RLCF Sermons

Old Man: The Old Man obeys the lust of the flesh, he is a slave of sin (John 8:34), whatever the lusts in his flesh tells him to do, he will do.  When he sins he does it because he wants to, just like a pig who wallows in mud. In the Old Testament, the old man is pictured as the Israelites who were slaves in Egypt. Lust of the Flesh: The lust in our flesh will always be there till the last day of our life. We will always need to battle the lust in our flesh. We feed the flesh by giving into its desires. The Old Man was like a unfaithful servant who always let the lust of the flesh into my heart and caused me to sin. New Man: When I repent of my sins and receive God's forgiveness (Acts 3:19, I John 1:9), I'm born of His Spirit and have a new man that is created in the likeness of God in righteousness and holiness (Eph. 4:24). My old man is crucified with Christ (Rom. 6:6). Though my sins were as scarlet I'm made white as snow (Isaiah 1:18). I'm like a cat who when I fall in the mud I get back out, unlike the pig I don't want to remain in sin. The New Man is a faithful servant who does not want to sin but may still fall into sin and give into the lust of the flesh, if the new man is weak. The New Man must be strengthen through God's Word (I Peter 2:2; Heb. 5:12-14), God's Spirit (Eph. 3:16), and Grace (I Peter 5:5; Heb. 13:9, Rom. 6:14). If I fall into sin I shouldn't justify myself but rather see if I've been faithful to be fed in God's word, sought the power of God's Holy Spirit and if I've been humble so as to receive His grace. We don't automatically overcome sin, we need to be obedient to put to death the flesh with the help of God's Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:13). May the Lord help each of us.

Jesus' words to us when times get extremely difficult are, "Straighten Up! Lift Up Your Head!" because our redemption is that much closer (Luke 21:28). During difficult times, let us not shrink back in fear, but let's pick up the fight even more earnestly. We must first recognize, however, where our battlefield is. Let's always refuse to fight against people, so that we can focus our fight against the spiritual forces of darkness (Ephesians 6:12). Here are 3 areas to fight for: 1. Fight to preserve your personal devotion to Jesus (II Corinthians 11:2-4).
In being devoted to Jesus, it is important that we clearly identify the true Jesus whom we are following, among all the "other Jesuses" that some who call themselves Christian follow. 2. Fight for a deeper foundation of love (I Corinthians 13:4-8a MSG).
When God's people were being led astray by conspiracies and unfounded fear, God was looking for someone who would stand in the gap (Ezekiel 22:30). Seek to be that person who bridges the gap with love. When you find a gap between you and your spouse or you and another brother/sister or between other brothers/sisters, fight earnestly for unity in that situation through through prayer.
We will have such a passion for unity only if we love without hypocrisy (Romans 12:9), not just in word, but in deed (I John 3:18).
This love... never gives up; cares more for others than for self; doesn’t want what it doesn’t have; doesn’t strut; doesn’t have a swelled head; doesn’t force itself on others; isn’t always “me first”; doesn’t fly off the handle; doesn’t keep score of the sins of others; doesn’t revel when others grovel; takes pleasure in the flowering of truth; puts up with anything; trusts God always; always looks for the best; never looks back, but keeps going to the end. This love never dies.
God will allow us to be tested in such a way that we realize that we can never produce such a love by natural means. It requires the supernatural love of God being shed abroad in our hearts, which will constrain us -- yes, "force us" -- to love this way; we will be left with no option but to love! 3. Fight for the territory around us (Joshua 13:1).When Joshua was "old and advanced in years", he didn't realize it. That's why God had to wake him up and speak to him that very much of the land remained to be possessed. It is possible for us as a church to have an "old and advanced in years" mentality, where we glory in the past. Yet, God wants us to look at the areas around us that are still under the control of Satan, and storm those gates of hell. God placed us as a church in this area for a purpose. Let's allow God to plant a burden in us for the people around us -- our neighbors, coworkers, friends, etc. Cultivate a tongue that "gossips the gospel", looking for any opportunity to lead people to Christ, and draw them into fellowship so that they too can grow as His disciples. Amen.

Matthew 20:17-24 The disciples, beginning with James and John, saw the approaching glorification of Jesus as an opportunity for them to be exalted to positions of authority. What we can understand from Jesus' response to them is that there are two types of people in the world -- takers and givers. The kingdom of the world is characterized by takers -- whether in their marriages, their home life, the work place, the church, etc. The kingdom of heaven, on the other hand, is characterized by givers, beginning with Jesus who came to serve, not to be served. When you progress in the kingdom of the world, you can expect to be served more and more. If you progress in the kingdom of heaven, on the other hand, you will serve others more. Takers always expect others to meet their needs, and so they will eventually get offended over something or the other -- in their marriages, homes, church, etc. -- and leave. Givers, on the other hand, when they see a need, stick it out and seek God for the grace to meet those needs through them. God wants to make all grace abound to us, not so that we can be takers who accumulate more for ourselves, but so that we can be givers who do good to others as a result (II Corinthians 9:6-8). Because Paul was a giver, not a taker, he refused to be financially dependent on the church in Ephesus, and provided for his own needs (Acts 20:25-35). Jesus also said that following Him on this way of serving involves a cup of suffering (Matthew 20:22-28). This is why we emphasize the way of the cross over all the other good earthly causes with which we could get taken up. Every other emphasis results in a hope that will disappoint (Romans 5:5). The true hope that we have been given is one that we can be completely assured of, because God both said it and then took an oath on it (Hebrews 6:13-20). This hope thus becomes an anchor for our soul. We must ensure, however, that the anchor isn't just sitting unused in the boat, or hanging limply over the side. Our anchor must go all the way into the ground at the bottom of the ocean for the boat to be steadfast. We are told that the anchor reaches "within the veil", into the Most Holy Place where God dwells. Drawing on the design of the Tabernacle, if we get stuck along the way with just the forgiveness of our sins and baptism in water (Outer Court), our hope will disappoint. If we go further, but get stuck with just the experience of being baptized in the Holy Spirit, or doing some service for God (Holy Place), our hope will still disappoint. Let us therefore follow Jesus our Forerunner all the way into the presence of God (Most Holy Place), and be anchored there as worshipers of God. When God is all we seek, we will find that He fills us according to our needs, and causes rivers of living water to flow out from our innermost being (John 7:38).

When Jesus listed the commandments to the rich young ruler (Matthew 19:18-19), he omitted the one commandment that had to do with the inner life — the Tenth Commandment on coveting. All the other commandments deal with outward righteousness, but this commandment deals with the inner life. If that man had been honest, he would have admitted that his inner life was rotten despite all his outward good works. What Jesus was trying to tell him was that the only thing that would give his good works value was if they stemmed from eternal life. To receive that eternal life on the inside, he had to throw away everything that he considered valuable, and follow Jesus. All the things that God allows us to have on this earth — money, sports, career/job, ministry, marriage, reputation, righteous deeds, etc. — are all “0”s. The “1” thing that can give them value is Jesus. Without Him being the central part of them all, no matter how many “0”s you have, they all add up to nothing at all. Some years later, another rich young man (Saul of Tarsus) faced the same dilemma. He, however, was honest to acknowledge that even though he had kept all the outward commandments blamelessly and zealously (Philippians 3:4-6), he couldn’t keep the inner commandment at all. Seeing the evil that was present INSIDE him, caused him to evaluate his outwardly blameless life as “wretched” (Romans 7:7-8,21,24). So, putting no confidence in his good works, and treating his “good life” outside of Christ as rubbish (Philippians 3:3,7-11), Paul obtained eternal life in Jesus, and became the greatest apostle of God’s kingdom. Whose example will you follow today? The rich young ruler who was too afraid of having his world come crashing down, and so remained a hypocrite? Or will you follow Paul, who, seeing things from eternity’s perspective, threw away everything else in order to gain Christ?

Everyone in the world is in pursuit of a "good life". But, whether it is a self-centered worldly-minded way of living on one extreme (Jude 1:15), or a self-righteous works-minded way of living on the other (Isaiah 64:6), both are equally detestable in God's eyes. Just because the former may seem more evil outwardly, that can deceive us into thinking that we are somehow better because our works are outwardly "good." These 2 extremes are evident in all areas of life, e.g.: - Money: On one extreme, money can be your master, controlling your thoughts and actions, and becoming the source of your security; this love of money is the root of all forms of evil (I Timothy 6:10). On the other extreme, you can think that godliness is in being materially poor, or that by being generous or philanthropic you can earn your way into eternal life. Both of these extremes are detestable to God. - Sports: On one extreme, sports can be your idol, captivating your time and thoughts. On the other extreme, you can think that complete abstinence from playing or watching sports makes you more pleasing to God. Both of these extremes are detestable to God. - Career/Job: On one extreme, your career or job can become your identity, leading you away from the kingdom of heaven. On the other extreme, you can neglect your earthly studies in school or work at your job, spending your time instead on religious activities like prayer meetings and Bible studies; yet, God, observing your unfaithfulness with your earthly responsibilities, will not be able to entrust heavenly riches to you (Luke 16:11). Both of these extremes are detestable to God. - Ministry: On one extreme, your lust for ministry can become your passion, yet you can justify it because it's "God's work." On the other extreme, you can neglect the gifts God has given you and lose sight of His purpose for placing you in His Body. Both of these extremes are detestable to God. - Marriage: On one extreme, your evaluation of your marriage can come from a "Hollywood" standard of how "in love” you feel with each other. On the other extreme you can be proud of the "godly marriage" or "godly home" that YOU built. Both of these extremes are detestable to God. - Reputation: On one extreme, you can allow the opinions of people to hold you in bondage. On the other extreme, you can have a "couldn't-care-less" attitude about it, preventing you from being able to receive counsel from godly people who care about you. Both of these extremes are detestable to God. - Righteousness: On on extreme, you can turn God's grace into license to keep on sinning (Jude 1:4). On the other extreme, you can strive in your own strength to overcome sin, and think that that is godliness. Both of these extremes are detestable to God. The rich young ruler came to Jesus asking what other good works he needed to do to EARN his way into eternal life (Matthew 19:16); Jesus' answer made it clear that it was instead a life that he had to ENTER into (v17)! The rich man's life was like a tower of good works that he had built, and he expected Jesus to tell him what other building blocks he needed to add so that he could finally reach heaven (like the Tower of Babel). What Jesus told him essentially was that the one thing he was lacking was the foundation, implying that the whole tower would need to be torn down and rebuilt. This was something the rich young man was unwilling to do, and so he missed out on eternity. Jesus isn't calling you to try to live a GOOD life, but to receive His ETERNAL life. The difference between the two is the difference between heaven and hell. It doesn't matter what age you are -- even if you have mere seconds to live, like the thief on the cross -- risk it all today to make Jesus your EVERYTHING. It will be the best decision of your life!