Sunday Morning at James River Assembly

September 23rd, 2012

Nehemiah "Built to Last" Series
Pastor John

"Dedication and Joy"
Nehemiah 12:1-47
Read Nehemiah 12:1-47

• Joy is something God works in our heart as we follow His commandments and serve Him.
• Happiness is based on what happens to us. Joy is exurbarnat and something we have regardless of circumstances.

Nehemiah 8:10
Then he said to them, "Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength."

Psalm 4:7
You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound.

John 15:11
These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

1. Joy comes by remembering the people who have helped us.

Philippians 1:3-5
I thank my God in all my rememberance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.

• The key to Christian joy is to look beyond the mistakes people make, and look at the good and celebrating the good.
• Key to joy is remembering the people God has put into our lives.

2. Joy is the result of whole heartedly worshipping the Lord.

• Come to church ready to worship God with enthusiam. Come without distractions.
• Have you or are you preparing your heart for the worship service and sermon?
• We were made to worship God.

3. Joy is the result of getting involved in serving the Lord.

• There's joy in being part of something that is bigger then yourself.

Mark 8:34-35
And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it.

4. Joy is the result of giving your resources to the Lord.

Proverbs 11:24 (MSG)
The world of the generous gets larger and larger; the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller.

Proverbs 11:24-25 (NKJV)
There is one who scatters, yet increases more; and there is one who withholds more than is right, but it leads to poverty. The generous soul will be made rich, and he who waters will also be watered himself.

2 Corinthians 9:7-8 (MSG)
Remember: a stingy planter gets a stingy crop; a lavish planter gets a lavish crop. I want each of you to take plenty of time to think it over, and make up your own mind what you will give. That will protect you against sob stories and arm-twisting. God loves it when the giver delights in the giving. God can pour on the blessings in astonishing ways so that you're ready for anything and everything, more than ready to do what needs to be done.

• "There was a man, some called him mad, the more he gave the more he had."

Malachi 3:10-12 (MSG)
Bring your full tithe to the Temple treasury so there will be ample provisions in my Temple. Test me in this and see if I don't open up heaven itself to you and pour out blessings beyond your wildest dreams.

• We cannot imagine what God will do.
• God can only bless the parts that we surrender to Him.
• As we are faithful to God, He will be faithful to us.
• We get in life what we're looking for. If you look for the bad you will find the bad, if you look for the good you will find the good. Look for the good in life.
• The joy of the Lord is our strength!

Encouraging Bible Verses

Psalm 9:9
Psalm 23:4
Psalm 27:14
Psalm 31:24
Psalm 34:8
Psalm 34:19
Psalm 34:22
Psalm 37:4
Psalm 46:1
Psalm 55:22
Psalm 119:114-115
Psalm 120:1
Psalm 121:1-2
Psalm 145:18-19
Proverbs 3:5-6
Proverbs 16:3
Proverbs 18:10
Romans 8:28
Romans 8:31
Romans 8:38-39
Ephesians 6:10-11
Colossians 3:15
2 Timothy 1:7
2 Timothy 4:18
Hebrews 13:5
James 1:2-4
James 1:12-15
Philippians 4:6-8
1 Peter 5:7
Joshua 1:9
Joshua 10:25
Jeremiah 29:11
Isaiah 40:28-31
Isaiah 41:10
Isaish 41:13
Isaiah 58:11
Deuteronomy 31:6
Deuteronomy 31:8
Matthew 6:25-26
Matthew 7:7-8
Matthew 11:28-30
Lamentations 3:25
Nahum 1:7
Zephaniah 3:17
John 16:33
John 14:27
1 Corinthians 10:13
1 Corinthians 16:13
2 Corinthians 4:8-9
2 Corinthians 4:16-18
2 Corinthians 5:17
1 Peter 5:7
1 John 5:14-15
Revelation 14:12

Sunday Morning at James River Assembly

Nehemiah "Built to Last" Series
Pastor John

"A Covenant Commitment"

Nehemiah 9:38 to 10:39
Because of all this we make a firm covenant in writing; on the sealed document are the names of our princes, our Levites, and our priests. 10 “On the seals are the names of Nehemiah the governor, the son of Hacaliah, Zedekiah, ² Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah, ³ Pashhur, Amariah, Malchijah, ⁴ Hattush, Shebaniah, Malluch, ⁵ Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah, ⁶ Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch, ⁷ Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin, ⁸ Maaziah, Bilgai, Shemaiah; these are the priests. ⁹ And the Levites: Jeshua the son of Azaniah, Binnui of the sons of Henadad, Kadmiel; ¹⁰ and their brothers, Shebaniah, Hodiah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan, ¹¹ Mica, Rehob, Hashabiah, ¹² Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah, ¹³ Hodiah, Bani, Beninu. ¹⁴ The chiefs of the people: Parosh, Pahath-moab, Elam, Zattu, Bani, ¹⁵ Bunni, Azgad, Bebai, ¹⁶ Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin, ¹⁷ Ater, Hezekiah, Azzur, ¹⁸ Hodiah, Hashum, Bezai, ¹⁹ Hariph, Anathoth, Nebai, ²⁰ Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir, ²¹ Meshezabel, Zadok, Jaddua, ²² Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah, ²³ Hoshea, Hananiah, Hasshub, ²⁴ Hallohesh, Pilha, Shobek, ²⁵ Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah, ²⁶ Ahiah, Hanan, Anan, ²⁷ Malluch, Harim, Baanah. ²⁸ “The rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, the temple servants, and all who have separated themselves from the peoples of the lands to the Law of God, their wives, their sons, their daughters, all who have knowledge and understanding, ²⁹ join with their brothers, their nobles, and enter into a curse and an oath to walk in God's Law that was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the Lord our Lord and his rules and his statutes. ³⁰ We will not give our daughters to the peoples of the land or take their daughters for our sons. ³¹ And if the peoples of the land bring in goods or any grain on the Sabbath day to sell, we will not buy from them on the Sabbath or on a holy day. And we will forego the crops of the seventh year and the exaction of every debt. ³² “We also take on ourselves the obligation to give yearly a third part of a shekel for the service of the house of our God: ³³ for the showbread, the regular grain offering, the regular burnt offering, the Sabbaths, the new moons, the appointed feasts, the holy things, and the sin offerings to make atonement for Israel, and for all the work of the house of our God. ³⁴ We, the priests, the Levites, and the people, have likewise cast lots for the wood offering, to bring it into the house of our God, according to our fathers' houses, at times appointed, year by year, to burn on the altar of the Lord our God, as it is written in the Law. ³⁵ We obligate ourselves to bring the firstfruits of our ground and the firstfruits of all fruit of every tree, year by year, to the house of the Lord; ³⁶ also to bring to the house of our God, to the priests who minister in the house of our God, the firstborn of our sons and of our cattle, as it is written in the Law, and the firstborn of our herds and of our flocks; ³⁷ and to bring the first of our dough, and our contributions, the fruit of every tree, the wine and the oil, to the priests, to the chambers of the house of our God; and to bring to the Levites the tithes from our ground, for it is the Levites who collect the tithes in all our towns where we labor. ³⁸ And the priest, the son of Aaron, shall be with the Levites when the Levites receive the tithes. And the Levites shall bring up the tithe of the tithes to the house of our God, to the chambers of the storehouse. ³⁹ For the people of Israel and the sons of Levi shall bring the contribution of grain, wine, and oil to the chambers, where the vessels of the sanctuary are, as well as the priests who minister, and the gatekeepers and the singers. We will not neglect the house of our God.”

• A covenant says no to a lot of other things, but yes to one thing which frees us to live a life of impact.
• Nothing remarkable is accomplished without a covenant.
• They don't stop when God does something powerful, when God does something powerful it's setting us up for the next powerful work.
• Changes heart leads to a changed life.
• Make commitments for endless blessings.

1. We will honor and obey the Word of God.

• Our commitment to do the things of the Word is how we really serve God and live for God.
• Do people see evidence of the Word in your life?
• God's Word should be the foundation of your life.
• Personally and practically do you believe the Word in it's entirety?
• Spirituality means nothing.

2. We will lead our families spiritually.

• We should not marry or flirt or date a nonbeliever.

2 Corinthians 6:14-15
Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever?

• We (as believers) have nothing in common with unbelievers at the most basic level.
• Can't have a rationale conversation once passion is raging.

3. Worshipping God will be a priority for us.

• Worshipping God will become a priority.
• The 7th day is not a day to do as we will, it's a day to get a renewal and enjoy the presence of God. A day fully involved in worship.

Hebrews 4

• One day a week rest in the Lord allowing Him to renew and recreate you.
• Orient life around worship with God.
• Don't give God your time leftovers!!!

4. We will make it a priority to use our resources to honor the Lord.

Leviticus 27:30
Every tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the trees, is the Lord's; it is holy to the Lord.

Malachi 3:7-10
From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts. But you say, ‘How shall we return?’ ⁸ Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions. ⁹ You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you. ¹⁰ Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.

• The blessing of God will take me further then we can take ourselves.
• As we give, God will bless us.
• As we honor God, He will honor us!

Sunday Morning at James River Assembly

Nehemiah "Built to Last" Series
Pastor John

"Prayer and Repentance"

Nehemiah 9:1-37
Now on the twenty-fourth day of this month the people of Israel were assembled with fasting and in sackcloth, and with earth on their heads. ² And the Israelites separated themselves from all foreigners and stood and confessed their sins and the iniquities of their fathers. ³ And they stood up in their place and read from the Book of the Law of the Lord their God for a quarter of the day; for another quarter of it they made confession and worshiped the Lord their God. ⁴ On the stairs of the Levites stood Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Chenani; and they cried with a loud voice to the Lord their God. ⁵ Then the Levites, Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah, said, “Stand up and bless the Lord your God from everlasting to everlasting. Blessed be your glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise. ⁶ “You are the Lord, you alone. You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them; and you preserve all of them; and the host of heaven worships you. ⁷ You are the Lord, the God who chose Abram and brought him out of Ur of the Chaldeans and gave him the name Abraham. ⁸ You found his heart faithful before you, and made with him the covenant to give to his offspring the land of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, the Perizzite, the Jebusite, and the Girgashite. And you have kept your promise, for you are righteous. ⁹ “And you saw the affliction of our fathers in Egypt and heard their cry at the Red Sea, ¹⁰ and performed signs and wonders against Pharaoh and all his servants and all the people of his land, for you knew that they acted arrogantly against our fathers. And you made a name for yourself, as it is to this day. ¹¹ And you divided the sea before them, so that they went through the midst of the sea on dry land, and you cast their pursuers into the depths, as a stone into mighty waters. ¹² By a pillar of cloud you led them in the day, and by a pillar of fire in the night to light for them the way in which they should go. ¹³ You came down on Mount Sinai and spoke with them from heaven and gave them right rules and true laws, good statutes and commandments, ¹⁴ and you made known to them your holy Sabbath and commanded them commandments and statutes and a law by Moses your servant. ¹⁵ You gave them bread from heaven for their hunger and brought water for them out of the rock for their thirst, and you told them to go in to possess the land that you had sworn to give them. ¹⁶ “But they and our fathers acted presumptuously and stiffened their neck and did not obey your commandments. ¹⁷ They refused to obey and were not mindful of the wonders that you performed among them, but they stiffened their neck and appointed a leader to return to their slavery in Egypt. But you are a God ready to forgive, gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and did not forsake them. ¹⁸ Even when they had made for themselves a golden calf and said, ‘This is your God who brought you up out of Egypt,’ and had committed great blasphemies, ¹⁹ you in your great mercies did not forsake them in the wilderness. The pillar of cloud to lead them in the way did not depart from them by day, nor the pillar of fire by night to light for them the way by which they should go. ²⁰ You gave your good Spirit to instruct them and did not withhold your manna from their mouth and gave them water for their thirst. ²¹ Forty years you sustained them in the wilderness, and they lacked nothing. Their clothes did not wear out and their feet did not swell. ²² “And you gave them kingdoms and peoples and allotted to them every corner. So they took possession of the land of Sihon king of Heshbon and the land of Og king of Bashan. ²³ You multiplied their children as the stars of heaven, and you brought them into the land that you had told their fathers to enter and possess. ²⁴ So the descendants went in and possessed the land, and you subdued before them the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, and gave them into their hand, with their kings and the peoples of the land, that they might do with them as they would. ²⁵ And they captured fortified cities and a rich land, and took possession of houses full of all good things, cisterns already hewn, vineyards, olive orchards and fruit trees in abundance. So they ate and were filled and became fat and delighted themselves in your great goodness. ²⁶ “Nevertheless, they were disobedient and rebelled against you and cast your law behind their back and killed your prophets, who had warned them in order to turn them back to you, and they committed great blasphemies. ²⁷ Therefore you gave them into the hand of their enemies, who made them suffer. And in the time of their suffering they cried out to you and you heard them from heaven, and according to your great mercies you gave them saviors who saved them from the hand of their enemies. ²⁸ But after they had rest they did evil again before you, and you abandoned them to the hand of their enemies, so that they had dominion over them. Yet when they turned and cried to you, you heard from heaven, and many times you delivered them according to your mercies. ²⁹ And you warned them in order to turn them back to your law. Yet they acted presumptuously and did not obey your commandments, but sinned against your rules, which if a person does them, he shall live by them, and they turned a stubborn shoulder and stiffened their neck and would not obey. ³⁰ Many years you bore with them and warned them by your Spirit through your prophets. Yet they would not give ear. Therefore you gave them into the hand of the peoples of the lands. ³¹ Nevertheless, in your great mercies you did not make an end of them or forsake them, for you are a gracious and merciful God. ³² “Now, therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love, let not all the hardship seem little to you that has come upon us, upon our kings, our princes, our priests, our prophets, our fathers, and all your people, since the time of the kings of Assyria until this day. ³³ Yet you have been righteous in all that has come upon us, for you have dealt faithfully and we have acted wickedly. ³⁴ Our kings, our princes, our priests, and our fathers have not kept your law or paid attention to your commandments and your warnings that you gave them. ³⁵ Even in their own kingdom, and amid your great goodness that you gave them, and in the large and rich land that you set before them, they did not serve you or turn from their wicked works. ³⁶ Behold, we are slaves this day; in the land that you gave to our fathers to enjoy its fruit and its good gifts, behold, we are slaves. ³⁷ And its rich yield goes to the kings whom you have set over us because of our sins. They rule over our bodies and over our livestock as they please, and we are in great distress.

• When our Lord and Master Jesus Christ said "repent" He called for the entire life of believers to be one of repentance.
• They wore sackcloth:
• For the purpose of getting right with God.
• Didn't care what anyone else thought.
• Church is about worshipping God, but first you have to repent.
• You can fool everyone else but you can't fool God.
• What God thinks is more important than anything else.
• The way we serve God affects everyone around us. (and the way we don't serve God affects everyone around us).
• Should not just be confessing our sin, but the sins of the nation.
• When it comes to repentance, excuses have to go.
• If your heart is cold towards God just block out a day and spend large quantities of time in God's Word, allowing the Word to wash over you.
• The more we know of the Word, the more we know of God and who He is.

1 Peter 1:15-16
But as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

• Be an imitation of God.
• Repentance is about being brokenhearted for your sin.

1. God should be the focus of prayer.

• Use this prayer (in Nehemiah) as an example.
• If we don't know how to pray it's because we haven't been in the Word enough.
• If we don't know how to pray, make your prayers Biblically based.
• Prayer should not be self-centered. Prayer should be all about God and not at all about us.

2. God's goodness should be the theme of prayer.

3. It is the recognition of God's goodness that brings people to repentance.

Romans 2:4
Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?

• Meeting our needs should not be the bulk of what our prayer is about.
• The more we give thanks the more thankful we become.
• Begin to think of the goodness of God and all He's done.
• What is enslaving you?
• We can serve God and He will be our master or we can serve sin and it will be our Master.

1. Repentance begins with recognizing who God is.

• God is worthy of everything we could give to Him.

2. Repentance is repenting to God and to those you have wronged.

3. Repentance involves reversing the course of your life.

4. Repentance is resting in God's forgiveness.

Psalm 32:1-2
Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.

Wednesday Night at James River Assembly

Prayer Meeting
Pastor John

"Calling: Do not neglect your gift"

1 Timothy 4:14
Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you.

2 Timothy 1:6-7
For the reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

John 14:12
"Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father."

• We serve a God who knows the future!
• The fact that we can't imagine it, doesn't mean it won't happen.
• What is God stirring in your heart?
• We each have our own set of gifts that are unique to us.
• Don't neglect your calling!
• God chose you and gave you your gift! We don't choose it, He did!
• What have you done with what God has called you to do?
• Your calling is beyond me.
• Just because you have a gift doesn't mean it will automatically function.
• Are you putting fuel on the fire of your gift so it can burn brighter then ever?
• God has a great purpose and plan for your life.
• Being afraid is from the enemy or a sinful lack of faith.

1. God gives us power!

• It's not your power, but His power working through you.

2. God gives us love!

Romans 5:8 (NIV)
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

• His love should motivate you to love others, rather then being selfish.

1 John 4:18 (NIV)
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

3. God gives us self-control!

• God wants us to just do it (whatever it may be)!

Sunday Morning at James River Assembly

Nehemiah "Built to Last" Series
Pastor Scotty

"City in Revival"

Nehemiah 8:13-18
On the second day the heads of fathers' houses of all the people, with the priests and the Levites, came together to Ezra the scribe in order to study the words of the Law. And they found it written in the Law that the Lord had commanded by Moses that the people of Israel should dwell in booths during the feast of the seventh month, and that they should proclaim it and publish it in all their towns and in Jerusalem, "Go out to the hills and bring branches of olive, wild olive, myrtle, palm, and other leafy trees to make booths, as it is written." So the people went out and brought them and made booths for themselves, each on his roof, and in their courts and in the courts of the house of God, and in the square at the Water Gate and in the square at the Gate of Ephraim. And all the assembly of those who had returned from the captivity made booths and lived in the booths, for from the days of Jeshua the son of Nun to that day the people of Israel had not done so. And there was very great rejoicing. And day by day, from the first day to the last day, he read from the Book of the Law of God. They kept the feast seven days, and on the eighth day there was a solemn assembly, according to the rule.

• Joy comes from God and being right with God.
• Have a desire to know God's will and a commitment to do it.

1. When there's a move of God, there's a hunger for truth. (and a hunger for more; you can't get enough).

• 60% of Christians are women.
• When you get a little taste, it drives us to get more. A hunger for the things of God.

2. Commitment to do what the Word of God says.

• Anytime God brings you out of someplace, He wants to take you somewhere that is far, far better.
• Don't lose sight.
• In the journey don't forget God is with you, and after the journey don't forget the journey.

James 1:22
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

• Live your life based on what I've heard.
• Hearing isn't enough.
• What are you doing with your life?
• This is temporary, God is taking me somewhere far better.
• Use my talents to reach others.
• God is looking for somebody who will do His commandments.
• When we do what God calls us to do there is great blessing.
• It's about why we're doing what we're doing. It's not about doing a religious routine.
• God's blessing follows our obedience.
• God has joy for me!
• We have to follow the map!
• The one who created you, knows the plans for you!
• God is the healer of your broken heart!

Sunday Morning at James River Assembly

I have been a terrible poster and I apologize. I will get better about posting my sermon notes and book notes and the slacking will stop.

(Nehemiah "Built to Last" Series)

Pastor John Lindell

"The Work of the Word"

Nehemiah 8:1-12 (ESV)
And all the people gathered as one man into the square before the Water Gate. And they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses that the Lord had commanded Israel. ² So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could understand what they heard, on the first day of the seventh month. ³ And he read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand. And the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law. ⁴ And Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden platform that they had made for the purpose. And beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right hand, and Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam on his left hand. ⁵ And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was above all the people, and as he opened it all the people stood. ⁶ And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and all the people answered, “Amen, Amen,” lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground. ⁷ Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, the Levites, helped the people to understand the Law, while the people remained in their places. ⁸ They read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly, and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading. ⁹ And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, “This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep.” For all the people wept as they heard the words of the Law. ¹⁰ Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” ¹¹ So the Levites calmed all the people, saying, “Be quiet, for this day is holy; do not be grieved.” ¹² And all the people went their way to eat and drink and to send portions and to make great rejoicing, because they had understood the words that were declared to them.

• Being exposed to the Word prepares us for the callings of the Lord.

1 Peter 2:2 (ESV)
² Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—

• In the heart of a believer there should be a desire to be in the Word of God.

Ezra 7:10 (ESV)
¹⁰ For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the Lord, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel.

• It doesn't do any good to study the Word without living the Word.
• Study the Word, Live the Word, Do and Share the Word.

Ezra 9:1-3 (ESV)
After these things had been done, the officials approached me and said, “The people of Israel and the priests and the Levites have not separated themselves from the peoples of the lands with their abominations, from the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites. ² For they have taken some of their daughters to be wives for themselves and for their sons, so that the holy race has mixed itself with the peoples of the lands. And in this faithlessness the hand of the officials and chief men has been foremost.” ³ As soon as I heard this, I tore my garment and my cloak and pulled hair from my head and beard and sat appalled.

• What we have in the heart of a leader, we will have in the people.
• Reading the Word is what gives us the desire to live the will of God.

Proverbs 30:5 (ESV)
Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.

Isaiah 55:11 (ESV)
so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; t shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.

Hebrews 4:12 (ESV)
¹² For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

• The Word shows us how to live.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (ESV)
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, ¹⁷ that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

• 3 Things about Ezra (that we can learn from):
• He studied God's Word.
• He lived out God's Word.
• He taught God's Word.
• God's Word will transform.

Nehemiah 8:3 (ESV)
"Attentive to the Book"
- Are you attentive to what you read and hear?

• There's something valuable about having the Bible (and not the online version).
• The Bible is straight from the heart of God to us. It's God's love letter to us.
• There should be reverence and respect for the Bible. We shouldn't abandon it.
• "Amen" = So be it.
• Lifting hands is welcoming the Lord.
• Do not limit your worship of the Lord by your own comforts.
• Who cares what others think.
• Be 100% in devotion of the Lord.
• Brokenness is a good thing, but we aren't meant to stay in our broken state.
• Joy is suppose to be our response to forgiveness.
• Don't let the devil keep you in the brokenness of sin.

Psalm 32:1-2 (ESV)
Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. ² Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.

• Have you moved from the brokenness of sin to the joy of forgiveness? Or are you letting the enemy keep you in the bondage?
• We are strongest when we have the joy of the Lord.
• Have you made the conversion from conviction to joy?

New Layout

Hi All,
I am working on a new blog layout. Everything will still be available at this blog location, but there's going be a few different things about it.
My Sermon Note Sunday posts are going to be at a new location. I will have a tab on the top that takes you directly to them, but to some extent I feel like they swallow the rest of my posts, and so I'm creating a site just for them. Since they won't be on my main page, if you especially like to read them I suggest that follow the new link.
Love you all!

SNS - Room 101 Series

Room 101 Series (2/4)
Pastor Steven at Elevation Church

"Running From Your Life"

1 Kings 18:46 to 19:5 (ESV)

And the hand of the Lord was on Elijah, and he gathered up his garment and ran before Arab to the entrance of Jezreel. Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, "So may the gods do to me and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by this time tomorrow." Then he was afraid, and he arose and ran for his life and came up to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there. But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he asked that he might die, saying, "It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers." And he lay down and slept under a broom tree. And behold, an angel touched him and said to him, "Arise and eat."

Mark 4:35-41 (ESV)

On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, "Let us go across to the other side." And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?" And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, "Peace! Be Still!" And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, "Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?" And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, "Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?"

• We don't have to fear what we face when we know who were trusting in.
• The only thing we ever have to be afraid of is that we would live one moment outside of the protection of God.
• If Jesus is on board, the storm is out-ranked.
• The Savior, isn't just beside us following us. He's in us.
• We limit ourselves if we believe that God never uses people who feel fear.
• The people God uses aren't fearless, they are just faithful.
• They go forward for God not because they never have fear, but because the presence of God and trust in a God who is greater.
• Faith is not the absence of fear but the presence of a stronger trust in a greater God even when we're facing our greatest fears.
• Display our doubts with one drop of God's Word at a time.

1 Kings 19:5-8 (ESV)

And he lay down and slept under a broom tree. And behold, an angel touched him and said to him, "Arise and eat." And he looked and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on hot stones and a jar of water. And he ate and drank and lay down again. And the angel of the Lord came again a second time and touched him and said, "Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for you." And he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food for forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mount of God.

• Even the strongest human courage is a limited resource!
• There will come a time where we've all had enough.
• Don't run from the life God has called you to!

1. Get Up and Eat

• God's people aren't called to be fearless, but faithful.
• We receive God's power by consuming God's promises.
• The reason some of us are dominated by fear isn't because we don't have any faith, but because we aren't feeding the faith we have.
• We can't walk in courage, if our courage is malnourished.
• Feed the faith God has given you until your faith is bigger then your fear, then your faith can run your fear out of your heart and you can do what God has called you to do.
• If God removed all our fear, then we wouldn't depend on Him.
• Feed the faith God has put inside of you!
• We can feed our soul and be strong; or we can malnourish our souls and not want to live the life God has given us.
• If we eat words of fear and discouragement or cowardness long enough we will become fearful, discouraged, a coward, etc.
• If we can't/won't feed our faith with what God has put right by our head, how can we expect God to take away our fears when He's already done so much for us?!
• There is no excuse for us not feeding our faith.
• Eat what's right by your head!
• Feed your faith, and your fear won't stand a chance!

2. Go Out and Stand

1 Kings 19:9-13 (ESV)

There he came to a cave and lodged in it. And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" He said, "I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with teh sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away." And he said, "Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord." And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper. And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"

• What are you doing here? What are you accomplishing by {fill in the blank}? What are you doing in the cave you're in?
• We can't see God when we're in a cave, and that's exactly how fear wants it.
• Fear wants to obstruct our view of God.
• What are you doing in the cave, {insert your name}?
• God whispers to us, because He's close.
• The devil shouts lies, but God whispers truth.
• God's not going to overpower our fears by shouting louder or by showing off. If we don't know God is God by everything He's created, we won't ever know who God is. God doesn't need to show off for us. He needs to whisper.
• Jesus doesn't overpower our fears by shouting louder, but my calling me closer!!!
• Get out of the cave, what are you doing in there?!
• In the cave our fear can grow because the devil grows stuff in the dark.
• If the devil can keep us in ignorance, he can shout at our soul and he can take me from 0 to 70 and we'll be running 200 miles away from our lives.
• The devil can throw whatever thought he wants to throw our way, but if we can get in the presence of God we won't be scared of anything the enemy says.
• Why would we be scared of something like that, or someone like satan? He can't hurt us!
• We have to go to where the light is.
• If satan can't keep us in the dark, he can't keep us in fear.
• Are you ready to check out of the cave?
• The Spirit of the Lord is in me (and you)! Tap into Him.

1 Kings 19:15-19 (ESV)

And the Lord said to him, "Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus. And when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael to be king over Syria. And Jehu the son of Nimshi you shall anoint to be king over Israel, and Elisha son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah you shall anoint to be prophet in your place. And the one who escapes from the sword of Hazael shall Jehu put to death, and the one who escapes from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha put to death. Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him" So he departed from there and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen in front of him, and he was with the twelfth. Elijah passed by him and cast his cloak upon him.

• Get up and eat, go out and stand, and ...

3. Get Back to Work

• Don't let the fear of what we're facing be greater then God's voice!
• We have to go back the way we came. We have to get back in the direction of what God's called us to.
• We've been feeling sorry for ourselves long enough.
• Doubting, fearing, hurting long enough.
• Wandering, wondering, wishing long enough.
• Dying on the inside long enough.
• {insert blank} long enough.
• CHRIST ALONE!!

SNS - Room 101 Series

Room 101 Series (1/4)
Pastor Steven at Elevation Church

"Forever Fearful, Never Scared"

1 John 4:18 (ESV)

"There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love."

• God's love drives out fear.
• Perfect love turns fear out of doors.
• The child of God never has to live in fear of what life brings their way.
• The only limit fear has to place on our lives is what we allow fear to limit.
• Don't fear what they fear, don't be dismayed at what they're dismayed at. Because God is with us and He will uphold us.
• We don't have to be afraid!!

Proverbs 1:7 (ESV)

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge."

• We are to be forever fearful of the Lord, but never scared.

Genesis 3:10-11 (ESV)

And he said, "I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself." He said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?"

• The fear that we feel is usually the result of a lie (from satan) that we have believed.

Revelation 1:17-18 (ESV)

When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, "Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.

• In Adam (our condition apart from Christ) we hide from God because in our sin we have everything to fear. But in Christ we worship God because in His righteousness we have nothing to hide.
• Perfect love drives out fear.
• The fear of the Lord is different then being scared of God.
• When we're scared of God we're scared of what He's going do to us because of what we've done against Him.
• But when we realize that the love of God means that God already did to Jesus what He should have done to us, the fear of the Lord is no longer being scared of God; the fear of the Lord is being terrified to be outside of His protection.
• Don't fear God out of intimidation because if God wanted to destroy us He could, but He wants me to respect Him and love Him out of intimacy.
• The fear of the Lord is "God I never want to do anything that would land me out of your protection because I know I can't do anything that would land me outside of your love."
• I don't want to do anything that would land me outside your protection God.
• The fear of the Lord is routed in our understanding of His love for us; and the only thing that we would ever be afraid of is to land outside His protection.
• Faith in God is not the absence of fear, faith in God is the presence of Christ bigger then any fear that I face.
• Fear stands at the doorway of every destiny and says "I dare you to come up here" and the enemy plants fear at every threshold of our life.
• Fear comes to stop somebody who God has called to do something before they ever get the opportunity to do it.
• Our fear isn't an indication that we won't ever do anything great for God, it's actually a sign that the enemy is threatened by us and has dispatched something in our hearts to keep us from getting where God has called us.
• If we get free of our fear, we'll set others free too.
• Fear needs to meet God's love.
• God's love comes in and says thank you very much, but you can't stand here anymore.
• God's love turns fear out of doors.
• God's love says, "fear you gotta go, you can't hold down {insert name} anymore"
• The love of God is bigger, the love of God is greater, the love of God is stronger then any fear could ever be.
• Stand up to fear and say, "Whatcha gonna do fear, when the love of God casts you out."

Sermon Note Sunday

Sunday Morning
James River Assembly
Pastor David
July 22nd, 2012

"What Do I Lack?"

Matthew 19:16-26

And behold, a man came up to him, saying, "Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?" And he said to him, "Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments." He said to him, "Which ones?" And Jesus said, "You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother, and You shall love your neighbor as yourself." The young man said to him, "All these I have kept. What do I still lack?" Jesus said to him, "If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me." When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. And Jesus said to his disciples, "Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God." When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, "Who then can be saved?" But Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

• What do we have to do to get eternal life?

Jesus did 3 things in this passage:

1. Jesus shattered the young man's assumptions about Christianity.
     A. The young man thought Christianity is just something you add to your life (it's not).
     B. The young man thought Christianity is something you do.

• In reality, Christianity is like a bomb that explodes inside you, you are born all over again. You are a new creation when you are a Christian.
• Christianity isn't something you can add, rather it overtakes your life!
• There's only one being who is completely good, and that's God.
• No one is perfect. The problem isn't that one thing (that one sin, pain in the side, etc.) hanging out there, it's that we aren't perfect and we won't admit it.
• Christianity isn't something we do or try to do, it's something that we receive.
• The real line that matters isn't the line that separates the good from the bad (or the bad from the bad), but the line that connects me from God.

2. Jesus got personal.

Mark 10:20-21
And he said to him, "Teacher all these I have kept from my youth. And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, "You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me."

• One thing was keeping this man, from being able to see God. He had a cancer eating at his soul. What cancer do I have eating at my soul, and what cancer do you have eating at your soul.
• At the base of all of our problems, is a battle between God and us for control.
• God wants ALL!!!
• He wants our relationships, dreams, battles, and all that is important to us.
• All we have to do is surrender it to God!

Matthews 7:21-23
"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty words in your name?' And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'
- There are people that know a lot about Jesus, but who never really know Jesus and He never knew them. Because they didn't allow Him to have control, and didn't allow Him to see their heart.

• We have to let Jesus have control and supremacy in our lives.
• We have to allow Jesus touch all of us, even the dark places, the hurt, the pain, the places we have even hidden from ourselves.

3. Jesus asked for the impossible.

• It's impossible to get to Jesus without full surrender.
• Without Jesus, it's impossible to get into heaven. No amount of works will get us into the kingdom of God.
• There is not one person who can enter into eternal life because of their own good works.
• We can't clean ourselves up enough to get into the kingdom!
• BUT, God can clean us up! And with Him, we can enter into the kingdom!

Lady in Waiting

Lady in Waiting

is not about finding the right man,

but becoming the right woman.

The Lady in Waiting

recklessly abandons herself

to the Lordship of Christ,

diligently uses her single days,

trusts God with unwavering faith,

demonstrates virtue in daily life,

loves God with undistracted devotion,

stands for physical and emotional purity,

lives in security,

responds to life in contentment,

makes choices based on her convictions,

and waits patiently for God to meet her needs.

Kendall, J., & Jones, D. (2012). Lady in Waiting: Becoming God's Best While Waiting for Mr. Right (p. 151). Shippensburg, PA: Destiny Image Publishers, Inc. 

Waiting with God

Learning to sit still,

Resting in His will,

Confident to abide,

With Him by my side,

Resisting manipulation,

Waiting only for His stipulations.

- JMK

SNS - Wednesday Night Edition

Wednesday was a really bad night for me, so I ended up skipping church. Although, I know I needed it more then ever.
So there will be no SNS - Wednesday Night Edition this week, although I will be sure to post notes from other sermons and podcasts I have listened to soon.

Proverbs 31 Wife and a Proverbial Noble Husband

A while back...a long while back I found this post. And I thought it was really great about what good Christian men need in a wife. I wanted to share, not only for anyone out there who might need this but also for me as a reference.

For those who don't even know what a Proverbs 31 wife/woman is, here is the passage.

Proverbs 31:10-31 (NIV)
A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life. She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands. She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar. She gets up while it is still night; she provides food for her family and portions for her female servants. She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard. She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks. She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night. In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers. She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy. When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet. She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple. Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land. She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes. She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.” Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

When I don't fully understand something I always turn to The Message version, so here is the message version. A lot of it is still translated into something that we women can't uphold in the 21st century, but it better explains parts of it.

Proverbs 31:10-31 (The Message)
A good woman is hard to find, and worth far more than diamonds. Her husband trusts her without reserve, and never has reason to regret it. Never spiteful, she treats him generously all her life long. She shops around for the best yarns and cottons, and enjoys knitting and sewing. She's like a trading ship that sails to faraway places and brings back exotic surprises. She's up before dawn, preparing breakfast for her family and organizing her day. She looks over a field and buys it, then, with money she's put aside, plants a garden. First thing in the morning, she dresses for work,  rolls up her sleeves, eager to get started. She senses the worth of her work, is in no hurry to call it quits for the day. She's skilled in the crafts of home and hearth, diligent in homemaking. She's quick to assist anyone in need, reaches out to help the poor. She doesn't worry about her family when it snows; their winter clothes are all mended and ready to wear. She makes her own clothing, and dresses in colorful linens and silks. Her husband is greatly respected when he deliberates with the city fathers. She designs gowns and sells them, brings the sweaters she knits to the dress shops. Her clothes are well-made and elegant, and she always faces tomorrow with a smile. When she speaks she has something worthwhile to say, and she always says it kindly. She keeps an eye on everyone in her household, and keeps them all busy and productive. Her children respect and bless her; her husband joins in with words of praise: "Many women have done wonderful things, but you've outclassed them all!" Charm can mislead and beauty soon fades. The woman to be admired and praised is the woman who lives in the Fear-of-God. Give her everything she deserves! Festoon her life with praises!

Now this passage gets abused a lot, and I've met plenty of men who won't even consider a girl unless she is Proverbs 31 quality. Honestly, I strive to be a Proverbs 31 woman, albeit a modern one. And I believe it's a great passage for men to look up to when trying to find that woman God wants for them.

Here is how we can be Proverbs 31 women, and what Christian single men need:

1. Christian men needs to have confidence in his girl of a lifetime. This means he can share his heart (this is difficult for many men because of their fears) without worry about gossip or rejection. The male ego is fragile.
2. Christian men needs his woman to bring him good and not harm...in good times and bad. Some women are able to "love their man" when the going is easy. But how about when the hard knocks of life (and there will be some) start rolling through?
3. Christian men would profit by having a woman who can happily and wisely take good care of the household. By the way, it looks like Solomon would disagree with all those guys who think their wives need to be "barefoot and pregnant at home."
4. Christian men (men in general) can sometimes be insensitive to the needs of others' pain. So a guy who has a woman who is compassionate and loving to the less fortunate can help him grow in this area.
5. Christian men need a wife who takes good care of the marriage bed (you know what Solomon means here, right?), as well as her own personal appearance. Outward beauty can be deceitful, but Christian men (or any man) respects a woman who respects herself by looking as good as she can be.
6. Christian men need a strong and independent woman. A man loves to feel needed by his woman because it fulfills his need to provide. But very few single Christian men are attracted to high maintence whiny types.
7. Christian men need a woman who can laugh at whatever life brings. Life is hard enough without a good sense of humor and positive outlook. This is especially helpful for men because circumstances can get the best of men a little down.
8. Christian men need a woman who can give wise advice and timely counsel. "Behind every great man is a great woman."

Now that's great, but a man needs to keep his end of the bargain too.

Proverbial Man of Noble Character

• Reprove a wise man and he will love you. Proverbs 9:8
• Give instruction to a wise man and he will be still wiser, Teach a righteous man and he will increase his learning. Proverbs 9:9
• The generous man will be prosperous, And he who waters will himself be watered. Proverbs 11:25
• A good man will obtain favor from the LORD. Proverbs 12:2
• A wise man is he who listens to counsel. Proverbs 12:15
• A prudent man overlooks an insult. Proverbs 12:16
• Every prudent man acts with knowledge. Proverbs 13:16
• He who walks with wise men will be wise. Proverbs 13:20
• A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children. Proverbs 13:22
• The sensible man considers his steps. Proverbs 14:15
• A wise man is cautious and turns away from evil. Proverbs 14:16
• He who is slow to anger has great understanding. Proverbs 14:29
• A man of understanding walks straight. Proverbs 15:21
• What is desirable in a man is his kindness. Proverbs 19:22
• A righteous man who walks in his integrity-- How blessed are his sons after him. Proverbs 20:7
• A wise man scales the city of the mighty And brings down the stronghold in which they trust. Proverbs 21:22
• A wise man is strong, And a man of knowledge increases power. Proverbs 24:5
• For a righteous man falls seven times, and rises again, But the wicked stumble in time of calamity. Proverbs 24:16

Do I know what all that means...absolutely not. But there's a book called In Search of the Proverbs 31 Man – by Michelle McKinney Hammond, that I plan to read soon and it'll help.

I also plan on finding out more information about being a modern day Proverbs 31 woman and I will share that too. But for now, my sole focus is being 100% fully devoted and in love with my Lord.