2017-07
2017-07
Wednesday Jul 26, 2017
"A Praying Life" (chapters 6-8)
Wednesday Jul 26, 2017
Wednesday Jul 26, 2017
A Praying Life: Connecting with God in a Distracting WorldBy Paul E. Miller“Learning to Be Helpless” - Chapter 6Learning to Be Helpless
Children naturally tend to be more dependent and open to their own helplessness.
As we get older we desire independence and we become allergic to helplessness.
When we are confident in ourselves and think we already know the solution, we won’t pray.
Prayer = Helplessness
God wants us to come to him empty-handed, weary, and heavy-laden.
Prayer is bringing our helplessness to Jesus.
Prayer is an expression of who we are…we are a living incompleteness.
We were saved as helpless sinners; why should prayer be any different?
Prayer mirrors the gospel: helplessness leads to grace.
A Wrong View of Maturity
Mature Christians pray more, but it is not because they are better at performing a duty.
Mature Christians have learned how weak and sinful they are, which leads to a larger view of grace.
Weakness is the channel that allows them to access grace.
More maturity=more dependence.
When You Open the Door
Themes of good prayer: -Helplessness -Relationship -Repentance -Asking -Story -Hope
When you open a door to God, you find some amazing treasures inside.
“Crying ‘Abba’ - Continuously” - Chapter 7Seeking GodO God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water (Psalm 63:1)Our hearts are restless and will be restless until we find rest in God.Our nagging personal faults can drive us into a continuous praying life.Poverty of Spirit, Not Discipline
It is poverty of spirit that will lead us into a deeper and more continuous prayer life, not more personal self-discipline.
The Holy Spirit prays with us and for us in our dependence on the Father.
Abba – childlike, dependent
Poverty of spirit makes room for His Spirit.
Paul’s Example & Teaching
“Unceasing prayer” is Paul’s description of how he prayed and how he wanted the church to pray.
Paul frequently used words like: -Continuously -Without ceasing -Night and Day -Always -At all times
The Jesus Prayer
Early model of a short prayer: -“Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”
A praying life isn’t simply about a morning prayer time; it is about slipping into prayer at odd hours of the day: -Not because we are disciplined -Because we are aware of our poverty of spirit.
“Bending Your Heart to your Father” - Chapter 8An Anxious Heart
Anxiety in our hearts can become a springboard to bending our hearts to God in prayer.
Instead of letting our anxiety churn over and over in our hearts, bring it to God.
Our anxiety can become a momentary prayer.
Brief History of Anxiety and Prayer
Continuous prayer was normal in Eden before the Fall.
Broken communication with God because of sin and guilt also brought with it anxiety.
Anxiety is unable to relax in the face of chaos; continuous prayer clings to the Father in the face of chaos.
Dependence frees us from anxiety.
We become anxious when we take a godlike stance, trying to control everything, and occupying ourselves with things too great for us.
We return to sanity by becoming like little children, dependent, and resting in our Father.
Invitations for Prayer
When you pray continuously, moments when you are prone to anxiety can become invitations to drift into prayer.
Anxiety transformed into prayer brings us from worrying to watching—watching what God will do in his unfolding drama.
Sunday Jul 23, 2017
“A Snake against the snakes” (Exodus 7:8–13)
Sunday Jul 23, 2017
Sunday Jul 23, 2017
“A Snake against the snakes” (Exodus 7:8–13)
Pastor Cameron Jungels
Eastside Baptist Church
Sunday PM, July 23, 2017
Exodus 7:8–13, NIV
8 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, 9 “When Pharaoh says to you, ‘Perform a miracle,’ then say to Aaron, ‘Take your staff and throw it down before Pharaoh,’ and it will become a snake.”
10 So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and did just as the Lord commanded. Aaron threw his staff down in front of Pharaoh and his officials, and it became a snake. 11 Pharaoh then summoned wise men and sorcerers, and the Egyptian magicians also did the same things by their secret arts: 12 Each one threw down his staff and it became a snake. But Aaron’s staff swallowed up their staffs. 13 Yet Pharaoh’s heart became hard and he would not listen to them, just as the Lord had said.
God prepares his servants for skepticism and unbelief: He equips them with words and wonders (8–9).
God uses his obedient servants to display his power: He transforms creation and brings life out of death (10).
God’s plan is not thwarted by the threat of cheap imitations: He mocks the futility of man (11).
God demonstrates his supremacy over all authorities and powers: He conquers and defeats his foes. (12).
God utilizes the hard-heartedness and stubbornness of the unbelieving in the display of his greater glory: He hardens as he wills (13).
Sunday Jul 23, 2017
“God’s Grace to David (and Us)” (Romans 4:6–8)
Sunday Jul 23, 2017
Sunday Jul 23, 2017
“God’s Grace to David (and Us)” (Romans 4:6–8)
Pastor Cameron Jungels
Eastside Baptist Church
Sunday AM, July 23, 2017
Romans 4:1–8 (NIV)
4 What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, discovered in this matter? 2 If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God. 3 What does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”
4 Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift but as an obligation. 5 However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness. 6 David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the one to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:
7 “Blessed are those
whose transgressions are forgiven,
whose sins are covered.
8 Blessed is the one
whose sin the Lord will never count against them.”
God does not owe anyone anything (1–5).
God does not owe anyone any of the credit for their salvation—because it is all by grace through faith (1–3).
God does not owe anyone anything in return for their attempts at good works—because salvation is all of grace through faith (4–5).
No sin is too great to be forgiven by God’s grace (6–8).
David was a great sinner (like us).
David’s God was a greater forgiver.
Wednesday Jul 19, 2017
"A Praying Life" (chapters 4-5)
Wednesday Jul 19, 2017
Wednesday Jul 19, 2017
A Praying Life: Connecting with God in a Distracting World
By Paul E. Miller
“Learn to Talk with Your Father” - Chapter 4
Asking Like a Child
Everything and anything
Repeatedly
Transparently
Knowing our Father gives good gifts
Believing Like a Child
Confident of our Father’s Love
Asking persistently, confident in his goodness
Confident of our Father’s Power
Everything possible
Without cynicism and unbelief
Greater confidence in our Father’s power and love leads us to greater boldness to ask for the impossible.
Learning to Play Again
Not overly concerned about praying with a set structure or pattern.
More like the flow of a conversation with a person.
Instead of letting your wandering mind be a distraction to your time of prayer, integrate your wandering thoughts into your conversation with your loving heavenly Father.
Learn to Babble Again
Our Father understands our babbling, because he knows us and loves us.
Don’t be embarrassed by how needy your heart is and how much it needs to cry out for grace. Just start praying.
God has given us his Spirit to help us in prayer, when we don’t know what to say.
“Spending Time with Your Father” - Chapter 5
Spending Time with Your Father
Even Jesus, the Son of God, needed times of prayer with his Father.
He set aside times of prayer, in silence and solitude.
Even after a busy day, he woke up early to go and pray with his Father.
Why Jesus Needed to Pray
Clue # 1: His Identity
He was dependent on his Father.
If you know that you, like Jesus, can’t do life on your own, then prayer makes complete sense.
Jesus defines his identity completely in relationship to his heavenly Father.
Jesus’ prayer life is an expression of his relationship with his Father.
Clue # 2: His One-Person Focus
When Jesus interacts with people, he narrows his focus down to one person.
This one-person focus is how love works.
In prayer, our heavenly Father should be our one-person focus.
Clue # 3: His Limited Humanity
Though he was the Son of God, as man he had normal human limitations.
Jesus didn’t multitask. He focused on one thing and one person at a time.
He couldn’t focus on his Father and on the crowds at the same time.
He found solitary time to pray.
No Substitute for Time
Jesus’ example teaches us that prayer is about relationship.
When he prays, he is not performing a duty; he is getting close to his Father.
To grow, any relationship needs private space, time together, and conversation.
You don’t create intimacy; you make room for it.
Praying Like Jesus Prayed
Jesus’ pattern of morning prayer follows the ancient pattern of the psalms.
But this is not the only time to pray; Jesus also prayed in the evenings.
Jesus prayed out loud in the pattern of the psalms.
Praying aloud can add a reality and concreteness to our thoughts. We pray to a God who lives and hears.
Overcoming Objections
Constant prayer and short prayers throughout the day can’t take the place of dedicated times of prayer.
Busyness is no valid objection.
If you are not praying, then you are quietly confident that time, money, and talent are all you need in life.
A dependent life will prioritize times of prayer.
Take Baby Steps
Don’t set impossible goals.
Start slowly with attainable goals.
Don’t multitask.
Get to bed.
Get up.
Get awake.
Get a quiet place.
Get comfortable.
Get going.
Keep going.
Sunday Jul 16, 2017
“God’s Calling Renewed” (Exodus 6:28–7:7)
Sunday Jul 16, 2017
Sunday Jul 16, 2017
“God’s Calling Renewed” (Exodus 6:28–7:7)Pastor Cameron JungelsEastside Baptist ChurchSunday PM, July 16, 2017Exodus 6:28–7:7 NIV28 Now when the Lord spoke to Moses in Egypt, 29 he said to him, “I am the Lord. Tell Pharaoh king of Egypt everything I tell you.” 30 But Moses said to the Lord, “Since I speak with faltering lips, why would Pharaoh listen to me?” 1 Then the Lord said to Moses, “See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron will be your prophet. 2 You are to say everything I command you, and your brother Aaron is to tell Pharaoh to let the Israelites go out of his country. 3 But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and though I multiply my signs and wonders in Egypt, 4 he will not listen to you. Then I will lay my hand on Egypt and with mighty acts of judgment I will bring out my divisions, my people the Israelites. 5 And the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord when I stretch out my hand against Egypt and bring the Israelites out of it.” 6 Moses and Aaron did just as the Lord commanded them. 7 Moses was eighty years old and Aaron eighty-three when they spoke to Pharaoh.Exodus 6:12–13 NIV12 But Moses said to the Lord, “If the Israelites will not listen to me, why would Pharaoh listen to me, since I speak with faltering lips?” 13 Now the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron about the Israelites and Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he commanded them to bring the Israelites out of Egypt.Exodus 4:10–17 NIV10 Moses said to the Lord, “Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.” 11 The Lord said to him, “Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the Lord? 12 Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.” 13 But Moses said, “Pardon your servant, Lord. Please send someone else.” 14 Then the Lord’s anger burned against Moses and he said, “What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he can speak well. He is already on his way to meet you, and he will be glad to see you. 15 You shall speak to him and put words in his mouth; I will help both of you speak and will teach you what to do. 16 He will speak to the people for you, and it will be as if he were your mouth and as if you were God to him. 17 But take this staff in your hand so you can perform the signs with it.”1. The weakened confidence of God’s chosen deliverer (6:28–30).2. God’s gracious renewal of Moses’ commission (7:1–7). a. Renewal of Moses’ and Aaron’s roles in the mission (1–2). b. Reminder of the mission’s challenges (3–4a). c. Reassurance of the mission’s ultimate success (4b–5). d. Response to the mission’s mandate (6). e. Removal of normal human limitations (7).Main Idea: When we are most discouraged, let us look to God to remind us of our purpose and mission and be reassured of his strength and victory.
Sunday Jul 16, 2017
“God’s Grace to Abraham and David” (Romans 4:1–8)
Sunday Jul 16, 2017
Sunday Jul 16, 2017
“God’s Grace to Abraham and David” (Romans 4:1–8)Pastor Cameron JungelsEastside Baptist ChurchSunday AM, July 16, 2017Romans 4:1–8 (NIV)4 What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, discovered in this matter? 2 If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God. 3 What does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” 4 Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift but as an obligation. 5 However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness. 6 David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the one to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:7 “Blessed are thosewhose transgressions are forgiven,whose sins are covered.8 Blessed is the onewhose sin the Lord will never count against them.” Romans 1:1–2 NIV1 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God—2 the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy ScripturesRomans 3:21 NIVBut now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify.Romans 3:31 NIVDo we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law.1. God does not owe anyone anything (1–5). a. God does not owe anyone any of the credit for their salvation—because it is all by grace through faith (1–3).Genesis 15:6 NIVAbram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness. b. God does not owe anyone anything in return for their attempts at good works—because salvation is all by grace through faith (4–5).Romans 3:25–26 NIV25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished—26 he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.
Wednesday Jul 12, 2017
"A Praying LIfe" (chapter 3)
Wednesday Jul 12, 2017
Wednesday Jul 12, 2017
A Praying Life: Connecting with God in a Distracting World By Paul E. Miller
Learning to Pray Like a Child: Part I: Chapters 3-8
“Become Like a Little Child”: Chapter 3
Become Like a Little Child
Jesus often told his disciples to become like little children.
14 When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." (Mk. 10:14-15, NIV)
One aspect of childlike behavior that is important in prayer is children say what is on their minds.
There is usually very little pretense with children. They say what they are thinking, and they often speak before they think.
This kind of genuineness and transparency should be part of our communication with our heavenly Father in prayer.
Too often, we try to be “spiritual” when we just need to be genuine.
Come Messy
The problem with coming as we are is that we are messy, and prayer makes it worse.
We don’t know how bad we are until we try to be good. Nothing exposes our selfishness and spiritual powerlessness like prayer.
Little children never get frozen by their selfishness. They come just as they are, totally self-absorbed.
And we as parents welcome them.
Our heavenly Father also welcomes us, imperfections and all.
The gospel teaches us that the welcoming heart of God cheers us when we come to him with our wobbling, unsteady prayers.
The criteria for coming to Jesus is weariness. Come overwhelmed with life. Come with your wandering mind. Come messy.
Don’t try to get the prayer right; just tell God where you are and what’s on your mind—like children.
We know that to become a Christian we shouldn’t try to fix ourselves up in order to be accepted by God.
But when it comes to prayer, sometimes we forget that. We try to fix ourselves up or put on a front.
Private, personal prayer is one of the last bastions of legalism.
In order to pray like a child, you might need to unlearn the non-personal, nonreal praying you’ve been taught or seen modeled.
The Real you
If you don’t come to God as you are, then you are artificial like the Pharisees.
Unlike the disciples, who blurted out whatever they thought, the Pharisees were guarded and never told Jesus what they were thinking.
And Jesus called them hypocrites.
The only way to come to God is by taking off any spiritual mask. The real you has to meet the real God.
It might be good to slow down and stop and think before we pray…then we might actually be open before God about what our hearts are troubled by.
Our hearts and desires are probably askew, and that’s okay. You have to begin with what is real. Jesus didn’t come for the righteous. He came for sinners. All of us qualify.
When you bring your real self to Jesus, you give him the opportunity to work on the real you.
God would rather deal with the real thing.
Jesus said he came for sinners, for messed-up people who keep messing up. Come dirty.
The point of the gospel is that we are incapable of beginning with God and his kingdom.
Many Christians pray for God’s kingdom, but all the while their lives are wrapped up in their own.
You can’t add God’s kingdom as an overlay to your own.
Touching Our Father’s Heart
The opening of the Lord’s prayer: “Our Father”: you are the center of your heavenly Father’s affection. That is where you find rest for your soul.
If we remove prayer from the welcoming heart of God, then prayer becomes a legalistic chore. We do the duty but miss touching the heart of God.
When we come “weary and heavy-laden” we discover God’s heart.
Questions
In what ways does Jesus want us to become like little children?
Describe the differences between coming to God messy and coming put together.
Why is it important to come to God just as you are? Why is this hard for us?
What kind of people did Jesus come for (Mark 2:13–17)? What kind of person must Jesus have been like—that “tax collectors and sinners” enjoyed him?
How does the knowledge that you can come to Jesus weary, distracted, and messy (or cynical like Nathaniel) impact you? How is this like the gospel?
What is the heart of prayer?
Sunday Jul 09, 2017
“The Deliverer’s Family” (Exodus 6:13–27)
Sunday Jul 09, 2017
Sunday Jul 09, 2017
“The Deliverer’s Family” (Exodus 6:13–27)
Pastor Cameron Jungels
Eastside Baptist Church
Sunday PM, July 9, 2017
Exodus 6:13–27 (NIV)
13 Now the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron about the Israelites and Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he commanded them to bring the Israelites out of Egypt.
14 These were the heads of their families:
The sons of Reuben the firstborn son of Israel were Hanok and Pallu, Hezron and Karmi. These were the clans of Reuben.
15 The sons of Simeon were Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jakin, Zohar and Shaul the son of a Canaanite woman. These were the clans of Simeon.
16 These were the names of the sons of Levi according to their records: Gershon, Kohath and Merari. Levi lived 137 years.
17 The sons of Gershon, by clans, were Libni and Shimei.
18 The sons of Kohath were Amram, Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel. Kohath lived 133 years.
19 The sons of Merari were Mahli and Mushi.
These were the clans of Levi according to their records.
20 Amram married his father’s sister Jochebed, who bore him Aaron and Moses. Amram lived 137 years.
21 The sons of Izhar were Korah, Nepheg and Zikri.
22 The sons of Uzziel were Mishael, Elzaphan and Sithri.
23 Aaron married Elisheba, daughter of Amminadab and sister of Nahshon, and she bore him Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.
24 The sons of Korah were Assir, Elkanah and Abiasaph. These were the Korahite clans.
25 Eleazar son of Aaron married one of the daughters of Putiel, and she bore him Phinehas.
These were the heads of the Levite families, clan by clan.
26 It was this Aaron and Moses to whom the LORD said, “Bring the Israelites out of Egypt by their divisions.” 27 They were the ones who spoke to Pharaoh king of Egypt about bringing the Israelites out of Egypt—this same Moses and Aaron.
The Lord uses ordinary people as a part of his redemptive story.
The Lord extends his grace to ordinary people.
The Lord often chooses an ordinary person out of an ordinary family to serve a larger role in his redemptive story.
Sunday Jul 09, 2017
“Where Is Boasting?” (Romans 3:27–31)
Sunday Jul 09, 2017
Sunday Jul 09, 2017
“Where Is Boasting?” (Romans 3:27–31)
Pastor Cameron Jungels
Eastside Baptist Church
Sunday AM, July 9, 2017
Romans 3:21–31 (NIV)
21 But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished—26 he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.
27 Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. Because of what law? The law that requires works? No, because of the law that requires faith. 28 For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law. 29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too, 30 since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith. 31 Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law.
Since righteousness is based on grace through faith in what God has accomplished in Christ and not on human works or merit, boasting is completely ruled out (v. 27–28). (The gospel of justification by faith alone humbles sinners and excludes boasting.)
The oneness and exclusivity of God demands that Jews and Gentiles are justified in the same way: by faith (vv. 29–30). (The gospel of justification by faith alone unites believers and excludes discrimination.)
Faith does not nullify the Law, but establishes it. It does this by causing the ethical commands of the Law to be fulfilled in us through faith. (The gospel of justification by faith alone upholds the law and excludes antinomianism.)
Wednesday Jul 05, 2017
"A Praying Life" (chapters 1-2)
Wednesday Jul 05, 2017
Wednesday Jul 05, 2017
A Praying Life: Connecting with God in a Distracting World
By Paul E. Miller
“What Good Does It Do?” Chapter 1
What Good Does It Do?
We struggle with many symptoms of a dysfunctional prayer life:
Cynicism – because of unanswered prayers or insincere lip-service to prayer
Guilt – not praying long enough, often enough, well enough, focused enough, worshipful enough, etc.
Hopelessness – we begin to wonder if prayer makes any difference
Problems Not Surprising
We should not be surprised that we struggle in prayer with God.
We were designed to pray and communicate with our Creator.
But the Fall disrupted our ability to commune in fellowship with God.
Evil has marred the image of God in us.
We want to talk to God but we can’t or we find it very difficult.
The Hardest Place in the World to Pray
The busyness of American culture
Work, productivity, & success
Entertainment & leisure
Discomfort with silence and inactivity
Intellect, competency, & wealth sometimes make prayer seem unnecessary.
The Oddness of Praying
Prayer seems one-sided compared to other conversations. How do we talk with a Spirit?
How do we know we aren’t just listening to ourselves when we think we’re hearing God?
What should I pray for?
How do I pray?
Why pray if God already knows what I need? Isn’t that nagging?
A Visit to a Prayer Therapist
Imagine a visit to a prayer therapist or counselor to help you with prayer
How would you answer the question to describe your relationship with your heavenly father as a son or daughter of God?
Would it sound more doctrinal and formal or personal and relational?
What is it like to be with your Father, and to talk with Him?
“Where we are headed” Chapter 2
The Praying Life…Feels Like Dinner with Good Friends
Jesus describes the intimacy he wants with us in Revelation 3:20:
"Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends. (Rev. 3:20, NLT)
Our prayer life should become more and more like a natural conversation between friends or family members.
More focus on God and less on prayer
The Praying Life…Is Interconnected with All of Life
Prayer is all about relationship, so we can’t work on prayer as an isolated part of life.
Frustrations with prayer come from working on prayer as a discipline in the abstract.
Prayer is interrelated to our growth in faith, love, kindness, wisdom, etc.
Learning to pray is identical to maturing over a lifetime.
Don’t hunt for a feeling in prayer.
We often desire an experience of prayer or an experience with God.
Once we make an experience our quest, we lose God.
You don’t experience God; you get to know him. You submit to him. You enjoy him. He is, after all, a person.
A praying life isn’t accomplished in a year; it is a journey of a lifetime.
The Praying Life…Becomes Aware of the Story
God’s sovereignty, love, wisdom, and patience combine to make a divine story.
If God is sovereign, then he is in control of the details of my life.
If God is loving, then he is going to be shaping the details of my life for my good.
If God is all-wise, then he’s not going to do everything I want because I don’t know what I need.
If God is patient, then he is going to take his time to do all this.
We are actors in God’s divine drama.
You can’t have a good story without tension and conflict, without things going wrong. Unanswered prayers are part of the tension. They draw us deeper into God’s story.
The Praying Life…Gives Birth to Hope
If God is sovereign, loving, wise, and patient…and is writing a story with our lives—that gives us hope. Our lives are not static; they are part of God’s ever-moving story.
Many Christians have become functional deists, thinking that prayer doesn’t really work and God is not directly involved in his world. This leads to cynicism.
The Praying Life…Becomes Integrated
Many assume that the spiritual person is unruffled by life, unfazed by pressure, and somehow floats above life.
A praying life is not a disconnected one…living the quiet, contemplative life without the busyness of life.
Learning to pray doesn’t offer you a less busy life; it offers you a less busy heart: Outer busyness/Inner quiet
The Praying Life…Reveals the Heart
As you get to know your heavenly Father, you’ll get to know your own heart as well.
In the process, your heart will be changed by God.
God is a person. We don’t learn to love a person without it changing us
As you develop your relationship with your heaven Father, you’ll discover cynicism, pride, and self-will.
This process will unmask our hearts.
None of us likes to be exposed. We have an allergic reaction to dependency, but this is the state of the heart most necessary for a praying life.
A needy heart is a praying heart. Dependency is the heartbeat of prayer.
“Abandon all, you will receive heaven.” When you give God your life, he gives you the gift of himself.
Sunday Jul 02, 2017
“Moses’ Distress and God’s Assurance of Deliverance” (Exodus 5:22–6:13)
Sunday Jul 02, 2017
Sunday Jul 02, 2017
“Moses’ Distress and God’s Assurance of Deliverance” (Exodus 5:22–6:13)Pastor Cameron JungelsEastside Baptist ChurchSunday PM, July 2, 2017Exodus 5:22–6:13 (NIV) 22 Moses returned to the Lord and said, “Why, Lord, why have you brought trouble on this people? Is this why you sent me? 23 Ever since I went to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has brought trouble on this people, and you have not rescued your people at all.” 6:1 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh: Because of my mighty hand he will let them go; because of my mighty hand he will drive them out of his country.” 2 God also said to Moses, “I am the Lord. 3 I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob as God Almighty, but by my name the Lord I did not make myself fully known to them. 4 I also established my covenant with them to give them the land of Canaan, where they resided as foreigners. 5 Moreover, I have heard the groaning of the Israelites, whom the Egyptians are enslaving, and I have remembered my covenant. 6 “Therefore, say to the Israelites: ‘I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment. 7 I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. 8 And I will bring you to the land I swore with uplifted hand to give to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob. I will give it to you as a possession. I am the Lord.’” 9 Moses reported this to the Israelites, but they did not listen to him because of their discouragement and harsh labor. 10 Then the Lord said to Moses, 11 “Go, tell Pharaoh king of Egypt to let the Israelites go out of his country.” 12 But Moses said to the Lord, “If the Israelites will not listen to me, why would Pharaoh listen to me, since I speak with faltering lips?” 13 Now the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron about the Israelites and Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he commanded them to bring the Israelites out of Egypt. 1. The Servant of the Lord Is in Distress over Apparent Failure of the Mission (5:22–23).
2. God Reassures His Servant that the Mission Will Ultimately Be Successful (6:1–13). a. The mission will succeed because of the power of God (1). b. The mission will succeed because of God’s zeal for the glory of his own name (2–3).Duane Garrett (247–248):Refrain 6:2c I am YHWH.Stanza 1.1 6:3a And I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. 6:3b As El Shaddai. 6:3c But my name is YHWH. 6:3d Did I not make myself known to them?Stanza 1.2 6:4a And also I set up my covenant with them, 6:4b To give them the land of Canaan, 6:4c The land of their sojourning, 6:4d In which they sojourned.Stanza 1.3 6:5a And also I heard the groaning of the Israelites, 6:5b Whom the Egyptians were enslaving, 6:5c And I remembered my covenant. 6:6a Therefore, say to the IsraelitesRefrain 6:6b I am YHWH.Stanza 2.1 6:6c And I will bring you out from under the heavy labor of the Egyptians, 6:6d And I will deliver you from their service 6:6e And I will redeem you with an outstretched arm, 6:6f And with great judgments.Stanza 2.2 6:7a And I will take you as my people 6:7b And I will be your God. 6:7c And you will know that I am YHWH your God, 6:7d Who brings you out from under the heavy labor of the Egyptians.Stanza 2.3 6:8a And I will bring you to the land 6:8b That I lifted my hand [in an oath] 6:8c To give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, 6:8d And I will give it to you as a possession.Refrain 6:8e I am YHWH. c. The mission will succeed because God is faithful to his covenant promises (4). d. The mission will succeed because God listens to the cries of his people in distress (5). e. The mission will succeed because the Sovereign Lord has determined that it will (6–8). f. The mission will succeed in spite of his people’s doubts, excuses, and complaints (9–13).Main Idea: In our service to Christ, we will face distressing times, failures, delays, and resistance from unbelievers, but we can be assured of the ultimate success of God’s mission. So, let us not delay or shrink back from participating in God’s gospel mission.
Sunday Jul 02, 2017
"Christ, Our Propitiation" (Romans 3:25-26)
Sunday Jul 02, 2017
Sunday Jul 02, 2017
“Christ, Our Propitiation” (Romans 3:25–26)
Pastor Cameron Jungels
Eastside Baptist Church
Sunday AM, July 2, 2017
21 But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood-- to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished-- 26 he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus. (Romans 3:21–26, NIV)
God took the initiative to justify us.
God justifies us through the sacrificial death of his Son Jesus Christ.
Christ is the ἱλαστήριον (hilastērion)– the sacred place in God’s presence where the means of sacrifice is accepted, which atones for our sins, placating the holy wrath of God against sinners, being consistent with and for the magnification of God’s glory.
God’s gracious gift of justification is received by faith in Christ.
In justifying sinners through Christ, God satisfied his justice for all time, past, present, and future.