Sermons About Confidence
The Parable of the Persistent Widow
Is persistent prayer simply about God answering our prayers, or is there more to it? In this breakthrough message, we make a life-changing discovery that will be sure to transform our thinking on what persistent prayer really is and give us a new perspective that we may have been missing until now!
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OUR VICTORY OVER SIN AND OUR CHRIST-CENTERED ASSURANCE IN LIFE (1 John 1:5-2:2 * Message #3/14) 10-18-09
NOTE: To receive these Sermon notes below in an outline form (which is easier to read), please email your request to Pastor Marcus Johnson (efcamarcus@sbcglobal.net). INTRODUCTION: SOME KEY DEFINITIONS – The Definitions below are taken from: {1} “Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms” by Grenz, Guretzki & Nordling; {2} “Systematic Theology” by Wayne Grudem; and {3} “1-3 John” by Robert W. Yarbrough. SIN: “The fundamental unbelief, distrust and rejection of God and human displacement of God as the center of reality. The Bible presents sin as both fallen humanity’s state of separation and alienation from God and as a person’s purposeful disobedience to God’s will as evidence in concrete thought or act. As an inherent part of the human condition sin is universal, and it is both corporate and individual.” {1}. ATONEMENT (atone means “to make amends”): what God has done thru the life and death of Jesus Christ to remedy the human problem of sin {1}, leading to the salvation of His people. It includes two key concepts: propitiation (“a sacrifice that bears God’s wrath to the end and in so doing changes God’s wrath toward us into favor” {2}); and expiation (the covering of sins and the cancelling of debts {1}). ADVOCATE: translated from the Greek word paraklētos (par-ak'-lay-tos) which means helper, or intercessor. (Other definitions: a righteous intercessor; a legal assistant who intercedes; an advocate who assists a sinner seeking forgiveness; a mediator who assists a sinner seeking remission of penalty at the temple; an advocate who gains a hearing for you {3}). The NIV translates this word as “one who speaks to the father in our defense.” RIGHTEOUS: As a noun, it means one who stands in a right relationship with God and whose life is in line with the will and nature of God. “Righteousness” is the doctrine that “God always acts in accordance with what is right and that he himself is the final standard of what is right” {2}. In 1st John 2:1, Jesus is called “the righteous.” The NIV translates this as “the righteous one” and the NLT replaces the word “righteous” with this phrase: “the one who pleases God completely.” PROPITIATION: (see definition above under “Atonement”) translated from the Greek word hilasmos (hil-as-mos') which means “an atoning sacrifice” (NIV/NRSV). This word is translated “propitiation” in the ESV/NASB, as “expiation” in the RSV, and as “the sacrifice that takes away” in the NLT. SUMMARY: “While Jesus’s death certainly has the effect of expiating sin (wiping away its penalty), it is difficult to avoid the impression that it also propitiates (turns away the wrath of) God’s promised punishment of sin and sinners whose transgressions are not atoned for on the last day–a day of condemnation spoken of by Jesus in John 12:48” {3}. LIVE IN VICTORY OVER SIN – 1st, By Knowing God and Walking in the Light: v1 (see 1Jn 1:5-10) [John’s Purpose: I write these things that that you may not sin]. 2nd, Thru Jesus Christ our Advocate: vs1-2 [The Righteous One/the Propitiation for Our Sins]. 3rd, By Seeking Holiness with Humility: vs1-2 [Live a holy life in Christ & Humbly seek His forgiveness daily]. LIVE WITH CHRIST-CENTERED ASSURANCE – 1st, Our Relationship with Christ: vs3-4 [We know that we know Christ if we keep His Commandments]. 2nd, Our Perfection in Christ: vs3-5 [We know God’s love is perfected in us if we keep His word] “Made complete” [perfected] means that the Christian’s love is entire and mature … To receive and obey God’s word is to be made perfect in love; the thought of pleasing and serving God is supreme in the Christian’s motives and molds his conduct … We must bear in minds two things: first, that perfection is not incompatible with further progress and development, and second, that John’s statement here must be place (paradoxically) alongside his earlier assertion that it is wrong for us to say “we are without sin.” (The Epistles of John, by I. Howard Marshall). 3rd, Our Life in Christ: vs5-6 [We know we are in Christ if we walk like Jesus did].
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Understand What Really Matters
What really matters? Do your feelings toss you around like a ship in a storm? Where is your confidence anchored?
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Nehemiah 4: The Road to Revival: Will You Quit?
Getting started is often easier than continuing when times get tough. Discouragement comes in all kinds of forms... but what will drive us to continue. Or will we quit? Nehemiah was a leader with confidence in the Lord to complete the task. But could he spread this confidence to the people?
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Confidence
Do you have proof that you are a citizen of heaven? Do you have confidence that you are a citizen of God’s Kingdom? Many struggle with doubts in this area. In the apostle John’s first letter, he told his hearers that they could have “confidence” that they were members of God’s eternal Kingdom by receiving and believing in His Son, Jesus. We can know this confidence that comes from receiving and believing in Christ as our Savior. The text gives four steps to having confidence and assurance of your salvation.
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Hold Fast Till I Come - English - 16-08-09
1. a) Hold fast the word of God to be saved I Cor 15:2 b) Hold fast the word of warning and repent Rev 3:2 2. Hold fast to your confidence till the end, then we become the part takers pf Christ Jesus - Heb 3:14 3. Hold fast to your confidence and rejoicing in hope firm then you are the habitation or the house of God - Heb 3:6 4. Hold fast to your confessions without wavering, for the Lord who has promised is faithful and also he is the high priest who intercedes on our behalf. Heb 4:14, 10:23 5. Hold fast to serve God alone - not to serve anything else which the enemy gives in exchange of God. Josh 23:8 6. Hold fast to the things which you have - so that no one takes your crown. The Lord comes quickly. We are expected to hold fast till he comes. Rev 3: 11 and 2:25
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