December 13, 2003 Joy For Everybody
December 21, 2003 Levi's Genes
December 28, 2003 And the Water and Blood Flowed

December 14, 2003
Joy for Everybody!

I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Luke 2:10

Jesus brings great joy to people who deal with depression

Dr. Gary Collins recognizes four kinds

1. Reactive response to the traumas of life

2. Indigenous chemical imbalances

3. Toxic outside substances

4. Psychotic mental illness

I … raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored Daniel 4:34

There is great joy for people with…

· Spiritual struggles

· A melancholy personality

· Emotional pain

· Difficult circumstances

· Physical problems

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December 21, 2003
Levi's Genes

Matthew 1:1 - 17

Even boring genealogies are a message from God to us
For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us… Romans 15:4
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching…
II Timothy 3:16
Jesus’ family tree…
· Reveals the Grace of God Matthew 1:1 – 6
Tamar Genesis 38:1 - 26
Rahab Joshua 2:1 – 21; 6:22 - 25
Ruth
Bathsheba II Samuel 11 - 12
God’s grace is bigger than your family issues
God’s grace is bigger than any sin
But where sin increased, grace increased all the more
Romans 5:20
· Displays the judgment of God Matthew 1:6 – 11
Sin destroys families
Sin brings the wrath of God

Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.
Colossians 3:5 - 6

· Demonstrates the faithfulness of God Matthew 1:12 – 17
But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son Galatians 4:4

The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being Hebrews 1:3

Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. John 14:9

He is the image of the invisible God…For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him Colossians 1:15, 20

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December 28, 2003

“And Blood and Water Flowed”
John 19:31-37

Devil doesn't’t want you to hear this message.
John 19: 31-34
- Since humans first dwelt on earth, since the first sin entered the human race, man has been under the dominion of darkness, under the authority of Satan, chains of sin and oppression.
- Cruel taskmaster, the devil.
The death of Jesus was necessary to release two of God’s greatest gifts. Blood and water fl owed... One to humanity, one to the church.
1. Blood of Christ - forgiveness of sin
2. Water of Holy Spirit
John 7: 38, 39 “Whoever believes in me, as the scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him. By this he meant the spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.”

GIFT #1 - THE BLOOD
Songs - “Oh the blood of Jesus”, “Cleansing Stream”, “Washed in the blood”
Blood is not pleasant - e.g. car accident
Demonstrates the incredible sacrifice of the Father!
Blood is sacred to God
Lev. 17: 11 “For the life of the flesh is in the blood.”
Lev. 17: 14 “For it is the life of all flesh. It’s blood sustains life.”
e.g. Cain killing Abel.
There is power in the blood.

1. ATONEMENT - TO COVER WITH A PRICE
* Adam first sinned - blood became contaminated
* Gen. 1: 31 “Then God saw everything He had made, and it was good.”
* Sin ruined man’s nature
* He became guilty, condemned, bent, essence is sinful.
* Separated from God
* In bondage and slavery
* God could no longer look upon man.
* Sentenced to death

God Himself performed first blood sacrifice:
Gen 3: 6-8 - tried to cover themselves, works stained with sin.
Gen. 3: 21 - God provided adequate covering
Innocent blood is required to cover us
Old Testament sacrificial system was established……all temporary though
Jesus eventually became the innocent sacrifice.
When Jesus died, God the Father , turned his head.
His blood “covers” us so God can now look upon us.
e.g. Old rages to new clothes.

2. REDEMPTION
Colossians 1: 14
“ ...we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.”
· Death of Christ was a payment of a ransom or rather…to set free.
· E.G. – Redemption Stores
* Our sin condemns us to death! Guilty!
* It is our life which is required.
e.g. Not just bail being paid….being acquitted
Picture a courtroom setting - Just as righteous Judge brings down the
gavel, Jesus steps in front, take me.
Mark 10:45
“ For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and
to give His life for many.”

Sin is no longer held against us…..we are free

3. RECONCILIATION: we are separated from God through sin
* In order for a “right standing” or “right relationship: with God. Blood is
required.
* We are born separated from God. Blood required .
* Colossians 1: 20
“ And by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether
things on earth or in Heaven, having made peace through the blood
of His cross.”
* e.g. I offend my wife. I do or say something to hurt her.
Wrong standing with each other.
I need to be reconciled back to her.
Humility, forgiveness, grace.
· We need to be reconciled back to God.

* Ephesians 12: 13
“ ...have been brought near in the blood of Christ.”

Not only forgiven….but reconciled back into God’s family…adopted.

John 1:12 “but as many as received him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”

John 3:3 “most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.”

We can call him Father!

4. DELIVERANCE
* Exodus 12:13
* We are under cruel taskmaster - the devil
* His blood delivers us from:
1. Death – eternal separation from God. No longer fear death.
“ Oh death, where is thy sting.”

2. Nature of sin
1 John 1:7 “And the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin.”
Hebrews 9: 11-15 “cleanse your conscience”
II Cor. 5:7 “therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.”
3. darkness to light
I Peter 2:9 “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”
Darkness Gen. 4:12,13 “….a fugitive and a vagabond you shall be on the earth…”
Hopelessness
Unfulfilled desires----We were made for something more.
E.G. -- Pirates of the Caribbean
Camus’ The Plague

GIFT #2 - THE Indwelling of THE HOLY SPIRIT
* The blood provided the way
* Until cross, Holy Spirit was not available on individual basis.
* Holy Spirit would dwell in the temple.
* Old Testament tabernacle and temple, 3 rooms or areas:
1. Outer court
2. Inner court
3. Holy of holies
* A veil separated Holy Place/Inner Court from the Holy of holies.
* In Holy of holies was Ark of the Covenant.
* Ark represented God’s presence.
* Where Holy Spirit descended and dwelt.
DAY OF ATONEMENT - Once a year by High Priest

Read Leviticus 16:15,16 Matt. 27:51.
Veil was torn - opened access to God’s presence
We are called “Royal Priesthood”

Jesus promised the Holy Spirit
1. God gift - Luke 11:9-13
2. Helper - John 14:26
3. Comforter - John 15:26
4. Power - Luke 24:49
5. Living water - John 7:38-39
Holy Spirit came - Acts 2:1-4

Hebrews 13: 20,21 “Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do his will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.”

We need both in our lives
1. Blood provides forgiveness.
2. Holy Spirit is the Life of God in Us

Who needs at least one or both? We need BOTH

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