Tuesday, June 23, 2009
First Damascus Way Bible Study "preach"
Well, this week, I put forth my first ever "sermon" at my place of work, the Damascus Way! For those of you that don't know...I am a case worker for a christian based work-release program called "Damascus Way." Our mission is to nurture male felons coming out of Prison into work release with the word!
Acts 9:1-22 tells us that it was on the road to Damascus that the Apostle Paul met Jesus and as a result, had his life changed forever. The road symbolizes a time or place in life where a person comes to the end of themselves and give their lives to the father, son and holy spirit. "If the son sets you free, you are free indeed"-John 8:36.
Check out our website for more info...www.damascusway.com
Now...the transcript of my lesson...based on the Book of Hebrews...Chapter 11..."faith and perserverance of faith"
[1] Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
To me…faith is that Hoped for things will happen, and as a result of praying…the evidence of things to come in the future.
Now faith justifies only as it refers to, and depends on, Christ. But here is no mention of him as the object of faith; and in several of the instances that I’ll read in a moment, no notice is taken of him or his salvation, but only of temporal blessings obtained by faith. And yet they may all be considered as evidences of the power of justifying our faith in Christ, and being obedient to his commandments amidst difficulties and dangers of every kind.
Now faith is the subsistence of things hoped for, the evidence or conviction of things not seen — Things hoped for are not so extensive as things not seen. Things hoped for are the things future and joyful to us ; the evidence of conviction of things we haven’t yet seen are either future, past, or present, and those either good or evil, whether to us or others.
[2] For by it the elders obtained a good report.
The elders…those that came before us…our fathers and grandfathers…any of you able talk to your dad’s this father’s day week? Or have any of your children talked to you? In the old testament, God gave a testimony, not only of them but to them.
4-it was by faith that Abel brought a more acceptable offering to God than Cain did…I don’t know about you, but I suppose I’d like some cows for some steak rather than just some corn or whatever crop it was Cain offered God- anyway- As a result, Cain kills his brother out of jealousy….He didn’t have faith god loved him as much.
5- and it was faith that Enoch was taken up to heaven without dying-“suddenly he disappeared because God took him. Even more puzzling…is that Enoch was approved as pleasing to god. The Lord had punished his father, Cain by condemning him to wander the earth, but when the curse of the Lord was lifted, Cain was allowed to build a city, which he also called Enoch, after his son. Another interesting part of it for you bible readers is that some consider Enoch to be one of the Two Witnesses in the Book of Revelation due to the fact that he did not die. 6- so, you see, it is impossible to please god without faith. How do we keep the faith?(hard pause) More thoughts on that in a moment. First…I’ll continue to read.
7 It was by faith that Noah built an Ark to save his family from the flood…one of the most infamous acts of faith in history. Anybody seen the movie “Evan:Almighty”? It is a modern day Noah’s ark story…very clever. That guy from the TV show “The Office” stars as Evan…
8 Abraham obeyed when god told him to leave home and go to another land that god would give him as an inheritance.
Verse 11 Abraham remained faithful, even after he and his wife Sara lost faith of having a child and allowed handmaiden Hagar to conceive a child with Abraham. Even though they were at one point too old and Sara was barren. I don’t know about anybody else…but I wouldn’t be comfortable being a dad at age 99 in this day and age! Of course, as all bible readers know…and it is again explained in verse 12…”a whole nation came from Abraham, who was too old to have any children- a nation with so many people that, like the stars of the sky and the sand on the seashore, there is no way to count them.
So this brings me to my Gospel this evening….Hebrews Chapter 11: verse 13…
[13] These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
Let me break that all down: every last one of the famous people in the bible I just mentioned, and many many more…went to their deathbeds NOT receiving promises given to them by god…So….YOU MEAN TO TELL ME…ALL THIS DOING RIGHT, STAYING DRUG AND ALCOHOL FREE, STAYING PURE FROM SINS LIKE LUST AND GREED AND COVETING AND ANY KIND OF EVIL…DOES ME NO GOOD?... while you think on that, let’s talk about the journey of faith….how would someone even begin to understand all that god wants of us?
Sometimes in recovery, like you guys are all here…like it or not…it just seems like forever before we begin to see changes we want in our lives….promises we believe god has given us that we just aren’t seeing him, or in some cases….us….move to reality. During these times, I say to each one of you…remind yourself that even the people of god most famous for their faith had to perservere…even KNOWING they wouldn’t live on this earth to see it happen. Faith means we can trust that god will come through for us in some fashion…even when the struggle seems to go on like it is forever in time.
Anybody know who Jon Bunyan was? He was an English Christian writer and preacher who lived around 350 years ago. He’s most famous for writing The Pilgrim's Progress, which is arguably the most published book besides the Bible. He was decried as "a witch, a Jesuit, a highwayman" and was said to have mistresses and multiple wives. In 1658, he was arrested for preaching without a license. He was confined at first for three months, but on his refusing to conform or to desist from preaching, his confinement was extended for a period of nearly 12 years. He was arrested again, and again after that..and after king charles the second sparked off what would turn out to be the very beginnings of those looking for freedom from religious persecution and less than 100 years later…the american revolution on this side of the pond, Bunyan had established over thirty new church congregations.
Reading out the rest of Hebrews 11….alot of trials…and tribulations…through one common thing many of you have heard in many messages in these bible studies is a hope for the ending of your faith on this earth. Again…I ask…how do we keep the faith? I think it boils down to believing what Jesus did for us…when he went to the cross….and believing in that one perfect heaven…we can get ready here on earth to receive the one promise that matters the most.
Acts 9:1-22 tells us that it was on the road to Damascus that the Apostle Paul met Jesus and as a result, had his life changed forever. The road symbolizes a time or place in life where a person comes to the end of themselves and give their lives to the father, son and holy spirit. "If the son sets you free, you are free indeed"-John 8:36.
Check out our website for more info...www.damascusway.com
Now...the transcript of my lesson...based on the Book of Hebrews...Chapter 11..."faith and perserverance of faith"
[1] Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
To me…faith is that Hoped for things will happen, and as a result of praying…the evidence of things to come in the future.
Now faith justifies only as it refers to, and depends on, Christ. But here is no mention of him as the object of faith; and in several of the instances that I’ll read in a moment, no notice is taken of him or his salvation, but only of temporal blessings obtained by faith. And yet they may all be considered as evidences of the power of justifying our faith in Christ, and being obedient to his commandments amidst difficulties and dangers of every kind.
Now faith is the subsistence of things hoped for, the evidence or conviction of things not seen — Things hoped for are not so extensive as things not seen. Things hoped for are the things future and joyful to us ; the evidence of conviction of things we haven’t yet seen are either future, past, or present, and those either good or evil, whether to us or others.
[2] For by it the elders obtained a good report.
The elders…those that came before us…our fathers and grandfathers…any of you able talk to your dad’s this father’s day week? Or have any of your children talked to you? In the old testament, God gave a testimony, not only of them but to them.
4-it was by faith that Abel brought a more acceptable offering to God than Cain did…I don’t know about you, but I suppose I’d like some cows for some steak rather than just some corn or whatever crop it was Cain offered God- anyway- As a result, Cain kills his brother out of jealousy….He didn’t have faith god loved him as much.
5- and it was faith that Enoch was taken up to heaven without dying-“suddenly he disappeared because God took him. Even more puzzling…is that Enoch was approved as pleasing to god. The Lord had punished his father, Cain by condemning him to wander the earth, but when the curse of the Lord was lifted, Cain was allowed to build a city, which he also called Enoch, after his son. Another interesting part of it for you bible readers is that some consider Enoch to be one of the Two Witnesses in the Book of Revelation due to the fact that he did not die. 6- so, you see, it is impossible to please god without faith. How do we keep the faith?(hard pause) More thoughts on that in a moment. First…I’ll continue to read.
7 It was by faith that Noah built an Ark to save his family from the flood…one of the most infamous acts of faith in history. Anybody seen the movie “Evan:Almighty”? It is a modern day Noah’s ark story…very clever. That guy from the TV show “The Office” stars as Evan…
8 Abraham obeyed when god told him to leave home and go to another land that god would give him as an inheritance.
Verse 11 Abraham remained faithful, even after he and his wife Sara lost faith of having a child and allowed handmaiden Hagar to conceive a child with Abraham. Even though they were at one point too old and Sara was barren. I don’t know about anybody else…but I wouldn’t be comfortable being a dad at age 99 in this day and age! Of course, as all bible readers know…and it is again explained in verse 12…”a whole nation came from Abraham, who was too old to have any children- a nation with so many people that, like the stars of the sky and the sand on the seashore, there is no way to count them.
So this brings me to my Gospel this evening….Hebrews Chapter 11: verse 13…
[13] These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
Let me break that all down: every last one of the famous people in the bible I just mentioned, and many many more…went to their deathbeds NOT receiving promises given to them by god…So….YOU MEAN TO TELL ME…ALL THIS DOING RIGHT, STAYING DRUG AND ALCOHOL FREE, STAYING PURE FROM SINS LIKE LUST AND GREED AND COVETING AND ANY KIND OF EVIL…DOES ME NO GOOD?... while you think on that, let’s talk about the journey of faith….how would someone even begin to understand all that god wants of us?
Sometimes in recovery, like you guys are all here…like it or not…it just seems like forever before we begin to see changes we want in our lives….promises we believe god has given us that we just aren’t seeing him, or in some cases….us….move to reality. During these times, I say to each one of you…remind yourself that even the people of god most famous for their faith had to perservere…even KNOWING they wouldn’t live on this earth to see it happen. Faith means we can trust that god will come through for us in some fashion…even when the struggle seems to go on like it is forever in time.
Anybody know who Jon Bunyan was? He was an English Christian writer and preacher who lived around 350 years ago. He’s most famous for writing The Pilgrim's Progress, which is arguably the most published book besides the Bible. He was decried as "a witch, a Jesuit, a highwayman" and was said to have mistresses and multiple wives. In 1658, he was arrested for preaching without a license. He was confined at first for three months, but on his refusing to conform or to desist from preaching, his confinement was extended for a period of nearly 12 years. He was arrested again, and again after that..and after king charles the second sparked off what would turn out to be the very beginnings of those looking for freedom from religious persecution and less than 100 years later…the american revolution on this side of the pond, Bunyan had established over thirty new church congregations.
Reading out the rest of Hebrews 11….alot of trials…and tribulations…through one common thing many of you have heard in many messages in these bible studies is a hope for the ending of your faith on this earth. Again…I ask…how do we keep the faith? I think it boils down to believing what Jesus did for us…when he went to the cross….and believing in that one perfect heaven…we can get ready here on earth to receive the one promise that matters the most.
