. (Redemption), majesty, pomp, pride, proud, *swelling.

The advent is the seed of God’s majesty. This gospel in seed form will continue to swell and grow bringing eternal redemption to those who receive it by faith. 

This is majestic love. 

This is the only way that God’s beloved can know his majestic and redeeming love for them.  For we can not ascend to him for he is holy.  He must descend to us in order to raise us up with him. 

Only God can give true love. 

We humans need love, yet only God can give it purely because only he has no needs he is trying to fill. This allows him to truly suffer, which is to truly love. 

He does for us what we cannot do for ourselves. 

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭13:4-7‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”

Majestic Partnerships

The Majestic God partners with the humble to bring his majesty to the world.  He heals those he partners with in the process. 

Luke 1:5-25 ESV (Birth Of John The Baptist Foretold)

“In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord.

But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years. Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense. And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him.

But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.”

And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” And the angel answered him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.”

And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they were wondering at his delay in the temple. And when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he kept making signs to them and remained mute. And when his time of service was ended, he went to his home. After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she kept herself hidden, saying, “Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.””

Observations of the above scripture:

• Zechariah and Elizabeth were faithful to God’s word nationally and personally though God had not spoken in more than 400 years as evidenced by the date of the last Old Testament prophetic writing of Malachi.

• They were both blameless in God’s sight and were qualified to receive all the promised blessings…including children.

• Zechariah as a priest had prayed consistently for the fulfillment of God’s promise to send a Messiah to save their people from oppression. He as a husband had prayed for children as well, with a clear conscience as evidenced by his status as blameless. 

• The world says ‘The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results.” God says that this is the definition of faithfulness when done in expectation of his promises. 

• God’s delay in answering the prayer for a child while they were young was because he wanted to use the child not only to bring joy and gladness to them personally but to move forward his plan of redemption for all people.

• When God delays his personal promise to you, it is because he’s partnering with you to bring out his promise of redemption to the whole world.

“The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” - 2 Peter‬ ‭3:9‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Why did God choose Zechariah and Elizabeth?

• It was his sovereign choice, but here are some observations we can glean from if we want to be used by God in his plan of redemption: 

• Be faithful to God and obey him in the circumstance you find yourself born into or that you become responsible for. (Zechariah was a Levite and Elizabeth was of the house of Arron meaning temple service was a family obligation as well are lawful obedience that he did not forsake)

• If you’re married, love your spouse in their ‘barrenness’ and ‘reproach’ (whether physical or spiritual) as Christ loves the persecuted and hurting church. What started with Elizabeth’s barrenness and shame became Zechariah’s as he stayed committed to one wife, sharing in her shame until God healed her.    

• Make yourself available to serve him when your ‘lot’ is chosen. This could mean stay in fellowship with brothers and sisters in Christ in worship while waiting so you know what the needs are when they arise.

Question: 

*What’s the “BUT” that keeps you up at night, as barrenness did Elizabeth?

You’ve tried to walk blameless, yet there’s a legitimate BUT in your life that keeps you from fully enjoying or trusting God.  This BUT may even be a cause for shame among others (Psalm 127:3-5).  

God uses BUTS to fulfill his big picture prophetic fulfillment in bringing Christ to those around us.  What is your BUT? Singleness? Perceived lack of education?   Income?  Family affairs thrusted upon you?  Barrenness?  Children you didn’t ask for?  God has a big plan and uses intimate details in our lives to bring it about.  

*God transforms BUTS into Blessings that overflow onto those around us.

Regarding the angel telling Zechariah “the child will bring joy and gladness"

- What was your duty, will become your delight and will cause others to rejoice in God. 

- God took away Elizabeth’s reproach, giving her joy for sadness, as he moved forward his plan of bringing redemption to the world through her.

Majestic Manger

The majesty came at a time that was unexpected and will come back in the same way. 

The majesty came at night, in a stable, and rested in a feeding trough. 

Question: Have you recognized the majesty of Christ? Have you made room for him in your heart and life?  When he comes back or calls us to account, will you be prepared?

Majesty revealed to those in darkness. 

When we recognize the majesty of God we will overflow with worship. 

Luke‬ ‭1:46-56‬ ‭ESV‬‬

The Magnificat: Mary’s Song Of Praise

“And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever.” And Mary remained with her about three months and returned to her home.”

Born To Die

For you and I, the Majesty was born to die.

We must remember that because of his great love for a lost, weary and Hell bound world, he humbly came as a baby for the express purpose of dying the death of a sinner though he alone was righteous. 

In his majestic power and love, he would put death to death and shame to shame through an open display of his suffering love for his beloved on a Roman cross. 

Ephesians‬ ‭2:4-10‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

Yet, because of sinful pride of the human heart (the opposite of humility) the world has despised the majesty of the cross. 

1 Corinthians‬ ‭1:18-25‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.” Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.”

This Christmas, may the Holy Spirit magnify the excellencies of Christ Jesus as we see the humility of his birth and shame of the cross he chose in love so that our sin and shame could be removed for all eternity.  

Gloria in excelsis Deo (Glory to God in the highest)

Pray and Act

Majestic Heavenly Father, you alone are worthy of my devotion and love. You alone are holy. You alone redeem me from sin, death, and shame. Please forgive my pride today.  Open my eyes to see your humility and love for the world and I in Jesus Christ this Christmas. In Jesus name. Amen. 

Second City Church - Associate Pastor: Cole Parleir 2021