Life Line Baptist Church Young Adult Ministry

2010-07-15T16:33:00.000-07:00

Prayer of true repentance

Psalm 51 (New International Version)
Psalm 51
For the director of music. A psalm of David. When the prophet Nathan came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba.
1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.
4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge.
5 Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
6 Surely you desire truth in the inner parts ; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place.
7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
9 Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity.
10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will turn back to you.
14 Save me from bloodguilt, O God, the God who saves me, and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.
15 O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.
16 You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
18 In your good pleasure make Zion prosper; build up the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then there will be righteous sacrifices, whole burnt offerings to delight you; then bulls will be offered on your altar.

We all will be tempted. Spiritual Maturity and understanding the ways of God is they way to defeat the Devil

James 1
Trials and Temptations
2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; 8he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.

This reminds me of an old joke…..
What is the Number one cause of Divorce??? Marriage.

Hierarchy for maintaining your Life and marriage

Relationship with (in order):

God
Spouse
immediate family (children)
extended family
friends-church family

The building of a pyramid. God is the base, the foundation. No house can stand divided.

Notice the second is spouse.

Five things to have a good marriage, not in any hierarchy

Honesty- honesty with yourself (God), and openness with your spouse

Accountability. Example, knowing where your spouse is……the only secret is what your spouse is getting as a present for an event.

Obey- not in the sense of the dog, but in the ancient sense.

Communication- with each other and before God

Serving together- encouraging each other in Godly service.

Model marriage off the Christ example. Forgiveness always available with repentance.

2010-07-15T16:29:00.000-07:00

Faithfulness and Mental Adultery
May 23, 2010

A follow up to the word Obey…….

Marriage submissionMonday, September 18, 2006
The scripture says that a woman's desire shall be to her husband and that he is to have the rule over her. It also says a woman is to be subject to her husband in all things. Does this mean that he is to have control over her every thought and action?
The model for husband and wife relationships is found in Ephesians 5:25. Husbands are to love their wives as Christ loved the church and be willing to lay down their lives for them. So, it is a self-sacrificial love, and the husband should put the wife first and look out for her and protect her. In Ephesians 5:22, it says that wives are to be in submission to their husband, that does not mean that she is a doormat; it means that a woman is submitting to a man who is fulfilling his God-given role.

From the beginning, God had presented his thoughts on Adultery.

In the early part of his relationship with man, God establishes his basic thoughts and principals concerning his ideas of a marriage relationship.

Exodus 20

14 "You shall not commit adultery.

16 "You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.

17 "You shall not covet your neighbor's house. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor."

Condition of the Heart.

Adultery has several meanings coming from the ancient text.
Physical relations with someone other than spouse
Spiritual discord that lusts after something not proper (longing)

Matthew 5

Adultery
27"You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.' 28But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.

This Proverb is from Solomon to his son. The water is a metaphor of sexual desire. Cistern is for spouse. This displays the wisdom of keeping a holistic relationship with your spouse.
Proverbs 5
15 Drink water from your own cistern, running water from your own well.
16 Should your springs overflow in the streets, your streams of water in the public squares?
17 Let them be yours alone, never to be shared with strangers.
18 May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth.
19 A loving doe, a graceful deer— may her breasts satisfy you always, may you ever be captivated by her love.
20 Why be captivated, my son, by an adulteress? Why embrace the bosom of another man's wife?
21 For a man's ways are in full view of the LORD, and he examines all his paths.
22 The evil deeds of a wicked man ensnare him; the cords of his sin hold him fast.
23 He will die for lack of discipline, led astray by his own great folly.

This is a warning against sin and the sin particularly of adultery. This has a physical and spiritual connotation of it.
Proverbs 5
Warning Against Adultery
1 My son, pay attention to my wisdom, listen well to my words of insight,
2 that you may maintain discretion and your lips may preserve knowledge.
3 For the lips of an adulteress drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil;
4 but in the end she is bitter as gall, sharp as a double-edged sword.
5 Her feet go down to death; her steps lead straight to the grave.
6 She gives no thought to the way of life; her paths are crooked, but she knows it not.
7 Now then, my sons, listen to me; do not turn aside from what I say.
8 Keep to a path far from her, do not go near the door of her house,
9 lest you give your best strength to others and your years to one who is cruel,
10 lest strangers feast on your wealth and your toil enrich another man's house.
11 At the end of your life you will groan, when your flesh and body are spent.

Example of how God hates the idea of Sexual immorality and adultery

Revelation 17
The Woman and the Beast

1One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, "Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits on many waters. 2With her the kings of the earth committed adultery and the inhabitants of the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her adulteries."

I forgot who said this.

The first look doesn’t necessarily get you in trouble, it’s the second look…..
Unknow

2010-07-15T16:23:00.000-07:00

May 16, 2010
Definitions of the Vows

Ephesians 5 (New International Version)

Wives and Husbands
22Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. 23For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. 24Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.
25Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church— 30for we are members of his body. 31"For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh."32This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. 33However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
Paul is referencing the Verse from Genesis

Genesis 2 (New International Version)

24 For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.

People use this in their ceremonies. Let’s examine the words and the source of the meanings. There is some controversy over the obey.

Do you take **** to be your lawfully wedded (spouse), to love, honor, and obey?

Love- ahab to love like. A strong emotional attachment to and desire to possess or to be in the presence of the object: familial, romantic, of friendship.

Agapao- related to the word Agape, describes the attitude of God toward his Son and on the human race in general.

Honor- kabed Heavy numerous and severe, rich…. This adjective bears the connotation of heaviness as an enduring ever present quality, a lasting thing

Obey- peitho the NT suggests this to be an actual and outward result of the in inward persuasion and consequent faith.

Pisteuo this is a word that implies trust. It is closely related to peitho which is an outward expression (behavior) of this idea…..

Lawfully ennomos lawful legal literally in the law.

The ulitmate view the Bible has on the Marriage of the Lamb....

Revelation 19 (New International Version)

6Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: "Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. 7Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. 8Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear." (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.)
9Then the angel said to me, "Write: 'Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!' " And he added, "These are the true words of God."
10At this I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, "Do not do it! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."

2010-07-15T16:16:00.000-07:00

The Top 10 Reasons for Divorce

Compiling accurate statistics on the most commonly cited causes of the breakdown of a marriage is virtually impossible, since different counties within the same state can place different requirements on couples, and use different reporting methodology. With such differences even within a single state, pulling accurate data from a group across several countries is next to impossible. However, many different research articles on reasons for divorce come up with the same main causes again and again. So, while we cannot provide accurate numerical data, it is possible to produce an unranked list of ten of the most common reasons for divorce:

Infidelity
It could be argued that infidelity within marriages is a reaction by a spouse to the real breakdown of the marriage, and is not itself the cause. Either way, it is cited as the cause for nearly a third of US divorces and is therefore the most common reason for divorce. Some surveys have shown that adultery occurs in over half of failed marriages. Spouses may be unfaithful consistently during an affair, intermittently, or just once in a one night stand. Common explanations for unfaithfulness include resentment or anger (with the other spouse), sexual boredom, and many of the other causes of marital failure.

Communication Breakdown
After having lived with a spouse for a number of years, it may become apparent that the couple becomes unable to communicate in a normal, meaningful fashion. Either spouse's inability to avoid exchanges which invariably result in conflict is representative of a communication breakdown in the marriage. In extreme cases, especially if accompanied by abusive tendencies or other symptoms of dysfunction, a growing inability to deal with any verbal exchanges without conflict could be indicative of a much more serious problem that requires the attention of a mental health professional. More often, however, growing differences between the spouses which may have their roots in other mentioned causes are to blame for communication breakdowns.

Physical, Psychological, or Emotional Abuse
Where either spouse is frequently abusive towards children or each other, the other spouse has clear grounds for divorce. Physical abuse includes violence, fighting, manhandling, and physical bullying of an individual. Psychological and emotional abuse can be as seemingly innocuous as verbal insults, and can range to taunting, humiliation, intimidation, and consistent negative reinforcement.

Financial Issues
One of the most common reasons for divorce is economic strain or collapse of the family. Every couple has to deal with money at some stage, and when there is not enough to go around, differences in temperament and priorities are brought to a head. Even if there is no debt incurred, disagreements over the allocation of money and resources within the marriage and the home can often be enough to end an already irritated relationship.

Sexual Incompatibility
Biological research has shown that the average strength of the sex drive in men and women is most similar throughout life for couples aged about ten years apart. However, the majority of couples marry only a few years apart, and as such, once the couple approaches their 30s, the trend is for the strength of their respective sex drives to fall out of synchronization. If there are already marked differences of sexual taste and preferences, or any other problems in the bedroom, this incompatibility is further exacerbated.

Boredom
Biologically speaking, humans' preference is to pair for about seven years before changing mates. While well matched couples will, naturally, stay together for much longer than this, and possibly for life, most do not. Some couples will eventually grow distant, disinterested, and eventually bored with each other. Such divorces are often the least bitter of all, and often end amiably enough.

Religious and Cultural Strains
Couples of mixed ethnicity, religion, or from significantly different cultures may find themselves being pressured by the expectations of their spouse, or their spouse's culture to conform to the ideals of the other. This may include resentment at having to observe the dietary taboos of a culture, or more seriously, disputes over the spiritual development of any children. Most parents prefer that their children be the same religion as themselves, which immediately creates tension even in relatively happy multicultural marriages.

Child Rearing
Serious disputes over the appropriate upbringing of a child are often enough to provoke an application for a petition of divorce by a parent. Cases of neglect and abuse are especially pertinent here, however, simple disagreements over which choice of school to send the child, or incompetence in dealing with inappropriate behavior from children is also a common reason for divorce.

Addiction
An addiction is an acquired compulsion to repeatedly engage in an activity, to the point that it negatively affects other priorities. Addiction is therefore not a phenomenon limited to drugs alone. Anything you do compulsively that begins to encroach on your ability to function can probably be called an addiction. It is therefore possible to be addicted to food, gambling, drugs and alcohol, the Internet, games, and any of a host of other things. An addiction that can be shown to be causing harm is an acceptable reason for the granting of an at-fault divorce.

Differences in Priorities and Expectations
This is a fairly nebulous idea that describes situations where married couples have found marriage or their spouse to be so drastically different to how they expected at marriage that they wish the marriage to end. It can also describe marriages where one spouse undergoes a sudden change in life priorities. Deaths in the family, other marital strains, severe medical trauma, or mid-life crises are often the cause of such divorces.

What the Bible says

Malachi 2
13 Another thing you do: You flood the LORD's altar with tears. You weep and wail because he no longer pays attention to your offerings or accepts them with pleasure from your hands. 14 You ask, "Why?" It is because the LORD is acting as the witness between you and the wife of your youth, because you have broken faith with her, though she is your partner, the wife of your marriage covenant.
15 Has not the LORD made them one? In flesh and spirit they are his. And why one? Because he was seeking godly offspring. So guard yourself in your spirit, and do not break faith with the wife of your youth.
16 "I hate divorce," says the LORD God of Israel, "and I hate a man's covering himself with violence as well as with his garment," says the LORD Almighty. So guard yourself in your spirit, and do not break faith.

Genesis 2
23 The man said, "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called 'woman,' for she was taken out of man."
24 For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.
25 The man and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame

Matthew 19
3Some Pharisees came to him to test him. They asked, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?"
4"Haven't you read," he replied, "that at the beginning the Creator 'made them male and female,' 5and said, 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh'? 6So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate."
7"Why then," they asked, "did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?"
8Jesus replied, "Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning. 9I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, and marries another woman commits adultery."
10The disciples said to him, "If this is the situation between a husband and wife, it is better not to marry."
11Jesus replied, "Not everyone can accept this word, but only those to whom it has been given. 12For some are eunuchs because they were born that way; others were made that way by men; and others have renounced marriagebecause of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it."

2010-04-29T13:27:00.000-07:00

Revenge-A Believer’s Perspective

In a world of “don’t get mad, get even”, It is turning away from God and his Holy Word.
What is the believer’s proper approach to life’s temptation of “getting even”?

It is almost an instinctive response to do ill to those who do us ill. It is contrary to God’s Holy word.

There is a German Study of a condition that produces happy feeling and brain cycles when a person of popularity “gets theirs”.

Commandments from God-
We should let ourselves be found truthful

Exodus 20

16 "You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.

Zechariah 8

16 These are the things you are to do: Speak the truth to each other, and render true and sound judgment in your courts; 17 do not plot evil against your neighbor, and do not love to swear falsely. I hate all this," declares the LORD.

Who should handle this Issue?
Humans have a hard time releasing the desire to make something happen.....

Nahum 1:2
God is jealous, and the LORD revengeth; the LORD revengeth, and is furious; the LORD will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies.

Ezekiel 25

11And I will execute judgments upon Moab; and they shall know that I am the LORD.
12Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because that Edom hath dealt against the house of Judah by taking vengeance, and hath greatly offended, and revenged himself upon them;
13Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; I will also stretch out mine hand upon Edom, and will cut off man and beast from it; and I will make it desolate from Teman; and they of Dedan shall fall by the sword.
14And I will lay my vengeance upon Edom by the hand of my people Israel: and they shall do in Edom according to mine anger and according to my fury; and they shall know my vengeance, saith the Lord GOD.
15Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because the Philistines have dealt by revenge, and have taken vengeance with a despiteful heart, to destroy it for the old hatred;
16Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will stretch out mine hand upon the Philistines, and I will cut off the Cherethims, and destroy the remnant of the sea coast.

What must do as Christians.
Our behaviors are dictated by this

Luke 6

35But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.
36Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.
37Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:
38Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

Matthew 5

43"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor[h] and hate your enemy.' 44But I tell you: Love your enemies[i] and pray for those who persecute you, 45that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Matthew 22
The Greatest Commandment
34Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question:
36"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" 37Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'[b] 38This is the first and greatest commandment. 39And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'[c] 40All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments

John 3
15That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
19And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
20For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
21But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

God has the Just way to take vengence on us for ignoring his Holy Commandments. God has taken Mercy on us. We as humans are flawed. God is Perfect and Holy. It is his perfectness that shall pass judgement....

Depraved- by Chris Jones

2010-04-19T16:02:00.000-07:00

There is alot of, shall we say, nonsense in the world today. Much malice back and forth in a "get even" or "its all about me" society. I think this lesson outline will show how the word "depraved" is alive and causing harm in society.

Romans 1

God's Wrath Against Mankind
18The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.
21For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.
24Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.
26Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. 27In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.

28Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. 29They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, 30slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.

Depravity in Society Analog of Modern times to Paul’s Time

Depravity=Ability to do violence to fellow man

God’s Plan
· He has revealed himself by the knowing that there is a greater way of the universe. (18-19)
· The awe of creation and the order of nature.
· so that men are without excuse. (20) with out the word of God, people know the creator.

How He reveals Himself to us.
· Through the glory of the creation
· Through the Holy Spirit (comfort, courage, wisdom)
· Through his word
· Through Miracles

Humility in the Spirit
· Expected proper attitude to God- gratitude and thanksgiving.
· {They} Denied The Glory of the Spirit

Boastfulness of Man due to denial of God
· Their thinking became futile
· The gave their hearts to foolishness
· They began to worship man made idols.
· Did violence to the natural ways of God concerning sexuality

Result- God gave them:
· Depraved mind- predisposed to violence
· Envy
· Murder
· Strive (Drama)
· Gossip
· Deceit
· Malice

Their actions
· Gossiping
· Insolence
· Inventive ways of doing evil
· Disobedient to authority (parents)
· Without Faith
· Ruthless
· Without Sense or Wisdom

How to prevent this situation
· Prayer communication with God. 1 Thessalonians 5 17pray without ceasing; 18in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 19Do not quench the Spirit;
· Read God’s word 2 Timothy 3
16All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

· Go To Church Regularly 1 Chronicles 16 23 Sing to the LORD, all the earth; proclaim his salvation day after day. 24 Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples. 25 For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods.

· Identify the enemy 1 Peter 8Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

· Encourage each other- 1 Thessalonians 5 10He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 11Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

Proverbs 12
25 An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up.

Answer to below Who Am I?

2010-04-19T16:00:00.000-07:00

Nehemiah
This is great book that show the difficulties in running an organization....

Identify this Bible person

2010-03-25T17:56:00.000-07:00

This is a new section that I have added to the weekly news letter... It can be fun while testing and expanding your Bible knowledge..

Jonesie

WHO AM I?

I am in the older part of the book. Approx 440BC. I was close to a king. I bore his cup. I was appointed a governor over an area in ruin. I had to survey the walls at night for my safety. I was an effective administrator. I was able to show that everyone has a job in an organization and that no job is unimportant.
I had lies told about me. The false witness said that I was trying to declare myself a king and create an uprising against a king. The false witness people tried to lure me out into the woods to kill me.

WHO AM I?

Turmoil in Society by Chris Jones

2010-03-25T17:44:00.000-07:00

I was doing some reading in God's word tonight. Here's something I often struggle with in my feeble mind. I say I have a feeble mind for a reason. I have NO where the knowledge of the Father. I do not understand how the universe works. I do not fully understand the battle of God vs. Satan. I would say that as my 1 year old daughter holds on to daddy for security, I try to hold on to Abba father for security. For in the ways of God and the greater divinity, our understanding is small and is parallel to my daughter holding on to daddy.....

I have oft wondered about the end times and why this world is gone, well for lack of a better word, spiritually stupid.

I was discussing with my best friend about how society would be much different if our government just applied the 10 Commandments to the way they govern..... No lying, cheating, stealing, envy, and so forth.

I think Paul pretty much nailed this in this part of Timothy.

2 Timothy 3
Godlessness in the Last Days
1But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.
6They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over weak-willed women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, 7always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth. 8Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these men oppose the truth—men of depraved minds, who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected. 9But they will not get very far because, as in the case of those men, their folly will be clear to everyone.

Persecution- Biblical Perspective by Pastor Dial

2010-03-14T17:26:00.000-07:00

This is an expanded outline.

To Persecute
1. to put to flight
2. continue to pursue
3. to make suffer

2 Corinthians 4

7But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body. 12So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.

Insults lead to False Accusations leads to Bodily Harm leads to Death

Why we (the church) are persecuted
1. Because of Righteousness
2. Jesus

Who does the Persecution?
1. Satan
2. Satan's Demons
3. People under Satan's control

Matthew 5:11 best will summarize this sermon:

11"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Reflection on Sin

2010-03-14T17:14:00.001-07:00

I had a question put to me while I was away at the police academy. We were having a philosophical discussion.

I was asked the question.
IF an UFO landed when you were nowhere, no one saw it, no person would ever know, and the most beautiful female exited the UFO and wanted to have relations with you, would you do it? NO one would ever know.

My answer was no, I would not. I would Know and it would be a transgression against my then fiancee.

Another situation I heard about that puts this point home of how sin affects others. Again, this is no person in our church and not something obtained from confidentiality.
I was presented with the testimony of a middle age man. He started with The part where his spouse came to him and said where have you been. I just got back from the doctor and I have something...
The husband then confessed his sin. He was addicted to prostitutes. He had been in the company of prostitutes since he was 13 years old. He is now middle aged.

The spouse showed mercy and spiritual maturity. She said that if he was willing to get help that they would work through this and save the marriage.
I believed she showed incredible courage to save the marriage.

Summary,
Sin does not happen in a vacuum. It has a ripple effect. It WILL affect others.

2010-03-14T16:59:00.000-07:00

Poison in The Church

Previously we discussed the cause for fractures in the church.
This time, we are discussing how sins of Corinth was affecting the community and the church.
God hates sexual immorality.
What was happening in Corinth? The people, including some new church people were partaking in acts that are depraved.

Before the acts are listed, the following point must be made. Love the sinner, hate the sin.
What does the Book of Romans say about this. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.

These are some of the depraved acts in Corinth:

Adultery
Male Prostitutes
Homosexuality
Insest
Bestiality

Here's God's comment on sexual immorality:

Romans 1

24Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.
26Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. 27In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.
28Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. 29They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, 30slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.

Summary,

There was alot of controversial material in today's lesson. It can ALL be found in Scripture. It is how sin creeps in and destroys the church and its ability to survive and serve in this world.

Again, Love the sinner, hate the sin and May he who is without sin cast the first stone......

The Church Divided Week 1

2010-03-14T16:45:00.000-07:00

Starting the new material on this section. I believe God has a purpose with this material to educate us on something that is a dirty little secret. Church Division.

To put things in perspective, God doesn't divide a church, Satan divides a Church.

Back ground History.
Corinth was a Greek city/state.
It was a place of moral flexibility to say the least. It has been described as a moral cesspool.
The city was inhabited by Jews, Pagans, and new Christians.

There was an immature New Testament Church that had leadership issues. The biggest problem is that the surrounding community saw the new church as a source to be made fun of due to their lack of direction.

I Corinthians 1:10-15
Divisions in the Church

10I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought. 11My brothers, some from Chloe's household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. 12What I mean is this: One of you says, "I follow Paul"; another, "I follow Apollos"; another, "I follow Cephas[a]"; still another, "I follow Christ."
13Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into[b] the name of Paul? 14I am thankful that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15so no one can say that you were baptized into my name. 16(Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don't remember if I baptized anyone else.) 17For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

When a church follows a person, they are going to fail. When a church is led by a pastor who takes his marching orders from the Holy Spirit (God), there is success around the corner.

In summary,
the church is not a building, it is the believers in Christ. The leader of the Church must be from the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. IF NOT, it will be destine to fail because of the Great Accuser.

Up Coming Text

2010-02-25T16:40:00.000-08:00

We will be entering a new quarter in about a week or so. In conjuction with Anthony and prayer, we will be having some interesting subject coming in the next quarter.

Three main topics with a theme of relationships.
1. Church Gone Wrong- division of the church
2. Ministry Done Right
3. I (Still) Do- marriage

I believe God will reveal to wisdom concerning these subjects so that we may be mature and glorify him in what we do.

Jonesie

"Drama" in the workplace or organization

2010-02-25T16:24:00.000-08:00

We all have experienced a "Drama Queen" or "Drama King". It becomes a distraction from the work at hand. It will especially be "Dramatic" if the Lord's work is being done. Satan will create Drama to keep the objective of God's work being done. The straight and narrow is a tough route in today's world, since society seems to be morally flexible.

Here we have Nehemiah who was in favor with the ruler of the land. He was given a Godly vision to rebuild a city. The king agreed and let Nehemiah go forth with the task. As the work is being done, Nehemiah is glorifying God with the work.
Sanballat and crew are not happy with the Godly achievements. They try to draw Nehemiah out of the city so they can kill him. This doesn't work. Sanballat and crew then starts rumors (lies) about Nehemiah trying to declare himself king and a Jew revolt. This was done to try to get Nehemiah out of favor with the king that was his governmental leader.

In closing,
drama has been in the works since the beginning. There is one source of non theatrical drama discussed above. He goes by many names. Most commonly is know as Satan.
God is NOT drama. It damages his believers and make a mess of things.

Jonesie

Nehemiah 6
Further Opposition to the Rebuilding 1 When word came to Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab and the rest of our enemies that I had rebuilt the wall and not a gap was left in it—though up to that time I had not set the doors in the gates- 2 Sanballat and Geshem sent me this message: "Come, let us meet together in one of the villages [a] on the plain of Ono." But they were scheming to harm me; 3 so I sent messengers to them with this reply: "I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you?" 4 Four times they sent me the same message, and each time I gave them the same answer.
5 Then, the fifth time, Sanballat sent his aide to me with the same message, and in his hand was an unsealed letter 6 in which was written: "It is reported among the nations—and Geshem [b] says it is true—that you and the Jews are plotting to revolt, and therefore you are building the wall. Moreover, according to these reports you are about to become their king 7 and have even appointed prophets to make this proclamation about you in Jerusalem: 'There is a king in Judah!' Now this report will get back to the king; so come, let us confer together."
8 I sent him this reply: "Nothing like what you are saying is happening; you are just making it up out of your head."
9 They were all trying to frighten us, thinking, "Their hands will get too weak for the work, and it will not be completed." But I prayed, "Now strengthen my hands."
10 One day I went to the house of Shemaiah son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabel, who was shut in at his home. He said, "Let us meet in the house of God, inside the temple, and let us close the temple doors, because men are coming to kill you—by night they are coming to kill you."
11 But I said, "Should a man like me run away? Or should one like me go into the temple to save his life? I will not go!" 12 I realized that God had not sent him, but that he had prophesied against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. 13 He had been hired to intimidate me so that I would commit a sin by doing this, and then they would give me a bad name to discredit me.
14 Remember Tobiah and Sanballat, O my God, because of what they have done; remember also the prophetess Noadiah and the rest of the prophets who have been trying to intimidate me.

Has God ever spoken to me........?

2010-02-07T17:05:00.000-08:00

Has God ever spoken to me? Yes

There are several ways God will communicate with me.

1. Holy Spirit- It may be a conviction of a wrong action or encouragement to speak the right things.

2. The Bible- this book is NOT dead. It is a living source. It can restore and give life with the instructions and wisdom inside. It has answered many big questions.

3. God himself- I have heard the voice of God in my head. It had a clarity that no other thought or idea could have. It was not an audible source that others could hear. I can recall three times that God has spoken to me. One time saved my life. The other two were acts of obedience that served other people.

In order to properly communicate with God in my Christian life requires one BIG thing. Being in His will. Be receptive to God. To Surrender.

Chris Jones

Sunday sermon 02/07

2010-02-07T16:53:00.000-08:00

Connecting the Disconnected
Galatians 3:27-29

26You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, 27for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

How Jesus Connects the disconnected:
Through Regeneration
Through A Relationship
Through Representation
Through Responsibility

In verse 28, God removes barriers for believers
Removes
Ethnic Issues
Social Issues
Sexual Identity Issues

Ways Disconnected people get Connected:
Through Christ verse 28
Through prayer
Through faith

Purpose of the Church
Worship
Discipleship
Evangelism
Ministry
Fellowship

Full audio available at:
http://www.lifelinebaptist.org/listen_online.htm

God Bless

God's Government vs Man's Government

2010-02-07T16:23:00.000-08:00

Continuing in the book of Daniel.

We discussed how Nebuchadnezzer ruled Babylon. Nebuchadnezzer had vanity all about his city. The ornate building and Idols to his ego were all over the city. Nebuchadnezzer had a strict rule of how his subjects had to worship him, bow, and total submission.
If you refused to worship the king, it was a death sentence.

Nebuchadnezzer ruled as if he was a god. Refer to Genesis 3:5 where Satan suggests that man could be his own god and rule....

Conversely,
Let's look how God does rule his kingdom.
God looks for an opportunity to create fellowship with him. Not for His Ego, but for mutual love.

Here's some descriptors of God's Government:
* Mutual love
* Understanding
* Joy
* Peace
* Fellowship

Here's some scripture

Proverbs 17:15 Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent—the LORD detests them both.

Proverbs 12:2 A good man obtains favor from the LORD, but the LORD condemns a crafty man.

John 3:15-17 15that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.
16"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

The requirements For Citizenship of God's Nation is simple
Believe in him. Confess that Jesus died on the cross for our sins. That Jesus was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, and was raised from the dead.

There on its fairly simple to live a purpose driven life for God........

Let's look at some of the recent government that are NOT like God's government. They can be confirmed through history.

Government contrary to God:
* Nazi Germany under Hilter- Millions killed so that they could maintain power
* Pol Pot and Cambodia- millions killed to maintain power marxist dictator
* Stalin and the USSR- Millions killed to maintain control and feed ego
* Castro-Che- Cuban Communist revolution- 10s of thousands to keep a regime
* MOA- China- Millions killed, imprisioned to keep the power of man....

While this may not be popular to list these organiztions above, it can be found in history and fact the qualities of repression and Godlessness.

God is a just God and wishes to fellowship. He has rightousness and justice, which are the foundation of His kingdom.......

Welcome Friends and Guest

2010-02-04T07:52:00.000-08:00

This is the website for the Young Adults @ Lifeline Baptist Church. We are a group of varied people who have one main thing in common. We love God for what He has done for us through Jesus.

The focus of our class can be summarized in three parts. We call them the "3 Fs"

1. Fun- being a believer is not about being denied fun. One does NOT have to be a "fuddy duddy" stick in the mud. We do not define fun in ways the world does, but our goal is to have fun. We are to have a life that is full and joyful. Constructive activites and mindset as opposed to destructive.

2. Fellowship- fellowship is more than a meal. Fellowship is about being there for your fellow man. Celebrate the good, help shoulder the bitter. It involves encouraging one another. Helping when possible. Being an extended family.

3. Feeding- we are feeding our minds and spirit with the Bible, which is God's words in written form. We are learning practical skills from Biblical studies that gives us tools to live a life that glorifies God. It also includes skills to defeat Satan that tries to rob us of that Joy only availble from above.

We would encourage you to fellowship with us. All are welcomed.

2010-02-03T17:10:00.000-08:00

Life Line Baptist Church is glad you chose to visit our blog. Hope to see you in Sunday School on Sunday at 9:30 a.m. We are upstairs in the Educational Building. If you need more information just email us at lifelinebaptistyoungadults@gmail.com

Hope to see you there.

Welcome to LLBC Young Adults

2010-02-01T14:41:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone! Welcome to the new blog for Life Line Baptist Church Young Adult Ministry. Hope you all have a great day.