Living for the Lord's Return

Notes: Living for the Lord's Return

Jeff Lasseigne

Sunday, December 30, 2018

Music: Harvest Worship Band

https://www.harvest.org/watch-and-listen/webcast/watch/living-for-the-lord-s-return

“Life can only be understood by looking backwards, but it must be lived looking forward.”

Isaiah 9:6 NLT

[6] For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Only the first part of that prophecy has been fulfilled, when he comes back is when the government will be upon His shoulders.

The climax of human history will be the 2nd coming of Christ.

1 in every 23 verses speak of the second coming.

Matthew 24:44 NLT

[44] You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.

5 Ways in Which the 2nd Coming Will Affect Us.

1. The return of Jesus should be a motive for Holy Living.

Luke 12:47-48 NLT

[47] "And a servant who knows what the master wants, but isn't prepared and doesn't carry out those instructions, will be severely punished. [48] But someone who does not know, and then does something wrong, will be punished only lightly. When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required.

Why hasn’t He come back yet? God is never in a hurry and is always on time.

2 Peter 3:8 NLT

[8] But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day.

2 Peter 3:9 NLT

[9] The Lord isn't really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.

We measure time by minutes, God measures time by mercy.

The world is falling apart, but God’s plan is coming together.

2 Peter 3:1-10 NKJV

[1] Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), [2] that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior, [3] knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, [4] and saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation." [5] For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, [6] by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. [7] But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. [8] But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. [9] The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. [10] But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.

2 Peter 3:13 NKJV

[13] Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

2. The return of Jesus is a motive for us to share our faith.

3. The return of Jesus is a motive for going to church. 

We determine the priorities of our life and those priorities determine our life.

Hebrews 10:25 NKJV

[25] not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

When you stay home from church without cause, you miss out on the blessing of fellowship.

The Bible commands us to be here in fellowship.

The church is the bride of Christ.

4. The return of Jesus is a motive to lay up your treasures in Heaven.

The joy of giving honors the Lord.

The only reason we should give is because we are genuinely grateful for all the Lord has done.

2 Corinthians 8:9 NKJV

[9] For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.

God loves a cheerful giver.

If you are not tithing then you should work to make things right.

5. The return of Jesus puts all of our trials and sufferings into perspective.

Your suffering is temporary, God’s grace and love is eternal.

Home for Christmas

Notes: Home for Christmas

Pastor Greg Laurie

Sunday, December 9, 2018

Ephesians 3

Music: Harvest Worship Band

https://www.harvest.org/watch-and-listen/webcast/watch/home-for-christmas

What do you think of when you think of home? Do you think of your family?

Jesus had no home at all.

John 14:1-2 AMP

[1] "Do not let your heart be troubled (afraid, cowardly). Believe [confidently] in God and trust in Him, [have faith, hold on to it, rely on it, keep going and] believe also in Me. [2] In My Father's house are many dwelling places. If it were not so, I would have told you, because I am going there to prepare a place for you.

1. Jesus left His home in Heaven so you could have a home in Heaven.

2. Jesus left His home in Heaven to make a home in your heart.

Colossians 1:27 NLT

[27] For God wanted them to know that the riches and glory of Christ are for you Gentiles, too. And this is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing his glory.

John 14:23 NLT

[23] Jesus replied, "All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them.

John 1:12 NLT

[12] But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.

Ephesians 3:17-19 NLT

[17] Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God's love and keep you strong. [18] And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. [19] May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

Jesus wants to own you home, own your heart. He wants to be at home in your heart.

Jesus will change things in your heart, let Him settle down in your house.

2. A healthy and happy family spend time together.

Malachi 3:16 NLT

[16] Then those who feared the LORD spoke with each other, and the LORD listened to what they said. In his presence, a scroll of remembrance was written to record the names of those who feared him and always thought about the honor of his name.

3. A healthy family prays together.

Matthew 18:19 NLT

[19] "I also tell you this: If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you.

In a study it was found 1% of couples that pray together get a divorce.

If we love each other, we should tell each other the truth. Sometimes that hurts, but restoration sometimes requires pain.

It is impossible to love Jesus and not the church.

How can we love God whom we cant see, if we don’t love His people whom we can see.

3. Jesus left His home in Heaven so you can be at home in His church.

Is Jesus living in your life?

Dóro

Notes: Dóro
Pastor Tim Harding
December 4
Harvest OC
Romans 5

Romans 5:1-17 NLT
[1] Therefore, since we have been made right in God's sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. [2] Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God's glory. [3] We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. [4] And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. [5] And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. [6] When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. [7] Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. [8] But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. [9] And since we have been made right in God's sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God's condemnation. [10] For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. [11] So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God. [12] When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam's sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned. [13] Yes, people sinned even before the law was given. But it was not counted as sin because there was not yet any law to break. [14] Still, everyone died-from the time of Adam to the time of Moses-even those who did not disobey an explicit commandment of God, as Adam did. Now Adam is a symbol, a representation of Christ, who was yet to come. [15] But there is a great difference between Adam's sin and God's gracious gift. For the sin of this one man, Adam, brought death to many. But even greater is God's wonderful grace and his gift of forgiveness to many through this other man, Jesus Christ. [16] And the result of God's gracious gift is very different from the result of that one man's sin. For Adam's sin led to condemnation, but God's free gift leads to our being made right with God, even though we are guilty of many sins. [17] For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God's wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ.

1. One Man Band

Blessings of our Justification 1 to 11

Basis for our justification 12 to 21

Romans 4:25 NLT
[25] He was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised to life to make us right with God.

Dóro is gift.

The word one is in this chapter 11 times.

Darkness entered us through one man.

Jesus is the one man band.

2. What’s your Dóro

We all have the gift of Jesus.

GIFT
Goal
Intended purpose 
Fervent
Timing

3. There is so much more

Have that faith to be available to God.

How to Have Peace with God

Notes: How to Have Peace with God
Greg Laurie
Sunday, December 2, 2018
Series: Relentless Grace: Paul's Letter to the Romans
Romans 5
Music: Harvest Worship Band

https://www.harvest.org/watch-and-listen/webcast/watch/how-to-have-peace-with-god

Why did Jesus come to Earth.
1. Jesus was born in a stable in Bethlehem to save us from our sin.

How can reach a sinner if you don’t spend some time with them.

2. Jesus was born in Bethlehem to bring life in all of its fullness.

Christmas is at best. A promise of things to come.

3. Jesus was born in Bethlehem so we could become God’s friends and have peace.

Romans 5:1-11 NKJV
[1] Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, [2] through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. [3] And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; [4] and perseverance, character; and character, hope. [5] Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. 

[6] For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. [7] For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. [8] But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. [9] Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. [10] For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. [11] And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

God is a true friend that will be there when you need Him.

True friends have communication.

1. We have friendship with God because Jesus made it possible.

Romans 5:1 NKJV
[1] Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

2. This friendship with God brings us personal peace.

Romans 5:1 NKJV
[1] Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

We have peace through very difficult circumstances.

Philippians 4:7 NLT
[7] Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

We have to have peace with God before we can have peace through God.

Romans 5:10 NLT
[10] For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son.

Stop fighting with God, stop running from God.

Luke 2:14 NLT
[14] "Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased."

Romans 5:5 NLT
[5] And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

Instead of praying for more love, how about you do more loving things.

Do the loving thing, don’t wait on the emotion.

1. You have peace with God.
2. You are free and have open access to his presence 
3. You have the hope of glory.

3. A true friend is always there for you.
Romans 5:3 NLT
[3] We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance.

You have an all access pass to God.

4. True friends stick together through thick and thin.

Romans 5:3-4 NLT
[3] We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. [4] And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.

I can’t control what happens around me, but I can control how I react.

Luke 22:42 NLT
[42] "Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine."

Job had hardships but he still praised the Lord.

Everything you go through in life is preparing you for something else.

God is preparing you for something that is yet to come.

Romans 5:3-4 NLT
[3] We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. [4] And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.

Character means, “testedness.”

In a spiritual battle, the goal is to win, not to lose.

Hope grows in the garden of adversity.

This hope is no fantasy, God will never let us down.

We are sinners.
Romans 5:8 NLT
[8] But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.

We were God’s enemies.

We were utterly helpless.

1. God has justified us.
2. God has given free admission into His presence at all times.
3. God has taken care of my past.