There are two primary Greek words translated servant in the New Testament.
One is the word diakonos. It means one who executes the orders of another, an attendant, a waiter, or a minister. It is the word we get the word deacon from.
The second word translated servant is the word doulos. It means a slave, a bondsman, or a man of servile condition.
Doulos is used about 57 times in the New Testament.
John is called a slave.
Peter is called a slave.
Paul is called a slave.
James is called a slave.
Jude is called a slave.
We usually think of a slave as someone who finds out what his master wants him to do and then, in his own ability, goes out and does it.
That is not the Biblical view of a slave.
The Biblical view of a slave is found in Jeremiah 18:1-6.
God is the potter and we are the clay. The potter shapes the clay into whatever shape that he wants the clay. Then he uses the vessel that he has formed in anyway he wants to use it.
For us to be that kind of slave there are two things that are essential for us to do.
First, we have to be moldable.
God wants to change or transform.
That is what a potter does with the clay. He changes it from a lump of clay into a useable and valuable vessel. The clay is able to be molded or changed because it remains moldable.
We have to remain moldable in God’s hands so He can change us into useable and valuable vessels.
God wants to change several things in our lives.
1 Corinthians 7:9
Now I am glad I sent it, not because it hurt you, but because the pain caused you to repent and change your ways.
God wants to change our ways.
Romans 2:29
No, a true Jew is one whose heart it right with God. And true circumcision is not merely obeying the letter of the law, rather, it is a change of heart produced by God’s Spirit. And a person with changed heart seeks praise from God, not from people.
God wants to change our hearts.
Romans 12:2
Don’t copy the behavior of the world and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
God wants to change our thinking or our minds so He can change us into new people.
In 2 Corinthians 5:17 Paul says that if we have surrendered our lives to Jesus we have become new people. All the old has passed away, the new has come.
Some of the new comes immediately.
Some comes over time as the potter, Jesus, molds us.
The new that comes, the new person that God is changing us into, is in the image of Jesus.
Romans 8:29
For those He foreknew He also predestined to be conform to the image of His Son, in order that He might be the firstborn among many brothers.
God wants to begin the process of changing us to be like Jesus.
1 Corinthians 15:49
Just as we are now like the earthly man, we will someday be like the heavenly man.
The goal of salvation is not just heaven, but more importantly to become like Jesus.
We have to be moldable so that God can mold us into the image of Jesus.
Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is allowing God to make us like Jesus.
Second, we have to remain in the potter’s hand.
If the potter is going to mold the clay, it has to be in and remain in the potter’s hands.
If God is going to mold us we have to be in and remain in God’s hands.
In Matthew 8:3 Jesus touches a man with leprosy and he is healed.
In Matthew 8:15 Jesus touches Peter’s mother-in-law and her fever leaves her.
In Matthew 9:25 Jesus touches Jairus’ daughter and she comes back to life.
In Matthew 9:29 Jesus touches the eyes of two blind men and they regain their sight.
When we allow God to touch us and hold us in His hands, He heals and restores us.
In John 15:5 we are told that if we are connected to Jesus we will produce fruit, but separated from Jesus we can do nothing of kingdom value.
The key to being a useable servant of our Master, Jesus, is to remain in His hands.
Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is staying connected with Jesus by remaining in His hands.
God wants us to be moldable and remain in His hands so we can be His servants, His slaves. If we are to be good and faithful servants we have to know God and His ways. If we are to really know God’s ways, we have to be moldable and remain in His hands.
We don’t know God or His ways naturally.
In Psalm 95:10 it says that Israel, His people, didn’t know His ways.
In Isaiah 55:8-9 God says, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.”
God’s thoughts and ways are different and higher than our thoughts and ways. For us to know God’s thoughts and ways, we have to let God mold us and for God to mold us we have to stay in His hands.
No servant can please his master unless he knows him and knows what he is doing.
Just as the purpose of the clay is determined by the potter, so our purpose is determined by Jesus.
Jesus says in Matthew 23:11 that the greatest among you shall be your servant.
Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is about being Jesus’ servant, His doulos.
As Jesus’ Doulos Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls
Joe
Sunday, May 31, 2015
Sunday, May 24, 2015
Faithful and Ready
Following and serving Jesus will be at times discouraging. It will be discouraging because we live in a fallen world populated by people who sin.
We have been called to be faithful and ready: Faithful to persevere in following and serving Jesus and Ready to proclaim the truth and love of Jesus.
Faithfulness and readiness are not easy and we need to remember several things so we can be faithful and ready.
2 Timothy 4:1
I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom.
Remember WHO we are serving.
We serve the One who is:
The Judge
The One Who Is Returning
The King
God is our God and our King and our Savior.
Isaiah 33:22
For the Lord is our judge; the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king; He will save us.
In Acts1:11 we are told that just as Jesus left He will return.
So remember we serve Jesus who will return as Judge, King, and Savior.
2 Timothy 4:2
Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort with complete patience and teaching.
Remember WHAT we are to do.
We are to:
Publicly Proclaim the Word of God
Hold Each Other Accountable
Encourage Each Other
In publicly proclaiming God’s Word we are to hold up the standard (Jesus) that we are to be accountable to, but also bring others alongside us and encourage them in their walk with Him.
We are to proclaim the gospel with patient teaching style. Our teaching is done by word and by our actions. We don’t force it down people’s throats. We don’t try and make people believe what we think they ought to believe. With love, grace and mercy, we share and show the gospel.
2 Timothy 4:3-4
For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.
Remember it will be HARD.
The gospel is uncomfortable.
The gospel is changeling.
The gospel is offensive
We are not to be unnecessarily offensive, but if the whole truth of God’s Word is proclaimed it will cause people to either repent or revolt. The gospel goes counter to our culture because the culture is fallen. It is counter-cultural and so it will offend people who agree with the values of this fallen culture.
We are still to proclaim the gospel.
2 Timothy 4:5
As for you always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
Remember to watch our ATTITUDES.
Our attitudes are to be of a collected spirit. Our spirits are not to be confused or chaotic but collected and at peace because Jesus is in control of our lives.
Our attitudes are to be enduring and preserving.
Our attitudes are to be positive, not negative. We are to share the Good News, not the bad news of Jesus.
Paul tells us in Philippians 2:5 that we are to have the same attitude in us that Jesus had.
Proclaiming the Good News with the peace of Jesus and confidence in Jesus will be effective. It is the balance of loving people, even if tey reject you and the gospel, but not be intimated by the rejection.
2 Timothy 4:6-7
For I am being poured out as a drink offering and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have kept the faith.
Remember we are to be SURRENDERED.
Paul says he is be poured out as a drink Offering. He is surrendering his life to do God’s will.
Paul says he has fought the good fight. He is faithfully fighting spiritual battles under the authority of King Jesus.
Paul says he has finished the race. He is running the race of life in a way that pleases his coach - Jesus.
Paul says he has kept the faith. He has been faithful to obey and serve his master - Jesus.
Jesus set the model for surrendering to the will of God in the Garden of Gethsemane when, in Luke 22:42, Jesus prays, “Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”
We have to surrender to the will and authority of God if we are going to be faithful to Him and ready to share the gospel.
2 Timothy 4:8
Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only for me but also to all who have loved His appearing.
Remember what we will RECEIVE.
The crown is a stephanos, a victor’s crown. It is not a diadem, a king’s crown. The diadem belongs to Jesus. Jesus as king will give us a victor’s crown as we serve Him with an attitude that glorifies Him, doing what He has given us to do, even in the difficult times. We can only do that as we surrender completely to His authority in our lives.
Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is the followers of Jesus serving Him as our Judge and King and Savior.
Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is proclaiming the gospel.
Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is serving God in the hard times with a Jesus-like attitude.
Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is submitting ourselves fully to King Jesus and receiving a victor’s crown from Him.
In Faithfulness and Readiness Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls
Joe
We have been called to be faithful and ready: Faithful to persevere in following and serving Jesus and Ready to proclaim the truth and love of Jesus.
Faithfulness and readiness are not easy and we need to remember several things so we can be faithful and ready.
2 Timothy 4:1
I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom.
Remember WHO we are serving.
We serve the One who is:
The Judge
The One Who Is Returning
The King
God is our God and our King and our Savior.
Isaiah 33:22
For the Lord is our judge; the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king; He will save us.
In Acts1:11 we are told that just as Jesus left He will return.
So remember we serve Jesus who will return as Judge, King, and Savior.
2 Timothy 4:2
Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort with complete patience and teaching.
Remember WHAT we are to do.
We are to:
Publicly Proclaim the Word of God
Hold Each Other Accountable
Encourage Each Other
In publicly proclaiming God’s Word we are to hold up the standard (Jesus) that we are to be accountable to, but also bring others alongside us and encourage them in their walk with Him.
We are to proclaim the gospel with patient teaching style. Our teaching is done by word and by our actions. We don’t force it down people’s throats. We don’t try and make people believe what we think they ought to believe. With love, grace and mercy, we share and show the gospel.
2 Timothy 4:3-4
For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.
Remember it will be HARD.
The gospel is uncomfortable.
The gospel is changeling.
The gospel is offensive
We are not to be unnecessarily offensive, but if the whole truth of God’s Word is proclaimed it will cause people to either repent or revolt. The gospel goes counter to our culture because the culture is fallen. It is counter-cultural and so it will offend people who agree with the values of this fallen culture.
We are still to proclaim the gospel.
2 Timothy 4:5
As for you always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
Remember to watch our ATTITUDES.
Our attitudes are to be of a collected spirit. Our spirits are not to be confused or chaotic but collected and at peace because Jesus is in control of our lives.
Our attitudes are to be enduring and preserving.
Our attitudes are to be positive, not negative. We are to share the Good News, not the bad news of Jesus.
Paul tells us in Philippians 2:5 that we are to have the same attitude in us that Jesus had.
Proclaiming the Good News with the peace of Jesus and confidence in Jesus will be effective. It is the balance of loving people, even if tey reject you and the gospel, but not be intimated by the rejection.
2 Timothy 4:6-7
For I am being poured out as a drink offering and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have kept the faith.
Remember we are to be SURRENDERED.
Paul says he is be poured out as a drink Offering. He is surrendering his life to do God’s will.
Paul says he has fought the good fight. He is faithfully fighting spiritual battles under the authority of King Jesus.
Paul says he has finished the race. He is running the race of life in a way that pleases his coach - Jesus.
Paul says he has kept the faith. He has been faithful to obey and serve his master - Jesus.
Jesus set the model for surrendering to the will of God in the Garden of Gethsemane when, in Luke 22:42, Jesus prays, “Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”
We have to surrender to the will and authority of God if we are going to be faithful to Him and ready to share the gospel.
2 Timothy 4:8
Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only for me but also to all who have loved His appearing.
Remember what we will RECEIVE.
The crown is a stephanos, a victor’s crown. It is not a diadem, a king’s crown. The diadem belongs to Jesus. Jesus as king will give us a victor’s crown as we serve Him with an attitude that glorifies Him, doing what He has given us to do, even in the difficult times. We can only do that as we surrender completely to His authority in our lives.
Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is the followers of Jesus serving Him as our Judge and King and Savior.
Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is proclaiming the gospel.
Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is serving God in the hard times with a Jesus-like attitude.
Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is submitting ourselves fully to King Jesus and receiving a victor’s crown from Him.
In Faithfulness and Readiness Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls
Joe
Sunday, May 17, 2015
How to Make Disciples
Some of the last words that Jesus spoke to His followers before He was lifted up to the Father is what we call the Great Commission. It is Jesus’ mission for the church.
Matthew 28:19-20
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.
We are to make disciples!
But How?
In 2 Timothy 3:10-17 Paul outlines how to make disciples.
It brings together two components.
The first is us. We have to be willing to surrender our lives to do what it takes to make disciples.
We have to let God make us three things.
#1: People Who Are Examples
2 Timothy 3:10
You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness.
Paul says that we have to be “audio-visual” Christians.
We have to teach. We teach the truth of God’s Word.
We also have to model how the truth of God’s Word works in the real world.
He mentions six areas in which we need to show people how Jesus does it.
We model conduct.
This word means to lead or guide. It is leading someone to a destination by going along with them.
Disciplining is not just telling people how to do something.
Church is not just telling people how to do something.
Hebrews 10:24-25
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.
This verse is not just about Sunday morning. Remember the early believers were together daily.
Disciplining is doing life together.
Church is doing life together.
We disciple people by doing life with them and helping them to connect with Jesus.
We model by having an aim in life.
We do life with people and have a purpose and show people our purpose.
The phrase means to expose or view. We expose our purpose by letting people see us living that purpose out.
If I have no purpose, as many people don’t, then I can’t help people find God’s purpose for their lives. If I know God’s purpose for my life and live it out, then others can see and be led to live out God’s purpose in their lives.
Ephesians 2:6-7
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.
Our purpose, our life’s aim is to show how awesome and glorious God is. We are models that so that others will see that is their purpose also.
We model faith.
Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
Faith is not natural. It is not natural or easy.
Faith is not just in theory. Faith is about real every day living. It is about trusting God with the big things and the little things. Faith is about trusting and obeying God when circumstances are clear, don’t make sense, or seem to discourage from following God’s directions.
We model patience.
Seventeen times in Psalms we are told to wait on God or told about the rewards of waiting on God.
We need to be patient with people and patient with God as He works out his will.
Again, patience is not natural for most people and it is never easy.
Noah waited for 120 years for God to bring the flood.
Abraham waited for 25 years for the promised son.
Moses waited 40 years for God to use him to free His people.
David waited 15 years to be king.
Patience is rewarded by God’s will being accomplished.
We model love.
John 13:35
By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.
Love is to be modeled because it is the most essential character trait. If we don’t love, we won’t display any of the other traits of God.
It is also the trait that shows the world we belong to Jesus.
We model steadfastness.
Following Jesus is nota 100 meter sprint; it is an iron man triathlon.
Following Jesus is a life long journey.
1 Corinthians 15:58
Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
#2: People Who Endure
2 Timothy 3:11-13
My persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium and at Lystra - which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse deceiving and being deceived.
We are not to give up.
Galatians 6:9
And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we don’t give up.
#3: People Who Encourage
2 Timothy 3:14
But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believe, knowing from whom you learned it.
1 Thessalonians 5:11
Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.
We hear so much negativism in and from our culture. We as followers of Jesus are to encourage each other and build each other up. We are to encourage people as we see them obeying and seeking God.
It is God’s kindness that leads people to repentance. Jesus wasn’t sent into the world to condemn it but though Him to save it.
The second component is God’s Word.
2 Timothy 3:15
And how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
God’s Word is the foundation of our relationship with Jesus.
We are to believe God’s Word.
2 Timothy 3:16a
All Scripture is breathed out by God.
The Bible is not man’s words, man’s thoughts, or man’s ideas.
The Bible is 100% God’s Word.
Since the Bible is God’s Word, we are to believe it and obey it.
We are to receive it.
2 Timothy 3:16b-e
And profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.
God’ s word:
Teaches us what is right
Tells us when we don’t get it right
Tells us how to do it right
Equips us to live right
The Bible is not just so we will know facts.
The Bible is so we will live as God desires us to.
We are to let God’s Word accomplish it’s purpose.
2 Timothy 3:17
That the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
The purpose of God’s Word is to:
Make us fit to do the work God has given us to do at the very moment we are to do it.
Perfectly enable us to do God’s work.
Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is about making disciples. We do that by giving ourselves to Jesus and sharing His Word.
Revelation 12:11
And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.
Surrendered to Jesus and His Word to Raise The Roof and Remove the Walls
Joe
Matthew 28:19-20
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.
We are to make disciples!
But How?
In 2 Timothy 3:10-17 Paul outlines how to make disciples.
It brings together two components.
The first is us. We have to be willing to surrender our lives to do what it takes to make disciples.
We have to let God make us three things.
#1: People Who Are Examples
2 Timothy 3:10
You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness.
Paul says that we have to be “audio-visual” Christians.
We have to teach. We teach the truth of God’s Word.
We also have to model how the truth of God’s Word works in the real world.
He mentions six areas in which we need to show people how Jesus does it.
We model conduct.
This word means to lead or guide. It is leading someone to a destination by going along with them.
Disciplining is not just telling people how to do something.
Church is not just telling people how to do something.
Hebrews 10:24-25
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.
This verse is not just about Sunday morning. Remember the early believers were together daily.
Disciplining is doing life together.
Church is doing life together.
We disciple people by doing life with them and helping them to connect with Jesus.
We model by having an aim in life.
We do life with people and have a purpose and show people our purpose.
The phrase means to expose or view. We expose our purpose by letting people see us living that purpose out.
If I have no purpose, as many people don’t, then I can’t help people find God’s purpose for their lives. If I know God’s purpose for my life and live it out, then others can see and be led to live out God’s purpose in their lives.
Ephesians 2:6-7
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.
Our purpose, our life’s aim is to show how awesome and glorious God is. We are models that so that others will see that is their purpose also.
We model faith.
Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
Faith is not natural. It is not natural or easy.
Faith is not just in theory. Faith is about real every day living. It is about trusting God with the big things and the little things. Faith is about trusting and obeying God when circumstances are clear, don’t make sense, or seem to discourage from following God’s directions.
We model patience.
Seventeen times in Psalms we are told to wait on God or told about the rewards of waiting on God.
We need to be patient with people and patient with God as He works out his will.
Again, patience is not natural for most people and it is never easy.
Noah waited for 120 years for God to bring the flood.
Abraham waited for 25 years for the promised son.
Moses waited 40 years for God to use him to free His people.
David waited 15 years to be king.
Patience is rewarded by God’s will being accomplished.
We model love.
John 13:35
By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.
Love is to be modeled because it is the most essential character trait. If we don’t love, we won’t display any of the other traits of God.
It is also the trait that shows the world we belong to Jesus.
We model steadfastness.
Following Jesus is nota 100 meter sprint; it is an iron man triathlon.
Following Jesus is a life long journey.
1 Corinthians 15:58
Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
#2: People Who Endure
2 Timothy 3:11-13
My persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium and at Lystra - which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse deceiving and being deceived.
We are not to give up.
Galatians 6:9
And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we don’t give up.
#3: People Who Encourage
2 Timothy 3:14
But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believe, knowing from whom you learned it.
1 Thessalonians 5:11
Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.
We hear so much negativism in and from our culture. We as followers of Jesus are to encourage each other and build each other up. We are to encourage people as we see them obeying and seeking God.
It is God’s kindness that leads people to repentance. Jesus wasn’t sent into the world to condemn it but though Him to save it.
The second component is God’s Word.
2 Timothy 3:15
And how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
God’s Word is the foundation of our relationship with Jesus.
We are to believe God’s Word.
2 Timothy 3:16a
All Scripture is breathed out by God.
The Bible is not man’s words, man’s thoughts, or man’s ideas.
The Bible is 100% God’s Word.
Since the Bible is God’s Word, we are to believe it and obey it.
We are to receive it.
2 Timothy 3:16b-e
And profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.
God’ s word:
Teaches us what is right
Tells us when we don’t get it right
Tells us how to do it right
Equips us to live right
The Bible is not just so we will know facts.
The Bible is so we will live as God desires us to.
We are to let God’s Word accomplish it’s purpose.
2 Timothy 3:17
That the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
The purpose of God’s Word is to:
Make us fit to do the work God has given us to do at the very moment we are to do it.
Perfectly enable us to do God’s work.
Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is about making disciples. We do that by giving ourselves to Jesus and sharing His Word.
Revelation 12:11
And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.
Surrendered to Jesus and His Word to Raise The Roof and Remove the Walls
Joe
Sunday, May 10, 2015
Watching for Deception
John 10:10a
The thief comes only to kill and steal and destroy.
Jesus tells us that the thief, Satan, came to:
Kill
Steal
Destroy
Satan does the killing and the stealing and the destroying primarily through deception.
Paul outlines some of the specifics of Satan’s deceptions in 2 Timothy 3:6-9. He says, “For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burden with sins and lead astray by various passions, always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith. But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men.”
Deception is made up of:
Creeping or Worming into Your Life.
John 10:2
Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
Truth enters through the front door. It doesn’t try creeping or worming its way in in some unseen or undetected way. Deceit will look for ways to enter your life in such a way that you are unaware of it until it is too late and you have bought into it and began living your life based on a lie.
Capture
Deception captures you. It comes into your life looking good and godly and then kidnaps you and separates you from God.
Genesis 3:24
And they took him and threw him into a pit. The pit was empty; there was no water in it.
Deception captures you heart, your mind, your will and puts you in a pit. The pit is empty and messy. And you feel like there is no hope, no way of escape.
Paul felt that way. In Romans 7:24 he says, “Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?”
Sounds Hopeless!
But then Romans 7:25 says, “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!”
Jesus rescues us from the pit that deception leads us into.
Burdened With Sins
The enemy uses guilt to deceive us.
Matthew 27:3-5
Then when Judas, His betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he changed his mind and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders, saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” They said, “What is that to us? See to it yourself.” And throwing down the pieces of silver into the temple, he departed, and he went and hanged himself.
Judas could have been forgiven, but in his guilt he listened to a lie, was deceived and killed himself.
Guilt not dealt with or dealt with based on a human-focused method will lead to death and destruction.
Guilt dealt with by repentance will lead to life.
Various Passions
The enemy uses lust to kill, steal, and destroy.
There are two kinds of passions that scripture talks about.
One kind is found in John 2:17. It says, “Then His disciples remembered this prophecy from the Scriptures: ‘Passion for God’s house will consume me.’”
It is a passion for God and to do God’s will.
Another is found in 2 Peter 2:10. It says, “And especially those who indulge in the lust of defiling passion and despise authority.”
It is a lustful passion. A passion for things associated with this world, not Jesus. Lust is a passion for something that is not rightfully yours or that you don’t and never will have a right to.
The enemy tries to convince us that anything but Jesus will full the hole in our hearts. When the truth is that only Jesus fills the hole.
Always Learning and Never Able to Arrive at a Knowledge of the Truth
The enemy will let us study and study and study the Bible as long as we don’t ever reach the truth. Some of the most ungodly people I have ever met knew what the Bible said in great detail.
Knowledge is not salvation.
JESUS IS SALVATION!
The enemy doesn’t want you to reach the truth. Truth is Jesus. He doesn’t want you to reach Jesus and abide in Him and His Word. The enemy doesn’t care if your mind is full of biblical knowledge as long as that knowledge doesn’t bring you to the point of surrendering your life to Jesus as your supreme authority.
Many are deceived into thinking that because they know certain facts and believe in God then everything is fine.
It is not about knowing.
It is not about believing.
It is not about having said a prayer.
It is not about going to church.
It is about surrender.
The knowing and believing and praying and going to church can lead you to the surrender. But it is about the radical, illogical, irrational surrender of your life to Jesus as your Master.
In John 8:31-32 Jesus says, “If you abide in My word you are truly My disciples, and you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.”
Deception fills you with knowledge.
Jesus sets you free.
Corrupted in Mind
The word corrupted can also mean depraved.
Deprave means to make something immoral or wicked.
Deception leads us to be corrupted or depraved which leads us to immorality and wickedness.
Romans 1:28
Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done.
Wrong or corrupt or depraved thinking will lead to wrong or corrupt or depraved living.
If you want to live right, let Jesus transform your thinking, your mind.
Paul says in Romans 12:2, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
If Jesus doesn’t transform your mind then it will be deceived. Only a mind transformed by Jesus can discern what is good, acceptable, and perfect.
Disqualified Regarding the Faith
Deception leads to a counterfeit faith.
In Matthew 22:23-33 Jesus is asked a question about a situation concerning marriage and the resurrection. It was asked to trap Jesus into making a mistake that the religious leaders could use against Him.
In verse 29 Jesus says, “You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God.”
The religious leaders were religious but their faith was counterfeit.
Deception leads us to believe that all faiths are equal. That all religions are of equal value. It doesn’t matter what you believe as long as you are sincere.
In Matthew 7:13-14 Jesus says, “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”
There are not may ways to God; there is one - Jesus.
In John 14:6 Jesus says, “No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
Deception says there are many roads to God; pick the one you like.
Jesus says I AM the road, come to Me.
Paul says in verse 10 that all this deception will not get far. God will bring everything into the Light.
Raising the Roof and Removing the Walls IS NOT about deception, guilt, lust, mere knowledge, corruption, or counterfeit faith.
Raising the Roof and Removing the Walls IS about truth, freedom, purity, salvation, transformation, and real faith in The Real God.
I saw this past week a glimpse of the CHURCH. It was awesome. I saw people who had been broken by the world being healed and restored by the reality of Jesus in their lives. I want the Truth of God’s Word and the reality of Jesus’ Presence to make us who God created us to be.
Without Deception Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls
Joe
The thief comes only to kill and steal and destroy.
Jesus tells us that the thief, Satan, came to:
Kill
Steal
Destroy
Satan does the killing and the stealing and the destroying primarily through deception.
Paul outlines some of the specifics of Satan’s deceptions in 2 Timothy 3:6-9. He says, “For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burden with sins and lead astray by various passions, always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith. But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men.”
Deception is made up of:
Creeping or Worming into Your Life.
John 10:2
Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
Truth enters through the front door. It doesn’t try creeping or worming its way in in some unseen or undetected way. Deceit will look for ways to enter your life in such a way that you are unaware of it until it is too late and you have bought into it and began living your life based on a lie.
Capture
Deception captures you. It comes into your life looking good and godly and then kidnaps you and separates you from God.
Genesis 3:24
And they took him and threw him into a pit. The pit was empty; there was no water in it.
Deception captures you heart, your mind, your will and puts you in a pit. The pit is empty and messy. And you feel like there is no hope, no way of escape.
Paul felt that way. In Romans 7:24 he says, “Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?”
Sounds Hopeless!
But then Romans 7:25 says, “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!”
Jesus rescues us from the pit that deception leads us into.
Burdened With Sins
The enemy uses guilt to deceive us.
Matthew 27:3-5
Then when Judas, His betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he changed his mind and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders, saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” They said, “What is that to us? See to it yourself.” And throwing down the pieces of silver into the temple, he departed, and he went and hanged himself.
Judas could have been forgiven, but in his guilt he listened to a lie, was deceived and killed himself.
Guilt not dealt with or dealt with based on a human-focused method will lead to death and destruction.
Guilt dealt with by repentance will lead to life.
Various Passions
The enemy uses lust to kill, steal, and destroy.
There are two kinds of passions that scripture talks about.
One kind is found in John 2:17. It says, “Then His disciples remembered this prophecy from the Scriptures: ‘Passion for God’s house will consume me.’”
It is a passion for God and to do God’s will.
Another is found in 2 Peter 2:10. It says, “And especially those who indulge in the lust of defiling passion and despise authority.”
It is a lustful passion. A passion for things associated with this world, not Jesus. Lust is a passion for something that is not rightfully yours or that you don’t and never will have a right to.
The enemy tries to convince us that anything but Jesus will full the hole in our hearts. When the truth is that only Jesus fills the hole.
Always Learning and Never Able to Arrive at a Knowledge of the Truth
The enemy will let us study and study and study the Bible as long as we don’t ever reach the truth. Some of the most ungodly people I have ever met knew what the Bible said in great detail.
Knowledge is not salvation.
JESUS IS SALVATION!
The enemy doesn’t want you to reach the truth. Truth is Jesus. He doesn’t want you to reach Jesus and abide in Him and His Word. The enemy doesn’t care if your mind is full of biblical knowledge as long as that knowledge doesn’t bring you to the point of surrendering your life to Jesus as your supreme authority.
Many are deceived into thinking that because they know certain facts and believe in God then everything is fine.
It is not about knowing.
It is not about believing.
It is not about having said a prayer.
It is not about going to church.
It is about surrender.
The knowing and believing and praying and going to church can lead you to the surrender. But it is about the radical, illogical, irrational surrender of your life to Jesus as your Master.
In John 8:31-32 Jesus says, “If you abide in My word you are truly My disciples, and you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.”
Deception fills you with knowledge.
Jesus sets you free.
Corrupted in Mind
The word corrupted can also mean depraved.
Deprave means to make something immoral or wicked.
Deception leads us to be corrupted or depraved which leads us to immorality and wickedness.
Romans 1:28
Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done.
Wrong or corrupt or depraved thinking will lead to wrong or corrupt or depraved living.
If you want to live right, let Jesus transform your thinking, your mind.
Paul says in Romans 12:2, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
If Jesus doesn’t transform your mind then it will be deceived. Only a mind transformed by Jesus can discern what is good, acceptable, and perfect.
Disqualified Regarding the Faith
Deception leads to a counterfeit faith.
In Matthew 22:23-33 Jesus is asked a question about a situation concerning marriage and the resurrection. It was asked to trap Jesus into making a mistake that the religious leaders could use against Him.
In verse 29 Jesus says, “You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God.”
The religious leaders were religious but their faith was counterfeit.
Deception leads us to believe that all faiths are equal. That all religions are of equal value. It doesn’t matter what you believe as long as you are sincere.
In Matthew 7:13-14 Jesus says, “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”
There are not may ways to God; there is one - Jesus.
In John 14:6 Jesus says, “No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
Deception says there are many roads to God; pick the one you like.
Jesus says I AM the road, come to Me.
Paul says in verse 10 that all this deception will not get far. God will bring everything into the Light.
Raising the Roof and Removing the Walls IS NOT about deception, guilt, lust, mere knowledge, corruption, or counterfeit faith.
Raising the Roof and Removing the Walls IS about truth, freedom, purity, salvation, transformation, and real faith in The Real God.
I saw this past week a glimpse of the CHURCH. It was awesome. I saw people who had been broken by the world being healed and restored by the reality of Jesus in their lives. I want the Truth of God’s Word and the reality of Jesus’ Presence to make us who God created us to be.
Without Deception Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls
Joe
Sunday, May 3, 2015
Alert in The Last Days
In 1 Chronicles 12:32 we are told that there were men of the tribe of Issachar who had understanding of the time in which they lived and could give the nation of Israel direction about what they should do.
We as followers of Jesus need to also be aware of the things going on in our nation and in the world and be able to help the church know what to do.
In Matthew 13:33 Jesus tells us to be alert about His Second Coming.
In Ephesians 6:18 Paul tells us to be alert and keeping praying for all God’s people.
In 1 Peter, Peter encourages us to be alert.
1 Peter 1:13
Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at His coming.
1 Peter 4:7
The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray.
1 Peter 5:8
Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
That are several things in these 1 Peter passages about being alert that we need to notice.
They are connected with praying. We are to be alert so we can pray with godly understanding.
They are connected with Jesus’ Second Coming. We need to be aware that Jesus is coming back and be prepared.
They are connected with having a sober spirit. Sober means to be focused. We are to live life focused on Jesus, His word, and His will. We are not to just live life zoned out and not paying attention.
Paul writes to Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:1-5 about noticing things about the last days.
The term “last days” is the time after Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection and before his Second Coming. We are living in the last days. When Paul shares with Timothy some things to look for in the last days, we are to pay attention. We are further into the last days now than when Paul wrote this letter.
In 2 Timothy 3:1 Paul says that these last days will be days of difficulty.
We are not to be surprised and caught off guard by things like:
Natural Disasters
Persecution of Christians
Human-Based Views of Life
Rejection of God-Centered Values
These are not to discourage us. They are to remind us to be alert and to continue to serve and obey Jesus.
Paul mentions three changes that will occur in the last days.
2 Timothy 3:2a
People will be lovers of money, lovers of themselves.
A Change in Affection
People will be materialistic.
People will see the accumulation of wealth as a means of self-esteem and something that gives their life meaning.
Today in our nation personal debt is a huge problem. It is a leading cause of divorce. It helped lead to the Great Recession that we are still trying to get out of.
Materialism directs our affection to money and things and away from God.
Paul says in 1 Timothy 6:10 that the love of money is the “root of all kinds of evil.” He also says that it has caused some to abandon their faith in God.
Jesus tells in Luke 12 to lay up treasures in heaven, not on earth.
People will be self-centered.
This is called humanism, which teaches we don’t need God to be good and ethical. When we elevate self-love over everything, then our love for God and the things of God is lowered. This makes us vulnerable to selfishness, immorality, and sin.
The fact is that the essence of all sin is loving ourselves more than we love Jesus.
In Romans 12:3 Paul tells us “not to think of ourselves more highly than we ought to think.” In today’s language we are told to “get over ourselves.”
2 Timothy 3:2b
Boastful, proud, abusive
A Change in Attitude
The change in affection leads to a change in attitude.
People will become boastful. They will point to themselves and exalt themselves and their accomplishments over everything.
1 Corinthians 1:31
Therefore, as it is written: “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.”
Paul quotes from Jeremiah 9:24 to remind us that the only thing we have to really boast about is Jesus.
People will become proud.
The word proud here literally means someone who always has to be in the spotlight. They want others to notice them. They are always the best, they are always first, and they are always right.
James 4:6
But He gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
Do you know what part of that verse blows me away? It is not that God gives grace to the humble. It is that God OPPOSES the proud. Having God oppose you is not a good thing!
People will become abusive.
The word translated abusive means to blaspheme. That means to report something that is meant to hurt someone.
Many will become people who have to be first and best, who want to be noticed by everybody and will do whatever it takes to make that happen.
2 Timothy 3:2c-5
disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather then lovers of God - having a form of godliness, but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.
A Change of Action
The change in affection which leads to a change in attitude leads to a change of action.
They love pleasure. They are religious. They have no godly power.
These are people outside of the church who talk about spiritual things but are focused on themselves.
These are people in the church who want things like they want them for their comfort. They serve Jesus out of duty, not out of a passionate love for Him. We are told to have nothing to do with people like this.
Paul is not telling us to staying away from people whose affections, attitudes, and actions are ungodly because they have no knowledge of or relationship with Jesus.
He is telling us to stay away from people whose affections, attitudes, and actions are ungodly inside the church. People who claim to have a knowledge of and relationship with Jesus.
Raising the Roof and Remove the Walls is about being people whose:
Affections Are For Jesus
Attitudes Are Like Jesus’
Actions Reflect Jesus
Raising the Roof and Removing the Walls is about being alert and understanding the culture around us so we can help the church do God’s will.
Alertly Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls
Joe
We as followers of Jesus need to also be aware of the things going on in our nation and in the world and be able to help the church know what to do.
In Matthew 13:33 Jesus tells us to be alert about His Second Coming.
In Ephesians 6:18 Paul tells us to be alert and keeping praying for all God’s people.
In 1 Peter, Peter encourages us to be alert.
1 Peter 1:13
Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at His coming.
1 Peter 4:7
The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray.
1 Peter 5:8
Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
That are several things in these 1 Peter passages about being alert that we need to notice.
They are connected with praying. We are to be alert so we can pray with godly understanding.
They are connected with Jesus’ Second Coming. We need to be aware that Jesus is coming back and be prepared.
They are connected with having a sober spirit. Sober means to be focused. We are to live life focused on Jesus, His word, and His will. We are not to just live life zoned out and not paying attention.
Paul writes to Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:1-5 about noticing things about the last days.
The term “last days” is the time after Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection and before his Second Coming. We are living in the last days. When Paul shares with Timothy some things to look for in the last days, we are to pay attention. We are further into the last days now than when Paul wrote this letter.
In 2 Timothy 3:1 Paul says that these last days will be days of difficulty.
We are not to be surprised and caught off guard by things like:
Natural Disasters
Persecution of Christians
Human-Based Views of Life
Rejection of God-Centered Values
These are not to discourage us. They are to remind us to be alert and to continue to serve and obey Jesus.
Paul mentions three changes that will occur in the last days.
2 Timothy 3:2a
People will be lovers of money, lovers of themselves.
A Change in Affection
People will be materialistic.
People will see the accumulation of wealth as a means of self-esteem and something that gives their life meaning.
Today in our nation personal debt is a huge problem. It is a leading cause of divorce. It helped lead to the Great Recession that we are still trying to get out of.
Materialism directs our affection to money and things and away from God.
Paul says in 1 Timothy 6:10 that the love of money is the “root of all kinds of evil.” He also says that it has caused some to abandon their faith in God.
Jesus tells in Luke 12 to lay up treasures in heaven, not on earth.
People will be self-centered.
This is called humanism, which teaches we don’t need God to be good and ethical. When we elevate self-love over everything, then our love for God and the things of God is lowered. This makes us vulnerable to selfishness, immorality, and sin.
The fact is that the essence of all sin is loving ourselves more than we love Jesus.
In Romans 12:3 Paul tells us “not to think of ourselves more highly than we ought to think.” In today’s language we are told to “get over ourselves.”
2 Timothy 3:2b
Boastful, proud, abusive
A Change in Attitude
The change in affection leads to a change in attitude.
People will become boastful. They will point to themselves and exalt themselves and their accomplishments over everything.
1 Corinthians 1:31
Therefore, as it is written: “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.”
Paul quotes from Jeremiah 9:24 to remind us that the only thing we have to really boast about is Jesus.
People will become proud.
The word proud here literally means someone who always has to be in the spotlight. They want others to notice them. They are always the best, they are always first, and they are always right.
James 4:6
But He gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
Do you know what part of that verse blows me away? It is not that God gives grace to the humble. It is that God OPPOSES the proud. Having God oppose you is not a good thing!
People will become abusive.
The word translated abusive means to blaspheme. That means to report something that is meant to hurt someone.
Many will become people who have to be first and best, who want to be noticed by everybody and will do whatever it takes to make that happen.
2 Timothy 3:2c-5
disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather then lovers of God - having a form of godliness, but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.
A Change of Action
The change in affection which leads to a change in attitude leads to a change of action.
They love pleasure. They are religious. They have no godly power.
These are people outside of the church who talk about spiritual things but are focused on themselves.
These are people in the church who want things like they want them for their comfort. They serve Jesus out of duty, not out of a passionate love for Him. We are told to have nothing to do with people like this.
Paul is not telling us to staying away from people whose affections, attitudes, and actions are ungodly because they have no knowledge of or relationship with Jesus.
He is telling us to stay away from people whose affections, attitudes, and actions are ungodly inside the church. People who claim to have a knowledge of and relationship with Jesus.
Raising the Roof and Remove the Walls is about being people whose:
Affections Are For Jesus
Attitudes Are Like Jesus’
Actions Reflect Jesus
Raising the Roof and Removing the Walls is about being alert and understanding the culture around us so we can help the church do God’s will.
Alertly Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls
Joe
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