Search Engine – 3 – 06/23/24

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God’s will shall always be done! What’s the difference between praying: “Thy will be done” 

& not praying at all!?

 

2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

 

Your decisions matter.

 

Where was Jesus in His teens and 20s?!

 

12 years old…

Luke 2:41-43 Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. 42 When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. 43 After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it.

 

52 And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.

 

Carpenter? Joseph death?

Supported family rather than be chosen for Sanhedrin discipleship?
Puberty?

 

Jesus ministry starts when He is 30… 18 year gap of knowledge.

 

Who were some influential women and followers of Jesus in the NT?

 

Ancient world often devalued women.

Scripture celebrates women.

 

Eve – It is eve’s seed that defeats the serpent.
Sarah – God does not just make a covenant with Abraham… but Abraham and Sarah.
Haggar – She names God – El Roi – The God who sees me.

Moses – Jochebed, Miriam, Pharoah’s daughter,
Exodus 1 – 2 Egyptian midwives – Shiphrah and Puah

Prophets – Miriam, Deborah, Huldah (2 Chronicles 34),

 

NT
Mary
Elizabeth
Mary & Martha of Bethany
Mary Magdalene – Possessed woman saved by Jesus

 

Luke 8:1-3 1 After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, 2 and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; 3 Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.

Women were disciples.
Women were prophets – Phillip’s daughters.
Many churches started in the houses of women.
Romans 16 – Paul mentions several women

 Phoebe – a Deacon – servant in the Church.

 Priscilla (and Aquilla) co-workers in Jesus

 Junia – Great among the apostles

 

What was the purpose of Jesus being led by the spirit to be tested in the wilderness? 

(Was it to experience human struggles?)

 

Matthew 4:1-3 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted[a] by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”

 

Not tested to see if He would fail.
Tempted to demonstrate – HOW TO OVERCOME

 

Hebrews 4:15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.

 

Hebrews 2:18 Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

 

Everything grows at night.
Night seasons grow us.

 

1 Cor 12 – Spiritual Gifts 

One is given this gift, one is given that gift, one this, one that 

Vs 11 – He divides up the gifts to each person as He wills 

Is this to say that most people have only one (or limited) spiritual gift(s)? 

And further, does each person have at least one gift?

 

God gifts creation. Everyone has giftings in the natural.

 

The Spirit is a gift. Acts 2:38
The Spirit gives SPIRITUAL GIFTS. 

 

9 Gifts of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:8-10)
Word of wisdom

Word of knowledge

Gift of faith

Gift of healing

Working of miracles

Prophecy

Distinguishing between spirits

Speaking in tongues

Interpreting tongues

 

1 Cor 12:11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.

 

The Spirit distributes and determines.

Do all prophesy? Do all interpret? V29-30

 

31 Now eagerly desire the greater gifts.

 

Can you explain the Hebrew word ELOHIM? It looks like Elohim and the god of the Bible are different.

 

The most generic word for God – Elohim.

Plural

Can be used to describe the 1 true God and false gods.
Angels, judges, rulers are also called Elohim

 

Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

 

Genesis 2:4 This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created, when the Lord God made the earth and the heavens.

 

Bible starts off generic… gets more specific.

Jesus is our Jehovah Elohim.

 

Why do we go to church? Paul tells us not to forsake the gathering together but why do we gather? To be disciples and learn to disciple?

I have been in churches where people work and do the same job every week without a break. How can they learn to disciple or disciple if they are serving?

 

When Jesus taught and the first century church gathered there were no set ups or coffee made or children’s service. When did we go from being the church and being on fire for God to gathering like a country club?

 

Hebrews 10:24-25 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

 

We gather to encourage, edify, and evangelize.

 

Church – Ekklessia – a called out people NOT A BUILDING.

 

Disciples and disciple makers.
Spend time learning at the feet of Jesus.
Spend time teaching what you have learned from Jesus.

 

“How can they learn to disciple or disciple if they are serving?”

 

Love God, Grow Faith, Serve Others, Go Change the World – 4 components of discipleship.
Serving is something Jesus taught us. Serving is a part of discipleship.

 

“When Jesus taught and the first century church gathered there were no set ups or coffee made or childrens service.”

Jesus held Children’s service atleast once.
The Church broke bread from house to house.
The idea of hospitality is Biblical.

 

Hebrews 13:1-2 Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. 2 Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers…

 

1 Peter 4:9-10 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.

 

Romans 12:13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

 

We don’t have a hospitality cafe, children’s ministry, worship teams, connect groups because we are a membership club.  We have these ministries because we are serving as disciples.

 

We create opportunities for people to serve.

 

“I have been in churches where people work and do the same job every week without a break.”

 

#1 Take a break. We want to serve you.

 

#2 We need more help. NEXT STEPS

 

James 1:27 How do we keep ourselves undefiled by the world when we have to live in it? Ecclesiastical 3:17-18 are we like animals in this world or do we have choice and free will

 

James 1:27 27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

 

James 1:25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.

 

John 1:15-16  15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17 Sanctify them by[d] the truth; your word is truth.

 

Ecclesiastes 3:17-18 17 I said to myself,

“God will bring into judgment

    both the righteous and the wicked,

for there will be a time for every activity,

    a time to judge every deed.”

 

18 I also said to myself, “As for humans, God tests them so that they may see that they are like the animals.

 

King Solomon 

Venting?
I say to myself… I say to myself…

 

Not free will issue… but perhaps a falling short of our purpose.

Created in God’s image… but living like animals.

 Only thinking about food, pleasure, the moment…

Faith in people will eventually disappoint.

Everyone in the Bible not named Jesus eventually disappointed…

Abraham
Moses
David
Peter
Prophets, priests, pastors

What should we do in disappointing times?

Hebrews 12:1-3 1 let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

 

Make your move
1. “CONSIDER HIM”

-Think, ponder, question

-Try Him
2. Jesus is the pioneer and perfecter
  -He has more to do with your faith… than you do.

-So Seek Him. PRAY. WORSHIP. 

3. Are you losing heart?

    -Fix your eyes on Jesus!

 -Come receive prayer.