Year End Update…

Well it’s January… 2009 was the year for firsts, my first sermon, first boy, first Christmas with the new addition, first time to play my banjo in a nursing home…

I found it very odd to get up in front of the congregation; talking at nursing homes seems to be a little less nerve wracking… I’ve attached my notes in case any one is interested: I recall staring at my notes but not being able to focus on them.

Josiah’s first Christmas has come and gone… Here’s a 5 minute video of what took place (i’ve also attached a picture slideshow to make the images available for download).

 

Click HERE to View/Download the Picture Slideshow

 

——–sermon notes———–

The Christ Conspiracy

Text:

Galatians 5:16-26 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. (17) For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. (18) But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. (19) Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, (20) Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, (21) Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. (22) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, (23) Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. (24) And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. (25) If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. (26) Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

Introduction:

“Controversial and explosive, The Christ Conspiracy marshals an enormous amount of startling evidence that the religion of Christianity and Jesus Christ were created by members of various secret societies, mystery schools and religions in order to unify the Roman Empire under one state religion! This powerful book maintains that these groups drew upon a multitude of myths and rituals that already existed long before the Christian era and reworked them into the story the Christian religion presents today-known to most Westerners as the Bible. Author Acharya makes the case that there was no actual person named Jesus, but that several characters were rolled into one mythic being inspired by the deities Mithras, Heracles/Hercules, Dionysus and many others of the Roman Empire. She demonstrates that the story of Jesus, as portrayed in the Gospels, is nearly identical in detail to those of the earlier savior-gods Krishna and Horus, and concludes that Jesus was certainly neither original nor unique, nor was he the divine revelation. Rather, he represents the very ancient body of knowledge derived from celestial observation and natural forces. A book that will initiate heated debate and inner struggle, it is intelligently written and referenced. The only book of its kind, it is destined for controversy.”

No Jesus? How can someone make such a claim! An honest look at history provides ample evidence for a historical Jesus – there is actually more proof for the existence of Christ than Plato.

For example:

PLINY THE YOUNGER (63 – 113 A.D) admits to torturing and executing Christians who
refused to deny Christ. Those who denied the charges were spared and ordered to exalt the Roman gods and
curse the name of Christ. Pliny addresses his concerns to Emperor Trajan that too many citizens were being
killed for their refusal to deny their faith.

"I asked them directly if they were Christians…those who persisted, I ordered away… Those who denied they were or ever had been Christians…worshiped both your image and the images of the gods and cursed Christ. They used to gather on a stated day before dawn and sing to Christ as if he were a god… All the more I believed it necessary to find out what was the truth from two servant maids, which were called deaconesses, by means of torture. Nothing more did I find than a disgusting, fanatical superstition. Therefore I stopped the examination, and hastened to consult you…on account of the number of people endangered. For many of all ages, all classes, and both sexes already are brought into danger…"

For me, that’s enough EXTERNAL proof to verify his physical existence. But I’ve always wondered how this came to pass, never before has anyone denied His existence, they may have questioned His deity & the sanity of His followers (the Christians), but to say he was a figment of our imagination – stolen from the preexisting pagan gods is absurd.

You see, no one is going to doubt the existence of Minnesota – there are still people that speak with funny accents. Likewise there are people from Australia, Germany etc… all whose speech and customs point to their origin. I suppose if we add a few “customs” here and there, slowly changed the way we walk and talk, we could redefine Christianity. Or maybe that’s exactly what happened?

It’s this lack of Biblical Christianity that causes the world to doubt in a historical Jesus or feel their need of a Savior. Today, we don’t follow Jesus Christ – we follow another Christ. Jesus said in Matthew 24 that many would come – and deceive many.

Which Christ do you serve?

Body:

If we actually compared most Christian lives to the word of God, we would find ourselves a far cry from Biblical.

So, what is biblical Christianity? Galatians 5:16 says: “.. Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.” … To be called a Christian means that you to follow the historical Jesus; simply put, it’s our manner of life as defined in the Word of God.

Our manner of life is two fold (1) we can walk in the Spirit (2) Walk in the Flesh.

To walk in the flesh is to be led by

(a) your spirit or

(b) as Eph 2:2 states, Satan.

Someone has said: “The natural-born human has only the human spirit — imparting the power of intellect. Yet all such human minds are confined to knowledge of the physical and material. And by the fact that Satan is prince of the power of the air (Ephesians 2:2), he broadcasts – surcharges the air with his ATTITUDE of SELF — vanity and love only toward self. We call this attitude Satan instills human nature. We acquire it from earliest childhood gradually…

Wherever you are as you read these words, chances are there are voices and perhaps music in the air around you being beamed right into your brain. A radio or television set tuned to the right wavelength would make them audible to you. The spirit in every human being is automatically tuned in on Satan’s wavelength. You don’t hear anything because he does not broadcast in words — nor in sounds, whether music or otherwise. He broadcasts in ATTITUDES. He broadcasts in attitudes of SELF-centeredness, lust, greed, vanity, jealousy, envy, resentment, competition, strife, bitterness, and hate.”

A christian cares more about themselves than others, we wish for things we do not have – we have empty lives void of any meaning – we judge others my their appearance or looks & resent those that SEEM to be better looking. We compete for the “popcorn preacher of the year” while abhorring those more gifted than us.

· When someone cuts us off during rush hour traffic we say: God BLESS you.

· The old lady with 12 items in the express lane for 10 or less is given a lesson on checkout etiquette.

To walk in the flesh is to be tuned into the wrong channel.

To walk in the Spirit is be led by the Spirit that lives in YOU,

(Romans 8:14) For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

(Galatians 5:18) But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

Every Christian is to be tuned to Gods channel. God, like Satan is broadcasting through the air. He broadcasts in ATTITUDES. Attitudes of love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance.

A Biblical Christian cares more about OTHERS than THEMSELVES, we are content with the life God has given us – a life full of meaning – we accept others for their appearances, seek only praise from God and we praise God for those more gifted than us.

· When someone cuts us off during rush hour traffic we say: nothing.

· The old lady with 12 items in the express lane for 10 or less is given: our patience.

To walk in the Spirit is to be tuned into the RIGHT channel.

Conclusion:

1 Thessalonians 4:1-3 says: “ Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more. (2) For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus. (3) For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication…”

Walking in the Spirit is much more than “abstaining from fornication”; Paul beseeches those in Thessalonica to “abound more and more”.

One does not abound more and more from fornication, idolatry, lust or abstaining from meat offered to idols – we just stop doing it. The more you get to love God, the more you will love what God loves – people. The closer you get to God – the father away from the world you will appear. Not just in word or dead via the outward appearance, but our intentions will move from the head to our heart.

While it’s an exciting time to live knowing that Christ could return for us any day – it’s sad time thinking about the failures of Christianity.

So which Christ do you follow: The one that causes us to love and be joyful – or the one that produces bitterness, wrath and envy?

Philippians 2:12-15

(12) Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

(13) For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

(14) Do all things without murmurings and disputings:

(15) That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

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