Sermon for Sunday Night 11-15-09

Answers for Apostasy. Internet version

II Timothy 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

What is an apostate? What are their characteristics and attributes? How can we identify them? An apostate is more than just a sinful person. They are more than just a heretic. This is a very special type of sinner. The are reprobate from the faith. They have closed the door to salvation forever. They are committed to sin and committed to turning others that same way as well.

I. Apostate II Timothy 3:6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, 7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

These are the characteristics of the Apostate.

A. Hypocrite (They have a form of Godliness, but there is no reality to it. There is no power behind it.)

B. Hedonistic ( They are committed to sensual and sexual sins. The apostate is a sensualist, libertine, profligate, pleasure-lover.)

C. High Minded (ever learning) They always know better than everyone else. No one can teach them anything. Yet they do not really care about the truth. They prefer to show how much they know, even if they do not believe it themselves. They can tell you everything about the Bible, but the Bible makes no difference in their life.

D. Hell Bound II Timothy 3:8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. 9 But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all [men], as theirs also was.

They are on their way to Hell. They resist God. So, God will resist them.

II. Apologist II Timothy 3:10 But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, 11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of [them] all the Lord delivered me. 12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

The Apologist is the righteous spiritual warrior that fights against the false doctrine that we are awash in. He explains the Bible to millions in a way that is balanced, logical, and Spirit filled. He shows the Apostate to be the fool that he is, not with insult and mockery as much as a skillful handling of reason and the Scripture.

A. Pure Doctrine He must understand what pure doctrine and the truth of God's Word is.

B. Persecution and Deliverance While the apologist will be persecuted some times, God will deliver him. Sometimes God will use miraculous means to rescue the apologist. But sometimes the apologist will stand up to the mockery of the malicious and will take the persecution for the purpose of showing the disbelieving world that there is a God that is worth believing in.

C. Perversion of the Damned (understand that the righteous will be more righteous and the wicked will get more wicked) Daniel 12:8 And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what [shall be] the end of these [things]? 9 And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words [are] closed up and sealed till the time of the end. 10 Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.

Some people have a defeatist attitude that acts like Christians should just go and hide themselves away from the "bad, bad world." Well the world is bad and is going to get worse. But the Righteous should not be hiding. We need to charge the gates of hell and rescue those led by their lust and sin to destruction. The wicked will become more and more wicked. But the Righteous will be more righteous.

III. Answer II Timothy 3:14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned [them]; 15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

These are the things that we are going to need to stand up and answer the charge of God's Word, and the challenge of facing the World. We need.

A. Continuing SteadfastnessWe need to get up and go for God. Stop giving up at the slightest bit of harship. It's time to do what we say we believe.

B. Childhood Salvation We need to get our children to Jesus. "Suffer the children. . ."

C. Complete Study II Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

We need to study the complete Word, not just the New Testament, not just our favorites, the whole thing. We need to be ready with an answer for those that ask a reason for the hope that lies within us.

By Pastor Grosjean 11-14-09

www.canaanbaptistchurch.net

Seven Sacred Authorities 1: God's Authority

Seven Sacred Authorities 1: God's Authority

The Silent Night

The Silent Night

Get People to Jesus

Mark 2:1 And again he entered into Capernaum after [some] days; and it was noised that he was in the house. 2 And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive [them], no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them. 3 And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four. 4 And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken [it] up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay. 5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee. 6 But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts, 7 Why doth this [man] thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only? 8 And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts? 9 Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, [Thy] sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk? 10 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,) 11 I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house. 12 And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion.

I. Get Savior in the House

A. Spiritual Promise of Jesus Matthew 18:19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

B. Short-sited People who keep Jesus out. John 20:26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: [then] came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace [be] unto you. 27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust [it] into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. 28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. 29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed [are] they that have not seen, and [yet] have believed.

C. Churches that Snuff-out the Power Revelation 2:5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. I Samuel 4:21 And she named the child Ichabod, saying, The glory is departed from Israel: because the ark of God was taken, and because of her father in law and her husband.

II. Get the Sinner in the House

A. It takes Serious Friends they uncovered the roof where he was

B. It takes Sincere Faith When Jesus saw their faith

C. It takes Spiritual Forgiveness Son, thy sins be forgiven thee

III. Give Space for Him was no room to receive [them]

A. It takes Carrying

B. It takes Creativity

C. It takes Commitment

IV. Get another Soul to Heaven. Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, [even] unto the end of the world. Amen.

A. Deliver the Message. You need to give out the Gospel

B. Dunk the Man. You need to baptize the man

C. Disciple the Members

D. Duplicate the Method

Roger Henson Parkview tent meeting 7/21/08; apg November 7, 2009sn

the Pattern of the Possessed Person

The Pattern of Possessed Persons.

Mark 5:1 And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes. 2 And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, 3 Who had [his] dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains: 4 Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any [man] tame him. 5 And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones. 6 But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him, 7 And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, [thou] Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not. 8 For he said unto him, Come out of the man, [thou] unclean spirit. 9 And he asked him, What [is] thy name? And he answered, saying, My name [is] Legion: for we are many. 10 And he besought him much that he would not send them away out of the country. 11 Now there was there nigh unto the mountains a great herd of swine feeding. 12 And all the devils besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them.

I. Awash in Sin

A. Unclean Jude 1:22 And of some have compassion, making a difference: 23 And others save with fear, pulling [them] out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

B. Unclothed Genesis 35:1 And God said unto Jacob, Arise, go up to Beth-el, and dwell there: and make there an altar unto God, that appeared unto thee when thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother. 2 Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that [were] with him, Put away the strange gods that [are] among you, and be clean, and change your garments:

C. Uncivilized

D. Uncontrolled & Unmanageable Romans 8:13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

E. Uncooperative Proverbs 13:10 Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised [is] wisdom.

F. Unhappy Hebrews 1:9 Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, [even] thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

G. Unrepentant Proverbs 29:1 He, that being often reproved hardeneth [his] neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.

From RUI

II. After the Savior Mark 5:15 And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.

A. Calm

B. Clothed

C. Cognizant

III. Asking for Service Mark 5:18 And when he was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him. 19 Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.

By Pastor Grosjean November 7, 2009sm

The Context for the Big Bang

The Context for the Big Bang

The Reality Hypothesis

The Only Reality Hypothesis

The Context for the big bang.

There is a reality that exists before time or the physical realm began. It permeates all and dictates by law how all comes to pass. There is no suspending of this law. There is no existence outside of this law. It is the context of our experience of reality. Everything after the beginning is still in the context of the first cause. This reality, law, or context could be seen as God. This is true what ever you name Him. We may argue that this First Cause is this god or that. We may argue what that First Cause is like and how it behaves, but we cannot deny that there is a First Cause. Even if you think that the world was generated by the “big bang,” there was something that made it happen. There was a context in which it happened, for even time and space were bound up in the singularity. Therefore the context in which the singularity happened is outside time and space.

God exists in all that is. All that is consists by Him. And every action only happens by borrowing His power. This context by which the singularity existed is what we commonly call the spiritual realm. It is outside of time. It is outside of space. It permeates physical reality, but is beyond it. Now, again, you may disagree with what that spiritual realm is like. You may describe it differently, but we cannot say that it is not there. We know that all space and time was bound up in the singularity. So, the context of the singularity is outside of time and space.

I can prove that there is something that exists outside of space and time. And yet this still affects space and time. Information is not completely explained by time and space. You can take a disk. You can weigh it, study it, and tear it apart to an atomic level. You can take the same disk and fill it with an encyclopedia. You cannot weigh that information. The disk weighs the same before and after. Yet the full disk is far more valuable than the empty. That information exists. We interact with it. We use it. We need it. But it is not the disk. It is not the magnetic or visual changes that happen to the molecular composition or organization of the media. The information is only reflected by the disk. In the same way, there is information that exists outside of space and time. All we can do is try to capture and use and store it. There are laws that function before we understand them. Something caused the laws to function as they do. We may disagree on what the First Cause for the laws of Thermal Dynamics was. But something causes the laws to function and keep functioning even before we understood them. This law matrix is an evidence of the context that existed before the singularity began. Good and Bad (whatever your definitions of those things are) are not dictated by physical realities.

God is able to do everything. There is nothing He cannot do. Sin is to do something outside of your rights to do. God cannot sin because it would be impossible for Reality to step outside of Itself. Sin casts the person outside of reality into insanity. The carnal mind cannot grasp the things of the Spirit because the Spirit is reality. Reality is God. God is not the cause of pain. He is not cruel. Man has stepped outside the parameters of God’s laws. This human life is pain, tragedy, heartache because this life is not in unison with Reality. Jesus Christ died to fix our problem and bring us back into harmony with the Ultimate reality that is beyond time and space, to God Himself.

By Andrew Grosjean 1993