John’s primary PURPOSE is that believers will enter and maintain fellowship with God, with the RESULT of inner joy.“That which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write to you that our joy may be full … These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may [continue to] believe in the name of the Son of God.” 1Jo 1:3-4; 1Jo 5:13 (emphasis added)
This compilation of notes represents the truths found in the Epistle of First John.
Gene Cunningham - February 13, 2000
Cross to the Crown #7
Life is a pilgrimage (Psa 84:5-9). God uses our bad situations to be a blessing to others "strength to strength"; Rom 1:17- "faith to faith"; 2Co 3:18 - "glory to glory". 5 mountain peaks of faith: (1) Hebrew "AMEN" - beginning faith - means to "lean on a staff". (2) BATACH - Pro 3:5-6 - faith as a wrestling match - cast your cares on the Lord (1Pe 5:7). (3) CHASAH (Psa 57:1, Heb 6:18, Psa 84:9) - to find a safe refuge. (4) YACHAL - applying dressing to a wound (Job 13:15). (5). QAWAH (Isa 40:31) - small threads woven into a strong unbreakable rope (Ecc 9:4). Harold Gatty, famous navigator, taught that in navigating you have to know where you are to get where you're going. If you have a map and compass internally, you would be able to orient to any terrain in front of you. The Bible is our map; the Holy Spirit is the compass. Life of faith: (1) childlike belief and trust in God's Word (Rom 10:17); (2) faith focuses on the invisible things of God's Word (2Co 5:7); (3) faith is the only way to please Him (Heb 11:6); (4) fath is a one word summary (Hab 2:4, Rom 1:17, Gal 3:11, Heb 10:38); (5) faith transfers Word of God to life experience through love (Gal 5:6). (6) everything not of faith is sin (Rom 14:23). (7) after salvation is "faith plus works" (Eph 2:10).
Scripture References: Hebrews 10:38, Romans 1:17, Isaiah 40:31, Galatians 3:11, Psalms 84:5-9, Job 13:15, Romans 1:17, Psalms 84:9, Habakkuk 2:4, Ephesians 2:10, Hebrews 6:18, Hebrews 11:6, Romans 14:23, Psalms 57:1, Romans 10:17, Galatians 5:6, Proverbs 3:5-6, Ecclesiastes 9:4
From Series: "The Cross to the Crown"
To get from 'the cross to the crown' we need to make decisions to live a life of spiritual dynamics using God's provisions -- His Word and Spirit. This series given in early 2006 before Gene moved back to the States outlines ten aspects of our discipleship.