A Struggle With Faith

Matthew 22:1-14 The Parable of the Wedding Feast

-the consequences of rejecting God and his son and also his justice and grace
Characters: King (God) , son (Jesus), slaves (Prophets) , invited guests (people of Israel), latter guests (Jews and Gentiles)
Where do you fit in?
-the bride (symbolically the church) is missing
-gospel starts with recognizing Jesus as king
-everything and everyone is subject to him
-He is a God of invitation and initiation
Do YOU belong to CHURCH?
-respond to his invitation so you may have hope of his redemption
-Respond Properly = Obey the Call of the King
-God is the god of long suffering
-expect God’s judgement when you disregard/disobey his invitation
-redemption is due to God’s graciousness, NOT because of you
-in the eternal plan of God, we were extended grace
-obey the king’s command by going out and inviting people to come
-obedience comes at a cost
What ever happened to conviction?
-slaves knowing what happened to the previous still went out and gathered all they found
-you must come to God with proper attire
-to appear before the king with our own terms is to disobey and ignore him
-go to him without your conditions with the proper attire
Collisions 3:5-11

Hebrews 6:13-20

How do you biblically produce HOPE?
-faith is an assurance things hoped for
-what you look to everyday determines how much hope you have
-the bible presents truths about what God wants you to do
-when you forget what to do for God remember who God is
What do you look at for hope?
-if you look to God for hope you will find it

3 landmarks to look to daily:
1. Look to the FAITHFULNESS of God’s history (13-15)
-the stories and history in the bible exist so you could study them
Why did God make a promise to Abraham?
-because he chose to extend blessings
-God swore to himself because there is no one greater
2 Timothy 2:13
Genesis 22:16
-look at God’s history, he reaches to people even when they don’t
-in Catholicism you reach to God but in Christianity God reaches to you
-before you thought about God he already swore to himself he would choose you (when you are saved)
-Abraham had to wait for 25 years for a son
-you cannot hang onto a worldly thing and acquire God’s hope
-God is not unfair to make you suffer while trusting in him
-those who suffered for it have received it

2. Look to the FIRMNESS of God’s promise (16-18)
-you cannot change God’s mind when you pray
-he is unchangeable
-he is absolutely faithful and wants to demonstrate his oaths
-even though God doesn’t owe you anything, he swore to himself he would bless you
-through God’s empowerment you can make it through anything
-it is impossible for God to lie

3. Look to the FORERUNNER of God’s son (19-20)
-what anchors you is hope not self will
-you know that Christ has sacrificed for you
-hope has already been secured for you
-whatever happens to Christ will happen to his followers
-there is nothing you could do to ensure salvation by yourself
-this is the type of God worth following
1 Peter 1:3
-endure for Christ and turn from the desires of the world

Men and women in Christ

This has helped me meditate on God’s purpose of what it means to be a man and how I should interact with my loved ones.. 
1 Timothy 3 and Ephesians 5:21-30

Look them up if you’re led to :)

My purpose for God

This semester has been a big period of my life. I’ve become more involved in God’s ministry and in the church I attend called Lighthouse. I’ve experienced ties cut but a forever growing relationship with God. Decisions I’ve made have been for Christ and for the expansion and glory of his kingdom. I’ve realized my purpose in life- to honor God- because of who he is and live my life in response to Christ’s sacrifice with the knowledge that I’m a sinner. I’ve realized more and more that I am a sinner and I’ve been humbled by how God has revealed that to me. Throughout this semester I’ve seen how unworthy I am to even talk to God, but because of Christ I am able to. The “Christian” (which means like-Christ) life is not easy and I’ve also realized the constant race I must run to suffer for God in hope of the rest I will reach in the next life. I was not a Christian until I realized the true meaning of living like one. Being Christian isn’t easy at all. I have to be disciplined but with the gifts of God comforting me every step of the way. I must sometimes go against my desires and what the world tells me to do. But in the end I know that my decisions will effect my relationship with God and will either contribute to the expansion of his kingdom or reflect a bad image calling myself a “Christian”. I thank God for what he has done in my life and thank him for the blessings he has given my in his sovereignty. 

Our Inheritance in Christ ~ Ephesians 1:11-14

What does my future hold as a Christian?

1. The Ground of Our Inheritance
-there are a lot of people who know about Christ
Do you know Christ?
-understand the truth “in Christ”
-Christ defines meaning in things you do if you are “in Christ”
-we are no longer bound to our past because Christ has forgiven us
-for the future you look forward to your inheritance “in Christ”
A. God’s Work
-when God works out all things, he puts all things in what he does
-God is able to do far above what we imagine
Romans 8:28-30
Philippians 1:6
-if God is the one who starts the work he will finish it
-apart from God’s sovereign work in our lives, we wouldn’t want to do anything
-were it not for God, we would reject him
-“no one is good, no one is righteous”
-heart of rebellion and a sinner
B. God’s Reconciling
-you are adopted into God’s family

BE FILLED WITH HOPE ~ Hebrews 6:9-12 

What does it look like not just to be a faithful Christian but a hopeful Christian?
-hopelessness produces laziness
-a hopeless Christian is not a Christian
-faith in the things you hope for
-what keeps Christians from moving forward is not looking at what’s ahead

3 practices to believe in as a HOPE filled Christian:
1. REMEMBER the promise of God’s hope (9-10)
-there are better things concerning you
-all the blessings and benefits that come with salvation come with being faithful
-God is not unjust
-do not think God is unfair because you are suffering
-he punishes those who rebel against him and will reward those who seek him
-God chooses to forget your sins and chooses to forget your good deeds as a Christian
-works are the STEPS of faith
-1 Thess 3 
-Love the lord with all your heart, soul, and mind
-the love that you have shown to his name
-God does not forget the people who live to see him glorified
-God knows the people who live for themselves
-a mature believer desires to glorify anyone but themselves because of God
-God is mindful of the people who are consistent in perseverance
-people lose hope because they want to be recognized
-people tend to forget but the bible promises God does not forget
-if you live your life the way you should, you will not be recognized for all you do
-not even all of Jesus’ works were recorded
-keep ahead behind the scenes
Are you looking for people’s approval or God’s?
-this hope is reserved for the mature beloved believers not for the lazy and drifting
-the promise of his word=reward, he will not forget
-he remembers those who serve when it’s hard
How consistent are you in your church ministry?

2. REACH for the prize of hope (11-12)
-be hasty and diligent in serving
-be diligent to keep going until the end
-have effort and hope for the prize at the end
Ex: Olympics
-be an athlete by the way you run the race of faith
-the hope of eternal life cannot be taken away the way a gold medal can
-run with more intensity than an Olympian
-have no tolerance for laziness
-you are a soldier in combat
-compassion is shown to those who struggle but not to those who are lazy

3. RESEMBLE the people who walked in hope (12)
-you aren’t meant to be an admirer or spectator
-you are meant to be an imitator
-the same way Isaac got sawed in half in a sac for preaching, imitate
-imitate and learn but don’t admire those in the bible
-be diligent until you are able to see God
-faith will no longer exist in the end because it is of what you cannot see
-awaken hope in Christ, burden to see God honored, be excited for heaven, give up everything, throw your life into the kingdom’s purposes

Three Proper Response in Battling Anxiety - Philippians 4:5-7

-if the gospel is real then we are not people of just obedience
-be humble, united, do not grumble, be worshippers
-Paul was not in an ideal situation-prison
How are we supposed to deal with uncircumstantial and unideal situations?

1. REPENT from Anxiety (4:5-6)
-let your gentle spirit be known to ALL men
-forbearance for difficult circumstances
-one of the fruits of the spirit is gentleness
-be gentle and yielding not forceful with the things God has placed around you
-when Christ comes you will be rewarded for the things you earned as a believer
-don’t be demanding of life but accept it
Are you an easy going person with your circumstances?
-be anxious for nothing
-there is NOTHING that is not under the sovereign control of God
Matthew 6:25
Is the biggest reason for anxiety, you?
-it’s not for God’s kingdom but for yourself
-“seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all things will be added unto you”
-take control of your worldliness and repent and trust in God
-anxiety: idolatry in your heart for your life
-you are not exempt from losing trust in God and being what he wants you to he
-you find peace in his sovereignty

2. REACH Out to God in Prayer (4:6)
… in an attitude of thanksgiving
Mark 14
-complaining and praying are different
-praying is saying “God take care of me”
Are you the type of person to will yourself out of anxiety?
-you weren’t designed to
-what is written is so you would be obedient
-“cast your burdens upon him”
Proverbs 15:8
-you can still make your requests to God in submission
-there is a reason to approach God
-YOU are the one he chose to expand HIS kingdom
Do you pray like God is on your side or like he forgot something to give you?
-we have something to be thankful for, being saved

3. REMEMBER the Promise of God’s Peace (4:7)
Philippians 4:9
-God’s peace is being unflustered and trusting in his perfect plan
-peace of God surpasses all understanding in your mind
-peace for strength
-God guards your heart with peace if you let him
-when you are filled with the spirit your fruit is peace
-you cannot separate yourself from the love of God in Christ Jesus
-the promise of peace is not that God will fix your circumstances
-look to God to change your heart
-“God change my heart to be filled with peace, let me be anxious of nothing, teach me to be at peace with things you give me”

Romans 8:18, 20, 21 NIV

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.

2 Corinthians 12:9, 10 NIV

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Sympathizer, Savior, Sanctifier 2/14/12 Hebrews 2:15-18

- hard to follow someone you cannot see

Trust in Christ because His ministry is superior to anything you may receive

- Jesus the perfect friend!

1. Christ SACRIFICED for you (1-10)

- giving up to see someone else gain it

Psalm 8

- by God’s physicality, there is nothing special about men considering the majesty of Christ 

Would a God that infinite be willing to subject himself as something so ordinary?

- his reputation

-man does not want to lose his reputation

-God literally condescended to an inferior being

-get it out of your head that you are better than someone because you did “this” or “that”. Only God can condescend.

- God sacrificed his reputation and his life

YOU ARE THE RECIPIENT OF HISTORY’S GREATEST SACRIFICE

- Christ tasted death for you

- Christ IS trustworthy because he sacrificed for you

2. Christ SANCTIFIED you (11-13)

- He is continually working in your life making you like Him in your character

- Christ is in the process in changing you into a brother and brethren

- you have the OPPORTUNITY to become more and more like God everyday by your character

3.Christ SYMPATHIZED with you (14-18)

- Christ was like us in every way (human)

- he was tired, hungry, thirsty, emotion!

- Jesus wept, the God who knows all, saw his friends and sympathized

- spiritually although he was with no sin, he was tempted

- asked not to die and if there was any other way

- temptation will not go away 

- Christ fully understands what you’re going through

-betrayal, death, loss, temptation, sin, lust, lying, weight

- emotions and past from your experiences come out through your heart

-your experience and trials are unique to you

- he is willing to help you

- this type of a savior is worth suffering to gain

- he feels what you feel and suffered all the temptations