Sermons & Teachings from CityReach Church Cleveland, led by Pastor Justin Maslanka
Episodes
Wednesday Aug 17, 2016
Friday Aug 12, 2016
Friday Aug 12, 2016
Friday Aug 12, 2016
Wednesday Aug 10, 2016
Wednesday Aug 10, 2016
JESUS SPEAKS
REPENTANCE – PREPARING THE WAY
The Big Idea: Before Jesus ever showed up on the scene God sent a messenger ahead of Him. In fact this messenger had one purpose “to prepare the way of the Lord.” Isn’t it interesting that the Son of God needed anything “prepared” for Him? And yet in the wisdom of God, in order for those to recognize Him when He came, a preparation had to be made.
That preparation was and still is REPENTANCE.
I. The Coming of God’s Messenger
Luke 1:8-17 8 Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, 9 he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10 And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.
11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. 13 But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. 14 He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, 15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. 16 He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
a) John the Baptist’s purpose was clear from the beginning. He was to turn people back to God. He was to make a people ready. A people prepared for the Messiah.
b) He was to do this preparing by turning the HEARTS of two sets of people:
· One, the parents to the children
· Secondly, the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous.
· This turning of the hearts would in effect make a people ready to receive “THE WORD OF GOD” when HE (Jesus) came, for this is the true nature of repentance.
c) It’s of significance to note that to be prepared himself for this special assignment he was to live a life consecrated to God. This Assignment would not be without special need, SO God would fill him with the Holy Spirit from birth and would allow the spirit and power of Elijah to rest upon John.
Key Thought: God doesn’t work haphazardly when He wants to Speak to His people He always “prepares the way.”
II. A VOICE IN THE WILDERNESS
Luke 3:1-5 1Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, 2 while Annas and Caiaphas were high priests, the word of God came to John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness. 3 And he went into all the region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins, 4 as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, saying:
“The voice of one crying in the
wilderness: ‘Prepare
the way of the Lord; Make His paths straight.
5 Every valley shall be filled, And every mountain and hill brought low; The crooked places shall be made straight. And the rough ways smooth; 6 and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.”
a) The word of God came to John in the wilderness. Isn’t that interesting? It didn’t come to Rome (the most important place in Government) or to Jerusalem (the most important place in religion) or some other important governmental place, it came to a consecrated man in the wilderness.
b) The important thing was not that John was strategically placed before men but that He was strategically placed before God in the secret place. God doesn’t need us to be somebody before people. He needs us to be somebody before Him.
1 Corinthians 1:26-31 26 Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him. 30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.31 Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”
c) Because John heard God in the wilderness He became a VOICE in the wilderness. God never intended John to go to Jerusalem where the religious norms were in effect. God would call those bound by the ritualism, norms and callous hearts that ruled the day to go to John.
d) Oftentimes, as God prepares us for something great, A VOICE begins to cry out beyond our established routines, beyond our norms, beyond the mundane, and certainly beyond the filthiness of our corrupted flesh and says, “Come into the wilderness to seek me.”
e) Then, when we do go out to seek God, sometimes the package isn’t what we expected. Think of John. He was of a priestly linage, with an incredible spiritual pedigree, but you could never have recognized it by looking at the package.
Matthew 3:4-6 4 John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. 5 People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. 6 Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.
f) The proof wasn’t in the package with John; the proof was in the message. Being a little strange in and of itself won’t get us anywhere. The message is what counts. John’s message wasn’t new. It was the same as Moses’, the same as Elijah’s, Isaiah’s, Jeremiah’s or countless others.
g) So why use the offensive package? As I heard one leader say years ago, “Sometimes God offends the mind to reveal and test the heart.” If John the Baptist was going to be hard to recognize as a prophet when he came, think about how hard of a package Jesus was going to be. The Son of David who would fight no earthly battles. A ruling Messiah who would do nothing about Roman occupation. A King who would ride on a donkey. A human being who would claim to be the Son of GOD. A Holy man who would eat with tax collectors and sinners. By dealing with the offensive package of John the Baptist, God was preparing his servants to deal with misplaced expectations that where sure to arise with His Son’s arrival.
h) When John came preaching, he preached a baptism of repentance for the remission or forgiveness of sins. The package always Changes, but the message of repentance always stays the same.
i) Why is this so important? As verse 6 states after the way has been prepared then “all flesh can see the salvation of the God.” Repentance Activates our Eyesight! Through repentance we gain access into what God is going to do next.
III. THE FRUIT OF REPENTANCE: CHANGED MINDS & DEEDS
Luke 3:7-14 7 John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 9 The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”
10 “What should we do then?” the crowd asked.11 John answered, “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.”
12 Even tax collectors came to be baptized. “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?”13 “Don’t collect any more than you are required to,” he told them.
14 Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do? “He replied, “Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely—be content with your pay.”
a) The crowds thought they were doing a good thing by coming to be baptized, and indeed they were. Yet John issued a strong warning: “Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.” What was he saying? Don’t just show up here and get baptized, but see to it that you follow through practically what you are doing symbolically.
Acts 26:20 “…I preached that they should repent and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds.”
b) Repentance means to turn to God but that repentance must be demonstrated by behaviors that are changed. Some of the things that John dealt with:
1) Attitudes and Actions of selfishness toward others in need.
2) Attitudes and Actions of ungodliness involving money & greed
3) Attitudes involving accusation and ungodly words
4) Attitudes dealing with contentment
5) Later on sexual immortality (with Herod)
2 Cor 7:10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.
c) What John message was doing was bringing a true Godly repentance not a temporary experience. Sorrow must take place but our actions on the other side must align with God even if it hurts.
d) John both encouraged us that we can bear good fruit and warned (the ax is at the root) us of the consequences of neglecting God VOICE when it comes.
Hebrew’s 4:7 “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.”
Key Thought: Repentance is to choose God’s ways over our
own. It’s agreement with God. It’s an inward turning with an effect on our
attitudes as well as actions.
IV. THE REAL POINT: A FRESH COMING OF JESUS
Matthew 3:11-12 11 “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
a) Repentance isn’t the point! God’s unfolding plans for you are, but we will never get their as long as we choose our ways over God’s. In fact Jesus according to John’s estimation was going to baptize people in one of two ways: with the Holy Spirit or with Fire. The Holy Spirit is a most incredible person to be filled with, but in this case fire was spoken as warning (though I believe there is a good baptism of Fire).
b) God doesn’t judge us for where we are but for where we refuse to go! The message of repentance shows up because God wants to do something better in our lives. As Joel describes there often is a “Valley of Decision” where our choices can lead to an increase of God’s blessing and favor, or a place where we become increasingly hardened to God’s purposes.
V. JESUS ON JOHN’S MESSAGE
Luke 7:24-30 24 After John’s messengers left, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind? 25 If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear expensive clothes and indulge in luxury are in palaces. 26 But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 27 This is the one about whom it is written:
“‘I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’
28 I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”29 All the people, even the tax collectors, when they heard Jesus’ words, acknowledged that God’s way was right, because they had been baptized by John. 30 But the Pharisees and the experts in the law rejected God’s purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptized by John.
a) In Jesus estimation John was not only the greatest prophet but the greatest born of a woman.
b) All the people acknowledged that God’s ways were right because they had been baptized by John.
c) The Pharisees, believe it or not, had a purpose in God. In fact they had an incredibly distinguished and powerful History. Yet, when they did not allow themselves to be baptized by John they rejected God’s purposes for themselves. I’m sure they never saw it that way. Yet the weight of scripture and the testimony of history both agree that the ones who most understood the coming of the Messiah never recognized Him when he came. In fact they crucified him.
d) All who reject God’s message of repentance sabotage HIS purposes in their lives, not realizing that repentance isn’t merely the means to forgiveness but it’s a turning toward God that grants us spiritual vision and understanding. In short, repentance “prepares the way” for what God wants to do in your life.
John 10:40-41 40Then Jesus went back across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing in the early days. There he stayed, 41 and many people came to him. They said, “Though John never performed a sign, all that John said about this man was true.” 42 And in that place many believed in Jesus.
e) John’s ministry was so effective that even years later when ministry was difficult for Jesus in Jerusalem he would go back to where John had baptized and many would believe in him there. Why? Because even God is looking for a resting place. A place where he is at peace in His surroundings.
Questions for reflection:
What are some areas God may need to bring a deeper repentance to?
Are their ungodly words, attitudes or actions that I have not repented off?
Is there anything now I need to cut out of my life to release God in a greater way to bless and use me?
Is there anything I have “swept under the rug” but God wants to help me to deal with?
Wednesday Aug 10, 2016
Tuesday Aug 09, 2016
Tuesday Aug 09, 2016
Tuesday Aug 09, 2016
JESUS SPEAKS
ABIDING IN CHRIST – IN SERVICE
2 Corinthians 3:18 But we all with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
*The glory of God will transform my life.
*The glory of God will bring out Jesus in me.
*The Holy Spirit desires to lead me into God’s presence.
John 13:1-38 {Our Reflective example}
4 Reflections of “In Christ” Service
#1 Relentless love-vs.1 ...having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.
#2 The Power of humility-vs.3-5 Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wife them with the towel with which He was girded.
#3 LOOK! I NEED YOU TO SEE!!!
Vs.12 So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done for you?”
#4 LISTEN! I NEED YOU TO DO AS I DO!!!
Vs.15 “For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you…”
*Blessings promised for those who; See Him, hear Him and Do what He has done.
Vs.17 “If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them…”
Tuesday Aug 09, 2016
Friday Aug 05, 2016