Hebrews 10:23-27, 29-31, 32-37 / 11:32-40

Deuteronomy 28

There was simply no version of the modern "Prosperity Gospel" in the Early Church. The Apostles would not have recognized much of what is being preached/promised today to Christians.

Many have walked away from Christ (I have known more than I can remember) because, and it was because troubles came into their lives as Christians and they got offended.

Tragically, they were LIED to by well-meaning Christians - they were told that following Jesus would be easy, or pain-free, or simply a "Blessing Fest" - a life of constant and continual breakthroughs.

That is NOT what happened to the Apostles. Nor was it the experience of the 1st Century Christians that received the Letter to the Hebrews.

Hebrews also knows NOTHING of the Hyper Grace message nor does it a Pretribulational Rapture.

#endurance, #problem-freechristianity, #prosperitygospel, #pretribrapture, #augustine, #luther, #calvin, #creflodollar, #joniearecksontada, #josephprince, #hypergrace, #oldcovennat, #newcovenant, #mosaiccovenant, #promises, #blessings, #curses, #covenants

What are the things that will steal our hunger for God?

How can we grow in hunger for Him?

Part 12 in the Houses of Fire series - IMITATING PAUL

Paul’s 3rd Missionary Journey (AD 54-57) Acts 19:8-12, 20:6-12, 20:18-38

A message that will challenge both the Evangelical and the Charismatic Christian: A challenge for the Evangelical because they will often find ways to minimize the possibility of living like the Apostle Paul due to his unique office and authority as a 1st Century Apostle. And, this message will challenge the Charismatic because so much ministry done by modern charismatics violates much of what Paul practiced and preached.

Paul was/is an equal-opportunity offender!

Acts 19:8-10 - "Reasoning and Persuading"

Hall of Tyrannus? - “was either a building for hire, named after its owner, or the private residence of a sympathetic donor”

Acts 19:11-12 - "Extraordinary Miracles"

Kingdom Ministry = BOTH/AND

Acts 19 - V. 8, 9 & 11 – Paul was BOTH “reasoning and persuading them about the Kingdom of God…reasoning daily AND God was doing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul

Imitating Paul? 6 NT passages where he exhorts us to do what he was doing!

Acts 20:6-12
•Sunday worship (first day of the week)

•Communion included

•In a HOUSE

•LONG meetings (till midnight…Paul talked still longer…conversed until daybreak)

•Miracle of resurrection

1st Century Christian Calendar developing - Sunday worship and Pentecost

Acts 20:18-38 - Paul's message to his Ephesian Elders

*So, how Did Paul LIVE?

*Humility – “with ALL humility”

*Tears, Trials & Suffering = PART of following Christ) – imprisonments & afflictions

*Public (Synagogues) & Private (House Churches) – Evangelism & Teaching

*Jews & Greeks (for 10 years)

*Message included REPENTANCE (not just faith)

*Led by Holy Spirit
*Dead to Self – Surrendered to Christ’s Lordship & Plan (v. 24)

*Believed we are RESPONSIBLE (v. 26-27)

*Warning - False teachers/teaching coming (v. 29-31)

*Trusted in God’s Ability & God’s Word to keep them & grow them (v. 32)

*Paul & the Prosperity Gospel (v. 33-35) – Giving – to who? - PAY ATTENTION CHARISMATICS!!!

*Paul’s relationship with his team (v. 36-38)

****AND WHO ARE WE TO IMITATE??****

Natalie's powerful message about HOW TO STAND -
Isaiah 54:17, Ephesians 6:10-18 and Matthew 4 (Jesus' Temptation)

In this message, I look at the issue of dying to self and living a life of humility.

I begin by comparing two very different Christians - Kanye and the Roman Catholic nun Frances Cabrini (1850-1917). Clearly, they were given two different "Sign-Up Sheets" for the Christian life. Frances finished well. Kanye is currently very confused calling himself "god".

Many Christians today are not getting THIS MESSAGE. They are not being told that we must die to ourselves to begin the Christian life, and they are not being told that the Christian life is a life of ongoing humility.

This is a radical departure from the way Christians have viewed the Christian life since the beginning. Going forward, we must get this right. We must repent from the self-focused messages that many pastors and leaders have tragically given and continue to give modern Christians.

#deathtoself #selfdeath #humility #dyingtoself #pride #grace #kanye #cabrini #kanyewest

As Holy Week is about to begin, I start my message by slaying some of the 'internet myths' that many Christians have heard about Easter. (back in December it was all the Christmas is pagan propaganda and now that we are nearing Easter, it is the same mantra, "Easter is pagan").

So we settle these issues by answer these questions:

Isn't Easter pagan?
What about the word "Easter"?
Wasn't Jesus crucified on Wednesday?
Did Jesus rise on the Sabbath?

After this, I look at the Biblical events of Holy Week and why we call certain days by certain names - Spy Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, and Good Friday.

What happened on each of the days - and how can we reflect on these events devotionally as we approach Easter.

I shared a PLAN for Holy Week that I found online produced by Backcountry Church - https://www.backcountry.church/trail2victory

I get into the practice of fasting before Easter which was the universal practice of ALL Christians in the Early Church. The length of time varied, but it was clearly something that came down from Apostolic times. When Jesus said, "then my disciples will fast", the ENTIRE ANCIENT CHURCH believed that fasting before the celebration of His Resurrection was one of those times. No exceptions.

I end the message by giving a corporate charge for pressing into to Holy Week and fasting before Resurrection Sunday.

For such a time as this...

A powerful message from Natalie about not losing heart.

Full of Scriptures (some well-known) and personal examples and illustrations.

For such a time as this...

Insights from Hebrews 11 and 12 - trials are what produces faith in our lives and yet most Christians do not have the right view, the Biblical view of the trials they face.

Natalie shares a powerful message that challenges the typical Gospel message and narrative that is so common in today's church. This is NOT one of those messages that tickle people's ears. Fasten your seatbelt.