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Episodes
Sermons preached at the Hinckley Evangelical Free Church (Hinckley, MN)
Episodes
Monday Apr 23, 2018
Monday Apr 23, 2018
April 22, 2018
Matthew 5:10-12 (ESV)
10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
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God does not lower His standards just because we don’t live up to it. ....- So He gives us Jesus Christ, so that Christ can work through us to meet the standard!
The Greek word “to persecute” signifies ‘to vex and molest’ sometimes ‘to prosecute another’ to ‘arraign him at the bar’ and ‘to pursue him to the d_______’”
Verse 11 a_________ what is meant here... included in the idea of persecution are, insults, and lies that are spoken of one....
He is not saying “blessed are they that are persecuted”!
What He says is “blessed are those who are persecuted because of r________________!!
What this really means is that they are truly blessed who are determined to, by God’s Grace, live as C_________ lived!
those who are like Him will be p_____________......!!!
J_______ 1:2-4 states; “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
I ________ 5:10 tells us, “And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.”
“‘No servant is greater than his master.' If they persecuted me (And they sure did), they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching (and they did not), they will obey yours also.... If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin. Now, however, they have no excuse for their sin. He who hates me hates my Father as well. (John 15:20-23)
Monday Apr 16, 2018
Monday Apr 16, 2018
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God”. Matthew 5:9
April 15, 2018
To be effective, a peacemaker must be: at peace with ____ Romans 5:1 ; c___________ by the Spirit of God Ephesians 5:18 ; whose fruit is peace Galatians 5:22-23
If you are going to be a peacemaker, then you have to operate with certain biblical truths as foundations…
First of all, you must recognize that a lack of peace in interpersonal relationships is n_______ to the old man.
Second, the peacemaker must offer a spiritual solution for having a proper relationship with God and one’s fellow man. Romans 5:1. And it is that spiritual peace with God that provides the f______________ for peace with one’s fellow man.
Third, the peacemaker must be confident what he is about is i___________ to God... that it is His will....
Psalm 133:1
Proverbs 6:16-19
The Scripture exhorts God’s people to p____________ peace, and when that admonition is heeded, it will spontaneously result in activities of peacemaking.
Romans 14:19
I Timothy 2:
Hebrews 12:14
Realizing that man’s greatest need is reconciliation with God, everyone who is a peacemaker will be actively involved in e___________________.
peacemakers are also actively involved in the ministry of edification. In the realm of peace, this includes both maintenance and restoration.
Ephesians 4:3 admonishes believers to “keep (m__________) the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”
Now, the ministry of restoration includes mending broken interpersonal relationships. Galatians 6:1 states: ”Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should r_____________ him in a spirit of gentleness...”
The Benefit....
The Lord Jesus here states that the peacemakers will “be called sons of God.”
not “tekna” the Greek word for little child, but “huios”.
Tekna speaks of tender affection.... huios speaks of honor, dignity, and standing!!
“In Jewish thought, ‘son’ often bears the meaning ‘partaker of the character of,’ or the like”! D.A.Carson
“called means ‘owned’. Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be ‘owned’ as the children of God, by God!
Monday Apr 09, 2018
Monday Apr 09, 2018
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God”. Matthew 5:8
April 8, 2018
“therefore you are to be __________________, as your Father in Heaven is ______________.” Matt 5:48
What does it mean to be ‘Pure’ in heart??
Proverbs 23:7 (KJV) “As he thinketh in his heart, so is he.”
Proverbs 4:23 “Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flows the springs of life!”
In other words, whatever the heart is, it is the ___________ of the springs of life.
The issues of thinking and feeling and acting all _____________ out of this ‘heart’.
You see, what God really is looking for is a changed heart...
Psalm 51:10 “Create in me a clean heart, O God.”
“Bara”.... which means, “to _______ ________ __________”!
The word “Pure” appears in the New Testament ___ times...
The word is “katharos” And in its noun form it means to cleanse from f_______ and i_________.
It means to be free from s_____.
The word communicates two concepts....
- First it describes that which is “unmixed, unadulterated, without alloy, or that which is ________ or _____________ in general.
- This brings up the second concept, that of “single-_____________....
According to the New American Commentary, “the pure in heart exhibit a single-minded devotion to God that stems from the internal cleansing created by following Jesus.”
How can my heart be made pure???
NUMBER ONE.... know that you cannot do it ____ ______ ______!!
Acts 15:9 tells us that our hearts are cleansed by faith, but faith in what?? I John 1:7 tells us that it is “... the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin!”
The practical purity is no more possible for us than positional purity... both must be the result of our yielding to God... How??
Romans tells us that it is by the r___________ of our minds....
how do we renew our minds??? By the constant a_____________ of our lives to the Word of God, and s_______ to the Will of God.
Purity’s Splendor: They Shall S_____ God! Seeing God” is enjoyed in two aspects, one future, and one present.
The Future:
Paul states that now we see a poor reflection, but then face to face... (I Cor 13:12)...
in fact, the consuming desire to see God has itself a c________ effect on our lives.(I John 3:3)
The present believers are afforded the heavenly vision through eyes of faith.
First is a______________....
God is totally inaccessible to the impure!!!
The believer has access because of positional purity that has been purchased in Christ. (II Cor 5:21)...
practical purity is accomplished through daily c______________ to maintain fellowship with God.
Second, is c___________...
those who are properly related to Christ enjoy incredible spiritual vision, (called d___________ ),
those who are double -minded experience spiritual b______________. (James 1:8)
Monday Apr 02, 2018
Monday Apr 02, 2018
The “Empty” Promises of Easter
Matthew 28:1-10; Mark 16:1-8; Luke 24:1-12,
John 20:1-18
April 1, 2018
God never made a promise that was too good to be true!
The Empty Cross.
Because the cross was empty, we have the promise of forgiven ___________.
The promise of the empty cross is that you and I stand ____________. Because it was on that cross that Jesus paid the ___________ for our sins.
We have “_____ sinned, and fallen short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23
– according to God’s law - “the wages of sin is _________.” Romans 6:23
However, when you look at that empty cross – it is a reminder of God’s promise that we have been forgiven. On that cross – Jesus paid the penalty for our sins.
God’s word tells us again – “God _____________ His own love toward us, in that while we were _______ sinners, CHRIST DIED FOR US!” Romans 5:8
Then there is the “empty Tomb”
The fact of the empty tomb is the truth of the _______________ of Jesus Christ and the promise to every one of us that we too will be ________ to eternal life. Romans 6:5
1 Corinthians 15:51-54 (NASB)
51 Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed,
52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.
53 For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality.
54 But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, "DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory.
There is one more promise that I want you to know about Easter. It is the promise of the empty burial clothes.
You see, that is the promise of the empty burial clothes – Jesus is alive, and wants to _____________ with you.
Revelation 3:20 (NASB)
20 ~'Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.
Monday Apr 02, 2018
Monday Apr 02, 2018
The “Empty” Promises of Easter
Matthew 28:1-10; Mark 16:1-8; Luke 24:1-12,
John 20:1-18
April 1, 2018
God never made a promise that was too good to be true!
The Empty Cross.
Because the cross was empty, we have the promise of forgiven ___________.
The promise of the empty cross is that you and I stand ____________. Because it was on that cross that Jesus paid the ___________ for our sins.
We have “_____ sinned, and fallen short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23
– according to God’s law - “the wages of sin is _________.” Romans 6:23
However, when you look at that empty cross – it is a reminder of God’s promise that we have been forgiven. On that cross – Jesus paid the penalty for our sins.
God’s word tells us again – “God _____________ His own love toward us, in that while we were _______ sinners, CHRIST DIED FOR US!” Romans 5:8
Then there is the “empty Tomb”
The fact of the empty tomb is the truth of the _______________ of Jesus Christ and the promise to every one of us that we too will be ________ to eternal life. Romans 6:5
1 Corinthians 15:51-54 (NASB)
51 Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed,
52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.
53 For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality.
54 But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, "DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory.
There is one more promise that I want you to know about Easter. It is the promise of the empty burial clothes.
You see, that is the promise of the empty burial clothes – Jesus is alive, and wants to _____________ with you.
Revelation 3:20 (NASB)
20 ~'Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.
Monday Mar 26, 2018
Monday Mar 26, 2018
“Blessed are the Merciful, for they shall receive mercy.”
March 25,2018
We are not meant to _______________ our Christianity.
Our Christianity is meant to _____________ us!
The Roman philosopher said that mercy was “the disease of the soul”...a sign of ______________!
The Greek word for mercy is “eleos”, which means to be merciful or sympathetic. It recognizes _______ in another person, and reaches out to meet that _____.
The Hebrew definition is “the ability to step into another person’s skin until we can see with that persons eyes, think with that persons mind, and feel with that persons heart.”
Love acts out of ________; mercy gives out of _________.... Mercy lends its help.... Love gives its heart!
It IS genuine compassion, with pure unselfish motives that reach out to help.
Mercy is____________ the need, not just ___________ it!!!
God is the _____________ of mercy. Ephesians 2:4-5
4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us,
5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ— by grace you have been saved—
This points out that while Mercy springs forth from the Love of God, it is linked to forgiveness of God by _____ _________!
We should be moved with compassion when we are confronted with those in need, resisting the temptation towards ________________.
mercy must always be based on truth, thus it goes beyond sympathy... it does not overlook or condone sin. In fact, the merciful thing to do is to ___________ wrongdoing.
We do not earn mercy by showing mercy... rather we recognize God’s mercy toward us and then we demonstrate it to others.
It is our __________ __________ to God for mercy every time that we sin.... And as we receive more mercy we are able to demonstrate more mercy...
So, how do we demonstrate mercy???
Spiritually:
by sharing the gospel with those who are lost,
confronting others about their sin,
Practically:
helping a hurting child,
visiting a hospitalized friend or even an enemy,
forgiving an offender,
befriend a loner,
feed a hungry person, etc.etc..
Monday Mar 19, 2018
Monday Mar 19, 2018
Matthew 5:6(ESV)
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied (filled, completely satisfied).”
March 18,2018
... we are not meant to hunger and thirst after ___________
... we are not meant to hunger and thirst after ____________
... If we want to be truly happy, and blessed we must hunger and thirst after_________________...
Just what is Righteousness??
it means a desire to be free from sin, because sin ____________ ___ from God.
Therefore, it means a desire to be ______________with God...
.... it is that desire to be free from the___ _____________ to sin and for sin.
To hunger and thirst after righteousness is nothing but the longing to be ___________ _______.
Just what does it mean to hunger and thirst...
It means a consciousness of our need to the point of ___________....
it speaks of something that keeps on until it is ______________.
The words that Jesus uses here are framed in the continuous ... the ones who ARE hungering... the ones who ARE thirsting...
What is the result of this? ….They shall be filled!!!!
it speaks of an ___________ satisfaction. They have all that they want.
So, how do I know if I’m really hungering and thirsting after righteousness??
- Are you ___________ with yourself?? Or do you feel a constant pain of always falling short???
- Does anything ____________ satisfy you? Do you find that things have a lot of influence on how you feel?
- Do you have an ____________ for the Word of God? If we do not spend time in God’s Word, we will never greatly desire to live for God.
- Are you digging the sin out of your life?? Sin short-circuits the ______________ line between God and us.
- How is your _________ _______?? The secret of a victorious walk is to keep in constant communication with the Commander.
- Finally, to be spiritually strong, we must spend time with the right kind of people... Heb 10:25 encourages us to forsake not the assembling of ourselves together....
- That includes sharing your _________....
Monday Mar 12, 2018
Monday Feb 26, 2018
Monday Feb 26, 2018
“Blessed are the Meek, for they shall inherit the earth.”
February 25,2018
The meaning of meekness was ___________ or _________
meekness: the ________________ between a hot headed temper that was rooted in anger, and a spineless indifference to the injustice that occurred in the world.
used of the man who did not give ______, _______ answers to others -- one who did not demand his _______________!
It was the word that was used of an animal that had once been wild, but now was ________ and _______.
a “soothing _______________ that brought healing to the body”.
Brokenness focuses on _______________________
Meekness focuses on ________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Meekness is a gentleness and a mildness, and a subdued character, but it is not _______________.
IT IS POWER UNDER _________________...
it is a byproduct of self-emptying... of self-humiliation, of brokenness before God.
As with so many of the virtues of the Christian life, meekness is a word of ________________.
This is not a natural reaction, it is supernatural...therefore it is not surprising that meekness is a part of the _______________.
The result of meekness:
first, they are “blessed”...that word Makarios... it is the experience of a deep abiding, true joy... based on an eternal ___________________________!!!!
Second, “The meek shall inherit the earth”...
The word that is used her in the Greek means “to receive an _________________”....
Because we belong to Christ, our place in the kingdom is as _____________ as His.
Inherit is a future tense verb... we’re going to be there as a part of the kingdom... we are going to reign with Christ! (I Cor. 3:21-23)
Monday Feb 19, 2018
Monday Feb 19, 2018
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.”
February 18,2018
The word that Jesus used for “mourning” here (pentheo) is strongest, most severe of all nine Greek words used for grief in the Scriptures.
___________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
Psalm 32:1-2
1 How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered!
2 How blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity,…
Comforted is from Greek word parakaleō, the same word that, as a noun, is rendered “Comforter”, or “Helper”.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Romans 7:14-25
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The Benefits of Mourning:
Mourning protects a believer from __________.....
Mourning focuses a believer on the true ________ of comfort.....
Mourning causes us to seek _______ for Christ.....