Search Engine – 4 – 06/30/24

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Every Sunday we repeat the four reasons Redemption Church exists. So when we say, “Go change the world!” – how do we begin talking about Jesus with strangers or people we’ve just met? I’d like to hear some ideas on that.

1 Cor 3:6 some plant, some water, God gives the increase.

Don’t control or force… influence.

The goal of every conversation is to have another conversation.
Grow – influence and friendship.
NO RELIGIOUS AGENDA

You can’t fake friendship.
Evangelism & Discipleship take calendar time – use time wisely.

THE NUMBER ONE REASON FOR YOUR UNBELIEVING FRIEND TO COME TO REDEMPTION CHURCH IS YOU.

Problems are open doors.
Healing
Wisdom
Companionship
Rescue

Promise

Pray!

God is sovereign. He can heal all diseases!! So why do some believers have to suffer? Alzheimer’s? Cancer? Autoimmune diseases? Undiagnosed Joint pain (entire body sometimes)? Wheelchair victim? Addictions? Surgeries?

God does heal. Why doesn’t God heal everyone?

Sickness – Genesis 3 sin.  WE CREATED THE PROBLEM by not following God.

Not God’s problem… but God’s solution… When we are sick…

James 5:14-16 Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

I rarely get a call to pray for sickness.
ACTIVATE YOUR FAITH – ASK FOR PRAYER.

The ultimate answer for sickness and death is the victory of Jesus.

The purpose of healing is to KNOW THE HEALER.

Matthew 9:6 But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “Get up, take your mat and go home.”

One day everyone will be healed… Jesus on the throne.

Why are there so many pedophiles and sexual predators that are Christian or claim to be Christian? It’s so disheartening to open up social media and see this in the news. No wonder so many are turned away.

“I love you God, but people suck.”

2 well known pastors resigned over sinful allegations.

Sin took down every person in Scripture not named Jesus.
Adam & Eve, Abraham & Sarah, David, Peter, John, Paul…

Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

1 Timothy 1:15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.

I am the worst…

Acts 14 – Paul & Barnabas (Hermes & Jupiter) TORE CLOTHES “WE ARE ONLY HUMAN LIKE YOU”

Ban the term – celebrity pastor
The more light shined on people the darker the world is.
Jesus is the light 

Pray for ministers and ministries.

Why is long hair shameful for a man? 1 Corinthians 11:14

1 Corinthians 11:6 it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved

14 Does not the very nature of things teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him,

Paul does define the “nature of things.”  Nature here means “natural sense, native conviction or knowledge.” (Thayer’s lexicon) https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g5449/kjv/tr/0-1/

Define short and long? Paul does not define.

Any other scriptures about hair length? None OT or NT

What is 1 Corinthians about?
Troubled Church in need of correction.
The pagan culture of Corinth was effecting the Church.

Chapter 11 is about headship.  The head of Christ is God… The head of man is Christ… the head of the wife is her husband.  Distinct relationship difference between men and women.

So what do these verses mean?

Because there is no other teaching about hair, it leads me to believe Paul is addressing the culture of Corinth. 

Hippocrates (Greek Physician 400-300BC) believed hair had to do with fertility.

Woman cuts hair – makes her infertile.
Man has long hair – makes him infertile.

Greek and Roman cultures also focused on worshipping pagan gods by…

1 – Men covering their hair when they pray
2- Women shaving their hair as an offering to Artemis/Diana

Perhaps Paul is addressing the culture. If so then we can get this message from these verses…

We must represent Christ (our head) well in this culture… and not dishonor Christ by complying to cultural norms. 

Were carnivorous plants, like venus fly traps, created to eat bugs, or did they start after the fall or after the flood?

They can survive without bugs.

It would seem like they would not eat bugs within Eden (before the fall).
After the fall animals had ferocity.

The flood likely caused a lot of adaptive changes in plants and animals.

Does God miss Lucifer in Heaven? Does He want his son to come home? Does God still consider the devil a son of His?

Lucifer the fallen angel we know as the devil.

Angels are called sons of God by Job.
God is the creator and father of all. (Eph 4:6)

Because God is love – God created Angels out of love. God likely still loves Lucifer.

Lucifer remains unrepentant.
Lucifer has no advocate.

Scripture is clear about what will happen to this fallen angel.
It does not make God less than loving.  

Can you explain God’s response to Job at the end of the book of Job (ch 38-41)? God seems kind of rude to Job.

God is silent throughout the book of Job… but He is direct when He speaks.

Chapter 38-40 – I am God… who are you? Can you understand my power and mysteries?

Job 38:2 “Who is this that obscures my plans with words without knowledge?”

Job 38:4 “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?”

Maybe you should talk less and listen more…

We should definitely not accuse God falsely.

Job 40:2 “Will the one who contends with the Almighty correct him?

    Let him who accuses God answer him!”

Job and his friends have all accused God falsely. 

Job 42 show Job repent and God bless Job.

Job 42:2-6

“I know that you can do all things;

    no purpose of yours can be thwarted.

3 You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my plans without knowledge?’

    Surely I spoke of things I did not understand,

    things too wonderful for me to know.

4 “You said, ‘Listen now, and I will speak;

    I will question you,

    and you shall answer me.’

5 My ears had heard of you

    but now my eyes have seen you.

6 Therefore I despise myself

    and repent in dust and ashes.”

The end result is a blessed Job.

The mustard seed is not the smallest seed on the earth today, so how can this be reconciled with Jesus speaking the truth? Or was He wrong?

Matthew 13:31-32 31 He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. 32 Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.”

Orchid seed is the smallest seed in the world.

 

• The mustard seed is the smallest seed compared to the size of the tree

Mikros – comparing sizes (Thayer’s Greek Lexicon)

• It is the smallest seed of the commonly farmed, edible crops

gē – soil – arable land – plowed for gardening

Parable for teaching truth – not botanical science.

Inerrancy vs infallible 

Is your faith struggling? I hope it is!  

 

Faith is not a feeling
Faith is not Easy

Faith is a Fight (1 Timothy 6:12)

Make Your Move

1. Stop FEELING defeated
2. Faith is not a feeling.
3. Ask the hard questions
4. Questions don’t weaken your faith.
5. Expect God to answer as you Search His Word. 
6. Are you ready for a faith fight?
7. Get in the fight – Worship
8. Get in the fight – Prayer