Simplicity of the Gospel Videos


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I want to remind us of the perspective that Jesus, our Savior, had concerning His own death. Because I think it helps us appreciate it a little bit more. His death was 1) Purposeful, 2) Voluntary, 3) Joyful, and 4) Glorious.

Well, first of all, His death was purposeful. He recognized that He was going to die. John 12:27 says, “What shall I say, Father, do not let this hour come upon me. But that is why I came.”

The purpose of his death was also voluntary. It was a voluntary or volitional outpouring of His love, and it showed full and true submission to God, the Father. Romans 5:8, “for God demonstrates his love towards us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” In the garden, Jesus said three times to the Father, “not My will, but Your will be done.” In John 10:17-18 Jesus said, “The Father loves me because I’m willing to give up My life in order that I may receive it back again. No one takes My life away from Me. I give it up of My own free will. I have the right to give it up and I have the right to take it back.This is what my father has commanded me to do.”

His death was purposeful. His death was voluntary. His death was also joyful. Hebrews 12:2 says, “Who, for the joy set before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and He sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Jesus was fully aware of the pain and the suffering that He would face at the cross, but He had his eyes on the joy, and that joy was purchasing our eternal destiny.

And then finally, Jesus considered death as the path to glory. In John 12:23 He said those words, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to receive great glory.” And this is an amazing verse to me because this is shortly before the passion week. This is shortly before He would go through all of that suffering, the betrayal, the arrest, the scourging, the piercing of his hands and feet, the crown of thorns on his head, and the gathering up the sins of the world that pierced His heart. He didn’t say the time has come for the Son of Man to be tortured and tormented and suffer for the sins of the world. No, He said, “the hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.” He ignored the suffering and kept his eyes on the glory. And if we can grasp the truth of that verse, it would totally change our perspective of the sufferings in our life.

So this is His perspective of His own death. He was born to die.

Gene Cunningham - September 11, 2000

Elijah #11

Elijah experiences the provision and faithfulness of God in the two meals he ate. God then commissions him to prepare his successor. God uses failures to prepare for victories if we let Him. Private time often prepares for public victory. Elijah was in the presence of the Lord (1Ki 19:11-12). God warns Elijah that He does not guide by fantastic events or signs. The devil can give signs and will deceive. "After the fire a still small voice"; God speaks in the inner ear. Peter explains God's guidance to him (Act 11:1-2). (1) There is a great need in our lives for Divine guidance (Jer 17:9, Rom 8:26). "Lord, what will you have me to do?" (Acts 22:10). (2) There is a promise of Divine guidance given by God (Psalm 32:8, Isa 30:21, Joh 16:13, Rom 8:14). (3) We have warnings regarding Divine guidance (Jam 4:13-15). Are we seeking the will of God in our plans? (4) There's a method to God's guidance (Pro 3:5-6, Joh 7:17). It's not what happening to you that guides, but the set of the soul (Joh 3:8). We don't often understand God (Isa 55:8-11). God won't overlook the smallest grain, but we need to be obedient (Amo 9:9). If we do the known will of God He'll guide in the unknown (Rom 12:1-2, 1Pe 3:15, Psa 37:4). Peter was obedient therefore under the guiding hand of God (Act 11:5-18). (1) Peter uses his waiting time in effective prayer in fellowship (Act 11:5). Transform your waiting time into redeemed time through prayer. (2) Peter had divine revelation (Act 11:5-7). Apostles had visions, we have the word of God. (3) Peter is spiritually minded (Act 11:6, Act 10:19, Rom 8:6, 2Ti 1:7). (4) Peter hears the word of God (Act 11:7, Rom 10:17). (5) God use providential circumstance - "at that moment (Act 11:11). Prayer + God's word + circumstance recognized = providential circumstance (Eph 4:13). (6) There is a compelling of the Spirit (Act 11:12). The voice in Act 11:7 is God's speaking directly to Peter as an apostle Peter; vs Act 11:12 is the way we are guided. (7) Peter compares the things he sees and hears (Act 13-16, 1Co 2:11-15). (8) Peter had Divine confirmation (Act 11:15-17). There are three categories of the Will of God: (1) Declared - His Word; (2) Permissive - when we go astray; (3) Overruling (example Balaam in Num 22:1-41). When God works to guide us, He'll answer where, what, why, and how - the geographic, operational, motivational, and instructive Will of God. Why is always the same (2Co 5:14) - the love of Christ compels us. There are 7 things that are declared to be the Will of God: (1) We must be saved (2Pe 3:9, 1Ti 2:4); (2) We must be sanctified -- we must unconditionally surrender our lives into His hands (1Th 4:3). God guides surrendered people; (3) We must be empowered through spirituality (Eph 5:18, Gal 5:16); (4) God wants us to surrender ourselves as a sacrifice (Rom 6:13, Rom 12:1); (5) God wants our service to Him and other people (Rom 7:6, Gal 5:13); (6) It is God's Will for us to suffer (1Pe 3:17, 1Pe 4:12, 1Pe 4:19, Jam 1:2-4). He is preparing you so that when He speaks, you'll hear. God is the Redeemer of men and lives of failures. (7) God wants our stability in an unstable world (2Ti 1:7, Eph 6:14). We need to make a priority of what God makes a priorities. Warning: if you ignore the word of God through the week, we won't be guided by God (Col 3:16).

Scripture References: Psalms 37:4, Romans 6:13, Romans 8:26, Romans 8:6, Colossians 3:16, James 4:13-15, Acts 11:7, Romans 12:1-2, Galatians 5:16, Jeremiah 17:9, Acts 10:19, Ephesians 6:14, Romans 8:14, Acts 11:12, Amos 9:9, Ephesians 5:18, Acts 11:1-2, Acts 11:6, James 1:2-4, John 16:13, Ephesians 4:13, Isaiah 55:8-11, Numbers 22:1-41, Acts 11:5-7, Galatians 5:13, Isaiah 30:21, Acts 11:11, John 3:8, Acts 11:15-17, Acts 11:5, Romans 7:6, Psalms 32:8, Romans 10:17, John 7:17, Acts 11:12-16, Acts 11:5-18, Romans 12:1, Acts 22:10, Acts 11:7, Proverbs 3:5-6, Acts 11:12

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