New Work Fellowship Podcast

Grow in Wisdom (04/18/21)

Cutting Straight

“Grow in Wisdom"

Luke 2:41-52

 

Key Truth:  Once you know who we are in Christ, you can begin to grow in wisdom.

·     Wisdom is the knowledge and practice of Godly living. 

 

What is the biblical picture of a wise person?

1)   One who fears the Lord. (Luke 2:41-44)

·     Wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord. (Proverbs 9:10)

 

2)   One who is rooted in the Word of God. (Luke 2:45-50)

·     Rooted like a tree. (Psalm 1:1-3)

 

3)   One who is fully alive and growing in Christ. (Luke 2:51-52)

·     In what ways am I growing in wisdom, and in stature, and in favor with God and other?

     - my spiritual walk, health, marriage, family, calling, service to the church, generosity, friends, etc.  

 

Final thought: You can become a biblical picture of wisdom by fearing the Lord, rooting yourself in His word, and growing in Christ.

Sealed Identity (04/11/21)

Cutting Straight

“Sealed Identity"

Luke 4:14-30

 

1)   We are in the midst of an identity crisis.

a.    Fed a steady diet of SPAM.

b.    Fake Identities.                                              

i.     Carlos Fernandez – Surgeon

ii.     Thomas Salme – Pilot

c.    False images.                                            

i.     The rise of the social media self.

ii.     One young adult’s story.

 

2)   Where should you find your identity? (Luke 4:14 – 30)

a.    In Christ alone. (vs. 14-16)

b.    In the Word of God. (vs. 17-21)

c.    Not in others. (vs. 22-30)

 

3)   The stories we hear and repeat to ourselves shape who we become.

a.    Who shaped your story? (Philippians 4:8)

b.    What is the story you are telling yourself now? (Psalm 19:14)

c. How does that story match the truth of who you are in Christ and the standard of God’s word? (Ephesians 2:8-10)

 

Final thought: Choose God as the narrator of your story by allowing Him to seal your identity in Christ.

God of the Third Day (04/04/21)

Third Day

“God of the Third Day"

John 11 / Matthew 28

 “On the Third day, early Sunday morning, as the new day dawned, … there was a great earthquake, an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled aside the stone, and sat on it. His face shone like lightening; his clothing white as snow. The guards shook with fear …, and fell into a dead faint. Then the angel spoke … “Don’t be afraid!” “I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen!”

 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, “I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said.”

1 Corinthians 15:20, “But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died.”

The point of Easter is—this could be your story!

Hebrews 9:27, “…each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment…”

John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.”

2 Corinthians 5:21, “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

Acts 4:12, “There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.”

Philippians 2:10-11, “at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Hosea 6:2, “After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will restore us, that we may live in his presence.”

 1 Corinthians 15:20, “But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died.”

Final Thought: The point of Easter is—this could be your story!

When God Is AWOL (03/28/21)

Third Day

"When God Is AWOL"

Luke 2:41-52

 

 What do you do when you are frantic for a Third Day?

·       Unfulfilled expectations foster my frustration

v41, “Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Passover festival.”

·       Recognize fast fixes rarely work

v44b, “But when he didn’t show up that evening, they started looking for him among their relatives and friends.”.

·       When frantic, it means you’ve somehow lost sight of the Lord.

v48, His parents didn’t know what to think. “Son,” his mother said to him, “why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been frantic, searching for you everywhere.”.

 

How do you “see God” in the frantic seasons of life?

·       Seriously search (see Jeremiah 29:13)

·      Return to His presence (see Malachi 3:7, Isaiah 44:22, Jeremiah 4:1) ·      Store it up; because frantic days will come again

 v51, “his mother stored all these things in her heart.” “I go east, but he is not there. I go west, but I cannot find him. I do not see him in the north, for he is hidden. I look to the south, but he is concealed. But he knows where I am going. And when he tests me, I will come out as pure as gold.”   Job 23:8-10

 

Final Thought:

When you need a Third Day: Do not despair!

God is still working.

He is working in you. He is working for you.

When God Says Go (03/21/21)

Third Day

“When God Says Go"

Jonah 1:17, 3:3

 

Jonah’s Third Day Experience

1. Consumed. (1:17)

a. By willful disobedience. (1:1-3)

b. By death. (1:4-16)

c. By a fish. (1:17)

2. Crying Out. (2:1-9)

a. Repentance. (2:1-4)

b. Trusted the Lord. (2:5-9)

3. Delivered from death for a purpose. (2:10 – 3:2)

 

Nineveh’s Third Day Experience

1. Consumed. (3:3)

a. By willful disobedience.

b. By death.

c. By a fish.

 2. Crying Out. (3:4-9)

a. Repentance.

b. Trusted the Lord.

3. Delivered from death for a purpose. (3:10)

 

Your Third Day Experience

1. God has called you to life in Christ.

a. Repent.

b. Trust in Christ.

2. You can live fully in Christ.

a. Order your life according to God’s purposes.

3.    You can go and share Christ with others.

a. Who will you bring?

b. Who will you serve?

When God Goes Before You (03/14/21)

Third Day

“When God Goes Before You, There Is Evidence Of A Third Day."

Joshua 1-3

 

Are we able to see the EVIDENCE when God is working on a Third Day in our lives?

 

When God speaks to us… Third Days require Courage

·     God spoke!

·     It’s often in the darkest moments of life that God speaks most clearly.

o  "You, LORD, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light." Psalm 18:28

o  “For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.” Luke 15:24

o  …“cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him…” Matthew 14:30-31

·     We have to be STRONG and COURAGEOUS when God Speaks to us.

 

When God protects us… Third Days require Hope.

·     God can protect us but we have to decide who side are we on.

o  Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. Romans 8:12-14

·     We have to have hope in Christ when we come face to face with fear.

 

When God goes before us… Third Days lead us to His Promises.

·     Three things we need to understand when God leads us to our Third Day.

o  The journey starts inside us. verse 5

o  We need to stick close to God. Verses 4 & 6

o  Don’t be afraid of the deep water. Verses 15 & 16

·     Today you will know that the living God is among you. He will surely drive out (all your enemies) ahead of you. Joshua 3:10

 

Do you see the Evidence of God working in your life?

When God Shows Up (03/07/21)

Third Day

“When God Shows Up"

Exodus 19:16-21

 

Genesis Third Days:

Genesis 1:9-13, 22:4, 40:20, 42:18

Third Days bring separation and life. 

Exodus 19:11, “Be sure they are ready on the third day…”

Exodus 19:15, “Get ready for the third day…”

 

How do you Get Ready for the Third Day

1. Wait

Exodus 19:1, “Exactly 2 months after they left Egypt...”

 Third Day lessons:

When you need a third day: Wait on The Lord. God works in His time.  

Lamentations 3:25-26, “The Lord is good to those who depend on him, to those who search for him. So it is good to wait quietly for salvation from the Lord.”

When you are waiting for a third day: Respect the Boundaries

Exodus 19:21, “…warn the people not to break through the boundaries…”

 

2. Remember

Exodus 19:3-4, “You have seen what I did…”

Deuteronomy 6:12, “…be careful not to forget the Lord, who rescued you…”

Nehemiah 4:14, “don’t be afraid of the enemy! Remember the Lord who is great and glorious…!” Isaiah 46:9, “Remember the things I have done in the past. For I alone am God! I am God, and there is none like me.”  

Psalm 143:5, “I remember the days of long ago; I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done.”

                                   

3. Keep Stepping

19:3, Moses goes up the Mountain 19:7, Moses goes down the Mountain 19:8, Moses goes up the Mountain 19:14, Moses goes down the Mountain 19:20, Moses goes up the Mountain 19:25, Moses goes down the Mountain

 

Third Day lessons:

Keep stepping into God’s presence

Keep connected w/ God’s people

Keep listening for God’s voice

 

See Matthew 26:39, 40, 42, 43, 44.

 

Matthew 16:25, “If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.”

 

Final Thought: Third Days bring separation and life.

Blessings When You Persevere (02/28/21)

Shadow Blessings: The Story of Esther

“Blessings when you Persevere”

Esther 5-6

 

Hebrews 10:36 “Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.”

 

The Story Continues:

Tension in the throne room

 

Esther’s mysterious invitations

"If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all." James 1:5 "The delay between the first and second banquets was deliberate both on Esther's part and on God's. God was synchronizing his sovereign plan to come together at just the right time for optimal effect. In delaying her request until the second banquet, Esther was being sensitive to God's timing. She was careful not to rush things but to take everything in his time." - Charles Swindoll

Haman’s hubris

"Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall." Proverbs 16:18

 

Insomnia ironies

"He who digs a hole and scoops it out, falls into the pit he has made. The trouble he causes recoils on himself. His violence comes down on his own head."  Psalm 7:15

 

"There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord." Proverbs 21:30

 

The Take-Aways:

1. When you are “in the dark”; Be Patient

2. When you are under pressure; Be Faithful

3. When you must persevere; Be Courageous

“Circumstances may appear to wreck our lives and God's plans, but God is not helpless among the ruins. Our broken lives are not lost or useless. God's love is still working. He comes in and takes the calamity and uses it victoriously, working out His wonderful plan of love." - Eric Liddell

 

“Patient endurance is what you need now,

so that you will continue to do God’s will.

Then you will receive all that he has promised.”

- Hebrews 10:36

Blessings in the Pressure (02/21/21)

Shadow Blessings: the Story of Esther

“Blessings in the Pressure”

Esther 3-4

 

John 16:33, “Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows.”

2 Timothy 3:1, “…in the last days there will be very difficult times.”

2 Corinthians 1:8, “We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired…” 

Job 5:7, “People are born for trouble…”

 

How to find the Blessing in Pressure?

 

1. Pressure cannot be avoided… Accept it

See chapter 3.

2 Corinthians 1:8-9, “We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered ... We were under great pressure. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God.”

 

 2. Pressure isn’t to be faced alone… Share it

See chapter 4.

 1 Peter 5:6-7, “So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.”

Galatians 6:2, “Share each other's troubles and problems.” 

 

3. Pressure isn’t to be rushed… Take your time

See chapter 4:10-11, 15-16.

Proverbs 25:15, “Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone.”

Proverbs 16:32, “Better to be patient than powerful; better to have self-control than to conquer a city.”

4. Pressure isn’t an excuse… Do what is right

Esther 4:16b, “…I will go in to see the king. If I must die, I must die.”

Isaiah 7:9, “If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.”  

 

FINAL THOUGHT:  Titus 2:12, “For the grace of God...teaches us to say 'No' to ungodliness...and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.”

You were made for this!

Patience in the Shadow (02/14/21)

Shadow Blessings: the Story of Esther

“Patience in the Shadow”

Esther 1-2

 

…behind the dim unknown, 

Standeth God within the shadow,

keeping watch above his own.

“The Present Crisis”—by James Russell Lowell

 

1. Awaken to God's PRESENCE

Meet the Characters:

Mordechai:  Esther’s older cousin, possibly uncle

Esther (Hadassah): Orphaned Hebrew girl, raised by Mordechai

King Xerxes: King of Persia, 485-465 BC

Queen Vashti: Queen of Persia 

"God swings some mighty big doors on little hinges."

- anonymous

 

“But if I go to the east, he is not there;

if I go to the west, I do not find him.

When he is at work in the north,

I do not see him;

when he turns to the south,

I catch no glimpse of him.

But he knows the way that I take;

when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.

Job 23:8-10

 

2. Acknowledge your dependence upon God's Provision

"The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord; He directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases."  Proverbs 21:1

"God has brought you into the kingdom for just such a time as this." Esther 4:14b

"Don't be deceived, my dear brothers. Every good gift is from the Father." James 1:16-17

“For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:9