Grace Church Sunday Morning - Climbing Companions Pt 6

Title: What? Agreeing With Your Advisory 

Sunday morning 11:30 service

Geof Jackson

Matthew 5:21-26 (ESV)

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"You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.'
But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, 'You fool!' will be liable to the hell of fire.
So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you,
leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison.
Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny. 

Matthew 5:17 (NIV)
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"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.

Matthew 5:20 (ESV)
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For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 

Romans 3:21 - we have a way to be righteous with out the requirements of the law, Jesus.

If you believe the law is the only way you have to live it out.  Jesus says we have a way to live more righteous then the pharisees. God made us righteous. 

Matthew 5:21-22 (ESV)
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"You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.'
But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, 'You fool!' will be liable to the hell of fire.

Matthew 5:23-24 (ESV)
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So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you,
leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

There is a place that anger is allowed. Sin and unrighteousness are things we can be angry at, people we can not be angry at. 

Jesus says that you can not be angry at your brother and be in the righteousness of His Love. 

Leviticus 6:1-7 (ESV)
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The Lord spoke to Moses, saying,
"If anyone sins and commits a breach of faith against the Lord by deceiving his neighbor in a matter of deposit or security, or through robbery, or if he has oppressed his neighbor
or has found something lost and lied about it, swearing falsely—in any of all the things that people do and sin thereby—
if he has sinned and has realized his guilt and will restore what he took by robbery or what he got by oppression or the deposit that was committed to him or the lost thing that he found
or anything about which he has sworn falsely, he shall restore it in full and shall add a fifth to it, and give it to him to whom it belongs on the day he realizes his guilt.
And he shall bring to the priest as his compensation to the Lord a ram without blemish out of the flock, or its equivalent for a guilt offering.
And the priest shall make atonement for him before the Lord, and he shall be forgiven for any of the things that one may do and thereby become guilty."

Matthew 5:25-26 (ESV)

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Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison.
Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny. Lust

Psalm 66:18 (ESV)
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If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.

1 Peter 3:7-12 (ESV)
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Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered. Suffering for Righteousness' Sake
Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.
Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.
For "Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit;
let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it.
For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil."

verse 7 is not some form of legalism, it shows a relationship with a spouse can affect how your relationship with God can be affected.  We can not receive from the Lord if we have bitterness and anger in our lives.  

Ephesians 4:17-32 (ESV)
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Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds.

Do not live like unbelievers.

They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart.
They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity.
But that is not the way you learned Christ!—
assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus,
to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires,
and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds,

Put off the old ways of doing things  and then: 

and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.
Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger,
and give no opportunity to the devil.
Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.
Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.
Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Ephesians 5:1-4 (ESV)
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Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.
And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints.
Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.

1 John 1:9-10 (ESV)
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If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

1 John 2:1-2 (ESV)
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My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.
He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.Prayer

Grace Church Sunday Morning - Climbing Companions Pt 5

Law or No?
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Matthew 5:17-20 (ESV)
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17. "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.

18. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.

19. Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

20. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Law or No?
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Beliefs on the Law are widely varied today, but fall into three major categories:
1) We are still under every command, sacrifice, ritual, etc.
2) The Law has absolutely nothing to do with New Covenant believers
3) The Law still exists, but its relation to us has changed since Jesus

It is not truly possible to be practicing under the law as it is impossible to offer sacrifices at the temple since there is a mosque there. 

On the other hand people say that the law is not existence and ignore the old testament.  That needs to be thrown out as it throws out Jesus. 

So we believe the third way.  It exist but we view things in a  changed way. 

Jesus did not come to abolish the law.   

Eph 2:15 

15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 

Jesus has rendered the law useless.  The law still stands but you can not use it to get righteousness.  The law still stands. 

v. 18 - Jesus says the law is going to stand forever.  It still speaks to us.  If the Spirit of God is abiding in you then you will live under the law.  

We are no longer under dietary, hygienic , ceremonial restrictions of the law.  They were pictures of Jesus but we have the real thing.  The pictures can still speak to us so we should look to them from time to time.  

We still have to follow the moral law. They are summed up in the 10 commandments. It can be summed up in one word.  LOVE

Gal 5:14(ESV)

14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

James 2:8 (ESV)

8 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. 

v. 20 - The people saw the Pharisees were the righteous. They thought this because they saw the rule following was what made them this way.  Jesus was trying to show them this is not the way of righteousness. 

Matt 5 (MSG)

17-18“Don’t suppose for a minute that I have come to demolish the Scriptures—either God’s Law or the Prophets. I’m not here to demolish but to complete. I am going to put it all together, pull it all together in a vast panorama. God’s Law is more real and lasting than the stars in the sky and the ground at your feet. Long after stars burn out and earth wears out, God’s Law will be alive and working.19-20“Trivialize even the smallest item in God’s Law and you will only have trivialized yourself. But take it seriously, show the way for others, and you will find honor in the kingdom. Unless you do far better than the Pharisees in the matters of right living, you won’t know the first thing about entering the kingdom.

SOUL CARE Tough Love Week 4

Grace Church
Chuck McConkey
July 9, 2014

Responding to Your Prodigal

When we have a prodigal child we have to learn to separate the behavior from the child. Reject the behavior.
Reject -

• cast off, spew out
• to refuse to accept or consider

If we reject the prodigal, we are building walls.  Do we reject the good things for the problem behavior.  Many people see things as either/or.  Rejection will not produce change in a prodigal.  It will produce walls, and other problems. 

So what do we do?  We confront. This is not anger, it is sharing of facts and figures.  Tell them that you are not in favor of their behavior.  Bring out facts and feelings.  Confrontation is actually correction.  You may take actions to remove things, that is discipline.  Do not let it get to the level of anger.  Correction should be done in kindness.  People are not entitled to anything. Use removal of things/privileges to help correct bad behavior.  

Speak in Love

Eph 4:

15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 

Do not worry about speaking the truth being awkward.  

Be Tender

Explain to them what is going on and how it can be fixed.  

Do not be armed.

Do not go in loaded for bear hunt.  

Be reasonable

This is not being so objective that you are not confronting. Go through what your emotions are. Work out how that person can start to earn your trust again.

LTDP - a method of ways to confront.  

Listen - this is half of confronting, listen to what they have to say

Think - decision without thinking can lead to a bad situation  Prov. 14:17,29; Prov 12:15 

Discuss - discuss with that person, if your spouse is available talk over with them.

Pray - seek God's wisdom in what needs to be done. 

Work on encouraging one another.  Heb. 10:25

Grace Church Sunday Morning Service - Full House

Grace Church, Tulsa, OK

July 6, 2014

2nd Service

Geoff Pybas

Luke 14:16-24 (ESV)

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But he said to him, "A man once gave a great banquet and invited many.
And at the time for the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, 'Come, for everything is now ready.'
But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, 'I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. Please have me excused.'
And another said, 'I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them. Please have me excused.'
And another said, 'I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.'
So the servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house became angry and said to his servant, 'Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame.'
And the servant said, 'Sir, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.'
And the master said to the servant, 'Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled.
For I tell you,none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet.'" 

Matthew 22:8-14
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Matthew 22:8-14 (ESV)
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Then he said to his servants, 'The wedding feast is ready, but those invited were not worthy.
Go therefore to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find.'
And those servants went out into the roads and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good. So the wedding hall was filled with guests.
"But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment.
And he said to him, 'Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?' And he was speechless.
Then the king said to the attendants, 'Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'
For many are called, but few are chosen." Paying Taxes to Caesar

Full House
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1. Ready

Luke 14:17 - Everything is now ready.  What is the meaning of this? In John, Jesus says there is a place prepared for us.
 Harvest  - harvest is ready but laborers are few.  

We are ready, we have been told to go into  all the world.  

What hinders us:? v18- 21 -  Excuses, people make excuses and we stop.But we make excuses to not evangelize.  We make excuses and live the repeating  life of day to day life.  

2. Make the master's house full

v.23  

Quit making excuses and go everyone to come, compel them.  We need to be not just a teaching church but one that takes that teaching and reaches out to the people to bring them in.  

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James 1:22-24 (ESV)
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But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror.
For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like.

Grace Church - Climbing Companions Pt 4

Grace Church 

Sunday June 29, 2014, 2nd service

Pastor Robb Yandian

Salt and Light
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Matthew 5:13-16 (ESV)
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13. "You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet.

14. "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.

15. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.

16. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Christ Came to Fulfill the Law

Salt and Light
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The analogies here are not quite understood because times have changed.  Salt is not really valuable to us anymore.  We use salt for flavoring. In those days it was used for a lot more.  When they heard salt, they heard value.  Value is determined by desire and value (supply and demand).  

Salt was used to preserve food, to add flavor, to change the environment that it is in.  

All of these are things that we should be doing as Christians.  

But what happens when salt looses the saltiness (as Christians not doing anything) what happens.  It is good for nothing.  

Salt does not strive to be salt, it just is. So is the other part, light.  

Shut off every source of light and it is dark, but one light source penetrated the darkness.  We are to be a light source to the people around us.  We are not to make our light shine, it is in us.  We are to let it shine.  

Message Version

13“Let me tell you why you are here. You’re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You’ve lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage.

14-16“Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.

SOUL CARE Tough Love Week 3

Grace Church
Chuck McConkey
June 25, 2014

Prodigal wasteful, extravagant

Tough love - simply refusing to enable your child to practice dangerous or bad behavior.

Think of the Prodigal Son. Did the father's behavior enable the son's bad behavior.


Reactions of other people can affect how you will handle things.

1. Not you, you can not have that happen
2. Given unsolicited advice.  
3. Some may hurt for you (an may even try to take over your family). 

If someone comes to you with unthinking remarks about the situation respond not in anger but use replies that will reflect the situation off of you.  

Family Responses to your prodigal child

These roles keep us from helping each other deal with the situations.

Protector - this is the person who handles the problem and keeps the situation out of public eye (or other family eye)

The person who nurtures - the one who tries to make sure that people are taken care of. 

Forgotten person - the person who appears independent and we do not realize that they are affected as well.  They are boiling away on the inside.  

Parent reactions are different. Do not assume that how another is handling things is wrong.  Learn to talk to each other.  

Our identity is not in the little voices that cry out to us to tell us how bad we are. Our identity is in the truth of God's word.  We are what God says we are.  

Grace Church - Jun 22, 2014 - Navigate the Victory

Grace Church, Tulsa OK

Pastor Al Poncel

Three Boat trips in the Bible.  

When we are doing what God wants us to do it is not always easy.  

The Great Storm - Sea of Galilee

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Matthew 8:23-27 (ESV)
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23. And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him.

24. And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep.

25. And they went and woke him, saying, "Save us, Lord; we are perishing."

26. And he said to them, "Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?" Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.

27. And the men marveled, saying, "What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?" 

Storms in out lives arise suddenly.

Mark 4:

 37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.  

 38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?

 39And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 

Rebuked can mean to talk strong to or it can mean to take the situation with respect.  

Walking on the Water - Sea of Galilee

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Matthew 14:22-23 (ESV)
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Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds.
And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone,

Fear gives you spiritual forgetting of what God has done for you.  Peter doubted it was Jesus but Jesus told Peter to come to Him.  Peter got out of the boat and started walking to Jesus.  When God tells you to step put of the boat, do it, it is up to Him to make it work, not you.  

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

Peter knew how to fish but Jesus asked him to do something that was contrary to what was he believed.  And it happened that there was so much he had to call others.  

God wants you to go out to the deep area, and trust Him.  

• Believe

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Romans 10:9-10 (ESV)
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because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

John 1:12
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John 1:12 (ESV)
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But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,

Mark 11:24
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Mark 11:24 (ESV)
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Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have receivedit, and it will be yours.

Believe is an action word.  Put your faith in action when you believe.  God has one law that overrides all others, the Law of faith. 

• Why do we OBEY in the first place? 5X reasons

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1. It's our duty.  God asked for, expects it.
Ephesians 2:10 For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

2.   We obey for our good.  

God has told some to do things and they do not.  

FAITH.

Deuteronomy 11:26-28 MKJV  26  Behold, I set before you today a blessing and a curse:  27  A blessing if you obey the commandments of Jehovah your God which I command you today,  28  and a curse if you will not obey the commandments of Jehovah your God, but will turn aside out of the way which I command you today, to go after other gods which you have not known.

3. We Obey because of FUTURE blessings. HOPE
Ephesians 6:8 because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free.

4. We obey because we WANT to. LOVE
I John 5:3 In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome,

5. We obey to bring GOD GLORY., our VICTORY
I Peter 2:12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
Philippians 1:27 Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of.

• ABIDE

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ABIDE
John 15:7 MKJV  If you abide in Me, and My Words abide in you, you shall ask what you will, and it shall be done to you.

Practical Steps to ABIDE
1. READ
2. REPEAT
3. REMEMBER
4. RETREAT – Period of Saturated reading of Bible.
5. WRITE – Journal, write down God's words to you.

• TRUST

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• Psalm 37:3-4
• Psalm 44:6-8
Trust takes Believe and places it into your Heart.

Believe God, Obey God, Abide in God and Trust God

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BELIEVE God, He BELIEVES in you.
1 Timothy 1:12 MKJV  And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who strengthened me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry--

OBEY God, He has GREAT Plans you.
Jeremiah 29:11 MKJV  For I know the purposes which I am purposing for you, says Jehovah; purposes of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

ABIDE in God, He DIRECTS your steps.
Psalms 32:8 GW  The LORD says, "I will instruct you. I will teach you the way that you should go. I will advise you as my eyes watch over you.

TRUST God, He GIVES you rest.
Matthew 11:28 MKJV  Come to Me all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

SOUL CARE Tough Love Week 2

Grace Church
Chuck McConkey
June 18, 2014

One of the first things that we do when we have a prodigal is want to see where things went wrong, especially in ourselves.

1. You failed
2. You are failing now
3. You will fail in the future
4. You have many failures in the past.  

Truth is, we all do, we are not perfect parents.  We are armatures and learn as we go along.  And what works for one will not always work for another child.  

Proverbs 22:6 (KJV)

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

Proverbs 22:6 (AMP)

Train up a child in the way he should go [and in keeping with his individual gift or bent], and when he is old he will not depart from it.

Notice it says they "way he should go". Each child is different. 

Because we feel like we fail, we isolate ourselves and hide what is happening with our families.  

When it comes to doing something for your child, can you ever do enough, or is what you do enough.  Difficult children can be tough to raise.  You need to ask God how to help to discipline them rather than just do it on our own.  Children will tell you how you messed up raising them. Go to God and see what is the truth. 

Ezekiel 18

1 The word of the Lord came unto me again, saying, 

2 What mean ye, that ye use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying, The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge? 

3 As I live, saith the Lord God, ye shall not have occasion any more to use this proverb in Israel.  

4 Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.

If you do not take credit for for the good things that your children do, why would you take credit for their failures.  They are responsible for their choices to God, just like you are.  

Grace Church - Fathers' Day 2014 - Eating Bacon to the Glory of God

Grace Church, Tulsa, OK

Pastor Robb Yandian

Serving God is Manly
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Acts 10:1-2 (ESV)
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At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort,
a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God.

Devout = held God in high reverence.  He feared God with his household.  It was not a healthy respect  like we try to teach these days.  

Prayer is Manly
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Acts 10:3-8 (ESV)
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About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, "Cornelius."
And he stared at him in terror and said, "What is it, Lord?" And he said to him, "Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God.
And now send men to Joppa and bring one Simon who is called Peter.
He is lodging with one Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea."
When the angel who spoke to him had departed, he called two of his servants and a devout soldier from among those who attended him,
and having related everything to them, he sent them to Joppa. 

It is manly to admit you are weak and you need God. You do not have it perfect. A great strength as a man is leading his house, turning to turn God to show that you are not perfect.  

Eating Meat is Godly
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Acts 10:9-16 (ESV)
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The next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray.
And he became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance
and saw the heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth.
In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air.
And there came a voice to him: "Rise, Peter; kill and eat."
But Peter said, "By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean."
And the voice came to him again a second time, "What God has made clean, do not call common."
This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to heaven.

Spreading the Gospel is Manly
===============
Acts 10:17-33 (ESV)
---------------
Now while Peter was inwardly perplexed as to what the vision that he had seen might mean, behold, the men who were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon's house, stood at the gate
and called out to ask whether Simon who was called Peter was lodging there.
And while Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, "Behold, three men are looking for you.
Rise and go down and accompany them without hesitation, for I have sent them."
And Peter went down to the men and said, "I am the one you are looking for. What is the reason for your coming?"
And they said, "Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and God-fearing man, who is well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, was directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and to hear what you have to say."
So he invited them in to be his guests. The next day he rose and went away with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa accompanied him.
And on the following day they entered Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends.
When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him.
But Peter lifted him up, saying, "Stand up; I too am a man."
And as he talked with him, he went in and found many persons gathered.
And he said to them, "You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or to visit anyone of another nation, but God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean.
So when I was sent for, I came without objection. I ask then why you sent for me."
And Cornelius said, "Four days ago, about this hour, I was praying in my house at the ninth hour, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing
and said, 'Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God.
Send therefore to Joppa and ask for Simon who is called Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea.'
So I sent for you at once, and you have been kind enough to come. Now therefore we are all here in the presence of God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord." 

Peter's vision was not about the meat, but the people.  Obeying God is manly.  

Talking About Jesus is Manly
===============
Acts 10:34-48 (ESV)
---------------
So Peter opened his mouth and said: "Truly I understand that God shows no partiality,
but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.
As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all),
you yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed:
how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.
And we are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree,
but God raised him on the third day and made him to appear,
not to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.
And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead.
To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name." The Holy Spirit Falls on the Gentiles
While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word.
And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles.
For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared,
"Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?"
And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days.

Witnessing is easy, open your mouth.  You have fears, sure.  But God has not given you a spirit of fear, but of power and love and a sound mind.  He talked about Jesus and what happened, the Holy Spirit fell.  

SOUL CARE Tough Love Week 1

Grace Church
Chuck McConkey
June 11, 2014

First we define what a prodigal is.  The story can be found in Luke 15.  This is an example of what we will call tough love.

When you have a prodigal what happens

1. Shock and disbelief, 
2. Negotiation.
3. You want to fix it.  

Tough Love - simply refusing to enable your child to practice dangerous or harmful behavior. 

There is nothing shameful in doing this to your child. It is shameful to allow the behavior to continue. 

Tough love is not being mean to them. Adolph Hitler had this kind of tough love.  It is more making sure that they are responsible for their own actions.   

Just as God gives us free will we have to give our children a chance to make a mistake and live with the consequences.  

What is our job in raising a prodigal? If you let them come back into your life you must set up boundaries for what is to happen in their relationship to you and the household.  If this is not done, then they will wind up controlling your life. 

Rainbows - Noah saw one after the flood after the problems. 

Ezekiel saw one when he was in the middle of the battle.  

John saw one in revelation as he was preparing to go into problems

Each was a sign that God was going through the problems with us. 

Let's take the rainbow back as a promise from God. 

When we go through this we are going through a crisis.  

Learn to deal with the loss.  Put a marker in your life, realize life will not be what you want it to be and you have to give up the dream that you had. Deal with it and learn to move on.  

Learn how to express your feelings.  

Find good friends to help you through the situation.  

Climbing Compainions Pt 3

Blessed

Picking up from verse 7.

===============

Matthew 5:1-12 (ESV)
---------------
1. Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. The Beatitudes

2. And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:

3. "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4. "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

5. "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

6. "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

7. "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

Could look at this as to get mercy we need to give mercy.  That is not how to take it,  God desires us to have mercy not sacrifice (rule following). Those who obsess about rule following do not have mercy.  People are so focused on the little issues that they do not see the big issue that faces them.

8. "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

God is clearly interested in what is inside us, in our heart, not the outward appearance.  People are like junk drawers where you throw stuff in so that the house can look good when company comes.  God wants us to have a clean spiritual junk drawer.  Seeing God means being able to be in His presence.  Christianity is about preaching Jesus so people can receive salvation so that they can not get to the state of being pure in heart.

9. "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.  

2 Cor says how we have been given a ministry of reconciliation.  We are peacemaking when we are doing this.  Bringing people into reconciliation with God.

10. "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Our righteousness is persecuted because it is in conflict with what the world says.

11. "Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.

12. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Salt and Light

===============
Matthew 5:1-12 (MSG)
---------------
When Jesus saw his ministry drawing huge crowds, he climbed a hillside. Those who were apprenticed to him, the committed, climbed with him. Arriving at a quiet place, he sat down and taught his climbing companions. This is what he said:
When Jesus saw his ministry drawing huge crowds, he climbed a hillside. Those who were apprenticed to him, the committed, climbed with him. Arriving at a quiet place, he sat down and taught his climbing companions. This is what he said:
"You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.
"You're blessed when you feel you've lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.
"You're blessed when you're content with just who you are—no more, no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought.
"You're blessed when you've worked up a good appetite for God. He's food and drink in the best meal you'll ever eat.
"You're blessed when you care. At the moment of being 'care-full,' you find yourselves cared for.
"You're blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.
"You're blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That's when you discover who you really are, and your place in God's family.
"You're blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God's kingdom.
"Not only that—count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens—give a cheer, even!—for though they don't like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble. Salt and Light
"Not only that—count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens—give a cheer, even!—for though they don't like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble. Salt and Light

Grace Church Wednesday Nights - 1 Corinthians Pt 18

All Things to All Men

===============
1 Corinthians 9:19-27 (ESV)
---------------
19. For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them.

This is part of a big section that started with chapter 8.  He is basically telling the people that they are right in their theology but wrong in your application.  Love should be what consider when dealing with others.  If something is immature and thinks something is a sin, then it is a sin. 

Paul, as we established, had a right to be paid but did not since he did not want to be a stumbling block to them.  These verses are a continuation of how he does things.  His driving purpose in everything that he did was to win people to Jesus Christ.

20. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law.

21. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law.

22. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some.

It is quite clear that the purpose of Paul's life was to save as many as possible, and to do that he became what they needed him to be. Paul was willing to do anything short of sin to bring someone to Christ. Are you that sold out to win souls to Jesus?  

Gal. 2:4-5 

 4 And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage: 

5 To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.

We can modify the method but we cannot modify the message.  Paul was and we should be flexible in the things that can be flexible and firm on what must be firm.  

V. 21  Gal 6:2 - Law of Christ is to love. 

23. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.

He want people to share the blessings of Christ.

24. Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.

25. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.

26. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air.

27. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

There was an Olympic type games at this time.  Paul would have known this as well as the people he was talking to.  They did not get an award for participation. If you did not come in first place you lost.  The goal was for them to win the race.  They would discipline themselves to win this prize. And it was something that would perish. We each have a race to run.  We have to discipline ourselves to meet the call that God has on our lives.  Stay focused, stay on target.  

Climbing Companions Pt 2 - Blessed Part 1

Grace Church, Tulsa, OK

2nd Service

Pastor Robb Yandian

Am I a climbing companion, one who will climb with him when the trail gets rough? 

The beatitudes are in a particular order for a reason.  

Understand that we are a child of God and we will see the fulfillment in a time. These verses describe a life that a believer should have. Doing them will not get you delivered, being delivered we will want to do them. 

v. 6 hunger and thirst for righteousness, v. 10 says we will persecuted for it. Verses 3 through 5 show a state of being empty.  There is a God designed emptiness in every person.  Where there is emptiness there is hunger.  We hunger for righteousness, then we are filled to overflowing (v. 7 - 9).  

The Beatitudes
===============
Matthew 5:1-6 (ESV)
---------------
1. Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. The Beatitudes

2. And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:

3. "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Has nothing to do with finances.  This is a spiritual poverty.  Jer. 17:9, we know the heart of man is deceitful. We are not good, we cannot help our self.  We place our faith in God and we can get the help that we need.  Believe in your self and be sincere is not going to get you to heaven.  You can not save yourself.

4. "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

Taken at face value it looks like Jesus is saying to be sad all the time.  We are to be comforted by God, the grace of God that saves us and gives us eternal life.

5  "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

Psalm 37:11 But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

9 For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth.

We need to wait for the Lord.  We live in a life where we want and get everything FAST.  We are not accustomed  to waiting.  Do not be a back seat driver with God.  He is the one that is controlling the speed.  We can have a lot of different ways to get from point a to point b.  Some are faster than others.  God has the control, he may want to take the back roads to teach us something.  Let God do it in his own speed. Wait for God, do not get ahead of Him.

6. "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

We as Americans do not understand hunger.  

Revelations 3
17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: 18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

We think we are full, we need nothing, but we need Him.  Where is your hunger level? Are you desperate for Him?

The Beatitudes-MESSAGE
===============
Matthew 5:1-6 (MSG)
---------------
When Jesus saw his ministry drawing huge crowds, he climbed a hillside. Those who were apprenticed to him, the committed, climbed with him. Arriving at a quiet place, he sat down and taught his climbing companions. This is what he said:
"You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.
"You're blessed when you feel you've lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.
"You're blessed when you're content with just who you are—no more, no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought.
"You're blessed when you've worked up a good appetite for God. He's food and drink in the best meal you'll ever eat.

Grace Church Wednesday Nights - 1 Corinthians Pt 17

Pastor Robb Yandian 

Denying our rights

Previous chapter talked about not causing others to stumble.  It was not about not offending someone because you will always offend someone.  

The Christian life is not about our rights.  

===============

1 Corinthians 9:1-18 (ESV)
---------------
1. Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are not you my workmanship in the Lord?

Chapter 8 talks about the rights, yes you have them but so then Paul does also.  He was their spiritual father. 

2. If to others I am not an apostle, at least I am to you, for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.

He can claim higher rights than they could, he was an apostle.  

3. This is my defense to those who would examine me.

4. Do we not have the right to eat and drink?

5. Do we not have the right to take along a believing wife, as do the other apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas?

6. Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working for a living?

He goes from me to we.  He is talking about the other apostles, Peter and Barnabas.  Paul has the same rights as these apostles.  People were saying that they were not apostles, they were out on their own and have to work just like the married apostles.  Big picture, all of us apostles have rights also.

7. Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard without eating any of its fruit? Or who tends a flock without getting some of the milk?

Soldiers do not have to work as well as serve, it is given as part of service,  Farmers can eat what they plant, tend flocks drink milk.  Ministry is work.

8. Do I say these things on human authority? Does not the Law say the same?

9. For it is written in the Law of Moses, "You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain." Is it for oxen that God is concerned?

10. Does he not certainly speak for our sake? It was written for our sake, because the plowman should plow in hope and the thresher thresh in hope of sharing in the crop.

Now Paul quotes the Old Testament. The law still has authority today.  Paul's concern is to benefit people here, not the animals.  Paul is saying that God cares for us more than animals.  The oxen were allowed to eat based on the work they were doing.  Paul is saying this is their job, they have a right to earn a living by their preaching.

11. If we have sown spiritual things among you, is it too much if we reap material things from you?

Ministry is spiritual work but it is right to get material things from it.

12. If others share this rightful claim on you, do not we even more? Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ.

Paul is saying that others get this ministry support because they have family but Paul is not.  This is not right, and Paul is not pushing it.  In other words, He is giving up his right to be paid and could push it.  So you guys need to give up your rights (from chapter 8).  Both cases involve a stumbling block (obstacle). 

13. Do you not know that those who are employed in the temple service get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in the sacrificial offerings?

14. In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel.

Repeating his case, now using the Temple servants as an example.  In fact (v. 14) Jesus commanded that those who proclaim the Gospel should get their living from their ministry. 

15. But I have made no use of any of these rights, nor am I writing these things to secure any such provision. 

For I would rather die than have anyone deprive me of my ground for boasting.

So what were they thinking,  he is trying to get money from us??  He is addressing this here.  He does not want their money.

16. For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!

He wants them to understand that this is not about money. It was about proclaiming the Gospel.  It was what he existed for, this preaching of the Gospel. Serve God and God will bring the money to you.  Do not do it for the money however.

17. For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward, but if not of my own will, I am still entrusted with a stewardship.

18. What then is my reward? That in my preaching I may present the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel.

If he chose this of his own will he has his reward.  This is what God has put in to him to do.  

This chapter shows that as a minister had rights. But these rights would be put down so that he would be able to preach the Gospel with out any hindrance to those who were watching him.  

Climbing Companions Pt 1

Grace Church, Tulsa OK

Pastor Robb Yandian

May 18, 2014, 2nd service

Matthew 5:1-12 (ESV)
---------------
1. Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. 

2. And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:

3. "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4. "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

5. "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

6. "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

7. "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

8. "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

9. "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

10. "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11. "Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.

12. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. 

As recorded in the Bible this is the longest speech that Jesus made.

Matt 4:23

23And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. 

Matt 9:35
 35And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.

Jesus taught, preached, and healed. 

You can not separate the three things Jesus did. All three things are Jesus and should be in any ministry involving him.  You may like one aspect of Him, but you can not get rid of the others.

We do not get to pick and chose from what the Bible says. All of it is good to learn from.


Matthew 5:1-2 (MSG)

---------------
1-2 When Jesus saw his ministry drawing huge crowds, he climbed a hillside. Those who were apprenticed to him, the committed, climbed with him. Arriving at a quiet place, he sat down and taught his climbing companions. This is what he said:

The disciples were ones that were committed to Jesus. There were followers who wanted to believe that he was the one that came to deliver them. There were some that just wanted to see the Jesus show.  Some people wanted to catch Him in a mistake.  Except for the Disciples, these are the multitude.

The ones that were committed to Him, the disciples, were the ones that climbed with Him.  The crowds came filtering up the hillside.  The disciples were His climbing companions.  We need to ask ourselves are we climbing companions, staying on His heels and with Him through out the whole thing.

To be this way we must be willing to hear God speak, and then do it. When Peter was told to "follow me" Peter quit his job and dd it. We have to be willing to be that way.  Pressures in life will help you to determine just how much you are committed.

This section has the start of the Beatitudes.  First and last promises are the same. When we have salvation, we receive the kingdom of heaven.  These promises are present time but the others are future.  

Grace Church Wednesday nights - 1 Corinthians Pt 16

May 14, 2014, Grace Church Wednesday night service

Pastor Robb Yandian

Food Sacrificed to Idols
===============

1 Corinthians 8:1-13 (ESV)

---------------
1. Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that "all of us possess knowledge." This "knowledge" puffs up, but love builds up.

2. If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know.

3. But if anyone loves God, he is known by God.

Since this letter was written in response to a letter they sent to him, Paul is addressing each issue.  This and last chapter begin with "Now concerning...".  He is addressing the issues one by one.  

They were saying that I can do what I want, I know there is no other gods so what difference does it make.  

They had knowledge and it was puffing them up.  They became prideful and arrogant. Yes they were right, it does not make a difference. It is not walking in love however.  

Christian conduct is motivated by love not knowledge.People with lots of head knowledge and doctrines can be jerks.  As a Christian we should always be learning. While Paul agrees theologically with these people but is addressing the bigger issue of love.,

4. Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that "an idol has no real existence," and that "there is no God but one."

Paul is quoting them here.  He is showing agreement.

5. For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as indeed there are many "gods" and many "lords"—

6. yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.

He is agreeing with the doctrine here.  But it was not doing what it should be doing. Information should bring about transformation.  It is possible to have right doctrine but poor living.  

7. However, not all possess this knowledge. But some, through former association with idols, eat food as really offered to an idol, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled.

Paul is saying that you understand and I understand, but not everyone is us.  They do not realize this information.  To them, the idols still have power.  Your freedom is causing them to sin.  This is a matter of conscience.  

8. Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do.

9. But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.

What you do can cause someone else to fall in their faith.

10. For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol's temple, will he not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols?

This is not political correctness where we are not going to offend anyone.  This is watching what we do so that a fellow Christian will not stumble.

11. And so by your knowledge this weak person is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died.

12. Thus, sinning against your brothers and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ.

13. Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.

Puffed up nature is what can make another to sin.
What does all this mean. 

1. It does not say to never do anything that would offend with you
2. It is not saying do not do anything that would bother a fellow Christian. It is a matter of faith.  Discuss - yes, division - no.  

Do not put a stumbling block in other people's way.  

Grace Church - May 11, 2014 - A Mother's Worship

A Mother's Worship
===============
Jacob hated Leah. She was not beautiful to him. God loved Leah. She was beautiful to Him.

Leah didn't "measure up". How do you feel you don't measure up?

Especially with social media, we compare our normal life with everyone else's highlight reel.

Put your real life on social media today. Use the hashtag #gracetulsa

Leah strove through childbearing to earn the love of her husband. When she realized it wasn't working, she found rest in worshiping the Lord.

A Mother's Worship
===============
Genesis 29:31-35 (ESV)
---------------
31. When the Lord saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren.

32. And Leah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben, for she said, "Because the Lord has looked upon my affliction; for now my husband will love me."

33. She conceived again and bore a son, and said, "Because the Lord has heard that I am hated, he has given me this son also." And she called his name Simeon.

34. Again she conceived and bore a son, and said, "Now this time my husband will be attached to me, because I have borne him three sons." Therefore his name was called Levi.

35. And she conceived again and bore a son, and said, "This time I will praise the Lord." Therefore she called his name Judah. Then she ceased bearing.

The Lord saw how Leah was treated.  No body may see what you are going through in your life but God does. 

Why was Leah hated?

Genesis 29:15-18 (ESV)
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15. Then Laban said to Jacob, "Because you are my kinsman, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what shall your wages be?"

16. Now Laban had two daughters. The name of the older was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.

17. Leah's eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful in form and appearance.

18. Jacob loved Rachel. And he said, "I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel."

The point here is not in what was the matter with Leah's eyes but the comparison of the two woman.  Rachel was obviously better looking than her sister.  Jacob was a man, he went for the good looking one.  

How does that make Leah feel? This is a problem that woman face than as well as now.  Woman even try to compare themselves to the Proverbs 31 woman.  That can be a hard thing to reach.

Do not compare yourself to others.  We tend to compare ourselves to everyone else's highlight reel.  Social media has made this worse.  

God saw the broken hart of Leah.  God is with us in all the problems.  

v. 32 - Ruben - husband to love her, she looked to motherhood to get her husband's approval. She should have got her sense of worth from God not her husband. 

v.33 - Simon - shows that he still hated her.  When we do not get what we want from others we still try to get it from them. We need to turn to God.  

v. 34 - Still did not work, still kept trying. What is it in your life that you keep striving to accomplish?  

v. 35 - Something happened in her life to stop striving and to praise the Lord.  Judah was born from this.  We need to learn to stop striving and to praise the Lord.  Reading on we will find out this was short lived and she went back to striving.  We need to keep going back and praise the Lord each day.  

Grace Church - Wednesday night series - 1 Corinthians Pt 15

Marriage
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1 Corinthians 7:25-40 (ESV)
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Paul is clearly single and is wanting to say that single life is better in serving the Lord.

Joy is not the circumstances but in the way that you see life.  What are you putting your efforts into.  

25 Now concerning the betrothed, I have no command from the Lord, but I give my judgment as one who by the Lord's mercy is trustworthy.

Betrothed = one who has been promised to another for marriage, equivalent would be engagement for today.  Command from the Lord, same as last week.  It is not that it is not guided by the Spirit, he is giving judgement that he feels is being guided by the Spirit.  

26 I think that in view of the present distress it is good for a person to remain as he is.

This does not mean that we should not marry, if it were true then a generation of Christians would never happen.  

27 Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be free. Are you free from a wife? Do not seek a  wife.

Be content in the calling that God has placed on you.  It really applies to all manner of life.  

28 But if you do marry, you have not sinned, and if a betrothed woman marries, she has not sinned. Yet those who marry will have worldly troubles, and I would spare you that.

Marriage is not a sin, nor is staying single.  

What are the troubles that he is talking about here?  Unclear.

29 This is what I mean, brothers: the appointed time has grown very short. From now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none,

30 and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no goods,

31 and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away.

Time is short, You need to live as if you are living for the Lord.  Living for god you do not need the material things.  You do not let anything have your full devotion.  It is OK to have a wife and the things of the world, just not to let them rule you.

32 I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord.

33 But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife,

34 and his interests are divided. And the unmarried or betrothed woman is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit. But the married woman is anxious about worldly things, how to please her husband.

35 I say this for your own benefit, not to lay any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord.

Key passage in these verses, "I want you to be free from anxieties".  If this was good then he would want us all to have it.  All the examples that he gives here are all bad things.  Not two good and two bad.  You should not be anxious about the things of the world or spiritual things either.  

36 If anyone thinks that he is not behaving properly toward his betrothed, if his passions are strong, and it has to be, let him do as he wishes: let them marry—it is no sin.

37 But whoever is firmly established in his heart, being under no necessity but having his desire under control, and has determined this in his heart, to keep her as his betrothed, he will do well.

38 So then he who marries his betrothed does well, and he who refrains from marriage will do even better.

The equivalent here is the length of engagement.  Do not create a sinful environment by keeping things going on to long if you can not handle it.

39 A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord.
40  Yet in my judgment she is happier if she remains as she is. And I think that I too have the Spirit of God.

Marriage is for life or till death you part. You are not bond to that marriage if the spouse when they die.  You should however marry to one who is a Christian.

1 Corinthians 7:10-24

http://bible.com/59/1CO7.10 
Grace Church
Wednesday Night - April 30, 2014
Pastor Rob Yandian

10. To the married I give this charge (not I, but the Lord): the wife should not separate from her husband 

He could be speaking from God (Jesus spoke in his life time), or from inspired from God

11. (but if she does, she should remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband), and the husband should not divorce his wife. 

12. To the rest I say (I, not the Lord) that if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he should not divorce her. 

13. If any woman has a husband who is an unbeliever, and he consents to live with her, she should not divorce him. 

We are so wanting our own way, Paul is not saying that here.  To men, Paul says in another place that we are to Love our wives like God loved the Church.  What does that say about our belief in God if divorce is running rampant in the church.  We need to listen that he is saying to keep the marriage going.


14. For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy. 

15. But if the unbelieving partner separates, let it be so. In such cases the brother or sister is not enslaved. God has called you to peace. 

Every person has to put their own faith in God.  This appears to say that we can bring salvation to them by staying in the marriage.  What it says that the person who is saved brings holiness to the marriage.  A sanctifying work is being done in that household.

Matthew 23:17, the gold in the temple is made holy by the temple.

If the unbeliever wants out, let them go.  We need to live the life that we are are supposed to lead.

16. For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife? 

You can be a witness to the spouse that does not believe.  God knows what is going on.  We are to take that responsibility for spouses or children.  Do not let others do what you are called to do


17. Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches. Was anyone at the time of his call already circumcised? Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision. 

18. Was anyone at the time of his call uncircumcised? Let him not seek circumcision. 

19. For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God. 

20. Each one should remain in the condition in which he was called. 

21. Were you a bondservant when called? Do not be concerned about it. (But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity.) 

22. For he who was called in the Lord as a bondservant is a freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free when called is a bondservant of Christ. 

23. You were bought with a price; do not become bondservants of men. 

24. So, brothers, in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God. 


Be content with your calling from God.  Do not look at the other side of the fence.  Be satisfied where you are.
V. 17 - assigned and called.  God has given these to you.  Assigned is what you are to be in your life.  What your work is, what your relations ship is to be. You are the one that can do what God assigned to you. When you look at the other side is that God messed up when he assigned it to you.  This is your gift that God has given you.

V. 18 - 20 You are to remain in the condition that you were when you were called.  This is not the point of salvation or the call that you have to do for God in life.  Gal 3:28, we are all one in Jesus.  This is the assignment that God gives us that we need to seek out and understand.  Be content with your call from God.
Be prepared to walk through the door of your assignment when the door opens, not the door you want to open.  Trying to push the door open when it is not ready will only wear you out.

V. 21 - Do not seek to change yourself to be something else.
V. 22 - Slavery is not what we experienced in America.  These were the people who kept the wheels of life going, much as jobs are today.  What he is saying is to seek God first, not something else. Want a promotion, not a problem, just make sure that you are seeking God first.  Embrace the assignment that God has given to you.