Evidence of Genuine Faith

1 John 3:11-24

Most of us have read about Cain and Abel (Gen 4). The question seems to be, why was Cains gift not accepted by God. What, God dosnt like his veggies? You mean to tell me God is not vegan? It wasn't the veggies that were the problem it was Cains heart. He was an evil man With selfish desires. Love has been shown to us by Jesus. He sacrificed everything for us. Isn't that how love is known by us? Not in word but in deeds is how we know love. God is telling us the same thing. " show me, don't snow me" Is what he is telling us here. Demonstrating a proper attitude, love, is evidence of genuine faith.

Pastor Patrick

Right Living

1 John 2:28-3:10

The encouragement continues to live right before God. We are to walk as his children as a demonstration of Christian commitment. John goes on to inform us that a Christian can not go on sinning. Not that a Christian never sins but that we will no longer practice sin as we once did. Because the nature of God has come in to dwell within us Gods Holy Spirit and sin do not get along very well at all. In fact sin and the Holy Spirit are at war with each other. 

Pastor Patrick

Stranger Danger

1 John 2:18-27

If the spirit of the antichrist was manifesting itself back then 2000 years ago, we are in serious trouble here in today's world. Where many oppose the person, doctrine, and kingdom of Christ. There is an antichrist coming who will be the long awaited enemy of the church. When he says many have come, it seems to me he is speaking of the iniquity of the culture and mindset of society. Our society here in America has an antichrist connotation to it. Matthew 24:24 For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. 

If you are a Christian we are not to be deceived by the antichrist or it's spiritual influence. We have been anointed the scripture says and have the tools to overcome the world and it's antichrist spirit through his Word. 

Pastor Patrick

True Love

1 John 2:7-17

Can't say it better so here it is from the message:

My dear friends, I’m not writing anything new here. This is the oldest commandment in the book, and you’ve known it from day one. It’s always been implicit in the Message you’ve heard. On the other hand, perhaps it is new, freshly minted as it is in both Christ and you—the darkness on its way out and the True Light already blazing! Anyone who claims to live in God’s light and hates a brother or sister is still in the dark. It’s the person who loves brother and sister who dwells in God’s light and doesn’t block the light from others. But whoever hates is still in the dark, stumbles around in the dark, doesn’t know which end is up, blinded by the darkness. I remind you, my dear children: Your sins are forgiven in Jesus’ name. You veterans were in on the ground floor, and know the One who started all this; you newcomers have won a big victory over the Evil One. And a second reminder, dear children: You know the Father from personal experience. You veterans know the One who started it all; and you newcomers—such vitality and strength! God’s word is so steady in you. Your fellowship with God enables you to gain a victory over the Evil One. Don’t love the world’s ways. Don’t love the world’s goods. Love of the world squeezes out love for the Father. Practically everything that goes on in the world—wanting your own way, wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear important—has nothing to do with the Father. It just isolates you from him. The world and all its wanting, wanting, wanting is on the way out—but whoever does what God wants is set for eternity.

Pastor Patrick

Jesus vs Sin

1 John 2:1-6

In this corner the father of gluttony, selfishness and worldliness SIN. And in this corner the price of peace, JESUS. We should not sin but when we do Jesus is our advocate before the Father. Jesus is the one that defends us as the atoning sacrifice. His sinlessnes qualifies Him to be our atoning sacrifice or propitiation, the defender for you and I. Gods character demands a pure and sinless sacrifice in order to be in His presence and Jesus fulfilled that for us. Those who would enjoy fellowship with God must follow in the love, holiness, and service that characterized Christ.

Pastor Patrick

Not even a speck of darkness

1 John 1:5-10

The apostle says "God is light and there is no darkness in Him" that's right, God is holy and pure. There is not even a speck of darkness in him at all. That is why it is impossible for us to have any kind of relationship with the Father if we walk in darkness ( sin, worldliness,). You have a choice. You can choose the best the world has to offer and be a disciple of satan or you can choose the best that God has to offer and be a disciple of His son Jesus. Once you make this choice to follow one of these life paths it will be evident of your choice. 

Pastor Patrick

See, Touch, Feel

1 John 1:1-4

I love it when someone comes to me and shares an exciting experience that happened to them. Maybe they met the president or a famous movie star, maybe one of the Seahawks football players.  That's exciting, and it's first hand information. That person sharing with you was there seeing, touching and feeling the whole encounter. 

The apostle writing here is sharing with you and I what he experienced. This isn't some second or third hand information. This guy eat, slept, touched, prayed with, talked with Jesus. So pay close attention as we move through the book of 1 John. This dude knows what he is talking about because he was there. 

Pastor Patrick

PRAYER LIFE = INTIMACY Period!

Colossians 4:2-4

I am amazed at the number of people I meet with who share their desire to draw closer to God. With the exception of a few, each one has had some kind of life altering drama that has inspired this new found passion to "draw closer to God".  I really enjoy meeting with folks that are broken and hurting. Praying with them, hugging them. Watching them slowly draw closer to God. Then it comes to a screeching halt. People love to run to God when things aren't going very well. Even more so, they love to run to their Pastor and ask for guidance and support. Yet, when enlightened with the secret to success and happiness they turn tail and run. Why? Because the secret to life is revealed in prayer. It is impossible to obtain peace and joy that is permanent and never ending without a serious prayer life. People ask me all the time why I'm so happy and joyfull. It's prayer people. 

It breaks my heart when someone is crying and heartbroken because of some damaging life experience. I want to just wave a magic wand and make their life one of joy and peace. Without question my guidance and direction is to go to the throne of grace. Paul is encouraging this here in this passage. You want to know why you struggle emotionally, physically, financially, spiritually, relationally? It's because you know that you are to surrender all to Jesus and you continue to fool everyone with your lip service but your thoughts and actions are that of an unbeliever except on Sunday. I know this can seem to come across a little harsh but it's true and that was me 5 years ago. PRAYER LIFE = INTIMACY Period!

Pastor Patrick

Why the Heart?

Colossians 3:18-24

Why the heart? It always seems to come down to the heart. Heart issues are painfull because they are deep issues and change sucks. Changing our habits and deep rooted opinions are hard to do and take time usually. But, once we come to know Jesus our hearts are transformed and our lives are filled with the Indwelling of the Holy Spirit. This transformation runs deep within our hearts and the change becomes a desire. A desire to please the Father. Every Christian is to honor each other but more importantly honor God in our actions, especially to those who are not a part of the body of Christ. The scripture here says to do all things as unto God because he is the one who sees and rewards you for your actions. 

Pastor Patrick

Define Love: Self Seeking or Self Sacrificing?

Colossians 3:8-17

Okay so I need to put to death all the stuff I learned from the world. I get it! It's like a seed that has to be planted and it dies so that it can sprout into the new life. Once it sprouts into new life it must wether the seasons and grow in order to produce fruit, otherwise the plant is worthless. A fruitless apple tree is worthless and will not be able to feed anyone. The question I ask myself is, " am I a fruit bearing tree or just an ornamental tree in the kingdom of God". You might ask how do you know which kind of tree for God you are? Are sinners being brought into the kingdom because of you? Are lives being transformed by the power of God through your ministry? If the answer is "no" then maybe your relationship with God is not bearing fruit. 

Love is the thing that binds all together. Not the way the world says love is. The worlds definition of love is self seeking, not self sacrificing. When we start walking in love as the Father walked in love when he gave his Son up to take your place on the cross. Is your heart and everything you live for about you, your comfort, your needs, your wants, your desires? Well there is no fruit of love bearing on your tree if this is the case. It is not what you see when you look in the mirror that counts, it's what God and others see when they look at you. If they see Jesus, then your good to go.. 

Pastor Patrick

Is Something Missing?

Colossians 3:5-7

Death is an important aspect of our relationship with God. Putting to rest, killing the sin in our lives. These unholy thoughts and actions hinder you from seeking the things that are holy and from above. Looking back to the first four verses in Colossians ch 3 we established that you are to set your affections on God, the things above. Notice that covetousness is labeled as idolatry. Why is that? Ask yourself what you think about the most. What is it that you dream about and wish you could have in this life. Most of us it's money, we think it will make things getter and solve all our problems. It may help, but it can never satisfy your heart and soul. 

A famous comedian Robin Williams just committed suicide and had been struggling with depression for some time. He had money and women and everything that a man could want or desire, right? So what was missing? He was missing Jesus. You no longer live this way. You once walked in the world and were trapped by its influence and culture, but no longer are you deceived by its smoke and mirrors. 

Galatians 5:24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. And also, 

Romans 6:13 Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. 

The Promise of Glory

Colossians 3:4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. I can't wait to appear standing next to Jesus to the rest of the world. We don't have to wait to show our relationship with Jesus. Jesus should be who you are. Christ should consume you and your life. Anything less will not do. Look at Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Pastor Patrick

Happy in DEATH

Colossians 3:3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

So I have died? I have to ask myself what is God saying here? Let's unpack this a little. A true Christian has died to the world, it's passions and desires are no longer the lust of life. What passions and desires? The world looks at success different then God and therefore the things we place a high priority on like cars and houses, degrees and careers, the American dream, keeping up with the Jones' mentality and another thousand things that I don't have the space to get into here, but you get the point. Galatians 6:14 But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. The world no longer makes us happy. Our happiness is unable to be fulfilled by the worlds riches, culture or plan for your life. And if we are dead to the earth, and have renounced it as our happiness, it is absurd for us to set our affections upon it, and seek it. We should be like a dead thing to it, unmoved and unaffected towards it.

Dead to the world and hidden in Christ denotes security. We can be secure in our life when we are in Christ. So awesome to be a part of the world as a creation in it but not be a part of the world in its humanistic theology. 

Pastor Patrick

A New Way

Colossians 3:1-2

Along with the revelation of belief in Jesus comes a new life. A new culture. A new way of thinking. A new way of living. A new way of believing. A new way of acting and reacting. We are to seek the things from above and focus our attention on the kingdom not the world we live in and the temporary satisfaction this world offers.

Galatians 2:20

20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Romans 6:4–5

4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. 

5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. 

Pastor Patrick

Philippians 3:12-16

What do you place such a high value on that it consumes you. Your thought? your time? your will? Your relationships? Paul is consumed with the resurrection and puts his walk and ministry in context with this. Why, you may ask. His desire was to know the power of Christs death and resurection killing sin in him. This mindset is the mark of a mature believer Paul says. 

As you read this passage today take a moment and search your heart. Do you look forward to that day when you are perfected? And if so, how are you showing this to others?

Pastor Patrick

James 1:26-27

If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. 27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. 

This passage is a word to us who think we are more religious then others. We have not arrived yet and now is the time for some humility, service and purity.

Pastor Patrick

James 1:19-25

I look back at all the time I wasted, I'm talking about years, being a hearer and not a doer. I wonder how I missed it. How did I ever not connect true faith with action? It's right there in the Word. Not just in the passage we are looking at today but everywhere. Jesus spoke of it, just check out Matthew 5-7 and you can hear the master instruct us with a balance of faith and action.

Pastor Patrick

James 1:13-18

There seems to be some hereditary thing going on within us, to blame God when we are tempted to sin or give in to our temptations. The first man Adam did this when he said, The woman you gave me tempted me.  God does not tempt us! Sin and God are opossing forces of each other and cannot co mingle. It is not in Gods nature to sin or be a promoter of something that is repulsive to Him.

Our temptations come from within and begin with our desires for lustful or worldly things. These thoughts and desires can be squashed in the beginning and avoiding all the destruction and hurt sin brings when it is conceived. As the word says, desire gives birth to sin and brings forth death. The warning here is that once you give into sin it is a powerful passion that carries you away. It is easier to resist the initial desire and overcome then it is to overcome the sin once it has taken hold in your life. Then, this habitual sin grieves the Holy Spirit that lives within you and if you don't resist and repent you are committing apostasy through your actions. 

So let's take hold of the good and perfect gifts that God has given us. He cares for you and makes the way of life clear through His word. The character of God does not change and life through His son Jesus and guidance by His Holy Spirit is offered to all and the only way to truly experience life that never lacks anything.

Pastor Patrick

James 1:1-12

Trials suck, period!  God must be upset with me!  It's not of God to go through trials!  These are all lies and are not what God says. God is instructing you and I to "count it all joy when you meet trials of various kinds".  Why, we ask would God allow us to go through hard times like the loss of a loved one or an unfaithful spouse, or the loss of your home. To make you perfect and complete, needing nothing.  That's right, trials and all the unpleasantness that goes with it will bring you great joy and perfect you in such a way that every need is met. We depend so much on the job, house, boat, car and relationships with others to bring happiness and it just never fulfills the void that humanity offers. Faith in God alone is all that is needed for contentment. 

Pastor Patrick

Galatians 5

There is no doubt that it is impossible to be saved from an eternal judgement of conscious torment for all eternity without a repentant faith in Jesus. We all tend to want to get things done ourselves and we don't place value on anything that is just handed to us free and without obligation. It's the American way right? Wrong, it's the human way! Here in Galatians 5 Paul warns us not to take for granted the free gift of salvation by resorting to our own religious or humanistic efforts.

Paul confirms that this faith we have prompts change in us. This is how I can tell if someone is truly a disciple of Christ, I see the changes and transformation brought about by the Holy Spirit in their opinion, action, thoughts and most of all service. You can tell that someone has really got it when life no longer revolves around themselves and life revolves around serving others. 

No matter what I read in the bible I find that the point always is Jesus. That is the freedom we are searching for, the freedom of Jesus. 

Pastor Patrick