In John chapter three a seeker named Nicodemus came to talk to Jesus.
Nicodemus was:
A Pharisee
A Ruler of the Jews
He was a very religious man.
He was a very outwardly righteous man.
He was a very respected man.
But Nicodemus was seeking something more than he had known and experienced up to that time.
In John 3:2 Nicodemus said, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.”
Nicodemus saw something in Jesus that made him want to talk to Jesus and maybe find the something more he was looking for.
Jesus has a conversation with Nicodemus about being born again.
In explaining what it means to be born again, Jesus shares some insights about God’s love and the consequences of accepting or rejecting that love. He also shares some insights about the nature of man and evil.
God’s Love
John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.
God loved.
God gave.
We benefit.
God’s love is not based on who we are or what we do.
God’s love is based on who He is.
God’s love moved Him to give. He gave Himself.
Paul tells us in Philippians 2:6-7 that Jesus didn’t hang on to the form of being God, but emptied Himself. That is love in action.
Jesus gave up all the perks of being God so He could become one of us and die for us.
God did all of this so we (you and I) could have eternal life.
God sent Jesus to save the world.
John 3:17
For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him.
Jesus was for, not against.
Jesus came to save, not condemn.
Luke 19:10
For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.
The church is the Body of Christ. And because we are the hands and feet of Jesus in the world today, we are be for and not against.
The world knows what the church is against. The world needs to know and see what the church is for.
The church is for marriage as God defines it.
The church is for the family as God defines it.
The church is for people as God’s creation.
The church is for freedom in Jesus.
The church is for peace from Jesus.
The church is for joy centered in Jesus.
The church is for hope because of Jesus.
Condemnation comes not from God but from our own choices.
John 3:18
Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
Condemnation does come not from God.
Condemnation comes because we make bad choices.
James 1:14-15
But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desires. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.
Temptation ®
Wrong Desire ®
Sin ®
Death
Every choice we make has a consequence.
The consequence of rejecting Jesus is condemnation.
God’s desire is that no one reject Jesus, that no one be condemned, or that no one perish.
2 Peter 3:9
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.
God wanted people to come to know, experience and love Him and He sent Jesus to illuminate our minds and hearts so we could.
John 3:19a
And this the judgment: the light has come into the world.
Jesus is the light. He has come to show us God. He has come to show us our sin. He has come to be God’s provision for our sin. He has come to show us how to experience forgiveness and eternal life.
1 John 1:5
This is the message we have heard from Him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.
The result of God being light is found in 1 John 1:7. It says, But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.
God is light and He wants us to walk in that light with Him. The consequences of that are living in community with God and His people and forgiveness and cleansing.
Just as there are consequences to walking in the light with Jesus, there are consequences to not walking in the light.
John 3:19b-20
And people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.
When we don’t walk in the light, it indicates that we hate the light. Remember God is light, so we are hating God. It also indicates that our works are evil and we are trying to keep them hidden.
Jesus came to teach us the truth and glorify the Father.
John 3:21
But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.
Truth ®
Light ®
Jesus
Jesus came to be:
Our Savior
Our Encourager
Our Light
Our Truth
Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is us, the people of God, knowing Jesus as our Savior and proclaiming Jesus as THE SAVIOR.
Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is us, the people of God, looking to Jesus as our encourager and proclaiming Jesus to others as THE ENCOURAGER.
Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is us, the people of God,walking in the light and proclaiming Jesus as THE LIGHT.
Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is us, the people of God, living out the truth and proclaiming Jesus as THE TRUTH.
With The God Who Loves Us Raising the Roof and Removing the Walls
Joe
Sunday, June 28, 2015
Sunday, June 21, 2015
Jesus Really Did This?
In John chapter two Jesus does two things that seem out of character for the person that many people have made Him to be.
In these two actions. Jesus shows us His character, His power, His authority.
The first thing is Jesus’ first recorded miracle.
Jesus, His mother, and His disciples go to a wedding at Cana. In the process of the wedding the bridegroom runs out of wine. When Jesus’ mother tells Him about the situation Jesus creates wine from water.
John 2:6-10
Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. And He said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.” So they took it. When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (through the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.”
This miracle seems so weird. It didn’t feed hungry people, didn’t heal sick people, didn’t rescue desperate people, or it didn’t rise dead people. It supplied some wine for a party.
It shows three things about Jesus’ character.
It shows great compassion.
It shows great kindness.
It shows great grace.
The bridegroom and his family would have been disgraced if they had run out of wine. No, it was not a matter of life and death. It was a matter of kindness, compassion, and grace.
Jesus saw a need and out of His kindness, He met the need.
Kindness is not the same as being nice. Nice is what we are taught to be so people will think good of us. Kindness is a character trait that is produced by God’s Spirit.
Kindness is something God produces in us to reach out to others and draw them to Himself.
Kindness is something God produces in us to glorify Himself.
Jesus didn’t do this miracle because He had to or even because His mother asked Him to. He did it to show that God is kind, compassionate, and gracious. It doesn’t have to be a life and death situation for Jesus to help us. Jesus’ grace is for the everyday situations we face.
In addition to the character traits of kindness, compassion, and grace, we also see the power of Jesus in this miracle.
Jesus took water, plain H20 and made it into wine.
He didn’t make a big production out of it; He simply did it.
And Jesus didn’t just make water into wine. He made water into great wine. The master of the feast gave testimony to the good quality of the wine.
Jesus’ power is absolute. He didn’t just make ok wine, He made awesome wine.
Jesus’ power does the impossible.
In Luke 1:34 when Mary asked the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”
The angel’s answer is in Luke 1:37, “For nothing is impossible with God.”
In Matthew 19 when Jesus tells the disciples that it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of needle than for a rich person to get to heaven, they ask who can be saved. Jesus answers in Matthew 19:26, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Jesus’ power has no limits. That means our hope has no limits.
Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is about experiencing Jesus’ kindness, compassion, and grace in the working of His mighty power in our lives in the everyday things.
The second action in John chapter two is when Jesus cleanses the temple.
John 2:14-16
In the temple He found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there. And making a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And He poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. And He told those who sold the pigeons, “Take these things away; do not make My Fathers’ house a house of trade.”
The disciples, when they had observed this, said in John 2:17, “Zeal for your house will consume me.”
Jesus shows passion here.
Jesus is passionate to do the Father’s will.
Jesus is passionate for the Father to be honored.
We are passionate about what we really love. If we like something we will not be passionate about it, but if we truly love something we will be passionate about it.
Passion is not just shown by emotions.
What we see Jesus doing here is not driven by emotion; it is driven by what He knows the Father wants.
Passion is shown in how we use our time.
Passion is shown in how we use our money.
Passion is shown in how we use our gifts and talents.
Passion is shown in how we prioritize the activities of our daily lives.
So Jesus shows the character trait of passion.
Jesus also shows His authority in this action.
The temple belonged to His Father, not the merchants or the religious leaders or even the people.
Jesus doesn’t ask permission to order the merchants and money-chargers out, He just does it. He demonstrates His authority by removing ungodly activities from His Father’s house.
Jesus’ authority, like His power, is absolute.
Matthew 28:18
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.”
Jesus doesn’t have some authority.
Jesus doesn’t have most authority.
Jesus has ALL authority.
Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is about being passionate about what Jesus is passionate about and living based on His authority.
We as followers of Jesus are not to use Jesus’ authority to remove ungodly things from others lives. We are to allow Jesus in His authority to remove ungodly things from our lives.
In Matthew 7:5 Jesus says, “You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.”
The way I allow Jesus to demonstrate His authority is by living in obedience to His authority. Then I can be more effective in helping others remove ungodliness from their lives.
It is not about Jesus’ followers protesting.
It is not about Jesus’ followers judging and condemning.
It is not about Jesus’ followers whining and blaming.
It is about Jesus’ followers showing compassion, kindness, and grace.
It is about Jesus’ followers showing passion for Him.
It is about Jesus’ followers depending on His power.
It is about Jesus’ followers obeying His authority.
In the Power and Authority of Jesus Raising the Roof and Removing the Walls
Joe
In these two actions. Jesus shows us His character, His power, His authority.
The first thing is Jesus’ first recorded miracle.
Jesus, His mother, and His disciples go to a wedding at Cana. In the process of the wedding the bridegroom runs out of wine. When Jesus’ mother tells Him about the situation Jesus creates wine from water.
John 2:6-10
Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. And He said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.” So they took it. When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (through the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.”
This miracle seems so weird. It didn’t feed hungry people, didn’t heal sick people, didn’t rescue desperate people, or it didn’t rise dead people. It supplied some wine for a party.
It shows three things about Jesus’ character.
It shows great compassion.
It shows great kindness.
It shows great grace.
The bridegroom and his family would have been disgraced if they had run out of wine. No, it was not a matter of life and death. It was a matter of kindness, compassion, and grace.
Jesus saw a need and out of His kindness, He met the need.
Kindness is not the same as being nice. Nice is what we are taught to be so people will think good of us. Kindness is a character trait that is produced by God’s Spirit.
Kindness is something God produces in us to reach out to others and draw them to Himself.
Kindness is something God produces in us to glorify Himself.
Jesus didn’t do this miracle because He had to or even because His mother asked Him to. He did it to show that God is kind, compassionate, and gracious. It doesn’t have to be a life and death situation for Jesus to help us. Jesus’ grace is for the everyday situations we face.
In addition to the character traits of kindness, compassion, and grace, we also see the power of Jesus in this miracle.
Jesus took water, plain H20 and made it into wine.
He didn’t make a big production out of it; He simply did it.
And Jesus didn’t just make water into wine. He made water into great wine. The master of the feast gave testimony to the good quality of the wine.
Jesus’ power is absolute. He didn’t just make ok wine, He made awesome wine.
Jesus’ power does the impossible.
In Luke 1:34 when Mary asked the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”
The angel’s answer is in Luke 1:37, “For nothing is impossible with God.”
In Matthew 19 when Jesus tells the disciples that it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of needle than for a rich person to get to heaven, they ask who can be saved. Jesus answers in Matthew 19:26, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Jesus’ power has no limits. That means our hope has no limits.
Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is about experiencing Jesus’ kindness, compassion, and grace in the working of His mighty power in our lives in the everyday things.
The second action in John chapter two is when Jesus cleanses the temple.
John 2:14-16
In the temple He found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there. And making a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And He poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. And He told those who sold the pigeons, “Take these things away; do not make My Fathers’ house a house of trade.”
The disciples, when they had observed this, said in John 2:17, “Zeal for your house will consume me.”
Jesus shows passion here.
Jesus is passionate to do the Father’s will.
Jesus is passionate for the Father to be honored.
We are passionate about what we really love. If we like something we will not be passionate about it, but if we truly love something we will be passionate about it.
Passion is not just shown by emotions.
What we see Jesus doing here is not driven by emotion; it is driven by what He knows the Father wants.
Passion is shown in how we use our time.
Passion is shown in how we use our money.
Passion is shown in how we use our gifts and talents.
Passion is shown in how we prioritize the activities of our daily lives.
So Jesus shows the character trait of passion.
Jesus also shows His authority in this action.
The temple belonged to His Father, not the merchants or the religious leaders or even the people.
Jesus doesn’t ask permission to order the merchants and money-chargers out, He just does it. He demonstrates His authority by removing ungodly activities from His Father’s house.
Jesus’ authority, like His power, is absolute.
Matthew 28:18
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.”
Jesus doesn’t have some authority.
Jesus doesn’t have most authority.
Jesus has ALL authority.
Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is about being passionate about what Jesus is passionate about and living based on His authority.
We as followers of Jesus are not to use Jesus’ authority to remove ungodly things from others lives. We are to allow Jesus in His authority to remove ungodly things from our lives.
In Matthew 7:5 Jesus says, “You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.”
The way I allow Jesus to demonstrate His authority is by living in obedience to His authority. Then I can be more effective in helping others remove ungodliness from their lives.
It is not about Jesus’ followers protesting.
It is not about Jesus’ followers judging and condemning.
It is not about Jesus’ followers whining and blaming.
It is about Jesus’ followers showing compassion, kindness, and grace.
It is about Jesus’ followers showing passion for Him.
It is about Jesus’ followers depending on His power.
It is about Jesus’ followers obeying His authority.
In the Power and Authority of Jesus Raising the Roof and Removing the Walls
Joe
Sunday, June 14, 2015
Who Are You?
All of us have been asked the question, “Who are you?”
Many of us have been mistaken for someone else.
Most of us have been questioned about what we were doing at a particular time.
In John 1:19-22 John the Baptist is questioned about who he is and what he is doing.
John 1:19-22
And this is the testimony of John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” He confessed, “I am not the Christ.” And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” So they said to him, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”
John says that he id not the Christ.
John says that he is not Elijah.
John says that he is not the Prophet.
John is not anyone of significance in the world.
John is an ordinary.
John is a servant of God.
The Jewish religious leaders were trying to pressure John into a confession or put him in a box so they could either condemn or dismiss him.
When we choose to be a servant of God and follow Jesus with our whole lives, we can expect to be pressured, condemned, and dismissed.
John didn’t give in to the pressure.
In John 1:23-24 John shares six things that he knows about Jesus as the Messiah.
Verse 23: John knew that he was to prepare the way for Jesus as the
Messiah.
Verse 29: John knew that Jesus takes away the sin of the world.
Verse 31: John knew that he was to show Jesus to Israel.
Verse 33: John knew that he was to baptize Jesus.
Verse 33: John knew that Jesus would baptize with the Holy Spirit.
Verse 34: John knew that Jesus was the Son of God.
Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is about knowing Jesus and making Him known.
What results can be expect to see when we, like John, know Jesus and make Him known.
In John 1:35-42 we see three results.
First, people began to follow Jesus.
John 1:35-37
The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples and he looked at Jesus as He walked by and said, “Behold the Lamb of God!” The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus.
We are not called to follow rules or religious rituals. John didn’t point to the temple or the law, he pointed to Jesus, a person. We are called to follow a person, Jesus.
When through our words and actions we make Jesus known, others will follow.
Second, people spread the word about Jesus.
John 1:38-41
Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, “What are you seeking?” And they said to Him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher). “where are You staying?” He said to them, “Come and you will see.” So they came and saw where He was staying, and they stayed with Him that day, for it was about the tenth hour. One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter’s own brother. He first found his brother and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ).
Jesus calls us to follow Him and, as we follow, we talk to others about Jesus.
No one has to tell me to talk about wife. I talk about her because I love her and she is an essential element of my life.
No one has to tell me to talk about my children and grandchildren. I talk about them because I love them and they are essential elements of my life.
So no one should have to tell me to talk about Jesus because He is THE essential element of my life.
Third, people were transformed by Jesus.
John 1:42
He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter).
Simon means heard.
Cephas or Peter means rock.
When Simon heard and accepted the truth of who Jesus was, Jesus transformed him into Peter, rock.
The purpose of the gospel is transformation.
The purpose of salvation is transformation.
In John 1:43-51 Jesus calls two more men to follow Him, Philip and Nathanael.
People gathered around Jesus. He didn’t advertise or try to sell Himself. People knew that Jesus was the solution to their problems.
Jesus met people at the point of their need.
We as people who have surrendered their lives to Jesus and are following Him are not called to advertise Jesus or try to sell Him. We are to allow Jesus to use us as we yield ourselves to Him to meet people at the point of their need.
Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is about yielding to Jesus so He can use us to meet people at the point of their need.
Jesus also invested His life into a small group of people whom He had invited to follow Him.
Jesus concentrated His time, left His message, and delegated the responsibility of its deliverance to the world, pouring His life into these people while He was here on the earth.
We need to be helping others grow to be disciples of Jesus.
Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is about growing as disciples of Jesus and growing others also to be His disciples.
Some of the last words that Jesus spoke to His followers were, “Go and make disciples.”
John the Baptist, even before Jesus came, was going and making disciples.
The Twelve went and made disciples.
The early church went and made disciples.
We are to GO and MAKE disciples.
As Servants Telling About Jesus We Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls
Joe
Many of us have been mistaken for someone else.
Most of us have been questioned about what we were doing at a particular time.
In John 1:19-22 John the Baptist is questioned about who he is and what he is doing.
John 1:19-22
And this is the testimony of John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” He confessed, “I am not the Christ.” And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” So they said to him, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”
John says that he id not the Christ.
John says that he is not Elijah.
John says that he is not the Prophet.
John is not anyone of significance in the world.
John is an ordinary.
John is a servant of God.
The Jewish religious leaders were trying to pressure John into a confession or put him in a box so they could either condemn or dismiss him.
When we choose to be a servant of God and follow Jesus with our whole lives, we can expect to be pressured, condemned, and dismissed.
John didn’t give in to the pressure.
In John 1:23-24 John shares six things that he knows about Jesus as the Messiah.
Verse 23: John knew that he was to prepare the way for Jesus as the
Messiah.
Verse 29: John knew that Jesus takes away the sin of the world.
Verse 31: John knew that he was to show Jesus to Israel.
Verse 33: John knew that he was to baptize Jesus.
Verse 33: John knew that Jesus would baptize with the Holy Spirit.
Verse 34: John knew that Jesus was the Son of God.
Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is about knowing Jesus and making Him known.
What results can be expect to see when we, like John, know Jesus and make Him known.
In John 1:35-42 we see three results.
First, people began to follow Jesus.
John 1:35-37
The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples and he looked at Jesus as He walked by and said, “Behold the Lamb of God!” The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus.
We are not called to follow rules or religious rituals. John didn’t point to the temple or the law, he pointed to Jesus, a person. We are called to follow a person, Jesus.
When through our words and actions we make Jesus known, others will follow.
Second, people spread the word about Jesus.
John 1:38-41
Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, “What are you seeking?” And they said to Him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher). “where are You staying?” He said to them, “Come and you will see.” So they came and saw where He was staying, and they stayed with Him that day, for it was about the tenth hour. One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter’s own brother. He first found his brother and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ).
Jesus calls us to follow Him and, as we follow, we talk to others about Jesus.
No one has to tell me to talk about wife. I talk about her because I love her and she is an essential element of my life.
No one has to tell me to talk about my children and grandchildren. I talk about them because I love them and they are essential elements of my life.
So no one should have to tell me to talk about Jesus because He is THE essential element of my life.
Third, people were transformed by Jesus.
John 1:42
He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter).
Simon means heard.
Cephas or Peter means rock.
When Simon heard and accepted the truth of who Jesus was, Jesus transformed him into Peter, rock.
The purpose of the gospel is transformation.
The purpose of salvation is transformation.
In John 1:43-51 Jesus calls two more men to follow Him, Philip and Nathanael.
People gathered around Jesus. He didn’t advertise or try to sell Himself. People knew that Jesus was the solution to their problems.
Jesus met people at the point of their need.
We as people who have surrendered their lives to Jesus and are following Him are not called to advertise Jesus or try to sell Him. We are to allow Jesus to use us as we yield ourselves to Him to meet people at the point of their need.
Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is about yielding to Jesus so He can use us to meet people at the point of their need.
Jesus also invested His life into a small group of people whom He had invited to follow Him.
Jesus concentrated His time, left His message, and delegated the responsibility of its deliverance to the world, pouring His life into these people while He was here on the earth.
We need to be helping others grow to be disciples of Jesus.
Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is about growing as disciples of Jesus and growing others also to be His disciples.
Some of the last words that Jesus spoke to His followers were, “Go and make disciples.”
John the Baptist, even before Jesus came, was going and making disciples.
The Twelve went and made disciples.
The early church went and made disciples.
We are to GO and MAKE disciples.
As Servants Telling About Jesus We Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls
Joe
Sunday, June 7, 2015
Jesus is the Word of God
John, in the Gospel of John, calls Jesus the Word of God. He uses the word Logos.
Logos means a collection of ideas or words. It can mean both inner thought and the outward expression of that thought.
John is revealing to us Jesus as the inner thought and outward expression of God.
John 1:1-2
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.
John establishes the deity of Jesus.
When all things began, the Word (Jesus) already was. Jesus wasn’t created. Jesus has no beginning. He simply is. And He has always been.
John also emphasizes the intimacy of fellowship between the Word (Jesus) and God.
John says that Jesus and God had a face-to-face relationship. Jesus was not just with God, He was communing with God.
Then John says that Jesus is not a god, but that He is the God.
Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is about Jesus being THE GOD.
John 1:3
All things were made through Him, and without Him was not any thing made that was made.
John says that Jesus is the Creator. Everything that has been created, what we see with the natural eye, what we see with the telescope, and what we see with the microscope, was created by Jesus. Even the things we cannot see -the spiritual world- was created by Him.
Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is about Jesus being THE CREATOR.
John 1:4-5
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.
Jesus has life in Himself. The life here is not just biological life, it is life in all its fullness. It is full physical life and full spiritual life.
Jesus is the light. He is that light that continues to shine.
Jesus is the light that is stronger and overcomes darkness.
Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is about Jesus being THE LIFE AND LIGHT.
John 1:6-9
There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. The true light which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.
John the Baptist was a witness to the light. Acts 1:8 says we all as followers of the Light (Jesus) are to be witnesses. Life is not about us. Life is about Jesus and as followers of Jesus we are be witnesses of the True Light. The Light, Jesus, is for everyone.
Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is about being WITNESSES to the truth of Jesus.
John 1:10-11
He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, yet the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own people did not receive Him.
Jesus the Creator was physically, bodily in the world. Jesus came to those who should have known Him, but they rejected Him.
The world rejected Jesus. The world as a whole is still rejecting Jesus. If the world rejects Jesus, the One we follow, then it will reject us because we are following Jesus.
Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is about being willing to be REJECTED TO FOLLOW JESUS.
John 1:12-13
But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
Three key terms: Receive and Children and Believe in His name
Receive means to gain possession of something. We gain possession of Jesus as our Lord and He gains possession of us as His servants.
Children means someone born of another.
We are not just the servants of Jesus but out of His grace He makes us His children.
Believe in His name means the absolute transfer of trust from self to the Savior. Anything short of that is not a faith that makes us children of God.
Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is about turning over complete control of yourself to Jesus and becoming a CHILD OF GOD.
John 1:14
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.
Jesus is the one and only Son of God. We are children of God through the grace of Jesus by faith. Jesus is THE SON OF GOD.
The Son of God became a human.
The Son of God became an ordinary human.
Jesus was not a king or a wealthy man or powerful man (from a human perspective). Jesus was an ordinary guy.
But even in ordinary human form, the glory of God was evident as Jesus showed grace and truth.
Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is about knowing that Jesus is the one and only GOD/MAN.
John 1:15-18
(John bore witness about Him, and cried out, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because He was before me.) For from His fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, He has made Him known.
Jesus is to be supreme over our lives because:
He is the image of the invisible God.
He shows God’s grace and truth.
He is at the Father’s side.
He has made the Father known to all.
Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is about having Jesus as the SUPREME RULER OF YOUR LIFE.
With and In The Word Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls
Joe
Logos means a collection of ideas or words. It can mean both inner thought and the outward expression of that thought.
John is revealing to us Jesus as the inner thought and outward expression of God.
John 1:1-2
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.
John establishes the deity of Jesus.
When all things began, the Word (Jesus) already was. Jesus wasn’t created. Jesus has no beginning. He simply is. And He has always been.
John also emphasizes the intimacy of fellowship between the Word (Jesus) and God.
John says that Jesus and God had a face-to-face relationship. Jesus was not just with God, He was communing with God.
Then John says that Jesus is not a god, but that He is the God.
Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is about Jesus being THE GOD.
John 1:3
All things were made through Him, and without Him was not any thing made that was made.
John says that Jesus is the Creator. Everything that has been created, what we see with the natural eye, what we see with the telescope, and what we see with the microscope, was created by Jesus. Even the things we cannot see -the spiritual world- was created by Him.
Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is about Jesus being THE CREATOR.
John 1:4-5
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.
Jesus has life in Himself. The life here is not just biological life, it is life in all its fullness. It is full physical life and full spiritual life.
Jesus is the light. He is that light that continues to shine.
Jesus is the light that is stronger and overcomes darkness.
Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is about Jesus being THE LIFE AND LIGHT.
John 1:6-9
There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. The true light which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.
John the Baptist was a witness to the light. Acts 1:8 says we all as followers of the Light (Jesus) are to be witnesses. Life is not about us. Life is about Jesus and as followers of Jesus we are be witnesses of the True Light. The Light, Jesus, is for everyone.
Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is about being WITNESSES to the truth of Jesus.
John 1:10-11
He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, yet the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own people did not receive Him.
Jesus the Creator was physically, bodily in the world. Jesus came to those who should have known Him, but they rejected Him.
The world rejected Jesus. The world as a whole is still rejecting Jesus. If the world rejects Jesus, the One we follow, then it will reject us because we are following Jesus.
Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is about being willing to be REJECTED TO FOLLOW JESUS.
John 1:12-13
But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
Three key terms: Receive and Children and Believe in His name
Receive means to gain possession of something. We gain possession of Jesus as our Lord and He gains possession of us as His servants.
Children means someone born of another.
We are not just the servants of Jesus but out of His grace He makes us His children.
Believe in His name means the absolute transfer of trust from self to the Savior. Anything short of that is not a faith that makes us children of God.
Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is about turning over complete control of yourself to Jesus and becoming a CHILD OF GOD.
John 1:14
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.
Jesus is the one and only Son of God. We are children of God through the grace of Jesus by faith. Jesus is THE SON OF GOD.
The Son of God became a human.
The Son of God became an ordinary human.
Jesus was not a king or a wealthy man or powerful man (from a human perspective). Jesus was an ordinary guy.
But even in ordinary human form, the glory of God was evident as Jesus showed grace and truth.
Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is about knowing that Jesus is the one and only GOD/MAN.
John 1:15-18
(John bore witness about Him, and cried out, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because He was before me.) For from His fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, He has made Him known.
Jesus is to be supreme over our lives because:
He is the image of the invisible God.
He shows God’s grace and truth.
He is at the Father’s side.
He has made the Father known to all.
Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is about having Jesus as the SUPREME RULER OF YOUR LIFE.
With and In The Word Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls
Joe
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