Sacred Mission Sermon Audio

<p>There is a common belief in the church that the world is getting darker. While potentially not a false assessment, it shouldn't foster the fear and anxiousness that we see in so many who confess belief in the gospel. We should be a people who walk confidently in this world with courage and strength, because we have been made to be lights that the darkness cannot overcome.</p>

<p>If Paul's writing is true and it has been "granted to us" to suffer and face persecution as citizens of heaven, then what might be the secret to standing strong and persevering through it? How do we come out on the other side reflecting the reality of our citizenship even greater?</p>

<p>An often asked question in Christianity is, "What is the point of living if you will die and go to heaven anyway?". That question only seems probable from a perspective of selfish ambition. The gospel gives us a reason that is beyond our own personal gain.</p>

<p>Advancement takes place when our focus is in the right place. In Philippians 1:12-18, we look at the advancement of the gospel and how our focus on the gospel helps us accomplish the task.</p>

<p>Celebrate Father's Day with us this Sunday! We will work through the story of the Prodigal Son as we are reminded of how God our Father takes deep delight in transforming wayward sinners into beloved children that bear His name.</p>

<p>In the opening lines of his letter to the Philippians, Paul concerned himself with a two-fold vulnerability of the young church: callused hearts, on one hand, and naiveté, on the other. So he penned a prayer that they would grow in gospel-informed, discerning love.</p>

<p>Quite often we believe that we can only have joy when life is going well, but is that true? Can we have joy even when life goes differently than we hoped or planned? The question we must answer is where do we look for joy in our lives?<br><br>...<br><br>We had some technical difficulties while recording this sermon, so you may notice a few portions where the audio skips.</p>

<p>Semper Reformanda is a Latin term the Reformers used meaning "Always Reforming". In essence, since we have a church reformed in the externals of doctrine, worship, and government, let us always be working to ensure that our hearts and lives are being reformed by the Word and Spirit of God.</p>

<p>At the dedication of the wall in Nehemiah 12 it says: "And the joy of Jerusalem was heard far away.". What was the source of this joy, and how did they discover it?</p>

<p>Jerusalem was reestablished; its walls were reconstructed, God's word reinstituted, and God's people recommitted. But, the city was greatly underpopulated to fulfill all that God had called it to do. In Nehemiah chapter 11 we see the plan of God in filling the city with a people for the purpose of God.</p>

<p>Hannah was a woman who was full of sorrow that was both provoked and absent of pity. In desperation, she made a promise to God that if he would give her a child, she would give it back to Him. A promised child; and a woman who kept hers.</p>

<p>How far does God want us to go in our pursuit of obedience to Him? Is the mere confession of sin enough? What do repentance and obedience look like?</p>

<p>In the valleys of life, we tend to call out to God for help. This is usually fueled by a desire to not have to face the consequences of our decisions and we often fail to reflect and truly learn from the reasons we were in the valley at all.</p>

<p>In his letter to the church in Ephesus, Paul makes this profound statement "because of the great love with which he loved us... made us alive together with Christ... and raised us up with him". God's love for his people caused him to take us from death to life, from a tomb to resurrection, from hopelessness to eternal joy.</p>

<p>In the days leading up to his crucifixion, Jesus took whip in hand and ‘cleansed the temple’ in Jerusalem. But more than simply driving out animals and profiteers, Jesus was cleansing his Father’s house of false worshippers and filling it with true.</p>

<p>Have you ever thought about what is central to your life? When you really value something it impacts what you believe and how you live. In Nehemiah 8, we not only see how important the Word of God was for Israel but also how they responded to the Word of God.</p>

<p>Nehemiah has finally completed the wall, but the real work has just begun. The work of rebuilding was never going to end at the completion of structures, they were means to a greater end; the completion of a people.</p>

<p>God's purpose always brings opposition. One of the biggest oppositions we will face is the lies of the enemy that try to build fear into our hearts to get us to stop the work at hand. We have to use discernment to navigate through the opposition and see the work completed.</p>

<p>What are the distinct characteristics of a godly leader? What separates a godly leader from an ungodly one? In Nehemiah chapter 5, we see first-hand the example and model of godly leadership that we should be striving to see developed in our own lives.</p>

<p>Working to build up a vision means that eventually, you will face opposition. Whether that opposition is internal or external, it will try to get you to quit and give up on the vision. But we only need to remember these simple words in the face of opposition, "our God fights for us".</p>

<p>In Nehemiah chapter 3 we get introduced to 32 verses of names. These names may seem unimportant at first glance, but each one represents a person or group of people who were committed to getting their hands dirty in the work of redemption. Each name represents people taking responsibility in seeing the glory of God and the good of his people be established in the city they call home.</p>

<p>How does one push through adversity and build a lasting legacy? <br><br>Facing hostility and hardship, Nehemiah modeled resilience and visionary leadership. In doing so, he points us to the one who overcame all odds to build for us the heavenly Jerusalem.</p>

<p>How does God's work get accomplished? Join us this Sunday as we look at how God accomplishes his work, through the prayer life of Nehemiah. We look forward to exploring how we can be a people who take redemptive action with prayer driven purpose.</p>

<p>Nehemiah is a book about the rebuilding of the walls and gates of Jerusalem, but more than that, it is a book about a man who relied immensely upon God and bore the responsibility to see righteousness be reestablished among his people.</p>

<p>Often our love for others is calculated by what will be reciprocated to us. This love is really rooted in self-interest and Jesus calls it a love that "even sinners" understand and operate in. We are called to love others in light of a different standard, not calculated, but perceivably reckless to our own good.</p>

<p>We all desire a sense of health, prosperity, and security. These are things we want, but rarely are they things we are willing to build and create. The Bible shows us that the path to obtaining them lies in the work to build them. In living to bless, we become receivers of blessing.</p>

<p>How will the world know that we belong to Jesus? It's not through how generous we are, how inclusive we become, or how humble we may be... Jesus told his disciples that it would be through there love for "one another".</p>

<p>The Bible promises us "inexpressible and glorious joy". A joy that surpasses our circumstances, that transcends happiness, and that has been fully obtained for us in the finished work of Jesus. Joy came to the world in the person and work of God's son.</p>

<p>What is the measure of real love? The biblical answer is not a ‘what’ but a ‘Who.’ Love took on flesh 2,000 years ago and selflessly gave himself for our sins. Our Father displayed unimaginable love towards us in sending His Son, Jesus, into our world to bring us back to God.</p>

<p>How do we obtain peace? The Bible shows us that we obtain it through righteous rulers who love, protect, and care for their people. Only the eternal rule of Jesus offers true peace to His people.</p>

<p>Hope in Christ, and in His coming, and in the victory of the truth. If the night darkens into a sevenfold blackness, believe the morning comes despite the darkening gloom. Do you have faith and trust in Him who lives, and was dead, and is alive for evermore? - C.H. Spurgeon</p>

<p>The oneness of the Trinity, one God eternally existing in three persons, seems impossible to get our minds around, yet this "oneness" is the desire Jesus has for his church. It is bigger than what we understand about unity, but it still entails distinction. Oneness is bigger than human comprehension, but it is the spiritual reality of the church.</p>

<p>Through His High Priestly prayer, Jesus reveals the deep love and care he has for his people.</p>

<p>Since the beginning of time, man has searched for the key to eternal life. Our efforts to escape death have been vanity and our search will never cease when left to our strength or intelligence. In John 17, Jesus prays for our souls. He prays to give us the eternal life that we have been searching for. But this eternal life is sure and true, because it is found in Him.</p>

<p>Many of us have probably heard the statement "doctrine divides" and received it as a call to reject doctrinal teaching at the aim of unity. What we fail to understand in this simplified statement is that sound doctrine is for the purpose of both creating true unity and proper division.</p>

<p>In the closing of his letter to Rome, Paul desires to send his love to certain people in the church. Women and men who were radical risk-takers for the purpose of the gospel. They were deacons, ministers, laborers, persecuted, saints, and more...</p>

<p>Too often we try to separate the spiritual from the material. We act as though they are completely independent of one another and neither have any impact on the other. But the Bible doesn't see them this way. In fact, they both communicate and demonstrate a lot about the other.</p>

<p>We are called to be conformed to the image of Jesus. As we mature in our spiritual life, we will see the fruit of the Spirit in our lives and reflect the righteousness and character of Jesus our savior. This maturity comes in the midst of gospel community where others are living out their ministry and gifts for the building up of one another.</p>

<p>Do you ever feel like you have disappointed God? Our relationship with God and one another can suffer from this feeling of disappointment. It can leave us isolated under a crushing weight. But Jesus comes to give us hope! How? By becoming the "disappointment" for us.</p>

<p>The freedom we have in Jesus is best realized, not in the service of self, but in the service of others. Preferring others over ourselves gives us the freedom to say "no" to certain liberties for the sake of the righteousness of our brother. No matter what we do in our freedom, it is still commanded to be done in love for God and neighbor.</p>