Essentials: God With Skin On

Notes: Essentials: God With Skin On

Essentials: Timeless truths for truth-less times
7/10/14 Pastor Josh Thompson
Harvest Orange County

Josh is telling about a owns who stole a can of peaches and then joked about stealing a can of peas.

What if God was one of us? 2000 years ago you actually could of said that if you were sitting next to Jesus.

He healed the sick and raised the dead yet wept for his friends.

Jesus doesn't leave us any room, he was very specific. He is the Messiah.

Jesus is God.

Jesus is Man.

Jesus is Savior.

1. Jesus as God

John 1:1-6 NIV

[1] In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. [2] He was with God in the beginning. [3] Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. [4] In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. [5] The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. [6] There was a man sent from God whose name was John.

John 1:14 NIV

[14] The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Jesus was and is God, John who wrote this was a great friend of Jesus. In the text it says John laid his head on Jesus' chest.

Colossians 1:15-20 NIV

[15] The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. [16] For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. [17] He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. [18] And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. [19] For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, [20] and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

Believing Jesus is God is an essential doctrine of Christianity.

Jesus is either lying and crazy or he is God. His statements are that big.

2. Jesus as Man

Philippians 2:5-8 NIV

[5] In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: [6] Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; [7] rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. [8] And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death---even death on a cross!

Jesus possessed the divine attributes of God and decided not to as a human.

As He hung on the cross He chose not to use any powers but to endure.

He came as a servant. If you want to be like Jesus then you could start there.

Problem is, everyone wants to be a servant until they are treated like one.

Is it humbling to you that God came from heaven and cleaned peoples feet.

He experienced all the things we experience.

He created all the things we love and experienced those things as we have.

Why did our God come here like that?

1. He was tempted:

Hebrews 4:14-16 NIV

[14] Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. [15] For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are---yet he did not sin. [16] Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

He was tempted and tested in all ways. Probably more than any of us ever have or will be. The devil himself tempted Jesus, yet Jesus rebuked him with scripture.

Matthew 4:4 NIV

[4] Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ”

Jesus combated pleasures of the flesh.

Memorize scripture and quote it to yourself.

Hebrews 2:18 NIV

[18] Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

Why is sin bad? Sin destroys your life.

1 Corinthians 10:13 NIV

[13] No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

Jesus went through trials, pain and hardships.

He took the wrath of all of ours on as he was in the cross.

Hebrews 12:2-3 NIV

[2] fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. [3] Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Cast your burden on Jesus and he will give you rest.

Jesus took the cross, do you think he can take your burden?

3. Jesus is Savior

Matthew 1:21 NIV

[21] She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

1 Timothy 1:15 NIV

[15] Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners---of whom I am the worst.

We all need Jesus.

The worst sin to Pastor Josh is to say that you don't need Jesus as much someone else. To think someone else needs Jesus more than you is a huge mistake.

Emmanuel: God with us

If someone sinned against you many times what would you do to them? If you were the judge what would you do to them. Jesus came down from his judges seat and freed you from all the sins you have done against him.

Romans 5:8 NIV

[8] But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Jesus came to pay for our sins and get us into heaven.

1. You are only in charge of yourself.

(Bitterness always robs u of self control)

2. Everything matters.

(game time all the time!)

3. If you under promise, you can over deliver.

4. Sometimes dreams come true after nightmares.