Generosity

Palmdale Church

Generosity

Lent 2024

February 18, 2024 • Anthony Delgado • Malachi 3:10–12, Ephesians 1:5–8, 1 Timothy 6:18, 2 Corinthians 9:7–11, Exodus 35:5

We are called to be generous people because God is a generous God. Generosity requires sacrifice to give more than is expected.

"He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace that he lavished on us in the Beloved One. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace that he richly poured out on us with all wisdom and understanding." (Ephesians 1:5–8)

It is God’s will to pour out his grace upon us generously. God’s generosity towards humankind results in praise for his glorious grace.

If God is generous towards us, the pattern is that we should be generous in his likeness. During Lent, we should intentionally make an effort to be generous to each other–neighbors, friends, and especially each other in the church. When we are generous towards each other, it reminds us of God’s generosity through Christ, and we give thanks to God.

Lent is a time of sacrifice that grows us spiritually so we become more like God. So generously giving to God is a natural thing to do at this time.

He Must Go to Jerusalem

March 24, 2024 • Anthony Delgado • Matthew 16:21–27

In Matthew 16, Jesus prephesies about what will happen when he goes to Jerusalem. There are three reasons Jesus had to go to Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. 1. To suffer 2. To Die and Rise 3. Because it was the will of God. Following the pattern of Jesus, we too must "go to Jerusalem" in a metaphorical sense. A spiritual Journey requires going to Jerusalem to suffer, to die, in order to rise. We must: 1. Suffer as we deny ourselves. 2. Die to the flesh so we can be raised in new life. 3. Because it is the will of God. You don’t have to be a follower of Jesus to know that the pain of discipline produces fruit in your life. But, as Christians, we’re not talking about the pain of not eating food you like in order to lose weight when we talk about dying to yourself. It’s more. We’re talking about a true submission to Christ as King in every area of your life–not holding onto anything you want in the flesh, but submitting all things to the will of God–complete transformation so that we can please God according to his will and purpose.

Lent Series Recap

Anthony Delgado

This video is a recap of our 2024 Lent Series: * What is Lent * Generosity * Temperance * Prudence * Courage * Faith

Faith

March 17, 2024 • Anthony Delgado • Hebrews 11:1–6

Faith has a static and dynamic quality. The static quality of faith is the state of faith that saves; allegiance. The dynamic quality of faith is an ongoing outpouring of faith; exercise, sanctification – virtue. the dynamic faith we live is an outpouring of the static faith that we possess. The static quality of our faith that we can rely on. It’s an anchor, a confidence that goes back to our forefathers and will be present throughout this age. It is our hope and proof of our eternal standing before God. The Kingdom of God lies before us. Our faith is foundational. Our allegiance to Christ is the basis of our unchanging, unwavering hope - the proof of what we cannot see (Hebrews 11:1-2). We don’t see the Kingdom of God, but we experience the Kingdom of God. We experience our faith in three ways: * Experience of the Kingdom through relationship with God * Experience of the Kingdom through the church * Experience of the Kingdom through the wisdom of God in the scriptures There is also a dynamic nature to our faith that affects how we live out our faith in day-to-day life. The Author of Hebrews gives us 3 expressions of dynamic faith that come from the OT scriptures: * Creation from Nothing: Belief in the Creator (Hebrews 11:3) * Cain and Abel: Acceptable Worship (Hebrews 11:4) * Enoch: Living to Please God (Hebrews 11:5) We please God through our faith (Hebrews 11:6). Without faith, it is impossible to please God. But he rewards those who seek him.