I continue in 1 Peter 3 - basically, there are 3 sections to this passage. One of them deals with suffering in the Christian's life being God's will. Not an easy topic. Thus the title. But there are some other key things in this passage - Christ's "descent to the dead" from the Apostle's Creed (2nd Century) is referenced. Part of Christ's descent was His proclamation to the "spirits in prison" which is discussed in this message. I end with the importance of baptism which is often de-emphasized in modern Christianity. That was not the case in the Apostolic age and the early church.

The word submission is not a popular word. I would say it is a despised word. But it is also a Biblical one. 

The Apostle Peter writes some of the most challenging words in the New Testament when he instructs us to submit to human institutions, unjust employers (in the 1st century it was actual "masters") and within marriage. 

How do we reconcile the commandment to submit to these things while obeying God in other areas? Peter broke laws and didn't submit at times. What about abusive situations? We get into all of these things in this message.

10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets who predicted the grace that would come to you searched and investigated carefully. 11 They probed into what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating when he testified beforehand about the sufferings appointed for Christ and his subsequent glory. 12 They were shown that they were serving not themselves but you, in regard to the things now announced to you through those who proclaimed the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things angels long to catch a glimpse of.

13 Therefore, get your minds ready for action by being fully sober, and set your hope completely on the grace that will be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed. 14 Like obedient children, do not comply with the evil urges you used to follow in your ignorance, 15 but, like the Holy One who called you, become holy yourselves in all of your conduct, 16 for it is written, “You shall be holy, because I am holy.” 17 And if you address as Father the one who impartially judges according to each one’s work, live out the time of your temporary residence here in reverence. 18 You know that from your empty way of life inherited from your ancestors you were ransomed—not by perishable things like silver or gold, 19 but by precious blood like that of an unblemished and spotless lamb, namely Christ. 20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was manifested in these last times for your sake. 21 Through him you now trust in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

22 You have purified your souls by obeying the truth in order to show sincere mutual love. So love one another earnestly from a pure heart. 23 You have been born anew, not from perishable but from imperishable seed, through the living and enduring word of God. 24 For

all flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of the grass; the grass withers and the flower falls off,
25 but the word of the Lord endures forever.

And this is the word that was proclaimed to you.

This is the final message in a 13-part series looking at the phenomenon of house churches in the Book of Acts and the rest of the New Testament. 

In addition to considering the house churches Paul planted, visited, and wrote to, we consider again Paul's suffering in the midst of all the ministry he was doing. Paul's vision of the Christian life was radically different than what is preached in many churches today. Who should we be following? 

The counterfeit ideologies that we find today in Western Culture want to root people's identity in their race/ethnicity, gender, or sexual preference.

Our identity in Christ however eradicates those other false identities.  Much of the church has even capitulated to these false/counterfeit identities.

The Apostle Paul faced similar challenges in the 1st Century. He demonstrated that no other earthly identity mattered any longer if people were in Christ.

In this message, we consider our TRUE IDENTITY in Christ. We also look at Gnosticism and how a modern version of it also attacks our Biblical identity and lifestyle as followers of Jesus.

Paul warned Colossian believers of "human philosophies" that were actually demonically inspired infiltrating the church in the 1st century. Today, many such philosophies have infiltrated the church as has been well-documented in Megan Basham's new book, Shepherds for Sale - How Evangelical Leaders Have Trade the Truth for a Leftist Agenda.

In this podcast, we get into Colossians 2 and apply it to the Marxist ideologies that have infected many parts of the modern Evangelical Church. The Supremacy of Christ and His Gospel trump all of these man-made, demonic ideologies. #shepherdsforsale, #marxism, #critcaltheory, #criticalracetheory, #CRT, #intersectionality, #systemicracism, #MeToo, #whiteprivilege, #creationcare, #loveislove, #LGBTQ+

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