1 Kings 19:10-19

Resound
March 20, 2011

Bryne Palmer

1 Kings 19:10 – 19

“Magic Eye”

1.       Fear Vs. 10-13

-Isaiah 3:29- -Psalm 29:3-9- God asks Elijah what he’s doing and Elijah owns up to it. He is afraid, but God takes the focus off of Elijah’s problems and onto Himself. “Don’t look anywhere else, look at me.” After all that God reminds Elijah that despite all this He is still there, He is in control. –Psalm 46:10-

2.       Focus Vs. 13-18

God asks Elijah again what he’s doing. He asks this again because he wanted Elijah to refocus. But Elijah’s answer is still the same. He knows that God is big but he still feels alone. –Luke 12:5- When God was whispering maybe He was saying, “can those men do what I just did?” We need to focus on God because He ALWAYS wins. God let Elijah sulk but now He’s saying, “it’s time to stop sulking, it’s time to take your eyes off your situation and out them back on me. Your prayers are getting answered. You’ve never been alone.”

3.       Foolishness Vs. 19, Hebrews 1:1-2, Romans 5:8, 1 Corinthians 1:22-23

It’s no longer a pretty landscape, the earthquake, fire, wind, etc. tore it up. This is like your life before Christ. Even when we’re devastated by the ruin in our life, wait for the still small whisper. When the world looked like that, ruined by the disaster of sin, God sent His Son, His still small whisper for the world. He’s never spoken louder than when He sent His Son. He could have exercised His great power but He sent a whisper. It might look like a weakness to people or look like foolishness, folly, silly, etc. “You’re going to save me by killing your Son? In our weakness God is strong. By His seemed foolishness He saved the world.

Esther 3:7-4:1-4

Christ Community Fellowship
March 20, 2011

Pastor Bob Brown

Esther 3:7-4:1-4

“The Grieving of the Holy Spirit”

King Ahasuerus (the human soul) has a mind to think with, emotions to feel with, and a will to decide with.

1.       The Situation of the Story Vs. 7-15

Mordecai adopted Esther from her real family (after they died), just like we are adopted into God’s family by the Holy Spirit. Neither the Holy Spirit nor the flesh will give up on influencing a human soul. Haman lies about the people of God, he tells the king that they are not obeying the king’s laws and are a threat to him (the influence of the flesh).

When a lost soul tries or thinks about coming to the Holy Spirit, the flesh kicks it into high gear to prevent it. That’s when spiritual warfare is declared.

2.       The Sorrow of the Spirit Vs. 4:1-4

Esther is grieved because Mordecai is grieved. Notice that she doesn’t know why He is grieving. Grieving the Spirit is breaking the heart through sorrow.
-1 Corinthians 3:1- They are Christians but have put the ring on Haman’s finger (people of the flesh, they are infants, dependent on others.) The milk is the word that someone else has worked on and fed it to you, pre-digested. Meat is what you’ve worked on yourself and have learned by the Holy Spirit, not needing it pre-digested.

Esther doesn’t know what’s going on because she hasn’t seen Mordecai for a while; she has been distracted by her husband and new things. When we are distracted by things of the world and are not walking with God then we have become a carnal Christian.

3.       The Strategy of the Carnal Vs. 4:4

Just like Esther, we can be grieved by the Holy Spirit when He is grieving but no know why. We don’t know what’s wrong. Our happiness becomes disrupted so we try to satisfy Him. She tries to send Him things that have made her happy. When this happens we try to look to the outside (the world) for a solution instead of at ourselves (what wrong in our life that is grieving Him). We try and make the world make us happy again.

Mark 6:1-13

Resound
March 18, 2011

Bryne Palmer

Mark My Words

“And They Were Watching”

Mark 6:1-13

1.       Family and Friends (don’t) Work Vs. 1-6 Philippians 3:12

Jesus when He moves on after something amazing is modeling that we need to keep moving forward, striving to be more like God.

People are kind of bugged; He was just a carpenter’s son. Basically saying, who does He think He is? When they say isn’t He Mary’s son they are basically insulting Him, calling Him a mama’s boy. HE doesn’t back down, He doesn’t react to what they are saying. Don’t back down from who you are or what you believe. When people ask you why aren’t you reacting to the situation, tell them why. You are Christ’s. –Ephesians 2:8- The disciples are watching Jesus and how He doesn’t back down.

2.       Field Work Vs. 7-13

The disciples know the routine but didn’t really know how to do it. So then Jesus gives them instructions. Jesus tells them that they are going to have to rely on God.
Shaking the dust off their feet – Jews, who weren’t accepted in a gentiles town, would shake the dust off their feet basically saying I don’t even want your dirt on me. So this would be a total insult if they did this in a Jewish community after they rejected the disciples.

The disciples were probably scared; they didn’t want to be rejected. But they didn’t run back to their fishing boats, they went out and were bold and they got go see results of their actions.

3.       Framework –Psalm 145:1-7

Framework for churches: Generation will pass it one to the next generation. Just like Jesus passes it on to His disciples.

1 Kings 19:1-9

Resound
March 13, 2011

Bryne Palmer

1 Kings 19:1-9

“Roller Coaster Tycoon”

1.       The Upward Click of the Roller Coaster 16:29-18:16

Elijah’s upward click. Anticipation. The top of the coaster is the top of the mountain when he faces off the prophets of Baal. Now he’s caught a glimpse of the downward slope and he’s scared. Even though he’s seen all that God can do he’s still scared. Fear is a natural reaction. It’s like on a roller coaster, no matter how many times you go on it, it still freaks you out. Elijah is still human. Fear is a natural reaction, but -1 John 4:15- with God we don’t –Psalm 23:4- need to fear we have the Holy Spirit as a constant companion.

2.       G force and Air Time (aka Hills and Valleys) Vs. 3

It’s dumb for us to try and face things on our own. –James 5:16- We need to run to God and run to other believers.
All of that caught up with him and he didn’t want anymore. We will all reach this point. But it’s important to remember that during that time God is there for us.

3.       The Safety Belt (Promises and Provision) Vs. 5-9

Even when we’ve given up, God never does. God sent an angel twice to wake up Elijah. God doesn’t relent, He doesn’t give up; even when you have. –Ecclesiastes 3:1-10- There is a time for everything. God give Elijah the strength to keep moving. This is the turning point for Elijah. Notice how thoroughly God provides. Broom Tree – known for shade in the desert. Also known for its roots; being great fire starters. Bread and Water – What Elijah ate when he was with the widow. The water – the brook that he was by that didn’t run out. Everything God uses is a constant reminder that God provides.

Promises: John 14:16-17, Matthew 28:19-20, Ephesians 1:13-14, John 6:35 (the bread He’s provided for us), John 7:37-39 (our water).

Esther 3:1-6

Christ Community Fellowship
Pastor Bob Brown

Pastor Bob Brown

Esther 3:1-6

“Mordecai: Coming Closer?”
(Part 3)

1.       The Promotion Vs. 1

-Acts 7:51- (what the human soul can do to the Holy Spirit)

2.       The Parentage Vs. 1

-1 Samuel 15:1-9- (Agagite) –Galatians 5:16-17- (Spirit and flesh)

3.       The Pursuit Vs. 2

4.       The Problem Vs. 4 & 26

When we are in union with Him we work properly. When we are out of union with Him we malfunction. It’s like we are an oil lamp without oil. He is the oil.

The flesh is always going to want more. –John 16:7-11- The Holy Spirit steps in saying enough is enough. –Philippians 2:13-

5.       The Perceivable Vs.3-5

It is going to be perceivable to others around you that you are different. Mordecai stood out in the world no matter what was going on.

6.       The Plan (that Haman has hatched) Vs. 6

He wants to stomp out anybody who opposes the flesh. The plan of the flesh by nature is to quite the Spirit which convicts. People want to do their thing and they don’t want God to interfere.

1 Kings 18:25-39

Resound
February 27, 2011

Bryne Palmer

1 Kings 18:25-39

“Smoke Signal”

Everyday our lives sendoff smoke signals of who we devote our lives to.

1.       Preparations Made Vs. 25-26

Alter symbolizes the foundation. Bull symbolizes our lives, what we devote ourselves to. Baal symbolizes idols. People symbolize people who watch us daily. Water symbolizes our sin.
there was no meaning behind the preparations of the prophets of Baal. They didn’t really prepare, they just did it because they had to. There is no purpose for idols.

A)     The Preparations made for God Vs. 30-35

Elijah spent time preparing his alter, his had meaning. -1 Peter 2:4-6- God is our foundation. Every day you sacrifice yourself to either idols or God, and Jesus is the foundation, the alter. How awful is that to think about? Jesus being the alter then we sacrifice ourselves to idols. –Psalm 32:1-5-

B)      A point to prove God’s glory

-Romans 5:20-21- When we confess our sins we are proving God’s glory. –Jeremiah 15:19-

2.       Prayers to the idols

Idols promise so much but demand so much in return. It cost the priests of Baal so much; voices, blood, time, and a tongue lashing from Elijah, and received nothing in return.

A)     Prayers to God Vs. 46-47

The intent of the prayer was to glorify God. He acknowledged God. He was also praying that people’s lives would be changed. This is what our prayer should be like; to glorify God and to lift up others.

3.       The results

A)     Idols Vs. 27-29

Nothing happened. –Isaiah 44:10-20- (Idol worship) Nothing happens in idol worship.

B)      The real God Vs. 38-39

God answers! When God answers it’s in a big way. The fire in our life is the Holy Spirit. If we sacrifice ourselves to God He will take up that sacrifice. Do people see this in your life? Jesus is the ultimate sacrifice. He sacrificed Himself so that we can sacrifice ourselves to Him. Daily, be a living sacrifice. What do your smoke singles say? –Romans 12:1- (Our sacrifice)

Esther 2:19-23

Christ Community Fellowship
February 27, 2011

Pastor Bob Brown

Esther 2:19-23

“Mordecai: Coming Closer”

Mordecai is coming closer to the palace; he is starting to influence the king. It has already started last week when Esther became queen because she was already in contact with Mordecai.

1.       The Presence Vs. 19, 21, 3:2

At the kings gate is where trials, hangings and such occurred. It was kind of like an outdoor court. Thus Mordecai must have had a lot to do in the king’s court. Historically it says that because of Esther’s influence he had some sort of job in the king’s court. This made it easier for he to talk to Mordecai.
-John 14:16- The Holy Spirit’s ministry is to abide with you forever. He is always present no matter where you go. Even if it’s to a hell hole while doing something wrong or to a mission field. Feeling are deceptive, you may sometimes feel alone but the Holy Spirit never abandons you nor can He escape you. You are not alone. Even at death He won’t abandon you.

2.       The Power Vs. 22

The other ministry of the Holy Spirit is to reveal. -1 Corinthians 2:10-13- -Acts 16:6-7- The Spirit knows things we don’t know.

3.       The Priority Vs.21-23

The 3^rd ministry of the Holy Spirit is His priorities of the Father.

A)     Dangerous Plot (for everyone) Vs. 21-23

B)      Deadly Punishment Vs. 23

C)      Documented Proceedings Vs. 23  

Our happiness isn’t one of His priorities. Mordecai cannot bow down to the flesh because the Spirit and the flesh are in opposition to each other. –Luke 15:3-7- (Priority) –Romans 2:4- (Priority of His kindness) Here’s an opportunity not to save 99 righteous individuals, here’s an opportunity to same one soul from the pit of Hell. Even if we knew His priorities and such doesn’t mean we’d understand it.  

4.       Vs. 3:1

How often do you give God the glory when something good happens? Sometimes we reward something or someone who had nothing to do with it.

1 Kings 18:16-24

Resound
February 20, 2011

Bryne Palmer

1 Kings 18:16

“Choices”

-Deuteronomy 6:4-5- One God. In that time the Israelites were worshiping Baal for everything but they run to God for help. –Luke 12:49-53- Elijah was the only prophet left but he still took a stand, he even called them out, all 850 priests of Baal. He still took a stand.
-Proverbs 3:11-12- Ahab is about to get it from God. He needed to be disciplined (when God disciplines you it’s a way of saying he still loves you and that He’s keep you off the wrong path and bring you back to Him). That’s what He was trying to do with Ahab and Israel. God wants us to own up to our sins no matter how big you screwed up. –Matthew 28:19- Baptized –Acts 8:36:38-  

Esther 2:5-20

Christ Community Fellowship
February 20, 2011

Pastor Bob Brown

“The Most Important Word”

Esther 2:5-20

All decisions made under the influence of the flesh comes with regret. The most important word in the English language is relationship. Everything of worth in this life circles around relationship. A relationship with Christ is what allows you to go to heaven, etc.

1)      The beginning of the relationship Vs. 5-7

Since the Holy Spirit cannot come into contact with someone who doesn’t know Him He uses someone who already had a relationship with Him to introduce the Holy Spirit to that individual. Just like Esther introduced Mordecai to the king. Just like Mordecai adopted Esther, all relationships that are with the Holy Spirit begin with adoption. –Romans 8:14-15- -Galatians 4:4-6- When you are born into this world (1 Peter) you are born into the family of the Devil. The only way to leave that family is to be adopted by the Holy Spirit. And with a new family comes new rules and such.

2)      The Blessings of the relationship Vs. 7, 11

-Romans 8:1, 11, 14-16, 26- Every day the Holy Spirit is constantly checking up on us for our benefit and His glory just like Mordecai kept checking up on Esther when she was in the palace. Also, even when we don’t know what to pray the Holy Spirit prays for us. –John 14:16-18, 25-26- -John 15:26-27- -John 16:13-

3)      The Behavior of the relationship VS. 9, 14, 17

Why did she find favor in all who saw her? –Galatians 5:22-25- Because of the Holy Spirit. She let Mordecai influence her greatly. If you choose Mordecai over Haman you show the fruits of the spirit. Haman’s way: it’s all about you. Mordecai’s way: it’s not about you.

4)      The burden of the relationship Vs. 10, 15, 20

The burden of surrender and the burden of cooperation. Surrender = only one boss. Both you and the Holy Spirit cannot be the boss. Everyday we’re faced with the burden of telling the flesh, no. Who knows better for you? You or the Holy Spirit?

1 Kings 18:1-15

Resound
February 6, 2011

Bryne Palmer

1 Kings 18:1-15

(This teaching is looked at allegorically)

Ahab represents the devil
Elijah represents God
Obadiah represents us

-Romans 13:5-6- -Ephesians 6:5-8-

Just because Obadiah was serving Ahab doesn’t mean he was serving the world he was still serving God. -1 Timothy 2:1-4- At this point rebellion against Ahab was a good thing because Ahab was killing God’s people. Obadiah needs to be our example. His life is really on the line by what he is doing.

Sometimes we start to make every excuse and it becomes a me-oriented thing. Then we make excuses about how much we’ve already done, like “look at me and what I’ve done. Do you really want me to do more?” –Matthew 7:21-23- -Ephesians 2:8- -James 2:18-19- You should do things for the Lord because you’ve been saved. Not a “I’ve already been saved so I don’t need to do anything else” attitude. What it comes down to is, who it really Lord of your life? –Matthew 10:28-

Elijah gives Obadiah a promise. God has given us promises. Through Christ, God has delivered all His promises to us. –Matthew 28:20- -Romans 10:9-10- Remember who is with you and nothing else matters more than Him.

Esther 1

Christ Community Fellowship
February 6, 2011

Pastor Bob Brown

Esther 1

“Under the Influence”

People we will meet in this allegorical study of Esther:

·         Esther who represents the human spirit

·         Ahasuerus (the king) who represents the soul of man: a mind to think with, emotions to feel with, and a will to decide with

·         Haman who represents the flesh

·         Mordecai who represents the Holy Spirit

1.       The problems we will find Vs. 1-9

2.       The Joys of the Carnal Life Vs. 1-10

A)     Power (of the flesh)

Whose influence are you living under? Haman or Mordecai? You can tell the influence on a soul by that which they take joy in.
-1 John 2:16-17- Love of the world

B)      Pleasure

C)      Pomp

By seeing what choices people make you can tell influence they’re under. –Psalm 37:4- Why do we value what others think? Jesus set the example to only care what the Father thinks. –John 6:66- When the crowds disperse from Him, He didn’t go and beg for them to come back, He only cared of what the Father thought.

D)     Preeminence (loves to be in total control)

The king even gave orders on how they should drink. He commanded them to drink however they wanted. Even though he didn’t care how they drank he made it known that he was in control and that his rule was that there basically was no rule. When a soul is under the influence of the flesh it loves to be in control.

3.       The Jolt to the Carnal Life Vs. 11-12

A)     A Stupid Summons

-Galatians 5:16-21- The king summoned his wife to come to his banquet to show her off. Basically he wanted to model nude for his guests.

B)      A Sudden Shock

She told him no. It was culturally wrong for her to do what he asked as they were a modest culture.

1 Kings 17:17 & John 11:21

Resound
January 30, 2011

Bryne Palmer

1 Kings 17:17

John 11:21

Just because we follow God doesn’t mean we have a sense of entitlement. Just like the story of the man upon the rock, the rain still came. He doesn’t promise that the storms won’t come. But we need to build out house upon the rock so we are prepared for when the storms come.

John> this is the better reaction for storms that come into our life. There are two actions. One is to blame God for what’s going on and the other is to thank God for the things to come in the future., knowing that God can do something.

Back to 1 Kings> even Elijah despaired. –James 5:17-18- It’s ok to feel like that. Ecclesiastes 3:1-10 talks about how there is a time for everything. Just because someone makes it into the Bible doesn’t mean they’re perfect. Everyone in it is messed up, except for one guy: Jesus. Even though we question God or doubt Him, God still hears you. Even though we have little faith and back down from what He claims, He doesn’t.

When God speaks stuff happens. Look to Jesus in hard times because trying to do it on your own won’t do any good. Anything He does in your life is for His glory.  

1 Kings 17:7-16

Resound
January 23, 2011

Bryne Palmer

1 Kings 17:7-16

It may seem kind of redundant (he already said it wasn’t going to rain) but it’s there to remind us that He is in control, that He is going to be true to His promises. God calls us out of our comfort zones. When He does that He’s about to do something with you. Elijah sets a good example: he didn’t complain, he gets up and does it. This should be our reaction when God calls us out.

The widow was ready to give up but Elijah gives her another choice: trust in God no matter what the circumstances. Are we going to give up the last piece of our life so that we can be filled, renewed with Jesus? Give Him all you have and He will give you all you need. She stepped out in faith and God gave her more than she needed. -John 6:32- 40- Give up who you are and gain Him. We have to give up what we’re eating (taking) from this world and eat the bread of life from Him. Ask Him to come rock your life!

Ephesians 2:10

Lone Tree
January 17, 2011

Shawn Small      

Ephesians 2:10

The materials don’t matter; it’s the touch of the master’s hand that make the masterpiece, that makes us priceless. He has a story written for us but we have a choice to be in it or not. Whatever your gifts are He wants you to use them to glorify His name. Everyone is god’s masterpiece. You are his work or art.

Matthew 26:36 and Mark 8:34-35

Lone Tree
January 16, 2011

Shawn Small

Mark 8:34-35 & Matthew 26:36

Obeying God is an act of carrying the cross. Gethsemane means crushing (the garden where Jesus went before His death). It is symbolic because Jesus went to the garden before he was crushed. The cross is a lifestyle.

Mark 8:34-35 "Taking Up the Cross"

Lone Tree
January 16, 2011

Shawn Small

Mark 8:34-35

“Taking Up the Cross”

Jesus is always telling people to follow him, yet we always seem to have an excuse. (If you were to highlight every time He says “Follow Me” it would be a whole lot.) It’s easy to wear the Christian label rather than to carry the cross. When Jesus told the disciples they they’d have to carry the cross it probably freaked them out because Jesus had not yet gone to the cross. To us it would seem like Jesus saying, you have to renounce yourself and dies in the electric chair, it would make about that much sense.

Our hindrance is freaking out over what other people think of us. Are we willing to walk through the humiliation just like Christ did?   

Matthew 19:16-24 "Fear"

Lone Tree
January 15, 2011

Shawn Small

Matthew 19:16-24

Fear

What is the fear of God? What is placed higher than God? For the rich young ruler it was his possessions. His riches defeated him and before Jesus even finishes His statement (about selling all his things) the man makes his choice; that was the one thing he wouldn’t give up. We always have a choice just like the man. And Jesus will not chase after and plead when he (you) had already made a choice.

The “eye of a needle” was a gate that entered into Jerusalem that people could get through when all the other gates were closed. For the camel to get through the gate, he would have to be humbled down on his knees and crawl through the gate. He would also have to be emptied of everything that was on him, all of his burdens. And then he would finally be lead through the gate. We are like the camel. We have to be willing to let go of all of your burdens (stop trying to handle it on our own) and be humbled to be able to enter that gate. To carry the cross you got to be able to put all of your other stuff down (burdens). You’re not going to make it if you try to carry all those burdens and the cross.