INTRODUCTION:
Mission Statement:
The Redeeming River Church is a family of believers committed to preaching the cross with conviction, reaching the lost with compassion, and equipping the saints with the Word!
Three results of not understanding the Mission.
1. Plateaued Growth - growth seems to reach a certain level and then drop back down
2. Internal Conflict - constant infighting caused by an ignorance of what should be happening
3. Low Moral - leaders become discouraged when structure or bureaucracy stymies their vision for growth
Definitions
1. Equipping - Provide with something for a specific purpose
2. The Saints – those who have come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ
3. With The Word – ‘logos’ denotes the essential Word of God, Jesus Christ, the personal wisdom and power in union with God, his minister in creation and government of the universe, the cause of all the world’s life both physical and ethical, which for the procurement of man’s salvation put on human nature in the person of Jesus the Messiah, the second person in the Godhead, and shone forth conspicuously from His words and deeds.
I. JUST GIVE ME THE WORD
A. SOMEBODY IS WAITING ON THE WORD
1. Before a battle - Foot soldiers wait on the word to attack
2. Before a symphany – Players wait on the conductors cue or word
3. Before a child feels blessed – They wait on a parents word to bless them
4. Before a person with faith has the power of God move through them – They wait on a word from the Holy Spirit to quicken them
B. SINCE THE BEGINNING MAN KIND HAS BEEN WAITING ON A WORD
1. John 1:1-5
1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2The same was in the beginning with God.
3All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
4In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
5And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
2. Jesus is the embodiment of the plan of God
3. Since the beginning He was there
4. That means that since the beginning of time God knew He was going to love on us so much that he would sacrifice himself for us.
5. The Word is the embodiment of God’s heart toward us
6. When God said “Let there be light” He knew that we would be able to behold the beauty of His creation.
7. When God created the firmament, He knew that one day you would look over the horizon and see His handywork
8. When God separated the earth from the waters, He had already predestined for His son to be on a ship on a stormy sea...He knew he would say “peace be still”, and the disciples would see...
9. When God created the Sun He created it so that you could watch it go over the horizon every evening
10. When He formed the stars and hung them
11. When He molded the moon and attached its orbit to the earth
12. He knew that we would see how much he loves us
13. He gave the birds a song in the morning
14. The plants he made them exhale oxygen and intake carbon dioxide, because
15. His prized creation was waiting to be formed out of the dust of the ground
16. Through His heart to be loved and to love
17. Through His Word...He formed us
18. He breathed into us...and we became living souls!
C. THE WORD IS ALIVE
1. Not only has the Word been around since the beginning
2. The Word is alive today
3. He was alive when Stephen was stoned
4. Acts 7:55
55But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,
5. He was alive when Paul was converted
6. Acts 9:3
3And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:
4And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
5And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
7. He is alive now...
8. He is alive forevermore!
D. THE WORD CANNOT BE DESTROYED
1. Matthew 24:35
35Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
2. Revelation 19:11-13
11And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
13And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
II. SOUND DOCTRINE & ITCHING EARS
A. AN APPLE A DAY KEEPS THE DOCTOR AWAY
1. Most of us have heard the old school yard chant
2. “An apple a day keeps the doctor away”
3. Of course the thinking behind this is that good food makes you healthy
4. Not to mention it rymes so it is catchy
5. Kind of like “ A chocolate candy bar a day helps you pray”
6. Or “A chocolate cake a week helps you speak”
7. Can I get an Amen?
8. We know to eat good means to feel good
9. When we feed our bodies junk it is not healthy
10. When we feed ourselves with stuff that taste good it isn’t always good.
B. TO BE SOUND IS TO BE HEALTHY
1. I Timothy 4:3
3For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
2. When something is sound it is solid
3. I can have a sound pitching arm in baseball
4. My business can be sound when I have enough money coming in to pay all of the bills and make some money too!
5. Sound in the Bible means the same thing
6. It means without errors or healthy
7. It is time the church get some sound doctrine
8. It don’t always taste good
9. But it is good
C. WHEN SOMETHING ITCHES
1. My daughter has eczema
2. If you don’t know someone with real bad eczema you need to know something
3. Sometimes she itches herself until her arms bleed
4. When I tell her to stop she says she can’t because it just itches too bad
5. How many of you know that when you are tempted
6. It just itches too bad
7. It is when the flesh is driving you
8. It seems as if you are out of control
9. Paul experienced this strugle
10. Romans 7:14-18
14For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.
15For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.
16If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.
17Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
18For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
11. How many of you know that when something itches you can’t always scratch it?
D. SPIRITUAL CORTIZONE CREAM
1. I came in here this morning to give you some spiritual cortizone cream
2. It might burn when It goes on, but later on you’ll thank me for it
3. It might be uncomfortable now, but you will be better off later for it
4. Hebrews 4:12
12For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
5. A people grounded in the Word is a people who can tell the difference between what they feel in their emotions and what they know in their spirit.
III. WE MUST BE AWARE OF THE TRUTH
A. THE TRUTH HURTS
1. Somebody told me the other day that if my breath stinks I don’t want somebody to lie and tell me it smells good
2. A lot of people tell me to preach the Word...the whole Word
3. But the truth is going to hurt!
4. Do you really want the whole Word, or just the parts you want?
5. Military personell go to boot camp
6. To condition their bodies
7. To condition their mind
8 To fight in what they believe in
9. I came in here this morning to talk to someone who believes in something that is worth fighting for!
10. I came in here this morning to recruit those who believe in an eternal cause
11. I came in here this morning to tell you that if you want to fight in the war you have to go to boot camp
12. Training is going to be hard
13. You don’t belong to yourself anymore
14. You belong to the Lord!
B. GROWING PAINS
1. I remember football and lacrosse in High School
2. Every time we began to practice I would begin to get cramps
3. All night long I would wake up with cramps in my legs
4. Cramps in my sides
5. Cramps everywhere
6. When you begin to excersice in the spirit you are going to get cramps
7. You are going to be uncomforable
8. You are growing!
9. Somebody in here is in pain and I came here to tell you that you are growing!
C. I DON’T WANNA GROW UP
1. Toys R Us had a song
2. “I don’t want to grow up I’m a Toys r us kid”
3. Some folks sing a song
4. “I don’t want to grow up I’m a Church goin kid”
Theres lots of things that I refuse I just don’t want to give
D. I’M GONNA BE A MAN
1. I Corinthians 13:11
11When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
2. It’s about time that the people in the church take the whole Word of God
3. We are going to build this church up with the Word of God
4. We don’t need a gimmick or some type of stupid punch line
5. We need the Word
6. Jesus is the Word
7. When we accept the whole Word we are accepting Jesus
CONCLUSION:
· Who in here this morning is willing to say I will take the Word even if it hurts?
· I will eat the Word even when it taste bitter in my mouth?
· I will accept the Word over my feelings or my desires?
· I’m going to be a sellout for Christ?
Mission Statement:
The Redeeming River Church is a family of believers committed to preaching the cross with conviction, reaching the lost with compassion, and equipping the saints with the Word!
Who is with me this morning?
