Westside Christian Fellowship

If you want to stay up on the latest audio messages from Westside Christian Fellowship, don't forget to subscribe to this podcast on iTunes. Tweet Complete Sermon Notes Dead Men See God “Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.” ~ 1 Cor. 15:50 KJV   LifeWay Research states: 1 in 4 pastors say the rapture is not literal. Almost 1 in 5 thinks the rapture happens after the tribulation (18 percent). The Parable of the Fig Tree - Matt. 24:32 “Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors! 34 Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.   * “Genea” [γενεά] is used here for the tenth time. It often refers to the time span of a single human generation.   But has Christ returned, has the elect been gathered, were there signs in the heavens, has the abomination of desolation occurred? Doubtful...   No One Knows the Day or Hour - 36 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. 37 But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 38 For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, 39 and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. * We are living on borrowed time - Live for Christ now 40 Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. 42 Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. 43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. 44 Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.   “Taken” seems to be the negative - cf. 39 “Left” seems to be the negative - cf. 31 - “the angels gather the elect”.   A thief will not set an appointment - one must be ready at 12am and 4am.   Be ready - “If I am in the habit of continually holding God’s standard in front of me, my conscience will always direct me to God’s perfect law and indicate what I should do. The question is, will I obey?” ~ Oswald Chambers   ~ Noah preached but they didn’t listen: ALL OF CREATION CRIES OUT! * “God, you never showed Yourself to me”   _________________________________________   1st Point of Application: “Death is separation from the body.” “Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God.”   1 Cor. 15:35 Someone will ask, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come?” What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. * When you sow, you plant the seed not the plant - the sin nature, the DNA of Adam dies. Common Text for the Rapture 1 Thessalonians 4:13 Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope.

If you want to stay up on the latest audio messages from Westside Christian Fellowship, don't forget to subscribe to this podcast on iTunes. Tweet   Complete Sermon Notes Dead Men See God “Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.” ~ 1 Cor. 15:50 KJV   LifeWay Research states: 1 in 4 pastors say the rapture is not literal. Almost 1 in 5 thinks the rapture happens after the tribulation (18 percent). The Parable of the Fig Tree - Matt. 24:32 “Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors! 34 Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.   * “Genea” [γενεά] is used here for the tenth time. It often refers to the time span of a single human generation.   But has Christ returned, has the elect been gathered, were there signs in the heavens, has the abomination of desolation occurred? Doubtful...   No One Knows the Day or Hour - 36 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. 37 But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 38 For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, 39 and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. * We are living on borrowed time - Live for Christ now 40 Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. 42 Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. 43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. 44 Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.   “Taken” seems to be the negative - cf. 39 “Left” seems to be the negative - cf. 31 - “the angels gather the elect”.   A thief will not set an appointment - one must be ready at 12am and 4am.   Be ready - “If I am in the habit of continually holding God’s standard in front of me, my conscience will always direct me to God’s perfect law and indicate what I should do. The question is, will I obey?” ~ Oswald Chambers   ~ Noah preached but they didn’t listen: ALL OF CREATION CRIES OUT! * “God, you never showed Yourself to me”   _________________________________________   1st Point of Application: “Death is separation from the body.” “Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God.”   1 Cor. 15:35 Someone will ask, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come?” What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. * When you sow, you plant the seed not the plant - the sin nature, the DNA of Adam dies. Common Text for the Rapture 1 Thessalonians 4:13 Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope.

If you want to stay up on the latest audio messages from Westside Christian Fellowship, don't forget to subscribe to this podcast on iTunes. Tweet   Complete Sermon Notes A Life Without Pain   Intro: The title is not realistic.   Moms tend to receive the most pain - they give, and give, and give... “There’s not a day that passess that I don’t sit and cry, and look to heaven for a reason why. Couldn’t He have waited another year or two, until you were older and I had more time with you? “Forgive, me Lord,” I then say, all these thoughts are wrong, there had to be a reason and I know I must be strong.   You’re in the arms of Jesus now and i know that you’ll be fine, but i wish with all my heart that those arms could be mine.”  Read at Mila [Me-la’s] memorial   * Men, you either comfort them in their pain, or you add to it.   * Our spouse is a picture of being made like us - “Bone of bone and flesh of my flesh” - * Companionship linked with Covenant - “The two shall become one” -   “Pain isn’t the enemy. The inability or unwillingness to face pain is a far greater danger.” Excerpt from, Leadership Pain, The Classroom for Growth 1. Persevere through pain: Hannah – 1 Samuel 1 - The pain was that Hannah was barren. Hannah’s Vow - 8 Then Elkanah her husband said to her, “Hannah, why do you weep? Why do you not eat? And why is your heart grieved? Am I not better to you than ten sons?” 9 So Hannah arose after they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat by the doorpost of the tabernacle of the Lord. 10 And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the Lord and wept in anguish. 11 Then she made a vow and said, “O Lord of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head.” * Always take it to the LORD:  “And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the Lord and wept in anguish.” * Persevered: Hannah had been waiting a long time.   The Blessing: Her son grew up to be Samuel—one of the most influential and godly men in all of Israel.   2. Stay committed during the pain: Ruth - “My people are your people”... Ruth 1:15 And she [Naomi] said, “Look, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.” 16 But Ruth said: “Entreat me not to leave you, Or to turn back from following after you; For wherever you go, I will go; And wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Your people shall be my people, And your God, my God. 17 Where you die, I will die, And there will I be buried. The Lord do so to me, and more also, If anything but death parts you and me.” * God honors commitment - Pain challenges our commitment “Blessed is the man who swears to his own hurt.” The Blessing: Her lineage included Jesus - many times we can’t see the immediate reward of staying committed.   3. Maintain godly boldness through the pain: Esther - He went to Mordecai asked Esther to go before the king and ask that the family of Israel be spared. She agreed to go before the king without an invitation even if it meant death: “If I perish, I perish.” * Pain often hinders boldness - do what is right even when we do not feel like it. 4. Protect your home [spiritually] even in the midst of the pain: Abiga...

If you want to stay up on the latest audio messages from Westside Christian Fellowship, don't forget to subscribe to this podcast on iTunes. Tweet   Complete Sermon Notes Antichrist & Rapture - Fact or Fiction? Intro: A friend emailed me this week - he lost friendships because they switched to pre-wrath; he is pre-tribulation. How sad?   * The Bible was written for us but not to us. * Application in all generations. The Great Tribulation 24:15-22 “Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand), “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house.And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath. For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened. * Urgency - flee... * “Let those who are in Judea” reveals the locality. * BUT it’s Hard to line this up with 70 AD because the tribulation is unprecedented. Matthew 24:23 “Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There!’ do not believe it. 24 For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you beforehand. 26 “Therefore if they say to you, ‘Look, He is in the desert!’ do not go out; or ‘Look, He is in the inner rooms!’ do not believe it. 27 For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 28 For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together. * 1st VIEW: He will not be hard to find. * 2nd VIEW: Gary DeMar adopts an anti-bodily coming view of Jesus' predicted coming in this passage when he says the following: Jesus would come "just as the lightning comes from the east," that is, quickly and without warning….What the people saw was the manifestation of the Lord' s coming even though they did not actually see Him….Was God physically present? He was not. Did He come? Most certainly!.... The Great Tribulation with the Antichrist - 2 VIEW:Rev. 13:1 Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name. 2 Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority. 3 And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast. 4 So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?” * 10 Crowns - The Roman Empire had 10 Provinces. The governors of each one gave their authority over to Rome and also exercised authority on behalf of Rome. * There will be a revised and renewed Roman Empire - could even be to the East near Assyria. “Like a lion”: The apostle Paul,

If you want to stay up on the latest audio messages from Westside Christian Fellowship, don't forget to subscribe to this podcast on iTunes. Tweet   Complete Sermon Notes Antichrist & Tribulation - Past or Future?   Re-cap: You Don’t Take the Bible Literally, Do You? Yes I Do... * Watch part 1. If the plain sense makes good sense seek no other sense lest it result in nonsense.   MATTHEW 24 “Then Jesus went out and departed from the temple, and His disciples came up to show Him the buildings of the temple. 2 And Jesus said to them, “Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down.” * 70 AD 3 Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be [“not one stone left”]? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” In my opinion, I believe they saw this as one event. 4 And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows. 9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. 10 And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. 11 Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. 12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.   * D.A. Carson, “The history of the interpretation of this chapter is immensely complex” (The Expositor's Bible Commentary,volume 8, page 488). * What is a false prophet? Telling people what they want to hear vs  what they need to hear.   As a result, “lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.”   KEY QUESTION: Are the Great Tribulation and the Abomination that Causes Desolation [Antichrist] Past or Future Events?   GotQuestions.org has been helpful:   What is the GREAT TRIBULATION: [To some], the Tribulation is a future time period when the Lord will accomplish at least two aspects of His plan: 1) He will complete His discipline of the nation Israel (Daniel 9:24), and 2) He will judge the unbelieving, godless inhabitants of the earth (Revelation 6 - 18). The length of the Tribulation is seven years. This is determined by an understanding of the seventy weeks of Daniel (Daniel 9:24-27).   The Great Tribulation is the last half of the Tribulation period, three and one-half years in length. It is distinguished from the Tribulation period because the Beast, or Antichrist, will be revealed, and the wrath of God will greatly intensify during this time. Thus, it is important at this point to emphasize that the Tribulation and the Great Tribulation are not synon...

If you want to stay up on the latest audio messages from Westside Christian Fellowship, don't forget to subscribe to this podcast on iTunes. Tweet   Complete Sermon Notes ​You Don’t Take the Bible Literally, Do You?   Many avoid literalism so they can avoid application. Fundamentalism - 1910 to 1915 _________________________________________ You Don’t Take the Bible Literally, Do You? Yes I Do... * We use Metaphors [John 10:9], Similes [Job 41:24], Allegories [Isaiah 5:1-6] to “express” ourselves.   Dr. David L. Cooper, the founder of The Biblical Research Society, said “When the plain sense of Scripture makes common sense, seek no other sense; Therefore, take every word at its primary, ordinary, usual, literal meaning unless the facts of the immediate context, studied in the light of related passages and axiomatic and fundamental truths indicate clearly otherwise.” If the plain sense makes good sense seek no other sense lest it result in nonsense. * The Old Testament is vital in understanding eschatology. Take it literally unless... * The literal interpretation contradicts axiomatic [self-evident] and fundamental truths - God doesn’t have a right hand. * The context shows that it cannot be taken literally - “If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him...” * The literal sense does not make sense in light of related passages - “Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.” A Good Reminder: Jesus warned 5 of the 7 churches to repent and return.   Literal churches with Spiritual significance [lampstand]:   * Ephesus - forsaken its first love * Smyrna - suffer persecution * Pergamum - has been infected by the world * Thyatira - had a false prophetess * Sardis - had fallen asleep * Philadelphia - patient endurance * Laodicea - lukewarm   AGAIN - “When the plain sense of Scripture makes common sense, seek no other sense; Therefore, take every word at its primary, ordinary, usual, literal meaning unless the facts of the immediate context...indicate clearly otherwise.”   MATTHEW 24 “Then Jesus went out and departed from the temple, and His disciples came up to show Him the buildings of the temple. 2 And Jesus said to them, “Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down.” * Jesus Predicts the Destruction of the Temple The historian Josephuswrote that Titus wanted to save the temple, but his soldiers were so mad at the Jews that they burned it. The remaining Jews were slaughtered or sold as slaves. The Siege of Jerusalem, AD 70 by Josephus - Jerusalem fell, after a siege, to a Roman army under Titus. Josephus was a Jew who had gone over to the Romans. Throughout the city people were dying of hunger in large numbers, and enduring unspeakable sufferings. In every house the merest hint of food sparked violence, and close relatives fell to blows, snatching from one another the pitiful supports of life. No respect was paid even to the dying; the ruffians [anti-Roman zealots] searched them, in case they were concealing food somewhere in their clothes, or just pretending to be near death. Gaping with hunger, like mad dogs, lawless gangs went staggering and reeling through the streets, battering upon the doors like drunkards,

If you want to stay up on the latest audio messages from Westside Christian Fellowship, don't forget to subscribe to this podcast on iTunes. Tweet Complete Sermon Notes To Be Heard On High So we fasted and sought our God and He heard our prayers (cf. Ezra 8:23). And Joshua said unto the people, Sanctify [consecrate] yourselves: for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you (Joshua 3:5). Principle - All Scripture is not written “to me” but it is “for me” (J. McGee)   Joshua 3 Then Joshua rose early in the morning; and they set out from Acacia Grove and came to the Jordan, he and all the children of Israel, and lodged there before they crossed over. 2 So it was, after three days, that the officers went through the camp; 3 and they commanded the people, saying, “When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the priests, the Levites, bearing it, then you shall set out from your place and go after it. 4 Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure. Do not come near it, that you may know the way by which you must go, for you have not passed this way before.” 5 And Joshua said to the people, “Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.” * New season - Prepare, Align, and Position yourself to receive from GOD!   The Spirit is the sanctifier but obedience turns the key.   * Hearing God and obeying Him go hand-in-hand - to be Heard on High we must sanctify ourselves.   “Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement...perfecting holiness in the fear of God” (2 Cor. 7:1).   “Watch yourself that you make no covenant with the inhabitants of the land into which you are going, or it will become a snare in your midst” (Exodus 34:12).   “Like a bird that wanders from the nest, so is a man who wanders from his from his place” (Proverbs 27:8).   * “Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, prone to leave the God I love. Here's my heart, O take and seal it; seal it for Thy courts above.” It is GOD who makes us stand firm in Christ! ____________________________________   Walk in Unity - “That they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me” (John 17:21).   * It’s hard to hear from God when you’re disconnected from the Body. * Unity has to be fought for - it doesn’t come naturally.   Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. (Phil. 2:1-2, NASB)   THERE IS TOO MUCH AT STAKE TO ARGUE: Bob Fu was tortured in a Chinese prison for his faith. After his release he and his wife were forced to flee Beijing in the middle of the night. "Both my wife and I knew that sooner or later we would face 'prison theology'," Fu told Christian Today of his early days as a home-church pastor. "That's the experience of Chinese Christians. We were always told that if you wanted to be a faithful follower of Jesus, you would have to take that course. So I remember [my wife] Heidi and I prayed specifically: 'Lord, at least give us three years to set ourselves up with a more solid ground.

If you want to stay up on the latest audio messages from Westside Christian Fellowship, don't forget to subscribe to this podcast on iTunes. Tweet   Complete Sermon Notes ​I Want To Please God - Rm. 8:8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. * Context - the Law cannot save and ends with Paul’s famous struggle, 7:24 “O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!”   * Many use this verse as an EXCUSE to yield to sin, but that’s not the case - “So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.”   Rom. 8 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. * 1 “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.” Condemnation is a death sentence and the fulfillment of it. Christ sets us free and those who are set free will walk as free men.   WHICH WAY DO YOU WALK - are you free or bound? “The church is notorious in using outside pressure to make a sinner act like a Christian. You can teach anybody to do almost anything. Baptize him, confirm him, and feed him the Lord’s Supper regularly; instruct him in the faith, and after awhile he begins to act like a Christian” (AW Tozer). * He is not a Christian - there’s no inward change compelling him to live for Christ.   Vs. 3 “For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin.”   There are not 5 points - there is 1 point: Our thought life pleases God. * Wait a minute - what about our actions? “As a man thinks, so is he”...   Don’t condemn yourself because there is a struggle - that’s normal. Romans 8 is about victory. * “Moses’ law has right but not might; Sin’s law has might but not right; the law of the Spirit has both right and might.” ~ Morris, L. (1988). The Epistle to the Romans (p. 301). Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester, England: W.B. Eerdmans; Inter-Varsity Press.   5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. 8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. * Your mental diet determines how healthy you are spiritually -   1.  unbelievers are dead - carnal nature is ruling and reigning 2.  carnal Christians are sick & dying spiritually - carnal influence is ruling & reigning   “It may be said without qualification that every man is as holy and as full of the Spirit as he wants to be. He may not be as full as he wishes he were, but he is most certainly as full as he wants to be” (AW Tozer).  

If you want to stay up on the latest audio messages from Westside Christian Fellowship, don't forget to subscribe to this podcast on iTunes. Tweet   Complete Sermon Notes Ready Or Not Here I Come Matt. 28 Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. 2 And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. 3 His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. 4 And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men. 5 But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. 7 And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.” 8 So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word. 9 And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, “Rejoice!” So they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me.” The Soldiers Are Bribed 11 Now while they were going, behold, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all the things that had happened.12 When they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, 13 saying, “Tell them, ‘His disciples came at night and stole Him away while we slept.’ 14 And if this comes to the governor’s ears, we will appease him and make you secure.” 15 So they took the money and did as they were instructed; and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day. Intro: MY DILEMMA - Isaac Watts - “When I survey the wondrous cross” On which the Prince of glory died, My richest gain I count but loss, And pour contempt on all my pride. Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast, Save in the death of Christ my God! The Empty Tomb proves that He was who He said He was, but the Cross... THE CROSS HEALS AND RESTORES: THE CROSS OFFERS HOPE TO A DYING WORLD: THE CROSS SETS US FREE: THE CROSS BRINGS PEACE TO AN ANXIOUS HEART: THE CROSS BRINGS ETERNAL LIFE: “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting? Our Resurrected King has rendered you defeated.” A.W. Tozer, “There has come in modern times a new cross into popular evangelical circles...The old cross slew men; the new cross entertains them. The old cross condemned; the new cross amuses. The old cross destroyed confidence in the flesh; the new cross encourages it. The old cross brought tears and blood; the new cross brings laughter.” This is why I often say, “Many want a crossless Christianity that bears no resemblance to Jesus’ sobering call to repentance.” Devaluing sin devalues the death of God’s Son - Devaluing the Cross devalues the price that was paid. MERCY - to feel sympathy and act upon it - to relieve the suffering GRACE - a free gift to remove guilt FORGIVENESS - He paid a debt He did not owe. I owed a debt I could not pay. The Cross reconciles everything “I don’t understand how a loving God can send a person to hell.” Ready or Not Here I Come - MANY WERE/ARE UNPREPARED This is not hide-and-seek: this if life and death

If you want to stay up on the latest audio messages from Westside Christian Fellowship, don't forget to subscribe to this podcast on iTunes. Tweet   Complete Sermon Notes ​“When I Survey The Wondrous Cross” Intro: WHEN I SURVEY THE WONDROUS CROSS (Isaac Watts): When I survey the wondrous cross On which the Prince of glory died, My richest gain I count but loss, And pour contempt on all my pride. Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast, Save in the death of Christ my God! Bad News is Good News: the person who they thought would save them from Rome, deliver them from hell, provide for them, and rule over them was going to die an embarrassing death. Jerry Vines wrote: “If you really want to understand what Christianity is all about you have to go to the cross. If someone said to me, ‘What is Christianity?’ I’d have to explain the cross to them. 1 Corinthians 1:18 says that the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are saved, it’s a wonderful gift - it’s the power of God. I cannot explain to you what salvation is without taking you to the cross where Jesus died, where God died. At the cross we see humanity at its worst. With wicked hands they took Him and crucified Him. At the cross we see God at His best...All of the facets and all of the shades of the meaning of the love of God come together at the cross. God put it together at the cross.” The Empty Tomb proves that He was who He said He was, but the Cross saved us. He was a substitute, absorbed my guilt. I’m not going to hell over a mystery. SURVEY - to look carefully and thoroughly at something to appraise it. THE CROSS HEALS AND RESTORES: 1 Peter 2:24 "He himself bore our sins" in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; "by his wounds you have been healed." NIV Healed - alleviate a person's distress or anguish. Physical Healing - not everyone is healed, but Spiritually they are. Restores a broken relationship. THE CROSS MAKES HIS WILL CLEAR: Luke 9:23 “Then he said to them all: "Whoever wants to be My disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me." NIV I die daily - walking according to God’s will brings peace and direction. Most problems are the result of selfishness - of not carrying our cross. THE CROSS OFFERS HOPE TO A DYING WORLD: Hebrews 12:2 “Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” NIV There is only 1 HOPE - Joy led to endurance - “fix” your eyes on Jesus: direct one's attention and mind steadily and unwaveringly toward Christ. Endurance [suffer patiently] as you carry your cross is a mark of genuine faith. THE CROSS SET US FREE Romans 6:6 “For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin.” NIV The old man and the new man cannot be friends - he died but we can keep resurrecting him. “If I’m dead to sin why is it still alive in me?” You have to crucify it daily - daily i die. J.C. Ryle noted that “holiness will cost a man his sins. He must be willing to give up every habit and practice which is wrong in God’s sight...There must be no separate truce with any special sin which he loves.” Ryle continues, “Our sins are often as dear to us as our children: we love them, hug them, cleave to them, and delight in them. To part with them is as hard as cutting off a right hand,

If you want to stay up on the latest audio messages from Westside Christian Fellowship, don't forget to subscribe to this podcast on iTunes. Tweet   Complete Sermon Notes 7 Traits of a Pharisee Intro: A Pharisee vs. someone struggling with Phariseeism PRIDE is very prevalent in Pharisee’s and Phariseeism. But those struggling realize it and repent. God’s Word is Truth AND Spirit - Pharisees have the truth but not the Spirit. “In today's terms, Jesus was thundering against many popular preachers and people who seemed to be living holy lives - because they were practicing human religion rather than serving God with purified hearts” (InterVarsity Press). They are very serious about their faith, but they are also very arrogant. They may teach, but they don’t know the Teacher. They have zeal, but it’s without love. They’ve been attending church for many years, but they don’t know God. _______________________ ‘Woe’ to the Scribes and Pharisees - grief; sorrow; misery; heavy calamity. 1. They “say” but do not “do.” They love preaching the Law at you minus love. They add heavy burdens - Matt. 23 Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, 2 saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. 3 Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do. 4 For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. OBEDIENCE IS NOT LEGALISM: We can instruct others, but it must come from a humble, loving heart. 2. They love to show off - they enjoy the praise of men Matthew 23:5 But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries [a small leather box containing Hebrew texts worn at morning prayer as a reminder to keep the law] broad and enlarge the borders of their garments. 6 They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, 7 greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, ‘Rabbi, Rabbi.’ 8 But you, do not be called ‘Rabbi’; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren. 9 Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. 10 And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ. 11 But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. Ulterior Motives: When they “do” something, they are in “show off” mode. - Put my name in the bulletin, or I want to be a leader - recognize me! Excerpt from Contentiously Contending (Anton Bosch): “...They enjoy the fact that engaging in debate makes them feel intellectual, while others just must have the last word. Then there are those who have to win every argument and who, like bulldogs, cannot release once their jaws have locked onto the prey.” “Father”, in this sense, is elevating beyond what was acceptable - The Most Reverend, or The Most Right Reverend, or Worshipful Master, or the Pope. Because they love recognition and want to show off, they look for opportunities to pull others down: What do you think when you see someone caught in sin? Do you help, or hurt? Pull up, or pulldown? Our love for one another proves to the world that we are Jesus’ disciples. Our lack of love proves that we are not [cf. John 13:35]. 3. They are unteachable...they are blind guides - they lead you further away from God, not closer.

If you want to stay up on the latest audio messages from Westside Christian Fellowship, don't forget to subscribe to this podcast on iTunes. Tweet   Complete Sermon Notes 7 Traits of a Pharisee Recap: MIND - Are you hungry for healthy spiritual food? Isaiah 55:6-7 (NKJV) - “Seek the Lord while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts... The Hateful 8 - Rated R for strong bloody violence, a scene of violent sexual content, language and some graphic nudity. “Without the heartbeat of HOLINESS, the body of Christ will resemble a CORPSE.” Mind over Matter - the brain responds to the mind THE BIG LIE - you do not control your actions as much as you think. Loving God with all your _______ begins in the mind - its the foundation on which everything else is built. You are not a product of your environment. You may be influenced by it, but it doesn’t need to control you. The brain is neuroplastic - meaning it can change - Lamentations 3, “The Lord’s mercies...are renewed every morning,” and Romans 12, “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” KEY: CHANGE YOUR MIND or it will damage your relationship with God. 3. SOUL: Are you hungry for heaven? Why don’t many truly seek God? They don’t want to… “I just don’t feel like seeking Him.” But we must first discipline ourselves before desire comes. We must first empty ourselves in order to be filled. We must first obey before receiving the blessing. We must first pray before there is transformation. We must praise Him before there is peace. And we must first seek Him if we are to truly find Him. HOW MUCH OF GOD DO YOU WANT? The fire of God does not fall on an empty altar: “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God” (Romans 12:1). FINALLY, it may be that one is not genuinely saved. They may have “religion” but not a true “relationship” with the living God. Isaiah 55:6-7, “Seek the Lord while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the Lord, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.”​ 7 Traits of a Pharisee Intro: A Pharisee vs. someone struggling with Phariseeism PRIDE is very prevalent in Pharisee’s and Phariseeism. But those struggling realize it and repent. Example: Saul and then Paul God’s Word is Truth AND Spirit - Pharisees have the truth but not the Spirit. “In today's terms, Jesus was thundering against many popular preachers and people who seemed to be living holy lives - because they were practicing human religion rather than serving God with purified hearts” (InterVarsity Press). They are very serious about their faith, but they are also very arrogant. They may teach, but they don’t know the Teacher. They have zeal, but it’s without love. They’ve been attending church for many years, but they don’t know God. A.W. Tozer said: "When people find that after being in the church for years they are not making much progress, they ought to examine themselves and wonder whether they have been truly converted." Is the fruit of the Spirit present? _______________________ ‘Woe’ to the Scribes and Pharisees - grief; sorrow; misery; heavy calamity. 1. They “say” but do not “do.” This person loves preaching at you, but not obeying God’s Word. They add heavy burdens - you shouldn’t go there, or do that!

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If you want to stay up on the latest audio messages from Westside Christian Fellowship, don't forget to subscribe to this podcast on iTunes. Tweet   Complete Sermon Notes How Much of God do you Want? A.W. Tozer said, “I WANT THE PRESENCE OF GOD HIMSELF, OR I DON’T WANT ANYTHING AT ALL TO DO WITH RELIGION.” INTRODUCTION: Most are spiritually MALNOURISHED. They are not DESPERATE for More of God “I would like to buy three dollars worth of God, please. Not enough to explode my soul or disturb my sleep, but just enough to equal a cup of warm milk, or a snooze in the sunshine...I want ecstasy, not transformation. I want the warmth of the womb, not a new birth. I want a pound of the eternal in a paper sack. I would like to buy three pounds of God, please” (Wilbur Reese). * Galatians 5:17 - The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other… WHO DO YOU OBEY? KEY: Most drift from God, not because He fails them, or because the Word of God proves to be untrue, but because of the love of this world. There is always a cost - retirement, marriage, raising kids, seeking God - The price we pay reveals the value. * The devil tries to keep us asleep spiritually: “ssshhh”... ...It’s not that big of deal; everyone is doing it. People will laugh at you. Matt. 22:34 But when the Pharisees heard that He had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. 35 Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, 36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” 37 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” * “You shall love” means we have a choice. 1. Love is the highest standard we can measure - it demonstrates value and worth. 2. It’s a choice, not a feeling. Free Will is involved. * Coat Hanger - this is so important that everything else hangs on it. 1. How we treat others reveals how much we love God. * Not separate areas, but completeness - all are connected. 1. Heart - the center of things / Soul - possessing life / Mind - thinking ~ "All the water in the world, no matter how hard it tries, can never sink a ship unless it gets inside. All the evil influence of the world, no matter how hard it tries, can never sink a Christian's soul unless it gets inside." ~ Here is how it gets inside: 1 Corinthians 10:6 Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted. 7 And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, ‘The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play’. 8 Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell; 9 nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; 10 nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer. 11 Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. * IDOLATRY - ‘The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play’. * SEXUAL IMMORALITY - joining themselves to the ungodly.

If you want to stay up on the latest audio messages from Westside Christian Fellowship, don't forget to subscribe to this podcast on iTunes. Tweet   Complete Sermon Notes Jesus - “You don’t care about anyone” Matt. 22:15 Then the Pharisees went and plotted how they might entangle Him in His talk. 16 And they sent to Him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that You are true, and teach the way of God in truth; nor do You care about anyone, for You do not regard the person of men. 17 Tell us, therefore, what do You think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” 18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, “Why do you test Me, you hypocrites? 19 Show Me the tax money.” So they brought Him a denarius. 20 And He said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?” 21 They said to Him, “Caesar’s.” And He said to them, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” 22 When they had heard these words,they marveled, and left Him and went their way. “Then the Pharisees went and plotted how they might entangle Him in His talk.” Nothing has changed - people still want to entangle Christians. The Need for Apologetics: Entangled - picture a fish caught in a net. Herodians - Enemy’s often unite to fight God. “Teacher, we know that you are true”…Jesus is the embodiment of truth. How do we know if something is true? It lines up with the character of God You do not “care about anyone, for You do not regard the person of men.” Jesus will not change His teaching because of favour or fear - “Woe be to you when all men speak well of you” contrasted with “A good name is to be chosen over great riches.” Boldness for truth [not arrogance] is a sign of someone filled with God’s Spirit...                            . . . TRUTH BUBBLES OVER. They are meek - not domineering. They are gentle  - not harsh. They seek to listen. Is it lawful to pay taxes or not? Romans 13 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. 4 For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. ~ SERVICE COSTS MONEY We are “Subject to” until they want us to stop obeying God. “When they had heard these words, they marveled, and left Him and went their way.” “The Word of God is like a lion. You don’t have to defend a lion. All you have to do is let the lion loose, and the lion will defend itself.” ~ Augustine or Spurgeon The Sadducees: What About the Resurrection? NOTE: They were part of a conservative political movement. They only accepted the written Law of Moses. Once a person breathed their last breath, they ceased to exist. 23 The same day the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Him and asked Him, 24 saying: “Teacher, Moses said that if a man dies, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife and raise up offspring for his brother.25 Now there were with us seven brothers. The first died after he had married, and having no offspring, left his wife to his brother.