Laugh N Learn

Laugh N Learn Message

Sun, 25 Jul 2010 21:48:00 GMT

<div align="center" style="border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; padding-top: 1px"> <table class="MsoNormalTable" border="0" cellpadding="2" width="600" style="border-width:0px; " id="table1" bgcolor="#FFFFFF"> <tr style="height: 22.2pt"> <td width="600" valign="top" style="border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: medium none #FFCC00; padding: 0in; height:18pt" align="center"> <h1 align="center">LAUGH 'N LEARN</h1> </td> </tr> <tr style="height: 22.2pt"> <td width="600" valign="top" style="padding: 0in; border-top-style:none; border-top-width:medium"> An Encouragement Ministry of Verde Valley Christian Church Of Cottonwood Arizona <a href="http://vvchristianchurch.net">http://vvchristianchurch.net</a> </td> </tr> <tr style="height: 22.2pt"> <td width="600" style="height: 22.2pt; padding: 0in; " align="center"> Issue # 382 July 25,  2010</td> </tr> <tr style="page-break-inside: avoid"> <td width="600" style="border-left: medium none #000000; border-right: medium none #000000; border-top: 1px solid #000000; border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; padding: 0in" align="left" height="41"> LAUGH </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="600" valign="top" style="border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; padding: 0in; border-top-color:inherit; border-bottom-color:#FFCC00">  <h2>Managing the House</h2> A beleaguered young mom went to an "Organizing Your Life" class. After hearing many organizing tips, she asked, "But how do you get your kids to help clean up? I have two young children, and it's usually easier to just clean up myself. That way, I know where their things are, and they get put away right. But I feel frustrated about that." Another woman in the class answered, "In our house, we use a 'Butler Box.' Whenever something is left lying around the house where it doesn't belong--even if it's car keys or a wallet--it gets put into a large, wooden box that we call the Butler Box. Then, if anyone is looking for something that's lost and finds it in the Butler Box, he can't just grab it out. He has to do five minutes of chores around the home to get the object back.""What a clever idea!" the first woman said. "How old were your children when you started that?""Children?" the second woman answered. "We don't have any children. This is for my husband." from preachingtoday.com </td> </tr> <tr style="page-break-inside: avoid"> <td width="600" valign="top" style="border-left: medium none #000000; border-right: medium none #000000; border-top: 1px solid #000000; border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; padding: 0in"> LEARN </td> </tr> <tr style="page-break-inside: avoid"> <td width="600" valign="top" style="border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: medium none #FFCC00; padding: 0in"> Jim's Manuscript July 25, 2010 "How To Do Less And Be More" "Acts" Series:  Chapter 1     Look at the open it question for the Care Group Study this week.  It reads:  When was the last time you were busy, busy, busy, and yet making little to no progress?  Have you ever had that happen to you?  It is like your life is like a truck that is stuck in the mud, you keep applying the gas, and your wheels keep spinning, but you are getting less than nowhere.  You are actually getting MORE stuck.  You get out a shovel perhaps, and work, and sweat, and yet you keep sinking further and further.  How would you like to learn how to do less and be more?  That's the title for this morning's message.    Today, we begin a new series.  We are going to begin a study of the book of Acts.  I'm excited about what God is going to do with us.  Let me explain how we got here, and why I chose Acts as our next series.    Many of you will remember that a few weeks back, while in the study from 2 Corinthians 12, and while learning from Paul's example that "when we are weak, THEN we are strong", I confessed to you that the concept was one I was really wrestling with.  I confessed to you that I thought as a church we weren't really operating according to this principle very well.  I also confessed that I was not sure how to lead our church to operate in this principle better, rather than the "come to our church, our church is great" way of operating; as if highlighting our strengths and doing this thing all in the "natural" is the way to go.  I am convinced it is NOT the way to go.  So, what is the better way to go, as a church?  That's the question.    In praying about this and thinking about how to lead a church to be church the way God wants, operating in the supernatural, rather than just the natural strengths, I literally changed my plans about what series we should be doing after our 2 Corinthians series.    I believe the Lord impressed on me the need to get back to our foundational roots, and learn how to do church the way church was intended to be done, and the way it was done at the church's earliest stages.  Christianity was never an endeavor to be carried out in the natural.  It is God's church, God's kingdom, and God's work.  Jesus himself said, "I will build my church."  So how do we operate from the standpoint of human weakness, to magnify the strength of God, and cooperate with him as He builds us up?  I believe the Lord prompted me to go back to the beginning of the Church; which means, go back to Acts, and learn from Acts.  So that's what we are going to do.   Acts is the name of the 5th book of the New Testament.  The word Acts is a noun that describes things that have been done.  The book of Acts describes Acts that are accomplished.  Yet, it also explains how these Acts were accomplished.  These were not accomplished in the natural.  Acts is traditionally called Acts, because it is a book that documents the "Acts of the Apostles".  But that certainly isn't a full description of the book we are about to study. For one thing, there are a bunch of Apostles whose "Acts" are never recorded.  I mean we never hear about the "Acts" of Bartholomew, or the "Acts" of "Thomas" or the "Acts" of Mathias, who replaced Judas.  Or the acts of a number of others.  The actuality is that this book only really focuses on a couple of Apostles.  It focuses mostly on Peter in the first half of the Book, then shifts to Paul for more than the last half of the book.  So it isn't really about Acts of all the Apostles, as it is about the Acts of the Holy Spirit through these men, and the church.  Acts isn't a book about acts that are accomplished by amazing men, with amazing natural talents, and amazing tenacity.  No.  It is a book about the supernatural history of the early church.  And the supernatural history is a history of the ACTS of the Holy Spirit, through the Apostles, and through his church.    The book of Acts is the 5th book in the New Testament.  It follows the 4 Gospels which are about Jesus' life and ministry, his crucifixion, and resurrection.  Acts picks up from that point and covers the next 35 years or so of history.  It is more than a historical narrative.  It presents the Acts of the apostles, the Acts of the Holy Spirit, the acts of the church, and thereby teaches us how to act.    I have been pondering Title Ideas for this series.   Staff even put in a few humorous ones.   Acts Me Anything Acts...Seek...And Knock Acts...And It Will Be Given To You Acts Beyond The Facts   I finally settled on.... "Acts".  Not very original, I know, but you will remember it as the Acts series anyway.  Acts is actually the second part of a two part work.  Luke wrote the gospel of Luke, and the book of Acts is a sequel to that gospel.  It picks up where he left off in the Gospel.    Now that you know this, here's an interesting piece of Bible Trivia you might want to know.  Most people think Paul wrote most of the New Testament.  That is what it looks like if you are to compare the Table of Contents.  I mean Paul wrote 13 of the 27 books.  However, did you know that Luke wrote more than Paul?  Luke wrote the Gospel of Luke and Acts, but between these two we have 64 pages of words in Microsoft Word 8 and � by 11 inch pages in 12 point font.  And when you put all 13 of Paul's letters there are only 60 pages.  And when I did a "word count" in Microsoft word, using the NIV translation, Luke wrote 2668 more words than Paul!  I know, I'm weird.  But you need to know that in terms of number of books, Paul wrote the most, then John, but in terms of the most volume, Luke wrote the most!  [That was just a tidbit for you Bible trivia buffs].   A more valuable piece of information about Acts is the interesting conclusion.  It doesn't really have a conclusion, it leaves you hanging in suspense.  The first half of the book features the key character, the Apostle Peter.  The second half of the book, features the key character, the Apostle Paul.  But the book leaves us hanging.  Paul is in prison awaiting his trial.  We are not told what happens.  Was he released?  Was he executed?  The book just ends.  Why?  I see two reasons, and both of these are practical reasons.    The first practical reason is that Luke leaves us hanging because he has presented his orderly account of what had occurred right up to the time of his writing.  So, Acts was written some time before AD 68.  It for sure covers material through AD 63 when Paul was imprisoned, and certainly if it was written after AD 68 Luke would have told us the outcome of Paul's imprisonment.  But Luke does not, because he does not know the outcome.  It has not happened yet.    The second practical reason this book is not concluded is that there are more chapters to write.  This is a book about the Acts of the Spirit on Earth.  There are 28 chapters in the book as we have it.  It is our responsibility to see that the ACTS of the spirit are written in our generation.  In a sense Acts 29 is our responsibility.  Our lives continue the story.  Our lives continue the Acts of the Spirit in our generation.  I believe in heaven we will enjoy hearing as Paul Harvey puts it, "The Rest Of The Story."  That too, by the way, was a title I toyed with for this series.  Acts, "The Rest Of The Story".    Why we need Acts!  Acts is a very practical book that helps us figure out how life in God works for us as individuals, but also, as a church.  I think you will find the history fascinating, but you will find the principles very personal, pointed, and practical!  This is MORE than a study of history.  We will find out that "Acts" isn't really about "Acting", or doing, or working in the natural at all.  We will discover that life the way God intends is somewhat counter intuitive, and that is why we need revelation from God.  That's why we need the Bible.  That's why we need revelation.  You might find our focus this morning kind of counter intuitive also.  Here is our focus this morning.    Focus:  Don't just do something, stand there!   This is the reverse of conventional and natural wisdom.  Doing church God's way isn't the way many churches are operating today.  I hope to show you that to function in the supernatural we have to stop just doing something, and wait on the Lord.  We must learn how to Do less, and BE more!   God did an amazing thing when he sent his Son to die for us.  Acts tells us the "rest of the story", but the rest of the story doesn't start with a flurry of activity, it starts with the command to wait!   <h1>I.        WAIT (1:1-26)</h1> Actually, "Wait" isn't just point number 1 as if it was the first part of this chapter, the whole chapter is kind of a pause, and a waiting.    Before we read the text, I need to make sure none of you take my point and apply it in the wrong direction.  The command to wait does not give us a license for procrastination.  This definitely is not what "WAIT" means.  Let's see what the command to "Wait" was all about.  <h3>Look specifically for the Command to Wait in 1:1-5</h3> Acts 1:1-5 (NIV) 1 In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. 3 After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit." There is a specific waiting, for a specific purpose that Jesus commanded the disciple s to wait.  So, when point 1, tells us to "Wait."  I'm talking about the Biblical principal of waiting on God, waiting before God, and learning how to not get ahead of God.  <h4>Why The Command To Wait?</h4> So these disciples have been seeing the resurrected Jesus for 40 days.  They have already kind of been waiting.  Yet, they have been commanded to wait some more.  Why?  Why didn't God immediately grant the giving of the Holy Spirit after Jesus' Ascension?  After all, that is what Jesus said.  He had to go, so that the Holy Spirit could come.  Why the wait?  Why the command to wait?     It is for a good reason that everything is not instantaneous.  There is a work that takes place in us when we "wait on the Lord".  Waiting before God is a discipline.  And there is a work in waiting.    But to give a direct and different answer to the question, why are they to wait.  They are not to do this thing alone!  They are to wait for the Spirit.    Look at Verse 1 1 In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach... <h3>In This Book Jesus Will Continue To Do And Teach (1)</h3> "My former book" = Luke; the sequel is Acts.  What Jesus began to do and to teach in Luke, Jesus will continue to do and teach in ACTS!  How?  He is ascended. <h3>He does this Through The Holy Spirit (1:2, 4-5)</h3> Acts 1:2 (NIV) until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. Before Jesus' ascension, he gave instruction "through the Holy Spirit", who aided the Apostles in their understanding.  Now, we will see that after the ascension, Jesus continues to instruct and empower "through the Holy Spirit." What Jesus began, he continued to do.  Jesus continued to do and to teach Through HIS SPIRIT, and from HIS THRONE. When one realizes that the term "Lord" (Gk. Kyrios) in Acts usually refers to Jesus, it becomes evident that the entire book tells how Jesus was building his church: selecting an apostle to replace Judas (Acts 1:24), pouring out the Holy Spirit in new power (2:33), adding people to the church day by day (2:47), appearing to Ananias (9:10) and to Paul (9:5; 18:9), healing a paralyzed man (9:34), receiving worship from the church (13:2), stopping a magician who was opposing the gospel (13:11), and opening people's hearts to believe the gospel (16:14).<a name="_ftnref1" title style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline; text-underline: single" href="#_ftn1">[1]</a> <h3>Are We There Yet? (6-7)</h3> 6 So when they met together, they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?" 7 He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. There are matters that it is not for me to know. (1:7) This by the way, is why I don't spend much of my time and energy studying, trying to figure out prophecy, and when things are going to be fulfilled.    It is not for me to know times and dates.  It is for me to ACT more than to know.  It is for me to Obey.  Jesus is always more concerned about my obedience than he is concerned about my knowledge.  This is not to say we should not study.  The more knowledge I have, the stronger my faith can grow, and I'm better equipped to obey.  Having said that, prophecy isn't given to satisfy our curiosity, but rather to equip us and encourage us when we enter the difficult times the prophecies speak about.    HOWEVER, my Acting and Obeying is not to be merely approached from the NATURAL, we need to learn how to ACT and OBEY with the power of the Supernatural.   And here comes the REALLY GREAT NEWS about how he helps us in the obedience department!!!! <h3>1:8 is the Really Good news</h3> 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." <table class="MsoTableGrid" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: medium none" id="table2"> <tr> <td colspan="3" valign="top" style="border: 1.0pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; padding-bottom: 0in"> Acts 1:8 Outlines What Is To Come In The Book of Acts</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" style="border-left: 1.0pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1.0pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: 1.0pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; padding-bottom: 0in"> Text</td> <td valign="top" style="border-left: medium none; border-right: 1.0pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: 1.0pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; padding-bottom: 0in"> Region Named</td> <td valign="top" style="border-left: medium none; border-right: 1.0pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: 1.0pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; padding-bottom: 0in"> Narrative of Ministry There</td> </tr> <tr> <td rowspan="3" valign="top" style="border-left: 1.0pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1.0pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: 1.0pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; padding-bottom: 0in"> <a style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline; text-underline: single" href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Acts%201:8"> Acts 1:8</a>: you will be my witnesses</td> <td valign="top" style="border-left: medium none; border-right: 1.0pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: 1.0pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; padding-bottom: 0in"> in Jerusalem</td> <td valign="top" style="border-left: medium none; border-right: 1.0pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: 1.0pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; padding-bottom: 0in"> <a style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline; text-underline: single" href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Acts%201:1-7:60"> Acts 1-7</a></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" style="border-left: medium none; border-right: 1.0pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: 1.0pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; padding-bottom: 0in"> in all Judea and Samaria</td> <td valign="top" style="border-left: medium none; border-right: 1.0pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: 1.0pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; padding-bottom: 0in"> <a style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline; text-underline: single" href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Acts%208:1-12:25"> Acts 8-12</a></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" style="border-left: medium none; border-right: 1.0pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: 1.0pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; padding-bottom: 0in"> to the end of the earth</td> <td valign="top" style="border-left: medium none; border-right: 1.0pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: 1.0pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; padding-bottom: 0in"> <a style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline; text-underline: single" href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Acts%2013:1-28:31"> Acts 13-28</a></td> </tr> </table> <h4>Ascension!  (verse 9)</h4> 9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. <h4>Angels! (verse 10)</h4> 10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. <h4>Appear Again! [In The Same Way] (verse 11)</h4> 11 "Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven." So although the focus reads don't just do something, stand there, the angels are asking the opposite, "Why do you stand here?"   EMPHASIS is on "HERE" Jesus told them what to do...WAIT in Jerusalem   So what do we do while we wait? <h1>II.       Pray For Power (1:12-14)  </h1> 12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day's walk from the city. 13 When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. 14 They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers. They All Joined Together Constantly In Prayer (14)   QUOTE:  The one concern of the devil is to keep Christians from praying.  He fears nothing from prayerless studies, prayerless work, and prayerless religion.  He laughs at our toil, mocks at our wisdom, but trembles when we pray.                                                 --Samuel Chadwick   QUOTE:  Because God is a living God, he can hear; because he is a loving God he will hear; because he is our covenant God, he has bound himself to hear.                                                 --Charles Spurgeon <h1>III.       Get Organized--Work As A Team (1:15-26)</h1> 15 In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty) 16 and said, "Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through the mouth of David concerning Judas, who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus-- 17 he was one of our number and shared in this ministry." 17 he was one of our number and shared in this ministry."  18 (With the reward he got for his wickedness, Judas bought a field; there he fell headlong, his body burst open and all his intestines spilled out. 19 Everyone in Jerusalem heard about this, so they called that field in their language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.)  20 "For," said Peter, "it is written in the book of Psalms, "'May his place be deserted; let there be no one to dwell in it,' and, "'May another take his place of leadership.' They Got Organized:  They Selected Godly Leadership, Replacing Judas (16-26) They carefully considered the QUALIFICATIONS.  They looked for those who Shared In This Ministry (17).  They looked for those who had  "Been With Us"  (21).   Later in Acts we will discover a similar phrase to this one, "Been with us".  The phrase we will find is "been with Jesus."  And with that phrase we will find out that in those who have truly been with Jesus there is a quality that makes an observable difference.  "Been With Jesus" (4:13) Acts 4:13 (NIV) When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. We will get to this episode in a few weeks so I'll make no more comments about it now. 21 Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, <h4>"A Witness of his resurrection" (22)</h4> 22 beginning from John's baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection."  23 So they proposed two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. This is a unique situation for the "12"; only the qualified witnesses of the literal resurrected Jesus were considered.  Yet, in principle, for all leadership positions, this qualification--"A Witness Of The Resurrection"--should be considered.  How have your leaders experienced our Lord's Resurrection? Selection of leaders must also be confirmed by prayer and God's guidance (24-26).  Lord, You Know The Heart, Show Us (24-26) 24 Then they prayed, "Lord, you know everyone's heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen  25 to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs." 26 Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles. In this unique situation, they cast lots.  This isn't teaching us that we should do church business this way now.  We don't flip a coin or cast lots at church board meetings.  Actually in the rest of Acts we see that leaders were chosen in a different way than this.  Never again in the New Testament do we see the casting of lots.  Leaders were selected, and appointed.  It was not by the casting of lots.  So this is a unique situation attempting to leave the "choosing" of the replacement up to the Lord, who chose the original 12.  They saw a need for God's New Covenant Kingdom to have the 12 pillars, as the Old Covenant Kingdom had the 12 patriarchs, which became the 12 tribes of the covenant nation.    Now, let me also say that I don't want to lead you into pragmatics in the "natural".  I want to teach you the "supernatural" approach.  So when I say, "get organized and work as a team."  I'm not talking about the natural wisdom of how to do less and be more.  I'm not talking merely about he power of delegation.  And the power of synergy when the team works together.  I'm talking about how God's church functions by the power of the Holy Spirit.  When it comes to effectiveness in spiritual matters, if you organize, and work as a team as it relates to spiritual warfare, and kingdom tactics, and evangelism, more gets accomplished.  Too many Christians are attempting to live the so called "Christian Life" from a "solo" perspective.  From my studies of the New Testament, life in the Kingdom isn't meant to be lived "solo".  The apostles, wait, but they organize and they work as a team.  They come together.   Now, let's back up... 1:8 anticipates what will happen, and becomes the theme verse for all of Acts.  So it also gives us our strategy.  <h1>IV.      Start Where You Are (1:8)</h1> Acts 1:8 (NIV) But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." <h4 style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.5in">If You have not yet received the power of the Holy Spirit, start there!</h4> Once you have A Relationship With God through Christ, in the Power of the Spirit, notice the Focus is NOT "DO" but "BE."   This changes who we are, and whose we are, and our state of being changes.  It changes based on our experience with Christ.   "And You Will Be My Witnesses" Point 4 is "Start Where You Are".   Start What?  Being My Witnesses <h4>Then Start BEING a Witnesses WHERE You ARE</h4> Acts 1:8 (NIV) But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Too many of us think about EVANGELISM in terms of DOING.  We need to think less about Evangelism as "DOING".  It is less about "witnessing" and more about BEING a witness;  less about "DOING" and more about BEING.  Be Christ's Witness.  To be a witness is more about who you are in relationship to him, than it is about "How To's" and "what you do" and "what to say".  There is a supernatural element here.  We receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on us, and we BECOME, we ARE Witnesses.  Jesus said, then you will BE my Witnesses.    <h4>BE A Witness Where You Are (8)</h4> Acts 1:8 (NIV) But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Start where you are but don't just stay where you are, where it is comfortable, in your Jerusalem.  The strategy is to move out from where we are. <h1>V.       Reach Out of Your Comfort Zone (1:8)</h1> Even as you reach out, though, keep the pattern in place.    Wait while Praying For Power and looking for God to work Meanwhile organize your team Then be a Witness where you are Then look for ways to reach beyond your comfort Zone...this is the place of faith and obedience.  We have a world to reach, to the very ends of the earth.   Of the 5 main points I just covered, which one do you need to work on first?  Do you need to get better at "waiting" on God?  Do you need to spend time on the work of waiting?  Have you prayed to ask for His Spirit to come upon you in greater fullness?   Do you need to make prayer a greater priority, praying for power, praying for God to enter into your situation?  Do you need to stop doing, doing, doing, and figure out how to do less, and be more, and become a more viable witness?  Where do you need to be a witness with God's power?  Point 3 says, "Start where you are," meaning start BEING A WITNESS.  Where do you need to be a witness?  Let the Holy Spirit bring a place, or face to mind.  Point IV. Tells you to reach out of your comfort zone, to move from your Jerusalem into Judea, or even "Samaria", that uncomfortable place, even to the ends of the earth.  Just pick one thing...right now.  Pray about it.  How will you respond this morning? <div style="mso-element:footnote-list">  <hr align="left" size="1" width="33%"> <div style="mso-element:footnote" id="ftn1"> <a name="_ftn1" title style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline; text-underline: single" href="#_ftnref1"> [1]</a> Lane T. Dennis, ed., ESV Study Bible, The: English Standard Version, (Wheaton, Illinois: Crossway Bibles, 2008), WORDsearch CROSS e-book, Under: "Acts 1".</div> </div>  </td> </tr> <tr style="page-break-inside: avoid"> <td width="600" valign="top" style="border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: medium none #FFCC00; padding: 0in"> (C) Jim Hammond This message is (or soon will be) available in <a target="_blank" href="http://vvchristianchurch.net/audio-messages/"> Audio</a> and <a target="_blank" href="http://vvchristianchurch.net/video-messages/"> Video</a> (free!) <a href="http://www.vvchristianchurch.net/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/archive/laughnlearn/"> Laugh 'N Learn Archives</a></td> </tr> </table>  </div>

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Sun, 11 Jul 2010 21:26:00 GMT

<div align="center" style="border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; padding-top: 1px"> <table class="MsoNormalTable" border="0" cellpadding="2" width="600" style="border-width:0px; " id="table1" bgcolor="#FFFFFF"> <tr style="height: 22.2pt"> <td width="600" valign="top" style="border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: medium none #FFCC00; padding: 0in; height:18pt" align="center"> <h1 align="center">LAUGH 'N LEARN</h1> </td> </tr> <tr style="height: 22.2pt"> <td width="600" valign="top" style="padding: 0in; border-top-style:none; border-top-width:medium"> An Encouragement Ministry of Verde Valley Christian Church Of Cottonwood Arizona <a href="http://vvchristianchurch.net">http://vvchristianchurch.net</a> </td> </tr> <tr style="height: 22.2pt"> <td width="600" style="height: 22.2pt; padding: 0in; " align="center"> Issue # 381 July 11,  2010</td> </tr> <tr style="page-break-inside: avoid"> <td width="600" style="border-left: medium none #000000; border-right: medium none #000000; border-top: 1px solid #000000; border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; padding: 0in" align="left" height="41"> LAUGH </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="600" valign="top" style="border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; padding: 0in; border-top-color:inherit; border-bottom-color:#FFCC00">  <h2>Sharing The Steak</h2> One night at the dinner table, the wife commented, "When we were first married, you took the small piece of steak and gave me the larger. Now you take the large one and leave me the smaller. You don't love me any more?" "Nonsense, darling," replied the husband, "you just cook better now."  </td> </tr> <tr style="page-break-inside: avoid"> <td width="600" valign="top" style="border-left: medium none #000000; border-right: medium none #000000; border-top: 1px solid #000000; border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; padding: 0in"> LEARN </td> </tr> <tr style="page-break-inside: avoid"> <td width="600" valign="top" style="border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: medium none #FFCC00; padding: 0in"> Jim's Manuscript July 11, 2010 "Check, Check, Testing, 1 2 3..." 2 Corinthians "True Comfort" Series (Conclusion) Text:  2 Corinthians 13     [Have someone grab a microphone, do a mock sound check, tapping the microphone then saying, make it look kind of rude] "Check, Check, Testing, 1 2 3..."    Hey, Doug, excuse me, I'm ready to begin. Doug apologizes, and leaves the stage.    Actually, the title of our study this morning is, "Check, Check, Testing, 1 2 3".    Focus:  Examine yourself; don't accept your dog's admiration as conclusive evidence that you are wonderful. Today is the concluding chapter of what has been a really good series about "true comfort".  If you want "true comfort" you want more than your dog's assessment of yourself.  Why do we need to examine ourselves?  1) God commands us to examine ourselves.  2) In a culture that basically believes that all you have to do to get to heaven is die, we had better check 2 things, "What God really says about salvation" and "What God really says about us." <h4>Review</h4> Before we read the last chapter of 2 Corinthians, let me give you a brief review of what we covered so far.  We have discovered that Paul has done the difficult thing of affirming the Corinthians' faith, while at the same defending his own credibility which was being undermined by a few interlopers who were very eloquent speakers.  �       They had twisted everything Paul did and said to attempt to point out how he was an "unimpressive speaker." and �       They accused him of being bold in his letters but timid in face to face encounters. �       They spoke poorly of his trade as a tent maker, how if he really was worth his salt as a teacher he would not need to support himself with such a degrading trade. �       They accused him of not keeping his word, pointing out that he said he would come visit, but failed to follow through as of yet.  �       They must have pointed out the fact that Paul must obviously constantly in trouble and therefore didn't seem to be truly blessed by God as they were. �       These who compared themselves with themselves falsely compared their authority with Paul's authority, and in their estimation came out on top.  They presented themselves as apostles with more authority than Paul as it relates to "spiritual experiences" like "visions and revelations", and "signs and wonders" from God.  Paul delivered a sound rebuttal for each.  �       Truth needs no rhetorical eloquence or false bravado to be effective.  This should be obvious since the church was begun without their "eloquent" help. �       Paul explained why he did not yet come in person, he was giving them a chance to straighten things out on their own first.  Things would go so much better if they respond well.  And so far there was a good response to a previous painful letter, yet nevertheless they had not yet soundly dealt with the source of the problem--the false teachers. �       He defended his financial self-sufficiency with great sarcasm turning the argument upside down, take a quick look and decide for yourself who is in it for the money? �       His most surprising argument was to show how God was using all the troubles, trials, and weaknesses to do a greater work, which is just like God to do, afterall wasn't this his precise strategy with the cross?!  Now, it was God's strategy through Paul.  It is through Paul's weaknesses that God will demonstrate his greatest measures of strength.  As Paul does not lean on his natural strengths, God delivers supernatural strength. �       Now it boils down to a show down.  And Paul finishes with his warning.  There is enough evidence before them now to make some decisions.  And we enter chapter 13, a conclusion and warning, he urges the Corinthians to act. <h4>Overview of 13</h4> In chapter 13, he begins with a warning that he is coming.  This will be his third visit.  He quotes scripture about how a trial with evidence goes.  You need two or three witnesses, which they have more than that, and they have had more two visits, and letters.  He turns the tables completely upside down on them.  He says "You have been demanding proof of my credibility, and putting me through this trial by examination."  My best argument is YOU.  Examine yourselves.  If you pass the test, I pass the test.  If you don't pass the test, I fail.  It is an argument of confidence.  He expects that they will pass the test of self examination.    We will learn in the process however, how critical self examination is.  If we are busy evaluating how we are doing by examining others, we will fail the test.  We need to examine ourselves.  We must examine ourselves.    I want to help you do this most important task of examining yourself before God this morning.    First, let's read 2 Corinthians 13 as a whole. 2 Corinthians 13:1-14 (NIV) 1 This will be my third visit to you. "Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses." 2 I already gave you a warning when I was with you the second time. I now repeat it while absent: On my return I will not spare those who sinned earlier or any of the others, 3 since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me. He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful among you. 4 For to be sure, he was crucified in weakness, yet he lives by God's power. Likewise, we are weak in him, yet by God's power we will live with him to serve you. 5 Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you--unless, of course, you fail the test? 6 And I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test. 7 Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong. Not that people will see that we have stood the test but that you will do what is right even though we may seem to have failed. 8 For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. 9 We are glad whenever we are weak but you are strong; and our prayer is for your perfection. 10 This is why I write these things when I am absent, that when I come I may not have to be harsh in my use of authority--the authority the Lord gave me for building you up, not for tearing you down. 11 Finally, brothers, good-by. Aim for perfection, listen to my appeal, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you. 12 Greet one another with a holy kiss. 13 All the saints send their greetings. 14 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. <h1>I.        "I'll Give You To The Count Of 3" (13:1-4)</h1> Sounds like parenting doesn't it?  Issuing a warning before the swift measure of discipline has to be applied.  Parents do this hoping that the last warning will be enough to turn the kids behavior around.  Paul is giving warning here.    2 Corinthians 13:1-14 (NIV) 1 This will be my third visit to you. "Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses." 2 I already gave you a warning when I was with you the second time. I now repeat it while absent: On my return I will not spare those who sinned earlier or any of the others, 3 since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me. He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful among you. 4 For to be sure, he was crucified in weakness, yet he lives by God's power. Likewise, we are weak in him, yet by God's power we will live with him to serve you.   Paul says, I've been accused of being weak.  Was Christ weak?   Christ is not weak.  He was crucified in weakness, yet he lives by God's power.  So also, We are weak in him, yet live by God's power.  And it will be with God's power that we come to you.  And watch out, I have already given you multiple warnings.  I warned you when I came to you the second time.  I am now repeating that warning while I am absent.  You have multiple witnesses.  This is moving in the direction of official discipline.  I'll give you to the count of 3! <h2>A.      Yourselves Examine! (13:5)</h2> Greek can function differently than English.  Because of case endings and verb tense matching, in the Greek you can create emphasis through word order more easily.  We usually don't put the verb's predicate in front of the verb.  If you do, you sound kind of like Yoda in Star wars.  But in the Greek here is how the sentence literally reads.   YOURSELVES, test you, if you are in the faith;  YOURSELVES prove: or do you not recognize yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in You!  If not any not rejected you are!   5 Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you--unless, of course, you fail the test? Examine yourselves to see if you pass the test.  If you pass and do not fail the test...   It is possible to profess Christ and not possess Christ. <h4>The Ark Illustration (this idea came from Spurgeon's sermon "Examine Yourself", I've adapted it)</h4> Imagine a number of men standing around the ark as Noah is putting the finishing touches on it.  One man says,. "What is it?"  Noah says, "Its an ark?"  "What's an ark?" another man asks. Noah explains all about the coming flood, and explains rain, and God, and about wickedness, and about the coming judgment.  He urges them to join him. Now, if the conversation of the man standing around continues something like this.  One man says, "Do you believe him?"  And many say yes, and some say no.  One man says, "I believe it will float." Another says, "I think he really can fit a lot of animals in that thing." Another says, "I believe him that God is mad, things are very bad around here.  You and I know it isn't safe to walk alone at night anymore." Another says, "I believe he's made the whole thing out of gopher wood!  Amazing!"   Now, which of them really believes in the Ark?  The proof will be how many of them are actually IN the Ark when Noah says its time.   Here's the point.  You can believe in many orthodox truths about Jesus.  "I believe he is the Son of God." "I believe he died on the cross and rose from the dead." "I believe there is a judgment coming." "I believe he died for my sins." Unless you enter into Jesus, and Jesus enters into you, you don't pass the test of faith.  The real test of faith is whether you trust enough to enter!    Now, we need to examine ourselves to see if we have Jesus.  Did we enter in?  We need to examine ourselves the way Paul would have us examine ourselves.  This is not some subjective feeling.  This is not some statement of faith we can rattle off correctly.  We don't get in by knowing the right answers, we get in by truly entering into the life giving Jesus, and the Life of Jesus enters us.  How do we examine to see if this is true?   Well that is a very good question.  And I think Paul has already been giving us what we need to have to examine ourselves.    Don't let yourself off the hook of self examination just because you've been a member of the church for years.  There will be members of churches who have been members for years (at least officially speaking from a human vantage point) who never really had the life of Jesus IN THEM.  In other words, they prayed a prayer, went forward, or got baptized, but if you examine their lives, they fail the test!!!   This doesn't just go for members.  This goes for those who say, "I've been a Sunday School teacher for years."   Or, "I've been a deacon for years."   Or how about, "I've been a pastor for years."   None of these outward behaviors guarantees or proves we are in Jesus and Jesus is in us.   So how do we examine ourselves?   It isn't by some subjective feelings either.  You don't look in and say, "Well of course I love God.  God loves me, and I feel so good when I come to church and feel all those warm comforting feelings.  I worship.  I feel good.  It is real."  That's a lot of subjective feelings.  How do you know feelings mean anything?  These false apostles pointed to a lot of subjective feelings.  They pointed to a lot of "visions" and "revelations" and experiences like "speaking in tongues" and "signs" and "wonders."  And yet, Paul was about to come and kick them out of the church as imposters.    So, we better examine ourselves.  But if we are to examine ourselves, how are we to do it?   I've really enjoyed 2 Corinthians and this series, haven't you?  Yeah, me too.  Okay, great, you are dismissed.  Go examine yourselves.  The Lord is returning soon.    No.  We aren't done yet.  I want to review the objective standards by which we are to examine ourselves.  We have so much in God's word that helps us.  Too much to deal with on a Sunday, but perhaps if we just looked at some hightlights from 2 Corinthians alone, we'd have plenty for us to examine ourselves, and turn to God. <h4>How To Examine Ourselves (Using Only 2 Corinthians)</h4> 2 Corinthians 1:21-22 (NIV) 21 Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us,  22 set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. Is there any evidence of God's Spirit in your life?  Have you seen the changes he has made possible?  By changing your desires, and helping you carry out new desires? 2 Corinthians 2:9-11 (NIV) 9 The reason I wrote you was to see if you would stand the test and be obedient in everything.  10 If you forgive anyone, I also forgive him. And what I have forgiven--if there was anything to forgive--I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake,  11 in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes. Are you obedient in everything?  Or are you busy excusing yourself by comparing yourself to others?  Comparison in our culture would be foolish, the whole culture is drifting from God. Is there anyone you need to forgive? 2 Corinthians 2:14-16 (NIV) 14 But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him.  15 For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.  16 To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life. And who is equal to such a task? Are you leaving the aroma of Christ everywhere you go?  Does the atmosphere change? 2 Corinthians 3:18 (NIV) 18 And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. Are you changing with ever-increasing glory, reflecting more and more the Glory of Christ? 2 Corinthians 4:13-14 (NIV) 13 It is written: "I believed; therefore I have spoken." With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak,  14 because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in his presence. Do you speak about what you believe? 2 Corinthians 4:18 (NIV) 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. How often do you fix your eyes on what is NOT seen?  Is your heart fixed there? 2 Corinthians 5:1 (NIV) Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. In Chapter 5 we studied:   "Never Homeless" and we learned how "It is true comfort to know that when we move from our "earthly tent" we will never be homeless."  Perhaps you remember that was the day I put up a tent at the beginning of the message.  There is actually an amazing "God is Good" story that happened on this day, that I recently learned about.  This was a message about what happens when we die.  It was the first time Amanda Doyle's dad came to our church and the last time also.  He was broken and weeping during communion.  The whole service touched his life.  He went into the hospital a few days later.  He asked for prayer, and devotional reading.  Others helped him ask Jesus into his life.  He passed away, but I believe he hung on to Christ in that last hour and when he was absent from his body, he entered the presence of Christ.  We never lose heart, because even the worst case scenario for those of us in Christ, is not bad, we will never be homeless. 2 Corinthians 5:9-10 (NIV) 9 So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it.  10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. Can anyone tell from your daily choices that your MAIN goal is to please Christ? 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 (NIV) 14 For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.  15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. We are all compelled by something, does Christ's love compel you, or is it something else? 2 Corinthians 5:20-21 (NIV) 20 We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God.  21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. Are you reconciled to God?  Do you keep current with God? 2 Corinthians 6:1 (NIV) As God's fellow workers we urge you not to receive God's grace in vain. Vain = Empty.  Don't let God's Grace return empty.  Have you been getting great GRACE mileage?  Or have you punched holes in your Grace tank?  2 Corinthians 6:2 (NIV) 2 For he says, "In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you." I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation. Are you measuring yourself by "good intentions"?  Now is the time!  Don't put off making things right in every way. 2 Corinthians 6:17-18 (NIV) 17 "Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you."  18 "I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty." What is God asking of you here?  How should you be different than those around you?  Quit comparing yourself with others, how are you supposed to be different?  He says, "Come out and be separate!"  Be Holy.  Be Clean.   Others might do.....   ________ but not you.  2 Corinthians 7:1 (NIV) 1 Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God. What will motivate you to purify yourself?  Your love and reverence for God. 2 Corinthians 7:10-11 (NIV) 10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.  11 See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done. At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter. Right about now, truth should be having its convicting, sorrowful effect.  Let it.  Godly sorrow brings repentance.  How has your earnestness and eagerness to get right with God been?  Cold, or earnest?  Alarmed or snooze button? 2 Corinthians 8:2-4 (NIV) 2 Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.  3 For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own,  4 they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. As you examine your attitude toward money--do you see it as yours?  Do you horde it as if it is YOURS to Horde?  Or do you spend it without consulting God as if it is YOURS and yours alone?  Have you been looking for ways to make a lasting difference in others?   2 Corinthians 8:7 (NIV) 7 But just as you excel in everything--in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us--see that you also excel in this grace of giving. How do you excel?  Practice.  See to it that you practice so that you can excel in the grace of giving. 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 (NIV) 6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.  7 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.  8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. Have you been sowing sparingly?  Cheerfully?  Does God's grace abound to you?  Do you have everything you need at ALL times to abound in every good work?  That's the promise, when you practice generosity. 2 Corinthians 9:11 (NIV) 11 You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. 2 Corinthians 9:13 (NIV) 13 Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. Does your generosity and your service prove your faith to others, helping them praise God?  Does it match your confession of the good news? 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 (NIV) 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.  5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. Have you engaged in spiritual battle lately?  Have you helped release anyone who have been held captive to the arguments and pretentions that set themselves up against God?  How are you doing helping people capture their thoughts and making them obedient to Christ?  How are you doing making captive your own thoughts? 2 Corinthians 10:12 (NIV) 12 We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise. Have you been foolishly comparing yourself with others? 2 Corinthians 11:3 (NIV) 3 But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. Have you been foolishly comparing yourself with others?  2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (NIV) 9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.  10 That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. Do you speak about your weaknesses?  Do speak about how Christ makes all the difference for you?  Do you delight in the place of depending on God?  Do you delight in your weaknesses because they give you opportunities to see God's strength at work? 2 Corinthians 12:21 (NIV) 21 I am afraid that when I come again my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual sin and debauchery in which they have indulged. Have you repented of your impurities, and your sexual sins?  2 Corinthians 13:5 (NIV) 5 Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you--unless, of course, you fail the test?   <h2>B.      If You Pass, We Pass (13:6-8)</h2> 6 And I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test. There is a surprise in verse 6.  It isn't what you expect.  He has already set up the question in such a way that you can see that Paul expects the Corinthians to pass their self examination.  He says, 5 Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you--unless, of course, you fail the test?   The phrase "Do you not realize that Jesus is in you" is phrased grammatically in such a way that Paul expects them be able to examine themselves and realize that Christ IS in them.  Of course, he doesn't expect that 100% of them necessarily will pass the examination.  He makes allowances that there might be some who "fail the test".   After this statement here is what you would normally expect him to say.  You would normally expect him to then say, 6 And I trust that you will discover that [YOU] have not failed the test. But that is NOT what he says.  He says, 6 And I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test.   He makes their passing of the test, the ultimate test of HIS credibility!  And the fascinating thing is Paul doesn't really care too much if everyone sees his credibility as long as his authority WORKED for them!   7 Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong. Not that people will see that we have stood the test but that you will do what is right even though we may seem to have failed. The false teachers have created a confusing foggy situation.  However, Paul is counting on his authority working in the true believers.  They received the power of the Gospel Paul proclaimed.  They received the power of the Spirit that was within Paul, the same Spirit he received from Christ.   Whether they believe Paul passed or not, changes nothing He and his cohorts do, they will be doing what they have always done, they will continue to work to proclaim the truth.   8 For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. 9 We are glad whenever we are weak but you are strong; and our prayer is for your perfection. What Paul is trying to say here, is he cares little if he passes the false tests of credibility set up by his opponents.  If he is weak by their standards, who cares, as long as his weakness keeps him depending on God, and that very dependence makes these Corinthians the stronger for it!  So, let them call him flawed and weak and imperfect, focusing on all his flaws...He is working toward their perfection and seeing the progress!  He is taking them in the right direction, and that should be obvious to them! <h1>II.       Don't Settle For Less Than Perfection  (13:10-14)</h1> I give you fair warning now, so that I will not have to be harsh with you when I come. 10 This is why I write these things when I am absent, that when I come I may not have to be harsh in my use of authority--the authority the Lord gave me for building you up, not for tearing you down.  11 Finally, brothers, good-by. Aim for perfection, listen to my appeal, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.  12 Greet one another with a holy kiss. 13 All the saints send their greetings. 14 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. 2 Corinthians 13:11 (NIV) 11 Finally, brothers, good-by. Aim for perfection, listen to my appeal, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you. Have you been settling for less?  Is your aim, before God, perfection? <h4>D.L. Moody Visits A Prison</h4> I have good news to tell you--Christ is come after you. I was at the Fulton-street prayer-meeting, a good many years ago, one Saturday night, and when the meeting was over, a man came to me and said, "I would like to have you go down to the city prison to-morrow, and preach to the prisoners. I said I would be very glad to go. There was no chapel in connection with that prison, and I was to preach to them in their cells. I had to stand at a little iron railing and talk down a great, long narrow passageway, to some three or four hundred of them, I suppose, all out of sight. It was pretty difficult work; I never preached to the bare walls before. When it was over I thought I would like to see to whom I had been preaching, and how they had received the gospel. I went to the first door, where the inmates could have heard me best, and looked in at a little window, and there were some men playing cards. I suppose they had been playing all the while. "How is it with you here?" I said. "Well, stranger, we don't want you to get a bad idea of us. False witnesses swore a lie, and that is how we are here." "Oh," I said, "Christ cannot save anybody here; there is nobody lost." I went to the next cell. "Well, friend, how is it with you?" "Oh," said the prisoner, "the man that did the deed looked very much like me, so they caught me and I am here." He was innocent, too! I passed along to the next cell. "How is it with you?" "Well, we got into bad company, and the man that did it got clear, and we got taken up, but we never did anything." I went along to the next cell. "How is it with you?" "Our trial comes on next week, but they have nothing against us, and we'll get free." I went round to nearly every cell, but the answer was always the same--they had never done anything. Why, I never saw so many innocent men together in my life. There was nobody to blame but the magistrates, according to their way of it. These men were wrapping their filthy rags of self-righteousness about them. And that has been the story for six thousand years. I got discouraged as I went through the prison, on, and on, and on, cell after cell, and every man had an excuse. If he hadn't one, the devil helped him to make one. I had got almost through the prison, when I came to a cell and found a man with his elbows on his knees, and his head in his hands. Two little streams of tears were running down his cheeks; they did not come by drops that time. "What's the trouble?" I said. He looked up, the picture of remorse and despair. "Oh, my sins are more than I can bear." "Thank God for that," I replied. "What," said he, "you are the man that has been preaching to us, ain't you?" "Yes." "I think you said you were a. friend?" "I am." "And yet you are glad that my sins are more than I can bear!" " I will explain," I said; "if your sins are more than you can bear, won't you cast them on One who will bear them for you?" "Who's that?" "The Lord Jesus." "He won't bear my sins." "Why not?" "I have sinned against Him all my life." "I don't care if you have; the blood of Jesus Christ, God's Son, cleanses from all sin." Then I told him how Christ had come to seek and save that which was lost; to open the prison doors and set the captives free. It was like a cup of refreshment to find a man who believed he was lost, so I stood there, and held up a crucified Saviour to him. "Christ was delivered for pur offenses, died for our sins, rose again for our justification." For a long time the man could not believe that such a miserable wretch could be saved. He went on to enumerate his sins, and I told him that the blood of Christ could cover them all. After I had talked with him I said, "Now let us pray." He got down on his knees inside the cell, and I got down outside, and I said, "You pray." "Why," he said, "it would be blasphemy for me to call on God." "You call on God," I said. He knelt down, and, like the poor publican, he lifted up his voice and said, " God be merciful to me, a vile wretch!" I put my hand through the window, and as I shook hands with him a tear fell on my hand that burned down into my soul. It was a tear of repentance. He believed he was lost. Then I tried to get him to believe that Christ had come to save him. I left him still in darkness. " I will be at the hotel," I said, " between nine and ten o'clock, and I will pray for you." Next morning, I felt so much interested, that I thought I must see him before I went back to Chicago. No sooner had my eye lighted on his face, than I saw that remorse and despair had fled away, and his countenance was beaming with celestial light; the tears of joy had come into his eyes, and the tears of despair were gone. The sun of Righteousness had broken out across his path; his soul was leaping within him for joy; he had received Christ as Zaccheus did--joyfully. "Tell me about it," I said. "Well, I do not know what time it was; I think it was about midnight. I had been in distress a long time, when all at once my great burden fell off, and now, I believe I am the happiest man in New York." I think he was the happiest man I saw from the time I left Chicago till I got back again. His face was lighted up with the light that comes from the celestial hills. I bade him goodby, and I expect to meet him in another world. Can you tell me why the Son of God came down td that prison that night, and, passing cell after cell, went to that one, and set the captive free? It was because the man believed he was lost. Anecdotes and illustrations of D.L. Moody, By Dwight Lyman Moody     2 Corinthians 13:14 (NIV) 14 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.    </td> </tr> <tr style="page-break-inside: avoid"> <td width="600" valign="top" style="border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: medium none #FFCC00; padding: 0in"> (C) Jim Hammond This message is (or soon will be) available in <a target="_blank" href="http://vvchristianchurch.net/audio-messages/"> Audio</a> and <a target="_blank" href="http://vvchristianchurch.net/video-messages/"> Video</a> (free!) <a href="http://www.vvchristianchurch.net/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/archive/laughnlearn/"> Laugh 'N Learn Archives</a></td> </tr> </table>  </div>

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<div align="center" style="border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; padding-top: 1px"> <table class="MsoNormalTable" border="0" cellpadding="2" width="600" style="border-width:0px; " id="table1" bgcolor="#FFFFFF"> <tr style="height: 22.2pt"> <td width="600" valign="top" style="border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: medium none #FFCC00; padding: 0in; height:18pt" align="center"> <h1 align="center">LAUGH 'N LEARN</h1> </td> </tr> <tr style="height: 22.2pt"> <td width="600" valign="top" style="padding: 0in; border-top-style:none; border-top-width:medium"> An Encouragement Ministry of Verde Valley Christian Church Of Cottonwood Arizona <a href="http://vvchristianchurch.net">http://vvchristianchurch.net</a> </td> </tr> <tr style="height: 22.2pt"> <td width="600" style="height: 22.2pt; padding: 0in; " align="center"> Issue # 374 May 17,  2010</td> </tr> <tr style="page-break-inside: avoid"> <td width="600" style="border-left: medium none #000000; border-right: medium none #000000; border-top: 1px solid #000000; border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; padding: 0in" align="left" height="41"> LAUGH </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="600" valign="top" style="border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; padding: 0in; border-top-color:inherit; border-bottom-color:#FFCC00">  <h2>SCARED?</h2> As a sergeant in a parachute regiment, I took part in several night-time exercises. Once, I was seated next to a lieutenant fresh from jump school. He was quiet and looked a bit pale, so I struck up a conversation. "Scared, lieutenant?" I asked. He replied, "No, just a bit apprehensive." I asked, "What's the difference?" He replied, "That means I'm scared, but with a university education."  </td> </tr> <tr style="page-break-inside: avoid"> <td width="600" valign="top" style="border-left: medium none #000000; border-right: medium none #000000; border-top: 1px solid #000000; border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; padding: 0in"> LEARN </td> </tr> <tr style="page-break-inside: avoid"> <td width="600" valign="top" style="border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: medium none #FFCC00; padding: 0in"> Jim's Manuscript May 16, 2010 How To Get Great Grace Mileage 2 Corinthians "True Comfort" Series Text:  Chapter 6       There are two kinds of people.  One type knows how much gas costs to the penny per gallon, and probably to the tenth of a penny, and they also know how many miles per gallon they are getting in their car, and the other type of person doesn't know, and doesn't care all that much because they have to buy gas anyway.   How many of you are the first type of person?  How many of you are the second type of person?   Today's topic is, "How To Get Great Grace Mileage."   Focus:  Christianity doesn't work without grace, so don't punch holes in its gas tank. <h1>I.  Don't Make God's Grace Ineffectual (6:1)</h1> 2 Corinthians 6:1 (NIV) 1 As God's fellow workers we urge you not to receive God's grace in vain. The Greek word "kenos" which is translated "in vain" is the word for "empty".  Some have come to God, been filled with God's grace, received its benefits, then squandered it away, and their tank is empty.  In such a case merely going to God for a fill up won't immediately remedy the situation.  How is that possible?  There are so many gaping holes in the Grace tank that Grace is wasted and ineffectual.  This is the description of some of the Corinthian Christian's lives.  It is ultimately a sinful problem, but it comes in a variety of forms that Paul describes in this chapter.    Let's read the whole chapter first, and then work on its parts.   2 Corinthians 6:1-18 (NIV) 1 As God's fellow workers we urge you not to receive God's grace in vain. 2 For he says, "In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you." I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation. 3 We put no stumbling block in anyone's path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. 4 Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; 5 in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; 6 in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; 7 in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; 8 through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; 9 known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; 10 sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything. 11 We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you. 12 We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us. 13 As a fair exchange--I speak as to my children--open wide your hearts also. 14 Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? 15 What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people." 17 "Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you." 18 "I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty." <h2>A.      Don't Squander It</h2> Grace is a free gift, but cooperation is required.  A gift is not yours if it is never received.  It is not really received if it is never utilized.  In squandered grace, we run the engine, but we refuse to pull out of the driveway.  God gives grace with particular results in mind.  Paul is urging us to see to it that we get great grace mileage, the kind of mileage out of grace that God desires.  Grace comes back "empty" (kenos) when we just let grace run through us without making anything of it.  Don't waste it.  Don't squander it.  Some Christians rev their engines, make a lot of noise, but never really go anywhere with the Grace God provides.    We just came out of the chapter that described us as "ministers of reconciliation" with a job to do (5:18) and we were described as "Christ's Ambassadors" (5:20).  In chapter 5 we also read about judgment, and last week when we studied this, we read an illustration from 1 Corinthians 3:10-15 of how God's grace was received but with nothing to show for it on judgment day.   This is an example of how squandering grace is possible.    Paul says As God's fellow workers we urge you not to receive God's grace in vain. Don't Squander It. <h2>B.      Don't Short-Circuit It  </h2> Squandering grace is a general way of describing the problem.  Paul has something more specific in mind when he urges them "not to receive God's grace in vain."  We begin to see the specifics toward the latter half of the chapter.  Apparently, not only were the Corinthians squandering grace, as if it was entirely for themselves, but they were short-circuiting grace as well.    A short-circuit is when power takes a detour on the path of least resistance, rather than the intended path.  The power is derailed so to speak.  With electricity, if you have a short, usually the circuit breaker goes off, and the power is cut off to protect the guilty party.  God also causes this to happen.  Sometimes it is called "grieving the Holy Spirit."  On the flip side, that is why James can say, "the prayers of a righteous man are powerful and effective" (James 5:16).  There is nothing short -circuiting God's grace.  The man is getting GREAT GRACE MILEAGE.  His prayers are working!    We make God's Grace ineffectual when the power of his grace is interrupted, or short cycled.  The power to break the wrongful alliances is bypassed in favor of the path of least resistance.  It shorts out.  We shorted it out.  We somehow refused to be reconciled to God by breaking these wrongful alliances.    2 Corinthians 5:14-15 shows us how Grace is supposed to work, and here, 6:1 begins to show us when something goes wrong.   HOW It Is SUPPOSED TO WORK: 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 (NIV) 14 For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. <div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt"> This now explains 6:1.  Grace is offered in vain, when Self and Sin short-circuits it!  If "Christ's love" doesn't "compel us" (5:14), it is because something else does!  Or, if "Christ's love" doesn't "compel us" (5:14), something else will!   When the grace tank is empty, we tend to fill that tank with something else, a counterfeit!   </div>   In the latter half of 2 Corinthians 6, we see that the Corinthians had made alliances with the powers of darkness, because some of the Corinthians have refused to get rid of their idols.  The main power source is as a result, short circuited!  They are following counterfeits.  And something besides grace begins to compel them.  This can be diabolical!  So bad, in fact that Paul uses the name "Belial" (6:15) another name for Satan to wake these Christians who are sitting around just "idoling" their engines!!!  Yes, I spelled idoling, I-D-O-L.  There is no harmony between Christ and Belial!  Only harsh discord!   How does this discord manifest itself?  The GRACE tank is filled punched with holes because we have punched the holes there ourselves, we have given access to Belial, to fill the tank with "sugar" gumming up the engine!  How did we punch the holes there?  We refused to let the Grace empower our lives to drive out of the driveway onto God's HIGHway!  We failed to pursue God's purposes.    Paul get's very specific with the Corinthians.  He tells them to break their wrongful alliances with the powers of darkness.  Some of the Corinthians refused to get rid of their idols and their lifestyles connected to idolatry.   Idolatry comes in many forms.  To be sure, an idol may be an object of stone with a name of a false god associated with it, but it doesn't have to be called Baal, or Ashteroth, or Zeus, or Artemis.  An idol can be called alcohol, or drugs, or pornography.  An idol is anything causes a wrongful allegiance.  It pulls our hearts from God.  That is why I said, If "Christ's love" doesn't "compel us" (5:14), it is because something else does!  Or, if "Christ's love" doesn't "compel us" (5:14), something else will!   Satan assigns demonic powers to idols.  He is happy to animate any false faith, to keep you misdirected away from God.  That's why even a "rabbits foot" seems to work.  It is pulling your faith away from the rightful object of your faith!!! That person that places his faith in an idol is in a very dangerous spot.   God told us we must have no other gods before him.  An idol can also be something that is not bad in itself but because of misplaced priorities, a good thing has gone bad.    It might be something good like work, but this good thing has been squeezed through misplaced priorities until it becomes the idol of workaholism, and we bow down to this idol and pay homage to it.    It might be money, that can do good things, but because of misplaced priorities, it becomes the idol of materialism, and we bow down to this idol and pay homage to it.    God created sex, a good thing, but because of misplaced priorities we bow down to the idol that pulls us away from God given beauty and it gets twisted into illicit sex.  Something that is out of bounds, addictive, and harmful before one knows how it could possibly be harmful.  We bow down and pay homage to this idol when we honor it rather than God who designed sex, and gave instructions for our protection.   There were idols in connection with sexual acts in Corinth.  In Corinth, many idolatrous practices combined sexual expression with their idolatry.  There were temple prostitutes, both male and female, in the idolatrous cults in Corinth.   1 Corinthians 6:15-20 (NIV) 15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! 16 Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, "The two will become one flesh." 17 But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit. 18 Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. 19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body. There are many common idols in our day.  Anything that calls for the devotion of our heart, and pulls that devotion away from the One True God, is a false god, and an idol.  When something besides Christ's love is compelling us, there is an idol in the driver's seat! <h3>1.       Watch Who's In The Driver's Seat? (Philippians 2:3-11)</h3> Who or what is it that you are allowing to drive your life?  It doesn't have to be obviously raunchy to qualify as an idol.  If you don't have time to offer your heart to God, because all your discretionary time is devoted to a hobby, a sport, or to entertainment, or to the internet, or TV shows, or whatever, then something has come between you and God, and something is on the throne of your life that shouldn't be on the throne.  Something other than God is driving your life.  When God is enthroned as Lord, and your life revolves around him, there is order and balance to a life as designed by God.  God is in the driver's seat and when that happens, often in time, whole families are restored.  When anything else takes the throne, there are frequent car wrecks.  You get hurt, others around you get hurt and short changed, and God is not glorified by your life.  There are gaping holes in your gas tank, and you are running on something foreign.  Your life is being poisoned by something.    Do you know what is the most common idol of all?  Self.  When self is enthroned, we are full of self, and empty of Grace.  When God is enthroned, we are full of grace, and emptying self.    Many people only think of the "don'ts" when it comes to the idea of sin, you know, the really bad stuff.  You might be a great guy, trying your hardest to be a great guy, but if YOU are in the driver's seat, completely ignoring God, your life is a life that is an OFFENSE to your creator.  He didn't design you to ignore him.  You function best with Grace in your tank, and God in the driver's seat.    It was like this, even for Jesus, the Son of God.  I want to show you this from the use of the same word we've been looking at, the word, "empty" or "vain".  Paul uses this same word in a positive context when he described Christ's life in Philippians 2.  Philippians 2 describes the Kenosis of Christ, when Christ emptied himself.    Philippians 2:3-11 (NIV) 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing [There it is, "kenosis", he "emptied himself"], taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross! 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. You can't be full of Grace and full of yourself.  That is why a broken and contrite heart is something God is pleased with.  That is why we must start with the awareness of spiritual bankruptcy.  That's the starting point of the kingdom ethics as described in the Sermon on the Mount with the beatitudes.   So, if you want to be like Christ, we must learn how to empty ourselves, and be filled with God's Grace.  When we humble ourselves, God exalts himself in us.  And when God exalts himself in us, we become what God intended us to be--so our true selves are exalted into Christlikeness, which is another word for Godliness.    Is this making sense to you?  You want' great Grace mileage, watch whose on the driver's seat. <h3>2.       Get Free From Contaminating Alliances (6:14-18)</h3> 14 Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? 15 What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people." 17 "Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you." 18 "I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty." Something that is "unequally yoked" is something that is mismatched.  Marrying a nonbeliever would be entering into a mismatched marriage.  The two lives have difficulty being one when each live for diametrically opposing goals in life.  This warns against entering such an alliance.  However, keep the balancing teaching in mind that if you are in such a covenant already, and the unbelieving partner wants the believing partner as a spouse, the married partner is to remain committed.  1 Corinthians 7 addresses this scenario.  Often, one spouse becomes a Christian before the other, and the mismatch is sometimes stressful, but Paul urges hanging in there with the hope that both parties will soon be committed to Christ. An allegiance to a lodge or political party, or a gang, or a peer group,  that asks you to compromise your faith would also be a mismatch.  Be careful not to harness yourself with unbelievers.  Don't be unequally yoked.  A business partnership with an unbeliever may also be dangerous.  Doing business is fine, but a business partnership with a non believer will eventually force you to have to make difficult decisions between mismatched loyalties.  The Corinthians were urged to walk away from their cultural loyalties.  In our culture, we have traditional cultural loyalties, and we might seem a bit odd to separate ourselves from these, but if it is a contaminating alliance we should do so.  Some believers find themselves feeling pressure to join the work "party" and the social drinking scene.  These cultural scenarios are similar to the Corinthian situation.  There are idols of many kinds.  Many Christians are caught up in cultural morality, rather than morality defined by Christ.  Paul would urge us to step out of any corrupting cultural current even when it makes us look like the odd man out.   Want great Grace Mileage? <h3>3.       Be An Ambidextrous Warrior (6:3-13)</h3> Paul neither squandered, nor short-circuited God's grace.  In verses 3-13, Paul defended his ministry and described it.  Paul shows how God's power is demonstrated and effective in spite of human weakness.  Even though he describes his own weaknesses, he shows how this thing called ministry is not for the feint of heart.  It is described in terms of warfare and weaponry.  In fact, we are to be ambidextrous warriors (look at 6:7). "...with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left."    Let's read the context starting at 6:3 3 We put no stumbling block in anyone's path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. 4 Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; 5 in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; 6 in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; 7 in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; 7 in truthful speech and in the power of God; Perhaps this means as is usually the case with soldiers holding weapons, they have the offensive weapon in their right hand, and the defensive weapon--the shield in their left hand.  Being Christ's Ambassador is not a job for the feint of heart.  Grace is powerful but grace doesn't make everything fluffy and soft and easy.  Grace doesn't take the challenges away, but supports us with everything we need to fortify us (remember "true Comfort", with the word com + Fortis, or strength, like a fort).  So, we need to learn how to be ambidextrous warriors.   There is another interpretive possibility for understanding weapons of the right hand left hand.  Perhaps the list that immediately follows this "right hand" and "left hand" phrase is actually a list that expounds, and explains the weapons on the right hand, then on the other hand.   8 through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; 9 known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; 10 sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything. <table class="MsoTableGrid" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: medium none" id="table2"> <tr> <td width="369" valign="top" style="width: 221.4pt; border: 1.0pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; padding-bottom: 0in"> On the One Hand (right hand?)</td> <td width="369" valign="top" style="width: 221.4pt; border-left: medium none; border-right: 1.0pt solid windowtext; border-top: 1.0pt solid windowtext; border-bottom: 1.0pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; padding-bottom: 0in"> On the Other Hand (left hand?)</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="369" valign="top" style="width: 221.4pt; border-left: 1.0pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1.0pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: 1.0pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; padding-bottom: 0in"> Glory (8)</td> <td width="369" valign="top" style="width: 221.4pt; border-left: medium none; border-right: 1.0pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: 1.0pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; padding-bottom: 0in"> Dishonor</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="369" valign="top" style="width: 221.4pt; border-left: 1.0pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1.0pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: 1.0pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; padding-bottom: 0in"> Good report (8)</td> <td width="369" valign="top" style="width: 221.4pt; border-left: medium none; border-right: 1.0pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: 1.0pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; padding-bottom: 0in"> Bad report</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="369" valign="top" style="width: 221.4pt; border-left: 1.0pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1.0pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: 1.0pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; padding-bottom: 0in"> Genuine (8)</td> <td width="369" valign="top" style="width: 221.4pt; border-left: medium none; border-right: 1.0pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: 1.0pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; padding-bottom: 0in"> Regarded as Impostors</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="369" valign="top" style="width: 221.4pt; border-left: 1.0pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1.0pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: 1.0pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; padding-bottom: 0in"> Known (9)</td> <td width="369" valign="top" style="width: 221.4pt; border-left: medium none; border-right: 1.0pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: 1.0pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; padding-bottom: 0in"> Yet, regarded as unknown</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="369" valign="top" style="width: 221.4pt; border-left: 1.0pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1.0pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: 1.0pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; padding-bottom: 0in"> Living on (9)</td> <td width="369" valign="top" style="width: 221.4pt; border-left: medium none; border-right: 1.0pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: 1.0pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; padding-bottom: 0in"> Dying</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="369" valign="top" style="width: 221.4pt; border-left: 1.0pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1.0pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: 1.0pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; padding-bottom: 0in"> Not killed (9)</td> <td width="369" valign="top" style="width: 221.4pt; border-left: medium none; border-right: 1.0pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: 1.0pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; padding-bottom: 0in"> Beaten</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="369" valign="top" style="width: 221.4pt; border-left: 1.0pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1.0pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: 1.0pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; padding-bottom: 0in"> Always rejoicing (10) </td> <td width="369" valign="top" style="width: 221.4pt; border-left: medium none; border-right: 1.0pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: 1.0pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; padding-bottom: 0in"> Sorrowful</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="369" valign="top" style="width: 221.4pt; border-left: 1.0pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1.0pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: 1.0pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; padding-bottom: 0in"> Making many rich (10)</td> <td width="369" valign="top" style="width: 221.4pt; border-left: medium none; border-right: 1.0pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: 1.0pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; padding-bottom: 0in"> Yet, poor</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="369" valign="top" style="width: 221.4pt; border-left: 1.0pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1.0pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: 1.0pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; padding-bottom: 0in"> Possessing everything (10)</td> <td width="369" valign="top" style="width: 221.4pt; border-left: medium none; border-right: 1.0pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: 1.0pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; padding-bottom: 0in"> Having nothing</td> </tr> </table>   God works in mysterious ways, even through the apparent weaknesses.  His weapons can be worked with either hand.   You want great GRACE mileage? <h1>II.  Now Is The Time (6:2)</h1> 2 For he says, "In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you." I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation. Paul quotes Isaiah, then shows how the fulfillment of Isaiah has come, and it has come now in their day!   In addition to this, the emphasis on "Salvation NOW" contrasts with the possibility of someone's former "acceptance" of grace being VOID, or returning empty, or being ineffectual.  You don't coast on past experience.  You don't merely look ahead.  Now is the time to receive Grace.   , or banking on his future for some other reason, but as far as his present condition is concerned, he is not walking with the Lord.  Anytime this is the case, these words are appropriate.  Paul urges, "Now is the time of God's favor, and now is the day of salvation."   Today is the day you need to look to God's saving action.   </td> </tr> <tr style="page-break-inside: avoid"> <td width="600" valign="top" style="border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: medium none #FFCC00; padding: 0in"> (C) Jim Hammond This message is (or soon will be) available in <a target="_blank" href="http://vvchristianchurch.net/audio-messages/"> Audio</a> and <a target="_blank" href="http://vvchristianchurch.net/video-messages/"> Video</a> (free!) <a href="http://www.vvchristianchurch.net/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/archive/laughnlearn/"> Laugh 'N Learn Archives</a></td> </tr> </table>  </div>

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Laugh N Learn Message

Mon, 10 May 2010 15:04:00 GMT

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