Sermon Notes & Videos
2025-01-24 | II Peter 1:2-5 | Appreciating Knowledge
It’s a progression of knowledge or might we say progressive knowledge. It comes in stages, oftentimes developing gradually over time in a step-by-step process. And it’s not at all simple; it’s a complex pattern of many various and interconnected parts. We might even call it an appreciating asset, but only if you receive it as a valuable commodity that was invested in you—an asset in which you should invest wisely, and one that you should then, in turn, invest wisely.
Yes, knowledge should be one of your most appreciated assets. And in order for that to be true, you must appreciate all the various applications of knowledge. Recognize its full worth and be grateful for your access to such a treasure. Acknowledge the full implications of what is available to you and cherish what God has offered to you by taking hold of and purposely work at increasing its value.
But knowledge cannot stand alone. As a single-legged platform it is very unstable, guaranteed to topple, as those who won’t recognize the need for mutual support often fall victim to always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. When knowledge stands alone, it breeds pride; if anyone thinks that he knows anything apart from the other necessary legs of support, he doesn’t yet know as he ought to know.
Knowledge is the acquisition of God’s intent on any matter, and the gathering of facts and information. Yet, it subsequently requires a second leg, a proper understanding, the correct perception or interpretation of God’s intention. In other words, one must discern and comprehend what the facts truly represent. Really, the only way to gain a truly reliable interpretation is to add a third leg—to receive instruction. It is imperative to be instructed by God’s word and to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit, so you might know His heart on any matter as governed by His laws. And then it is time to add the fourth and final leg—wisdom.
Wisdom is the deliberate application of godly knowledge, understanding, and instruction. If all you know, understand, and have been instructed to do is left dormant, that is not the work of a wise man, but a fool. Every prudent man acts from knowledge, but a fool exposes his folly. This is not merely a man who lacks intelligence, but rather a man who rejects knowledge, understanding, instruction, and wisdom altogether. He is the antithesis of the wise man who fears the Lord and follows His ways. Yes, knowledge involves a complex progressive process that begins with faith that God exists and continues with a steadfast belief that He rewards all those who diligently seek Him.
2025-01-17 | II Peter | Perfect Peace
Peace is a many-faceted concept. In light of God’s promises, His perfect peace was made available to you when you became a child of God. God’s word ensures that you came to a place of peace with God at the moment of your redemption, and there remains nothing more to reconcile between you and God. God continues to offer you His peace, and that comes from your continued dependence on and trust in Him, no matter what difficulties and challenges you might endure.
Then, you are able to experience the peace of God that projects beyond any human understanding, if you are willing. This supernatural peace is there, waiting for you to encounter, but it is not guaranteed; you must pray, petition, and thank God, while you you make your specific requests known. If you will worship and commune with God; convey a sense of urgency that reflects your deepest personal desires; and express your profound gratefulness for God’s grace, provision, and blessings; and do so while making your appeal with utter humility, then, “The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your heart and thoughts.” There is no magic here; you are simply standing on God’s promise because, “The insistent prayer of a righteous man is powerfully effective.” Then, take the peace you have with, from, and of God and steward it faithfully by aspiring to live at peace with all men!
2025-01-03 | II Peter | Grace: Learn to READ
It’s so much more than just a ticket to ride. Sure, if you cannot board the train to paradise, then there is nothing further to discuss. You have much bigger problems than insufficient information. But if you’ve heard those coveted words from the Ticket Collector, “I tell you today, you will be with Me in paradise,” then it’s time you learn to appreciate all the benefits and responsibilities that come with the ticket you hold in your hand.
It’s all right there in the fine print; all you have to do is learn to read. Of course, it seems that first one must inform you that the writing on your ticket is not just boring legalese that is safe enough to ignore, a type of disclaimer there to protect the railroad from frivolous laws suits if someone bumps his head in a sudden stop. It’s not fine print because it’s irritatingly tiny, or annoyingly faded, or nearly impossible to read. Instead, it’s mighty fine print that holds in its letters the secrets to an extraordinary Christian life. The print possesses fine information which, if you knew was available, you’d eagerly consume for all the benefits that come with good reading comprehension.
Your ticket to ride is grace, and it was purchased with the precious blood of Jesus. Right there you must recognize that it is the most valuable ticket in the universe, and yet it cost you nothing to receive. Now, take out your reading glasses, if necessary. Instructions indicate that you must purposefully engage in all the possible benefits, or they will remain as merely untapped potential.
Avail yourself to the power and authority that each ticket holder is granted. And then show your ticket to others; disperse the information in such a way that they too want to join you on the train; they could not possibly refuse the invite. That’s right, learn to READ; Receive, Engage, Avail, and Disperse God’s grace. It’s everything you need to understand in the fine print on the powerful ticket you hold in your hand.
2024-12-27 | 1-2 Maccabees | Hanukkah-Christianity 167 Years before Christ
Feast Notes | Sermon Video
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Hanukkah: Christianity 167 Years before Christ
It was the Feast of Dedication and Y’shua was fully aware of what was about to happen and to what He was alluding. Today, Jews around the world, and even some Christians who have come to understand its deeper truths, commemorate this Festival of Lights. You might recognize the holiday as Hanukkah and it’s all about the fire of rededication.
It would be 200 years after the historical events from which the Feast of Dedication originates that Y’shua would declare to the world, at this celebration of lights, that He was indeed the Messiah, “I told you, and you don’t believe Me. The entire historical event began to testify of Me 167 years before I was born. My sheep heard My voice then, and they followed Me; they still do to this very day. I am the giver of eternal life; none of My sheep will perish. And no one can snatch any of them out of My hand, no matter how great the persecution. That is the true miracle of Hanukkah and the force behind the fierce dedication and courageous faith of the Maccabees. They were the warriors for My truth and radical faith based obedience to God. They were responsible for rebuilding and cleansing the altar, and for lighting the fire of the eight day rededication of My temple. And that is the imagery of what it means to dedicate your temple to Me!”
They couldn’t have known then, but we do know now, the deeper meaning of why Hanukkah, the Feast of Dedication, would become known as the Festival of Lights. At conception, at the moment the human egg becomes fertilized, there is a burst of light.
That is precisely what occurred when Y’shua, the light of life, was supernaturally conceived. That is also what happened the moment you were born again, when that light of life came into your life and you became dedicated as the temple of the Holy Spirit. He is the light of the world and you too are the light of the world. Let us now rededicate our temples and may our fire shine into this world with such intense brightness that all the world would see the immense burst of light and would come to know the glory of our heavenly Father.
2024-12-20 | II Peter 1:9 | The 1 Thing
For this very reason be diligent to add these things to your faith, these many things and for so many reasons—promises really. If these things, these many things, are yours and abound, the fruit in your earthly life and your spiritual life will be abundant. If you do these many things you will never stumble. Could there be a more encouraging promise?
And the man who fails to do these things, these many things, he is like a man who can’t see anything past what is right in front of him. It’s almost like he is nearly blind, but in this case it is not the function of his eyes that is in question. In other words, it’s not his physical sight that is distorted, but the absence of his prophetic vision that has blinded him, his inability to grasp the magnitude of what God has promised.
And yet, with all these many things in focus, there remains just one thing that will ruin a man’s opportunity to attain to God’s upward call in Christ. And if there is just one thing that will ruin the whole thing, I will not be negligent to remind you of these many things, but more importantly that one thing.
2024-12-13 | II Peter 1:5-8 | Just Add Practice
It should be so simple. It’s all but finished right out of the box —just one final ingredient, an item amply available, and the recipe is complete. Sure, it’s an integral component and is required to bring the entire formula to life, but it’s readily accessible and safe to handle. Plus, the instructions are about as easy to implement as it is to solve one plus one. Unpack everything in your box and “just add water.” Oh that your Christian walk would be so simple.
Your Christian lifestyle does share one commonality with this useful analogy. When you read the instructions on the side of the box, there is only one ingredient missing, one integral component. Nevertheless, that is where the similarities end. It is not amply available, nor readily accessible; and it is not safe to handle, nor is it easy to implement—far from it. And the instructions are complicated and it always gets messy once the box is opened. That must be why most Christians never break the seal. However, if you are willing, this is the ingredient and these are the instructions. Just add P.R.A.C.T.I.C.E. Persistent Repetition Accelerates Character Transformation Impacting Christian Ethos. Your ethos is the characteristic spirit of your lifestyle and culture, how you operate in your community as a manifestation of your core beliefs and aspirations.
Instructions: open the box, just add practice, a complex ingredient and very risky to handle. Practice is a complicated element: to your faith add virtue, to virtue add knowledge, to knowledge add self-control, to self-control add perseverance, to perseverance add godliness, to godliness add brotherly affection, and to brotherly affection add love. Combine and mix these subcomponents of practice very carefully and in the perfect sequence, or the entire recipe will be ruined. Or, maybe it’s just safer to leave the box unopened and not mess with the one missing ingredient.
How bad can that be? Do you really want to know? Well, it’s ugly; the contents inside the box will eventually rot if you don’t use them correctly—if you don’t bring the entire formula to life; and there is simply no way to know how long it will take before it festers. So, each day you leave the box closed and don’t add the missing ingredient, you are one day closer to your Christian walk becoming infested with maggots.