Making Our World A Better Place

Chris Long
Missions Weekend

2 Tim 1:15-18

Paul was blessed by someone that made his world a better place.
That someone is Onesiphorus.

Do you have a someone like that? Or maybe you could be that someone?

Paul talked highly about Onesiphorus.
What did he do?

1. Remained loyal and stood by Paul in times of destress.,

v.15

definition [Loyal] :

• firm and not changing in your friendship with or support for a person or an organization, or in your belief in your principles
• always supportive
  
• always liking and supporting someone or something, sometimes when other people do not

We need to be loyal to the ones who's precious in our life.
Loyal to our faith, to our family, friends, and nation.

2. Onesiphorus ministered to Paul's deepest needs.

v.16 - refreshed me (NIV) ; visited and encourage (NLT).

Rom 12:13 - Practice hospitality.
Usually Christians, they loved God SO much so gave all to God, and left nothing for others.

We can refreshed others with an act of kindness.

3. He was noble and not ashamed of Paul's sufferings

v.16b
Nobility - someone has to got standard classy, not mediocre. He's a class act that can affect people.

definition [Noble] :

noble (HIGH RANK)
adjective [not gradable]
having a high social rank, esp. from birth
a noble family related to the queen

noble
noun [C]
a person of high social rank, esp. from birth

nobility
noun [U]
the class or group of people who have a high social rank, esp. from birth

When Jesus was on the cross, He prayed for the ones who prosecuted Him.
They KNEW what they did to Him was wrong. And still He prayed for them!
People was like, "what? are you serious?"
Why?
Cause He's got class. He got standard classy.
He saw the case beyond everyone else.

Same thing happened to the murderer who's hanged beside Him.
He forgave him, and promised paradise to him, right now!

4. Onesiphorus had a shepherd's heart

v.17 On the contrary, when he was in Rome, he searched hard for me until he found me.
Luke 15:4-5

That's why, ministry isn't a business.
You go and search for the 1% who's lost, in need, etc. and leave the 99%

Onesiphorus traveled from Ephesus to Rome, just to go and found Paul.

It's a long way!



5. He came and helped Paul in many practical ways.

1 Corinthians 12:28 And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues.

No one got excuses to say "I don't have a special gift like you to serve", cos there's a gift called a gift of able to help others. Everyone has this gift.

Why Bother?

Pt. Duane Danielson

Luke 18: 35-43
Luke 19:1-9

God did things differently
God do things differently

1. God Works in Different Places

v.35 - in ordinary place, a street.
v. 4 - an inordinate tree : Sycamore tree, in an ordinary street.

Nowadays, we usually think that God needs to do things only on stage, line up people, etc.
It doesn't work that way.

Ordinary Places VS Holy Places, Spiritual Places.

God will just intercede in ordinary places.

2. God Works in Different Person

A blind man, which also is a beggar. Usually people don't want to spend time to go deeper coz at the end they think they need to take care of the beggar.

Zacheus, a corrupt man. Do you want to do biz with this kind of people?

Jesus spend the day with an inordinate person.
Jesus just spend a small time in the world, but spend a day one on one with every person that He met.
He's more interested for the people who are on our least of list, just because we ourselves don't stand those bottom list people.

If you want to reach them, you need to reach further in the mud, and it's gonna be muddy. Also you need to get all "the crap" out, while you are pulling stuffs outside the mud.

It's gonna be:

• muddy
• complicated
• there's a time limit
• less return

but guess what?
Some of us, God strategically put us in "The Mud"

3. God Works in Different Plans

Sometime Jesus wants to interrupt our plan, coz He got bigger plan for us.

Imagine if the disciples has schedule Jesus, and the blind beggar is just not on the program. Would they stopped Jesus from interfering their plan, just becoz He need to stop for everyone?

v. 43 - Jesus has plans also for the blind man : Follow Jesus and praise God.

If we follow God's plan, it will transformed us immediately.
Transformation that effects you and your family.

4. God Works in Different Participation then we thought.

v.40 - what do YOU want ME to do?
v.5 - I must stay in your house.

He got personally involve with every single "prospect".
He didn't delegate to the disciples, but do it one on one.
Always have a daily interacting with people.

How do you need to be personal and on going with people?

1. Everyone need to pray for the harvest, by name.
2. Need to be giving more..
3. There's time when God us going to stretch you.
4. We need to go unto the fitness and work - figure our where God want to seed you.

Q&A Weekend

Can we challenge God?
Read the book of Job.
Just remember that God is not afraid of our questions!

Why do people pretend to be Christians?
Cos it's easy to do. Mostly think that they can just humble themselves every time they sin.They took advantage of that.

How do we know that God answers our prayers/not?

1. Pray in obedience to God. Not because we want something to happened. But because we ARE supposed to pray.
2. We don't have to pray everything that's happened ________ circumstances. The more we pray, the more coincidence we have. Pray because of obedience.
3. Don't become so rational. Just glorify the Lord.

Tithing somewhere else?
2 Corinthians 9:6-11
Everything belongs to the Lord.
Give wherever, however, whatever He leads.
As long as we give joyfully.

Gossip?
Eph 4:15 - share out of truth, share because of love, if not, STOP talking.

If you're asking the LOVE question, you will never gossip.
If you asked the GOSSIP question, you will never loved.

feel offended because of__
you are putting yourself as a weaker Christian.

IES Family Values

Pt. Dave Kenney

IES Family Values:

1. We don't care where you've been, we only care where you are going.
2. People over programs.
3. Everyone a minister.
4. God's Word changes lives.
5. Serious about our faith, serious about our fun, serious about our food.

1. We don't care where you've been, we only care where you are going - whatever past you have, it's a past.

Acceptance
Accept one another, then, just as Christ accept you, in order to bring praise to God. Romans 15:7

A place for people whose aren't accepted by others.

For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes. There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:26-28 (NLT)

Grace
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that on one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9
We are saved by Grace through Faith, NOT saved by Faith. We are receiving Grace WITH Faith.

Grace means "Unmerited gift"

Growth
...so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Ephesians 4:13
The sign of maturity is becoming more and more like Jesus.

IES is a river (that flows), not a lake.

Relational - cos we care where you're going.
Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love. Ephesians 4:15-16

Growth comes in relationship.
The reason why we want them to have a relationship is because Jesus loves us.

Intentional
For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10

2. People Over Programs

People
-----------
Programs

We always take care of people, don't care about the program, or people divided by program

3. Everyone a Minister
It was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Eph 4:11-13
You're not going to grow if you don't get involve in the ministry.

4. God's Word changes lives.
Romans 1:16-17 I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."
1 Corinthians 6:9-11
v.9-10 - kind of things, that's unacceptable.

5. Serious about our Faith, Serious about our Fun, Serious about our Food.
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again : Rejoice! Philippians 4:4

I rejoiced with those who said to me, "Let us go to the house of the Lord." Psalm 122:1

God accept us to be joyful people.

Faith That Prays

Oyan Simatupang

James 5:7-20

I. Sickness from the Outside.

1. Is any of you in trouble?
If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even a meddler. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed but praise God that you bear that name. 1 Pet 4:15-16.

Our Response: When we are suffering, James tells us to PRAY.
Prayer can remove affliction.
Prayer can give us grace to endure affliction.

2. Is anyone happy?

Our Response: When we are cheerful, James tells us to PRAISE - celebrate the praises of God in Song. Bursting in Song is a spiritual.

II. Sickness from the Inside.

1. Is any one of you Sick?
James 5: 14-16 The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. The prayer in faith.

Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Hebrew 12:3
We will call it "sin-sickness"

Our Response:

• Call for the elders
• Confess your sins - not about bursting out our sins to others but also allowing / opening our heart to God.
• Receive ministry

The Elders will
Pray - And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage them the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 1 Thessalonians 5:14
Listen - be a good listener
Anoint with Oil - a lipstantes : a rub with oil - bestowing, grooming - give extra attention to somebody, relaxation, coffee.

It he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. James 5:16b - 18

III. The Example of Elijah - Effective Prayer.
James 5:16b - 18

How long are you going to pray to gain victory?

IV. FAITH THAT WORKS - SAVING A SOUL
James 5:7-20

V. EVERYDAY APPLICATION.

• Afflicted? - Pray
• Cheerful? - Sing Praises
• Sin-Sickness? - call for help
• Ministering Others - Prayer for them, go to the extra mile.
• Want to make a different? - Bring someone to Jesus, pray for others, show them how you care.. :)

Patience and Honesty

Pt. Dave Kenney

James 5:7-12

7 Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and later rain. (NKJB)
what kind of patients is he talking about?

It it dangerous to go around judging and slandering each other.

It its no use depending on your own plans.

It does no good to cling to your wealth.

So what are you supposed to do when you face trials? - those are things we used to do when we face trials.

Be patient until the Lord returns - not for a short terms
You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near. James 5:8

Like a farmer, it produces real results.
See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. James 5:7
There's a time to accomplish a certain thing and need to wait for certain things.
Farmer has to be a dependable people. He has to wait until the second rain.
We need to wait like the farmer, understand that there's nothing instantly.

Because the Lord is coming back to judge - our human nature is, to judge other people.
Don't grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door! James 5:9
God's is going to settle out what's right or wrong.
We have no right to judge others coz we can only see the outside.

Because we don't want to be judged.
Don't grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door! James 5:9

"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank (wood) in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and the you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye. Matthew 7:1-5

Look at Biblical examples

A good reason to read your Bible.

Let's be reminded of Job.
He didn't know how it's going to end, but he was faithful to the Lord.
Doesn't mean all the trials will be gone, you just need to be patient for the Lord's answer.

About Honesty

Matthew 5:33-37
People these days are very "oath maker".
They tend to make quick promises, and find away to get out of it easily.

Christians should be know for their honesty.
When we say it, we should mean it and we do it!

Check the Benchmarks

Pt. Dave Kenney

James 4:13-17

Three Truths

1. It is wrong for us to make plans without God
2. It is dangerous to presume that we have an endless supply of tomorrows
3. To know the good we ought to do, and not do it, is sin

1. Making Plans without God
Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." James 4:13

What is wrong with that?
Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty. Proverbs 21:5

Do your planning and prepare your fields before building your house. Proverbs 24:27

Through out scriptures we've been encourage to do a plan. Planning is a good thing.

So what's the solution?
Why warning?

Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that. James 4:15

Make plans include God in it:
What are His plans for our business? Our vacation? etc.
"What do YOU want me to do? What do YOU don't want me to do?"

Planning without praying is presumptions.
Practical Atheist : belief in God but don't want to do anything.

2. Is There An Endless Supply of Tomorrows?
Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. James 4:14

For,
All men are like grass,
and all their glory is like the flowers of the field;
the grass withers and the flowers fall. 1 Peter 1:24

another mistake:
when we presume, shows that we had an endless supply of tomorrow.

Luke 12:16-20
Psalm 31:14-15a

If your planning to follow God, you need to work for a hundred years
but, you need to live as if God is coming tonight.

Planning not worrying
There for I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry saying, "What shall we eat?' or "What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Luke 12:22-34

3. Do what we Do, What We Know We Should Do
Anyone, then who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins. James 4:17

On another Sabbath He went into the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was shriveled. The Pharisees and the teachers of the law were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched Him closely to see if He would heal on the Sabbath. But Jesus knew what they were thinking and said to the man with the shriveled hand, "Get up and stand in front of everyone." So, he got up and stood there. Then Jesus said to them, "I ask you, which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?"
He looked around at them all, and then said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He did so, and his hand was completely restored. But they were furious and began to discuss with one another what they might do to Jesus. Luke 6:6-11

First (spiritual) Benchmark
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
James 1:2-5

How to handle trials and testing? How do we handle temptation?
God "spare" you for a reason.
He always bought something good out of bad things.

Second Benchmark
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. James 1:22

Do we just listen to God's Word, or do we also put it into practice/action in our lives?

Third Benchmark
27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, "Here's a good seat for you," but say to the poor man, "You stand there" or "Sit on the floor by my feet," have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing right. But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. James 1:27 ; 2:2-4,8-9

Do you discriminate? Do you care for the weak? Do you favor the rich?

Whoever gives to the poor will lack nothing, but those who close their eyes to poverty will be cursed. Proverbs 28:27

If you help the poor, you are leading to the Lord -and He will repay you! Proverbs 19:17

During James' time, there are only 2 groups of people, the wealthy and poor. And there's always a gap between them. Nowadays, more varieties groups.

Fourth Benchmark
18But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds."
Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.
26As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead. James 2:18, 26

Do we show our faith in Jesus Christ by our good deeds?

Fifth Benchmark
Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. James 3:10

Do you control your speech? Do you judge others?
[imagine James growing up together with Jesus. Having Jesus as his brother. Can't buddy up to tell lies, no cheating, can't pick up on other kids, etc. :) ]

Sixth Benchmark
But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:
"God opposes the proud
but gives grace to the humble."
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:6-7

Do you know how to humble yourself? Do you actively resist the sinful temptations and impulses in your life?

The most humbling thing in the world is apologizing.
The issue here is not about us being tempted, or what kind of temptation you tend to fall to.
But, are you fighting IT?

Seventh Benchmark
Are you a "practical atheist"?
Do you think you have endless tomorrows?

The mistake is thinking that not doing something wrong, is the same as NOT sinning!