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Sermon Excerpt #2 CONCERNED ABOUT YOUR IMAGE?
Heb 1:3
3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
KJV
Concerned about your image?
Many of us are insecure about our appearance. We feel like we are too fat, too skinny, too feminine, too masculine, too this or too that. Politicians pay big money to have consultants and focus groups refine their image. Are they being too conservative or being too liberal? How is their image affected by this issue or that issue?
The Church is not immune from image issues. Where is the line on this issue or that issue? Are we being too legalistic or are we being too loose with Godly standards? How will this action be viewed? How will Church folks view us? How will the world view us?
As the advertising world says, “Image is everything”!
In the Scripture above though, the word “image” is used in a different way. Jesus Christ is referred to as the EXPRESS IMAGE of God. In other words, Jesus is God in HIGH DEFINITION. What does this mean?
God is so infinite, so large and so expansive that we could never fully grasp him while in these bodies. However God gave us an example of everything that we NEED TO KNOW. He gave us an example of everything we need to be. God provided an image that we could all follow in these bodies. God knows His Creation. He knows that we are visual, so He supplied an IMAGE before our spiritual eyes. He provided an image that we can see thru Scripture and one another.
From the outside, Jesus looked like everyone else. For this reason Judas had to kiss him in order to reveal to the authorities who within the crowd was the Christ. There was nothing special about his external.
Jesus was a special image for what He was on the inside.
Jesus was a special image for what He did and for why He did it.
Image is everything…… especially the image of Christ!!!
Sermon Excerpt #1 of TAX TIME preached by Pastor Tony Ares
Luke 20
20 And they watched him, and sent forth spies, which should feign themselves just men, that they might take hold of his words, that so they might deliver him unto the power and authority of the governor.
21 And they asked him, saying, Master, we know that thou sayest and teachest rightly, neither acceptest thou the person of any, but teachest the way of God truly:
22 Is it lawful for us to give tribute unto Caesar, or no?
23 But he perceived their craftiness, and said unto them, Why tempt ye me?
24 Shew me a penny. Whose image and superscription hath it? They answered and said, Caesar's.
25 And he said unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar's, and unto God the things which be God's.
This scripture is routinely used for justification for the separation of church and state, justification for taxes and also routinely used as justification for worldly Christians focusing on the world instead of the Lord.
The Lord asked me to bring you a question today:
What image do you bare?
In the text, Jesus says that whatever image is placed upon an object should be rendered unto the owner.
What image resonates from your soul?
In Genesis 1:26-27, we are made in the image and likeness of God. In Genesis 3 however that image is tarnished by the willful actions of Adam. Like Adam, our image is tarnished and reshaped into the image of the world thru our decisions and indecisions. Decisions of rebellion and sin echo throughout humanity.
Thru Christ we have the opportunity to reshape our image into that of God. We reshape our image into one that reflects Christ with our decisions to love, serve, give, pray, suffer, sacrifice and most of all obey, on a day to day basis. Remember, according to Jesus, the image that you bare will determine who you are given to(or rendered to) in the last day.
What image do you bare?
Bible Study Notes From Pastor Tony Ares
Isa 32:18
18 And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places;
KJV
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One day I waited on the phone for 30 minutes with the Help Desk, only for them to ask, "Have you rebooted?"
What’s sad is that I had to be told that more than once. When things got busy, I forgot.
A simple reboot fixed my problem.
How many times does God have to remind us that when life gets hectic….we need a reboot?
We don’t need a new drug, a new spouse, a new location, new parts or anything….we just need to start again, fresh with what we already have been given.
We need to shut down our excessive programs and start afresh.
Remembering this occasion, it made me research why reboots are necessary and what happens with a reboot:
Sometimes a reboot is necessary because we have too many programs running at the same time. We have opened too many and then there are others open that were a result of system defaults. In the human mind, we have things we consciously focus on and then there are things in the background of our minds that are still running, taking up spiritual RAM.
A reboot shuts all of this down and has the computer restart from anew. By using the TASK Manager you can shut down excessive programs and ensure that your memory is strong enough to work on your most important tasks. Sadly though sometimes a more thorough reboot is needed. This is true when you have a virus. What many people don’t want to admit to anyone is that they attained a virus by allowing something into their hard drive that was evil like pornography. Sometimes you need to reboot your computer to “factory settings”, where all memory and work is erased. You set the computer back to the settings of the MAKER.
When a computer reboots it goes quiet…no emails…no fan blowing…no heat…no programs…just for a moment or longer….quiet…stillness…..
(Scriptures regarding quietness and stillness)
Matt 6:6
6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
KJV
Ps 23:2-3
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
What are we spiritually reminded of when we are rebooted back to our factory settings without all those programs going at once:
REST
Heb 4:9-11
9 So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. 10 For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His. 11 Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience.
LOVE
1 John 4:16-18
16 We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 17 By this, love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because as He is, so also are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear
Protection
Zech 2:1-5
2 Then I lifted up my eyes and looked, and behold, there was a man with a measuring line in his hand. 2 So I said, "Where are you going?" And he said to me, "To measure Jerusalem, to see how wide it is and how long it is." 3 And behold, the angel who was speaking with me was going out, and another angel was coming out to meet him, 4 and said to him, "Run, speak to that young man, saying, ' Jerusalem will be inhabited without walls because of the multitude of men and cattle within it. 5 'For I,' declares the Lord, 'will be a wall of fire around her, and I will be the glory in her midst.'"
With the hectic natures of your days….don’t forget to reboot!!!!
James 1:23-25
23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
KJV
Sermon Notes January 29 Minister Tom Harrell
Overview: Romans Chapter 15:1-3
3 QUESTIONS TO ANSWER:
We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not toplease ourselves. 2 Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification. 3 For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.
Romans 15:1WHO SHOULD NOT RESTRICT THEMSELVES
We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.
KEY WORDS OR PHRASES
Application:
Ref:1st Corinthians 9:19-27
19 For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. 20 And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; 21 To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. 22 To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I ammade all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. 23 And this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.
HOW DO WE BEGIN TO BEAR THE INFIRMITIES (WEAKNESSES) OF OTHERS?
Romans 15:2 Explains the first step
Romans 15:2 - WE HOW DO WE NOT RESTRICT OURSELVES
Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification
KEY WORDS OR PHRASES
Application:
Romans 15:3WHY SHOULD WE SHOULD NOT RESTRICT OURSELVES
For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me
KEY WORDS OR PHRASES
Application:
Ref:Ps. 69:9 For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me
Mat. 26:39 And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt
Phil 2:5-8 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9 Therefore God alsohas highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
MODERN DAY APPLICATION: CONCLUSION
The strong brother is morally obligated to take the initiative and bear with the weak brother in those things that bother him. The stronger brother must forego hisliberty for the good of the weaker, so he is not offended or impaired in his spiritual life. The best example is Christ, who too our sins upon Himself. (Thomas Nelson, 1988)
Dietrich Bonhoeffer-sacrificed his personal freedom
Chirst sacrificed his life for everyone
Bleed Out
I met a man that worked at a slaughter house. He shared how he killed animals. He said, "I like to bleed them out slowly! If they die a sudden death then it is difficult to remove all the blood. If you cut an artery though, the heart will pump out the blood. It's more painful for the animal but it is much cleaner for the butcher."
I began to realize...that is what the devil wants to do to us. He doesn't want a sudden fall or death. He wants us to slowly die to this world. He wants a slow kill. If your dying slowly...you don't have to give up your idols. When you hit rock bottom though, you learn to trust in the ROCK of God, Jesus Christ!
We all have a decision to make. Do we want to bleed out slowly over 70 years? Or do we want to really die suddenly...so that we can really live?
We need to get busy dying...so we can get busy living!
(The original version is posted on the link below. It is much longer and rambles a bit[sorry Jon]
http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/09/3710/#comments )
Sent from my iPad
Eddie Long
Thank GOD it wasn't for anything sexual but I too have had people lie on me. When folks in a congregation don't get the money or support that they expect...they can get VICIOUS! (Ironically..the same people who give NOTHING, expect a lot when they get in trouble.)
So I was waiting for his Sunday Message with bated breathe. I was expecting one of two scenarios:
A.) I did it. I am wrong. I am seeking help. I am stepping down for a few years to reform my character. (We all fall down.)
Or
B.) I did not do this! I never engaged in any sexual behavior with those kids! I am innocent!
Here is what I didn't expect. I didn't expect a half tail explanation filled with ambiguous statements and the puzzling self-evident, "I am not a perfect man"! I didn't expect him to hide behind his attorneys.
Greater than his legal responsibility, the Bishop has a responsibility to his congregation and the Body of Christ. If he did it, he should MAN UP and take responsibility! If he didn't do it, he adamantly and clearly should stand up for the truth!!!
As a mature person in Christ, I KNOW that Pastors aren't perfect. Worshiping men is for babies. Everyone is struggling with something and before it's over, Jesus will expose us all!
As a Pastor once told me, "If you fall privately, confess privately, if you fall publicly, then you owe it to the Body to confess PUBLICLY!"
To come out half stepping is unfair to the congregation. The congregations applause to ambiguous statements demonstrates an unhealthy church. We are a nation in need of responsibility and accountability.
If the Body of Christ, does not function with responsibility and accountability...then where will the world find it?
Sent from my iPad
A UFC moment
Once upon a time there was much debate about which Martial Art was the best. Then suddenly....there was a Martial Arts Apocalypse. A mixed martial arts tournament was held appropriately named, the Ultimate Fighting Championships(UFC). A Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu expert named Royce Gracie dominated other styles, including boxing, shoot-fighting, karate, judo and tae kwon do.
Due to his dominance, today all MMA fighters need SOME training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in order to survive. The centuries old question was answered, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu became the dominant martial art. As a result....boxing is no longer even relevant. For the first time, the World Heavyweight Boxing Champion was/is no longer regarded as the baddest man in the universe. (The current world heavyweight boxing champion...probably wouldn't last five minutes with most Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu experts.) Why do I share this? Sometimes all "styles" aren't equal. Sometimes we all can't be right. Sometimes the concept of "your truth" or "my truth" gets washed away into the reality of “THE TRUTH”. Out of political correctness and fairness, we all deep down want to believe that ALL RELIGIONS are equal. We sometimes want to believe that God just explained things to different groups in different ways and we all are going to heaven because after all...our different styles or religions have to all be equal….right? I wonder how it felt. I wonder how it felt to study a martial art for your entire life and then to have an expert in your “style” totally emasculated in front of the world over and over and over again throughout the nineties. How would it feel to study a style your whole life, only to discover that the style was indeed inferior to another martial art? Which style are you following? Will your style be exposed? Are you following the right SENSEI? Romans 14:11 “ As I live, says the LORD,
For many, the martial arts are serious issues. Where you spend Eternity is much more serious though. In a post modernistic America, we have been trained that we are all correct, we just have different perspectives. I point out the Martial Arts Apocalypse for a reason. Sometimes life has nothing to do with different perspectives. Sometimes RIGHT IS RIGHT and WRONG IS WRONG. Sometimes there is no gray area. Sometimes one person is correct and ten people just THINK they are right. It will be hard to swallow for some, but one day all of the ideologies, traditions, opinions, religions and opinions will be exposed.
In the Spirit, there is but one “art” which stands apart from the rest. This Earth will one day experience a much broader Apocalypse where many “styles” or “faiths” will be exposed. As magnificent as he is, Royce Gracie’s dominance will pale in comparison with the 2nd coming of Jesus Christ.
Every knee shall bow to Me,
And every tongue shall confess to God.”
Devotional on pain or fear
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I recently endured a physical pain that was greater than the pain when I broke my leg. It literally had me laying on the bed scared to move again, because I didn't want that pain to come back. The pain was so bad that I laid very still for the next two days.
This explains a lot to me about life. This world is filled with people who have been hurt.
Some physically, some mentally and some spiritually but many have discovered INCREDIBLE pain.
The question is after that pain will you be paralyzed by fear of that pain coming back?
How long will you lay on your bed of affliction, scared to move again, scared to try something new again or scared to love again?
God didn't give you the fear. Faith is pushing past the pain. Pain is a factor of life and so is healing and resurrection.
Don't let fear or pain box you in, keep on pushing!
Sent from my iPad
Friday Devotional: Flatliners
2 Corinthians 4:10-12
10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.
11 For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.
12 So then death worketh in us, but life in you.
KJV
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Have you ever wondered why Jesus promised the abundant life yet you still suffer and struggle?
We are supposed to be New Creatures in Christ, yet the old man remains.
The old Tony or Kim or whoever still lives. He or she is struggling to survive. They want to live with all of their selfishness and sin.
The Apostle Paul talks about "walking circumspectly". In some translations that means "walking in a straightline". Walking straight is a metaphor for walking righteous.
Ironically our walk in our New Life is never perfectly straight until the Old Life flatlines.
Who is living within you?