When Purpose Collides With Opposition

SERIES |

The Courage to Contiue

SCRIPTURE |

Exodus 6:1-8

SPEAKER |

Pastor Joseph Ardayfio

KEY THEME |

I.    In this series, Pastor Joseph addresses key issues that hinder us from walking in courage.

1. What do you do when obeying God seems to cost more than doing it your own way?
2. What do you do when your circumstances become harder after you have obeyed God?

II.  Scientists have identified that humans nature creates a physiological response to a perceived harmful event, attack, or threat to survival. Each of us tend to lean towards fighting or fleeing when there is opposition, whether real or perceived.

III.   While the human body physically responds to opposition, our spiritual man is called to have a faith response whenever there is opposition, as well.

IV.    Our Godly nature calls us to walk with endurance

1. Endurance is the ability to persevere in a task or calling.
2. Endurance doesn’t mean doing the exact same thing, in the exact same way over and over again, but that we continue to press on towards our goal/purpose.
   1. For followers of Christ – endurance starts with knowing our purpose in Christ Jesus and then living according to that purpose no matter what challenges may come our way. (Colossians 1:10-11)
3. The Scriptures remind us of our call to endure.
   1. 1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
   2. Galatians 6:9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
   3. 2 Corinthians 4:8 We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. 9 We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.
4. When we encounter difficulty, we are instructed to not throw in the towel but to have the courage to continue in the will of God.
1. HEBREWS 10:35 So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! ³⁶ Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised. ³⁹ But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved.

V.    The Lord gave Moses the courage to continue in his call to deliver the children of Israel from Pharaoh's hands

1. In Exodus 4, Moses gained confidence that the Lord equipped him to be able to lead the people.
2. In the beginning of Chapter 5, Moses and Aaron go to Pharaoh but the results were not what they expected.
   1. Exodus 5:1 After this presentation to Israel’s leaders, Moses and Aaron went and spoke to Pharaoh. They told him, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Let my people go so they may hold a festival in my honor in the wilderness.” ² “Is that so?” retorted Pharaoh. “And who is the Lord? Why should I listen to him and let Israel go? I don’t know the Lord, and I will not let Israel go.”
3. Obedience begats difficulty
1. We must develop a comprehensive theology to evaluate our circumstances. Generally, when we are doing the will of God – we tend to experience more opposition – especially amongst those who do not know the Lord. However, opposition doesn’t guarantee that we are in the will of God. Sometimes opposition comes as a result of poor choices or being outside of the will of God (1 Peter 2:19-20)
2. In Moses’ dilemma, being in the center of God’s will still brought severe opposition.
1. ^{EXODUS 5:6} That same day Pharaoh sent this order to the Egyptian slave drivers and the Israelite foremen: ⁷ “Do not supply any more straw for making bricks. Make the people get it themselves! ⁸ But still require them to make the same number of bricks as before. Don’t reduce the quota. They are lazy. That’s why they are crying out, ‘Let us go and offer sacrifices to our God.’ ⁹ Load them down with more work. Make them sweat! That will teach them to listen to lies!”
4. Not only did Moses experience rejection, but it caused his own people to rebel against him. The Israelite foreman confronted Moses and Aaron and said to them, “May the Lord judge and punish you for making us stink before Pharaoh and his officials. You have put a sword into their hands, an excuse to kill us!” (Exodus 5:21)
5. These circumstances led Moses to question the Lord’s calling. ²² Then Moses went back to the Lord and protested, “Why have you brought all this trouble on your own people, Lord? Why did you send me? ²³ Ever since I came to Pharaoh as your spokesman, he has been even more brutal to your people. And you have done nothing to rescue them!” (Exodus 5:22-23)

VI.   The Lord’s Answer to Moses’ difficulty

1. God is stronger than any difficulty.
   1. Exodus 6:1 Then the Lord told Moses, “Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh. When he feels the force of my strong hand, he will let the people go. In fact, he will force them to leave his land!”
   2. God reminded Moses that despite Pharoah’s stubbornness, God was still in control of his purpose. We cannot allow our circumstances to dilute God’s strength and ability.
2. God allows our purpose to collide with opposition so that that we can know Him more intimately.
   1. Exodus 6:2 And God said to Moses, “I am Yahweh—‘the Lord.’ ³ I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob as El-Shaddai—‘God Almighty’—but I did not reveal my name, Yahweh, to them… ⁵ I am well aware of my covenant with them.
   2. The patriarchs had experienced the “El-Shaddai” nature of God – the almighty provider.
   3. Through this place of difficulty, God was teaching Moses that He is Yahweh – the “I AM that I AM” promise keeper.
3. The courage to continue doing the will of God rests on the strength of our faith in God’s ability!
1. Exodus 6:6-8 ⁶ “Therefore, say to the people of Israel: ‘I am the Lord. I will free you from your oppression and will rescue you from your slavery in Egypt. I will redeem you with a powerful arm and great acts of judgment. ⁷ I will claim you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God who has freed you from your oppression in Egypt. ⁸ I will bring you into the land I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. I will give it to you as your very own possession. I am the Lord!
2. When Moses encountered difficulty, God’s solution wasn’t to teach Moses how to have more self-esteem. Instead, God taught Moses how to have more faith (God-esteem). Over 10 times, the Lord reminds Moses of what He would do: “I am the Lord… I will free you…”
3. When we know our purpose in this earth, we can rest in knowing that God will lead us to accomplish that purpose, even if God takes us through difficult seasons in order to get there.
4. In fact, God had already instructed Moses that He was going to harden Pharaoh’s heard but don’t lose heart, God’s perfect will would prevail (Exodus 4:21)
5. We must always remember God’s promises and direction.

Sermon: When Purpose Collides With Opposition

Here I am Lord, Send Me!

SERIES |

Sermons 2015

SCRIPTURE |

Exodus 4:10-13

SPEAKER |

Pastor Joseph Ardayfio

KEY THEME |

I.   In this series, we are examining God’s design for the church and the powerful impact that the church can make in this world.

I.  We return back to our theme for 2015 which “Be Strong and Very Courageous”

1. In the beginning of this year, Pastor Joseph encouraged the congregation to have the resolve to trust God with all of their heart. Courage means to remain steadfast in the face of difficulty or opposition

II.  In the book of Exodus, God called Moses to partner in His work in the earth.

1. God told Moses that He had heard the cries of the children of Israel. God promised to lead them out of bondage into their own fertile and spacious land.
2. Moses was excited about the proposition of God delivering the people, but he didn’t realize all that this would entail. It is easy for us to get excited about something that God is going to do and then realize that it will require something from us. The Lord chose Moses to lead His people out of Egypt. (Exodus 3:7-10)

III.  Moses did not exactly jump at the chance to assume leadership. He had several reasons why he didn’t think that God’s plan was the best.

1. “Who am I to appear before Pharaoh? Who am I to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt?” (Exodus 3:11-12)
   1. The Lord promised to be with Moses. The believer’s source of power is not wrapped in their personal identity but in who is with them! 1 John 4:4b says “the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world.” God promised Moses success in his journey.
2. He cited ignorance. “If I go to the people of Israel and tell them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ they will ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what should I tell them?” (Exodus 3:13-15)
   1. Moses was afraid that he wouldn’t be able to answer basic questions from the people.
   2. God instructed Moses to tell the people that God revealed His name to him, Jehovah—“I AM WHO I AM” or “I was, I am, I always will be!”
3. He cited lack of credentials. “What if they won’t believe me or listen to me? What if they say, ‘The Lord never appeared to you’?” (Exodus 4:1)
   1. God gave Moses 3 miraculous signs: A staff that turned into a serpent; a hand that turned leperous when put in his cloak; and water from the Nile that become blood.
4. Finally, he called attention to his lack of ability. “O Lord, I’m not very good with words. I never have been, and I’m not now, even though you have spoken to me. I get tongue-tied, and my words get tangled.” (Exodus 4:10)

IV.  What did Moses perceive about himself?

1. Moses’ perception of his calling was based upon his limited perspective of what he thought that he was capable of doing.
2. I’m not very good with words.
3. I never have been (His perspective was limited by his past)
4. I never have been, and I’m not now, even though you have spoken to me. (His perspective was limited on what God could overcome)
5. I get tongue-tied, and my words get tangled.

V.   The problem of isolating our calling to just what we see (the “I” perspective)

1. When we focus on what we say about ourselves instead of what God says to us about ourselves, we limit our perspective to our perception.
1. God’s perception is always greater than our perspective (Isaiah 55:8-9)
   1. ISAIAH 55: 8 “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the LORD. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. 9 For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.
2. We can easily assume that what we think/say about ourselves makes us qualified/unqualified for God’s assignments. However, this reasoning would mean that God wasn’t aware of the details in our lives.
3. In Exodus 4:13, Moses reveals the true motivation behind his objections.
   1. Moses resolved: “Lord, please! Send anyone else.” Moses believed that God had made a mistake in the assignment.

VI.   The blessing of seeing ourselves according to the true “I AM”

1. ¹¹ Then the Lord asked Moses, “Who makes a person’s mouth? Who decides whether people speak or do not speak, hear or do not hear, see or do not see? Is it not I, the Lord?
2. God + anything is extraordinary
   1. We often try to find adequacy in our own strength. In the kingdom of God, our adequacy is measured by our willingness to be submitted to the will of God.
   2. When we see ourselves as His vessels, we allow ourselves to be used by the GREAT “I AM”
3. God has any/every resource at his disposal – but we have to get the glittering image out of our head. We tend to reverse-engineer what Christianity looks like and make assumptions that God only uses people who have been perfectly trained, understand all of the circumstances, have spent extensive time practicing and preparing, have proper qualifications, will not be subject to temptation or timidity, will always have the right words, and will always walk in the Spirit and not in the flesh. The truth is that God uses broken vessels who are yielded to the Lordship of Jesus Christ to do amazing things in the earth through the power of Christ.
4. Our personal inadequacy is not a reason to be disqualified from God using our lives for His glory. When we feel most inadequate, we must realize that God can do amazing things
   1. He can change us,
   2. He can change our circumstances through us,
   3. He can demonstrate His power through our weakness, or
   4. He can send others who will partner with us in our assignments
5. With Moses, God didn’t choose to perfect his public speaking skills. Instead, God chose to display His greatness through Moses’ weakness. We shouldn’t deny the assignments of the Lord – simply because we want God to do it a different way. If God is God – Let Him be God

VII.   God made the very mouth that Moses considered as a weakness. If Moses focused on the one who was with him, he would take stock in God’s promise: “12 Now go! I will be with you as you speak, and I will instruct you in what to say.”

Sermon: Here I am Lord, Send Me!

Unity through Agreement - Part V

SERIES |

Why Church?

SCRIPTURE |

Ephesians 4:11-16; 

SPEAKER |

Pastor Joseph Ardayfio

KEY THEME |

I.   In this series, we are examining God’s design for the church and the powerful impact that the church can make in this world.

I.   In this series, we are examining God’s design for the church and the powerful impact that the church can make in this world.

II.  While we strive to be a church community that is healthy, growing, and full of love, the danger of any thriving community is that it becomes an exclusive community. Our challenge is to love the church while still loving and reaching out to the people who are not a part of the church.

III. The Book of Acts provides us with a picture of the fruit of a healthy church: God’s message continued to spread. (Luke 6:7a)

1.  God’s church is the most resilient organism in the earth. The church should always be on mission spreading the good news of Jesus Christ, even when there is resistance to the message.
2.  Jesus promised that no matter what happens in the church, to the church, or out of the church - that the gates of hell would not prevail against it.
3. Jesus said this: He LOVES the Church. She is his Bride
1. EPHESIANS 5:25-30 For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her ²⁶ to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word.* ²⁷ He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault. ²⁸ In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as they love their own bodies. For a man who loves his wife actually shows love for himself. ²⁹ No one hates his own body but feeds and cares for it, just as Christ cares for the church. ³⁰ And we are members of his body.
4. Jesus, said that he would feed, care, wash, and love his church so that she would be holy and without fault and present to himself a glorious church

IV.   The goal of the church is not to achieve unity for unity sake – rather our unity allows us to accomplish our mission: that none would perish, but everyone would come to repentance.

V.   The church gathers – so that we may then be sent out.

1. There is not one rock, cave, or place on earth that God doesn’t have authority and power. God dispatches His church throughout the earth to be witnesses of His power and glory.
2. Hab 2:14 declares that as the waters fill the sea, the earth will be filled with an awareness of the glory of the LORD.
3. Acts 1:8 declares “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere--in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

VI.   While God sends the church to be a light to a dying world, he never calls individuals to complete this assignment by themselves. The church is sent out collectively as a unified body.

VII.  However, we cannot effectively show Christ to the world, if we do not truly know him.

1. When we are a part of a local assembly that is healthy, growing and full of love, God transforms us to look more and more like Jesus.
2. But Godly transformation is not just about us – God delivers us, sets us free, and blesses us – so that we can be a blessing to others
3. Trying to show God without knowing God only creates chaos (Acts 19:11-16)

VIII.   The mission of the body of Christ is both within the four walls of the church and outside of the four walls.

1. Neglecting either part of our mission causes us to be ineffective in our calling. We must grow in unity as a church while still reaching the world outside of the church.

IX.    4 aspects that help us to be effective witnesses to the world

1. - Love God
   1. We can’t be effective witnesses, if we love God on our own terms. We must love God on His terms.
2. - Love His church
   1. If Jesus was willing to die for the collective church – we should love His church with the same level of commitment. We must each take a stand in making God’s church a glorious church!
3. - Love the mission
1. If you love the mission, you will constantly ask yourself, “How can I further God’s message continuing to spread?” and “How can I be the most effective witness of his transforming power?”
4. - Love the work
   1. The mission of the church cannot be accomplished without people pulling up their sleeves and doing hard work.
   2. 2 CORINTHIANS 5:20-21 NLT So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” ²¹ For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.
   3. Being an ambassador is messy and sometimes uncomfortable. You have to reach outside of known territories in order that the Word of God may go forth.

X.   When we Love God, His Church, the mission of the church, and the work of the church, the results are glorious!

Sermon: Unity through Agreemeent, Part V

Unity through Agreement - Part IV

SERIES |

Why Church?

SCRIPTURE |

Ephesians 4:11-16;  John 13:35

SPEAKER |

Pastor Joseph Ardayfio

KEY THEME |

I.   In this series, we are examining God’s design for the church and the powerful impact that the church can make in this world.

II. There are three essential areas of agreement in the church.

1. Agreement with God
2. Agreement with Delegated Leadership
3. Agreement with One Another

III.  The 3^rd Level of Prioritized Agreement In The Church: Agreement with One Another

1. God has equipped us with the grace and strength to do the hard work of building unity through agreement with one another in the body of Christ. We shouldn’t stray away from the church because broken relationships or hurt may be possible. Instead, we should demonstrate through reconciled relationships, the power of God to triumph over every situation/circumstance.

IV.  We have to make these confessions of faith in order for the body to be in agreement.

1. God has gifted ME with a responsibility in the body of Christ that others need
2. God has gifted OTHERS in the body of Christ with things that I need.
3. God brings these giftings together to make the church healthy, growing and full of love.

V.  There are 10 one-anothers that we should practice on a daily basis.

VI.  1 - Accept one another | Romans 15:5-7

1. Accepting one another means that we welcome one another in the body of Christ no matter what stage that they are at in their walk with Christ. As we welcome one another, we also encourage each other to live upright, Godly lives in this present age by the strengthening power of the Holy Spirit

VII.  2 - Be Devoted to one another, honor one another | Romans 12:3-10

1. Being devoted to one another means that we commit to love, support and rely on one another. We honor one another’s role in the body of Christ by acknowledging the gifting that is in each one of us.

VIII.  3 - Serve one another | Galatians 5:13-15 / 1 Peter 4:10-11

1. An essential part of agreement in the body of Christ is practicing the counter-cultural practice of serving one another.

IX.  4 – Pray for One Another | James 5:16

1. “¹⁶ Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. ¹⁷ Elijah was as human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for three and a half years! ¹⁸ Then, when he prayed again, the sky sent down rain and the earth began to yield its crops.” James 5:16-18
2. Jesus called the church to be a “house of prayer” in which all types of prayers would be offered up: supplication, thanksgiving, worship, dedication, agreement, and faith. Many Christians limit their prayers to their own immediate needs, but the Word instructs us that prayer and intercession for one another is of primary importance.
3. To be a church that earnestly prays for one another requires that each of us develop a heart of concern for one another. 1 Corinthians 12:25 reminds us that all the parts of the body (the church) should have equal concern for each other. This leads us to rejoice with those who rejoice and to mourn with those who mourn (12:15)
4. The Apostle James also reminds us that every person in the body of Christ has GREAT power to PRODUCE wonderful results through EARNEST prayer. Elijah was a prayer warrior that each of us should strive to be like.

X.  5 - Encourage one another / build each other up | Romans 10:14-19 / 1 Thessalonians 5:11

1. “I know and am convinced on the authority of the Lord Jesus that no food, in and of itself, is wrong to eat. But if someone believes it is wrong, then for that person it is wrong. ¹⁵ And if another believer is distressed by what you eat, you are not acting in love if you eat it. Don’t let your eating ruin someone for whom Christ died. ¹⁶ Then you will not be criticized for doing something you believe is good. ¹⁷ For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. ¹⁸ If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please God, and others will approve of you, too. ¹⁹ So then, let us aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up.” Romans 10:14-19
2. So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:11
3. In order for the body of Christ to be healthy, maturing, and full of love, we have to encourage one another and build each other up towards that goal. We are called to encourage rather than putting a stumbling block in another’s way. Romans says that if food because a stumbling block for another, it is better to build your fellow man up rather than to enjoy choice food.
4. Building each other up is a daily responsibility (Hebrews 3:12). It is difficult to encourage others or be encouraged if we are absent from the body. Hebrews 10:25 instructs us to not give up meeting together, but to let us encourage one another as we gather.

XI.  6 – Bear with and spur one another on towards good deeds | Ephesians 4:2 / Hebrews 10:24

1. “² Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.” Ephesians 4:2
2. ^“24 Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.” Hebrews 10:24
3. Jesus knew that every relationship in the body of Christ would not be an easy task. It is easy to write off those who don’t grow as fast as we would like or who remain immature. However, Ephesians instructs us to be humble, gentle, and patient with one another. As we practice these virtures, it allows us to spur others who might be stuck in their relationship with God.
4. The church is called to be proactive in our love, care and concern for one another.

XII.  7 - Offer hospitality to one another | 1 Peter 4:8-9

1. “Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins. ⁹ Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay. 1 Peter 4:8-9
2. The NIV renders verse 9 as “offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.”
3. The Greek word for hospitality, philozenia, is actually a combination of two words – philos, meaning "affection" and zenos, meaning "stranger." This concept signifies affection toward strangers.
4. The Message paraphrase says, “Be quick to give a meal to the hungry, a bed to the homeless – cheerfully. Be generous with the different things God gave you."
5. Being hospitable is being willing to share that which God has given us

XIII.  8 – Submit to one another | Ephesians 5:21

1. Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Ephesians 5:21
2. Accountability means that we hold one another to the standard of Christian ethics that we are called to live by. We give others permission to be involved in our lives.
3. Part of submitting to one another is valuing the relationship enough to admit when we are wrong.

XIV.  9 - Forgive each other | Ephesians 4:32

1. “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32 
2. The church models forgiveness because we have the closest encounter with it. Just as Christ forgave us – we strive to forgive one another on a daily basis. We take time to not hold grudges or offense but to endeavor to live peaceably with all men.

XV.  10 - Love one another | 1 Peter 4:8a

1. “Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other.” 1 Peter 4:8a
2. At the end of the day, God expects us to love each another deeply. Our standard of care is not whether we have to or are obligated to but rather does it exemplify God’s love.

Sermon: Unity through Agreemeent, Part IV

Unity through Agreement - Part III

SERIES |

Why Church?

SCRIPTURE |

Ephesians 4:11-16;  John 13:35

SPEAKER |

Pastor Joseph Ardayfio

KEY THEME |

I.   In this series, we are examining God’s design for the church and the powerful impact that the church can make in this world.

II. There are three essential areas of agreement in the church.

1. Agreement with God
2. Agreement with Delegated Leadership
3. Agreement with One Another

III.  The 3^rd Level of Prioritized Agreement In The Church: Agreement with One Another

1. God has equipped us with the grace and strength to do the hard work of building unity through agreement with one another in the body of Christ. We shouldn’t stray away from the church because broken relationships or hurt may be possible. Instead, we should demonstrate through reconciled relationships, the power of God to triumph over every situation/circumstance.

IV.  Why is agreement with one another essential to unity and power in the body of Christ?

1. The Apostle Paul wrote to the believers in Corinth (1 Corinthians 12:12-27) that each part of the church in essential. The Scriptures remind us that, “God has put each part just where he wants it” and the body would cease to function properly if every part of it was the same. “If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything?”

V.  We have to make these confessions of faith in order for the body to be in agreement.

1. God has gifted ME with a responsibility in the body of Christ that others need
2. God has gifted OTHERS in the body of Christ with things that I need.
3. God brings these giftings together to make the church healthy, growing and full of love.
4. Remember the instruction in Ephesians 4:16: “As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow.”

VI.  There are over 50 verses in the New Testament that instruct us how to treat ONE ANOTHER. They deal with maintaining unity, getting along, loving each other, walking in humility with one another and how to deal with various relationships and circumstances.

VII.  In order to walk in agreement with one another in the body of Christ, there are 10 one-anothers that we should practice on a daily basis.

VIII.   1 - Accept one another.

1. Romans 15:5-7 – 5 May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus. 6 Then all of you can join together with one voice, giving praise and glory to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Therefore, accept each other just as Christ has accepted you so that God will be given glory.
2. Jesus Christ is our example of how to accept each other. While we were still sinners, Jesus died for us. Loving us as sinners does not diminish God’s desires for us to be transformed in his presence (sanctification).
3. Accepting one another doesn’t mean eliminating a biblical standard for holiness. Rather, it means that we welcome one another in the body of Christ no matter what stage that one might be at in their walk with Christ. As we welcome one another, we also encourage one another to live upright, Godly lives in this present age through the strengthening of the Holy Spirit.
4. The Scriptures instruct us that believers are called to accept those who are different from us. In James 2:2-9, the Apostle reminds us that favoring those who only look, talk, or act like us dishonors the name of Christ.
5. An oft quoted phrase in Christian circles is “Don’t judge me. He who is without sin, cast the first stone.” Some may imply that accepting one another means that we turn the blind eye to sin. However, context plays an important part of a fully understand of what Jesus was demonstrating in John 8. When the adulterous women was brought before Jesus, the teachers of the law were trying to catch Him in a trap. While Jesus said that “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her,” he concluded his remarks by saying that she should “Go and sin no more!” (John 8:11)

IX -  2 - Be Devoted to one another, honor one another

1. ROMANS 12:3-10 ³ Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us ⁴ Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, ⁵ so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.   ⁶ In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. ⁷ If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. ⁸ If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.  ⁹ Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. ¹⁰ Love each other with genuine affection,* and take delight in honoring each other.
2. Being devoted to one another means that we commit to love, support and rely on one another. We honor one another’s role in the body of Christ by acknowledging the gifting that is in each one of us. The Apostle Paul remarks that, “In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well.” Honor recognizes that gifting without feeling the need to diminish the value of our own gifting or compete with that gifting. We must take effort to overcome pride with humility and replace jealousy with honor.

X.  3 - Serve one another

1. Galatians 5:13-15 - ¹³ For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. ¹⁴ For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” ¹⁵ But if you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another.
2. 1 Peter 4:10-11 (NIV) - ⁰ Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. ¹¹ If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
3. It is human nature to want to be the master rather than the servant or to be the one being served rather than the one doing the serving. However, an essential part of agreement in the body of Christ is living according to the counter-cultural practice of serving one another.
4. Jesus is, again, our example of how to treat one another in the body of Christ. In Mark 10, Jesus called the disciples together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. ⁴³ But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, ⁴⁴ and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else. ⁴⁵ For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
5. Christians are not called to focus solely on their own needs, but to serve the needs of others.

Sermon: Unity through Agreemeent, Part III

Unity through Agreement - Part II

SERIES |

Why Church?

SCRIPTURE |

Ephesians 4:11-16;  Hebrews 13:17-19

SPEAKER |

Pastor Joseph Ardayfio

KEY THEME |

I.   In this series, we are examining God’s design for the church and the powerful impact that the church can make in this world.

II. There are three essential areas of agreement in the church.

1. Agreement with God
2. Agreement with Delegated Leadership
3. Agreement with One Another

III. The kingdom of God is most potent in the earth – when the people of God are operating in God’s order

IV. 2^nd Level of Prioritized Agreement In The Church:  Agreement with Delegated Leadership

1. “The church is an organism, but it is also an organization. If an organism is not organized, it will die!”
2. God’s design for the church includes delegated earthly leaders who are submitted fully to God and are responsible for shepherding God’s flock.  Whenever the Apostle Paul went on his missionary journeys, he founded local churches and ordained qualified believers to lead them.
3. Of course, any contemporary discussion of the role of delegated leadership in the church is challenging because of the prominence of leadership failures. While we are in the midst of a crisis of biblical leadership in the church – we are NOT in a crisis over God’s design for the church. We cannot judge the veracity of something by its abuse. True Biblical leadership is a part of God’s gift to the church.
4. 1 Thessalonians 5:12 Dear brothers and sisters, honor those who are your leaders in the Lord’s work. They work hard among you and give you spiritual guidance. ¹³ Show them great respect and wholehearted love because of their work. And live peacefully with each other.

V. What is the biblical role of delegated leaders in the body of Christ?

1. The Bible gives very specific admonition to spiritual leaders so that they lead with integrity and faithfulness.
1. Acts 20:28 - So guard yourselves and God's people. Feed and shepherd God's flock--his church, purchased with his own blood--over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as elders.
2. 1 Peter 5:1-3 – 1 As a fellow elder, I appeal to you: 2 Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly—not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God. 3 Don’t lord it over the people assigned to your care, but lead them by your own good example.
2. 6 key responsibilities given to biblical leaders
3. A - Watch over the souls entrusted to their care.  The metaphor of “watching over souls” means to be spiritually alert or wide awake concerning the spiritual health of the body of Christ. Biblical leaders have a responsibility to lead the body to live upright, Godly lives in this present age. They help protect the flock from wolves in sheep clothing [Titus 2:11-12 and 2 Timothy 2:24-26]
4. B - Care for the flock. God has entrusted leaders to care for the needs and concerns of the individual members and families.
5. C - Be eager to serve God and His people. Biblical leaders must keep God at the center of their motivation for serving. “Watch over [the flock] willingly, not grudgingly—not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God.” [1 Peter 5:2b]
6. D - Lead with integrity. The Apostle Peter reminded the Elders in the church that biblical leadership is a privilege not an opportunity for the power-hungry. Integrity in biblical leadership means that biblical leaders live out what they preach and teach. “Don’t lord it over the people assigned to your care, but lead them by your own good example.” [1 Peter 5:3]
7. E - Be an example of maturity in the faith.  Biblical leaders are not perfect, but they are expected to be mature in the faith. They are held to a higher standard of conduct because of the great impact that they have on other’s lives. Jesus said, “If [a biblical leader] causes one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for [them] to have a large millstone tied around [their] neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea.” [Matthew 18:6]
8. F - Equip God’s people.  Biblical leaders have a responsibility to equip the church so that individuals grow in every way more and more like Christ. Leaders help others to recognize their undiscovered spiritual gifts and help develop known gifts for greater kingdom impact. [Ephesians 4:11-16]

VI. How can we walk in agreement with Delegated Leadership?

1. Key instructions from the Word of God
1. Romans 13:1- Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God.
2. Hebrews 13:17- Obey your spiritual leaders, and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they are accountable to God. Give them reason to do this with joy and not with sorrow. That would certainly not be for your benefit
2. A - Remember their Example.  In God’s order, biblical leaders are called to be examples of Godly living. Agreement with delegated biblical leadership means that we pay attention to their example and strive to follow Christ as they follow Him.
1. HEBREWS 13:7 Remember your leaders who taught you the word of God. Think of all the good that has come from their lives, and follow the example of their faith. [See also 1 Timothy 4:12]
3. B - Honor their Leadership Role. God, who is all knowing, calls biblical leaders to serve His people. If God thinks that Biblical leaders are necessary in our lives, then we should trust His provision.
1. We can agree with spiritual leaders by honoring the role that God designed them to serve in our lives. 1 Timothy 5:17 “The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching.” Some church members have a flippant attitude toward pastoral authority, and this is dangerous.
4. C - Heed their instruction.  Spiritual leaders are servants of Christ who have been put in charge of explaining God’s mysteries (1 Corinthians 4:1). We benefit from listening to the instruction that they provide.
1. In Hebrews 13, the writer instructs believers to obey (submit) to the instruction of spiritual leaders. The verb translated “obey” (peitho) connotes the idea of “being persuaded by” or “putting one’s confidence in.”
2. Biblical leaders are called to provide instruction based on Godly and biblical wisdom and discernment.
5. D – Establish a biblical standard of Godly leadership. Walking in agreement with delegated leadership means that the body of Christ maintains a biblical standard for leadership and helps minister to those who have fallen from grace in a healthy way. When the body of Christ has no biblical expectations of its leaders – it pulls the church away from agreement with God.
1. In the Scriptures, the Bible commands spiritual leaders to be above reproach
2. 1 TIMOTHY 3:1  Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task. ² Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, ³ not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. ⁴ He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full respect. ⁵ (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) ⁶ He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. ⁷ He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap. ⁸ In the same way, deacons must be well respected and have integrity
6. E - Pray for them.
1. While the Hebrew writer encouraged the believers to obey their spiritual leaders and submit to their authority, he also asked the believers to complete their agreement by praying for their leaders, as well. You can’t walk in agreement with delegated leadership if you are not praying for them and interceding on their behalf.
2. HEBREWS 13:18 Pray for us, for our conscience is clear and we want to live honorably in everything we do. 19 And especially pray that I will be able to come back to you soon.

Sermon: Unity through Agreemeent, Part II

Unity through Agreement

SERIES |

Why Church?

SCRIPTURE |

Ephesians 4:11-16; Acts 4:32-35

SPEAKER |

Pastor Joseph Ardayfio

KEY THEME |

I.   In this series, we are examining God’s design for the church and the powerful impact that the church can make in this world.

II.  “The church is one in essence, because it is founded on one gospel, united to one Lord and indwelt by one Spirit. Its unity is under constant threat because of the tendency to division that is inherent in fallen humanity, and needs to be continually maintained and actively expressed in fellowship.” Manser, M. H. (2009). Dictionary of Bible Themes.

III.  Ephesians 4 reminds us that the work of the church continues until we all reach “unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.”

IV.  True unity doesn’t happen automatically. Unity is continually built up through agreement.

1. Amos 3:3 asks the question – “Can two people walk together without agreeing on the direction?”
2. Agreement is “Being of one mind and one heart with another” In essence, it means to say the same thing.
3. The Bible highlights the power that comes from agreement:  Matthew 18:19–20 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. ²⁰ For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.”

V.  What does unity through agreement look like in the church?

1. The book of Acts records the launching of the 1^st Century church from Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the uttermost parts of the earth. The church thrived because the members were united and in agreement
2. Acts 4:32 All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had. 33 The apostles testified powerfully to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God’s great blessing was upon them all. 34 There were no needy people among them, because those who owned land or houses would sell them 35 and bring the money to the apostles to give to those in need.
3. God’s church makes a powerful impact in the earth when unity is built up through prioritized agreement.

VI.  There are three essential areas of agreement in the church. Agreement not only benefits the individual members of the church; it allows the church, as a whole, to make the most impact.

1. Agreement with God
2. Agreement with Delegated Leadership
3. Agreement with One Another

VII.  What is the difference between agreement and prioritized agreement?

1. When establishing agreement in the church, it is the order of the elements that allows the church to thrive.
2. For example, if you are looking for the church to always be politically correct – then you won’t find a NT biblical church that fits your criteria. While God calls us to be involved in shaping the political worldview, the politics of the day and age cannot be the supreme authority for the doctrines of the church. Otherwise, the church would not be the universal church but a cultural institution.
3. As a church, we may wrestle with how a doctrine of the church shapes our approach to a particular political/social issue (worldview) – but we cannot violate agreement with God in order to promote our personal preferences in the church.

VIII.   1^st Level of Prioritized Agreement In The Church:  Agreement with God

1. Acts 4 records Peter and John preaching the gospel and healing a lame man in Jerusalem.  The religious council couldn’t deny the miracle that took place but they commanded the disciples to never speak or teach in the name of Jesus.
1. The Apostles responded to their instructions with a bold question: ¹⁹“Do you think God wants us to obey you rather than him? ²⁰ We cannot stop telling about everything we have seen and heard.” (Acts 4:19-20)
2. In Chapter 5, Peter and John replied a second time to the religious council:  Acts 5:29 - “We must obey God rather than any human authority.”
2. The modern-day church should have the same level of boldness to agree with God above all things.
1. Agreement with God means that we walk as circumcised people whom have been set apart by God. In the OT, the physical act of circumcision was required to be a part of the fellowship community. In the NT, spiritual circumcision identifies us as part of the community of the redeemed of the Lord
2. Colossians 2:11 When you came to Christ, you were “circumcised,” but not by a physical procedure. Christ performed a spiritual circumcision—the cutting away of your sinful nature. 12 For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead.
3. How can we walk in agreement with God?
1. We identify WITH Him. We can’t identify WITH him – if we don’t KNOW Him. Otherwise, we are perpetrators. To identify with Him, we must explore the ways in which He has revealed himself: through His Word and through the experiences of life.
2. We submit to Him. Agreement means that we commit to saying the same thing that God has said about our lives. We submit our plans, our desires, our hopes and dreams and allow God to edit and direct the steps for each of them.
3. We depend on Him. Agreement requires commitment from each individual. Prayer becomes the lifeline of agreement with God because our faith depends on regular communion and fellowship.
4. We walk like Him. Agreement changes the way that we choose to live out our life. By agreeing with God, we choose to live in a way that honors Him even at the most personal cost.
5. We talk like Him. Agreement with God means that His word is hidden in our hearts and minds and that we meditate upon it day and night. Our speech reflects our confidence in what God is saying.

Sermon: Unity through Agreemeent, Part I

Standing on the Promises of God

SERIES |

From Promise to Provision

SCRIPTURE |

Psalms 145:13b

SPEAKER |

Pastor Joseph Ardayfio

KEY THEME |

I.  The Word of God declares that God has given us very great and precious promises. (2 Peter 1:4)

II. This week, we are examining 10 key promises from God that we should plant in our hearts. This is not an exhaustive list but represents important promises for living an abundant life.

1. Psalms 145:13b reminds us that, “the LORD is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made.”
2. The promises of God are contingent on our obedience to one condition: making Jesus Christ Lord of our lives and repenting of our sins.
1. We are a society that likes to receive benefits without accepting responsibility. However, in the kingdom of God, we cannot share in the full blessings of God’s promises without taking the step of faith to make Jesus Christ Lord of our lives.
2. The Scriptures remind us of a simple yet profound promise of God: salvation. Romans 10:9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Salvation doesn’t come by good works, family association, or earthly sacrifices.

II.  1 – When I believe in Christ Jesus, I have eternal life (John 3:15-16)

1. John 3:15 that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.” 16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
2. This promise assures us that we have more to live for than this life alone. The Apostle Paul said that “If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.” (1 Corinthians 15:19)

III.  2 – I am loved beyond measure (Psalms 100:5 + Romans 8:37-39)

1. Psalms 100:5  For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.
2. Romans 8:37  No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
3. Most of us confuse love and acceptance. Believers are accepted by God despite our flaws but God expects us to grow in His likeness each and every day. True love propels us to obey God’s instructions and grow in our relationship with Him.

IV.  3 – I have what I need to live a godly life (2 Peter 1:3 + Psalm 84:11)

1. 2 Peter 1:3 His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.
2. Psalm 84:11  For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD gives grace and glory; no good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.
3. God is always ready to give us His best. If life seems that we don’t have what we need, we should ask God to show us His provision and teach us how to maximize it in our lives.

V.   4 - I have the faith to endure because God is faithful (1 Corinthians 10:13 + Philippians 1:6)

1. 1 Corinthians 10:13  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.
2. Philippians 1:6  being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

VI.  5 - I have the power to walk out my calling in Christ Jesus (Acts 1:8)

1. Acts 1:8  You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.

VII.  6 – I have been granted peace in Christ Jesus (Isaiah 26:3)

1. Isaiah 26:3 You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you

VIII. 7 – I have access to the Father and answers to my prayers (John 15:7)

1. John 15:7  If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you
2. The pre-requisite for a fulfilling prayer life is an understanding that God will is sovereign over all things. When the heart of our prayer is “God’s will be done,” it enables us to see answered prayer.  Jesus shared with his disciples that they did not have what they asked for because they asked amiss. In these cases, the motivation for their request may have been wrong or their desire may not have be in alignment with God’s eternal will.

IX.  8 – I am growing through my sufferings (1 Peter 5:10)

1. 1 Peter 5:10 - "After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen, and establish you."
2. This promise lets us know that God never wastes righteous suffering. 1 Peter 3 reminds us that  if we should suffer for righteousness’ sake, we will be blessed.

X.  9 – I have a reservoir of brand new mercies each day (Lamentations 3:22-23)

1. Lamentations 3:22Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. 23 They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

XI.  10 – I have no shame in making Jesus Christ Lord! (Romans 10:11)

1. Romans 10:11  As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.”
2. How do we know that everything that God asks of us is worth it? Because God promises that at the end of it all, everything will be put in its proper context. Though we may not see immediate fruit, God is always working to bring his glory into the earth.

Sermon: Seedtime and Harvest

Building Our Faith While Awaiting the Harvest

SERIES |

From Promise to Provision

SCRIPTURE |

Proverbs 20:4, James 5:7-9

SPEAKER |

Pastor Joseph Ardayfio

KEY THEME |

I.   We are continuing in the series: “From Promise to Provision,” which explores the process of living in God’s very great and precious promises. (2 Peter 1:4) We must recognize that seedtime and harvest is a fundamental precept of God and includes the seasons of sowing and reaping.

1. God operates by the following pattern:

 Seed (Word of God) –  Planting  (Understanding) – Nurturing (Faith)  –

Pruning (Growth)  –  Fruit (Harvest) – Producing more seeds (Multiplication)

II.  This week, we are exploring how to navigate the seasons between planting and awaiting the harvest.

1. It is frustrating when we reach a season of expected harvest and do not find the anticipated fruit.
2. God safeguards our seed so that it produces fruit in season.
1.  Psalms 1:1-3 “¹ Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.  ² But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.  ³ He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither.  Whatever he does prospers.”
3. However, we have the responsibility of continuing in faith during the in-between seasons of growth.

III.  What are we doing with our present season?

1. ^{PROVERBS 20:4} A sluggard does not plow in season; so at harvest time he looks but finds nothing. The New Living Translation reads, “Those too lazy to plow in the right season will have no food at the harvest.”
2. One commentator remarked that, “a lack of work leads to lack of benefits.” There is a natural discomfort to cultivating and nurturing seeds so that they can mature, but those who are faithful reap the fruit of a sweet harvest.
3. Plowing is necessary step in the cycle of producing fruit – if we skip the step then we will affect the quality or even presence of fruit.
4. The Hebrew writer encourages us:

^{Hebrews 10:35} So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. ³⁶ You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. ³⁷ For, “In just a little while, he who is coming will come and will not delay.” ³⁸ and, “But my righteous one will live by faith. And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back.” ³⁹ But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.

IV.  A famer nurtures and cultivates his soil in every season

1. James 5:7b See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains
1. One cannot expect a harvest if they are not patient with the process. While we are enduring, we have to remain confident that our faith is producing the fruit of a rich harvest.
2.  ^{1 Peter 1:6 NLT} So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while. 7 These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.
2. JAMES 5:8 You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near
1. How can we be patient and stand firm?  We must build up our faith in the midst of the seasons between planting and harvesting.
2.   ^{Jude 20} But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit.
3. Faith is our confidence and trust in the character and nature of God that leads us to a place of obedience regardless of the earthly circumstances presented to us.
4. Faith is like a muscle: It can be strengthened or be left to deteriorate. Using your faith in the proper way builds up greater faith.
3. In the First Century, as the church was strengthened in faith, they grew daily in numbers.
4. Our constant prayer should be: Lord, Increase our faith!

V.  4 practical ways that we can build our faith

1. Pray
1. Biblical faith must be grounded in the faithfulness of God and the sovereignty of His will rather than in the strength of our own desires and expectations.
2. Therefore, Biblical faith will thrive on a healthy relationship with God in which we are confident of his character and His thoughts towards us. Hebrews 11:6 declares that “anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” Prayer is the best way to spend time with God and to strengthen our relationship. Prayer produces a level of confident trust in God.
2. Meditate on the Word of God
1. If the object of our faith is in God – then the strength of our faith is in His promises. Any other foundation is susceptible to the erratic circumstances of life. Biblical faith rests on the question “What has God said?” From this question, we have assurance that God watches over every promise that He makes.
2. Meditating on the Word of God focuses our faith on the right expectations. Too often, our faith is grounded on what we desire rather than on God’s will being done. Building our faith on the Word of God allows us to filter between our own desires and God’s willl.
3. Walk out our faith
1. One individual commented that “faith makes the impossible - possible but it doesn’t eliminate the responsibility of working according to our faith.”
2. Walking by faith will always involve a level of risk. We should not be afraid of encountering risk, but instead, evaluate whether our faith is properly grounded in Biblical promises so that it will sustain us until the time of harvest.
3. Our Patriarch, Abraham, is a great example of how to walk out our faith:  ^{ROMANS 4:18} Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” ¹⁹ Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. ²⁰ Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, ²¹ being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.
4. Encourage one another
1. Biblical faith grows in community. The Hebrew writer instructs us to consider how we can “spur one another on towards love and good deeds, … encouraging one another—and all the more as [we] see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:24-25)
2. One popular catch-phrase unfortunately has led many Christians to an unbalanced approach to community. We often refer to the experience of David in 1 Samuel 30:6 and declare that, “Sometimes, you just have to encourage yourself.” While this is true in certain circumstances, God designed us to be mutually edified by one another’s faith. In 1 Samuel 30, David still relied on the Abiathar, the priest, and six hundred men to walk out his faith.
3. The Apostle Paul wrote, “^{1 THESSOLONIANS 8} But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. ⁹ For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. ¹⁰ He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. ¹¹ Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”
4. In order to produce a harvest, all of us will need strengthening and encouragement in the faith. When we share in biblical community, we are positioned to thrive rather than seeing our fruit wither away by itself.

Sermon: Building Our Faith While Awaiting the Harvest

Planted in Good Soil

SERIES |

From Promise to Provision

SCRIPTURE |

Matthew 13:10-23

SPEAKER |

Pastor Joseph Ardayfio

KEY THEME |

I.  Last week, we began a series entitled “From Promise to Provision,” which explores the process of living in God’s very great and precious promises. (2 Peter 1:4) We must recognize that seedtime and harvest is a fundamental precept of God and includes the seasons of sowing and reaping.

1. God operates by the following pattern:

Seed (Word of God) –  Planting  (Understanding) – Nurturing (Faith)  –

Pruning (Growth)  –  Fruit (Harvest) – Producing more seeds (Multiplication)

II.  In Matthew 13, the Scriptures describe three types of soil that that didn’t produce fruit that remained.

1. Seed sown along the path - 19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path.
2. Seed sown along rocky soil - 20The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21 But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away.
3. Seed sown along the thorns - 22The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful.

III.   In this week’s sermon, we focused on the 4^th soil:  Seed sown on good soil – 23 But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

1. In a parallel passage in Luke, we read this description of the good soil:  ^{LUKE 8:15} But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.

IV.  Nurture means to feed and protect, support and encourage, or to foster growth. Those with ‘good soil’ create an environment that is conducive to growth of the seed.

1. We must learn how to rejoice in every season of seedtime and harvest. We can rejoice in the season of planting because we know that God will be faithful to bring forth a harvest. We can rejoice in the nurturing season because we know that our labor will produce a harvest. We can rejoice in the harvest season because we know that it is the Lord’s faithfulness that has made a way for our harvest.
2. Hebrews 11:1-2 reminds us that ¹Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. ² This is what the ancients were commended for.

V.  There are two important aspects that are required for us to be ‘good soil’ that God can plant his promises in to produce a good crop. To go from promise to provision, we need:

1. (1) a noble and good heart, and
2. (2) to hear, retain, and persevere in the journey of seedtime and harvest.

VI.   1 - Good soil represents those with a noble and good heart.

1. God plants His promises in the soil of our heart. It is easy to think that all of us basically have a ‘good heart.’ However, the Scriptures remind us that "There is no one righteous, not even one.
2. The first and primary seed that God plants in our lives is the seed of salvation. This seed blossoms into a fruit of righteousness when we believe upon the finished work of Jesus Christ on the Cross of Calvary. This fruit produces a regenerated (noble and good) heart that is necessary for us to walk in the fullness of God’s promises.
3. God spoke through the prophet Ezekiel about the process of heart transformation. Ezekiel 36:22-27:“Therefore say to the Israelites, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: ... ²⁵I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. ²⁶I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. ²⁷ And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. 
4. We are not only dependent on God’s transformational work in regenerating our hearts, but also to cleanse our heart daily from the decay of life.
1. The nature of things in our fallen world is to go from order to decay. We must ask God to renew our hearts on a daily basis so that the corruption of life doesn’t cause our transformed hearts to become calloused and hardened.
2. Proverbs 4:23 reminds us to “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.”
3. We must learn to pray as the Psalmist did in Psalms 139:²³ Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. ²⁴ See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

VII.  2 -  ‘Good soil,’ represents those who hear the Word, retain it, and persevere in it.

1. Faith waters the promises of God. The Faith that God desires within us is faith that leads to obedience. True faith doesn’t just say “I believe” and go back to business as usual, but the faith that God desires will cause us to hear, retain and persevere in the promises of God..
2. Hearing and understanding the Word of God allows Godly seeds to be fully planted.
1. The Word of God, though potent, will not fully produce fruit in our lives until it is planted. When a person hears, understands and believes the Word, then the seed is planted and rooted in the good soil of their hearts.
2. The Apostle Paul spoke highly of those in the church in Thessolonica who planted the Word of God in their hearts.  1 Thessalonians 2:13: ¹³ And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe.
3. In Matthew 13, Jesus taught the disciples that there would be those who heard the Word but never put it into practice.
4. 14 In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: “ ‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. 15 For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’
5. We must guard against hearing the promises of God but neglecting to put His instructions into practice.  JAMES 1:22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. ²³Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror ²⁴and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.
3. Retaining the Word of God requires us to continually elevate God’s Word above our own thoughts and patterns.
1. To retain means that we:  “keep hold of, or hold on to” the Word of God. It is a continuous action of seeking God and His Word through each season of planting, nurturing, pruning, and harvesting the promises of God in our lives.
2. Joshua was encouraged to ^{JOSHUA 1:8} Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
3. We will always be tempted to abandon Godly methods for seemingly quicker or easier methods, but retaining the Word of God means that we hold on to God’s instructions regardless of the present circumstances.
4. Persevering in the Word of God requires us to endure through the various seasons of seedtime and harvest in full assurance that God will produce the fruit in our lives, even when we don’t see what we have asked for.
1. Jude 20 reminds believers to: ²⁰…build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. ²¹ Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.

Sermon: Planted in Good Soil