Joshua 3-4:8 "A River To Cross"

Resound
May 27, 2011

Bryne Palmer

“A River to Cross”

Joshua 3-4:9

The Ark of the Covenant is important to them. The Ark goes before them, and then then can follow. It is supposed to go ahead of them about a mile. Joshua tells them all to concentrate themselves. We should follow his example and get ready to join God in His prescience before Church. We need to get ready for something big because He is big. Get ready every day because He is movie, He will use you. It’s just like when you get ready to go back to school, before it starts you have to get all the supplies and stuff. Do the same for God. Prepare yourself for him. God tells Joshua that He is with him just as much as He was with Moses, which was probably reassuring for Joshua because God did a lot of big things through Moses. Remember that that is the same God who is in you. Just like the Ark went before them, Jesus went before us. – 1 Corinthians 15:20- He’s already gone before us so we have nothing to be scared of. That doesn’t mean nothing bad will happen. After the Israelites cross the river bad things happen to them.

As the priests stood there in the river with the Ark keeping the waters parted, they kinda had to bit the bullet for the rest of the people as they crossed (that’d be kind scary standing there hoping the waters wouldn’t rush back at you). The river represents our walk. On one side are all the Canaanites, Hittites, etc. (aka sin and non-christians) and we’re crossing over to those people (who don’t want us there by the way. They want us to give up our belief) just like Jesus wants us to and witness to those people.

Memorials: to remember. It’s there as a reminder of what happened. –Hebrews 1:1-4- Even God sets up memorials. He set up the cross for us; remember that memorial. When you feel that you’re not worthy or when you feel you’re too good and don’t need Christ/salvation. Remember the cross.

2 Kings 2:1-14

Resound
May 22, 2011

Bryne Palmer

“Of Course you are and I’m coming With You”

2 Kings 2:1-14

Afraid of commitment. (In Lord of the Rings: how committed Sam was to Frodo) Elisha is like Sam, he isn’t going to leave Elijah.

http://youtu.be/w9QeXyD49YI

1.       The Fellowship VS 1-3

Even Elijah tried to get Elisha to stay. What kind of person are you going to be? A flaker who only sticks around when things are good or someone who commits no matter what? –Luke 9:23- No matter what the cost Elisha is going to follow. Are you like that? Be prepared to die to yourself daily and take up your dross. Are you like Sam, you don’t know how to swim yet you follow anyway. Are you willing to follow Him that closely? Do you refuse to let other people tell you otherwise? Elisha didn’t care what they were trying to convince him of (to stay). He knew what they were telling him and he wanted them to get out of the way and shut up.  

2.       The Fulfillment VS 7-10, 15

Elisha stuck it out and received a big payoff. Fulfillment that comes from sticking it out:

A)     Prayer

-Matthew 7:7-8- If you seek things that will better His kingdom it will be answered. Don’t give up.

B)      Plenty

-Psalm 8:1-4- Our God is eternal; and never ends. If you keep seeking Him He will never run out. You will learn so much and will never stop learning. There is no need for us to become complacent in our relationship with Him, stick it out until the end. Don’t ever be content with it, always want more.

C)      Perseverance

-Romans (talking about the prize at the end of the race similar to 1 Corinthians 9:24)- Run in such a way so we can win. Never walk, keep running. Our prize is eternal life.

3.       The Farwell VS 11-14

Elijah went out in wind and fire. His exit was awesome. Elisha wanted to be identified with the same God of Elijah. He looked up to Elijah so much.

4.       The Foundation

-John 5:39- Every story in the bible points to Christ. He is the foundation in this story. We all have a river to cross. When the Israelites crossed over the Jordan it was to represent crossing into the Promised Land. We can’t cross that river on our own we need Jesus to part that river so we can cross. For us that river is like sin and death. How will you go out?

Esther 9:1-16 "When the Ring Remains..."

Christ Community Fellowship
May 22, 2011

Pastor Bob Brown

“When the Ring Remains…”

Part 1

Esther 9:1-16

“Be ye being filled with the Holy Spirit of God.” Daily we must surrender to Him, we must put the ring of authority on the Holy Spirit instead of the flesh. What happen when the ring remains on Mordecai’s finger? 4 Consequences when the ring remains on the Holy Spirit:

1.       There Will Be Consumption VS 4

He will become greater and greater in your life and you will change. –Galatians 5:16-17- When the ring is constantly on the Holy Spirit’s finger in a Christian’s life, it’s called walking by the Spirit. Walking by the Spirit is to become a lifestyle, day by day keeping it on the Holy Spirit. He will begin to grow in your life just like how Mordecai became greater in the palace. As putting the ring on the Holy Spirit daily becomes a habit the Holy Spirit begins to gain more and more territory in your life. – Romans 6:11-12- You die to sin by being alive to Christ. How do you know that? By your reactions and faith. Your reactions show who is in control in your life. You place yourself in a position to where you fall more in love with Jesus and fall out of love with the things of the flesh. Satan does everything he can to keep you from being alive to Christ. Isn’t it odd how your flesh shuts down on you (wanting sleep or causing your mind to wander) when you try to dedicate your life to Christ.

2.       There Will Be Change VS 12-13

Now that the king has the Holy Spirit in his life there is change. When we put the ring on the Holy Spirits finger we become under new management. We are now different that we were before. In the Old Testament God would change the name of the person whose life was changed. Like Paul/Saul, Abram/Abraham, Etc. Are you ready for a change?

3.       There Will Be Crucifixion VS 5, 10

Even though the king told the Jews they could take all the plunder, they didn’t. Because the Holy Spirit was with them they didn’t take the stuff. Mordecai is always concerned with the bigger picture than the flesh is. If they would have taken the plunder it would have seemed that they killed their enemies for their stuff. That which pleases us is the same thing that pleases the Holy Spirit in your life. –Galatians 2:20- giving up the things that please us, our flesh, then the Holy Spirit’s desires become ours.

2 Kings 1:1-18 "Fire, Fall Down"

Resound
May 8, 2011

Bryne Palmer

“Fire, Fall Down”

2 Kings 1:1-18

1.       Corrupt King

Baal means master, Zebub means fly or go here and there. So basically Baal-Zebub means lord of the flies. Ahaziah worshiped an idol that liked to be around stink (poop) and death. (This is a great representation of idols.) God doesn’t even give Ahaziah the right of being king over the Israelites. He says that Ahaziah is the lord of Samaria. Ahaziah put his trust in a fake idol so God says now Ahaziah is going to die.

When Ahaziah sends his 100 messengers (50 at a time) to get Elijah, Elijah stand his ground, he knows who he is, now he’s found his identity in the Lord. He is no longer scared by Jezebel or living with a widow, he is confident in the Lord now, he knows that that is who he is. The same applies to us, we can find our identities in Christ.

2.       Christ is the King

-Acts 2:1-4- The Holy Spirit is a fire. That is the fire we have within us. -2 Timothy 1:7- We can all be as strong as Elijah.

3.       Called by a King

Ahaziah doesn’t care and doesn’t give up. God is being a just God by burning up those 100 men. This last captain could see that going up against God meant death. We should have the same reaction as this last captain, that the king we are serving (the flesh) is in the wrong and that there is a high King we need to be serving.

Esther 7 "Hang Em High"

Christ Community Fellowship
May 8, 2011

Pastor Bob Brown

“Hang Em High”

Part 2

Esther 7

Allegory on the book of Esther: Mordecai with Esther – The Holy Spirit, Esther – human spirit, the king – human soul, Haman – the flesh. Haman can never be happy as long as Mordecai is aroung so he sets out to destroy him, to get rid of him.

1.       The Dread of Haman the flesh VS 1 & 2, 3:13-14

Everything awakens when the soul begins to realize that his life has been saved. The expression “I will give you up to half the kingdom” was just basically saying “I going to be generous with you, but don’t push your limit.” The flesh will do anything to survive. It will make you think that you can keep it under control; it deceives you so that it can survive. It will sulk, beg, threaten, submit, etc.

Both Esther and Haman are very nervous at this party. Haman was anticipating the king finding out what he’d done. Esther was nervous, even though she had the spirit, because she didn’t know the consequences of her obedience. God never promised that Esther would live and Haman would die. There are times when God will come and rescue His people but there are times when He chooses not to. And remember the results of the situation do not matter as much as your relationship with God.

2.       The Detection of Haman VS 3-4

The human soul (the king) for the first time finds out the enemy inside the kingdom. –Romans 7:14-24- Paul is talking about how he has a war going on inside of him, the same exact thing that is pictured here in Esther. In the kingdom the battle goes back and fourth, the question is who’s going to win? The answer is in Romans 7:24-25. Notice the W in Who is capitalized. The answer is always Who, not what, or what process.

3.       The Death of Haman VS 7-10

Ironic that Haman was hung on the gallows he made for Mordecai.

Haman’s relatives are found in 1 Samuel 15:32-35 Agag, Haman’s relative had begged for his life and they (Israelites) let him live. But when Samuel realized the evil of letting the flesh live he hacked him to pieces.   

1 Kings 22:30-53 "Paradise Trees"

Resound
May 1, 2011

Bryne Palmer

“Paradise Trees”

1 Kings 22:30 – 53

1.       Perfect Control

If out God is a big God and you believe that He is that big why aren’t our prayers that big? Ahab had one plan but God had another. There was a prophecy in the previous chapter to be fulfilled. God is so big that He can control that little arrow that was to end Ahab’s life. Is He big enough to you that you believe that? Or is He some small God you only come to in times of need. Everything that happens in your life is not an accident. It should all be credited to God. –Proverbs 16:9- We will be taken care of, just trust in Him. Trusting in Him is glorifying to Him. Every time you worry it’s like you’re saying He is small, He can’t take care of my problems. Man may plan his way but God directs His steps. He directed Ahab’s steps right into that arrow. There is an arrow marked for every last person on this earth because of sin but the difference for us (Christians) is that Jesus took that arrow for us, all we need to do is let Him, to accept Him. Ahab, because he didn’t trust God, lived long enough to see his army die. God showed him one last time that Ahab could not do it without Him.

2.       Passing a Torch

-1 Kings 19:19-21- Elijah passes the torch on to Elisha. Ahab passes on his kingdom to his son (end of the chapter), and Jehoshaphat passed on his kingdom and good lessons to his son.

In Elisha’s life killing oxen was a big sacrifice. It symbolized killing his old way of life. He was no longer going to plow his father’s field anymore, he killed the very instruments he used in his old life.

3.       Pull Em Up

Paradise trees: a tree that stinks, a tree that grows from the roots. Basically it does nothing good. That is us and until we allow God to uproot us and plant a good fruit bearing tree in our old life’s place. When that happens we can then produce good fruit and allow Him to help grow us and make us stronger. Our roots no longer run up into septic tanks but now run into His river of life (Psalm 1). If you go back to your old life, only go back to murder it.

Esther 6:1-14 "Hang 'Em High"

Christ Community Fellowship
May 1, 2011

Pastor Bob Brown

“Hang ‘Em High”

Part 1

Esther 6:1-14

They hung em high because they believe that the higher they hung em the deader they’d be and that their spirit couldn’t come back to get the,. If they hung em lower they thought that the hang man could come back and haunt them.

1.       The Providence of God VS 1-3

The timing of God is an issue. How long will you wait for Him / trust in Him? Have you noticed His timing is down the last minute? Esther and her people were almost murdered, Abraham almost sacrificed Isaac, and Peter was almost about to be beheaded. Why does God do that? Well it’s not so that He can learn something about us, He already knows more about us than we know about ourselves, it’s so that we can learn something new about ourselves. He may wait till the last possible minute be He comes through.

Verses 1-3, death to self. We should love Him more than we love ourselves. Do you love God for what He’s done for you and who He is?

A)     Insomnia and Inspection

The first thing the king finds out is that someone saved his life and nothing had been done for him.

2.       Pride of the Flesh VS 4-9   

A)     Haman’s Arrival

B)      Haman’s Arrogance

Ego-centric self, narcissist

C)      Haman’s Ambition

·         Royal Privileges

·         Royal Parade

·         Royal Proclamation

3.       The Prevention of the Flesh VS 10-14

Even lost flesh knows when it has lost and God will win. It is dangerous for the flesh when a child of God becomes reacquainted with the Holy Spirit and it usually happens when we open the book. Live according to God even if I have to perish. “If I perish, I perish.” Religion is a substitute for a relationship.

Romans 6:3-11 "Mega Deal"

Resound
April 24, 2011

Bryne Palmer

“Mega Deal”

Easter Morning

Romans 6:3-11

Things have become warped into something they were not supposed to be. -1 Corinthians 15:20- Jesus is alive! All other religions, founded by men, gave their grave sites. You can go and visit these dead men. Why would you want to worship someone who is dead? Jesus died, on our behalf, but He rose again. Megan deal in verse 3 but on top of that we can live like He lived. –Colossians 3:3-4- Jesus took the curse upon Himself, paid the debt, then showed up Satan and rose again. Just imagine how the devil felt, knowing he’d been beaten and not able to do anything about it. It’d be like Davy Jones in Pirates of the Caribbean when Jack came back after paying his debt. We laugh in the face of death because we know the truth. Be excited about who He is and what He’s done.

Resound, Psalm 150 – people that celebrate Christ because of what He’s done for us. “praise Him with resounding symbols.”  

Good Friday

Resound
April 22, 2011

Bryne Palmer

Good Friday

It all starts in Genesis 1, VS 26 and 27. Perfection lasts two chapters then man comes along. <3:6> Sin. –Romans 1- What sin has caused. The second we decided to sin against God our hearts were darkened. So not only was there a physical light when He said “let there be light.” When our hearts went dark the light in our hearts went out. We went from having the real deal, God, to a cheap imitation. We traded God for the things that He made, a cheap fake imitation. –Exodus 24:12-  <The Shadow Proves The Sunshine – Switchfoot> We realized all we were was the shadow, we couldn’t do it. It still seemed hopeless. So he came down -1 John- God is the light. God is as different from us as light is from darkness. –Matthew 27:15- When Jesus was here He played by our rules but still people hated him. –Matthew 27- When they traded Jesus. We kept making those trades. We traded Jesus for a murderer and not only that we crucified him. The light has been put out once more (when Jesus yielded up his spirit). We thought we knew better, we kept extinguishing the light, we killed him. -2 Corinthians 5:21- God spoke light, we put it out. He gave us the law, we put that out. He sent Jesus, but He became sin for us, so we thought we were putting it out again but really God tricked us, so to speak, and traded sin for the light. -1 Corinthians verses 19-31- We are the darkness. But He is the light.

Hebrews 11:32-40 "The No-Names"

The Weekend 2011
April 10, 2011

Kevin Miller

“The No-Names”

Hebrews 11:32-40

It’s not about the fame it’s about being faithful, because God is faithful.

1.       Some Were Remember VS 32

Gideon (Judges 6-8), Barak (Judges 3-4), Sampson (Judges 15), Jephthah (Judges 11), and David (many books). But they were all flawed; wasted gifts, timidness, adultery, and murder. A list of flawed but faithful men, it’s a reminder that God can even use us. It reminds us that all we need to do it stay faithful.

2.       Others Were Forgotten VS 33-38

There are no names, these people have been forgotten.

A)     Triumph

An amazing list of accomplishments and how God used them and their outcome was triumph.

B)      Trials

For some people being faithful meant being tortured and maybe even death. But they endured. Mary and Martha received their dead brought back to life, Shadrack, Meshach and Abednego quenched the flames of fire, Isaiah was put in a hollow tree and sawed in half, etc. Named or not, forgotten or not, they had one thing in common: faithfulness. They did what was right in the moment. -2 Chronicles 16:9-

3.       All Are Rewarded VS 39-40

(Remember the context, we’re talking about Christians.) The reward is available to everyone but they just have to take it. The key to their success is faith. Faith is also our key. Like a car without an engine you can gain momentum when going downhill but as soon as you hit a speed bump or start going uphill again you aren’t going to get very far. That is like those who go through life without faith.

We also receive a better resurrection; better than saving your first life by denying Christ and not receiving the promise. VS 6, 39 There are promises that are still yet to come, like those in Revelation. VS 38 These People were people whom the world was not worthy. Most were forgotten but all were rewarded.  

Mark 15:21

The Weekend 2011
April 9, 2011

Kevin Miller

“Don’t Just Stand There”

Mark 15:21

Going from a passerby to a participant, painting the picture of Simon of Cyrene.

1.       He Was A Passerby

Simon walked up on an unexpected situation. His home town, Cyrene, was 800 miles from Jerusalem. That would take over a month to make that trek. He was from Africa. Simon was a Jew that came once a year or maybe only once in his life during the Passover. During that time there were 100,000 – 250,000 visitors on top of the 80,000 people who lived there. Most likely he was staying in a suburban area and was coming into Jerusalem.

Jesus was dragging His cross a little before 9am (He was crucified at 9), and their prayer hour was at 9am. So people were flocking in. Jesus was forced to drag his cross down as many streets as possible because the whole point was public humiliation. Simon had his own plans, he didn’t grasp the significance of what he was about to encounter. He might not have even known who Jesus was.

2.       He Was Pushed

-Luke 23:26- there is uses the word compelled which means to lay hold of, press into service, force.

3. He Was a Participant

Had the guards picked a local Jew there probably would have been a riot. So their best bet was a tourist. Simon probably stood out –Luke 23:26- “That he might bare it after Jesus.” The cross weighed about 300lb and that was usually just the beam that they had to carry. Usually when there is a murder the weapon is blood after, but this weapon was bloody before. –Mark 8:34-35- those verse are almost like foreshadowing. You’re not the martyr Jesus is.

Mark is the only one who mentions Simon’s son’s names. That must mean that those who he was writing to must have known them. Mark wrote to gentile Christians in Rome. Romans 16 mentions Rufus, maybe it’s the same guy.

Kevin’s daughter Emery’s prayer: “God we love you and we love that You love us.” She gets it, even at that age (4-5?) she gets it. –Isaiah 53:5 & 6- -1 Peter:3- that’s how He loves us.

1 Kings 22:1-40 "The Truth Hurts"

The Weekend 2011
April 9, 2011

Kevin Miller

“The Truth Hurts”

1 Kings 22:1-40

(This story is repeated almost word for word in 2 Chronicles 18) Jehoshaphat wanted to know God’s will before he went to war. We need to inquire for God’s will for our lives. The prophets that Ahab and Jehoshaphat inquired with were Ahab’s “yes men” so of course they told him to go to war. But Jehoshaphat wasn’t fooled; he wanted a real prophet of the Lord. So they call on Micaiah who Ahab isn’t fond of.

1.       The Temptation To Blend In VS 13-15

We’re called to be in the world but not of the world. Micaiah was being pressured to do what all the fake prophet were doing but Micaiah doesn’t give in; he stand for his faith, his God. The truth may not be pretty but it needs to be preached. How loving is it to know where someone’s going (to hell) but no say anything to correct them or help them.

2.       The Rejection For Standing Up (or out) VS 8, 16-27

VS 8 – Although Micaiah is being bashed on, that says something for Micaiah. Ahab knew he was of the Lord, and he didn’t like the messages the Lord gave to Micaiah to give to the king. The whole purpose of the lying spirit that God allowed was so that Ahab would go out to battle and be killed (remember what God told him, through Elijah, a few chapters back).

Don’t take rejection personally; when people reject you, when you’re telling them about the Lord, they are really rejecting God. So the problem is between them and God.

3.       The Reason For Speaking Truth VS 25, 28-40

The benefits outweigh the side effects. The benefits: taking a step of faith, letting God take care of it, God’s word never fails, etc. Micaiah tells Ahab that if they’d see each other again then he would be a liar. We need to speak the truth even when people don’t listen. –Mark 16:50- You can’t respond for them.

VS 34 shows how precise God is. This guy shot and arrow at random and it struck Ahab between his armor and killed him later that day. I don’t believe in coincidence. If our God wasn’t real many other things could have happened when they guy, for whatever reason shot his arrow. It might have bounced off his armor, it could have only hit him where his wound could have been treated, etc. But no God is in control and he always keeps his promises. He told Ahab he was going to die for his disobedience and He kept His word.

Like Micaiah, when spreading God’s word we need to think of it as an amazing opportunity instead of homework or letting the consequences of such hold us back. It’s not that He needs up around (screwing everything up anyway), He wants us there. Just like a little kid wanting to help, they don’t know what they are doing, but it’s enjoyable having them there and showing them something new. You can give them the littlest (and maybe a seemed worthless) job, but they love it and have so much joy because they were included.

Kevin’s story: He was putting together some chairs for their new dining room set and his little girl Emery, who I believe is 4, wanted to help him. He knew he could get it done much faster and easier on his own but he wanted her there. So he gave her the job of testing the chairs; sitting in them and making sure they were stable so that no one would fall out of them. He said that she loved helping him and was excited to help him test all the chairs. J