Scandalous Savior: The Radically Righteous Jesus!

Saturday, April 14, 2012

Radical (Scandalous Savior: The Radically Righteous Jesus!)

And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me. Luke 7:23

In Luke 24 (one of my favorite passages of scripture) demonstrates the difficulty of losing our agendas--the seemingly legit ones--to the plan of God.

Offended (Grk): Skandalan (reacting negatively to something)

If we truly believed who Jesus claimed to be---it’d change lives...situations..attitudes...priorities...success...and our world!

Skandalan means trap or snare...it’s not merely anger...it’s something that clamps down on your ankle and won’t let you go! A trap NEVER releases itself*

➣Cleopas? (When did he get off track?!) Why wasn’t Galilee on his itinerary?

When did people notice that they’d fallen off the wagon? Men like:

• Peter? (When did he stop following Jesus?! He was clearly conflicted his discipleship then convicted by his abandonment of Jesus.)

• Judas? (When did he get off track?! He gets only bad press, however, he demonstrated remorse...which is MORE than what I see in MANY Christians concerning their blatant repeated sins.)

• Other disciples? Why didn’t they believe the women?

☞The sad thing is that these men may have very well been followers at one time.

• These followers turned out to really be groupies.

Followers adhere. Followers know those who they are following.

Groupies show up. They hope to be noticed by those they’re groupying.

The individual, or group of individuals, involved in obsessive adoration of entertainers such as musicians, actors, athletes, and even political figures. Behaviors are juvenile and influenced oftentimes by crush-like emotions or lustful sentiments...Most commonly viewed as consumed by their interest, as opposed to the normal realm of enjoyment experienced by the great majority of public.

▻And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives And Jesus saith unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered. But after that I am risen, I will go before you into Galilee. Mark 14:26-28 (KJV)

• Jesus wrestled so that he wouldn’t be offended (or, disobey)
• When we say yes to God, we see the light. When we say no, deception pursues.

▻So he replied to the messengers, “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. Blessed is anyone who does not stumble (reject me) on account of me.” After John’s messengers left, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind? Luke 7:22-24 (NIV)

❆There was a lot of doubt that arose over Jesus’ ministry, promises and declarations. People like John wanted to really know because their very lives were staked upon this truth. When one really claims to believe Who Jesus claims to be, it is life changing.

▻ Background Scripture re: Being Offended by God

As it is written: “Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offense, And whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” Romans 9:33

...They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed. 1 Peter 2:8

Peter said to Him, “Even if all are made to stumble, yet I will not be.” Mark 14:29

☞John 6:51-61 (I am the living bread...this is a hard saying...Does this offend you?)

☞Jesus is saying in Luke 7.23 “ I have accepted you and loved you. Now let me be me. Let me do me and don’t be offended by it.”

*Perhaps this is why the Peter, Judas, Cleopas ignored Jesus’ instruction to believe and to meet him in Galilee...perhaps they were offended my his choice of actions.

• Peter was tough, rugged, non-subtle and a go-getter. Perhaps Jesus continual reference to crucifixion and death seemed week to him.

• Peter rebuked Jesus for talking about death

• Peter told Jesus “Ok..let the attackers come...I’ll back you up (i.e. there’s no boogyman underneath the bed...I’ll check.)

• Moses and Elijah appear to Jesus, John, James & Peter. Perhaps Peter thought “Are you happy now?” or, “feel better about things now?”

• Peter cut off the high priest’s servants ear...

• You’re fighting for yo’ boy...and he’s picking daisies and hugging trees---but not fighting for himself. This is very disheartening for a man.

• Judas was chosen by Jesus. He must’ve brought some value to the team, right?

• Perhaps when Jesus let that woman take a bottle of perfume that was worth a year’s salary and rub it on his crusty feet....Judas got salty because Jesus was playing with his money!

John told his disciples to ask “Are you the one....?”

We don’t know exactly what these folks were thinking, however, we know that Jesus pursued Peter & Cleopas and Thomas...because his Kingdom (the word enterprise is not vast nor accurate enough to describe what he was inaugurating) depended about their total adherence, unfeigned love, undying loyalty and obedience!!

☞He did what he needed to do to assure people that not only were they following the right one...they were following The Righteous One!

*If we start becoming offended by the way Jesus does things, we’ll never make it in faith. He stated:

Isaiah 55:7-9 (NKJV)

7 Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the Lord, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon. 8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord 9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.

☞What does scripture say we to do if we are offended by someone? Leave our gift that we are offering God and get it right.

☞Many of us will not progress if we continue to be offended by Jesus. Your cornerstone will become your stumbling block if his ways and standards cause us to not want to follow him.

Challenges/Next Steps:

• In what area of your life are you most prone to be offended by Jesus and his teachings? (Financial Stewardship? Disciplined Living? Forgiveness? Unity? Faith? Personal Holiness? Being Critical and Judgmental?)

• What happens to your spiritual walk when you’re offended by Jesus?

• Wrestle with understanding what role trust must play in your healthy relationship with Jesus.

• Commit yourself to Prayer, fellowship, introspection and accountability to help you become freed from your trap of offense.

Jesus Christ Superstar Pt.2

Jesus Christ Superstar (Pt. 2)

>1John 12 & Luke 19 passages

The radicalness of God’s love:

Humankind was banished from God’s presence

The radicalness of Jesus=God with us is staggering

The radicalness of being pursued by God is amazing

Jesus wept over Jerusalem because it fending for herself and didn’t realize that God Almighty was fending for her. Still blinded by sin to the goodness of a loving God caused God to weep.

This is a picture which proves that God’s heart has been broken since the fall in Eden

Human’s were dull in their senses concerning the love and presence of God

Jesus needed to invade our space in order to get in our face in order to grab out attention and do something completely radical that would challenge and overturn their perception of God

God would establish a law system just to come and fulfill it on our behalf!!

Sin in Eden--->Promise of Messiah---->Messiah Comes---->

People only see Him via the lens of their greed---->He parades in like a sheep which is led to slaughter----->Weeps over Jerusalem because it is still blind----->Cleanses the temple to show that his commitment to judgement is just as strong as his commitment to love.

(This is true because God rejects no one---His nature will not allow it. He can only be rejected...a deliberate act of the human will.)

Sacrifice is proof that you can see again!!

Everyone who sees only their own need and entitlements will not sacrifice to God

Mary perceived who Jesus really was and sacrificed oil that was worth a years’s wages ($16K)

That’s why he said radical stuff like:

Love me more than mother and father

Don’t put your hand on the plow and look back

Let the dead bury the dead

Take up your cross and follow me

This all seemed extreme to those who were still “dead” & “blind”. It is the ONLY response to the one who has had an epiphany of the love and provision of God.

John Stott (Incomparable Christ) “It was not a visitation, but an incarnation. He became a human being in Jesus of Nazareth. The paradox is amazing. The Creator assumed the human frailty of creature. The eternal one entered time. The all-powerful made himself vulnerable.The all-holy exposed himself to temptation. And in the end the immortal died.”

Jesus’ Journey to Jerusalem:

Brothers don’t believe in him (John 7:3-5)

People are tired of Jesus’ guessing games. “Tell us who you are!” (John 10.24)

Although he is a wanted man, Jesus goes to Bethany to raise Lazarus from the dead and he also proclaims that he is the Resurrection & the Life! (John 11)

Many follow Jesus because of this (v. 45)

Caiaphas (High Priest) states that it’s better for one man to die than a whole nation (v. 49-50)

Jesus becomes a recluse (v. 54-57) until he returns to the scene of the crime in John 12 when he rides in to Jerusalem on a donkey.

Challenge:

Pray to see this resurrection celebration with new eyes

When God is truly perceived (this is the work of the Holy Spirit), we must respond with sacrificial living

God Almighty suffered because of our sins, are we really too blind to see that we will also. They good news is that we don’t have to if we chose not to.

Use your God given option called Choice!

Whatcha Workin’ With: All Hands On Deck!

Sermon Series: Whatcha Workin’ With: All Hands On Deck!

Sermon Scriptures: Nehemiah 4:4-6; Nehemiah 3:1-2,12, Jeremiah 29.11

Eliashib the high priest and his fellow priests went to work and rebuilt the Sheep Gate. They dedicated it and set its doors in place, building as far as the Tower of the Hundred, which they dedicated, and as far as the Tower of Hananel. The men of Jericho built the adjoining section, and Zakkur son of Imri built next to them... Shallum son of Hallohesh, ruler of a half-district of Jerusalem, repaired the next section with the help of his daughters. Nehemiah 3.1-2,12

Nehemiah prayed, "Oh listen to us, dear God. We're so despised: Boomerang their ridicule on their heads; have their enemies cart them off as war trophies to a land of no return; don't forgive their iniquity, don't wipe away their sin—they've insulted the builders!" We kept at it, repairing and rebuilding the wall. The whole wall was soon joined together and halfway to its intended height because the people had a heart for the work. Nehemiah 4:4-6

Pg. 50 Cyril Barber’s Nehemiah: and the dynamics of effective leadership

B.C. Forbes: “ If the whole prospers [the individual] as an active, effective, progressive part of it, will prosper with it”

Warning: As God’s people we show our connectedness to Him by adopting or praying to adopt His values. What do we see in these passages:

• God who created individuality didn’t create it to affirm islands

• God who created individuality did so like the create of jigsaw pieces...no jigsaw piece was EVER created to stand along, but father to connect and be connect with another.

• Since Garden Fiasco, God’s focus has been our restoration to Him. Therefore it is reasonable that He’d expect us to focus on someone else’s good since He’s so focused on ours.

• Since Jesus is working on our Heavenly Abode...can’t we help the homeless?
• Since God is our Father, can’t we love the fatherless?

We see 4 principles for Nehemiah’s success: All Hands Were On Deck!

• Coordination
• He knew where the breaches were and the work that was needed
• They had 40 sections of workers*
• Cooperation
• He used a variety of workers i.e. sexes, classes, marital status
• People knew were they belonged* because...
• People their skills and gifts*
• Commendation
• Their names were mentioned (acknowledgement)
• This motivates
• Communication
• People were in the know. They knew what and where and how & why!!

Chapter 4: New Attack due to the threat of success!!

• Sanballat and Tobias tried to dishearten the people (v. 1)
• It seemed to work (vs. 10, 11, 12)

From that day on, half of my men did the work, while the other half were equipped with spears, shields, bows and armor. The officers posted themselves behind all the people of Judah who were building the wall. Those who carried materials did their work with one hand and held a weapon in the other, and each of the builders wore his sword at his side as he worked. But the man who sounded the trumpet stayed with me. Neh 4.16-18

Key Components To Remember:

• Outside support didn’t matter until inside buy-in occurred
• People worked like it mattered to their future (‘cause it did)
• Damage assessment; prayer; got the people involved
• Wall built for protection of worship, language, culture= because a defeated & culture-less we’re not effective.
• Having a heart to work means that the Father’s Heart for the lost & for justice is superimposed on our hearts
• God is up to something and you’re a part of it.

Challenge:

• Ask God to get you involved...close to your heart/home; ask Him for His heart for this work
• Find someone to work next to...someone who you can teach...someone who can teach you.
• You will find yourself as you lose yourself in God’s presence and in God’s work
• We need all hands on deck...not just for the building...but for the work of God’s Kingdom!

Whatcha Working With? (Willing People, Dire Needs & The Holy Spirit!)

Sermon Series: Building Material

Sermon Title: Whatcha Working With? (Willing People, Dire Needs & The Holy Spirit!)

Key Passage: Nehemiah 6:2-3

² Sanballat and Geshem sent me this message: “Come, let us meet together in one of the villages^[a^] on the plain of Ono.” But they were scheming to harm me; ³ so I sent messengers to them with this reply: “I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you?” Nehemiah 6:2-3 NIV)

One Slide: Persian Kings

Cyrus- “Israel's Shepherd” in Isaiah. Defeated Babylonians & allowed Jews to return home. Great manager who developed road, cities, postal systems & legal codes. His decisions were prophesied in Jeremiah 25.12.

Cambyses II- Cyrus’ son and successor. Egypt to to Persian Empire. (530 B.C. to 522 B.C.)

Darius- Unified kingdom using gold coinage, state highways, improved postal systems. Subsidized the work of the temple. (521 B.C. to 486 B.C.)

Xerxes l- Ruled Persia (485 B.C. to 465 B.C.) The book of Esther tells his story. She became queen in his 7th years of king and saved Jews from extinction.

Artaxerxes Longimanus (465 B.C. to 425 B.C.) Under his leadership two of the three major returns of Jews to Judah occurred.

History:

Ezra 1-6 is about Temple Reconstruction

Babylonians destroyed Temple 50 years prior

New Challenges politically/Socially are great opportunities for God followers to seek strategies from Him make God more known.

Ezra 4-6 You oppose your opposition via committed continued service to God

Earlier prophesies regarding rebuilding of temple (Jer 50.9; 51.11 & Isaiah 44.28 & 45.13)

Rebuilding Process:

1. Altar: Sacrifice
2. Temple: Worship
3. Opposition

*Work stopped, work resumed, people released (Opposition happened all the way)

Community Spiritual Renewal: Book of Nehemiah

• 12 years after Ezra’s visit to Jerusalem, Nehemiah is working in Persia

• Cup Bearer is a privileged position (informal and formal information)

• Casual inquiry about Jerusalem

• Impact hits Nehemiah.
• Watch what hits your heart hard...it’s most likely a calling of some sort

• Nehemiah was not planing on leaving his post. However, what he was doing was preparing him for what he was about to do.
• Respect the present! It is as holy to God as the future.

• Nehemiah confesses as he prays
• prays for personal restoration of people & favor with King
• pray for a few months

• Sanballat: May have been a Samaritan Governor with temporary jurisdiction over Judah

• After surveying damage and praying...Nehemiah solicits help from people living in Jerusalem---although he has financial support from King (2.17-18)

• When attacked for doing God’s work---respond by asserting your mission. Leave outcome to the one who commissioned you. Don’t defend God or yourself.
• We fight too many battles that aren’t ours.

• Nehemiah 2.23-30 People end us building near their houses
• your heart must connect with the work (Vested Interest)

• Forty sections/groups worked simultaneously!

• Chap 4 Opposition happens again:
• It is against God...let Him handle it.
• Task was huge and people felt discouraged
• Families were telling people to come back home (v. 11-12)
• Outside attacked again

Nehemiah improved security measures & motivated people to fight for their heritage which was grated by God Almighty.

Challenges:

• Ask God about your service.
• Is where it should be? What it should be? Directed toward whom it should be?

• Define what’s near your “house”?

• Remind yourself that the work you do for God is for God. He validates it. He will reward it. He will resource it. You just need to lay hold of it.

The Chase: Apprehensions

The Chase: Apprehensions

Vision= Seeing what God sees

Requirement: 1. God’s timing; 2. Human readiness (often via hardship and obedience); 3. Awareness of the vision and believing it.

✓Vision reminds us that God has a plan for our lives!

✓It is not something we chase...though we may think this...it chases us. “IT” is the reason we were created & called.

Chasing the Vision (Understanding that the vision is chasing us and God has gathered FOL for its special tasks and we’ve inventoried and assessed our preparation (and lack thereof) for the task). We’ve been called for a task and time like this! (Esther 4.14)

Jacob’s Dream/Vision:

• Jacob was running & He “happened...lighted...”upon this place)
• Vision is often the affirmation of an earlier promise- [BEAUTY OF VISION IS CONVERGENCE OF PASSIONS...GOD’S/OURS!!

• This is the third announcement of the seed that blesses to the third in the line of descent Genesis 12:2-3; Genesis 22:18; Genesis 26:4.

✓You must awake and move from dream to action: Pillows...pillars...vow...provision

✓The Lord is here! (Gate of Heaven)...access!!! God spoke the vision. (PROVISION)

(Jacob got the blessing; Isaac blindly gave the blessing; now God is!)

✔When we accept Vision (our partnership with God to meet an unmet need) then Provision responds to God’s hand on your life!

✓But as the fulfilment of this promise to Jacob was still far off, God added the firm assurance, "I will not leave thee till I have done (carried out) what I have told thee."

✓The beauty of vision is that God rides shotgun in your life until it is fulfilled! When you grasp that you have a vision; you should grasp that God has grabbed you.

☛Challenges to congregation: Pray for faith. Pray for buy-in. Pray for incredible favor! Pray for the needs of our service areas (1 mi. radius/5 mi radius).

Possessing the Vision (Grasping the opportunity with our minds, hearts, souls and strength. Assessing the opportunity before us and numbering the myriad of options we have to serve those who don’t know our Savior. Seeing and seizing this window and maximizing it like the biblical character who increased his talent 10x.)

Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Phil 3.12

☛Challenges to congregation: Ask ourselves what some of the unmet needs of our surrounding community?

• How could be live out the gospel with our expanded facilities?
• What do teens see as needs?
• What do seniors see as needs?
• What do teachers/students see as needs?
• What do parents see as needs? What are training needs of community?

Why?

✓God’s provision always meets an unmet need

✓People will be blessed when vision happens

✓God’s message to Jacob “I will bring you back to what I have promised your family”

Closing Challenges:

• The purpose of God’s Kingdom is to influence things back into God’s control/influence
• The Church was Called by God, qualified by Christ and equipped and sent by the Spirit to influence culture and society with integrity, excellence, compassion.
• A building isn’t the only way to “play ball”, however, it helps alot when you have a diamond or court or field.
• Let’s walk in authority (AG to Irgens “Because I can”; AG to Landgraf “We need jobs/training”)

It's Yo' Move (Challenges for the week)

Challenges: It's Yo' Move!

1. Where are you stuck in life/ministry/relationships thinking that you’re waiting on God for the next move?

1. How is God’s Covenant with you different than any other relationship you have?

1. Where are you most prone to to break Covenant with God due to disobedience?

1. Just knowing you have a Covenant with God should change our entire attitude about life, our lifestyle, our confidence, our relationships and our intimacy with God. Do you understand the Covenant? Strive to do so.

1. Phone #: 530-881-1000 Participant Access Code: 651737#

1. God is commited to you becasue of Jesus & His sacrifice. We owe God Allegiance, Praise, Obedience and a Testimony!!

On The Brink: It's Yo' Move!

It’s Yo’ Move: (You’re on the Brink of your Conquest) 1/29/12

Jordan = last obstacle before crossing into promise. It’s a conquest.

• You’ve gotta lay something down something personal and God’s gotta remove something!! (Ai)

(Jordan= Human failed efforts meet God’s power)

1. The children of Israel had wandered for nearly a half-millennium without permanent home
2. Most of that time was as slaves of Pharaoh
3. An add’l 40 years as slaves to their own fear and rebellion.
4. God was still committed to them! Why? His ‣COVENANT!!!

God moves then waits to see if His covenanted people will act in obedience!

God’s Move	Joshua/Others’ Move
God called Abraham	Abraham obeyed and left homeland
God called Abraham & offered a Promise	Abraham obeyed and went to Egypt
God gave A. promises re: Isaac	God asked A. to sacrifice Isaac
God sends Moses to top rung of Egypt	God calls Moses to destroy the system that trained him in military, leadership, economics, government, etc.
God gave His rescued people miracles of plaques and the Red Sea	They held to the slave mentality and couldn’t see beyond their giants & their memories.
God called Moses to the Covenanted Place He’d give A.	Moses disobeyed and could not enter into the full promise.
Josh is told that Moses is dead	Be strong, courageous, obey and meditate on His word
God promised the Land again	Joshua had the people to prepare themselves
God told the priest to go first and that the waters would open	They did...He did!
God closed the River...	They never looked back!
God told them to take stones from the river and to make a memorial	They did!
The Lord exalted Joshua & The Canaanite Kings melted with fear over J’s God	Re instituted Passover and circumcision @ an inopportune time.
God stopped Manna!!
Jericho was lockup up & gave told them to march around or 7 days	They did and the walls fell
God asked for full devotion	Joshua lost battle of Ai. Joshua tore clothes all day and questioned God’s progress
God said get up...there’s sin in the camp and you must uproot it or I won’t be with you!	Joshua scrutinized the entire camp and found Achan and his stolen plunder
Don’t be afraid and discouraged...I have given you victory	Joshua then attached Ai again and won
	J. took the men to Mt Ebal, copied the Law on Stones and read in the hearing of the people as they stood there
	This was the same place where Abraham sacrificed to God after the Covenant was given 600 years prior!

Deuteronomy 11:26-32

²⁶ See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse— ²⁷ the blessing if you obey the commands of the LORD your God that I am giving you today; ²⁸ the curse if you disobey the commands of the LORD your God and turn from the way that I command you today by following other gods, which you have not known. ²⁹ When the LORD your God has brought you into the land you are entering to possess, you are to proclaim on Mount Gerizim the blessings, and on Mount Ebal the curses. ³⁰ As you know, these mountains are across the Jordan, westward, toward the setting sun, near the great trees of Moreh, in the territory of those Canaanites living in the Arabah in the vicinity of Gilgal. ³¹ You are about to cross the Jordan to enter and take possession of the land the LORD your God is giving you. When you have taken it over and are living there, ³² be sure that you obey all the decrees and laws I am setting before you today.