Christ Centered Discipleship – Forgiveness, Matt. 6:12 By Louie Marsh, 10-17-2021   Forgiving = giving up MYSELF   SHOW 6 PICTURES ABOUT FORGIVENESS Disciples of Jesus Forgive… As Jesus COMMANDED   12 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. Matthew 6:12 (ESV) Why Do We Forgive? Today we are told we forgive FOR OURSELVES. Remember, you don't forgive someone for his or her sake - you forgive them for your sake. Front Porch Blog Mayo Clinic What are the benefits of forgiving someone? Letting go of grudges and bitterness can make way for compassion, kindness and peace. Forgiveness can lead to: Healthier relationships Greater spiritual and psychological well-being Less anxiety, stress and hostility Lower blood pressure Fewer symptoms of depression Lower risk of alcohol and substance abuse PICTURE OF JOYCE MYERS BOOK – AND PIC OF ME! What Does the New Testament Say? Because GOD has forgiven me.   30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4:30-32 (ESV) “To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you.”  - CS Lewis   To MODEL Jesus before the world.   35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. 36 Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. Luke 6:35-36 (ESV)   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. Matthew 5:14-16 (ESV)   20 For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. 21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. 22 He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. 23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. 1 Peter 2:20-23 (ESV)   The Essence of Discipleship: FORSAKING self & BECOMING LIKE   23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. Luke 9:23-24 (ESV)   My Natural Perspective On Life: PPT   A Kingdom Perspective: PPT   A Kingdom Perspective on Discipleship: PPT Two Paths To Forgiving: The path of human motivation: FOR MYSELF The path of Discipleship: To help me become MORE LIKE JESUS   Forgiving is a Spiritual Discipline   It’s main goal is to MAKE ME MORE LIKE JESUS   All the good it brings to me are BENEFITS NOT MOTIVES. Much of our teaching is self-centered NOT Christ (Gospel) centered. We are producing MORALISTS not DISCIPLES 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20 (ESV) Moralist– Definition: : one who leads a moral life : a philosopher or writer concerned with moral principles and problems : one concerned with regulating the morals of others   Are we unknowingly doing this? 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.   2 Timothy 3:4-5 (ESV)   Conceit = to envelop with smoke, i.e. (figurative) to inflate with self-conceit :- high-minded, be lifted up with pride, be proud. Strong's Talking Greek & Hebrew Dictionary.       A Challenge to Us All   Take a close look at your entire life. Where are you trusting God & where are you relying on self instead? Determine today to become more like Jesus, to forsake myself, take up my cross and follow Jesus!  

CCR Sermons

Forgive Others

ReTHINK #6, Self & Image By Louie Marsh, 10-10-2021 3 funny church signs  Quotes about Self & Selfishness “To be happy, we must not be too concerned with others.” ― Albert Camus “I say let the world go to hell, but I should always have my tea.”  ― Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Notes from Underground “Almost every sinful action ever committed can be traced back to a selfish motive. It is a trait we hate in other people but justify in ourselves. ”  ― Stephen Kendrick, The Love Dare Self-Image = fuhgeddaboudit Forget About It Intro:   What are the marks of a heart that has been radically changed by the grace of God?  I want to look at what our hearts should look like as we follow Jesus and He changes us into his image.   Up until the twentieth century, traditional cultures (and this is still true of most cultures in the world) always believed that too high a view of yourself was the root cause of all the evil in the world.   Top of Form But, in our modern western culture, we have developed an utterly opposite cultural consensus. Top of Form Our belief today – and it is deeply rooted in everything – is that people misbehave for lack of self-esteem and because they have too low a view of themselves. You see, the thing about the ‘low self-esteem theory of misbehavior’ is that it is very attractive. You do not have to make any moral judgments in order to deal with society’s problems. All you have to do is support people and build them up. In traditional cultures, the way you dealt with these problems was that you clamped down on people and convicted them and called them bad!   The interesting thing about this passage from 1 Corinthians is that it gives us a new approach to how we regard ourselves, one that is different from both the traditional and the modern/postmodern approach.   21 So let no one boast in men. For all things are yours, 22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, 23 and you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.  1 This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. 3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. 4 For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. 5 Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God. 6 I have applied all these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers, that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another. 7 For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it? 1 Corinthians 3:21-4:7 (ESV)   DISCOVER the natural condition of the human ego.   6 I have applied all these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers, that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another. 1 Corinthians 4:6 (ESV)   The word translated “puffed up” is not the normal hubris word for pride (hubris), but physioõ.   Top of Form Paul uses it here and another five times in this particular book and once in Colossians 2. You will not find it anywhere else in the Bible as it is used only by Paul. It literally means to be overinflated, swollen, distended beyond its proper size. It is related to the word for ‘bellows’.   The human ego is:   Empty   Soren Keirkegaard, in Sickness Unto Death, says the normal state of the human heart is to try and build its identity around something besides God. The human heart is an idol factory, constantly seeking to fill itself it’s emptiness with God substitutes.   Busy   The human heart is busy doing two things – comparing and boasting. Vs. 6 – “you may be puffed up in favor of one against another.”   In Mere Christianity CS Lewis says – “Pride gets no pleasure out of having something, only out of having more of it than the next person. We say the people are proud of being rich, or clever, or good looking, but they are not. They are proud of being richer, or cleverer or better-looking than others. If everyone else became equally rich, or clever, or good-looking there would be nothing to be proud about.” Fragile   It’s like an over inflated balloon – very, very easy to burst it and deflate it completely.   2) SEE what the transformed sense of self is.   My identity is INDEPENDENT of others and myself.   1 This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. 3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. 4 For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. 1 Corinthians 4:1-4 (ESV)   Paul doesn’t care –   What the Corinthians think What he thinks – My Opinion Doesn’t Matter!   15 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. 1 Timothy 1:15 (ESV)   Paul says he’s aware of his sin and aware of his accomplishments, but he doesn’t connect any of those with himself. He refuses to play that game. He doesn’t let sin destroy his sense of self, and he doesn’t let his accomplishments inflate his ego. He will not make that connection.   My identity is ANCHORED in Jesus alone!   My opinion or yours isn’t relevant, only GOD’S OPINION counts!   4 For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. 5 Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God. 1 Corinthians 4:4-5 (ESV)   I’m forgiven of my SIN & free from   22 That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.” 23 But the words “it was counted to him” were not written for his sake alone, 24 but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, 25 who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification. Romans 4:22-25 (ESV)   3) BEGIN the process of transformation.   I must BELIEVE that Jesus has forgiven & accepted me.   1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Colossians 3:1-4 (ESV)   I no longer have to PERFORM FOR ACCEPTANCE, because I am accepted in Christ!   27 All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. 28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:27-30 (ESV)   I must DIE to myself.   “38And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” (Matthew 10:38–39, ESV) When I doubt – I RETURN TO THE GOSPEL over & over again.   12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. John 1:12-13 (ESV)   20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20 (ESV)   Here’s the Bottom Line:   I shouldn’t hate myself – I should simply FOCUS on God & others more & more.   “25For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 26For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?” (Matthew 16:25–26, ESV) The best moments of your life are when you are so in the moment you forget about yourself.   Video from the Camino  

Self & Image

reTHINK #5 Faith by Louie Marsh, 10-3-2021 Read story, then show slide.   Brenda was a young woman who was invited to go rock climbing. Well, she got to a ledge where she could take a breather. As she was hanging on there, the safety rope snapped against her eye and knocked out her contact lens. Here she was, far from home, her sight now blurry. She was desperate and began to get upset, so she prayed to the Lord to help her to find it.   When she got to the top, a friend examined her eye and her clothing for the lens, but there was no contact lens to be found. She sat down, despondent, with the rest of the party, waiting for the rest of them to make it up the face of the cliff. She looked out across range after range of mountains, thinking of that verse that says, "The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth." She thought, "Lord, You can see all these mountains. You know every stone and leaf, and You know exactly where my contact lens is. Please help me." Finally, they walked down the trail to the bottom. At the bottom there was a new party of climbers just starting up the face of the cliff. One of them shouted out, "Hey, you guys! Anybody lose a contact lens?" Well, that would be startling enough, but you know why the climber saw it? An ant was moving slowly across the face of the rock, carrying it on it's back. Her father is a cartoonist. When she told him the incredible story of the ant, the prayer, and the contact lens, he drew a picture QUOTES: The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift.  - --Albert Einstein All effort is in the last analysis sustained by the faith that it is worth making.  --Ordway Tead Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.  --Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation is possible.  --St. Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) A faith that cannot survive collision with the truth is not worth many regrets. --Arthur C. Clarke Faith is NECESSARY & NORMAL. “I don't think scientists mind being proven wrong…I think any good scientist would love it. I love that no faith is needed in science. I believe something until it's proven wrong and then I believe that.”  She is expressing her faith that scientists are super human people with no attachments to their beliefs (wrong).   1) Faith Is…   Now faith is the title deed of things hoped for, proof of things which are not being seen. For by means of this [namely, faith] the elders had witness borne them. By means of faith we perceive that the material universe and the God-appointed ages of time  were equipped and fitted by God's word for the purpose  for which they were intended, and it follows therefore that which we see did not come into being out of which is visible. Hebrews 11:1-3 (Wuest’s Expanded Trans.)   My Assurance of Stability   My Conviction That The Unseen Is Real.   …It's our handle on what we can't see. Hebrews 11:1b (MSG)   Faith is to believe what we do not see, and the reward of this faith is to see what we believe.  - Augustine   “27By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible.” (Hebrews 11:27, ESV)   TO BE FAITHFUL MY LIFE MUST BE…   IN FAITH -  CENTER MYSELF in faith.   1)  IN =  To put into or onto: encapsulate. To go into or onto   “5Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him?” (James 2:5, ESV) FAITH ACCEPTANCE APPETITES MATERIALISM FEAR HURTS & HABITS EGO   Let your roots grow down into him and draw up nourishment from him, so you will grow in faith, strong and vigorous in the truth you were taught. Let your lives overflow with thanksgiving for all he has done. Colossians 2:7 (NLT)   2) OF FAITH – Let Faith be my PRIMARY MOTIVATOR.   OF =  Derived or coming from; originating at or from; caused by   “8But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim);” (Romans 10:8, ESV)   FEAR MATERIALISM HURTS & HABITS EGO FAITH “27And when they arrived and gathered the church together, they declared all that God had done with them, and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles.” (Acts 14:27, ESV)   3) THROUGH FAITH – Make Faith my MAIN DETERMINER.   THROUGH = Among or between; in the midst of    14  so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith…26  for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. Galatians 3:14, 26 (ESV)   12  … but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises…33  who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, Hebrews 6: 12b; 11:33 (ESV)   … take up the shield of faith…. Ephesians 6:16 (NIV)   FAITH EGO HURTS & HABITS FEAR OBEDIENCE TO GOD GOD’S WILL   If it doesn’t get THROUGH my faith, then it doesn’t get TO   4) WITH FAITH – Partner Faith to EVERYTHING IN MY LIFE   WITH =In the company of; accompanying, Next to; alongside of   For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith. Hebrews 4:2 (NIV)   CHILD RAISING SPENDING HABITS JOB FAITH FAITH FAITH FAITH RECREATION   5) BY FAITH – Let Faith answer EVERY QUESTION.   BY - Close to; next to; With the use or help of; through:   “9and he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith.” (Acts 15:9, ESV)   We live by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7 (NIV)   “3remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thessalonians 1:3, ESV)   “16And his name—by faith in his name—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.” (Acts 3:16, ESV)  

Faith

reTHINK #4 Suffering By Louie Marsh, 9-26-2021   Big vs. Small Picture:   Today I’ll be talking about the big picture of suffering not the smaller more personal one. The Bible gives us a framework to understand how a good and loving God can allow suffering in this world. It does not explain why certain things happen to certain people. No one can answer that question, and if someone says they can – run away!!   The Big Picture One day, in the middle of a small but hard-fought ground war, there is a small squad of soldiers sitting on a hill.   A radio message comes in, and is taken by the communications officer, a sergeant. He says, "Right, men! We have to take that hill over there!"And so they start fighting to take the hill. They fight all day and all night, and most of the next day, and eventually they take the hill.   Just as soon as they've taken it, they receive another message on the radio. The sergeant takes the message, and then says, "Right men! Retreat back to that hill!" And so they retreat back to the hill that they came from.   When they're safely dug back in on their original hill, one of the men goes to his sergeant, and says, "Excuse me, sir, but why did we fight all day and all night to take that hill, only to have to retreat again immediately? It seems bloody idiotic, if you ask me."   The sergeant frowns, and says, "Well, you see, you don't get to see the big picture. If you saw the big picture, you'd understand."   The soldier starts thinking, and works hard, and after a while he eventually gets promoted to corporal, and then to sergeant. On his first day as a new sergeant, he asks one of his fellow NCOs, "So, what is the big picture, then?"   The other sergeant looks at him, and says, "Well, you don't really get to see the big picture at this level. It's only the captain that gets to see this big picture."   So the soldier decides that he's going to find out what the big picture is. He works his way up the ranks and finally becomes a General. He asks the other Generals what the big picture is and they say, "Well, of course we don't see the big picture. We get our orders from the politicians. They're the ones who really see the big picture."   So, the soldier looks for opportunities to enter politics. He joins a political party, and becomes active in his local branch of the party. He gets elected to Parliament. On his first day, he's sitting in the Commons' Bar, and asks a fellow MP, "In the military, they said that Parliament gets to see the big picture. So -- what is the big picture?"   The MP looks at him, and says, "Well, as a backbencher, you don't get to see much, really. It's only the cabinet that really see the big picture. You'll have to ask them."   So our (now retired) soldier starts working to become a cabinet minister. At his first cabinet meeting, he sits through the meeting quietly, and afterwards he asks one of the more senior ministers, "So, what was the big picture? I didn't get it from that meeting."   The minister replies, "Well, it's not that easy to see from here. You see, we only handle the political side of things. There's all the economic stuff as well -- and you only really get that in industry. You'll have to ask the economists in industry."   At this point, he announces his retirement from politics, and, as a result of the contacts that he's made from being in politics, he manages to get himself a place on the board of one of the big city corporations.   At the first full board meeting, he puts his hand up, and says, "So, what is the big picture?"   And the treasurer of the company looks at him in horror, and says, "Oh, NO! Don't tell me you were on that bloody hill, too!"   The Small Picture But there are two scriptures we must rely to help us as we deal with the smaller picture and they are not on your outline so please write them down:   1  There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2  And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? 3  No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. 4  Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? 5  No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” Luke 13:1-5 (ESV)   45  so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. Matthew 5:45 (ESV)     God allows suffering because … GOD IS LOVE   1)  God made humans in His IMAGE.   26  Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27  So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:26-27 (ESV)   Us = trinity Image - Human life was created in (lit., “as,” meaning “in essence as”) the image of God ( 27). This image was imparted only to humans (2:7). “Image” (ṣelem) is used figuratively here, for God does not have a human form. Being in God’s image means that humans share, though imperfectly and finitely, in God’s nature, that is, in His communicable attributes (life, personality, truth, wisdom, love, holiness, justice), and so have the capacity for spiritual fellowship with Him The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures by Dallas Seminary Faculty.   2) God made us to LOVE HIM.   34  Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35  One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36  "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" 37  Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' 38  This is the first and greatest commandment. 39  And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' 40  All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." Matthew 22:34-40 (NIV)   3) Love cannot be forced but only FREELY CHOSEN.   20  Noah, a man of the soil, proceeded to plant a vineyard. 21  When he drank some of its wine, he became drunk and lay uncovered inside his tent. Genesis 9:20-21 (NIV)   God gave us real choices in a real universe. Therefore he had to allow us to choose evil over good. Adam & Eve did, and so has everyone of their off spring save one – Jesus!     4) But God will hold us accountable on JUDGMENT DAY.   34  You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35  The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. 36  I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, 37  for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” Matthew 12:34-37 (ESV)   So, eternal love – God – allows evil to exist now to honor our sovereign free will and so that we can, if we choose, freely love Him and others. However, because He is just, there will be a judgment day where all wrongs will be righted.   How Then Should I Respond to Suffering?   1) I need to ACCEPT that suffering will happen to me and mine.   18  “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19  If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. John 15:18-19 (ESV)   2) I need to REMEMBER that God is active in my suffering.   20  As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. Genesis 50:20 (ESV)   3) I need to EMBRACE suffering as part of my spiritual growth.   8  For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. 9  Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. 2 Corinthians 1:8-9 (ESV)   8  Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ …10  that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, Philippians 3:8, 10 (ESV)          

Suffering

reTHINK #3 Sex & Sexuality By Louie Marsh, 9-19-2021   “We waste time looking for the perfect lover, instead of creating the perfect love.”  ― Tom Robbins   “Why should we take advice on sex from the pope? If he knows anything about it, he shouldn't!”  ― George Bernard Shaw   “Boys and girls in America have such a sad time together; sophistication demands that they submit to sex immediately without proper preliminary talk. Not courting talk — real straight talk about souls, for life is holy and every moment is precious.” ― Jack Kerouac, On the Road   Sex -  IT’S SACRED   The average male loses his virginity at age 16.9; females average slightly older, at 17.4.    About one out of 10 married adults — 12 percent — say that they typically sleep alone   Two-thirds of college students have been in a "friends with benefits" relationship, citing the lack of commitment required as the main advantage to such an arrangement.    According to a survey of adults aged 20 to 59, women have an average of four sex partners during their lifetime; men have an average of seven.    36% of women have lied to a man they were sleeping with about the number of sex partners they've had. 49% of men have lied about the number of sexual partners they've had.    Sex & Marriage:   About 3% of Americans wait until marriage to have sex (1 in 30). In highly religious groups it’s up to 20% that wait till marriage. More women wait than men – 60% of those who wait are women, 40% men. More people waited in the 1950’s but not as many as you’d think. 1954-1963 – 11% 1994-2003 – 3%     1) I live within GOD’S SEXUAL BOUNDARIES.   3  For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; 4  that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, 5  not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God; 6  that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. 7  For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. 8  Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you. 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8 (ESV)   NIV, NLT, MESSAGE all say Body, Wife- LB and GW,  Vessel – NAS, ASV, NKJ.   Greek is vessel – Paul either means spouse, or body – there’s equal weight for each one.   God’s Sexual Context – HETEROSEXUAL MARRIAGE   For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh. Genesis 2:24   Christian belief in heterosexual marriage and that homosexually is wrong, does not stem from the Law or Paul – but from the very creation of mankind. Moses and Paul simply follow what Jesus shows us – that it was from the beginning that we were made that way.   2  But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. 3  The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband. 4  For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. 5  Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. 6  Now as a concession, not a command, I say this. 7  I wish that all were as I myself am. But each has his own gift from God, one of one kind and one of another. 8  To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is good for them to remain single as I am. 9  But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion. 1 Corinthians 7:2-9 (ESV)   God’s Sexual Style –   4  that each one of you know how to possess himself of his own vessel in sanctification and honor, 5  not in the passion of lust, even as the Gentiles who know not God; 1 Thessalonians 4:4-5 (ASV)   The Christian view of sex within marriage is that BOTH spouses put the pleasure of their spouse before their own – thus insuring fulfillment for both IF they keep this ideal! You don’t just demand your own way or wishes – that’s wrong even in marriage.   2) I REJECT LUST – and all it leads me to do.   "You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.'  But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.  If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.  Matthew 5:27-30 (NIV) The present participle βλέπων characterizes the man by his act of continued looking. The construction πρὸς τό with the infinitive denotes purpose (not result), it is somewhat like our phrase, "with a view to," etc. (R. 1003, 1075); the aorist infinitive is effective, referring to accomplished lusting; verbs of desire govern the genitive. Jesus does not say that by the accomplished lusting or by and during the act of looking at the woman the man in question commits adultery. The aorist ἐμοίχευσεν, with ἤδη emphasizing the feature of the time, precedes these acts. The man who casts lustful looks is an adulterer to begin with. The sin is already "in his heart" and only comes out in his lustful look. If the heart were pure, without adultery, no lustful look would be possible. Hence Jesus does not state how the guilty man can free himself of the sin as did the man mentioned in v. 23, 24. The man's very heart and nature must be so changed by divine grace that lustful looks will become impossible for him. It ought to be understood that what is thus said of a man (πᾶς ὁ, masculine) is equally true of a woman. Likewise, "every man" is general and cannot be restricted to married men; and γυναῖκα cannot refer only to a married woman who belongs to another man. A bachelor's lustful look upon a maid is certainly as adulterous as the lustful look of a married man upon another man's wife. - Lenski New Testament Commentary - Lenski Interpretation of St. Matthew's Gospel. To do this I must THINK like God does. “20Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! 21Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and shrewd in their own sight!” (Isaiah 5:20–21, ESV)   “21For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. 24Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves,” (Romans 1:21–24, ESV)   3) I live to PLEASE GOD first.   1  Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more. 2  For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. 3  For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; 1 Thessalonians 4:1-3 (ESV) 4) I live a life of LOVE.  9  Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another, 10  for that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more, 1 Thessalonians 4:9-10 (ESV)

Sex & Sexualityi

reTHINK #3 Gender & Sanity By Louie Marsh, 9-12-2021   Intro: Terminology   Cisgender - denoting a person whose sense of personal identity and gender corresponds with their birth sex. A cisgender person can be heterosexual or homosexual. bisexual or asexual.   LGTBQ - stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (or queer).  LGBTQQ = queer questioning.   LGBTQ+ = plus + Pansexual + Agender + Gender Queer + Bigender + Gender Variant + Pangender   Agender: A term for people whose gender identity and expression does not align with man, woman, or any other gender. A similar term used by some is gender-neutral. Bigender: Someone whose gender identity encompasses both man and woman. Some may feel that one side or the other is stronger, but both sides are present. Binary: The gender binary is a system of viewing gender as consisting solely of two identities and sexes, man and woman or male and female. Gender fluid: A person who does not identify with a single fixed gender, and expresses a fluid or unfixed gender identity. One’s expression of identity is likely to shift and change depending on context. Genderqueer: A person who rejects static categories of gender and embraces a fluidity of gender identity and often, though not always, sexual orientation. People who identify as genderqueer may see themselves as being both male and female, neither male nor female or as falling completely outside these categories.   Two Gender Charts The Biblical & Scientific Truth   There are only TWOgenders   10  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10 (ESV)    27  So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:27 (ESV)   You are born as a male or as a female and there is no other option. There is no third, fourth, or fifth gender. It does not exist. You shouldn't be able to identify as whatever you please. The set of chromosomes that you are born with, either XX or XY is what dictates your gender. Your gender is determined far before the development of the fetus begins, and that's all there is to it.   Gender Dysphoria (which used to be called gender identity disorder, but is now an offensive term) directly correlates with depression and anxiety, which are both mental disorders. Although the two of those are mental disorders, we as a society are not allowed to call Gender Dysphoria a mental disorder. Follow this carefully: (Study by the American Academy of Pediatrics) More than half of transgender male teens who participated in the survey reported attempting suicide in their lifetime, while 29.9 percent of transgender female teens said they attempted suicide. Among non-binary youth, 41.8 percent of respondents stated that they had attempted suicide at some point in their lives.    A massive part of the population says that this is because of the discrimination against transgenders. You cannot attribute the transgender suicide rate to discrimination because if that was the case, the suicide rate for blacks would be higher than it is due to the amount of discrimination they face. The black suicide rate is lower than the white suicide rate, and that alone destroys Gender Dysphoria not being a mental disorder... this is a prime example of society ignoring facts and the truth while conforming to the trans-society.   hermaphrodite or “intersex” person – very rare – birth defect as a result of the Fall – need our compassion and help   It is IMPOSSIBLE to change my gender.   5  “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.” Jeremiah 1:5 (ESV)   Show graphic of male and female skeletons.   Gender is carved into your DNA and can’t be changed – it’s in your bones In males, the jaw bone is generally larger and more pronounced, and the brow is taller. Male skeletons also generally have longer, thicker bones in the arms, legs and fingers. ... This major difference between men and women is the cause of the biggest hallmark feature of a female vs. male skeleton, the pelvis.   With that being said, you cannot wake up one day and decide that you want to be a fish, can you? You cannot decide that you are going to grow scales, breathe underwater, and live as a fish for the rest of your life, can you? Could you legally register yourself as a fish? No, you can not do that. You also can't randomly decide that you want to be 21. You aren't allowed to wake up and say I feel 21 today if your real age is 18, and then go buy alcohol. It should be the same exact way with "gender reassignment."    In reality there is no such thing as gender reassignment surgery. It’s only masking or hiding or camouflaging your gender. A woman can be made to LOOK like a man and a man can be made to LOOK like a woman, but that’s all.   3) God made men & women DIFFERENT.   18  Then the LORD God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” Genesis 2:18 (ESV)   Helper = ʿāzar generally indicates military assistance 4  Behold, God is my helper; the Lord is the upholder of my life. Psalm 54:4 (ESV)   Adam was made incomplete. God did this deliberately for He knew male needed female and both would need God. Adam needed help that was similar to him YET DIFFERENT!   Some differences between the genders:   Male brains utilize nearly seven times more gray matter for activity while female brains utilize nearly ten times more white matter. What does this mean? Gray matter areas of the brain are localized. They are information- and action-processing centers in specific splotches in a specific area of the brain. This can translate to a kind of tunnel vision when they are doing something. White matter is the networking grid that connects the brain’s gray matter and other processing centers with one another. This profound brain-processing difference is probably one reason you may have noticed that girls tend to more quickly transition between tasks than boys do. The gray-white matter difference may explain why, in adulthood, females are great multi-taskers, while men excel in highly task-focused projects. Male and female brains process the same neurochemicals but to different degrees and through gender-specific body-brain connections. Some dominant neurochemicals are serotonin, which, among other things, helps us sit still; testosterone, our sex and aggression chemical; estrogen, a female growth and reproductive chemical; and oxytocin, a bonding-relationship chemical. The right and left hemispheres of the male and female brains are not set up exactly the same way. For instance, females tend to have verbal centers on both sides of the brain, while males tend to have verbal centers on only the left hemisphere. This is a significant difference. Girls tend to use more words when discussing or describing incidence, story, person, object, feeling, or place. Males not only have fewer verbal centers in general but also, often, have less connectivity between their word centers and their memories or feelings.   History:   "In April 1944 a proposal to ensure women's suffrage and equality was presented to the French parliament. The presenter gave a lengthy speech, trying to emphasize the idea that women and men are actually the same. There is only one small difference. He never finished the thought, because everyone in parliament started to shout: "Long live that difference!" (Vive la différence!)"   The measure passed by the way. Although the measure was signed into law on April 21, 1944 under a provisional government led by Gen. Charles de Gaulle, French women did not actually cast their ballot for the first time until April 29, 1945, in what were the country’s first general elections since it was liberated from German occupation.   4) God made men & women EQUAL.   11  Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man nor man of woman; 12  for as woman was made from man, so man is now born of woman. And all things are from God. 1 Corinthians 11:11-12 (ESV)   28  There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29  And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise. Galatians 3:28-29 (ESV)   5) What’s happening isn’t NEW. “20Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! 21Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and shrewd in their own sight!” (Isaiah 5:20–21, ESV)   “21For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. 24Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves,” (Romans 1:21–24, ESV)   So that they are (εἰς τὸ εἶναι). The A. V. expresses result; but the sense is rather purpose. The revelation of God’s power and divinity is given, so that, if, after being enlightened, they fall into sin, they may be without defence.   Without excuse (ἀναπολογήτους). See on answer, 1 Pet. 3:15. Only here and ch. 2:1.   Became vain (ἐματαιώθησαν). Vain things (μάταια) was the Jews’ name for idols. Compare Acts 4:25. Their ideas and conceptions of God had no intrinsic value corresponding with the truth. “The understanding was reduced to work in vacuo. It rendered itself in a way futile” (Godet).   Imaginations (διαλογισμοῖς). Rev., better, reasonings. See on Matt. 15:19; Mark 7:21; Jas. 2:4.   Foolish (ἀσύνετος). See on συνετός prudent, Matt. 11:25, and the kindred word σύνεσις understanding, Mark 12:33; Luke 2:47. They did not combine the facts which were patent to their observation.   Heart (καρδία). The heart is, first, the physical organ, the centre of the circulation of the blood. Hence, the seat and centre of physical life. In the former sense it does not occur in the New Testament. As denoting the vigor and sense of physical life, see Acts. 14:17; Jas. 5:5; Luke 21:34. It is used fifty-two times by Paul. Never used like ψυχή soul, to denote the individual subject of personal life, so that it can be exchanged with the personal pronoun (Acts 2:43; 3:23; Rom. 13:1); nor like πνεῦμα spirit, to denote the divinely-given principle of life.   It is the central seat and organ of the personal life (ψυχή) of man regarded in and by himself, Hence it is commonly accompanied with the possessive pronouns, my, his, thy, etc.   Professing (φάσκοντες). The verb is used of unfounded assertion, Acts 24:9; 25:19; Apoc. 2:2.   Wise, they became fools. Another oxymoron; see on ver. 20. Compare Horace, insaniens sapientia raving wisdom. Plato uses the phrase μάταιον δοξοσοφίαν vain-glorying of wisdom (“Sophist,” 231).     6) The real issue today isn’t gender it’s absolute AUTONOMY.   4  But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5  For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” Genesis 3:4-5 (ESV)   2  “Son of man, say to the prince of Tyre, Thus says the Lord GOD: “Because your heart is proud, and you have said, ‘I am a god, I sit in the seat of the gods, in the heart of the seas,’ yet you are but a man, and no god, though you make your heart like the heart of a god— Ezekiel 28:2 (ESV)   What could be more godlike than to say you can change everything we looked at today, by simply saying your now a different gender? God created the world by fiat, and now we think we can change things the same way.   Show Lesbians jpgs, man nursing baby. 5  Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 6  In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. 7  Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil. Proverbs 3:5-7 (ESV)      

Gender & Sanity

reThink #1 Why reThink? By Louie Marsh, 9-5-2021 God Doesn’t Want…. Me to be “15The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thought to his steps.” (Proverbs 14:15, ESV)   2) Me to be BLIND to the issues.   “11Does not the ear test words as the palate tastes food?” (Job 12:11, ESV)   “15For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints,” (Ephesians 1:15, ESV)   3) Me to WITHDRAW from or BLAME the world.   “11He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” 12The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.” 13Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”” (Genesis 3:11–13, ESV)   He Is Calling Me To…   1) UNDERSTAND the times & culture I’m living in.   “32From the Issacharites, who understood the times and knew what Israel should do: 200 chiefs with all their relatives under their command.” (1 Chronicles 12:32, CSB)   “11Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed.” (Romans 13:11, ESV)   2) Have the courage to TEST EVERYTHING   “21but test everything; hold fast what is good.” (1 Thessalonians 5:21, ESV)   “7Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.” (2 Timothy 2:7, ESV)   “17The one who states his case first seems right, until the other comes and examines him.” (Proverbs 18:17, ESV)   “18“Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.” (Isaiah 1:18, ESV)   What stops me from rethinking?   “18“Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.” (Isaiah 1:18, ESV)   “11Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.” (Acts 17:11, ESV)   Blindness to the issue Pride Peer pressure Comfort zone     3) Be COMMITTED to Christ not methodology.   “28Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”” (Matthew 11:28–30, ESV)            

Why reThink?

Ministry Moves On By Louie Marsh, 8-29-2021     1) Remember the Ministry is GOD’S NOT MINE.   “2during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness. 3And he went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” (Luke 3:2–3, ESV)   “1The word of the Lord that came to Hosea…(Hosea 1:1, ESV)   The Gospel belongs to   “1The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” (Mark 1:1, ESV)   The abilities I use in ministry are NOT MINE.   “7To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.” (1 Corinthians 12:7, ESV)   2) Accept that we’re all TEMPORARY.   “15As for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field; 16for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more. 17But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children’s children,” (Psalm 103:15–17, ESV)   “24But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. 25And now, behold, I know that none of you among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again.” (Acts 20:24–25, ESV)   I must have EMPTY HANDS to receive new ministry.   “7Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices! 8Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil. 9For the evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land. 10In just a little while, the wicked will be no more; though you look carefully at his place, he will not be there. 11But the meek shall inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant peace.” (Psalm 37:7–11, ESV)   3) The key to moving on is LETTING GO.   “15As the people were in expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Christ, 16John answered them all, saying, “I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” (Luke 3:15–16, ESV)   “35The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, 36and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” 37The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. 38Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, “What are you seeking?” And they said to him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?”” (John 1:35–38, ESV)   Ownership is good, only if it’s   “6For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. 7I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (2 Timothy 4:6–7, ESV)   “62Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”” (Luke 9:62, ESV)      

Ministry Moves On

Life As It Was Meant To Be Part 11: Praying To Win! By Louie Marsh, 8-22-2021   4 Pics – last one race.   I Need To Pray For:   1) Myself – that I help spread GOD’S WORD.   “1Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you,” (2 Thessalonians 3:1, ESV)   In Myself – GROWTH In Others - EVANGELISM   2) Christ’s STRENGTH.   “3But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you...” (2 Thessalonians 3:3a, ESV)   3) Christ’s PROTECTION.   “3But the Lord is faithful. He will…guard you against the evil one.” (2 Thessalonians 3:3, ESV)   4) CONFIDENCE in Christ.   “4And we have confidence in the Lord about you, that you are doing and will do the things that we command.” (2 Thessalonians 3:4, ESV)   5) God’s LOVE.   “5May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God...” (2 Thessalonians 3:5a, ESV)   Remember this is God’s TOUGH   “6Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us. 7For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you, 8nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. 9It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate. 10For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. 11For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. 12Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.” (2 Thessalonians 3:6–12, ESV)   6) Christ’s PERSERVANCE.   “5May the Lord direct your hearts … to the steadfastness of Christ.” (2 Thessalonians 3:5, ESV)   “13As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good. 14If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed. 15Do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.” (2 Thessalonians 3:13–15, ESV)   7) Complete PEACE.   “16Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.” (2 Thessalonians 3:16, ESV)   May the Master of Peace himself give you the gift of getting along with each other at all times, in all ways. May the Master be truly among you! 2 Thes. 3:16 (Mes)   8) God’s GRACE.   “17I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. This is the sign of genuineness in every letter of mine; it is the way I write. 18The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.” (2 Thessalonians 3:17–18, ESV)  

Praying To Win!

Life As It Was Meant to Be Part 10: Living Out the Gospel Louie Marsh, 9-15-2021   The slave driver of the Roman trireme leered down at his galley slaves and bellowed, "I've got some good news and some bad news. The good news is that you'll be getting double rations tonight!" The murmuring of the surprised slaves as they struggled with their oars was interrupted by the slave driver. "The bad news is that this afternoon the commander's son wants to water-ski."   1) REST in God’s Peace.   “1Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers, 2not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. 3Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,” (2 Thessalonians 2:1–3, ESV)   AS believers we don’t have to get all upset over things, yet we so often do! The return of Christ is GOOD news!!  If all the silly rumors, etc. upset you and throw you into a tizzy – that’s a sign you don’t understand and live in God’s peace.   2) RECOGNIZE you must confront evil.   “16Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, 17comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.” (2 Thessalonians 2:16–17, ESV)   As believers we cannot just ignore the evil around and within us! WE must confront it, fight it, and overcome it through the power of God!   Saying what is good IS confronting evil – and takes lots of courage!   Basic Truths About Evil:   Satan is REAL.   “9The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders,” (2 Thessalonians 2:9, ESV)   “14And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.” (2 Corinthians 11:14, ESV)   Pictures of Jim Jones, Himmler and Pol Pot.   The battlefield is my SOUL.   “31“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, 32but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”” (Luke 22:31–32, ESV)   You’ve got to understand that this is one thing that sets the Bible apart – it teaches us that God is a personal being – and so is the devil!!  No impersonal force here!   You’ve also got to understand THIS IS PERSONAL!!  Evil is alive, lead by a person – and is after YOU!   Jesus will PROTECT me from Satan.   “18We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him.” (1 John 5:18, ESV)   Satan can hassle us, tempt us, put us through all kinds of trouble, but he can’t posses us, enter us, or control us!   Jesus Name is my  WEAPON!   “30while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”” (Acts 4:30, ESV)   Basic Things to Do:   Act COURAGEOUSLY Hang on to my HOPE IN CHRIST Find my encouragement in Receive His STRENGTH DO AND SAY what is good.   3) REJOICE in Christ’s Victory!   “8And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming.”…“13But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. 14To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (2 Thessalonians 2:8,13–14, ESV)   Things to Be Thankful For: In the end – GOD WINS! God loves ME! Christ died to save ME. I share in Christ’s GLORY.        

Living Out the Gospel (Resisting Evil)

Life As It Was Meant To Be Part 9: Dealing with Life’s Difficulties Louie Marsh, 8-8-2021   4 slides as intro.   1) BE THANKFUL to God   “3We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers…(2 Thessalonians 1:3a, ESV)   2) VIEW TROUBLE as an opportunity to:   … because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing.” (2 Thessalonians 1:3b, ESV)   STRENGTHEN my faith   “22strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.” (Acts 14:22, ESV)   putting muscle and sinew in the lives of the disciples, urging them to stick with what they had begun to believe and not quit, making it clear to them that it wouldn't be easy: "Anyone signing up for the kingdom of God has to go through plenty of hard times." Acts 14:22 (Mes)   DEEPEN my love   “8Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.” (1 Peter 4:8, ESV)   3) RECEIVE God’s comfort.   “7It is also right for God to give all of us relief from our suffering. He will do this when the Lord Jesus is revealed, ⌊coming⌋ from heaven with his mighty angels in a blazing fire.” (2 Thessalonians 1:7, GW)   “7We have confidence in you. We know that as you share our sufferings, you also share our comfort.” (2 Corinthians 1:7, GW)   4) STAY FOCUSED on God’s Purpose for you!   “11To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power,” (2 Thessalonians 1:11, ESV)   “26So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air.” (1 Corinthians 9:26, ESV)   5) GLORIFY God in my troubles.   “12so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (2 Thessalonians 1:12, ESV)   “4But when Jesus heard it he said, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”” (John 11:4, ESV)   6) TRUST GOD to bring justice at the right time.   “6since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you,… “9They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, 10when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed.” (2 Thessalonians 1:6, 9–10, ESV)   Don’t ask Why? – ask WHAT?      

Dealing with Life's Difficulties

Life As It Was Meant To Be Part 8: Letting God Finish the Work Louie Marsh, 8-1-2021   Intro -  pictures of unfinished buildings -  story of house in Mom & Dad’s neighborhood.   “23Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.” (1 Thessalonians 5:23–24, ESV)   I Must Develop the Proper Perspective on…   My PROBLEMS   “14 … What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.” (James 4:14b, ESV)   My ACHIEVEMENTS   “5I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5, ESV)   My HEART   "The human heart is most deceitful and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? Jeremiah 17:9 (NLT)   The TRUTH   “32and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”” (John 8:32, ESV)   Jesus said, "I am the Road, also the Truth, also the Life. No one gets to the Father apart from me. John 14:6 (Mes)   Martin Luther – wrote this about the Peasants Revolt, in the tract, “Against the Murderous and Thieving Hordes of Peasants.”   Picture of Luther’s Tract   If the peasant is in open rebellion then he is outside the law of God…Therefore let everyone who can, smite, slay, and stab, secretly or openly, remembering that nothing can be more poisonous, hurtful or devilish than a rebel… Therefore dear sirs, fire here, save there, stab, smite, strangle them, whoever can. If your death result, very well, you can never attain to a more blessed death.”   My RELATIONSHIPS   “10Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.” (Romans 12:10, ESV)   “5he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,” (Ephesians 1:5, ESV)   “12But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” (John 1:12–13, ESV)   I Allow God to Finish the Work When I…   “23Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.” (1 Thessalonians 5:23–24, ESV)   1) Understand God’s goal for my life – CHRIST-LIKENESS.   2) Let God give me His PEACE.   3) Find SPIRITUAL WHOLENESS in Christ!   “24God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”” (John 4:24, ESV)   4) Let Christ bring wholeness to my SOUL!   My soul is my –   MIND   “20Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature.” (1 Corinthians 14:20, ESV)   WILL   “24Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” (Matthew 16:24, ESV)   EMOTIONS   “16My inmost being will exult when your lips speak what is right.” (Proverbs 23:16, ESV)   5) Realize this – God wants my BODY!!   “19Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,” (1 Corinthians 6:19, ESV)   “2By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God,” (1 John 4:2, ESV)  

Letting God Finish the Work

1) Do what’s best for EVERYONE.   “15See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.” (1 Thessalonians 5:15, ESV)         Imagine how different this could make your work, friendships, marriage, etc.   “10Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.” (Romans 12:10, ESV)   2) Always have a JOYFUL attitude.   “16Rejoice always,” (1 Thessalonians 5:16, ESV)   “12Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” (Romans 12:12, ESV)   If you or I were to make an effort to be just 10% more joyful this week than last, what kind of a difference do you think that would make?         Remember this joy is a fruit of the Spirit – not just the result of gritting our teeth and trying to make it happen!!   3) Talk to Christ CONSTANTLY.   “17pray without ceasing,” (1 Thessalonians 5:17, ESV)   Jesus told them a story showing that it was necessary for them to pray consistently and never quit. Luke 18:1 (Mes)         Constant prayer is good – but keep you eyes open! – otherwise you’ll end up like the Bloody Pharisees!!   4) Always GIVE THANKS to God.   “18give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18, ESV)         Ever wonder why Paul is always harping on this? Try it and see! This is one way to really have JOY!  And it’s part of praying constantly! It’s part of that dialogue God wants to have with us!   “17saying, “We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, who is and who was, for you have taken your great power and begun to reign.” (Revelation 11:17, ESV)   5) LIVE through the Spirit’s power.   “19Do not quench the Spirit.” (1 Thessalonians 5:19, ESV)   “18And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,” (Ephesians 5:18, ESV)         The only way to live by the Spirit’s power is to be filled with Him – but what does that mean??  Does than mean people who are filled with the Spirit have MORE of Him than others??  If so then fat folks like me are lucky cause we can have more of the Spirit that you skinny people!! J         No – it doesn’t mean that – it means CONTROL!   6) LISTEN for God’s message to you.   “20Do not despise prophecies,” (1 Thessalonians 5:20, ESV)         The word contempt means to count as nothing.         How eager are you to hear from God? Many aren’t – happy with their little life the way it is. If you look at the Bible when God speaks things get messy – and a lot of us don’t want that – we have a disease the late Dr. Walter Martin called “Non Rock-a-Boatus!”   “11I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” (Psalm 119:11, ESV)         In the Bible – people who loved God wanted to hear Him, and memorized what they knew He had said!   “16I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word. 17Deal bountifully with your servant, that I may live and keep your word.” (Psalm 119:16–17, ESV)         Wanting to hear from God means you are willing to do what He says!   7) TEST everything – KEEP what’s good!   “21but test everything; hold fast what is good. 22Abstain from every form of evil.” (1 Thessalonians 5:21–22, ESV)   On the other hand, don't be gullible. Check out everything, and keep only what's good. Throw out anything tainted with evil. 1 Thes. 5:21-22 (Mes)         God commands us to test EVERYTHING we hear – not just believe it because someone says it’s true or because that’s what some book says!         Example - GEN. LOUIS H. WILSON, then commandant of the Marine Corps, had decided that anyone overweight had to get in shape. He was giving a speech one day stressing the importance of a balanced diet and physical fitness. During the question-and-answer period, a paunchy gunnery sergeant rose and asked, "Sir, if there is a difference of opinion between a troop commander and a medical officer as to whether a Marine is overweight, who has final authority?" The general looked down at him and said, "I do. You are. Sit down."   Dear friends, do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. For there are many false prophets in the world. 1 John 4:1 (NLT)   “1Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.” (1 John 4:1, ESV)           How do we test? What standards do we use?       NOT – what my parents say, my preacher say, my old church said, my culture says, OR HOW I FEEL ABOUT IT!!       We test by GOD’S OBJECTIVE STANDARD – THE BIBLE!! Then you reject and throw out the bad – AND HANG ON TO THE GOOD!!   “1Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time, saying,” (Jonah 3:1, ESV)         This is a great verse – one of my favorites – because it’s speaks to the second, third, fourth – etc chances that God will give you – even if you’ve failed to test in the past, He’s still willing to use you if you’ll let Him!   Example of how being different like this works in real life!   A man entered my father's diesel-repair shop, said he was a driver from a trucking fleet and suggested, "How about adding a few extra parts to the bill? We'll let the company pay for it, and you and I can split the difference." Dad refused, but the customer was insistent. "I come through here a lot," the man continued. "We could make quite a bit of money." Dad said that wasn't how he operated. "Everyone does it!" The man yelled. "Are you some kind of fool?" Burning mad, Dad asked him to leave and take his business elsewhere. Suddenly the man smiled and extended his hand for a handshake. "I own a trucking company," he said. "I've been looking for a mechanic I can trust, and I'm

To Make a Difference - BE Different

Life As It Was Meant to Be Part 6: How to Have Hope Louie Marsh, 7-21-2021   Slide of “new” old series! TWO QUOTES:   “What oxygen is for the lungs, such is hope for the meaning of life.” - Emil Brunner   “Hopes are for the living, the dead are without hope. – Theocritus   “Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.” ― Epicurus   “Hope is a waking dream.”  ― Aristotle   1) FIND IT in Christ alone!   “13But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. 14For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.” (1 Thessalonians 4:13–14, ESV) Christ is God – so my hope is RELIABLE! Jesus is alive so my hope is ALIVE He’s coming back – my hope extends beyond this     2) GRASP Hope’s full extent.   “15For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 18Therefore encourage one another with these words.” (1 Thessalonians 4:15–18, ESV)   Hope is for the living & the Hope lasts Hope brings me BACK to Christ.     3) LIVE OUT hope’s implications by…   FOCUSING on what I’m doing.   “5For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. 6So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober.” (1 Thessalonians 5:5–6, ESV)   UNDERSTANDING my new nature.   “4But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief.”…“8But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation.” (1 Thessalonians 5:4, 8, ESV)   LIVING by faith.   But let us who live in the light think clearly, protected by the body armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation. 1 Thes. 5:8 (NLT)   ACTING in love.   But not us! Since we're creatures of Day, let's act like it. Walk out into the daylight sober, dressed up in faith, love, and the hope of salvation. 1 Thes. 5:8 (Mes)   4) COMPREHENDING my true destiny!   “9For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. 11Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:9–11, ESV)   God didn't set us up for an angry rejection but for salvation by our Master… 1 Thes. 5:9 (Mes)   Your purpose in life is to serve God in a special way!!!  Not to be a object of wrath – but part of His family!        

How To Have Hope

Life As It Was Meant to Be Part 5: How To Be Different – Please God! Louie Marsh, 7-11-2021 "All progress occurs because people dare to be different." -Harry Millner   "To change and to change for the better are two different things." -German proverb   1) Living to please God (spirituality)   I put the word spirituality in there because we hear this word all the time – and it means either nothing at all – or whatever the speaker wants it to mean. That’s rubbish – from a Biblical perspective true spirituality is living to please God! We should always look at it from that perspective.   “1Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more. 2For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 4:1–2, ESV)   … please God, not in a dogged religious plod, but in a living, spirited dance. (1 Thess 4:1–2, Mes)   Is freedom  FROM & TO.   This is really important – and we’ll probably revisit topic in a year or so. When you become a Christian you aren’t just set free FROM things – tho you are and this is what we usually think of.   You are also set free TO things, that’s true of all true freedom. It’s not just negative – away from something, but it’s positive – TOWARDS something!   Is all about FOLLOWING Jesus.   The Christian life is composed of positive ethical commitments, to DO things, it’s not just or even primarily a list of things you DON’T do!   Is committed to DOING God’s will.   Is recognized by the CHARACTER of Christ.   The Fruit of the Spirit which we just finished talking about a few weeks ago – if they way you are acting is full of that fruit – then your doing well.   2) God’s Will for me – be LIKE CHRIST!   “3For this is the will of God, your sanctification… (1 Thessalonians 4:3a, ESV)   3) I must be Christ-like in my SEXUALITY.   “3…that you abstain from sexual immorality; 4that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, 5not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God; 6that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. 7For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness.” (1 Thessalonians 4:3b–7, ESV)   This is LEARNED BEHAVIOR.   In spite of what many will tell you and what a lot of you feel – the Bible says over and over again that you and I must LEARN how to live in God pleasing way!   It is focused on CHRIST!   Like I said a minute ago, it’s a positive focus! I nearly ended up in despair in my early Christian life because of two huge mistakes I made. I thought it was wrong to have sexual feelings and urges – that is COMPLETELY WRONG!! God made them, gave them to you and they are good! My focus was almost totally negative – don’t lust, don’t look, don’t touch!! I missed the liberating truth that if I focus as much as possible on doing what God wants me to do – that reduces the amount of time I have to spend on the negative end of things. I will still do both – but my focus should be primarily positive – focused on what God wants me TO DO – not what He DOESN’T want!   There’s no DOUBLE STANDARD.   Here’s what the first Century Greek culture said about sexuality, from Demosthenes; “We keep mistresses for pleasure, concubines for our day-to-day bodily needs, but we have wives to produce legitimate children and serve as trustworthy guardians of our homes.”   Women of course – were not allowed to act in any such manner!!  The Bible holds up the same standard for men and women – and today that’s completely destroyed in our culture.   4) I must ACCEPT this is from God & it’s GOOD.   “8Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.” (1 Thessalonians 4:8, ESV)   If you don’t agree with this – you don’t have a problem with me, or even Paul – you have a problem with God! There’s no Church Police here – we don’t run around trying to make you behave! This is an issue you must work out with God, because He NOT me or anyone else – has given us these commands.   5) LOVE my brothers and sisters.   “9Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another, 10for that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more,” (1 Thessalonians 4:9–10, ESV)   Notice how important love is that it continually pops up all over the place in the Bible!!  Real spirituality must be in love or it’s nothing.   6) LEAD a quiet life.   “11and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, 12so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.” (1 Thessalonians 4:11–12, ESV)   Quiet does NOT mean boring – it means live an exciting life that doesn’t always get you in trouble or isn’t constantly filled with drama that you and others create though your own actions!   MIND my own business. STAY busy. Be a GOOD witness. Become SECURE.   Paul wants us to be as independent as we can – this doesn’t mean you don’t ask for help – it means you don’t mooch off people constantly!  

Want To Be Different? Please God!

This is the place to listen to CCR's weekly Sunday morning sermons. Messages that are based on the Bible, seek to honor Jesus, are Gospel centered and filled with faith and hope.

hubhopper

CCR Sermons

hubhopper