icon__search

Hope III: "Action Time"

10/27/19

October 27, 2019 • Paul Barnard

Hope III “Action time”

1Pe 1:13 Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

1Pe 1:14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former
ignorance,


* Go back to what conformed you and be set free

* Your past doesn’t determine your future


1Pe 1:15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 1Pe 1:16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”


* Clean or pure (get the dirt out)


1Pe 1:17 And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one's deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, 1Pe 1:18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 1Pe 1:19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.


* There are things handed down to you that need to be addressed

* Transformation is a given when we understand what the blood of Jesus did


1Pe 1:20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you 1Pe 1:21 who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.


* Leaving the disfunction of hoping in the world and its worth




*Life group questions:*

Have you identified a weakness? How has it affected you in life?
What is the difficulty that we have in searching out the root of our problems?
What does our identity in Christ have to do with our weakness?
What can we do this week to begin to break chains of our past?

Hope X: "Hope Killers"

December 8, 2019 • Paul Barnard

Hope IV “Hope Killers” Suffering causes severe things in our life (weakness, faltering and isolation) *1Pe 5:8* Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. The adversary (Against what is right) is the one is coming against you The devil-author of confusion, deception and fear —a beautiful angel of light, Prowling or roaming in his world (greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world) Like a lion- - Away from the herd - Weak and sick - Young *1Pe 5:9* Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. Resist him -Jas 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. firm in your faith- *intervention vs. prevention* Intervention faith is faith born out of crisis (foxhole faith) Prevention faith is faith born out of discipline and intentional, planned growth (faith before the foxhole) *Conclusion:* Satan is coming. When he gets here is not the time to grow faith your faith. Grow your faith before. How is your faith at this moment? Are you planning your faith or hoping your faith? First step is repentance, second is obedience and the third is victory. Connect, Grow and Repent (turn away from sin) _*Questions:*_ 1. How do you picture Satan when you see him in your head? What does he look like? Is this reality? 2. How has connecting, growing and repenting protecting you from Satan? (specific instances) 3. How does your faith measure up? Is it an intervention faith or prevention faith? 4. What are some ways to get prevention faith not intervention?

Hope VIII - Elders

December 1, 2019 • Paul Barnard

Hope VII "The Decisive Moment

November 24, 2019 • Paul Barnard

Hope VIII “The Decisive Moment” 1. 1Pe 4:1 Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 1Pe 4:2 so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God. * The more you go through the more you should have a “don’t quit now” * “Whoever has suffered for doing right, and has still gone on obeying God in spite of the suffering it involved, has made a clear break with sin.” (Grudem) 2. 1Pe 4:3 For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. You’ve already put in your time in that God-ignorant way of life, partying night after night, a drunken and profligate life. Now it’s time to be done with it for good. MSG * Suffering always leads to a decisive moment * Your decisive moment can be your defining moment 3. 1Pe 4:4 With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you; 1Pe 4:5 but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. * There are people all around that do not make it through the suffering and will encourage you to give in as well. * Once again, the tension rises and a decisive moment is born. * Example- Marriage suffering and the bad advice from other sufferers. Conclusion: You have a choice. Live for you or Jesus. Live for them or Jesus. Live for it or Jesus. Its time to make your decisive moment your defining moment *Life Group Questions:* 1. How does suffering cause you to be stronger in your fight against sin? 2. Have you had to decide to move forward in a time of struggle when you did not want to? What caused you to move forward? 3. Explain how your decisive moments can be you defining moments in your peronsal life. 4. How have people treated you when you abstained from sin? Negative? Positive? 5. What could Jesus have done to end His sfuffering on the cross? Did He? Should You?