091105

LIVING WITH A PURPOSE
Where Purpose Begins
Psalm 8, Hebrews 2


Psalm 8:1-9
“O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger. When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet: all flocks and herds, and the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas. O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!” (NIV)
1) After watching some of the unbelievable, incomprehensible debauchery that took place before our very eyes in New Orleans this past week, I truly do wonder why God considers us! Not that I consider myself any better, save for Jesus Christ, but why did God go to the cross for a people who would respond like that to His great mercy? He had spared the lives of those very looters, those very rapists, those very murderers! Yes, thousands have probably died as a result of this great tragedy, but it could have been, oh, so much worse! The people of the Gulf Coast had more than sufficient advanced notice that this storm was coming and that it would be catastrophic! So many, thank God, did escape because they responded to the warnings! We can learn a great spiritual lesson here, perhaps, the most important lesson we will ever learn. God’s Word gives us ample warning about what will shortly take place on this earth, it may be imminent or it may be 10,00 years from now, but know this—the wrath of God is coming—sin will be judged! We would certainly be wise if we heeded all the warnings God has given us in His Word. We can escaped His wrath by responding in faith to His Son, Jesus Christ—who nailed our sin, along with God’s wrath with Him on that cross! It is so sad to know that many will perish because they will not heed God’s warning signs! I digress!
2) Did you know that man was given dominion over all the earth and everything in it? Read Genesis 1:26! Does it seem to you today that we are still in control of this earth? Why or why not?
3) Well, what did happen to our rule (Genesis 4:1?)
4) First of all, please know that God was not surprised one little bit by what that crafty serpent did, or by the way Adam and Eve responded to the serpent’s lies! He knew this would happen and while sin brought it’s curse on the serpent, on Adam, on Eve and yes, on the earth, God held out the precious promise that He Himself would send a Propitiation (Genesis 3:15) i.e., a Substitute to stand in our stead, bringing perfect reconciliation for us with the Father. At the same time, our “Propitiation” would once and for all crush the head of our enemy, satan (a.k.a. crafty serpent!) Who is our Propitiation and when was this marvelous plan of redemption formulated? See Revelation 13:8! The Lamb is none of than our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ (John 1:29!)
5) When Adam and Eve disobeyed God’s command (sinned) unbeknownst to them, they gave away their dominion over the earth, and to none other than, yes, you guessed it, satan himself! Even Jesus did not argue that point with satan when he was being tempted in the desert (Luke 4:1-8!) Yes, earth and all it’s glory was satan’s to give, but our God, through Jesus Christ had a much better plan to “legally” reclaim all authority over heaven and earth! Read Luke 9:51, some translations say Jesus set his face like “flint—hard, petrified stone.” Man, that’s determination! Jesus demonstrated His complete and total obedience to God’s will by boldly setting out for Jerusalem and to the cross! Why? (Hebrews 12:2!) That joy was found in doing the Father’s will—bringing us back into right standing with God! So, what was the result of Jesus Christ, God in the flesh coming to earth, living a sinless life, dying a unjust death on the cross, and hallelujah, rising the third day? See Matthew 28:1-18! Take time to read Romans 5. I’ll sort of paraphrase it for you. Adam sinned, and as a result, judgment and sin was passed on to everyone born after him—because we all come from Adam’s seed! Jesus, sometimes referred to the Second Adam (because he was God in the flesh) brought with him sinlessness, righteousness and, praise God Almighty, grace— Grace is UNMERITED, OR UNEARNED favor with God! The moment we accept Jesus as Lord, we are reborn and we become the righteous, spiritual seed of God—we’re part of God’s own family! You can’t buy it, you can’t work for it, you can’t do anything worthy of attaining it—it is God’s gift, planned for us from the foundation of this earth! It is without cost to us (Isaiah 55:1), but oh, don’t ever take for granted what it cost God—His precious, sinless, holy Son (John 3:16!)
6) I had someone ask me one time if Jesus, as a mere man could have accomplished this seemingly impossible task of reconciliation. It did give me pause—briefly, but all I had to do was examine my own life—could I have accomplished what Jesus did—could any mere man. No, a thousand times, no! Jesus had to be the God-Man! The sinless, the righteous for the sinful and the unrighteous (1 Peter 3:1!) Consider all the religions of the world. Christianity is the only faith where God steps down from His throne in glory and does all that is necessary to deliver us—even when it meant death on a cursed cross! He doesn’t want your puny works, He wants you—all of you! Don’t you think He is worthy? Love Him with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind and all your strength—He is worthy! O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!”
Hebrews 2:6-18
“But there is a place where someone has testified: "What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? You made him a little lower than the angels; you crowned him with glory and honor and put everything under his feet." In putting everything under him, God left nothing that is not subject to him. Yet at present we do not see everything subject to him. But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering. Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers. He says, "I will declare your name to my brothers; in the presence of the congregation I will sing your praises." And again, "I will put my trust in him." And again he says, "Here am I, and the children God has given me." Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death--that is, the devil-- and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham's descendants. For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.” (NIV)
1) Sisters, every scripture finds it’s fulfillment in Jesus Christ! Above we discussed how these same verses applied to man’s loss of authority. In this passage, inspired by the Holy Spirit, so much more is revealed! We find that ultimately, it was Jesus Christ whom God was pleased to make a little lower than the angels, so He could crown Him with glory and honor and make everything subject to Him!
2) It’s hard to understand how Jesus, God the Son, could be perfected through suffering. In this instance, word perfected literally means to accomplish or fulfill. The only way Jesus could accomplish or fulfill God’s will in reclaiming our souls was to suffer our death (Genesis 2:16-17 and Romans 6:23!) You have to keep in mind that He was in complete agreement with God, the Father and God the Holy Spirit to come to earth in the flesh (John 1:1-5l 11-14.) Jesus had purpose in coming to this earth—to be tried, tested and tempted in all ways just as we are (Hebrews 2:14-18 and Hebrews 4:15-16!) What’s so amazing is that at the same time He never ceased to be God and, even more, the whole universe was still being held together by His power, (Colossians 1:17) and, as I heard someone once say, even to holding together the atoms in the arms of the soldiers pounding the nails into His flesh! Glory!
3) Tasting death for us! I think this would be the saddest existence if I believed that this world is all there is, or all there ever will be for mankind! I truly believe that the very instance when death would grab hold of us, Jesus snatches us right up and straight into His arms! The psalmist says, “Yeah, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will not fear, for Thou art with me (Psalm 23:4!”) Yes, we go through the valley of death, but the key word here is “through!” Please, please hear this, dear sisters—we go through! We don’t sit, lay, or stand there—we leave this shell of a body and we step into eternal glory! This is why scripture says, “Death, where is thy sting (1 Corinthians 15:54?”) For those who are in Christ Jesus, death has no more hold on us than it did for our precious Savior (Acts 2:23-24 and Romans 6:9!)
4) Am I saying that we won’t suffer, sometimes beyond our ability to understand the “why”? No, if God spared not His own Son (Romans 8:32), how can we expect to escape being perfected as He was (Philippians 1:29?)
5) Whose example should we follow when suffering enters our lives (1 Peter 2:21?)
a) God has a purpose in allow suffering to enter our lives:
i) Suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope (Romans 5:3-5!)
ii) If we suffer with Christ, we also share in His glory (Romans 8:17!)
iii) We learn to share in the sufferings of our brothers and sisters in Christ (1 Corinthians 12:26!)
iv) As Christ’s sufferings flow over into our lives, so does His comfort (2 Corinthians 1:5!)
v) Suffering, coupled with godly comfort, produces patient endurance (2 Corinthians 1:6!)
vi) In sharing in the sufferings of Christ, we become like Him in his death and resurrection (Philippians 3:10!)
vii) We become imitators of the Lord (1 Thessalonians 1:6!)
viii) We learn obedience through suffering (Hebrews 5:8!)
ix) Our faith is refined, bringing glory, honor and praise to Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:6-7!)
x) We come to the place where we entrust our lives to the only fair Judge (1 Peter 2:23!)
xi) We are blessed through suffering (1 Peter 3:14!)
xii) Suffering can actually help us to “die” to sin and willfully submit to God’s will for our lives (1 Peter 4:1!)
xiii) Our suffering will turn to joy when Christ is revealed (1 Peter 4:13!)
(1) We “suffer” for :
(a) Christ (Philippians 1:29!)
(b) the kingdom of God (2 Thessalonians 1:5!)
(c) the gospel of Christ (2 Timothy 1:8 and 2 Timothy 2:8-9!)
(d) for bearing Christ’s name (1 Peter 4:16!)
b) So, doe we just wallow in our suffering? What are we commanded to do (1 Peter 4:19?)
c) Does it help to know that we are not alone in our suffering (1 Peter 5:9?)
d) What has God promised to do for us if we endure suffering (1 Peter 5:10?) Oh, I can testify to this one!
6) What quantifies as godly suffering?
a) Persecution/Trials
i) Comes to try our faith (Matthew 13:20-21!)
ii) Comes to further the gospel of Christ (Acts 11:19!)
iii) From 2 Timothy 3 we learn several things about persecution:
(1) What does 2 Timothy 3:1-7 and, sadly, Luke 12:52-53 tell us the type of people who will pitted against us!
(2) 2 Timothy 3:9 tells us their sure end!
(3) Paul suffered all types of suffering for Christ’s sake. How did the Lord prove His faithfulness to Paul (see also 2 Peter 2:6-9?)
iv) Oh, sisters, take heart! Persecutions can never, no never, separate us from the love of Christ Jesus (Romans 8:33-37!)
v) Yes, more over, we are to delight and take joy in our persecution for the sake of Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 12:10 and James 1:2!) Are there any who are weak, are there any who are in the fire? Praise God, you are being refined and you will bring Christ all the glory!
vi) What does 2 Timothy 3:12 and 1 Thessalonians 3:3 tell us about choosing to follow Christ?
vii) What should be our response to facing trials, tribulations, suffering and sorrow (2 Timothy 3:14-17 and Hebrews 10:32-39!) Press on!
b) Affliction/Troubles
i) In the Old Testament, many of the instances where affliction is mention, it is the result of God’s wrath on sin and rebellion, but in bringing affliction, God’s heart is always acting out of love. God may bring afflictions as a result of:
(1) Sinfulness (Psalms 107:17!)
(a) God’s heart is to bring us to repentance (2 Chronicles 16:12; Psalms 119:67; Psalm 119:71, 75!)
(2) To “refine” us and/or “test” our faith (Isaiah 48:10!)
(a) God’s heart is to mold us into His Son’s image and likeness (Romans 8:1 and 2 Corinthians 3:18!)
(3) In ways that we cannot, yea, will not understand this side of heaven, affliction comes as a way to bring glory to our God (Job 2:1-10!)
(4) Affliction turns our focus to our need of a Savior (Psalms 10:17; Psalms 25:15-21; Psalms 31:7-8; Psalms 88!)
(5) What the apostle Paul calls our “light and momentary” (he can say that—see 2 Corinthians 11:24-28) troubles are achieving eternal glories for us (2 Corinthians 4:17!)
(6) Oh, know this, if you have ever suffered affliction, or are going through affliction, or any type of “troubles,” know this:
(a) The Lord comforts and has compassion on the afflicted (Isaiah 49:13!)
(i) So we, in turn, are able to comfort others with the comfort we received from Christ (2 Corinthians 1:4!)
(b) God defends and delivers the afflicted (Psalms 72:4,12!)
(c) God does not forget the afflicted (Psalms 74:19!)
(d) God saves the afflicted (Psalms 76:9!)
(e) God will multiply our days of affliction with days of gladness (Psalms 90:15!)
(f) Oh, the Lord will not cast us off forever! He will be our Portion, if we wait before Him, because it is He who brings both calamities and good things (Lamentations 3!)
(7) How are we to respond to affliction?
(a) With patience (Romans 12:12!)
c) Sorrow
i) Godly sorrow always brings repentance and salvation (2 Corinthians 7:10-11!)
(1) Note what godly sorrow produces:
(a) Earnestness
(b) Indignation
(c) Alarm
(d) Concern
(e) A readiness to see that justice is done
(i) What is the result of worldly sorrow (Matthew 27:3-5?) What is the difference?
ii) Sorrow humbles us (Psalms 107:39!)
iii) Godly sorrow leads us to cry out to the Lord (Psalms 116:3-4!))
(1) God’s Word will strengthen us in our sorrow (Psalms 119:28!)
(2) One fine day, God has promised that comfort, gladness and joy will overtake our sorrow (Isaiah 35:10 and Jeremiah 31:13!)
iv) What should be our response to sorrow (2 Corinthians 6:10?)
d) Discipline
i) If you belong to Christ, then you will be disciplined (Hebrews 12:5-8 and Revelation 3:19!)
ii) The Lord’s discipline keeps us from future condemnation (1 Corinthians 11:32!)
iii) The Lord’s discipline results in holiness (Hebrews 12:10!)
iv) We are trained by the Lord’s discipline (Hebrews 12:11!)
7) What type of suffering should we avoid 1 Peter 2:20a and 1 Peter 3:17; 1 Peter 4:15?)
8) Jesus knew first hand about suffering (Isaiah 53; Matthew 26:62-67; Matthew 27:26-50; Mark 15:17-37; Luke 23:36-39; Luke 22:41-44; John 19:2-3; 19:16-18, 23-30) and, yet, it was God’s will to crush Him for our sakes (Isaiah 53:4!)
a) Why was Jesus willing to endure suffering (Hebrews 2:9; Hebrews 12:2?)
b) What was His response?
i) Submission and obedience (Hebrews 5:-8!)
c) What was the result of Jesus’ suffering (Hebrews 5:9?)
i) In tasting death for everyone, He was able to bring many children to the Father—making us holy! He destroyed the one, (satan), who held power over death, and He has freed us from the fear of death (Hebrews 2:9-15!)
ii) Who now holds the keys to death and Hades (Revelation 1:18!) Glory!
iii) When and where will death meet its ultimate demise (Revelation 20!) Amen!
d) What was Jesus’ reward (Isaiah 53:11-12; Philippians 2:5-11?)
e) What is our reward (1 Peter 5:10; Revelation 2:10!)
9) Is it important to you that God experienced life, just like you, in a human form? Why?
10) Since this is the case, Christ indeed did come in the flesh—was tempted and tested just as we are—can anyone accuse Him of not understanding our limitations and weaknesses?
11) How is this important in Christ’s role as our High Priest before God’s holy throne (Hebrews 4:14-16!)
12) Not Jewish? If you are in Christ, you are still a descendant of Abraham, therefore, heir to all God’s promises (Romans 4:16; Galatians 3:5-9 and Galatians 3:25-29!)
Colossians 3:1-4
“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” (NIV)
1) Raised with Christ—this means you are already dead, sisters “spiritually” speaking and have already experienced resurrection to a new and holy life in Christ! You are a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:14-21!) Only by sharing in Christ’s death, burial and resurrection are we able to “die” to earthly things, if we chose to let Christ reign in our hearts and minds! Remember, where you heart is, there is your treasure also (Matthew 6:19-21!) If something is dead to you, then it is put out of your mind. Oh, this isn’t easy! Everybody has to pick up their own cross and follow Christ. We have to die daily (1 Corinthians 15:30), sometimes several times a day, but it is possible! Why (Romans 8:26-27 and Hebrews 7:25?)
2) What does it mean to be “hidden” in Christ? Well, the word here means, “secretly concealed” or “covered.” In studying Strong’s Concordance, it seems that when this particular rendering is used, it is when something is hidden away by God Himself and only by God, or it’s something that cannot be hidden because it is of God! It’s like you would hide your most precious and valuable of possessions—someplace known only by you, safely tucked away until you decided you were ready to use or wear it. It’s kind of like that. Or, if you owned something that was too precious to keep concealed, you would put it in a place for the whole world to see—it was that beautiful to you! I think John 10:28-29 illustrates this security of being “hidden” in Christ. The context in which the word hidden is used may also refer to an “unveiling” or “revealing” of Christ’s church. Jesus came to His own and they received Him not. He told us that the world rejected and hated Him and they will reject and hate us also. Oh, but when Christ appears, we will be “unveiled,” “revealed” and the whole world will marveled at God’s love and mercy toward us, mere sinners saved by grace! Believe me, none of us will be able to boast. No, this is a time for God’s glory to shine! Hallelujah!
Colossians 3:5-11
“Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.” (NIV)
1) “Put on.” This may sound a little strange, but it goes way back. Remember Adam and Eve? They tied to “put on” fig leaves as a covering for their sin—didn’t work (Genesis 3:7!) The new self you are to “put on” is none other than, you guessed it—Christ Jesus (Romans 13:14!) You can’t, absolutely cannot, walk in sin when you are wrapped securely with Christ! Remember, if you do things because you “have to,” you are walking in your old self. Through Christ Jesus, we do things because we “want to!” New life, indeed! To help us in our walk as a “new creation,” we are to:
a) Put on the armor of light (Romans 13:12-13!)
b) Put on our “new” self which is created in God’s righteousness and holiness (Ephesians 4:24!)
c) Put on our battle gear (Ephesians 6:11-18!)
d) And, put on love (Colossians 3:14), which is the fulfillment of all God’s law and commandments (Matthew 22:35-40 and Romans 13:8, 10!)