“Exchanging Glory for Gumbo & Sonship for Pig Slop”

Associate Pastor Aaron Cavanauagh

Hebrews 12:14-17

As a runner in a race has goals to pursue and traps to avoid, God calls us to pursue certain goals and avoid certain traps. We must strive at being at peace with all people. This takes the grace of God and an enduring commitment in our soul. We must also pursue sanctification or holiness. One goal deals with our relationship with people and the other deals with our relationship to God. As God is holy or pure and set apart from sin, He calls us to be holy and set apart from sin. Are you growing in becoming like Christ? Are you growing in the disciplines of putting off sinful behavior, attitudes, speech, habits, tv shows, and even thoughts? Are you growing in bible reading, study, meditation, and memorization? Beware: to not be growing in holiness and a commitment to God’s Word points to some very serious harbingers.

There are also significant traps to avoid. We must not fall short of God’s grace. People who think they can come to God by their own good merit or their own rule-keeping (legalism), they don’t really understand the basics of Christianity or the gospel: that Christ died for sinful humans, and his forgiveness is freely offered without price and without our ability to pay God back.

We must also avoid the trap of bitterness. Like the trumpet vine that grows some 15 feet underground before raising its stone-busting, destructive shoots, bitterness is like a poisoned root that infects our own hearts but can also bring shipwreck to fellow believers all around us.

Last, the Lord warns us of the dangers of being driven by fleshly, short-sighted passions like Esau who lived by his feelings, gave in to fleshly and sexually immoral desires and exchanged a vast spiritual and financial inheritance for a comparatively worthless bowl of stew that would leave him only to hunger again within a few short hours. Think of the prodigal son who forsook his father and wasted his inheritance on the party life only to be left broke and alone, eating slop with the pigs. What choices might we be making that are led by our gut rather than the glory of God? What pleasures are we seeking or delighting in that don’t compare to the eternal, soul-satisfying pleasures that come from knowing, trusting and obeying the sovereign King of Heaven? What pleasures appeal to or feed our fleshly appetite rather than our soul?

“leap of faith” Dr. Valen Prest Matthew 14:22-36

Introduction

When God does Something New There is always ______________.

When God Does Something New There is always a _____________. 

When God Does Something New There is always ______________.

When God Does Something New There is always a _____________. 

There are two kinds of storms:

Warren Wiersby named them:

1. Storms of ____________

2. Storms of ____________

a. Where in your life are you out of your depth?

b. Where are you facing resistance from the wind?

Jesus doesn’t promise to ________ us from trouble, but He does promise to go with us _________ the trouble.

Resistance helps us to grow

When God Does Something New There is always a ____________ life. 

Conclusion

As you begin the next chapter of your life, answer these questions

1. Who is Jesus Christ to you?

2. What are you going to do about Him?

3. What is your response to who He is? You are either all in! or not in at all!

What Happened After the Miracle of Walking on Water?

Back to business as usual (whatever usual business is when you follow Jesus)

1. Everyone who touched Jesus was healed

2. None of the Disciples talked about Jesus walking on the water

a. Sometimes Jesus sends us places we wouldn’t choose to go

b. Jesus speaks courage to us in the midst of our storms of life

c. Jesus is inviting us to join him on the edge of the impossible

• What is your “if” - If God does this, I’ll do that?

• In what area of my life do I want to invite Jesus to join me?

• Jesus has a plan for you. Are you willing to take a step into the unknown?

• What step does He want you to take?

INTRODUCTION

Last Sunday, the Preacher went on a search for the true meaning of life and the purpose for living. He tried wisdom, pleasure, and possessions only to conclude that all is vanity and chasing after the wind. Therefore, he concluded that the best thing to do is to please God and enjoy His gifts in life. Today, he discovers that God is sovereign over all of life: both his earthly life and his eternal destiny. 

GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY OVER THE SEASONS OF LIFE  (vv. 1-8)

GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY OVER TIME AND ETERNITY   (vv. 9-15)

GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY OVER MAN’S ETERNAL DESTINY  (vv. 16-22)

APPLICATION

· Fear God.

· Do not fear the present time or the future.

CONCLUSION

Beloved, God sent His Son Jesus to this world at the appointed time, “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.” (Galatians 4:4-5). Are you resting in your Father’s care who has set the times of your life? 

“The search for meaning” Ecclesiastes 1:12-2:26

Introduction

Last Sunday, the Preacher looking at life under the sun observed that everything is vanity and vanity of vanities. That life here on earth is monotonous, fleeting, unsatisfying, and inconsequential. Today, he continues his search for the true meaning of life and the purpose for living. He tries wisdom, pleasure, possessions only to conclude that all is vanity and chasing after the wind. Therefore, the best thing to do is to please God and enjoy what He gives. 

THE VANITY OF HUMAN PROBING (1:12-18)

THE VANITY OF HUMAN PLEASURES (2:1-11)

THE VANITY OF HUMAN POSSESSIONS (2:18-26)

Application

• If you are looking for the meaning and purpose of life in education, pleasure, possessions, and wealth, you are looking in all the wrong places and it will only bring disappointment. It is a hopeless quest.

• Since all human endeavors apart from God are empty; “… seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness...” (Matthew 6:25-33). 

Conclusion

Beloved, the Preacher has searched for meaning through wisdom, pleasure, possessions, and wealth -- he could only conclude that all is vanity and chasing after the wind. God is the One who gives wisdom, knowledge and joy. The true meaning and purpose of life is found in a living relationship with Jesus. Do you know Him? 

“There is nothing new under the sun” Ecclesiastes 1:1-11

Introduction

The Book of Ecclesiastes is one of the most unusual books of the Bible. It has a spirit of hopeless despair; it seems to promote questionable conduct. The message of the book has long fascinated and puzzled commentators. Many have wondered if this book has anything of relevance to say to the Old Testament people, much less to the church today. Yet, in our highly secular, materialistic society, there is much that the message of the book can teach us. The book teaches us about life lived in the real world. Most importantly, Ecclesiastes teaches us to live life with the end in mind.

VANITY OF VANITIES! ALL IS VANITY        (vv. 1-2)

NOTHING CHANGES UNDER THE SUN      (vv. 3-11)

• Life under the sun is monotonous (v. 3)

• Life under the sun is fleeting (vv. 4-7)

• Life under the sun is unsatisfying (v. 8)

• Life under the sun is inconsequential (vv. 9-11)

Application

• In Christ your work is not in vain

• In Christ all things under the sun are being made new

 Conclusion

Beloved, there is another “Son of David”, who is King not just over Jerusalem, but over the whole universe. His name is Jesus. He came as a “Preacher” “... proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:14-15). Have you repented and believed the good news of Jesus?

“Healing for hurting hearts” Psalm 73

Associate Pastor Aaron Cavanaugh

Does it ever seem to you that evil people seem to prosper? The Psalmist Asaph looked at similar scenarios in his day. It seemed that so many good people died young and suffered hardship in this life, whereas many evil people are comparatively rich and seem to live in relative ease. All of this left Asaph wondering: if God is truly good and just, then why do evil men seem to prosper? Is this fair?

But then God lets Asaph see God’s eternal perspective. While God is exceedingly gracious with the wicked, they will, in fact, get the punishment they deserve. Though we are tempted to doubt God’s goodness and sovereign control, though we are tempted to envy the prosperity of the wicked, we must remember that the wicked will have their day of judgment before a holy God, whether in life or death. God will have his day in heaven’s eternal courtroom.

Asaph’s eyes are also opened to see that earthly prosperity and physical blessings are not the truest and most enduring riches. God is the greatest and most enduring treasure our hearts could ever know, and his guiding, comforting presence is better than vast wealth. Though our earthly possessions dwindle and these frail bodies fail, to have God is to have all that you need.

Application

Are you tempted to envy the prosperity of others (house, car, health, spouse, kids, job)? Have you been tempted to grow bitter and angry at God for someone who suffered or died at a relatively young age? Consider God into your equations about ultimate justice. Don’t doubt the goodness or the power of God: He is worthy of your trust. Do you treasure God? Do you see Him as the greatest inheritance for your soul? Is church just a religious hobby for you on Sundays, or is God the refuge for your soul? Treasure Him in your heart, then go and tell others of His mighty works.Item description

“IF GOD IS FOR US”

Romans 8:31-39

Introduction

Paul concludes this glorious chapter on a crescendo. Having told us last time, that God works in all things for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. Today, he says that when you have God on your side, it doesn’t matter who is against you. No one

1.  WHO CAN BE AGAINST YOU? NO ONE (v. 31)

2. WHO CAN DENY THAT GOD LOVES YOU? NO ONE (v. 32)

3. WHO CAN BRING ANY CHARGE AGAINST YOU? NO ONE (v. 33)

4.  WHO CAN CONDEMN YOU? NO ONE (v. 34)

5. WHO CAN SEPARATE YOU FROM THE LOVE OF CHRIST? NO ONE (vv. 35-39) 

Application

• Death cannot, will not, separate you from the love of God. 

• Trust God and resist the devil who seeks to rob you of your joy, peace and security.

CONCLUSION 

Beloved, be encouraged and be comforted in the fact that as a Christian there is no one and nothing in the whole universe who can separate you from the love of God in Christ Jesus. The missionary, Jim Elliot wrote, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep in order to gain what he cannot lose.” Out of love, God gave his own Son up for your salvation. How are you loving God?  

“GOD WORKS IN ALL THINGS FOR GOOD”

Romans 8:28-30

 Introduction

Last week we saw that the Holy Spirit comes to help us, work in us, through us, and even beyond us by interceding for us in our prayers. Today we see that God works all things for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.

CERTAINTIES REGARDING GOD’S SOVEREIGN PROVIDENCE TOWARDS HIS PEOPLE (v. 28)

• God works

• All things

• Together for good

• To those who love God, and are called according to His purpose

CONFIRMATIONS REGARDING GOD’S SOVEREIGN PLAN OF SALVATION (vv. 29-30)

• Foreknew

• Predestined

• Called

• Justified

• Glorified

Application

• God loves you because He has chosen to love you.

• God is using all things to make you more like Jesus.

CONCLUSION 

Beloved, rest assured that your salvation is secure because God originated it, He effected it, and He will complete it. He is working to conform you to the image of His Son. It is all designed for His glory.

“THE HOLY SPIRIT’S HELP” Romans 8:26-27

Introduction

Last Sunday, Paul mentioned that the creation is groaning under bondage, and that we ourselves groan inwardly waiting for the redemption of our bodies. Today, he adds that the Holy Spirit also groans as He intercedes on our behalf.    

THE HOLY SPIRIT HELPS YOU IN YOUR WEAKNESS (v. 26) 

THE HOLY SPIRIT HELPS YOU PRAY  (v. 27)

Application

• Be encouraged that in your weakness the Spirit of God is praying for you.

• Be encouraged that God the Father hears and answers the prayers of God the Spirit. 

CONCLUSION 

Beloved, remember that you have two intercessors. One in heaven – Jesus, and one in your heart – the Holy Spirit. You may not know what to pray for, but you have a Holy Prayer Partner who does. That should encourage you to keep on praying, no matter how weak and helpless you feel.